A Positive Action List

This morning I decided to read through the whole of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians.  It is always interesting to read larger chunks of scripture to pull many themes together into a single stream of thought.  There is much to reflect upon in this letter, but I found myself drawn to the  last several verses, the encouragements that Paul gives to the people.  Here are the verses I am reviewing - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 NIV:

[12] "Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. [13] Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. [14] And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. [15] Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 

[16] Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

[19] Do not quench the Spirit. [20] Do not treat prophecies with contempt [21] but test them all; hold on to what is good, [22] reject every kind of evil. 

[23] May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the end of verse 12, "Who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you."  Specifically I wanted to understand "admonish" as the original recipients would understand it.  I find, especially with words that have a slight negative understanding in our modern English, that often times the original Greek word is not so negatively bent. 

In this case the original Greek word is "nouthetéō (from 3563 /noús, "mind" and 5087 /títhēmi, "to place") – properly, to place the mind, i.e. reasoning with someone by warning (admonishing) them.  (continuing) 3560 /nouthetéō ("admonish through instruction") especially appeals to the mind, supplying doctrinal and spiritual substance (content). This "exerts positive pressure" on someone's logic (reasoning), i.e. urging them to choose (turn to) God's best." (Strong's Concordance)

I like that description, placing something in another's mind.  That is the heart of instruction and good teaching.  I have a few teachers that I listen to that do this so well, they gather scattered thoughts, organize and correlate them and place them nicely into our minds.  Having new thoughts in our minds is a necessary part of repentance, our learning to think differently, or better, so that our actions can then line up with our thinking.

The rest of Paul's final exhortation is fairly action packed:

Live in peace

Warn those who are idle or disruptive

Encourage the disheartened

Help the weak

Be patient with everyone

Do what is good for each other 

Rejoice always

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances

Do not quench the Spirit

Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all

Hold onto what is good

Reject every kind of evil

Wouldn't this be a good list of things to keep about, rather than all the negative focus on sinful behavior on things not to do?  This list is more positive and as I mentioned, action oriented.  I was just thinking how wonderful it would be if we could embrace these as a congregation, or as the whole Body of Christ!

Oh Lord, help us!  We can get so distracted, so focused on little things and allow them to distract us and even divide us!  Help us to live at peace with each other, embracing the call to Love one another!  

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you (us) through and through!  Lord, help us to place these things in our minds, that we might live them out for Your Glory!

Amen and Amen!

Prayer and Power

Yesterday, right before I woke up, I had a dream where my wife and I were hanging with a bunch of friends from Church.  Two of the people in the group were friends who are well-known intercessors, and we were talking about Church History.   I said to my honey, "if you want power, pray!  The powerful people always prayed!"  Our intercessor friend said, "AMEN!"  that is where I woke up....  

I started reflecting on the theme of prayer yesterday and ended up snoozing during my quiet time, partly due to the allergy medicines I am taking, but the theme of prayer settled into my consciousness and I returned to it over and over, as I drifted in and out of my slumber.   Since I was unable to fully engage yesterday, it seemed like a good theme for my prayer this morning.  

Rather than going to Church history and digging into the stories of people who were great prayers, like Praying Hyde, George Muller, or Count Zinzendorf, I decided to go to our best example, Jesus!  Just searching for the word pray in the New Testament in my online bible provided a more than ample list of verses to read and pray through! 

While we do see many references to Jesus praying, the Gospels do spend more time on His words and teaching to His disciples, which only makes sense as His prayer was to our Heavenly Father.  I am only going to quote a couple of verses, but there are over 150 times that pray, prayer or praying are used in the New Testament, so there are plenty of other verses to reflect upon.

Here are the verses I am going to look at this morning.

Mark 1:35 NIV:  "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

Mark 6:46 NIV: "After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray."

John 5:19 NIV:  "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."

John 12:49 NIV: "For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken."

I am not sure what comes to mind when we hear the word prayer, having grown up Catholic I was certainly familiar with the word, and practice of repeating prayers, but not so familiar with what we see in these four verses.  The idea of going somewhere separate, and praying for long periods of time seemed like something monks and nuns would do, but not a regular congregant.  

Jesus describes a level of intimacy with His Father that was remarkable, in that every word He spoke and everything He did came from the Father   My early understanding of prayer was to send plenty of words towards heaven and hope that God heard and moved on whatever situation I was praying about.  It never really crossed my mind that prayer was actually another way of referring to a RELATIONSHIP with God. That is what what Jesus modelled to us all.  Its not the words we speak that change us, but rather the words we hear, and what we see in prayer that are important!  We are changed, not by our flurry of words but by our listening, hearing and conversing.

I think its safe to say that Jesus didn't repeat the "Our Father" prayer over and over again when He went up on the mountain to pray.  Instead He conversed with the Father!  As a younger man, I figured Jesus, as God's Son and part of the Trinity, really didn't have to "pray" so much as He just knew what to say and do as a part of the Trinity.  However, as Paul writes, Jesus laid down His divinity in some way, becoming fully man (see Philippians 2: 6-8), and thus what He modelled to us is what is available to any of us, as mere humans.  We can have an intimate relationship with the Father, where we know what He is saying and see what He is doing! 

The three people I mentioned earlier as great prayers, were all people who understood this simple reality and pursued it with a wholehearted passion.  They too were not repeating a set of words over and over again in their prayers, instead they were conversing with God!  Because of their intimacy with the Father, they experienced great power, for they saw what the Father was doing, heard what He was saying and came into agreement with Him!  They had no power of their own but stepped into the flow of power that flows from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  

In the same way that Jesus demonstrated the power of His words, things like "Lazarus, Come Forth!" He modelled for us the ability God has made available to us to speak into existence His plan and purpose, with power and authority.  Jesus handed His ministry to the church and fully expects and knows that somehow we will fulfill the great commission, and come to a place of unity and purity.  We are unable to accomplish any of this on our own, from our own reserves of power, but only through uniting ourselves to Him through intimate relationship, through prayer.

For some heavenly reason that we cannot fathom, God chooses to work in and through us to accomplish His will on the earth!  He wants to bring about change, and He will do it through us!  

While I cannot claim any great intimate relationship with the Lord, I am certainly trying to pursue that type of relationship with Him.  I too get up early to pray!  I go to someplace where I won't be interrupted and work on listening and seeing!  Oftentimes I need to get all of the stuff that is running around in my mind, cleared out before I can truly listen and see.  My time of prayer is mostly listening and allowing the Lord to direct my thoughts, what I read, even what I reflect upon.  There is a simple rhythm of relationship that I try ot live within every day, as I know intimacy does not come from occasional interactions, but rather through regular conversation, transparency and humility.

As I often do, as I reflect on my relationship with the Lord, I see parallels to my relationship with my sweetheart.  Early on in our relationship we spent hours in conversation, getting to know each other, learning what was important, asking questions, and listening as much as sharing.  As we have grown, our relationship has gone much deeper, often I don't need to ask what she is thinking, as I know what she is thinking.  (Note:  I still ask most of the time, just so I don't assume and get it wrong).  I communicate constantly so that I know wat she is thinking, what she would like me to do, etc. not because of some fearful response, but because of my great affection.

In the same way, I spend time every day, usually at the start of the day, not because of some religious rule, but because of my great affection for Him.  I try to remember throughout the day to seek His presence and guidance as I work, interact with others, or just relax.  I am nowhere near proficient nor understanding everything the Lord is doing or saying, but I am getting better, growing my relationship with Him.

Ultimately, I do believe that the Lord wants this type of relationship with all of us!  That we might know what He is thinking, saying and wanting to do through us!  I believe He wants to partner through us releasing great power to change our lives and the lives of those around us!  He is looking for faithful, trustworthy people to invite into a place of intimacy so that He can entrust them with greater vision for what He wants to do!  I think its safe to say that much of what He wants to accomplish is impossible without His involvement and His power.  "Jesus looked at them (us) and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ( Matthew 19:26 NIV).

Amen!  Let us believe that He wants to show us great things that He wants us to pray and speak into reality here on earth!  Let us be witnesses and ambassadors of His love and power to the world!  Let us learn to pray / relate with Him in deep intimacy!  Let us Pray!

Amen and Amen!

As I Have Loved You!

I ended up snoozing yesterday morning, and was not able to spend much time thinking a theme I that had recently come to mind.  On Sunday, I started thinking  about the New Commandment that Jesus gave us, found in John 13:34-35 NIV:  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This simple statement, while similar to the the previously quoted, "love you neighbor as yourself" seems to me to be a significant change in how we are supposed to live, and I wanted to spend some time reflecting on this and researching it from that perspective.  

As I noted earlier we are familiar with a similar statement, spoken by Jesus in summarizing the commandments.  We find it quoted in Matthew 22:37-40 NIV:

[37] Jesus replied: “ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

I have heard this described as a vertical love and a horizontal love.  Loving god who is above, and loving our neighbors who are on our level. One could use the cross with its vertical beam and horizontal beam signifying these two expressions of love.   While challenging, I do think that I could fulfill these two commandments on my own, or at least it seems possible.  

The new commandment, however, calls us to love each other as Jesus loves us, and this is a whole different level of love!  If we were to sketch this commandment out, we must always looks at others as Jesus looks at them, so that we might understand how to love them as He loves them, and that requires us to view others from His vantage point.  In other words, my love for others must always start with our unity with Him, an intimate relationship where we can hear His words and see what He is doing.  While we could think this might think this requires us to ascend to heaven and then look down upon earth to one another, I think that in reality it is more of what Jesus demonstrated, as described by Paul in his letter to the Philippians.  Here are the verses - Philippians 2:1-8 NIV:

[1] "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

[5] "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; [7] rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross!"

Verses 3 & 4 are where the rubber really hits the road, in my opinion.  Essentially we are called to servant-hood, valuing others above ourselves, and looking to their interests before our own.... a laying down of our life so that we might love and serve others. Paul continues on and invites us to have the same mindset of Jesus in our relationships with one another!  

I am convinced that this invitation, this new commandment is absolutely impossible to do on our own, or at least it is for me!  I can handle loving god, and loving others as long as they are on my same level, but this call is to humility and serving one another, before our own interests, and that just wars against my inner self, my flesh and personal mindset, if I am being honest.  It is all good to say those lovely words, its a whole other thing to embrace them and try to live them!  

I believe that I am only capable of doing this, if I unite myself to Christ to such an extent that my life becomes His.  I must choose this life, this is not something that He will come and force upon me.  In doing so, I will absolutely be invited to lay down my life, for that is what Jesus did for me. 

Oh Lord, I see how much more this commandment is than it seems on the surface!  Help me to lean into You, to learn from You, to trust in You, to unite myself with You!  I want to be able to walk out my remaining days representing You, having Your mindset, and loving others as You love them, and as You love me.  I know I am not capable of this love without You help, but I know You will help me!  

Thank You Lord for loving me!

Amen!

Power, Authority and Feeding the Masses

Here are the verses for my meditation today - Luke 9:1-2,10-17 NIV:

[1] "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

[10] When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, [11] but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

[12] Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

[13] He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish---unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” [14] (About five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” [15] The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. [16] Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. [17] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."

A couple of things caught my eye today as I was reading through this familiar chapter in Luke.

First, I included verses 1 & 2 for I believe they are important for context.  Jesus gave them power and authority in verse 1.  We know that they must have received something when He gave them this power and authority for they went out and did the very things Jesus directed them to do.  The Greek word that is translated power is the word dunamis:

Definition: (miraculous) power, might, strength
Usage: (a) physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning (b) plur: powerful deeds, deeds showing (physical) power, marvelous works.

HELPS Word-studies

1411 dýnamis (from 1410 /dýnamai, "able, having ability") – properly, "ability to perform" (L-N); for the believer, power to achieve by applying the Lord's inherent abilities. "Power through God's ability".

It is my belief that this was given to them in some convincing way, for the word exudes power and strength, and this is something we feel and cooperate with in our ministry.  I believe this was a pre-cursor to the actual filling of the Holy Spirit, for they were changed and able from that moment on to cast out demons and cure the sick.  Until Jesus came and started ministering, only a few prophets had been able to do such works, so this healing ministry was not something that the apostles would have thought common nor something they were capable of doing.  The fact that they went out and had successful ministry trips, healing the sick, casting out demons, meant they were actually operating n the power and authority Jesus gave them.

Secondly, I think Jesus' statement in verse 13 is related to verse 1, in that they were given power and authority, and Jesus was inviting them to press beyond what they had previously done, into something new.  They were given power and authority in both spiritual (demons) and natural (healing) realms, and the need to feed many people clearly falls into the second category. However, it was something new to them, and they didn't make that jump in faith.

Jesus tells them to give them something to eat, then takes their loaves and fish, giving thanks to the Father, breaks them and gives them back to the disciples to distribute.  Interestingly, the fish and loaves were now in the hands of the disciples and that is where the miracle occurs, from the hands of the disciples to the people.  They were all satisfied, including the disciples.  I find it interesting that Jesus enabled the disciples to do exactly what He told them to do, "you give them something to eat." 

I find it very encouraging that the Lord directed and then enabled them to do that very thing.  We don't find Jesus giving them any other directions, speaking about how the miracle was going to unfold, instead just handing the fish and loaves to the disciples to distribute.  He certainly might have said something else, but in my experience, He doesn't always provide a super clear explanation, instead he invites me to step into a place of faith. 

I think that Jesus was demonstrating and teaching the disciples that their power and authority was more extensive than they thought, and included such things in the natural realm, that they had not even thought possible.  I think there may very well be a connection between these verses, where the they gave Jesus everything they had, and the stories in Acts where people shared everything in common and no one had any needs.  Luke records the following - Acts 4:31-35 NIV:

[31] "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

[32] "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. [33] With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all [34] that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales [35] and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need."

I find it interesting as well that at the time the verses above were written that the Church in Jerusalem had grown to about 5000 (see Luke 4:4) roughly the same number as were fed in Luke 9.

This morning I am encouraged that the Lord has authority over both the spiritual realm, as well as the natural realm, and as His followers, who are hidden in Him, we should as well!  None of this comes from our own effort, but rather it is the Lord who gives both the power and the authority.  I believe that the Lord is encouraging us to think differently, to listen to Him when He tells us to do something that is impossible in our own abilities.  I believe that He wants to broaden our understanding of His power and authority, given to us, that we might step into more effectively representing His ministry to the world! 

Oh Lord, increase our faith!  Oh Lord, pour forth Your Power and Authority to Your Church.  Help us to listen to You and follow Your directions!  Help us to embrace all that You have for us!  Help us to give You everything we have, trusting that You will do great things through us, when we do!

Amen and Amen!

Dangerous Yeast

This morning I felt like I should read and reflect on John's Gospel, chapter 11.  This is a great chapter or reflection as this includes the account of the raising of Lazarus.  However, today I am going to look at the immediate aftermath to that miracle.  Here are verses - John 11:45-54 NIV:

[45] "Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. [46] But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. [47] Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. 

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. [48] If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 

[49] Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! [50] You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 

[51] He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, [52] and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. [53] So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 

[54] Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples."

When I read these verses this morning, the first thing that caught my eye was the line from the meeting of the Sanhedrin, "the Romans will com e and take away both our temple and our nation."  Recently in church we have been discussing the danger of the political and religious spirits, and especially the mixing of the two of them.  Today, in America we have groups on the far right and the far left who are trying to tell us that only "true" Christians believe exactly like they do, and that is a very dangerous prospect, from either side.  

I am reminded of Jesus' comment found in Mark 8:15 NIV:  “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”  He is essentially warning the apostles of falling into thinking that elevates either religion or the state as more important that God.  In the verses this morning from John 11, we see exactly that!  They have the Son of God in their midst, performing amazing miracles, and they are concerned Rome will take away "OUR temple and OUR nation".  Their quest for power and control was more important to them then the Messiah, and because of that they were plotting to kill Jesus. 

We must watch ourselves, watch our thinking to make sure that we don't add something to the Gospel so that our message become the Gospel+!  This is what was seen in the early Church, when the Circumcision party was preaching the Gospel + Circumcision, and Paul absolutely rejected that message.  He covers that topic several times and spent much of his letter to the church in Galatia addressing this concern.  He had previously had to confront Peter to his face, for Peter had started to agree with this circumision teaching and thought.  Paul saw the absolute danger of this message, for it effectively says the passion and death of Jesus on the Cros```s really didn't accomplish everything.  

Paul writes the following - Galatians 5:2-9 NIV:

[2] "Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. [3] Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. [4] You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. [5] For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 

[7] You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? [8] That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. [9] “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

Here we see the yeast of the Pharisees (For they held the Law as most important) infiltrating the Galatian's thinking, and Paul is warning them, even as Jesus warned His apostles.  

We must watch our thinking, for ultimately any Gospel+anything is actually laying the groundwork for getting rid of Jesus completely.  The Pharisees certainly didn't want Jesus around and neither did Herod.  They wanted all the control, and were unwilling to share that with God.  In their eyes, it was "OUR" temple and "OUR" nation!  Losing control of either would have been catastrophic to their own positions and ability to influence others.  

We must remain anchored in Christ, our identity is in Him alone.  We must reject the convincing arguments that say there is a more full expression of our faith that is the Gospel+, tor the only true Christians who preach the Gospel plus whatever they decide is the right viewpoint.  

Finally we should listen to God when He says - 1 Kings 9:3 NIV  “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

-and- 

Leviticus 20:26 NIV: "You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."

I am pretty sure the temple and nation were God's, not the Pharisees, Herodians or anything other group vying for power and control.

This morning I am encouraged to check my heart and mind to make sure that I am embracing a faith where Jesus is Lord, period!  As Paul writes, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation."  ( Galatians 6:14-15 NIV)

Amen!

Vanity and Friendship With The World

This morning I felt like I should read from James.  It is always important to get ready for James, as He is quite straight-forward in his speech.  I do appreciate that fact.  The verses for this morning are from James 4:1-10 NIV:

[1] What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? [2] You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. [3] When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

[4] "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. [5] Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us ? [6] But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 

[7] Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

I was originally going to start with verse 4, but that seemed like a rough opening line!  :-)

James is addressing our present state, that of being a new creation (See 2 Cor 5:17 and Gal 6:15) living in our old-creation mindset. We are meant for eternal and Kingdom purposes, and in Christ we are able to do join ourselves to His ministry, His purpose.  Our common issue is that we struggle to look beyond ourselves and our old ways of thinking.  Our natural proclivity is to be concerned about ourselves first and foremost, I guess you could say we have a bit of a survival instinct. We embrace this to the extent that we effectively "worship" our wants and desires.

If we look around us, we see many great examples of how we should live, how we should treat ourselves, what we should eat, what we should wear, what we should drive, where we should live, all presented to us in the most appealing packages by the marketing companies who are appealing to our wants and desires. 

As Christians we are to worship God, first and foremost in our lives, and the temptation is to try to worship both our wants and God.  In a covenant relationship, such as marriage, being in love with and actively engaging in loving another is adultery, and James just comes out swinging with that term.  He softens it a bit by calling it friendship with the world, but that is still an issue.  He calls us to embrace a focus on God alone, to resist the temptation of thinking only about ourselves.

I think that many of us would consider it a bit unnatural, maybe even abnormal, if we meet a person who is more concerned about others, let along God, than themselves. I remember a young family from our church long ago.  They got a call from school about their  7-8 year old daughter.  The teacher was concerned for her, because she was so empathetic and compassionate that she would give her mittens or coat away, on cold days, to children who were lacking.  She would give food away at lunch and just seemed to have an abnormal lack of self-concern.  The teacher was gravely concerned, and the parents had to explain that their child was just very compassionate and embraced the teachings of Christ.

I have quoted many times, Paul's wonderful encouragement from Philippians 2:1-4 NIV:

[1] "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

If we were to meet someone like this, I think we would be slightly uncomfortable, which is really just the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  I know I enjoy the things I like and want and don't like feeling that I should lay them aside for the sake of someone else.  I certainly don't enjoy putting others needs before my own.  At times  I have an absurdly vain imagination, where I am the center of everyone's attention.  I am fine with others who agree with my opinions, just as long as I don't have to change mine.

James rightly calls this all pride.  I don't think of myself as a prideful individual, just someone who has above average intelligence, and usually has a balanced and correct perspective. :-)  I like to soften the truth so I feel better about myself, but the truth is I need to really look at my inner thoughts and pull the reins back on my self-focus and wants.  Rather than only focusing on saying no to myself, James encourages an engagement towards God, which is really the point. its not enough to say no to ourselves, we need to say yes to something else, namely God!  If we come near to Him, He will come near to us!  

This morning I am encouraged to look in teh mirror and see myself more clearly!  I am encouraged to look at what I spend my time and energy doing.  I am encouraged to change my thinking, to change my actions, to consider others before I consider my own wants and desires.  And primarily I am encouraged to more fully embrace a life lived for God.

Amen!

Peace, Be Still!

Yesterday during worship I saw this image of a pool with perfectly still water.  As I reflected on it, I was reminded of two different scriptures.  They came to mind in a specific order, and I think that was for a reason.  THe first scripture was Jesus sleeping during the storm found in Luke 8:22-25 NIV:

[22] "One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. [23] As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 

[24] The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we're going to drown!” 

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. [25] “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. 

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

The understanding I had when I remembered this scripture was that Jesus was able to sleep in the storm because inside of Him, He had perfect peace, and His soul was like that perfectly still water.  When He stood up, his command stilled storm, and He essentially extended the peace that was in Him to the surrounding sea!  

I felt that the Lord wanted to extend His peace to us, especially those of us who find themselves in personal storms, or whatever kind.  Jesus had perfect peace in the midst of raging societal, cultural, relational, political, and even natural storms.  He was unstirred by all that was occurring around Him, instead He kept His eyes on the Father, knowing full well that the Father was firmly in control of everything, and absolutely faithful.

A bit later, I was reminded of Psalm 23 and the beautiful imagery that David provides.  Psalm 23:1-6 NASB:

[1] "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

[2] He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 

[3] He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 

[4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 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 have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 

[6] Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

There have been many reflections and commentaries on this beautiful Psalm so I won't try to expand on these verses.  The one verse that caught my mind and heart was verse 2, "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters."   The original word that was translated quiet is the Hebrew word mnuchach which Strongs  provides the following word helps: 

comfortable, ease, quiet, resting place, still

Or mnuchah {men-oo-khaw'}; feminine of Manowach; 

repose or (adverbially) peacefully; 

figuratively, consolation (specifically, matrimony); 

hence (concretely) an abode -- comfortable, ease, quiet, rest(-ing place), still.

This word clearly has broader connotations than just water without waves.  I believe that the Lord is inviting us into His peace!  He desires to restore the peace in our souls, the peace in our lives, the peace in our marriages.  I believe that His invitation is to look at Him, to see that He is perfectly at peace, and that same peace is available to us.

My encouragement today is to allow the Lord to minister His peace over me.  I believe He is speaking the command, "Peace, be still!"  over our lives and over our situations! 

My prayer is that our hearts, souls and minds would come to a place a perfect peace, only available in Him!

Oh Lord, extend the peace that is in You!

Amen and Amen!  Peace be with You!

More Than You Can Ask or Imagine

Yesterday during some corporate prayer at our church, I was praying about God's future plans and paraphrased some verses from Ephesians about God doing more than we can think or imagine.  I said, "I can imagine a lot, Lord"!  Afterwards, I felt like the Lord whispered back a bit of a reply, "yes, but you don't think like I do, so everything you imagine is from man's perspective not mine!"

To put this in context, here are the verses from Paul's letter to the Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV:

[14] "For this reason I kneel before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. [16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

[20] Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

I must say His word, while gentle, caught my attention, and I knew it was an invitation to begin pressing further into Him, that I might grow and learn to see things from His perspective, learning to think more like Him.  Recently, I was listening to John Wimber, one of the founders of the Vineyard Churches, giving his testimony about how the Lord moved in his life, and spoke something similar.  He was desperate to see God move and was crying out to the Lord and heard the Lord say something that changed everything.  The Lord said to him, "John I have seen your ministry, now I am going to show you mine!"

Up until that point John had been doing all the church things he knew to grow and establish the church, he was obeying the leading of the Lord, teaching from the Word, praying for healing, everything he could do from his own knowledge and experience, but it just wasn't enough, and John knew there had to be more.  

These verses from Paul's letter, help me to understand that there is so much more, things beyond which I can even think.... for I haven't been able to grasp the fullness of God's love for me, the lost, the poor and downtrodden, the lonely, the weak, etc.  I am aware of how limited my thinking really is, and how so much of my thinking is based on what I have read, what I have heard others teach!  I am limited and I know it... and I feel like the invitation is to press pass my own understanding into new things that He speaks and does!  

Oh Lord, help me!  Oh Lord, help us to not settle for that which we can do, or think on our own!  Help us to press further into You to discover what You purpose to do!  Help us to lay down our understanding and frameworks and allow You to speak new things into existence!  Show us Your ministry!  Show us Your Love!  Fill us with the whole measure of the fullness of You! 

Amen and Amen!

Light and Momentary?

This morning I continue my reading from Mark, moving on a bit to the following verses - Mark 8:34-38 NIV:

[34] "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [35] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. [36] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? [37] Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [38] If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.”

These verses probably don't make anyone's list of top favorite verses of all time, and for that very reason it is important that we spend time with them.  I believe there is a brand of Christianity today that preaches only blessing and good things.  This stream has no aswers for difficulty or struggles other than to cast blame, or at least suspicion upon the person walking through difficulty.  The logic of this approach follows that if God only brings blessings and good things than people struggling must have some amount of secret sin, or that they are in rebellion and God is punishing them.  I would imagine that these statements by Jesus are never heard in those churches.  

Jesus is quite descriptive of the cost of following Him, and while He had not yet gone to the cross, one expects His listeners understood what He meant when He said "take up their cross".  Apparently it was a form of punishment used by the Greeks as well as the Romans that was used prior to their time by the Phoenicians.  Thus, it was likely a widely understood term.  Some commentators believe that in this instance it was understood to mean persecution.  Here is a note from the Discovery Bible: "The "cross" (Mk 8:34) is not a symbol for suffering in general. Rather it refers to withstanding persecution (difficult times), by the Lord's power, as He directs the circumstances of life. As Christ's disciples, believers are to hold true – even when attacked by the ungodly.]"  Regardless of exact meaning, it is clear that Jesus' description of following Him would not be a life of all blessings and good things!   

It is important how we process such statements in our lives of faith.  If we look at the lives of the Apostles, and many in the early church, their lives while filled with miraculous experiences, opportunities to witness healings and other signs and wonders, and yet they were far from perfectly comfortable.  They understood the reality that following Jesus would invite persecution and derision from the family, friends, neighbors and government, yet they gladly embraced faith in Jesus!  They understood that the eternal benefits of being part of the Kingdom of God, followers of Christ Jesus, far outweighed the difficulties.  

Paul writes 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV:  "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. [17] For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Paul obviously writes these words post resurrection, and when we read Jesus' words above, we also must understand them from the place of the completed revelation of Christ Jesus' passion, death, resurrection and ascension!  He wasn't a popular leader looking for followers, He was the Son of God, come to earth, preparing the way for restoration of relationship with our heavenly Father!   His call and invitation is for us to take up this ministry of reconciliation.  

Paul writes the following further on in his letter to the Church in Corinth - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV: "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! [18] All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: [19] that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [20] We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. [21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Our call in following Jesus is to be like Him, to take up His ministry, as Paul points out in the verses above.  Our moment of salvation, while it does seal our eternal destiny, is not a one-way ticket to heaven, and a "get out of all difficulty and pain" card.  When we choose to follow Christ we join ourselves to His Body here on earth, and our ministry becomes His ministry, our life becomes His life!  We have become a new creation, and our old life is no longer ours!  

While this may not seem the most encouraging word this morning, let me say that is only because we don't fully comprehend the eternal glory that far outweighs every trouble we may experience here.  Our invitation is to bring Heaven to earth (Matt 6:10), to proclaim the Kingdom of God present, and then demonstrate that reality, that the world might see, understand and be reconciled to God!  

Oh Lord, help us!  Oh Lord, show Yourself mighty to this, our fallen world.  Help us to follow you daily!  Help us to bear witness to Your Gospel of Grace!  Help us to bear up under the trials and difficulties that we might reveal You in all Your Glory!

Amen and Amen!

Don't Stop

Yesterday I was reading through some of Mark's Gospel, starting in Chapter 7.  I find it always helpful to spend time in the word, and I need to do so more often, reading over swaths of the word, just to keep it fresh in my mind and heart.  

One of the stories that caught my eye was Jesus healing a blind man.  I love this one in particular, because it invites us into something we don't see anywhere else, the process of praying for healing.  Here are the verses - Mark 8:22-26 NIV:

[22] "They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. [23] He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 

[24] He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 

[25] Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. [26] Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don't even go into the village.” 

A couple of thoughts to start.  First, I don't think we probably saw the breakout of a large ministry of spitting in eyes, following this healing. :-)  I don't know about everyone else, but I would have some qualms about spitting in someone else's eyes at the direction of the Holy Spirit.  I don't think it was probably a whole lot different back in Jesus day, spitting on someone is usual an act of derision or defiance.  It is at a minimum an odd way to bless.  

Jesus does talk about streams of living water coming out of us, but I don't think this is that! Ha!

Secondly, this is the only time I know of where Jesus had to pray twice over someone for their healing.  I am grateful for the method revealed and used in some of the best healing ministries, who are continuing Jesus' ministry of healing.  They know that our sensitivity to what the father is saying and doing is oftentimes off, but recognize the benefit of asking the one being healed what they are experiencing, so that they can focus on a particular area or effort, or continue pressing in for further healing. 

This also should help us to be encouraged when we see some impact of healing prayer, if they are experiencing some level of healing, we can be encouraged for Jesus demonstrates here the will of the Father to complete the healing.  I am reminded of a song by Journey, "Don't Stop Believin" and this is the encouragement today!  Any progress in an area of prayer should encourage us that the Father is engaged and at work, and we just need to keep pressing in for the more and completion!

Amen and Amen!

Wet Footprints

This morning I felt led to read through some of Paul's letter to the Galatians.  His words are always a fresh reminder and helpful for encouragement.  Here are the verses that stood out to me this morning - Galatians 5:6,13-14 NIV:

[6] "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

[13] "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. [14] For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Recently I was reflecting on the faith versus works/deeds discussion, and this morning these verses seemed to settle nicely into my soul.  I like the idea of "faith expressing itself through love" for that seems to add a very helpful perspective on James comments about faith and deeds (see James 2: 14-18).  "Faith expressing itself through Love" is clearly action oriented, but action motivated by love which is founded in faith.  

If love is the primary action of our faith, then the verses above (13 & 14) flow out of our faith, for our natural outflow would find us serving one another in love. Our vertical relationship and love with God, should fuel our love for our brothers and sisters, for they are exactly that, our brothers and sisters!  Our love should be more than mere words, or loving thoughts, as John wrote in his first letter (1 John 3:18).  

The invitation this morning is to allow our faith in, and our love of the Lord, to be our primary motivation in our daily lives.  Our understanding of God's love for us, the salvation He offers us, and His desire for relationship should spur us forward in our love and service of our brothers and sisters, not just in the Body of Christ, but even those who have yet to fully understand God's love.  Imagine what the impact would be if the outflow of the Church was humble service pouring forth from love!  

Lord, help me to embrace Your words today, to embrace this invitation to allow my faith to be expressed through active love!  Help me to embrace and rest in Your love for me, allowing this reality to overflow and saturate my being, soaking my daily words and actions.  I want Your love to be the source of my wet footprints in my day!

Amen and Amen!

Work, Labor and Endurance

This morning I felt led to read from Paul's first letter to 1 Thessalonians 1:2-7 NIV:

[2] "We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. [3] We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [4] For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, [5] because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. [6] You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. [7] And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia."

Recently in our church we have talked through justification and the Gospel of Grace.  One subject that seems to always come up is how our works relate to these topics and truths?  Clearly we must believe in salvation and justification through faith alone (See Romans 3:21-28; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Philippians 3:8-11) and yet James says the following - James 2:24 NIV:  "You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."  While this can be confusing, I think Paul actually provides a lovely guide here in the verses quoted above.  The "work", "Labor" and "endurance" are the products of faith, love and hope.  

The way I understand it is that James was effectively arguing that the impact of our faith and belief should have an affect on our lives and these changes, visible in our works, actions and fruit all point to our changed lives.  While these are indicative of our salvation, justification and relationship with and knowledge of the Lord, they are not the cause.  

Secondly, it seems to me that James is looking at this from our perspective, not necessarily God's perspective.  If we were to take the second thief on the cross as an example (See Luke 23:39-43).  Clearly, he expresses his faith in Jesus, but certainly has no opportunity to do any "works" aside from his statement of faith, and yet one must believe the word's of Jesus are true, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43).  If we held strongly to the idea that works bring about justification, we could struggle with this statement.

It seems to me that one problem with adding works to the Gospel of Grace through faith, as a requirement for justification, is that we would never know for sure exactly which works are sufficient.  I mean the circumcision group was pretty sure that single act was sufficient and made them a "true" Christian.  However, couldn't the argument be made that a fasted lifestyle (a cutting away the pleasure of food and other comforts of life) was equally beneficial and the sign of a deeper faith, a more committed following of Jesus, and thus maybe now the only true indication of salvation.  Any additional requirement effectively says that Christ's sacrifice was not enough!  I definitely don't want to try to argue that case to Lord, as He sits on The Throne!

Quite simply, our response to Jesus' perfect sacrifice, to the Gospel of Grace, to our justification through faith alone, should be evident in our lives!  Our lives should bear fruit in keeping with our changed way of believing and thinking (repentance).  Our faith, love and hope should be evident in the fruit of our lives, and by this fruit our faith, love and hope will be visible to others, or at least cause them to wonder why our lives are changed.

Oh Lord, help me today to live my life in such a way that my faith, love and hope in You are evident through my works, labor and endurance.  I am so grateful for the sacrifice You made for me, for clearly it was enough!

Amen and Amen!

No Fruit, No Bueno!

This morning I felt led to read from Mark 11.  The section that caught my attention was the story of the cursed Fig tree.  I know I have reflected on this before, but I thought it was worth reviewing this morning.  At first blush it seems out of place in the Gospel's for Jesus was most often speaking of the Kingdom of God, preaching, teaching, healing or working signs and wonders.  As far as I know this is the only instance that Jesus curses anything or anybody, and thus it stands out.  Here are the verses followed by what David Guzik, one of my favorite Bible commentators, says:

[12] "Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. [13] And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. [14] In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it."

a. Seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it: Essentially, the tree was a picture of false advertising, having leaves but no figs. Ordinarily this is not the case with these fig trees, which normally do not have leaves without also having figs.

i. For it was not the season for figs: It wasn’t that the fig tree didn’t have figs because it wasn’t supposed to. The problem is that it had leaves but didn’t have figs. The leaves said, “There are figs here,” but the figs weren’t there.

ii. There were many trees with only leaves, and these were not cursed. There were many trees with neither leaves nor fruit, and these were not cursed. This tree was cursed because it professed to have fruit, but did not.

b. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again”: The tree was cursed for its pretense of leaves, not for its lack of fruit. Like Israel in the days of Jesus, it had the outward form but no fruit. In this picture, Jesus warned Israel – and us – of God’s displeasure when we have the appearance of fruit but not the fruit itself. God isn’t pleased when His people are all leaves and no fruit.

i. In all works in the ministry of Jesus, this is the only destructive miracle. The Old Testament is filled with miracles of destruction and judgment, but Jesus most perfectly showed us the nature of God. If this was the only miracle of its kind, we must see there was a great and important lesson in it. God doesn’t approve when there is profession without reality, talk without walk.

As I was just thinking through these comments, I was reminded of something that John Wimber (One of the founders of the Vineyard churches) related concerning his questioning his church leadership, after reading the Gospels himself.  His question was simple yet profound, he asked the leaders when they "Did the stuff", as in miracles, healings, etc. that he had been reading about in the Gospels. Their reply was that the things he was reading about 'only happened back the bible writers time, not today.'  In John's mind, having a church patterned after the life and ministry of Jesus, you would obviously also experience the fruit of Jesus'  ministry.  It made no sense that the church didn't regularly see miracles, healings and the like.

This seems related to David's comments about having leaves (advertising the fruit) without actually having any fruit.   Unfortunately, I think this is the state of many of our churches today! Oh Lord, let it not be so! 

The same is probably true for many of us who profess faith in the Lord Jesus!  We have plenty of talk, but very little walk!  Oh Lord, we pray for an outpouring of the desire for prayer!  Help us to produce fruit in keeping with repentance!  Help us to show the world that You are alive and well! Help us to effectively represent Your ministry on earth, in our lives and the lives of our families and friends. Help us to be able to say, 'not only do we talk about healing, miracles and other wonders, we regularly see these in our midst'!

Amen and Amen!

Unity Not Division

This morning I was reading from Acts 21, and read something I have not remembered that way.  It is always good to read and reread scripture over and over to make sure that our understanding and remembering are correct.  Setting the stage, Paul has returned to Jerusalem for his final time and everywhere he has stopped up to arriving the Holy Spirit has warned him about what would happen.  Here are the verses - Acts 21:17-22,27-28,30-32 NIV:

[17] "When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. [18] The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. [19] Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 

[20] "When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. [21] They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. [22] What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, ..."

[27] "When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, [28] shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” ...

[30] "The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. [31] While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. [32] He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul."

What I didn't remember was that the Jews who were trying to kill him were possibly other believers, if we assume that these were some of the thousands of believing Jews James mentioned in verse 20, those that were zealous for the Law.  If so, it is such an interesting and frightening thing that there were a whole group of Jewish believers who were so committed to following the law, that they were willing to kill Paul!  Talk about denominational warfare!

Again, if it is true that Jewish believers participated in this riot, it is both amazing and sad to me that at such an early stage in the life of the church there was such violent disagreement!  We can see why Paul in a few of his letters was advocating and praying for a unified church!  It is good for us to continue to pray for all of our brothers and sisters regardless of their specific beliefs, that we all might be unified.  Clearly the voice of the enemy has been at work since the founding of the church to try and convince us to divide ourselves for a unified church would surely crush his plans.  

I am reminded of Paul's encouragement from Philippians 2:1-5 NIV:

[1] "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. [5] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:"

Yes Lord, help us!  Help us to lay down our pride and our opinions and even our particular understandings that cause division! Help us to embrace one another rather than fight against one another!  Do what only You can do, bring full unity!  We are clearly in a time of great division and strife!  Lord help us, sustain us with Your peace and the unity that only You can bring!

Amen and Amen!

The Fruits of Repentance

This morning I felt like I should spend some time reflecting on the message of John the Baptist, which while crucial to God's plans, has generally taken lower priority in my mind and heart, which I guess is right.  However, there is value in considering his words, his message for he was the fore-runner to Christ Jesus.  

I find it interesting that God, when He works, almost always prepares the way prophetically, as well as through personal interactions.  I am encouraged that He doesn't just show up, but He prepares people's hearts and minds and in this way extends mercy to those He intends to visit.

Here are the verses from the Gospel of Luke 3:2-18 NIV:

[2] "during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. [3] He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

[4] As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. [5] Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. [6] And all people will see God's salvation.' ” 

[7] John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? [8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. [9] The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 

[10] “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 

[11] John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 

[12] Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 

[13] “Don't collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 

[14] Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” 

He replied, “Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely---be content with your pay.” 

[15] The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. [16] John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” [18] And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them."

I guess the first thing that surprises me is the initial message of John - "You brood of vipers!"  Remembering that this was written by Luke decades after John first appeared, it is safe to say that this opening line was remembered for a reason!  In the history of public speakers, calling your audience a "brood of vipers" is probably not the most recommended opening lines.  These people had gone out of their way, one could say they were stirred by God to the point of actively seeking someone who would proclaim the word of the Lord, and John lays into them!  It surely grabbed their attention.

Secondly, he comments on the coming wrath.  It is interesting that the Greek word used by Luke here is orgḗ  defined as a ("settled anger") proceeds from an internal disposition which steadfastly opposes someone or something based on extended personal exposure, i.e. solidifying what the beholder considers wrong (unjust, evil). Additional definition:  "Orgē comes from the verb oragō meaning, 'to teem, to swell'; and thus implies that it is not a sudden outburst, but rather (referring to God's) fixed, controlled, passionate feeling against sin." 

While John saw this as a coming wrath, it was revealed as God's victory over sin by Jesus' death on the cross.  He had a plan, and while it was full of wrath and judgement, all that fell upon Jesus who took our place! This great victory does not preclude our need to repent from our sins, for repentance includes acknowledgement, owning the sin, and choosing to think and act differently going forward.  John calls on them to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance".  The people understood this to mean that they needed to change their behavior, not just their heart attitude.  

The people didn't just listen and walk away, thinking that was a good sermon.  They wanted to know how to apply the message to their lives. They asked "What should we do then?"  Wouldn't this be a good question to ask ourselves after we hear a stirring sermon?  How should my life change because of what I just heard?  It is not a works orientation, but rather an obedience orientation.  They were stirred and convicted by John's message and knew they needed to change, they needed to respond to God's words.

Jesus addresses this obedience in Matthew 21:28-32 NIV:

[28] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' [29] “ 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 

[30] “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 

[31] “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” 

“The first,” they answered. 

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. [32] For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."

Embracing the Word of God, and allowing it to change us is not working our way to heaven or eternal life!  This is necessary for us to become more and more like Jesus, who we follow.  If we want to represent the Father, as Jesus did, we need to change our way of thinking and acting to do so.  This is what James spoke of when he said faith without accompanying deeds (lives changing) is dead (James 2:17).  I like the way John the Baptist said it, "produce fruit in keeping with repentance."  If we truly believe these are God's words, then we must change our lives to conform to them!  

Oh Lord, help me to listen and respond!  Help me to be obedient to Your word in my life that I might represent You more fully.  I recognize that I am so unlike You in many ways, and I do need to change!  Help me to produce the fruit in keeping with repentance!

Amen and Amen!

Invitation to Repentance

This morning I felt like I should read from Matthew 21:23-32 NIV:

[23] "Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 

[24] Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. [25] John's baptism---where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” 

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' [26] But if we say, 'Of human origin'---we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 

[27] So they answered Jesus, “We don't know.” 

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 

[28] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' [29] “ 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. [30] “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. [31] “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” 

“The first,” they answered. 

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. [32] For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."

As I was reading these verses I was reminded of something Bill Johnson said in a recent teaching.  He always asks himself the questions that Jesus asks, and that approach seems wise to me.  In this case Jesus is asking questions of the chief priests and elders after they asked Him questions.  I find that is often the case, Jesus asks questions in response to being asked questions, and they aren't usually because He doesn't understand, its because He is getting to the deeper issue at hand, and oftentimes it allows Him to dodge traps.

In this case, it seems they are trying to pin Jesus down trying to get Him to admit that He is the Messiah.  Instead He uncovers their unbelief, and unwillingness to embrace true repentance, something that is required for us to receive salvation.  The way of righteousness that John preached was one of repentance and forgiveness for sins - see Luke 3:3.  The chief priests and elders had effectively rejected John's message, and Jesus knew that and exposed that reality here.

In my looking at those same questions that Jesus asked, I must reflect upon my own response to the Word of the Lord.  

Do I respond immediately?

Do I change the way I am thinking, or do I agree that is sounds good, but remain unchanged?

If I agree with the Word, do I change my behavior and actions to match my thinking?

Am I someone who quickly says yes, and then forgets what I said yes to?

Am I a better follower of Jesus in my mind than in my actions?

Do I consider myself beyond the basics of the Gospel, and choose to listen only to certain Words?

As I look at my life, I find that my responses too often are more verbal than action, and my follow-through is poor.  I find that often I don't act like the Word I am hearing is from the Lord, and responding accordingly.  I have lots of good intentions, but my willingness to change my life is minimal.  Oh Lord, help me and forgive me!

Lord, You are the Messiah, the Son of God and Your Words are life!  Help me to fully embrace that which You are saying to me!  Help me to embrace the invitation to repentance, for that was certainly John's message and invitation.

Amen!

When Pride Blocks Belief

The last few days I have been thinking about the story of the Man born blind, and healed by Jesus, found in John, chapter nine.  I have spent many hours thinking about this whole scenario and this morning I saw another aspect worthy of further reflection.   I am focused on the  review of the miracle by the Pharisees.  Here are the verses - John 9:13-34 NIV:

[13] "They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. [14] Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. [15] Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 

[16] Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 

[17] Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 

[18] They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. [19] “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 

[20] “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. [21] But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” [22] His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. [23] That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 

[24] A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 

[25] He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 

[26] Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 

[27] He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 

[28] Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! [29] We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.” 

[30] The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. [31] We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. [32] Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 

[34] To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out."

The verse that caught my attention this morning was verse 18, where it said they (The Pharisees) did not believe he (the man) had been blind and received his sight until they sent for his parents.  The critical word here is "until".  They didn't believe until they sent for his parents, which means that after that point they believed it was true.

Isn't that interesting, they were confronted with the truth, and believed it... and yet they rejected Jesus!

They were unwilling to bend their pride and will and fully accept that Jesus was who He said He was!  

They were stuck... 

If they admitted that Jesus was working with God's blessing and His power, they had to admit they were wrong! 

If they admitted they were wrong, they would have to "eat humble-pie"!

If they admitted He was Messiah, then they would have to worship Him!   

They were able to move past only through casting judgment against the man who had been born blind, claiming He was a sinner! They ignored the fact that apparently that was no longer true for the sign of his "sinfulness,"  his blindness was no longer true!  There was no logic to their approach, but they didn't need logic, just emotion and offense!

As I was thinking through this bit this morning, I felt the following questions in my heart:

Do I really believe and live my life like Jesus is truly the Son of God?  

Am I willing to lay down my opinions, my held beliefs, my thoughts of what's right or wrong, when confronted with Truth?  

Is my pride holding me back from fully experiencing His Lordship in my life?

Oh Lord, help me to embrace humility and Truth whenever I am confronted with an area of my life where I am wrong, especially in areas of my faith or belief!  I don't want to reject You or Your words to me because of my pride, arrogance or stubbornness.  Lord help me to recognize when I have grabbed onto some lame excuse to discount You or Your work because of my own offended sensibilities or pride!  

Lord, help us all to put out of our hearts and minds the need to be right, even when we are wrong, especially as it concerns our faith and belief in You!  

Amen and Amen!

The Mystery of God

This morning  am reflecting on the following verses - Colossians 2:2-3 NIV:

[2] "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

That is such a rich and full thought, that all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ.  He is the mystery of God!  I like that name and title, for we must understand there is so much more to Jesus than just a good and kind teacher!  His earthly ministry, while so important, and eternally impacting seems nothing when compared to His spiritual works, and yet the two are absolutely inseparable.  His sacrifice, as man, defeated sin and death, and reversed the curse of both for all mankind that believe!  

Not only mankind, but all creation is affected!  For Paul writes the following in his letter to the Romans 8:18-21 NIV:

[18] "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. [19] For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. [20] For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God."

Clearly I have not spent enough time getting to know You Jesus!  You are the Mystery of God!  In You are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and I feel like I am mostly poor if not penniless in those characteristics.  Lord, please help me, open my eyes and understanding that I might know You more, and dive deeper in the the mystery of God!

Amen!