Different kind of rich

The elderly man is at the end of his life. After a life full of caring for his family and others, he finds himself helpless. He shook his head in a kind of disbelief as he told me, “I used to teach them things, but there is nothing left.”  Another person who wrestles with faith told me that he thinks that God is an idea for weak people, that he is managing his life quite well on his own.  At this time, it appears he is. He is strong, self-sufficient, even proud in many ways. Both of these men, who are in very different situations, need the wisdom of Jesus. For one it is comfort. For the other it is a challenge.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:3-5, NIV)

That list is not exactly the ideal life in our thoughts, is it? Who wants to be desperate, pushed beyond limit, which is what it means to be ‘poor in spirit?’  I know first-hand, the pain of mourning, of waking up to deep sorrow, day after day, and it is a kind of hurt that has no equal in my experience.  Meekness? This is the stuff of mockery and comedy.  Meek and weak are synonymous in our thoughts.

But, Jesus opens His amazing sermon about the life that God blesses with these astonishing statements about discovery of the sufficiency of God, about learning our true hope that is secured in Him! He reminds us that at the end of Self there is more, and that ‘more’ is the rich knowledge of God’s provision. Perhaps that stretches credibility for you. At one time it did for me, too.  I was, even as a professing Christian, a prideful man, full of plans and convinced that I could do good things by the force of my own ability and strength. At great cost to myself and others I came to know the folly of that kind of life.  My greatest regrets come from moments of arrogant self-will in which I was deluded.

God is not a sadist, nor does He desire our destruction.  But, He also knows that real life, our best life, is found in knowing Him, secured by the grace gift of Christ Jesus for life here and in eternity.

A young, rich nobleman came to Jesus and in a moment of authenticity asked what he could do find eternal life. He revealed a sense of need in that moment. How did Jesus answer him? He asked him to give away the wealth in which he found his security and to become His disciple. "Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went sadly away because he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. I say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” (Matthew 19:21-24, NLT)

Don’t misunderstand this encounter. Jesus had nothing against the man’s wealth. It was his love of it, his trust in it, that was the stumbling block to his spiritual maturity, his discovery of God’s sufficiency for him. Jesus’ famed line about camels and needles eyes is frequently misunderstood as well.  It is not a condemnation of the rich. It is His observation that wealth can create the illusion of independence, distancing that person from relying God’s provision, which can make the humility necessary for accepting God’s grace gift of salvation nearly impossible.

Are you in a place where you feel that there is no place left to turn, that you are out of options, ‘poor in spirit?’ 

Look up! Trust God, who loves you.

Are you broken by life, perhaps by regrets, by the loss of what is dear to you, ‘mourning?’ 

God is the Healer of broken hearts, the One whose ‘compassion is new every morning.’

Are you willing to become meek, releasing the need to force your way, to serve Ego, ‘meek?’ 

Then you can find the power of the Spirit and a whole new way to influence the world in which you live.

I didn’t say those things, Jesus did! Perhaps you are not in those places but like the rich young man who came to Jesus, you hunger for more; realizing that life, though good, is more than what you can buy, what car you drive, what clubs you visit. God invites you to know Him, but it is a path of self-abandonment and surrender that allows us to own His grace and goodness.

Here is the word from the Word, that passage from the Message.

"“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought." (Matthew 5:3-5, The Message)

Give us ears to hear and eyes to see the Truth. Amen.

________

You Say

I keep fighting voices in my mind

That say I'm not enough

Ev'ry single lie that tells me

I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of

Ev'ry high and ev'ry low

Remind me once again just who I am

Because I need to know oo oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don't belong oh You say I am Yours

And I believe oh I believe

What You say of me I believe

The only thing that matters now

Is ev'rything You think of me

In You I find my worth

In You I find my identity

Taking all I have and now I'm laying it at Your feet

You'll have ev'ry failure God

You'll have ev'ry victory

Oh I believe yes I believe

What You say of me I believe

Jason Ingram | Lauren Daigle | Paul Mabury

© 2016 CentricSongs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Healing

 

Even the most optimistic person, with the sunniest disposition, recognizes that there are millions who live with pain, who are abused by powerful people, who struggle to survive. Health care in America this year will top $3 trillion, about 18% of our total economy! Even accounting for unnecessary procedures, we can see that sickness and disease remains a real issue even in this developed nation. Eventually everyone encounters the limits in life that come with advancing years. Franklin wryly observed, along with taxes, the other certainty is death. Is there hope for healing?

Matthew tells us that "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him." (Matthew 4:23-25, NIV)

Let’s consider that word – healing - which causes so much controversy among Christians. Should we pray for healing? Does God still heal people today? Yes, we should, and yes, He does. Sickness and suffering are part of sin’s curse in this world and we know that Jesus came to defeat Satan, to forgive sin, and to invite us into God’s kingdom.  The restoration of health in body and spirit are benefits available to the Believer. That said, I take issue with those who declare that with enough faith we can enjoy miraculous healing of every disease, healing on demand. God allows some Christians to suffer. Many become sick and eventually we all die. However, we can experience the power of Jesus and find, in Him, a life that knows His touch and wholeness and hope in every situation.

One of the errors about healing is that is often seen as an event rather than a lifestyle. Jesus calls us into a relationship with Him. When we are obedient disciples, living as He desires – forgiving, loving, treating our bodies with respect, avoiding the sins of the flesh, finding a balance in worship and work, refusing to let anxiety own us – we generally find ourselves healthier in every way; healed. Healing is also a word about our spiritual state. Without Christ, we have no hope of eternal life. In Him, we are fully assured that when the body wears out we will leave behind what C. S. Lewis called the ‘shadowland,’ and fully become the glorious children of God in His Presence.

Here's a pointed question – are you living a whole life in the fullness of the Spirit?
Or, are you defying God, refusing His gracious offer of healthy living and then expecting Him to miraculously step in and make it all better?

The word from the Word comes to us from the Psalms today. It is a celebration of the whole life that we find when we turn to our God. The entire Psalm is beautiful but for the sake of brevity, here is a part for your meditation today. May it point us towards a life that is whole, that knows the goodness of our Father.

"Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." (Psalm 107:17-22, NIV)
_________

Living Hope
(a song about the healing we find in Him)

How great the chasm that lay between us

How high the mountain I could not climb

In desperation I turned to heaven

And spoke Your name into the night

Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness

Tore through the shadows of my soul

The work is finished the end is written

Jesus Christ my living hope

Who could imagine so great a mercy

What heart could fathom such boundless grace

The God of ages stepped down from glory

To wear my sin and bear my shame

The cross has spoken I am forgiven

The King of kings calls me His own

Beautiful Savior I’m Yours forever

Jesus Christ my living hope

Hallelujah praise the One who set me free

Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ my living hope

Then came the morning that sealed the promise

Your buried body began to breathe

Out of the silence the Roaring Lion

Declared the grave has no claim on me

(REPEAT)

Jesus Yours is the victory whoa

Jesus Christ my living hope

Oh God You are my living hope

Brian Johnson | Phil Wickham

© 2017 Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

CCLI License # 810055

Calling you

Over a century ago, an iconic image was created by a magazine illustrator named James Montgomery Flagg.  The recruiting poster, made for the U.S. Army, showed Uncle Sam pointing his finger over the caption – “I want you for the U.S. Army.” Thousands of young men responded to the call and became part of the war effort. Their patriotism cannot be questioned but the cause to which they gave themselves is now seen as a costly war, waged in folly, accomplishing little. The so-called “War To End All Wars,” set the stage for the bloodiest war of the 20^th century just three decades later.

To what are you giving your life, my friend? Whose call is guiding you?

Some are building wealth, called by the voice of riches to accumulate more. Some are chasing the ephemeral whispers of pleasure, looking for the next best experience. Some are responding to the call of pride, endlessly seeking recognition and applause.  There are hundreds of voices competing for our attention each one, in its own way, offering to provide meaning and purpose to life for us.  But, there is only One Voice that can actually give us both abundant life now and lead us to eternal life.  Jesus is calling you and me.

Matthew takes us to the rocky shores of a lake. Jesus is assembling the 12 who would be trusted to take the Message to the world.  "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him." (Matthew 4:18-22, NIV)  These men, who lived simple lives, providing a staple of the diet to the region were offered an opportunity to bring others to know the living God.

Their response compels my attention. “At once they left their nets!”  There were no contracts, no exit clauses, no clarifying and extended discussion – just the compelling Call from Jesus. What did they know of Him? Why would they abandon everything they knew to follow Jesus?  We cannot know, but they did and the rest, as we say, is history. This Man that they had come to know called and they answered, “Yes!”

He is still calling, inviting men and women to become His disciples, making His work the priority of life, the defining reason for their existence. What will your answer be?

I answered His call twice, once as a child to be His disciple, again as a young adult to enter vocational ministry. A little girl asked me on Sunday, “Pastor Jerry, how long have you been a pastor?”  I heard my own voice answer her and for some reason saying it out loud was a bit shocking. “Honey, I have been doing this work for 45 years.”  Yes, a lifetime given to the One who called me a long time ago during a time of prayer in a tiny church, to Whom I said an unqualified “yes,” that night and to Whom I have been saying “yes” each day since; and there are no regrets.  Perhaps I could have accumulated wealth, gained fame, or found greater pleasures if I listened to those other invitations. But, this Call has allowed me to find life, hope, and love.

Will you say, “yes” to Jesus, my friend? That does not mean vocational ministry for all but it does mean making Him Lord of all. He desires to save us, to lead us out of hopelessness of that life dedicated to Self. He wants to restore us to our Father, give us the high and holy purpose of representing Him in the world in which we live, and then to be welcomed Home for eternity when the race is done. What’s your answer?

Here is the word from the Word. May the Spirit use it to speak to your heart, to call you into the service of the Eternal King. "Peter said, “We have left our homes and followed you.” “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come.”" (Luke 18:28-30, NLT)

___________

For The Sake Of The Call

Nobody stood and applauded them

So they knew from the start

This road would not lead to fame

All they really knew for sure

Was Jesus had called to them

He said come follow me

And they came

With reckless abandon they came

Empty nets lying there

At the water's edge

Told a story that few could believe

And none could explain

How some crazy fishermen

Agreed to go where Jesus led

With no thought

For what they would gain

For Jesus had called them by name

And they answered

We will abandon it all

For the sake of the call

No other reason at all

But the sake of the call

Wholly devoted to live and to die

For the sake of the call

Drawn like rivers

Are drawn to the sea

There's no turning back

For the water cannot help but flow

Once we hear the Savior's call

We'll follow wherever He leads

Because of the love He has shown

Because He has called us to go

We will answer

Not for the sake of a creed or a cause

Not for a dream or a promise

Simply because it is Jesus who calls

And if we believe we'll obey

Steven Curtis Chapman

© 1990 Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Songs (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055