Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Before I became a Christian, I was all about the cash and hard after the American dream of a big wallet and a nice house. Every where I looked and dreamed, cash was the answer to cure all of my ills. It consumed my thoughts, conversations and lifestyle, as it truly had a hold on me. As a result of lusting after cash, I did earn a good bit of it, the main problem was that I spent a whole lot more. You could easily say that I poured out my worship of money in many ways, but mostly with a credit card. Like many Americans the false worship of money left me further away from God, and in a debt that I chose for me and my wife and family. I think it is very safe to say that I was not exactly modeling Christ to Evie and my kids. Well I praise God that he allowed me to come to the end of my self, and truly lay my life down and pick up my Cross.
We all need to answer one huge question: Where do you get your provision? If that answer truly at the core of your soul is money and not God then, Houston, we have a problem. A big, big problem. If we truly think the source of our provision is in our money then we are trusting that INSTEAD of and in the PLACE of God, and that is the exact definition of idolatry. There is a strong temptation to fight this truth (I know personally) and say well I'm giving God some...I give some to the church and help out others when I can. So did the Pharisees, whose heart was so cold they did not recognize Jesus when He sat in their house and ate.
In the words of Alistair Begg:
Money can by you a house, but it can not by you a home;
Money can buy you a bed, but it can not buy you sleep;
Money can buy you a cross, but it can not buy you a savior;
Money can buy you a lot, but it cannot make you RICH.
Chances are that at some point in all of our lives we have run head over heals in pursuit of the idol-god of Money. I hope that if you are in that spot presently, you will repent and praise God instead.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Self made man
Deuteronomy 8:11 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,
Deuteronomy 8:17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
America today loves the "self made man" or "self made millionaire". We glorify these prideful men who struck it rich. I was caught off guard as I read the tattoo of a professional football player "self made". I know that before CHRIST got a hold on me I was all about becoming a "self made man". I think many of us have fallen into that trap of self reliance and that is a dangerous pit to dwell.
When I read and ponder the verses above I am convicted at all of the times that I took the glory for what God was doing in my life. Stealing God's glory always ends up bad for the thief who did so. I truly stand amazed at God's grace that covers all of those errors of mine. I also stand in fear of not treading on the will of God taht gives that grace. I do believe that Deuteronomy 8 is a chapter that we all need to consider with great intensity.
Do you believe that if you steal God's glory for your success that you will be punished for it? Or do you care? I assure you that he does, and he has proven it time and time again. The things that we hold up and glorify above our God, are the very things he has to either knock out of us or judge us for because they are separating us from Him and He loves us.
You may say, "what about all of the arrogant rich guys who live the good life and glorify themselves over and over, they seem to not be judged." Well if you pay attention, God allows all of these high flyers to destroy themselves with the very things that they build themselves up with, as they have rejected His care, love and provision. It always happens that way. Anything man made will decay. Anything that God creates and regenerates is eternal.
So examine your life and if there is a hint of "Look at what I did" in it, you have a choice to make: either repent and give God the glory for what He has done in your life or keep it for yourself and deal with the consequences.
Deuteronomy 8:17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
America today loves the "self made man" or "self made millionaire". We glorify these prideful men who struck it rich. I was caught off guard as I read the tattoo of a professional football player "self made". I know that before CHRIST got a hold on me I was all about becoming a "self made man". I think many of us have fallen into that trap of self reliance and that is a dangerous pit to dwell.
When I read and ponder the verses above I am convicted at all of the times that I took the glory for what God was doing in my life. Stealing God's glory always ends up bad for the thief who did so. I truly stand amazed at God's grace that covers all of those errors of mine. I also stand in fear of not treading on the will of God taht gives that grace. I do believe that Deuteronomy 8 is a chapter that we all need to consider with great intensity.
Do you believe that if you steal God's glory for your success that you will be punished for it? Or do you care? I assure you that he does, and he has proven it time and time again. The things that we hold up and glorify above our God, are the very things he has to either knock out of us or judge us for because they are separating us from Him and He loves us.
You may say, "what about all of the arrogant rich guys who live the good life and glorify themselves over and over, they seem to not be judged." Well if you pay attention, God allows all of these high flyers to destroy themselves with the very things that they build themselves up with, as they have rejected His care, love and provision. It always happens that way. Anything man made will decay. Anything that God creates and regenerates is eternal.
So examine your life and if there is a hint of "Look at what I did" in it, you have a choice to make: either repent and give God the glory for what He has done in your life or keep it for yourself and deal with the consequences.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Jesus becoming sin?
Numbers 35:33 You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
For many years I had thought through the physical brutality of the cross and Jesus' death on cross. I read about the agony Jesus faced as he sweat blood (Luke 22:44) as He prayed for God to give Him the strength to carry out His will on the Cross the next day. The one mistake I made was that I assigned all of the cause of Jesus spiritual and mental distress to the physical brutality of the Cross. There have been many films that portray His brutal death, and by no means do I want to minimize the heavy physical price of the cross. It was a huge growth point in my walk when I realized there have been martyrs since Jesus, that have been burned and skinned alive, while they sang hymns of praise....surely they were not stronger than our Lord! Surely if they could have Joy to the point of death then there had to be something else tugging away at Jesus that caused His distress. There definitely was. His agony was stimulated by the fact that He was sent to become the very thing he hates -sin, and to invict His own punishment upon that sin on Himself. (What a savior we have!). He chose to be seperated (temporarily) from all that is Holy and to become sin, so that once and for all it could be punished righteously. The fact that Jesus had to become the object of God's wrath as He was wrapped in sin, is why the Father had to turn His face away from Jesus on the cross. Jesus cry of "Father why have you forsaken me" occurs because my sins and yours were dripping over Jesus. The sweat of blood from the night before seems justified, as a tidal wave of wrath from a Holy God comes crashing down on Him as He hangs alone on two pieces of wood. He boldy grabs the cup of wrath that you and I deserve, drinks it, and then victoriously declares "It is finished" (john 19:30).
Yes, Jesus paid it all. He became sin. He was punished for sin. He was seperated for sin. And he put sin to death on the cross for those who choose Him. He literally trades places with those who follow him, and that satisfies the laws of the OT like the one above in Numbers. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 "always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."
Have you traded places with Him? If he is your savior, are you now walking as he walked, serving others and doing God's will? Be careful here as there is a strong temptation to want to claim a grace that gets you what you need to keep doing what you want. If we claim the Cross, we must "Take up our Cross and Follow Him" as he walked, not to serve ourselves, but to accomplish the will of the Father.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
For many years I had thought through the physical brutality of the cross and Jesus' death on cross. I read about the agony Jesus faced as he sweat blood (Luke 22:44) as He prayed for God to give Him the strength to carry out His will on the Cross the next day. The one mistake I made was that I assigned all of the cause of Jesus spiritual and mental distress to the physical brutality of the Cross. There have been many films that portray His brutal death, and by no means do I want to minimize the heavy physical price of the cross. It was a huge growth point in my walk when I realized there have been martyrs since Jesus, that have been burned and skinned alive, while they sang hymns of praise....surely they were not stronger than our Lord! Surely if they could have Joy to the point of death then there had to be something else tugging away at Jesus that caused His distress. There definitely was. His agony was stimulated by the fact that He was sent to become the very thing he hates -sin, and to invict His own punishment upon that sin on Himself. (What a savior we have!). He chose to be seperated (temporarily) from all that is Holy and to become sin, so that once and for all it could be punished righteously. The fact that Jesus had to become the object of God's wrath as He was wrapped in sin, is why the Father had to turn His face away from Jesus on the cross. Jesus cry of "Father why have you forsaken me" occurs because my sins and yours were dripping over Jesus. The sweat of blood from the night before seems justified, as a tidal wave of wrath from a Holy God comes crashing down on Him as He hangs alone on two pieces of wood. He boldy grabs the cup of wrath that you and I deserve, drinks it, and then victoriously declares "It is finished" (john 19:30).
Yes, Jesus paid it all. He became sin. He was punished for sin. He was seperated for sin. And he put sin to death on the cross for those who choose Him. He literally trades places with those who follow him, and that satisfies the laws of the OT like the one above in Numbers. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 "always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."
Have you traded places with Him? If he is your savior, are you now walking as he walked, serving others and doing God's will? Be careful here as there is a strong temptation to want to claim a grace that gets you what you need to keep doing what you want. If we claim the Cross, we must "Take up our Cross and Follow Him" as he walked, not to serve ourselves, but to accomplish the will of the Father.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Burp! Excuse me.
Psalm 7:12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword, he has bent and readied His bow
Ezekiel 14:6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Matthew 3:2 Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (John the Baptist speaking preparing the way for Jesus)
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. (peter)
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Eli is now three years old and His new hobby is pretty gross. He thinks that burping loud and often is absolutely hilarious. This is one of the few times when I can honestly say that one of my kid's bad habits did not come from me or Evie. We don't know where it came from, we just wish it would go away. In our best efforts as parents, we are trying to get him to stop and are using this as a teaching point on manners (since we are obviously failing him at this point). We have talked with him about his belching being wrong and rude, and we have taught him that you need to say excuse me when you do it for the sake of others. Well, I am pretty sure Eli has missed the big point of Stop Burping! He however has mastered the "excuse me" part and actually incorporated it into the burping routine itself. Burp, Excuse me. Burp,Excuse me. Burp, Excuse me. It appears that Eli thinks the "excuse me" part gives him the right to keep on burping."
If you stop and look, that is a picture of modern Christianity for the most part. People have bought in to a "synthetic- Man made grace" that really is just their ticket to do whatever they want and then just say "Forgive me Jesus", with no intentions of ever changing their ways.
Repentance is required to get in the Kingdom of Heaven. Repentance is not being sorry you got caught. Repentance is conviction that what you did was evil, hurt God and you agree to submit to Him so that he may change you. Repentance is agreeing with God that he alone is Holy, we are sinners and we need Jesus to save us! The bible is clear that every man and woman is born in sin (gen 8:21 and eph 2:1) and are headed for a Godless eternity until we meet Jesus, start to hate our sin as we agree with God that it is evil, and then turn from that sin and Follow Chrit!
Ezekiel 14:6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Matthew 3:2 Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (John the Baptist speaking preparing the way for Jesus)
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. (peter)
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Eli is now three years old and His new hobby is pretty gross. He thinks that burping loud and often is absolutely hilarious. This is one of the few times when I can honestly say that one of my kid's bad habits did not come from me or Evie. We don't know where it came from, we just wish it would go away. In our best efforts as parents, we are trying to get him to stop and are using this as a teaching point on manners (since we are obviously failing him at this point). We have talked with him about his belching being wrong and rude, and we have taught him that you need to say excuse me when you do it for the sake of others. Well, I am pretty sure Eli has missed the big point of Stop Burping! He however has mastered the "excuse me" part and actually incorporated it into the burping routine itself. Burp, Excuse me. Burp,Excuse me. Burp, Excuse me. It appears that Eli thinks the "excuse me" part gives him the right to keep on burping."
If you stop and look, that is a picture of modern Christianity for the most part. People have bought in to a "synthetic- Man made grace" that really is just their ticket to do whatever they want and then just say "Forgive me Jesus", with no intentions of ever changing their ways.
Repentance is required to get in the Kingdom of Heaven. Repentance is not being sorry you got caught. Repentance is conviction that what you did was evil, hurt God and you agree to submit to Him so that he may change you. Repentance is agreeing with God that he alone is Holy, we are sinners and we need Jesus to save us! The bible is clear that every man and woman is born in sin (gen 8:21 and eph 2:1) and are headed for a Godless eternity until we meet Jesus, start to hate our sin as we agree with God that it is evil, and then turn from that sin and Follow Chrit!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Be careful of what you desire
Numbers 11:4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also a wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.
18 And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”
31 Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. 32 And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. 34 Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving.
Stop to read and pray through Numbers 11. Within the chapter lies a Hugely important lesson for us all. To comprehend the passage, we must understand the background of the situation. God had led the Israelites out of harsh slavery, had miraculously parted the red sea to save them and was visibly and tangibly in communion with them through the Tabernacle. He visibly led them by a cloud by day and fire by night, he was physically a part of their lives. The could not only sense His God's presence, they could see it vividly. He had also given them manna and water to sustain them miraculously. He was trying to get them to rely totally on Him as they prepared to make war and claim the Holy Land of Canaan. He wanted to build their faith and had given them everything that they needed.
The problem was their desires. They wanted something more that God's presence and provision. They wanted the carnal pleasures of Egypt. They wanted to be fat and happy and have some "good stuff" to eat. So they rejected God's plan, his communion and provision, and came up with one that better fit their desires. They wanted it their way. He gives it to them until they are sick of it. he literally gorges them with it until it is coming out of their nostrils (v.20). And then he strikes the ones who craved the world's best more than Him. The very things they craved more than God, he gave them. In the end, those worldly desires were fulfilled all the way to the grave.
This passage clearly spells out the struggle that each man or woman faces. It makes my heart swell up with praise for a Jesus who enables me to choose God over the world. As someone who blatantly chose worldly desires over God for many years, I am glad that Jesus death has been substituted for mine. I praise Him that His grace is at work in me, making war with my flesh, and preparing me to battle for His glory alone. Abiding in Him is the greatest thing that I know. And because of His work in me, I truly have a desire to live off of his sustenance alone. He is indeed good.
I would beg you to consider your life in view of this passage. Do you desire something more than God's presence and provision? Is that not good enough for you and you need something a little flashier?
Be careful as he just may turn you over to your desires.
10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.
18 And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”
31 Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. 32 And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. 34 Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving.
Stop to read and pray through Numbers 11. Within the chapter lies a Hugely important lesson for us all. To comprehend the passage, we must understand the background of the situation. God had led the Israelites out of harsh slavery, had miraculously parted the red sea to save them and was visibly and tangibly in communion with them through the Tabernacle. He visibly led them by a cloud by day and fire by night, he was physically a part of their lives. The could not only sense His God's presence, they could see it vividly. He had also given them manna and water to sustain them miraculously. He was trying to get them to rely totally on Him as they prepared to make war and claim the Holy Land of Canaan. He wanted to build their faith and had given them everything that they needed.
The problem was their desires. They wanted something more that God's presence and provision. They wanted the carnal pleasures of Egypt. They wanted to be fat and happy and have some "good stuff" to eat. So they rejected God's plan, his communion and provision, and came up with one that better fit their desires. They wanted it their way. He gives it to them until they are sick of it. he literally gorges them with it until it is coming out of their nostrils (v.20). And then he strikes the ones who craved the world's best more than Him. The very things they craved more than God, he gave them. In the end, those worldly desires were fulfilled all the way to the grave.
This passage clearly spells out the struggle that each man or woman faces. It makes my heart swell up with praise for a Jesus who enables me to choose God over the world. As someone who blatantly chose worldly desires over God for many years, I am glad that Jesus death has been substituted for mine. I praise Him that His grace is at work in me, making war with my flesh, and preparing me to battle for His glory alone. Abiding in Him is the greatest thing that I know. And because of His work in me, I truly have a desire to live off of his sustenance alone. He is indeed good.
I would beg you to consider your life in view of this passage. Do you desire something more than God's presence and provision? Is that not good enough for you and you need something a little flashier?
Be careful as he just may turn you over to your desires.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The great lipstick war of '76
Proverbs 17:15 he who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
One night in the spring of 1976, my parents walked two doors down the street to speak with some friends for about 50 minutes or so. In that short time, my brother Chris (age 9 at the time)and myself (age 6) decided to run a muck, as hard as we could. We thought it would be a great idea to take mom's lipstick and have a war. We attacked each other with different shades of red, pink and brown. The major casualty of our war was the hallway upstairs, as it got covered in lipstick as well. We were still heavily engaged in our warfare when mom and dad returned from the neighbor's house. Now my dad is one of the most patient fellas you will find, but that night his eyes of fury spoke for Him as he approached us. He was justifiably mad with my brother and me. The punishment we received was a justified spanking for the both of us. The result of that punishment was two kids full of regret for their actions and I promise that Chris and I never got near the lipstick again. As a matter a fact I think we were scared to mention the word.
When you think about God's interaction with man, he seeks to make us Holy by blessing us and disciplining us. It seems that there are many people who do not understand that grace of Jesus still involves discipline. Don't miss this, God has to bless us sometimes with hardship, to shape us into His image. Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" that humbled Him into a further reliance on God. God's grace is not a cheap grace, it is a grace that exists to protect the Holiness of God. That grace is extended to us through Jesus, as he regenerates us for one purpose, to praise God.
Just like old Tom (my dad) back in '76, God has to discipline us with a tough and righteous love that humbles our pride, and opens our hearts to a loving authority. Only then are our hearts soft and fertile enough to accept the blessings that follow from a loving father that loves to shower with gifts, but not at the expense of ruining the child.
Oh, and if you were wondering, Chris easily one the battle, as I was covered head to toe.
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
One night in the spring of 1976, my parents walked two doors down the street to speak with some friends for about 50 minutes or so. In that short time, my brother Chris (age 9 at the time)and myself (age 6) decided to run a muck, as hard as we could. We thought it would be a great idea to take mom's lipstick and have a war. We attacked each other with different shades of red, pink and brown. The major casualty of our war was the hallway upstairs, as it got covered in lipstick as well. We were still heavily engaged in our warfare when mom and dad returned from the neighbor's house. Now my dad is one of the most patient fellas you will find, but that night his eyes of fury spoke for Him as he approached us. He was justifiably mad with my brother and me. The punishment we received was a justified spanking for the both of us. The result of that punishment was two kids full of regret for their actions and I promise that Chris and I never got near the lipstick again. As a matter a fact I think we were scared to mention the word.
When you think about God's interaction with man, he seeks to make us Holy by blessing us and disciplining us. It seems that there are many people who do not understand that grace of Jesus still involves discipline. Don't miss this, God has to bless us sometimes with hardship, to shape us into His image. Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" that humbled Him into a further reliance on God. God's grace is not a cheap grace, it is a grace that exists to protect the Holiness of God. That grace is extended to us through Jesus, as he regenerates us for one purpose, to praise God.
Just like old Tom (my dad) back in '76, God has to discipline us with a tough and righteous love that humbles our pride, and opens our hearts to a loving authority. Only then are our hearts soft and fertile enough to accept the blessings that follow from a loving father that loves to shower with gifts, but not at the expense of ruining the child.
Oh, and if you were wondering, Chris easily one the battle, as I was covered head to toe.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Trying to Help, but sometimes Hindering
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Mark 1:40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
My 6 year old daughter Alison, is truly amazing. She loves being a "second mother" to our baby Luke. Yesterday she woke up, got Luke out of the crib and then got His clothes on for Church. Now that may not sound like much, but it is a huge help (please read the previous "toddler rodeo" post for more details). I praised her efforts as I hugged her, and let her know my gratitude. As we got home from church, everyone had made it inside the house, except for Alison and Luke. Evie had to run inside quickly to go to the girl's room, and I had carried lunch and Eli inside. After about thirty seconds, Evie and I looked at each other and thought "Uh Oh, Alison is trying to get Luke out of the car seat". As I made it out into the garage, I saw Alison trying desperately not to drop little Luke on the concrete floor. She was struggling with all of her might not to, and I made it there in time to pick him up and bail her out. Her heart wanted to help, but she was unaware of her ability (or lack there of) to accomplish the task at hand.
Take a look at the passage above in Mark. Jesus heals a leper but gives him a "stern" warning to testify to no one EXCEPT the priest. Jesus wanted the healed leper to witness to a particular audience, but he did not obey. Instead, the man runs around and tells everyone about Jesus freely, as he was warned not to, and this had its consequences. We see in verse 45 that it results in crowds seeking the gifts of Jesus (not Jesus necessarily)so forcefully that it drives him out of towns and in to desolate places. Stop and think through that. A man bragging on Jesus, hinders the ministry of Jesus. The leper's blatant disobedience derailed the course of Jesus's ministry. Why? Jesus had a plan to be followed,but the leper had his own.
So what can we learn from this? We can have the best of motives, but we can not run ahead of our calling as it will have consequences. Just like Alison's proactive desires to help, that could of produced some hurtful consequences, we must learn to ask our heavenly father BEFORE we act. We need to Follow in obedience, not lead out in our own hopeful, well intentioned best effort. They may have consequences that hurt us, and more importantly, the Kingdom. I have found that to be the simplest, yet most difficult part of walking with Christ. Following Him on even the smallest of details.
I can not count the times I agreed to do the "God looking" thing to do without ever asking God if it was actually His thing for me to do or not. It always leads to me crashing and burning....not exactly the fruit of the spirit. The only way we will ever benefit the kingdom is by following the King. It is the only invitation Jesus gives: Follow Me. The only other option is cutting our own trail and spreading Jesus's name on it like peanut butter if it works and blaming the devil if it fails.
Mark 1:40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
My 6 year old daughter Alison, is truly amazing. She loves being a "second mother" to our baby Luke. Yesterday she woke up, got Luke out of the crib and then got His clothes on for Church. Now that may not sound like much, but it is a huge help (please read the previous "toddler rodeo" post for more details). I praised her efforts as I hugged her, and let her know my gratitude. As we got home from church, everyone had made it inside the house, except for Alison and Luke. Evie had to run inside quickly to go to the girl's room, and I had carried lunch and Eli inside. After about thirty seconds, Evie and I looked at each other and thought "Uh Oh, Alison is trying to get Luke out of the car seat". As I made it out into the garage, I saw Alison trying desperately not to drop little Luke on the concrete floor. She was struggling with all of her might not to, and I made it there in time to pick him up and bail her out. Her heart wanted to help, but she was unaware of her ability (or lack there of) to accomplish the task at hand.
Take a look at the passage above in Mark. Jesus heals a leper but gives him a "stern" warning to testify to no one EXCEPT the priest. Jesus wanted the healed leper to witness to a particular audience, but he did not obey. Instead, the man runs around and tells everyone about Jesus freely, as he was warned not to, and this had its consequences. We see in verse 45 that it results in crowds seeking the gifts of Jesus (not Jesus necessarily)so forcefully that it drives him out of towns and in to desolate places. Stop and think through that. A man bragging on Jesus, hinders the ministry of Jesus. The leper's blatant disobedience derailed the course of Jesus's ministry. Why? Jesus had a plan to be followed,but the leper had his own.
So what can we learn from this? We can have the best of motives, but we can not run ahead of our calling as it will have consequences. Just like Alison's proactive desires to help, that could of produced some hurtful consequences, we must learn to ask our heavenly father BEFORE we act. We need to Follow in obedience, not lead out in our own hopeful, well intentioned best effort. They may have consequences that hurt us, and more importantly, the Kingdom. I have found that to be the simplest, yet most difficult part of walking with Christ. Following Him on even the smallest of details.
I can not count the times I agreed to do the "God looking" thing to do without ever asking God if it was actually His thing for me to do or not. It always leads to me crashing and burning....not exactly the fruit of the spirit. The only way we will ever benefit the kingdom is by following the King. It is the only invitation Jesus gives: Follow Me. The only other option is cutting our own trail and spreading Jesus's name on it like peanut butter if it works and blaming the devil if it fails.
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