This morning I felt like reading out of John's Gospel, and am thinking about the relationships of Mary and Martha with Jesus. Here are the specific verses - John 11:20-22, 28-35 NIV:
[20] "When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. [21] “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
[they have a bit of a conversation here which I did not include here]
[28] "After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” [29] When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. [30] Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. [31] When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
[32] When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” [33] When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
[34] “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
[35] Jesus wept."
As I was re-reading this story this morning, I was struck by the personal nature of the relationships Jesus had with each of the sisters. We know from the previous story of Mary at His feet, and Martha busying herself about the house (Luke 10: 38-42) that they were very different personalities, and that they likely related to Jesus differently. There have been plenty of commentaries written about their interaction, and Jesus' comments, but my one thought today is that regardless of our attitude or relationship, Jesus meets us where we are at and is comfortable with our position. In other words, He understands us all and will not require us to change the way we think and act to have a relationship with us.
So back to Martha and Mary - Martha goes out in pursuit of the Lord, while Mary just stays home, even though she knows that Jesus is coming. I find this interesting - Mary was the one (according to Luke) who wouldn't separate herself from the Lord, and yet when the opportunity to approach Him about her brother Lazarus comes, she stays home. I think this reflects on her deep sorrow and disappointment. She had this deep intimate relationship with the Lord, her brother gets deathly sick and she sends messengers to the Lord but He doesn't come in time to save her brother. I am pretty sure she felt completely let down in her faith in the Lord. She couldn't begin to understand how He would not hear her and respond to her request, coming immediately when she asked for help. I imagine in her mind and heart that was actually every bit as significant of a loss as her brother's death. I think she was despairing the loss of her brother and her relationship with Jesus.
I wonder how many of us have lost faith due to the death of a loved one? We cry out, we have all sorts of logic as to why the Lord should save our loved one, why they should continue living, all the good they were doing, and our incredible love, and yet they die - so we conclude that the Lord either doesn't love us or doesn't really listen to our prayers. The reality is that neither is an accurate perspective.
Martha, was more pragmatic, but still had a deep relationship with Jesus, so much so that she felt comfortable to leave her sister and family friends to go meet Jesus as soon as she heard He was coming. It seems to me that sometimes a dose of pragmatism is helpful in dealing with difficult situations. Martha lost no time in going to Jesus once again, knowing in her heart that He wasn't like anyone else. She probably figured that He was likely detained by something after their summons concerning Lazarus, but the fact that He was here now meant anything was possible. She was grieving but hopeful, and knew her relationship with Him allowed her to approach Him and speak with Him. Jesus was so gracious to her in His response, leading her gently to grow in her faith.
Getting back to Mary, Jesus is aware that she has not come to Him, and specifically invites her through her sister Martha. This is not about Him refusing to go to her, but really an invitation to re-enter relationship. She did go to Him, inspired and encouraged by the fact that He had asked about her, for this showed He still cared. She fell at His feet, and laid the accusation of her heart on Him. Instead of being angry at her words, Jesus was clearly moved and John describes His reaction. The Greek words used describe someone who is groaning outwardly, almost snorting and charging towards the foe (in this case death), and mourning deeply. He was clearly moved - and I believe He feels the same way about any of our losses. He is not cold and disconnected but rather very much impacted by our grief and sorrow, and empathetic towards our pain. I am reminded of the apparent fact that He had to stand by and watch His earthly father, Joseph, die and could not reveal himself yet. He understands grief, and personal loss. He understands our pain, our accusations, our sorrow, our anger, our rejection of belief, all the ugliness that pours out when we are grieving our loss. He shares our deep sense of sorrow for each of us is precious to Him. I believe He wept for Mary and Martha.
This morning I am reminded of the fact that Jesus loves me, understands me, and is gracious to me, in spite of my pain, sorrow, and grief. He meets me where I am, invites me back into relationship, and shares my pain. Lord thank You for Your amazing and comforting love and relationship.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Refreshment in the Desert
This morning I felt like reading from the Psalms, as it has been a while since I meditated on one of them. I turned to one of my favorites Psalm 63:1-8 NIV:
[1] "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
[2] I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
[3] Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
[4] I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
[5] I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
[6] On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
[7] Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
[8] I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."
Wow, each line is so rich. David wrote this psalm when he was in the desert. I can just see him reflecting on his physical thirst, which quickly became a reflection on his real thirst for the loving embrace of God. I imagine the dry plodding walk of someone in the desert, trying to find water, needing to keep moving to find that which they seek. I imagine the growing need, the dry mouth, the whole body becomes aware of its need for water.
Those who journey through deserts often, have learned to recognize the signs of water, learned where to look, and learned how to conserve that which they have already. Those who live by fresh water seldom think about the need to conserve, or how to find the hidden water that will keep them alive. Those who have water delivered to their door, or poured for them when they thirst, have little knowledge of where the water comes from, and how precious it is, they take it for granted.
I know that in my life, the times in the desert (dryness in my relationship with the Lord) have made me so much more appreciative of times of refreshing. I have seen the power and glory of God exhibited in ways that are astounding, and I have walked through dry and weary times. The reflection on what God has done and what I have seen help me to push through the dry seasons, knowing that times of refreshing are coming.
If I look closely at David's reflection, it is two lines about his dryness, and seven lines about the richness and blessings of relationship with God. He does not associate God with his dryness, that is from the desert, God is full of life and refreshing. David, in spite of the dryness, continues to seek God. He does not get angry with God for being in the desert, He rather reflects on the wonder of his relationship, and is moved to praise and singing. It is like he is a sailor walking through the desert singing about his love for the sea. The one makes him treasure the other even more.
Finally, what we choose to think on, is our choice. In the midst of the desert I can choose to think about the sand and the dryness, or I can think about the wonders of refreshment, showers of grace and mercy, the goodness of the Lord. Our mood and our vision will be greatly affected by that which we think about and look at. The second perspective has a look of hope and expectation, the first leads to self-focus and misery.
This morning I am encouraged to remember, and wait in joyful anticipation for times of refreshing in the Lord. He is good! He is full of life! His love is better than life! I can and will choose to praise Him, to reflect on His love and mercy! I will cling to Him, because His hand holds me up!
Amen!
[1] "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
[2] I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
[3] Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
[4] I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
[5] I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
[6] On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
[7] Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
[8] I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."
Wow, each line is so rich. David wrote this psalm when he was in the desert. I can just see him reflecting on his physical thirst, which quickly became a reflection on his real thirst for the loving embrace of God. I imagine the dry plodding walk of someone in the desert, trying to find water, needing to keep moving to find that which they seek. I imagine the growing need, the dry mouth, the whole body becomes aware of its need for water.
Those who journey through deserts often, have learned to recognize the signs of water, learned where to look, and learned how to conserve that which they have already. Those who live by fresh water seldom think about the need to conserve, or how to find the hidden water that will keep them alive. Those who have water delivered to their door, or poured for them when they thirst, have little knowledge of where the water comes from, and how precious it is, they take it for granted.
I know that in my life, the times in the desert (dryness in my relationship with the Lord) have made me so much more appreciative of times of refreshing. I have seen the power and glory of God exhibited in ways that are astounding, and I have walked through dry and weary times. The reflection on what God has done and what I have seen help me to push through the dry seasons, knowing that times of refreshing are coming.
If I look closely at David's reflection, it is two lines about his dryness, and seven lines about the richness and blessings of relationship with God. He does not associate God with his dryness, that is from the desert, God is full of life and refreshing. David, in spite of the dryness, continues to seek God. He does not get angry with God for being in the desert, He rather reflects on the wonder of his relationship, and is moved to praise and singing. It is like he is a sailor walking through the desert singing about his love for the sea. The one makes him treasure the other even more.
Finally, what we choose to think on, is our choice. In the midst of the desert I can choose to think about the sand and the dryness, or I can think about the wonders of refreshment, showers of grace and mercy, the goodness of the Lord. Our mood and our vision will be greatly affected by that which we think about and look at. The second perspective has a look of hope and expectation, the first leads to self-focus and misery.
This morning I am encouraged to remember, and wait in joyful anticipation for times of refreshing in the Lord. He is good! He is full of life! His love is better than life! I can and will choose to praise Him, to reflect on His love and mercy! I will cling to Him, because His hand holds me up!
Amen!
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Mercy vs Sacrifice; Sinners vs Righteous
I am reading from Matthew's Gospel and resting in the ninth chapter. I love this story about Jesus, for it shows His and the Father's heart towards those who don't know Him - Matthew 9:9-13 NIV:
[9] "As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
[10] While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
[12] On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. [13] But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The theme of these verses fits in well with my meditations of late on sin, self-righteousness and the Kingdom. If we look closely at the last sentence, we find a very interesting correlation that Jesus makes - mercy with sinners, righteous with sacrifice. He is welcoming the first pair and rejecting the second pair.
Again, we must put this in the context of comments towards the self-righteous Pharisees. He was trying to break them, and those who believed like them, out of their existing paradigm. He was communicating the heart of the Father and helping them to understand that the Father had a completely different approach then they thought.
Back to the last line - "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" and "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners". If I ask myself what does Jesus want? The answer is mercy and sinners. As I was thinking about this I realized that there is a certain cause and effect in play here as well. Sinners, who are called to relationship with the Lord, in spite of their sin, are very conscious of the mercy that has been extended to them. They recognize this mercy is not what they deserve, and they are grateful. When they encounter other sinners, rather than judging them in their sin, they introduce them to the one who has had mercy on them. They don't apply requirements for righteousness, for none were applied to them. If this is what Jesus wants, and who He came for, and who He came to call, then this is likely where He is, and where He wants us! In other words, if Jesus had an option He would rather hang out with sinners than with those who thought they were righteous, and He would want the same for us.
Following this thinking, Jesus (and thus His Father who He was representing) does not desire sacrifice and did not come to call the righteous. The original language is quite clear that this is exactly what Jesus said - sacrifice pertaining to the Law, and the sacrifices required to appease guilt, and righteous pertaining to the same - righteous within the context of the law. Again, we must look back at the message of righteousness through faith, not works as described by Paul in his letter to the Romans. Jesus is addressing the Pharisees who saw themselves as righteous and required others to fulfill the sacrifices of the law to attain their level of righteousness. Again, Jesus plainly is saying this is not what He or the Father desires.
So today my encouragement is to remember that He called me, extended mercy to me when I did not deserve it, and has given me His righteousness, not because of something I did, but because of His love and mercy. He desires this same attitude of me, to extend mercy and call sinners. Lastly, if He came to call sinners I am pretty sure that is where He is, and where He expects us to be. Personally I want to be where He is! Amen!
[9] "As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
[10] While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
[12] On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. [13] But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The theme of these verses fits in well with my meditations of late on sin, self-righteousness and the Kingdom. If we look closely at the last sentence, we find a very interesting correlation that Jesus makes - mercy with sinners, righteous with sacrifice. He is welcoming the first pair and rejecting the second pair.
Again, we must put this in the context of comments towards the self-righteous Pharisees. He was trying to break them, and those who believed like them, out of their existing paradigm. He was communicating the heart of the Father and helping them to understand that the Father had a completely different approach then they thought.
Back to the last line - "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" and "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners". If I ask myself what does Jesus want? The answer is mercy and sinners. As I was thinking about this I realized that there is a certain cause and effect in play here as well. Sinners, who are called to relationship with the Lord, in spite of their sin, are very conscious of the mercy that has been extended to them. They recognize this mercy is not what they deserve, and they are grateful. When they encounter other sinners, rather than judging them in their sin, they introduce them to the one who has had mercy on them. They don't apply requirements for righteousness, for none were applied to them. If this is what Jesus wants, and who He came for, and who He came to call, then this is likely where He is, and where He wants us! In other words, if Jesus had an option He would rather hang out with sinners than with those who thought they were righteous, and He would want the same for us.
Following this thinking, Jesus (and thus His Father who He was representing) does not desire sacrifice and did not come to call the righteous. The original language is quite clear that this is exactly what Jesus said - sacrifice pertaining to the Law, and the sacrifices required to appease guilt, and righteous pertaining to the same - righteous within the context of the law. Again, we must look back at the message of righteousness through faith, not works as described by Paul in his letter to the Romans. Jesus is addressing the Pharisees who saw themselves as righteous and required others to fulfill the sacrifices of the law to attain their level of righteousness. Again, Jesus plainly is saying this is not what He or the Father desires.
So today my encouragement is to remember that He called me, extended mercy to me when I did not deserve it, and has given me His righteousness, not because of something I did, but because of His love and mercy. He desires this same attitude of me, to extend mercy and call sinners. Lastly, if He came to call sinners I am pretty sure that is where He is, and where He expects us to be. Personally I want to be where He is! Amen!
The Kingdom and Little Children
This morning I was continuing my reading of Luke's eighteenth chapter - Luke 18:15-17 NIV:
[15] "People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. [16] But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [17] Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
I have always liked these verses, because they represent the way I think the Father is towards all of us. He welcomes us and desires us to come to Him.
This morning I thought I would dig into the original Greek, as there are two words that seem pretty significant "belongs" and "receive" both of which are describing the Kingdom of God. These are Jesus' words concerning the Kingdom, so it is important for us to understand them.
The first word translated 'belongs' is the Greek work Eimi and the definition is given as follows: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. Only a few times is this word translated 'belongs' in the scriptures, so this causes me to wonder about a fuller meaning. If we replaced belongs with the simple definition "is present" it significantly changes the way I read this verse. It would sound to me that little children have an awareness of the Kingdom, that us older people do not. I find from my experience that this is often true, that little children are more sensitive to the moving of God, and spiritual reality around them, although they sometimes don't have language to describe what they are sensing or feeling.
The second word here translated 'receive' is the Greek word dechomai and it is defined as follows:
1) to take with the hand
a) to take hold of, take up
2) to take up, receive
a) used of a place receiving one
b) to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship
1. to receive hospitality
2. to receive into one's family to bring up or educate
c) of the thing offered in speaking, teaching, instructing
1. to receive favourably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject
d) to receive. i.e. to take upon one's self, sustain, bear, endure
3) to receive, get
a) to learn
When I look at this definition, I imagine a little child holding out there hand to receive a gift their Father is giving them. There is an expectation and joy in the place of receiving something good. I imagine the child grasping this gift in their hand, recognizing that it is their gift because the Father has given it to them. There is no thought of earning or working, only receiving and taking it in their hand too examine and enjoy. A child will often not comprehend the actual value of the item that had been received, and I believe that is in play here as well, for all of us are like children in our understanding of the true riches of the Kingdom of God.
Finally, the fact that the way we receive the kingdom is critical to our ability to enter into the Kingdom, should cause us to review our attitude and heart. I think for me this means that it is not complicated and it is related to our heart attitude. We don't earn it, we receive it! It's not out of the ordinary, it is part of our life. In the same way we receive it, we should give it away.
Lord, help us to welcome Your Kingdom! Help us to take hold of it and embrace it with all our life, for it is a gift from You!
[15] "People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. [16] But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [17] Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
I have always liked these verses, because they represent the way I think the Father is towards all of us. He welcomes us and desires us to come to Him.
This morning I thought I would dig into the original Greek, as there are two words that seem pretty significant "belongs" and "receive" both of which are describing the Kingdom of God. These are Jesus' words concerning the Kingdom, so it is important for us to understand them.
The first word translated 'belongs' is the Greek work Eimi and the definition is given as follows: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. Only a few times is this word translated 'belongs' in the scriptures, so this causes me to wonder about a fuller meaning. If we replaced belongs with the simple definition "is present" it significantly changes the way I read this verse. It would sound to me that little children have an awareness of the Kingdom, that us older people do not. I find from my experience that this is often true, that little children are more sensitive to the moving of God, and spiritual reality around them, although they sometimes don't have language to describe what they are sensing or feeling.
The second word here translated 'receive' is the Greek word dechomai and it is defined as follows:
1) to take with the hand
a) to take hold of, take up
2) to take up, receive
a) used of a place receiving one
b) to receive or grant access to, a visitor, not to refuse intercourse or friendship
1. to receive hospitality
2. to receive into one's family to bring up or educate
c) of the thing offered in speaking, teaching, instructing
1. to receive favourably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject
d) to receive. i.e. to take upon one's self, sustain, bear, endure
3) to receive, get
a) to learn
When I look at this definition, I imagine a little child holding out there hand to receive a gift their Father is giving them. There is an expectation and joy in the place of receiving something good. I imagine the child grasping this gift in their hand, recognizing that it is their gift because the Father has given it to them. There is no thought of earning or working, only receiving and taking it in their hand too examine and enjoy. A child will often not comprehend the actual value of the item that had been received, and I believe that is in play here as well, for all of us are like children in our understanding of the true riches of the Kingdom of God.
Finally, the fact that the way we receive the kingdom is critical to our ability to enter into the Kingdom, should cause us to review our attitude and heart. I think for me this means that it is not complicated and it is related to our heart attitude. We don't earn it, we receive it! It's not out of the ordinary, it is part of our life. In the same way we receive it, we should give it away.
Lord, help us to welcome Your Kingdom! Help us to take hold of it and embrace it with all our life, for it is a gift from You!
Saturday, February 20, 2016
There is NO Self-Righteousness
This morning I felt like I should read from Luke's Gospel. I turned to chapter 18 and after reading through the whole chapter the following passages grabbed my attention - Luke 18:9-14 NIV:
[9] "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: [10] “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
[13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
[14] “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This is such an interesting story, for Jesus is addressing the Pharisees as well as the rest of the people who followed Him. The Pharisees were the ones that held themselves as righteous according to the law, they were the experts on God's word and had spent their lives pursuing this path of righteousness. These were the people that others looked up to, in regards to the religious purity, yet they were the people that Jesus confronted the most often, showing them how they were misunderstanding the purpose of the Law.
The Pharisees pursued external works as a way to righteousness, and Jesus is calling them to consider their hearts instead. Fasting and tithing, regular church attendance, etc. does not earn anyone righteousness. In fact these things can become a source of pride in our lives, as we judge others who don't do these things as worse than ourselves. The truth is that all of us are sinners, and have gone astray (Is. 53:6) and our only righteousness comes from Jesus (See Romans 1-5). There is NO self-righteouness. None of us is any better than anyone else in terms of righteousness on our own, it is only through our faith in Christ Jesus. If the gift is the same, how can we think of ourselves as better than others?
It is true that by the grace of God, and through our love for Him, that some of us have started to conform our lives to Him. Our calling is to be like Him, to become like Him, to represent Him to the world. Our lives become our witness and the people around us view our lives. We want our lives to point to Christ. Jesus was constantly pointing to His Father, constantly representing Him to the world, and we are called to do the same. This isn't a competition to see who can be the most righteous, the most pure, the most holy. Instead we called to relationship with the Lord, and invited to introduce others to Him.
So I am reminded today of my own sinfulness, my own need for righteousness through faith in Jesus, and I am so grateful that He has saved me. I want o walk humbly in the knowledge that it is all about Him, and I have just accepted the most fantastic gift ever given. It isn't something I earned, but rather it is the free gift of the Lord because of His love for me.
Amen.
[9] "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: [10] “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
[13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
[14] “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This is such an interesting story, for Jesus is addressing the Pharisees as well as the rest of the people who followed Him. The Pharisees were the ones that held themselves as righteous according to the law, they were the experts on God's word and had spent their lives pursuing this path of righteousness. These were the people that others looked up to, in regards to the religious purity, yet they were the people that Jesus confronted the most often, showing them how they were misunderstanding the purpose of the Law.
The Pharisees pursued external works as a way to righteousness, and Jesus is calling them to consider their hearts instead. Fasting and tithing, regular church attendance, etc. does not earn anyone righteousness. In fact these things can become a source of pride in our lives, as we judge others who don't do these things as worse than ourselves. The truth is that all of us are sinners, and have gone astray (Is. 53:6) and our only righteousness comes from Jesus (See Romans 1-5). There is NO self-righteouness. None of us is any better than anyone else in terms of righteousness on our own, it is only through our faith in Christ Jesus. If the gift is the same, how can we think of ourselves as better than others?
It is true that by the grace of God, and through our love for Him, that some of us have started to conform our lives to Him. Our calling is to be like Him, to become like Him, to represent Him to the world. Our lives become our witness and the people around us view our lives. We want our lives to point to Christ. Jesus was constantly pointing to His Father, constantly representing Him to the world, and we are called to do the same. This isn't a competition to see who can be the most righteous, the most pure, the most holy. Instead we called to relationship with the Lord, and invited to introduce others to Him.
So I am reminded today of my own sinfulness, my own need for righteousness through faith in Jesus, and I am so grateful that He has saved me. I want o walk humbly in the knowledge that it is all about Him, and I have just accepted the most fantastic gift ever given. It isn't something I earned, but rather it is the free gift of the Lord because of His love for me.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Hatred and Spiritual Blindness
This morning I thought I would go back to where I left off in John's first letter. It was a while ago that I started working through his letter verse by verse, and I really enjoyed that study. So this morning I went back to where I left off. The following verses caught my eye - 1 John 2:9-11 NIV:
[9] "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. [10] Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. [11] But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them."
When I read these verses I was reminded of a common dream I have where I am driving somewhere and it starts getting darker and darker and I have no idea where I am going because the darkness is blinding me. It is a bit unsettling to see such a clear parallel in my dreams with John's letter here. It is interesting, as we were just talking last night about how the Lord speaks to us through our dreams. I had used this very dream as an example of my not knowing where I was going in the future, being blind to what is up ahead.
In these verses John is speaking specifically about fellow members of the Body of Christ, for the Greek word is adelphos, which denotes a fellow believer, whether man or woman. Hatred for a fellow brother or sister, a fellow member of the body of Christ, causes spiritual blindness according to John. Good Spiritual sight seems to me to be related to our understanding of God and His heart and purpose for ourselves and those around us, and spiritual darkness or blindness would be a lack of this understanding.
I can definitely see John's point, for if we are hating a fellow believer, we are rejecting one that the Lord has chosen and died to save. We are rejecting His perspective on their significance and membership in the Body of Christ. Secondly, the most significant characteristic of Christ is His love. He IS love, literally the word incarnate. Love is the greatest of gifts (1 Cor 13:13) and the most excellent way according to Paul. It is the single thing that is supposed to differentiate us as followers of Christ (John 13:35). It is the new commandment that Jesus gave us, that we should love one another (John 13:34). It is supposed to be the most significant characteristic of the Body of Christ, the church.
Thus, John can safely say that anyone that hates a fellow member of the Body of Christ is still in darkness, for they are not operating in the single most important charism of the church - love. I am sure one of the great disappointments the Lord has with His church today is the fact that the church is hardly distinguishable from the rest of the world. We seem to have lost our love and affection for one another, choosing instead to argue and fight over doctrinal differences, and scriptural interpretation. We compete with each other for members, we discourage inter-church and inter-denominational fellowship. We offer a thin hand of fellowship to our fellow brothers and sisters. We each think that our perspective is correct and give into spiritual pride as we judge all those who don't agree with us.
We are called to love one another, to be for each other, to have this love be so evident that world can easily identify that we are followers of Jesus. Let us pray for the spiritual blindness to be lifted that we can see where we are supposed to go, and what we are supposed to do. Let us lay down our judgments and mistrust of each other, let us set aside our hatred and disagreements and let us open our eyes to see one another the way the Lord sees us, as someone worth giving our very life for out of love.
Amen Lord, help me to see!
[9] "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. [10] Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. [11] But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them."
When I read these verses I was reminded of a common dream I have where I am driving somewhere and it starts getting darker and darker and I have no idea where I am going because the darkness is blinding me. It is a bit unsettling to see such a clear parallel in my dreams with John's letter here. It is interesting, as we were just talking last night about how the Lord speaks to us through our dreams. I had used this very dream as an example of my not knowing where I was going in the future, being blind to what is up ahead.
In these verses John is speaking specifically about fellow members of the Body of Christ, for the Greek word is adelphos, which denotes a fellow believer, whether man or woman. Hatred for a fellow brother or sister, a fellow member of the body of Christ, causes spiritual blindness according to John. Good Spiritual sight seems to me to be related to our understanding of God and His heart and purpose for ourselves and those around us, and spiritual darkness or blindness would be a lack of this understanding.
I can definitely see John's point, for if we are hating a fellow believer, we are rejecting one that the Lord has chosen and died to save. We are rejecting His perspective on their significance and membership in the Body of Christ. Secondly, the most significant characteristic of Christ is His love. He IS love, literally the word incarnate. Love is the greatest of gifts (1 Cor 13:13) and the most excellent way according to Paul. It is the single thing that is supposed to differentiate us as followers of Christ (John 13:35). It is the new commandment that Jesus gave us, that we should love one another (John 13:34). It is supposed to be the most significant characteristic of the Body of Christ, the church.
Thus, John can safely say that anyone that hates a fellow member of the Body of Christ is still in darkness, for they are not operating in the single most important charism of the church - love. I am sure one of the great disappointments the Lord has with His church today is the fact that the church is hardly distinguishable from the rest of the world. We seem to have lost our love and affection for one another, choosing instead to argue and fight over doctrinal differences, and scriptural interpretation. We compete with each other for members, we discourage inter-church and inter-denominational fellowship. We offer a thin hand of fellowship to our fellow brothers and sisters. We each think that our perspective is correct and give into spiritual pride as we judge all those who don't agree with us.
We are called to love one another, to be for each other, to have this love be so evident that world can easily identify that we are followers of Jesus. Let us pray for the spiritual blindness to be lifted that we can see where we are supposed to go, and what we are supposed to do. Let us lay down our judgments and mistrust of each other, let us set aside our hatred and disagreements and let us open our eyes to see one another the way the Lord sees us, as someone worth giving our very life for out of love.
Amen Lord, help me to see!
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Duck Down So The Lord Can Swing
This morning I read through Peter's first letter to the church. It is so interesting when you read through one of the letters all in one sitting, you can get a much better sense of the man who wrote it, and His overall theme. I spend so much time in Paul's writings, it is nice to read another author. My quick synopsis of Peter is that he is more a man of faith than of logic, a man who has suffered and persevered, and seen God's hand caring for him through it all.
The two verses that stood out to me today we the following - 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV:
[6] "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. [7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
As I read these verses, the part about casting all your anxiety on Him, is what resonated the strongest in my heart. I don't suffer from anxiety, but I have plenty to occupy my mind, and I think that qualifies as something I can unload into His caring hands. The original Greek could be translated as 'casting your cares on Him, because He cares for you' and that is more in line with my life. I have many cares that I am concerned with, and the point is simply that God has the same cares, because He cares for me. What an incredible thought - God cares for me, and because He does, He is willing to help me with my load.
A good example of what this is like is when I have a hard day at work, my sweetheart will take time to listen to me because she cares for me and loves me. My cares become her cares and vice versa. Peter is saying that our relationship with God can be exactly like that.
Secondly, his point about humbling ourselves under God's mighty hand is in recognition of God's capability and care. We don't need to prove our worth, don't need to yell to get His attention, don't need to try to do everything on our own, but rather can trust in His power and authority to lift us up, to give us strength, to give us His perspective. He really does care for us, and will not withhold His power from us.
As I was thinking about this the following imagery came to mind. It is like I am wading into a fistfight, and God is behind me and is obviously taller and has a longer reach. I can try to take on the opponent myself, or I can duck down and let the Lord swing at the opponent. In ducking down, I am bowing in front of His mighty hand(s) so that He can use them. If I stand in front of Him, I keep getting in the way. It might not be exactly what Peter was thinking about when He wrote these lines some many years ago, but that imagery really helps me!
So today I am encouraged to cast my cares upon Him, to duck down (humble myself) so He can work. I am encouraged to do this because He cares for me!
Amen!
The two verses that stood out to me today we the following - 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV:
[6] "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. [7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
As I read these verses, the part about casting all your anxiety on Him, is what resonated the strongest in my heart. I don't suffer from anxiety, but I have plenty to occupy my mind, and I think that qualifies as something I can unload into His caring hands. The original Greek could be translated as 'casting your cares on Him, because He cares for you' and that is more in line with my life. I have many cares that I am concerned with, and the point is simply that God has the same cares, because He cares for me. What an incredible thought - God cares for me, and because He does, He is willing to help me with my load.
A good example of what this is like is when I have a hard day at work, my sweetheart will take time to listen to me because she cares for me and loves me. My cares become her cares and vice versa. Peter is saying that our relationship with God can be exactly like that.
Secondly, his point about humbling ourselves under God's mighty hand is in recognition of God's capability and care. We don't need to prove our worth, don't need to yell to get His attention, don't need to try to do everything on our own, but rather can trust in His power and authority to lift us up, to give us strength, to give us His perspective. He really does care for us, and will not withhold His power from us.
As I was thinking about this the following imagery came to mind. It is like I am wading into a fistfight, and God is behind me and is obviously taller and has a longer reach. I can try to take on the opponent myself, or I can duck down and let the Lord swing at the opponent. In ducking down, I am bowing in front of His mighty hand(s) so that He can use them. If I stand in front of Him, I keep getting in the way. It might not be exactly what Peter was thinking about when He wrote these lines some many years ago, but that imagery really helps me!
So today I am encouraged to cast my cares upon Him, to duck down (humble myself) so He can work. I am encouraged to do this because He cares for me!
Amen!
Friday, February 12, 2016
Wages and Benefits
This morning I continue to chew on Paul's letter to the Romans. There is so much to digest and understand in this letter, I could probably spend a month every year just wading through it again and again, gaining more and more insight. Today, the verses I am thinking on are from Romans 6:22-23 NIV:
[22] "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves [bond-servants] of God, the benefit [fruit] you reap leads to holiness [sanctification and consecration], and the result is eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I added some alternative translations into the text, which for me is helpful in understanding Paul. In other words, Paul is saying that when we willingly choose to bind ourselves to Jesus, to serve His will, we reap the fruit of that decision. The fruit we experience here is related to becoming more like Him, set apart for God's purposes and uniting ourselves with Him. The ultimate fruit is eternal life, which Jesus (as quoted by John) equates with knowing God relationally, both here on earth and in eternity (John 17:3). What a great deal!
The second thing I noticed is found in the last line - the wages of sin and the gift of God. Paul is comparing the two life-choices, serving sin and serving God. In the first (sin) we receive payment (wages) for our choices and the ultimate effect is we forfeit our life (death). That sounds to me like I am actually paying out of my life (the wages for sin) every time I sin and the result is not good, for at the end I receive death. You could also say that everytime you sin, you receive payment in the form of a little bit of death being released into your life, with the final payment guaranteed. On the other side, if I choose to serve God, He gives me the gift of Eternal life, and I reap the fruit of relationship with Him. If I were to draw this up in an equation form it would look like this:
Our Choice Payment Received Final result
Serve sin a little bit of death death (not eternal life)
Serve God relationship with Him Eternal Life with Him
This seems so straight forward, yet many have become convinced that the opposite is true, that serving sin leads to excitement, adventure, fun, and fulfillment. I have heard people describe final judgement and hell as being like one giant party of booze, drugs, music and sex, while heaven is completely boring and filled with an angry God. The words of the Billy Joel song Only the Good Die Young describes this perspective pretty well - "I would rather laugh with the sinners than die with the saints." This is such a twisted perspective it could be considered delusional, yet it is quite common and widely accepted. Let us pray for an end to this delusion in our lives and lives of our young people!
This morning I am encouraged to recognize and enjoy the fruit (benefits) of my decision to follow the Lord, choosing to serve Him with my life. I am encouraged to think on the final benefit of this choice, eternal life with Him, who is the very definition of love!
[22] "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves [bond-servants] of God, the benefit [fruit] you reap leads to holiness [sanctification and consecration], and the result is eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I added some alternative translations into the text, which for me is helpful in understanding Paul. In other words, Paul is saying that when we willingly choose to bind ourselves to Jesus, to serve His will, we reap the fruit of that decision. The fruit we experience here is related to becoming more like Him, set apart for God's purposes and uniting ourselves with Him. The ultimate fruit is eternal life, which Jesus (as quoted by John) equates with knowing God relationally, both here on earth and in eternity (John 17:3). What a great deal!
The second thing I noticed is found in the last line - the wages of sin and the gift of God. Paul is comparing the two life-choices, serving sin and serving God. In the first (sin) we receive payment (wages) for our choices and the ultimate effect is we forfeit our life (death). That sounds to me like I am actually paying out of my life (the wages for sin) every time I sin and the result is not good, for at the end I receive death. You could also say that everytime you sin, you receive payment in the form of a little bit of death being released into your life, with the final payment guaranteed. On the other side, if I choose to serve God, He gives me the gift of Eternal life, and I reap the fruit of relationship with Him. If I were to draw this up in an equation form it would look like this:
Our Choice Payment Received Final result
Serve sin a little bit of death death (not eternal life)
Serve God relationship with Him Eternal Life with Him
This seems so straight forward, yet many have become convinced that the opposite is true, that serving sin leads to excitement, adventure, fun, and fulfillment. I have heard people describe final judgement and hell as being like one giant party of booze, drugs, music and sex, while heaven is completely boring and filled with an angry God. The words of the Billy Joel song Only the Good Die Young describes this perspective pretty well - "I would rather laugh with the sinners than die with the saints." This is such a twisted perspective it could be considered delusional, yet it is quite common and widely accepted. Let us pray for an end to this delusion in our lives and lives of our young people!
This morning I am encouraged to recognize and enjoy the fruit (benefits) of my decision to follow the Lord, choosing to serve Him with my life. I am encouraged to think on the final benefit of this choice, eternal life with Him, who is the very definition of love!
Thursday, February 11, 2016
A Bond-Servant to Righteousness
This morning I am continuing my reading from Paul's letter to the Romans 6:16-18 NIV:
[16] "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey---whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? [17] But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. [18] You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
I was specifically focused on the word slave(s) in these verses. We normally understand the word slave to someone who is captive against their will, forced to serve someone or something completely against their will. However, the Greek word here is doulos and that term is more closely translated bond-servant. The key point is that it is not against the individuals will that they are in this position. One definition describes the bond-servant as "one who gives himself up to another's will". Reading verse 16 closely, it is apparent that Paul means exactly that as he describes the transaction as "you offer yourselves to someone as obedient bond-servants". In the remaining verses, we should understand that anytime the word slave is translated, it was actually the word Doulos, and should be understood as I just described, a willing bond-servant. For me this was important, as I could never see myself becoming a slave to righteousness, but can definitely see myself as a bond-servant of righteousness.
Secondly, Paul describes responsibility for sin as being our choice "you offer yourselves", and that is generally the correct understanding as far as I can tell. When we sin we are, of our own will, choosing to do something different than the will of God. We aren't forced to sin, and we bear responsibility for our sin. This is not a popular perspective these days of casting blame upon others. When something bad happens the first thing we tend to do, with our media leading the charge, is to ask who is to blame. From God's perspective the blame for our sin lies with us. There are the forces of the world, the flesh and the evil one, but we have free will, which is something that always brings back the responsibility for our actions onto our shoulders. We can be influenced by these other things, but at the heart of every sin is a choice we make. This is a huge theological topic and one that no one fully grasps, for it deals with the will of God, and His purposes which are things we can just vaguely understand, so I am just going to stop here, and say that I think Paul has it correct.
More important than any sin of mine is the salvation offered to me in Christ Jesus. Salvation and forgiveness, mercy and compassion are what I am choosing to embrace and think on. I am choosing now, of my free will, to make myself a bond-servant of God. I am choosing, and have been choosing daily for years, to give myself to His will, not mine. I am not perfect in this pursuit, but I am getting better every day, taking little steps in becoming more and more like Him. I choose to focus on the beauty of His grace and righteousness which wash over me. I choose to think on the wonders and majestic nature of God and His creation. I choose to try and represent Him to those I meet and those I have known for years. I choose to embrace my freedom from sin, purchased by Christ Jesus, and offer the rest of my life to Him, because I love Him. I have willing bound myself to Him, the King of Righteousness, for to know Him is eternal life (John 17:3).
Amen!
[16] "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey---whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? [17] But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. [18] You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
I was specifically focused on the word slave(s) in these verses. We normally understand the word slave to someone who is captive against their will, forced to serve someone or something completely against their will. However, the Greek word here is doulos and that term is more closely translated bond-servant. The key point is that it is not against the individuals will that they are in this position. One definition describes the bond-servant as "one who gives himself up to another's will". Reading verse 16 closely, it is apparent that Paul means exactly that as he describes the transaction as "you offer yourselves to someone as obedient bond-servants". In the remaining verses, we should understand that anytime the word slave is translated, it was actually the word Doulos, and should be understood as I just described, a willing bond-servant. For me this was important, as I could never see myself becoming a slave to righteousness, but can definitely see myself as a bond-servant of righteousness.
Secondly, Paul describes responsibility for sin as being our choice "you offer yourselves", and that is generally the correct understanding as far as I can tell. When we sin we are, of our own will, choosing to do something different than the will of God. We aren't forced to sin, and we bear responsibility for our sin. This is not a popular perspective these days of casting blame upon others. When something bad happens the first thing we tend to do, with our media leading the charge, is to ask who is to blame. From God's perspective the blame for our sin lies with us. There are the forces of the world, the flesh and the evil one, but we have free will, which is something that always brings back the responsibility for our actions onto our shoulders. We can be influenced by these other things, but at the heart of every sin is a choice we make. This is a huge theological topic and one that no one fully grasps, for it deals with the will of God, and His purposes which are things we can just vaguely understand, so I am just going to stop here, and say that I think Paul has it correct.
More important than any sin of mine is the salvation offered to me in Christ Jesus. Salvation and forgiveness, mercy and compassion are what I am choosing to embrace and think on. I am choosing now, of my free will, to make myself a bond-servant of God. I am choosing, and have been choosing daily for years, to give myself to His will, not mine. I am not perfect in this pursuit, but I am getting better every day, taking little steps in becoming more and more like Him. I choose to focus on the beauty of His grace and righteousness which wash over me. I choose to think on the wonders and majestic nature of God and His creation. I choose to try and represent Him to those I meet and those I have known for years. I choose to embrace my freedom from sin, purchased by Christ Jesus, and offer the rest of my life to Him, because I love Him. I have willing bound myself to Him, the King of Righteousness, for to know Him is eternal life (John 17:3).
Amen!
Sunday, February 7, 2016
In Christ, I Have Authority Over My Mind
Recently the Lord has given me some great insight and encouragement in the area of my thought life. This may not be something you struggle with, but for the last 40 plus years it has been a regular struggle, battle, and annoyance in my life. What I am talking about is the access to my thoughts that the enemy had and his ability to plant thoughts in my mind.
You may not be real familiar with this if you do not regularly monitor your thoughts and their point of origination, but it something that the Lord has made me increasingly aware of in my life. As I have paid attention to my thoughts, I have recognized that some do not originate from me. Some, and I find this number increasing, are clearly from the Lord, and others are clearly not from the Lord (most likely originating from dark spiritual entities). For years I have just assumed that this was part of the struggle that we as Christians learned to deal with, and that we learned how to walk victoriously, rejecting the thoughts from the enemy. However, I also found myself regularly listening to the thoughts and agreeing in some ways with their accusations against God, against others, and always drawing my eyes away from God. I have grown increasingly frustrated with this particular struggle, believing that as a mature Christian I should see more victory in my life in this area.
The other day I was thinking about this situation and I asked the Lord why the enemy has access to my thoughts. I felt like the Lord responded, "because you allow him to have access." He then pointed to my belief that this was just a normal part of a Christian's life, and said that this was the access point the enemy used, as I was allowing him in because I didn't realize it could be any different. I just assumed that because he (the enemy) was a spiritual entity I had no way to stop him.
The Lord then took me through a quick litany of scriptures and showed how He had defeated the enemy completely and had all authority and power (Matt 28:18), and how I was now a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), hidden in Him (Col 3:3) and had authority to drive out the enemy (Mark 3:15). The enemy has no authority in His kingdom, and I am in His Kingdom!
I have heard Graham Cooke and Bill Johnson both talk about how the enemy only has power in our lives in areas where we allow him, where we are in agreement, and this finally made sense to me in this area. My thought and belief that it was a normal part of Christian life, was the very point of access for him, where I was unwittingly in agreement with him.
The Lord's point was very simple, in Him, I have authority over my mind. I can shut the door on the enemy, and any other source, and they don't have any right of access. As His follower, I have authority over the enemy, and I just need to walk in that authority. I am a new creation, I no longer have to allow what was present in the 'old man', access to the 'new man'.
As I was thinking about this an analogy popped into my head - that of buying a house. When we buy a new house, part of the contract is NOT that we allow the old owner access to the house whenever he wants. When we purchase the house, all the keys are handed over and it is now our house, and we have authority and power over who we allow into that house. In the same way when we experience salvation in Christ, we become a new creation in Him, casting away the old. The old no longer has any right or access, unless we grant it. Paul talks quite a bit about this subject in a more thorough way in Romans 6-8.
Upon realizing this truth in my life, I quickly repented (changed the way I am thinking) and shut that door. Since that time, I have noticed a complete freedom from the accusing and lying, self-focused thoughts that don't originate with me. I still have my own selfishness, but those thoughts are not the same as what I was struggling with before.
I share this in the hopes that some of you might recognize a similar situation in your lives, and discover truth that will set you free from the lies and accusations of the enemy, especially in the area of your thoughts.
Peace, Sam
You may not be real familiar with this if you do not regularly monitor your thoughts and their point of origination, but it something that the Lord has made me increasingly aware of in my life. As I have paid attention to my thoughts, I have recognized that some do not originate from me. Some, and I find this number increasing, are clearly from the Lord, and others are clearly not from the Lord (most likely originating from dark spiritual entities). For years I have just assumed that this was part of the struggle that we as Christians learned to deal with, and that we learned how to walk victoriously, rejecting the thoughts from the enemy. However, I also found myself regularly listening to the thoughts and agreeing in some ways with their accusations against God, against others, and always drawing my eyes away from God. I have grown increasingly frustrated with this particular struggle, believing that as a mature Christian I should see more victory in my life in this area.
The other day I was thinking about this situation and I asked the Lord why the enemy has access to my thoughts. I felt like the Lord responded, "because you allow him to have access." He then pointed to my belief that this was just a normal part of a Christian's life, and said that this was the access point the enemy used, as I was allowing him in because I didn't realize it could be any different. I just assumed that because he (the enemy) was a spiritual entity I had no way to stop him.
The Lord then took me through a quick litany of scriptures and showed how He had defeated the enemy completely and had all authority and power (Matt 28:18), and how I was now a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), hidden in Him (Col 3:3) and had authority to drive out the enemy (Mark 3:15). The enemy has no authority in His kingdom, and I am in His Kingdom!
I have heard Graham Cooke and Bill Johnson both talk about how the enemy only has power in our lives in areas where we allow him, where we are in agreement, and this finally made sense to me in this area. My thought and belief that it was a normal part of Christian life, was the very point of access for him, where I was unwittingly in agreement with him.
The Lord's point was very simple, in Him, I have authority over my mind. I can shut the door on the enemy, and any other source, and they don't have any right of access. As His follower, I have authority over the enemy, and I just need to walk in that authority. I am a new creation, I no longer have to allow what was present in the 'old man', access to the 'new man'.
As I was thinking about this an analogy popped into my head - that of buying a house. When we buy a new house, part of the contract is NOT that we allow the old owner access to the house whenever he wants. When we purchase the house, all the keys are handed over and it is now our house, and we have authority and power over who we allow into that house. In the same way when we experience salvation in Christ, we become a new creation in Him, casting away the old. The old no longer has any right or access, unless we grant it. Paul talks quite a bit about this subject in a more thorough way in Romans 6-8.
Upon realizing this truth in my life, I quickly repented (changed the way I am thinking) and shut that door. Since that time, I have noticed a complete freedom from the accusing and lying, self-focused thoughts that don't originate with me. I still have my own selfishness, but those thoughts are not the same as what I was struggling with before.
I share this in the hopes that some of you might recognize a similar situation in your lives, and discover truth that will set you free from the lies and accusations of the enemy, especially in the area of your thoughts.
Peace, Sam
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Asking for the Whole Meal
This morning I am reading where I left off yesterday in Mark's Gospel. This story is a great example of Jesus signalling that salvation was available to all people, not just the Jews. Here is the story - Mark 7:24-30 NIV:
[24] "Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. [25] In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. [26] The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
[27] “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.”
[28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”
[29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
[30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone."
I have always been intrigued by this interchange between Jesus and this woman. She is clearly not a Jew, but is described as a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. The area of Tyre and Sidon was where a significant Mediterranean port existed, and this area, though now ruled by Rome had a long history of Hellenistic influence. To be Greek meant you were raised with the standard Greek pantheon of gods.
So we have here a women, not of the Jewish faith, not believing in God as we know Him, who comes to Jesus because she heard He could heal. Tyre is in the north of Israel, and a little more than 30 miles from the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum where Jesus set up His base of ministry. Jesus was apparently visiting Tyre to take a break, as He did not want people to know where He was staying. However, people in all of Israel were talking about Jesus, and someone must have seen Him, recognized that He was in town, and news got out traveling through the neighborhood lines of communication. No marketing campaign was necessary for Jesus ministry, it was the people who witnessed His miracles that were His messengers.
This woman was willing to cross faith boundaries to find relief for her daughter, who was possessed by an unclean or foul spirit. She knew the basics of authority and power; when you wanted to cast out something that was unwanted, you had to find someone with the authority, power and knowledge to do so. When we are sick, most of us go to a licensed and educated doctor to be treated, because we know they have the authority, power and knowledge to help us. She had heard stories about Jesus and recognized that He had something others did not, and was willing to seek Him out to see if He could help. Basically she was bearing witness to the Kingdom of God that Jesus had been proclaiming and demonstrating. She heard the stories and recognized that this man Jesus was demonstrating the kind of authority and power she needed.
People in great need will do extraordinary things to seek for help. She tracked Him down and threw herself at His feet, begging for His help. His response seems a bit mean initially, but I believe that His heart was already moved by her desperation. Anyway, I believe He was looking for faith, something the Father would have already planted in her to cause her to even seek Jesus out in the first place. Jesus had been given a task and that was to preach the Kingdom to the remnants of the chosen people, the Jews, and he gave similar clear instructions to His disciples when He sent them out (Matt 10:5-6). Yet here, He sees that the Father is already spreading a wider net of faith, and she clearly has it. She was willing to settle for crumbs, as referenced in their conversation, but the Lord never just gives crumbs, His invitation is always to His full banquet.
I wonder how many of us think this way about the Lord, that we are just hoping for crumbs, knowing that anything is better than nothing? We have this idea that we can't ask for the whole meal, the whole blessing, thinking we have disqualified ourselves in some way. We think the best we can hope for is some small pittance of God. Jesus demonstrates the truth of the matter here and heals her daughter. He heals the daughter of someone who has never belonged to the "right" church, who didn't know the Law, who wasn't pursuing righteousness, who wasn't descended from Abraham, and who likely worshipped idols. Salvation is available to all of us, no less the righteous or the sinner. His love is for all people, and He holds nothing back from one or the other. If God is willing to heal the daughter of someone who is clearly not one of His people, how could we ever think He wouldn't open wide the doors to those who know Him and love Him. I never gave my son less than I gave some stranger who asked me for something.
Finally, Jesus has authority over all things, over every situation! So let us be encouraged today that His love (all His love), authority (all His authority), and power (all His power) is available to us. We don't need to beg for scraps, for He loves us all equally, whether we know Him or not, whether we have just heard about Him or whether we have walked with Him for years. He desires for us to experience the reality of the His Kingdom, demonstrated in our lives.
Amen Lord! I am asking for the whole meal, not just crumbs, because that is what You desire to give me!
[24] "Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. [25] In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. [26] The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
[27] “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.”
[28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”
[29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
[30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone."
I have always been intrigued by this interchange between Jesus and this woman. She is clearly not a Jew, but is described as a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. The area of Tyre and Sidon was where a significant Mediterranean port existed, and this area, though now ruled by Rome had a long history of Hellenistic influence. To be Greek meant you were raised with the standard Greek pantheon of gods.
So we have here a women, not of the Jewish faith, not believing in God as we know Him, who comes to Jesus because she heard He could heal. Tyre is in the north of Israel, and a little more than 30 miles from the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum where Jesus set up His base of ministry. Jesus was apparently visiting Tyre to take a break, as He did not want people to know where He was staying. However, people in all of Israel were talking about Jesus, and someone must have seen Him, recognized that He was in town, and news got out traveling through the neighborhood lines of communication. No marketing campaign was necessary for Jesus ministry, it was the people who witnessed His miracles that were His messengers.
This woman was willing to cross faith boundaries to find relief for her daughter, who was possessed by an unclean or foul spirit. She knew the basics of authority and power; when you wanted to cast out something that was unwanted, you had to find someone with the authority, power and knowledge to do so. When we are sick, most of us go to a licensed and educated doctor to be treated, because we know they have the authority, power and knowledge to help us. She had heard stories about Jesus and recognized that He had something others did not, and was willing to seek Him out to see if He could help. Basically she was bearing witness to the Kingdom of God that Jesus had been proclaiming and demonstrating. She heard the stories and recognized that this man Jesus was demonstrating the kind of authority and power she needed.
People in great need will do extraordinary things to seek for help. She tracked Him down and threw herself at His feet, begging for His help. His response seems a bit mean initially, but I believe that His heart was already moved by her desperation. Anyway, I believe He was looking for faith, something the Father would have already planted in her to cause her to even seek Jesus out in the first place. Jesus had been given a task and that was to preach the Kingdom to the remnants of the chosen people, the Jews, and he gave similar clear instructions to His disciples when He sent them out (Matt 10:5-6). Yet here, He sees that the Father is already spreading a wider net of faith, and she clearly has it. She was willing to settle for crumbs, as referenced in their conversation, but the Lord never just gives crumbs, His invitation is always to His full banquet.
I wonder how many of us think this way about the Lord, that we are just hoping for crumbs, knowing that anything is better than nothing? We have this idea that we can't ask for the whole meal, the whole blessing, thinking we have disqualified ourselves in some way. We think the best we can hope for is some small pittance of God. Jesus demonstrates the truth of the matter here and heals her daughter. He heals the daughter of someone who has never belonged to the "right" church, who didn't know the Law, who wasn't pursuing righteousness, who wasn't descended from Abraham, and who likely worshipped idols. Salvation is available to all of us, no less the righteous or the sinner. His love is for all people, and He holds nothing back from one or the other. If God is willing to heal the daughter of someone who is clearly not one of His people, how could we ever think He wouldn't open wide the doors to those who know Him and love Him. I never gave my son less than I gave some stranger who asked me for something.
Finally, Jesus has authority over all things, over every situation! So let us be encouraged today that His love (all His love), authority (all His authority), and power (all His power) is available to us. We don't need to beg for scraps, for He loves us all equally, whether we know Him or not, whether we have just heard about Him or whether we have walked with Him for years. He desires for us to experience the reality of the His Kingdom, demonstrated in our lives.
Amen Lord! I am asking for the whole meal, not just crumbs, because that is what You desire to give me!
Monday, February 1, 2016
Eyes on Him
This morning I felt like reading from Paul's letter to the Galatians 5:13-16, 22-25 NIV:
[13] "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. [14] For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [15] If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. [16] So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
[22] "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
As I was reading these verses this morning, I was conscious of how 'other' focused we are called to be. Paul encourages us to fight against indulging our own flesh by serving one another, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. In walking by the Spirit, as being led by the Holy Spirit, we are focused on the direction of the Spirit, rather than our flesh. I think I have said this before, but I am definitely aware of the fact that pretty much all my sins originate from a selfish perspective. When my eyes are fixed on myself, it is very hard to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and it is very hard to love my neighbor.
My prayer this morning is that I might consistently turn my eyes away from my own flesh and turn towards the Lord. As I learn to walk more fully in His ways, my life will be filled with more of the fruit of that pursuit. Who doesn't want more love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control in their life? I know that I do! Lord help me to be more focused on You, in step with You Holy Spirit!
[13] "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. [14] For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [15] If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. [16] So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
[22] "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
As I was reading these verses this morning, I was conscious of how 'other' focused we are called to be. Paul encourages us to fight against indulging our own flesh by serving one another, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. In walking by the Spirit, as being led by the Holy Spirit, we are focused on the direction of the Spirit, rather than our flesh. I think I have said this before, but I am definitely aware of the fact that pretty much all my sins originate from a selfish perspective. When my eyes are fixed on myself, it is very hard to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and it is very hard to love my neighbor.
My prayer this morning is that I might consistently turn my eyes away from my own flesh and turn towards the Lord. As I learn to walk more fully in His ways, my life will be filled with more of the fruit of that pursuit. Who doesn't want more love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control in their life? I know that I do! Lord help me to be more focused on You, in step with You Holy Spirit!
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