What You Want

5/10/2017 

Matthew 27.22-23 22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 

It has taken me a lifetime (so far), but these days, I am beginning to understand why God does what God does in, and with my life: He is equipping me to live in dependence upon Him. God uses all I am to bring glory to all He is by working to develop a never-ending dependence upon Him within me. His success will be a miracle beyond description. 

Everyone is born in sin, and everyone has inherited an independent streak from the moment of conception. That, I think, is one of the foremost reasons why everyone is so stubborn and uncooperative, not only with each other; but also with God. 

God will give us what we want but He will not guarantee the results. Alternatively, God will give us what He wants, but we must accept it on His terms, and in doing so, He does guarantee the results.  

When Pilate asked, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”, the Jews, God’s very own people, all answered, “Crucify him!” So, Pilate wanting  their justification asked, “Why? What crime has he committed?” All they did was shout louder: Crucify Him! God allows us to seek what we want. 

I think, it’s when we get to the end of our faithless wants that God then offers: will you now consider My way? God’s way is not our way. God’s way is His way, and His way is completely counter to our way. That’s where the human rub comes: our way vs. His way. 

God’s own people rejected God’s own Messiah, but God wouldn’t guarantee the results. He would remain faithful to His way. That ought to be some measure of comfort to us all that despite our loudest shouts for our own way; God still loves us and works to help us to see things His way. And, perhaps, it’s selfish on His part. Only God gets to be selfish because only God can pull that off, and remain God. 

God’s own people didn’t realize that crucifying God’s Messiah was opening a way for them to have a preferred relationship with Him. God’s ways are not our ways. God works goodness in us, even within our unfaithfulness. Do we have to be unfaithful for God to respond? No, but God has responded to our unfaithfulness. His faithfulness outweighs our unfaithfulness. 

I am tired of doing the same thing repeatedly, expecting different results. I am learning that God is glorified in me for two reasons: first, He is God; and second, He reaches out to me in my sinful independence to teach me holy dependence. Dependence on God is unearthly and counter to all I know and am. But dependence on God gives me meaning, purpose, and peace; and God guarantees the results. 

Father, apart from You, I can do nothing. Nothing of any value, nothing of any meaning, and nothing of any purpose. Use these days to draw me close to You. Help me to loosen my grip on the reins leading to destruction. May I learn to love mercy, seek justice, and walk humbly, obediently, and dependently on You – amen.

Two Days

5/9/2017 

Matthew 26.2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” – Jesus

Passover would have commenced on Friday night at about 6pm and lasted until Saturday at the same time. So, this had to be on about Wednesday. Question: What do you do with two days? What do you do with that information for two days? 

On earth is the concept of time. I suppose the concept of time is also elsewhere in the Universe, but for us humans, our sphere of influence is consigned right here to the planet. Now then, time is a concept but it really isn’t real. We think it is, but it is only in our minds. Time is reinforced by our constructs of days and nights, and months and seasons; but time is relegated to the space between our ears. 

The trick with time is to live in the moment; the eternal now. It’s tricky to do because we’re so hard-wired to think that time is real, because we’ve affixed to it seconds, minutes, hours, and days. Our modern calendar is something we’ve made up. It works, except every four years we have to add a makeup day to it to make it work.  

Even Jesus dwelt in the realm of time, He said: “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” His men didn’t want to hear this – they thought they we on the cusp of a global takeover and the kingdom of Israel would emerge as the world power. But here their Messiah was. talking about His crucifixion, a horrible, evil, and undignified way to die. Only the worst of the worst got crucifixion. 

And for two days, that’s all they had to think about.  

In the other gospels, it’s recorded that their natural response was at first grief and dismay, but soon it turned to a coping mechanism of who would be the successor in the absence of Jesus: who among them was the greatest, and would usher in this great Jewish world kingdom overthrowing Rome and the Gentiles? Somebody had to do something – their Scriptures told them so. 

And Jesus said it was all two days away. 

What do we do with two days? I think a more important question is: what do we do with today? And even more important, what do we do with right now – it’s all we’ll ever have. Right now. 

I’m learning that God calls me to enjoy Him in the moment, right now. And as I move from this right now to the next, my enjoyment of His presence is to move with me from moment to moment. Jesus had to warn His men of what was coming, but, God calls me to dwell with Him, right now. Tomorrow will take care of itself, and today has enough troubles of its own. How do I live quietly and peacefully, right now? 

Father God, attune my heart to dwell forever in Your forever moment by moment, presence. I believe that is the key to a life well-lived. I know there will be things in my day that grab for my attention, but help me to focus on You, and to walk humbly with You today – moment by moment. The mastery of time is in my moments. May You and I enjoy them together this day – amen

The Gaffe of the Calling

5/8/2017 

Matthew 25.12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ – Jesus  

Matthew 25 has always given me pause. First, I think in a production mentality; that’s part of my problem, because the Kingdom of God is not about my production. It is about fruit, not the fruit I produce, but the fruit He grows in me. Second, Matthew 25 is all about respect and relationship. A great relationship with God is going to produce great fruit that will be for the benefit of others… 

In this parable, in which Jesus spoke about virgins, lamps, oil, and a bridegroom, the focus is readiness. It’s about prior planning preventing poor performance. And it’s also about distraction. It’s about not being focused on the simplest of tasks: being present in the moment. 

The virgins, of course, are invited participants. They were expected, and I ask myself, why? I get it the ancients did weddings their way, in their day. Of course, I’m wondering where does the bride fit in; but if there are ten virgins prior, who am I to question protocol? 

Where I get bogged down is why the five invited virgins, who left to get oil, are then disqualified for not being present when the bridegroom shows up? Hence: ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ I’ve thought about this and I think it boils down to disrespect: one is to be present at the appointed time and if there is lag-time until the appointed time, one is to wait until the signal is given that the appointed time has arrived. Responsibility required the five foolish virgins to be ready when they were called upon; not after they’d gone to get lamp oil. Foolish virgins frequently fail.  

So, how does this apply to you and me? Well, for one, it has to do with: our calling and response. It has to do with: timing and preparedness. Further, it has to do with: being ready to go at a moment’s notice. Jesus said, you can’t be committed to putting your hand to the plow and then look back; ploughing always requires looking forward. (Luke 9.62) 

And, it has to do with respect for the calling. If one is to be there when the groom shows up and one is not, what does that say about one’s commitment to the main man? People count on us for all kinds of things and when/if we let them down, their counting-on-us account depletes. It seems the five oil-less virgins discounted their being present when they were supposed to be. Not taking enough oil to begin with might’ve been a good place to start.  

I think God, all-knowing and all, expects us to be present in the moment and ready in the moment when He expects us to be. He is looking to us to do the good work He’s prepared for us to do so that the body of Christ may be built up… If we don’t respond in a timely manner, He’ll find someone who will. 

The gaffe of the oil-less virgins was entirely preventable. Many of our gaffes are preventable. It requires proper prior planning, prayer, readiness, respect for the calling, and for the One who calls. The punishment for the foolish virgins was more than they anticipated, and had they known the risk, they might’ve brought enough oil to float a boat.

Lord, may I learn the importance of calling – wherever, whenever, and however it comes. And may I respect the calling in readiness, because it comes from You, along with every other good and perfect gift - amen

A Daughter’s Promise

5/4/2017 

Matthew 21. 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” – St. Matthew 

How low can you go – a king (small ‘k’) gentle, and riding on a donkey!? What kind of king is this? And yet, the crowds cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! It was short-lived, but it was effective. Somebody knew something. 

At that time, Israel already had a king – actually, she had several. There was Herod, the Idumean (Edomite); there was Caesar, the emperor; there was Caiaphas, the High Priest; and there was Pontius Pilate, the procurator. Israel had many ‘kings’. She even had a God, but her problem was she didn’t have a Lord. To them, God was apparently busy out there somewhere doing whatever it is He does, and the rest, well, you know men and their power trips… 

And here comes this Galilean claiming to be a King as well. His credentials are a bit sketchy and He doesn’t seem to come from the right side of the tracks. No king in Israel ever comes from Galilee!  

The Kingdom of God is not what we think. The Kingdom of God is where a King comes, whose arrival was announced from antiquity. He doesn’t show up in the way kings are supposed to show up: He takes His time. He shows up out of obscurity and poverty. He shows up with only this on His resume’: His ancestor was king David. But He keeps talking about a Kingdom like it’s His deal. 

Yes, kings are supposed to be through succession, but the current king is, take your pick: either an ancient enemy, or a pagan despot. The Priests won’t recognize Him, and He keeps doing things unbecoming a King: He seeks the lowest places to hang out in, and the lowest people to hang out with. And He keeps talking about His Kingdom: The Kingdom of God. Talk about playing the God-card. What kind of a King is this? 

Well, God never plays by our rules. God patiently works within our rules, but He plays by His own, within ours. And God’s King comes preaching a gospel that only the discerning will understand: the greatest is the least, and the last will be first. Loving enemies and rejoicing in persecutions. The more we preach the Truth, the more we will be hated by those who are threatened by it, and deny its reality.

What kind of a kingdom is that? 

God never intended for man to sin, but He was infinitely prepared for it when it happened. God didn’t freak out and go into ‘damage control’, He already had His plan in place and when the fullness of time came, He sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship (Galatians 4.4-5). God knew, God cared, God prepared. That’s what kind of God He is. 

What if sin had never happened? Well, life would certainly be great, but faith would never have been tested. Does that mean sin had to come in order for God’s plan to work? No, but sin did come, and God built His Kingdom as a means for the sinners to repent and to dwell with Him for all time and eternity.

A gentle King, riding on a donkey, a daughter’s promise – God, You are so good! Amen!

What the Lord Says

5/3/2017 

1 Chronicles 17.4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.’” – God  

One day, David got a bad case of the guilties: he was walking around in his palace while the Ark of God was sitting out in a tent. So, he tells his main man, Nathan, the prophet, “I’m going to build a palace for God where His Ark will dwell.” And Nathan, always the encourager, says: “Whatever you have in mind [your highness], do it, for God is with you.” But God had other ideas. 

God told Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.’” And God went on to explain that David had it backwards: instead of him building a palace for God, God was building a dynasty for David. When God says, ‘No’, we must listen. 

It seems so often in life that we get the guilties and want to do God a favor. I think God smiles, but I think He says: Child, if you want to do Me a favor, then listen to Me and obey me – there is so much more in life that I desire to do with you and through you. Your favors are measured by your obedience. 

That isn’t to say that God, with furrowed brow, taps a baseball bat in His hands and warns, Obey Me! God loves us and cares for us, and life is about Him and how we relate to Him. Our life is not about us. We think it is, but God has other plans – plans that are not our plans, and ways that are not our ways. And a life, that is infinitely above self-centeredness, no matter how good and right it may appear. 

Psalm 51.16-17 offers a glimpse of what doing a God a favor looks like:

 

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

 

David’s problem was he ignored what was going on in his heart – and that led to his penning this praise. 

God isn’t offended by our plans – a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. But God is never going to take His eyes off His plan for us no matter how noble we want to appear in making plans for Him. God is the Master of keeping the main thing the main thing. We might keep that in mind.

I read a poignant piece this morning written by a friend who wanted (according to his words) to get back to the place of heeding Psalm 46:10 – Be still and know that I am God. God can accomplish infinitely more in us, in our cooperative stillness, than we could ever accomplish in infinite lifetimes. Like David, God desires to show us what He is doing in us, not what we are doing for Him. Good to remember…

Father in Heaven, You are also Father of my heart. Lord, may I find that place of stillness, that in that stillness in me, that You do Your greatest work. I was created for good works, but they are Your works, not mine. Help me to remember that. Help me to be still in Your presence and trust that whatever needs to be done – O Lord – You will do. My place is only to listen and obey - Amen

The Acceptance

5/2/2017 

Matthew 19.12 12 “For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” – Jesus  

In the conversations in Matthew 19, there are questions and concerns by His listeners as to what Jesus was really saying. Some responded with nothing short of shock and awe (see verses: 7, 10, 17, 25, 27). I love that Jesus gave them answers, but like us, they weren’t always the ones they wanted to hear.  

Consider the Pharisees: they wanted justification for divorce and so they legalized it and, in their minds, legalization made it all better. Consider the disciples who saw rigidity in Jesus’ answer and wondered how anyone could make marriage work. (I sometimes wonder that myself 😊) 

Consider the rich man who gave lip-service to Jesus about goodness, and wanting in on the action of Heaven. He queried Jesus as to what he needed to do to get into heaven (eternal life), and Jesus told him to get rid of his money-god. He didn’t expect that. He went away shaking his head in disbelief. When Jesus pointed out how hard it was for a rich person to get into heaven, His disciples exclaimed: [Well crap!] Who then can be saved!? 

Consider Peter then challenging Jesus and demanding: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Good question Pete: what then will there be for us? That’s always the question with men: WIIFM radio (What’s in it for me?) 

God doesn’t play by our rules. I know that is hard for some, but it’s true. Jesus said: [Some] eunuchs [are] born that way, [no say in the matter] and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others [no power to withstand]—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs [even though they aren’t] for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it. Accept or don’t accept; it’s what’s in the heart that matters. 

We humans, are temporary seeking, temporary seeing, and temporary thinking. Long term is something we don’t do well. We’re more concerned with what God is going to take from us, that we don’t want to give up; or where He’s going to send us, that we don’t want to go. With God is it all about a life, not a moment. And with God we live in the moment, not for the moment. 

If I choose to be a eunuch (as a way of life that does without) then that is my choice. If I choose a life that does without, and do so for God, then that is my choice. God won’t take anything from me that I don’t see the benefit of giving up. Nor will God force me to go somewhere I’m not willing to go. BUT! Life will make those demands, because I cannot control what happens to me. And when the unexpected makes its demands, I’m left with either: me, all by myself; or God, with me in Him. My choice. 

Lord, my life isn’t up to me to make, control, or to have on my own. I mean, I can, but when I do it’s just me, and all that comes with that. Or, I can have this life with You, the way You’ve designed it, and all that comes with it. Jesus said only those who can accept it, should. Father God, I do! Amen

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

5/1/2017

(Reading: Matthew 18)

Matthew 18.3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. – Jesus

This chapter of Matthew is filled with some very specific instructions, and a few warnings as well. Jesus’ tone, as teacher and Lord, is a bit sterner in my view. But can we blame Him – these people had 15 centuries of culture to overcome and Jesus had to give them unfiltered truth.

When the question arose amongst His disciples as to greatness in the Kingdom, He was quick to quell the trash-talking by having a small child stand before them and He said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” I can imagine the looks on the faces of these men as they considered what their Lord just told them… I see the look on my face.

When we are told something, perhaps as a rebuke, we must be careful that we are to learn from what we are told, not to identify with what we are told. Jesus told His disciples, “… unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” He didn’t call them children; He didn’t insult them; He simply told them there was a different way and that hierarchy in Heaven, was not as it is on earth.

Jesus told His men, if it’s status you want, you must change how you see yourselves: as dependent, trusting children before God. God has enough experts; He’s looking for the humble and dependent – kinda like kids who don’t know where pancakes come from, they only know as they ask for more, someone will supply. Children aren’t looking for expertise; they need someone to meet their needs.

In these days of change, I accept where I am in life more than I used to. Life is changing and has changed. And it will continue to change. The Only One who will see me through is God Almighty. In these days, my currency counts for much less than I once thought. There are others more suited to A,B, or C; or, X, Y, or Z. My takeaway this morning: Paul become more childlike because, unless you do, you’ll find God’s freeing Kingdom, burdensome.

Life is change, and continues to be so. Will I change with it, or will I stubbornly cling to the visage I have of how things used to be? I am called to become like a dependent child, looking to Another to meet my needs. Can I/will I change my perception of myself before God and trust in Him?

Father in Heaven, work in me today to see life as You see it, not how I think it should be. I pray for the courage and determination to become like a little boy in humble dependence upon You. Unquestioning. Dependent. Needy. It is only as I change and see myself as You do, that I am set free… Amen