What is My Motivation?

This morning I felt like I should read from Mark's Gospel.  Here are the verses I am reflecting on today - Mark 7:1-8 NIV:

[1] "The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus [2] and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. [3] (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. [4] When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. ) 

[5] So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” 

[6] He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. [7] They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.' 

[8] You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

As I was reading this, I was very aware of the specific language that Mark used calling these things the "tradition of the elders", and making sure that point was emphasized, for that was what Jesus responded to, the greater concern for things of man than things of God.  Those verses from Isaiah are just brutal, especially when we consider the whole goal of God's actions was to have relationship!   The Jews were no longer interested in relationship, but rather in the following of their own rules, for their hearts were far from God!  

As I read these things, I wonder how much of our church liturgical expression is from our hearts, and how much is just the "tradition of the elders"?

Are our hearts stirred for love and relationship with the Lord, or are our hearts and attentions on other things?

Do we talk like followers of Christ, but our actions and affections are on other things?

Do we gather around a practice and a set of rules, or do we gather out of love and affection for the Lord?

Have we let our affection and love for the Lord grow cold?

I am reminded of the two greatest commandments, as described by Jesus in Mark 12:29-31 NIV:

[29] “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' [31] The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”

The core of both of these commandments is love, and relationship.  We are called to press into relationship, not follow a list of rules passed down by our fathers.  God's desire is that we know Him, and respond to Him our of that place of relationship!  Jesus himself made the order very clear, relationship first, which provides the motivation for actions.  I am reminded of a His words in John 14:15,21 NIV:

[15] “If you love me, keep my commands." 

[21] "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

It seems to me that we have often forgotten about verse 15, and only remember verse 21.   We think the way to show our love of God is the following of rules and commands, but it is the loving relationship that is the foundation of our desire to follow His commands, that is the motivation for any change in our behaviour.  We are invited to love and be loved!  

This morning I am encouraged to look at my motivation, at my reason for my actions!  Am I just following what I have been taught, or am I responding from a place of relationship?

Oh Lord help us to put relationship with You first!  Help me to respond from a place of love and affection in my pursuit of You!  Help me to set my heart fully on You!

Amen and Amen!

Humility = Greatness in The Kingdom

Verses for this morning - Matthew 18:1-6,10-14 NASB:

[1] "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 

[2] "And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, [3] and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; [6] but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." 

[10] "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. [11] [For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]"

[12] "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? [13] If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. [14] So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish."

The verse that caught my attention this morning was verse 10, specifically about despising little ones.  Jesus is talking about a Kingdom reality here, for that was the context of the question from the disciples.  I just love this whole section, for Jesus absolutely flips their understanding, and does the unexpected.  

It is important that we understand His comments about children here, and figure out how to put them into our context today.  The Greek word translated despise is the word:    "2706 kataphronéō (from 2596 /katá, "down, according to," intensifying 5426 /phronéō, "regulating behavior from inner mind-set") – properly, view down, i.e. with a negative (hostile) outlook; to despise, thinking down on (thinking little of); esteem lightly, seeing as insignificant or detestable; to treat with contempt or disregard (BAGD); devalue; to depreciate (scorn); pay no regard to (because something seems of no account); " 'despise, scorn,' and show it by active insult" (Souter).

[2706 /kataphronéō (literally, "think down") refers to holding someone in contempt, deeming them unworthy and hence despised (scorned).]"

We understand culturally that children were considered lower than servants at this time, and were certainly not considered great, and yet Jesus holds them as an example of the greatest in the Kingdom.  Specifically Jesus says we should humble ourselves as a child, which is, at least in our day, a bit difficult to understand.  The Greek word used is: "5013 tapeinóō – make (become) low, to humble. See 5011 (tapeinos).

With the believer, 5013 /tapeinóō ("show humility, true lowliness") happens by being fully dependent on the Lord – dismissing reliance upon self (self-government) and emptying carnal ego. This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us."

This is really helpful to my understanding, its not about becoming child-like, its about total reliance on our Father, and rejecting our own self reliance.  This is how one gets to be great in the Kingdom!  It seems the exact opposite of what we would expect.  Its NOT about doing great things for God:

1) its about obedience

2) its about servanthood 

3) its about doing what we are asked without asking why

4) its about reliance on the Father

5) its about embracing the dominion of the Father for our world--view

I love the last line of the word-help, "This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us."  Lord, we need Your fullness in our lives!!

Greatness isn't about our abilities, its about God's ability to work through us!  It is about our willingness to lay down our self, our will, and embracing His!  We are called to embrace this path, and it can't be a false humility as a way to achieve greatness!  

It can be quite troubling to our sense of self when we encounter someone who is pressing into this place of humility and trust of the Lord in all things.  It seems like a weak path, and certainly an unattractive path!  Also, from my self, it is HOPEFULLY one that the Lord would never call me to!

For example, at one time my honey felt called by the Father to stop using makeup for a period, to embrace her true identity and experience His pleasure in who she was, not in who she made herself to look like.  Some of the other women in our church were REALLY uncomfortable with this, and essentially tried to talk her out of it.  It seemed to me that their "self" was very uncomfortable being uncovered... for that is part of this call to humility.

Lastly, I think it is of critical importance that we understand the value the Lord places on His little ones!  They are of up most value to Him, both our actual children, and those who embrace this call to humble servanthood.  There are several stories of holy people who have embraced humble positions, and seen the Lord absolutely bless others through them and given them the opportunity to minister to 1000s effectively!  It was often so unusual that their leaders called them forward to see why so many people wanted to talk to them, and often the one being questioned had no idea, so complete was their simple obedience and humility.  

My encouragement today is to embrace the invitation to become like a child in humility, relying on the Lord in all things!  I am encouraged to allow the Lord's words of valuation to wash over me and help me understand my value to Him.  Lastly, I am encouraged to place greater value in my mind and heart on those that seem lowly, those that are children, and on those that have obeyed into weakness, into a place of humble reliance on the Lord!

Oh Lord, help me!

Relationship Guards Against Offense

Yesterday while walking our dog I definitely had one of those "whoever has ears, let them hear" experiences (Luke 8:8).  I was walking and thinking and praying, like normal, and I had a "thought" pop into my mind, unrelated to my other thoughts, and it was a really clear and simple revelation that I hadn't had before.  I immediately decided to jot that down when I got home.  No more than 5 minutes later the "thought" was completely gone, as in I couldn't even recall the theme.  Once I got back home, I almost immediately started thinking about work, etc. and that simple and clear revelation was forgotten.  

A short while later, when I took a break I remembered that I had meant to write something down from the Lord, but for the life of me I couldn't remember anything other than that.  I started praying asking the Lord to bring back the "thought" to mind, as I believed it came from Him originally.  As I tried to reconnect the neurons of that memory of thought and moment I remembered it had to do with relationship.  That gave me enough of the theme to start tracking backwards and soon I remembered the "thought":

Here it is...  "Relationship with me (The Lord) is essential for guarding and protecting against offenses caused by other followers of Christ!"  

I hope that rings in your spirit like it did mine!  I know so many people who have lost their zeal for the Lord, walked away from church, and in some cases walked away from the Lord because of something someone did, in the Lord's name, that offended them or wounded them.  I saw in that instant that having a real living breathing relationship  with the Lord would allow us to realize that the injuring, offending individual was NOT representing the Lord!

Putting this in another context, if someone were to come up to me and tell me my honey did something terrible and mean, I would know that they were lying, for I know my wife's character, and that is just not in her, and has never been in her!  I could tell immediately that they are misrepresenteing her, and I certainly wouldn't get mad at my wife, for someone else misrepresenting her!

Yet, this is often the case in the church!  We believe all sorts of things about the Lord because we don't know Him well enough to reject those accusations.

This is yet another reason why it is so important to cultivate our relationship for the Lord!  We must know Him intimately!  We must know His word, His character, the way He speaks and acts!   

I have heard it said that training on counterfeit money involves spending tons of time examining real money, touching, feeling, examining the bills under different light, etc.  The knowledge and intimate experience of the real thing, allows the people to more quickly identify the counterfeit.

We must have this same mindset personally, and as a church, for there are many who say they represent the Lord, and some who are even ordained ministers who are not representing the Lord well.  They might have a message that seems to come from Him, but deliver it in the wrong spirit or character!  It is very difficult to separate out one's own personality, one's "self", when preaching, when speaking or writing, and sometimes that  "self" gets represented as "The Lord".  While it is absolutely the responsibility of the one speaking to do everything they can to remove their "self", it is also the responsibility of the hearer to be able to discern rightly the Word of the Lord!  Our best protection for this is to know Him!

We must learn to distinguish and discern what is from the Lord, and what is not!

We must learn to distinguish when someone is representing the Lord, and when they are not!

The time is coming when more and more voices will try to convince us that they speak for the Lord, and yet they are false!

We are warned to guard against false prophets, false teachers and even the anti-christ spirit, all of which are alive and well today in our present culture.

I am reminded of a several verses just now.  Here are just a few of the many verses that have popped into my memory:

2 Timothy 4:2-4 NIV:

[2] "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage---with great patience and careful instruction. [3] For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

Matthew 24:23-24 NIV:

[23] "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. [24] For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

2 Peter 2:1 NIV:  "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them---bringing swift destruction on themselves."

I could continue quoting scripture, but suffice it to say that our ability to know the Lord, our relationship with Him, our intimate knowledge and experience with Him, knowing His voice, Knowing His character, knowing how He acts is going to be more and more important!  Let us stir up in ourselves and in our brothers and sisters a hunger to know Him more!  We want to be able to correctly discern the truth of what we hear and believe!  

Whoever has ears, let them hear, and discern!

One last note, for those who have been wounded by someone in the church, or in the name of the Lord, please know that WAS NOT Jesus!  He is the good shepherd, He is the one who laid down His life for You, He is the one sent to the sick, the lowly, the poor, the sinner and He had mercy and compassion on all!  

Amen and Amen!  Lord help us to hear and discern!

The Point of No Return

Recently a conversation group at our church has been trying to decide our next topic and one of the suggestions was the "Blood of Jesus", amongst other topics.  Yesterday as I was praying I felt led to read from Leviticus 17, which turns out to be about the blood.  Here are some of the verses from that chapter - Leviticus 17:11-14 NIV:

[11] For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. [12] Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.” 

[13] “ 'Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, [14] because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”

This was one of the essential dietary laws of the Jews, not eating blood, and today it is still practiced in some streams, and we would know it as part of the Kosher requirements.  This morning as I was revisiting these passages I wondered about how strange Jesus' declaration in John 6, and at the last supper about his blood, must have sounded to a people who for centuries were told not to consume blood!  Not only was it forbidden, but there were penalties for the consumption of blood, as noted above.  I don't know if they actually followed through with cutting people off from the tribe by the time of Jesus, but it was certainly known to be wrong.

Into this culture, we then have Jesus saying the following - John 6:43-60 NIV:

[43] “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. [44] “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. [46] No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. [47] Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. [48] I am the bread of life. [49] Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. [50] But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. [51] I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 

[52] Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 

[53] Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. [54] Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. [55] For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. [56] Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. [57] Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. [58] This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” [59] He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 

[60] On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

I think John is severely understating the response to this teaching!  

We read this with some understanding of Jesus' passion and death, and  the reason Jesus shed His blood, but none of that would have been present to the people hearing this.  They clearly understood the role of blood in the sacrificial system of the Temple, but Jesus wasn't talking about that system when He delivered these words, the previous discussion was on the Manna, and His previous miracles of multiplication of food. 

In my mind, it seems that the Father is about revealing the real foundations of what Jesus is going to do in the near future, and He has Jesus start to lay the framework here.  I don't believe the Jews at that time understood the Messiah was coming to lay down His life for them, or that He was going to fulfill the law, and become the perfect sacrifice.  I believe their thoughts were that He was coming to lead them to victory over their enemies, who happened to be the Romans at that time.  They expected someone greater than David, but of his lineage, who become king over them once again and established His kingdom, through which the Jews would all be blessed.  I would imagine that Isaiah 53, the suffering servant song, would not have been understood so literally as we do now.

This clearly was a turning point in Jesus' ministry, for John notes that many left Jesus as described in John 6:66-67 NIV:

[66] "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 

[67] “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve."

In addition to losing followers, Jesus is now absolutely going forward down the path that leads to His death!  

As I was reflecting on these verses, and the impact, I saw a picture of a mother bird in her next pushing the fledglings out of the nest, forcing them to fly for their first time.   While not a great faith picture, it does represent a point of no-return, one could say, for the young birds either fly or fail.  

In the same way, I think this was the point of no return for Jesus, for from this time forth He begins to prepare the disciples for His death.  Also from this point forward the arguments about who Jesus is, escalate, for in these quoted verses, He clearly alludes to Himself as the Messiah, the One who gives eternal life, the One who knows the Father, the One sent from Heaven.

Let us not be offended by hard to understand language, or difficult theological principles, but let us continue to pursue the one who has the words of life, the one who has been given the power and authority to grant eternal life!  Let us press forward into the deeper revelation, into deeper understanding, into His very presence!

Amen and Amen!

Diagnosis From Love

Yesterday I was reflecting on the story of the rich young man, and after finishing my time of prayer and reflection I had one more quick revelation that was worth thinking about today.  It is based on the same verses from Mark 10:17-23 NIV:

[17] As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' ” 

[20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 

[21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

[22] At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

[23] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

My main focus is verse 21 this morning, the look of Jesus, and His response.   

The young man was clearly a fervent and good man.  He RAN up to Jesus and this to me indicates a passion and desire.  He recognizes Jesus' authority and wisdom in coming to Him.  I think we can say that he was pursuing God to the best of his ability, but wanted to do more if required. 

Jesus must have stopped and welcomed the young man, for they engaged in a bit of conversation.  Jesus fully understanding the desire in the young man, seeing his passion and zeal, recognizing his obedience to the precepts of the law, looked at him and loved him!  I am not sure how that was evident, but Mark makes it clear that there is a place in Jesus' heart for this young man.  The Greek word Agape is used here, and this is the love that is deeper than brotherly love.  This is the Love that is spoken in the new Commandment Jesus gives in John 13.  A good world help I found describes it as follows: 

"With the believer, 25 /agapáō ("to love") means actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction). True 25 /agapáō ("loving") is always defined by God – a "discriminating affection which involves choice and selection" (WS, 477). 1 Jn 4:8,16,17 for example convey how loving ("preferring," 25 /agapáō) is Christ living His life through the believer."

It is important to note, that this fact that Jesus loves the young man is clear before Jesus speaks the next words.  For the next words are Jesus' diagnosis of the young man's life, in his pursuit of God.  The diagnosis was painful, for Jesus correctly identified the one thing that was holding  the young man back from his pursuit of God was his riches!  The man walked away, for the diagnosis was to much for him!

The picture I saw yesterday was one of a doctor coming in and announcing the diagnosis to a patient with cancer, one who required life saving but painful surgery.  The doctor understands fully the suffering and pain, the affected life this patient is walking into, but it is necessary.  He provides the diagnosis from a place of care, mercy, and empathy.

The next picture I saw was the Lord looking at me, loving me, and telling me the things that are keeping me back, that I am unwilling to lay down, that I might know Him.  It is always communicated in an abundance of love, understanding, and mercy.  He desires for me to follow Him, to let old ways fall by the wayside, that I might press forward in love and pursuit of Him.  

He loves me.

He diagnoses me.

He invites me to follow Him.

He is for me in the midst of all of the struggle, the dying to myself, in my suffering. 

His desire is relationship with me, and what He tells me is to help me!

My question today is what does He see when He looks at me?

Oh Lord, help me!

The Struggle To Follow

Verses for reflection this morning - Mark 10:17-31 NIV:

[17] "As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' ” 

[20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 

[21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

[22] At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

[23] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 

[24] The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 

[26] The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 

[27] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 

[28] Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 

[29] “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel [30] will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields---along with persecutions---and in the age to come eternal life. [31] But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

It is interesting, in reading some commentaries about these verses, so many focus on the statement Jesus makes in verse 25 about the camel and the eye of a needle, almost like its more important than verse 27, or verses 29-31.  Apparently there really was no gate known as the "eye of the needle", so Jesus really was talking about a sewing needle and a camel.  Regardless, Jesus is stating in verse 27, that this quest for eternal life is impossible without God, without relationship with Him, but absolutely possible with God!

The truth is simple, without the Lord's sacrifice, His fulfilment of the Law, His death and resurrection, no one, whether rich or poor, good or bad, was going to be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven or eternal life on their own righteousness. It is impossible, except for God's intervention.  In my opinion, Jesus just happens to make the connection to the rich, because of the rich young man, but the same could be said for everyone.  He might have been making a statement that it is extra hard for the rich, due to their attachment to the trappings of wealth, but the reality is that without relationship with Him, we are all lost.  

The rich young man had walked away from relationship with Jesus because of his idolatry of riches.  He is no different than those who walk away from relationship with the Lord for many other selfish reasons.  The call to take up our cross and follow Him, to lose our life that we might gain eternal life (Mark 10:38-39) is the same for us all!

Its a painful truth to our selfish, fleshly perspective, and we struggle to accept the Lord's invitation.  His parable about the sower, the seed and the soil (See Matt 13:3-9) is about our willingness to receive His word, to listen and respond. Jesus ends that parable with a simple statement,  "Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:9 NIV).  We sometimes read that as a not part of the parable, but I believe the Lord is summarizing and emphasizing the whole of it, as being about hearing, and then acting!

I think the young man in my original verses, didn't really hear the true invitation.  His hearing was immediately blocked by the need to free himself from his riches.  I know there are many times I will hear someone say something that is jarring, and I won't hear a word they say afterwards, because I am so focused on what caught my attention.  When my honey was dealing with cancer, I always made sure to go with her to the doctor, and afterwards, we would compare what we heard, and many times she had missed much, for the shock of the diagnosis had overwhelmed her ability to listen further.  

I believe the Lord knew how the young man was going to respond, but he still looked at him and loved him (verse 21), for He know well our weaknesses and struggles, and inability to truly help ourselves.  I am so grateful that Jesus added verse 27!  We can depend on Him to continue to extend the invitation, to continue to love us, to continue to help us, to welcome us with open arms when we do finally accept the invitation!  Finally, we can depend on Him to lead us to eternal life, for it is only His to give.

One last note, Jesus adds an answer to Peter's claim of leaving everything to follow Him, and indicates He is well aware of everything we lay down, everything we leave to follow Him, and He intends to bless us beyond our pittance, in this age and the age to come.  Some people think this is a promise of wealth and prosperity, and I like how Jesus adds, "along with persecutions" just to make sure we don't think everything will be easy.  

This morning I am encouraged that He is worthy of me accepting His invitation once again, and that in that I will experience His love, His blessing, and a dying to my selfish ways.  I am reminded that I have many things that I struggle to lay down, but He sees, understands and invites me forward in love to follow Him anyways!  

Lord, help me to follow You!

Amen and Amen!

Theology AND Relationship

This morning I have been thinking back over my life, and the constant invitation from the Lord to grow deeper, to know Him more.  I was thinking about the difference between theology and relationship.  Theology is the study of God or as Webster's defines it: "the study of religious faith, practice, and experience : the study of God and God's relation to the world"  This is all good, but God is an individual, a personage, with characteristics, thoughts, emotions, Spirit and beyond. 

If someone were to write a book about me, so that everyone could study to understand my character and my relation to the world, while they could capture the main points, they could never accurately portray who I actually am.   My inner-thoughts are unknown except by myself and God, and many of my actions and interactions are again only known by myself, God, and one or two others who might have observed that specific moment.  Trying to write a definitive report on Sam Hall would be impossible from the outside.  I could give years of interviews and still not cover my whole life and motivations.

My point is that God is much more than what we can learn from studying theology!  He is meant to be known relationally, and for each of us, how we know Him, will in some respect be unique, for we are unique. 

Again taking a natural example, my Mom knows me differently than my siblings, who know me differently than my wife, who knows me differently than my children, who know me differently than my co-workers, who know me differently than my neighbors, etc. 

There must be understanding and allowance for us to know God, personally and individually!

I am reminded of the great invitation Jesus gives to the rich young man, found in Mark 10:18-21 NIV:

[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' ”

[20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

[21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

I love the note Mark adds, "Jesus looked at him and loved him" and issued the invitation, "come and follow me".  The Greek word literally means to come and walk the same road, especially as a disciple.  The young man had the actions, he just didn't have relationship, and that was the invitation! 

Oh, that we would embrace that invitation, and choose to walk with the Lord! 

Lord, help us to embrace knowing about You, but help us press past knowing about You to actually knowing You!

Amen and Amen!

Leaning Towards Others

This morning I felt led to read from Paul's letter to Colossians 4:2-6 NIV:

[2] "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. [3] And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. [4] Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. [5] Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. [6] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

This letter is one written while Paul was in prison, or at least in chains, and that means it was late in his life.  He had completed his voluntary missionary journeys, and was now a prisoner and likely within a few years of his martyrdom in Rome.  I love his humility, arguably one of the greatest evangelists, an apostle and responsible for many of the letters in the New Testament, and Paul is asking for prayers to help him proclaim the Gospel clearly as he should.  This helps me in knowing that the one person who effectively communicated the Gospel to thousands, was always looking to refine his message and do better.  

His next encouragement to keep our conversations full of grace is one of the most important encouragements, in my eyes.  It is so easy for us to slide into presenting the Gospel with a judgmental spirit, and Paul is encouraging essentially the opposite.  The Greek word he uses (here translated grace) is "charis" and that is defined as follows - Cognate: 5485 xáris (another feminine noun from xar-, "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace. 5485 (xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").  In other words, our conversation should be clearly FOR those individuals that we are talking to.  

I love the imagery of Jesus leaning towards those He was talking to, as in leaning towards them with favor, wanting to hear from them, that He can answer their needs!  What a great model for interactions with all we meet!  Notice Paul's next statement, "so that you may know how to answer everyone", indicates an assumed listening!  We can't answer someone if they haven't talked first, so Paul is assuming that our conversations should be relational, a back and forth conversation, and not just a proclamation of our opinions and observations.

One thing I have learned is that my judgments and ideas about people are always flawed.  I know so little about their lives, about their history, about what has been said to them, what has happened, and even how they think, that my external observations are always lacking.  Even when I get to know someone really well, I still don't fully know their thoughts, their internal processing, or even what from their past might be affecting them.  Oh, that whoever I meet and converse with might walk away from our conversation knowing that I was for them, that I was interested in them, and that I wanted to hear from them!

This morning I am encouraged to be aware of my interactions with others, so that I might know how to answer everyone, with grace filled, favor filled words and attention!  Yes, Lord, please help me to represent You in grace, favor and mercy.

Amen!

The Lord Shepherds Us

This morning I was reading from Luke 9,  and it is an amazingly full chapter.  Jesus sends out the 12 to minister, feeds the 5000, takes Peter, James and John up to the Mount of Transfiguration, heals the epileptic boy that the disciples are unable to heal, twice speaks about His impending death,  Peter declares Him Messiah, they experience opposition from the Samaritans, they argue about who is the greatest, He calls them to be servant-leaders, and He tells the disciples there will be a cost to following Him.  Wow!  

Each of those sections could easily be the source of some rich meditation and revelation, however this morning as I rested on the Word and listened I felt like the Lord wanted me to view the chapter as more of a whole, rather than separating out a section.  Looking at the overarching themes, I would say we see  maybe four or five depending on how I break them out.

1) The Lord is in control and knows what He is doing and where things will end up.

2) The Lord was preparing the disciples to hand over His ministry to them.

3) The radical call of Jesus is to follow Him, to represent Him, to lay down our lives and plans, to embrace His plan which is better, and we can trust Him to provide.

4) In the midst of all, His Lordship over everything is evident and revealed, and the Father's backing is clear!  

5) The enemy brings resistance, and sometimes following Him will be difficult.

As I was letting all of this settle in my heart, I felt like the one message for me this morning was that even though the call may be to lay down my life and at times that will be difficult, yet in doing so, I would experience His provision, His Lordship, His authority and power, His glory, and His pleasure!  I feel like He wants me to know that He has it covered, that I can entrust myself and my future into His hands, choosing to follow Him wherever He leads. 

He will provide the training, authority and power to do what He calls me to do.

He can multiply that which I give Him into sustenance for me, and thousands of others 

He will speak prophetically into my life, and if I listen, in time it will make sense.

He will reveal Himself, and bring encouragement when I need it!

It will likely challenge me and be difficult, but He is for me, and is Faithful.

Finally, the coming of His Kingdom is the message, and what I am called to proclaim and demonstrate.

This morning I am encouraged where I find myself and see a wider picture of the Lord's work in my own life, as well as a wider call.  I am so grateful for His gentle leading and guiding in my life.  I am definitely not always aware, and regularly stumble, but He is faithful, and He has plans, and He will provide the guidance and sustenance I need!  He really is the Good Shepherd!   In light of that, I should finish with the 23rd Psalm:

Psalm 23:1-6 NIV

[1] The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

[2] He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

[3] he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. 

[4] Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

[6] Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Thank You Lord!

We Are A Sign!

This morning I was reading from Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, and saw something that got me thinking.  Here are the verses - Philippians 3:1-6 NIV:

[1] "Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. [2] Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. [3] For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--- [4] though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.:"

Verse three is the verses that caught my attention this morning, and I know I have read to multiple times, this morning it just stood out to me, maybe because I have been reflecting on Pau's letter to the Galatians, where is talking about the circumcision party.  Regardless of why, I find it interesting that Paul describes us gentile believers as "the circumcision".  I don't think I have ever heard the Church described as "The Circumcision" before!  

Immediately I started wondering, "Why Circumcision?"  I know it was instituted as a sign of God's covenant with Abraham and his offspring (See Gen. 17:11), but that doesn't answer the why question.  I came across and interesting article on this very topic - ( https://www.christianitytoday.com/behemoth/2016/issue-47-april-28-2016/why-did-god-choose-circumcision.html ) and will summarize it as indicating a willingness to die to our flesh that we might live for God forever.  It is the sign of being a covenant people.  There is clearly much more to this covenant and sign than I just summarized, but I think it quite astounding that Paul says we, the New Covenant believer, are "The Circumcision"!  

In thinking more about this, it is not our willingness to die to ourselves that qualifies us to be a covenant people.  Our physical sign, is Jesus, and His willingness to die for us all, and it is His actual death and resurrection that qualifies us as partakers of this new covenant!  This effectively replaces the Abrahamic covenant, which was before the covenant of the Law, and this time the one who is righteous is Jesus, the one who lays down His life!  

One wonders if the Apostles understood, at the Last Supper, what Jesus was really saying when He instituted the sharing of His Body and Blood?  He gave them a new covenant (see Luke 22:19-20) and then a new commandment (John 13:34), and while not quite as spectacular as on Mount Sinai covered with smoke and lightning and thunder, here we have the very Son of God, present and laying down His life, offering Himself for us all!  This was of a far greater significance, and Paul is right to defend this new covenant! 

Going back to the phrase "For it is we who are the circumcision" Paul is saying our identity is as a sign of God's covenant, the visible sign of His Promise being fulfilled, and it is proved by the Holy Spirit.  We are supposed to be a sign, and I am reminded of Jesus' comments right after giving the new commandment, John 13:35 NIV:  "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  Our Love for one another, our walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, our being sent to all nations are all the fulfillment of this new Covenant, initiated by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are right to boast in Him, for He personally has made a way for us all to be "the circumcision".  

Lord, I know I have only scratched the surface on this truth.  Help me to better understand all that this entails, and what it means for me.  I know we are supposed to be a sign!

Amen!

Guarding Against Deceiving Spirits

This morning I woke up from a dream that was about a friends church that had come through a trying time where certain individuals were pressing hard for a "gospel+", looking down on others who weren't seeing things the way they thought, and presenting themselves as holier than others.  Such an approach is almost always the result of a religious spirit.  

As I sat down to pray this morning I felt led to read from 1 Timothy, chapter 4.  Although I know scripture and have read it all several times, I still don't know where certain things are dealt with, what chapter and what verse, so I am almost always a little surprised by what I read when I first open it up as directed.  Anyway today here is what I read - 1 Timothy 4:1-10 NIV:

[1] "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. [2] Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. [3] They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. [4] For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, [5] because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 

[6] If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. [7] Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. [8] For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. [9] This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. [10] That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe."

I love how direct Paul is in his writings.  While it is clear that the Holy Spirit is giving guidance towards the future, I am quite sure that Paul was confronting the same deceiving spirits in his day. There were many heretical and gnostic teachers even early in the church, as the enemy was clearly trying to stop the Church from growing and deception, diversion and division are three tactics he uses.  Paul had already had to deal with the circumcision group, those that were saying that following certain parts of the Law somehow made you a better Christians.  In the same way, there are many that hold up a "gospel+" that is other than the Gospel of the Kingdom, and we must guard ourselves, and labor accordingly. 

I have seen these spirits at work, and they are destructive to congregations and people's faith.  Often they show up when the Holy Spirit is moving and the people who are being influenced seem like virtuous, and zealous believers, and in most cases they are.  However, they have become somehow deceived, and come to believe their way, their thinking, their pursuit of God is better and that should be our first red flag, for spiritual pride is almost always the result.  Paul describes two common attacks, relationship guidance and purity laws, especially concerning diet.  He continues on the next paragraph listing old wives tales, and godless myths as other sources of deception. 

Paul's description of such people is that they have abandoned their faith, and it should be noted that it never looks like that, in fact it looks like and is presented as having a "super" faith.  However, if we get to the core, they have abandoned their faith in Jesus, in His saving work and redemption, and consider it somehow lacking.  They have replaced God on His throne with their own ideas, and judgments!  They have judged God's perfect plans and somehow found them lacking, and in need of some extra special stuff!  

Most such people are well meaning and believe they are pursuing God to the best of their ability.  The problem with being deceived is that you can't tell you are being deceived, which is the nature of deception.  A person who receives a counterfeit bill for payment is unaware they are being deceived, and if they suspected it was fake they would reject it.  It is important in our confronting such people that we remember they truly think they are following God, and we must treat them with mercy, and remember the source is spiritual and demonic.

The good news is that this situation can be reversed, as Paul clearly tells Timothy to point out such things in the hopes that they will repent, and return to the Lord, and put their faith in Him once again!  We must earnestly pray for ourselves and our brothers and sisters that we might be saved from such deception, and have our eyes opened to any such beliefs we presently agree with in our lives.

Oh Lord, help us!  Oh Lord, show us Your truth, that we might recognize the counterfeit and deception.

Amen and Amen!

Sin, Action or Attitude?

This morning I was reflecting on recent prayer times and conversations I have been having with the Lord, and the topic of sin came to mind once again.  I should say the topic of the definition of sin, for that is something I have been pondering over the last couple of years.  As I was thinking back over this , the following question came up.  Is sin action or attitude?  I was immediately reminded of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, found in Matt 5-7, and thought I would read some of those specific passages.  Here are the two most glaring examples - Matthew 5:21-22,27-28 NIV:

[21] “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' [22] But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." 

[27] “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Clearly, Jesus is speaking about heart attitudes, judgments and ideas, more than actions.  He somewhat equates murder with being angry with a brother, and expands that to just calling them a fool.  Jesus says that even the mere lustful glance is the equivalent of adultery!  Yikes!

Jesus was speaking to a group that had gone to great lengths to define what was sinful, expanding the original law to 600+ very specific statements about what was sin and what wasn't.  None of the definitions Jesus spoke about was on their list, yet He made it very clear these were equally "sinful".  

I think the point He is making here is that sin comes from a place of decision, and is primarily the result of us having a wrong attitude or wrong thinking.  James gives a great example of this in James 1:13-15 NIV:  "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

Now, after reading these verses from James, one would think that the sin that is birthed is action, but Jesus clearly says it can be as simple as a word or even a look.  Both of these situations (from the quotes above), if we break them down, indicate that in the individual's mind they have made decisions, judgments if you will, that are not in line with the Will of the Lord!  If we go back to the two greatest commandments, as described by Jesus (see Matt 22:37-40)  We are commanded to Love God, and Love our neighbors, and in both these examples the second commandment is clearly being broken, and one could argue, the first as well.

Lately, I have been thinking about the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis and I was thinking that the first sin, was not the eating of the apple, but rather believing the lie and agreeing with the judgment about God.  Eve, in the midst of her conversation with the serpent, came to a point where she believed they couldn't trust God to provide the best for her, and that He was lying, or hiding the truth.  She clearly came to a point of agreement and decided to act, and my conjecture is that was actually the first sin, not the eating but the decision and thought that got her to the point of the actual act.  She chose to break the trust in that relationship because of what she agreed with in her mind.

In the cases described by Jesus, we find similar situations and examples.  In the murder and anger discussion, there is clearly a judgment that is made by one person against the other.  There might be a  reason for the anger, but the point is apparently that this type of judgment, is every bit as heinous in terms of the second great commandment.  Secondly, the decision to judge our fellow man, and either acting on it, or at least speaking it, is us taking the Lord's rightful place as judge.  He is the only one who can judge correctly, and our doing so ourselves is basically us saying we should be in His seat, for we can't trust Him to be just! (sounds similar to Eve).  

In the same way the lustful look is not in line with loving our neighbor as ourselves, nor as Jesus loves, but instead is wholly selfish, and indicates a willingness to take what one wants!  This attitude indicates that one has elevated their own appetites and judgments above the Lord, and is in many cases a form of idolatry!  These type of thoughts are based on decisions that we have made in our mind and heart, and Jesus clearly is indicating they are every bit as sinful.  Again, placing our appetites above all else, is clearly breaking the first Greatest commandment.  In the story of Eve's fall, she saw the fruit "was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom" (Gen 3:6) and chose to fulfill her appetite in spite of what God had said, clearly choosing the fruit over relationship with God.  

I could continue on, but I think I have grasped more fully how attitudes and judgments are just as sinful as the actual actions that are the result.  Again, in these cases the sins are almost always in the relationship realm, and affect our relationships with God and others.  As I have written before, in my reading of many of the saints lives, it is surprising to see how their understanding and awareness of their own sinfulness grows, as they become more and more like Jesus.  These people aren't acting in sinful ways, but what they are seeing is how far their thoughts and attitudes are from How the Lord would act and think.  They  are recognising that they are falling short (see Romans 3:23).

Finally, I am encouraged this morning to take a more sober view of my own thoughts and attitudes, recognizing that so often my heart and mindset are falling short!  In my love of God and desire to be like Him, I definitely have tons of room to grow and do better!  Thank You Lord for helping me to see more clearly, and opening my eyes to my own state.  Thank You for Your amazing grace, and mercy, and forgiveness!

Amen!

Love Covers Over A Multitude of Sins

This morning I am reflecting on the same verses I was looking at yesterday.  I love how the Lord can emphasize different things from the same sentences.  Yesterday, my reflection, which I didn't post, was more of a look at where we are in time and how we should act accordingly.  Today my focus is on the effect of love for one another.  The verses come from 1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV:

[7] "The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. [8] Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. [9] Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. [10] Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. [11] If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This morning verse eight grabbed my attention, especially the phrase "love covers over a multitude of sins."  The questions that popped into my mind when I read that phrase were "how?" and "why?".  Sometimes I just feel like a little kid, trying to understand how everything works, and I think that is a good thing.  I could just nod my head and say "Amen!" but to do so does not allow me to really own the truth captured here.  That said, it is time to mine this phrase so that I might understand what is really being said here.

As always, anytime I read about sin, I am reminded to go back to the actual Greek, which is the word hamartia and which is described well by the following excerpt from ( https://biblehub.com/greek/266.htm ): "266 hamartía (a feminine noun derived from 1 /A "not" and 3313 /méros, "a part, share of") – properly, no-share ("no part of"); loss (forfeiture) because not hitting the target; sin (missing the mark). 266 hamartía (a feminine noun derived from 1 /A "not" and 3313 /méros, "a part, share of") – properly, no-share ("no part of"); loss (forfeiture) because not hitting the target; sin (missing the mark)."

As I journaled a few weeks back  (See https://amomentwithgod-srh.blogspot.com/2023/06/why-is-it-sin.html ), this missing the mark, or 'having no part of' seems to me to be aimed at the two most important Commandments, Loving God and Loving one another.  In other words, our relationships with God and others.  Put in this context, I think it is easier to understand how Love covers over a multitude or plethora of sins.  If our sins are primarily anchored in the relational realm, relational embrace and focus seems to be the right area to try and make things right.

I was reminded of Paul's famous verses defining love, and I think it would be helpful to this meditation, for Peter is clearly referring to our loving of one another as most important characteristic in our "last days".  Here are Paul's words found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13 NIV:

[4] "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. [8] Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 

[13] And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

I don't think I need to add much to this lovely definition.  If we imagine that Peter meant all of this where He wrote love each other deeply, I think we understand more of the richness of this encouragement.  This is not an encouragement to look at one another with a loving emotion, but one that presses deeply into our identity and embrace selflessness.

I thought I should look at the definition of the Greek word that is translated here "deeply".  Here is the word helps from ( https://biblehub.com/greek/1618.htm ): 

HELPS Word-studies

1618 ektenḗs (an adjective, derived from 1537 /ek, "wholly out" which intensifies teinō, "to stretch" which is also the root of English terms, "tension" and "tense") – properly, stretch out, i.e. fully because completely taut; (figuratively) at maximum potential, without slack because fully extended to its necessary outcome.

Doesn't that portray something much more demanding than a simple thought, "man, I love these people!"?  Here is an encouragement to love to the fullest extent, one that stretches us out!  I am reminded of the stretching exercises we did as gymnasts back in highschool.  You stretched to the point of uncomfortableness and then pressed further.  I think in this case that image is helpful to our understanding, maybe we could translate it "love one another past the point of comfort, and keep on loving!"

Back to my two original questions, how and why does our love cover a multitude of sins?  If our sins are in the relational realm, then repairing the damage caused by those sins, also must be accomplished in the relational realm.  If I have not loved the Lord or my brother or sister correctly, what options do I have?  I can either try to live with the damaged relationship, or I can work to restore it.  In my mind this is really an excellent encouragement to repent!  In other words, look at my previous behavior, see what it has affected and then choosing to act differently so as to repair and restore any damage done previously!

Going back to an archery analogy for the definition of sin as missing the mark or bullseye, if I am in a competition for the shot closest to the bullseye, and so far I have missed the exact middle, each additional shot gives me the opportunity to hit it perfectly.  If I do, all my other missed shots are inconsequential.  Relationally speaking, we can, if in a healthy relationship, restore, repair and renew our love each new day.  We can choose to act differently, and in time this choosing correctly will erase or make inconsequential our past misses, especially if we embrace the definition of love "keeping no record of wrongs".  In effect, this new and fervent love covers over our previous failed or poor attempts!  

In our relationship with God, there is always an invitation to repent and change, to recognize our mistake and choose to do better next time!  He is eternally forgiving, endlessly merciful and compassionate, and He knows exactly what we think, how we think, and every action we have ever taken, and He still chooses to love us!  Our choosing to love Him, to put Him first, to press into relationship absolutely covers over our past mistakes and failures.  He isn't looking for repayment, He is looking for relationship restoration.

Going back to the original questions, how and why, I think I have answered them for myself. My sins are in the relational realm, thus to cover and repair I must approach them from the relational realm, and love is exactly that.  Restoring my loving actions, encouraging my loving actions, and actually acting these out, will cover over the past mistakes.  

Finally, I am reminded of Peter's encouragement that in these last days, we must love each other fervently.  Simply put, as times become more difficult, we can have a tendency to turn inward, to cut ourselves off from others to protect that which we have, and Peter is encouraging us to do the exact opposite.  IT will be stretching, maybe even painful, but it will be critical to the health of the Body of Christ, to our relationships with each other and with the Lord!

Help us Lord!

Amen and Amen!

Like-Mindedness vs. Selfishness

This morning I reflecting on two short verses from Peter's first letter.  Here are the verses - 1 Peter 3:8-9 NIV:

[8] "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. [9] Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

As usual for me, my focus is on relationship these days.  Peter is clearly addressing the body and encouraging us to embrace one another, to have relationships with one another that are characterized by sympathy, love, compassion, humility and like-mindedness.  I was immediately drawn to the encouragement to be like-minded, and wanted to understand exactly what Peter is saying here.  We can take this encouragement several ways, so I figured I would go to the Greek to understand the base meaning. Here is a word help I found on-line:

3675 homóphrōn (from 3674 /homoú, "same as" and 5424 /phrḗn, "inner outlook as regulating outward behavior") – properly, share the same perspective, i.e. like-minded; for believers, this means living in one accord ("having the same mind"). This Spirit-produced unity (agreement) results from receiving God's inworkings of faith ("His persuasions").

(see https://biblehub.com/greek/3675.htm)

If we take the literal translation, "having the same inner outlook regulating outward behavior" I think we are well served.  This doesn't mean to think the exact same thoughts.  This doesn't mean everyone is of the exact same opinion.  It seems to mean that we all have a similar internal perspective, think eternal mind-set, which in turn drives our external behavior.  Saying it another way, we all have the same hope set before us, that of eternal life and our kingdom citizenship, and because of that hope and identity, we act differently.

As fellow members of the Kingdom of God, as brothers and sisters in His family, our attitude towards one another should take on the characteristics Peter lists; sympathy, love, compassion and humility.  Our mindset should affect our outward behavior.  If our behavior is not colored by sympathy, love, compassion and humility, then we probably need to spend some time understanding why this is the case?  

I find that most of my internal struggle is related to my own selfishness, which at its core is me thinking I know better than God.  Selfishness is such an ugly thing.  When wallowing in it, I think my needs and wants are more important than pretty much anything else.  It can also masquerade as self-pity, as in no one else knows my personal situation, my personal pain, all the things I have gone through, etc.  However it manifests, my eyes are turned inward, rather that towards the Lord and His perspective, and I end up making poor decisions. 

There is a saying that you can't see the forest for the trees in front of you, which speaks of having a bigger perspective.  Selfishness is more like, you can't see others because you are always looking in the mirror.

Peter's encouragement this morning is to have a different perspective, to look around to see others, to have sympathy, love, compassion and humility in our dealing with and treatment of others.  What a wonderful encouragement, even though it costs us our own selfish perspective.

The second verse is probably even more difficult, to return blessing to those that insult us or do evil to us.  I am reminded of some of the last words of Jesus, quoted here in Luke 23:34 NIV: "Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."  Stephen echoed this as He was being stoned saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them .” ( Acts 7:60 NIV).  Wow, talk about returning blessing for evil!   

In both cases, Jesus and Stephen were not looking at their own situation, instead they were looking to Heaven, looking to the Father and having compassion, and mercy on their assailants.  They were clearly helped by the Holy Spirit, and He should be our help as well.  We don't naturally want to return blessing for curses or evil, but this is our call and encouragement in the Lord!  We are called to be like Him, and this is included.

Oh Lord, help me to be more like You, to see myself in light of my relationship with You.  Help me to entrust my needs to you, that I might see those around me as I turn away from the mirror of selfishness!  Help me to represent You through love, mercy, compassion, sympathy and forgiveness.

Amen and Amen!

He IS the God of the Living

This morning I opened my Bible to Mark's Gospel and the last line of this statement by Jesus caught my eye.  Here are the verses where Jesus is answering a trick question presented to Him by the Sadducees - Mark 12:24-27 NIV:

[24] "Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? [25] When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. [26] Now about the dead rising---have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? [27] He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Verse 27 just about jumped off the page when I read it a few minutes ago, so I figured I should spend some time reflecting on this statement. 

First, to put verse 26 in context, at the time of Moses' encounter at the burning bush, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had all been dead for 300+ years, and Jesus was clearly talking about some type of eternal life!  Earlier in Mark we have Moses and Elijah meeting with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, so we should understand that physical death is not the finality of one's existence.  The Sadducees, who Jesus was specifically addressing, did not believe in the resurrection, so for them to even ask the original question about marriage in the after-life is in itself completely fallacious, however, Jesus never wasted an answer, and provides some important understanding.

God does not look at our lives as ending when we die!

God certainly is alive - as He is eternal and lives outside of time!

God's perspective is that in Him, we have eternal life as well.  Jesus says that when those that are dead raise to new life they are like Angels, in that they now have eternal existence, in Him.  John expands this whole idea in his letters - 1 John 5:11-12 NIV:  "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."

He is not the God of the dead... He is the God of the living!

We, who have received salvation in Him, who are hidden in Him, whose lives are now found in Him, have this to look forward to.

He IS alive!

So will we continue to be!

This was the hope of the early church!  This was the hope of the Apostles!  

I should say this IS the hope and experience of the early church and the Apostles.

This should affect the way we think!   This should affect the way we live!  Oh that the Lord would open our eyes to the eternal, giving us glimpses beyond the veil of time, into the realm of the eternal!  We can see glimpses recorded in scripture.  If we read Isaiah 6:1-8; Ezekiel chapter 1; Revelations 1:12-18; Revelations chapters 4 & 5, we will see some striking similarities! 

In the same way that our eternal life should affect how we think and act, we should be affected by the fact that God is alive and acting even now!  He has not stopped His work with the first coming of Jesus!  He is alive and engaged in our lives today!  He IS the God of the living!

Too often, I think that God is somehow limited now, or inattentive, or focused on something else!  He IS the God of the living, which includes me!  

The God of the universe is totally capable of dealing with and interacting with me, in the same way that He is aware of the micro-cellular working on my body and at the same time the expanses of Universe!  We are still discovering new information about both, and always we discover order and forces we know nothing about... and in all of it God is aware and in control.

I go back to Jesus' initial response to the Sadducees, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?"  Oh Lord, help us to grow in our knowledge of both Your word, and Your power!  We do not want to be limited by our lack of understanding, but encouraged to understand more and more!  As Paul prays - Colossians 1:9-14 NIV:

[9] "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, [10] so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, [11] being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, [12] and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. [13] For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Amen and Amen!

Realign, Refocus

This morning I felt led to read from Paul's letter to the Philippians 3:3-11 NIV:

[3] "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--- [4] though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 

[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."

It is always good for me to read these verses, for Paul helps me put my life in proper perspective.  In light of our eternal reward, in light of our pursuit of deepening relationship with the Lord, no other accomplishment is of significant value.  No job, no success, no home, no car, no bank account, has any true value.  He is the one we should be pursuing with all we have, not to earn a reward, but to know Him, for love of Him.  

I work with microwave communications, where it is very important to have the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna perfectly aligned.  If there is a damaging wind, we may need to re-align those antennas.  These verses are like that for me, a realignment of focus.

I go back to a recent reflection on Jesus' conversation concerning the two most important commandments, found in all three of the Synoptic Gospels, and `will look at the version found in Mark 12:29-31 NIV:

[29] “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' [31] The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” 

Imagine if we were able to live these out in our lives, coupled with the perspective  that Paul shared!  

If our lives were focused on loving the Lord and loving our neighbor, loving one another, what would that truly look like?

If this is the goal, how should I change my life, my thoughts and actions?

What a wonderful invitation to change the way I think and act.  I like the way Graham Cooke says it (paraphrased here) "if the way you have been thinking has led you here, then have another thought, or think again!"

Lord, please help me, for it is easy to become distracted and diverted in this life from what is most important!  Help me to realign my thoughts and pursuits to what is most important!

Amen!

Sinners Were ALL Gathering

Recently I have been reflecting on Jesus' teachings about seeking the lost, and this morning I opened my Bible right up to one of his most well known teachings on this subject, found in Luke 15:1-7 NIV:

[1] "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. [2] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 

[3] Then Jesus told them this parable: [4] “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? [5] And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders [6] and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' [7] I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

While I love the parable, what really caught my eye this morning was the first verse, "Now the tax collectors and sinners were ALL gathering around to hear Jesus."  

Oh that this would be true of the Church, and true for every church, that their message would be so attractive to sinners that they would ALL gather around to hear!  

Can you even imagine that?

Jesus clearly is giving direction to the teachers of the Law, and to His disciples as well, there is great value in the lost sheep!  

Imagine all heaven being focused on the winning of the Lost!

In my mind I was reminded of almost every home in Kansas City being focused on the Superbowl last year, as the Chief's played.  At least at my house I was every attentive to the game and everything the Chief's did well I cheered about.

Imagine in Heaven the same level of attention being paid and cheered when one of the lost is found and saved!  What a great experience that must be!

Going back to the verses, I like to ask why.  Why did sinners and tax collectors ALL gather to hear Jesus?  

What do we like to hear?  What catches our attention, or opens our ears?  What draws us to a person?

While each of us is unique, I think there are a few things we can learn from the Lord, just through observation, of these verses and others.

1) Sinners did not feel threatened by Jesus

2) Jesus gave His attention to sinners and spoke to them

3) Jesus healed sinners (John 5:11)

4) Jesus forgave sinners (Luke 5:20)

5) Jesus did not condemn sinners (John 8:11)

Maybe Jesus didn't call them sinners.  

Maybe He treated them as if they had value, and gave them His attention!  

Maybe He talked to them, and listened to them!

Maybe He loved them!  

Maybe He fed them!

Maybe He served them!

Maybe He blessed them!!   

Maybe He was for them!

Maybe He saw sinners as those who were not rightly related to the Father, so He showed them what the Father was like!  

Maybe He related to them first, before He told them to sin no more.

Oh that we would learn to minister as Jesus did!  We must learn to love as Jesus loved, and that obviously includes sinners!  Thankfully that is the case, for I certainly know I am one!

Lord, I ask that you help us to hear what You are saying!  There is great value placed on the Lost by Heaven!  We are called to seek the lost and introduce them to You!  Help us to stop rejecting and judging the very ones we should be seeking!

Amen and Amen!

Sought and Saved

This morning I felt led to read from Luke 19:1-10 NIV:

[1] "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. [3] He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 

[5] When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 

[7] All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 

[8] But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 

[9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

I love this story, and I am glad I had the opportunity to reflect upon it again this morning.  I have shared this story on multiple occasions, back in the days when I  was leading retreats. It always spoke to me of the impact that meeting Jesus had on people.  They were changed, and Zacchaeus is a great example of someone radically changed in an instant.

This morning my main reflection is the last line, where Jesus describes His mission, " the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  

What a great reminder! 

He doesn't wait for the lost to find Him, He seeks them out!

We know Jesus only said and did what the Father told Him to do, so He already knew Zacchaeus was going to be His host that night, and we can gather that from their short conversation.  Jesus wasn't asking, and knew his name, so it was the plan all along!  Zacchaeus just wasn't aware.

Jesus wasn't just seeking him, because He knew He could get a good meal at his house, He had eternal purposes, namely salvation.

I am reminded of the story of the lost sheep (See Luke 15:3), where Jesus describes leaving the 99 to find the lost one, here we have a perfect example of Him finding and saving the lost one. 

This morning I am encouraged that this is still the heart of Jesus!

He knows who are lost, and He is seeking them to save them!

The Lord is working all things to His plan and purpose, and He will leave no one lost that He intends to find.

Thank you Lord that you sought me out and saved me!

Thank You for loving me enough to seek me out!

Thank You for allowing me to welcome You into my life!

Amen and Amen!