08.28.11
Ezekiel 2.3-7 “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. NIV
God wasn’t messing around; He called Ezekiel to preach His work even to the exiles in Babylon. It really doesn’t matter where we go, what we’ve done; what we’re doing, or going to do, we need the word of the Lord; and one way or the other He’s gonna give it to us. God is relentless.
I had to chuckle this morning as I read Ezekiel’s description of the vision of God. The second commandment says: “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below…” (Exodus 20.4 NIV) I can’t make heads or tails out of Ezekiel’s vision let alone come up with some image to put on my wall or hang around my neck. God is indescribable.
These words to Ezekiel were today, a balm for my soul; I don’t think in my current frame of mind I could’ve read any more appropriate or applicable words. God sends all of us with His message to the people around us. We’re to share it with both excellence and with urgency. And we’re to do it with tenacity. I see I have an important job to do. God cares about people.
Today, my thoughts have been sort of random. I’ve been thinking about things and trying to see what’s next. I know that wherever we are and whatever we’re going through, God knows and God cares; and one of the quickest ways to turn my emotional storm surge around is to simply refocus on what God has called me to do: act as He commands. I think my biggest challenge of late has been the ‘movie’ that I’ve allowed to be playing in my mind. That movie is not in sync with God’s command at all, so my choice is to either keep watching, or to obey God and start acting on His command.
The Scripture says that after Ezekiel’s vision he sat “deeply distressed” for seven days (Cf. Ezekiel 3.15) – such was the magnitude of the ministry of God’s word to his soul. I now have today – the Lord ’s Day – to think about all of what He’s said to me this weekend and to prepare myself for action as I start my work week tomorrow.
I am to go.
I am to say.
I am to be fearless.
And I am to accept the fact that most won’t listen…
God calls. My job is to do as I am called and leave the results up to God.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…(and I am today reminded: and as I am called.)
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Tears and Encouragement
08.27.11
Psalm 143.8,10; 144.1
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. (NIV)
There are often multiplied days and weeks, situations and circumstances that will test who we really are rather than prove who we think we are. In life it is best to know who you really are and deal with it than to think you are what you aren’t and be deceived. With that said let’s always remember that wherever we are in life our God and Savior are working to perfect us Their nature.
This morning I was moved to tears when I read the two Psalms in my daily Bible reading plan – it was an odd combination of tears and encouragement. I cried as I read Psalm 143.8 & 10. I rejoiced and was reassured when I read Psalm 144.1. You see, God knows exactly how to get us to focus on what He knows we need to focus on. And He is infinitely able to bring about enormous spiritual growth in us as a result.
Today, I needed the word of His unfailing love because the last few days have seemed to have been cloudy in that regard. I am doing something that requires me to think differently than I ever have, and have possibly resisted all my life. It seems the Lord is using what I am currently doing to help me to stand up to fears and doubts that I have run from ever since I was a little boy. If there ever was a moment in my life when I feel as if I’m going through a rite of passage today, at the ripe old age of 56, is it.
So there was the reminder of His unfailing love, and then a reaffirmation of where my faith lies: in Him; I’ve entrusted my life, my days and weeks, situations and circumstances, to Him. And then a reminder of a petition to do only His will and always let Him do the leading. Because without all of this I am only trusting in me… and that’s a very, very bad place to be. That very thought broke my heart.
So, with tears streaming, I then read: Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. That seems to be the issue – lack of training (or lack of cooperation). But the reassurance is, He is the One who will show me what to do and how to overcome; I can’t look back and see that He is there; I must instead resolutely face my foes and trust that He will train my hands for war against them! Because He does the training, I in turn, in Him, get to watch them die.
What is the Lord doing to you lately? How is He causing you to stand up to what you’ve been running from (or are tempted to run from)? It is God who trains our hands not for a wrestling match, but for an all-out war where something dies.
For moi, today is a day to rejoice that I am very much in the crucible of training, and for whatever lies in my future there must be nothing less that all-out war. The apostle Paul said the flesh wars against us. Today, through tears and encouragement, it is time to fight back. To the victor belong the spoils.
Psalm 143.8,10; 144.1
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. (NIV)
There are often multiplied days and weeks, situations and circumstances that will test who we really are rather than prove who we think we are. In life it is best to know who you really are and deal with it than to think you are what you aren’t and be deceived. With that said let’s always remember that wherever we are in life our God and Savior are working to perfect us Their nature.
This morning I was moved to tears when I read the two Psalms in my daily Bible reading plan – it was an odd combination of tears and encouragement. I cried as I read Psalm 143.8 & 10. I rejoiced and was reassured when I read Psalm 144.1. You see, God knows exactly how to get us to focus on what He knows we need to focus on. And He is infinitely able to bring about enormous spiritual growth in us as a result.
Today, I needed the word of His unfailing love because the last few days have seemed to have been cloudy in that regard. I am doing something that requires me to think differently than I ever have, and have possibly resisted all my life. It seems the Lord is using what I am currently doing to help me to stand up to fears and doubts that I have run from ever since I was a little boy. If there ever was a moment in my life when I feel as if I’m going through a rite of passage today, at the ripe old age of 56, is it.
So there was the reminder of His unfailing love, and then a reaffirmation of where my faith lies: in Him; I’ve entrusted my life, my days and weeks, situations and circumstances, to Him. And then a reminder of a petition to do only His will and always let Him do the leading. Because without all of this I am only trusting in me… and that’s a very, very bad place to be. That very thought broke my heart.
So, with tears streaming, I then read: Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. That seems to be the issue – lack of training (or lack of cooperation). But the reassurance is, He is the One who will show me what to do and how to overcome; I can’t look back and see that He is there; I must instead resolutely face my foes and trust that He will train my hands for war against them! Because He does the training, I in turn, in Him, get to watch them die.
What is the Lord doing to you lately? How is He causing you to stand up to what you’ve been running from (or are tempted to run from)? It is God who trains our hands not for a wrestling match, but for an all-out war where something dies.
For moi, today is a day to rejoice that I am very much in the crucible of training, and for whatever lies in my future there must be nothing less that all-out war. The apostle Paul said the flesh wars against us. Today, through tears and encouragement, it is time to fight back. To the victor belong the spoils.
Friday, August 26, 2011
What a World Watches
08/26/11
Jeremiah 50.46: 46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble; its cry will resound among the nations. NIV
Babylon was one of the first truly well-managed empires. When they came on the scene they were the marvel of the world politically, socially, and militarily. Who could take over Babylon? Who could bring her down and subject her? Kind of brings up the thoughts in me that I have about a certain country I am very familiar with… Makes me wonder about the beginnings of Babylon – how it all got started for them.
Countries, cultures, and kingdoms don’t just happen. They're like a Diamond anniversaries – sorta… they take time and pressure to become what they are (or in this case, what they were). But however they got their start, whether in was in a local bar over a few beers, start they did, and grow they did; and conquer they did – and impress they did. Babylon was to a watching world, the pinnacle of success. So it was no wonder when the J-man (Jeremiah) prophesied, he included what the world would think when Babylon the great ran aground because of its pride, accomplishments, and success. The world would shake it’s head in utter disbelief.
Now there are two ways I could continue: I could make a comparison to the United States, or I could make personal comparison. I’m gonna opt for safety and do the latter.
What does a watching world think of our testimony as believers? How are we sized up? Many already think we’re just a bunch of hypocritical phony . Many think we’re a just bunch of gun-toting conservative loonies on the level of extremism. And many think we’re just weak because, they think, we need a god-crutch. And some (I think) have a level of respect (although they might not readily admit it) for our faith and conduct which makes it all the more poignantly tragic when a believer blows it on a colossal level either morally or criminally (which is really just immorality in different packaging).
So what about it? Well, I know that for me to go off the deep end in some catastrophic way would cause some people a great deal of hurt and others a great deal of confusion – what the (bleep) did he do that for!? And then to some it would simply underscore what they suspected all along – Paul really isn’t who he says he is… (if he did such and such).
But on top of all that I think there are even more dramatic ramifications when a believer falls: I think earth itself trembles and mourns. Romans 8.19-21 Says: “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” Creation is watching too. There is great earthly anticipation that what God is doing will work in the lives of His children.
God can certainly repair a lot of damage but I cannot live thinking that I live in a vacuum just because I believe in Him; and His grace is sufficient. My actions speak way louder than my words and a watching world is watching. And that’s my perspective.
PS: For a thoroughly fascinating perspective go to http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf enjoy!
Jeremiah 50.46: 46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble; its cry will resound among the nations. NIV
Babylon was one of the first truly well-managed empires. When they came on the scene they were the marvel of the world politically, socially, and militarily. Who could take over Babylon? Who could bring her down and subject her? Kind of brings up the thoughts in me that I have about a certain country I am very familiar with… Makes me wonder about the beginnings of Babylon – how it all got started for them.
Countries, cultures, and kingdoms don’t just happen. They're like a Diamond anniversaries – sorta… they take time and pressure to become what they are (or in this case, what they were). But however they got their start, whether in was in a local bar over a few beers, start they did, and grow they did; and conquer they did – and impress they did. Babylon was to a watching world, the pinnacle of success. So it was no wonder when the J-man (Jeremiah) prophesied, he included what the world would think when Babylon the great ran aground because of its pride, accomplishments, and success. The world would shake it’s head in utter disbelief.
Now there are two ways I could continue: I could make a comparison to the United States, or I could make personal comparison. I’m gonna opt for safety and do the latter.
What does a watching world think of our testimony as believers? How are we sized up? Many already think we’re just a bunch of hypocritical phony . Many think we’re a just bunch of gun-toting conservative loonies on the level of extremism. And many think we’re just weak because, they think, we need a god-crutch. And some (I think) have a level of respect (although they might not readily admit it) for our faith and conduct which makes it all the more poignantly tragic when a believer blows it on a colossal level either morally or criminally (which is really just immorality in different packaging).
So what about it? Well, I know that for me to go off the deep end in some catastrophic way would cause some people a great deal of hurt and others a great deal of confusion – what the (bleep) did he do that for!? And then to some it would simply underscore what they suspected all along – Paul really isn’t who he says he is… (if he did such and such).
But on top of all that I think there are even more dramatic ramifications when a believer falls: I think earth itself trembles and mourns. Romans 8.19-21 Says: “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” Creation is watching too. There is great earthly anticipation that what God is doing will work in the lives of His children.
God can certainly repair a lot of damage but I cannot live thinking that I live in a vacuum just because I believe in Him; and His grace is sufficient. My actions speak way louder than my words and a watching world is watching. And that’s my perspective.
PS: For a thoroughly fascinating perspective go to http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf enjoy!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Blind Faith
08/25/11
Jeremiah 37.3 King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the LORD our God for us.” NIV
Sometimes it really sucks to be used. It really, really sucks when a despotic ruler (or a boss or an authority figure) uses you to accomplish their manipulation. Enter Jeremiah; and a whiny ruler who dispatched his yes-men to get the prophet to pray for him in hope that somehow God would overlook his evil and pathetic behavior and give him what he wanted. False humility is really ugly. And annoying.
King Zedekiah wasn’t willing to pray for himself because God wasn’t really his God. God might’ve been one of his gods, but He wasn't his God-God. Funny thing is, God doesn’t play well with others (gods that is). There are no other Gods! Oh yes, people think there are, and hope there are, and act like there are; but there ain’t no other gods! I guess Zedekiah got some style points for saying please.
Lately, I’ve been hearing my prayer life; it’s pathetic. Fortunately, I’ve yet to stoop to the level of not praying at all and expecting God to somehow superstitiously come through. But the sum of my prayers of late has been selfishness and annoyingly pleading in desperation for God to make it all better. But without pain I’ll never grow in grace. I’m not saying God is beating up on me; He’s just not giving in to my whining.
Zedekiah whined up until the day Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon killed his entire family right in front of his eyes, and then poked his eyes out. Zedekiah was dragged off to Babylon in chains where he died blind and alone. That’s where whining’ll getcha. Maybe the king of Babylon won’t kill your hope and poke the eyes of your faith out but sin, self, and satan will.
And so as I listen to my whiny prayers, I seem to be saying I’m blind and all alone. My prayers aren’t victorious, they are victimized – at least in my blindness. All Zedekiah had to do was listen to Jeremiah whom he so desperately wanted to pray for him so he could get the answer he wanted from God: “This is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live. But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians and they will burn it down; you yourself will not escape from them.’”
All I have to do is submit to God and obey Him. I can ill-afford to let my circumstances force me to lose my focus on the Almighty, because when I do, I end up blinded by my circumstances and wandering around in helplessness and hopelessness. The problem is sometimes God asks me to do things I don’t want to do – like trust Him. I don’t have to trust Him; I am fully capable of trusting in myself but oh man, watch out when I do – it ain’t pretty.
It all boils down to this: God is at work in my life and expects me to cooperate with Him in the process. Whenever I get to thinkin’ that the process ain’t working then I need to immediately repent and seek God’s forgiveness for blindly doubting in His power and presence.
Things would’ve gone way better for Zedekiah had only he done that…
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Redemption and Progress
08/24/11
082311 Jeremiah 33.3 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ NIV
Jeremiah might’ve had big questions about what was happening around him; he might’ve been confused or concerned about the measures God was taking to discipline His people. Ever been in a situation like that? Life can be very disconcerting or discomforting at times. There can be things going on all around us that seem purposeless and even senseless. Got anything like that happening to you these days?
What was going on in his life when he heard these words? The other thing is that Jeremiah was under house-arrest when he penned these words. How must he have felt to get a message like this from God when the outlook didn’t look so good?
What is going on in my life today that would give these words extra meaning or application? What am I going through at present that might need a little light shed on it by these words in Jeremiah? I’ve started a new career that is both uncomfortable and unusual for me – I’ve never done this sort of thing before. If I ever needed God’s loving assurance of His pleasure and presence, it’s nowadays for me!
What is God saying to me today through these words in Jeremiah 33.3? Well, first I consider the address of the verse: 33.3. If 5 is the number of grace, and 7 is the number of perfection; then 3 is the reassurance of the presence and notice of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; God, the three in one, is watching over and out for me. And second, as I thought about this morning on my 43-mile commute to my new job assignment, there is in fear, always the temptation to take (or to seek out) the easier, less painful route than the one I’m currently on. My new job has been very intimidating to say the least.
But what happens when God says, ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’? What happens when I stay on the path I’m on and look for God in the midst of it, rather than run off to that place I’ve proclaimed (or want so desperately to see) as safe and sane? What happens when God begins to reveal to me things about myself that I’ve never seen or wanted to deal with? That can only be good, right?
And lastly, what happens in the midst of my circumstance when I choose to remain faithful to my calling like Jeremiah was to his despite what is going on around me, and possibly to me? Here’s the dealio: it ain’t about me – it’s about God and His goodness to me wherever I am and whatever I am going through. God is asking me to call to Him regardless, and His promise is to help me to continue to stick with Him when I feel mostly like bailing out. He may not give me the whole scoop, but He’ll try to help me understand that He’s always at work, and where He works, there is always redemption and progress…
Thank You God!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Prosperously Peaceful
08/22/11
Jeremiah 29.7 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” NIV
When God says, it’s okay; then it’s okay! Jeremiah had the task of convincing the people of Judah that exile wasn’t going to be so bad if they simply trusted God and cooperated. God promised to look after them and wanted them to serve Him wherever they were with glad hearts and a good attitude. “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease…” This sounds pretty encouraging to me.
But then, if I factor myself into the story, what happens if I am carried off into exile? (I’m truly not anticipating exile, but it could happen.) Then what do I do? According to what I’m picking up here, I’m to settle down and trust God – to bloom where I’m planted. Sound simplistic? It is, but sometimes it’s better to cooperate than to irritate. God isn’t bothered by irritation; but it sure blocks my access to His provision and blessing when I do. God doesn’t come up short, but I sure do.
Exile isn’t necessarily a bad place; it can be bad if I make it bad but if I accept my lot as from God then I ease the burden of pitch-a-fit that I place on myself when I feel as if I’m not getting my way. And if God is truly in charge, I surely must be able to anticipate His presence right there with me wherever I go. The apostle John for instance found himself in a penal colony on a rocky island off the coast of Greece… and found the Lord right there with him. I think his was one of the first prison ministries – right up there with Paul and Silas.
I think where we struggle the most is to believe that God would exile us in the first place: God? What did I do to deserve this??? But when we summon the courage, or better, cry out to God for courage, we may just find ourselves in one of the greatest places of ministry in the very exile we find so cruel and/or distasteful. Surely in exile we’ll find those who are in exile who haven’t a clue who God is (and truly don’t even know they’re in exile). Where God plants us, we’re to cooperatively bloom.
And we’re to pray. Praying in courageous faith when everyone else is about to throw in the towel is miraculous; and the promise of God is if we pray for exile to be peaceful and prosperous, then we’ll be prosperously peaceful in exile. Wow! Do that math!
And speaking of Paul and Silas, that’s exactly what happened to them in the Philippian jail. They prayed for God’s peaceful prosperity – backs bleeding and bruised from the blows they’d received – and a train-wreck of a guy (the jailer) found Jesus Christ, and he and his whole family were saved. Now, do that math.
Attitude is everything and trusting God is a great place to start even when the place we find ourselves is less than what we want…
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Our Options
08.21.11
8 “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives."
When is the last time you gave, or someone gave you, options that were comparable to: which would you rather have, a broken leg or a broken arm? Sometimes the options we have aren’t all that appealing no matter which way we go. The options God gave these people were very dire – at least they were to them: surrender or die.
One of the drawbacks to being called the chosen people is the pride and arrogance that comes along with the title – chosen people. Not only were these people chosen, but they had enormous generational pride that had crept in as a result. Remarkably, they were then just like many today who imagine they can call God, God; and live any way they choose. These folks in Jeremiah’s day had already been doing this for centuries and were pretty good at living the way they wanted rather than living according to God’s rule.
Funny, God’s rule isn’t comprised of following rules; that’s where many get off on the wrong path. There are those who feel the need for a set of rules to guide them through life. They accept them and strive to rigidly abide by them. Then there are those who don’t want rules but want to live how they see fit. And then there are those who rigidly insist on rules when it’s convenient, and the freedom to do without them when it’s not. God simply wants relationship.
Granted, there are some things that God just won’t do, but that isn’t any reason for us to be suspicious. Learning to live with God is learning to be completely free in every circumstance that comes our way – even when He says, surrender to the Babylonians (or whatever else would be anathema to us). Learning to live with God sometimes includes doing what we really think we cannot do… the impossible.
My high school chemistry teacher had grew up in rural Oklahoma and farmed and drove a truck for a living until he was 50 years old. He then decided he needed to go to college and become a high school chemistry teacher. I always admired that; and learned a lot about chemistry from him.
Tomorrow, at age 56, I am starting a new career as a commission-only salesman; something I’ve never done before. No more regular paycheck; no more “job-security” – that is, except the security I choose for myself and trust God for. Sometimes our options don’t look like we want them to look but that is precisely when we need to look to God and trust in Him for the outcome.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Doing What You’re Told
08/20/11
Jeremiah 48.10 10“A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!” NIV
Okay, this one is for all those who claim the Bible is just as bad as the Koran, or the Q’uran, or the tenets of Islam. Just exactly what is the Lord’s work? This is precisely where some get into trouble with proof-texting; and precisely why we shouldn’t do it – proof-texting that is… This verse is only meant to be taken in the context of this passage as it pertains to the judgment of Moab.
The people of Moab were the descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. They were a very hostile nation to Israel. Maybe it’s because their ancestor Lot was sometimes at odds with Abraham, his uncle (Cf. Genesis 13). Not always do relatives get along. The longer I live the more I see evidence of that. And so perhaps the familial unrest of Lot and Abraham carried over into the descendants of theirs. and the feuding never stopped. It’s one thing to feud with someone, but it’s quite another altogether to pick a fight with God’s chosen. That never seems to fare well with those who do, and the folks down in Moab seemed to be content to pick fights incessantly with their northwestern neighbors. Bad form.
God’s judgment is neither selective nor spurious. God is as just in His judgments as He is forgiving and merciful in His love. But we cannot factor out that there are consequences to our actions – whether good or bad. And God wasn’t going to put up with the fighting and bickering and prejudice that came out of Moab against His own people who bore His own Name. He wasn’t going to take it from Moab and He wasn’t going to take it from anyone else.
What’s interesting about the context of the verse above is Moab didn’t think anything would happen to them for irritating the Israelites, their distant relatives. God had other ideas about that and said to His assigned warriors something like, “If you don’t do as I say and do all that I say then you are worse off than the ones I am summoning you to destroy!” Moab was to be reduced to nothing more than rubble and grave sites and woe to those who didn’t do it, and then had to face the Lord.
So if that is the fate of those who don’t carry out the Lord’s judgment exactly as commanded, then what’s to become of the ones to whom the Lord has said, “…Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28. 19,20 NIV)? No wonder the writer of Hebrews said, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10.31 NIV)
Moab had their chance and like Israel, rejected the Lord. They got what they deserved. You and I however are not presently getting what we deserve; we are recipients (at least for the moment) of God’s grace. But let’s not abuse that grace and make excuses for it by ignoring what we’re called to do.
Jeremiah 48.10 10“A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!” NIV
Okay, this one is for all those who claim the Bible is just as bad as the Koran, or the Q’uran, or the tenets of Islam. Just exactly what is the Lord’s work? This is precisely where some get into trouble with proof-texting; and precisely why we shouldn’t do it – proof-texting that is… This verse is only meant to be taken in the context of this passage as it pertains to the judgment of Moab.
The people of Moab were the descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. They were a very hostile nation to Israel. Maybe it’s because their ancestor Lot was sometimes at odds with Abraham, his uncle (Cf. Genesis 13). Not always do relatives get along. The longer I live the more I see evidence of that. And so perhaps the familial unrest of Lot and Abraham carried over into the descendants of theirs. and the feuding never stopped. It’s one thing to feud with someone, but it’s quite another altogether to pick a fight with God’s chosen. That never seems to fare well with those who do, and the folks down in Moab seemed to be content to pick fights incessantly with their northwestern neighbors. Bad form.
God’s judgment is neither selective nor spurious. God is as just in His judgments as He is forgiving and merciful in His love. But we cannot factor out that there are consequences to our actions – whether good or bad. And God wasn’t going to put up with the fighting and bickering and prejudice that came out of Moab against His own people who bore His own Name. He wasn’t going to take it from Moab and He wasn’t going to take it from anyone else.
What’s interesting about the context of the verse above is Moab didn’t think anything would happen to them for irritating the Israelites, their distant relatives. God had other ideas about that and said to His assigned warriors something like, “If you don’t do as I say and do all that I say then you are worse off than the ones I am summoning you to destroy!” Moab was to be reduced to nothing more than rubble and grave sites and woe to those who didn’t do it, and then had to face the Lord.
So if that is the fate of those who don’t carry out the Lord’s judgment exactly as commanded, then what’s to become of the ones to whom the Lord has said, “…Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28. 19,20 NIV)? No wonder the writer of Hebrews said, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10.31 NIV)
Moab had their chance and like Israel, rejected the Lord. They got what they deserved. You and I however are not presently getting what we deserve; we are recipients (at least for the moment) of God’s grace. But let’s not abuse that grace and make excuses for it by ignoring what we’re called to do.
Friday, August 19, 2011
God Without Goodies
08/19/11
Jeremiah 45.4,5 4 But the LORD has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. 5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’” NIV
Baruch seemed to be like most people I know – he seemed to want to live in peace and enjoy the planet around him. He probably didn’t go out of his way to find trouble and he was employed by Jeremiah. I’m assuming that Baruch was a religious man because of his association with the prophet and I assume he served Jeremiah well. But I think Baruch had questions like: what happens to me when I get old? Do I ever get to settle down with a family and just live the Palestinian Dream? What about retirement? What about home ownership?
God seemed to be reassuring Baruch that He had other plans for this man: Baruch, should you seek health, wealth, and prosperity? Don’t seek those because when I do what I am going to do none of that will bring you what you seek; only I can give you those things. And the brass ring is that you get to be the spectator of it all – you get to keep your life when everyone else is losing theirs.
Sometimes, I wonder what is going to happen to me when I get old. Sometimes I wonder if I’m going to end up out along some deserted highway in Arizona – just me, a dog, and a small backpack with a few personal items. Sometimes, I wonder if my imagination is just getting the better of me. Whatever happens I will remember what God said to Baruch even if I only drift though Jeremiah’s prophecy once a year.
As I age, I am leaning to let go of the imaginations and simply learn to live enjoying the day that I have and the moments in that day. I can let my imagination run wild but when I do I usually end up with just a wild imagination and emotions that are improperly fueled by trying to live out fantasy rather than reality. At least reality is real.
I can empathize with Baruch – there are times when I opine that I seem to have inherited the short stick and am going to miss out on all the goodies. I am quickly reminded however that in my brief experience, goodies without God are as worthless as fantasies in my imagination. And God without goodies is greater gain of infinite worth. God seemed to be saying to uncertain Baruch, “Listen fella, in all of what you’re going through, don’t forget about Me. As I told my friend Abraham, I’ll also tell you: I am your very great Reward.” What ultimately happened to Baruch, God only knows. I want to believe he lived out the rest of his life in amazement of the miraculous provision of the presence of God.
Empires be damned; go with God!
Baruch’s calling to serve God’s prophet was greater than any bennies he would get along the way. God knew it, and through Jeremiah, He graciously told him so… And we have his story to prove it.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
What’s in a Name?
8.18.2011
John 20:16 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). NIV
What’s in a name? Sometimes, we feel like we’re out here all by ourselves and no one knows and nobody cares. Sometimes, we feel as if we’ve been dispatched alone to the bow of the ice-breaker; sometimes we feel as if we’ve been benched.
The disciples (proper: meaning the 11) were in turmoil over the events of the last few days since Jesus’ arrest, sentence, and crucifixion. Talk about speedy ‘justice’. And now they were wondering, what’s next, where do we go from here? The other disciples: Mary, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, et al, were all in the periphery wondering as well.
Mary Magdalene, always the in control one, showed up at the tomb to do what she thought she was to do only to find things not as she imagined. Where was Jesus! What happened! Her surprise turned into panic and tears and suspicion. What were these two ‘men’ doing here; and what the bleep had that blankety-blank gardener done!? A tsunami of emotions was swelling.
Mary.
When it all goes to heck and we’re feeling alone and afraid, the sound of our name – gently, kindly – from a phone call, in an e-mail, a text, or in the office in front of our desk… what’s in a name? Mary almost melted. At once everything she feared vanished, and her terror turned into indescribable joy. Jesus almost had to hit her turn-off-now switch …
Not only are we blessed and refreshed at the sound of a friendly voice calling out our name, but we have the tremendous potential to do good in the life of one who is drowning is a sea of emotional turmoil by coming alongside and simply calling out their name and in whatever way healing their pain.
What’s in a name? There is power to help, heal, and to honor. There is peace and encouragement that knows no bounds. Knowing my name and hearing the sound of it is one thing; seeing one in distress and coming alongside speaking out theirs is quite another.
Today Jesus spoke out my name; I believe He bids me go and do the same – the hurting are all around us...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Joyfully Willingly
8.17.2011
John 19:30 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. NIV
Today, I might be guilty of a little proof-texting – you know, when someone attempts to prove a theological standpoint by leaning solely on one verse of Scripture. Jesus went to the cross willingly. When He bowed His head and said, “It is finished.” He was telling us that what He had willingly come to do was done. Jesus did what He did in the spirit of, “if my God is for me, tell me who can be against me!”
I’ll tell you who can be against me: me! The older I get the more I realize that one of the giant obstacles to my faith is me and my response to my faith. What would have happened had Jesus given in to fear? What would’ve happened had the Lord called down twelve legions of angels? (Cf. Matthew 26.53) You see, these doors were right in front of Jesus and He had the freedom to reach over and open them. But He didn’t; He loved too much.
Jesus didn’t do what He did for Himself; He did what He did for the Father. I think we tend to forget that. All of the gospel writers make it clear that Jesus’ actions were fully spelled out prophetically in the Scripture and the events and circumstances of Jesus’ life were in perfect accord with all the prophecies written about Him. Jesus knew the Old Testament spoke plainly about Him. And by the presence of the Holy Spirit Jesus knew everything that happened to Him and around Him was carefully constructed and coordinated by God. So Jesus willingly participated and when it was over He had the freedom and the joy to proclaim it done: It is finished!
So in my faith-journey I too must remember who I am doing all this for and why. And I must remember that He who began a good work in me will see it through to completion so that at that moment all who care in heaven and on earth may know it is finished. The biggest results of my faith-journey and yours in not the outcome, as glorious as that may be; it’s the doing of it on a steady faithful daily basis, joyfully willingly, and without fear.
And one day before God and all creation it will be said, it is finished and all heaven and earth will know that what you and I did for the Lord, we did it joyfully and willingly… My friends, let’s accept our lot in life and give God glory by cooperating with Him – just like Jesus did.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
A Jackass Burial
8.16.2011
This morning I prayed and asked God to show me what I needed to see in the Scripture today that would help me. First I read in John 18 of the arrest and mock trial of Jesus. Then I read in 2 Kings 24 of king Jehoiachin’s deportation to Babylon. Then I read Jeremiah’s prophecy to Zedekiah the successor to Jehoiachin and I saw this: "He will have the burial of a donkey— dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 22:19 NIV)
I always wonder what the recipient of God’s judgment thought when they heard the prophet deliver the bad news? I always wonder what the people around the recipient thought when they heard the judgment of God given to the recipient? Sire, did you hear what he just said? He said you were going to have a donkey’s burial! Did he really mean that!? O King! Is he really calling you a jackass!?
And last, I read Psalm 112: “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.” (Psalm 112:1 NIV) Zedekiah was not numbered among those spoken of in Psalm 112.
In all of the changes that are happening in my life these days, new career, aging, lack of bike-riding (sigh), aging (did I mention aging? I just had another birthday) I find the greater my need to fear the Lord and find great delight in His commands. I think back on all those years of not delighting in them and wish I had. But with God it is better to repent and start afresh than to just give up and go on the same old way. And I haven’t yet had a prophet stand outside in my driveway and speak forth God’s judgment on my life…
What I needed today is to be reminded that I am nothing going nowhere without the fear (the respect, the submission, the obedience, the hope, and the love) of the Lord. Those who love the Lord are comforted by Psalm 112 and what it says; those who don’t are looking forward to a jackass burial… dragged out of whatever secure position they feel they are in and thrown into the landfill… Zedekiah would’ve been wise to heed and live the words of Psalm 112. Instead he heard the words of Jeremiah 24.
Yes, with all that is happening in my life, and yours, these days, are we fearing the Lord and listening to Him? Or do we believe we can go on, status quo, and by some miracle of cheap grace, escape?
Monday, August 15, 2011
Understanding Glory
8.15.2011
John 17:1, 5 1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. NIV
Those who dwell in glory understand glory. Those who dwell outside of glory and without glory don’t. Jesus prayed for glory. I pray for stupid things like more money, more health, a nicer car, medical benefits, and a great vacation. Jesus prayed for glory.
When you know where you come from, what you’re to do; what you’ve done, and where you’re going, glory has a different appeal. When you only live for today, putting one foot in front of the other, hoping you can last until the next paycheck comes, glory seems like a fairy-tale.
Jeremiah the prophet didn’t seem to worry about paychecks, he seemed more worried about keeping his life while preaching God’s word to a clueless and rebellious nation; to a wicked people who’d forsaken God – and lost their sense of glory (Cf. Jeremiah 20).
Jesus understood glory and prized it because God’s glory was His home; it was His haven. He didn’t pray for deliverance. Jesus didn’t pray for traveling mercies. He didn’t pray for a job, or a car, or a 401k; Jesus prayed for glory because He knew that’s where He was from and to where He was returning. And glory is where all of us need to remember we’re going if we hang out with Jesus. Glory is in God’s presence. Glory is God’s presence. And glory is doing what God tells me to do. Glory isn’t the Superbowl, or the World Series, or the Stanley Cup, or even the World Cup – no, glory is that heavenly recognition which is bestowed by God on the willingly, joyfully obedient.
Jesus died and was welcomed into glory. Jeremiah died and was welcomed into glory. But Jesus died and rose again and in His resurrected body reclaimed the glory that was His from before the world began. And now for all eternity wears the glory of God as a Man who did what the first man couldn’t: obey. The garments of the godly are the garments of obedience; despised in this world, but worthy of glory in the next. Jesus prayed for glory because He did as instructed. Jeremiah wears the garments of glory because he did what God told him to do.
Seeking glory from God is a noble cause because it overshadows the glory of this globe in a way that is eternally memorable to everyone who both wears it and shares it…
John 17:1, 5 1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. NIV
Those who dwell in glory understand glory. Those who dwell outside of glory and without glory don’t. Jesus prayed for glory. I pray for stupid things like more money, more health, a nicer car, medical benefits, and a great vacation. Jesus prayed for glory.
When you know where you come from, what you’re to do; what you’ve done, and where you’re going, glory has a different appeal. When you only live for today, putting one foot in front of the other, hoping you can last until the next paycheck comes, glory seems like a fairy-tale.
Jeremiah the prophet didn’t seem to worry about paychecks, he seemed more worried about keeping his life while preaching God’s word to a clueless and rebellious nation; to a wicked people who’d forsaken God – and lost their sense of glory (Cf. Jeremiah 20).
Jesus understood glory and prized it because God’s glory was His home; it was His haven. He didn’t pray for deliverance. Jesus didn’t pray for traveling mercies. He didn’t pray for a job, or a car, or a 401k; Jesus prayed for glory because He knew that’s where He was from and to where He was returning. And glory is where all of us need to remember we’re going if we hang out with Jesus. Glory is in God’s presence. Glory is God’s presence. And glory is doing what God tells me to do. Glory isn’t the Superbowl, or the World Series, or the Stanley Cup, or even the World Cup – no, glory is that heavenly recognition which is bestowed by God on the willingly, joyfully obedient.
Jesus died and was welcomed into glory. Jeremiah died and was welcomed into glory. But Jesus died and rose again and in His resurrected body reclaimed the glory that was His from before the world began. And now for all eternity wears the glory of God as a Man who did what the first man couldn’t: obey. The garments of the godly are the garments of obedience; despised in this world, but worthy of glory in the next. Jesus prayed for glory because He did as instructed. Jeremiah wears the garments of glory because he did what God told him to do.
Seeking glory from God is a noble cause because it overshadows the glory of this globe in a way that is eternally memorable to everyone who both wears it and shares it…
Sunday, August 14, 2011
A Two-Way Street
8.14.2011
John 16:1 “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. NIV
The story goes that an elderly couple were sitting on their front porch one summer evening and she said to him, “Harold, you never tell me you love me.” Harold, always the stoic, replied, “Martha, when we got married sixty-five years ago, I said I loved you. If that ever changes, you’ll be the first to know!”
Thanks a lot Harold… Jesus told His disciples, “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.” Their world was rocked and their faith on the ropes. Jesus was crashing their preconceived notions and crushing their hopes. Untested faith produces little fruit. Misplaced hope is dangerous. Jesus went on to explain just how their faith and hope would be tested (Vv. 2-4).
What is it that causes the heart to go astray? Sometimes it’s losing hope and lacking faith. Sometimes, it’s tiring out. Sometimes, it’s because there is lack of communication. Jesus was careful to explain to the disciples that though He was leaving, the Holy Spirit would be present and would communicate the Father’s heart clearly. Jesus was limited in His earthly ministry because of time and space – He couldn’t tell them all they needed to know – there just wasn’t enough time. But the Holy Spirit would take what is Christ’s and make it known to the followers of Christ; He would guide them into all truth. I think the disciples were a bit perplexed by all this. I think the question, “HOW!?” was in their minds.
Two thousand years ago Jesus said these things and He has said them ever since to the ones who believe. The ministry of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Christ has never ceased: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” (John 16:12-15 NIV)
Today, I can rest in the strength of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit and not worry about going astray. The only condition is that I must come back to the Lord often and tell Him how much I love Him, and go and live my life living up to my words by obeying Him. It is a two-way street. Going astray comes when communication breaks down and God never breaks down; I, however, can.
But my hope is in the truth of these words and my faith is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness…
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Philip Question
8.12.2011
John 14:9 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" NIV
There is a guy I have come to know – I know his name. Not so long ago I didn’t know his name and I didn’t like him – I didn’t even know why, I just knew I didn’t. What an awesome thing (in the God-sense of the word) to get to know someone just by getting to know their name. What walls come down that were previously built on prejudice (in the completely non-racial sense) and just the unknown…or a feeling…or whatever…
But now I know his name and he knows mine. I help him out at the store. It’s not like we’re best buds or anything like that but I know him and he, at whatever level, knows me.
Jesus asked Philip with only what I could describe as incredulousness: “Don’t you know Me Philip…?” Dude, after all we’ve been through, you still don’t know who I am and what I’m about! I wonder what Jesus thinks of my prayers. Dude, after all I have done for you, you still don’t know what I’m about… Knowing Jesus is the same as knowing anyone else – and just like others Jesus knows when I’m trying to manipulate Him even when I trying my dangedest to show Him I’m really being sincere. (But mother, I am hungry, I really am…)
I wonder if the person I’ve come to know wondered if (or why)I had such a burr in my butt toward him all of those months before I came to see he wasn’t such a loser as I thought him to be. I wonder what Philip thought of the look on the Lord’s face before He asked, “Don’t you know Me Philip!?” Jesus may have been thinking, What do I gotta do to get this guy on my team? He might be asking that about me at times as well.
I am going to try to just see people at face-value. I am going to try to stop playing my own movie (in my mind and heart) about them and just accept them the way I’d like to be accepted. The upside to the Philip question is that Jesus accepted Philip and knew who he was and knew he was going to give his life for the faith. Wow! The upside to my downside is Jesus knows me too, and knows what to do to get me to pay attention and know Him beyond just His Name…
John 14:9 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" NIV
There is a guy I have come to know – I know his name. Not so long ago I didn’t know his name and I didn’t like him – I didn’t even know why, I just knew I didn’t. What an awesome thing (in the God-sense of the word) to get to know someone just by getting to know their name. What walls come down that were previously built on prejudice (in the completely non-racial sense) and just the unknown…or a feeling…or whatever…
But now I know his name and he knows mine. I help him out at the store. It’s not like we’re best buds or anything like that but I know him and he, at whatever level, knows me.
Jesus asked Philip with only what I could describe as incredulousness: “Don’t you know Me Philip…?” Dude, after all we’ve been through, you still don’t know who I am and what I’m about! I wonder what Jesus thinks of my prayers. Dude, after all I have done for you, you still don’t know what I’m about… Knowing Jesus is the same as knowing anyone else – and just like others Jesus knows when I’m trying to manipulate Him even when I trying my dangedest to show Him I’m really being sincere. (But mother, I am hungry, I really am…)
I wonder if the person I’ve come to know wondered if (or why)I had such a burr in my butt toward him all of those months before I came to see he wasn’t such a loser as I thought him to be. I wonder what Philip thought of the look on the Lord’s face before He asked, “Don’t you know Me Philip!?” Jesus may have been thinking, What do I gotta do to get this guy on my team? He might be asking that about me at times as well.
I am going to try to just see people at face-value. I am going to try to stop playing my own movie (in my mind and heart) about them and just accept them the way I’d like to be accepted. The upside to the Philip question is that Jesus accepted Philip and knew who he was and knew he was going to give his life for the faith. Wow! The upside to my downside is Jesus knows me too, and knows what to do to get me to pay attention and know Him beyond just His Name…
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Accepting the Truth
8.11.2011
Jeremiah 5:1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.”
How many people do you know who hit the honesty mark every time? How many are what you could call truth-seekers. It seems God was looking for only one. It seems there wasn’t one to be found.
There are few who could be called honest. There might be the honest that play by the rules and treat others the way they want to be treated. But the combination of the two – honest and truth-seeking – there’s just not too many of them around. Those who are are in high demand.
The world pathetically and pitifully cries out for honesty and the truth. Everyone wants to be treated fairly; sadly, not everybody wants to hear the truth – or deal with it. God’s truth here in this verse certainly made some of the people in Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s day uncomfortable. Sadly the rest of the story reveals there was an unhappy ending…
Sometimes the truth makes me uncomfortable; I don’t care much for what we term “constructive” criticism (code: plain old criticism). Like many, I tend to have a fairly high opinion of myself and go out of my way at times to protect it. But the truth exists for a reason because without the truth, I’ll ignore some of the realities of life that I really need to deal with. As painful as it may be, I need to heed the truth and seek it.
Truth seeking admits that there is a God, I am not Him, and I need Him way worse/more than I think I do. Truth seeking helps remove the blinders of high opinion, and helps prevent the sowing of the empty tears of regret that cannot, by ignoring them, be baked into the bread of forgiveness and redemption.
And truth-seeking always brings me face to face with God who knows all of my faults and yet loves me anyway. That’s what it’s all about – not the hokey-pokey. Truth-seeking moves me into the realm of a Kingdom (capital ‘K’) where, faults and all, I find acceptance and love; and a God who is hard at work in my soul. Whether the world wants to hear it or not, I do; and I know I’m better because I man-up and accept the truth in whatever fashion it happens to present itself.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A Sheep of a Different Color
8.9.2011
John 11:2 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. NIV
You know, this statement is spoken in the present tense about a past event. This Mary, is the present descriptive for the word, was, describing the past. In Luke 7, (cf. Vv. 36ff) an unnamed woman anoints Jesus with perfume and wipes His feet with her hair much to the disgust of the host of the party.
Now, lest I venture onto thin theological ice, I’m thinking John wrote about Mary in John 11 and so did Luke in Luke 7. John’s gospel was written after Luke’s and it just may be the two writers were sharing the same story. John even mentions in John 12 that Mary anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair. Now unless Mary is the one in Luke 7, I think it fairly coincidental that two unrelated women do the same act on two different occasions. I think it more logical that the same woman did the same thing on two different occasions. Just a thought… And if my thinking holds any water, then there is something to consider when we think about Mary and maybe what kind of woman she may have been.
The woman in Luke’s narrative is designated by the Pharisee host as a sinful woman: When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what the woman was doing to Jesus, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39) If this is in fact, Mary, then it shines a light on who she was. We might miss this if we’re not careful.
Almost every family has a sheep or two whose wool is somewhat less than dazzling white. Martha seemed to complain that Mary didn’t do her fair share (Luke 10.40). Maybe Mary was a tad distracted. If she is the woman in Luke 7 then she had much to be distracted about – she’d been forgiven much. The sheep in the family whose wool is brighter than the black one tend to not be forgiven much because they do their part and live up to the responsibilities they have; their lives, at least from their perspective, are better than the flaky black sheep. But then the brighter whiter ones aren’t the ones who crash a party and start anointing God with perfume and wiping His feet with their hair and kissing them.
Mary may have indeed been a sheep of a different color but her heart was golden because she’d been touched by God. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7 NIV) Mary just may have heard the good news and responded accordingly.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Claiming to See
8.7.2011
John 9:39-41 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. NIV
Some people have it and they know it. Some people don’t have it and they know it. Some people have it and they don’t know it; and some people don’t have it and they don’t know it. The most severe and pitiable are the last – those who don’t and don’t know it; because they usually operate as if they do. “It” means nothing if you operate as if you have it and don’t know you don’t.
Spiritual blindness today is as common as dandelions in the spring. Many think they are spiritual and haven’t a clue to what spirituality really is. The Pharisees thought they really had it and thought God was so impressed with their grasp of it… Jesus said, “Boys, if you had it you would recognize Me; and you don’t so you don’t!” That was an incredibly hard pill for them to swallow because in their own sight they were so right. It’s not what they saw that mattered; what they saw occluded what was true.
Here is my claim: I claim to know Jesus Christ. But my claiming to know Jesus had better be backed up with everything that comes with that claim. In other words, do I live like Jesus if I claim to know Jesus; or do I just claim to know Him casually and acknowledge His existence? That’s where the proverbial rubber meets the road. Jesus says that those who know Him do only what He says.
Claiming to see when I can’t, or when I don’t know even know what I’m looking at, is a dangerous reality. Claiming to see when I don’t, won’t, or can’t submit myself to the total Lordship of Christ, is a folly beyond measure. Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” That calls for some serious consideration on my part because, in fact, I claim to know Him. The Pharisees claimed to see the truth but didn’t live the truth; am I guilty of the same hypocrisy? They didn’t, and couldn’t, understand that the truth they thought they saw wasn’t the real truth.
It’s a serious moment for me to ask some serious questions about the seriousness of my faith and the genuineness of my life. Claiming to see is a matter of life and death…
John 9:39-41 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. NIV
Some people have it and they know it. Some people don’t have it and they know it. Some people have it and they don’t know it; and some people don’t have it and they don’t know it. The most severe and pitiable are the last – those who don’t and don’t know it; because they usually operate as if they do. “It” means nothing if you operate as if you have it and don’t know you don’t.
Spiritual blindness today is as common as dandelions in the spring. Many think they are spiritual and haven’t a clue to what spirituality really is. The Pharisees thought they really had it and thought God was so impressed with their grasp of it… Jesus said, “Boys, if you had it you would recognize Me; and you don’t so you don’t!” That was an incredibly hard pill for them to swallow because in their own sight they were so right. It’s not what they saw that mattered; what they saw occluded what was true.
Here is my claim: I claim to know Jesus Christ. But my claiming to know Jesus had better be backed up with everything that comes with that claim. In other words, do I live like Jesus if I claim to know Jesus; or do I just claim to know Him casually and acknowledge His existence? That’s where the proverbial rubber meets the road. Jesus says that those who know Him do only what He says.
Claiming to see when I can’t, or when I don’t know even know what I’m looking at, is a dangerous reality. Claiming to see when I don’t, won’t, or can’t submit myself to the total Lordship of Christ, is a folly beyond measure. Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” That calls for some serious consideration on my part because, in fact, I claim to know Him. The Pharisees claimed to see the truth but didn’t live the truth; am I guilty of the same hypocrisy? They didn’t, and couldn’t, understand that the truth they thought they saw wasn’t the real truth.
It’s a serious moment for me to ask some serious questions about the seriousness of my faith and the genuineness of my life. Claiming to see is a matter of life and death…
Saturday, August 6, 2011
What I See or Miss
8.6.2011
John 8:59 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. NIV
In 2 Kings 6.8ff is the story of the prophet Elisha dealing with the Arameans. He prays that God would blind the Aramean army as they approach to attack, and God does exactly that. So I ask, did God actually blind them, or simply confuse them so they didn’t know where they were? There is a lot to the story that seems to be left out.
I sometimes wonder who on earth, if any, will witness the rapture. Or will God so arrange it that every person who is going to be left will somehow be distracted, even for a moment, when God takes His people away; in the twinkling of an eye.
And then I think about Jesus proclaiming, “I Am!” to the Jews at the Temple and they all reach down to pick up stones to stone Him and in that moment, in the twinkling of an eye, He slips away. The verse above says He hid himself.
God can do anything He wants. He just can’t do anything. There’s a difference. A god who can do anything is a god who can’t be trusted. A god who can do anything can do corrupt things. A god who can do anything is a god who can lie, cheat, and steal to get his way. The difference between that kind of a god and God is God can do anything He wants and since He wants nothing (and needs nothing), He does whatever is in His heart; and all that is in His heart is always good. God is as good in His providence as He is in His judgment. He is as loving in His punishment as He is in His discipline. God can make the entire earth look away if even for the briefest of moments; remember, it was, for a while, a dark, dark day when Jesus was crucified naked on that cross.
Jesus didn’t run from the stoning. That’s important to remember. He didn’t just call them names and then run away. Jesus hid Himself to protect them. They could’ve run after Him to stone Him. They could’ve brought blasphemy charges against Him at a later time. Jesus, however He did it, disappeared; and I think they were more astonished at that than they were at the, “I Am” statement. When they all bent down blind in their deluded zeal, they all stood back up blind in their deluded zeal. There is none so blind as those who will not see.
Jesus knew He was going to eventually tick them off to the point where they would drag Him before the Romans to kill Him; but it was going to be according to His calendar, not theirs. I need to remember that whatever happens, happens because it is in God’s timing and not mine. And what I see or miss is because God calls the shots on what I see or miss. And the events of my life are divinely ordered by Him and never controlled by me. Whew! That takes the pressure off if I learn to submit to His time and not my own.
Friday, August 5, 2011
The Nagging Question
8.5.2011
John 7:52 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” NIV
Nicodemus was in a precarious position, he believed there was something about this Jesus that the other Pharisees and rulers were missing; he had nagging questions in his mind so he kept trying to keep the dialogue open. He found however when minds are closed it does little good to try to keep the dialogue open; and they were convinced that this ‘Jesus’ was from up in Galilee somewhere and they were very right to say a prophet does not come out of Galilee.
I wonder if Nicodemus thought about the quote from Isaiah 9.1,2 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:15-16). I wonder if he tried to bring this up in discussion and was shouted down as a sympathizer to this Jesus. It seems to me he kept trying to get these guys to slow down a bit and not rush to judgment over Someone, when it appeared there just might be some legitimacy to what He was doing and saying.
Maybe Nicodemus began to read his Bible more intently. Maybe he did “look into it” as he was challenged by the priests to do. But what if even after all that, they still maintained their hostility toward this Galilean and His ragtag band of disciples? Well one thing is for sure, Nicodemus was closer to God as a result.
I’m not sure where Nicodemus stood even after the crucifixion. Yes, he helped Joseph of Arimathea retrieve Jesus’ body from the cross and bury it properly in a tomb but I’m not sure he ever got past the nagging questions he always seemed to have that this Jesus was truly Someone special and had something to share with them all (despite the fact that He did seem to be from Galilee and seemed to like to hang around there.)
Personally, I’m done with nagging questions but that doesn’t mean people around me are. There are many people out there with nagging questions about Christ and faith, and the presence of God Who seems to be so absent or small in a world where evil and oppression seem so prevalent and big. I think it’s my job to overcome their objections and point them to the truth; asking the Holy Spirit to help them settle the issue and deal with life accordingly.
God truly is God, and He truly is present in our world. We just might need to quit looking for Him with our heads and trust in Him with our hearts that He is indeed dealing with the human drama and has indeed provided one Way for us all to come to know Him: through faith in this Jesus.
John 7:52 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” NIV
Nicodemus was in a precarious position, he believed there was something about this Jesus that the other Pharisees and rulers were missing; he had nagging questions in his mind so he kept trying to keep the dialogue open. He found however when minds are closed it does little good to try to keep the dialogue open; and they were convinced that this ‘Jesus’ was from up in Galilee somewhere and they were very right to say a prophet does not come out of Galilee.
I wonder if Nicodemus thought about the quote from Isaiah 9.1,2 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:15-16). I wonder if he tried to bring this up in discussion and was shouted down as a sympathizer to this Jesus. It seems to me he kept trying to get these guys to slow down a bit and not rush to judgment over Someone, when it appeared there just might be some legitimacy to what He was doing and saying.
Maybe Nicodemus began to read his Bible more intently. Maybe he did “look into it” as he was challenged by the priests to do. But what if even after all that, they still maintained their hostility toward this Galilean and His ragtag band of disciples? Well one thing is for sure, Nicodemus was closer to God as a result.
I’m not sure where Nicodemus stood even after the crucifixion. Yes, he helped Joseph of Arimathea retrieve Jesus’ body from the cross and bury it properly in a tomb but I’m not sure he ever got past the nagging questions he always seemed to have that this Jesus was truly Someone special and had something to share with them all (despite the fact that He did seem to be from Galilee and seemed to like to hang around there.)
Personally, I’m done with nagging questions but that doesn’t mean people around me are. There are many people out there with nagging questions about Christ and faith, and the presence of God Who seems to be so absent or small in a world where evil and oppression seem so prevalent and big. I think it’s my job to overcome their objections and point them to the truth; asking the Holy Spirit to help them settle the issue and deal with life accordingly.
God truly is God, and He truly is present in our world. We just might need to quit looking for Him with our heads and trust in Him with our hearts that He is indeed dealing with the human drama and has indeed provided one Way for us all to come to know Him: through faith in this Jesus.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Encounters with God
8.3.2011
John 5:14 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” NIV
What do we want from God? Wait! Before you think about that, let me say I think we all want God (or god, or someone, whoever it may be) to do for us what we believe we cannot do for ourselves. We want God to make so and so love us and accept us. We want God to make us whole and well. We want God to provide for us and give us peace. But from the experience I’ve had and the verse above, we don’t seem to want to give God anything in return.
The man in John 5 (Vv. 1-15) seemed to have some expectations but seemed to be stuck because of his disability; because of his mind-set. He was convinced if only he could get to the stirring water (v. 7) his problems wound be over. You get beat to the punch so many times you sometimes get tired of being beat; and just giving up can come easy. But that kind of mindset can work against us just as much as any disability can.
In the midst of great difficulty who comes to our aid? The man at the pool just wanted someone – anyone – to throw him into the water. Jesus came along and threw that expectation out the window. And then came the ‘Now What?’ Now that I’m healed, now that my life is different; now that my expectations upon which I placed so much hope and promise…are gone – now what!?
Jesus made a curious statement to the man that we, who place such high expectations on people, places, circumstances, and things, ought to pay attention to: See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. Apparently, what happened to the man didn’t have much of an impact on his soul. Apparently, there was another requirement that he hadn’t factored in all those years laying by the pool; stop sinning. We want God to help us out of the current crisis not so that we can live for Him and serve Him, but so that we can be left alone to find our way into the next crisis. And the cycle perpetuates.
What is required of me with God is that I look to Him for help and stop doing the things that get me into the current crisis. I must give myself totally to God no matter the crisis I’m in, and have faith that He will provide whatever way is necessary to cause the greatest spiritual growth in my life. When God asks me if I want to get well I’d better be ready for anything else He asks of me: stop sinning or something worse may happen. Encounters with God are designed to get me to pay attention to Him, not to accept whatever He gives and then go on alone along my merry way.
John 5:14 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” NIV
What do we want from God? Wait! Before you think about that, let me say I think we all want God (or god, or someone, whoever it may be) to do for us what we believe we cannot do for ourselves. We want God to make so and so love us and accept us. We want God to make us whole and well. We want God to provide for us and give us peace. But from the experience I’ve had and the verse above, we don’t seem to want to give God anything in return.
The man in John 5 (Vv. 1-15) seemed to have some expectations but seemed to be stuck because of his disability; because of his mind-set. He was convinced if only he could get to the stirring water (v. 7) his problems wound be over. You get beat to the punch so many times you sometimes get tired of being beat; and just giving up can come easy. But that kind of mindset can work against us just as much as any disability can.
In the midst of great difficulty who comes to our aid? The man at the pool just wanted someone – anyone – to throw him into the water. Jesus came along and threw that expectation out the window. And then came the ‘Now What?’ Now that I’m healed, now that my life is different; now that my expectations upon which I placed so much hope and promise…are gone – now what!?
Jesus made a curious statement to the man that we, who place such high expectations on people, places, circumstances, and things, ought to pay attention to: See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. Apparently, what happened to the man didn’t have much of an impact on his soul. Apparently, there was another requirement that he hadn’t factored in all those years laying by the pool; stop sinning. We want God to help us out of the current crisis not so that we can live for Him and serve Him, but so that we can be left alone to find our way into the next crisis. And the cycle perpetuates.
What is required of me with God is that I look to Him for help and stop doing the things that get me into the current crisis. I must give myself totally to God no matter the crisis I’m in, and have faith that He will provide whatever way is necessary to cause the greatest spiritual growth in my life. When God asks me if I want to get well I’d better be ready for anything else He asks of me: stop sinning or something worse may happen. Encounters with God are designed to get me to pay attention to Him, not to accept whatever He gives and then go on alone along my merry way.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
It Took A Hook
8.2.2011
2 Chronicles 33:12 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. NIV
Manasseh at one point was a fool. After the reign of his father Hezekiah, he decided to go in another direction: he forgot all about God. How dumb can you get? After all he saw under the leadership of his dad he decides to throw it all out the window and worship idols. Until…
Until one day the Lord sent an army against Manasseh and he wound up in chains with a hook through his nose (Oww! That hurts!) and he was led off to Babylon to think about things. While in Babylon he repented and prayed to God to help him; the Scripture says he sought the favor (grace) of the Lord and humbled himself greatly before God. God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble.
What will it take in our lives to get off the schneid and serve the Lord (if we aren’t)? What will it take to get our attention? Manasseh could’ve blamed the Lord and become bitter, but he weighed the situation and somehow came to the conclusion if he was ever going to get out of the mess he was in it would have to be the Lord who did it. Maybe it was ‘foxhole religion’ – I don’t think so because of what he did after he changed his ways.
They say that right after the 9/11 attacks that church attendance in America skyrocketed – people were afraid. But by January of the following year attendance was worse than it was prior to the attacks; they’d gone back to sleep. Manasseh woke up and repented. That was brilliant even though it took a hook in his nose to get his attention.
I can approach life by accepting the battles and crying out to the Lord or I can blame Him for the ‘baddles’ and persist in my selfishness. I can learn the lesson of Manasseh who came to know that the Lord is God, or I can continue to pound my head against the wall. The choice is mine.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6 NIV) To quote a friend who quoted a friend: At any give time, there's more going right than going wrong in the life of a Christ-follower. -Al Miller. Thank God for grace!
2 Chronicles 33:12 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. NIV
Manasseh at one point was a fool. After the reign of his father Hezekiah, he decided to go in another direction: he forgot all about God. How dumb can you get? After all he saw under the leadership of his dad he decides to throw it all out the window and worship idols. Until…
Until one day the Lord sent an army against Manasseh and he wound up in chains with a hook through his nose (Oww! That hurts!) and he was led off to Babylon to think about things. While in Babylon he repented and prayed to God to help him; the Scripture says he sought the favor (grace) of the Lord and humbled himself greatly before God. God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble.
What will it take in our lives to get off the schneid and serve the Lord (if we aren’t)? What will it take to get our attention? Manasseh could’ve blamed the Lord and become bitter, but he weighed the situation and somehow came to the conclusion if he was ever going to get out of the mess he was in it would have to be the Lord who did it. Maybe it was ‘foxhole religion’ – I don’t think so because of what he did after he changed his ways.
They say that right after the 9/11 attacks that church attendance in America skyrocketed – people were afraid. But by January of the following year attendance was worse than it was prior to the attacks; they’d gone back to sleep. Manasseh woke up and repented. That was brilliant even though it took a hook in his nose to get his attention.
I can approach life by accepting the battles and crying out to the Lord or I can blame Him for the ‘baddles’ and persist in my selfishness. I can learn the lesson of Manasseh who came to know that the Lord is God, or I can continue to pound my head against the wall. The choice is mine.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6 NIV) To quote a friend who quoted a friend: At any give time, there's more going right than going wrong in the life of a Christ-follower. -Al Miller. Thank God for grace!
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Naked Soul
8.1.2011
John 3:20-21 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” NIV
God knows it all anyway. The insanity of hating the light is: God knows it all anyway – why run; why try to hide? And yet, millions scheme and dream of the overthrow of God to live in what they consider to be the freedom to live as they see fit. As a result, they hate whatever casts a light on what they do and how they believe. Criminals rarely boast of their activities. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he does has been done through God; no secrets here.
Such are the people on the earth – only two categories of souls: those who are pale and afraid, and those who are bold and bright; those who hate the light and those who love it; those who fear it, and those who embrace it. The magnitude of our fall is manifest in revealing who is who. And the only antidote is the light. As children of God we must learn to hate the evil that pulls us from the light.
The irony of all this is who’s naked and who isn’t. The lover of the light, the doer of God’s good, is naked in that he freely shows himself to be doing what he does because of God. The doer of evil is clothed in darkness so that who he really is may not be seen by everybody else. And yet when all is said and done, the naked one is clothed in God and the clothed one is exposed in shame and humiliation to be other than what he claimed to be all along. The one who fears God cares nothing about nakedness; the one who hates God fears being exposed; that ought to tell us something.
There is a certain safety in nakedness: what you see is what you get. Conversely, there is a terrifying danger in the one who wants to hide what he does and what he really thinks.
When I read this today I realized whenever I flounder, flop, and flail around in selfish sin, I show in reality, I’m having a moment of hating the light; I’m running for the cover of darkness so that others may not see. But as I strive to stay in the light – in my nakedness – I’m allowing others to see the present of God in me and living my life accordingly. I need the light to shine on me, and in me always, that what you see is what you get: just a naked soul caught up in the love and light of God.
John 3:20-21 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” NIV
God knows it all anyway. The insanity of hating the light is: God knows it all anyway – why run; why try to hide? And yet, millions scheme and dream of the overthrow of God to live in what they consider to be the freedom to live as they see fit. As a result, they hate whatever casts a light on what they do and how they believe. Criminals rarely boast of their activities. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he does has been done through God; no secrets here.
Such are the people on the earth – only two categories of souls: those who are pale and afraid, and those who are bold and bright; those who hate the light and those who love it; those who fear it, and those who embrace it. The magnitude of our fall is manifest in revealing who is who. And the only antidote is the light. As children of God we must learn to hate the evil that pulls us from the light.
The irony of all this is who’s naked and who isn’t. The lover of the light, the doer of God’s good, is naked in that he freely shows himself to be doing what he does because of God. The doer of evil is clothed in darkness so that who he really is may not be seen by everybody else. And yet when all is said and done, the naked one is clothed in God and the clothed one is exposed in shame and humiliation to be other than what he claimed to be all along. The one who fears God cares nothing about nakedness; the one who hates God fears being exposed; that ought to tell us something.
There is a certain safety in nakedness: what you see is what you get. Conversely, there is a terrifying danger in the one who wants to hide what he does and what he really thinks.
When I read this today I realized whenever I flounder, flop, and flail around in selfish sin, I show in reality, I’m having a moment of hating the light; I’m running for the cover of darkness so that others may not see. But as I strive to stay in the light – in my nakedness – I’m allowing others to see the present of God in me and living my life accordingly. I need the light to shine on me, and in me always, that what you see is what you get: just a naked soul caught up in the love and light of God.
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