I would have a hard time taking advice on nutrition from a guy with a large order of fries sitting on his desk next to his Hostess Twinkies®, or counsel about long-term health decisions from a physician who was grossly overweight and who had cigarette smoke on his breath. I’d like to think that the guy trying to sell me a Ford actually drives one. It’s one thing to know something. It is quite another to live it!
Disciple, does your life show real evidence of the truth you profess? Paul, writing about the importance of practicing what you preach, spoke to the hypocrisy of his Jewish brothers. "You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:21-24, NIV) That last line challenges me. Do I, as a Christian, give others reason to doubt the reality of God’s love by my words or actions; or does the authenticity of my life’s alignment to the will of God cause others to desire to know Him, too?
We will never perfectly practice our faith. We fail! But, let’s not make our human imperfection an excuse for continuing to habitually sin, for leaving habits in place that we can change with the help of the Spirit of God. The Word challenges us as Spirit-filled people to ‘keep step with the Spirit.’ The Message brings that passage home for me. "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." (Galatians 5:25, The Message)
When I think of disciples who have had the most influence in my life, I don’t think of those who were show-offs or who made the most noise. I remember those who went about doing good quietly, who were honest about themselves, contented to live out the call of God without needing applause. What does the Bible say is the evidence of the life of the Spirit? It isn’t the ability to recite long texts without flaw, or the mastery of details of doctrine. It is in our character! "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:22-24, NIV) If you want to know if your faith is coming across as authentic, ask a child! An adult will be too polite, too concerned about your feelings perhaps, to tell you the truth. A child will tell like it is. So, ask someone who is about 8 or 9 years of age, who knows you well, “Do you think that I love Jesus?” The answer may affirm you or devastate you!
Holiness, that is real, is a beautiful thing. It is how God designed us to live, whole, at rest in Him. A truly holy person is changed from the inside out, healed, and restored. Sanctimony is ugly, a superficial attempt to cover the flaws and scars of sin. Here’s what the Lord promises to those who seek and love Him. He will “will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." (Isaiah 61:3, NLT)
Father in Heaven, thank you for the promise of restored beauty.
Sin makes me ugly, turns my life into a pile of ashes!
But, You forgive, heal, and transform;
making me stand tall like an oak tree!
I confess my sinfulness and ask that the Spirit would work
deeply in me, that His life would take hold of my life.
Lord, let me see where there are holes in my profession,
where my claim to faith is not matched by a life of faith.
Give me courage to let you change my heart – even with pain -
so that the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
that others will desire to know Him, to be His disciples.
This I pray in His Name, boldly and with full expectation.
AMEN
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Celebration? What, why?
Yesterday some of my friends ate corned beef and cabbage, worn green, and spoke in strange tongues to mark St. Patrick's Day. Shamrocks appeared. For me, without a drop of Irish blood, (that I know of) it is not a celebration of much consequence. July 4 is a day of significance to Americans. We remember our Independence and establishment as the United States of America with fireworks, parades, and displays of 'red, white, and blue.' July 4 in Mexico? No big deal; it's just another day on the calendar. Here's my point - special days and rituals help us to mark what we value, remind us of heritage, and unite people of common interest.
God directed the Israelites to keep a holy calendar that included a weekly day set apart, the Sabbath, and several holy feasts during the year. "These are the appointed feasts of God which you will decree as sacred assemblies for presenting Fire-Gifts to God: the Whole-Burnt-Offerings, Grain-Offerings, sacrifices, and Drink-Offerings assigned to each day." (Leviticus 23:37, The Message) "Moses posted the calendar for the annual appointed feasts of God which Israel was to celebrate." (Leviticus 23:44, The Message) Passover is perhaps the best known of the holy days, remembering their deliverance from Egypt and birth as a nation. The Day of Atonement is the most solemn, marking repentance for sin and renewal of their relationship with the LORD. God called His people to break from the routines of life to remember Him, to celebrate His work, and to renew their unique identity. In my reading in Leviticus 23 today, I was reminded that the Lord not only offered the days of celebration to His people; He commanded that they mark them faithfully!
Do you consciously celebrate your relationship with the Lord, your heritage in Christ?
The Sabbath Law has been replaced by an invitation to weekly worship on the Lord's Day. What a privilege we have to come together at our churches, to offer our praise, to pray for one another, to remember our calling to be the people of God in our world. Only as adult did I discover the ancient church calendar that reminds me of God's work. The free church in which I was raised never mentioned Advent or the Lenten season. Pentecost mentioned, but not with celebration. Christmas and Easter were more secular than sacred, at least in terms of the way we celebrated.
I urge you to learn the Christian calendar, to mark the various seasons of the year, not just as rituals to keep; but with the goal of pleasing God by being reminded of the holy calling you share to be His very own! Take joy in remembering to Whom you belong, the identity that has been given to you through Christ Jesus. Remember that "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light!" (1 Peter 2:9, KJV)
________________
The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
Elect from ev'ry nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses;
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With ev'ry grace endued.
'Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious,
Shall be the Church at rest.
The Church's One Foundation
Stone, Samuel J. / Wesley, Samuel S.
© Public Domain
God directed the Israelites to keep a holy calendar that included a weekly day set apart, the Sabbath, and several holy feasts during the year. "These are the appointed feasts of God which you will decree as sacred assemblies for presenting Fire-Gifts to God: the Whole-Burnt-Offerings, Grain-Offerings, sacrifices, and Drink-Offerings assigned to each day." (Leviticus 23:37, The Message) "Moses posted the calendar for the annual appointed feasts of God which Israel was to celebrate." (Leviticus 23:44, The Message) Passover is perhaps the best known of the holy days, remembering their deliverance from Egypt and birth as a nation. The Day of Atonement is the most solemn, marking repentance for sin and renewal of their relationship with the LORD. God called His people to break from the routines of life to remember Him, to celebrate His work, and to renew their unique identity. In my reading in Leviticus 23 today, I was reminded that the Lord not only offered the days of celebration to His people; He commanded that they mark them faithfully!
Do you consciously celebrate your relationship with the Lord, your heritage in Christ?
The Sabbath Law has been replaced by an invitation to weekly worship on the Lord's Day. What a privilege we have to come together at our churches, to offer our praise, to pray for one another, to remember our calling to be the people of God in our world. Only as adult did I discover the ancient church calendar that reminds me of God's work. The free church in which I was raised never mentioned Advent or the Lenten season. Pentecost mentioned, but not with celebration. Christmas and Easter were more secular than sacred, at least in terms of the way we celebrated.
I urge you to learn the Christian calendar, to mark the various seasons of the year, not just as rituals to keep; but with the goal of pleasing God by being reminded of the holy calling you share to be His very own! Take joy in remembering to Whom you belong, the identity that has been given to you through Christ Jesus. Remember that "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light!" (1 Peter 2:9, KJV)
________________
The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
Elect from ev'ry nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses;
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With ev'ry grace endued.
'Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious,
Shall be the Church at rest.
The Church's One Foundation
Stone, Samuel J. / Wesley, Samuel S.
© Public Domain
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Responsibility that Come with Privilege
From an early age, my late father frequently reminded me that those who are blessed with privilege must recognize the responsibility that comes with it. I saw that principle through the middle chapters of Leviticus which I read today. The Lord, through Moses, called on the Israelites, again and again, to be different from the people of Egypt among whom they had lived for 400 years! They were now to be known as the people belonging to the Lord, with the privilege of making Him known in the world. That required sexual purity, a commitment to justice, and a new social order.
God demanded that the whole of their lives be defined by their relationship to Him. He would not share them with lesser gods and He would not accept anything but their best sacrifices. If the people were faithful to Him, He promised to bless them. "The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them." (Deuteronomy 28:12-14, NLT) Even receiving the promise, the people would honor their God, for others would see their blessings and know that the Lord was a good and powerful God!
I am reluctant to pursue this thought because I know it is so easily twisted into something it is not! So, please, read thoughtfully. Disciple, God calls us to the privileged place as His people. Through Christ, and the rebirth of the Spirit, we become the children of God, with the high privilege of bearing His Name before our world. Here’s how the Word explains it: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1:3-6, NIV) As I read those words, my heart fills with gratitude for His grace. But, soberly I also know that a sacred responsibility is ours. "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Ephesians 4:1, NIV)
Those who receive, by faith, the calling of the Father enjoy what Jesus called the ‘abundant life.’ We enjoy the joy of knowing the purpose for which we were made. We live in the center of His will. Our spirit are made alive and responsive to His Spirit. We are loved and learn to love wholly! We live peacefully under His care in this world and with confidence even in the presence of death because we are assured of eternal life. But, we must never believe that all this is simply our right or available to us just for our own benefit. God glorifies Himself by providing us such an inheritance.
Let’s live in the privilege and embrace the responsibility! Here’s a word from the Word.
"And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children. See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is." (1 John 2:28-3:2, NLT)
___________
Your love has captured me.
Your grace has set me free.
Your life, the air I breathe.
Be glorified in me.
You set my feet to dancing.
You set my heart on fire.
In the presence of a thousand kings
You are my one desire,
And I stand before You now
With trembling hands lifted high.
Be glorified.
Be glorified in me.
Be glorified in me.
Be glorified in me.
Be glorified.
Be Glorified
Tomlin, Chris / Giglio, Louie
EMI Christian Music Publishing
© 1999 worshiptogether.com songs
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
God demanded that the whole of their lives be defined by their relationship to Him. He would not share them with lesser gods and He would not accept anything but their best sacrifices. If the people were faithful to Him, He promised to bless them. "The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them." (Deuteronomy 28:12-14, NLT) Even receiving the promise, the people would honor their God, for others would see their blessings and know that the Lord was a good and powerful God!
I am reluctant to pursue this thought because I know it is so easily twisted into something it is not! So, please, read thoughtfully. Disciple, God calls us to the privileged place as His people. Through Christ, and the rebirth of the Spirit, we become the children of God, with the high privilege of bearing His Name before our world. Here’s how the Word explains it: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1:3-6, NIV) As I read those words, my heart fills with gratitude for His grace. But, soberly I also know that a sacred responsibility is ours. "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." (Ephesians 4:1, NIV)
Those who receive, by faith, the calling of the Father enjoy what Jesus called the ‘abundant life.’ We enjoy the joy of knowing the purpose for which we were made. We live in the center of His will. Our spirit are made alive and responsive to His Spirit. We are loved and learn to love wholly! We live peacefully under His care in this world and with confidence even in the presence of death because we are assured of eternal life. But, we must never believe that all this is simply our right or available to us just for our own benefit. God glorifies Himself by providing us such an inheritance.
Let’s live in the privilege and embrace the responsibility! Here’s a word from the Word.
"And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children. See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is." (1 John 2:28-3:2, NLT)
___________
Your love has captured me.
Your grace has set me free.
Your life, the air I breathe.
Be glorified in me.
You set my feet to dancing.
You set my heart on fire.
In the presence of a thousand kings
You are my one desire,
And I stand before You now
With trembling hands lifted high.
Be glorified.
Be glorified in me.
Be glorified in me.
Be glorified in me.
Be glorified.
Be Glorified
Tomlin, Chris / Giglio, Louie
EMI Christian Music Publishing
© 1999 worshiptogether.com songs
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Thunderclaps and Holy Worship
Sunday’s worship at our church included some thunderous wonders! About 15 minutes into the service, a thunderstorm broke outside and with it came lightning that struck somewhere very, very close to the building. The building glowed white and then shook as we all felt the concussion. Many, including me thought lightning had hit the building, for it felt that an explosion had ripped through the building. One little boy later asked his Mom if we would be having ‘special effects’ every Sunday. After the initial shock passed, I prayed intensely for the Lord’s protection to rest on His people. It was a reminder of the awesome power of His Creation, a truly humbling experience that, at least for me, actually deepened my awe and worship.
Disciple, do you stand in awe of God?
When you come near to Him, do you come with true reverence, with an attitude of humility?
In my Scripture reading today, I read of the sons of Aaron who forgot the ‘otherness’ of the LORD, who presumed to approach Him on their own terms. The little story shocks me. Take a look. "Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord." (Leviticus 10:1-2, NIV) Their failure to recognize the holy awesomeness of the LORD caused their death. Their example is not the only one in the Bible. Uzzah put his hand on the Ark of the Covenant and died for his familiarity. (2 Samuel 6) Acts 5 recounts the story of Annanias and Sapphira, early Christians who lied to the Holy Spirit and died!
In this era of grace, knowing God as we do through Jesus Christ, our Brother, we can easily forget His majesty. When life does not go our way, when our prayers seem to go unanswered, if we have made Him too small we risk offering the ‘strange fire’ of our complaints, speaking irreverently before Him. Better that we kneel in humility, receiving the grace we need for each day. He invites us to "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, NIV) Do not forget the context of that invitation which is that we have a great High Priest in Christ Jesus, whose intercession on our behalf opens the door to the Throne Room of the Father! We sin against the Lord’s holiness if we rush in with dirty hands and heart.
In recent weeks, the course of life has led me through many storms. One month ago, I had surgery to remove an intestinal blockage. It was a time of real testing, a thunderstorm that brought winds that shook me! Several dear friends of mine are dealing with major health issues at this time, cancer being the pre-dominant thing. They are servants of the Lord and I am tempted to accuse God of forgetting them, but then I am reminded that “His ways are higher than my ways!” I pray for renewal of my understanding of His awesomeness, so that I will trust Him with greater faith, praying as He invites me to pray for the healing of my friends, yet humbly accepting each day from Him. The essence of holy worship is that kind of acceptance. We exalt Him when we continue to serve Him – in the good times and the bad times, when we love Him equally when the sun shines and when the storms rage.
Sunday, I had a kind of Isaiah moment when our worship center shook. The thunder was a stark reminder of just how small I am and how great He is. I pray I do not soon forget that lesson. Here’s a word from the Word. May the Lord bless it and make the truth of His words a guide for life.
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8, NIV)
__________________
Father, I come today thankful for Jesus Christ,
My Savior, My Brother, My King.
Thank you for thunderstorms that help me to remember that
You are God and I am not!
I ask Your healing touch for my friends who are walking through
difficult situations, who are suffering with pain and uncertainty.
Steady them with the comforting Presence of the Holy Spirit.
May the responses of my heart to the trials of life reflect
a genuine reverence and respect of Your awesomeness.
Keep me from the sin of presumption, yet let me love You as I ought.
I am Your servant.
I worship You- Holy, Awesome Lord of the Angel Armies,
Creator of the Universe, Beginning and End.
Amen.
Disciple, do you stand in awe of God?
When you come near to Him, do you come with true reverence, with an attitude of humility?
In my Scripture reading today, I read of the sons of Aaron who forgot the ‘otherness’ of the LORD, who presumed to approach Him on their own terms. The little story shocks me. Take a look. "Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord." (Leviticus 10:1-2, NIV) Their failure to recognize the holy awesomeness of the LORD caused their death. Their example is not the only one in the Bible. Uzzah put his hand on the Ark of the Covenant and died for his familiarity. (2 Samuel 6) Acts 5 recounts the story of Annanias and Sapphira, early Christians who lied to the Holy Spirit and died!
In this era of grace, knowing God as we do through Jesus Christ, our Brother, we can easily forget His majesty. When life does not go our way, when our prayers seem to go unanswered, if we have made Him too small we risk offering the ‘strange fire’ of our complaints, speaking irreverently before Him. Better that we kneel in humility, receiving the grace we need for each day. He invites us to "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, NIV) Do not forget the context of that invitation which is that we have a great High Priest in Christ Jesus, whose intercession on our behalf opens the door to the Throne Room of the Father! We sin against the Lord’s holiness if we rush in with dirty hands and heart.
In recent weeks, the course of life has led me through many storms. One month ago, I had surgery to remove an intestinal blockage. It was a time of real testing, a thunderstorm that brought winds that shook me! Several dear friends of mine are dealing with major health issues at this time, cancer being the pre-dominant thing. They are servants of the Lord and I am tempted to accuse God of forgetting them, but then I am reminded that “His ways are higher than my ways!” I pray for renewal of my understanding of His awesomeness, so that I will trust Him with greater faith, praying as He invites me to pray for the healing of my friends, yet humbly accepting each day from Him. The essence of holy worship is that kind of acceptance. We exalt Him when we continue to serve Him – in the good times and the bad times, when we love Him equally when the sun shines and when the storms rage.
Sunday, I had a kind of Isaiah moment when our worship center shook. The thunder was a stark reminder of just how small I am and how great He is. I pray I do not soon forget that lesson. Here’s a word from the Word. May the Lord bless it and make the truth of His words a guide for life.
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8, NIV)
__________________
Father, I come today thankful for Jesus Christ,
My Savior, My Brother, My King.
Thank you for thunderstorms that help me to remember that
You are God and I am not!
I ask Your healing touch for my friends who are walking through
difficult situations, who are suffering with pain and uncertainty.
Steady them with the comforting Presence of the Holy Spirit.
May the responses of my heart to the trials of life reflect
a genuine reverence and respect of Your awesomeness.
Keep me from the sin of presumption, yet let me love You as I ought.
I am Your servant.
I worship You- Holy, Awesome Lord of the Angel Armies,
Creator of the Universe, Beginning and End.
Amen.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Minority Report?
The future, in most accounts, is not bright! Our great nation and the rest of the world remains in the grip of the worst economic difficulties seen in decades. Two wars that drain American treasure and cost thousands of lives drag on after years. In Washington, DC and state capitols our politicians bicker everyday but do nothing to solve our problems. Trusted financial institutions on Wall Street that we thought were being led by brilliant people turned out to be dens of thieves whose chicanery lost $1.2 trillion (not a typo) of our wealth, though they kept their $multi-billion bonuses. Internationally, we see ancient animosities that continue to bring instability to the world through the Middle East. Iran seems ready to build nuclear weapons. Israel responds by rattling her mighty sword! Earthquakes have devastated Haiti and Chile, with millions now living in miserable conditions. The African continent suffers the results of terrible AIDS epidemics, leaving millions of orphans. Islam’s militant faction keeps Western democracies in near panic.
The report from across the globe is grim. Reflecting on these things, my mood is like that described in the Psalm of the exiles: "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps." (Psalm 137:1-2, NIV) But is this a time to silence our songs and weep? Or is this a time of opportunity?
I was inspired by my reading in the book of Numbers. In preparation for entry into the Promised Land, the LORD told Moses to send in scouts. Twelve men were selected for a 40 day exploration. "So they went up and explored the land … When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them! They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs." (Numbers 13:23, NLT) They came back with this report. "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large." (Numbers 13:27-28, NIV) Most of the scouts spread a report that demoralized the people, that saw the only the facts without a complement of faith in God!
Two scouts, Caleb and Joshua delivered a minority report. "They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:7-9, NLT) I love that they did not gloss over the challenges which is what some are tempted to do in tough times. These men remembered the One Who was sending His people into the land and matched faith to fact, spiritual vision to the real difficulties that would be involved in possessing the Promised Land! Sadly, the minority report did not prevail. Israel rejected the LORD’s commission and suffered for it.
The Church of Jesus Christ needs people with the vision of Caleb and Joshua! We need visionary people, who are inspired by faith, who see beyond the challenges of broken government, mountains of debt, feuding nations, and the poverty that enslaves millions. Instead of hanging up our harps and weeping by the river, we need to sing the songs of triumph! We need to take courage. There is a memorable phrase used by Peter. "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, NKJV) He refers to the man who gathered up his garment, tucking it into his belt, as he readied himself for heavy work! It is such a line, I want you to remember it. Gird up the loins of your mind! It is more understandable when the metaphor that was plain to Peter’s first readers is replaced. "Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:13, NIV)
The Gospel that is a treasure entrusted to us addresses every need of our world! Christ Jesus brings freedom from sin, transforms those who receive Him. This is the hour for the Church to stand up and speak! No, I am not calling for a renewed culture war. We have been there and done that. Forget making all that noise about the sins of the land and trying to get Congress or the courts to do with law what we are to do with love! We are to be warriors of love, people who give our lives to serve the poor, the broken, the least, the lonely! Open your heart and your home and your wallet. Go to prayer and let God help you to see with His eyes.
Here’s a word from the Word. Gird up the loins of your mind as you read it! Let’s make this passage our rallying cry as we go out as the faith-filled people of God that deliver the news of the coming Kingdom of our Lord and Christ. "You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9, NLT) "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (1 Peter 2:12, NLT)
_________________
Is there a mountain in your way?
Do doubts and fears abound?
Press on, oh hear the Spirit say,
This mountain shall come down.
Is there a fiery furnace trial?
Far more than you can bear?
Behold the blessed Son of God,
Is walking with you there.
Not by might, nor by pow'r,
By My Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts.
Not by might, not my pow'r,
By My Spirit saith the Lord.
This mountain shall be removed;
This mountain shall be removed;
This mountain shall be removed,
By My Spirit saith the Lord.
Then trust alone the mighty God,
He speaks, the winds obey.
Take courage then oh fainting heart,
For you He'll make a way.
By My Spirit
Herrick, Almeda
Lorenz Corporation © 1957. Renewed 1985 Gospel Publishing House (Assigned to Lorenz Corporation, 1998)
CCLI License No. 810055
The report from across the globe is grim. Reflecting on these things, my mood is like that described in the Psalm of the exiles: "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps." (Psalm 137:1-2, NIV) But is this a time to silence our songs and weep? Or is this a time of opportunity?
I was inspired by my reading in the book of Numbers. In preparation for entry into the Promised Land, the LORD told Moses to send in scouts. Twelve men were selected for a 40 day exploration. "So they went up and explored the land … When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them! They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs." (Numbers 13:23, NLT) They came back with this report. "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large." (Numbers 13:27-28, NIV) Most of the scouts spread a report that demoralized the people, that saw the only the facts without a complement of faith in God!
Two scouts, Caleb and Joshua delivered a minority report. "They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:7-9, NLT) I love that they did not gloss over the challenges which is what some are tempted to do in tough times. These men remembered the One Who was sending His people into the land and matched faith to fact, spiritual vision to the real difficulties that would be involved in possessing the Promised Land! Sadly, the minority report did not prevail. Israel rejected the LORD’s commission and suffered for it.
The Church of Jesus Christ needs people with the vision of Caleb and Joshua! We need visionary people, who are inspired by faith, who see beyond the challenges of broken government, mountains of debt, feuding nations, and the poverty that enslaves millions. Instead of hanging up our harps and weeping by the river, we need to sing the songs of triumph! We need to take courage. There is a memorable phrase used by Peter. "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, NKJV) He refers to the man who gathered up his garment, tucking it into his belt, as he readied himself for heavy work! It is such a line, I want you to remember it. Gird up the loins of your mind! It is more understandable when the metaphor that was plain to Peter’s first readers is replaced. "Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:13, NIV)
The Gospel that is a treasure entrusted to us addresses every need of our world! Christ Jesus brings freedom from sin, transforms those who receive Him. This is the hour for the Church to stand up and speak! No, I am not calling for a renewed culture war. We have been there and done that. Forget making all that noise about the sins of the land and trying to get Congress or the courts to do with law what we are to do with love! We are to be warriors of love, people who give our lives to serve the poor, the broken, the least, the lonely! Open your heart and your home and your wallet. Go to prayer and let God help you to see with His eyes.
Here’s a word from the Word. Gird up the loins of your mind as you read it! Let’s make this passage our rallying cry as we go out as the faith-filled people of God that deliver the news of the coming Kingdom of our Lord and Christ. "You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9, NLT) "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (1 Peter 2:12, NLT)
_________________
Is there a mountain in your way?
Do doubts and fears abound?
Press on, oh hear the Spirit say,
This mountain shall come down.
Is there a fiery furnace trial?
Far more than you can bear?
Behold the blessed Son of God,
Is walking with you there.
Not by might, nor by pow'r,
By My Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts.
Not by might, not my pow'r,
By My Spirit saith the Lord.
This mountain shall be removed;
This mountain shall be removed;
This mountain shall be removed,
By My Spirit saith the Lord.
Then trust alone the mighty God,
He speaks, the winds obey.
Take courage then oh fainting heart,
For you He'll make a way.
By My Spirit
Herrick, Almeda
Lorenz Corporation © 1957. Renewed 1985 Gospel Publishing House (Assigned to Lorenz Corporation, 1998)
CCLI License No. 810055
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