I sometimes read things in the Bible and think that was pretty harsh. As I read about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and their instantaneous death because they lied about what they were giving to God, it makes me shudder.
Peter tells them this land was yours to keep or sell. After you sold it the money was yours to keep or give. But you come traipsing into church, wanting everyone to think how generous you are as you give your money, but you are a liar. Why didn't you just say I'm going to keep some and give some? Why did you want everyone to think you were making such a big sacrifice when you knew what you were giving was not what you really got for he land? Boom! Dead! Both of them.
Acts 5:11 says "And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things." It puts a little fear in me too when I remember times I've said God if you will just...then I will... Maybe I did and maybe I didn't uphold my vow. But then I also remember that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
No condemnation brings great comfort and peace but the big word in that sentence is not condemnation but IN. You must be IN Christ to get the benefits. Too many people in churches today are relying on their good looking clothes and pretending everything is great and doing lots of stuff to justify them before God rather than knowing Jesus.
When Samuel annointed David king, God told Samuel, "...man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus says that on "that day", the day of judgement, many will be cast out. Even though they did lots of stuff, even in Jesus' name, Jesus will say, "I never knew you." (Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 25:31-46).
Knowing Jesus is more than the things we do or the place we go on Sunday or how we dress. Jesus showed us how to serve, how to love, how to give. As His followers we should do the things He did. But being IN Christ is about being "a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galations 6:15). And that new creation comes when one is "born again...of the Spirit..." (John 3:3-8)
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Friday, May 31, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Delayed Obedience Is Disobedience
Sometimes I want to just kick myself for when it is so hard for me to be obedient to God. It always leads to sorrow and regret!
About nine years ago I believed God was going to move me away from my hometown. I stopped seeing the guy I was dating, whom I knew was not God's best for me for a lot of reasons. But then I didn't move. I was sure, at first, that God was leading me away from my church of 20+ years but rather than leave the people I loved so much, I went on staff as an employee of the church.
For two years things were great. The ministry I was serving was growing. The people I served loved me and I loved them and my supervisor was extremely pleased with everything. Then, over a two week period, things began to fall apart. And it was not pretty. I left that church hurt, disillusioned, angry, blaming myself for things I could not control.
Knowing for some time that God wanted me to move, I had visited some surrounding churches just to check them out. Others I watched on TV. But I kept thinking, nope not it. As I allowed God to lead me, I quickly found the church He had been wanting to get me into for years.
It was a church 50 miles from home that I had no knowledge of except I'd heard it was for college kids. When I turned into the driveway, God spoke to my heart to say this is it. So I knew before I ever walked in the door, before I ever heard the preacher preach, before I ever knew the core values, NewSpring was to be my new church home. As I was greeted at my car and walked into the church, as I heard the message and watched the videos, as I participated in musical worship, I was blown away. Within 10 days I was a member and have never regretted a minute of it except that I didn't listen when God first tried to get me out of my comfort zone.
God had been prodding me with, "I'm doing things you're never going to see if you don't leave!" And that was truth directly from God. I have seen my son, grandson, and granddaughter all surrender their lives to Jesus. I have seen my daughter in law confess her addiction to alcohol, for the first time, to Care Room volunteers and seek the help she needed. I have seen 1000s more make the same kinds of decisions.
When I started there was one campus with plans for another (only 30 miles from my home). Now, in just five years, there are 8 campuses across our state with plans for more. We have gone from an average weekly attendance of around 8,000 to almost 25,000. There is now a campus in my community only a few miles from home. In 2013 at the local campus I now attend, we have seen 343 salvations and 292 public professions of faith through baptism. It just blows me away! I read and hear all sorts of things about the demise of the church, but the Church is still the Bride of Christ and His means to reach the world.
Because my previous disobedience ended so badly, I have tried hard to listen for God's direction. And God has chosen to honor me personally in ways I never would have believed when I first walked in the doors of NewSpring. I am so humbled that this grandma would be chosen to do and see the things God has allowed me to do and see. His grace is so marvelous. Obedience is so joyful. If God never, ever blesses me with anything else, He has done enough.
About nine years ago I believed God was going to move me away from my hometown. I stopped seeing the guy I was dating, whom I knew was not God's best for me for a lot of reasons. But then I didn't move. I was sure, at first, that God was leading me away from my church of 20+ years but rather than leave the people I loved so much, I went on staff as an employee of the church.
For two years things were great. The ministry I was serving was growing. The people I served loved me and I loved them and my supervisor was extremely pleased with everything. Then, over a two week period, things began to fall apart. And it was not pretty. I left that church hurt, disillusioned, angry, blaming myself for things I could not control.
Knowing for some time that God wanted me to move, I had visited some surrounding churches just to check them out. Others I watched on TV. But I kept thinking, nope not it. As I allowed God to lead me, I quickly found the church He had been wanting to get me into for years.
It was a church 50 miles from home that I had no knowledge of except I'd heard it was for college kids. When I turned into the driveway, God spoke to my heart to say this is it. So I knew before I ever walked in the door, before I ever heard the preacher preach, before I ever knew the core values, NewSpring was to be my new church home. As I was greeted at my car and walked into the church, as I heard the message and watched the videos, as I participated in musical worship, I was blown away. Within 10 days I was a member and have never regretted a minute of it except that I didn't listen when God first tried to get me out of my comfort zone.
God had been prodding me with, "I'm doing things you're never going to see if you don't leave!" And that was truth directly from God. I have seen my son, grandson, and granddaughter all surrender their lives to Jesus. I have seen my daughter in law confess her addiction to alcohol, for the first time, to Care Room volunteers and seek the help she needed. I have seen 1000s more make the same kinds of decisions.
When I started there was one campus with plans for another (only 30 miles from my home). Now, in just five years, there are 8 campuses across our state with plans for more. We have gone from an average weekly attendance of around 8,000 to almost 25,000. There is now a campus in my community only a few miles from home. In 2013 at the local campus I now attend, we have seen 343 salvations and 292 public professions of faith through baptism. It just blows me away! I read and hear all sorts of things about the demise of the church, but the Church is still the Bride of Christ and His means to reach the world.
Because my previous disobedience ended so badly, I have tried hard to listen for God's direction. And God has chosen to honor me personally in ways I never would have believed when I first walked in the doors of NewSpring. I am so humbled that this grandma would be chosen to do and see the things God has allowed me to do and see. His grace is so marvelous. Obedience is so joyful. If God never, ever blesses me with anything else, He has done enough.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Be Still
Most translations of Psalm 46:10 say, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The NASB says "cease striving".
I'm not sure our modern world knows how to be still, which also brings to my mind solitude and quietness. We have our busy lifestyles with work and kids and church. We are always on the go, eating meals in the car, as we multitask our lives away. We have music or TV or chatter almost non stop. And social media...how many HOURS do we spend on Facebook or twitter or pinterest or LinkedIn or...the list goes on and on.
And how many MINUTES do we use to sit quietly before God so that He might speak to us, so that we might get to know Him and His plans for us?
The "cease striving" speaks to me on two levels. Stop living life at such a fast pace, trying to achieve success in the world's eyes. But I also hear God saying stop trying to do more FOR me and just spend time WITH me. Be still, cease all your activity, turn off everything. Don't even open your Bible. Just sit, asking Me to speak to you. Listen, in the quietness, as I tell you what I want you to know. Make time for Me every day and our journey together through this life of yours will take on a whole new meaning.
I'm not sure our modern world knows how to be still, which also brings to my mind solitude and quietness. We have our busy lifestyles with work and kids and church. We are always on the go, eating meals in the car, as we multitask our lives away. We have music or TV or chatter almost non stop. And social media...how many HOURS do we spend on Facebook or twitter or pinterest or LinkedIn or...the list goes on and on.
And how many MINUTES do we use to sit quietly before God so that He might speak to us, so that we might get to know Him and His plans for us?
The "cease striving" speaks to me on two levels. Stop living life at such a fast pace, trying to achieve success in the world's eyes. But I also hear God saying stop trying to do more FOR me and just spend time WITH me. Be still, cease all your activity, turn off everything. Don't even open your Bible. Just sit, asking Me to speak to you. Listen, in the quietness, as I tell you what I want you to know. Make time for Me every day and our journey together through this life of yours will take on a whole new meaning.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Abiding in Christ
This morning I was reading in John chapter 15 about Jesus as the vine. This is one of Jesus' seven I AM statements recorded in John. This is a familiar passage that I have read numerous times. I'm sure I've though about it before, but today I began to really think about what it means to abide in Christ.
Abide means to remain, stay, continue, dwell. I often dwell ON Jesus, thinking about, Him studying about Him. But Jesus continually says in this passage abide IN Me. I should live my life believing everything He says is true. Then He becomes my shelter where I dwell in the comfort of Him. He becomes my fortress where I dwell in safety from the ravages of sin and death. He becomes my hope, my peace, my joy where I can dwell in the knowledge that He loves me extravagantly no matter what my circumstances may look like.
How do I know He loves me extravagantly? In John 15:10 Jesus says, "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." Jesus loves me in the same way, with the same passion, that God the Father loves God the Son. Wow!! A few verses later, in verse 16, Jesus even tells me that I did not choose Him but that He chose me! How great is that?!
I want always to abide in Christ. To know Him intimately. To love Him extravagantly. To trust Him completely. To obey Him joyfully.
Abide means to remain, stay, continue, dwell. I often dwell ON Jesus, thinking about, Him studying about Him. But Jesus continually says in this passage abide IN Me. I should live my life believing everything He says is true. Then He becomes my shelter where I dwell in the comfort of Him. He becomes my fortress where I dwell in safety from the ravages of sin and death. He becomes my hope, my peace, my joy where I can dwell in the knowledge that He loves me extravagantly no matter what my circumstances may look like.
How do I know He loves me extravagantly? In John 15:10 Jesus says, "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." Jesus loves me in the same way, with the same passion, that God the Father loves God the Son. Wow!! A few verses later, in verse 16, Jesus even tells me that I did not choose Him but that He chose me! How great is that?!
I want always to abide in Christ. To know Him intimately. To love Him extravagantly. To trust Him completely. To obey Him joyfully.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Amazed by God
As I sit here this morning contemplating life and ministry and family and me, I am amazed and humbled at the thought that God cares for me. I don't doubt it, not for a second, but it still amazes me that He knows me personally and cares about me personally and speaks to me personally.
Thousands of years ago, David asked the question that is sometimes on my lips, "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4 ESV) I think he probably wrote this when still a shepherd, sitting on a hillside at night watching over his father's sheep. I think I know what David was feeling because in the Caribbean on a very small island with no city and no street lights, I have looked up at a night sky so full of stars it took my breath away.
I am overwhelmed that God who created all those stars and set them in place and calls them by name also created me and loves me and calls me by name. He has a plan for me to help fulfill His purposes on this earth. I was created to live right now, as Esther was told, "...for such a time as this." (Esther 5:14)
I don't ever want to lose the sense of awe that comes from knowing the Creator of the universe. I don't ever want to lose sight of my need for relationship with Him. I don't ever want to take for granted the punishment Jesus bore for my sins. I want to obey Him when He asks me to do anything. I want to gratefully accept and acknowledge the blessings God pours into my life, realizing that everything I have and everything I am is from Him.
Thousands of years ago, David asked the question that is sometimes on my lips, "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:4 ESV) I think he probably wrote this when still a shepherd, sitting on a hillside at night watching over his father's sheep. I think I know what David was feeling because in the Caribbean on a very small island with no city and no street lights, I have looked up at a night sky so full of stars it took my breath away.
I am overwhelmed that God who created all those stars and set them in place and calls them by name also created me and loves me and calls me by name. He has a plan for me to help fulfill His purposes on this earth. I was created to live right now, as Esther was told, "...for such a time as this." (Esther 5:14)
I don't ever want to lose the sense of awe that comes from knowing the Creator of the universe. I don't ever want to lose sight of my need for relationship with Him. I don't ever want to take for granted the punishment Jesus bore for my sins. I want to obey Him when He asks me to do anything. I want to gratefully accept and acknowledge the blessings God pours into my life, realizing that everything I have and everything I am is from Him.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Nothing Changes Much
I was reading in Genesis about Jacob and Laban and all the shady dealings that went on between them. I have to admit I sometimes question why God puts this stuff in the Bible.
Jacob, with his mother's help, cheated his brother Esau. Esau wants to kill Jacob so Mama Rebekah gets Papa Isaac to send Jacob to Laban. Laban was Jacob's uncle; his mother's brother. Jacob was looking for a wife among his family and when he saw Rachel it was love at first sight. He worked for his uncle for seven years and on his wedding night...ta da...the bride was the older sister Leah. Although Jacob gets Rachel, too, a week later, he works another seven years for her. Then he works another six years before he finally packs up his family to go home. Jacob is now wealthy with flocks and herds and children - 11 of them by 2 wives and 2 servants. What a mess! Still God is planning to use these eleven sons and another to be born later to fulfill the promises He made to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
I read this and think these people were really dysfunctional. But as I look around at our world today, we haven't changed much. More children in the US are in single mom homes than ever before with no dad in sight; most of these born out of wedlock. For those who do marry, divorce is more the norm than a for a lifetime marriage. There are over 27 million adults and children enslaved around the world, including the US, in sex trafficking and forced labor. People lie and cheat, like the Barney Madoff's of the world, to steal money from friends. Others swindle money from those who want to help in times of tragedy. We are a mean, selfish, greedy people.
Thank You, God, for using Jacob to prepare the way for our Savior! Thank You, God, for telling us stories of redemption so that we don't have to feel hopeless in our sins. Thank You, God, for showing Your love to us despite our sinfulness.
People in the Bible are real people, with real problems, and with real sins, just like me. When I read their stories I see myself and see that God can also use imperfect me, perfected through faith in Christ Jesus, to accomplish His will for my little sphere of His world.
Jacob, with his mother's help, cheated his brother Esau. Esau wants to kill Jacob so Mama Rebekah gets Papa Isaac to send Jacob to Laban. Laban was Jacob's uncle; his mother's brother. Jacob was looking for a wife among his family and when he saw Rachel it was love at first sight. He worked for his uncle for seven years and on his wedding night...ta da...the bride was the older sister Leah. Although Jacob gets Rachel, too, a week later, he works another seven years for her. Then he works another six years before he finally packs up his family to go home. Jacob is now wealthy with flocks and herds and children - 11 of them by 2 wives and 2 servants. What a mess! Still God is planning to use these eleven sons and another to be born later to fulfill the promises He made to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
I read this and think these people were really dysfunctional. But as I look around at our world today, we haven't changed much. More children in the US are in single mom homes than ever before with no dad in sight; most of these born out of wedlock. For those who do marry, divorce is more the norm than a for a lifetime marriage. There are over 27 million adults and children enslaved around the world, including the US, in sex trafficking and forced labor. People lie and cheat, like the Barney Madoff's of the world, to steal money from friends. Others swindle money from those who want to help in times of tragedy. We are a mean, selfish, greedy people.
Thank You, God, for using Jacob to prepare the way for our Savior! Thank You, God, for telling us stories of redemption so that we don't have to feel hopeless in our sins. Thank You, God, for showing Your love to us despite our sinfulness.
People in the Bible are real people, with real problems, and with real sins, just like me. When I read their stories I see myself and see that God can also use imperfect me, perfected through faith in Christ Jesus, to accomplish His will for my little sphere of His world.
Monday, April 22, 2013
I Love My Church
I am so glad God brought me to NewSpring Church in 2008. God is doing amazing things and I get to be part of it. I think that is the most amazing part!! King David said in Psalm 8, "...what is man that You are mindful of him..." and I would say who am I that You have blessed me with such favor?
As my Father, God wants to give me good things! One of the very good things He has given me is NewSpring Church. I call it "my" church because it is the one I attend but this church, like THE Church - with a capital C - of course is His. It was established by Jesus when He gave His life for sinners and rose from the dead to conquer sin and death and then ascended to the right hand of the Father to intercede for me, for us.
What I love so much about NewSpring is no one cares how you dress or wear your hair. No one cares about your age or your race or your past. No one gets upset when lost people act like lost people. We want the addicts and sexually impure and the gossips and the liars and the drunkards because everyone DOES care that you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus went after the lost, the outcasts of society, those shunned by the religious leaders as unclean and unworthy. Since Jesus did, we do too.
People all over South Carolina, and even the world, are submitting their lives to Jesus through the teaching and ministry of NewSpring. We have seen people from just about every scenario of sin you can imagine be set free from the chains of bondage that have held them captive. Not only are they meeting Jesus, they are being baptized and getting into small groups and giving money and serving others through volunteering.
I am so encouraged when I read stories of this life change in people I don't know. I am encouraged when I see people I do know experience life change. I am encouraged when my own life is changed as my relationship with Jesus grows and expands. God is so good to me that I overflow with joy!
As my Father, God wants to give me good things! One of the very good things He has given me is NewSpring Church. I call it "my" church because it is the one I attend but this church, like THE Church - with a capital C - of course is His. It was established by Jesus when He gave His life for sinners and rose from the dead to conquer sin and death and then ascended to the right hand of the Father to intercede for me, for us.
What I love so much about NewSpring is no one cares how you dress or wear your hair. No one cares about your age or your race or your past. No one gets upset when lost people act like lost people. We want the addicts and sexually impure and the gossips and the liars and the drunkards because everyone DOES care that you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus went after the lost, the outcasts of society, those shunned by the religious leaders as unclean and unworthy. Since Jesus did, we do too.
People all over South Carolina, and even the world, are submitting their lives to Jesus through the teaching and ministry of NewSpring. We have seen people from just about every scenario of sin you can imagine be set free from the chains of bondage that have held them captive. Not only are they meeting Jesus, they are being baptized and getting into small groups and giving money and serving others through volunteering.
I am so encouraged when I read stories of this life change in people I don't know. I am encouraged when I see people I do know experience life change. I am encouraged when my own life is changed as my relationship with Jesus grows and expands. God is so good to me that I overflow with joy!
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The Will of God
I recently heard a great message on the will of God by Pastor Steve Furtick from Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. What he said I already believed but had not been able to articulate well.
His message was based on Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (ESV)
Too many times we are much too concerned with the when, where and what of life. So we stress over where should I go to college and what job should I take and is he or she "the one" I should marry?
God is more concerned with the how, why and who of my life. How do I live my life? Is it characterized by integrity, generosity, and love? Why do I want certain things? Are my motives godly and God honoring or are my motives selfish and greedy? Who am I becoming? Who do I get counsel from? Am I becoming more like Christ? Are those who speak into my life - my influencers - people who love me and love Jesus?
Augustin said love God and do as you please. God will take the "whatever you do" and use it. Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans that ALL things work together for good. (Romans 8:28) That means all things. The good things and the bad things. My great choices and my poor choices. Inside the will of God and outside the will of God. When I submit to Him, He can and will use it all.
As someone who had a lot of years of wrong choices, wrong motives, wrong influencers, I understand this well. My past no longer binds me because Jesus has and is using it in my own life and the life of others to glorify Himself. When I submitted my life to Jesus I no longer wanted to live my life apart from Him. I no longer wanted to live in that valley of sin and death. I can do as I please because I have been set free by Jesus but because my heart is new, as I please means pleasing Jesus.
His message was based on Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (ESV)
Too many times we are much too concerned with the when, where and what of life. So we stress over where should I go to college and what job should I take and is he or she "the one" I should marry?
God is more concerned with the how, why and who of my life. How do I live my life? Is it characterized by integrity, generosity, and love? Why do I want certain things? Are my motives godly and God honoring or are my motives selfish and greedy? Who am I becoming? Who do I get counsel from? Am I becoming more like Christ? Are those who speak into my life - my influencers - people who love me and love Jesus?
Augustin said love God and do as you please. God will take the "whatever you do" and use it. Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans that ALL things work together for good. (Romans 8:28) That means all things. The good things and the bad things. My great choices and my poor choices. Inside the will of God and outside the will of God. When I submit to Him, He can and will use it all.
As someone who had a lot of years of wrong choices, wrong motives, wrong influencers, I understand this well. My past no longer binds me because Jesus has and is using it in my own life and the life of others to glorify Himself. When I submitted my life to Jesus I no longer wanted to live my life apart from Him. I no longer wanted to live in that valley of sin and death. I can do as I please because I have been set free by Jesus but because my heart is new, as I please means pleasing Jesus.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Life Is Good
That's all I really want to say. Life IS good! I am content with what I have, where I am, and where I am headed. God overwhelms me with His love and I just want to bless His name!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Heartache
When I heard about the school shooting in Connecticut where elementary age children as well as teachers lost their lives, my heart was broken for the families of the children and teachers but also for the family of the shooter. I was thinking about good and evil and how do I really put together a God who is supreme and supremely good with such an act of evil.
This has been a question for the ages so I as glad today that I ran across this article by David Platt. He is a pastor in Birmingham, AL. What he says I already knew but was glad to see it said in a way that I never could.
Please take time to read his article.
This has been a question for the ages so I as glad today that I ran across this article by David Platt. He is a pastor in Birmingham, AL. What he says I already knew but was glad to see it said in a way that I never could.
Please take time to read his article.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Faith
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Why is faith in God so hard to come by? We have faith in our favorite team's coaches that they I'll supply a winning season. We have faith in the weatherman and take an umbrella when he says it will rain. Some have faith in the President or the stock market, some in their talent or good looks.
About 2700 or so years go the prophet Isaiah was sent by God to King Ahaz of Judah to tell him not to fear the kings who were plotting to capture Jerusalem. God, through Isaiah, said it's not going to happen. Then God said, "If you at not firm in faith, you are not firm at all." (Isaiah 7:1-9)
When Jesus began to interact with people, He marveled at the faith of a Roman centurion and chastised His disciples for their lack of faith. (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8). When the writer to the Hebrews wrote his letter, he listed a whole bunch of people known for their faith (Hebrews 11). However, this writer points out that they did not receive the promise that fueled their faith. That promise was the Messiah. But he also tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible
to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
For most of us the problem comes with the word reward. We have the idea that God's reward will be financial security or a trouble free life or no sickness (or at least complete physical healing if we do get sick). In Hebrews 11, the writer lists a bunch of great things that happened to or for people of faith but he also tells us of those who "suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated..." (Hebrews 11:35-36) The rewards of faith are not always immediately apparent or received.
Jesus, as always, is the standard we follow, especially when it comes to faith, "looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). His reward was AFTER He became a human and AFTER He was despised and AFTER He was tortured and AFTER He became sin for us and AFTER He was crucified. All these horrible things had to happen so Jesus could show us His power over sin and death by rising from the dead and then ascending back to Heaven to receive His reward.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Why is faith in God so hard to come by? We have faith in our favorite team's coaches that they I'll supply a winning season. We have faith in the weatherman and take an umbrella when he says it will rain. Some have faith in the President or the stock market, some in their talent or good looks.
About 2700 or so years go the prophet Isaiah was sent by God to King Ahaz of Judah to tell him not to fear the kings who were plotting to capture Jerusalem. God, through Isaiah, said it's not going to happen. Then God said, "If you at not firm in faith, you are not firm at all." (Isaiah 7:1-9)
When Jesus began to interact with people, He marveled at the faith of a Roman centurion and chastised His disciples for their lack of faith. (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8). When the writer to the Hebrews wrote his letter, he listed a whole bunch of people known for their faith (Hebrews 11). However, this writer points out that they did not receive the promise that fueled their faith. That promise was the Messiah. But he also tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible
to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
For most of us the problem comes with the word reward. We have the idea that God's reward will be financial security or a trouble free life or no sickness (or at least complete physical healing if we do get sick). In Hebrews 11, the writer lists a bunch of great things that happened to or for people of faith but he also tells us of those who "suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated..." (Hebrews 11:35-36) The rewards of faith are not always immediately apparent or received.
Jesus, as always, is the standard we follow, especially when it comes to faith, "looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). His reward was AFTER He became a human and AFTER He was despised and AFTER He was tortured and AFTER He became sin for us and AFTER He was crucified. All these horrible things had to happen so Jesus could show us His power over sin and death by rising from the dead and then ascending back to Heaven to receive His reward.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Saturday, December 1, 2012
They Bow Down
In Isaiah chapter 2, the prophet is speaking to the people of Judah and Jerusalem when he says God has rejected them "...because they are full of things from the east and of fortunetellers like the Philistines...Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made." (vs 6-8)
Just prior to this he has told them God is not pleased with their worship, He despises their sacrifices and celebrations because of their sin. But God also says, "Come now, let us reason together...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
As I read this I thought about idols we have today; how full we are of silver and gold and houses and cars...and technology. We have plenty of things and always seem to want more. Just look at the people who camp in front of stores for black Friday and stores that used to close on Thanksgiving but are now open so we can shop, shop, shop. The more we have the more we are likely to make "the work of our hands" an idol.
Our idols may not be getting the latest toy or car or computer or iPhone but may be getting the latest twitter or Facebook update or having the most followers or getting the most retweets. Idolatry comes in lots of different forms.
As a follower of Jesus Christ my salvation is assured and the scarlet stains of my sins have been erased. But is God pleased with my worship? Do I show up at church on Sunday with nary a thought of God all week and expect Him to tell me I'm a good girl because I sang a few songs and listened to a preacher? Do I treat God as my personal Santa to give me what I ask for without asking Him what He wants for me to have?
Do I really bow down to the Creator of the universe, the Savior of my soul, or do I bow to the world and its trinkets and secretly hope He doesn't notice? This Christmas I want to renew my focus on the marvelous gift of salvation freely given to me and to all who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, who died for my sins, and rose from the dead three days later.
Giving gifts at Christmas is an expression of love but I want to be sure the love of Christ is the gift I share the most.
Just prior to this he has told them God is not pleased with their worship, He despises their sacrifices and celebrations because of their sin. But God also says, "Come now, let us reason together...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
As I read this I thought about idols we have today; how full we are of silver and gold and houses and cars...and technology. We have plenty of things and always seem to want more. Just look at the people who camp in front of stores for black Friday and stores that used to close on Thanksgiving but are now open so we can shop, shop, shop. The more we have the more we are likely to make "the work of our hands" an idol.
Our idols may not be getting the latest toy or car or computer or iPhone but may be getting the latest twitter or Facebook update or having the most followers or getting the most retweets. Idolatry comes in lots of different forms.
As a follower of Jesus Christ my salvation is assured and the scarlet stains of my sins have been erased. But is God pleased with my worship? Do I show up at church on Sunday with nary a thought of God all week and expect Him to tell me I'm a good girl because I sang a few songs and listened to a preacher? Do I treat God as my personal Santa to give me what I ask for without asking Him what He wants for me to have?
Do I really bow down to the Creator of the universe, the Savior of my soul, or do I bow to the world and its trinkets and secretly hope He doesn't notice? This Christmas I want to renew my focus on the marvelous gift of salvation freely given to me and to all who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, who died for my sins, and rose from the dead three days later.
Giving gifts at Christmas is an expression of love but I want to be sure the love of Christ is the gift I share the most.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Sabbath
After God created everything, He designated a seven day week and specified rest on day seven. (Genesis 2:1-3). When God spoke to Moses in the wilderness and gave Israel the Ten Commandments, He designated the seventh day the Sabbath. (Exodus 20:8-11) The people were to do no work and were to rest and worship on this day, "...a day...of solemn rest, holy to the Lord." (Exodus 31:15)
When the Israelites first came out of Egypt, God gave them food each day, bread in the morning and quail in the evening. He told them to take twice as much on the sixth day so they could rest on the seventh day. In explaining it to the people Moses said, "See! The LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day He gives you bread for two days." (Exodus 16:22-30)
Later, when the children of Israel were to start making the tent of meeting, Moses told them, "Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day." (Exodus 35:2-3) In Leviticus we learn that even the land was to be given a Sabbath rest every seven years. (Leviticus 25:1-7)
Isaiah gives us a little more insight into God's heart about the Sabbath, "...[if you] call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasures, or talking idly, then you shall take delight in the LORD..." (Isaiah 58:13-14) This was a big deal because God says, "Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them." (Ezekiel 20:12)
But somewhere along the way, the scribes began to make the Sabbath less about the Lord and rest and worship and more about keeping the rules, rules they made up about what constituted work and how far you could walk and how much you could carry. Lots and lots of rules. Several of the difficult encounters Jesus had with the the religious leaders of His day concerned the Sabbath and Jesus not keeping their man-made rules. (Matthew 12, Luke 13, John 7)
So what about me today as a follower of Jesus. Does that Old Testament commandment apply to me? The other nine do, so why not this one?
Not long after the resurrection, the Jews who were following Jesus began to worship on the first day of the week, designating it the Lord's Day because Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week. As the Gospel spread to the Greeks and Romans the old Jewish rules were no longer observed. (Acts 15:1-21)
However, the law as given by God, not men, was not abolished by Jesus but fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17) For Christians the law about the Sabbath is not about a day of the week but an attitude of the heart and a desire to know and worship God. It is about putting aside all the busyness of the life and spending time with God. It is about reading the Bible and prayer and singing praises to Jesus. It is about knowing God and His son Jesus Christ and refreshing mind and body and spirit.
But wait...that's what it's been about all along!
When the Israelites first came out of Egypt, God gave them food each day, bread in the morning and quail in the evening. He told them to take twice as much on the sixth day so they could rest on the seventh day. In explaining it to the people Moses said, "See! The LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day He gives you bread for two days." (Exodus 16:22-30)
Later, when the children of Israel were to start making the tent of meeting, Moses told them, "Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day." (Exodus 35:2-3) In Leviticus we learn that even the land was to be given a Sabbath rest every seven years. (Leviticus 25:1-7)
Isaiah gives us a little more insight into God's heart about the Sabbath, "...[if you] call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasures, or talking idly, then you shall take delight in the LORD..." (Isaiah 58:13-14) This was a big deal because God says, "Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them." (Ezekiel 20:12)
But somewhere along the way, the scribes began to make the Sabbath less about the Lord and rest and worship and more about keeping the rules, rules they made up about what constituted work and how far you could walk and how much you could carry. Lots and lots of rules. Several of the difficult encounters Jesus had with the the religious leaders of His day concerned the Sabbath and Jesus not keeping their man-made rules. (Matthew 12, Luke 13, John 7)
So what about me today as a follower of Jesus. Does that Old Testament commandment apply to me? The other nine do, so why not this one?
Not long after the resurrection, the Jews who were following Jesus began to worship on the first day of the week, designating it the Lord's Day because Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week. As the Gospel spread to the Greeks and Romans the old Jewish rules were no longer observed. (Acts 15:1-21)
However, the law as given by God, not men, was not abolished by Jesus but fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17) For Christians the law about the Sabbath is not about a day of the week but an attitude of the heart and a desire to know and worship God. It is about putting aside all the busyness of the life and spending time with God. It is about reading the Bible and prayer and singing praises to Jesus. It is about knowing God and His son Jesus Christ and refreshing mind and body and spirit.
But wait...that's what it's been about all along!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Details
I am so glad God is in the details of life. He is a "big picture" God seeing all creation and all time as a whole. He knows when and how and where things did and will happen and when the universe will reach its conclusion. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. But He is also a God of incredible detail.
When God gave directions to Moses for the tabernacle and the furnishings, He supplied lots of detail. God didn't just say make some curtains for the walls but told him the material to use, the number of curtains and their size, and how many hanging loops to put on them. He did that for every aspect of the tabernacle.
That's important to me because I am only one person in a world with seven billion or so people. I am a "detail" in a mass of humanity. In Psalm 139, David tells us of God's design and purpose and knowledge of who we are individually. Jesus said, "...the hairs of your head are all numbered" as He is telling His followers how much God cares for them. (Matthew 10:30)
The instructions God gave to Moses for building the temple give me a glimpse of just how much God cares about His dwelling place. As a follower of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God dwells in me. (1 Corinthians 3:16). If He cared so much about all the little details of this tabernacle of perishable materials made by the hands of men, how much more does He care about the details of my life and this temple fashioned by His own hands?!
When God gave directions to Moses for the tabernacle and the furnishings, He supplied lots of detail. God didn't just say make some curtains for the walls but told him the material to use, the number of curtains and their size, and how many hanging loops to put on them. He did that for every aspect of the tabernacle.
That's important to me because I am only one person in a world with seven billion or so people. I am a "detail" in a mass of humanity. In Psalm 139, David tells us of God's design and purpose and knowledge of who we are individually. Jesus said, "...the hairs of your head are all numbered" as He is telling His followers how much God cares for them. (Matthew 10:30)
The instructions God gave to Moses for building the temple give me a glimpse of just how much God cares about His dwelling place. As a follower of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God dwells in me. (1 Corinthians 3:16). If He cared so much about all the little details of this tabernacle of perishable materials made by the hands of men, how much more does He care about the details of my life and this temple fashioned by His own hands?!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thanksgiving
Way back in time - 3000 or so years ago - God was making a people for Himself. After He brought the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt, He began to set up rules for them to live by so that these "600,000 men plus women and children" (Exodus 12:37) could be governed rightly by Moses and those he appointed to help settle disputes. God was to be the head of this government and the first rules, or the ten commandments, were a summation of all the details He would later give about how to love God and love your neighbor.
Part of what God instituted were some feasts. One that He established was called the "Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor." (Exodus 23:16) Our celebration of Thanksgiving is a lot like this feast. The only trouble is we forget to be thankful.
Today we are so far removed from the land and the actual growing of our food, that we forget that it is God that allows us to have food at all. Many farms may be agricultural giants with huge irrigation systems and lots of chemicals to make things grow and giant machines to do the work of planting and harvesting but we must still spend on God to supply rain to fill the irrigation ponds and the sunshine to grow our food. Wind, hail, floods, drought, heat and frost are all beyond our ability to control.
So even though we may depend on Publix or Whole Foods, Aldi's or WalMart for our food, without God's blessing we would have nothing to eat. Because we are so blessed with an abundance we should give God thanks with a grateful heart. It is not "Turkey Day", it is THANKSGIVING! I think a large part of being thankful is giving back to the community. That can be done by giving to a local food bank or helping out at a soup kitchen because there are people even in America who don't get enough to eat.
How could a $20 donation or an extra bag of canned goods or a turkey be used in your community to share the love of Jesus? Jesus was about meeting needs with compassion as He went about speaking truth about the kingdom of God. Now those of us who call ourselves Christians are to be His hands and feet in the communities where He has placed us.
Part of what God instituted were some feasts. One that He established was called the "Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor." (Exodus 23:16) Our celebration of Thanksgiving is a lot like this feast. The only trouble is we forget to be thankful.
Today we are so far removed from the land and the actual growing of our food, that we forget that it is God that allows us to have food at all. Many farms may be agricultural giants with huge irrigation systems and lots of chemicals to make things grow and giant machines to do the work of planting and harvesting but we must still spend on God to supply rain to fill the irrigation ponds and the sunshine to grow our food. Wind, hail, floods, drought, heat and frost are all beyond our ability to control.
So even though we may depend on Publix or Whole Foods, Aldi's or WalMart for our food, without God's blessing we would have nothing to eat. Because we are so blessed with an abundance we should give God thanks with a grateful heart. It is not "Turkey Day", it is THANKSGIVING! I think a large part of being thankful is giving back to the community. That can be done by giving to a local food bank or helping out at a soup kitchen because there are people even in America who don't get enough to eat.
How could a $20 donation or an extra bag of canned goods or a turkey be used in your community to share the love of Jesus? Jesus was about meeting needs with compassion as He went about speaking truth about the kingdom of God. Now those of us who call ourselves Christians are to be His hands and feet in the communities where He has placed us.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Maturity
In some ways maturity - as in growing old - is over rated. Some people don't age well and lose all sense of fun in life. Some people forget how to laugh or they forget that life doesn't revolve around them. It can be hard getting older as many older people suffer from hunger and pain and fear of death. I see that first hand as I volunteer with the local Meals on Wheels and with a hospice organization. I'm not thinking of them but of the grumpy old men and women you encounter in various places. Their maturity in age often makes them hard to love.
It is important that we come to a time when we grow up and we put away the childish irresponibilities of youth and begin to take on the responsibilities of adulthood to work and manage our money and take care of our stuff. But we never need to lose the childlike wonder at the magnificence of God's creation. We don't need to lose the childlike faith that trusts completely.
Our walk toward spiritual maturity takes time but we should be showing signs of growing up in our faith. The Israelites had been gone from Egypt only a short time when God decided Pharaoh needed another lesson in who God is. The Israelites felt trapped as they saw the Egyptians bearing down on them. "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14:11-12)
Aren't we all a little like that at the beginning of our walk with Jesus? When times get hard, we question why God is letting this happen to us. We may even say what's the point of following Jesus if He's going let THIS happen to me. Jesus said in the parable of the sower "...the seed is the word of God...what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature..." (Luke 8:9-15) The cares of life...all those tough times and hard decisions with hich we are often confronted.
Part of growing toward maturity in our walk with Jesus is looking at our circumstances through God's eyes. Twice God told Moses, "I shall get glory...and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." (Exodus 14:4; 17-18) And it happened. As the Egyptians realized they were in a bad situation, they said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians." (Exodus 14:25)
God saved Israel with the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the subsequent drowning of the Egyptian soldiers. "Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses." (Exodus 14:31) God intended, all along, to save Israel but that is almost a like footnote to God getting glory. That is true in our lives as well. God doesn't rescue us for us but for His glory, so we will believe in Him and have a story to tell of His greatness.
It is important that we come to a time when we grow up and we put away the childish irresponibilities of youth and begin to take on the responsibilities of adulthood to work and manage our money and take care of our stuff. But we never need to lose the childlike wonder at the magnificence of God's creation. We don't need to lose the childlike faith that trusts completely.
Our walk toward spiritual maturity takes time but we should be showing signs of growing up in our faith. The Israelites had been gone from Egypt only a short time when God decided Pharaoh needed another lesson in who God is. The Israelites felt trapped as they saw the Egyptians bearing down on them. "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14:11-12)
Aren't we all a little like that at the beginning of our walk with Jesus? When times get hard, we question why God is letting this happen to us. We may even say what's the point of following Jesus if He's going let THIS happen to me. Jesus said in the parable of the sower "...the seed is the word of God...what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature..." (Luke 8:9-15) The cares of life...all those tough times and hard decisions with hich we are often confronted.
Part of growing toward maturity in our walk with Jesus is looking at our circumstances through God's eyes. Twice God told Moses, "I shall get glory...and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." (Exodus 14:4; 17-18) And it happened. As the Egyptians realized they were in a bad situation, they said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians." (Exodus 14:25)
God saved Israel with the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and the subsequent drowning of the Egyptian soldiers. "Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses." (Exodus 14:31) God intended, all along, to save Israel but that is almost a like footnote to God getting glory. That is true in our lives as well. God doesn't rescue us for us but for His glory, so we will believe in Him and have a story to tell of His greatness.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Plagues
I noticed some interesting things about the plagues God sent through Moses and Aaron onto Pharaoh and the people of Egypt.
First I noticed that God said this isn't going to work, "Pharaoh will not listen to you..." but go do it anyway. (Exodus 7:4) When we are doing what God asks us to do, it just might not end in "success" from our point of view but we never fail when we are obedient.
God was about freeing His people but God's overall purpose was that "the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD". (Exodus 7:5) That is still His purpose today. God is still about the business of revealing Himself to a lost and dying world. How He does that is up to Him but He still uses people to go out and speak to those far from God. Maybe we can't perform miracles like Moses and Aaron but we do have a story to tell of God's work in our lives.
It was not until the fourth plague that God separated His people out so they were no longer affected by the plagues. Followers of Jesus are not immune to the ravages of nature or the hardships of life. Jesus tells us "...in the world you will have tribulation..." (John 16:33) A time will come when followers of Jesus Christ will be separated out but until then we must live in this broken, sinful world. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32)
The first few plagues were just annoying and could even be replicated by the magicians of Egypt. But they became more and more "God things" as hail rained down from heaven, locusts came in on the wind, and no sun shown in the sky for three days. They also became more serious for the people with sickness and death of livestock and destruction of crops. God always knows what that "final straw" will be that will break our hard hearts. After the seventh plague Pharaoh said, "This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right and I and my people are in the wrong." (Exodus 9:27) But it was not until the tenth plague that Pharaoh finally surrendered. God told Moses, "Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go out from here." (Exodus 11:1)
When the tenth and final plague was announced, God's people had to do what He commanded of them or they too would become victims of this plague. Death was decreed, death of every firstborn child and animal. In order to have the death angel pass over their house, each Israelite had to kill a spotless lamb, spread the blood on the doorposts, then grill and eat the lamb.
Death is still decreed, "for the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) Fortunately, God has provided our Passover lamb in His son, Jesus Christ. Those who follow God's plan will be saved. Just as the Israelites in Egypt had to put their faith in God and in the blood on their doorposts, we must put our faith in the blood of the cross of Calvary. That cross is our doorpost because Jesus is "...the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) He shed His blood so the wrath of God could be satisfied and rose from the dead three days later so those who follow Him can have life too. "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)
First I noticed that God said this isn't going to work, "Pharaoh will not listen to you..." but go do it anyway. (Exodus 7:4) When we are doing what God asks us to do, it just might not end in "success" from our point of view but we never fail when we are obedient.
God was about freeing His people but God's overall purpose was that "the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD". (Exodus 7:5) That is still His purpose today. God is still about the business of revealing Himself to a lost and dying world. How He does that is up to Him but He still uses people to go out and speak to those far from God. Maybe we can't perform miracles like Moses and Aaron but we do have a story to tell of God's work in our lives.
It was not until the fourth plague that God separated His people out so they were no longer affected by the plagues. Followers of Jesus are not immune to the ravages of nature or the hardships of life. Jesus tells us "...in the world you will have tribulation..." (John 16:33) A time will come when followers of Jesus Christ will be separated out but until then we must live in this broken, sinful world. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31-32)
The first few plagues were just annoying and could even be replicated by the magicians of Egypt. But they became more and more "God things" as hail rained down from heaven, locusts came in on the wind, and no sun shown in the sky for three days. They also became more serious for the people with sickness and death of livestock and destruction of crops. God always knows what that "final straw" will be that will break our hard hearts. After the seventh plague Pharaoh said, "This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right and I and my people are in the wrong." (Exodus 9:27) But it was not until the tenth plague that Pharaoh finally surrendered. God told Moses, "Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go out from here." (Exodus 11:1)
When the tenth and final plague was announced, God's people had to do what He commanded of them or they too would become victims of this plague. Death was decreed, death of every firstborn child and animal. In order to have the death angel pass over their house, each Israelite had to kill a spotless lamb, spread the blood on the doorposts, then grill and eat the lamb.
Death is still decreed, "for the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) Fortunately, God has provided our Passover lamb in His son, Jesus Christ. Those who follow God's plan will be saved. Just as the Israelites in Egypt had to put their faith in God and in the blood on their doorposts, we must put our faith in the blood of the cross of Calvary. That cross is our doorpost because Jesus is "...the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) He shed His blood so the wrath of God could be satisfied and rose from the dead three days later so those who follow Him can have life too. "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)
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Vote
Voting is a privilege that I will exercise today. I am not thrilled with either candidate for President but there is not, for me, a don't vote option. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are the choices so I will vote for one of them. I will also vote for the local candidates running for office and for the statewide amendment on the ballot for South Carolina.
I don't understand how God's sovereignty and my vote work together because I believe what the Bible says about God placing rulers over us. God will not be surprised or concerned or fretful over the outcome of this election because He has known long before today who the President will be. It bothers me to see all the hateful rhetoric from those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. They are not just denigrating the candidate but they are also denigrating God. "Let every person be subject to the ruling authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those that resist will incur judgment." (Romans 13:1-3 ESV)
When Paul wrote this the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. The land God had given to them thousands of years ago was occupied by foreigners who had authority over them. The Christians were under intense persecution by the same Roman authorities as well as the Jewish religious leaders. And yet he tells them, don't resist. We know now that the Roman Empire came crashing down but at that time they could not see the end of it. Today the Jews are living in that same land as a free people.
Our problem is that we are too short-sighted. We only see what is going on right now and how it impacts me today. We live confined by time when God sees everything from beginning to end without that confinement. His plans are perfect even if I don't understand them.
I am making a commitment to pray for the President, whoever he is, and others in authority. That has been a lack in my life over the years and something that God would have me do. "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)
I don't understand how God's sovereignty and my vote work together because I believe what the Bible says about God placing rulers over us. God will not be surprised or concerned or fretful over the outcome of this election because He has known long before today who the President will be. It bothers me to see all the hateful rhetoric from those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. They are not just denigrating the candidate but they are also denigrating God. "Let every person be subject to the ruling authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those that resist will incur judgment." (Romans 13:1-3 ESV)
When Paul wrote this the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. The land God had given to them thousands of years ago was occupied by foreigners who had authority over them. The Christians were under intense persecution by the same Roman authorities as well as the Jewish religious leaders. And yet he tells them, don't resist. We know now that the Roman Empire came crashing down but at that time they could not see the end of it. Today the Jews are living in that same land as a free people.
Our problem is that we are too short-sighted. We only see what is going on right now and how it impacts me today. We live confined by time when God sees everything from beginning to end without that confinement. His plans are perfect even if I don't understand them.
I am making a commitment to pray for the President, whoever he is, and others in authority. That has been a lack in my life over the years and something that God would have me do. "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Affliction
Somehow over the years Christians have come to believe that once we surrender our lives to Jesus we will never suffer hardship or pain. But nothing could be further from reality. We only have to look at the people of the New Testament to see that those who follow Jesus will face opposition and hardship.
Paul and his suffering is probably the best known to us because he writes so openly about all he endures. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he tells us his afflictions caused him to be "so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9) That's pretty serious stuff.
But he also tells us two other things. One, his afflictions were so severe "to make us not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril [in the past], and He will deliver us [again]."
Two, that God is the "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any afflication, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
God allows affliction in our lives for His purposes. His purposes to conform us to the image of Christ. His purposes to teach us faith. His purposes to use us in the lives of others who are going through hard times. No one wants to go through affliction but just as Paul tells us it is part of God's purpose, James tells us to "count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Trials, or afflictions, help to bring perfection and completeness into our lives if we view them from God's perspective and allow them to do the work in our lives that God intends.
Paul and his suffering is probably the best known to us because he writes so openly about all he endures. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he tells us his afflictions caused him to be "so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9) That's pretty serious stuff.
But he also tells us two other things. One, his afflictions were so severe "to make us not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril [in the past], and He will deliver us [again]."
Two, that God is the "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any afflication, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
God allows affliction in our lives for His purposes. His purposes to conform us to the image of Christ. His purposes to teach us faith. His purposes to use us in the lives of others who are going through hard times. No one wants to go through affliction but just as Paul tells us it is part of God's purpose, James tells us to "count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Trials, or afflictions, help to bring perfection and completeness into our lives if we view them from God's perspective and allow them to do the work in our lives that God intends.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Joseph
Sometimes as I read all the good God character lessons in the Bible I tend to overlook some things. In the life of Joseph, for instance, God's faithfulness is a constant theme for all the years Joseph was a slave in Egypt. We are told the Lord was with Joseph in Potipher's house and in prison and as governor of the land. God allowed Joseph and those he served to prosper.
But Joseph is also a study in how not to conduct a family. Israel loved his sons by Rebecca more than he loved his other sons. Joseph was openly favored above his brothers. I imagine when Joseph told his family of his dreams there was a little smugness, a little hautiness in his telling of it. After all he was the favored son and now he was literally having dreams of grandeur.
When Joseph saw his brothers in Egypt after all those years, he set about making life miserable for them. He wanted a reunion but not before extracting a little revenge. Joseph is now the second most powerful man in a powerful land. He is about 40 years old and looks nothing like the 17 year old boy the brothers hated so much. Joseph takes advantage of that. He accuses his brothers of being spies, keeps a brother as a pledge of honesty, returns their money without telling them and vows they may not buy more grain without bringing their youngest brother back with them.
I can imagine the fear of being in a foreign country and being accused of a crime. I can imagine the heartache of going home without their brother, Simeon, to tell their father all that happened. I can imagine the confusion of opening grain bags to find money inside; money that was to pay for the grain. I can imagine the fear in Israel's heart and mind when he releases his youngest son to go back to Egypt to buy more grain not knowing if he will return home.
The brothers return again to Egypt and Joseph, buy their grain and start home. But Joseph had his servant put his silver cup in Benjamin's grain bag. He then sends the servant to accuse them of stealing. So back they go to Joseph and Judah pleads for Benjamin's life.
Finally, Joseph says hey guys it's me, your brother! Surprise! Maybe the brothers thought they deserved going through all this fear and intimidation from Joseph but I don't think it endeared him to them any more than the special coat Israel had given to Joseph as a child or the dreams he had spoken to them.
Our family relationships should be grounded in love, honesty, and respect. Not much of that is evident in the life of Joseph and his relationship with his brothers. I'm glad the Bible is full of imperfect people. If God could use and bless them despite all their imperfections, then He can do the same for me! After all, He did give me Jesus!
But Joseph is also a study in how not to conduct a family. Israel loved his sons by Rebecca more than he loved his other sons. Joseph was openly favored above his brothers. I imagine when Joseph told his family of his dreams there was a little smugness, a little hautiness in his telling of it. After all he was the favored son and now he was literally having dreams of grandeur.
When Joseph saw his brothers in Egypt after all those years, he set about making life miserable for them. He wanted a reunion but not before extracting a little revenge. Joseph is now the second most powerful man in a powerful land. He is about 40 years old and looks nothing like the 17 year old boy the brothers hated so much. Joseph takes advantage of that. He accuses his brothers of being spies, keeps a brother as a pledge of honesty, returns their money without telling them and vows they may not buy more grain without bringing their youngest brother back with them.
I can imagine the fear of being in a foreign country and being accused of a crime. I can imagine the heartache of going home without their brother, Simeon, to tell their father all that happened. I can imagine the confusion of opening grain bags to find money inside; money that was to pay for the grain. I can imagine the fear in Israel's heart and mind when he releases his youngest son to go back to Egypt to buy more grain not knowing if he will return home.
The brothers return again to Egypt and Joseph, buy their grain and start home. But Joseph had his servant put his silver cup in Benjamin's grain bag. He then sends the servant to accuse them of stealing. So back they go to Joseph and Judah pleads for Benjamin's life.
Finally, Joseph says hey guys it's me, your brother! Surprise! Maybe the brothers thought they deserved going through all this fear and intimidation from Joseph but I don't think it endeared him to them any more than the special coat Israel had given to Joseph as a child or the dreams he had spoken to them.
Our family relationships should be grounded in love, honesty, and respect. Not much of that is evident in the life of Joseph and his relationship with his brothers. I'm glad the Bible is full of imperfect people. If God could use and bless them despite all their imperfections, then He can do the same for me! After all, He did give me Jesus!
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