My Food

12/18/2016

John 4.34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

When reading Scripture, there is a balance between what is written and what to do. The good news is the Scriptures were written by the Holy Spirit as He moved upon the lives of those who wrote them. So, then, two things: 1, we’re to seek what to do by what is written, and 2, and what is written will give us direction as to what to do.

I read Jesus’ words today and asked myself: what is my food? Now, Jesus wasn’t saying He never ate food, but He was saying that the true purpose of His life went way beyond the consumption of food and drink. By contrast, my life tends to be toward my next client meeting, and what we’ll eat or drink; Jesus however, was so focused on His Father, and His will, that He always kept His concentration there.

Where is my concentration? What is my food?

Jesus could say that His food was the will of the Father because He knew where He was from and what He was supposed to do. I haven’t reached that degree of focus; but I want to.

It doesn’t have to be that difficult. It simply boils down to the thoughts and intents of the heart. And today, in all my ways, can I, will I, keep my acknowledgment on God? What is keeping me from doing that? When or how do I get to that place where I too can say, my food is to do the will of the Father. Is there even an expectation that I do so?

I think the answer lies in the words, ‘my food’ and how I live out my moments my day. I don’t think there is an expectation that I do what Jesus did, but I also don’t think there would be objection from my Savior if I did. My food is my food. And My food is whatever it is that keeps me centered and focused on the will of the Father. A good friend of mine quoted Galatians 6.4-5 today out of the Message paraphrase:

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

In other words, My Food is my food but it’s not about performance, it’s about friendship. It’s not about emulation, it’s about love. God, how can the expression of my love for You today feed that part of me that wants to do what You’ve given me to do and to sink myself into just that? That I think is the question.

I don’t eat my food from your plate or even Jesus’ plate. But I do eat from that which satisfies my soul in the quest of knowing God and serving Him. My food is that which energizes me to live for the will and sake of Him who called me, and Him who took my place so that I can serve Him who called me… no rocket science necessary…

Father, in things great or small today, may I keep my focus on You and even my small ways may I find my true fulfillment not in food or drink or things of this world, but in the ‘consumption’ of doing what it is You’ve called me to do, and finding pleasure in that alone. Amen

Someone I Know

12/14/2016

Psalm 14.1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. - David

I read this today and said inwardly, “Oh No! I know someone personally who says in his heart, ‘There is no God!’” I think for the first time in my life, I came to a conclusion that I didn’t want to come to: someone I know (and love, and care for) has made a conscious decision to deny God. The word mercy, while prevalent throughout Scripture, is not found in Psalm 14. That thought made me sad. It alarmed me.

It is one thing to know of God yet never have anything to do with Him; but it is another to deny Him his deity and existence. (Frankly, I’m not comfortable with either scenario.) But isn’t this the essence of the magnitude of man: endowed by his Creator with inalienable rights, talents, and skills; yet a steadfast denial of God and His provenance?

With regard to the person in question, I believe more in his denial of the Church and her place, than in his utter denial of God. But one thing that is hand-in-glove in a denial of God: the denial of His people; a true and smug disdain for those who seek God’s truth and the life and friendship He offers. God-haters are also people-haters. That’s tragic in a variety of ways.

The word fool in Psalm 14 is a Hebrew word that denotes moral deficiency. We are all deficient in myriad ways. but moral deficiencies are the worst. There is no edit-button when morals are deficient. Decisions are based simply on personal feelings and preference, and there is no consideration for the effect those decisions may have in the lives of others. With little or no morals, one is left to his whims with no regard for the result. The consequence of a lack of morals could be compared to telling a raging, charging bear to: “STOP!” “SIT!” The bear knows no, no.

When we think of those who deny in their heart the existence and presence of God their moral deficiency ought to alarm us. It alarms me because I know of some that I am especially fond of who would spit in God’s face had they the opportunity to do so. Ah, but because they deny God’s existence, there is no face to spit into… I don’t believe in a-theism; I do believe in unbelief.

And then, this changes my prayer. My prayer changes from, bless this person, to, Lord, somehow, someway, save this person. Unbelief and denial are not just perspectives – they reveal a heart that is corrupt, sick, and dangerous. I don’t want to believe it’s true, but it’s true…

So, Lord, now I pray, in desperation, that their denial proves false. I know it’s false; You know it’s false. My prayer is that they come to the place where they know it’s false. Let it not be said that they are a true fool. May they simply be fooled, ah, but may they be saved from their foolery. I pray in hope Lord of Your of mighty power to influence. May it be so. Amen

Freeing Faith and Friendship

12/12/2016

Hebrews 8.10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. – God

If the Law had worked, we wouldn’t need Jesus. If the Law had worked then we wouldn’t need the Church. If the Law had worked, John Lennon would have been happier…Imagine. Although man was not made for law, he sure loves it. Law is predictable: just keep the rules pilgrim, and you’ll be okay.

Man, was made for relationship. We fall short in limiting our understanding of God to His relationship with the Jews in the desert under Moses. We want to, because it is there we see Law established, and as previously stated, we love law. It gives us a sense of achievement and a sense of production. But we weren’t made for law but for relationship.

The Bible is the Bible and the accounts and histories of the Bible are there to show us a better way; a way with God as our Friend, not as our Lawyer. The Bible shows the history of the ancient Jews who failed miserably in their attempt to keep the Law. They were chosen to walk with God and obey His rules. They didn’t, and they couldn’t. But the chose law over love; appeasement over friendship.

We however, must remember that the Jews were (and are) the Jews. To them the Law was given. To them the Commandments were chiseled in stone. But that is not how the whole process started and God never meant to leave them in the Law; He meant for the Law to lead them to longing for Christ.

When the writer of Hebrews wrote, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.”, he was indicating to us that God’s laws are different than THE LAW – the Law that was prescribed for the Jews under Moses. The quotation above is taken from Jeremiah the prophet’s writings. God has always intended to be our Friend – not the Lawyer. God knew the Law was a temporary thing for a temporary time. It was not for all mankind but for a certain people; and only for a certain reason.

But how we love the Law! It would be simpler than self-rule under God’s watchful eye. The difficulty for most is not the rule-keeping, but knowing God. How can we know a God who seems to alternate between love and wrath depending on the moment? Who can we know a God who calls for judgment, and punishment, and death, and hell? How in the world can we appease such a One?

Through two things: faith and friendship. And He asks for the friendship. We needn’t seek to make Him our Friend; we seek to become His. And we do that in faith. God will write His laws on the hearts and minds of His friends. And His laws are wholesome and true – laws like: you reap what you sew. And, if you love others the way you’d wish to be loved, you’ll find loving people all around you. His laws aren’t difficult or burdensome (Matthew 11.27 ff); His laws are friendly, and freeing. And God is always looking for new friends.

Father, continue to write Your laws in my mind and on my heart that You and I may be steadfast and faithful friends. May I live this day in friendship with You and use my time to communicate that friendship with others. You’ve done a new thing and invited me to be a part of it – thank You! Amen

Sharp Rebuke

12/10/2016

Titus 1.12-14 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. – St. Paul

I wonder what one of our own prophets would say of us? Americans are frenetic, busy; always reaching for the next goal and never content with what they’ve achieved. They are fat, spoiled, and careless.

Now, I must agree, not all the Cretans were as the prophet denounced. But generally, they were. The same could be said for Americans. I have visited a couple Third World countries. I wouldn’t call them liars, evil, lazy, and gluttonous; but I would say they operate at a different pace than we Americans do. Every culture has its culture.

Now, I recently went to an Air Force Basic Military Training graduation. I never saw someone get “dressed down” but I did see many young men who were quite different in their demeanor and decorum because of their training. All of them would agree: they were all repeatedly rebuked sharply. They came into Basic Training one way and came out another.

Paul, the Apostle said to Titus: rebuke them (the Cretans) sharply. Don’t take any of their crap and push them to be sound in their faith paying no attention to folktales or the human commands to do so. When is the last time you were rebuked in Church by someone other than the pastor in his sermon?

What would happen in the American Church if we were so committed to the truth that we would sharply rebuke those in the local church who were evil brutes, liars, evil brutes, and gluttonous? Would it make a difference? Is there a place in the modern church for effective and loving sharp rebuke?

I have seen and heard criticism of the military and the way they go about things. I will admit, there is a plan and a purpose for what they do and why they do it – it gets results. So, what about the Church? Why is it we rail against certain sins and leave other ones alone? Why is much of the evangelical church so outspoken about homosexuality and so quiet about adultery and divorce? Makes you wonder why there isn’t some sharp rebuking going on…

I’m not sure we trust each other all that much, and I know we don’t love each other all that much either. The military does what it does to get a fairly rapid result; it has nothing to do with love. But why is it in the Church that because of love, we don’t get after one another for being stupid about our faith? The military and the Scripture both have expectations; what are the expectations in the modern church?

I admit it would take courage and hard work, but in the greater view of things would it be worth it? If we profess Jesus as Savior on Sunday and go out and live like hell Monday through Saturday, what does that really say about our faith? If we add to the Scripture all sorts of humanism and rituals,  what does that really say about our belief in those Scriptures. What would it say of our faith if we cared enough to jump in front of a bullet to save a brother but then rebuked him for getting in the way of it in the first place?

Lord, Help us. Help me. Amen

When to Ask

12/9/2016

1 Timothy 5.5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and ask God for help. – St. Paul

You don’t have to be a widow to put your hope in God and continue to pray night and day asking God for help. Widows need not hold a special place here. However, there is a call to ask widows to look to God for their needs to be met, and have an expectation that God will provide for them.

In the context, Paul is addressing the dangers of position as opposed to the freedoms of possession. The welfare state screams position: I am poor, therefore you must come to my aid! Fair enough, but what is it that has caused you to be poor and are there any things you can do in the form of “self-help”? In your position of poverty, what is your possession of God?

This is the same Paul that told the Thessalonicans: “Hey, lookit, if you ain’t willing to work, then you ain’t getting no chow!” (2 Thessalonians 3.10 paraphrased…) So, there is some expectation of self-help in the Bible, and in Paul’s admonitions to his congregations. BUT! – self-help will only get us so far – we always need God’s help.

That is why the widow (who is really in need) cries out to God night and day. Night is first in the phrase, because night is usually the worst in our experience.

I go round and round with: do I ask God and then just let it go that I have prayed, or do I, like the widow, ask God repeatedly for my needs to be met? I think my dogma gets tangled up in his chain. What I think I learned today is: The Lord’s Prayer says: “…give us this day, our daily bread…”. That sounds like a daily plea. It isn’t: give me tomorrow my daily bread. Tomorrow never comes; we only ever have today. Jesus said, “Let tomorrow take care of itself…” in other words, we’ll get to tomorrow, tomorrow; right now, let’s focus on right now.

So, I do think we daily ask God for what we need, and we don’t insult Him when we do. Where it gets a little cloudy is when we ask God for what we already have: Lord, give me faith. Lord, give me Your Spirit. Lord, give me grace. How much more can He give us, when He’s given us all He has…

For sure, widow are to be cared for but there is a difference in position: I’m a widow; and possession: I have God. And we’re all to live like that.

Father in Heaven, You have promised to give us what we need. I don’t think You mind when we ask repeatedly for daily needs. Our daily asking sets the tone for our daily expectation of Who You are and what You’ve promised. I do think You get concerned when we worry. I think You get concerned when we ask amiss. But overall, I think You love us and desire more than anything that we place You in the middle of all our need-seeking. Like the godly widow, may I freely ask and joyfully receive what You’ve promised to do for me! Amen

Rather Thankful

12/5/2016

Ephesians 5.4 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Rather than focusing on a don’t, St. Paul helps us here to focus on a “do”. I’m not trying to make a case for obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, but I will make a case for thanksgiving; giving God thanks, for all He does, has done, and will do.

What I think Paul is focusing on here, is our nurturing the unnatural habit of thanking God for all things (1 Thessalonians 5.18) until the habit becomes supernatural. A good way to change a bad attitude is to thank God. And keep thanking Him until my attitude changes.

Recently, I have had two situations occur for which I have felt less than thankful. In both, with tears of anger and frustration, I have had to thank God for His power, presence, and providence until my anger and tears subsided. It’s the only way it works. God is not unaware of the things that bum us out.

What happens in those moments is the development of that which is unearthly moving me heavenly in my perspective. You and I, must develop a natural reflex of thankfulness to keep us from playing the blame-game, or worse: doubting God’s promises, and presence. We are not in this alone.

I think, too, Paul is attempting to teach us the proper use of positive energy and right living. Obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking are all fruit from the same tree: pride. I do get a little colorful in my anger. I need to quit giving myself that much credit. I am learning in my golf-game to try to tame my anger; I am not good enough to get angry over my lack of skill…

We are to release that which is good in our lives rather than continually underscoring our poor assessment of who we think we are – we are only good because of God. Period. So, let’s learn to release that which He has put into us so that the world may be a better place, because of us. Thankfulness is key.

We can use the good things in our lives (because of God) to make the moments we have here on earth better for others. When we endeavor to make life better for others, I think we’ll find life better for ourselves. It isn’t to deny the things that happen – stuff happens; but it is to learn how to include God in all of our living, so that we develop a healthy sense of Him in all of our mission and focus: His Kingdom and presence in all of our days.

Proverbs 3.5-6 urges: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. That, in my opinion, is a place of thanksgiving. In: all of my ways, the good, the bad, and the ugly, my acknowledging God – His presence, power, and promises –being thankful that He loves me and cares for me.

Father in Heaven, You have ordered all of my days and have invited me to allow You to be present in all I do and experience. There really isn’t a need for me to be obscene, coarse, or foolish – those things are natural. The is a call for me to be thankful in all things and that, Lord, is unnatural – or better, supernatural. Help me to walk in that way through all of my days – amen.

The New Self

12/4/2016

Ephesians 4.22-23 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. – St. Paul

I think it’s imperative that we consider what we’ve been taught when it comes to our life in Christ and our living with Him under His rule and leadership. Also, I think it’s imperative we consider how we were taught and how often we review what we were taught to make sure we are living effectively and appropriately under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Paul makes mention to the Ephesians of, what, “You were taught…”. What is that, and when did it happen; and did it stick? Is what they’d been taught still guiding their lives in discipleship and wisdom? Or were they slipping back into old thoughts and habits that were counter to the gloriousness of the gospel? Were they teaching others what they’d been taught and was it working for them?

My belief is we must ask ourselves in this day: what were we taught, how were we taught, and is it working; causing us to put off, and keep off, the old self, corrupted as it is with its deceitful desires? Are we standing firm or are we slipping and sliding, without traction, back into our old self? How are we made new in the attitudes of our minds? How are we living with the mantle of the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness? Is it working?

Discipleship is a lifelong measurable endeavor. Sunday school is not just for Sundays; it is a daily commitment. A wise sage asked this question: is the Bible making a difference in the way you live on a daily basis? The further question then: are we spending time thoughtfully and prayerfully reading the Bible; seeking to live according to its teaching? Spending time daily, with God, in the word, is imperative to the development and nurture of the new self.

How are we facing the daily adversity of life on the planet? We must make no mistake: though we are not of the world, we are in the world, and every moment here is an assault on our faith leading us home. That means we must use every means necessary to ensure we are living in the new self that we are created to be, in Him, so that we don’t lose ground in our daily contact with the world.

And who do we spend our time with? Are we involved in the lives of the saints or are we rubbing elbows with the ain’t’s? How were we taught? What were we taught? And, is it working? Are there areas in which we need to improve; how is our prayer life? Paul spoke to the Ephesians as if they had been fully trained to live according to the new self and its place in their lives. Are we?

If not, what is our plan? How are we regimenting our lives with Paul’s words: You were taught…? De we have a plan, and if so, is it working? If not, what is our corrective action plan? It simply boils down to this: life and death are in the balance. Without a plan for life, there is surely, only death.

Father, I consider my own experience of being taught about the new self. I know I am deficient and apart from You I cannot live in or with the new self. Help me today to remember who I am and why I am in You that I may live in the new self and help others to do so as well. Amen