An Excellent Exchange

This morning I am continuing to read from Luke, chapter 14, from where I left off yesterday.  This morning the verses are a bit challenging to my Midwestern, American mindset of independence and self-reliance.  Here are the verses - Luke 14:25-27,33 NIV:

[25] “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: [26] “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. [27] And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” 

[33] “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”

All I can say is that Jesus had a strange way of inviting people to be His disciples. Maybe that is a bit of a stretch here, for the context was that many were following Him, and it seems to me that Jesus is establishing a level of commitment required. 

Now these words can seem very harsh and uninviting, but when I read them I am reminded of some statements Paul made in his letter to the Philippians 3:7-14 NIV:

[7] “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8] What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. [10] I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” 

[12] “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

When we read verses like those in Luke 14, we tend to focus on what we are giving up, and in Paul’s mind, all of that is just garbage compared to knowing Christ Jesus.  This is one of those forest and trees deals where we can be so focused on what we “have” to give up, that we never see the immensity of what we receive, of what we step into!  Paul had it all, and in his view his past accolades and accomplishments were trash when he compared them to Christ Jesus.

There have been several game shows where contestants are given the choice between what they have in their hands, usually a gift of some value, or cash, and some unknown gift of unknown value.  The enemy would try to convince us that this is similar, except the life of following Christ Jesus is anything but better or full of life.  He wants us to focus on our little lives, like they are of significant value, or full of personal enjoyment,  and paints a picture of following Jesus as being one of constant self sacrifice and struggle, where there Is no enjoyment, no life, no fun, etc.

Again, going back to Paul, he knew the truth, and was boldly proclaiming that everything else is trash compared to knowing Jesus!  

There is an invitation to let go of our past, our lives, as we step into relationship with Jesus.  Most of us struggle with that, but the more we know Him, the more we recognize the truth of Paul’s statement. Knowing Jesus is worth more than anything we have, anything we have accomplished, anything else we can ever experience.

The exchange He offers us is our limited terrestrial existence to be replaced with eternal life. There is freedom, love, mercy, forgiveness, encouragement, strength, healing, joy, and intimacy in following Christ!  

Let us recognize that in giving up everything, we receive so much more!

Let us choose to follow the one that is better than anything and everything else, and in whose comparison, everything else is trash. That is a an excellent exchange!

Amen!

Being Interruptible

This morning I felt led to read from Luke, chapter 14. I always enjoy my time in the Gospels for I get to know Jesus better through the accounts of His life and ministry.  This morning is no exception.  Here are the verses I am reflecting on - Luke 14:16-24 NIV:

[16] “Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. [17] At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 

[18] “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 

[19] “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 

[20] “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 

[21] “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 

[22] “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 

[23] “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. [24] I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

On first reading, and in the context of the chapter, its clear Jesus is referring to the Jews as the ones who were first invited.  It is a sad reality that many of the Jews of His day, and many today still today miss the fact that the Messiah came and offered redemption for all, forgiving our sins, breaking the power of the enemy, establishing a New Covenant and making a way for us to be fully restored to the relationship with the Father.

As I reflected more on these verses, I saw a theme that was more relatable for me, namely the warning of being too busy for the Lord!  Each of the invited guests had seemingly legitimate excuses, but the Lord was not impressed.  In my life I am often so tasks orientated that I don’t take time for the opportunity to represent the Lord right in front of me!  

For example, about a month ago, I was driving a few hours back to an airport during one of my recent business trips and stopped at a McDonalds for a quick bite for dinner.  As I was standing waiting for my order a young man came up and started talking to me.  He was most likely a homeless person, wearing a dirty shirt, weathered face, but very conversational.  We covered a wide range of topics quickly, just chit-chatting, and I noticed his shirt was actually a Christian shirt, with something about Jesus written on the front (Sorry I don’t remember exactly what it said).  Finally someone came to the counter and the young man asked if he could have a glass of water,  and upon receiving it went back to his seat and back to what He appeared to be reading.  I got my order and headed to the car and started back on the road.  I was thinking about my brief engagement with the young man, feeling good about my openness to talk to a homeless person and I felt the Lord say, “You could have bought him dinner and taken a little more time with him!” 

I love how the Lord gently corrects me, for it is with the most gentle thought, and full of love, but pointing to a truth I needed to hear.  

I do believe that I had a brief thought about doing that very thing (buying him a meal), but had quickly put it aside as it would be inconveniencing me, and would interrupt my plan for getting back to the airport in time.  

When the Lord said that, I was so saddened that I had missed a beautiful opportunity to bless someone because I was too focused on my own task!

I see in this morning's reflection, the opportunity for me to work on changing my approach and attitude, as well as my mind-set.  I am so often only thinking about myself and my task, that I am sure that I regularly miss opportunities to represent Jesus, all because I am too focused on busy on my own tasks. Being interruptible appears to be one of the requirements of followers of Jesus!  

The second thing I need to do is get over my fear of man!  I often times don’t say anything because I don’t want to interrupt people, or get into their personal space or situation.  At least that is what I tell myself.  In truth, I don’t want to have the other person get offended with me!  I don’t like rejection and I would prefer to not engage than be rejected, so I just walk on by.

Oh Lord, help me to change the way I think, and act!  Help me to see as You see, looking at those around me as ones You love!  Help me to put aside my task to bless and help others.  Help me to better represent You, for it seems to me that You always had time for the person You met!

Oh Lord help us all to embrace the opportunity to represent You to all we meet!  Let us be interruptible!

Amen and Amen

See and Do!

In my pursuit of the Lord, and trying to do His will, one of the things I struggle to do is really see what the Lord is doing.  Today, as I continued my reading of John’s Gospel, I read the following verse - John 5:19 NIV: 

[19] “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”  

This verse perfectly captures the great challenge, and the path forward. Seeing what the Lord is doing, so that we can join ourselves to that effort.  Jesus, in His complete humanity, had no ability to do anything miraculous Himself, in His own power, (if I read that verse correctly) and was only doing what He saw the Father doing, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  That is such an important distinction that Jesus makes, for it means that we can potentially do similar things.  He was proclaiming the limitations of our humanity, but showing the path forward.  He described what is possible in John 14:10-12 NIV:

[10] “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. [11] Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. [12] Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

I have always been so intrigued by verse 12!  The possibility that we ‘will do the works He has been doing’ is astounding to me, yet according to Jesus and the record of the early church, this should be our expectation and experience. If we really sit with these two sets of verses, reflecting on what they mean for us, as followers of Jesus, I think we will find our perspective change.  A couple of good questions come to mind:

In our living out our faith, are we trying to do everything on a list, or are we trying to follow a person?

Do we really believe Jesus was fully human AND fully God?  (This one is hard as it surely a mystery)

Do we believe Jesus’ words, that we can “do the works (he) I have been doing”? 

Do we look to Jesus to see what He is doing??  Do we look to the Father to see what He is doing? 

Do we live our lives in a state of regular connection with the Lord?  

Do we spend time in His Word and in prayer so that we can learn what He is like, what He does, has done and is likely to do again?

Do we spend any time in the day asking Him to show us what He is doing?

As I have reflected on these verses previously, I have been aware that sometimes the Lord is not interested in working miracles, but more interested in me!  I don’t mean that in a prideful way, but rather as a student or disciple who is being taught and trained.  Jesus often stepped away from the active ministry to teach and train His disciples (See Matt 13:36). He also regularly spent time in prayer (See Luke 6:12), and we would be well advised to do the same. 

I like to think that Jesus’ first 30 years of life were spent learning to hear and see the Father, as a human.  In fact, we find an interesting set of verses in the Letter to the Hebrews 5:7-9 NIV:

[7] “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

I would think that some of the meaning of verse 7 relates to Jesus’ passion and prayers in the garden, prior to His crucification, but not all. I am sure His life was one of constant prayer and reflection, looking to the Father.  His pattern of life was passed to His followers, for we find this description of the early church - Acts 1:14 NIV: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

I am encouraged this morning to press into knowing You more, knowing Your word, understanding Your character, and learning to hear and see what You are doing!  I do want to see what You are doing, so that I can join myself to the effort!  I believe that You will show me what You are doing, for You have invited us all into Your promise. We are all invited to believe in You and do the works You have been doing! 

Oh Lord, help us!  Oh Lord, open our eyes and ears!  Oh Lord, help us to press into knowing You!

Oh Lord, we want to glorify Your name!

Amen and Amen! 

Theological Chiropractic Adjustment

As I opened my Bible to where I was reading yesterday, the following verses grabbed my attention this morning - John 14:6-7 NIV:

[6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

The first sentence of verse 7 is my real focus this morning, at least to start.  This is such a critical thing for us to understand.  Jesus, in His ministry and life represented the Father to us.  He showed us what the Father is like, spoke the words the Father gave him, did what the Father showed Him to do (see John 5:19–20 & John 14:24).  The author off the Letter to the Hebrews calls Jesus the “exact representation of His being” (see Heb 1:3 NIV).  One of my favorite authors, Bill Johnson, calls Jesus perfect theology.  

As I understand it, this means that everything Jesus said and did is what the Father was saying and doing!  If we want to know what the Father is like, our first source should always be Jesus!  He is the only one who could perfectly represent Him!  

The whole Old Testament, is the history of the revelation of hte character of God, through the eyes and understanding of the people who ex[experienced these encounters.  God in His mercy, allowed for more and more of His character to be revealed over time, for what man was ever capable fo fully understanding His Holiness and Glory? It is so important that when we read Old Testament accounts of God, that we read them through the lense of Jesus’ representation of the Father.  In other words, if Jesus never said or did something, then the Father wasn’t saying or doing that either!  And if Jesus extended mercy, love and compassion, then that is what the Father was doing!

I know that there are people who stumble over the portrayal of God in the Old Testament, and these words of Jesus are meant to be our corrective adjustment.  Much of Jesus' ministry was providing that same corrective adjustment to the Jewish idea of the Father, and their expectations of the Messiah.  We are not the first to misunderstand God!  I guess we could say Jesus is providing a theological chiropractic adjustment. :-)

My strong encouragement this morning is for me to spend as much time in the Gospels as I can, so that I might know Jesus, and thus know the Father!  I am also encouraged to spend as much time in prayer, in communication with the Lord so that I might know Him more, and better represent Him to those around me! 

Oh Lord, help me to know You!  Help me to represent You!  Help me to point to You, the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Amen and Amen!