Not a fairy tale

The tales we are told as children are handed down, generation to generation, because they reflect something in us, that is universally true of humanity. Cinderella, the mistreated girl whose cruel step-mother keeps her from happiness, is saved by the prince. That tale resonates with us because it is one of hope in the middle of injustice.  Beauty and the Beast works so well because innately we desire a love that sees us deeply, underneath our flaws. Aesop’s fables teach us lessons of character. They are clearly just stories, riveting for children, intriguing when seen through adult eyes, but tales none the less. The tales, sometimes horrific, told by Hans Christian Andersen, who is possibly most famed for the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes, a warning of the deceit of vanity.

Some read the Scripture as a collection of fables. Those who approach the Bible, the accounts of Moses, Joshua, David, and even Jesus, as just great teaching stories, may see them as foundational in shaping our understanding of the world, but less than what they really are. If we read the Bible with those eyes, it is not the ‘word of God’ with the power to save us, nor is it compelling Truth that requires obedience.

The Bible is a revelation, not just a tale. It is a ‘living Word,’ that finds us in the confusion of competing voices and shows us the Way, the Truth, and the Life found exclusively in the Majesty of our Savior. Peter writes to remind us of the compelling nature of the Gospel of Christ, putting his own credibility on the line.  "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:16-20, NIV)

Peter tells us that he saw and knew Jesus Christ;  heard the voice of God and, was an eyewitness to the actual events that confirmed the words of the ancient prophets. He asserts this about the Scripture - "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God." (2 Peter 1:20-21, NLT) 

When you open your Bible, do you seek to hear God speak?

Do you read the words as a revelation of His will, His purpose, His salvation?

Does the Scripture call you to change, to humility, to life?

Yes, this demands diligent study, careful interpretation, grasp of context, and the Holy Spirit to guide. There are passages that are difficult, parts that when robbed of the full context of the Truth are abused.  But, in the whole, the Word is a precious gift to us, one that we demean or discard at our own peril. Have you let your mind be infected with the skepticism of this age?  Do you argue with the Bible, refusing the plain truths about sin and salvation, about love and redemption, about life eternal?

May this word from the Word help us to return to the foundation of Truth – reading the Word for what it claims to be – God’s truth given to us as ‘words of life.’ 

"But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:14-17, NLT)

By faith, may those words become ‘beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.’

______

Abba, I thank You for Your Word.

The arrogance of the ‘wise’ insists

that Your revelation is just a myth,

that Your word is nothing but a collection of legends.

Speak to my heart. Open my eyes.

Let me see the desperate state of the world,

Your desire to redeem me,

the amazing extent of Your love.

I would see Jesus, to know Him,

To love Him, to find eternal life through Him.

Amen.

What kind of love is this?

Call me overly sentimental, but I am happy that the calendar includes a day to celebrate love! Happy Valentine’s Day. The cynical among us will see this day as one hyped to create a market for cards, chocolates, and flowers. And yes, some of that is true, but expressions of loving affection are always a welcomed thing in this love-starved world in which we live.  But, today, we can celebrate real love.  Is it just about hearts and flowers, about romantic attraction?  A little, yes, but it is so much more.

In this beautiful passage, Paul describes the rich fullness of love. "Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. ....For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love." (1 Corinthians 13:7-11, 13, CEV)   That kind of love is far more costly than a Hallmark™ card or a dozen roses.   It will flourish long after the sparks of passions have diminished!

How I pray for love to be found in me and all those who claim the Name of Jesus.  My prayer is that it will not be shallow kind of affection, but an enduring choice we make about others. What does that look like?

• It is the love that reaches out to the child in a distant nation through an agency like World Vision or Compassion and invests $40 a month for that child’s education and care. 
• It is the love that forgives the one who wounds us with thoughtless words, reaching for restoration.
• It is the love that makes us blind to skin color seeing others as our brothers and sisters.
• It is the love that sees the person and not just his usefulness in our agenda.
• It is the love that will not allow us to divide people, but rather makes us ‘messengers of reconciliation.’

Jesus taught us that this kind of love is the mark that will cause others to know that we are His disciples. Profound love is not natural to us. To love, as He did – sacrificially, for the benefit of others - demands an experience of God’s love that dethrones Self and changes us inside out. John says "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. … We love each other because he loved us first." (1 John 4:10, 19, NLT)  Love comes from God and flows from us even to those who are unlovely.  Jesus said it is modeled on the love of our Father Who "gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that." (Matthew 5:45-47, The Message)

Happy Valentine’s day. Celebrate the love even if you're not romantically tied to anyone.   

Love, like Christ loved you!   It will change your world;  yes, that love will come back to change you!

The word from the Word are Jesus’ words about love, spoken to His disciples the night before He went to the cross.

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me.
Make yourselves at home in my love.
If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love.
That’s what I’ve done—
kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose:
that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.

This is the very best way to love.

Put your life on the line for your friends.

You are my friends when you do the things I command you."

(John 15:9-14, The Message)
________________________________________

Your Love Is Extravagant

Your love is extravagant

Your friendship is intimate

I find I'm moving to the rhythms of Your grace

Your fragrance is intoxicating

In our secret place

Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ

Is the love that covers sin

No greater love have I ever known

You considered me a friend

Capture my heart again

Your love is extravagant

Your love is extravagant

Your love is extravagant

Darrell Evans

© 1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI))

CCLI License # 810055

Stale bread and flat soda

I like those artisan breads, made locally, without the preservatives found in packaged breads. There is one problem, however. If I do not use the loaf within a couple of days of purchase, the bread goes stale, the flavor lost. I also enjoy a nice cold glass a raspberry-lime seltzer as long as it hasn’t had time to go flat, losing the carbonation that gives it that unique appeal.

Did you know that our Christianity can lose the edge, get stale? Peter wrote to us to encourage maturity in the daily practices of our faith- “complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love.”  And, he then goes on to say, "But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have." (2 Peter 1:9-12, NIV)

What does a stale faith look like? 

It is mumbled prayers, without heart, without faith. It is dutiful service lacking in fervor. It is an unread, dusty Bible or, at best, a few minutes spent in familiar Psalms. It is apathetic about the condition of the world that does not know the hope of Jesus. It is loveless, joyless, and lukewarm. The Bible warns of ‘deadly drift’  in life, when the pressing issues of each day carry a person away from the fellowship of the Spirit, with a growing chill in the soul. It is quite possible to wake up and find that the things of God just don’t matter anymore, the faith that once burned brightly in the heart, cooled to an ember, only to die completely!  Paul reminded Timothy, the younger pastor in a struggle in his church, to remember the calling, the faith, he had found and to take care of it. "Fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you." (2 Timothy 1:6, NLT)

We know how important daily habits are to our health, don’t we? At my most recent physical exam, the doctor looked me over and wryly asked, “So, are you taking care of your body, God’s temple?” She pointed out the neglect of exercise, the extra pounds round my waist, and the rising blood pressure that were evidence of my need to change some of my ways. I know full well that I should walk each day, that I should eat a better diet, but I choose to push those choices of to tomorrow with gradual consequence to my good health.

Similarly, there are choices to be made for spiritual vitality. They are not usually all that difficult nor do they require horrendous sacrifices. Keeping faith fresh asks you and me to make some priority choices.

• On Sunday morning, set the alarm and go connect with God and His family in worship.
• Instead of watching another TV program, spend some time with a prayer journal, the Bible, and the Spirit.
• Read something soul nourishing.
• Choose a playlist that helps you to know God’s presence.
• Forgive and strengthen ties instead of hanging onto resentments.
• Find a place to give yourself away on a regular basis, doing something for others in Jesus’ name where there is no immediate benefit to you.  
• Make every effort to balance work and worship!

These are the kinds of habits that draw us back to the renewal of our faith, that ‘make our calling and election sure.’

One last thought today …  don’t confuse ‘exciting’ with ‘fresh.’  A fresh faith does not require novelty or entertainment. A common mistake of the modern church is to replace the Presence of the Spirit with things that excite us. Bright lights, loud music, faster songs, and sermons designed to tug at emotions instead of transforming us into Christ’s likeness.  A few tears replace repentance. But let’s remember -  vital faith is not novel faith; it is God-focused, eternal, hopeful, and holy.

Here is a word from the Word. Lord, help us to do those things that allow You to work in us and through us to become holy people that shine Your Light brightly into our dark work, passionately living out the faith.

“Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see. “The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!

“Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!" (Revelation 3:18-21, The Message)

___________

Spirit of the living God,

Fall fresh on me.

Melt me, mold me,

Use me, fill me.

• copied