Sabbaths and Winters

5.7.2011

Matthew 24:20 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. NIV

Jesus had the difficult task of explaining to His disciples what was going to happen “at the end of the age”. They wanted to know what was going to happen next. Curiosity plagued them – and it plagues mankind – for some reason we all seem to want to know what happens next. The urge may be stronger in some than it is in others, but it seems to be a universal trend among both believers and non-believers.

In the west we’ve become so affluent that we want to know if our affluence is going to last – so we spend much of our time and resources planning a thing called retirement in hope that we can finally relax and spend the remainder of our lives happily ever after. But we want to know, will we suffer from disease, will we die in some accident; what will happen so we know how to plan. The sad fact is: knowing the future and what events will befall us, doesn’t give us any advantage. Just ask the person who visits the doctor only to be told, go home and die, the party is over. Knowing you have terminal cancer doesn’t give you any advantage.

Well what does give you an advantage, Paul? This: knowing God who knows the beginning from the end. Jesus gave them a glimpse of what was coming and He said it was going to be really bad. Strangely, and probably to their disappointment He didn’t give them a crisis management plan; He simply instructed them to pray, Lord, if this has to come, let it not be on the Sabbath, or in winter. Winters and Sabbaths impede travel.

There are things in my life I wish I had answers to and wish I knew the outcome. I don’t. But I worship and serve a God who does; and who has promised to make a way for me in seasons of trouble and (even) tribulation. Not knowing makes me focus on right now and right now, and how I live right now, is more important than any uncertain future fate.  I can pray for mercy and trust in His kindness and provision…

Father in Heaven,
You are in charge of all of my tomorrows. You are in charge of my today. Help me to remember that knowing the future doesn’t change a thing and often distracts me from the present which is all I have anyway. May I live one day at a time and enjoy each moment as it comes knowing that You love me, care for me, and have work for me to do. May that be my focus in Christ, amen.

I Am The Man

5.6.2011

2 Samuel 12.7(a) 7(a) Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! NIV

Busted was what he was – David was plain old busted. And he was as guilty as sin. Nathan indicted him and spoke judgment over David’s life and household. The difference between David and the likes of Eli, Saul and others in Scripture who were also busted was that David accepted the Lord’s rebuke and repented with a broken heart. He should’ve been stoned for adultery and for murder – but kings do what kings do, and though he thought he got away with murder, God caught him, and he paid dearly for his sins… but not without repenting.

David did some remarkable things for the nation but he also did some very stupid things. The good news is David ultimately learned his lessons. The bad things in his life that were stunting the good things were driven out of David by what happened next in his life. And he suffered but he came out at the end changed. David, like most of the rest of us, learned life the hard way.

It would be nice if we could learn without pain, suffering, embarrassment and humiliation, but these things help break the hold stupidity has on our lives. I wonder if God sometimes says, “How could they be so stupid!?” If He does, He is also quick to say, “I love them and will help them – they need My discipline!” Pain, suffering, embarrassment, and humiliation bring about repentance, healing, wellness, and humility; and these are necessary ingredients to living a healthy life.

I hate being wrong, but I hate worse having something ugly between me and another. I hate being stupid, but I hate worse being the cause of someone else’s pain. Far too often, I am the man. But with God’s help, love, and discipline I will become His tool and His servant to usher in His goodness in situations where others have discovered that they are the man.

Father in Heaven,

I have been the man so many times it’s pathetic. I pray for grace to learn my lessons and to live more on the side of doing good than on the side of being stupid. Help me to love, learn and live for the benefit of others and the furtherance of Your Kingdom. Have Your way in my life I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

We Don’t Know

5.5.2011

Matthew 22:16 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. NIV

If Jesus were to visit with you this hour what would you tell Him you know about Him? The Pharisees, who were unflinching in their pursuit of the Law, and the Herodians who were unflinching in their pursuit of politics, linked up and told Jesus what they knew (or at least what they thought they knew) about Him. It sounds to me like they should’ve said, “Teacher, here is what we think about You…” Because, what they said, and what they thought, were poles apart. If Jesus was to visit with you in the next few moments, what would you tell Him?

The Pharisees and Herodians were vicious competitors; they hated each other. Putting them together would be like trying to mix oil and water, Democrats and Republicans; it just wouldn’t (and didn’t) work. But when enemies find a common cause to fight against, it makes for odd bedfellows. One common thing Jesus was to both groups: He was a threat. And threats had to be dealt with.

Why ask Jesus about paying tax to Caesar? Surely they didn’t care about paying taxes to Caesar! It’s not really so much what they said but what they thought – and they thought Jesus was a fraud; they wanted to use Rome and Roman taxation against Him. What is curious to me is the charge that Jesus paid no attention to who men were. I realize they were referencing His approach to people, but they erred when they said He didn’t care. If there is one thing our Savior does care about, it’s people. Jesus cares deeply about people. I don’t think He gives one whit about position, power, or politics; but He cares about people, and He came to lead all people to God. Neither the Pharisees nor the Herodians were doing that. And they thought wrong about Jesus, Caesar, and people – oh and taxes too!

In our theology we must be careful how we represent the One who cares ultimately about all of us – He cares the most and He cares the best because He’s the One who promises us rest. It’s foolish to say that Jesus pays no attention to who we are – nothing could be farther from the truth.

Lord Jesus,
I know You are the Son of God, and when You walked among us, You were a man of complete integrity teaching the ways of God in accordance with the His truth. You weren’t swayed by men, but You loved them; and You love us – You love me. I ask for grace to be a good student in Your school of learning the ways of God in accordance with His truth. Thank You that You love and care and mostly, Lord, You pay attention to me and the needs I have – thank You, amen.

Cracker Jack

5.4.2011

Matthew 21:22 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” NIV

Many people – myself included – have stumbled over these words by our Lord thinking He wasn’t giving us a blank check; He wasn’t. Prayer isn’t like getting a prize in a box of Cracker Jack*; but a lot of people see it that way: we pray in order to get God to give us something.

In 2 Samuel 8.6, we’re told that [God] gave David victory wherever he went. God also gave David wealth, power, lands, peoples, success, and great popularity. He had armies, advisors, and enormous adoration from his people. But getting all that wasn’t always all the best. David harbored a thirst for more, and his success fueled his thirst. With many wives and many children, he took Bathsheba illegally. With advisors out the kazoo, his sons were around him and as a bunch of spoiled rich kids, secretly criticized him and ultimately sought to overthrow him – Absalom. David conducted an unauthorized census of his people because in him it seems were the seeds of Empire-ism – something the Lord never gave David nor gave him permission to do.

So, what would it gain us if God gave us whatever we believed for in prayer? The prayer requests of many are, Lord save me from this, or heal me from that. The prayer requests of many are for stuff, wealth, health, and success. What would it do to us if we got all we wanted but lacked humility and grace? Where would we be if our answered prayers fostered pride, arrogance, and a false sense of security in a world where there are many who will vie or die trying to fill the void left by Usama Bin Laden?

But what if, by praying and believing, we received more of God – in the sense that we recognize Him, and walk in fellowship with Him? (We don’t actually get more of God – we get more capacity to worship, appreciate, cooperate, and depend upon Him…). But what if in praying, we said, Father, today may all that happens to me draw me closer to Your heart and better equip me to pray, to witness, and to testify more effectively to Your goodness and love toward mankind?

Jesus wasn’t offering us blank checks – He was trying to help us see that we will indeed accomplish God’s will if we’ll pray according to it and quit thinking only of ourselves… prayer is way more than 'candy-coated popcorn, peanuts, and a prize!'


*Cracker Jack is a U.S. brand of snack consisting of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts, well known for being packaged with a prize of nominal value inside. (Wikipedia)

Completely Overwhelmed

5.3.2011

Matthew 20:16 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” NIV

Okay, I admit it; I had to go to a commentary to get some insight on this verse. It’s repeated in various forms in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The term isn’t found in John at all. It means everyone is recognized as the same no matter how or when they enter the game. It is all about relationship. Only God can relate perfectly to all men equally (albeit individually) at the same time.

We tend to want to think that guys like Billy Graham are going to get a bigger slice of the pie when they get to heaven – that isn’t true because God is the “Pie” and we, who worship and serve Him, all get all of Him as our Reward. I don’t think there will be bigger mansions for better service – we’re all saved by the same God in the same way – through faith alone in all that He says and is – no one gets in any other way. True faith paves the way for true reward.

In Genesis 15, God told Abram (Abraham), “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1) A literal translation reads, “I, your reward, will be very great.” God is so vast, none of us can or will ever be able to take all of Him in; or truly appreciate Him for His greatness. What will happen is we’ll be completely overwhelmed with Him from moment one, and then continue to be completely overwhelmed every subsequent ‘moment’ thereafter.

How God rewards us is with Himself; that’s the whole point of our faith. And that’s to be the point of our living. We don’t have to wait until heaven to be overwhelmed – we can be overwhelmed today – and every subsequent day thereafter. The child of God looks for the great Reward and walks this life mindful of, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Co 13:12)

Father in Heaven,
Today – which is all I have, You are my very great Reward! Amen!

The Only Way We Can Hear

5.2.2011

Psalm 106:15 15 So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them. NIV

Sometimes God’s answer is ‘yes’; sometimes it is ‘no’. Sometimes He says ‘wait’; and sometimes he says, “If you insist”. Psalm 106 is David’s recounting of the nation of Israel and the wanderings in the wilderness; and God’s giving in to their insisting. This song speaks of all their sin and rebellion, but sums it all up by saying, “But [God] took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.” (Ps 106:44-45 NIV)

Sometimes the only way we can hear God is when He gives us what we demand; only to find how grievous our demands were. Sometimes we get the “…if you insist…” because God allows us to see how foolish our demands truly are. God opposes pride and stupidity but chooses to let them happen so that we can see clearly at the end of it all that the true choice, the real choice’ and the right is only Him. God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12.5ff). 

God won’t let us wallow in our stupidity forever. He knows when we’re in too deep; He hears the cries of our hearts when we can’t. God’s discipline is divinely designed to get us to respond correctly – it has purpose in mind for our good. And when God sees that we get it, He relents and embraces us again. Discipline finds its birthing place in the heart of God. 

At what price are the things we crave; at what cost is having our own way? So He gave them what they asked for, but… and even the ‘but’ is for our own good.

Father in Heaven,

You only are wise and true. You lead nations and men and seek for them to do what is right and persist in it always. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but only You make them succeed. Help me to succeed in walking teachably and humbly by Your side – joyfully doing Your bidding in the world around me… amen.

God’s Choice – God’s Desire

5.1.2011

Psalm 132:13-14 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: 14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it…” NIV

What a psalm of magnificence! The truth here is that God desires to be in Zion – and what is in Zion? His people are in Zion. Even God’s enemies call His people Zionists – that says something.

When I think that God desires it kind of blows my fuses; it’s a thought that is way too big for me to comprehend. What do you give the God Who has everything? I used to struggle in trying to find the perfect gift for my dad – what do you give the dad who seemed to have everything? I think had I just asked him, my dad would’ve said, “Son, just spend some time with me…” In retrospect, I think that’s really what he wanted.

And so when I think about God’s desire – Zion, I think about what it is that our God really wants. (And just so we get it, He wants nothing – He is completely and eternally self-sufficient; He has no needs; nothing can be added to Him.) But what God really wants is me, and you and anyone else who will in their lives find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob. (Psalm 132.5) God repeatedly says in His word that He will be our God and we will be His people and He will dwell among us. He says repeatedly, that He will write His laws on tablets of flesh (our hearts) and will be with us. Jesus said, I will be with you and I will be in you… (Cf. John, chapters, 13-17). We are God’s desire!

David looked for a place to put the Ark and it had to be in the midst of the people of God – it was a picture of what God Himself intended – to be among those who love Him and enjoy being around Him… forever!

Father in Heaven,
Your desire – oh, how I am humbled reading this today. I think about how lousy I am at times and what a cesspool my soul is and yet, You desire to dwell there and somehow bring about change I can never do on my own. Thank You God! Thank You that in faith today, and even with a dirty rearview mirror, I can say, I am Your desire – such words make me tremble – amen.