Smoking mountain and our Abba

Mostly, I am glad for the informality of the society in which I live.  30 years ago, a white shirt, jacket, and tie were ‘the rule’ for office and pulpit. I now wear my blue jeans and cowboy boots even on Sunday mornings. Mostly titles and honorifics are a thing of the past. I like being more approachable, the first name basis, that we now enjoy. There is, however, an area of concern. Our casual interaction with one another spills over into our relationship with God and the fear of the LORD is too often lost on us when we rob God of His majesty, imagining Him to be tame and safe. Is He?

When the people of God were on their way to the Promised Land, they made a stop at Mt. Sinai, where God met Moses to give the Law. It was a terrifying encounter with the Holy One. "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him." (Exodus 19:16-19, NIV)  

If you are ready to remind me that we don’t live at Mt. Sinai any longer, that we are brought,  by Jesus, into the Presence of God, I will not argue. Jesus has opened the way to knowing God, beyond the old ways, by presenting Himself as our sacrifice and tearing down the curtain between ordinary people and the Holy of Holies.  Yet, He remains the Holy God of Glory and we approach Him in confidence, with reverence. The inspired Word teaches us that we are not cowering under the dread that came with the Law, but we are worshipping a God Who remains ‘the great I AM.’  

Read this text prayerfully. "You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. …  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12)

We make a costly mistake when we decide that our God is “the Big Guy in the sky.”  Jesus is our Brother, He offers us love, and there is ‘no more condemnation.’  Yet,  He remains the Almighty.  Let’s not confuse true reverence with politeness or religious form. God reveals Himself as our Father so we will come to Him in conversational prayer with love. We need not use the “Thee’s and Thou’s” of another era as we address Him. That is not what He desires. The true fear of the Lord is shown in our deep humility, in our unquestioning faith, in our quick obedience. For all of our love of the informal, there is a need to ponder His majesty so that we will offer adoration, open our hearts in honest confession, and make petitions that rest on His amazing power to act in ways that are beyond our imagination.

This holy, majestic God comes to live in you and me, the Spirit making us His holy temples. Are you living in ways that are worthy of Him?  "Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT)

When was the last time you sat in the Presence of the Lord and sensed His awesomeness, falling silent, or even moved to tears?  I make no argument for turning God into a remote, unapproachable Person. Jesus Christ loves us. He walks with us. The Holy Spirit comforts us. Yet, we need a real awe which Proverbs reminds us is the fountainhead of wisdom! "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Let us not forget that the same Jesus who held children in his arms, who extended forgiveness to an adulterous woman, and who fed hungry crowds, is also revealed in this fearsome imagery - "in a robe and gold breastplate, hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, both feet furnace-fired bronze, His voice a cataract, right hand holding the Seven Stars, His mouth a sharp-biting sword, his face a perigee sun." (Revelation 1:13-16, The Message) When John saw this vision he reports "I fell at his feet as dead." (Revelation 1:17, NLT) Jesus touched John and told him not to be overcome with terror!

Here is a word from the Word. "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. … what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4, NIV)

Abba, (Heavenly Father) how I thank You that You tell me of Your love.

I am overwhelmed with the thought that You choose to bring me near.

Teach me to love You acceptably, to revere You even as I know You as my Father.

Move me, with the knowledge of Your Holy Majesty, to trust You fully,

To obey You readily, to live with deep assurance in days of uncertainty.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Looking for that $1,000,000 check!

I checked my mailbox and there was just one lonely envelope, a form letter. I joked, “Guess I’m still waiting for that $1,000,000 check!” My friend remarked, “I think you’re doing just fine without it.” It was a moment of realization of gratitude for the many blessings that I do enjoy. It's hard to know how much is 'enough.' How much food should we eat? How much money do we really need? How big does our house need to be?

For a long time the America ideal seemed to be built around the idea that 'bigger is better’ and that ‘more is good.’  During clean-up week in our town, I took a load of trash to the landfill and waited in a long line of trucks overflowing with stuff no longer wanted or needed, things once treasured, now junk.  Thankfully, we are beginning to understand, once again, the value of renewing things, of buying for value not quantity, of treating the resources of the earth in a sustainable way, which lines up with the Scripture’s call to good management of what God has given to us. 

There is another word in the Bible that I need to hear often - 'contentment.'  Paul teaches us that "godliness with contentment is great gain." He says "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) Part of maturing spiritually requires us to learn to be content and know what enough means.   

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" - bread from His hand. He trained them to understand what enough meant when it came to manna. Each morning they found white flakes on the ground, which they prepared as their food. They were told only to gather what they needed for that day. He told them  “No one is to keep any of it until the next morning.”  Being human, some of them ignored what Moses said and learned the hard way. They found their storage full of maggots and stinking except for the Day before Sabbath, when they could gather 2 days provision and it did not spoil.

The story of manna has a sad side note.  We might think that living on free heaven-sent food would be reason for gratitude. But, those people soon grew unhappy and complained that manna was boring.  "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! 

There is great wisdom in this passage from Proverbs. "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:8-9, NIV)  I want to humbly receive God’s provision for this day, don’t you? I pray to know real and deep gratitude for my daily bread.

When the Lord provides for all of our needs (what discernment is required to know what we really need and what we simply think we need), our prayers should be more than perfunctory thanks, like that polite card you used to send your Grandma after Christmas! Real thankfulness recognizes that He is good and that what He provides is best.  Oh, yes, He is a generous Father who promises His children the desires of their hearts. Key to understanding that is knowing the changed desires of a Spirit-filled heart. The baubles of this world lose their luster in the eyes of those who are loving God, full of the Spirit, and joyfully seeking His kingdom first.

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."

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)

___________

Enough
(Chris Tomlin leads us to declare He is enough)

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

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

And

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

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

Chris Tomlin | Louie Giglio

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Divine Healing?

Each Sunday, as part of our gathering, we invite people to prayer where the Elders of our fellowship anoint them with oil, trusting God to bring wholeness, provision, and restoration. James directed those in need of healing to ask for this anointing.  That oil is a symbol of the Spirit. Receiving that anointing is an act of faith. It is a sacred moment in our liturgy for which I am thankful. But, what about that healing? What are we really seeking?

In my ongoing readings in Exodus, I came today to this text - God made a great promise to His people: “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” (Exodus 15)  He revealed Himself as "Yahweh Rapha"- Hebrew that we translate as “the Lord, our Healer.”    

Of particular note to me is the importance of our choices; that we have a responsibility to live in a way that facilitates wholeness.  Go back and read that verse again. If we abuse our physical frame with poor diet, lack of rest, unrelenting stress, drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other toxic things - are we right to blame God when health fails? The Lord made these bodies we enjoy with amazing recuperative abilities. Our immune systems are something of wonder. But, with neglect, we can destroy our health and God will allow us to reject wholeness.  

Let’s not forget that warning that is part of Paul’s instructions for the Holy Meal of Communion: "For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died." (1 Cor. 11:29-30, NLT)  When we take the Bread and Cup as God's people, we accept a responsibility to live God-honoring lives. If we don't, we invite God’s discipline, which is not punitive, but lovingly corrective.

Let me hasten to add this! It is both cruel and wrong to jump to a quick judgment of those who are suffering from some terrible sickness.  To conclude that every Christian who is sick or suffering is a sinner under God’s hand is to take the place of God on the Throne! Snap conclusions based on the observable 'facts,' can make us cruel judges. 

Jesus' disciples saw a blind man.  Making a common assumption of their time, they asked “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?” (John 9:2)  There had to be some moral failure, except that there wasn’t! Jesus' told his disciples to reconsider their judgment! “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins, he was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.” (John 9:3) This is one of those texts that really stretches our faith, isn’t it?  Sometimes suffering serves to bring about the glory of God!  “Lord, I believe. Help me overcome my doubt,” I cry.

It is true that God can use sickness like a chisel that shapes us into the image of Christ. He may use suffering to call the whole to compassion and unselfish service. And, yes - the pain of the present pries our fingers from their tight grip on the things of earth and causes us to reach for the Hand of our Father in Heaven.

Healing is His promise and we will receive wholeness, if not today, it will be ours when our salvation is fully realized in His Kingdom. When His Kingdom comes, every trace of the Curse will be erased. John writes in the Revelation - "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-2, NIV)

So, as we preach of Yahweh Rapha (The Lord, Our Healer) we do so with humility. As with all good gifts that accompany our 'graced' status as sons and daughter of the King, we receive healing with gratitude, rightly amazed that God would care for us with such tenderness.

Live holy, that you might live wholly.

_______

Healing Rain

(Michael W. Smith sings this praise)

Healing rain is falling down

Healing rain is falling down

I'm not afraid I'm not afraid

(REPEAT)

Healing rain is coming down

It's coming nearer to this old town

Rich and poor the weak and strong

It's bringing mercy it won't be long

Healing rain it comes with fire

So let it fall and take us higher

Healing rain I'm not afraid

To be washed in heaven's rain

Healing rain is coming down

It's coming closer to the lost and found

Tears of joy and tears of shame

Are washed forever in Jesus' name

Lift your heads let us return

To the mercy seat where time began

And in your eyes I see the pain

Come soak this dry heart with healing rain

And only You the Son of man

Could take a leper and let him stand

So lift your hands they can be held

By someone greater the Great I Am

Healing rain is falling down

Healing rain is falling down

I'm not afraid I'm not afraid

(REPEAT)

Martin Smith | Matt Bronleewe | Michael W. Smith

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