War! Earthquake! Death! Poverty! Disease! Disappointment! Flood! Fire! These and more have caused human beings to cry rivers of tears. Early this morning, as I was praying, my body was shaken with sobs. To be sure, some of my tears were for my own situation. My pending surgery has my emotions in turmoil. However, I was also weeping for a newly widowed woman in my congregation, for my Mom’s loneliness, for my friend’s new struggle with cancer, for the people of Haiti and Afghanistan, for my neighbors. It was beyond sadness. I was feeling what old-timers in the Pentecostal church call a ‘burden for souls.’ I believe that God was pressing me to pray and to renew my love for the lost, the broken, those who have no hope.
"Jerry, why emphasize the sorrow? Why not look on the bright side?" Yes, there is joy to be found. Bev and I were greatly blessed with a new granddaughter on Monday. Little Adelina entered this world whole and healthy! We’re thrilled by that. We have many wonderful friends and our hearts are made glad by being with those we love. We experience wonderful times of worship with God's people. We are unbelievably blessed!
But, we live in a world enslaved by evil, pressed by the Curse of sin, in darkness. In my blessings, I cannot ignore those who suffer. I cannot, despite my overflowing cup of privilege, pretend that all is well. I am commissioned as an agent of the Savior, sent with a message hope and healing to those who are captives of the Evil One. His work is my work. Like Him, I want to let my heart be broken by the human need that is real. As the burden presses on me, I will not fall under despair. I will go to the One who gives me this invitation - "Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:29-30, The Message) “Freely and lightly’ should not be understood to mean without sorrow or hard work! Jesus was Himself a man well acquainted with the sorrows of humanity, but He was renewed by His Father as He engaged in the work. So we can know the daily infusion of the Spirit’s hope and strength, IF we turn to Him and stand with Him in the yoke of service.
It may appear that sharing the Good News of Christ is like shouting down a dark alley with no visible results. Trying to help someone find a better life may not change the whole world, but it changes one life! Some may think that this mission of compassion is a fool's errand, that the tide of human suffering is irresistible. But I know the One who has overcome the world! I have read the end of the Book, and I know that in the end He will vanquish evil, wipe away the tears, and invite us into the Kingdom of Light and Love. I want to be about the work of building that Kingdom now even as I wait to see it arrive in the fullness promised in the Word.
Join me, friend, won't you? Let's look evil straight in the eye, engage ourselves with those who suffer, even when it makes us weep! Let’s do the work of Jesus while there is opportunity. All the while, we can be sustained by this wonderful promise. ". . . they stand in front of God's throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:15-17, NLT)
____________________
Jesus! What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes assail me;
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Hallelujah what a Savior.
Hallelujah what a Friend.
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Jesus! What a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted tried and sometimes failing,
He, my strength my victory wins.
Jesus! What a help in sorrow!
While the billows o'er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort helps my soul.
Hallelujah what a Savior.
Hallelujah what a Friend.
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Our Great Savior- J. Wilbur Chapman C Public Domain
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Adventures, ballast, and faith
I am a guy who likes to get to the point! I analyze and ask, what’s going on? If we can figure out why is it happening, we can fix it. I like things to run smoothly and on time. And yet, I am a Pastor, a man who deals with mysteries and Someone Who is way too big to fit into any box I might try to build for Him! He invites me to live with Him in the wonder of this thing called life. A good Father, He does not always explain Himself, but He always holds out His hand and says, “Let’s walk together.” A basic requirement for this adventure is faith which is defined in the Word as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1, NIV) For a guy thinks concretely, who likes to know the whole equation, faith is not always fun, but it sure can be interesting.
Once again my Heavenly Father has chosen to invite me on an adventure. Yesterday, I met a surgeon who gazed at the CT scan and told me that major surgery was required. My digestive tract is blocked by something and it has to come out. I’ll have that surgery, Lord-willing, next Weds., 2/17 and then be hospitalized for recovery for several days. And, once it’s out, a biopsy will show if there are additional challenges ahead. It would be nice to write that I feel perfect peace and acceptance. I don’t! I am working on it. At this moment, mostly what I feel is angry. I would like to throw a tantrum like a 2 year old! But, what good would it do?
Sailing boats have a weight below the waterline,ballast, that counterbalances the wind’s forces on the sail. Without ballast, a gust of heavy wind would capsize the boat. My life is full of gusty winds at the moment. But, I have many, many experiences walking with Him that keep me upright! There is ballast in the hold gained in prayers and tears through the years. Being human, I would prefer fewer gusts, but I am not the Master of the Seas or the Wind. Then, too, I am reminded that I am part of a family that will help me to crew this ship through the storm. Ever seen those racing sailboats with all the crew hanging over the side of the boat in a hard turn, helping to balance her and keep her upright? That’s my family of faith! I know they are pulling for me through this.
Some suggest that the devil is at work in all this. To be sure, there is a devil who actively opposes God and those who serve Him on this earth. But, as a child of God, I am absolutely convinced that nothing is allowed into my life without the permission of my Father. I don’t see my situation as the direct work of the devil. What I do see as his work is the temptation to doubt, to accuse, to let fear become the controlling emotion of my life. Instead, with the strength of the Spirit, I chose love – for God, for life, for people. My hope and prayer is that this adventure, like those He’s arranged prior, will bring about better things in me, for His honor.
Here’s the word from the Word to which I hold today. Join me in taking the promise.
"So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary." (Hebrews 6:18-19, NLT)
Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary." (Hebrews 6:18-19, NLT)
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Christians are about to enter the season of Lent which leads us to the most glorious celebration of our calendar – Resurrection Day. Many get all excited about Christmas, making a big build-up to the holiday but when Easter arrives, it’s almost an afterthought. It’s the BIG day! Everything we believe about our faith hangs on the factual event of Christ’s bodily resurrection. Timothy Keller, in The Reason for God, states the case. “If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept what He said; if He did not rise from the then dead, then why worry about any of what He said?” The Scripture says, "And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless." (1 Corinthians 15:14, NLT)
The Resurrection of Christ was the event that caused the first generation of disciples to give their lives to travel the length and breadth of the Empire to declare a whole new truth about the meaning of human existence! Would they have willingly died for a lie? Would they have given up their homes, their families, their comfort to spread a falsehood? That makes no sense at all. They were seized by the hope that “all things are made new” and that God had not abandoned them to the grave. It was Good News worth living and dying to tell!
When I was younger, I must confess that I didn’t give a whole lot of thought to the Resurrection. It just seemed like the end of the story, cool, nice, affirming. My life on earth stretched out ahead of me. Death was real but distant. Aches and pains that signal the aging of the body were just a joke about ‘old people.’ Eternal life was something I talked about and accepted, but all the while I was very much taken up with life, right here, right now. I still love life! My newest grandchild arrived in this world yesterday and I would like to be around to see her dance with her Dad at her wedding! There’s a whole lot of loving yet to do.
But, mortality and death are real now, too. I regularly stand in a field of stones now, visiting the plot of ground marked by a piece of granite where my Dad’s body rests. I am less optimistic about my ability to change things around me, too. These words from the Bible are more than a phrase to me: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?" (Romans 8:22-24, NIV) I’ll be preaching the Resurrection with much more eagerness this year!
It isn’t just the hope of a body and soul reunion, a new existence that is without pain or parting that grips me. It is the whole idea that God loves this Creation – including you and me- enough to promise a Divine intervention, an infusion of glorious life that is unimaginably wonderful. We weep, but not as those who are hopeless. We feel sorrow, but not as those engulfed with despair.
Here’s a word from the Word. Let it dry your tears today. May the Spirit of God make it living Truth for us.
"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." (1 Corinthians 15:22-25, NIV)
"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54, NIV)
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV)
_________________
A footnote -
CoffeeBreak may be sent out sporadically over the next two weeks. I will be visiting a surgeon today to consult about a serious medical issue that is complicating life at this time. So, if you don’t see my musing in your email, I thank you, in advance for your prayers for me.
The Resurrection of Christ was the event that caused the first generation of disciples to give their lives to travel the length and breadth of the Empire to declare a whole new truth about the meaning of human existence! Would they have willingly died for a lie? Would they have given up their homes, their families, their comfort to spread a falsehood? That makes no sense at all. They were seized by the hope that “all things are made new” and that God had not abandoned them to the grave. It was Good News worth living and dying to tell!
When I was younger, I must confess that I didn’t give a whole lot of thought to the Resurrection. It just seemed like the end of the story, cool, nice, affirming. My life on earth stretched out ahead of me. Death was real but distant. Aches and pains that signal the aging of the body were just a joke about ‘old people.’ Eternal life was something I talked about and accepted, but all the while I was very much taken up with life, right here, right now. I still love life! My newest grandchild arrived in this world yesterday and I would like to be around to see her dance with her Dad at her wedding! There’s a whole lot of loving yet to do.
But, mortality and death are real now, too. I regularly stand in a field of stones now, visiting the plot of ground marked by a piece of granite where my Dad’s body rests. I am less optimistic about my ability to change things around me, too. These words from the Bible are more than a phrase to me: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?" (Romans 8:22-24, NIV) I’ll be preaching the Resurrection with much more eagerness this year!
It isn’t just the hope of a body and soul reunion, a new existence that is without pain or parting that grips me. It is the whole idea that God loves this Creation – including you and me- enough to promise a Divine intervention, an infusion of glorious life that is unimaginably wonderful. We weep, but not as those who are hopeless. We feel sorrow, but not as those engulfed with despair.
Here’s a word from the Word. Let it dry your tears today. May the Spirit of God make it living Truth for us.
"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet." (1 Corinthians 15:22-25, NIV)
"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54, NIV)
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV)
_________________
A footnote -
CoffeeBreak may be sent out sporadically over the next two weeks. I will be visiting a surgeon today to consult about a serious medical issue that is complicating life at this time. So, if you don’t see my musing in your email, I thank you, in advance for your prayers for me.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Quiet Before The Storm?
There are few things more impressive than a major thunderstorm. Standing in the sunlight, looking to the west, you can see the clouds billowing high into the sky. Ominously, the sky begins to darken, birds grow still, then there is that first gust of wind which is the signal to seek shelter. A few moments later, trees are bending, lightning is flashing, and the crash of thunder shakes the earth. Sometimes such storm leave a swath of destruction, broken trees, downed power lines; which takes days, if not weeks, to clean up. And yet, after each storm a new normal returns, the broken restored or replaced.
There are moments in life like that. The sun shines! All is well! Then a moment comes that makes everything pause. Your soul senses a storm is on the horizon. Emotional clouds roll in. The first little puffs of troubling winds start to blow, and you can only think: what will be left standing when the storms blows by? What will be shaken? The comes the fury. All is tossed into disarray, plans aborted, the future rearranged. But, just like with a thunderstorm, our inner lives find a new normal, too. We put the pieces back together, a little wiser, a lot more cautious, and hopefully - deeper in faith.
Disciple, we all experience life’s storms; however, in the middle of the storm, there is One who walks alongside of us Who is bigger than the storm. Mark tells a ‘storm story!’ It’s written to inspire our faith. Take a look.
"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”" (Mark 4:35-40, NIV)
Jesus wanted to know why they were such cowards! “Why are you so ready to despair?” He asked. “Haven’t you seen a storm before? Don’t you know Who you’re with?”
If a storm is brewing on the horizon, or even if you’re enduring the height of it with crashing thunder and terrible winds all around, take courage! The summary that Mark reports in his story, which most likely he heard from Peter, is this: "They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!” (Mark 4:41, The Message) Our Lord is Master of the storms. He can command the winds to cease, or He can help us to stand while they blow.
We cannot ask an exemption from life or the storms, we cannot run to some place where we imagine no storms can reach us. We can stand fearlessly! Here’s a word from the Word for those of us facing a storm:
"Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, The Message)
"Because we are the sons of God, we must become the sons of God!" - George MacDonald
______________
There are moments in life like that. The sun shines! All is well! Then a moment comes that makes everything pause. Your soul senses a storm is on the horizon. Emotional clouds roll in. The first little puffs of troubling winds start to blow, and you can only think: what will be left standing when the storms blows by? What will be shaken? The comes the fury. All is tossed into disarray, plans aborted, the future rearranged. But, just like with a thunderstorm, our inner lives find a new normal, too. We put the pieces back together, a little wiser, a lot more cautious, and hopefully - deeper in faith.
Disciple, we all experience life’s storms; however, in the middle of the storm, there is One who walks alongside of us Who is bigger than the storm. Mark tells a ‘storm story!’ It’s written to inspire our faith. Take a look.
"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”" (Mark 4:35-40, NIV)
Jesus wanted to know why they were such cowards! “Why are you so ready to despair?” He asked. “Haven’t you seen a storm before? Don’t you know Who you’re with?”
If a storm is brewing on the horizon, or even if you’re enduring the height of it with crashing thunder and terrible winds all around, take courage! The summary that Mark reports in his story, which most likely he heard from Peter, is this: "They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!” (Mark 4:41, The Message) Our Lord is Master of the storms. He can command the winds to cease, or He can help us to stand while they blow.
We cannot ask an exemption from life or the storms, we cannot run to some place where we imagine no storms can reach us. We can stand fearlessly! Here’s a word from the Word for those of us facing a storm:
"Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, The Message)
"Because we are the sons of God, we must become the sons of God!" - George MacDonald
______________
Friday, February 05, 2010
An Insult to Christ Jesus
Are you attempting to live as a Christian without being one? Millions of people admire the teaching of Jesus that elevates human dignity, that calls for compassion for the poor and the weak. But, at the same time they reject the Cross. “Why did Jesus need to die?” they ask. Some are even arrogant enough to believe that Jesus died as a result of political miscalculation, that he over-estimated his public support as he confronted the religious establishment. Others think that the whole narrative of the Cross was an invention of his disciples to make sense of the end of his life. What nonsense!
The Cross makes it possible for us to live the teaching of Jesus. His mission was to be our Savior first. Many other world religions are built around great teachers but none, to my knowledge, offers us a Savior, a Deliverer! At the Cross, He entered fully into our broken, fallen state that separated us from our Father. His death, far from being sad, is the heart of the Good News. The Word does not merely hint at this. It pronounces it loudly and clearly! "For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." (Colossians 1:19-22, NLT)
Without the Cross, Christianity is just another world religion, an ideal to which we may hopelessly aspire! But, because of the Cross, Christianity is a way of life available to all who will believe the Truth, be reconciled to God, and receive the gift of the Spirit. To mistakenly reject the Cross because it is ‘too ugly,’ or ‘too superstitious,’ is an insult to Christ Jesus. The Cross was not an after-thought or mistake. It was His destiny, the crowning achievement of His earthly ministry. Timothy Keller reminds us that unlike other deities who allegedly extracted vengeance at great cost to humans, the true God “becomes human and offers His own lifeblood to order to honor moral justice and merciful love so that someday He can destroy all evil without destroying us. Therefore, the Cross is not simply a lovely example of sacrificial love. …There was debt to be paid – God paid it Himself.” (The Reason for God)
Far from being a maudlin medieval idea, the Cross is a glorious Truth! It is full of ugliness because it is where sin meets forgiveness. It is full of sorrow for it is where the disappointments of the Fallen creation meet the perfection of the Creator. It is bloody because in the purpose of God, as Jesus Christ explained, "my blood, … confirms the covenant between God and his people." (Matthew 26:28, NLT)
So, I will not insult the Lord Jesus by looking away from the Cross. Instead, I will wear it, love it, and embrace it.
Here’s a word from the Word. May we join Paul in his intention. "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God." (Galatians 6:14-16, NLT)
___________
Your blood speaks a better word
than all the empty claims I've heard upon this earth;
Speaks righteousness for me
and stands in my defense,
Jesus, it's Your blood.
Your cross testifies in grace,
tells of the Father's heart
to make a way for us;
Now boldly we approach,
not earthly confidence,
it's only by Your blood!
What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can wash us pure as snow,
welcomed as the friends of God?
Nothing but Your blood,
Nothing but Your blood,
King Jesus!
Nothing But The Blood
© 2004 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Matt Redman
CCLI License No. 810055
The Cross makes it possible for us to live the teaching of Jesus. His mission was to be our Savior first. Many other world religions are built around great teachers but none, to my knowledge, offers us a Savior, a Deliverer! At the Cross, He entered fully into our broken, fallen state that separated us from our Father. His death, far from being sad, is the heart of the Good News. The Word does not merely hint at this. It pronounces it loudly and clearly! "For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." (Colossians 1:19-22, NLT)
Without the Cross, Christianity is just another world religion, an ideal to which we may hopelessly aspire! But, because of the Cross, Christianity is a way of life available to all who will believe the Truth, be reconciled to God, and receive the gift of the Spirit. To mistakenly reject the Cross because it is ‘too ugly,’ or ‘too superstitious,’ is an insult to Christ Jesus. The Cross was not an after-thought or mistake. It was His destiny, the crowning achievement of His earthly ministry. Timothy Keller reminds us that unlike other deities who allegedly extracted vengeance at great cost to humans, the true God “becomes human and offers His own lifeblood to order to honor moral justice and merciful love so that someday He can destroy all evil without destroying us. Therefore, the Cross is not simply a lovely example of sacrificial love. …There was debt to be paid – God paid it Himself.” (The Reason for God)
Far from being a maudlin medieval idea, the Cross is a glorious Truth! It is full of ugliness because it is where sin meets forgiveness. It is full of sorrow for it is where the disappointments of the Fallen creation meet the perfection of the Creator. It is bloody because in the purpose of God, as Jesus Christ explained, "my blood, … confirms the covenant between God and his people." (Matthew 26:28, NLT)
So, I will not insult the Lord Jesus by looking away from the Cross. Instead, I will wear it, love it, and embrace it.
Here’s a word from the Word. May we join Paul in his intention. "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God." (Galatians 6:14-16, NLT)
___________
Your blood speaks a better word
than all the empty claims I've heard upon this earth;
Speaks righteousness for me
and stands in my defense,
Jesus, it's Your blood.
Your cross testifies in grace,
tells of the Father's heart
to make a way for us;
Now boldly we approach,
not earthly confidence,
it's only by Your blood!
What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can wash us pure as snow,
welcomed as the friends of God?
Nothing but Your blood,
Nothing but Your blood,
King Jesus!
Nothing But The Blood
© 2004 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Matt Redman
CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Recovering Peace
One of the evidences of the Spirit’s life at work in us that is frequently forgotten is the third one: peace! Remember the list? “Love, joy, peace, patience?” (Galatians 5:22) Disciples can enjoy peace in this life. One of the remarks that Bev and I hear over and over from people who spend time in our home is that it is a peaceful place. When our children invited their friends to our home, even those teens would often say, ”We like being at your house. It’s a peaceful place.” We knew that quality did not come from us. What they sensed was the peace of God, the Presence of the Holy Spirit, Who was intentionally invited to fill our lives.
Are you living in God’s promised peace?
Before you answer, let’s explore what the Bible says it is. The Hebrew word translated as “peace” is “shalom.” Shalom describes much more than simply the absence of conflict! It is a word that speaks of being whole, complete, prosperous, as well as tranquil. Shalom is more than a momentary rest. It is a state of being at rest in God.
The Word’s wisdom points us towards recovering peace with this advice: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV) As we see in that passage, enjoying the blessing of God’s holy peace does require that we make some important lifestyles choices. Yes, peace is a gift of God, but we cannot receive it unless we align ourselves to God’s will.
If we want to live peacefully, we must forgive! Bitterness against another, a refusal to release a grudge or an insistence on ‘justice,’ will rob the peace of God from our lives, making us miserable. We must trust. Jesus encourages us to ‘become like a little child.’ No, he did not mean childishly irresponsible, but with a faith that accepts each day, each moment from the Lord along His provisions for that day. We must be responsive to the Spirit. When He says, “no,” we stop! When He says, “go,” we move! A rebellious, willful person cannot enjoy holy shalom!
On a practical level, recovering peace means we will accept our limits. It is important to learn to refuse the requests that come from inside ourselves and the world around that lead us to being overcommitted, exhausted, and stressed out! We cannot be everything that others want us to be. We must choose simplicity as our way of life. The world around you will run your life as long as you allow others to be in charge. Many of us are quite proud of our incessantly ringing cell phones, our overflowing email boxes, and our long hours of work. Even though we complain about our schedules, these things make us feel important and valued. Some people would rather run naked down the street than admit that they have no pressing responsibility on a given day!
Despite having multiple responsibilities, I take charge of my schedule. Sure, occasionally crises arise unplanned and unforeseen that destroy my plans and press me into service for long hours. But, I do not live in crisis mode all the time. Anyone who does needs to take a hard look at their own choices to see if they are trying to do too much, if they are failing to plan well, or if they are simply disorganized. I plan regular times to retreat, times of high output, and times when I know I will focus intensely. And, I have learned that “no” is a good word, too. I get calls all the time in which someone says, “We think your skills or connections could really help us. Would you join our cause?” I’m glad that those people think I could help them, but unless I have a clear leading of the Lord, I say “No, thank you” without any guilt. If I am running around all day and into the night, I will lose the wholeness that is critically important to being who Gods wants me to be.
Disciple, part of our spiritual inheritance is the peace of God. In a fractured, pressured, stressed world, we can be people who enjoy holy peace, the blessing of shalom. We don’t have to escape into isolation, or disconnect from reality to live in it. It flows out of our relationship with the One who loves us most. Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that you will live in the promise.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27, NLT) "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NLT)
_______________
Far away in the depths
Of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains
It unceasingly falls
O'er my soul like an infinite calm.
Peace, Peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above.
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.
I am resting tonight
In this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus' control.
For I'm kept from all danger
By night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul.
Wonderful Peace
Cornell, Warren D. / Cooper, W. George
© Public Domain
Are you living in God’s promised peace?
Before you answer, let’s explore what the Bible says it is. The Hebrew word translated as “peace” is “shalom.” Shalom describes much more than simply the absence of conflict! It is a word that speaks of being whole, complete, prosperous, as well as tranquil. Shalom is more than a momentary rest. It is a state of being at rest in God.
The Word’s wisdom points us towards recovering peace with this advice: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV) As we see in that passage, enjoying the blessing of God’s holy peace does require that we make some important lifestyles choices. Yes, peace is a gift of God, but we cannot receive it unless we align ourselves to God’s will.
If we want to live peacefully, we must forgive! Bitterness against another, a refusal to release a grudge or an insistence on ‘justice,’ will rob the peace of God from our lives, making us miserable. We must trust. Jesus encourages us to ‘become like a little child.’ No, he did not mean childishly irresponsible, but with a faith that accepts each day, each moment from the Lord along His provisions for that day. We must be responsive to the Spirit. When He says, “no,” we stop! When He says, “go,” we move! A rebellious, willful person cannot enjoy holy shalom!
On a practical level, recovering peace means we will accept our limits. It is important to learn to refuse the requests that come from inside ourselves and the world around that lead us to being overcommitted, exhausted, and stressed out! We cannot be everything that others want us to be. We must choose simplicity as our way of life. The world around you will run your life as long as you allow others to be in charge. Many of us are quite proud of our incessantly ringing cell phones, our overflowing email boxes, and our long hours of work. Even though we complain about our schedules, these things make us feel important and valued. Some people would rather run naked down the street than admit that they have no pressing responsibility on a given day!
Despite having multiple responsibilities, I take charge of my schedule. Sure, occasionally crises arise unplanned and unforeseen that destroy my plans and press me into service for long hours. But, I do not live in crisis mode all the time. Anyone who does needs to take a hard look at their own choices to see if they are trying to do too much, if they are failing to plan well, or if they are simply disorganized. I plan regular times to retreat, times of high output, and times when I know I will focus intensely. And, I have learned that “no” is a good word, too. I get calls all the time in which someone says, “We think your skills or connections could really help us. Would you join our cause?” I’m glad that those people think I could help them, but unless I have a clear leading of the Lord, I say “No, thank you” without any guilt. If I am running around all day and into the night, I will lose the wholeness that is critically important to being who Gods wants me to be.
Disciple, part of our spiritual inheritance is the peace of God. In a fractured, pressured, stressed world, we can be people who enjoy holy peace, the blessing of shalom. We don’t have to escape into isolation, or disconnect from reality to live in it. It flows out of our relationship with the One who loves us most. Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that you will live in the promise.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27, NLT) "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NLT)
_______________
Far away in the depths
Of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains
It unceasingly falls
O'er my soul like an infinite calm.
Peace, Peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above.
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.
I am resting tonight
In this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus' control.
For I'm kept from all danger
By night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul.
Wonderful Peace
Cornell, Warren D. / Cooper, W. George
© Public Domain
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Re-discovering Salvation
“I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see!” are the words in which John Newton exults in his transformation from slave ship captain to forgiven child of God. His story is but one in millions. Even after Newton left the ships and slave trade behind, years passed before the Gospel truly changed the man and his destiny. For many years I was involved in ministry to men in prison. One of the more difficult aspects of that work is ‘jailhouse religion.’ Men how live in a rigidly controlled environment start going to church and pick up the language of the Bible. They claims to be morally reformed, ready to live differently on the outside. Within a week of their release, they have forgotten all the claims they made, all the Bible verses they read, and are back in their old ways. Why? Because they ‘got religion.’ They did not experience the Gospel’s grace!
If sin, at its root, is the attempt to establish myself apart from God, then salvation is discovering my true self in Him. Timothy Keller asserts that many people ‘are trying to save themselves by following Jesus.’ He goes on to explain. ‘It is possible to avoid Jesus as Savior as much by keeping all the Biblical rules as by breaking them. … Self-salvation through good works may produce a great deal of moral behavior in your life, but inside you are filled with self-righteousness, cruelty, and bigotry; and you are miserable. You are always comparing yourself to other people, and you are never sure if you are being good enough. … The devil prefers men and women who try to save themselves. They are more unhappy than either mature Christians or irreligious people, and they do a lot more spiritual damage.’ - The Reason for God
Religion restricts, regulates, and judges. It robs joy and celebration from life. True salvation in Christ Jesus liberates, creates, and accepts! Tragically, Christianity is too often known for pronouncements of judgment, for conflicts over who and what is right; than it is for bringing people the experience of the abundant life of which Jesus spoke. The Bible is so clear and so often ignored on this subject. Repeated the Word urges us to stop focusing on managing sin with rules and restrictions. Instead, we love Christ with our whole heart, living openly authentic lives before Him and one another because we believe and trust HIS grace.
Paul shouts a rebuke and challenge to those who would save themselves by moral religiosity.
"“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 2:21-3:2, NIV)
The biggest difference between religion and grace is motive. Religion is fear-based and aims to escape Hell! Relationship is love-based and aims to gain Heaven! Ask many who claim to be Christian if they are really looking forward to Heaven and watch them stutter! They really are not anticipating Heaven because they do not love the One whose Throne is the center of that wondrous place. Untouched by grace, indifferent to the Spirit, they cannot conceive of leaving behind their pleasures, diversions, and things. Yet, because they fear eternal punishment, they cannot enjoy life to the full right now either. What a miserable existence.
Timothy Keller writes of the paradox of grace. “The most liberating act of free, unconditional grace demands that the recipient give up control of his life.” We find grace when we come humbly before Christ, often in complete despair, and release even our best efforts and highest achievements to Him, and trust only in the salvation that begins at the Cross and is completed at the Empty Tomb. In that moment, we become other-worldly, our highest hope fixed beyond this life. Ultimately, the rediscovery of salvation leads to the Resurrection which is the logical hope of those who know grace.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the Spirit will make the words live in your understanding and draw to a re-discovery of salvation.
"And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man (Adam), so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven (Jesus Christ). I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." (1 Corinthians 15:49-50, NIV) But, when we are raised like Him, we will say:
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:55-58, NIV)
____________
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt!
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss.
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty Cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Johnston, Julia H. / Towner, Daniel Brink
© Public Domain
If sin, at its root, is the attempt to establish myself apart from God, then salvation is discovering my true self in Him. Timothy Keller asserts that many people ‘are trying to save themselves by following Jesus.’ He goes on to explain. ‘It is possible to avoid Jesus as Savior as much by keeping all the Biblical rules as by breaking them. … Self-salvation through good works may produce a great deal of moral behavior in your life, but inside you are filled with self-righteousness, cruelty, and bigotry; and you are miserable. You are always comparing yourself to other people, and you are never sure if you are being good enough. … The devil prefers men and women who try to save themselves. They are more unhappy than either mature Christians or irreligious people, and they do a lot more spiritual damage.’ - The Reason for God
Religion restricts, regulates, and judges. It robs joy and celebration from life. True salvation in Christ Jesus liberates, creates, and accepts! Tragically, Christianity is too often known for pronouncements of judgment, for conflicts over who and what is right; than it is for bringing people the experience of the abundant life of which Jesus spoke. The Bible is so clear and so often ignored on this subject. Repeated the Word urges us to stop focusing on managing sin with rules and restrictions. Instead, we love Christ with our whole heart, living openly authentic lives before Him and one another because we believe and trust HIS grace.
Paul shouts a rebuke and challenge to those who would save themselves by moral religiosity.
"“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 2:21-3:2, NIV)
The biggest difference between religion and grace is motive. Religion is fear-based and aims to escape Hell! Relationship is love-based and aims to gain Heaven! Ask many who claim to be Christian if they are really looking forward to Heaven and watch them stutter! They really are not anticipating Heaven because they do not love the One whose Throne is the center of that wondrous place. Untouched by grace, indifferent to the Spirit, they cannot conceive of leaving behind their pleasures, diversions, and things. Yet, because they fear eternal punishment, they cannot enjoy life to the full right now either. What a miserable existence.
Timothy Keller writes of the paradox of grace. “The most liberating act of free, unconditional grace demands that the recipient give up control of his life.” We find grace when we come humbly before Christ, often in complete despair, and release even our best efforts and highest achievements to Him, and trust only in the salvation that begins at the Cross and is completed at the Empty Tomb. In that moment, we become other-worldly, our highest hope fixed beyond this life. Ultimately, the rediscovery of salvation leads to the Resurrection which is the logical hope of those who know grace.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the Spirit will make the words live in your understanding and draw to a re-discovery of salvation.
"And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man (Adam), so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven (Jesus Christ). I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." (1 Corinthians 15:49-50, NIV) But, when we are raised like Him, we will say:
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:55-58, NIV)
____________
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt!
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss.
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty Cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Johnston, Julia H. / Towner, Daniel Brink
© Public Domain
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Re-thinking Sin
I’ve never murdered anybody. I don’t cheat on my wife. I’m nice to kids and animals. Yet, the Bible says, “Jerry, you are a sinner!” That’s because sin is not what we often think it is. We believe that sin is breaking the Law, doing bad things. Actually sin is something quite different which leads us to breaking those moral rules. Timothy Keller says that ‘sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity, apart from God.’ We need to think about that for it gives a whole new meaning to the Scripture’s declaration that ‘all have sinned!’
On Sunday I knelt down to eye level of two little boys at church, ages 3 and 5. They wanted to matter! They told me about their stuff, their trains, and their experiences in an excited conversation. Caleb and Hayden enjoyed being noticed and included! Don’t we all? So we learn what makes us noted and we work at doing it or being it better. Everyone of us makes our life about something or someone. We work at being a person who is valuable or noted for something. A pretty girl takes note that eyes follow her and she works to enhance her beauty and to hang onto it. An athlete experiences the approval of the coach and the crowd and decides to push his body harder, to hone his ability to throw the ball with even more accuracy. The Christian notes how good he feels when others take note of his devotion and service and redoubles his efforts. So what’s wrong with any of that? Nothing and everything. Each of those choices become sin when the person makes ‘good things into ultimate things. It is seeking to establish a sense of Self by making something more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship to God.’ (Keller)
Only loving God and looking to Him can give our lives true meaning. Anything and anyone else will fail us. Beauty, brains, and brawn will abandon us sooner or later! The Teacher, writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, summarized the end of the life that has misfocused the search for meaning on things of this present world: “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NKJV) Addictions result from a misplaced desire for meaning. At first the addict craves the pleasure, then he longs to find escape. The world is full of addictions to sex, to alcohol, to chemical drugs, to stuff – it’s a long list – precisely because we are all sinners. St. Augustine famously wrote, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”
Disciple, pursue Him! Turn your heart and mind often to quiet love for Him. Confess the disorderliness of your emotions and longings that allow idols to climb onto the throne that belongs exclusively to Him. John promises that in our confession we find "a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s." (1 John 2:1-2, The Message)
__________
Father, I am sinful.
How easily I am deceived by the things around me.
I so quickly make Your good gifts into idols.
In trying to find myself in them, I confess that I sin against You.
The darkness deepens.
Be my Light and my Deliverer.
Be my Hope and my Love.
Jesus, hold my hand. - Amen
"How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:9-11, NKJV)
"How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103, NKJV)
Monday, February 01, 2010
The Big Ten
Rules make us complain but what a chaotic world it is where law and order break down! When I was having our deck rebuilt, I chafed at some of the silly regulations that our town had for construction. However, at the same time I am thankful for those same laws that regulate development in my neighborhood. I don’t like when a police officer pulls me over for going a little too fast, but I am very thankful his presence on the road helps to keep drunk drivers from being a greater threat to my safety. Fences and boundaries can be a very good thing in a world where real sinners live.
God gave His people a summary of His expectations which we call the “Ten Commandments.” Read them recently? They reveal how we conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to Him and others. We would do well to memorize them. Make no mistake! Keeping them, if we could, won’t get us to Heaven! No amount of rule-keeping can make us right with God. Only Jesus Christ can forgive our sins, but the big ten serve the purpose of building some fences. Galatians calls them "our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24, KJV) As the Lord was leading the Israelites to the Promised Land, He held a meeting with them to show them the kind of people He wanted them to be. (Exodus 20) Here’s a paraphrase of what He told them.
1. No other gods but Me.
2. No idols in your life.
3. Don’t misuse my Name by claiming to act under my authority when you’re not.
4. Keep one day out of seven for worship (a Sabbath) following the Creation pattern I established.
5. Honor your parents and you’ll live longer.
6. No murder.
7. No adultery.
8. No stealing.
9. No lying about your neighbor.
10. No lusting for your neighbor’s stuff, his wife, or anything belonging to him.
Being human we look for loopholes in the rules, study them to death, and twist them to fit everyone but ourselves. Yet, they stand! They can guide us to faithful reliance on our Savior who makes us holy starting in our heart, or they will stand as a witness against us when we are summonsed to the Throne to face the Judgment! Which will it be for you? Reading that ancient code I found myself challenged anew by the holy expectation of my Father. I am a free man in Christ Jesus, not bound by the Law of Moses, but it does inform me about the quality of the love that God seeks in me for Himself and for those who live alongside of me.
Read the big ten with appreciation today, and then take this Word with thanksgiving.
"Those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing." (Galatians 3:10-13, NLT)
What a Holy God. Hallelujah, what a Wonderful Savior!
God gave His people a summary of His expectations which we call the “Ten Commandments.” Read them recently? They reveal how we conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to Him and others. We would do well to memorize them. Make no mistake! Keeping them, if we could, won’t get us to Heaven! No amount of rule-keeping can make us right with God. Only Jesus Christ can forgive our sins, but the big ten serve the purpose of building some fences. Galatians calls them "our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24, KJV) As the Lord was leading the Israelites to the Promised Land, He held a meeting with them to show them the kind of people He wanted them to be. (Exodus 20) Here’s a paraphrase of what He told them.
1. No other gods but Me.
2. No idols in your life.
3. Don’t misuse my Name by claiming to act under my authority when you’re not.
4. Keep one day out of seven for worship (a Sabbath) following the Creation pattern I established.
5. Honor your parents and you’ll live longer.
6. No murder.
7. No adultery.
8. No stealing.
9. No lying about your neighbor.
10. No lusting for your neighbor’s stuff, his wife, or anything belonging to him.
Being human we look for loopholes in the rules, study them to death, and twist them to fit everyone but ourselves. Yet, they stand! They can guide us to faithful reliance on our Savior who makes us holy starting in our heart, or they will stand as a witness against us when we are summonsed to the Throne to face the Judgment! Which will it be for you? Reading that ancient code I found myself challenged anew by the holy expectation of my Father. I am a free man in Christ Jesus, not bound by the Law of Moses, but it does inform me about the quality of the love that God seeks in me for Himself and for those who live alongside of me.
Read the big ten with appreciation today, and then take this Word with thanksgiving.
"Those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing." (Galatians 3:10-13, NLT)
What a Holy God. Hallelujah, what a Wonderful Savior!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Enough? More? Ample Provision!
Last night Bev and I drove over to our local diner (you gotta love those NJ diners) to eat. For a reasonable $10, they serve soup, salad, main meal, and dessert! Yes, that's all in the price of the meal. As always, I was tempted to eat it ALL, but my better sense said, "Jerry, if you do, you will have indigestion all evening." So I gave the soup to Bev, ate only about half of my dinner, and had the dessert boxed to take home. American consumers demand these large meal portions because they perceive it as 'getting their money's worth.' Eating establishments from McDonalds to fine restaurants are serving portions that are double the size of those served 30 years ago! Our eyes have learned to want more food than we need or even more than most of us can consume in one meal. Our over-consumption has become America’s number one health risk.
It's hard to know what is 'enough' isn't it? How much food should we eat? How much money do we really need? How big does our house need to be? 'More is good' and 'bigger is better' are concepts woven into our American lifestyle, but are they really true? The Bible calls us to 'contentment.' We read that "godliness with contentment is great gain." In The Message we read: "A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough." (1 Timothy 6:6-8) One of the most difficult disciplines of the Christian life is learning how to be content and when to set a limit on consumption. Most of us expand our need to fit our available resources. Instead of choosing a reasonable lifestyle and capping our spending, we just grow our appetite for more, better, bigger, newer, faster!
When God took the Israelites out of Egypt and was leading them to the Promised Land, He promised to be their complete resource. When they had a need, all they had to do was ask! For their daily food He gave them "manna" - literally bread from His hand. Every morning He provided and they found white flakes on the ground, which they prepared as their food. There was a principle attached to His provision of manna – the principle of enough. They were told only to gather what they needed, not more. He told them “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away." (Exodus 16:19-21, NIV) Even with this miraculous provision of food, they were soon unhappy and complained that manna was boring. “Give more and different food,” they whined. "The Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt, and the people of Israel also began to complain. "Oh, for some meat!" they exclaimed. "We remember all the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic that we wanted. But now our appetites are gone, and day after day we have nothing to eat but this manna!" (Numbers 11:4-6, NLT) It was never enough!
Disciple, the Lord has promised to meet all of our needs (and more) when serve Him faithfully. He will even give us the desires of our heart, when our heart is full of the Spirit and aligned with His will. Are your appetites sanctified? Are you contented with what He provides and where He leads? We honor Him before our world when we readily and joyfully say: "Yes, Lord, I joyfully receive what You've provided."
Find the joy of contentment! Put the American sin of over-consumption to death and choose thankfulness for each day.
Are you willing to let God satisfy your desires, to accept what He provides each day as 'enough?'
Here’s a word from the Word for us today.
"At the moment I have all I need—more than I need! I am generously supplied ....
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches,
which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever. Amen."
(Philippians 4:18-20, NLT)
________________
You're my supply, my breath of life,
Still more awesome than I know!
You're my reward, worth living for,
Still more awesome than I know.
You're my sacrifice of greatest price,
Still more awesome than I know.
You're my coming King, You are ev'rything,
Still more awesome than I know.
All of You is more than enough for, all of me,
For ev'ry thirst and ev'ry need,
You satisfy me with Your love,
And all I have in You is more than enough.
More than all I want! More than all I need!
You are more than enough for me.
More than all I know! More than all I can say!
You are more than enough.
Enough © 2002 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Chris Tomlin | Louie Giglio
CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Today's miracle
Today’s miracle
Everyday needs a miracle. Surprised? Isn’t knowing the Lord, being kept in His mercies, and having the assurance of eternal life a miracle? If we define miracle as ‘a divine intervention’ then our salvation is a daily miracle! Yesterday’s grace is not enough for today. Our encounter with God last year cannot sustain us now. We need a daily miracle, an ongoing outpouring of the Holy Spirit to keep us faithfully fervent. I awakened this morning with a groan and my wife inquired, “What’s the matter?” My answer? “The mountain is high!” Like everyone, there are deadlines and demands that drain my strength. I need my daily miracle of mercy. I live by this promise that "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." (Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT)
After all the amazing experiences of God’s miraculous power in their deliverance from Egypt, we might think that the Israelites would have never felt the slightest twinge of fear again. Who can stand against us? We are the people of God led out by His Mighty Hand they sang for about a day! "The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord." (Exodus 14:9-10, NLT) "But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." (Exodus 14:13-14, NLT)
The sight of Pharaoh’s armies and chariots erased the memories of all the wonders of the Lord God’s power. They needed a miracle. How would they receive it? “Just stand still… stay calm!” That’s another way to say trust and obey. We know their story. They moved ahead towards the impossible, facing the sea, hemmed in by soldiers ready to herd them back to slavery. Then, Moses held up his staff, the wind of the Spirit blew, and a highway appeared in the Red Sea! And, why did God do this for them? "All Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” (Exodus 14:18, NLT)
Disciple, the genuine daily walk with the Lord demands a daily miracle! IF we have no need to come to Him with our empty cup and ask Him to fill it up, I believe we are choosing to live too safely, too much at home in this world, too accommodating of our sins. Those who desire to overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil quickly come to know the limits of their intellect and determination. They soon realize that ‘unless the Lord builds the house, those that labor, labor in vain!” So, we must wait on Him and then move ahead, trusting for our miracle in the moment.
Here’s a word from the Word. Tuck it into your memory and live by His strength.
"God’s Message: “Cursed is the strong one who depends on mere humans, Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets God aside as dead weight.
He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie, out of touch with the good earth. He lives rootless and aimless in a land where nothing grows.
“But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God.
They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season." (Jeremiah 17:5-8, The Message)
_____________________
We are called
To be prophets to this nation
To be the Word of God
In every situation
Change my heart
Change my heart today
Who'll be the salt
If the salt should lose its flavor
Who'll be the salt
If the salt should lose its flavor
Change my heart
Change my heart today
Lord take all my lies
And all of my greed
Let me be a sacrifice
For those who are in need
Change my heart
Change my heart today
Lord without Your power
It's all just good intentions
Lord without Your grace
Who could find redemption
Change my heart
Change my heart today
Lord loose the chains of oppression
Lord set the captives free
Lord fill my heart with compassion
Shine Your light shine Your light
Shine Your light through me
Work a miracle in my heart
Work a miracle in my heart
Work a miracle in my heart
Oh Lord today
Miracle In My Heart
© 1998, 1999 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
© 1998, 1999 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Brian Houston
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
With His Mighty Hand
The American Revolution is celebrated in the United States as a victory. The crown of England notes it as a defeat. George Washington is our hero, England’s traitor. The same incident in history looks very different to various people. The same is true in our personal history. We tend to celebrate some events and try to forget others. In my own life, I thought that 1987 was a disastrous year when it was happening, but 23 years later, I see it as a pivotal year when God used choices, my own and those of others, to radically change my heart! God sees His work, our choices, and works towards purposes that we cannot see as it’s happening. How differently our history reads in Heaven! I am quite certain that my life will make much more sense to me when I read God’s account of it.
In Exodus, there is a year that was tragic for the Egyptians, transformative for the Israelites, and tumultuous overall! Moses, under the commission of the LORD, returns to the land and challenges the status quo by telling Pharaoh that God said, “Let my people go!” For Egypt the loss of their work force would be an economic disaster, so the answer was a resounding, “No!” Then we read of an escalating battle that appears to be a match of wills between Moses and Pharaoh. Plague after plague befalls Egypt, bringing suffering and destruction to the country and her people. What is happening from God’s point of view is the birth of a distinct people that would be His own. The LORD confronts, in the plagues, the various deities of the Egyptians, proving them impotent by His Mighty Hand.
At the moment of the final plague, God not only challenges the Egyptians. He also asks the Israelites to act in faith. The firstborn of every household is under the curse, doomed to death. Only a sacrifice of a lamb, done by faith, will protect the accursed. "Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down." (Exodus 12:22-23, NLT) It is time for the Israelites to choose, to respond with faith and become participants in the plan of God! Those who did as He told them to do, found safety and preservation. The Passover became the signature celebration, a moment of identity for covenant people of the LORD.
Disciple, what is the Lord asking of you today? Does it seem senseless or difficult? He is writing history and the Scripture says that it is written for His glory and ultimately for our good. In a passage full of promise, we are told that "He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:27-29, NIV) How will you view history – as a disastrous experience of God’s judgment or as a delightful journey from slavery to freedom? Obedience is paramount! Receiving His grace, walking in faith, and letting His purpose emerge- that is the call He places on our lives.
Years after the events of Exodus what happened made sense and the summary of it all is written thus: "So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey." (Deuteronomy 26:8-9, NIV) My prayer is that God will find each of us faithful so that we, too, will be able to celebrate history as the unfolding of His gracious purposes. Will you trust and obey?
Here’s a word from the Word. May the truth of it fill your mind and heart with peace today.
"The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand." (Isaiah 14:24, NIV)
"The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand." (Isaiah 14:24, NIV)
______________
O Lord our Lord
How majestic is Your name
Your words are true
Your mercy does not change
All Your promises are precious
Reviving our faith
Every one of them
Will be fulfilled one day
We will run
We'll run and not grow weary
We will rise upon the eagle's wings
In the presence of the Lord
Our spirits will soar
Till we one day gaze upon our King
But my foot had almost slipped
O Lord I'd almost lost my way
'Til I entered the house of the Lord
And heard Your sweet Spirit say
Oh all Your promises
Are yes and amen Jesus
Your promises are true
All Your promises
Are yes and amen Lord Jesus
We'll keep running after You
All Your Promises © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing | Vineyard Songs Canada | ION Publishing (Admin. by Music Services) | (Admin. by Music Services) | (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA) Andrew Smith
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
On a first name basis
Once upon a time being on a first-name basis really meant something. When Mr. Schaller, the banker, said, “Just call me George” it implied that the relationship had become personal, crossing over from a formal business connection. In days past, when another person indicated you could use their first name in conversation, it spoke of trust. Today, everybody presumes the right to address us with our first name almost from the moment of introduction. But, even with our abandonment of formality, we still know when we have really reached a ‘first name basis’ with another. Instinctively we know the difference between the assumed intimacy of first name address and the genuine heart to heart warmth and caring that really provides a first-name basis relationship.
Do you really know God on a first-name basis? You can, but do you? When you turn to Him in prayer, does a formal attitude keep you from spilling your heart, or does your love for Him and His Presence near you invite you to pour out your longings, confess your failures, and share your joys?
Moses was called by the LORD to go back to Egypt to free Israel from slavery. When he obeyed, things got much worse for the people. Pharaoh heard Moses’ request and laughed at him. Then, he doubled the workload on the Israelities, leading them to turn on Moses with fury! "The foremen said … “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!” (Exodus 5:21, NLT) Where did Moses go with this? He turned to the One who had sent him and the passage reveals a deep intimacy. Take a look. "Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!” And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them. “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment." (Exodus 6:1-6, NLT) This man enjoyed an amazing privilege: "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." (Deuteronomy 34:10, NIV)
“I am Yahweh”! Moses knew the Name of God, the Name that means “I am the Present One.” Unlike the patriarchs who only knew Him as God Almighty, a descriptive but impersonal name, Moses enjoyed a first-name basis. In short, when Moses was going through a tough time, God assured him with His Name and the personal relationship they enjoyed. When troubles come, when confusion overtakes us, when life doesn’t make sense; what a difference it makes when we feel the Presence of Yahweh, the LORD, embracing us. If He is more than God Almighty to us, more than the fearful One in heaven; when He is our Father, our Friend, our Comforter, but most of all the Present One – we can go through, stand firm, and know peace.
Such intimacy cannot be forced or assumed. It grows from genuine worship, from waiting on Him, from a heart committed to holiness. He grants us the privilege of knowing His Name, we cannot demand it. Disciple, Jesus promises us true intimacy. In John 15, 16, and 17 He spoke at length about the relationship that the Spirit’s coming creates, that He would not simply be with us, but actually live in us. This is what it means to be filled with the Spirit! It creates a first-name basis relationship with the LORD of glory, the King of Heaven. What could be more wonderful than that?
Do you know Him that way? Is He more than “God” to you? Does the Almighty have a Name to you?
Love Him and let Him love you. Then, you will live in times of trouble with steady faith, with holiness and hope, drawn from the One who is Yahweh – “The Present One.”
________________________
With all of my heart,
I hunger for You,
All I want and all I seek
Is true intimacy.
With all of my heart,
I hunger for You,
All I want and all I seek
Is true intimacy with You!
Here I stand, waiting Lord,
Touch me now like never before!
Let me change and be transformed,
True intimacy is what I'm longing for.
Intimacy is the longing
Of my heart Lord,
Of this heart.
True Intimacy
© 1999 Song Solutions Daybreak (Admin. in the US & Canada by Integrity Music, Inc.)
Eoghan Heaslip
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, January 25, 2010
What was, what is, what will be!
Nostalgia tempts me. During my 54 years on this earth I have enjoyed many blessings of the Lord. Bev and I visited Lancaster, PA over the weekend, staying at a resort we visited a few times when our kids were little. Walking through the area with the swimming pool that they loved to play in, I could almost hear echoes of their voices: “Daddy, look at me.” It was bittersweet to walk through a place that held so many good memories, but they are just that, memories; life has moved on. I am not suggesting that we should forget the past all together. It is the fertile soil from which the present grows, after all! However, the people who live most productive and emotionally healthy lives do not spend a lot of time looking back!
Like every living person I have my share of regrets that reside in yesterday. There are more than a few choices I made then with all sincerity that are now clearly wrong. But like Paul, my focus is not what was, but what is and what will be! My prayer is that God will show me how to live today as I advance toward tomorrow- be it here on earth or in His heaven! Remember Saul who became Paul?
In his early years as a Pharisee, he hated Believers in Christ and worked to destroy the Gospel message and those who followed Jesus. But God, in amazing grace, met him on the road to Damascus. Saul believed that day and was changed. The transformation was so profound, he even took a new name! Had he lived in perpetual regret, he might have faded into obscurity, making tents in some Roman town, sorrowful 'til death for his persecution of those who loved the Lord. Or, he might have settled down to pastor the church in Ephesus, where his message met with great success and tried to hold onto a moment of triumph. But, he didn't do either of those things. Why? He tells us. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV) He knew what he was called to do and kept at it – faithfully. He left the sins in the grace of God, celebrated the triumphs, and anticipated the glorious future.
That's the road God wants us to travel! We cannot, we must not, try to erase the past or to rewrite history. We cannot let nostalgia take us hostage. When we awaken each morning, our declaration is "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24, NIV) We grow deeper in the things of the Lord as He shows us new challenges, new places for service, and presents us with new opportunities.
Disciple, in our youth we tend to live too much in the future. As we age, we are tempted more and more to live in the past. God works in the present! He is the Lord of this day. I leave you with this word from the Word, Jesus’ appeal to his friends to see what God was doing right now. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:34-35, NIV)
What is ripe for harvest right now in your life? Are your eyes open to what the Spirit is doing today?
________________
Father, I confess that change is difficult.
In the familiar there is a certain comfort.
I slide easily back into the habits and patterns of my past.
Don’t let me spend too much time gazing back
with fondness or regret!
Make me aware of this day,
the day You have made just for me.
Keep my vision clear and help me to
engage myself in the process of 'becoming...' -
to invite an ongoing transformation
into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
I pray this in His holy Name. Amen.
Like every living person I have my share of regrets that reside in yesterday. There are more than a few choices I made then with all sincerity that are now clearly wrong. But like Paul, my focus is not what was, but what is and what will be! My prayer is that God will show me how to live today as I advance toward tomorrow- be it here on earth or in His heaven! Remember Saul who became Paul?
In his early years as a Pharisee, he hated Believers in Christ and worked to destroy the Gospel message and those who followed Jesus. But God, in amazing grace, met him on the road to Damascus. Saul believed that day and was changed. The transformation was so profound, he even took a new name! Had he lived in perpetual regret, he might have faded into obscurity, making tents in some Roman town, sorrowful 'til death for his persecution of those who loved the Lord. Or, he might have settled down to pastor the church in Ephesus, where his message met with great success and tried to hold onto a moment of triumph. But, he didn't do either of those things. Why? He tells us. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, NIV) He knew what he was called to do and kept at it – faithfully. He left the sins in the grace of God, celebrated the triumphs, and anticipated the glorious future.
That's the road God wants us to travel! We cannot, we must not, try to erase the past or to rewrite history. We cannot let nostalgia take us hostage. When we awaken each morning, our declaration is "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24, NIV) We grow deeper in the things of the Lord as He shows us new challenges, new places for service, and presents us with new opportunities.
Disciple, in our youth we tend to live too much in the future. As we age, we are tempted more and more to live in the past. God works in the present! He is the Lord of this day. I leave you with this word from the Word, Jesus’ appeal to his friends to see what God was doing right now. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:34-35, NIV)
What is ripe for harvest right now in your life? Are your eyes open to what the Spirit is doing today?
________________
Father, I confess that change is difficult.
In the familiar there is a certain comfort.
I slide easily back into the habits and patterns of my past.
Don’t let me spend too much time gazing back
with fondness or regret!
Make me aware of this day,
the day You have made just for me.
Keep my vision clear and help me to
engage myself in the process of 'becoming...' -
to invite an ongoing transformation
into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
I pray this in His holy Name. Amen.
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