One of the things I like so much about the men Jesus chose as His disciples is how very much like me they are. They believe Jesus is Lord yet they don't always act as though they believe. Sometimes they have doubts. At times they get angry or sad or afraid but they do keep looking to Jesus.
I think I like Peter best of all. Maybe that's because I know more about Peter. He seems to me so ordinary. He often speaks without thinking; sometimes good things, sometimes not. He is impetuous and bold yet has a sensitive heart. He makes mistakes but is teachable and can learn from those mistakes.
The thing I think makes him most like me is right here at the end of John. The disciples have been out fishing when they encounter Jesus at the shore. They have breakfast together and Jesus commissions Peter with the charge to "feed My lambs" and "tend My sheep" and "feed my sheep". Then he tells Peter, "Follow Me." John 21:15-19
"Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them... When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about this man?' " John 21:20-21 Now maybe Peter had a concern for John because he was not included in the commission Peter had just received and he wanted to be sure Jesus included him.
Or perhaps he was concerned that John might get a bigger or better commission. After all, John was the disciple Jesus loved. John's mama had gone to Jesus asking that her boys, James and John, be seated at places of honor in Jesus' kingdom. Matthew 20:21
How often am I like that? Rather than being faithful to what God asks me to do I look at others and ask what about him or her or them? I take my eyes off my personal commission and compare myself to others. I wonder why their calling seems bigger or better or radically different than mine. Or maybe I get smug and prideful as I look at what God is doing for or through me and think I'm somehow better.
Jesus' answer to Peter applies to me today. "If it is my will that he [fill in the blank], what is that to you? YOU follow me!" What Jesus asks of me may not look like what Jesus asks of someone else. The question I need to answer is will I be faithful to follow Jesus wherever He leads me?
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
We Have no King but Caesar
The chief priests have bound and arrested Jesus, questioned Him and finally turned Him over to Pilate. Peter has denied Him. Pilate's soldiers have mocked Him as King of the Jews with a crown of thorns and a purple robe and they have inflicted pain through flogging. But Pilate finds no reason to put Him to death.
And death is all the chief priest want because Jesus has broken their law with His claim to be the Son of God. John 19:6-7. These men did not recognize God in their midst and did not know they were taking part in fulfilling the ancient prophecies they relied on for their hope.
And so finally Pilate brings Jesus out to the people and says, "Behold your king!" They cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar?" John 19:14-16 (ESV) These are some of the saddest words in Scripture.
Today Caesar is not our king, but how often do make someone or something our king. Perhaps we refuse to tithe or even give at all to God's work because money is our king. Perhaps our children are our king as we bow to their rule over our homes and our lives. Maybe a spouse - or even the desire for a spouse - is our king. Our job and the desire for promotions and advancement can become our king. With the presidential elections looming over us, maybe the candidate we want elected becomes not only our king but also our savior. Any thing or any person that makes our desire for Jesus take a place other than first in our lives becomes our king.
For those of us who claim Jesus as King, His desires, His words, His purposes should take precedence over everything else.
One of the hardest things to do is surrender everything to Jesus. But one of the real paradoxes of the Christian life is the more we surrender, the more we get. Jesus said, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39 (ESV)
Jesus offers us "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. Why would anyone want to give all that up? But we do every time we refuse to surrender to Jesus, when we bow to another king.
And death is all the chief priest want because Jesus has broken their law with His claim to be the Son of God. John 19:6-7. These men did not recognize God in their midst and did not know they were taking part in fulfilling the ancient prophecies they relied on for their hope.
And so finally Pilate brings Jesus out to the people and says, "Behold your king!" They cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar?" John 19:14-16 (ESV) These are some of the saddest words in Scripture.
Today Caesar is not our king, but how often do make someone or something our king. Perhaps we refuse to tithe or even give at all to God's work because money is our king. Perhaps our children are our king as we bow to their rule over our homes and our lives. Maybe a spouse - or even the desire for a spouse - is our king. Our job and the desire for promotions and advancement can become our king. With the presidential elections looming over us, maybe the candidate we want elected becomes not only our king but also our savior. Any thing or any person that makes our desire for Jesus take a place other than first in our lives becomes our king.
For those of us who claim Jesus as King, His desires, His words, His purposes should take precedence over everything else.
One of the hardest things to do is surrender everything to Jesus. But one of the real paradoxes of the Christian life is the more we surrender, the more we get. Jesus said, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39 (ESV)
Jesus offers us "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. Why would anyone want to give all that up? But we do every time we refuse to surrender to Jesus, when we bow to another king.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
I Am He
"So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went [to the garden] with laterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, 'Whom do you seek?' They answered Him, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said to them, 'I am he.' ...they drew back and fell to the ground." John 18:3-6 (ESV)
I find this to be a very interesting part of the story of Jesus. There is no way these soldiers and officers of the church willingly fall to the ground at the name of Jesus. They have come to arrest Him so that His "trial" can take place and they can get on with killing Him.
Jesus, knowing all that would happen and had known since forever that this hour would come, stepped forward willingly to meet His adversaries. He knew all the details of what was about to happen and the pain of sin He would have to endure. He could have told His Father these stupid people are not worth it. But He didn't.
And although Jesus went quietly, He asserted His authority on these men. He could have destroyed them. But He didn't. The Bible doesn't say but I believe He did drive them to a posture of worship by causing them to fall to the ground. They could have ended up flat on their backs but I believe they were on their knees, face to the ground, bowing before the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
And I say that because of two passages of Scripture. The first is 1 Samuel 5:1-4. "When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in place. But when they rose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord..." If this stone statue falls face down before God, how much more so would He cause people to do that.
And one of my all time favorite passages of Scripture, Philippians 2:5-11. "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV-emphasis mine)
There is no indication the soldiers knew Jesus is Lord or anything more than a troublemaker, yet they were compelled to bow before Him before they led Him to the cross.
I find this to be a very interesting part of the story of Jesus. There is no way these soldiers and officers of the church willingly fall to the ground at the name of Jesus. They have come to arrest Him so that His "trial" can take place and they can get on with killing Him.
Jesus, knowing all that would happen and had known since forever that this hour would come, stepped forward willingly to meet His adversaries. He knew all the details of what was about to happen and the pain of sin He would have to endure. He could have told His Father these stupid people are not worth it. But He didn't.
And although Jesus went quietly, He asserted His authority on these men. He could have destroyed them. But He didn't. The Bible doesn't say but I believe He did drive them to a posture of worship by causing them to fall to the ground. They could have ended up flat on their backs but I believe they were on their knees, face to the ground, bowing before the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
And I say that because of two passages of Scripture. The first is 1 Samuel 5:1-4. "When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in place. But when they rose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord..." If this stone statue falls face down before God, how much more so would He cause people to do that.
And one of my all time favorite passages of Scripture, Philippians 2:5-11. "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV-emphasis mine)
There is no indication the soldiers knew Jesus is Lord or anything more than a troublemaker, yet they were compelled to bow before Him before they led Him to the cross.
Monday, August 27, 2012
And this is eternal life...
When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:1-3 (ESV)
There are individuals an even some pastors and whole denominations who claim to be Christian but will also say all religions are the same, or maybe they say it doesn't matter what name you use for God as long as you are sincere.
We either believe what Jesus and the Bible says or we don't. Jesus said there is only one true God...Jesus' Father. There is only one way to God, Jesus Christ. It's either the truth or a lie; it can't be both.
"This Jesus...has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-12
"...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Gods designation of only one way to Him, only one way for salvation is not because He is mean but because He loves us so much. He longs for us to understand and accept His love. When we do, we will understand and accept His gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved..." Ephesians 2:4-5
There are individuals an even some pastors and whole denominations who claim to be Christian but will also say all religions are the same, or maybe they say it doesn't matter what name you use for God as long as you are sincere.
We either believe what Jesus and the Bible says or we don't. Jesus said there is only one true God...Jesus' Father. There is only one way to God, Jesus Christ. It's either the truth or a lie; it can't be both.
"This Jesus...has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-12
"...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Gods designation of only one way to Him, only one way for salvation is not because He is mean but because He loves us so much. He longs for us to understand and accept His love. When we do, we will understand and accept His gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved..." Ephesians 2:4-5
Monday Morning
So, it's Monday morning after the big weekend for NewSpring Church. We were praying for God to save 3000 people on Sunday. I liked one of the twitter posts from the church that said 3000 is not a goal but a prayer.
That's a huge difference. We were asking God for a specific number of 3000. God showed up in all His awesomeness and saved 1200+ across our campuses. Was that a fail? Absolutely not! This weekend over 24,000 people heard the gospel in a very straightforward, compelling way. A large percentage of those already know Jesus but some may not be fully surrendered to Him. Some of those will give their lives to Jesus at some future date. Some may never confess "Jesus is Lord". All of that is up to God. Saving people, changing hearts, changing lives is something only Jesus can do.
In addition to Sunday, we had great nights of worship prior to Sunday as our church gathered from all seven campuses into two venues to celebrate Jesus, to thank Him in advance for what He would do, and to encourage our people to continue to ask the lost to church.
Those I asked did not show up for church. I really want them to know Jesus now and to spend eternity with them later. I believe the Spirit will continue to work on them and one day their hearts will be ready or their lives will be such a mess that they realize they need more than this world can offer.
God is always faithful to fulfill His word in His time. The desire of my heart is that I would always be faithful to listen to God as He prompts me to share the Gospel and to invite to church and to continue to pray for the salvation of my friends.
Every number has a name and every name has a story and every story matters to God.
That's a huge difference. We were asking God for a specific number of 3000. God showed up in all His awesomeness and saved 1200+ across our campuses. Was that a fail? Absolutely not! This weekend over 24,000 people heard the gospel in a very straightforward, compelling way. A large percentage of those already know Jesus but some may not be fully surrendered to Him. Some of those will give their lives to Jesus at some future date. Some may never confess "Jesus is Lord". All of that is up to God. Saving people, changing hearts, changing lives is something only Jesus can do.
In addition to Sunday, we had great nights of worship prior to Sunday as our church gathered from all seven campuses into two venues to celebrate Jesus, to thank Him in advance for what He would do, and to encourage our people to continue to ask the lost to church.
Those I asked did not show up for church. I really want them to know Jesus now and to spend eternity with them later. I believe the Spirit will continue to work on them and one day their hearts will be ready or their lives will be such a mess that they realize they need more than this world can offer.
God is always faithful to fulfill His word in His time. The desire of my heart is that I would always be faithful to listen to God as He prompts me to share the Gospel and to invite to church and to continue to pray for the salvation of my friends.
Every number has a name and every name has a story and every story matters to God.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
That Your Joy May Be Full
As Jesus is preparing to die, He has so much to tell His disciples. He tells us about our future home, about the coming of the Holy Spirit - the Helper, about loving each other and keeping His commandments. He tells us He is the only was to God the Father and we must abide in Him. He tells us our life will probably be hard as we speak His name in the world because the world will hate us. He has told us not to be afraid because He gives us peace.
Four times in this discourse recorded in John 13-17 Jesus tells us to ask the Father for anything and He will do it. Twice He tells us God gives us what we ask for so the Father is given glory. But in John 16:23b Jesus says, "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
As I read this text, I see that all this asking is tied up in love for Jesus and love for others. So does that love effect what I ask for? It should!
And what about joy. Joy is fruit of the Spirit of God and is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness comes and goes with our circumstances but joy overflows from our hearts and lives when we know we are a child of God because we have received His gift of salvation through His son, Jesus Christ.
Asking and receiving means we are asking God to do things only He can do. Like raising the dead. Last night at the Colonial Center in Columbia, SC, NewSpring had the first of two Night of Worship celebrations as we prepare for Sunday. We are asking God to save 3000 people across all our campuses on August 26, 2012. Last night we saw 63 people raised from the dead as they met Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him. THAT brings fullness of joy.
I have five people I have been asking to church for a couple of years. I am asking God to save them, to radically change their lives. Will it be this Sunday? I'm asking for it! They always have excuses for not coming but I fully belive that one day they will cross over from death to life and whenever that happens my joy will be full.
Four times in this discourse recorded in John 13-17 Jesus tells us to ask the Father for anything and He will do it. Twice He tells us God gives us what we ask for so the Father is given glory. But in John 16:23b Jesus says, "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
As I read this text, I see that all this asking is tied up in love for Jesus and love for others. So does that love effect what I ask for? It should!
And what about joy. Joy is fruit of the Spirit of God and is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness comes and goes with our circumstances but joy overflows from our hearts and lives when we know we are a child of God because we have received His gift of salvation through His son, Jesus Christ.
Asking and receiving means we are asking God to do things only He can do. Like raising the dead. Last night at the Colonial Center in Columbia, SC, NewSpring had the first of two Night of Worship celebrations as we prepare for Sunday. We are asking God to save 3000 people across all our campuses on August 26, 2012. Last night we saw 63 people raised from the dead as they met Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him. THAT brings fullness of joy.
I have five people I have been asking to church for a couple of years. I am asking God to save them, to radically change their lives. Will it be this Sunday? I'm asking for it! They always have excuses for not coming but I fully belive that one day they will cross over from death to life and whenever that happens my joy will be full.
Friday, August 24, 2012
If
If is such a little word. You wouldn't think such a little word would carry so much weight. But in Scripture it does. Jesus makes several "if" statements in John 15 (ESV).
"If anyone does not abide in me...."
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you..."
"If you keep my commandments...."
"...if you do what I command you."
"If the world hates you..."
"If you were of the world..."
"If they persecuted me..."
"If I had not come and spoken to them..."
"If I had not done...the works that no one else did..."
The "if" is always a conditional statement with a "then" implied.
"...he is thrown away like a branch and withers..."
"...ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you."
"...you will abide in my love..."
"You are my friends..."
"...know that it hated me before it hated you."
"...the world would love you as its own..."
"...they will also persecute you."
"...they would not have been guilty of sin..."
"...they would not be guilty of sin..."
"If anyone does not abide in me...."
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you..."
"If you keep my commandments...."
"...if you do what I command you."
"If the world hates you..."
"If you were of the world..."
"If they persecuted me..."
"If I had not come and spoken to them..."
"If I had not done...the works that no one else did..."
The "if" is always a conditional statement with a "then" implied.
"...he is thrown away like a branch and withers..."
"...ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you."
"...you will abide in my love..."
"You are my friends..."
"...know that it hated me before it hated you."
"...the world would love you as its own..."
"...they will also persecute you."
"...they would not have been guilty of sin..."
"...they would not be guilty of sin..."
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Amazing Trinity
As I was praying this morning and asking God to save my friends, I had a moment of intense worship as I really paid attention to what I was saying and asking. I was overwhelmed with the awesomeness of God - Father, Son, and Spirit!
I was crying out to the Holy Spirit to soften hearts to the Gospel, to bring conviction of sin, and to allow a recognition of need for the Savior. I was begging Jesus to save them. I was thanking God for loving them so much that He even provided a Savior.
I don't have a clue how it works. But I know the Spirit is here right now, living inside me and all believers and tugging at the heart of non-believers, always pointing toward Jesus. And the man Christ Jesus is alive and serving as mediator in heaven, interceding with the Father, refuting the lies of the deceiver, having paid the price for ALL sin for all time. And the Lord God Almighty is seated on His throne as the Supreme of all the universe but He loves me as His child and allows me to call him Daddy.
What an amazing God - so complex, so complete, yet so personal.
I was crying out to the Holy Spirit to soften hearts to the Gospel, to bring conviction of sin, and to allow a recognition of need for the Savior. I was begging Jesus to save them. I was thanking God for loving them so much that He even provided a Savior.
I don't have a clue how it works. But I know the Spirit is here right now, living inside me and all believers and tugging at the heart of non-believers, always pointing toward Jesus. And the man Christ Jesus is alive and serving as mediator in heaven, interceding with the Father, refuting the lies of the deceiver, having paid the price for ALL sin for all time. And the Lord God Almighty is seated on His throne as the Supreme of all the universe but He loves me as His child and allows me to call him Daddy.
What an amazing God - so complex, so complete, yet so personal.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
That the Father May Be Glorified in the Son
"Whatever you ask in my name, this will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13 ( ESV)
Too many times in our modern, Christian way of thinking, we take this verse to mean if I just tag my prayer with "in Jesus' name" God will give me what I ask for. Then we get upset because God didn't give us what we want.
As I look at the prayers of Jesus and the disciples and Paul, they were not the same kind of prayers we have a tendency to pray. Often prayers today are self-centerd prayers that focus on getting. That was a pattern of mine for a long time.
Sure I prayed for church and friends and the sick but I always got to the real reason of my prayer soon, and that was me...what I needed or wanted without much concern for what God might think I needed or should have. I didn't think much about glorifying God or Jesus.
Jesus prayed for unity and love among believers, for the Father to be glorified, for future generations to know Him. He did ask, on the night before His torture, if there was any other way and when the Father said no, Jesus got up and went to the cross. And as He was dying, Jesus prayed that his enemies be forgiven.
When Peter and John were threatened by the religious leaders for preaching salvation through faith in Jesus, they went back to the other disciples rejoicing. They didn't ask God to zap their tormentors or to put themselves in a place where the people would be nice to them. No, they asked God for boldness to continue and for God to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Jesus.
Paul prayed with much thankfulness for the faithfulness of the churches. Most of the letters he wrote to the churches came while he was in chains in a dungeon somewhere. And he was not praying for his freedom but rather that men would come to know Christ because of his imprisonment. When he was in prison, he sang hymns of praise and didn't just walk away when the shackles fell off so his jailer could come to faith in Jesus.
I believe with all my heart that God still answers prayers and works in wondrous ways to glorify His name. But I also believe if we don't see a lot of Him it is because we are not asking for what is on God's heart. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." James 4:3
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act." Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV)
Too many times in our modern, Christian way of thinking, we take this verse to mean if I just tag my prayer with "in Jesus' name" God will give me what I ask for. Then we get upset because God didn't give us what we want.
As I look at the prayers of Jesus and the disciples and Paul, they were not the same kind of prayers we have a tendency to pray. Often prayers today are self-centerd prayers that focus on getting. That was a pattern of mine for a long time.
Sure I prayed for church and friends and the sick but I always got to the real reason of my prayer soon, and that was me...what I needed or wanted without much concern for what God might think I needed or should have. I didn't think much about glorifying God or Jesus.
Jesus prayed for unity and love among believers, for the Father to be glorified, for future generations to know Him. He did ask, on the night before His torture, if there was any other way and when the Father said no, Jesus got up and went to the cross. And as He was dying, Jesus prayed that his enemies be forgiven.
When Peter and John were threatened by the religious leaders for preaching salvation through faith in Jesus, they went back to the other disciples rejoicing. They didn't ask God to zap their tormentors or to put themselves in a place where the people would be nice to them. No, they asked God for boldness to continue and for God to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Jesus.
Paul prayed with much thankfulness for the faithfulness of the churches. Most of the letters he wrote to the churches came while he was in chains in a dungeon somewhere. And he was not praying for his freedom but rather that men would come to know Christ because of his imprisonment. When he was in prison, he sang hymns of praise and didn't just walk away when the shackles fell off so his jailer could come to faith in Jesus.
I believe with all my heart that God still answers prayers and works in wondrous ways to glorify His name. But I also believe if we don't see a lot of Him it is because we are not asking for what is on God's heart. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." James 4:3
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act." Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
He Loved Them to the End
John 13:1 "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end." (ESV)
Jesus loved His ragtag bunch of disciples. Outspoken, impulsive Peter who would deny Him. James and John who would ask for higher positions of authority than their counterparts. Thomas who would doubt Jesus' resurrection. And Judas. Judas who was a thief in charge of the money bag. Judas who would betray Him to those who would kill Him.
And Jesus loved them. He taught them and encouraged them and washed their feet. We probably dont't think much about the foot washing but it was a dirty job that was reserved for the lowest of the low of the foreign slaves. And then Jesus loved them all the way to the cross.
Last Sunday Pastor Perry preached a sermon called "Going for the Big ASK" where he talked to us about asking THEM...our friends and family...to church this Sunday as we have "salvation Sunday". But he also told us we should always ask HIM...God...to save those we invite.
We don't berate those we care about for their lifestyle or for their poor choices. Jesus didn't. He washed their feet. He loved them to the end. So then we never give up on our family and friends. We never stop inviting. We never stop praying for God to save them. We never stop looking for opportunities to speak Jesus into their lives. We love THEM to the end as we continually ask HIM to save them.
Jesus loved His ragtag bunch of disciples. Outspoken, impulsive Peter who would deny Him. James and John who would ask for higher positions of authority than their counterparts. Thomas who would doubt Jesus' resurrection. And Judas. Judas who was a thief in charge of the money bag. Judas who would betray Him to those who would kill Him.
And Jesus loved them. He taught them and encouraged them and washed their feet. We probably dont't think much about the foot washing but it was a dirty job that was reserved for the lowest of the low of the foreign slaves. And then Jesus loved them all the way to the cross.
Last Sunday Pastor Perry preached a sermon called "Going for the Big ASK" where he talked to us about asking THEM...our friends and family...to church this Sunday as we have "salvation Sunday". But he also told us we should always ask HIM...God...to save those we invite.
We don't berate those we care about for their lifestyle or for their poor choices. Jesus didn't. He washed their feet. He loved them to the end. So then we never give up on our family and friends. We never stop inviting. We never stop praying for God to save them. We never stop looking for opportunities to speak Jesus into their lives. We love THEM to the end as we continually ask HIM to save them.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Save Me From this Hour
John 12:27 "Now is my [Jesus] soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' But for this purpose I have come to this hour." (ESV)
Jesus came to die. "This hour" was his betrayal and beating and death on the cross. We know that "this hour" ended in Jesus' glorious resurrection and ascension back into heaven to be with His Father and for all eternity to sit at the right hand of God.
Jesus suffered because of sin. Not His sin but mine. Sin is also why I sometimes suffer. Not because God is punishing me, He did that to Jesus, but because sin always has consequences.
And maybe the sin that brings my suffering is not even mine. Maybe someone else has committed a horrific sin against me either physically or emotionally.
Or maybe it's some disease like cancer and the doctors can't pinpoint a family history or cause for me getting it. And so a sinful, disease riddled world is the only answer.
How many times do I cry, "Father, save me from this illness or job loss or bankruptcy." I should cry out to God because He tells me that I am to "cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) And "The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God." Philippians 4:5b-6 (ESV)
But maybe, just maybe, my prayer should not be so much a shout of SAVE ME! But a humble plea as Jesus made, "Father, glorify Your name." John 12:28a (ESV) Maybe it shouldn't be so much about save me from this trouble, this heartache, this sickness as an acknowledgement that I am loved by my Father and I want Him to be glorified through my life in my most difficult times.
Jesus came to die. "This hour" was his betrayal and beating and death on the cross. We know that "this hour" ended in Jesus' glorious resurrection and ascension back into heaven to be with His Father and for all eternity to sit at the right hand of God.
Jesus suffered because of sin. Not His sin but mine. Sin is also why I sometimes suffer. Not because God is punishing me, He did that to Jesus, but because sin always has consequences.
And maybe the sin that brings my suffering is not even mine. Maybe someone else has committed a horrific sin against me either physically or emotionally.
Or maybe it's some disease like cancer and the doctors can't pinpoint a family history or cause for me getting it. And so a sinful, disease riddled world is the only answer.
How many times do I cry, "Father, save me from this illness or job loss or bankruptcy." I should cry out to God because He tells me that I am to "cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) And "The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God." Philippians 4:5b-6 (ESV)
But maybe, just maybe, my prayer should not be so much a shout of SAVE ME! But a humble plea as Jesus made, "Father, glorify Your name." John 12:28a (ESV) Maybe it shouldn't be so much about save me from this trouble, this heartache, this sickness as an acknowledgement that I am loved by my Father and I want Him to be glorified through my life in my most difficult times.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Heavenly Singing
I was looking at the music of the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handels' Messiah and began to think about how noisy heaven will be, but noisy in a good way.
If you've ever heard this piece of music, you know there is a lot going on in it. It is a very grand, majestic piece and has the voices singing different things at the same time. Kind of like the way we sang row, row, row your boat as children...a song in the round.
This song, however, is not some silly children's round but speaks of the omnipotence of God, His eternal state, and His reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. And that is what heavenly singing will be.
In Revelation 4 (and Isaiah 6) we're told the four living creatures say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." Every time they hear this, the twenty-four elders worship by falling on their faces before the throne saying, "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created."
My understanding is that these praises are being raised in heaven right now and this is what I will hear when I get there. And this will continue "day and night they never cease" until the time for the final judgment of the earth. (Kinda makes me wonder what those who denigrate modern praise choruses will feel at hearing these same words over and over for eternity.)
When the Lamb steps up to take the scroll to begin the final judgment of the earth, the songs change and the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are joined by "...angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands..." What a hallelujah chorus that will be as they all are saying "...with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.' "
I read that and get excited about being in heaven, my real home!
If you've ever heard this piece of music, you know there is a lot going on in it. It is a very grand, majestic piece and has the voices singing different things at the same time. Kind of like the way we sang row, row, row your boat as children...a song in the round.
This song, however, is not some silly children's round but speaks of the omnipotence of God, His eternal state, and His reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. And that is what heavenly singing will be.
In Revelation 4 (and Isaiah 6) we're told the four living creatures say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." Every time they hear this, the twenty-four elders worship by falling on their faces before the throne saying, "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created."
My understanding is that these praises are being raised in heaven right now and this is what I will hear when I get there. And this will continue "day and night they never cease" until the time for the final judgment of the earth. (Kinda makes me wonder what those who denigrate modern praise choruses will feel at hearing these same words over and over for eternity.)
When the Lamb steps up to take the scroll to begin the final judgment of the earth, the songs change and the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are joined by "...angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands..." What a hallelujah chorus that will be as they all are saying "...with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.' "
I read that and get excited about being in heaven, my real home!
Friday, August 17, 2012
The Days Are Evil
Some of the people I am friends with on Facebook (who are people I actually know) are convinced that our President is evil. They post all sorts of "Christian" political ads against Mr. Obama and for Mr. Romney, as if our President controls the destiny of America. Nothing wrong with being political, it just needs to have the proper perspective. Only Jesus knows and controls the future - for me personally and for this country. Only Jesus can make the heart changes that are needed in individuals, whether great or small in influence, to cause people to do the "right thing".
Paul spoke of the days in which he lived and characterized them as evil. "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)
Evil has been around since Adam and Eve turned their backs on God to do what they wanted rather than what God wanted. The first murder happened between their sons, Cain and Abel. (Genesis 3-7) It doesn't matter what form the evil takes the only answer is always Jesus.
But then those verses above make me have to ask, how do I make the best use of my time? I certainly don't think it is in vilifying the President or in promoting his opponent. I do need to pray for them and I need to ask God for wisdom in casting my ballot. But I believe I am to be more concerned with those I know personally who don't know Jesus and living my life in such a way that Jesus if glorified.
At NewSpring my Pastor often says we care about the numbers because every number has a name and every name has a story and every story matters to God. I really like that. The thing is some (and maybe it's just 1) of those numbers/names/stories is someone Jesus wants me to talk to or invite to church or take to lunch, making good use of my time.
Paul spoke of the days in which he lived and characterized them as evil. "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)
Evil has been around since Adam and Eve turned their backs on God to do what they wanted rather than what God wanted. The first murder happened between their sons, Cain and Abel. (Genesis 3-7) It doesn't matter what form the evil takes the only answer is always Jesus.
But then those verses above make me have to ask, how do I make the best use of my time? I certainly don't think it is in vilifying the President or in promoting his opponent. I do need to pray for them and I need to ask God for wisdom in casting my ballot. But I believe I am to be more concerned with those I know personally who don't know Jesus and living my life in such a way that Jesus if glorified.
At NewSpring my Pastor often says we care about the numbers because every number has a name and every name has a story and every story matters to God. I really like that. The thing is some (and maybe it's just 1) of those numbers/names/stories is someone Jesus wants me to talk to or invite to church or take to lunch, making good use of my time.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Disciple = Discipline
Last night at FUSE Brad Cooper spoke to the seniors who graduated last spring and were attending their last FUSE. Many are preparing to leave home for college and he was emphasizing the need for followers of Jesus Christ to exhibit discipline in their everyday lives.
As I read Ephesians 4 this morning, this teaching was reinforced for me. In verses 21-24 Paul writes, "assuming you have heard about [Christ] and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (ESV)
My salvation is a free gift to me from God because of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. But my sanctification, my growing in holiness requires work and discipline on my part.
That is evident in these verses as Paul talks about putting off my old self and putting on the new self. At the moment I confess Jesus as Lord and ask him to save me all my sins are forgiven. But breaking the old sin habits can be hard.
I have to make choices about how I will use my time, who I hang out with, where I go, how I spend my money. It takes discipline to walk a new path, to say no to old choices and yes to new ones.
Right in the midst of the putting of and putting on, Paul says I am to renew the spirit of my mind. I do this by being disciplined in making time to spend with God through Bible reading and prayer; by going to church to hear the word of God taught; by surrounding myself with other believers. This is the work I must do to grow in holiness and to be ready to engage the lost world around me.
As I read Ephesians 4 this morning, this teaching was reinforced for me. In verses 21-24 Paul writes, "assuming you have heard about [Christ] and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (ESV)
My salvation is a free gift to me from God because of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. But my sanctification, my growing in holiness requires work and discipline on my part.
That is evident in these verses as Paul talks about putting off my old self and putting on the new self. At the moment I confess Jesus as Lord and ask him to save me all my sins are forgiven. But breaking the old sin habits can be hard.
I have to make choices about how I will use my time, who I hang out with, where I go, how I spend my money. It takes discipline to walk a new path, to say no to old choices and yes to new ones.
Right in the midst of the putting of and putting on, Paul says I am to renew the spirit of my mind. I do this by being disciplined in making time to spend with God through Bible reading and prayer; by going to church to hear the word of God taught; by surrounding myself with other believers. This is the work I must do to grow in holiness and to be ready to engage the lost world around me.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The Mystery of Christ
"This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same family, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)
Long years ago, probably 4000 or so, God chose, out of all the men on earth, a man named Abram to be the father of God's own people. Although God occasionally revealed Himself to others, it was to this people, the Israelites (or Hebrews or Jews) that God offered salvation and blessing and promises.
At the very beginning of His relationship with Abram, or Abraham, God told him, "...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3b (ESV) Which takes us all the way to Paul's statement about the mystery of Christ.
For 2000 years, only the Jews had known God. Only the Jews had been the recipents of God's laws and God's forgiveness. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman...to redeem..." Galatians 4:4 (ESV) To redeem all mankind, not just the Jews.
Jesus has made me, a non Jew, to be equally accepted into the family of God as His ancient chosen people. I can share equally in the promises, in the blessings, in the salvation, in the eternal life, in the eternal hope that was once given only to the Jews.
Jesus broke down all the barriers of race, of gender, of national origin, of economic standing. That makes me want to jump up and shout HALLELUJAH!! What a privilege to be part of the family of God.
Long years ago, probably 4000 or so, God chose, out of all the men on earth, a man named Abram to be the father of God's own people. Although God occasionally revealed Himself to others, it was to this people, the Israelites (or Hebrews or Jews) that God offered salvation and blessing and promises.
At the very beginning of His relationship with Abram, or Abraham, God told him, "...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3b (ESV) Which takes us all the way to Paul's statement about the mystery of Christ.
For 2000 years, only the Jews had known God. Only the Jews had been the recipents of God's laws and God's forgiveness. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman...to redeem..." Galatians 4:4 (ESV) To redeem all mankind, not just the Jews.
Jesus has made me, a non Jew, to be equally accepted into the family of God as His ancient chosen people. I can share equally in the promises, in the blessings, in the salvation, in the eternal life, in the eternal hope that was once given only to the Jews.
Jesus broke down all the barriers of race, of gender, of national origin, of economic standing. That makes me want to jump up and shout HALLELUJAH!! What a privilege to be part of the family of God.
Dead Men Walking
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world...carrying out the desires of the body and the mind..." Ephesians 2:1-3
When I was living my life carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, I thought I was living the good life. Eat, drink and be merry! If it feels good do it! Go for he gusto! You only live once!
Those were the mottos of my life. I had to keep pounding those slogans into my mind because I had to say something to make me feel good about myself.
When I look back on that time, I realize my heart was hard and at the end of the day, I felt like a dead man. I was always looking for something not knowing I already had it. I had met Jesus as a child but had shut out the voice of His Spirit so often I couldn't hear it any more. Or probably it is more accurate to say I didn't want to hear it.
My neighborhood, my community, is filled with dead men (and women) walking through life searching for something and not knowing what it is. But I know. I know God has put a desire in each of us for Himself. A desire that can only be satisfied in a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is up to me to share that Good News with them. So now I ask God to help me see that one walking dead around me that He would have me share my story with.
When I was living my life carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, I thought I was living the good life. Eat, drink and be merry! If it feels good do it! Go for he gusto! You only live once!
Those were the mottos of my life. I had to keep pounding those slogans into my mind because I had to say something to make me feel good about myself.
When I look back on that time, I realize my heart was hard and at the end of the day, I felt like a dead man. I was always looking for something not knowing I already had it. I had met Jesus as a child but had shut out the voice of His Spirit so often I couldn't hear it any more. Or probably it is more accurate to say I didn't want to hear it.
My neighborhood, my community, is filled with dead men (and women) walking through life searching for something and not knowing what it is. But I know. I know God has put a desire in each of us for Himself. A desire that can only be satisfied in a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is up to me to share that Good News with them. So now I ask God to help me see that one walking dead around me that He would have me share my story with.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Cleaning Up, Clearing Out
I just don't do it often enough...
I have a tendency to hold on to things that I know I no longer use or need. So I have decided to begin to get rid of stuff. I claim not to be attached to things so why do I hold on to them? I've decided it's because it's plain hard work to get rid of them!!
Two weekends ago I had a yard sale. After weeks of getting stuff together, pricing, boxing, etc I got up at 3:30 to begin moving stuff outside. The first people showed up before daylight and I stayed at it until noon. (I did make $150.) Then loaded up leftovers to take to the thrift shop with a vow never to have a yard sale again.
I have since made 2 more trips to the thrift shop with clothes and other odds and ends that I keep deciding are in the way. I had read if something hasn't been used in 6-12 months or worn during the last season for the clothes, get rid of it! My stuffed clothes closet is now only half full and everything in it is something I actually wear and my kitchen cabinets have empty spaces!!
In the midst of all of this I decided to clean the carpet and rearrange the furniture. Phew! Makes me tired just to repeat it. And I haven't even started on my "junk room". But there is such a feeling of accomplishment at getting started and getting so much done.
All this hard work at cleaning up my house makes me glad I don't have to work to clean up my life. Jesus did all that work for me. My life was a mess, full of guilt and shame and bad habits (sin) but when Jesus became my Savior HE cleaned it all up and cleared it all out so I didn't have to deal with it anymore. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much.
I have a tendency to hold on to things that I know I no longer use or need. So I have decided to begin to get rid of stuff. I claim not to be attached to things so why do I hold on to them? I've decided it's because it's plain hard work to get rid of them!!
Two weekends ago I had a yard sale. After weeks of getting stuff together, pricing, boxing, etc I got up at 3:30 to begin moving stuff outside. The first people showed up before daylight and I stayed at it until noon. (I did make $150.) Then loaded up leftovers to take to the thrift shop with a vow never to have a yard sale again.
I have since made 2 more trips to the thrift shop with clothes and other odds and ends that I keep deciding are in the way. I had read if something hasn't been used in 6-12 months or worn during the last season for the clothes, get rid of it! My stuffed clothes closet is now only half full and everything in it is something I actually wear and my kitchen cabinets have empty spaces!!
In the midst of all of this I decided to clean the carpet and rearrange the furniture. Phew! Makes me tired just to repeat it. And I haven't even started on my "junk room". But there is such a feeling of accomplishment at getting started and getting so much done.
All this hard work at cleaning up my house makes me glad I don't have to work to clean up my life. Jesus did all that work for me. My life was a mess, full of guilt and shame and bad habits (sin) but when Jesus became my Savior HE cleaned it all up and cleared it all out so I didn't have to deal with it anymore. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much.
In Him
It is easy to get wrapped up in life and the cares of the world and forget who I am as a child of God. If I am under stress or going through difficult times, I might forget all God has done for me. This moment, this issue, this problem becomes the focus of my life.
But Paul reminds me in Ephesians 1 who I really am and what God has already done for me through my relationship with Jesus.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." vs 3-4
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses...according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ...to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth." vs 7-10
"In Him we have obtained an inheritance..." vs 11
"In Him...[we] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it..." vs 13-14
Whatever happens to me in this life, whether good or bad in my view of things, I should praise God because of all He has already done for me in Christ Jesus. Before the world was ever created, God chose me for this particular time. He chose me to know Jesus. He redeemed me. He put His seal on me claiming me as His own.
Knowing that makes this life on earth so much easier. It reminds me that it is only temporary, that I have a glorious future awaiting me, that "I can do all things through Him [in Him] who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
But Paul reminds me in Ephesians 1 who I really am and what God has already done for me through my relationship with Jesus.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." vs 3-4
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses...according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ...to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth." vs 7-10
"In Him we have obtained an inheritance..." vs 11
"In Him...[we] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it..." vs 13-14
Whatever happens to me in this life, whether good or bad in my view of things, I should praise God because of all He has already done for me in Christ Jesus. Before the world was ever created, God chose me for this particular time. He chose me to know Jesus. He redeemed me. He put His seal on me claiming me as His own.
Knowing that makes this life on earth so much easier. It reminds me that it is only temporary, that I have a glorious future awaiting me, that "I can do all things through Him [in Him] who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Jealousy
God tells us He is a jealous God. His jealousy is rooted in love for His children because He knows if we stray we will eventually experience heartache.
Human jealousy can be an evil thing. It thinks the worst about a person's actions and it attempts either to control or destroy the object of one's jealousy. Proverbs 6:34 says, "For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge." (ESV) Revenge is definitely NOT rooted in love.
The most unfortunate type of jealousy is that found among Christ followers who cannot celebrate a move of God in a particular body of believers. The jealous want to question or denounce or ridicule the things that might be happening. They scoff and criticize the pastor or the church but what they are really doing is scoffing and criticizing God.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the Pharisees said, "What do we do now?" they asked. "This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have." John 11:47-48 (MSG)
The Pharisees were the church leaders of their day. They couldn't celebrate the great things God was doing in their midst because they were concerned about THEIR position, THEIR power, THEIR privilege.
Ultimately jealousy is selfishness and wishing I could have what someone else has. Everyone probably battles that demon to some degree - someone gets the job you hoped to have or gets recognition for a joint project and you don't or goes on nice vacations or has a better house or car or kids or whatever.
In churches people are jealous of the attendance numbers or the salvation numbers or the church's expansions or the pastor's speaking opportunities. But in the church, as in my life, God is in control and it is HIS plan that is at work.
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the deires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (ESV) Whether an individul or a church, we must keep walking with Jesus, being faithful to do all He asks, celebrating everything He does no matter how small and God will do what only God can do.
Human jealousy can be an evil thing. It thinks the worst about a person's actions and it attempts either to control or destroy the object of one's jealousy. Proverbs 6:34 says, "For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge." (ESV) Revenge is definitely NOT rooted in love.
The most unfortunate type of jealousy is that found among Christ followers who cannot celebrate a move of God in a particular body of believers. The jealous want to question or denounce or ridicule the things that might be happening. They scoff and criticize the pastor or the church but what they are really doing is scoffing and criticizing God.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the Pharisees said, "What do we do now?" they asked. "This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have." John 11:47-48 (MSG)
The Pharisees were the church leaders of their day. They couldn't celebrate the great things God was doing in their midst because they were concerned about THEIR position, THEIR power, THEIR privilege.
Ultimately jealousy is selfishness and wishing I could have what someone else has. Everyone probably battles that demon to some degree - someone gets the job you hoped to have or gets recognition for a joint project and you don't or goes on nice vacations or has a better house or car or kids or whatever.
In churches people are jealous of the attendance numbers or the salvation numbers or the church's expansions or the pastor's speaking opportunities. But in the church, as in my life, God is in control and it is HIS plan that is at work.
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the deires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (ESV) Whether an individul or a church, we must keep walking with Jesus, being faithful to do all He asks, celebrating everything He does no matter how small and God will do what only God can do.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Next Steps
The sheep hear [the shepherd's] voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. I [Jesus] am the good shepherd, I know my own and my own know me. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:3,14,27
At NewSpring we talk a lot about next steps for our church as a body and for each individual person. Here in John 10, Jesus sets the stage for that.
In these verses the steps are hear, know, and follow.
Hearing Jesus brings conviction to my heart that I am a sinner, separated from God and in desperate need of the grace of God for salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Acts 4:12
Getting to know Jesus begins by reading my Bible, getting involved in a small group, and keeping a prayer journal.
Following Jesus begins by being baptized by immersion very soon after salvation, serving in my local church and and returning a tenth of my income to my local church.
The steps of hearing, knowing and following are repeated over and over through out my life as my relationship with Jesus grows and changes. There is always something new I need to hear or something old I need to hear again. There is always more to know about Jesus as I experience His work in my life. There is always another next step, whether small or large, in following Jesus.
I am so grateful that Jesus led me to NewSpring where I am always encouraged to take my next step.
At NewSpring we talk a lot about next steps for our church as a body and for each individual person. Here in John 10, Jesus sets the stage for that.
In these verses the steps are hear, know, and follow.
Hearing Jesus brings conviction to my heart that I am a sinner, separated from God and in desperate need of the grace of God for salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Acts 4:12
Getting to know Jesus begins by reading my Bible, getting involved in a small group, and keeping a prayer journal.
Following Jesus begins by being baptized by immersion very soon after salvation, serving in my local church and and returning a tenth of my income to my local church.
The steps of hearing, knowing and following are repeated over and over through out my life as my relationship with Jesus grows and changes. There is always something new I need to hear or something old I need to hear again. There is always more to know about Jesus as I experience His work in my life. There is always another next step, whether small or large, in following Jesus.
I am so grateful that Jesus led me to NewSpring where I am always encouraged to take my next step.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Now I See
I like to think about a miracle working Jesus. Someone who can do unbelievable things, like taking a man born blind and caking his eyes with mud so that when the guy washes off the mud he can see. John 9 Kinda makes me want to see something like that.
The reality is, I have seen that...in my own life. I didn't have a physical blindness but a spiritual blindness.
I asked Jesus into my heart as a child and at that time Jesus gave me eyes to see. However, over the years I began to look at things that were not of God...bad boys, drugs, alcohol, rebellion. Looking at these things clouded my vision so that I was no longer able see God or the things of God.
It took many years for me to realize that I not only needed to see God again, I really wanted to. Just as the man born blind was commanded to go and wash before he could physically see, I had to confess and repent of my sin before I could spiritually see again.
Once I did that, I was able not only to see God again but to hear Him as well. Allowing Jesus to give me spiritual sight is a far greater miracle than receiving physical sight!
The reality is, I have seen that...in my own life. I didn't have a physical blindness but a spiritual blindness.
I asked Jesus into my heart as a child and at that time Jesus gave me eyes to see. However, over the years I began to look at things that were not of God...bad boys, drugs, alcohol, rebellion. Looking at these things clouded my vision so that I was no longer able see God or the things of God.
It took many years for me to realize that I not only needed to see God again, I really wanted to. Just as the man born blind was commanded to go and wash before he could physically see, I had to confess and repent of my sin before I could spiritually see again.
Once I did that, I was able not only to see God again but to hear Him as well. Allowing Jesus to give me spiritual sight is a far greater miracle than receiving physical sight!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Set Free
John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (ESV)
The Jews bristled at this because they claimed to be offspring of Abraham and never to have been slaves. This was, of course a bold lie, because their ancestors had been slaves for 400 years in Egypt. And while, perhaps technically not slaves of Rome, they were certainly under the control of a pagan government. But perhaps more importantly, they were slaves to the rituals they had created that caused them to discount, even hate, Jesus because he healed on the Sabbath and had lunch with tax collectors and wouldn't throw a stone at an adulterous woman.
So how does Jesus set me free. I am set free first from sin, which gives me freedom from guilt, from my past, from death. As I thought about that I began to think about other freedoms. Not only do I have freedom from those things in the past, I have freedom from the future.
By that I mean I am set free from worry about my life and what tomorrow may - or may not - hold. If Jesus can clean up my known past, he can also take care of my unknown future. Why? Because he IS my future. I don't know what will happen an hour from now, much less tomorrow or next week or next year but Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He sees it all.
If I trust him to save me, I must trust him to sustain me. That's the abiding part...I walk closely with Jesus (read the Bible, do what it says) and he promises never to leave me. It's not logical to believe some of what he says and not believe something else. He's not a man that can lie; he is God!
The Jews bristled at this because they claimed to be offspring of Abraham and never to have been slaves. This was, of course a bold lie, because their ancestors had been slaves for 400 years in Egypt. And while, perhaps technically not slaves of Rome, they were certainly under the control of a pagan government. But perhaps more importantly, they were slaves to the rituals they had created that caused them to discount, even hate, Jesus because he healed on the Sabbath and had lunch with tax collectors and wouldn't throw a stone at an adulterous woman.
So how does Jesus set me free. I am set free first from sin, which gives me freedom from guilt, from my past, from death. As I thought about that I began to think about other freedoms. Not only do I have freedom from those things in the past, I have freedom from the future.
By that I mean I am set free from worry about my life and what tomorrow may - or may not - hold. If Jesus can clean up my known past, he can also take care of my unknown future. Why? Because he IS my future. I don't know what will happen an hour from now, much less tomorrow or next week or next year but Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He sees it all.
If I trust him to save me, I must trust him to sustain me. That's the abiding part...I walk closely with Jesus (read the Bible, do what it says) and he promises never to leave me. It's not logical to believe some of what he says and not believe something else. He's not a man that can lie; he is God!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The World
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that it's works are evil.
Jesus spoke these words to his brothers who were urging him to go to a feast in Jerusalem. They were actually making fun of him because they didn't believe he was anyone special.
As I read these words I thought of all the controversy over Dan Cathy and his comment on marriage. He did not say anything negative about same sex marriage. He didn't say gays would not be served or hired at his restaurants. He didn't say anyone was going to burn in hell. All he said was he believes the Bible's view on marriage.
Because of this declaration he is going to be denied licenses to do business in various cities. He is being vilified by people all over the country. He is being labeled a bigot and intolerant. The world hates him because he spoke truth from God's word.
The thing is, if we are about sharing the truth of God, the world will hate us, just as it hated Jesus. John the baptist was put in prison and beheaded because he called Herod out on his adultery.
Our response should not be to hate the world back, but to love the lost as Jesus did. Jesus died for ALL mankind. Jesus wept over the masses who were like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus got angry but the anger he had was toward the religious, those who were harsh and legalistic and unable to love those "sinners" around them. While Jesus was building relationships with tax collectors and prostitutes and adulterers and healing those sick of body and of soul, the religious were plotting how to kill him.
As a Christ follower I need to be sure I love those Jesus loved and not be counted among those plotting to kill him.
Jesus spoke these words to his brothers who were urging him to go to a feast in Jerusalem. They were actually making fun of him because they didn't believe he was anyone special.
As I read these words I thought of all the controversy over Dan Cathy and his comment on marriage. He did not say anything negative about same sex marriage. He didn't say gays would not be served or hired at his restaurants. He didn't say anyone was going to burn in hell. All he said was he believes the Bible's view on marriage.
Because of this declaration he is going to be denied licenses to do business in various cities. He is being vilified by people all over the country. He is being labeled a bigot and intolerant. The world hates him because he spoke truth from God's word.
The thing is, if we are about sharing the truth of God, the world will hate us, just as it hated Jesus. John the baptist was put in prison and beheaded because he called Herod out on his adultery.
Our response should not be to hate the world back, but to love the lost as Jesus did. Jesus died for ALL mankind. Jesus wept over the masses who were like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus got angry but the anger he had was toward the religious, those who were harsh and legalistic and unable to love those "sinners" around them. While Jesus was building relationships with tax collectors and prostitutes and adulterers and healing those sick of body and of soul, the religious were plotting how to kill him.
As a Christ follower I need to be sure I love those Jesus loved and not be counted among those plotting to kill him.
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