Romans 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
It was 1976, and we were visiting my aunt Dora in Orlando, Fl. The day had started out with a bang with my first visit to Disney World. It was sensory and sugar overload pushed to a new level with rides, characters and candy. Somewhere in Frontierland, my brother Chris and I picked our the one toy we could buy with our allowance, pop gun rifles. The minute we got back to my aunt's apartment, we begged our parents to let us go out and play "hide and seek shoot out", where we tried to out flank the and "shoot" each other. Finally they relented with the words "be careful" and "stay close".
We were having a ball running, ducking and shooting at each other like the actors we saw in Frontierland for quite a while. Then something weird happened. I went to hide in a new place expecting my brother to move along the same direction for our next showdown, he just never showed. I waited for a while, but Chris was no where to be found. Then it started getting dark. It was at that point that I looked around to realize that I had no idea where I was. The fun and bravado of the shootout was replaced with weakness and fear. I was six years old, in a city I had never set foot, with no clue which way to go. So I do what all boys do in that spot. Wander around and cry. This went on for what seemed like hours, but was only about 30 minutes in reality. Groups of kids that lived in the apartments would just look at me wandering and crying, and quickly move off or go back to their games. It was now pitch black and quite scary. I didn't know my aunt's address, phone number or anything except she had a blue Kharmann Ghia, lived on the second floor and there was a spot of bubble gum about 2" around smashed into the concrete, on the stoop near her door.
By the grace of God, at the perfect time, one of the older teenage girls that lived there, ad compassion on me and came and asked me why I was crying. Thankfully she took me to the lady who ran the apartment complex who knew everyone who lived there. The lady asked me who my aunt was and I kept saying "Dora Quarles" over and over and it wasn't ringing any bells. As it turned out, I had wandered across a busy road and into another apartment complex. The lady figured it out, and offered to drive me through the complex to see if I could recognize anything. Immediately as we entered the complex, I started recognizing landmarks and the fear ebbed a bit. Then I spotted the baby blue VW and joy struck my heart. The lady took me up to the door, and as we approached, I saw the bubble gum blob and knew I had been rescued. We knocked but no one answered. Uh oh. As we turned to go down the stairs, my parents, brother and Aunt drove up as they had been out searching for me. My mom hugged me in deep relief. After a tongue lashing about wandering off, we went up to Dora's apartment and ate some supper. I am thankful that God put that teenager and lady in the right spot, at the right time.
Paul, in Romans five above, has that same emotional praise for Christ when he says, " at the right time Christ died for the ungodly". The whole Old Testament clearly painted the picture of man's need for a Messiah to save men from their sin. The Old testament revealed God's Holiness, man's sin, and the need of sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of a God who demanded Justice. There was a clear gap between God and His creation that needed bridging. Prophets for hundreds of years painted pictures of the coming conquering King and suffering savior. Then perfectly at the right time, in Gods' redemptive timeline, Jesus shows up with the whole world on His shoulders as a baby born in a barn. He lived a righteous life and committed that life of faithfulness to God on the Cross. That perfect life serves as the atoning sacrifice for all who submit to His loving reign in our lives. What a God we serve!
Jesus has pursued each of us that call him Lord, Savior, and Treasure at the right time and place as well. Sealed with the Spirit, we are able to approach God as Daddy. As we get closer to Him we start seeing the markers of Christ all around us that draw us closer to Him, just like the bubble gum spot and the baby blue Kharmann Ghia drew me closer back to Dora's house. Take time this Thanksgiving day to praise God for his pursuit of all men at the perfect time on the cross, and you individually as he pulled you into the sheepfold. As we enjoy mounds of food and fellowship, let us not forget to intercede in prayer and deed for others who are starving in their stomachs and souls for the Grace of God. Pray that God would lead you to specific people and places, so that he might use you just like he used that teenage girl in my life as a part of His divine plan of redemption.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Afternoon Delight
Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when He delights in His way. 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds His hand.
One of the biggest one hit wonders of the 70's was a rather cheesy song called Afternoon Delight. It was a light and lively little ditty, with overtones of sexual satisfaction In line with the tension as Song of Solomon.
Check it out:
Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
gonna grab some afternoon delight.
My motto's always been; when it's right, it's right.
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night.
When everything's a little clearer in the light of day.
And you know the night is always gonna be there any way.
Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. Afternoon delight.
Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
looking forward to a little afternoon delight.
Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ingite
and the thought of rubbin' you is getting so exciting.
Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. Afternoon delight.
Started out this morning feeling so polite
I always though a fish could not be caught who wouldn't bite
But you've got some bait a waitin' and I think I might try nibbling
a little afternoon delight.
Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. Afternoon delight.
Please be waiting for me baby when I come around.
We could make a lot of lovin' 'for the sun goes down.
Obviously the song is about a sexual encounter in the afternoon, not about communing with God so lets get that out first. I do believe that God wants to redeem all things for his glory, so lets pull out nuggets to be redeemed. Notice the longing desire and deep emotional captivity that this coming delight has. A hunger, sparks igniting, tempting bait all paint a picture of butterflies in the stomach anticipation of the delight that lies ahead. There is a strong longing, positioned at the deepest level of the soul that we all have felt that trumps every other thought called desire to be delighted. The object of desire in the song is pretty straight forward and doesn't need a lot of explanation.
Take the thread of a deep desire for delight in a relationship and apply it back to Psalms 37. There is the same deep soul captivating delight, it is just a Holy longing for God, not a temporal sexual encounter. What we delight in and desire will drive our lives and actions, as it holds our attention and heartstrings. Much of what messed me up in life was a church life that was a prescribed routine devoid of passion and desire. It was almost like passion and desire were bad words. I knew what to do, I was just unable to go there deep in my soul as other things gave me a deeper delight than this routine I was supposed to play before God. Passion and desire will always overcome us. It is a war we all face. I now know that it is only when God's grace highlights the joyful satisfaction we find in living our lives in communion with Him that we are set free from the captivity of being controlled by sinful and wrong desires. Oh baby - what joy this brought to my soul. Delight and Christianity weren't two parallel paths that never touched, life in Christ occurs when God's hand of grace pulls us into deep satisfaction with Him.
God built us to be overcome by our passions and delights in Him. Sin has bent those desires towards other objects to lead us away from God. Religion becomes Redemption when the Heart of a man or woman finds a true delight in the Lord and starts to see the absence of satisfaction in the things of this sinful world.
So what is your personal relationship with God like? Is it a routine? A routine coated with good theology and Church activities? If your desire and delight is not weaved into your walk with God, then your heart is somewhere else and you know it. I lived in that miserable spot for about 30 years. Ask God for a delight in Him and strive towards His arms.
Each night I pray for God to give me and my family a stronger desire in Him as he draws us closer to Himself. A deep delight in the Lord anchored in the grace of Christ is the greatest, deepest delight and joy we can ever know. And unlike the "afternoon delight" It never ends.
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when He delights in His way. 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds His hand.
One of the biggest one hit wonders of the 70's was a rather cheesy song called Afternoon Delight. It was a light and lively little ditty, with overtones of sexual satisfaction In line with the tension as Song of Solomon.
Check it out:
Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
gonna grab some afternoon delight.
My motto's always been; when it's right, it's right.
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night.
When everything's a little clearer in the light of day.
And you know the night is always gonna be there any way.
Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. Afternoon delight.
Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
looking forward to a little afternoon delight.
Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ingite
and the thought of rubbin' you is getting so exciting.
Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. Afternoon delight.
Started out this morning feeling so polite
I always though a fish could not be caught who wouldn't bite
But you've got some bait a waitin' and I think I might try nibbling
a little afternoon delight.
Sky rockets in flight. Afternoon delight. Afternoon delight.
Please be waiting for me baby when I come around.
We could make a lot of lovin' 'for the sun goes down.
Obviously the song is about a sexual encounter in the afternoon, not about communing with God so lets get that out first. I do believe that God wants to redeem all things for his glory, so lets pull out nuggets to be redeemed. Notice the longing desire and deep emotional captivity that this coming delight has. A hunger, sparks igniting, tempting bait all paint a picture of butterflies in the stomach anticipation of the delight that lies ahead. There is a strong longing, positioned at the deepest level of the soul that we all have felt that trumps every other thought called desire to be delighted. The object of desire in the song is pretty straight forward and doesn't need a lot of explanation.
Take the thread of a deep desire for delight in a relationship and apply it back to Psalms 37. There is the same deep soul captivating delight, it is just a Holy longing for God, not a temporal sexual encounter. What we delight in and desire will drive our lives and actions, as it holds our attention and heartstrings. Much of what messed me up in life was a church life that was a prescribed routine devoid of passion and desire. It was almost like passion and desire were bad words. I knew what to do, I was just unable to go there deep in my soul as other things gave me a deeper delight than this routine I was supposed to play before God. Passion and desire will always overcome us. It is a war we all face. I now know that it is only when God's grace highlights the joyful satisfaction we find in living our lives in communion with Him that we are set free from the captivity of being controlled by sinful and wrong desires. Oh baby - what joy this brought to my soul. Delight and Christianity weren't two parallel paths that never touched, life in Christ occurs when God's hand of grace pulls us into deep satisfaction with Him.
God built us to be overcome by our passions and delights in Him. Sin has bent those desires towards other objects to lead us away from God. Religion becomes Redemption when the Heart of a man or woman finds a true delight in the Lord and starts to see the absence of satisfaction in the things of this sinful world.
So what is your personal relationship with God like? Is it a routine? A routine coated with good theology and Church activities? If your desire and delight is not weaved into your walk with God, then your heart is somewhere else and you know it. I lived in that miserable spot for about 30 years. Ask God for a delight in Him and strive towards His arms.
Each night I pray for God to give me and my family a stronger desire in Him as he draws us closer to Himself. A deep delight in the Lord anchored in the grace of Christ is the greatest, deepest delight and joy we can ever know. And unlike the "afternoon delight" It never ends.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Is Jesus Enough?
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;what can man do to me?”
The pharma times reported today that more than 20% of the US population took some sort of mental health drug last year. For women that number is more like 1 in 4. 30% of Americans abuse alcohol and almost 1 in 10 are illegal drug users. The CDC reports that 1 in 3 Americans are obese.
Why? The answer underneath all of the effects is that we are not content with Jesus, as the author of Hebrews challenges us to be. I know that there are specific traumas in which specific meds maybe helpful for a specific time, but I meet people all of the time that appear to have everything that one could want (except Christ) and are turning to chemicals and alcohol for relief. I used to be one of them. People turning to alcohol, illegal drugs or over eating, are all looking for something to heal their soul and provide a divine contentment that the world's challenges can not remove. The text above challenges us to be deeply anchored into Christ and receive a peace and contentment that plow through fears, trials and challenges like an ice beaker. Only God working through His spirit can provide that for any of us including yours truly. Do you belief that Jesus is enough?
One of the primary reasons that we are scrambling for things other than God that provide a temporary chemical or metaphysical peace, is that our culture is buried in debt as we again have ignored God's revealed wisdom to "keep our life free from the love of money (and stuff by implication)". Recent studies show that around 80% of Americans are in debt to creditors, and that as a whole the American consumer base has borrowed 119% of their incomes. So as we blindly ignore God's word, and want and buy more and more stuff, we sink deeper into the quicksand of debt and our anxieties and depressions mount. The oh-so temporary great feeling about the new car, home or couch is soon replace by the reality of having to spend your life paying back banks and credit card companies. This debt enslavement is getting heavier for many Americans leading to depression and for some to even take their own life.
So let's examine our hearts to see how content we are with Jesus. If we are content in our identity with Him, our love for Him will trump our love for money and stuff that drive us deeper in debt. Once we see our resources as God's, to build His kingdom and not ours, we can experience the Joy of obedience financially and be freed from the yoke of debt that is choking us.
Their are some who are reading this that the Lord's spirit has touched by His word. How do you start to unwind this wicked blend of debt and depression/anxiety? Start with asking God to forgive your disobedience to Him, and ask Him to draw you nearer to His heart and provide a divine contentment with Him. Without that anchor and peace, your temporary efforts to find true freedom in Christ will look like someone trying to stop a raging forest fire with a water gun.
I want to be clear that there are times where borrowing done responsibly is clearly justified. I also know myself and others around me to know that the vast majority of stuff purchased in the US is a result of a lack of contentment in one's life. I pray that we all find that contentment in Christ alone as the Holy Spirit points us to through the author of Hebrews.
The pharma times reported today that more than 20% of the US population took some sort of mental health drug last year. For women that number is more like 1 in 4. 30% of Americans abuse alcohol and almost 1 in 10 are illegal drug users. The CDC reports that 1 in 3 Americans are obese.
Why? The answer underneath all of the effects is that we are not content with Jesus, as the author of Hebrews challenges us to be. I know that there are specific traumas in which specific meds maybe helpful for a specific time, but I meet people all of the time that appear to have everything that one could want (except Christ) and are turning to chemicals and alcohol for relief. I used to be one of them. People turning to alcohol, illegal drugs or over eating, are all looking for something to heal their soul and provide a divine contentment that the world's challenges can not remove. The text above challenges us to be deeply anchored into Christ and receive a peace and contentment that plow through fears, trials and challenges like an ice beaker. Only God working through His spirit can provide that for any of us including yours truly. Do you belief that Jesus is enough?
One of the primary reasons that we are scrambling for things other than God that provide a temporary chemical or metaphysical peace, is that our culture is buried in debt as we again have ignored God's revealed wisdom to "keep our life free from the love of money (and stuff by implication)". Recent studies show that around 80% of Americans are in debt to creditors, and that as a whole the American consumer base has borrowed 119% of their incomes. So as we blindly ignore God's word, and want and buy more and more stuff, we sink deeper into the quicksand of debt and our anxieties and depressions mount. The oh-so temporary great feeling about the new car, home or couch is soon replace by the reality of having to spend your life paying back banks and credit card companies. This debt enslavement is getting heavier for many Americans leading to depression and for some to even take their own life.
So let's examine our hearts to see how content we are with Jesus. If we are content in our identity with Him, our love for Him will trump our love for money and stuff that drive us deeper in debt. Once we see our resources as God's, to build His kingdom and not ours, we can experience the Joy of obedience financially and be freed from the yoke of debt that is choking us.
Their are some who are reading this that the Lord's spirit has touched by His word. How do you start to unwind this wicked blend of debt and depression/anxiety? Start with asking God to forgive your disobedience to Him, and ask Him to draw you nearer to His heart and provide a divine contentment with Him. Without that anchor and peace, your temporary efforts to find true freedom in Christ will look like someone trying to stop a raging forest fire with a water gun.
I want to be clear that there are times where borrowing done responsibly is clearly justified. I also know myself and others around me to know that the vast majority of stuff purchased in the US is a result of a lack of contentment in one's life. I pray that we all find that contentment in Christ alone as the Holy Spirit points us to through the author of Hebrews.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Credentials
Genesis 41:15 And pharaoh said to Joseph, " I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give pharaoh a favorable answer"
We live in a society that is all about building a resume and gathering successful credentials. Whether it is the burning passion for kids to be the best at their activities, the brand name of the clothes we wear, or our street address and the status label it gives us we are all pretty good at puffing ourselves up in the eyes of others. We are masters of evaluation and separation of people based on performance and rewarding those who do best when it counts. Since our society seems to revolve around that axis, it seems that there is an unspoken rule of aggregating the things that we all do well and keep a running list of credentials that validate our employment, activities, roles and selves. When needed we can break this list out and tell the world how worthy we are to accomplish whatever it is that is being asked of us.
Contrast Joseph, a great man of faith, with our culture. In Genesis 41 above he is having a conversation with the most influential figure in the World at that time, Pharaoh. Pharaoh addresses Joseph as the interpreter of dreams and asks Joseph to clarify what his dreams mean. So at the time when Joseph can bring glory to himself and say "Why,yes, pharaoh I am the dream machine and I can indeed help you", he elects to do otherwise. His words are "it is not in me". Joseph is saying, "I can not do it". He then follows it up with " God will give pharaoh a favorable answer." He is simply being honest. It is when we are at this point in our ministries that we can be effective for Christ. If you take time to go through Hebrews chapter 11 and examine the lives of the faithful men and women listed there you will find that they all came to the ends of themselves before they were used in effective ministry. No one in Hebrews 11 believes that it is half God and half them, they have met Him and seems themselves clearly and therefore no better. This is the same as PAul in the New Testament saying , "I am chief among sinners".
In a day when we are productive achievers and believe deeply in our abilities to accomplish much, we must not ignore this biblical truth. We will be tempted at every turn to believe that we are essential, when we are not. God alone is essential and if the Devil can convince us that we are then he has us exactly where he wants us, imitating Him. We don't want others to assign worth to us, we want them to give glory and praise to Christ alone.
It is where we end and Christ begins that our faith becomes real and advances His Kingdom.
We live in a society that is all about building a resume and gathering successful credentials. Whether it is the burning passion for kids to be the best at their activities, the brand name of the clothes we wear, or our street address and the status label it gives us we are all pretty good at puffing ourselves up in the eyes of others. We are masters of evaluation and separation of people based on performance and rewarding those who do best when it counts. Since our society seems to revolve around that axis, it seems that there is an unspoken rule of aggregating the things that we all do well and keep a running list of credentials that validate our employment, activities, roles and selves. When needed we can break this list out and tell the world how worthy we are to accomplish whatever it is that is being asked of us.
Contrast Joseph, a great man of faith, with our culture. In Genesis 41 above he is having a conversation with the most influential figure in the World at that time, Pharaoh. Pharaoh addresses Joseph as the interpreter of dreams and asks Joseph to clarify what his dreams mean. So at the time when Joseph can bring glory to himself and say "Why,yes, pharaoh I am the dream machine and I can indeed help you", he elects to do otherwise. His words are "it is not in me". Joseph is saying, "I can not do it". He then follows it up with " God will give pharaoh a favorable answer." He is simply being honest. It is when we are at this point in our ministries that we can be effective for Christ. If you take time to go through Hebrews chapter 11 and examine the lives of the faithful men and women listed there you will find that they all came to the ends of themselves before they were used in effective ministry. No one in Hebrews 11 believes that it is half God and half them, they have met Him and seems themselves clearly and therefore no better. This is the same as PAul in the New Testament saying , "I am chief among sinners".
In a day when we are productive achievers and believe deeply in our abilities to accomplish much, we must not ignore this biblical truth. We will be tempted at every turn to believe that we are essential, when we are not. God alone is essential and if the Devil can convince us that we are then he has us exactly where he wants us, imitating Him. We don't want others to assign worth to us, we want them to give glory and praise to Christ alone.
It is where we end and Christ begins that our faith becomes real and advances His Kingdom.
Monday, October 31, 2011
80 million acts of vengeance
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to what is honorable in sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
Most surveys reveal that at least 80% of Americans consider themselves Christian. It should strike us as odd that there are 80 million lawsuits filed in America each year. We are only 4.6% of the world's population, yet we have 70% of the world's lawyers. The stats drive me to ponder the question why? If we are walking in Grace which is something we did not merit and were forgiven based on another's work then why are we so quick to sue? What about Christ's words about turning the other cheek? What about Paul's words above? To get to the core of the tension we must address this vital question: Is revealing Christ's grace more important than our stuff and money?
Paul is charging the church at Rome, and all Christians in turn, to walk as Christ walked in forgiveness. Why? It baffles people and makes them evaluate how in the world can this guy or gal just be done wrong and be content. As that unveils, our dialogue is in fact preaching the Gospel to them: I can forgive and go on in peace because I have a God that will provide and I know that He will square all debts and judge with perfect justice in the end. Paul says think of Christ on the Cross sacrificing His life for us rebels. That is the epicenter of Grace and our praise of Him will be the fuel for the fire of forgiveness. Vengeance will fuel an unforgiving heart and freeze it cold. Why then is America the epicenter of self preserving litigation when we should be the epicenter of Grace filled, praise fueled forgiveness?
So how do you walk today, even if you aren't suing someone? Do you walk focused on gain for yourself? Do you feel the need to fight for your stuff so that you can get what you deserve?
Christ fought for us brothers and sisters so that we in fact can get exactly what we DO NOT deserve! Let's pray that God would lead us to be change agents of Grace!
Most surveys reveal that at least 80% of Americans consider themselves Christian. It should strike us as odd that there are 80 million lawsuits filed in America each year. We are only 4.6% of the world's population, yet we have 70% of the world's lawyers. The stats drive me to ponder the question why? If we are walking in Grace which is something we did not merit and were forgiven based on another's work then why are we so quick to sue? What about Christ's words about turning the other cheek? What about Paul's words above? To get to the core of the tension we must address this vital question: Is revealing Christ's grace more important than our stuff and money?
Paul is charging the church at Rome, and all Christians in turn, to walk as Christ walked in forgiveness. Why? It baffles people and makes them evaluate how in the world can this guy or gal just be done wrong and be content. As that unveils, our dialogue is in fact preaching the Gospel to them: I can forgive and go on in peace because I have a God that will provide and I know that He will square all debts and judge with perfect justice in the end. Paul says think of Christ on the Cross sacrificing His life for us rebels. That is the epicenter of Grace and our praise of Him will be the fuel for the fire of forgiveness. Vengeance will fuel an unforgiving heart and freeze it cold. Why then is America the epicenter of self preserving litigation when we should be the epicenter of Grace filled, praise fueled forgiveness?
So how do you walk today, even if you aren't suing someone? Do you walk focused on gain for yourself? Do you feel the need to fight for your stuff so that you can get what you deserve?
Christ fought for us brothers and sisters so that we in fact can get exactly what we DO NOT deserve! Let's pray that God would lead us to be change agents of Grace!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Mockery
Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
What does it really mean to mock something? The dictionary says it means to ridicule, deride or imitate. From a broad perspective, mockery occurs when someone or something pretends to be something when it is not. Like a mockingbird. Mockingbirds earn their name as they steal songs from other birds and sing them as if they were that bird, yet they are not. When humans mock others, it is usually dripping with cynicism with an aim towards belittling other people. I am ashamed to say I have done this way too many times and hurt people.
When I look at the account of the soldiers mocking Jesus in Mark 15, my thoughts go immediately to the images of brutality burned in my brain of the physical mistreatment of Christ that I have seen in movies. The harsh reality is graphic and heavy. It often leaves me wondering, "How could people really do that to Jesus?". Two days ago God challenged me in my quiet time with a new perspective on these verses. The soldiers were unknowingly playing their role in God's plan of redemption by sinfully abusing him and mocking the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They dressed Him up in royal robes, as they made fun of Him and put a crown of thorns on His head as if to say, "yeah, you are a king alright", just before they spit on Him with disgust and abused him physically. They even cynically mocked Him by kneeling down and paid fake homage to Him having fun tearing Christ down. It is one of the most striking displays of gross sinfulness as rebels cut down the Messiah that came to redeem them from the sin that was driving their evil actions.
Now obviously I wasn't there, and neither were you physically when all of this went on, but before we sit back and throw stones at these soldiers we need to a heart check. Did Jesus pay for your sins on the Cross? If so, let's not miss the fact that even though God willed it, our need of a savior to redeem us from sinful rebellion had a part in Jesus death on the Cross as our sin was atoned for. None of us are innocent from this scene. If we were, the scene would have been unnecessary. The Cross is quite necessary.
We also need to stop and see how we interact with King Jesus. Do our lives deny His Kingship over them just like the actions of the soldiers? Do we know His commands and obey them as we aim to be satisfied by delighting the Father's heart? Do we obey the King as we walk out the Great commission while over 2 billion have never heard of Christ, or do we ignore Him? Does our heart break for what breaks His to the extent that we sacrifice for His sake as we serve others? Do we nourish the physically and spiritually impoverished? Do we care? Do we defend the 100 million + helpless orphans as he gracefully instructed? Do we care?
Do we love justice, seek mercy and walk Humbly? Do we love Him with all of our strength mind and soul? Do we obey him when he says don't fall in love with stuff- you don't need it, I am enough for you? or do we just keep on shopping and working ourselves to death in capitalistic pursuit?
Honestly there are times when I fail here. I know grace and mercy are extended to cover my faithlessness, but let's not miss the fact that Grace and Mercy are extended to those who walk with Him as Lord. So as you examine your hearts, does the testimony of your life mock or honor Christ the King and his commands? We are all too quick to measure our "goodness" against those around us and rationalize ourselves and actions so please don't do this. Ask yourself this question: Is Christ my King directing my life or am I my own King driving my own ship and simply dressing up Jesus as I like just like the Roman soldiers. There is a heaviness in my Heart friends. This is serious business. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus tells us "Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." This is a Holy, heavy word. Doing His will displays the Lordship over our lives and is evidence of His redemption of our souls. We can not work our way towards His will outside of His Grace. It just happens. When you fall passionately in love with someone you trust, you joyfully want to delight their heart.
Our words are cheap. Pray through the words of Christ and examine your soul openly.
What does it really mean to mock something? The dictionary says it means to ridicule, deride or imitate. From a broad perspective, mockery occurs when someone or something pretends to be something when it is not. Like a mockingbird. Mockingbirds earn their name as they steal songs from other birds and sing them as if they were that bird, yet they are not. When humans mock others, it is usually dripping with cynicism with an aim towards belittling other people. I am ashamed to say I have done this way too many times and hurt people.
When I look at the account of the soldiers mocking Jesus in Mark 15, my thoughts go immediately to the images of brutality burned in my brain of the physical mistreatment of Christ that I have seen in movies. The harsh reality is graphic and heavy. It often leaves me wondering, "How could people really do that to Jesus?". Two days ago God challenged me in my quiet time with a new perspective on these verses. The soldiers were unknowingly playing their role in God's plan of redemption by sinfully abusing him and mocking the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They dressed Him up in royal robes, as they made fun of Him and put a crown of thorns on His head as if to say, "yeah, you are a king alright", just before they spit on Him with disgust and abused him physically. They even cynically mocked Him by kneeling down and paid fake homage to Him having fun tearing Christ down. It is one of the most striking displays of gross sinfulness as rebels cut down the Messiah that came to redeem them from the sin that was driving their evil actions.
Now obviously I wasn't there, and neither were you physically when all of this went on, but before we sit back and throw stones at these soldiers we need to a heart check. Did Jesus pay for your sins on the Cross? If so, let's not miss the fact that even though God willed it, our need of a savior to redeem us from sinful rebellion had a part in Jesus death on the Cross as our sin was atoned for. None of us are innocent from this scene. If we were, the scene would have been unnecessary. The Cross is quite necessary.
We also need to stop and see how we interact with King Jesus. Do our lives deny His Kingship over them just like the actions of the soldiers? Do we know His commands and obey them as we aim to be satisfied by delighting the Father's heart? Do we obey the King as we walk out the Great commission while over 2 billion have never heard of Christ, or do we ignore Him? Does our heart break for what breaks His to the extent that we sacrifice for His sake as we serve others? Do we nourish the physically and spiritually impoverished? Do we care? Do we defend the 100 million + helpless orphans as he gracefully instructed? Do we care?
Do we love justice, seek mercy and walk Humbly? Do we love Him with all of our strength mind and soul? Do we obey him when he says don't fall in love with stuff- you don't need it, I am enough for you? or do we just keep on shopping and working ourselves to death in capitalistic pursuit?
Honestly there are times when I fail here. I know grace and mercy are extended to cover my faithlessness, but let's not miss the fact that Grace and Mercy are extended to those who walk with Him as Lord. So as you examine your hearts, does the testimony of your life mock or honor Christ the King and his commands? We are all too quick to measure our "goodness" against those around us and rationalize ourselves and actions so please don't do this. Ask yourself this question: Is Christ my King directing my life or am I my own King driving my own ship and simply dressing up Jesus as I like just like the Roman soldiers. There is a heaviness in my Heart friends. This is serious business. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus tells us "Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." This is a Holy, heavy word. Doing His will displays the Lordship over our lives and is evidence of His redemption of our souls. We can not work our way towards His will outside of His Grace. It just happens. When you fall passionately in love with someone you trust, you joyfully want to delight their heart.
Our words are cheap. Pray through the words of Christ and examine your soul openly.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Couch Coaches
Mark 7:1 Now when the pharisees gathered to Him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of the disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is unwashed 5 and they pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of elders but eat with defiled hands?
It is fall in the heart of Dixie. That means football is front and center of media airwaves and supper table conversations. I always think it is funny when people who have never played one snap of football try to give advice to coaches who not only played, but obsessively study techniques and their players to make a living. These folks who have all the right theories, at least in their minds, can be rather convincing in their advice as they opine on the airwaves, blogs or columns. What these "coaches from the couch" don't have is actual experience, true involvement in the team's practice, and the advantage of knowing each player intimately and therefore understanding the reality of their capacity. These couch coaches only have ideas, theory and their perception of what happened in the last game. In other words, they have nothing to offer except unproven and untrained opinions. A.k.a. Hot air.
When you look at the Pharisees, they look a lot like couch coaches as they try to help Jesus "get it right". Jesus has just returned from a place called Gennesaret where He has poured himself out 24/7 doing the Father's will as He preached the Gospel, healed the sick, and cast out demons. All Jesus knew how to do was joyfully obey the father's will as he walked through the messiness of life. Upon His return, He sits down to eat with some of His disciples and the Pharisees, who by the way haven't been doing anything about the poor, the needy nor the Advance of Yahweh's kingdom try to "correct" Jesus' efforts. They literally ask "why aren't you following the tradition of men". Jesus rather sternly replies, " I didn't come here to obey rules and traditions of men. I came to obey my father and you guys should give that a whirl" (paraphrased).
The religious tradition of men will always be to try and use worship of God to consolidate and leverage power to elevate yourself. Religion without truth and spirit will never be messy, it will be pristine with a polished appearance. The problem is, just like the couch coach who isn't experiencing the reality of the football game, people like the Pharisees aren't experiencing a relationship with God. Their religion is limited to theory and intellectual ascent, other people's opinions and a desire to fit in with "good people".
The truth is that carrying the cross is a messy endeavor. God never allows us to map out exact plans on when and where we can expand His Kingdom. He moves at His pace, not ours. The end game of what He is after is not our polished appearance, participation on certain committees or simply our tithes. God is after exactly what Jesus was demonstrating that the Pharisees missed. Joyful obedience to the will of the Father that sprang out of Joyful communion with His Dad. Jesus experience with God lit up and radiated the Holiness of God outwards from Him and it looked awkward to those who where simply trying to "play church".
So where are you? Are you in the game? Do you enjoy experiencing God in communion? Do you enjoy being obedient to the will of God? Or are you a couch coach, a Pharisee, who doesn't serve others but would rather debate over little issues while the needy and the lost of the world waste away?
God wants you to enjoy Him as Lord, Savior and Treasure. The Cross is proof thereof.
It is fall in the heart of Dixie. That means football is front and center of media airwaves and supper table conversations. I always think it is funny when people who have never played one snap of football try to give advice to coaches who not only played, but obsessively study techniques and their players to make a living. These folks who have all the right theories, at least in their minds, can be rather convincing in their advice as they opine on the airwaves, blogs or columns. What these "coaches from the couch" don't have is actual experience, true involvement in the team's practice, and the advantage of knowing each player intimately and therefore understanding the reality of their capacity. These couch coaches only have ideas, theory and their perception of what happened in the last game. In other words, they have nothing to offer except unproven and untrained opinions. A.k.a. Hot air.
When you look at the Pharisees, they look a lot like couch coaches as they try to help Jesus "get it right". Jesus has just returned from a place called Gennesaret where He has poured himself out 24/7 doing the Father's will as He preached the Gospel, healed the sick, and cast out demons. All Jesus knew how to do was joyfully obey the father's will as he walked through the messiness of life. Upon His return, He sits down to eat with some of His disciples and the Pharisees, who by the way haven't been doing anything about the poor, the needy nor the Advance of Yahweh's kingdom try to "correct" Jesus' efforts. They literally ask "why aren't you following the tradition of men". Jesus rather sternly replies, " I didn't come here to obey rules and traditions of men. I came to obey my father and you guys should give that a whirl" (paraphrased).
The religious tradition of men will always be to try and use worship of God to consolidate and leverage power to elevate yourself. Religion without truth and spirit will never be messy, it will be pristine with a polished appearance. The problem is, just like the couch coach who isn't experiencing the reality of the football game, people like the Pharisees aren't experiencing a relationship with God. Their religion is limited to theory and intellectual ascent, other people's opinions and a desire to fit in with "good people".
The truth is that carrying the cross is a messy endeavor. God never allows us to map out exact plans on when and where we can expand His Kingdom. He moves at His pace, not ours. The end game of what He is after is not our polished appearance, participation on certain committees or simply our tithes. God is after exactly what Jesus was demonstrating that the Pharisees missed. Joyful obedience to the will of the Father that sprang out of Joyful communion with His Dad. Jesus experience with God lit up and radiated the Holiness of God outwards from Him and it looked awkward to those who where simply trying to "play church".
So where are you? Are you in the game? Do you enjoy experiencing God in communion? Do you enjoy being obedient to the will of God? Or are you a couch coach, a Pharisee, who doesn't serve others but would rather debate over little issues while the needy and the lost of the world waste away?
God wants you to enjoy Him as Lord, Savior and Treasure. The Cross is proof thereof.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Smooth
Isaiah 30:9 For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; 10 who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 11 leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel"
Smooth. Easy. Comfortable. That is the way we like it. Smooth skin, whiskey or whatever it maybe, we as Americans don't like to be frustrated, ruffled or corrected. We don't like brash truth that tells us bad news. We like and aim for a smooth life of material blessing and comfort. News flash for us all: that robs us of real learning from God and feeds our flesh. The sanctification process runs counter to that, it kills the flesh and builds our faith in the Triune God. They are battling against each other and they both can not be nurtured by the same thing. The things of this world nurtures our flesh. The things of God, like His Word and Spirit frustrate our flesh so that we will submit and praise Him. When we see and hear about the Holiness of God and his desire to draw us back to that Holiness, it clearly shows our sinful nature and our helplesness without Him. That is not something we want to hear. We aren't used to being told those things.
Isaiah is prophesying about Israel about 2,700 years ago, but His words are wise to consider today. The Israelites didn't want to hear what God was tryng to say to His people because he was trying to get them to repent from their wrongdoings and that made them uncomfortable. It made them feel like they were out of control. He was trying to share truth of their straying from Him, and His desire to heal them, but they just thought God was messing up their lavish, comfortable lifestyle. So you know what they did? They just didn't listen to what God said, and brought fourth some speakers who would speak "smooth" words to them so they could feel good about themselves.
Now without question the Gospel of Christ bring peace to the soul. But it only truly does it to the soul who has been totally brought to the end of its self and begs for a savior. As we walk deeper with Christ, we still need the truth of God's word to shape us. I meet many people who don't understand that they were born enemies of God, slaves to sin and controlled by the devil (all biblical hard truths). If we never hear these hard words and understand our natural position as children of wrath, then what are we saved from? This is the tension that the gospel relieves. Do you feel this tension in your life? Do you celebrate Christ as the reliever of this tension? This is the fuel for worship. This is the driver of Praise for Christ and we never get there without some not so "smooth" words.
So Yes appreciate the smooth words that heal, but listen eagerly to the hard words that shape us as well. Hard truths are good for the soul.
Smooth. Easy. Comfortable. That is the way we like it. Smooth skin, whiskey or whatever it maybe, we as Americans don't like to be frustrated, ruffled or corrected. We don't like brash truth that tells us bad news. We like and aim for a smooth life of material blessing and comfort. News flash for us all: that robs us of real learning from God and feeds our flesh. The sanctification process runs counter to that, it kills the flesh and builds our faith in the Triune God. They are battling against each other and they both can not be nurtured by the same thing. The things of this world nurtures our flesh. The things of God, like His Word and Spirit frustrate our flesh so that we will submit and praise Him. When we see and hear about the Holiness of God and his desire to draw us back to that Holiness, it clearly shows our sinful nature and our helplesness without Him. That is not something we want to hear. We aren't used to being told those things.
Isaiah is prophesying about Israel about 2,700 years ago, but His words are wise to consider today. The Israelites didn't want to hear what God was tryng to say to His people because he was trying to get them to repent from their wrongdoings and that made them uncomfortable. It made them feel like they were out of control. He was trying to share truth of their straying from Him, and His desire to heal them, but they just thought God was messing up their lavish, comfortable lifestyle. So you know what they did? They just didn't listen to what God said, and brought fourth some speakers who would speak "smooth" words to them so they could feel good about themselves.
Now without question the Gospel of Christ bring peace to the soul. But it only truly does it to the soul who has been totally brought to the end of its self and begs for a savior. As we walk deeper with Christ, we still need the truth of God's word to shape us. I meet many people who don't understand that they were born enemies of God, slaves to sin and controlled by the devil (all biblical hard truths). If we never hear these hard words and understand our natural position as children of wrath, then what are we saved from? This is the tension that the gospel relieves. Do you feel this tension in your life? Do you celebrate Christ as the reliever of this tension? This is the fuel for worship. This is the driver of Praise for Christ and we never get there without some not so "smooth" words.
So Yes appreciate the smooth words that heal, but listen eagerly to the hard words that shape us as well. Hard truths are good for the soul.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The Struggle against Gratitude
Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
The hardest work in my life is fostering true gratitude in my kids. My wife and I may be partly to blame for that as we have given them a little too much. Maybe some of you can relate. There is nothing more embarrasing as a parent than for someone to give your kid a gift and watch them accept the gift, yet not acknowledge gratitude or even ignore the giver all together. When I examine my own heart, I feel this same struggle in my relation to Christ. There seems to be this born in self centeredness that sin has embedded in us that falsely tells us that we "deserve" everything good we get, and we don't deserve all the bad things that come our way.
I have a question for you. When is the last time you stopped and in a heartfelt way spent passionate time thanking God for the privilege of knowing and communing with Him and with no other thought? That is what Paul is driving at here. God is the gift of the Gospel. Our restoration to him is the effect of the Gospel, and our tendency is to under appreciate it greatly.
In our distracted, complex world we can easily think that we need to kind of put that basic stuff like appreciating God in the rear view mirror, and move on to seemingly more important "stuff" like who are the two witnesses in Revelation, or the timing of the rapture of God's church. That train of thoughts can miss experiencing God altogether. So let's strive to enjoy God today in a new and fresh way. Let's not be like the four year old at Christmas who takes a gift given by grace and at an expense, and toddle off in a different direction to hoard the gift. Let's run to our savior in prayer with nothing but thanksgiving in our hearts. It will honor God and deeply satisfy our souls.
Please don't read this and not take time to enjoy the father's embrace.
The hardest work in my life is fostering true gratitude in my kids. My wife and I may be partly to blame for that as we have given them a little too much. Maybe some of you can relate. There is nothing more embarrasing as a parent than for someone to give your kid a gift and watch them accept the gift, yet not acknowledge gratitude or even ignore the giver all together. When I examine my own heart, I feel this same struggle in my relation to Christ. There seems to be this born in self centeredness that sin has embedded in us that falsely tells us that we "deserve" everything good we get, and we don't deserve all the bad things that come our way.
I have a question for you. When is the last time you stopped and in a heartfelt way spent passionate time thanking God for the privilege of knowing and communing with Him and with no other thought? That is what Paul is driving at here. God is the gift of the Gospel. Our restoration to him is the effect of the Gospel, and our tendency is to under appreciate it greatly.
In our distracted, complex world we can easily think that we need to kind of put that basic stuff like appreciating God in the rear view mirror, and move on to seemingly more important "stuff" like who are the two witnesses in Revelation, or the timing of the rapture of God's church. That train of thoughts can miss experiencing God altogether. So let's strive to enjoy God today in a new and fresh way. Let's not be like the four year old at Christmas who takes a gift given by grace and at an expense, and toddle off in a different direction to hoard the gift. Let's run to our savior in prayer with nothing but thanksgiving in our hearts. It will honor God and deeply satisfy our souls.
Please don't read this and not take time to enjoy the father's embrace.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Confidence
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh
About three years ago, I was looking at an article that highlighted the success of an NFL running back. One of the pictures showed the man with his biceps flexed in the classic look at my muscles beach pose. The man arrogantly was looking and smiling at one of his huge arms as if to say "Look at how awesome I am." There was a tattoo on his left bicep that said it all. It read, "Self made". The story revealed the ups and downs of his troubled past, and his ability to over come all the odds. He was at a high point when the article was written, so everything was all smiles and positive. Since then, the "self made man" has slipped quite a bit and it is only a matter of time before he fades in to obscurity.
Paul is describing the confidence point of men and women and faith when he says we worship by the spirit and glory in Christ. He says in effect that Christians have confidence and hope in the Triune God, not themselves or anything man made. This verse cuts across virtually everything that our culture teaches. Even in some Christian circles "self confidence" is fed and nurtured. We are to be fed and nurtured certainly, but the bible isn't attempting to simply retrain our broken and bad habits. Its telling us that our habits, actions and even ourselves must be put to death and born a new by the power of the Holy Spirit. When this happens we actually lose "self confidence" and gain "Christ in us confidence" as we see our frailty and his strength.
This is quite honestly very difficult for us as Americans today. Our culture is steeped with vanity, pride and self advancement which promote and fulfill "fulfill and validate yourself by your actions". As Christians we must guard against this at all cost. We must realize that no matter what we say people around us can observe where our confidence originates and our deepest desires.
So where does your confidence lie? If faith is in full bloom in your life you will be like Paul as he states that all his positions and actions of honor in the flesh he now counts as rubbish (Philippians 3:4-8). He wants to leave confidence in anything other than Christ behind as he wants that one thing worth gaining: Christ!
So as you start the day analyze the power source of your schedule, abilities and strength. Is it Christ?
About three years ago, I was looking at an article that highlighted the success of an NFL running back. One of the pictures showed the man with his biceps flexed in the classic look at my muscles beach pose. The man arrogantly was looking and smiling at one of his huge arms as if to say "Look at how awesome I am." There was a tattoo on his left bicep that said it all. It read, "Self made". The story revealed the ups and downs of his troubled past, and his ability to over come all the odds. He was at a high point when the article was written, so everything was all smiles and positive. Since then, the "self made man" has slipped quite a bit and it is only a matter of time before he fades in to obscurity.
Paul is describing the confidence point of men and women and faith when he says we worship by the spirit and glory in Christ. He says in effect that Christians have confidence and hope in the Triune God, not themselves or anything man made. This verse cuts across virtually everything that our culture teaches. Even in some Christian circles "self confidence" is fed and nurtured. We are to be fed and nurtured certainly, but the bible isn't attempting to simply retrain our broken and bad habits. Its telling us that our habits, actions and even ourselves must be put to death and born a new by the power of the Holy Spirit. When this happens we actually lose "self confidence" and gain "Christ in us confidence" as we see our frailty and his strength.
This is quite honestly very difficult for us as Americans today. Our culture is steeped with vanity, pride and self advancement which promote and fulfill "fulfill and validate yourself by your actions". As Christians we must guard against this at all cost. We must realize that no matter what we say people around us can observe where our confidence originates and our deepest desires.
So where does your confidence lie? If faith is in full bloom in your life you will be like Paul as he states that all his positions and actions of honor in the flesh he now counts as rubbish (Philippians 3:4-8). He wants to leave confidence in anything other than Christ behind as he wants that one thing worth gaining: Christ!
So as you start the day analyze the power source of your schedule, abilities and strength. Is it Christ?
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Constrictor Nearby
James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
A couple of months back, I read a bizarre article of a man and his pet boa constrictor. This guy had purchased the snake when it was smaller, and raised and nurtured it to nearly ten feet in length. One afternoon at a party, he was showing a friend how cool it was to have the snake wrap around his shoulders and how harmless the snake was. The snake had other ideas though and decided that the man's neck was a better target. The large constrictor unexpectedly wrapped around the guys neck quickly and shut down his ability to breathe. Soon thereafter the man was dead. What started as a "look at me" fun show and tell, ended in death.
It is awful the way this guy died. I do believe there is a major learning point in this for all of us though. You see all of us have a tendency to want to keep something dangerous close by and within reach. It might not be as obvious as a 10 foot snake, but our sin nature fights to keep itself alive, and to do that it needs nourishment. When our wrong and sinful desires lead us to obtain, look, think or taste things we absolutely know are unhealthy for us, it is as dangerous as the man growing the pet snake that would later kill him. Think about it. The snake seemed innocent and cool. It was an attraction that got the man attention from other people. Day by day, the snake got bigger and stronger and then killed the guy. James tells us that sin follows this same pattern. Desire leads to sin. If we feed the desire and sin it grows bigger and stronger until it eventually chokes and kills us.
When you stop and look around, our society is nurturing sin like few others before it. Most of the desires seem innocent and passive like greed, vanity, lust, power and relief. The choices we make and habits we form to feed those desires raise up full blown sin patterns in our life like addiction to pornography, alcohol, work, self-looks, money, drugs, sex and a host of other temporary dangers. These, like the snake, choke the life from our lungs and will eventually kill you. Just as God said to able "Sin is crouching at the door and its desire is to kill you".
As you live today do you sense the evil attacking you? Have you stopped and asked God to identify what "constrictors" you are raising in your life and house that will snuff you and your family's lives out?
We all have battles with wrong desires. The worst response is to deny that you do. The right respnse is to aks God to convict us of wrong desires and sin and to turn to Him. We need to ask Him to give us a greater desire to be filled with Him, not things that will kill us. We need to be pressed in to His identity, not death.
A couple of months back, I read a bizarre article of a man and his pet boa constrictor. This guy had purchased the snake when it was smaller, and raised and nurtured it to nearly ten feet in length. One afternoon at a party, he was showing a friend how cool it was to have the snake wrap around his shoulders and how harmless the snake was. The snake had other ideas though and decided that the man's neck was a better target. The large constrictor unexpectedly wrapped around the guys neck quickly and shut down his ability to breathe. Soon thereafter the man was dead. What started as a "look at me" fun show and tell, ended in death.
It is awful the way this guy died. I do believe there is a major learning point in this for all of us though. You see all of us have a tendency to want to keep something dangerous close by and within reach. It might not be as obvious as a 10 foot snake, but our sin nature fights to keep itself alive, and to do that it needs nourishment. When our wrong and sinful desires lead us to obtain, look, think or taste things we absolutely know are unhealthy for us, it is as dangerous as the man growing the pet snake that would later kill him. Think about it. The snake seemed innocent and cool. It was an attraction that got the man attention from other people. Day by day, the snake got bigger and stronger and then killed the guy. James tells us that sin follows this same pattern. Desire leads to sin. If we feed the desire and sin it grows bigger and stronger until it eventually chokes and kills us.
When you stop and look around, our society is nurturing sin like few others before it. Most of the desires seem innocent and passive like greed, vanity, lust, power and relief. The choices we make and habits we form to feed those desires raise up full blown sin patterns in our life like addiction to pornography, alcohol, work, self-looks, money, drugs, sex and a host of other temporary dangers. These, like the snake, choke the life from our lungs and will eventually kill you. Just as God said to able "Sin is crouching at the door and its desire is to kill you".
As you live today do you sense the evil attacking you? Have you stopped and asked God to identify what "constrictors" you are raising in your life and house that will snuff you and your family's lives out?
We all have battles with wrong desires. The worst response is to deny that you do. The right respnse is to aks God to convict us of wrong desires and sin and to turn to Him. We need to ask Him to give us a greater desire to be filled with Him, not things that will kill us. We need to be pressed in to His identity, not death.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Busting loose
Psalms 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of this earth set themselves and the rulers of this earth take counsel together, against the Lord and His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their chords from us."
Last night I was watching footage from Libya, where the people were firing guns in the air celebrating the end of the oppressive ruling regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Decades of tyrannic rule kept an entire nation under his heavy hand. Gaddafi viewed His people as a resource to bring him glory and so he elevated Himself by suppressing the people he ruled over. When you look at the celebration and hear the interviews, the vast majority of Libyans are filled with joy because His powerhold on their lives has been broken. His strong hand that oppressed them has been removed and now the new found hope they have is cause for celebration.
Have you noticed that in its most basic form sin deceives us to think that God is an oppressive ruler. The devil strives to get us to view God in the same way the Libyans view Gaddafi. The devil tries to see God like He is focused on making us miserable and looking out for His sake, while not caring for us. The devil wants us to view the teachings of God as oppressive. Starting in the garden of Eden and continuing to this very moment, and beyond, the devil aims to get you and me to question God's rule over us and His character. If Satan can delude us into thinking that God is harsh, detached and uncaring for our souls, then God's dominion over our lives will appear to be a weight. Clearly the Gospel of Christ demands submission, but it is a joyful submission to a loving God for His glory and our Good. Yes he is our King, but a King who served us with His life so that we can serve Him with ours. He doesn't ask us to do anything that He hasn't first done for us. His mercy and grace are obvious blessings, so being His servant should seem light as he bore the burdens for us already.
When you look at Psalms two above, you can see David's puzzling assessment of the unrighteous. David delighted to serve a holy God and so he can't understand why people would be so eager to vainly try to break His rule and yoke over their lives. David has learned the yoke of God is a balm of healing, not a burden of harm. His observation is that the kings and power brokers of this earth want to break free from God's rule. They don't want Him to rule over them. This is the fundamental war that we as Christ followers must keep our eye on. Why? People are creative in our means of trying to wiggle free of the grasp of God's rule on our lives. A couple of examples:
Benjamin Franklin: he simply made his own bible by cutting out the parts of the true bible he didn't like.
Religion: do these things and God will accept you.
False teachers: "Don't worry about the sin in your life God will accept you any way you are"
Men cynically persecuting Jesus: "you can save others, save yourself"
Other false teachers "the bible is just some opinions of other men that are up for debate."
How do you view Gods' sovereign reign over your life? Do you submit to it in joy because of Christ's work on the Cross?
If not then it will be a weight that you will want to shake loose from. Instead of the Father's freeing love, you will deceptively see God as a restrictive ruler. That is the Gospel - Loving the rule of a Loving Father, made possible through the work of the son and activated by the work of the Spirit.
Last night I was watching footage from Libya, where the people were firing guns in the air celebrating the end of the oppressive ruling regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Decades of tyrannic rule kept an entire nation under his heavy hand. Gaddafi viewed His people as a resource to bring him glory and so he elevated Himself by suppressing the people he ruled over. When you look at the celebration and hear the interviews, the vast majority of Libyans are filled with joy because His powerhold on their lives has been broken. His strong hand that oppressed them has been removed and now the new found hope they have is cause for celebration.
Have you noticed that in its most basic form sin deceives us to think that God is an oppressive ruler. The devil strives to get us to view God in the same way the Libyans view Gaddafi. The devil tries to see God like He is focused on making us miserable and looking out for His sake, while not caring for us. The devil wants us to view the teachings of God as oppressive. Starting in the garden of Eden and continuing to this very moment, and beyond, the devil aims to get you and me to question God's rule over us and His character. If Satan can delude us into thinking that God is harsh, detached and uncaring for our souls, then God's dominion over our lives will appear to be a weight. Clearly the Gospel of Christ demands submission, but it is a joyful submission to a loving God for His glory and our Good. Yes he is our King, but a King who served us with His life so that we can serve Him with ours. He doesn't ask us to do anything that He hasn't first done for us. His mercy and grace are obvious blessings, so being His servant should seem light as he bore the burdens for us already.
When you look at Psalms two above, you can see David's puzzling assessment of the unrighteous. David delighted to serve a holy God and so he can't understand why people would be so eager to vainly try to break His rule and yoke over their lives. David has learned the yoke of God is a balm of healing, not a burden of harm. His observation is that the kings and power brokers of this earth want to break free from God's rule. They don't want Him to rule over them. This is the fundamental war that we as Christ followers must keep our eye on. Why? People are creative in our means of trying to wiggle free of the grasp of God's rule on our lives. A couple of examples:
Benjamin Franklin: he simply made his own bible by cutting out the parts of the true bible he didn't like.
Religion: do these things and God will accept you.
False teachers: "Don't worry about the sin in your life God will accept you any way you are"
Men cynically persecuting Jesus: "you can save others, save yourself"
Other false teachers "the bible is just some opinions of other men that are up for debate."
How do you view Gods' sovereign reign over your life? Do you submit to it in joy because of Christ's work on the Cross?
If not then it will be a weight that you will want to shake loose from. Instead of the Father's freeing love, you will deceptively see God as a restrictive ruler. That is the Gospel - Loving the rule of a Loving Father, made possible through the work of the son and activated by the work of the Spirit.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Blinded by the Light
Acts 9:3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
The account of mega-phairsee, Christian persecutor Saul being transformed into the slave of Christ Paul, above is striking. The man who is on His way to persecute the bride of Christ is suddenly transformed into one of its biggest advocates. What happened? Simply put, the Holiness of Christ's righteousness blinded Paul while he was in a state of self righteousness. Paul was forced to see that His own righteous was weak and temporary while Christ's was dominating. In an instant Paul's center of existence and trust moved from Himself and in the manner of three days it was 100% built and centered on Christ. He learned that his AA powered mini light was not the light that would light up the world, it was Christ the Sun of righteous and the bright morning star who would be the savior of men.
As you read this, whose righteousness are you trusting in? If you profess Christ as Lord, simply trust and exalt Him as Lord and quit trying to be a light you can't be in your own strength. Any power from Christ comes from being pressed into Him. We are quick to try it on our own, without prayer and communion with Him. When we do this we find our saves flailing because we are "unplugged" from His power and light.
If we are "plugged in" to Him our path will be well lit and clear even as we face trials. If we aren't our little mini lites leave an unclear path that frustrates us at every angle. Get blinded by the Light and see!
The account of mega-phairsee, Christian persecutor Saul being transformed into the slave of Christ Paul, above is striking. The man who is on His way to persecute the bride of Christ is suddenly transformed into one of its biggest advocates. What happened? Simply put, the Holiness of Christ's righteousness blinded Paul while he was in a state of self righteousness. Paul was forced to see that His own righteous was weak and temporary while Christ's was dominating. In an instant Paul's center of existence and trust moved from Himself and in the manner of three days it was 100% built and centered on Christ. He learned that his AA powered mini light was not the light that would light up the world, it was Christ the Sun of righteous and the bright morning star who would be the savior of men.
As you read this, whose righteousness are you trusting in? If you profess Christ as Lord, simply trust and exalt Him as Lord and quit trying to be a light you can't be in your own strength. Any power from Christ comes from being pressed into Him. We are quick to try it on our own, without prayer and communion with Him. When we do this we find our saves flailing because we are "unplugged" from His power and light.
If we are "plugged in" to Him our path will be well lit and clear even as we face trials. If we aren't our little mini lites leave an unclear path that frustrates us at every angle. Get blinded by the Light and see!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Do you understand what you are reading?
Acts 8:30 So Phillip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, " Do you understand what you are reading?"
Phillip encounters a powerful Ethiopian eunuch on a desert road near Gaza and finds him reading Isaiah's prophecy that would have been about 750 years old at the time. The spirit has led him to intersect this particular man and this particular place, so a divine appointment occurs. As Phillip approaches, he asks a great question that needs to be asked to anyone who engages the scriptures: "Do you understand what you are reading?" Why is it important to understand? If the scriptures are God's word that reveal Himself, His plans, and His purpose then a correct understanding is critical. I believe that indeed the scripture is the breath of God on the page (2 Timothy 3:16) and is our primary guide to proper enlightenment and in turn worship of the triune God.
"So what is the big deal?" you might ask. Most of us have heard the stories of Daniel, Noah and Father Abraham since we could walk and talk and can even sings songs about these biblical stories. The big deal is this: Everything in the bible points to an exaltation of Christ. The old testament points towards and longs for Christ as we see pictures of Him in festivals, sacrifices and in the offices of prophet , Priest and King. The Gospels reveal Him as the fulfillment of all of these. Our Lord says in Luke 24:44," these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and of the Prophets and of the Psalms must be fulfilled". Short version: everything that God had revealed to humans pointed towards the need for Christ and I've fulfilled my ministry.
This "Christocentric" view of scripture is essential if we are going to be trained appropriately by the scriptures. There is a tendency to simply approach scripture in an effort to learn precepts and to try to apply them to our lives. When we do this, we are simply trying to train our flesh to be spiritual. It is frustrating and hopeless. We might do some things better for a while, but our flesh needs to be crucified, not trained. This is exactly what Jesus shocks Nicodemus with in John 3:3 ,"truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God". Nicodemus who is a mega trained pharisee who knows all of the delineated principles and precepts, and the best man made methods to apply them, is shocked and phased. He is trying to retrain his flesh to please God, and Jesus says that can't work.Jesus continues the dialogue (paraphrased) You must be reborn in the Spirit. The scriptures aren't there to help you try harder and smarter to please God, they are there to reveal your need for me to be your suffering servant for salvation and your conquering king as you bow to me."
If we look to any scripture without an eye on Christ, we are doing something distinctly non-christian. A practical example would be David and Goliath. I have heard that story many times taught where the only precept to be learned was to "train yourself to have a faith like David". While that is certainly a apart of the picture, David is not the hero gunning for more glory. David is the servant of Christ who is confident that His God will glorify himself through his faithful actions. Goliath is taunting Israel, God's chosen people. David's faith is not in Himself, even though he has been trained and prepared for what He is about to do. His faith is firmly planted in God's desire for God's Glory to be known, and his kingdom enlarged, so he trots out there and allows God to win and be celebrated. We see a picture of Christ in David as a warrior king for God's glory that hates sin and attacks the evil that tries to silence the witness of the triune God. We have to see the victory in David's faith that he kept his eyes on the right "Giant", that being the triune God, not Goliath. If we simply delineate a precept of work hard and go and face your giants because David did, we miss the work of Christ building David's faith as David enjoyed exalting God. We will also miss the Glory of God being the central part of the account and the picture of Christ in David Himself. The point of the story is that Christ initiates everything, including the faith that David had and he does it for His Glory and our Good simultaneously. Reducing it to a simple have more faith without the right cause, purpose, mode, ability can be down right dangerous.
Indeed, until we see that our flesh must be crucified by the cross we carry, not retrained, we are misunderstanding scripture. It is when we die to the flesh, and through God's grace become alive and grow in the Spirit, that he works in an through us, and the spirit shapes and trains us to do battle for his glory.
So, do you understand what you are reading when you read the bible? Is it distinctly Christ exalting? Run from the tendency to simply apply a learning devoid of empowerment by the spirit and causality other than an exaltation of Christ.
Phillip encounters a powerful Ethiopian eunuch on a desert road near Gaza and finds him reading Isaiah's prophecy that would have been about 750 years old at the time. The spirit has led him to intersect this particular man and this particular place, so a divine appointment occurs. As Phillip approaches, he asks a great question that needs to be asked to anyone who engages the scriptures: "Do you understand what you are reading?" Why is it important to understand? If the scriptures are God's word that reveal Himself, His plans, and His purpose then a correct understanding is critical. I believe that indeed the scripture is the breath of God on the page (2 Timothy 3:16) and is our primary guide to proper enlightenment and in turn worship of the triune God.
"So what is the big deal?" you might ask. Most of us have heard the stories of Daniel, Noah and Father Abraham since we could walk and talk and can even sings songs about these biblical stories. The big deal is this: Everything in the bible points to an exaltation of Christ. The old testament points towards and longs for Christ as we see pictures of Him in festivals, sacrifices and in the offices of prophet , Priest and King. The Gospels reveal Him as the fulfillment of all of these. Our Lord says in Luke 24:44," these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and of the Prophets and of the Psalms must be fulfilled". Short version: everything that God had revealed to humans pointed towards the need for Christ and I've fulfilled my ministry.
This "Christocentric" view of scripture is essential if we are going to be trained appropriately by the scriptures. There is a tendency to simply approach scripture in an effort to learn precepts and to try to apply them to our lives. When we do this, we are simply trying to train our flesh to be spiritual. It is frustrating and hopeless. We might do some things better for a while, but our flesh needs to be crucified, not trained. This is exactly what Jesus shocks Nicodemus with in John 3:3 ,"truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God". Nicodemus who is a mega trained pharisee who knows all of the delineated principles and precepts, and the best man made methods to apply them, is shocked and phased. He is trying to retrain his flesh to please God, and Jesus says that can't work.Jesus continues the dialogue (paraphrased) You must be reborn in the Spirit. The scriptures aren't there to help you try harder and smarter to please God, they are there to reveal your need for me to be your suffering servant for salvation and your conquering king as you bow to me."
If we look to any scripture without an eye on Christ, we are doing something distinctly non-christian. A practical example would be David and Goliath. I have heard that story many times taught where the only precept to be learned was to "train yourself to have a faith like David". While that is certainly a apart of the picture, David is not the hero gunning for more glory. David is the servant of Christ who is confident that His God will glorify himself through his faithful actions. Goliath is taunting Israel, God's chosen people. David's faith is not in Himself, even though he has been trained and prepared for what He is about to do. His faith is firmly planted in God's desire for God's Glory to be known, and his kingdom enlarged, so he trots out there and allows God to win and be celebrated. We see a picture of Christ in David as a warrior king for God's glory that hates sin and attacks the evil that tries to silence the witness of the triune God. We have to see the victory in David's faith that he kept his eyes on the right "Giant", that being the triune God, not Goliath. If we simply delineate a precept of work hard and go and face your giants because David did, we miss the work of Christ building David's faith as David enjoyed exalting God. We will also miss the Glory of God being the central part of the account and the picture of Christ in David Himself. The point of the story is that Christ initiates everything, including the faith that David had and he does it for His Glory and our Good simultaneously. Reducing it to a simple have more faith without the right cause, purpose, mode, ability can be down right dangerous.
Indeed, until we see that our flesh must be crucified by the cross we carry, not retrained, we are misunderstanding scripture. It is when we die to the flesh, and through God's grace become alive and grow in the Spirit, that he works in an through us, and the spirit shapes and trains us to do battle for his glory.
So, do you understand what you are reading when you read the bible? Is it distinctly Christ exalting? Run from the tendency to simply apply a learning devoid of empowerment by the spirit and causality other than an exaltation of Christ.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Jesus loves me: The Second Verse
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who might live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him belong , they are weak but he is strong.
Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus Lives me, the Bible tells me so.
I feel like I have known this song since birth. Your probably humming along in your heads at this point. Luke, our three year old, likes me to sing this one to him as we rock before bed time. The words to this song express the tender love of God, made possible by the son and applied to His elect through the work of the Holy Spirit. It expresses the blessed truths of a wondrous salvation made possible through the Cross of Christ and there is something simply wonderful about a child of God thanking the Father for his love. I have probably sang this song a couple of hundred times to Luke so I have had a lot of time to think through the heart of the message and what it says. I also took the time to think through what it leaves out and how I wish I had known more of God's truths as a child.
So over the course of time, I added a second verse. The reason is simple: I thought that the work of Jesus was only about me and for my sake alone until much later in life. Certainly we are to rejoice in the Gift of Grace found in Jesus. To be fruitful in the kingdom though, we need to know our purpose as the redeemed of God. The reasons for our salvation extend farther than ourselves. So here is the second verse:
Now I know the whole story,
It's for His fame and His Glory;
Since he made me all His own,
Its my joy to make Him known,
Yes Jesus loves me!
So what happens? God gets glory, others lives are transformed by His power in us, the world is shown the power and glory of our God as His Church overcomes the world and evil. As the Kingdom expands, Christ is exalted more as he is worshipped by the people he has saved. This is exactly what Paul is saying in the verses above. He is saying that we are controlled by Christ because He is simply captivating. His work is so awesome that we are drawn to him like some huge black hole pulling at every ounce of our being. We are dead to the flesh's desire to advance ourselves and we live for one purpose: to exalt Christ alone and enjoy the opportunity to do so. Telling others about Him fulfills us as this is the very thing we were originally created to do. So we live for His sake. Our purpose is not to just pull over a few biblical precepts into our American way of life and go on. Our purpose is to worship with a passion that transforms us from the inside out as His Spirit makes us Holy.
So next time you are rocking a little one to sleep, or maybe yourself, don't stop thanking Jesus, but don't forget His purposes in your calling. Christ is the author of Salvation and His Glory is worth singing about!
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him belong , they are weak but he is strong.
Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus Lives me, the Bible tells me so.
I feel like I have known this song since birth. Your probably humming along in your heads at this point. Luke, our three year old, likes me to sing this one to him as we rock before bed time. The words to this song express the tender love of God, made possible by the son and applied to His elect through the work of the Holy Spirit. It expresses the blessed truths of a wondrous salvation made possible through the Cross of Christ and there is something simply wonderful about a child of God thanking the Father for his love. I have probably sang this song a couple of hundred times to Luke so I have had a lot of time to think through the heart of the message and what it says. I also took the time to think through what it leaves out and how I wish I had known more of God's truths as a child.
So over the course of time, I added a second verse. The reason is simple: I thought that the work of Jesus was only about me and for my sake alone until much later in life. Certainly we are to rejoice in the Gift of Grace found in Jesus. To be fruitful in the kingdom though, we need to know our purpose as the redeemed of God. The reasons for our salvation extend farther than ourselves. So here is the second verse:
Now I know the whole story,
It's for His fame and His Glory;
Since he made me all His own,
Its my joy to make Him known,
Yes Jesus loves me!
So what happens? God gets glory, others lives are transformed by His power in us, the world is shown the power and glory of our God as His Church overcomes the world and evil. As the Kingdom expands, Christ is exalted more as he is worshipped by the people he has saved. This is exactly what Paul is saying in the verses above. He is saying that we are controlled by Christ because He is simply captivating. His work is so awesome that we are drawn to him like some huge black hole pulling at every ounce of our being. We are dead to the flesh's desire to advance ourselves and we live for one purpose: to exalt Christ alone and enjoy the opportunity to do so. Telling others about Him fulfills us as this is the very thing we were originally created to do. So we live for His sake. Our purpose is not to just pull over a few biblical precepts into our American way of life and go on. Our purpose is to worship with a passion that transforms us from the inside out as His Spirit makes us Holy.
So next time you are rocking a little one to sleep, or maybe yourself, don't stop thanking Jesus, but don't forget His purposes in your calling. Christ is the author of Salvation and His Glory is worth singing about!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The Price of Admission
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
As we pulled out of the Church lot last Sunday, my daughter Alison asked the question: "Daddy, does it cost anything to go to Church?". I quickly replied, "No, baby, it's free". "Well then why don't some people come if it is free and doesn't cost anything?", she asked. "I don't know baby, maybe they think something else is more important". As I drove down the road, the spirit started to move on my heart deeply. Alison's direct question was about the cost of attending Church had prompted a far too quick response. My answer seemed right at first, as obviously no one was taking up money to gain entry to the building. But the more I thought about it, the price of admission is very expensive.
God began to ignite my soul, and in turn my brain, about the worth of His Son. That is indeed the price of attending Church. As this high price began to dominate my thoughts I said ; "Huggy bear. I was wrong about that. The cost is high. The cost of going to Church was the value of the Son to God the Father and it can't get any more pricey than that. He paid our entry fee. So forgive me for saying that it is free. We should praise God for paying our way." She thought for a minute and smiled back.
Could one of our greatest blind spots be our minimizing the High Cost of Church? We seem hard at work trying to kind of lure folks in to kind of introduce them to Jesus on the fringe of our services. When we do this we act as if His Blood, His Word and His Life are not powerful enough to convert rebels. When we combine 21st century entertainment techniques to "help" out, we miss out. We wouldn't say it out loud, especially in Church, but we at the core of our soul don't believe that the Cross is powerful enough to give life. We can so easily replace the power of the Word with jokes and stories that hold no life giving power. We can compartmentalize prayer so that it keeps us on schedule to leave on time. I mean, who wants to stay longer than an hour, right?
When you look at Johns' words above, the answer to that last question would be those who truly worship Christ. The blood satisfies the wrath of God and gives power and life to the Church. The water cleanses and removes sins and stains. Notice I said removes the sin - not just punishment from the sin. In talking, it seems that most people just want Jesus to justify the sin they enjoy more than Him. Does that make any sense? Would any father sacrifice His son to promote and condone what He hates. He loves sinners indeed and that is a mystery. He hates, no despises, sin and Jesus came to destroy sin.
As we are allowed to be the Church, we should praise the one who paid the cost, who calls us to give our lives back to Him in sacrificial praise. If we think that there is no cost to go to Church, then we will have no true praise for the one who paid it!
Do you see being a Christian as a freebie to that allows a passive engagement with God when your schedule allows? Or do you see it as an opportunity to praise a God that bled out in your place knowing you could muster nothing good of your own?
The cost he paid to purchase His bride is high!
As we pulled out of the Church lot last Sunday, my daughter Alison asked the question: "Daddy, does it cost anything to go to Church?". I quickly replied, "No, baby, it's free". "Well then why don't some people come if it is free and doesn't cost anything?", she asked. "I don't know baby, maybe they think something else is more important". As I drove down the road, the spirit started to move on my heart deeply. Alison's direct question was about the cost of attending Church had prompted a far too quick response. My answer seemed right at first, as obviously no one was taking up money to gain entry to the building. But the more I thought about it, the price of admission is very expensive.
God began to ignite my soul, and in turn my brain, about the worth of His Son. That is indeed the price of attending Church. As this high price began to dominate my thoughts I said ; "Huggy bear. I was wrong about that. The cost is high. The cost of going to Church was the value of the Son to God the Father and it can't get any more pricey than that. He paid our entry fee. So forgive me for saying that it is free. We should praise God for paying our way." She thought for a minute and smiled back.
Could one of our greatest blind spots be our minimizing the High Cost of Church? We seem hard at work trying to kind of lure folks in to kind of introduce them to Jesus on the fringe of our services. When we do this we act as if His Blood, His Word and His Life are not powerful enough to convert rebels. When we combine 21st century entertainment techniques to "help" out, we miss out. We wouldn't say it out loud, especially in Church, but we at the core of our soul don't believe that the Cross is powerful enough to give life. We can so easily replace the power of the Word with jokes and stories that hold no life giving power. We can compartmentalize prayer so that it keeps us on schedule to leave on time. I mean, who wants to stay longer than an hour, right?
When you look at Johns' words above, the answer to that last question would be those who truly worship Christ. The blood satisfies the wrath of God and gives power and life to the Church. The water cleanses and removes sins and stains. Notice I said removes the sin - not just punishment from the sin. In talking, it seems that most people just want Jesus to justify the sin they enjoy more than Him. Does that make any sense? Would any father sacrifice His son to promote and condone what He hates. He loves sinners indeed and that is a mystery. He hates, no despises, sin and Jesus came to destroy sin.
As we are allowed to be the Church, we should praise the one who paid the cost, who calls us to give our lives back to Him in sacrificial praise. If we think that there is no cost to go to Church, then we will have no true praise for the one who paid it!
Do you see being a Christian as a freebie to that allows a passive engagement with God when your schedule allows? Or do you see it as an opportunity to praise a God that bled out in your place knowing you could muster nothing good of your own?
The cost he paid to purchase His bride is high!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Refugee
Hebrews 6:18 So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizidek.
Last February I had the honor of meeting Christian Nkulikiye in Togo, Africa. Christian serves with Vapor ministries, a group expending themselves for the lost, starving and neglected. As I got to know Christian over the ten days I was there, it became apparent that He was one of the strongest disciple makers I had bumped into on this planet. His journey through life had been a bumpy one that began with him almost dying as an infant. Later in his life, a genocidal war broke out in his home country of Rwanda. He was a Tustsi and the rival Hutus began a slaughter that ended up with a death toll of around 800,000. As the war raged, Christian's family fled Rwanda on foot. He recounts a time when they were surrounded by Hutus in a swamp and they were forced to be still and quiet for three days. During that time his grandfather died as a result of Pneumonia, but the danger outside kept the family standing paralyzed with fear until the murderous Hutus had given up their manhunt for blood. There are many details to the story, but their flight for refuge was long. They walked through seven countries and finally ended up in Kenya. Christian and his family set up life in one of the largest slums on the planet and he turned to soccer for relief. God sent Christian a wife to be named Seline who introduced him to Christ and later a White boy named Micah (founder of Vapor) who discipled him unto the Lord. God is using him mightily in Africa, and now in Haiti, as the refugee is now a missionary! When you talk and walk with Christian, his passion and desire for God bubble up and out of him naturally 24/7. His life's story seems as vivid as those found in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith. Christian knows what it means to flea for refuge from this world and he knows what it means to flea for Refuge into Christ's arms. I thank God for Him!
When I read through the words in Hebrews six above, I feel the weightiness of them as the author intimately details out a Christ follower's flight to refuge in God. When I examine the depth of the meaning and apply it intimately into my own life it is convicting in a righteous and helpful way.
Refugees, you see, don't get to take anything with them and when they get to their place of Refuge they don't have any rights to citizenship, unless the local authorities grant it to them. Refugees arrive in their new land meek, powerless and empty handed. Refugees flea to a new place as they know the place they are fleeing form equals destruction for them and the people and things they value. The flight of a refugee is fueled by a faith that senses the place they are headed is the only path that leads them away from destruction. I believe that is physically what Christian felt as as a physical refugee as he left Rwanda in 1994, and I know that is what drove Him as a spiritual refugee in 2004 when he surrendered it all to Christ.
Now take that and apply it to yourself and others you know around you. Does it seem like we are refugees in Christ? Does it seem like we are totally and gratefully abandoning the World? Do we eagerly seek to walk by Faith into a humble walk with Christ as a refugee, powerless and humble?
It honestly seems to me like we want our cake and eat it too! At the core of my soul, I believe there is a lie that says you can have both! It says you can be committed to God and the world. Kind of a hybrid faith that pulls some biblical precepts over into the current American culture and just proceeds along that path with just a higher moral compass. I know because I bought that lie for a long time in my life.
I believe that God is looking for refugees from the present world system that come to Him broken and desperate. I see all around me people that know that they should dive into God's grace, but just can't let go of the provision of the World!
Do you see yourself in the refuge of Christ? Are you seeking refuge as a refugee from the World or hoping to meet Him in it? Christ came and is now the anchor to God for His faithful followers. The hope that is spoke of is one of rest, identity and peace. We will not find it looking in this world, only in The Kingdom of Christ!
Last February I had the honor of meeting Christian Nkulikiye in Togo, Africa. Christian serves with Vapor ministries, a group expending themselves for the lost, starving and neglected. As I got to know Christian over the ten days I was there, it became apparent that He was one of the strongest disciple makers I had bumped into on this planet. His journey through life had been a bumpy one that began with him almost dying as an infant. Later in his life, a genocidal war broke out in his home country of Rwanda. He was a Tustsi and the rival Hutus began a slaughter that ended up with a death toll of around 800,000. As the war raged, Christian's family fled Rwanda on foot. He recounts a time when they were surrounded by Hutus in a swamp and they were forced to be still and quiet for three days. During that time his grandfather died as a result of Pneumonia, but the danger outside kept the family standing paralyzed with fear until the murderous Hutus had given up their manhunt for blood. There are many details to the story, but their flight for refuge was long. They walked through seven countries and finally ended up in Kenya. Christian and his family set up life in one of the largest slums on the planet and he turned to soccer for relief. God sent Christian a wife to be named Seline who introduced him to Christ and later a White boy named Micah (founder of Vapor) who discipled him unto the Lord. God is using him mightily in Africa, and now in Haiti, as the refugee is now a missionary! When you talk and walk with Christian, his passion and desire for God bubble up and out of him naturally 24/7. His life's story seems as vivid as those found in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith. Christian knows what it means to flea for refuge from this world and he knows what it means to flea for Refuge into Christ's arms. I thank God for Him!
When I read through the words in Hebrews six above, I feel the weightiness of them as the author intimately details out a Christ follower's flight to refuge in God. When I examine the depth of the meaning and apply it intimately into my own life it is convicting in a righteous and helpful way.
Refugees, you see, don't get to take anything with them and when they get to their place of Refuge they don't have any rights to citizenship, unless the local authorities grant it to them. Refugees arrive in their new land meek, powerless and empty handed. Refugees flea to a new place as they know the place they are fleeing form equals destruction for them and the people and things they value. The flight of a refugee is fueled by a faith that senses the place they are headed is the only path that leads them away from destruction. I believe that is physically what Christian felt as as a physical refugee as he left Rwanda in 1994, and I know that is what drove Him as a spiritual refugee in 2004 when he surrendered it all to Christ.
Now take that and apply it to yourself and others you know around you. Does it seem like we are refugees in Christ? Does it seem like we are totally and gratefully abandoning the World? Do we eagerly seek to walk by Faith into a humble walk with Christ as a refugee, powerless and humble?
It honestly seems to me like we want our cake and eat it too! At the core of my soul, I believe there is a lie that says you can have both! It says you can be committed to God and the world. Kind of a hybrid faith that pulls some biblical precepts over into the current American culture and just proceeds along that path with just a higher moral compass. I know because I bought that lie for a long time in my life.
I believe that God is looking for refugees from the present world system that come to Him broken and desperate. I see all around me people that know that they should dive into God's grace, but just can't let go of the provision of the World!
Do you see yourself in the refuge of Christ? Are you seeking refuge as a refugee from the World or hoping to meet Him in it? Christ came and is now the anchor to God for His faithful followers. The hope that is spoke of is one of rest, identity and peace. We will not find it looking in this world, only in The Kingdom of Christ!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Divine Currency
John 5:41 I do not receive Glory from People
Just for fun, a friend of mine will hand a cashier a foreign currency from his travels with a stright face when they tell him his total bill. Teenage cashiers looking at a Honduran Limpera, and trying to figure out a cordial way to communicate their thoughts of "what is this nut thinking?", always provides some awkward tension. That tension is relieved when the cashier says, "um, we don't accept this, sir", and my friend greets them with a tender smile and laughs. It can spring forth a conversation about Honduras, Faith, travels, or other things, but usually brings smiles from both sides as the daily monotany is broken with a little levity.
Jesus says in John 5 above, that he does not accept any "currency" that is not originally from God when it comes to worship. Rather it be in prayer, mission, singing or any other effort, He can not accept something that He did not first give. Just as a Honduran limpera will has no value at my local chik fil a, anything we try to conjure up aside from the spirit's leading and empowering that is anchored in the Word of God is useless in the Kingdom. Why? If it is not Holy and divine, then it is tainted and wordly. If it is of this created, fallen world, we should not expect a perfect, Holy God to acccept it. Not only will he not accept it, but He will hate it as it is sin.
This can be a little confusing until we understand how this undergirds the mission of Jesus. Jesus' divine nature was wrapped temporarily in human flesh. It is in the sacrifice of His perfect Holy life that the father is pleased. It is in the mediation of Christ, that we bring acceptable worship to the father. Why? Because we are simply re-directing His own Glory back to Him as we exhalt Christ. The Glory we praise is not our own, or even from our own world, but is simply a taste of the Holy God that He graciously gives us. As we encounter Him and wonder at His majesty, acceptable worship in the form of redirected Glory points back to the Lamb on the Throne and honors the triune God.
So what is it that you bring in your prayers and worship? Routines, memorized words. dutiful obligations? Unless our transformed Hearts are simply mirrors of praise that point His Glory back to Him based and fueled upon the work of Christ, it is unacceptable "currency" to our Lord. You best be bringing Him something else.
Just for fun, a friend of mine will hand a cashier a foreign currency from his travels with a stright face when they tell him his total bill. Teenage cashiers looking at a Honduran Limpera, and trying to figure out a cordial way to communicate their thoughts of "what is this nut thinking?", always provides some awkward tension. That tension is relieved when the cashier says, "um, we don't accept this, sir", and my friend greets them with a tender smile and laughs. It can spring forth a conversation about Honduras, Faith, travels, or other things, but usually brings smiles from both sides as the daily monotany is broken with a little levity.
Jesus says in John 5 above, that he does not accept any "currency" that is not originally from God when it comes to worship. Rather it be in prayer, mission, singing or any other effort, He can not accept something that He did not first give. Just as a Honduran limpera will has no value at my local chik fil a, anything we try to conjure up aside from the spirit's leading and empowering that is anchored in the Word of God is useless in the Kingdom. Why? If it is not Holy and divine, then it is tainted and wordly. If it is of this created, fallen world, we should not expect a perfect, Holy God to acccept it. Not only will he not accept it, but He will hate it as it is sin.
This can be a little confusing until we understand how this undergirds the mission of Jesus. Jesus' divine nature was wrapped temporarily in human flesh. It is in the sacrifice of His perfect Holy life that the father is pleased. It is in the mediation of Christ, that we bring acceptable worship to the father. Why? Because we are simply re-directing His own Glory back to Him as we exhalt Christ. The Glory we praise is not our own, or even from our own world, but is simply a taste of the Holy God that He graciously gives us. As we encounter Him and wonder at His majesty, acceptable worship in the form of redirected Glory points back to the Lamb on the Throne and honors the triune God.
So what is it that you bring in your prayers and worship? Routines, memorized words. dutiful obligations? Unless our transformed Hearts are simply mirrors of praise that point His Glory back to Him based and fueled upon the work of Christ, it is unacceptable "currency" to our Lord. You best be bringing Him something else.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Finally
Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"
Patience is quite simply not my strongest suit. How I long for the day when I get home on a regular basis when the chores are done and all of our kids treat their mother and I with the proper respect out of the gladness of their hearts. Until that time, we must suffer through the huffing, puffing, pouting and rebellion. As a father, you can get a small sense of how God sees the actions of mankind, as measures of mercy and discipline are required to shape your children. The process is a slow and painful one that forces me to my knees in prayer for guidance. I believe it is when we are on our knees that we can fully appreciate that same picture of a divinely patient father looking for righteous worship from mankind.
Throughout the Old testament, God is quoted many times saying things like "Your burnt offerings are not acceptable to me" and " I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6) to a people who were steeped in religion, but had no desire to worship. This constant theme of a righteous God scanning the Earth looking for righteous worship and finding men worshipping themselves while patronizing the laws of God builds a thick tension between man and his maker. God is simply wanting to draw men into His Glory, while men are quite content in their own. The Father knows they need His healing and mercy, but His created beings are too blinded by their own sin to see their own need, so they save their passion and desire for sinful acts of rebellion rather than God.
Perhaps the greatest words spoken by a person (who was also fully God), were Jesus' words above as He folds His life into the Father's hands on the Cross. Finally a man whose life, work and sacrifice fully pleased and satisfied the Father's appetite to be delighted in. As His flesh was torn into as the passover lamb was slaughtered, those who he calls gain access to the Father by faith with a true Heart. Hebrews 10 says that Jesus' work on the cross is a one time permanent, perfect offering that ratifies a peace treaty between God and man. As we realize the work is Christ's, and not ours, we have confidence to draw near to the father as we are changed into His nature through his spirit. What a relief this is when we can fold our life into such a loving Father's hands. What a picture of us gaining relation to the Father through the opened wounds of the Son. What a gift to have the Holy Spirit change our passions and desires from rebellion to right worship of a God who would allow His Son's sacrifice due to our ineptness to please Him, as we wander away from Him seeking sin. Praise God for the Son's identity and work on our behalf. Do you sense it? Do you rest in that? Do you boldly draw near to God firmly clutching the identity of Christ as the basis of your acceptance?
That tension between God and man and its resolution in the Cross is the core message of the Gospel. If that righteous work of Jesus on the cross is not what has your mind, soul and heart captivated as you read this then what are you waiting for? What is it you are worshipping?
Patience is quite simply not my strongest suit. How I long for the day when I get home on a regular basis when the chores are done and all of our kids treat their mother and I with the proper respect out of the gladness of their hearts. Until that time, we must suffer through the huffing, puffing, pouting and rebellion. As a father, you can get a small sense of how God sees the actions of mankind, as measures of mercy and discipline are required to shape your children. The process is a slow and painful one that forces me to my knees in prayer for guidance. I believe it is when we are on our knees that we can fully appreciate that same picture of a divinely patient father looking for righteous worship from mankind.
Throughout the Old testament, God is quoted many times saying things like "Your burnt offerings are not acceptable to me" and " I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6) to a people who were steeped in religion, but had no desire to worship. This constant theme of a righteous God scanning the Earth looking for righteous worship and finding men worshipping themselves while patronizing the laws of God builds a thick tension between man and his maker. God is simply wanting to draw men into His Glory, while men are quite content in their own. The Father knows they need His healing and mercy, but His created beings are too blinded by their own sin to see their own need, so they save their passion and desire for sinful acts of rebellion rather than God.
Perhaps the greatest words spoken by a person (who was also fully God), were Jesus' words above as He folds His life into the Father's hands on the Cross. Finally a man whose life, work and sacrifice fully pleased and satisfied the Father's appetite to be delighted in. As His flesh was torn into as the passover lamb was slaughtered, those who he calls gain access to the Father by faith with a true Heart. Hebrews 10 says that Jesus' work on the cross is a one time permanent, perfect offering that ratifies a peace treaty between God and man. As we realize the work is Christ's, and not ours, we have confidence to draw near to the father as we are changed into His nature through his spirit. What a relief this is when we can fold our life into such a loving Father's hands. What a picture of us gaining relation to the Father through the opened wounds of the Son. What a gift to have the Holy Spirit change our passions and desires from rebellion to right worship of a God who would allow His Son's sacrifice due to our ineptness to please Him, as we wander away from Him seeking sin. Praise God for the Son's identity and work on our behalf. Do you sense it? Do you rest in that? Do you boldly draw near to God firmly clutching the identity of Christ as the basis of your acceptance?
That tension between God and man and its resolution in the Cross is the core message of the Gospel. If that righteous work of Jesus on the cross is not what has your mind, soul and heart captivated as you read this then what are you waiting for? What is it you are worshipping?
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Equipped
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
No cleats, 15 pounds overweight, and no practice. It is clear that I am not equipped to play soccer on bumpy, slick dirt fields of Honduras after trying dozens of times. It's not that I don't want to be able to do it, as it would help me minister better to our boys at Grace Farm. I am just not equipped for soccer. Last night as I returned home on the plne, I thought about trying to scratch out some time in my crazy schedule to be better equipped the next time I go. I have a choice in the matter. I can be better equipped on my next visit or I can remain inept, providing only a few laughs and an occasional lucky gringo goal.
Now stop and ponder all of the work that you are involved in. Raising a family, ministries, your job, volunteer work at schools and in the community, coaching, teaching others, or just trying to struggle through the tough headwinds of 2011 financially, mentally and spiritually. Are you equipped? Do you rely on the power of the Gospel and the equipping of God's Word to guide your life and actions. Or do you believe that the Word of God is an optional component? Maybe you think that the Bible is one of many "inputs" that you use to make decisions, or you just disregard it as a book of "opinions" by other men stated 2,000 years ago.
We need to look carefully at what Paul is telling Timothy. The Bible is the breath of God on a page. All Scripture is the breath of God. Not just some, but all of it is the Breath of God, written through men for His Glory and our benefit. Obviously there is not specific instructions for questions like, "Should we send our kids to a Christian School, public school or home school? There are hundreds of reminders to drive us to our needs to seek His council so that His will we be walked out in our life. For many other specific questions we have, the answers are screaming off the page we if we will listen. Sadly, not many people want God's answers. They would rather just ask other people who are unequipped or google. Unfortunately when we rely on our feelings or thoughts instead of God's, our life looks a whole lot like me trying to chase around 20 year old fast Hondurans on a soccer field -downright silly.
So when you walk through life and need answers, where do you turn? God's breathed out word on a page or something a little "softer" that has more "meaning" in your life today? I plead with you to think through that question slowly. Aren't we playing with fire if we think something other than God has more meaning and relevance in our lives? Isn't that a marker in and of itself?
No cleats, 15 pounds overweight, and no practice. It is clear that I am not equipped to play soccer on bumpy, slick dirt fields of Honduras after trying dozens of times. It's not that I don't want to be able to do it, as it would help me minister better to our boys at Grace Farm. I am just not equipped for soccer. Last night as I returned home on the plne, I thought about trying to scratch out some time in my crazy schedule to be better equipped the next time I go. I have a choice in the matter. I can be better equipped on my next visit or I can remain inept, providing only a few laughs and an occasional lucky gringo goal.
Now stop and ponder all of the work that you are involved in. Raising a family, ministries, your job, volunteer work at schools and in the community, coaching, teaching others, or just trying to struggle through the tough headwinds of 2011 financially, mentally and spiritually. Are you equipped? Do you rely on the power of the Gospel and the equipping of God's Word to guide your life and actions. Or do you believe that the Word of God is an optional component? Maybe you think that the Bible is one of many "inputs" that you use to make decisions, or you just disregard it as a book of "opinions" by other men stated 2,000 years ago.
We need to look carefully at what Paul is telling Timothy. The Bible is the breath of God on a page. All Scripture is the breath of God. Not just some, but all of it is the Breath of God, written through men for His Glory and our benefit. Obviously there is not specific instructions for questions like, "Should we send our kids to a Christian School, public school or home school? There are hundreds of reminders to drive us to our needs to seek His council so that His will we be walked out in our life. For many other specific questions we have, the answers are screaming off the page we if we will listen. Sadly, not many people want God's answers. They would rather just ask other people who are unequipped or google. Unfortunately when we rely on our feelings or thoughts instead of God's, our life looks a whole lot like me trying to chase around 20 year old fast Hondurans on a soccer field -downright silly.
So when you walk through life and need answers, where do you turn? God's breathed out word on a page or something a little "softer" that has more "meaning" in your life today? I plead with you to think through that question slowly. Aren't we playing with fire if we think something other than God has more meaning and relevance in our lives? Isn't that a marker in and of itself?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Who is Right?
Isaiah 50: 10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of His servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God. 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourself with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
"Well, that may be right for you but don't you think God gave us a brain to reason with?"
"I know that may be what the Bible says, but I just feel different about it."
These are the two most common rejection statements that I hear when I am trying to extend the mercy of God, through the word of God, to people I know and have compassion for. "Great and Wise" prophets like Oprah, Dr.Phil, Barrack Obama, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck now have greater influence on American life than God. The odd thing about it though is that most of these "new prophets" and their disciples use vague references to the Bible and God. Why?
I believe it is clear that since man hit the face of the Earth, we want to be like God. Our own God. As we start down that path, we realize that we are far from it, so we throw in a little "God -talk" into our dialogues and discusisons as a hedge to our bet. When this happens in 2011 ,Jesus is a partioned part of our lives, talk and actions but mostly as a fall back plan in case our Kingdom we are building for ourselves caves in.
Modern man is busily trying to convince himself that there is not one true God worthy of all worship. Why? Because most refuse to worhip Him and desire tow orhip themself. In response, they just make their own God, set of rules, and throw in just enough aspects of the True God and Worship derived form the bible that it has some magnitude and half-truths so it will seem right. That is idolatry in the clearest since. The problem with that equation is that if we get to define God on our terms in place of His, then we are creators of God. That allows us to be like God, a Creator and master of ourselves and our destiny. Or so we think.
I love what the Lord says through Isaiah in the verses above. If you Fear the Lord, obey the Voice of His servant, trust in the Lord and rely on God that path will lead you to true worship of the true God. Look at the dire warning of inventing your own truths and light to follow. "Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
If that is not crystal clear, I do not know what is. If you are not leaning into God's word in humble worship of Christ and are relying on man made, look-a-like half truths it will not end well my friend.
If you are in a spot where these words seem right, but you just don't belive there is enough evidence to Worship Christ. Do a couple of things today:
1) Look at your calendar. The calendar we use in Roman in origin and it's foundation is the birth of Christ. His birth bi-sected history. No other religion can make any claim like this one.
2) If you are a man. Look at your circumcision. No philosopher or anti -God basher has ever produced any other valid reason for this mark upon men, except it being a covennat marker of promise to Abraham from God.
3) Look at a map. If you were God (and you aren't as we discusssed), and you wanted to plant a nation that would demonstrate your glory to the world in the nation of Israel, where would you put it if you think in terms of the known World until the last 500 years. Israel is in the middle, of the Middle East for a purpose. That purpose will be fulfilled one day as all will bow the knee to witness the glory of God.
Have you plunged from the high dive into a full submission of Christ, or are you standing on the side of the pool dipping your toes in the water and testing it?
"Well, that may be right for you but don't you think God gave us a brain to reason with?"
"I know that may be what the Bible says, but I just feel different about it."
These are the two most common rejection statements that I hear when I am trying to extend the mercy of God, through the word of God, to people I know and have compassion for. "Great and Wise" prophets like Oprah, Dr.Phil, Barrack Obama, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck now have greater influence on American life than God. The odd thing about it though is that most of these "new prophets" and their disciples use vague references to the Bible and God. Why?
I believe it is clear that since man hit the face of the Earth, we want to be like God. Our own God. As we start down that path, we realize that we are far from it, so we throw in a little "God -talk" into our dialogues and discusisons as a hedge to our bet. When this happens in 2011 ,Jesus is a partioned part of our lives, talk and actions but mostly as a fall back plan in case our Kingdom we are building for ourselves caves in.
Modern man is busily trying to convince himself that there is not one true God worthy of all worship. Why? Because most refuse to worhip Him and desire tow orhip themself. In response, they just make their own God, set of rules, and throw in just enough aspects of the True God and Worship derived form the bible that it has some magnitude and half-truths so it will seem right. That is idolatry in the clearest since. The problem with that equation is that if we get to define God on our terms in place of His, then we are creators of God. That allows us to be like God, a Creator and master of ourselves and our destiny. Or so we think.
I love what the Lord says through Isaiah in the verses above. If you Fear the Lord, obey the Voice of His servant, trust in the Lord and rely on God that path will lead you to true worship of the true God. Look at the dire warning of inventing your own truths and light to follow. "Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
If that is not crystal clear, I do not know what is. If you are not leaning into God's word in humble worship of Christ and are relying on man made, look-a-like half truths it will not end well my friend.
If you are in a spot where these words seem right, but you just don't belive there is enough evidence to Worship Christ. Do a couple of things today:
1) Look at your calendar. The calendar we use in Roman in origin and it's foundation is the birth of Christ. His birth bi-sected history. No other religion can make any claim like this one.
2) If you are a man. Look at your circumcision. No philosopher or anti -God basher has ever produced any other valid reason for this mark upon men, except it being a covennat marker of promise to Abraham from God.
3) Look at a map. If you were God (and you aren't as we discusssed), and you wanted to plant a nation that would demonstrate your glory to the world in the nation of Israel, where would you put it if you think in terms of the known World until the last 500 years. Israel is in the middle, of the Middle East for a purpose. That purpose will be fulfilled one day as all will bow the knee to witness the glory of God.
Have you plunged from the high dive into a full submission of Christ, or are you standing on the side of the pool dipping your toes in the water and testing it?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Astounded
Isaiah 29:13 (NIV) The Lord says: These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. 14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.
Astounded: To be suddenly filled with wonder or amazement.
Do you know in the core of your heart what it is like to be astounded and captivated by something or someone?
I remember the first date I had with Evie. She showed up at the end of a long, long dry spell for the old Chadster. I mean a long one! From the onset, she completely captured my attention. Warm, Real and Beautiful. She was exactly what I had been searching for. God began to knit our hearts together on day one and hasn't stopped ever since. My encounter with her literally changed the course of my life in every way. We celebrated 14 years of marriage last month with four kids and some gray hairs sprouting up!
The only encounter that I had with someone that was more life altering and astounding was when I met Christ at the age of 34. I had heard about Him all of my life, but had never met Him. He graciously came in to my life after I suffered through decades of off-based and burdensome struggles in religion. When I read the verses above in Isaiah, I can remember what it is like to have no wonder or astonishment of Christ, yet go through religious motions every Sunday and most Wednesdays. I remember vividly struggling with a sense that there is a God, but only wanting to use Him to advance my agenda. In that time of spiritual deadness in my life, God was mostly an imaginary genie in a bottle I wanted to rub to get me out of jams. He was more of a utility in my life than a God. I still wonder why He showed me grace. I did not and don't deserve it. That alone is reason to be captivated by his love. As religion faded, and true Worship sprung forth from my heart for my God, abundance and joy in life multiplied in every way possible. Where once I could find ways to be discontent in a five star hotel, I can now find perfect contentedness worshipping for hours in a tool shed in 95 degree heat in Togo, Africa. Why? Christ is that astounding!
To be sure, the adversary still flaunts false lures to try an distract my attention to both my God and my wife. Regular appeals to the throne of God for greater mercy from Him, and desire for Him carry me along in His power. I am His and He is Mine!
Where once I could be identified by Isaiah's words that describe a spiritually dead routine, guided by men's rules. I can now identify with some of His words used later when He says "you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the Earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 58:14)
So are you astonished at the amazing transformation that God is doing in your heart or are you satisfied standing on the outside looking in?
Astounded: To be suddenly filled with wonder or amazement.
Do you know in the core of your heart what it is like to be astounded and captivated by something or someone?
I remember the first date I had with Evie. She showed up at the end of a long, long dry spell for the old Chadster. I mean a long one! From the onset, she completely captured my attention. Warm, Real and Beautiful. She was exactly what I had been searching for. God began to knit our hearts together on day one and hasn't stopped ever since. My encounter with her literally changed the course of my life in every way. We celebrated 14 years of marriage last month with four kids and some gray hairs sprouting up!
The only encounter that I had with someone that was more life altering and astounding was when I met Christ at the age of 34. I had heard about Him all of my life, but had never met Him. He graciously came in to my life after I suffered through decades of off-based and burdensome struggles in religion. When I read the verses above in Isaiah, I can remember what it is like to have no wonder or astonishment of Christ, yet go through religious motions every Sunday and most Wednesdays. I remember vividly struggling with a sense that there is a God, but only wanting to use Him to advance my agenda. In that time of spiritual deadness in my life, God was mostly an imaginary genie in a bottle I wanted to rub to get me out of jams. He was more of a utility in my life than a God. I still wonder why He showed me grace. I did not and don't deserve it. That alone is reason to be captivated by his love. As religion faded, and true Worship sprung forth from my heart for my God, abundance and joy in life multiplied in every way possible. Where once I could find ways to be discontent in a five star hotel, I can now find perfect contentedness worshipping for hours in a tool shed in 95 degree heat in Togo, Africa. Why? Christ is that astounding!
To be sure, the adversary still flaunts false lures to try an distract my attention to both my God and my wife. Regular appeals to the throne of God for greater mercy from Him, and desire for Him carry me along in His power. I am His and He is Mine!
Where once I could be identified by Isaiah's words that describe a spiritually dead routine, guided by men's rules. I can now identify with some of His words used later when He says "you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the Earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 58:14)
So are you astonished at the amazing transformation that God is doing in your heart or are you satisfied standing on the outside looking in?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tornadoes and Safe places
Luke 6:6 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.3 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and athe ruin of that house was great.”
The Tornadoes that ripped through the Southeast on April 27th were devasting. The trails of death, rubble and destruction throughout my home state of Alabama look more like the effects of carpet bombing than a tornado. Walking through rubble of what used to be people's homes and lives is humbling and will force you to examine the true fragility of our days on Earth and the things we wrongly view as safe and secure. One thing that is impossible to notice as you walk through the carnage is the difference between total and partial destruction from the winds often depended on the foundational strength of the structure. Homes that had no rock solid foundation, anchored deeply into the Earth, were tossed around with great violence and mostly destroyed when the 200 mph winds engaged them. The stories of people whose homes took a direct hit, but escaped death by huddling in their "safe places" are incredible. Among the many faith lessons of struggle and victory in the wake of the destruction lies a simple one for us all. We all need a "safe place" that has an unshakeable foundation.
I have a picture of a house in my mind that specifically stoked the fire of this blog post. This one house had deeply poured concrete foundations that anchored it and held the structure of the house together while many of the houses around it had evaporated. I believe this is the same picture that Jesus wants to paint in our hearts about obedience to Him and our salvation. I want to be clear that I am not saying anything about people's obedience or disobedience and their fate during the tornadoes, as that is God's job. What I am saying is that one day we will face a spiritual test of our spiritual foundations as we stand before God that will mirror what happened to the structures as the violent winds tested their integrity.
Jesus' words are quite clear. If you want an unshakable foundation that is divinely anchored by His Power to Him, then joyful obedience based on desire for Him and His Glory is the only answer. The building your house upon the rock is much more than knowing about Jesus, singing the cute songs we learned in school and attending religious events. Jesus is crystal clear that the integrity and strength of our spiritual house, called the soul, is only unshakable when we fully lean in to His identity and submit to Him. When we know Him, we can't help but follow. When we follow, we melt into Him and His love as we are transformed into Him.
Throughout the bible, God is referred to as a refuge. Standing before the judgement seat of Christ, the only safe place of refuge will be worshipping at the feet of Jesus. Are you there?
The Tornadoes that ripped through the Southeast on April 27th were devasting. The trails of death, rubble and destruction throughout my home state of Alabama look more like the effects of carpet bombing than a tornado. Walking through rubble of what used to be people's homes and lives is humbling and will force you to examine the true fragility of our days on Earth and the things we wrongly view as safe and secure. One thing that is impossible to notice as you walk through the carnage is the difference between total and partial destruction from the winds often depended on the foundational strength of the structure. Homes that had no rock solid foundation, anchored deeply into the Earth, were tossed around with great violence and mostly destroyed when the 200 mph winds engaged them. The stories of people whose homes took a direct hit, but escaped death by huddling in their "safe places" are incredible. Among the many faith lessons of struggle and victory in the wake of the destruction lies a simple one for us all. We all need a "safe place" that has an unshakeable foundation.
I have a picture of a house in my mind that specifically stoked the fire of this blog post. This one house had deeply poured concrete foundations that anchored it and held the structure of the house together while many of the houses around it had evaporated. I believe this is the same picture that Jesus wants to paint in our hearts about obedience to Him and our salvation. I want to be clear that I am not saying anything about people's obedience or disobedience and their fate during the tornadoes, as that is God's job. What I am saying is that one day we will face a spiritual test of our spiritual foundations as we stand before God that will mirror what happened to the structures as the violent winds tested their integrity.
Jesus' words are quite clear. If you want an unshakable foundation that is divinely anchored by His Power to Him, then joyful obedience based on desire for Him and His Glory is the only answer. The building your house upon the rock is much more than knowing about Jesus, singing the cute songs we learned in school and attending religious events. Jesus is crystal clear that the integrity and strength of our spiritual house, called the soul, is only unshakable when we fully lean in to His identity and submit to Him. When we know Him, we can't help but follow. When we follow, we melt into Him and His love as we are transformed into Him.
Throughout the bible, God is referred to as a refuge. Standing before the judgement seat of Christ, the only safe place of refuge will be worshipping at the feet of Jesus. Are you there?
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Higher Love
1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we may die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you are healed.
Everyone intuitively knows that there has to be a deeper meaning and purpose in life than mortgages, two week vacations, smart phone apps, new toys and shiny cars. Busyness, indebtedness and constant over communication can leave us tired, searching for a true peace and just plain worn out. We know there is something bigger and better for us out there, we just don't really have the time to investigate what it might be. Check out the lyrics to Steve Winwood's Higher Love, one of my favorites from the 80':
Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time
Look inside your heart, I'll look inside mine
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where's that higher love, I keep thinking of?
Obviously , Steve sees the monotonous routine of life as mostly underwhelming. He is craving something bigger than himself, his world and routine. He is searching for a higher love. I believe we all are, unfortunately we tend to look in all of the wrong places. Peter in the verse above, and throughout His ministry, is passionately calling us to look at Christ and His mercy and Love on the cross. The Higher Love that Peter is declaring, Steve Winwood is singing about, and our souls crave is Jesus. His love is a self sacrificing love that not only provides mercy at judgement, but overpowers our sins in our lives. As we worship and obey Jesus, the conquering King and suffering servant, our hearts are freed from slavery to sin. The captivating power of His love overcomes our weak desires to dabble in destructive sin habits and propels us to thrive in His love. He replaces our desires to sin with desires for Holiness and purity. How can we not fall head over heels for a God that will take our judgement and change our hearts to yearn for Holy and Helpful things, friends, habits and worship?
It is only when we engage our maker through the worship of Christ that we find any true and lasting peace and purpose. To answer Mr. Winwood's question of "Where's this higher love, I keep thinking of?" It is at the foot of the cross where we find the only true Higher Love. Take a look at any newspaper, or news source, and thoroughly investigate the struggle of mankind around the world, in your city, neighborhood and family. Steve is dead on. We all desperately need a higher love to free us from our struggles and even ourselves.
May the Hope of Glory touch and activate your heart with a Higher Love.
Everyone intuitively knows that there has to be a deeper meaning and purpose in life than mortgages, two week vacations, smart phone apps, new toys and shiny cars. Busyness, indebtedness and constant over communication can leave us tired, searching for a true peace and just plain worn out. We know there is something bigger and better for us out there, we just don't really have the time to investigate what it might be. Check out the lyrics to Steve Winwood's Higher Love, one of my favorites from the 80':
Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time
Look inside your heart, I'll look inside mine
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where's that higher love, I keep thinking of?
Obviously , Steve sees the monotonous routine of life as mostly underwhelming. He is craving something bigger than himself, his world and routine. He is searching for a higher love. I believe we all are, unfortunately we tend to look in all of the wrong places. Peter in the verse above, and throughout His ministry, is passionately calling us to look at Christ and His mercy and Love on the cross. The Higher Love that Peter is declaring, Steve Winwood is singing about, and our souls crave is Jesus. His love is a self sacrificing love that not only provides mercy at judgement, but overpowers our sins in our lives. As we worship and obey Jesus, the conquering King and suffering servant, our hearts are freed from slavery to sin. The captivating power of His love overcomes our weak desires to dabble in destructive sin habits and propels us to thrive in His love. He replaces our desires to sin with desires for Holiness and purity. How can we not fall head over heels for a God that will take our judgement and change our hearts to yearn for Holy and Helpful things, friends, habits and worship?
It is only when we engage our maker through the worship of Christ that we find any true and lasting peace and purpose. To answer Mr. Winwood's question of "Where's this higher love, I keep thinking of?" It is at the foot of the cross where we find the only true Higher Love. Take a look at any newspaper, or news source, and thoroughly investigate the struggle of mankind around the world, in your city, neighborhood and family. Steve is dead on. We all desperately need a higher love to free us from our struggles and even ourselves.
May the Hope of Glory touch and activate your heart with a Higher Love.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Margaritaville
Hebrews 4:10 For whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his worls as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience
I just got back form the beach yesterday and found some true physical and spiritual rest that was well needed as life has been zooming lately. Have you ever really thought about your search and need for rest? Most people at the beach are hard at work trying to rest. The theme of "Margaritiville", by Jimmy Buffet kind of says it all:
Nibblin on sponge cake
Watchin the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp they're beginnin to boil
Chorus:
Wastin away again in margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's nobodys fault
This song, more than any other, sums up what most of us have chased after in our lives. The heartbeat of the song is to saturate yourself in a carefree, margarita -induced, no schedule, beach chill out. Why can so many people identify with that? The message of "carefree rest" is a message that we all desperately need to hear in our lives of smart phones and urinal advertisements. We all need a break. We all need rest. I know I do.
If you think deeply about work and rest, it is pretty complex. Not only do we work hard at our jobs, but there is an underlying work underneath the work. We work hard to prove to the world our identity as an executive, room mother, athlete, low-body fat health nut, leader, proud parent of the slugger or gymnast, and many other things. The work we do is taxing, but not nearly as taxing as the pressure to build your own identity which is the work underneath the work. When the identities we build come crashing down, our natural instinct is to either work twice as hard as before to rebuild them, or we just head to the beach and crank up Margaritiville. Even though Margaritiville may help you ignore reality for a while, it leaves you more tired than when you started. If you don't believe me just drive to the beach and watch families pack up on Saturdays. It isn't a pretty sight. Stress is thick.
Is there hope for us? How do we rest? The author of Hebrews sees a bright hope and offers up a suggestion and a warning. He shares with us that w all have an opportunity to find a truly deep rest in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. He says you are going to have to strive to get it as you follow Christ on some seemingly odd paths at times, but if you want a permanent rest in a perfect identity, then look to Christ. It is only when we rest in His work and identity that we really have any true rest. Any striving we do to construct any other identity outside the one he offers is guaranteed to wear us out.
So ask yourself, what am I trying to prove to the world? Who do I want people to see me as? Are you deep at work trying to be accepted because people have hurt you?
There is only one work, one person that is acceptable to God, Jesus. So next time you are worn out ask yourself," why?" If you look deep enough, you will find out you are hard at work trying to prove yourself to God and man. Breaking that wicked cycle is the reason Jesus came. "Seek him all who are weary and are heavy laden and he will give you rest."
And the warning Jesus gives? Avoiding his rest will leave you restless eternally.
What depth do Jesus' words on the cross, "it is finished", hold in your heart?
I just got back form the beach yesterday and found some true physical and spiritual rest that was well needed as life has been zooming lately. Have you ever really thought about your search and need for rest? Most people at the beach are hard at work trying to rest. The theme of "Margaritiville", by Jimmy Buffet kind of says it all:
Nibblin on sponge cake
Watchin the sun bake
All of those tourists covered with oil
Strummin my six-string
On my front porch swing
Smell those shrimp they're beginnin to boil
Chorus:
Wastin away again in margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's nobodys fault
This song, more than any other, sums up what most of us have chased after in our lives. The heartbeat of the song is to saturate yourself in a carefree, margarita -induced, no schedule, beach chill out. Why can so many people identify with that? The message of "carefree rest" is a message that we all desperately need to hear in our lives of smart phones and urinal advertisements. We all need a break. We all need rest. I know I do.
If you think deeply about work and rest, it is pretty complex. Not only do we work hard at our jobs, but there is an underlying work underneath the work. We work hard to prove to the world our identity as an executive, room mother, athlete, low-body fat health nut, leader, proud parent of the slugger or gymnast, and many other things. The work we do is taxing, but not nearly as taxing as the pressure to build your own identity which is the work underneath the work. When the identities we build come crashing down, our natural instinct is to either work twice as hard as before to rebuild them, or we just head to the beach and crank up Margaritiville. Even though Margaritiville may help you ignore reality for a while, it leaves you more tired than when you started. If you don't believe me just drive to the beach and watch families pack up on Saturdays. It isn't a pretty sight. Stress is thick.
Is there hope for us? How do we rest? The author of Hebrews sees a bright hope and offers up a suggestion and a warning. He shares with us that w all have an opportunity to find a truly deep rest in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. He says you are going to have to strive to get it as you follow Christ on some seemingly odd paths at times, but if you want a permanent rest in a perfect identity, then look to Christ. It is only when we rest in His work and identity that we really have any true rest. Any striving we do to construct any other identity outside the one he offers is guaranteed to wear us out.
So ask yourself, what am I trying to prove to the world? Who do I want people to see me as? Are you deep at work trying to be accepted because people have hurt you?
There is only one work, one person that is acceptable to God, Jesus. So next time you are worn out ask yourself," why?" If you look deep enough, you will find out you are hard at work trying to prove yourself to God and man. Breaking that wicked cycle is the reason Jesus came. "Seek him all who are weary and are heavy laden and he will give you rest."
And the warning Jesus gives? Avoiding his rest will leave you restless eternally.
What depth do Jesus' words on the cross, "it is finished", hold in your heart?
Friday, May 6, 2011
Kiss the Frog
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to me an does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me can not be my disciple. 28 for which of you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish"
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has can not be my disciple.
These words above are some of the most demanding and challenging words that Jesus ever spoke. People for centuries have tried to soften, pull down and find cracks in this ultimatum of Jesus. His blunt words are "Whoever does not pick up their cross (instrument of brutal execution of one's body) and follow me can not be my disciple". "Whoever who does not renounce all that He has can not be my disciple". Jesus lovingly says "count the cost" before you come to follow as you will lose anything that has any meaning to you. You will lose your identity, control of your schedule, possessions, thoughts, passions, ambition, desires and work. You will lose your privileges (if you have any), right to use your money as you please (namely on you) and social standing. Jesus says if you want to be my disciple you will have to come hating everything else in comparison.
No doubt these are tough words for our ears to hear. I have read many books and had many sermons preached that have pierced my privileged American Heart. What do you think Jesus is really after in this picture?
In the American interpretation of the Brother's Grimm fairy tale, The frog Prince, The beautiful Queen encounters a slimy frog. As most of you know, she has to perform an apparently dreadful duty of kissing the frog. It only appears dreadful, because a spell has masked the true beauty of the Handsome Prince to her eyes. She enters into the kiss dutifully, as her eyes are deceived. As the spell is broken and the prince is revealed in His splendor and beauty, she is overwhelmed with Joy at the Work of her kiss. What seemed like a dreadful duty, was really the most joyous work available and her rewards were everything that a fairy tale princess could want. The Handsome Prince who would take care of her for happily ever after.
I have met people who take Jesus challenge in the verses above as a lifelong tag of misery, debasing themselves as the center of the challenge. The center of Jesus challenge and calling is Him as our identity and treasure, not our works. The problem is our sin nature masks the beautiful invitation of Jesus, just like the spell makes the Handsome Prince look like a frog. We can read these tall words and think , "Oh man, if I follow Jesus my life will be devoid of any joy, identity, and life. It will be a dreadful mundane imprisonment." In fact, just the opposite is true. Losing yourself in Christ is the only way to have any true joy, lasting identity and freedom from spiritual imprisonment. We must recognize that our flesh wants to mask Jesus offer as a dreadful duty that sucks the life out of you. Again, the truth is that Jesus is offering the only true life source available. Once someone counts the costs of following, and submits to the graceful cleansing of Christ's blood washing over the power of fleshy disillusionment, one will realize that dying in the flesh is beautiful. The ultimate handsome prince will truly be our refuge and there will truly be a happily ever after.
Now be aware that Jesus often asks us to do seemingly dreadful and dangerous things once we are His. Giving up our money, time,position in life, privileges, and all of the things that once made us who we were. The difference will be that the believer sees this as simply a joyful reward to serve His Savior King, not a dutiful task to approach with misery. Jesus is not inviting us to prove our worth to Him by our far reaching self empowered sacrifice. He is offering us a chance to rest in His.
So how do these words strike your heart? Is Jesus' offer a dread to you? Does it send you into a "i will prove my self to you" mode?
Jesus' ministry is about drawing sons and daughters to His feet for worship. he is about freeing people from misery and dread as we feast with the King at His table to celebrate His work. Personally, I know that I need more faith each day to see the Joy of toting around my Cross that kills Chad and tranforms me into Christ. The costs of discipleship are not mine to pay at all. Jesus has already done that in my place. The choice of free will simply ask my soul and yours, "Is Christ identity and work worthy enough to replace yours?" The answer is an obvious "yes". Unfortunately many people can't see how beautiful Christ is. they see the offer of "follow me" just like kissing a frog.
If you can not see the joy in following, please pray that Jesus would help you break the hold that sin has in your life.
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has can not be my disciple.
These words above are some of the most demanding and challenging words that Jesus ever spoke. People for centuries have tried to soften, pull down and find cracks in this ultimatum of Jesus. His blunt words are "Whoever does not pick up their cross (instrument of brutal execution of one's body) and follow me can not be my disciple". "Whoever who does not renounce all that He has can not be my disciple". Jesus lovingly says "count the cost" before you come to follow as you will lose anything that has any meaning to you. You will lose your identity, control of your schedule, possessions, thoughts, passions, ambition, desires and work. You will lose your privileges (if you have any), right to use your money as you please (namely on you) and social standing. Jesus says if you want to be my disciple you will have to come hating everything else in comparison.
No doubt these are tough words for our ears to hear. I have read many books and had many sermons preached that have pierced my privileged American Heart. What do you think Jesus is really after in this picture?
In the American interpretation of the Brother's Grimm fairy tale, The frog Prince, The beautiful Queen encounters a slimy frog. As most of you know, she has to perform an apparently dreadful duty of kissing the frog. It only appears dreadful, because a spell has masked the true beauty of the Handsome Prince to her eyes. She enters into the kiss dutifully, as her eyes are deceived. As the spell is broken and the prince is revealed in His splendor and beauty, she is overwhelmed with Joy at the Work of her kiss. What seemed like a dreadful duty, was really the most joyous work available and her rewards were everything that a fairy tale princess could want. The Handsome Prince who would take care of her for happily ever after.
I have met people who take Jesus challenge in the verses above as a lifelong tag of misery, debasing themselves as the center of the challenge. The center of Jesus challenge and calling is Him as our identity and treasure, not our works. The problem is our sin nature masks the beautiful invitation of Jesus, just like the spell makes the Handsome Prince look like a frog. We can read these tall words and think , "Oh man, if I follow Jesus my life will be devoid of any joy, identity, and life. It will be a dreadful mundane imprisonment." In fact, just the opposite is true. Losing yourself in Christ is the only way to have any true joy, lasting identity and freedom from spiritual imprisonment. We must recognize that our flesh wants to mask Jesus offer as a dreadful duty that sucks the life out of you. Again, the truth is that Jesus is offering the only true life source available. Once someone counts the costs of following, and submits to the graceful cleansing of Christ's blood washing over the power of fleshy disillusionment, one will realize that dying in the flesh is beautiful. The ultimate handsome prince will truly be our refuge and there will truly be a happily ever after.
Now be aware that Jesus often asks us to do seemingly dreadful and dangerous things once we are His. Giving up our money, time,position in life, privileges, and all of the things that once made us who we were. The difference will be that the believer sees this as simply a joyful reward to serve His Savior King, not a dutiful task to approach with misery. Jesus is not inviting us to prove our worth to Him by our far reaching self empowered sacrifice. He is offering us a chance to rest in His.
So how do these words strike your heart? Is Jesus' offer a dread to you? Does it send you into a "i will prove my self to you" mode?
Jesus' ministry is about drawing sons and daughters to His feet for worship. he is about freeing people from misery and dread as we feast with the King at His table to celebrate His work. Personally, I know that I need more faith each day to see the Joy of toting around my Cross that kills Chad and tranforms me into Christ. The costs of discipleship are not mine to pay at all. Jesus has already done that in my place. The choice of free will simply ask my soul and yours, "Is Christ identity and work worthy enough to replace yours?" The answer is an obvious "yes". Unfortunately many people can't see how beautiful Christ is. they see the offer of "follow me" just like kissing a frog.
If you can not see the joy in following, please pray that Jesus would help you break the hold that sin has in your life.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Trophy of Glory
Psalms 115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
Alabama, the Heart of Dixie, is where I reside. College football is an obsession here. Just last week the University of Alabama unveiled a statue celebrating their head coach and his National Championship. At my alma mater Auburn University, they unveiled nine foot statues of the three Heisman trophy recipients. When you get to the point that you are making statutes to commemorate trophies, it is safe to say that pride runs deep. The truth is that people want to bring Glory to the things that give them an identity and statues and trophies for gridiron accomplishments seem to be of the utmost importance.
I have a question to ask you. Have you ever considered yourself a trophy of God's grace?
Psalms 115 kicks off with a plea for God to Give Gory to His name beacsue He is so awesome , ture and loving. Notice the writer goes out of Hsi way to exclude glory form himself as he says "Don't give glory to us". At first that seems a little starange doesn't it? Saying "God give yourself Glory becasue you deserve it" may seem odd when you first consider it, but it shouldn't. This line of thought is what the entire Christian faith is about. Reflecting the glory of God as a trophy of His grace. The heart of the Christian should beat rapidly with anticipation at the thought of His Glory shining through us.
1 John 2:12 makes this oh so clear: "I am writing you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name's sake." Did you pick that up? Your sins are forgiven so that you can shine brightly as a trophy of His grace and be proof that there is a King who has conquered death and brought you back to life. Living to bring glory to God is expressed roughly 50 times in the psalms alone. We are all prone to believe that God saves us to elevate our selves and bring ourselves glory, that theology is quite devilish.
So a challenge for you today (for those who are up for it): How do you show the World Jesus' love that He has shown you?
Have you folllowed a biblical model of showing the World that you are His in Baptism? If not, why not? All you are saying is that He has raised you to walk in the newness of Life for His name sake. You are saying in effect,"World look at me I am a Trophy of Christ!" Do you enjoy sharing the good news of Christ or is that saved for private conversations and Sunday school? Do you enjoy serving others in the name of Christ as a part of life and not just on an event basis?
I believe that many people have no idea how much joy they are depriving Christ, other people and themselves as they refuse be obedient to Christ. The one thing that will prevent any of us from submitting to becoming a trophy to His Glory is our desire for our own! Do not let your "old man" rob you of the joy of being a trophy of His Glory. It is what we are created for and remember Jesus extends mercy to helpless repentent people and not to ones who think they are doing just fine without it!
Alabama, the Heart of Dixie, is where I reside. College football is an obsession here. Just last week the University of Alabama unveiled a statue celebrating their head coach and his National Championship. At my alma mater Auburn University, they unveiled nine foot statues of the three Heisman trophy recipients. When you get to the point that you are making statutes to commemorate trophies, it is safe to say that pride runs deep. The truth is that people want to bring Glory to the things that give them an identity and statues and trophies for gridiron accomplishments seem to be of the utmost importance.
I have a question to ask you. Have you ever considered yourself a trophy of God's grace?
Psalms 115 kicks off with a plea for God to Give Gory to His name beacsue He is so awesome , ture and loving. Notice the writer goes out of Hsi way to exclude glory form himself as he says "Don't give glory to us". At first that seems a little starange doesn't it? Saying "God give yourself Glory becasue you deserve it" may seem odd when you first consider it, but it shouldn't. This line of thought is what the entire Christian faith is about. Reflecting the glory of God as a trophy of His grace. The heart of the Christian should beat rapidly with anticipation at the thought of His Glory shining through us.
1 John 2:12 makes this oh so clear: "I am writing you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name's sake." Did you pick that up? Your sins are forgiven so that you can shine brightly as a trophy of His grace and be proof that there is a King who has conquered death and brought you back to life. Living to bring glory to God is expressed roughly 50 times in the psalms alone. We are all prone to believe that God saves us to elevate our selves and bring ourselves glory, that theology is quite devilish.
So a challenge for you today (for those who are up for it): How do you show the World Jesus' love that He has shown you?
Have you folllowed a biblical model of showing the World that you are His in Baptism? If not, why not? All you are saying is that He has raised you to walk in the newness of Life for His name sake. You are saying in effect,"World look at me I am a Trophy of Christ!" Do you enjoy sharing the good news of Christ or is that saved for private conversations and Sunday school? Do you enjoy serving others in the name of Christ as a part of life and not just on an event basis?
I believe that many people have no idea how much joy they are depriving Christ, other people and themselves as they refuse be obedient to Christ. The one thing that will prevent any of us from submitting to becoming a trophy to His Glory is our desire for our own! Do not let your "old man" rob you of the joy of being a trophy of His Glory. It is what we are created for and remember Jesus extends mercy to helpless repentent people and not to ones who think they are doing just fine without it!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Enter the Kingdom
Luke 18:15-17 Now they were bringing infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to hm, saying, "let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it".
Big eyes. Brains spinning. Smiles wide. Feet moving swiftly. This would decribe Cal and Alison as they approached the gates of Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom for the frst time. It was clear that they were being drawn with anticipation in to a place unlike any other that they had seen or been in before. I guess you could say that they "felt the magic". Even though I enjoy watching my children enjoy life, it is hard for me to feel much magic as money seems to evaporate and waiting in line is at the bottom of my favorite things to do list. I do it for them (actually for Evie).
Jesus clearly says to the disciples "Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it". Now we have all heard good truths about what Jesus is after before. It is clear that He is saying:
>Children are dependent on others
>Children are more humble and likely to yield
>Children are more likely to follow as they do not see themselves as "self sufficient"
>Most children have no money pile to lean on for security
>Most children sense they need a leader and help
All of those statements are true. One thing that also must be true is that if we don't stand on the outside looking in at the beautiful amazing Kingdom of Christ with at least the same wonder fascination and anticipation as my kids outside Disney then we probably don't see Christ clearly. I am not making any suggestions that a life following Christ is like an entertainment park full of nothing but fun and candy as it is not. What I am saying is that a man created a "kingdom with a mouse as king" that has captured the thoughts and investments of many. Isn't it safe to assume then that Christ's heavenly Kingdom is infinitely more majestic? I think so. If we see Jesus for who He really is, and we see the majesty of His Kingdom, we will not drudgingly enter the gates of His Kingdom in misery. How can we? He saves us, feeds us, allows us to breathe. He heals us, Loves us and is the author of anything that is Good that we know including Life itself. He is worthy to be marvelled at. He is Holy enough to captivate our minds with the majesty of His divinity. When, by His grace, we can see these things, then we come into the Kingdom with hearts full of beaming joy like Cal and Alison looking,smelling, hearing and feeling the magnitude of a new "kingdom" that offers something entirely new. Christ's kingdom offers life, hope and all things that are beneficial. When we beg for mercy from Christ as our suffering savior and submit to Him as our coming King, then we get our "fast pass" if you will into His kingdom. (Sorry I had to use teh fast pass term, the fast pass is the only redeeming thing I personally see at Disney).
The one thing that God has clearly showed me over the past five years is that Jesus is my treasure and His magnitude is beyond titanic. For 34 years I sat outside the gates of His Kingdom thinking if I went in I would have to stop "having fun" and be like all of the people I knew that went to church who were mired in a miserable religious role. I was in Church all of these years going through the motions, but I never sensed the royal invite from my regal king to be engaged by and lost in His Glory.. For decades I lived in the kingdom of religion, Not the Kingdom of God.
The Glory of Christ is marvelous, majestic and divine. Have you ever sensed the exhiliration of running into the gates of His Kingdom?
This Easter, sense the Glory. Look up at the Cross. Worship the Christ!
Big eyes. Brains spinning. Smiles wide. Feet moving swiftly. This would decribe Cal and Alison as they approached the gates of Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom for the frst time. It was clear that they were being drawn with anticipation in to a place unlike any other that they had seen or been in before. I guess you could say that they "felt the magic". Even though I enjoy watching my children enjoy life, it is hard for me to feel much magic as money seems to evaporate and waiting in line is at the bottom of my favorite things to do list. I do it for them (actually for Evie).
Jesus clearly says to the disciples "Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it". Now we have all heard good truths about what Jesus is after before. It is clear that He is saying:
>Children are dependent on others
>Children are more humble and likely to yield
>Children are more likely to follow as they do not see themselves as "self sufficient"
>Most children have no money pile to lean on for security
>Most children sense they need a leader and help
All of those statements are true. One thing that also must be true is that if we don't stand on the outside looking in at the beautiful amazing Kingdom of Christ with at least the same wonder fascination and anticipation as my kids outside Disney then we probably don't see Christ clearly. I am not making any suggestions that a life following Christ is like an entertainment park full of nothing but fun and candy as it is not. What I am saying is that a man created a "kingdom with a mouse as king" that has captured the thoughts and investments of many. Isn't it safe to assume then that Christ's heavenly Kingdom is infinitely more majestic? I think so. If we see Jesus for who He really is, and we see the majesty of His Kingdom, we will not drudgingly enter the gates of His Kingdom in misery. How can we? He saves us, feeds us, allows us to breathe. He heals us, Loves us and is the author of anything that is Good that we know including Life itself. He is worthy to be marvelled at. He is Holy enough to captivate our minds with the majesty of His divinity. When, by His grace, we can see these things, then we come into the Kingdom with hearts full of beaming joy like Cal and Alison looking,smelling, hearing and feeling the magnitude of a new "kingdom" that offers something entirely new. Christ's kingdom offers life, hope and all things that are beneficial. When we beg for mercy from Christ as our suffering savior and submit to Him as our coming King, then we get our "fast pass" if you will into His kingdom. (Sorry I had to use teh fast pass term, the fast pass is the only redeeming thing I personally see at Disney).
The one thing that God has clearly showed me over the past five years is that Jesus is my treasure and His magnitude is beyond titanic. For 34 years I sat outside the gates of His Kingdom thinking if I went in I would have to stop "having fun" and be like all of the people I knew that went to church who were mired in a miserable religious role. I was in Church all of these years going through the motions, but I never sensed the royal invite from my regal king to be engaged by and lost in His Glory.. For decades I lived in the kingdom of religion, Not the Kingdom of God.
The Glory of Christ is marvelous, majestic and divine. Have you ever sensed the exhiliration of running into the gates of His Kingdom?
This Easter, sense the Glory. Look up at the Cross. Worship the Christ!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Rope of Hope
Luke 19:47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priest and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy Him. 48 But they did not find anything they could do, for all of the people were hanging on His (Jesus') words.
The Zip Line! If you happen to go to Destin this summer, head over to Sandestin and visit The Baytown Wharf. Among the great places to eat and enjoy, is a zip line that crosses an 8 acre lake in the center of the plaza. The zip line is anchored by two large towers rising some 50 feet above the ground. For $8 you can zip all the way across the plaza and all the way back. My kids think it is super cool. As a parent it is a bit disturbing to watch your 8 & 9 year old clip on to this one rope and watch them dangle across this huge outdoor area as they zip along. Before I let my kids do it, I went up and checked out the equipment and safety precautions and they were all top notch. Even with the faith I had in the zip-line equipment, there is something a little concerning every time I watch one of them zip across in the air smiling and waving as the leave the safety of one tower and travel to another. It's interesting the different perspectives of this same event as well: Kids are having a ball and Dad is enjoying their joy, but also concerned about their safety.
It strikes me in Luke 19:27 above, that the people were hanging on Jesus' every word, quite literally. When you think about it, we all are in a very real sense as well. What do I mean? Well, if Christ is the extension form the Father to us, and he extends Himself by His words then we are hanging on for our lives by the word of God and it looks just like my kids on the zip line. When you go back and pray through the text, it really gives the picture of Jesus offering a rope of hope for his listeners (and in turn us as readers) to hang on to for dear life. I think that is a pretty good lens for us to look through when we consider the thought, "Why read the bible, pray and follow?" It is where we meet and learn to enjoy the treasure of our "Hope of Glory", Jesus Christ. It is where we learn that we need a lifeline as there is a real danger of real wrath from a real God as well.
If you are not connected to God through Jesus, it doesn't mean that you are not hanging over danger. It just means that you don't have any hope of falling into it. If you are connected life will be in many ways like my kids on a zip line. Full of dangers, trials and fear to overcome but with a joyful rest in Christ, the Hope (rope) of Glory! It will also be awesome one day as our rope of hope delivers us safely to the other side, the strong tower of refuge as we meet Christ face to face.
Are you ready? Do you have hope? Do you have rope? Or are you free falling trying your darndest to earn God's favor?
The Zip Line! If you happen to go to Destin this summer, head over to Sandestin and visit The Baytown Wharf. Among the great places to eat and enjoy, is a zip line that crosses an 8 acre lake in the center of the plaza. The zip line is anchored by two large towers rising some 50 feet above the ground. For $8 you can zip all the way across the plaza and all the way back. My kids think it is super cool. As a parent it is a bit disturbing to watch your 8 & 9 year old clip on to this one rope and watch them dangle across this huge outdoor area as they zip along. Before I let my kids do it, I went up and checked out the equipment and safety precautions and they were all top notch. Even with the faith I had in the zip-line equipment, there is something a little concerning every time I watch one of them zip across in the air smiling and waving as the leave the safety of one tower and travel to another. It's interesting the different perspectives of this same event as well: Kids are having a ball and Dad is enjoying their joy, but also concerned about their safety.
It strikes me in Luke 19:27 above, that the people were hanging on Jesus' every word, quite literally. When you think about it, we all are in a very real sense as well. What do I mean? Well, if Christ is the extension form the Father to us, and he extends Himself by His words then we are hanging on for our lives by the word of God and it looks just like my kids on the zip line. When you go back and pray through the text, it really gives the picture of Jesus offering a rope of hope for his listeners (and in turn us as readers) to hang on to for dear life. I think that is a pretty good lens for us to look through when we consider the thought, "Why read the bible, pray and follow?" It is where we meet and learn to enjoy the treasure of our "Hope of Glory", Jesus Christ. It is where we learn that we need a lifeline as there is a real danger of real wrath from a real God as well.
If you are not connected to God through Jesus, it doesn't mean that you are not hanging over danger. It just means that you don't have any hope of falling into it. If you are connected life will be in many ways like my kids on a zip line. Full of dangers, trials and fear to overcome but with a joyful rest in Christ, the Hope (rope) of Glory! It will also be awesome one day as our rope of hope delivers us safely to the other side, the strong tower of refuge as we meet Christ face to face.
Are you ready? Do you have hope? Do you have rope? Or are you free falling trying your darndest to earn God's favor?
Friday, April 8, 2011
Engage them with the Bucket List
Psalms 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God , my God.
1 John 1:4 And we are writing these things (the Gospel of Christ) so that our joy may be complete (as we pass Christ to you).
If you care to look for it, there are props for Christ in every situation. Take movies for example. One of my favorites over the past decade was The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman (as Carter Chambers) and Jack Nicholson ( as Edward Cole). The movie is about two older men who are checking off their bucket list of the things they really want to do before they die. Freeman's role as Carter, is one of common mechanic, who is overly wise and has a family. Nicholson's character, Edward Cole, is an eclectic, rich, grumpy sort whose flush with cash but quite empty on joy, friends, family and peace. One of the things on their bucket list is to see the Egyptian pyramids. While standing on top of the pyramids Carter in a subtle way reels off his trivial knowledge about Egyptian culture as he questions Edward. "The Ancient Egyptians believed that when you crossed over from this life you were asked two questions: 1) Did you find joy in this life? 2) Did your life bring joy to others?" He poses these questions to Edward and forces him to answer them. Edward awkwardly rambles through the misery of his financially prosperous, yet empty life and kind of skirts the true questions. He ends with the emphatic statement that kind of goes like this: "I am not sure about getting and giving joy, but I would do it all over again and if that keeps me out of Egyptian heaven then so be it". With a smug smile he ends the dialogue.
Now as a Christian, we have three choices in what to do with this:
1) Never watch any movie made in Hollywood and try to enforce that policy on others
2) Watch movies with care and any time we here a heresy like "Egyptian Heaven", tell everyone how idiotic that is
3) Identify the strands of the Gospel that are available in the Movie, and use that as a Evangelical lever
I want to be careful, as I am not recommending watching smut. What I am saying is that lost people are lost in a cultural world that is filled with Gospel levers, and if we want to help them we must use the tools that God has made available.
So when someone brings up The bucket list, instead of condemning their spend of $8 on a worthless movie and applying guilt that they could have given that money to a starving kid. Why not expect lost people to act lost, and introduce them to Christ? The threads of the Gospel are abundant here in this scene. So instead of bashing their viewing habits, why not say : "The Ancient Egyptians were on to something. They were just looking in the wrong place. As a Christian I believe that you will enter Heaven if you have found Joy in Christ and have reproduced that joy in Christ in the World." That approach will allow for a dialogue that you can pull in the Word of God and your testimony. Clearly the verses above shout "Christ as Joy to be enjoyed and shared". The bible is filled with this imagery as Christ as a treasure to draw from. If the dialogue continued, and you were prepared to show off your treasure (Christ), you could begin to tell them about the blessed Trinity and the fruits of the Spirit, where the joy of Christ bubbles over and produces joyous fruit". In short you can use the story in the movie as a platform to share the true Gospel of Christ. These opportunities are all over the landscape of our lives. Seeing them requires a Kingdom vision and focus.
Jesus engaged people where they were. If we are going to evangelize the lost, we must recognize that we are in this world, but not of it, and use the secular props available to show them our Treasure as we exalt Christ! We are truly preaching between two worlds. We should not expect the lost to esteem the integrity of the Holy scriptures higher than worldly wisdom any more than my dog appreciates a Filet Mignon more than week old bologna. It is only as God ordains the seeds of the Gospel to take root in a soul, that they will be guided by scripture. We are called to plant those seeds, and God has rigged this world with seeds to be planted. People are born with a hole in their soul that is longing for God. They just need to see the reality of their situation and the Offer of Love that Christ extends them to fulfill them and their desires.
The beauty of it all is that God has ordained what our cultural reality is. He has woven the threads of Himself all throughout everything we are able to see, touch, feel, smell or hear. He has this whole thing rigged for His Glory!
Can you sense it? Can you leverage it?
1 John 1:4 And we are writing these things (the Gospel of Christ) so that our joy may be complete (as we pass Christ to you).
If you care to look for it, there are props for Christ in every situation. Take movies for example. One of my favorites over the past decade was The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman (as Carter Chambers) and Jack Nicholson ( as Edward Cole). The movie is about two older men who are checking off their bucket list of the things they really want to do before they die. Freeman's role as Carter, is one of common mechanic, who is overly wise and has a family. Nicholson's character, Edward Cole, is an eclectic, rich, grumpy sort whose flush with cash but quite empty on joy, friends, family and peace. One of the things on their bucket list is to see the Egyptian pyramids. While standing on top of the pyramids Carter in a subtle way reels off his trivial knowledge about Egyptian culture as he questions Edward. "The Ancient Egyptians believed that when you crossed over from this life you were asked two questions: 1) Did you find joy in this life? 2) Did your life bring joy to others?" He poses these questions to Edward and forces him to answer them. Edward awkwardly rambles through the misery of his financially prosperous, yet empty life and kind of skirts the true questions. He ends with the emphatic statement that kind of goes like this: "I am not sure about getting and giving joy, but I would do it all over again and if that keeps me out of Egyptian heaven then so be it". With a smug smile he ends the dialogue.
Now as a Christian, we have three choices in what to do with this:
1) Never watch any movie made in Hollywood and try to enforce that policy on others
2) Watch movies with care and any time we here a heresy like "Egyptian Heaven", tell everyone how idiotic that is
3) Identify the strands of the Gospel that are available in the Movie, and use that as a Evangelical lever
I want to be careful, as I am not recommending watching smut. What I am saying is that lost people are lost in a cultural world that is filled with Gospel levers, and if we want to help them we must use the tools that God has made available.
So when someone brings up The bucket list, instead of condemning their spend of $8 on a worthless movie and applying guilt that they could have given that money to a starving kid. Why not expect lost people to act lost, and introduce them to Christ? The threads of the Gospel are abundant here in this scene. So instead of bashing their viewing habits, why not say : "The Ancient Egyptians were on to something. They were just looking in the wrong place. As a Christian I believe that you will enter Heaven if you have found Joy in Christ and have reproduced that joy in Christ in the World." That approach will allow for a dialogue that you can pull in the Word of God and your testimony. Clearly the verses above shout "Christ as Joy to be enjoyed and shared". The bible is filled with this imagery as Christ as a treasure to draw from. If the dialogue continued, and you were prepared to show off your treasure (Christ), you could begin to tell them about the blessed Trinity and the fruits of the Spirit, where the joy of Christ bubbles over and produces joyous fruit". In short you can use the story in the movie as a platform to share the true Gospel of Christ. These opportunities are all over the landscape of our lives. Seeing them requires a Kingdom vision and focus.
Jesus engaged people where they were. If we are going to evangelize the lost, we must recognize that we are in this world, but not of it, and use the secular props available to show them our Treasure as we exalt Christ! We are truly preaching between two worlds. We should not expect the lost to esteem the integrity of the Holy scriptures higher than worldly wisdom any more than my dog appreciates a Filet Mignon more than week old bologna. It is only as God ordains the seeds of the Gospel to take root in a soul, that they will be guided by scripture. We are called to plant those seeds, and God has rigged this world with seeds to be planted. People are born with a hole in their soul that is longing for God. They just need to see the reality of their situation and the Offer of Love that Christ extends them to fulfill them and their desires.
The beauty of it all is that God has ordained what our cultural reality is. He has woven the threads of Himself all throughout everything we are able to see, touch, feel, smell or hear. He has this whole thing rigged for His Glory!
Can you sense it? Can you leverage it?
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