And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed - Joshua 5:8
You wake up in the morning, most mornings I imagine, much like I do. I’m not very “self aware” during those first few moments. I mean, I really don’t pause and internally journal what is going on in my heart and head; in what mood or disposition I have made my grand entrance into the day. We wake up, get up and start.
For me, generally somewhere around cup of coffee number two it becomes apparent to me that the great God of the universe desires that I get into His program for the day.
That is, if I am fortunate.
Many days one thing after another occurs (or I make them occur) and the next thing you know I’ve come to the end of the day, mostly baffled at what the day was constructed and where did it go? We string enough of these together, these kinds of lost days, and we end up with what Naturalist Henry David Thoreau called, lives of quiet desperation. Country singer Freddy Fender, in another context, called them wasted days and wasted nights.
We want lives that count. We say we do. We either wish to please God or leave our mark and the great intersection of human fulfillment is when we do both!
The opening verse describes the moment a whole nation had to endure before they could even get to the last chapters of their personal fulfillment. This is about Israel and their going into the land God had promised to them. Before Israel could go into the Promised Land the males had to be circumcised. Guys, if you are like me, you might be doing stuff like slightly bending at the waist or crossing your legs right about now. Why? We know why! Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal. But this was part of the law that Israel had required God provide to them. (And yes, we are all masochists!)
The analogy or life parable we should derive from this is that God requires each of us to be circumcised in heart before we are allowed to enter and receive the life fulfilling blessings that await each believer in their personal Promised Land.
This circumcision can often be very painful primarily because it requires personal awareness; awareness of who we are compared to the great, might, eternal, holy God of all. And as we reflect circumcision of heart requires losing our old way of life. The process of spiritual circumcision may mean a loss in areas that have been a part of our lives in order to draw us to the Savior. It means we are awakened to our day. We are aware of the internal limits of who we have been in areas we have not allowed God to enter. It will be painful but it is also a time of healing.
There is wonderful news in all of this. God understands. Consequently, like the people of Israel, we must wait until we are healed before we begin to be effective in the receiving of our personal promise; our calling. If we launch out too early, we will be ineffective and may risk infection and disease and will not be at our full capacity. God wants each of us to walk in His healing grace.
The people of Israel fought only two battles when they were coming out of Egypt. In the Promised Land they fought 39 battles. Each of us must be prepared to enjoy the benefits of living in the Promised Land. However, we must also be prepared to wage war against the enemy of our souls. I would make a suggestion to you. Wake up, and as soon as you can shake off the fog reflect on your Great God and on yourself. Evaluate the healing. Make sure the Lord has provided the needed healing to your circumcision experience before you enter the next battle to fight in the Promised Land which is your life in Christ Jesus.
I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Is It The Road Or The Driver?
And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!" - Joshua 7:7
When was the last time a superior of some form or fashion gave you a job, a set of rules, a command with responsibility, a mission, saddled you with the responsibility to ensure that deliverables were constructed; or, put another way, that objectives and outcomes take place? The rest of it was that they left you to do the job and then disappeared from sight with seemingly no regard for the obstacles that cropped up?
Perhaps you were given precise and accurate instructions on how to get from point A to point B but in the getting their you seemed to keep getting stuck by tickets, road construction, hazards’ and traffic.
Let me put it in spiritual terms for you. Have you ever felt like you were doing what God wanted you to do, but your plans were totally frustrated? The more you attempted to do the right thing the harder it became and perhaps the farther you seemed from the goal. This was how Joshua felt.
Originally God had promised Moses that Israel would be “given” a land of their very own. Moses, because of disobedience to the known word of God, did not receive that promise and was left outside the land. Nonetheless, Israel, under the obedient command of Joshua sallied forth. The Lord was with Israel as they entered this land of Promise. Oh, and prior to the completion of the task (to occupy their land) God also informed Israel the land I am giving you, well, you’re going to fight the current occupants for it. Great!
Well, Israel defeated every enemy because of God's blessing and protection. As of the writing of the above verse they had just taken the city of Jericho. They even knew where the next battle would be fought, a city called Ai. They scouted the enemy and determined it would require just 3,000 men for victory. They attacked! But soon reports came back that they were being beaten. A perplexed Joshua was dumbfounded. He dropped to his knees in dramatic fashion, buried his face in the dirt and cried out to God.
God was not impressed.
The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face (you nerfball)?” Then God delivers the stunner: “Israel has sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction" - Joshua 7:10-12.
Here is the tale of the tape kids:
1. Whenever we open ourselves up to sin, we become liable not only for our actions but we remove ourselves from God’s protective promises. God cannot rule, reign and execute His good will where he doesn’t have the rule and we demonstrate our love by our obedience to Him.
2. Once God removes His protective shield from our lives we now can see just how powerless we are to accomplish anything of value. The sin must be purged out.
Our Eternal Dad, like a Chess master uses a pawn will often allow the enemy of our souls (the Devil) to accomplish the task of bringing us back to reliance and faith in Him. If you feel you are being thwarted in some way, examine your life to see if there is any sin that is the cause of the problem.
I am not suggesting out and out known disobedience to God is always the reason for failure in our “goals for God.” Sin does however need to be eliminated as a source.
Ask your Heavenly Father if this is the case. He will show you. He instantly showed Joshua. Remember, more than just my most recent theme, God’s desire is relationship with you. Once you are His He will painfully pursue its growth between the two of you. The road from point A to B is still the right road. How you handle the getting there determines how much pleasure you derive from the trip! I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
When was the last time a superior of some form or fashion gave you a job, a set of rules, a command with responsibility, a mission, saddled you with the responsibility to ensure that deliverables were constructed; or, put another way, that objectives and outcomes take place? The rest of it was that they left you to do the job and then disappeared from sight with seemingly no regard for the obstacles that cropped up?
Perhaps you were given precise and accurate instructions on how to get from point A to point B but in the getting their you seemed to keep getting stuck by tickets, road construction, hazards’ and traffic.
Let me put it in spiritual terms for you. Have you ever felt like you were doing what God wanted you to do, but your plans were totally frustrated? The more you attempted to do the right thing the harder it became and perhaps the farther you seemed from the goal. This was how Joshua felt.
Originally God had promised Moses that Israel would be “given” a land of their very own. Moses, because of disobedience to the known word of God, did not receive that promise and was left outside the land. Nonetheless, Israel, under the obedient command of Joshua sallied forth. The Lord was with Israel as they entered this land of Promise. Oh, and prior to the completion of the task (to occupy their land) God also informed Israel the land I am giving you, well, you’re going to fight the current occupants for it. Great!
Well, Israel defeated every enemy because of God's blessing and protection. As of the writing of the above verse they had just taken the city of Jericho. They even knew where the next battle would be fought, a city called Ai. They scouted the enemy and determined it would require just 3,000 men for victory. They attacked! But soon reports came back that they were being beaten. A perplexed Joshua was dumbfounded. He dropped to his knees in dramatic fashion, buried his face in the dirt and cried out to God.
God was not impressed.
The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face (you nerfball)?” Then God delivers the stunner: “Israel has sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction" - Joshua 7:10-12.
Here is the tale of the tape kids:
1. Whenever we open ourselves up to sin, we become liable not only for our actions but we remove ourselves from God’s protective promises. God cannot rule, reign and execute His good will where he doesn’t have the rule and we demonstrate our love by our obedience to Him.
2. Once God removes His protective shield from our lives we now can see just how powerless we are to accomplish anything of value. The sin must be purged out.
Our Eternal Dad, like a Chess master uses a pawn will often allow the enemy of our souls (the Devil) to accomplish the task of bringing us back to reliance and faith in Him. If you feel you are being thwarted in some way, examine your life to see if there is any sin that is the cause of the problem.
I am not suggesting out and out known disobedience to God is always the reason for failure in our “goals for God.” Sin does however need to be eliminated as a source.
Ask your Heavenly Father if this is the case. He will show you. He instantly showed Joshua. Remember, more than just my most recent theme, God’s desire is relationship with you. Once you are His He will painfully pursue its growth between the two of you. The road from point A to B is still the right road. How you handle the getting there determines how much pleasure you derive from the trip! I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Excuse Me - Can You Help Me Lose My Life?
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. - Luke 9:24
Anyone who knows me knows that, for me, the person of Joseph found in the Old Testament is similar to my experience with the movie Groundhog Day. I get something new and fresh and alive each time I read about or listen to his story.
Joseph was the son of Jacob, and the youngest. He caused his older brothers, who were many, immense consternation because God had given him a gift. Joseph had dreams. The dreams were focused on Joseph, what was in his future and how it related to his brothers.
Unfortunately, they really were not the kind of things you want to tell a bunch of hostile brothers. Ultimately those dreams got Joseph a one-way ticket out of Dodge (er...for Joseph this would be his home in Canaan) compliments of said brothers. Thus began an exciting adventure in the life of Joseph.
However, when the time came for God to fulfill Joseph's dreams, Joseph himself had virtually no interest at all in it. Jesus said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it" - Luke 9:24. If you ever get the chance read chapters 37-50 of Genesis. One message you will get from it is this: God wants to teach us a different set of values so that the kind of thing we start out wanting becomes secondary. Joseph seems originally focused on position and power over his brothers. God has something in mind for us that is far greater than the interest we began with.
Ultimately Joseph's day of exaltation arrives. Through the entire disaster that had become Joseph’s life a very real humiliation had taken place in his life. You see in the in-between from the time of God’s promise to him and its realization Joseph had experienced being sold by his brothers into slavery, and then dragged off to Egypt. As if that wasn’t bad enough later he is falsely accused and cast into prison.
Then came a different situation. Joseph had a triumph and was given power and position. It was a kind he really never asked for nor, at this point, anticipated. He doesn’t appear interested. He watches as the Pharaoh takes the ring of power off his own finger (think of Green Lantern and Power Ring) and puts it on Joseph's finger.
Joseph never asked for that. In all honesty all Joe wanted was to go home. He longed to go back to Canaan and his family, his life. This would suffice for any dream of power, esteem and position; as if to say, “Just let me take my position amongst my brothers O God!”
But no, instead we find an extraordinary incongruity: a humiliation (as in I am humiliated and now in a place to trust my God) in the heart of vindication (as in Joseph should never have been treated this poorly for 20 years of his life.)
Joseph would experience a triumph that was the opposite of everything he, himself, could have envisaged. Joseph wanted to go home, but a one-way ticket to Canaan wasn't available. Before he knew it, he had Egypt in his hip pocket. He had never prayed for that. But God wanted Egypt. What God wanted is what Joseph got. What does God want from you? What land are you to occupy? Is it physical? Is it amongst a people? Is it in a job? What is it that God wishes you to occupy that you really don’t care that much about but with which you have God’s favor?
Joseph was given something that he could be trusted with because it didn't mean that much to him. In the reality that comes from above God is calling and it is in this my loved ones we find the biggest and most significant love we could ever imagine. I am trusting and obeying…or really trying to…
I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
Anyone who knows me knows that, for me, the person of Joseph found in the Old Testament is similar to my experience with the movie Groundhog Day. I get something new and fresh and alive each time I read about or listen to his story.
Joseph was the son of Jacob, and the youngest. He caused his older brothers, who were many, immense consternation because God had given him a gift. Joseph had dreams. The dreams were focused on Joseph, what was in his future and how it related to his brothers.
Unfortunately, they really were not the kind of things you want to tell a bunch of hostile brothers. Ultimately those dreams got Joseph a one-way ticket out of Dodge (er...for Joseph this would be his home in Canaan) compliments of said brothers. Thus began an exciting adventure in the life of Joseph.
However, when the time came for God to fulfill Joseph's dreams, Joseph himself had virtually no interest at all in it. Jesus said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it" - Luke 9:24. If you ever get the chance read chapters 37-50 of Genesis. One message you will get from it is this: God wants to teach us a different set of values so that the kind of thing we start out wanting becomes secondary. Joseph seems originally focused on position and power over his brothers. God has something in mind for us that is far greater than the interest we began with.
Ultimately Joseph's day of exaltation arrives. Through the entire disaster that had become Joseph’s life a very real humiliation had taken place in his life. You see in the in-between from the time of God’s promise to him and its realization Joseph had experienced being sold by his brothers into slavery, and then dragged off to Egypt. As if that wasn’t bad enough later he is falsely accused and cast into prison.
Then came a different situation. Joseph had a triumph and was given power and position. It was a kind he really never asked for nor, at this point, anticipated. He doesn’t appear interested. He watches as the Pharaoh takes the ring of power off his own finger (think of Green Lantern and Power Ring) and puts it on Joseph's finger.
Joseph never asked for that. In all honesty all Joe wanted was to go home. He longed to go back to Canaan and his family, his life. This would suffice for any dream of power, esteem and position; as if to say, “Just let me take my position amongst my brothers O God!”
But no, instead we find an extraordinary incongruity: a humiliation (as in I am humiliated and now in a place to trust my God) in the heart of vindication (as in Joseph should never have been treated this poorly for 20 years of his life.)
Joseph would experience a triumph that was the opposite of everything he, himself, could have envisaged. Joseph wanted to go home, but a one-way ticket to Canaan wasn't available. Before he knew it, he had Egypt in his hip pocket. He had never prayed for that. But God wanted Egypt. What God wanted is what Joseph got. What does God want from you? What land are you to occupy? Is it physical? Is it amongst a people? Is it in a job? What is it that God wishes you to occupy that you really don’t care that much about but with which you have God’s favor?
Joseph was given something that he could be trusted with because it didn't mean that much to him. In the reality that comes from above God is calling and it is in this my loved ones we find the biggest and most significant love we could ever imagine. I am trusting and obeying…or really trying to…
I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A Course In Self Defense
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. - Psalm 37:6
Have you come to a time in your faith when you have asked yourself or God Himself, what is the cruelty you are currently going through? If not, you will. It’s simply part of the graduate course in the University of the Kingdom of God.
As a believer grows in trusting obedience and love, God often brings a test that seems uncharacteristically cruel. The test I speak of is specific. It is the test of being wrongfully judged by those close to you; by those whose opinion means the most to us.
It is a test to make you self-aware of something that is killer. It cannot be passed over by simply gutting it out. I have experience with this. The Bible provides many examples.
Supernatural grace is the only means of passing this test; of graduating from this course.
It is one of those tests Jesus had to experience Himself when being tried by the court of public opinion, the religious community, and the government of His day. His response to the government was silence. His response to the religious establishment was silence at the final judgment. To the rest of His accusers He remained quiet and left vindication to His heavenly Father.
Jesus lived out the commandment He gave to the disciples:
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked - Luke 6:35
How do you react when you are accused or mistreated for no reason? Do you listen quietly, or do you justify each and every action? If you are like me it depends on the setting. With people whom I feel superior I can be big-hearted and gracious. After all, they are probably ignorant of my status and position. In situations that might be costly to me, economically or positionally I can mount amazing defenses. How about you?
Most of us take pride in doing what is right and expect the same from others, especially family, close friends and our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Jesus knew that if you and I were to be a true follower of His, we eventually would go through this fire. It is part of the study course. You and I will have ample opportunity to be wronged, misunderstood, and maligned. When God brings a measured assault against one of His children, it is to open our eyes that we find out if we truly believe in the cross and have associated ourselves with it.
What does that mean? The cross is where each of us is given the opportunity to die to our pride, our reputations, and our self-worth. When our heavenly Father allows a measured assault upon us, it is to find out if the cross of Jesus is sufficient. We discover the depths of our faith. Will we seek to rescue ourselves?
Jesus once said if we die with Him, we would be raised with Him.
Here’s my thought to you on this: When God allows Satan to bring judgment from those we value most, ask Him for the grace and perseverance to remain quiet and cling to the cross. Let the pride and arrogance that Jesus wants to remove from our lives be crucified. Thank God for the opportunity to be crucified with Christ. Then your righteousness will shine like the noonday sun and the justice of your cause will be in His hands!
I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
Have you come to a time in your faith when you have asked yourself or God Himself, what is the cruelty you are currently going through? If not, you will. It’s simply part of the graduate course in the University of the Kingdom of God.
As a believer grows in trusting obedience and love, God often brings a test that seems uncharacteristically cruel. The test I speak of is specific. It is the test of being wrongfully judged by those close to you; by those whose opinion means the most to us.
It is a test to make you self-aware of something that is killer. It cannot be passed over by simply gutting it out. I have experience with this. The Bible provides many examples.
Supernatural grace is the only means of passing this test; of graduating from this course.
It is one of those tests Jesus had to experience Himself when being tried by the court of public opinion, the religious community, and the government of His day. His response to the government was silence. His response to the religious establishment was silence at the final judgment. To the rest of His accusers He remained quiet and left vindication to His heavenly Father.
Jesus lived out the commandment He gave to the disciples:
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked - Luke 6:35
How do you react when you are accused or mistreated for no reason? Do you listen quietly, or do you justify each and every action? If you are like me it depends on the setting. With people whom I feel superior I can be big-hearted and gracious. After all, they are probably ignorant of my status and position. In situations that might be costly to me, economically or positionally I can mount amazing defenses. How about you?
Most of us take pride in doing what is right and expect the same from others, especially family, close friends and our brothers and sisters in the faith.
Jesus knew that if you and I were to be a true follower of His, we eventually would go through this fire. It is part of the study course. You and I will have ample opportunity to be wronged, misunderstood, and maligned. When God brings a measured assault against one of His children, it is to open our eyes that we find out if we truly believe in the cross and have associated ourselves with it.
What does that mean? The cross is where each of us is given the opportunity to die to our pride, our reputations, and our self-worth. When our heavenly Father allows a measured assault upon us, it is to find out if the cross of Jesus is sufficient. We discover the depths of our faith. Will we seek to rescue ourselves?
Jesus once said if we die with Him, we would be raised with Him.
Here’s my thought to you on this: When God allows Satan to bring judgment from those we value most, ask Him for the grace and perseverance to remain quiet and cling to the cross. Let the pride and arrogance that Jesus wants to remove from our lives be crucified. Thank God for the opportunity to be crucified with Christ. Then your righteousness will shine like the noonday sun and the justice of your cause will be in His hands!
I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Devotion of Listening
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. – Proverbs 8:34,35
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me – John 10:27
In the classic Christian book by Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest,” Dr. Chambers talks about a subject that is not comfortable for many Christians. I know this because it is not always comfortable for me (and if nothing else is true on this earth that I am “everyman” is most obvious). Nonetheless, this week, the week that on the calendar many Christians call “holy”, I have decided to deeply concern myself with the God I serve. I have realized a few things about my faith that I rededicated myself to this week. One of those was one purpose of the cross we often avoid; that Jesus died so we may have communication with God, our Father, now and forevermore. Oswald Chambers called this the devotion of hearing.
Here are some things I want to convey about resurrection power of Jesus Christ and the way we interpret it that affect this privilege that we have gained through faith in Jesus. These are things I have learned:
1. Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says.
2. I show God my lack of love for Him and lack of respect for the work that Jesus has done by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. The analogy is this, “If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants. And Jesus said, "You are My friends . . ." (John 15:14).”
3. I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week. If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it (would I?). Jesus sensitized my heart and mind by filling me with the Holy Spirit. I need to respect this and my peace, joy and ability to serve Him rightly depends on it!
4. The devotion of hearing gives me hearing in my ears as God hears and in my heart to fulfill the promise of Jesus to his followers when He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” - John 14:11-13
5. Having Jesus restore us to our full ranks as sons and daughters of the Utmost it appears that most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don’t even hear Him. He might as well never have restored us. Or, having done so, re-established lines of communication with us and spoken to us at all.
Certainly a goal of my spiritual life is to embrace such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me. Jesus gratefully had this expectation (see John 11:41) and so should I.
Friends and loved ones, if I am united with Jesus Christ, I need to know God is speaking to me – all the time. I need to hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God’s message to me. It may come from a devotional, a book, a touch, and an act of kindness or a distinct and severe wrap on the fingers.
What hinders me from hearing is my inability to see as He sees. Perhaps it is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted to viewing life from the perspective of a crucified life; a life where I identify with Jesus and what He has done for me. Instead I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions from the thesaurus of my history. If that is true then God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him. I must change this.
The attitude of a child of God should always be, "Speak, for Your servant hears." If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I am deaf to Him because my attention is to old ears and my old ways of hearing.
My ears, my way are not living a full and eternal life of a child of God. Does this ring true to you today? Join me. Commit with me in this festive joyous time to the devotion of hearing. Jesus gave it all that I could have that which I do not deserve and that is, in part, my Father’s undivided attention and His desire to talk to me. May you hear His voice today! I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me – John 10:27
In the classic Christian book by Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest,” Dr. Chambers talks about a subject that is not comfortable for many Christians. I know this because it is not always comfortable for me (and if nothing else is true on this earth that I am “everyman” is most obvious). Nonetheless, this week, the week that on the calendar many Christians call “holy”, I have decided to deeply concern myself with the God I serve. I have realized a few things about my faith that I rededicated myself to this week. One of those was one purpose of the cross we often avoid; that Jesus died so we may have communication with God, our Father, now and forevermore. Oswald Chambers called this the devotion of hearing.
Here are some things I want to convey about resurrection power of Jesus Christ and the way we interpret it that affect this privilege that we have gained through faith in Jesus. These are things I have learned:
1. Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says.
2. I show God my lack of love for Him and lack of respect for the work that Jesus has done by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. The analogy is this, “If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants. And Jesus said, "You are My friends . . ." (John 15:14).”
3. I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week. If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it (would I?). Jesus sensitized my heart and mind by filling me with the Holy Spirit. I need to respect this and my peace, joy and ability to serve Him rightly depends on it!
4. The devotion of hearing gives me hearing in my ears as God hears and in my heart to fulfill the promise of Jesus to his followers when He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” - John 14:11-13
5. Having Jesus restore us to our full ranks as sons and daughters of the Utmost it appears that most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don’t even hear Him. He might as well never have restored us. Or, having done so, re-established lines of communication with us and spoken to us at all.
Certainly a goal of my spiritual life is to embrace such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me. Jesus gratefully had this expectation (see John 11:41) and so should I.
Friends and loved ones, if I am united with Jesus Christ, I need to know God is speaking to me – all the time. I need to hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God’s message to me. It may come from a devotional, a book, a touch, and an act of kindness or a distinct and severe wrap on the fingers.
What hinders me from hearing is my inability to see as He sees. Perhaps it is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted to viewing life from the perspective of a crucified life; a life where I identify with Jesus and what He has done for me. Instead I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions from the thesaurus of my history. If that is true then God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him. I must change this.
The attitude of a child of God should always be, "Speak, for Your servant hears." If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I am deaf to Him because my attention is to old ears and my old ways of hearing.
My ears, my way are not living a full and eternal life of a child of God. Does this ring true to you today? Join me. Commit with me in this festive joyous time to the devotion of hearing. Jesus gave it all that I could have that which I do not deserve and that is, in part, my Father’s undivided attention and His desire to talk to me. May you hear His voice today! I remain…
InHISgrip,
~J~
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Good Friday - What It Is - What It Is
In just a few days the day known as "Good Friday" will be upon us. This is significant in a week that is called "Holy" to those of us who are Christians.
For those that are not Christians, Good Friday is the day Christians commemorate (like an anniversary) the death of Christ; the crucifixion of Jesus at a hill called Calvary (latin calvaria: skull). Some people recognize it by the name of Golgotha, the Aramaic version. Because there were so many crucifixions done there it was named Golgotha which means, "the place of the skull." That is how the Bible interprets it.
There are no specific rituals that are followed, except many Christians observe this day with prayer, fastings, and specific Bible readings that explain the events that led up to Jesus’ being hung on a cross. So why is it called good if it is the day that Jesus was killed? There are two ways to answer this question: from a theological perspective and from a translation-cultural perspective.
From a theological perspective, one can say Good Friday is called “good” because Jesus willingly gave up his life so humanity could have a relationship with God, commonly known as vicarious atonement. Vicarious atonement is the theological term. It means Jesus’ death satisfied the legal requirement from God to pay for the sins of mankind so we could once again have a relationship with Him. Jesus form of death took the penalty of sin for every human when He died on the cross. His death was a substitution for those who decide to accept it. Jesus hung in our place as He bore our sin in his body on the cross. In The Bible we get this meaning from a number of reading passages:
Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
Romans 5:6-9 - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Galatians 1:3-5 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen
1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree (vernacular for a cross during that day - a gentler term), that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
From a translation-cultural perspective, interestingly, only in the English and Dutch language is Good Friday called “good”. In German, Good Friday is called Mourning Friday. It is called Karfreitag, (the kar part is no longer used) but it means mourning. Perhaps this is the right view from an earthly perspective. After all mourning is exactly what the disciples did on that Friday on Calvary – they mourned the death of their leader, teacher, friend and Messiah. In Israel, Good Friday is known as Big Friday probably because of how profitable it has become as Christian Pilgrims invade the land. In Malta, the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria and several other countries and most of the Eastern Orthodox Church the day is called Great Friday. Finally, in Latin America, Spain, Italy and Spain the day is called Holy Friday and in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland it is called Long Friday.
Wherever you find yourself this coming Friday, I send you well wishes as we commemorate the death of Jesus and the life and relationship with God His death provides to those of us who believe. May you know that Jesus’ death was for all, there are no qualifiers, all means all!
And, only this can be said of Jesus, "whom to know mans life eternal!"
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
Friday, April 3, 2009
Easters First Skeptic
As much as I personally love Easter, I know first-hand what it's like to a skeptic who is torn by its claims. I have one or two of these "infidels" in my life. One is my poorly aging brother. A part of him wishes to believe but another part simply can't imagine believing what He hasn't witnessed firsthand.
When we hearken back to the time of Christ we realize that Jesus' death had paralyzed and polarized even those closest to Him. The last week of his life starts with an amazing victory and shockingly ends in His gruesome demise before the end of the day on Friday. My guess it was all that the disciples, however many there were left, could do to gather in one place at the end of it all.
Jesus, the King, is dead. Long live the king?
As if that wasn't awful enough the next circumstance was just weird. Mary Magdalene see's Him alive! Now, prior to this the body of Christ disappears and with all the hoopla to ensure it went nowhere that was already weird.
Next it's Peter proclaiming he had seen Jesus upright. This, in a more vernacular term, freaked Thomas out! My guess internally he felt he could cut Peter some slack. The guilt Peter felt after denying the Lord; well, who could blame Peter for hoping it was all "OK".
Ya, Ol' Pete - he just needs some time to regather himself.
But then Cleopas burst into the house they are hidden in on Sunday night. What does he do? Oh, not much just claim he had walked—walked!—with Jesus to Emmaus that afternoon. Holy Schnikey! What got to Thomas was that Cleopas and his bud hadn't recognized Jesus the entire trip and then, at dinner, after which Jesus disappears into thin air they have a Homer Simpson, "DOH!" moment. THAT was Jesus!!!
All of these things excited the group. But Thomas only felt peeved. He missed Jesus too, but he wasn't going to let grief make him believe bizarre things. Jesus was dead and that is the stories end...or, was it?
So in all of this Thomas gets some time apart to think and rethink I imagine and, after whispering a discreet excuse to Nathaniel, he managed to slip out, perhaps to recompose himself.
Now, I am sure the quiet was refreshing. What Thomas did in the midst of a kind of spiritual/emotional chaos is very familiar to me. It is what I would do. I would just separate myself. However, in this instance, with those who you had grown closest to over the course of 2 or 3 years having had these experiences, I am just guessing that this walk wasn't as helpful as he had hoped. The Jesus sightings were beyond wild and yet, especially because the witnesses were credible, presented hope. But was the hope based on faith or fiction based on emotionalism?
You and I could only imagine what this walk brought out...the thoughts...the memories...the mustard seed of Thomas' own faith. As he thought this through I am sure he came to a place where the "facts," in fact, were now ambiguous. He was disillusioned. A part of him wished to believe Jesus was alive. This frustrated the skeptic in him who took pride in being a pragmatic man. There was that whole resurrection of Lazarus thing but Jesus did that. So, who was there to do Jesus?
Can you imagine the dilemma? Can you imagine those of your loved ones and friends today who are now over two thousand years removed?
Show me the body! his skeptic side shouted (as does theirs). At least Lazarus could be seen and touched in Bethany by any doubter. So if Jesus really was alive, why this hide-and-seek game? Wouldn't he just show himself to them all? And so it goes today as well doesn't it?
Thomas would believe if...if...if what?
When Thomas returned to the house four of his friends pounced on him, "We have seen the Lord, Thomas! It's all true! He was just with us! Where were you?"
Now what is going through Thomas' mind? How about shock, unbelief, isolation, regret for having left, and self-pity over feeling left out? Does that sound right?
In his heightened state of emotional and spiritual trauma he does what I would only imagine I would have done...he barked at them... "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
Most of his friends were dismayed. Peter smiled wryly.
The following eight days were long and lonely for Thomas. His friends were gracious. As far as we know, no one debated him. It was, their calm confidence in Jesus' resurrection that aggravated Thomas' growing conviction that he might have overstated his position.
Note: When you are faced with a great cloud of witnesses it tests your skeptics' faith. It should!
I am sure externally Thomas attempted to maintain an air of resolute intellectual skepticism, but inside he was at war. He was losing the war. You cannot have met Jesus and have been satisfied to believe that is all there was; that one encounter. He leaves you hungry for more of Him.
More than anything he wanted Jesus too!
And then it happened.
Thomas was pondering again the possibility that his unbelief had disqualified him and he had missed Jesus. Did God's Son reject him? If so, he knew he deserved it. Then, in this place, together with others and from the group came a gasp! He looked up and his heart leaped into his throat! Jesus was standing across the room looking back at him. "Peace be with you."
Thomas could hardly breathe. Jesus spoke to him, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."
All objections and resistance in Thomas evaporated. And in tears of repentance, relief, and worship Thomas dropped on his knees before Jesus and exclaimed, "My Lord and my God."
Thomas, became the first Trinitarian by virtue of this statement. The others may have believed it but Thomas made it a fact! He made it biblical.
This is long isn't it? What's my point? Simply this: be patient and gracious with the skeptics in your life. We shouldn't assume their outward confidence accurately reflects their inward condition. Keep praying for them and share what seems helpful. Keep confidently and humbly following Jesus. Trust Jesus' timing. He knows best how and when to reveal himself to them.
After all, He caught you and I didn't He?
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
When we hearken back to the time of Christ we realize that Jesus' death had paralyzed and polarized even those closest to Him. The last week of his life starts with an amazing victory and shockingly ends in His gruesome demise before the end of the day on Friday. My guess it was all that the disciples, however many there were left, could do to gather in one place at the end of it all.
Jesus, the King, is dead. Long live the king?
As if that wasn't awful enough the next circumstance was just weird. Mary Magdalene see's Him alive! Now, prior to this the body of Christ disappears and with all the hoopla to ensure it went nowhere that was already weird.
Next it's Peter proclaiming he had seen Jesus upright. This, in a more vernacular term, freaked Thomas out! My guess internally he felt he could cut Peter some slack. The guilt Peter felt after denying the Lord; well, who could blame Peter for hoping it was all "OK".
Ya, Ol' Pete - he just needs some time to regather himself.
But then Cleopas burst into the house they are hidden in on Sunday night. What does he do? Oh, not much just claim he had walked—walked!—with Jesus to Emmaus that afternoon. Holy Schnikey! What got to Thomas was that Cleopas and his bud hadn't recognized Jesus the entire trip and then, at dinner, after which Jesus disappears into thin air they have a Homer Simpson, "DOH!" moment. THAT was Jesus!!!
All of these things excited the group. But Thomas only felt peeved. He missed Jesus too, but he wasn't going to let grief make him believe bizarre things. Jesus was dead and that is the stories end...or, was it?
So in all of this Thomas gets some time apart to think and rethink I imagine and, after whispering a discreet excuse to Nathaniel, he managed to slip out, perhaps to recompose himself.
Now, I am sure the quiet was refreshing. What Thomas did in the midst of a kind of spiritual/emotional chaos is very familiar to me. It is what I would do. I would just separate myself. However, in this instance, with those who you had grown closest to over the course of 2 or 3 years having had these experiences, I am just guessing that this walk wasn't as helpful as he had hoped. The Jesus sightings were beyond wild and yet, especially because the witnesses were credible, presented hope. But was the hope based on faith or fiction based on emotionalism?
You and I could only imagine what this walk brought out...the thoughts...the memories...the mustard seed of Thomas' own faith. As he thought this through I am sure he came to a place where the "facts," in fact, were now ambiguous. He was disillusioned. A part of him wished to believe Jesus was alive. This frustrated the skeptic in him who took pride in being a pragmatic man. There was that whole resurrection of Lazarus thing but Jesus did that. So, who was there to do Jesus?
Can you imagine the dilemma? Can you imagine those of your loved ones and friends today who are now over two thousand years removed?
Show me the body! his skeptic side shouted (as does theirs). At least Lazarus could be seen and touched in Bethany by any doubter. So if Jesus really was alive, why this hide-and-seek game? Wouldn't he just show himself to them all? And so it goes today as well doesn't it?
Thomas would believe if...if...if what?
When Thomas returned to the house four of his friends pounced on him, "We have seen the Lord, Thomas! It's all true! He was just with us! Where were you?"
Now what is going through Thomas' mind? How about shock, unbelief, isolation, regret for having left, and self-pity over feeling left out? Does that sound right?
In his heightened state of emotional and spiritual trauma he does what I would only imagine I would have done...he barked at them... "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
Most of his friends were dismayed. Peter smiled wryly.
The following eight days were long and lonely for Thomas. His friends were gracious. As far as we know, no one debated him. It was, their calm confidence in Jesus' resurrection that aggravated Thomas' growing conviction that he might have overstated his position.
Note: When you are faced with a great cloud of witnesses it tests your skeptics' faith. It should!
I am sure externally Thomas attempted to maintain an air of resolute intellectual skepticism, but inside he was at war. He was losing the war. You cannot have met Jesus and have been satisfied to believe that is all there was; that one encounter. He leaves you hungry for more of Him.
More than anything he wanted Jesus too!
And then it happened.
Thomas was pondering again the possibility that his unbelief had disqualified him and he had missed Jesus. Did God's Son reject him? If so, he knew he deserved it. Then, in this place, together with others and from the group came a gasp! He looked up and his heart leaped into his throat! Jesus was standing across the room looking back at him. "Peace be with you."
Thomas could hardly breathe. Jesus spoke to him, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."
All objections and resistance in Thomas evaporated. And in tears of repentance, relief, and worship Thomas dropped on his knees before Jesus and exclaimed, "My Lord and my God."
Thomas, became the first Trinitarian by virtue of this statement. The others may have believed it but Thomas made it a fact! He made it biblical.
This is long isn't it? What's my point? Simply this: be patient and gracious with the skeptics in your life. We shouldn't assume their outward confidence accurately reflects their inward condition. Keep praying for them and share what seems helpful. Keep confidently and humbly following Jesus. Trust Jesus' timing. He knows best how and when to reveal himself to them.
After all, He caught you and I didn't He?
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
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