The Way I Should Go

07.26.15

Psalm 143:8, 10 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. St. David (NV)

The older I get the more it seems to be sinking in that God is more – way more – than my personal, private Genie. I seem to be getting to that place of understanding that life is more – way more – than the next sale or client. That doesn’t mean that sales or clients aren’t important; it just means that they are not my sole focus in life. Only God is to get that place. I must quit treating Him as my servant.

I was not created for work, I was created for God. So were you. We were created for His glory. We were created for His being to shine through ours into the lives of others. Vocation is part of that process but so is everything else in life: home, family, church, leisure, pain sickness, sorrow, and all else that life brings our way.

It’s high time I begin to let God be God of all that I am, do, and hope to be. That is why it is so imperative that my waking moments each day be of God, and allowing the morning bring me word of His unfailing love. Those who know God, trust God, and look forward to the newness of God each day. And those of God, implore Him: show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. No quid pro quo; just eager expectation of the presence of God each day because He is in charge of the day, and each step of the way.

David’s petition in this psalm is two-fold: not only do I need for all I am and do, I also need God to direct me and lead me in all I am and do. It’s not about the paycheck – it’s about God. He has a name and His name is Good and His name is Wonderful.

I need God to show me the next step to take and trust that He will, and that it is the right step to take at the right time for the right reason and for His glory. I must accept this truth and live accordingly. Teach me to do Your will and may Your Good Spirit lead me on level ground: looking for Your love, and expecting Your direction for the next moment.

I have not successfully lived this kind of life. Most of my existence has been faults and fumbles, flying by the seat of my pants. I need to know how, where, and when to go; and I need God to show me. I need to show up: Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love – my purpose, pleasure, and power is only ever found in You!

Father, may my waking from this day forth be for the eager reminder of Who You are in my life and what You are doing in and through me. In all I do, show me the way I should go; help me to connect with those You intend; and may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Amen.

It’s all about You!

People Who Are Free

07.23.15

1 Peter 2.16-17 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. St. Peter (ESV)

Last weekend, I marketed my business, and the company I work for, in a booth in the park for Miner’s Jubilee, our version of a county fair. We really do have a county fair; in fact we have two. But those fairs are more like a typical fair, and the event this weekend is more of a community fair with far fewer exhibits and far more stuff to spend money on. Oh, and fair food which is not really all that fair – it’s over-priced, greasy, and not all that tasty. (Says, I.) The corn-dogs were iffy.

A friend of mine volunteered at another booth and came by and we chatted for a few minutes. His booth was political in nature and he said: I’m done! We’re never going to change what is wrong in this country with politics – it is only going to change through the power and presence of Jesus Christ! I agreed.

St. Peter had a word for the dispersed Christians way back then – he said, Live as people who are free… Freedom is a strong word. Free people are a threat to politics and governments which feed on control. Peter admonished: [don’t use] your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but [for] living as servants of God. We have been freed by God to serve God. In doing so, however, that is going to smack right into the people who would use political means to control others. Politicians’ve been around for centuries.

So, in response, what are we servants of God to do? Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Wow. Even that little bastard, Nero!? Yes, even him. To honor Nero wasn’t to agree with Nero, but it was to give him the honor due an emperor, no matter how he came to be. Politics will never change this world. Nero didn’t and no other emperor before or since has either. Only Jesus Christ through His Church will change the world.

In America, political expression these days seems to be a given. But the expression of one’s political bent is – often – weaponry. The anger and angst brought about by politics underscores the need – dire at that – for submission to a King whose Kingdom will never cease. Our world doesn’t need kings, it needs relationship with God. God’s Kingdom will be a realm of peace and harmony; things that can only be brought about by Him through a people who live as free and don’t use their freedom to bash whoever is currently in charge. If current leaders piss us off, we have free access to the throne room of God by which to pour out our complaints in prayer seeking God’s wisdom in how to live, and He says: Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

I’m not to fear the emperor and his ploys, I am to honor him; and fear God. The ONLY ONE who’ll get this thing straight is God by His Son through His Church. We must wipe ourselves clean of the stickiness of politics and the foolishness of thinking that is how the Church is going to change the world. And while we’re at it, perhaps we should endeavor to wipe the church clean of its own brand of politics as well… we’re to use our freedom to love each other, not to bash those who don’t agree with us... Father God, help us.

For Steve

07.19.15

Revelation 21.3-4 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)

Last night, after a long day in a booth in the park, I relaxed with my wife and the critters. The cat and the dog having felt they’d been abandoned were lying peacefully at our feet, and we were getting caught up on the events of the day: TV, Facebooking, etc.

Shortly after 10 pm, a friend of ours from Bend, Oregon, posted a picture to Facebook: Alive Loved Satisfied on her page. I didn’t think much about it other than, Oh, that’s a nice picture. There was an accompanying picture of she and her husband which had been taken a few years back. They looked normal and happy and healthy. He had ALS but I’m not sure they knew it then. Well, they did come to know it, and this morning, my wife informed me, he died yesterday.

I felt strange for a moment because in the night I had a dream about him. He was when I saw him last, a tall fellow although the ravages of ALS were beginning to take their toll; he’d lost weight. But in my dream, we embraced, and he was as I remember him from a decade or so ago: tall, muscular, and strong. He smiled at me in the dream, drew me in for a brotherly hug, and I wept. I just didn’t know what to say.

I think the dream was some sort of goodbye. It was brief. He was smiling strongly and I was weeping. And this morning I realized it was some kind of spiritual encounter. Not something to make a theology from, but certainly an encounter of my friend – not the way he looked at his passing but how he looked from my memories: strong, happy, confident.

Alive, Loved, Satisfied. What words. What truth. What reality! My friend is in the presence of Jesus today. It’s not today for him, but it is for me. For him it is eternity of Presence and Peace and the adventure is just beginning. One day, I’ll join him and a host of other who’ve gone before and we will all know this reality: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

To my friend I’ll say this: I will miss you but only for a moment. You fought the good fight, you won the race and you kept the faith; and now you are Alive, Loved, and tearlessly, Satisfied. I look forward to when we reunite in His presence: Alive, Loved, and Satisfied. Amen.

Jesus the Great High Priest

6/07/2015

Hebrews 4.14-16 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.The Writer of Hebrews (ESV)

Just like Paul in Ephesians 3.20-21, the writer of Hebrews offers a glimpse of the magnitude of our God: Jesus, the Son of God. He used words like, since then, let us. He said: for we, but One. He went on: Let us, that we. These are huge statements that underscore our faith and the One in Whom we place it.

We do have a great high priest. To the modern western believer, a high priest is often misunderstood. We evangelicals would want to say: we have a great pastor. But a pastor is not like a priest who goes between us and God. A pastor is a leader, a guide, a mentor, but he is not an intermediary. And our Great High Priest did for us what no other priest could ever do: He offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. Well, since then, let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we.

Since we have this High Priest, let us hold fast our confession. Our confession is not a diatribe against same-sex marriage. Our confession is not a stand for conservative politics. Our confession is not sitting in our corner of the sand-box yelling and throwing sand, screaming that everyone else is wrong because they don’t hold our point of view. Our confession is Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because He has been tempted in every way that we are but withstood the temptation and relied on the power and presence of God to see Him through. Since then, let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we.

Let us then draw near to the throne of Grace with confidence to the One who is not threatened or confused or intimidated but the comings and goings of the world. Let us draw near to the One who placed us in the sand-box and said: Represent Me and My presence in you to those who don’t see, and don’t understand. Show off My power in your weakness and be a beacon of light in a very dark place that really wants nothing to do with you…or Me. That is all He’s ever asked of us. So, since then, let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we.

These are action words: since then, let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we. These are words of power and import. These are words of comfort, as are the words: Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Jesus is our Great and Wonderful High Priest: Since then, let us; for we, but One. Let us, that we. Amen. I’m in. You?