Falling Down

8/31/2016

Revelation 5.14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. – St. John

I think it is both: literal and figurative – you know, the falling down part. It seems to be a recurring theme in Scripture that part of worship is the act of bowing physically; and the art of bowing spiritually.

Now, I think it’s normal, in the presence of the Almighty, to bow physically – who can stand in the presence of such immensity? Who can keep their feet in the presence of majesty? When the mob came to arrest Jesus in the garden as Jesus asked them who they sought and they said, Jesus of Nazareth; [w]hen Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18.6) That’s noteworthy.

Worship is arriving to that place in one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength when the only response is: This is the One! And it affects the body, soul, mind, and heart. The response is accompanied by bowing, a physical response.

The hysteria of the Beatles in the early sixties. The gushing over Presley. I would dare say what happens after presidential elections when “our” guy wins. We are so carried away that a form of worship blossoms. Our needs are met; our teams wins. We respond.

Ah, but the presence of God: Isaiah said: I am undone! I’m falling apart! Who can stand in the presence of such majesty!? So, in Revelation 5, the elders fall down: it is all Him, and they can only do what humans can do: bow in worship. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess (Isaiah 45.23, Revelation 14.11, Philippians 2.10-11). It’s our only response, then.

Now? Well, not so much now because we’re so distracted by what’s going on now. We’re too busy looking for a leader of some kind to unravel the Gordian’s knot of present society and its ills. Right now we’re looking for a winner. One day, it will be a Lord, and every tongue will confess and every knee will bow.

I used to see the bowing as weakness or naïveté. I was wrong. It’s the only response. He did it, not us, not them, not me. Jesus did it all. And because of Jesus, will I only have a place in the party where I will bow in thanksgiving for all He has done for me…

I’m not sure who the elders are in Revelation 5, but I suspect they are the representatives of the nation of Israel and I suspect the one who spoke to John in the vision was Judah, from whom came the Lamb. It’s not important save to say, John got a glimpse of where he was headed and he shared with us so we could get a glimpse as well. Get ready to fall down a lot; we’ll be in His presence forever and ever.

Father, I’m not falling down these days. I need to. Like sister Martha, I am distracted by many things. Help me to be more like sister Mary – content to sit at Your feet to listen and learn. Lord, I don’t have to wait to bow or confess, I just need to make it more a part of my daily living – help me to do that. And like the four living creatures: AMEN!

Day Old

8/30/2016

Psalm 29:11 The Lord gives His people strength. The Lord blesses His people with peace. - David

Years ago we lived in Ontario, Oregon and there was (and still is to this day) a Franz Bakery outlet – you can get the day-old stuff there. Now, with all due respect to Franz Bakery, their prices are a bit more than Hostess, and certainly more than Little Debbie. But day old is day old and donuts the second day are doable. And cheaper.

This morning I am sharing what I would call Day-Old bread – meaning, I read this Psalm last night. Typically, I like to share fresh bread or the thoughts I’ve had about a scripture or passage on a given day. Pardon me for my OCD tendencies, but my mother, God rest her soul, was my mother. And I cannot shake what I read last night.

If there are two things misunderstood in Christendom, strength and peace are it (or they). We like to ask God for strength because we want to control our circumstances. We want to control other people. We want to control our destiny, so naively and (perhaps) innocently, we ask God for strength to do so. God give me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can, and the strength to deal with those who get in my way.

What strength does God give His people? Is it strength to control or, strength to endure? Is it strength to manipulate or strength to be humble? Is it strength to do things on our own, or strength to give it all up to Him and let Him do as He will and I have strength to cooperate? Strength, to keep on keeping on?

And peace. What is the peace He blesses us with? I think about people in Auschwitz and wonder what peace they found in their circumstances. I wonder if they thought it was a blessing. Peace is an amazingly complex thing. And it is fleeting. And it is hard especially when everything around us screams that it cannot be so.

But strength from God is a gift. And Peace is a blessing.

I’m not sure I can tell you what I think this all means, but I can say this: God gives His people strength; and God blesses His people with peace. That may look different to you than it does to me, but the truth is the truth, and the result is the result. And it doesn’t say He may give or bless, it says He does.

So, if He does, then we have. Right? Or if He does, and we don’t accept, then we don’t. God gives us life – that little old organ called the heart beats right along. We didn’t ask for it, we don’t control it, and it will keep beating as long as He says it will. We breathe air. We didn’t ask for it, we don’t control it, it just is, and we breathe it. As long as He says we will.

Strength and peace are ours from Him and we will have them as long as God says we can – and He doesn’t change His mind. So, what we have, we should accept and we shouldn’t veer from the understanding that despite what we face daily, in the midst, we have access to what God gives: strength and peace.

Father, whether day old in my mind or not, Your word lasts forever and Your strength and peace are mine, no matter what. May I accept them and appropriate them for the reality they are – Amen.

The Victory

8/29/2016

Revelation 3.5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. – Jesus

In the addresses to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 we find the word, victorious numerous times (7 times to be specific). As I read Revelation 3 this morning the word gonged in my mind.

Victorious-ness, or victory is a theme found throughout Scripture. There is a recurring reminder that victory is to be sought in the life of one who chooses to align him/herself with God. I would ask: victory over what, and victory to what? When we are saved (however that plays out in the life of the believer) we are saved both  from something and to something. Otherwise, what is the point?

Jesus addressed the seven churches and reminded them that victory was both necessary and possible in the life of a believer. Victory over sin (we may not be where we want to be but we are nowhere near what we were…). Victory over unbelief. Victory with self-control. Victory in walking with the Lord in humility and dependence. And Jesus said, to the one who does, He will…

Now, Jesus also said, by ourselves (on our own, apart from Him) we can do nothing (John 15). That means nothing of value in the battle against sin, self, and Satan. But with Him, we can do all things. That means there is victory with Jesus in the daily battles of life where we continually discard worldliness and embrace heavenliness.

Victorious-ness is not a production mentality but a life lived with Jesus no matter the circumstances surrounding us. It’s the mentality of: I’d rather go through this with Jesus than apart from Him on my own. And the reward for such a mentality? Life with God that will never end.

To the one who is victorious there is great reward.

Today, I think about my life and where I think I stand. I think I stand in victory, but I think I need improvement. We all do. The victory I embrace is simply the daily returning to Christ in my heart, mind, soul, and strength. It is the effort of trying to include Him in everything I do. The more I do that when there is no wind (of life and its subsequent turmoils) the more prepared I am wen there is…

I live in a culture of people who don’t embrace victory. To them the word is old-fashioned and not very important. I get that. But I also get that there is more to life than what we offer up (as a culture) and call life. It’s what goes on in the heart. It’s learning how to bring God into everything I am and do that I may experience His presence and power in all of it. That, to me, is victory. Old-fashioned or not, that’s what I want.

Father, the promise is: The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. Jesus will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before You, our Father and your angels. May it be Lord. Amen

What God Says

8/28/2016

Ezekiel 3.27 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people. – God

The calling of a prophet is to only say what God says. A prophet isn’t to veer to the left or to the right; a prophet is to say God’s words. God told Ezekiel to say to them: This is what the Sovereign Lord says. If they listened, good for them. If they didn’t, they didn’t.

At this point it appears Ezekiel was, perhaps, viewed as mentally deficient because they bound him with ropes (V. 25) and God gave him some sort of speech impediment: [his] tongue would stick to the roof of [his] mouth. Talk about insult to injury. But when Ezekiel was allowed to speak, he was to say: This is what the Sovereign Lord says. Their response could go either way, accept or reject.

Isn’t that the point of the modern believer – to say what God says? It sounds like Jesus was commanding such in Matthew 28: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have [said to] you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Vv. 19, 20) A believer today is to say God’s words.

But a believer is also to build relationships. It is much easier to say the things of God to a friend than it is to yell them arguing with an enemy. A believer is called to know and say the things of God. And if they listen, great. If they don’t, well, they don’t. Prophets prophesied; believers evangelize. The chips are to fall where they may.

God desires, wants, and would love to have a relationship with everyone. It’s just that simple. God has gone way out of His way to do so. But God has determined to let man decide. So will, some won’t, who’s next? Theology can get real messy at this point, but God isn’t going to push Himself on anyone. That doesn’t diminish His desire to be friends with us.

The world attempts to silence the messengers. The world blames the Church because of Her messengers. And, face it, some of Her messengers are downright immature, loud, pushy, arrogant, and yes, bigoted. Some need to grow up and tone it down. But God is God and He has chosen that this is the way it is going to be.

My part in all of this is to learn what God says. Live what God says. And be loquacious about what God says. That’s requires my paying attention to a bunch of different things, but overall to making sure my relationship with God is viable and credible. It doesn’t mean everyone is going to believe; it does mean I’m doing what I’m supposed to do and letting the chips to fall wherever they may.

Father, as I go about my life here on the rock, may I say what You tell me to say and may I speak Your words. The truth is what sets people free so may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, and helpful to my fellow man. And then Lord, what happens, happens. Whatever happens, use me I pray, amen.

Faithful in What You Are Doing

8/26/2016

3 John 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. – John the Aposlte

A friend and I were discussing the topic of strangers the other day. What is a stranger? What does it mean to be a stranger; how does it feel to be a stranger?

So, what happens to a person who is unknown and shows up at our house? Nowadays he is possibly treated with ample suspicion. He is certainly viewed with a measure of caution. Why is he here? What does he want? What are his motives? Those are probably considerations that go through our heads.

I once worked as a salesman making cold-calls on people for the sake of my company. I know what feel like to be a stranger. I know when it’s hospitable and when there is a high level of mistrust. I know what it’s like to get thrown off of someone’s property, and what it’s like to be invited in for lunch.

What’s it like in Church? We have visitors in our church every week. They come for all kinds of reasons. Is there a way to help make them comfortable and welcome? It seems Gaius, in 3 John, understood what it meant to be a stranger; to be an unknown. And John tells us he was faithful in being kind, friendly, welcoming, and hospitable to the people who showed up at his meetings. Faithfulness is a big deal.

But so is helping a stranger. Jesus said: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…” Making a stranger feel welcome is very important. Being faithful to do so is a big deal.

What does a stranger need? They need a friendly greeting. The need a friendly face. They need friendly conversation. They may need a meal. They may need clothes. They need to feel welcomed. They need to feel, at least, initially accepted. And if they are just passing through, they need to be sent on their way graciously. I appreciated that when I was a stranger and people took me in – even though I was just a salesman with motives for being there…

Gaius is an example to us – he was faithful. His specialty seemed to be hospitality. We need to emulate Gaius. But that doesn’t mean we need to be Gaius. We need to be ourselves, but we need to be faithful to who we are, what we are, and what God has called us to do. Faithfulness is a prize to be sought.

God wants this old world to be more friendly and kind. A lot of the things humanity struggles with would go away if there was an more of friendliness and kindness. Welcoming a stranger is important business in a host of different ways but it gets its foundation simply in friendliness and kindness. It’s all about caring for people.

Father, as a person in the people business may I be a purveyor of friendliness and kindness today. In my interactions with people, may I exude welcome, care, and eager concern. Allow me today to make a difference in someone’s life just by smiling, and being good to them. May the strangers in my life sense a touch from You because of me – it’s what I am called to… Amen

Rewards

8/25/2016

Jeremiah 39.16-18 16 “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’”

Today, as we boys are wont to do on Thursdays, we discussed theology and our discussion included an observation that much of the time the Biblical narrative centers around those in leadership or notoriety; the common Joe – at least in the Old Testament – doesn’t get mentioned all that much.

However, in Jeremiah 39 an unknown named, Ebed-Melek is mentioned, and a specific prophesy is given to him alone. God said to him, My word will come true and disaster will take place but you, Ebed-Melek, will be rescued and the reason for that is this: because you trust[ed] in Me.

Not a lot is known about Ebed-Melek save that he worked in the palace of king Zedekiah, and, he rescued the prophet Jeremiah from certain death out of a cistern where he’d been thrown for prophesying the truth to the people of Judah. Jeremiah ruffled a lot of feathers but he stuck to his guns: God is going to bring disaster on this place, and her inhabitants. Babylon done gwine wipe you all out.

So, because he persisted in prophesying truth (which included impending gloom and doom) the local authorities thought it best to toss Jeremiah into a cistern which had a deep pool of mud at the bottom. There they intended to leave him until he died either of exhaustion, drowning, or starvation. Whatever, he’d be quiet. So, Ebed-Melek went to the king and pleaded to rescue Jeremiah from his fate and place him in the courtyard of the guard, where at least he’d get bread and water.

And right before the city fell, God told Jeremiah to tell Ebed-Melek the truth: ‘I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in Me, declares the Lord.’

It seems God rewarded Ebed-Melek’s faith. Hebrews 11.6 states: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. I don’t know what ‘He rewards’ looks like to you, but to me it means, just that. God rewarded Ebed-Melek for believing in Him, and doing what was right.

God rewards faithfulness. God looks at our lives and rewards our faith, deals with our faithlessness; but abhors our unfaithfulness. Ebed-Melek was an unknown, but one who did a good thing for a known, and God saw what he did, and in the midst of utter disaster, spared his life.

Father, You love people of faith and You reward the faithful. May what I do be for the sake of faith, and may whom I serve be done to bring honor and glory to Your Name. I want to live a life of ever-increasing faith; and I want to do good for the oppressed. Help me God – Amen.

A Telling of the Truth

8/24/2016

Jeremiah 34.2-3 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Go to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. 3 You will not escape from his grasp but will surely be captured and given into his hands. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.

From the time of the ancients, there has been prophesy: a telling of the truth. Some tend to think of prophesy as some kind of fortune-telling, a fortune cooking; but it really is a telling of the truth. The Bible is full of prophetic messages. The ones that get me are the ones like Jeremiah told Zedekiah the king: you will go to Babylon. Jeremiah told the truth. Zedekiah went to Babylon…

The problem with truth-telling is often it is not received as truth by the hearer. In 1 Samuel there is an account of a prophet who told Eli the priest, the truth:

The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. (1 Samuel 2.31-33)

And it happened. My question has always been, did Eli disregard the prophet’s words or did he try to clean up his act? Did he go to God and cry out in repentance or did he simply respond with a careless: That’s nice. What did Eli think on the day this truth all came to pass? Did he remember?

And how about Zedekiah, whose suspicions of Jeremiah’s ‘treachery’ ran high? What did he think when Jeremiah told him: “this is what the Lord says…” and he actually stood in front of Nebuchadnezzar? And, is prophesy valid today? Are there those who hear from God and then tell the truth?

And what about me? As I read God’s word, does it tell me the truth and do I listen? Do I read the Word in my present circumstances and pine, O! I wish I had listened! What do I think when I read Proverbs 1 and Wisdom says:

But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you… Proverbs 1.24-27

What do we do when someone tells us the truth? How do we respond? And when we find ourselves in a predictable sticky wicket, do we remember the truth that was told?

Lord, You tell me the truth – it is up to me to listen. If I don’t, then there are consequences and that is that. But with You there is always room for repentance. See mine. Help me. Thank You! Amen.