Mirror, Mirror, on the wall

The young man boasted of his prowess on the basketball court. I smiled. He was not as good as he claimed. How did I know? The week before he was cut from the team! But, somehow he had forgotten that, preferring to believe in his own reality. This refusal of the facts is a common malady among us, so common that Jesus talked about the foolishness of trying to take the splinter out of another’s eye with a post in our  own!

A common criticism of Christians is that we are hypocrites, ready to point out the sins and failures of others, but unable to see the holes in our own robes of righteousness. Spiritual pride is a terrible disease of the soul, isn’t it? I know it grips me from time to time. I hear myself ranting about ‘those people who do those things,’ and feel the rebuke of the Holy Spirit. We need not apologize for holiness. But, Christians cannot point others in the right direction, they must lead them! Paul invited those to whom he preached to follow in his footsteps. “Follow me as I follow Christ,” he said. I want to say that and I know that such a statement in the absence of humility and authenticity is the height of arrogance.

But, when we are obediently walking with Christ, when we are broken before Him, yielded to His will, and responsive to the Spirit; a beautiful wholeness of life emerges in us and from us. It is not born of our own religiosity, but created by the Spirit who lives in us, by faith. This undeniable reality will draw others to Him. Last year, I attended a talk given by Timothy Keller, pastor of a flourishing church in Manhattan. He used a phrase that has stayed with me. True Christians have a “contextualized Biblical Gospel” that shapes their daily lives. They will not allow the Gospel of Christ to exist only on Sundays, or in their private quiet times of prayer. They drag it out from behind the pulpit into to the street where it confronts the evil that enslaves. This Gospel lives in our checkbook, speaks to our relationships, and shapes our political view.

This kind of Gospel will not allow us to be hypocritical! It is, by the power of the Spirit, a transformational experience, working powerfully from the inside out. Jesus said it is like a seed that germinates and pushed to the surface, growing until it bears fruit.

Here is the word from the Word. It challenges us to live authentically, starting with knowing ourselves.

"Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like." (James 1:22-24, NLT)

"But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world." (James 1:24-27, The Message)

________________

Be Thou my vision

O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me

Save that Thou art

Thou my best thought

By day or by night

Waking or sleeping

Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom

Be Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee

And Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father

I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling

And I with Thee one

Riches I heed not

Nor man's empty praise

Thou mine inheritance

Now and always

Thou and Thou only

Be first in my heart

High King of heaven

My treasure Thou art

High King of heaven

When vict'ry is won

May I reach heaven's joys

O bright heaven's Sun

Heart of my own heart

Whatever befall

Still be my vision

O Ruler of all

Be Thou My Vision
© Public Domain

Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne

What do you want?

“Look at that car! I want it!”  The Lexus commercial did what it was made for – created a desire in my heart. Throughout the day there will be dozens of ‘wants’ that come into my mind. Some will pass quickly, others will linger. Some will descend into temptation that I will resist. Others will go beyond just being desire and I will start to act to satisfy the need. Each one will require some level of evaluation: is this a real need, something I should seek? 

Luke tells the story of a blind beggar who heard the noise of a crowd coming up the road. Inquiring about the stir, he learned that Jesus was passing by. The man started a commotion, shouting out the name of Jesus. The people in the crowd tried to shut him up, but he yelled even louder, until Jesus heard him and asked that the man be brought to him. He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God." (Luke 18:41-43, NIV)  This man knew his greatest need and boldly asked. Imagine if he had said, “Lord, I want two coins so I can buy supper tonight.” Or, “Lord, I want a better spot along this road where more people will give me money.”  But, he did not ask for those things. There was no waiting, no waffling, no wondering.  He wanted his sight: “I want to see!”

Do you know your greatest need?
Is your life a prayer shaped by faith and pursuing a deep relationship with your Father?
Or are you spending all your time praying for stuff, asking for temporary relief from problems, or mumbling unfocused prayers unrelated to what is most important in your life?

Oh, that our prayers would have the same focus, the same intensity that we see in the prayer of that blind beggar! “Lord, I want to see!”  Jesus warned about letting our communication with Him slip into ‘babbling like the pagans.’  “They think they will be heard,” He said, “because of their many words.” He follows that by reminding us that God knows our needs before we even ask. What a revelation! What power we release in this world and in us when we use prayer to align our emotions, will, and actions with the will of God. Yes, we can and we should pray about our daily bread. But, even more, we should ask boldly to be used of God, to be filled with the Spirit, to see with Heaven’s eyes.

Don’t be a whiney child of God, wasting vast amounts of prayer time complaining about aches and pains, fighting with the Lord about your disappointments, or asking Him for trinkets. Pray big! Ask Him for the nations. Ask Him for courage to give your life away. Ask Him to make you a partner in the Kingdom work; saving the world from sin!

Here’s a word from the Word. May it create faith in us.
"You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.

… So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.

Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life." (James 4:4-8, The Message)

______________________________

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' Name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand!

- public domain

"License, registration, please."

Driving on a wide open country road, at mid-day, in bright sunshine, while mentally working through church stuff, I became unaware of just how fast I was traveling. Then, too late I saw the police cruiser parked on the side of the road. Glancing down, I knew that I was about to hear those dreaded words, “Sir, may I see your license and registration.”  As I passed him, he swung around behind me.  About a mile down the road, on came the lights signaling me to pull over. Ten minutes later, after a pleasant conversation, I drove away relieved.  Strictly speaking, I deserved a ticket, but the police officer chose to show mercy.

This is the story of my life. The evidence was stacked against me. There was no case to plead. I was guilty! Too many times to recount, I have become aware of my sin and failure too late, only after my conscience is bruised and my fellowship with the Father elusive. But, He is merciful. The Bible says "because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV) What relief, what joy floods my mind when I go to my Savior and make my confession. I regret my failures, despise the fact that too many times my words and/or actions create a dark stain on the family name of my Father. I do not minimize nor excuse my refusal of His guidance around sin. But, I will not run from His gaze, I will not try to conceal my guilt. Instead, I pray David’s prayer: "Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you." (Psalm 51:9-12, NLT)

Some say that accepting God’s mercy encourages more sin. “Cheap grace,” they call it. That is not my experience! My merciful Father pulls me closer to His side. His love makes me even more desirous of doing His will, of living in a way that causes others to seek Him. Are you pushing the limits, living disobediently, carelessly disregarding the Spirit’s call? There will come a moment of realization of your sin. What then? Will you accept His mercy and grace and make a full confession?  You will find grace and forgiveness.  Or will you excuse, justify yourself, or hide from His gaze? If so, guilt will increase, making you a slave to sin.

Here’s a word from the Word. Learn it, love it, live it.

"He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
(Psalm 103:9-14, NIV)

_____________________

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no power no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

© 1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Stuart Townend

CCLI License No. 810055

Because You Said So!

Every parent is delighted when their child obeys voluntarily. There is that moment of realization that Mom and Dad are not just ‘being mean’ when they establish rules. Some kids seems to ‘get it’ sooner than others. Then, too, we know willing compliance is a temporary thing, to be enjoyed when it appears, as the independent human nature will quickly reassert itself! 

One of the more gratifying moments in my life was having my adult children acknowledge that they now understand the discipline of our home.  In maturity, they came to the realization that I was not just on an authority trip. I was helping them learn self-discipline that would help to be responsible adults capable of discerning, able to say no to distractions so they could choose the best.

Luke tells us that Jesus was teaching at Galilee’s lake one day when crowds began to close in. He saw Simon Peter’s boat there so He asked if he might use it as a pulpit, pushing out a little from the shoreline.  After He concluded, he turned to Simon Peter who was washing his fishing nets and said, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” (Luke 5:4, NLT)  The men had been fishing all night without single catch! The last thing they wanted to do was go back out. What was the logic behind this request? But, there is a lesson in Simon’s response that day. “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5, NIV) His willing obedience produced a miraculous catch, a net-breaking number of fish! And, it became the moment when Simon glimpsed his new calling and became a disciple.

Do you willingly obey your Father in Heaven?

Some of us are headstrong children, obstinate in the face of His commands. We do not choose to do what He commands because we have not grasped that He is good, that His word brings us life.  We reason that making our own choice is better. In the short-term, we may be right! The Bible uses this revealing phrase about disobedience: there is “pleasure in sin for a season.”  (Hebrews 11.25)  The best life is found in obedience born of the mature acknowledge of God’s wisdom as we say like Simon Peter: “because You say so.”  Our Father spares us many sorrows when we walk with Him obediently.

Here’s a word from the Word. Pray for faith and maturity to receive it and to live it. It is a "word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, … Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"  … Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5,7,10-11, NIV)

The richest blessings are found in surrender to His will. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep step with the Spirit.”

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All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender

Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken

Take me Jesus take me now

All to Jesus I surrender

Lord I give myself to Thee

Fill me with Thy love and power

Let Thy blessing fall on me

I surrender all

I surrender all

All to Thee my blessed Savior

I surrender all

I Surrender All

© Public Domain

Judson Wheeler Van DeVenter | Winfield Scott Weeden