Mirror Image

11.30.13

Romans 2.2 2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. (ESV)

Recently, a friend of mine asked me to write down why I read the Bible – he said he was going to use it as an illustration in a sermon series he was presenting. (I need to get that done!) So, as I read today, I came across the above and it rang a bell: GONG!!! this is why I read the Bible: so I’ll stop judging people by what I think they are and how they act: like books according to their cover.

I don’t know how many times I need hear Paul’s words to the Romans and to my heart: stop picking on people and assuming I know who they are, and how they are, and why they are, and what they are! Dammit Paul, have you learned nothing in all your years as a “believer”!!!???

I’m tired of believing I have options of whether or not I reflect the life of Christ within me. I’m tired of being judgmental and critical of others who don’t fit my mental perception of acceptability. And judgment doesn’t always mean negative; I can be just as judgmental in a positive way as well – Jesus said we’ll know them by their fruits but there are certain ones I give a pass to because they meet my abysmally fickle standards of what’s right and what’s not.

For at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things…good, bad, or indifferent. Judging others is just a mirror image of myself.

I don’t have options in Christ save to do what is acceptable to Him. If I persist in judging others (which according to Paul means I do so at the peril of condemning myself because I do the same things) I am setting myself up for a rude awakening and an even ruder future: “So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (Romans 2.3) Hmmm…

My job is not to judge, assess, or write off any other person for any reason – my job is to love them. Period. There is a universe of distance between love and judgment. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with them, or do as they do, but it does mean that I possibly may be the only person in their life that ever represents the equity of Heaven in my dealings with them. Heaven is equitable to those who love Jesus. Heaven is equitable to those who love rather than judge.

Can I be honest here? I struggle with this. I’ve built a lifetime of thinking the way I do and saying the things I say, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for change. I’m reminded again today that change is what the Lord is all about and why He chose us to do His work in telling those we love (whether we like them or not) about Him – He’s their only hope…ours as well.

Father, I pray for the heavy hand of conviction in these days. I pray for the smack of guilt, remorse and holy sorrow for the things that pour out of my yammer. I ask for help and thank You for the Greatest Help of all, Your Spirit in my heart leading me to that place of relentless love and obedience to Your commands – through Jesus, Amen.

One and the Same

11.28.13

1 Thessalonians 1.2-3 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Thanksgiving Day is of course, the last hope of sanity before the beginning of the Christmas Buying Season (US). So, today, according to American cultural custom, we’re to load up on food, watch some football on TV and be somewhat thankful for all the stuff we can think of that we’re to be thankful for: wives, children, grand-children, jobs, cars, girlfriends, boyfriends, insurance, possession, positions, food, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Thanksgiving Day is the annual American cultural reminder to be thankful (compared to the other 364 in which we’re somewhat ungrateful.)

An old saint once said, “…If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness and all perfection, he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you.” Many are thankful today for the ‘good’ things in their lives. I wonder how thankful they are for the ‘bad’ things in their lives.

I’ve been smacked around lately (I blame it on my culture and Facebook) for my lack of thanksgiving in general: it is not my normal routine to be oft thankful for very much of what happens in my daily life. I pretty much just bump along the bottom feeling fairly fine.

However, there is a weight and a duty and a lifestyle beckoning that says: I am not in charge of anything in life except my attitude and my gratitude. Whatever God “does” in my life is His doing in wisdom and infinite love, so that I may attain to the culture in Heaven where earthly things don’t matter; where the only thing that matters is eternal fellowship with God (in all of His expressions) forever.

You see, God is in charge of my life; the whole thang ding. God is in charge of my moments – He has planned and executed them all in order that I may be completely free from the all cultures of earth and readied for the only culture of eternity. And the key to that freedom is thankfulness in all things at all times. In which I am very much in arrears …

Paul thanked God for the believers in Thessalonica because of this: their work of faith, their labor of love, and their steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Their lives weren’t built around anything else. Mine shouldn’t be either. They did all this despite severe persecution and hardship – God orchestrated their every moment so they would be eternally free of whatever on earth was trying to rob them of Him. And, I too am to thank God for all of the good, the bad, and the ugly in my life because in God’s book, they are all one and the same.

My Father, I am thankful for it all today, but may I not forget to be more thankful tomorrow and the next and the next and the next until that day I am readied for Heaven’s culture, and fellowship in Your presence forever – Amen.

Of Sheep and Goats

11.26.13

Matthew 25.32 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (ESV)

Jesus used examples from everyday life to help make His point: we call them parables; Jesus simply used them to help us understand what He was saying. In Matthew 25 Jesus used the parable of sheep and goats to illustrate what things would be like, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.” (V. 31) The Lord will separate all people into two groups like a shepherd would separate goats from sheep.

Goats are interesting creatures: they are intensely curious, will eat just about anything, and will climb up on things like rocks, small buildings, cars, and occasionally the right kind of tree. Goats do not clump in flocks like sheep do but rather they spread out and kinda go it on their own. Goats will charge when threatened; male and female alike grow horns. Goats tend to be separate and, not so much selfish, but certainly independent.

Sheep on the other hand hang together in flocks. Where there are natural predators, sheep clump together which offers protection and some defense. Sheep are docile, easily led, and need direction to pasture and water. The rams grow horns but the ewes never do. Sheep basically do what they are led to do; it’s their nature.

Jesus made the comparison of sheep and goats, not to give us a lesson on animal behavior, but to illustrate human behavior. The sheep are favored while the goats are not. Naturally, sheep are easier to care for than goats. Sheep are more dependent, while goats tend to be more independent. Humans are not separated by breed, but by the heart. The “sheep” Jesus favors are the ones who hang together and look out for one another and do what He tells them to do. The “goats” go it alone, and much like the animal, the goat, tend to be self-determined. Jesus’ listeners all knew the difference between sheep and goats.

When I examine my life; my comings and goings, my doings and sayings, I see more goat-ish behavior than sheep-ish. I tend to be more cynical rather than forgiving and optimistic. I tend to be more analytical and critical than blind to the faults of others. I tend to believe one gets what one deserves (except when the one is me and then I tend to whine that I’m being picked on).

Jesus looks at the heart and looks at the kind of people we are. He looks at how we spend our time and how we treat others. He hears what we say and hears our thoughts. He knows whether or not we’re repositories of His love.

Jesus, if ever I wanted to be sheep-ish – despite all of my goat-ish tendencies – it’s today. If ever I wanted to hear those words, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’, I want to hear them today. I ask You for a change in my life, and for me to accept that change by faith that You’ve done what You do: make darkness turn into light, make what’s dead come to life, and turn goats into sheep because of Your great love. Help me today, my Lord and my God. Amen.

Dependence for All Things

11.24.13

Matthew 17.26-27 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” (ESV)

This is a curious story in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life: the two-drachma tax, or the Temple Tax. Funny, Jesus didn’t have a penny. It seems from Luke’s account there were several women who supported Jesus ministry out of their means (see Luke 8.3). But Jesus didn’t have a dime – or a drachma, or a shekel, or any other means of paying this annual tax assessed against the Jewish population for the care and upkeep of the Temple. But, you know what, Father-God doesn’t have limits and Jesus knew that. I need to know that too.

Peter was concerned because I think Peter wondered about the tax. (I find it also funny that the Tax-man, Matthew, was the only one of the four gospel authors to bring up this story…) So furrowed brow and all, Peter comes to Jesus to ask Him about the tax and before Peter even opens his mouth Jesus asks him, “So, whadaya think Pete, from whom do kings of the earth take taxes; their sons or from others?” And Peter says, “Others.”

But Jesus wouldn’t let Peter’s next question even get to the surface: “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” Jesus was teaching Peter about two things: First, pick the fights you can win; and second, don’t go out of your way to offend.

The other thing Jesus was teaching Peter here in this narrative is: Peter, don’t forget to depend on God for all things. That’s what I need to learn.

I have a big mission coming up in June and I need the funds to get there. I need shots; I need a passport; I need money to provide for my daily needs. I need the money to cover two weeks of work from which I will be unpaid and absent while on my mission. Paul, don’t forget to depend on God for all things.

I needed this reminder today that God provides all for His children and I am counting on Him for the complete amount to go on my trip. Jesus is my Example: “Peter, go down to the lake and cast a hook. Take the first fish that comes up and when you go to get the hook out of the critter’s mouth you’ll find enough for both of us. Peter, I don’t have a job, but I do have My Father and He knows what we need – depend on Him like I do.”

Father, thank You! Thank You for the money for this mission trip, and for my absence from work, and for all the other things I need each and every day. I trust in You. Amen.

Taking Care of Today Today

11.20.13

Matthew 6.34 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Jesus (ESV)

If you hang around me for very long (some just can’t stomach it, I know) you’ll find I take a shine to what is affectionately known as the Serenity Prayer. If you’re not familiar with the prayer you might recognize the first stanza:

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

For years I knew the first part of the prayer and then during a time of great personal difficulty, I became familiar with the second stanza:

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

I especially like the part that says: living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time. And so, when I read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, as it is affectionately known, I hear the Lord saying: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.” (V. 6.25) And I read this and I think about how often I spend energy (and time) doing exactly what He counsels me not to do: be anxious. Sigh. I need to learn to live differently: one day at a time; each moment as it comes.

We’re taught as a society to have plans and to prosper and to think about tomorrow and to plant and to build and to accumulate and, and, and... We’re not taught to live one day at a time and enjoy the moments. We’re too busy thinking about the next move. And Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” In other words, Paul, you got enough to think about for today, let alone worrying about tomorrow (which by the way, never comes: it’s always only ever right now.)

It’s hard to unlearn all I’ve been taught about life and culture, and, and, and... But there is a longing in me to learn to let go, and let God. (Cliché, I know) I think Jesus teaches in me in the Sermon on the Mount, to concentrate on today and let God take care of tomorrow whenever it decides to show up. And the prayer powerfully echoes: living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time.

And so, today, I echo in the prayer what Jesus teaches me on the mount: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living only in this day because it is all I really have, and trusting You moment by moment ,finding Your presence in those moments. Thank You Lord! Amen.

What It’s all About

**To my readers: I hesitated posting this for two reasons: 1. I confess I continually live misunderstanding the love of Christ; and 2. our lives would be so much different if we did understand what love does for us in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is wooing our hearts by showing us all He's done for us already and we don't have to add to it at all - we just need to accept it. I struggle with the acceptance part. I hope this helps you and I hope your lives are overcome by the love and providence of Christ.

11.16.13

2 Corinthians 5.10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)

How I live will be judged. How I live will be examined. How I live will be rewarded. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. How I live will be, in time, given what is due, whether good or evil. Consider me stopped in my tracks.

Jesus doesn’t expect me to perform – if He expected that it would be all about the Law, or a law, or a set of rules, or a list of actions. But with Jesus, it is all about relationship and love for one another: Him loving me, and me loving Him by doing what He directs me to do. My love is proved for Him by my doing what He says. No obligation. No coercion. Just humility that what He says is best and I don’t have to perform in doing it; I just do it.

In appearing before Jesus there shouldn’t be a dread – unless, of course, I have something to dread. But if I have something to dread then maybe I’m not living in love with Jesus. Maybe I’m trying to live a double-life. Maybe I’m not as truly in love with Him, as He is with me. I should be looking forward to my appearance before Him. If I’m not, either I don’t have an understanding of what that appearing is all about or I’m attempting to harbor something inside believing He can’t see it and I can continue to do whatever I do. It sounds like insanity to me.

I know as I sit here today and think about it, I’m to expect to receive what is due me for whatever I’ve done in the body, whether good or evil. Paul tells me that in 2 Corinthians 5. And Paul, bless his heart, isn’t talking about law. He would’ve rather been dragged down a dirt road naked before he went back into the bondage of legalism. Paul reminds us all that our lives will one day be examined to see what they were really made of, and what they really accomplished in and through Jesus Christ.

So, that brings me to today. That brings me to a place where I have to come running to Jesus for all the crap I’ve pulled this week and say to Him:

Lord, forgive me and help me. Break those bonds in me; or help me to realize fully they’ve already been broken and I’m just fooling myself by insisting they’re still real. May I see and live, by faith, the freedom that is mine in You, and may I live the free life I have in You. Not free to serve myself and live according to my agenda, but free in You to live as You wisely and lovingly direct my every move. Help me to live in real faith. Help me to live in real love. And help me to give up the horrid things I hold so precious and dear that hold me back from all of You. Amen.

Wrestling with Leviathan

11.15.13

Job 41.8 8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again! – God (ESV)

In life there are myriad opportunities to screw up. It’s just true that we learn through trial and error – these two are our best teachers.

In Job 41 the Lord speaks to Job about Leviathan. Although most scholars are not sure exactly what Leviathan is, it’s pretty clear from the narrative that he is big, and mean, and has absolutely no regard for humans. And so God explains to Job, “grab ahold of him big boy and you’ll find out quickly what a real battle is all about – you’ll be smarter next time!”

In other words: Job there are things in this life that are beyond you and the only way you’ll figure it out is if you try to tackle them – you’ll quickly find out just how small and limited you are. And then for emphasis God adds: …like your trying to tackle Me. Trying to tackle God is a fool’s errand. Trying to figure Him out and put Him in our little box is just plain stupid.

But folks (like you and me and everyone else) try to do it all the time. The only way to figure out just how frightening Leviathan is is when his gaping maw closes in on you, and your blood-curdling screams for mercy fall on deaf ears. I don’t think God is that merciless but I do think He allows us to get into situations where the only thing that will save us – THE ONLY THING – is our blood-curdling screams for mercy.

That is the lesson of trial and error. We might think we can handle God until we find ourselves in a place where only His mercy and our screams for it will help. Job was dressed down by God for trying to claim he had an understanding of God. What Job lacked was respect for God. Job had lowered God to his level and then tried (albeit intellectually) to tame the Wild Beast. (Yes, I just called my God and Father the Wild Beast; it’s what I deserve for trying to bring Him down to my level and cram Him into my cardboard box to contain Him. Foolish man!)

As I am wont to say, there are four kinds of people on this earth: those who know and know it; those who don’t know and know it; those who know and don’t know it; and those who don’t know and don’t know it. I find myself in category four often times and it takes my stupidly grabbing ahold of Leviathan’s tail to remind me I don’t know and didn’t know it.

God wants you and me to know that we know. Our hearts are so perverted and twisted and broken that at times the only way to know just how bad we are is to slam into a brick wall at high speed. God doesn’t desire we slam into the wall but He also doesn’t want us to go through life not knowing we don’t know. The Answer to every human problem and issue, and the grand-daddy of them all: our fallenness, is God. Period. And He’s pretty good at providing Leviathans to help us know that we know – after all, He made Leviathan.

Papa, Wild Beast that You are, help Your servant and child to know it and know that I know it. I cannot make it through these days without You and help me – whatever it takes to get it! Thank You for the Leviathan’s in my life but thank You more for mercy and in Your mercy may I find humility, and grace, and salvation from the stupid things I do – Amen.