Our Words

11.28.11

1 Thessalonians 2.13 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. NIV

There is the human word, the way we speak and the way we look at the creation around us and then there is the word of God as revealed to mankind in the Scriptures shaping our worldview and showing us the proper order of things. Paul said the Thessalonians accepted the word of God from them for what it actually was: the word of God at work in them.

Paul’s words, in those days, were words of explanation of the Scriptures (the Old Testament), and his own commentary of life as guided by his relationship with God; and God’s expression of Himself through the Old Testament. Paul spoke for God. Paul spoke so that others would know God and then walk in relationship with Him. What we have today is Paul’s words having been made Scripture.

Now, the interesting part is what happens when someone comes to the place where they believe God; whose words are those? It will be, more than likely, a combination of God’s words (the Bible), and our words (in testimony) and the truth (in its effect on the heart of the listener.) Paul himself said, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10.14-15 NIV) Whose words now?

It is still a process of the use of God’s words (the Bible), my words (of testimony) and the truth (my personal revelation of God). At some point Paul was recognized as a spokesman for God but he wasn’t trying to corner the market – he recognized there were others out there sharing God’s word, their testimony, and the Gospel truth. To the one who believes, there is not a lot of distinction; it boils down to their understanding and accepting the reality of God through the Holy Spirit empowerment to understand and accept the truth.

Now, I know there are some who will read these words of mine and might cry heresy. I am not a heretic. I am trying to understand how God’s words can become my words and the sharing of those words can have an effect on someone who will accept them for what they really are: God sharing His heart with them. I’ll just say this: God somehow uses our words about His words to cause salvation to come to the heart of another person. I call that the truth. I can’t explain it, I can’t describe it; all I know is that it works. And somehow that is how God operates: using our words about His words to help someone in darkness and death come into light and life.

So like Paul, we speak and we use the resources we have to communicate truth to those who are caught up in error that they may be freed to use their words to tell others about God’s words that those others may be free to tell others… and on and on it goes until all the talking is done and God gets all the glory!

Divine Normalcy

11.27.11

Matthew 27.51-53 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. NIV

Okay, so here’s the deal: Jesus’ death was a huge deal! First, but not necessarily in chronological order: the veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy place was torn in two from top to bottom. That’s a statement! Second there was an earthquake, for not even the earth was in favor of what those men did to its Creator. And then, the tombs were broken open and Matthew records, “The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” Nature in that moment was turned on its ear.

Now, imagine you’re in Jerusalem that day and you’ve heard all about the goings on and you’re shocked and saddened by the turn of events. And there’s a knock at your door and when you open the door, it’s your departed mother (or father, or aunt, or brother) standing there alive. Now what!?

You see, when God is involved our normalcy goes out the window. When God is involved really strange (abnormal) stuff happens. That’s because our normal can’t handle God. (I’m still at the door wondering how so and so we buried two years ago is standing in front of me alive.) Shock and awe is what I’m thinking.

Mankind had no idea what happened the day Jesus was crucified but nature responded. Mankind to this day (in general) has no idea what happened the day Jesus was crucified but Paul the apostle said: 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. (Romans 8.19-21 NIV)

Creation had no say in Adam’s fall; it was only subjected to it. Creation was frustrated by man’s disobedience and when man killed the Lord of glory, creation responded. Death cannot hold life when God is involved. And creation itself is eagerly awaiting for the last day to come in order to open the door to the first day of eternal freedom that will be ushered in by the freedom of the children of God. Creation will finally be seen and cared for as it was originally intended to be.

Where we live today is abnormal. How we live today is not how God originally intended for us to live. Tombs breaking open and the dead being raised to life is merely the response of nature to how things were supposed to be (and an indicator of how things will one day be). And Jesus’ death was the inauguration of the return to divine normalcy. There won’t be cemeteries on the new earth…

Progression

11.26.11

Matthew 23.19-22 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. NIV

If you follow the progression it goes from altar to temple to heaven to God’s throne and to God Himself on the throne. A gift given is to be given at the proper place; the progression follows from there all the way to God Himself. What’s interesting to me is all the way through chapter 23, Jesus points to God; and at the beginning of chapter 24, the disciples come right back to the buildings that made up the Temple area – guys, you’re missing something!

Because we are men and because we are fallen, we tend to miss that point, often. It’s not the church building that is sacred, it is God’s people who are sacred. And it’s really not God’s people who are sacred, it’s God in them Who makes them sacred. We spend a look of time and effort trying to make our church building(s) special when it’s really our relationship with God that is special and makes us special. And Jesus was trying to make that point with them. The Temple was special but only for a time; it was always the human heart that was special because that was the chosen dwelling place of God. We don’t go to a place to meet God, we only need to direct our thoughts on Him and the specialness is complete.

This isn’t a rant against church buildings. This is however a reminder of the true progression of everything that ought to lead us to God. Buildings – brick and mortar – don’t get the job done. Rings and licenses don’t make the marriage. Starbucks coffee doesn’t make friends. It’s focusing in the right way on the right person that makes life work. Effort is required but it is to only reinforce the message: you’re special. Jesus was pointing that out.

In some ways the Pharisees weren’t totally wrong: they truly felt they were only mere mortals in the presence of God. And it’s true, they were. Where they went wrong was they also felt they had to go to a lot of effort to get God’s attention and over time their focus became solely on the effort of trying to get God’s attention rather than God Himself. Through all their efforts, they had painted God into a distant place and had thereby shut the door on themselves to real relationship with Him: a concept that was totally foreign to them. Their relationship with God was all about their effort to impress God, not God Himself. Try that with your spouse and see how that works.

A friend of ours told us last night that her son’s girlfriend of several years had broken up with him because she just didn’t have feeling for him anymore. In my thinking that meant she grew tired of his efforts: which probably focused more on his making the effort, than it did on her. God had grown tired of man trying to make his effort the object of the relationship rather than focusing on Him. Our relationships do require effort, but the effort is to keep the other person the object of the relationship, not what we do or don’t do… does that make sense? Everything we do ought to be because of the Object of our affections – it’s the right progression, not our performance.

Kids Say the Bestest Things

11.25.11

Matthew 21.16 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” NIV

Think about the difference between children and adults. With children there is a certain honest naiveté accompanied by a level of innocence. Don’t get me wrong, children have the same sin issue the rest of humanity has, but children lack a certain sophistication that only comes with age and experience. I’ve always assumed the religious rulers accused the crowd of being children because to them, if the crowd only knew the truth, they would’ve rejected Jesus as a fraud. Children are sometimes easily fooled because they just don’t know any different.

But Jesus calls the rulers on their comment: He says, in essence, “Of course I hear them! They are saying what God called them to say!” And His implication was: you would be to if God had called you! Children often don’t even think about mistrust – sometimes it takes years of deceit to pound that into them… Adults are usually the ones who are such pros at deceit.

It’s also not to say that the crowd was simply stupid (although I’m sure that was in the minds of the Pharisees as well), they were simply responding out of genuine (albeit limited) worship… something else the Pharisees were foreign to…

Think about why we who believe are called God’s children. In a sense we are all God’s creatures and therefore His children. But think about what Jesus said about becoming a child in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You see, there is something to this child thing.

Becoming a child is partly about learning how to deal with (or ignore) conventional wisdom maybe to live in spite of conventional wisdom. Kids to think freely and outside the proverbial box. Kids may be naïve but they still think freely and see much of life without the fetters of adulthood: making a living, paying the bills, etc. Conventional wisdom to a child is foreign because he hasn’t yet been fully mashed into life’s mold. From the lips of such God calls forth praise; kids can praise because they’re not yet afraid of God or of much of life either. And that is the calling of God’s children: freedom of fear and trusting God in a childlike manner.

Years ago was a show on CBS called House Party. It was hosted by a guy name of Art Linkletter, and at the end of each show was a segment called Kids Say the Darnedest Things. Linkletter would interview children on various life-topics and the appeal of the segment was the unfettered, unscripted, naïve, but deadly accurate comments that kids made in response to his questions. (His facial expressions were priceless as well.) From the lips of children come the darnedest things. God says, from the lips of children and infants He will receive His praise: honest, unscripted, somewhat naïve, but deadly in its accuracy and received in its sincerity. God knows where to get the good stuff.

Perhaps that is why God desires that we mature in child-like trust and praise. Jesus knew what was going on and what wonderful sounds were echoing in His Father’s ears: God’s kids saying the best-est things!

Rulers in the Making

11.24.11

Matthew 19.28-30 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. NIV

This is a pretty big promise: you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And it’s even bigger when you consider who Jesus made this promise to: twelve ordinary men in whom was little education and just about zero social status. Rulers? I think not!

This morning Cathy and I sat in the hospitality room of a hotel (we’re traveling for Thanksgiving) and I found myself, as I usually do, watching people. The room was full of ordinary looking folk; not too many rulers present it appeared. Most places are filled with ordinary folk. That doesn’t mean they don’t make good friends, good companions, or even good spouses in the right and proper way – but they are ordinary: congress and the world’s elite aren’t beating a path to their door seeking their wisdom and advice (they’d probably be better off if they did!)

So, when I read Jesus’ promise to His men, I thought about ordinary folk who may be rulers in the making by their association with, and belief in, Jesus. Think about your family: any rulers there? Well what about you? Do you dream about what Jesus is going to do with you one day down the road and can you see yourself judging your family (present and extended) because of what Jesus is in YOU!? Maybe you are the One they’ve all been waiting for… it could happen.

The issue isn’t so much as who you are, it’s more WHO is in you. The difference isn’t who you know, it’s Who knows you. I can’t imagine many of us getting up this Thanksgiving Day thinking about our future roles in Christ. But you know what: as sure as this day is here, that day is coming. Jesus helped His men see the bigger picture of what their lives were to be; and the Lord does the same for us if we’ll let Him and listen to Him.

What do you suppose Jesus’ words did to those men that day? How do you suppose they took it? (Who, US!?) What do you think about when you read these words in Matthew 19? Maybe you just have to be in the right mood. I guess I was this morning.

I am thankful this day that that thought invaded my mind. It elevated me to another place and plane of living. I am thankful for Christ in me, the Hope of glory. I am thankful for Jesus’ plans for me and for all of His followers, wherever they are, whatever they do. I’m thankful for a Hope and a future. I need to remember more often than once a year that Jesus is doing in us infinitely more than we can hope or imagine, and that in the ordinary-ness of our everyday life He is fully present shaping us into the people He’s called us to be.

Be blessed fellow Rulers in the Making! Happy Thanksgiving!

Overcoming Objections

11.23.11

Matthew 15.27 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” NIV

You have to read the whole story in Matthew 15 to understand the conversation between the woman and Jesus. The woman, a foreigner to the Jews, had a daughter who was demon-possessed. The woman came desperately to Jesus seeking help and when she did, Jesus told her, “No.” The conversation that ensued is remarkable and the woman’s persistence is remarkable: she was convinced that her only Hope was the Lord Himself.

As the two conversed it became clear that the woman wasn’t going to settle for any of Jesus’ objections. And here’s the kicker: When Jesus said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”, she said, “Yes, it is Lord,” [because] “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” His objection was her objection: Yes, it is Lord. She didn’t agree and say, No, Lord, You’re right, it’s not. She said, Yes, it is Lord.

The basis of the whole conversation centered on why the woman showed up in the first place, she was desperate and willing to go to this Jew to ask for help. She recognized His miraculous power from afar despite the fact that His own people didn’t from up close. She wasn’t a Jew and that’s what made it so hard for her. Why she got what she wanted was because of her faith, and she was willing to tell the Lord, Yes, it is. When He said it isn’t right, she popped right back, yes, it is; and what I think she meant was: because the children don’t seem to care that the bread-crumbs are eaten by their pets. And her argument was: all I’m asking for is a crumb!

What I see here is someone who saw things (like we all seem to do) with some sense of fairness: she had no idea she’d be turned down. She came to Jesus fully expecting to get what she asked for just because she asked; she wasn’t expecting a rebuff. But when she got told no, she fought to get what she wanted – she became persistent. I think Jesus was going to give her what she wanted all along, but I think by His questioning, He drilled down into her heart to see what was really there. What He found was great faith.

The oddity of the story is where Jesus always seemed to find great faith: in the hearts of those who were not born Jewish (a Roman Centurion and this Canaanite woman) or in the hearts of those who were outcasts because of their infirmities and distresses (a woman with vaginal bleeding, lepers, blind men, the demon-possessed, paralytics). In the “normal” folks all He usually found was unbelief, superstition, legalism, heresy, and apathy. At this point in His ministry even His own disciples were seemingly very confused at best.

I think what really appeals to me, is the woman’s courage in persistence. She held her ground when many would’ve turned away. God loves persistence because it can show what’s in a person’s heart. It’s not that He doesn’t know – it’s that the person who comes to Him needs to see the outcome of faith and persistence. If there’s a way to score points with God it could be through faithfully persisting, and overcoming His objections… just saying.