Matthew tells us that in a rare moment of righteous anger, Jesus began to condemn whole cities of people who had seen Him perform numerous great miracles, yet refused to see Him for who He was.....God incarnate. Savior. Messiah.
What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. (Matthew 11:21)
The miracles Jesus performed in Korazin and Bethsaida would have astounded less hard-hearted men and women, turning their hearts towards Him, and opening their eyes to the truth of their need for Him.
But the people of Korazin and Bethsaida were blind to the truth.....it was hidden from them.
A few verses later we see Jesus praying O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. (Matthew 11:25).
The people of Korazin and Bethsaida couldn't see their desperate need for Jesus, because of their own pride and self-proclaimed wisdom. They thought they knew God. They thought they had Him all figured out, wrapped up nicely in a box of dos and don'ts....sacrifices and rituals.
Jesus revealed Himself to them over and over, in every one of the multitude of miracles that He performed in their midst. Yet, they couldn't see Him. They couldn't see His glory. They couldn't see God's glory. Because they couldn't see past their own pride.
Pride blinds us. It blocks our ability to see God at work. It blocks our ability to see our desperate need for Jesus. It is a spiritual burden that keeps us wandering in darkness rather than walking in the light of truth.
In His prayer Jesus continued, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
God wants to replace our pride with humility. He wants to replace our burden with a light load. He wants to teach us who He is, and who He desires us to be.
But we have to come to Him willing to learn. We have to be willing to see God for who He is, not for who we think He is. We have to be open to the truth that He doesn't fit into our box.
Try as we may, we'll never have God all figured out. But He will reveal Himself to us over and over. He will show us truth, if we seek it with open hearts and minds. He will teach us His wisdom if we come to Him in humility.
There's no end to what God will do in our lives if we are willing to lay aside our pride and kneel at His feet in humility like the sinful woman who followed Jesus to the home of the Pharisee in Luke's gospel.
Scripture tells us that this woman knelt behind Jesus at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them (Luke 7:38).
This beautiful act of humility was embodied in a woman that scripture called sinful, and the prideful Pharisee, Simon, who witnessed it failed to see the beauty of the scene.
Jesus, in an effort to open the spiritually blind man's eyes told the story of a wealthy man who loaned to two people, 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 to the other, then forgave them both their debt. He asked the question, Who loved the wealthy man more after that?
Simon answered, I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt (Luke 7:43).
Jesus pointed out that the sinful woman loved Him more. She had washed His feet, when Simon refused the courtesy. She had kissed His feet repeatedly when Simon failed to greet Him with a kiss. She had anointed Him with perfume when Simon had failed to anoint His head with olive oil.
The self-righteous Simon loved himself. He loved his good clean life. He love the relative scarcity of his sins compared to hers. But he failed to show Jesus the love that the sinful woman so willingly poured over Him in tears.
Because he saw himself as only committing 50 sins next to the sinful woman's 500, Simon couldn't see his own desperate need for forgiveness. He couldn't see His own need for a savior.
The prideful count the number of sins committed and find comfort in the knowledge that others have sinned more than they have, but the humble are overwhelmed by the flood of mercy and grace flowing from God and find a peace that the prideful will never know.
And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50).
I have a feeling that Simon pondered, and reasoned, and justified, and remained content to carry his burden of pride and the few sins that went with it, while the sinful woman did indeed, go in peace, with the weight of the world, and all her numerous sins, lifted from her shoulders.
Because that is the gift of faith.
(Journey: Matthew 11:20-30; Luke 7:36-50)
Monday, September 9, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Feeding Faith
When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. (Luke 7:9)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, He encountered a Roman soldier. A friend to the Jews. A good man by all accounts. But it wasn't his goodness that stopped Jesus dead in his tracks....it was his faith.
As Jesus made His way to the Roman soldier's home to heal his servant's frail body, the soldier stopped Him mid-journey saying Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home....Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed (Luke 7:6-7).
Not can, but will....great faith.
Scripture says When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, He said, "I tell you I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel! (Luke 7:9)
He was amazed. Jesus. God incarnate. Creator of the sun and moon and all the stars....and everything else. Stopped in His tracks. Amazed. By His gift, at work in His creation.
Amazed by faith.
We know that God loves humanity...But I've often wondered why exactly God fell in love with us in the first place. I think this portion of scripture gives a little insight into the relationship between Creator and creation.
Humanity was given the capacity to amaze God. Call it free will if you want, but we have the ability to fight against everything we've ever been taught -- everything we know to be true -- and believe that the impossible is, actually, possible. Humanity has the capacity to have great faith.
Faith begins to stir within us when we first stand in awe of God. Maybe faith reaches some measure of maturity in us, when the tables are turned...when God stands in awe of His precious gift shining through our humanity....in spite of our humanity.
Oh, to cultivate a faith that would amaze God, Himself. Faith that the impossible would become reality in a split second. Faith that with a single word, God would change the course of a life. Faith that with a single breath, a life would be saved.
That's exactly what happened when Jesus entered the city of Nain and encountered a funeral procession. A widow burying her son. Scripture says When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't cry!" He said (Luke 7:13).
God, moved by His creation, intervened. Jesus breathed a breath, spoke a word, and saved a life. "Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up." Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! (Luke 7:14-15)
My father-in-law had a near death experience during surgery, and, let me tell you, he woke up with a story to tell. This boy didn't nearly die. He died, likely for a few days. Can you imagine the story he told? Scripture says he woke up talking. I wish it told what he said, but, I think we get a hint a couple of verses later when scripture tells us that the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside (Luke 7:17).
I imagine that boy told everyone he met about his encounter with Jesus....and the word spread. Faith caught fire from an amazing miracle and overflowed throughout the countryside.
There are times in our lives when faith comes easily, almost naturally. When circumstances seem to be turning in our favor, and we can clearly see the hand of God working for our good, faith is ignited within us.
But there are other times in our lives, when the darkness of our circumstances and the confines of our own personal prisons, make us doubt even the things that we know, that we know, that we know.
Times when faith seems a distant memory and doubt is whispered in our ear constantly by our circumstances, our contemporaries, and our enemy in this world.
Even the strongest Christian is not immune to periods of famished faith. It seems, even John the Baptist struggled in his faith as he sat in Herod's prison.
Scripture tells us that the man who repeatedly proclaimed Jesus Messiah, from his prison cell sent his disciples to ask Jesus "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else? (Matthew 11:3 & Luke 7:19).
Oh, how my heart aches for John the Baptist, even today....because I know how he must have felt. I imagine John began to wonder, how Jesus could really be the Messiah and not be riding in on a white horse to rescue him....and all of Israel.
I can so relate to his struggle. He sat in the darkness of his prison cell and he questioned his faith. I have done the same thing more times than I can count. I have sat in circumstances that I believed could, in no way, be good, and questioned God's goodness...His faithfulness.....His love for me.
I have felt like I have, all but, let my faith die within me, but, the beauty of faith is that it cannot die. Faith is eternal. No matter how dark the thoughts that swirl in our own minds, our faith still burns within us. It may not be an awe inspiring, amazing faith, in our darkest days, but it's still there.
Sometimes faith just needs to be fed.
That's what Jesus did for John the Baptist in his struggle. Jesus didn't answer him directly. That would have taken away His need for faith. Instead Jesus gave him an answer that John could use to feed his faith if he chose to.
Jesus referred to Old Testament scriptures -- the Word of God -- that John likely knew by heart. One of the scriptures referenced says He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed (Isaiah 61:1).
What a personal word of faith to give a prisoner.
God will do the same for us. If we ask Him the tough questions that fill our minds from time to time. If we turn to Him for nourishment in our own dark moments of doubt, when our faith is famished. He will feed our faith with words from His Word that are personal to our own situation.
Faith like that of the Roman soldier, doesn't usually come naturally, except maybe on the heels of a great miracle, but it can be grown...nourished....fed....in each of us....in every circumstance.
That is the gift of faith.
(Journey: Matthew 8:5-13 & 11:1-19; Luke 7:1-35)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, He encountered a Roman soldier. A friend to the Jews. A good man by all accounts. But it wasn't his goodness that stopped Jesus dead in his tracks....it was his faith.
As Jesus made His way to the Roman soldier's home to heal his servant's frail body, the soldier stopped Him mid-journey saying Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home....Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed (Luke 7:6-7).
Not can, but will....great faith.
Scripture says When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, He said, "I tell you I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel! (Luke 7:9)
He was amazed. Jesus. God incarnate. Creator of the sun and moon and all the stars....and everything else. Stopped in His tracks. Amazed. By His gift, at work in His creation.
Amazed by faith.
We know that God loves humanity...But I've often wondered why exactly God fell in love with us in the first place. I think this portion of scripture gives a little insight into the relationship between Creator and creation.
Humanity was given the capacity to amaze God. Call it free will if you want, but we have the ability to fight against everything we've ever been taught -- everything we know to be true -- and believe that the impossible is, actually, possible. Humanity has the capacity to have great faith.
Faith begins to stir within us when we first stand in awe of God. Maybe faith reaches some measure of maturity in us, when the tables are turned...when God stands in awe of His precious gift shining through our humanity....in spite of our humanity.
Oh, to cultivate a faith that would amaze God, Himself. Faith that the impossible would become reality in a split second. Faith that with a single word, God would change the course of a life. Faith that with a single breath, a life would be saved.
That's exactly what happened when Jesus entered the city of Nain and encountered a funeral procession. A widow burying her son. Scripture says When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't cry!" He said (Luke 7:13).
God, moved by His creation, intervened. Jesus breathed a breath, spoke a word, and saved a life. "Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up." Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! (Luke 7:14-15)
My father-in-law had a near death experience during surgery, and, let me tell you, he woke up with a story to tell. This boy didn't nearly die. He died, likely for a few days. Can you imagine the story he told? Scripture says he woke up talking. I wish it told what he said, but, I think we get a hint a couple of verses later when scripture tells us that the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside (Luke 7:17).
I imagine that boy told everyone he met about his encounter with Jesus....and the word spread. Faith caught fire from an amazing miracle and overflowed throughout the countryside.
There are times in our lives when faith comes easily, almost naturally. When circumstances seem to be turning in our favor, and we can clearly see the hand of God working for our good, faith is ignited within us.
But there are other times in our lives, when the darkness of our circumstances and the confines of our own personal prisons, make us doubt even the things that we know, that we know, that we know.
Times when faith seems a distant memory and doubt is whispered in our ear constantly by our circumstances, our contemporaries, and our enemy in this world.
Even the strongest Christian is not immune to periods of famished faith. It seems, even John the Baptist struggled in his faith as he sat in Herod's prison.
Scripture tells us that the man who repeatedly proclaimed Jesus Messiah, from his prison cell sent his disciples to ask Jesus "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else? (Matthew 11:3 & Luke 7:19).
Oh, how my heart aches for John the Baptist, even today....because I know how he must have felt. I imagine John began to wonder, how Jesus could really be the Messiah and not be riding in on a white horse to rescue him....and all of Israel.
I can so relate to his struggle. He sat in the darkness of his prison cell and he questioned his faith. I have done the same thing more times than I can count. I have sat in circumstances that I believed could, in no way, be good, and questioned God's goodness...His faithfulness.....His love for me.
I have felt like I have, all but, let my faith die within me, but, the beauty of faith is that it cannot die. Faith is eternal. No matter how dark the thoughts that swirl in our own minds, our faith still burns within us. It may not be an awe inspiring, amazing faith, in our darkest days, but it's still there.
Sometimes faith just needs to be fed.
That's what Jesus did for John the Baptist in his struggle. Jesus didn't answer him directly. That would have taken away His need for faith. Instead Jesus gave him an answer that John could use to feed his faith if he chose to.
Jesus referred to Old Testament scriptures -- the Word of God -- that John likely knew by heart. One of the scriptures referenced says He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed (Isaiah 61:1).
What a personal word of faith to give a prisoner.
God will do the same for us. If we ask Him the tough questions that fill our minds from time to time. If we turn to Him for nourishment in our own dark moments of doubt, when our faith is famished. He will feed our faith with words from His Word that are personal to our own situation.
Faith like that of the Roman soldier, doesn't usually come naturally, except maybe on the heels of a great miracle, but it can be grown...nourished....fed....in each of us....in every circumstance.
That is the gift of faith.
(Journey: Matthew 8:5-13 & 11:1-19; Luke 7:1-35)
Monday, June 10, 2013
In the Meantime
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.(Luke 6:45)
Yesterday was a perfect day for a rainbow. Dark clouds and sunshine colored the sky with every shade of blue imaginable. All day long, I found myself peeking out the windows on the back of my house, peering towards the eastern sky searching for a bow of colors.
Finally, just before sunset, my hopeful glances were rewarded with a faint rainbow. A beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness. A shot of faith straight to my heart.
I take rainbows personally. I believe, when I catch a glimpse of one, that my Father in heaven, has placed it over my head just for me. To feed my faith. To remind me of His promises to me.
A simple reward for looking to Him in expectation of something beautiful in the midst of everyday life.
Isn't that what faith is all about. Looking toward heaven in hope. Seeking God in expectation of finding Him. Asking for something beautiful in anticipation of receiving it.
I believe God desires for us to continually look to Him in expectation, anticipation and hope.
Jesus encouraged this when He told his disciples Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
In a relationship where we allow God to lead and we follow, we will find ourselves naturally looking to Him because He will continually promise us a more beautiful future. He will continually encourage us to keep moving forward toward Him, walking in His will.
Often, however, the wait proves more than our feeble faith can handle. The wait becomes a burden that leaves us feeling hopeless and discouraged. The promised beauty seems hidden by dark clouds and falling rain.
That's why God gives us the gift of promises to rely on in our journey. Words of truth that we can repeat to ourselves when we're feeling less than faithful. Less than hopeful. Less than expectant.
Statements full of faith that become like a gas station -- a 7/11, if you will -- where we can rest for a while and fill-up our faith. Like the one Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 7:11. So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.
Jesus promises good gifts that may not be exactly what we asked for, but will prove to be exactly what we need when we struggle in our faith. A rainbow shining through the clouds. The perfect song on the radio at just the right time. Words of encouragement from a trusted friend.
Gifts that feed our faith in the meantime. While we're waiting. Because sometimes it seems that most of our lives are lived in the limbo of waiting. Looking forward to more beautiful things.
It's what we do in that waiting, that speaks to who we are in God and the beauty that He will eventually reveal in our lives.
And that has a lot to do with what we spend our prayers asking for...
Earlier in Matthew, Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Here, He told His disciples that the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets is to do to others whatever you would like them to do to you (Matthew 7:12).
The essence of scripture is to turn our own desires into gifts to others.
To give what we want.
If what we ask God for, if what we seek in this life, if what we want, has only to do with our own selfish desires, then we are missing the point of our faith entirely. Our desires are meant to become our gifts. Good gifts. Good fruit. Poured out on others.
Our desires are meant to be less tangible, and more spiritual.
I think it's clear in scripture that the thing that God wants us to want, to ask for, and to seek the most is to be more like Him....More like Christ.....Fulfilling the essence of all that is taught in the law.
Loving. Joyful. Peacemaking. Patient. Kind. Good. Faithful. Gentle. Self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23).
Our desire should be to produce good gifts -- good spiritual fruit.
In fact, our heart's desire should be for a good heart, because that's where every thing else flows from.
Jesus said, A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit (Matthew 7:17).
In the same teaching in Luke, He said, A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.(Luke 6:45)
Our greatest desire should be for God to change our heart from evil to good.
So that what we do to others, while we're waiting for God to fulfill His promises to us, is good.
So that who we are, when we're not quite who we want to be, is a good person.
So that we can stand firm in our faith even when we find ourselves knee-deep in rising floodwaters.....waiting for our own beautiful future.
Jesus said, I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built (Luke 6:47-48).
We are a house in progress. A good tree in the making. A promise being fulfilled.
In the meantime, if we listen to God's teaching and follow it, we will give good gifts to others.
That is the gift of faith in us.
(Journey: Matthew 7:7-29; Luke 6:43-49)
Yesterday was a perfect day for a rainbow. Dark clouds and sunshine colored the sky with every shade of blue imaginable. All day long, I found myself peeking out the windows on the back of my house, peering towards the eastern sky searching for a bow of colors.
Finally, just before sunset, my hopeful glances were rewarded with a faint rainbow. A beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness. A shot of faith straight to my heart.
I take rainbows personally. I believe, when I catch a glimpse of one, that my Father in heaven, has placed it over my head just for me. To feed my faith. To remind me of His promises to me.
A simple reward for looking to Him in expectation of something beautiful in the midst of everyday life.
Isn't that what faith is all about. Looking toward heaven in hope. Seeking God in expectation of finding Him. Asking for something beautiful in anticipation of receiving it.
I believe God desires for us to continually look to Him in expectation, anticipation and hope.
Jesus encouraged this when He told his disciples Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
In a relationship where we allow God to lead and we follow, we will find ourselves naturally looking to Him because He will continually promise us a more beautiful future. He will continually encourage us to keep moving forward toward Him, walking in His will.
Often, however, the wait proves more than our feeble faith can handle. The wait becomes a burden that leaves us feeling hopeless and discouraged. The promised beauty seems hidden by dark clouds and falling rain.
That's why God gives us the gift of promises to rely on in our journey. Words of truth that we can repeat to ourselves when we're feeling less than faithful. Less than hopeful. Less than expectant.
Statements full of faith that become like a gas station -- a 7/11, if you will -- where we can rest for a while and fill-up our faith. Like the one Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 7:11. So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.
Jesus promises good gifts that may not be exactly what we asked for, but will prove to be exactly what we need when we struggle in our faith. A rainbow shining through the clouds. The perfect song on the radio at just the right time. Words of encouragement from a trusted friend.
Gifts that feed our faith in the meantime. While we're waiting. Because sometimes it seems that most of our lives are lived in the limbo of waiting. Looking forward to more beautiful things.
It's what we do in that waiting, that speaks to who we are in God and the beauty that He will eventually reveal in our lives.
And that has a lot to do with what we spend our prayers asking for...
Earlier in Matthew, Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Here, He told His disciples that the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets is to do to others whatever you would like them to do to you (Matthew 7:12).
The essence of scripture is to turn our own desires into gifts to others.
To give what we want.
If what we ask God for, if what we seek in this life, if what we want, has only to do with our own selfish desires, then we are missing the point of our faith entirely. Our desires are meant to become our gifts. Good gifts. Good fruit. Poured out on others.
Our desires are meant to be less tangible, and more spiritual.
I think it's clear in scripture that the thing that God wants us to want, to ask for, and to seek the most is to be more like Him....More like Christ.....Fulfilling the essence of all that is taught in the law.
Loving. Joyful. Peacemaking. Patient. Kind. Good. Faithful. Gentle. Self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23).
Our desire should be to produce good gifts -- good spiritual fruit.
In fact, our heart's desire should be for a good heart, because that's where every thing else flows from.
Jesus said, A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit (Matthew 7:17).
In the same teaching in Luke, He said, A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.(Luke 6:45)
Our greatest desire should be for God to change our heart from evil to good.
So that what we do to others, while we're waiting for God to fulfill His promises to us, is good.
So that who we are, when we're not quite who we want to be, is a good person.
So that we can stand firm in our faith even when we find ourselves knee-deep in rising floodwaters.....waiting for our own beautiful future.
Jesus said, I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built (Luke 6:47-48).
We are a house in progress. A good tree in the making. A promise being fulfilled.
In the meantime, if we listen to God's teaching and follow it, we will give good gifts to others.
That is the gift of faith in us.
(Journey: Matthew 7:7-29; Luke 6:43-49)
Monday, June 3, 2013
Giving and Forgiving
...Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full -- pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back....(Luke 6:37-38)
When you are anywhere in the vicinity of a toddler it's difficult not to interact with them. They naturally try to capture the attention of everyone who looks their way. Smiling. Giggling. Waving. They desire attention. And if you'll give it to them, you'll quickly have a new friend.
If you try to take anything away from them, however, you're likely to get a demonstration of the reason the toddler years are often called the terrible twos.
Most toddlers are a bit selfish. Giving is not their strong suit.
Because of this, people often ask toddlers if they can have things that they are clinging to. Cups. Pacifiers. Food. Like a game every adult knows the answer to. Most kids answer with a resounding no. Clinging tighter to whatever they have.
My son, Toby Jo, however, shocked more adults than I could begin to count because he would freely give anything, anyone asked of him. He has a naturally generous spirit. A rare quality.
Truth be told, the selfish attitude of toddlerhood often carries into adulthood.
We don't really like to give freely.
We measure our giving. We give if we think we might get something in return. Recognition. Praise. Glory.
Jesus touched on this human tendency when he taught His disciples to give to the poor and needy in private instead of publicly (Matthew 6:1-4). He warned them not to seek public admiration, but private rewards from God, Himself.
Every gift that we have the ability to give comes from God (James 1:17) so when we seek admiration for our gifts from those around us we are, in effect, stealing the glory from God.
Everything we give to those less fortunate than us should be given as though we were handing it directly back to God. A sacrifice from the heart. Because that is indeed what we are doing. Scripture says, Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his deed (Proverbs 19:17).
Jesus went on to teach about gifts of worship to God. Admonishing His disciples to pray and fast without drawing attention to themselves for the praise and admiration of others. Talk about stealing glory from God (Matthew 6:5-18).
The thought of turning worship into selfish gain brings tears to my eyes.....of shame and conviction....
With social media and the abundance of communication available to us, the trumpets we can blow in the streets to call attention to ourselves have been multiplied infinitely more than the disciples could ever have imagined.
Instead of giving our hearts and minds in prayer and our bodies in sacrifice, we steal the glory from God and live our lives on pedestals crafted by our own hands.
Prayer becomes a means of praise for ourselves. Fasting becomes a fashion statement for the elite followers of Christ.
We babble empty words like people of other religions. Those who don't recognize the sacrifice Christ made for us. Those who don't understand the gift we've been given so freely. The gift that should leave us speechless in our closet before God daily.
The gift of forgiveness.
Redemption for every good gift given for the wrong reasons. Grace for every prayer prayed for the benefit of those around us. Mercy for every fast fulfilled for the glory of living a Godly life in a fallen world.
In the midst of His commentary on giving gifts to the poor and needy, and to God in worship, Jesus touched on forgiving, and extending grace and mercy, to those who need forgiveness just as much as we do -- our fellow man. The lost world around us...And other Christians, who make the same mistakes we do.
Not only are we called to forgive the lost who we expect to sin regularly and fall short of living a Godly life, we are called to forgive other Christians. Those we often hold to a higher standard. Those we place on a pedestal that they can't stand on any more easily than we can.
Christians who blow their own trumpets in the street when they give to the poor and needy. Christians who pray to be seen by others. Christians who fast to be admired by others.
Christians who fail just as often as we do.
I can almost hear Jesus whispering to my heart....Forgive my beloved children who are so insecure in my love for them that they seek approval, applause and glory from anyone and everyone. Forgive the Christians who toot their own horns when they've done something right and, yet, toot their car horns in anger when they're having a bad day.
I imagine that few things sadden God's heart more than watching one of His children beat up on another of His children for failing to live up to their proclaimed Christianity.
Forgive the ones who fall short.....because don't we all fall short (Romans 3:23).
Don't we ALL wallow in sin from time to time?
Jesus said Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you (Matthew 7:6).
All Christians are washed clean and pure and made ready for eternity by the blood of Christ. But while we're living in this filthy, sin-filled world, we're all wallowing in a giant pig sty.....And sometimes we forget we're not pigs anymore.
Whether we're giving money to the poor and needy, worship to God, or forgiveness to those around us, all our gifts -- all our pearls -- should be given AS IF to God, not the pigs wallowing in the mud of this Earth.
Our gifts should be returned to the Giver of all gifts.
After all, He's the only one who guarantees a full return -- pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.....(Luke 6:38)
That is the gift of faith.
(Journey: Matthew 6:1-34, 7:1-6; Luke 6:37-42)
When you are anywhere in the vicinity of a toddler it's difficult not to interact with them. They naturally try to capture the attention of everyone who looks their way. Smiling. Giggling. Waving. They desire attention. And if you'll give it to them, you'll quickly have a new friend.
If you try to take anything away from them, however, you're likely to get a demonstration of the reason the toddler years are often called the terrible twos.
Most toddlers are a bit selfish. Giving is not their strong suit.
Because of this, people often ask toddlers if they can have things that they are clinging to. Cups. Pacifiers. Food. Like a game every adult knows the answer to. Most kids answer with a resounding no. Clinging tighter to whatever they have.
My son, Toby Jo, however, shocked more adults than I could begin to count because he would freely give anything, anyone asked of him. He has a naturally generous spirit. A rare quality.
Truth be told, the selfish attitude of toddlerhood often carries into adulthood.
We don't really like to give freely.
We measure our giving. We give if we think we might get something in return. Recognition. Praise. Glory.
Jesus touched on this human tendency when he taught His disciples to give to the poor and needy in private instead of publicly (Matthew 6:1-4). He warned them not to seek public admiration, but private rewards from God, Himself.
Every gift that we have the ability to give comes from God (James 1:17) so when we seek admiration for our gifts from those around us we are, in effect, stealing the glory from God.
Everything we give to those less fortunate than us should be given as though we were handing it directly back to God. A sacrifice from the heart. Because that is indeed what we are doing. Scripture says, Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his deed (Proverbs 19:17).
Jesus went on to teach about gifts of worship to God. Admonishing His disciples to pray and fast without drawing attention to themselves for the praise and admiration of others. Talk about stealing glory from God (Matthew 6:5-18).
The thought of turning worship into selfish gain brings tears to my eyes.....of shame and conviction....
With social media and the abundance of communication available to us, the trumpets we can blow in the streets to call attention to ourselves have been multiplied infinitely more than the disciples could ever have imagined.
Instead of giving our hearts and minds in prayer and our bodies in sacrifice, we steal the glory from God and live our lives on pedestals crafted by our own hands.
Prayer becomes a means of praise for ourselves. Fasting becomes a fashion statement for the elite followers of Christ.
We babble empty words like people of other religions. Those who don't recognize the sacrifice Christ made for us. Those who don't understand the gift we've been given so freely. The gift that should leave us speechless in our closet before God daily.
The gift of forgiveness.
Redemption for every good gift given for the wrong reasons. Grace for every prayer prayed for the benefit of those around us. Mercy for every fast fulfilled for the glory of living a Godly life in a fallen world.
In the midst of His commentary on giving gifts to the poor and needy, and to God in worship, Jesus touched on forgiving, and extending grace and mercy, to those who need forgiveness just as much as we do -- our fellow man. The lost world around us...And other Christians, who make the same mistakes we do.
Not only are we called to forgive the lost who we expect to sin regularly and fall short of living a Godly life, we are called to forgive other Christians. Those we often hold to a higher standard. Those we place on a pedestal that they can't stand on any more easily than we can.
Christians who blow their own trumpets in the street when they give to the poor and needy. Christians who pray to be seen by others. Christians who fast to be admired by others.
Christians who fail just as often as we do.
I can almost hear Jesus whispering to my heart....Forgive my beloved children who are so insecure in my love for them that they seek approval, applause and glory from anyone and everyone. Forgive the Christians who toot their own horns when they've done something right and, yet, toot their car horns in anger when they're having a bad day.
I imagine that few things sadden God's heart more than watching one of His children beat up on another of His children for failing to live up to their proclaimed Christianity.
Forgive the ones who fall short.....because don't we all fall short (Romans 3:23).
Don't we ALL wallow in sin from time to time?
Jesus said Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you (Matthew 7:6).
All Christians are washed clean and pure and made ready for eternity by the blood of Christ. But while we're living in this filthy, sin-filled world, we're all wallowing in a giant pig sty.....And sometimes we forget we're not pigs anymore.
Whether we're giving money to the poor and needy, worship to God, or forgiveness to those around us, all our gifts -- all our pearls -- should be given AS IF to God, not the pigs wallowing in the mud of this Earth.
Our gifts should be returned to the Giver of all gifts.
After all, He's the only one who guarantees a full return -- pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.....(Luke 6:38)
That is the gift of faith.
(Journey: Matthew 6:1-34, 7:1-6; Luke 6:37-42)
Monday, May 27, 2013
Perfectly Compassionate
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate....Luke 6:36
Though He introduced the Age of Grace, in reading through the New Testament we find that Jesus had a lot to say about the Law of Moses.
In the fifth chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus taught His disciples His seemingly extreme views of what it meant to truly live up to the Law.
He started out by clarifying that He did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, but to accomplish their purpose.
The purpose of the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets is to make us aware of our sin and our desperate need of Christ -- our sinless sacrifice.
Jesus taught His disciples that if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19).
God made us aware of our sinful nature for a reason. So that we would know to avoid sin as much as possible. So that we could live as clean and pure a life possible. So that we could share with others the wisdom and blessings of obedience to our Father.
As children of God, we are called to obey God and teach obedience to those within our sphere of influence.
The most effective teaching is accomplished by example. Jesus became our perfect example, and Christians are still learning from His teaching and His life today. It is our privilege as Christians to teach others in the same way. By becoming a living example of Christ.
No matter how clean a life we live, we could never live up to the Law of Moses. And just in case we ever think we could, Jesus, using examples from the Law, demonstrated His own awareness of sin.
The Law condemned murder. But Jesus said, if you are even angry with someone you are subject to judgement! (Matthew 5:22).
The Law condemned adultery. But Jesus said, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
The Law, bent to the desires of the people, allowed divorce. But Jesus said, that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery (Matthew 5:32).
The Law condemned breaking vows. But Jesus said, do not even make any vows! (Matthew 5:34). Only God is truly capable of fulfilling every vow or promise He makes.
I don't believe that Jesus was trying to give an impossible standard that no one could possibly live up to. The Law had already done that.
I'm sure that scholars could probably point to a much deeper spiritual purpose for His teaching here. But I believe His purpose was, at least in part, to shock those who might think that they are living up to the Law.
My husband can hear this portion of scripture, particularly the verse about lust, read a million times in church and every time he will shake his head in conviction and say, Man, I'm in trouble. It hits home. He comes face to face with his own sin and his own need for Christ's redemptive blood.
He doesn't wallow in his guilt or beat himself up with shame. He is simply reminded of his sinful nature and his need for Christ.
The passage about anger does the same thing to me. Never would I consider murder, but if we're calling anger a sin, then I'm guilty as sin.
I don't believe for one moment that these scriptures are meant to weigh down believers who are walking hand in hand with God. They are meant instead to wake us up when we think we've got it all figured out. They are meant to remind us that living a good life does not equate to living a sinless life.
If we don't come face to face with our own sin and our own need for Christ every once in a while, it's easy for us to become half-hearted in our Christianity and complacent in our faith.
Furthermore, a continual awareness of our own sin and our own need for Christ keeps us from throwing stones at others. Christ demonstrated this truth in John 8 when the scribes and Pharisees brought Him an adulterous woman and asked whether they should follow the Law of Moses and stone her.
Jesus answered them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7). With their own sins before their eyes, they found it impossible to throw a stone at her.
Just as Jesus demonstrated compassion and mercy for the adulterous woman, His teaching to His disciples regarding the Law of Moses, encouraged compassion and mercy as well.
The Law instituted punishment equal to the crime. But Jesus said, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39).
We are to grant mercy instead of punishing those who commit wrongs, even when the wrongs they commit are against us, personally. Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do...
The Law taught the Israelites to love their fellow countrymen and, at times, to completely wipe out their enemies. But Jesus said, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven...(Matthew 5:44-45).
Jesus is the true child, but we have been made true children through His sacrifice and our subsequent adoption. We are to strive to act as much like true children -- like Christ -- as possible.
Jesus said, But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). In Luke's telling of this same portion of scripture Jesus says, You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate (Luke 6:36).
We won't ever live up to the Law of Moses or the perfect example of Christ, but compassion for our fellow man is entirely possible. And I think it's a good place to start because if you put Matthew's telling with Luke's telling it seems that perfection in the Kingdom of Heaven translates to compassion for our fellow man on Earth.
I think that's what Jesus' teachings here all boiled down to -- compassion for those around us brought about by our own awareness of sin, and dependence on Him.
One day we will be perfect, but, for today, we can be compassionate.
That is the gift of faith in us.
(Journey: Matthew 5:17-48; Luke 6:27-36)
Though He introduced the Age of Grace, in reading through the New Testament we find that Jesus had a lot to say about the Law of Moses.
In the fifth chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus taught His disciples His seemingly extreme views of what it meant to truly live up to the Law.
He started out by clarifying that He did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, but to accomplish their purpose.
The purpose of the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets is to make us aware of our sin and our desperate need of Christ -- our sinless sacrifice.
Jesus taught His disciples that if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19).
God made us aware of our sinful nature for a reason. So that we would know to avoid sin as much as possible. So that we could live as clean and pure a life possible. So that we could share with others the wisdom and blessings of obedience to our Father.
As children of God, we are called to obey God and teach obedience to those within our sphere of influence.
The most effective teaching is accomplished by example. Jesus became our perfect example, and Christians are still learning from His teaching and His life today. It is our privilege as Christians to teach others in the same way. By becoming a living example of Christ.
No matter how clean a life we live, we could never live up to the Law of Moses. And just in case we ever think we could, Jesus, using examples from the Law, demonstrated His own awareness of sin.
The Law condemned murder. But Jesus said, if you are even angry with someone you are subject to judgement! (Matthew 5:22).
The Law condemned adultery. But Jesus said, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
The Law, bent to the desires of the people, allowed divorce. But Jesus said, that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery (Matthew 5:32).
The Law condemned breaking vows. But Jesus said, do not even make any vows! (Matthew 5:34). Only God is truly capable of fulfilling every vow or promise He makes.
I don't believe that Jesus was trying to give an impossible standard that no one could possibly live up to. The Law had already done that.
I'm sure that scholars could probably point to a much deeper spiritual purpose for His teaching here. But I believe His purpose was, at least in part, to shock those who might think that they are living up to the Law.
My husband can hear this portion of scripture, particularly the verse about lust, read a million times in church and every time he will shake his head in conviction and say, Man, I'm in trouble. It hits home. He comes face to face with his own sin and his own need for Christ's redemptive blood.
He doesn't wallow in his guilt or beat himself up with shame. He is simply reminded of his sinful nature and his need for Christ.
The passage about anger does the same thing to me. Never would I consider murder, but if we're calling anger a sin, then I'm guilty as sin.
I don't believe for one moment that these scriptures are meant to weigh down believers who are walking hand in hand with God. They are meant instead to wake us up when we think we've got it all figured out. They are meant to remind us that living a good life does not equate to living a sinless life.
If we don't come face to face with our own sin and our own need for Christ every once in a while, it's easy for us to become half-hearted in our Christianity and complacent in our faith.
Furthermore, a continual awareness of our own sin and our own need for Christ keeps us from throwing stones at others. Christ demonstrated this truth in John 8 when the scribes and Pharisees brought Him an adulterous woman and asked whether they should follow the Law of Moses and stone her.
Jesus answered them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7). With their own sins before their eyes, they found it impossible to throw a stone at her.
Just as Jesus demonstrated compassion and mercy for the adulterous woman, His teaching to His disciples regarding the Law of Moses, encouraged compassion and mercy as well.
The Law instituted punishment equal to the crime. But Jesus said, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39).
We are to grant mercy instead of punishing those who commit wrongs, even when the wrongs they commit are against us, personally. Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do...
The Law taught the Israelites to love their fellow countrymen and, at times, to completely wipe out their enemies. But Jesus said, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven...(Matthew 5:44-45).
Jesus is the true child, but we have been made true children through His sacrifice and our subsequent adoption. We are to strive to act as much like true children -- like Christ -- as possible.
Jesus said, But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). In Luke's telling of this same portion of scripture Jesus says, You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate (Luke 6:36).
We won't ever live up to the Law of Moses or the perfect example of Christ, but compassion for our fellow man is entirely possible. And I think it's a good place to start because if you put Matthew's telling with Luke's telling it seems that perfection in the Kingdom of Heaven translates to compassion for our fellow man on Earth.
I think that's what Jesus' teachings here all boiled down to -- compassion for those around us brought about by our own awareness of sin, and dependence on Him.
One day we will be perfect, but, for today, we can be compassionate.
That is the gift of faith in us.
(Journey: Matthew 5:17-48; Luke 6:27-36)
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Chosen
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4).
There is a song, currently playing on Christian radio stations, in which artist Jason Gray, pleads with God to remind him who he is.
The lyrics say: Remind me who I am. If I'm your beloved can you help me believe it. Tell me, once again, who I am to you, who I am to you. Tell me, lest I forget, who I am to you, that I belong to you. (Jason Gray, Remind Me Who I Am)
I can so deeply relate to the internal struggle the musical prayer brings to light. The spiritual battle to remember, continually, through good times and bad, through sorrows and sins, that I am God's chosen, adopted children -- His beloved.
It's so easy to wonder, when life doesn't go the way we expect it to, whether we really are beloved by God.
It's so difficult to remember, when the weight of our own sins pile up on our hearts, that we still belong to God.
It's easy to forget that we have each been chosen by God to play a specific role in His vast, magnificent plan for humanity.
But we are chosen. When we enter into relationship with God we become His chosen. Regardless of the mistakes we have made in our past. Regardless of the sins we will commit in our future. We belong to God. We are His beloved.
We are part of a Church family that began with twelve men -- apostles -- who were chosen by Jesus.
Scriptures tells us that, as the crowds around Him grew dramatically, Jesus chose twelve men, from his many disciples, to become His apostles. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles...Luke 6:13.
Twelve men were chosen to become the first members of the Church family. They were chosen to become great in the Kingdom of God.
But, as we all learn as we draw ever nearer to God, greatness in the Kingdom of God doesn't necessarily equate to greatness in the world around us.
The chosen of God quickly became targets of men. Of the twelve, ten are believed to have died a martyr's death. One narrowly escaped the same fate. And the final one, lost in overwhelming darkness, took his own life.
We know they were chosen for greatness. But, as they walked the difficult journeys that lay ahead of them, I imagine that they too prayed for God to remind them who they were to Him.
As the world, very literally, beat them down, I imagine there were moments when they prayed for God to help them believe they were, indeed, His beloved children.
As they lay in prison cells, and met in hidden rooms, I imagine that they pleaded with God to remind them that they belonged to Him.
As soon as Jesus chose these men to become part of God's plan, He began to prepare them for the hazards of the road ahead and the upside-down nature of His kingdom. He foresaw their struggle....and ours as well.
The well-known teaching of the Beatitudes, follows Jesus' selection of apostles.
Jesus began the sermon, addressed specifically to His disciples, with the declaration that God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs (Matthew 5:3).
If the chosen twelve imagined that greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven equated to riches, and self-sufficiency, Jesus laid those thoughts to rest rather quickly pointing towards humility as a means of rising to greatness in God's Kingdom.
Jesus continued, God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4).
We've done a lot of mourning in our house in recent years with the untimely loss of several loved ones. Through every tear we've cried, however, we've been comforted by God and His promise that we will be reunited with our loved ones again one day.
On the night of the crucifixion, I imagine the chosen twelve mourned in like fashion, but I don't believe that is the only type of mourning that Jesus referred to in His teaching.
Two of the twelve apostles, near the time of the crucifixion, mourned, not only their loss of Jesus, but their own betrayal of Him.
Scripture tells us that the Apostle Peter wept bitterly, after denying Jesus three times (Luke 22:62). On the night that Jesus was taken away from him, Peter clearly saw the weakness of his own humanity. He experienced the sting of his own betrayal. He felt the weight of his own sin.
And he mourned because of it.
Peter became poor in Spirit. He realized His own personal need for God, and His forgiveness. He mourned his own sin. And, we know, because of his continued role in the foundation of the church, that he was comforted.
I imagine that as Peter mourned, God reminded him of who he was to Him. I imagine that God helped Peter to believe that, in spite of his sin, he remained His beloved. I imagine that God reminded Peter that he belonged to Him, and had yet to fulfill his complete role in the Kingdom of Heaven.
I imagine that in his sorrow, God reminded Peter, that he was chosen.
Another one of the chosen twelve mourned his own betrayal of Jesus. Scripture tells us that Judas too felt the sting of his own betrayal, and that in his sorrow, he ended his own life (Matthew 27:5). Comfortless.
The saddest thing about Judas' death is that comfort was available to him as well. Forgiveness was available, even to him. But, he died without experiencing it. He died in the darkness of the pit he crawled into when he chose to betray Jesus.
Peter, on the other hand, went on to become what Jesus chose him to become -- a rock that He could build His Church upon.
Peter's letters to the early church, and to us, seem to spring forth from the Beatitudes and the teachings that follow them. Encouraging the church. Calling for endurance and rejoicing in the face of life's difficulties, and, above all else, humility.
Peter wrote to remind each member of the Church that we are chosen by God.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Peter 2:9).
Not only did God call us into His marvelous light, but He has called us to be His marvelous light.
In the next passage of scripture, following the Beatitudes, Jesus said, You are the light of the world -- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).
Each time we fall into the darkness of sin, we can choose to react like Peter did, by mourning our sins and turning to God for comfort, or we can choose to react like Judas did, by drowning in darkness and sorrow. Even as a chosen child of God we can become so overwhelmed by sin and darkness that our light is all but extinguished.
We can choose to live our lives as a beacon of light, pointing others toward the hope and comfort we have in God, even in the midst of our sinful human existence, or we can allow ourselves to swallowed up by the darkness around us.
Peter's light shone because, not because he was perfect, but because, when he lost his way, and darkness threatened to overwhelm him, he took his mourning heart to God for comfort.
And God reminded him who he was.
Peter remembered that he was God's beloved child. He remembered that he belonged to God.
He remembered that he was chosen.
We must do the same. We must remember who we are. And when we can't remember on our own, we can always ask God to remind us who we are. He will comfort us. He will help us to remember...
We belong to Him....even when we sin.
We are beloved....even when we fail.
We are chosen....even when we betray our Savior.
That is the gift of faith in us.
(Journey: Mark 3:7-19; Luke 6:12-26; Matthew 5:1-16)
There is a song, currently playing on Christian radio stations, in which artist Jason Gray, pleads with God to remind him who he is.
The lyrics say: Remind me who I am. If I'm your beloved can you help me believe it. Tell me, once again, who I am to you, who I am to you. Tell me, lest I forget, who I am to you, that I belong to you. (Jason Gray, Remind Me Who I Am)
I can so deeply relate to the internal struggle the musical prayer brings to light. The spiritual battle to remember, continually, through good times and bad, through sorrows and sins, that I am God's chosen, adopted children -- His beloved.
It's so easy to wonder, when life doesn't go the way we expect it to, whether we really are beloved by God.
It's so difficult to remember, when the weight of our own sins pile up on our hearts, that we still belong to God.
It's easy to forget that we have each been chosen by God to play a specific role in His vast, magnificent plan for humanity.
But we are chosen. When we enter into relationship with God we become His chosen. Regardless of the mistakes we have made in our past. Regardless of the sins we will commit in our future. We belong to God. We are His beloved.
We are part of a Church family that began with twelve men -- apostles -- who were chosen by Jesus.
Scriptures tells us that, as the crowds around Him grew dramatically, Jesus chose twelve men, from his many disciples, to become His apostles. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles...Luke 6:13.
Twelve men were chosen to become the first members of the Church family. They were chosen to become great in the Kingdom of God.
But, as we all learn as we draw ever nearer to God, greatness in the Kingdom of God doesn't necessarily equate to greatness in the world around us.
The chosen of God quickly became targets of men. Of the twelve, ten are believed to have died a martyr's death. One narrowly escaped the same fate. And the final one, lost in overwhelming darkness, took his own life.
We know they were chosen for greatness. But, as they walked the difficult journeys that lay ahead of them, I imagine that they too prayed for God to remind them who they were to Him.
As the world, very literally, beat them down, I imagine there were moments when they prayed for God to help them believe they were, indeed, His beloved children.
As they lay in prison cells, and met in hidden rooms, I imagine that they pleaded with God to remind them that they belonged to Him.
As soon as Jesus chose these men to become part of God's plan, He began to prepare them for the hazards of the road ahead and the upside-down nature of His kingdom. He foresaw their struggle....and ours as well.
The well-known teaching of the Beatitudes, follows Jesus' selection of apostles.
Jesus began the sermon, addressed specifically to His disciples, with the declaration that God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs (Matthew 5:3).
If the chosen twelve imagined that greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven equated to riches, and self-sufficiency, Jesus laid those thoughts to rest rather quickly pointing towards humility as a means of rising to greatness in God's Kingdom.
Jesus continued, God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4).
We've done a lot of mourning in our house in recent years with the untimely loss of several loved ones. Through every tear we've cried, however, we've been comforted by God and His promise that we will be reunited with our loved ones again one day.
On the night of the crucifixion, I imagine the chosen twelve mourned in like fashion, but I don't believe that is the only type of mourning that Jesus referred to in His teaching.
Two of the twelve apostles, near the time of the crucifixion, mourned, not only their loss of Jesus, but their own betrayal of Him.
Scripture tells us that the Apostle Peter wept bitterly, after denying Jesus three times (Luke 22:62). On the night that Jesus was taken away from him, Peter clearly saw the weakness of his own humanity. He experienced the sting of his own betrayal. He felt the weight of his own sin.
And he mourned because of it.
Peter became poor in Spirit. He realized His own personal need for God, and His forgiveness. He mourned his own sin. And, we know, because of his continued role in the foundation of the church, that he was comforted.
I imagine that as Peter mourned, God reminded him of who he was to Him. I imagine that God helped Peter to believe that, in spite of his sin, he remained His beloved. I imagine that God reminded Peter that he belonged to Him, and had yet to fulfill his complete role in the Kingdom of Heaven.
I imagine that in his sorrow, God reminded Peter, that he was chosen.
Another one of the chosen twelve mourned his own betrayal of Jesus. Scripture tells us that Judas too felt the sting of his own betrayal, and that in his sorrow, he ended his own life (Matthew 27:5). Comfortless.
The saddest thing about Judas' death is that comfort was available to him as well. Forgiveness was available, even to him. But, he died without experiencing it. He died in the darkness of the pit he crawled into when he chose to betray Jesus.
Peter, on the other hand, went on to become what Jesus chose him to become -- a rock that He could build His Church upon.
Peter's letters to the early church, and to us, seem to spring forth from the Beatitudes and the teachings that follow them. Encouraging the church. Calling for endurance and rejoicing in the face of life's difficulties, and, above all else, humility.
Peter wrote to remind each member of the Church that we are chosen by God.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Peter 2:9).
Not only did God call us into His marvelous light, but He has called us to be His marvelous light.
In the next passage of scripture, following the Beatitudes, Jesus said, You are the light of the world -- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).
Each time we fall into the darkness of sin, we can choose to react like Peter did, by mourning our sins and turning to God for comfort, or we can choose to react like Judas did, by drowning in darkness and sorrow. Even as a chosen child of God we can become so overwhelmed by sin and darkness that our light is all but extinguished.
We can choose to live our lives as a beacon of light, pointing others toward the hope and comfort we have in God, even in the midst of our sinful human existence, or we can allow ourselves to swallowed up by the darkness around us.
Peter's light shone because, not because he was perfect, but because, when he lost his way, and darkness threatened to overwhelm him, he took his mourning heart to God for comfort.
And God reminded him who he was.
Peter remembered that he was God's beloved child. He remembered that he belonged to God.
He remembered that he was chosen.
We must do the same. We must remember who we are. And when we can't remember on our own, we can always ask God to remind us who we are. He will comfort us. He will help us to remember...
We belong to Him....even when we sin.
We are beloved....even when we fail.
We are chosen....even when we betray our Savior.
That is the gift of faith in us.
(Journey: Mark 3:7-19; Luke 6:12-26; Matthew 5:1-16)
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
It's all about Relationship
Then Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath..."Mark 2:27
In dealing with the religious leaders of His day, it seems Jesus was constantly trying to explain the difference between rigid religion and a disciplined relationship with God.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke share two such encounters between Jesus and the Pharisees that took place on two different Sabbaths.
In the first, Jesus' disciples, in hunger, broke off heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees accused them of breaking the Law.
Jesus, proclaiming them innocent, said The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).
The weekly day of rest was instituted by God to meet the needs of His children, by refreshing them, renewing their spirits and reminding them to connect with God. It was meant to draw God's children closer to Him -- to encourage relationship.
The Pharisees and other religious leaders had turned the Sabbath into something it was never meant to be. They had made the day of rest all about man's ability to follow rules rather than God's desire for man to honor Him with their hearts, minds, and souls -- their whole being.
They had made the Sabbath about religion rather than relationship.
The Pharisees had become so wrapped up in their own religious ideals that they had completely failed to foster a true relationship with God. In fact, they were so distant from God that they didn't even recognize Him standing in their midst.
They had failed to allow the Sabbath to meet their own need of a relationship with God.
They pointed condemning fingers at Jesus' innocent disciples, but they, themselves, were truly guilty of breaking the Sabbath.
They had completely missed the purpose behind the command of God....to meet the needs of the people...to draw them into a closer relationship with God.
Scripture is full of commands reminiscent of the institution of the Sabbath. Instructions and guidelines that are applicable to the New Testament church. Words of wisdom that are intended to meet our physical and spiritual needs and to help us draw closer to God.
The commands of God laid out in scripture, if we discipline ourselves to follow them, help us live a more clean and holy life despite our sinful nature. They help us to become more like Christ. They help us to build a relationship with God....if we are careful not to allow them to become a rigid religion instead.
When we seek to live a pure, righteous, holy life, we benefit from that discipline.
We enjoy a closer walk with God -- a true relationship.
Relationship, not religion, has always been the purpose behind God's commands to His children whether Old Testament children of Israel or New Testament believers.
When we forget that purpose -- to meet our need of relationship with our Creator -- we become like the Pharisees -- religious zealots, devoid of relationship.
And, without relationship, we can't hear God, even when He's standing right beside us. We can't follow Him even if He's walking right in front of us.
That's exactly what happened to the Pharisees. They were so entrenched in religious practices, and their hearts had become so hardened by pride in their own ability to keep the rules that Jesus' words were unable to penetrate deep within the core of their being where lessons of faith are learned by each individual believer in relationship.
They followed the rules. They even followed Jesus...from one town to another. But scripture portrays these religious leaders following from a distance, holding tight to their religion, and missing the magnificent opportunity to walk side-by-side with their own Messiah. They missed the relationship that they desperately needed.
We don't have to imagine how Christ's compassionate heart bled for those faux followers, scripture tells us that when He healed a lame man in their presence on another Sabbath, and their only concern was His perceived sin, in the midst of His anger, He was deeply saddened by their hard hearts (Mark 3:5).
He was angry at the Pharisees' true sin, but His heart was grieved for their unmet need of relationship.
Meanwhile, scripture says that the Pharisees left the scene wild with rage and plotting how to kill Jesus.
When religion is more dear to us than relationship, anger rages untempered by love and compassion and we become like the Pharisees, wild with rage...at the sin...at the sinner...at the lost and dying world around us.
On the other hand, when we develop a true relationship with God, His love for the world (John 3:16), spreads into our hearts as well. The grief that Jesus felt for the Pharisees, the grief that God feels over the hard hearts of every lost sinner, grieves us as well. Our anger is tempered by love.
When we come face to face with the sins of those around us, whether they are lost sinners or fellow Christians, do we feel anger mixed with a healthy dose of sorrow like Jesus did....or wild rage like the Pharisees? I believe the answer to that simple question says a great deal about our relationship with God.
Jesus asked a question of His own to the Pharisees that day: Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it? (Luke 6:9).
The Pharisees sought to destroy Jesus and His disciples, and all the while, He was trying to save them.
When our anger at sin is mixed with grief for the sinner, we, like Jesus, seek to save life. But when our anger at sin becomes a wild rage we destroy ourselves and everyone around us.
It's okay to be angry at the sinful state of the world around us, but if that anger doesn't stir up some sorrow in us for their lack of hope then it's a safe bet that there is something missing in our relationship with God....something missing in our religion....
Matthew capped off the telling of these two Sabbath stories by quoting the prophecy of Isaiah saying He (Jesus) will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world (Matthew 12:19-21).
Even in His anger, Jesus showed compassion and mercy to the righteous, the self-righteous and the lost alike.
He would not crush the weakest -- least disciplined Christian. He would not put out the flickering candle -- the dimmest light of one saved soul struggling in their faith.
He offered hope to all the world.
He offered Himself.
And that's what God has always done.
He has offered Himself to us....in relationship.
That is the gift of faith.
(Journey: Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-6; Luke 6:1-11; Matthew 12:1-21)
In dealing with the religious leaders of His day, it seems Jesus was constantly trying to explain the difference between rigid religion and a disciplined relationship with God.
The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke share two such encounters between Jesus and the Pharisees that took place on two different Sabbaths.
In the first, Jesus' disciples, in hunger, broke off heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees accused them of breaking the Law.
Jesus, proclaiming them innocent, said The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).
The weekly day of rest was instituted by God to meet the needs of His children, by refreshing them, renewing their spirits and reminding them to connect with God. It was meant to draw God's children closer to Him -- to encourage relationship.
The Pharisees and other religious leaders had turned the Sabbath into something it was never meant to be. They had made the day of rest all about man's ability to follow rules rather than God's desire for man to honor Him with their hearts, minds, and souls -- their whole being.
They had made the Sabbath about religion rather than relationship.
The Pharisees had become so wrapped up in their own religious ideals that they had completely failed to foster a true relationship with God. In fact, they were so distant from God that they didn't even recognize Him standing in their midst.
They had failed to allow the Sabbath to meet their own need of a relationship with God.
They pointed condemning fingers at Jesus' innocent disciples, but they, themselves, were truly guilty of breaking the Sabbath.
They had completely missed the purpose behind the command of God....to meet the needs of the people...to draw them into a closer relationship with God.
Scripture is full of commands reminiscent of the institution of the Sabbath. Instructions and guidelines that are applicable to the New Testament church. Words of wisdom that are intended to meet our physical and spiritual needs and to help us draw closer to God.
The commands of God laid out in scripture, if we discipline ourselves to follow them, help us live a more clean and holy life despite our sinful nature. They help us to become more like Christ. They help us to build a relationship with God....if we are careful not to allow them to become a rigid religion instead.
When we seek to live a pure, righteous, holy life, we benefit from that discipline.
We enjoy a closer walk with God -- a true relationship.
Relationship, not religion, has always been the purpose behind God's commands to His children whether Old Testament children of Israel or New Testament believers.
When we forget that purpose -- to meet our need of relationship with our Creator -- we become like the Pharisees -- religious zealots, devoid of relationship.
And, without relationship, we can't hear God, even when He's standing right beside us. We can't follow Him even if He's walking right in front of us.
That's exactly what happened to the Pharisees. They were so entrenched in religious practices, and their hearts had become so hardened by pride in their own ability to keep the rules that Jesus' words were unable to penetrate deep within the core of their being where lessons of faith are learned by each individual believer in relationship.
They followed the rules. They even followed Jesus...from one town to another. But scripture portrays these religious leaders following from a distance, holding tight to their religion, and missing the magnificent opportunity to walk side-by-side with their own Messiah. They missed the relationship that they desperately needed.
We don't have to imagine how Christ's compassionate heart bled for those faux followers, scripture tells us that when He healed a lame man in their presence on another Sabbath, and their only concern was His perceived sin, in the midst of His anger, He was deeply saddened by their hard hearts (Mark 3:5).
He was angry at the Pharisees' true sin, but His heart was grieved for their unmet need of relationship.
Meanwhile, scripture says that the Pharisees left the scene wild with rage and plotting how to kill Jesus.
When religion is more dear to us than relationship, anger rages untempered by love and compassion and we become like the Pharisees, wild with rage...at the sin...at the sinner...at the lost and dying world around us.
On the other hand, when we develop a true relationship with God, His love for the world (John 3:16), spreads into our hearts as well. The grief that Jesus felt for the Pharisees, the grief that God feels over the hard hearts of every lost sinner, grieves us as well. Our anger is tempered by love.
When we come face to face with the sins of those around us, whether they are lost sinners or fellow Christians, do we feel anger mixed with a healthy dose of sorrow like Jesus did....or wild rage like the Pharisees? I believe the answer to that simple question says a great deal about our relationship with God.
Jesus asked a question of His own to the Pharisees that day: Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it? (Luke 6:9).
The Pharisees sought to destroy Jesus and His disciples, and all the while, He was trying to save them.
When our anger at sin is mixed with grief for the sinner, we, like Jesus, seek to save life. But when our anger at sin becomes a wild rage we destroy ourselves and everyone around us.
It's okay to be angry at the sinful state of the world around us, but if that anger doesn't stir up some sorrow in us for their lack of hope then it's a safe bet that there is something missing in our relationship with God....something missing in our religion....
Matthew capped off the telling of these two Sabbath stories by quoting the prophecy of Isaiah saying He (Jesus) will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world (Matthew 12:19-21).
Even in His anger, Jesus showed compassion and mercy to the righteous, the self-righteous and the lost alike.
He would not crush the weakest -- least disciplined Christian. He would not put out the flickering candle -- the dimmest light of one saved soul struggling in their faith.
He offered hope to all the world.
He offered Himself.
And that's what God has always done.
He has offered Himself to us....in relationship.
That is the gift of faith.
(Journey: Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-6; Luke 6:1-11; Matthew 12:1-21)
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