Meek as a lamb

Enduring losses that were beyond my control - death of parents, serious illness, loss of friends- has allowed me to understand Jesus in a new way. Unlike any time in the past, I know what it feels like to be vulnerable. And, I am beginning to grasp that His apparent weakness is really the spiritual quality of meekness. He was a Man who suffered but would not exercise His power to punish. He remained open and vulnerable. He did not lash out, get even, or retreat. To be vulnerable means that a person is open to attack, that he can be wounded. Vulnerability can be forced on us by circumstances, but it truly a work of the Spirit, a choice He enables us to make. My very humanity makes me vulnerable. Jesus was "God, in flesh." He could have crushed His enemies, but He would not. Jesus taught this - "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5, NIV) The meek are those who choose vulnerability. That's the model Jesus demonstrates. He did not have to subject Himself to suffering at the hands of cruel people, but He did! He made the decision to leave Heaven's love and perfection behind and live among us where rejection was a certainty. He was called the "Lamb of God."  A lamb is virtually defenseless. It cannot run fast. It has no armor. It does not live in a shell. The only safety for a lamb is with the flock and the care of a shepherd. The Word teaches us that "our attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form." (Philippians 2:5-7, NLT) "Become one with him. ... no longer count on (your) own goodness or ability to obey God's law, but trust Christ to save ... For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. (then you will) really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. .... learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow, (you) can experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:9-11, NLT) Those of us who live 'in Christ' must, like Him, drop our defenses, love those who hate us, submit ourselves to others, as we trust in our Shepherd alone. Will you give as good as you get, demand 'respect' you feel you deserve; or will you choose to be vulnerable? In that choice, love is spilled, the most beautiful and healing experience we can know. Here's a word from the Word. It is both beautiful and challenging. May the Spirit call us to greater meekness. "Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins!" (Isaiah 53:1-4, NLT) "He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7, NLT) "When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins." (Isaiah 53:11, NLT) When we feel the temptation to pull back, push back, and close our hearts, let's remember Jesus' vulnerability. When everything in us is screaming for retreat, revenge, or relief, let us pray this: "Lord, keep my heart open. Infuse me with the courage to live with the risk of rejection, to love those who hate, to serve those who do not understand, to be gentle to those who would wound me given the opportunity.  May Your kingdom and glory be of greater value to me than my own comfort, reputation, or security.  In the Name of the Lamb of God, Amen."

A Party in Heaven

Bible Study was over.  It was about 8:15 PM as I walked to the front door of the church to lock it. There stood two teenage girls. They asked if they could come in. One said she had never been in a church before. “Sure,” I replied, ”go ahead and look around.”  I went to my office for a few moments and then looked into the sanctuary to see if they were still there, only to hear the quiet sound of crying.  I found them on the front row.  An hour later, both left with a Bible. They had talked about their sense of futility and readily listened to the good news about God’s amazing love showed to us through Christ Jesus.  The girl who hadn’t been in a church before said, through her tears, “I want to live here! It full of peace in here.”   They had no way to know they were a direct answer to prayer. Wednesday morning I prayed, “Lord, give me the opportunity to share the Gospel with at least one person today.”  He sent two!

As I drove home, I rejoiced;  no more like shouted like an old-time glory preacher! The day was complete. God used me to give hope and open the door to Life. Nothing compares to that.

Much of what we call ‘evangelism’ in the Church is really salesmanship! We learn techniques to capture interest, pitch designed to lead the person to a conclusion, and press hard for a close – to pray the ‘Sinner’s prayer.’  It does not feel right to me.  It smacks of manipulation and seems out of line with the clear declaration of the Scripture that the Spirit of God must be the active agent. But, there is a part for us. It begins with prayer and continues with readiness.  If evangelism (our churchy word for sharing the Gospel of Christ) puts you off, probably you are reacting to a method.

Here’s how Jesus led people to the Truth.  It’s a familiar story that has no manipulation, no pressure; just opportunities. He met her where she was, heard her story, answered her questions, and the Spirit brought revelation!  "When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” …

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.  … ”

 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.” Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him." (John 4:7-30, NIV)

Are you praying for opportunities to share Jesus’ message? When He brings people to you, are you ready to love them in His Name and point them to Him?

Here’s a word from the Word.  Pray that the Lord would allow you to cause a party in Heaven today. “Imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”  Luke 15:8-10 (The Message)

After-election Tremors

You know the old story of Chicken Little, don’t you?  She was walking  the barnyard when an acorn fell on her head.  Immediately she formed an unsubstantiated conclusion: the sky is falling!  Then she ran around spreading fear and chaos with her warning, born of misinformation.  Are we letting ourselves listen too long to hysterical voices warning of impending doom that is imagined, the result of wrong conclusions, based on misinterpreted facts?  After last night’s primary elections I expect to hear the ‘wise guys’ on both sides predict the imminent demise of America if the other party is put in power.  Then, too, while I know much is grim on the spiritual front in America, I know that God is in control.  He has always had a people and He will keep those who love Him.

If you’re pining for 'the good old days'  I’d suggest you take off the rose-colored glasses.  Fifty years ago, our country was living under the threat of nuclear annihilation, pollution poured into our rivers and streams, and black Americans lived in segregated communities as second class citizens. Many churches were full, but as many were in the grip of the culture, almost completely silent in the face of societal sins, using the Gospel of Christ to provide a nice gloss over the excesses of American culture.  We have our problems, but so did they.  If we meet our challenges with wisdom and the grace of God, we can anticipate the future without fear.

Every generation has to deal with its own sins and each one has important decisions to make. Wars, natural disasters, political leadership, and spiritual influence converge to shape the flow of history for a time. Some choices are made well and even help to set the stage for the success of the next generation. But there is also the law of unintended consequences! Decisions are made, using the best information available at the time, based on the knowledge available, that prove to be disastrous 50 years later.

Before we run off screaming about the ‘end of the world as we know it,’  we need to take a deep breath, to spend time before God, and to acknowledge- with profound humility- our limits of knowledge. King Solomon was right when he offered this conclusion at the end of a life that included some real success and some spectacular failure:  "The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, The Message)   “The fear of the Lord (respect) is the beginning of wisdom.”   IF we will live in step with the Spirit, we will find courage to face today's challenges, the wisdom of God that leads to the best life, and - best of all - His eternal approval in Christ, the Savior.

Here's a word to take with you today.
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and
wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
(Psalm 37:3-7, 23-24 NLT)

_____________

Father, there is an arrogance in our time.

It teaches us that we ‘know better’ than previous generations.

It can lead us to ignore your ancient wisdom.

Keep us humble before You.

With the majesty of Your works and by the quiet influence of Your Spirit,

Bring us into a place of intimate communion, holy surrender.

We pray from Your holy Word:

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD;
do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray,
for we are all your people." (Isaiah 64:8-9, NIV)

Amen

The other side of the Gospel

Do you know that love includes accountability? A good parent requires discipline of his son, even though it causes conflict. A devoted wife pursues her husband and will not tolerate other loves in his life. Our permissive culture resists the idea that God could love people and yet be their Judge. One of the FAQ’s I encounter is; how could a loving God allow that to happen to people? It is precisely because He loves that He holds us accountable to Himself! The prophets reminded God’s people that their actions would have sure consequence. "The Lord... will cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains by a spirit of judgment that burns like fire." (Isaiah 4:4, NLT) He has a standard that we ignore to our peril. "The Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer." (Amos 7:8, NIV)

If you believe that judgment is just a first covenant idea, consider one of the most familiar passages in the Bible. Most people can quote John 3:16 or at least some fragment of it that declares God’s love for the world. Now take a look at the complete thought. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. “There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil." (John 3:16-19, NLT) That’s the other side of the Gospel! Accept it and live; refuse it and the very Good News becomes a writ of judgment!

Christians ought to be deeply grateful for the grace of God that removes judgment and gives life. They should not confuse His willingness to forgive, however with an inability to hold them accountable. If a disciple chooses to live disobediently, to ‘sin and grin,’ the seeds he is planting will produce a harvest. The letter to the Galatians rips into the false teachers who misled those Christians into a religion based on their own goodness, who placed them under a heavy load of ‘law.’ And yet, near the conclusion of this letter of grace, the Spirit makes this appeal. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:7-9, NIV) A deep appreciation of the favor and love of our Father does not lead us to permissive, self-expression. If we love Him, we obey Him and from our obedience grows a rich crop of blessings!

(A caution is in order here. He is Judge, I am not; nor are you. Be careful about quickly concluding that when a fellow Christian is suffering, it must be because he has sinned and is being judged by God! I know He can and He does, but judgment is reserved for Him. We must love and encourage. He is a father who reminds his children that he can handle the discipline in the household.)

Here’s a word from the Word. It reminds us of the other side of the Gospel. May we have the faith to receive it joyfully.  

"If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay.

He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.” Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me." (Hebrews 10:28-31, The Message)

Trying too hard?

The pitcher stared at me and sent another missile flying my way.  I swung the bat with grim resolve and missed again. The coach tried to help telling me, “Jerry, you’re overthinking it, trying too hard.”  I never did master baseball!  That advice has come back to me time and time again over the years when I feel the tension rising and find myself doubling my efforts to meet some challenge.  It happened during worship on Sunday. As I prayed, “Lord, come and meet us here. Let us sense your Presence in a powerful way,”  the Spirit whispered into my heart the old words of my coach, “You’re trying too hard. Relax and accept my promise to be among my people.”

The Word assures us that God is perfectly capable of accomplishing His will in us. "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 3:16, NLT)  "Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope." (Ephesians 3:20, NLT)  Could it be that we actually get in His way, that we try too hard and hinder the work of the Holy Spirit?  While we are going on and on in prayer, almost begging Him, might there be moments when we need to just be quiet and listen for His lead? When we find ourselves in a situation that seems unmanageable, do we turn first to Him, waiting on Him; or do we become frantic and desperate?

There is no argument to be made for fatalism (God will do whatever He decides to do no matter what I do).  The Lord of the Universe works in partnership with us and, amazing as it may seem, allows us to resist or cooperate with His purposes.  Nor do can we become passive, sitting like lumps waiting for God to do something.  Being lazy is unrelated to ‘waiting on the Lord.’  This Psalm, a favorite of mine, shows the way. "I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy." (Psalm 123:1-2, NIV)

Let the Lord lead you, alert to His ways, attentive to His word.  When I felt His gentle rebuke yesterday during the worship gathering, I responded with thanksgiving. Instead of begging for what He had already promised, I thanked Him.  Instead of trying to wrest a blessing from His hands, I opened mine to accept what He was ready to give. 

Are you trying too hard? Pause, reflect, listen, give thanks, receive!

Here’s a word from the Word.  May your soul sing with the Psalmist about the glorious works of our God.

"You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.

Those living far away fear your wonders;
where morning dawns and evening fades
you call forth songs of joy.
You care for the land and water it;
 you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it."
(Psalm 65:5-9, NIV)