“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming! Make a straight road for him!’ ‘…he must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.’” Matthew 3:3, 30.
We have one of the first men in the New Testament era who understands dying to self. His message was perfect and was the precursor to the introduction to the King who had no Kingdom, and His pathway back to Heaven where He would reign. John the Baptist came to earth with a mission and accomplished God’s work with the zeal, passion and urgency for which he was created. He also understood that the work he did on earth would impact Heaven with eternal significance for all.
‘The word prepare refers to making something ready: the word pathway could also be translated ‘road.’ The picture could come from the ancient Middle Eastern custom of sending servants ahead of a king to level and clear the roads to make them passable for his journey.’ Life Application NT Commentary, p. 17.
We live in one giant wilderness of darkness on earth born with the same purpose of John the Baptist…to shine as lights in this wilderness pointing others to God. We must walk our roads of preparation ahead of the Second Coming with the same urgency and passion that John possessed. We are to be the King’s servants running up ahead of Him and clearing obstacles out of the way of His arrival. The first obstacle for which we must remove is our own self. We become our greatest obstacle to reflecting God’s character when we hoard the things of this world. We live our lives pursuing our own agendas, not necessarily reflecting on the agenda of God. We must remove the obstacle of flesh so we can show His spirit. We must call attention to the King instead of attention to ourselves.
Jesus came into this world as a suffering servant for us, and left this dark wilderness as a King who returned to His throne. We too will temporarily suffer on earth when we are living a life dedicated to God. But one fine day, we will remove our garment of flesh and replace it with the robe of righteousness. The goal of the Christian life is to become less so He can become greater.
'Prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming!’
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Night is Coming...
“…but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming…” John 9:3-4.
These were the words of a man who understood His time on earth was not His own, that He was sent to this earth with a purpose, and that God alone had determined His walk, His work, His impact and His death. Christ Jesus offered every day to the Father in full, not lingering in thought of His inevitable future. He was a single-minded man with a God-minded focus.
I read a passage this morning that not only reminded me of the earthly service of Christ to God but reminded me of my dad. After his cancer came out of remission and he was almost bedbound, I received a phone call from him asking for prayer. He loved the ministry for which he had served for ten years but had stepped aside once he got cancer. His prayer request was that he would discern whether God was calling him off of his sickbed to return to his ministry for one last term of service. After much prayer from the entire family, He determined that God was indeed calling him to return. Daddy never looked ahead and wondered how he was going to feel good enough for this return, but knew that if he was called by God he would be equipped by God. He knew that his time was short but he drained out every daily drop of service to God that he could ‘as long as it was day.’
Daddy lived a life slanted towards exemplifying the walk of Christ. While nobody’s walk will ever match the perfection of Jesus, Daddy made a great run at it. He ended his life strong and served every day until the end with a Father-focus instead of a Don-focus. God raised him up off of his sickbed the last 8 months of his life to work, and ‘the work of the God was displayed in his life.’
‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach…and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you will know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.’ Col. 3:15-24.
May we all live a life with our hearts singing and our hands serving, ‘as long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me…night is coming.’ We have one fleeting chance on earth to make eternal significance and have been given everything required to accomplish this goal from God. 'What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.' James 4:14. No matter what your circumstances may be today, may you be blessed in knowing the truth of John 9:3.
…all this happened so that the work of God may be displayed in your life.
These were the words of a man who understood His time on earth was not His own, that He was sent to this earth with a purpose, and that God alone had determined His walk, His work, His impact and His death. Christ Jesus offered every day to the Father in full, not lingering in thought of His inevitable future. He was a single-minded man with a God-minded focus.
I read a passage this morning that not only reminded me of the earthly service of Christ to God but reminded me of my dad. After his cancer came out of remission and he was almost bedbound, I received a phone call from him asking for prayer. He loved the ministry for which he had served for ten years but had stepped aside once he got cancer. His prayer request was that he would discern whether God was calling him off of his sickbed to return to his ministry for one last term of service. After much prayer from the entire family, He determined that God was indeed calling him to return. Daddy never looked ahead and wondered how he was going to feel good enough for this return, but knew that if he was called by God he would be equipped by God. He knew that his time was short but he drained out every daily drop of service to God that he could ‘as long as it was day.’
Daddy lived a life slanted towards exemplifying the walk of Christ. While nobody’s walk will ever match the perfection of Jesus, Daddy made a great run at it. He ended his life strong and served every day until the end with a Father-focus instead of a Don-focus. God raised him up off of his sickbed the last 8 months of his life to work, and ‘the work of the God was displayed in his life.’
‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach…and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you will know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.’ Col. 3:15-24.
May we all live a life with our hearts singing and our hands serving, ‘as long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me…night is coming.’ We have one fleeting chance on earth to make eternal significance and have been given everything required to accomplish this goal from God. 'What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.' James 4:14. No matter what your circumstances may be today, may you be blessed in knowing the truth of John 9:3.
…all this happened so that the work of God may be displayed in your life.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Born to Die
“Consider it pure joy when you experience trials of many kinds, because the testing of your faith develops perseverance {endurance}. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:3:4.
Each time I was pregnant, I knew the day would come when I would go through intense pressure and pain to welcome our little one into our family. As I experienced the months leading up to the labor and birth I was at peace with what would occur…in the future. But when that day presented itself, and the hardship and suffering began, it was easy to lose focus on the prize…the completed and healthy birth of our child. I seemed to ‘lack joy’ during the time when I was suffering but upon the birth joy returned. It is only through the pressure of the contractions that our sweet ones are given life.
Our faith can be seen in parallel to this birthing process. Our earthly bodies are pregnant with sin which puts pressure on us to give birth to that sin. ‘Then, after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.’ James 1:15. God desires for us to abort sin and give birth to truth. ‘He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.’ James 1:18.
Through this birthing process are the pressures and trials in life. These painful ‘contractions’ may be long-running seasons but they are producing endurance required for this spiritual birth. Each contraction crushes down on our faith creating the possibility of an emerging and enduring faith. ‘Trials, problems, situation can be joy robbers if we lack the proper attitude. Enduring one trial is not enough. God’s purpose in allowing this process is to develop complete maturity. Considering your troubles to be joy comes from seeing life with God’s perspective in mind…Endurance is faith stretched out; it involves trusting God for a long duration…It is not a passive submission to circumstances – it is a strong and active response to events of life, standing on your feet as you face the storms. It is not simply the attitude of withstanding trials, but the ability to turn them into glory, to overcome them.’ Life Application Commentary, p.1071.
The irony is that we were born to die and we must die to be born! The contractions of life force us to choose ‘To whom will we die and to whom will we live?’ Our choice will be revealed in the manner we live our lives. Jesus taught that we will all bear fruit but not all will be good fruit. The true test of being firstfruits is lived out through both our actions and our responses to trials. ‘By their fruit you will recognize them.’ Matthew 7:16.
Endurance must finish its work to complete God’s work. ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’ Col. 4:17
Each time I was pregnant, I knew the day would come when I would go through intense pressure and pain to welcome our little one into our family. As I experienced the months leading up to the labor and birth I was at peace with what would occur…in the future. But when that day presented itself, and the hardship and suffering began, it was easy to lose focus on the prize…the completed and healthy birth of our child. I seemed to ‘lack joy’ during the time when I was suffering but upon the birth joy returned. It is only through the pressure of the contractions that our sweet ones are given life.
Our faith can be seen in parallel to this birthing process. Our earthly bodies are pregnant with sin which puts pressure on us to give birth to that sin. ‘Then, after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.’ James 1:15. God desires for us to abort sin and give birth to truth. ‘He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.’ James 1:18.
Through this birthing process are the pressures and trials in life. These painful ‘contractions’ may be long-running seasons but they are producing endurance required for this spiritual birth. Each contraction crushes down on our faith creating the possibility of an emerging and enduring faith. ‘Trials, problems, situation can be joy robbers if we lack the proper attitude. Enduring one trial is not enough. God’s purpose in allowing this process is to develop complete maturity. Considering your troubles to be joy comes from seeing life with God’s perspective in mind…Endurance is faith stretched out; it involves trusting God for a long duration…It is not a passive submission to circumstances – it is a strong and active response to events of life, standing on your feet as you face the storms. It is not simply the attitude of withstanding trials, but the ability to turn them into glory, to overcome them.’ Life Application Commentary, p.1071.
The irony is that we were born to die and we must die to be born! The contractions of life force us to choose ‘To whom will we die and to whom will we live?’ Our choice will be revealed in the manner we live our lives. Jesus taught that we will all bear fruit but not all will be good fruit. The true test of being firstfruits is lived out through both our actions and our responses to trials. ‘By their fruit you will recognize them.’ Matthew 7:16.
Endurance must finish its work to complete God’s work. ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’ Col. 4:17
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Starlight, Starbright...
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea…Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him’…they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10.
An interesting fact about the wise men in our story of the beautiful young life of Jesus is that they didn’t find Jesus until He was between one and two years of age. The star first appeared in their skies two years previously, and traditions echo that these wise men were men of high position, near the site of ancient Babylon. ‘They could have been Jews who remained in Babylon after the Exile and knew the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah’s coming…or may have had a special message from God directing them to the Messiah.’ Life Application Commentary, p. 13. Numbers 24:17 referred to ‘a star rising from Jacob …a ruler will come out.’ Either way, these men were persistent in finding Jesus, Lord and Savior. Through their study of Scripture, they both knew and trusted in God’s promise and prophesy and looked for His signs.
We can have these assurances that we will find Jesus when we search for Him. God has sent us our own star, the Holy Spirit who will light up our path, and guide us to the answer. What if the Magi wouldn’t have been knowledgeable in the Word of God? They wouldn’t have known how God would reveal…in what way God would lead... and might have missed out on cuddling Christ. When God promises something in each of our lives it doesn’t mean it will happen within the next few days, weeks or months. He simply gives us a promise for our lives and lights up our paths and eventually unites us with our purposes in Him. We should move as our 'Star’ moves and we should retreat when He tells us to ‘Be still.’ We will find and worship Jesus whenever we are following the Word of God.
…and when we see the Star, we are overjoyed!
An interesting fact about the wise men in our story of the beautiful young life of Jesus is that they didn’t find Jesus until He was between one and two years of age. The star first appeared in their skies two years previously, and traditions echo that these wise men were men of high position, near the site of ancient Babylon. ‘They could have been Jews who remained in Babylon after the Exile and knew the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah’s coming…or may have had a special message from God directing them to the Messiah.’ Life Application Commentary, p. 13. Numbers 24:17 referred to ‘a star rising from Jacob …a ruler will come out.’ Either way, these men were persistent in finding Jesus, Lord and Savior. Through their study of Scripture, they both knew and trusted in God’s promise and prophesy and looked for His signs.
We can have these assurances that we will find Jesus when we search for Him. God has sent us our own star, the Holy Spirit who will light up our path, and guide us to the answer. What if the Magi wouldn’t have been knowledgeable in the Word of God? They wouldn’t have known how God would reveal…in what way God would lead... and might have missed out on cuddling Christ. When God promises something in each of our lives it doesn’t mean it will happen within the next few days, weeks or months. He simply gives us a promise for our lives and lights up our paths and eventually unites us with our purposes in Him. We should move as our 'Star’ moves and we should retreat when He tells us to ‘Be still.’ We will find and worship Jesus whenever we are following the Word of God.
…and when we see the Star, we are overjoyed!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Braced with Grace
“Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.” Luke 1:56
I have just begun using the Life Application New Testament Commentary and have stumbled upon a treasure chest full of relics! In the back of this commentary is a portion called Harmony of the Gospels which combines the verses of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John placing them in chronological order regarding the life of Christ. This view gives a better understanding of the timeline that unfolded regarding the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Some of the gospels include similar testimonies but many times events in the life of Christ were not recorded in all four gospels. Such is the case with our sweet Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.
This humble little girl was believed to be around thirteen years old when the angel, Gabriel, came to her with the message that she would be miraculously impregnated with the Son of God. Being engaged to Joseph, custom mandated that she live apart from him for one year. Engagements in that time were similar to our marriage vows. The only way a betrothal or engagement could be broken was by divorce or death. This engagement lasted one year wherein the girl lived with her parents to ensure purity. At the end of the year, the couple’s union would be consummated and they would be considered married. Divorce could certainly be granted if the woman had participated in sexual intimacy prior to the completed year. ‘Still Mary said, despite the risks, “May everything you have said come true.” She took the risk of faith, for she knew that God was asking her to serve him.’ Commentary, p. 245. Upon her obedience and acceptance of God’s call she was told by Gabriel that her cousin, Elizabeth was also pregnant as a result of God’s grace. ‘Gabriel gave Mary a person to whom she should go for support during what could prove to be a difficult time for Mary as she humbly fulfilled God’s will.’ Commentary, p. 245.
My commentary goes on to report that she immediately left on foot alone for Elizabeth’s home which was between 50 – 75 miles away. Upon her arrival, everything God had said came to be and was confirmed by Elizabeth. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months as her belly swelled while Joseph remained in Nazareth unaware. My commentary states that Mary was even more strengthened in her faith by Elizabeth’s faith, and departed ready to face everything her future would hold.
Why do I tell you all of these details? The details will keep us all encouraged in the truth that, while God may call us to do difficult things, He paves the road of preparation with daily grace and growth to walk out His will. He builds our faith and prepares our hearts for facing future difficulties. By the time we must face the fire, we have been ‘braced with grace.’ God surrounded Mary with a person’s faith that would encircle her faith and build her up. How many times must she have rehearsed in her mind that inevitable conversation she would have with Joseph. Her journey back to facing her giants was met with God’s preparation and faithfulness. We journey from Luke’s account to Matthew’s account which states ‘An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream… “Do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage…For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20.
You will never walk out God’s will having to calculate the next move. He is already at that place and has already supplied the grace! May it be to me as you have said, Lord.
I have just begun using the Life Application New Testament Commentary and have stumbled upon a treasure chest full of relics! In the back of this commentary is a portion called Harmony of the Gospels which combines the verses of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John placing them in chronological order regarding the life of Christ. This view gives a better understanding of the timeline that unfolded regarding the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Some of the gospels include similar testimonies but many times events in the life of Christ were not recorded in all four gospels. Such is the case with our sweet Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.
This humble little girl was believed to be around thirteen years old when the angel, Gabriel, came to her with the message that she would be miraculously impregnated with the Son of God. Being engaged to Joseph, custom mandated that she live apart from him for one year. Engagements in that time were similar to our marriage vows. The only way a betrothal or engagement could be broken was by divorce or death. This engagement lasted one year wherein the girl lived with her parents to ensure purity. At the end of the year, the couple’s union would be consummated and they would be considered married. Divorce could certainly be granted if the woman had participated in sexual intimacy prior to the completed year. ‘Still Mary said, despite the risks, “May everything you have said come true.” She took the risk of faith, for she knew that God was asking her to serve him.’ Commentary, p. 245. Upon her obedience and acceptance of God’s call she was told by Gabriel that her cousin, Elizabeth was also pregnant as a result of God’s grace. ‘Gabriel gave Mary a person to whom she should go for support during what could prove to be a difficult time for Mary as she humbly fulfilled God’s will.’ Commentary, p. 245.
My commentary goes on to report that she immediately left on foot alone for Elizabeth’s home which was between 50 – 75 miles away. Upon her arrival, everything God had said came to be and was confirmed by Elizabeth. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months as her belly swelled while Joseph remained in Nazareth unaware. My commentary states that Mary was even more strengthened in her faith by Elizabeth’s faith, and departed ready to face everything her future would hold.
Why do I tell you all of these details? The details will keep us all encouraged in the truth that, while God may call us to do difficult things, He paves the road of preparation with daily grace and growth to walk out His will. He builds our faith and prepares our hearts for facing future difficulties. By the time we must face the fire, we have been ‘braced with grace.’ God surrounded Mary with a person’s faith that would encircle her faith and build her up. How many times must she have rehearsed in her mind that inevitable conversation she would have with Joseph. Her journey back to facing her giants was met with God’s preparation and faithfulness. We journey from Luke’s account to Matthew’s account which states ‘An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream… “Do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage…For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20.
You will never walk out God’s will having to calculate the next move. He is already at that place and has already supplied the grace! May it be to me as you have said, Lord.
Monday, January 23, 2012
To Tell The Truth
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Col. 3:1-4.
When I was growing up there was a game show that I absolutely loved. The show was called To Tell the Truth and for those too young to remember I will explain. There was one contestant who had prepared a list of questions for a panel of three anonymous people. Each person on the panel claimed to be a certain person living a certain life. The questions were asked to determine the real person, and which ones were just claiming to be that person. At the end of the questioning, the game show host would say ‘Would the real ______ please stand up?’
Well last night I am sure that Bruce wanted to ask that same question of me. My goal each day is to set my heart and mind on more spiritual things and to not allow the earthly things to drag me into the weeds. Well I am coughing up weeds this morning as I am convicted that my spiritual sights were not in focus. As I pursue righteousness, I am reminded this morning that we will never be perfect in our pursuit this side of Heaven, but will be blessed in our pursuit of perfecting our faith. I am also humbled and thankful that there is fresh forgiveness each morning. ‘Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ La 3:21-23.
When we choose the ways of God we become hidden in Christ only reflecting His appearance. When we feed our flesh and focus on the things of this earth we reflect our earthly selves. People will look upon our lives and question if we are who we say we are. They will be confused by our actions when they do not match up to our claims. They will have to ask us, ‘Will the real ____ please stand up?’
I am so thankful that each morning is a day of fresh mercies and compassion from a God who ‘does not change like shifting shadows’ (James 1:17b). God beckons and exhorts us to live a life for which He created us. When focusing on Him, we are asked certain questions to help define who we are according to our Creator. He does not ask because He does not know. He questions us to reveal the answer through this fellowship.
As the ultimate Host, He continuously asks of us, ‘Will the child I created please stand up!’
When I was growing up there was a game show that I absolutely loved. The show was called To Tell the Truth and for those too young to remember I will explain. There was one contestant who had prepared a list of questions for a panel of three anonymous people. Each person on the panel claimed to be a certain person living a certain life. The questions were asked to determine the real person, and which ones were just claiming to be that person. At the end of the questioning, the game show host would say ‘Would the real ______ please stand up?’
Well last night I am sure that Bruce wanted to ask that same question of me. My goal each day is to set my heart and mind on more spiritual things and to not allow the earthly things to drag me into the weeds. Well I am coughing up weeds this morning as I am convicted that my spiritual sights were not in focus. As I pursue righteousness, I am reminded this morning that we will never be perfect in our pursuit this side of Heaven, but will be blessed in our pursuit of perfecting our faith. I am also humbled and thankful that there is fresh forgiveness each morning. ‘Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ La 3:21-23.
When we choose the ways of God we become hidden in Christ only reflecting His appearance. When we feed our flesh and focus on the things of this earth we reflect our earthly selves. People will look upon our lives and question if we are who we say we are. They will be confused by our actions when they do not match up to our claims. They will have to ask us, ‘Will the real ____ please stand up?’
I am so thankful that each morning is a day of fresh mercies and compassion from a God who ‘does not change like shifting shadows’ (James 1:17b). God beckons and exhorts us to live a life for which He created us. When focusing on Him, we are asked certain questions to help define who we are according to our Creator. He does not ask because He does not know. He questions us to reveal the answer through this fellowship.
As the ultimate Host, He continuously asks of us, ‘Will the child I created please stand up!’
Friday, January 20, 2012
Cheers or Jeers?
“For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” John 7:5
As I turn the last page of the Book of James and close the Bible Study for which I have been challenged I cannot help but to stack my life to the younger half-brother of Jesus. James saw Jesus as merely the oldest son of his parents who worked in his dad’s business. James grew up knowing Jesus and was very familiar with Him through their relationship within the family. Like James, I grew up in a Christian home in the family of Christ. I lived with Him as one of our family members with the knowledge of who He was but didn’t give much thought to Him as He related to my life. Like many of us, our focus is not really on our siblings but rather on the life we carve out as adults – James was no different. As the ministry of Jesus emerged, James did not believe in Jesus for anything more than a sibling sharing his home.
“Then Jesus entered the house…when his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.”’ Mark 3:20-21.
As the ministry of Jesus emerged and became more public, there is little doubt that His family would not have heard of all the rumblings, both good and bad. In an effort to intervene and ‘rein Him in’ they approached the home where Jesus was speaking. My commentary states, ‘Doubtless they were embarrassed by the zeal of this religious fanatic in the family. J.R. Miller comments: They could account for His unconquerable zeal only by concluding that He was insane…It is always true that a man who is on fire for God seems deranged to his contemporaries. The more like Christ we are, the more we too will experience the sorrow of being misunderstood by relatives and friends. If we set out to make a fortune, men will cheer us. If we are fanatics for Jesus Christ, they will jeer us.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1328. Back to my life and the limited spiritual understanding I possessed. I didn’t have the spiritual relationship with God that enabled me to understand Him more completely and the manner in which He worked. I, too, was on the outside looking in seeing and hearing about Him but not spiritually knowing Him. Through deep and long running adversities I became to know Him as Savior instead of family member. He emerged as I surrendered…He lead when I chose to follow…He delivered me when I finally admitted I needed rescuing. He became my Savior.
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” James 1:1.
Following the resurrection and encounter between James and Jesus, step-brother to step-brother, James no longer referred to himself as brother of Jesus. He was reborn into a family of Master and servant. Can you only imagine the humility in James heart as the reality unfolded that Jesus was Christ, the Messiah of the world and Son of the mighty God? That is the humbling and embarrassing truth that every one of us clothes ourselves in when the revelation of Christ is shown to us in our lives. Thankfully, our humility in this knowledge is met and welcomed with the abounding love and grace of God. We repent for not knowing, not recognizing, and not believing. That conversation between James and Jesus Christ was never repeated in the Bible. It simply states that He revealed Himself to James.
Our encounters with Christ are private and unique to our circumstances. He meets us on the road of life with His revelations. I have never been the same since I moved from God being a family member to God being my Savior and Master.
If that makes us insane, then let us wear that label proudly!
As I turn the last page of the Book of James and close the Bible Study for which I have been challenged I cannot help but to stack my life to the younger half-brother of Jesus. James saw Jesus as merely the oldest son of his parents who worked in his dad’s business. James grew up knowing Jesus and was very familiar with Him through their relationship within the family. Like James, I grew up in a Christian home in the family of Christ. I lived with Him as one of our family members with the knowledge of who He was but didn’t give much thought to Him as He related to my life. Like many of us, our focus is not really on our siblings but rather on the life we carve out as adults – James was no different. As the ministry of Jesus emerged, James did not believe in Jesus for anything more than a sibling sharing his home.
“Then Jesus entered the house…when his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.”’ Mark 3:20-21.
As the ministry of Jesus emerged and became more public, there is little doubt that His family would not have heard of all the rumblings, both good and bad. In an effort to intervene and ‘rein Him in’ they approached the home where Jesus was speaking. My commentary states, ‘Doubtless they were embarrassed by the zeal of this religious fanatic in the family. J.R. Miller comments: They could account for His unconquerable zeal only by concluding that He was insane…It is always true that a man who is on fire for God seems deranged to his contemporaries. The more like Christ we are, the more we too will experience the sorrow of being misunderstood by relatives and friends. If we set out to make a fortune, men will cheer us. If we are fanatics for Jesus Christ, they will jeer us.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1328. Back to my life and the limited spiritual understanding I possessed. I didn’t have the spiritual relationship with God that enabled me to understand Him more completely and the manner in which He worked. I, too, was on the outside looking in seeing and hearing about Him but not spiritually knowing Him. Through deep and long running adversities I became to know Him as Savior instead of family member. He emerged as I surrendered…He lead when I chose to follow…He delivered me when I finally admitted I needed rescuing. He became my Savior.
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” James 1:1.
Following the resurrection and encounter between James and Jesus, step-brother to step-brother, James no longer referred to himself as brother of Jesus. He was reborn into a family of Master and servant. Can you only imagine the humility in James heart as the reality unfolded that Jesus was Christ, the Messiah of the world and Son of the mighty God? That is the humbling and embarrassing truth that every one of us clothes ourselves in when the revelation of Christ is shown to us in our lives. Thankfully, our humility in this knowledge is met and welcomed with the abounding love and grace of God. We repent for not knowing, not recognizing, and not believing. That conversation between James and Jesus Christ was never repeated in the Bible. It simply states that He revealed Himself to James.
Our encounters with Christ are private and unique to our circumstances. He meets us on the road of life with His revelations. I have never been the same since I moved from God being a family member to God being my Savior and Master.
If that makes us insane, then let us wear that label proudly!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Stone By Stone
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.” Acts 17:24
I have just finished the study of James and am sad that it is over. I never realized James, half-brother of Christ, was such a predominant figure in Christianity. He was Jewish to the bone and never wavered away from his upbringing, but rather infused the Old Testament teachings and prophesies into the perfect New Testament picture. He was killed before the second destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. When Rome besieged Jerusalem the Temple was destroyed stone by stone as predicted by Jesus around 30 A.D. ‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’ Mark 13:2
This destruction did not catch God off guard but played into the redemptive plan that God has for each of us. As magnificent as the Temple was, it was only a place built by human hands. Just as a home becomes only a house when a family moves out, such is the same with God’s spirit. After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, there was a new blue print in place. A new foundation was poured and we each have a perfect place to set our stone. No stone is greater than another for each has a perfect purpose and place in that spiritual temple. Because of the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have all that is required to be a living stone in this world. God planned out the redemptive reconciliation between Himself and the world. He sent His son to pour out His life for us, thereby pouring a new foundation for the Temple of God. The Holy Spirit resides within us to enable our lives to pursue purity and righteous living.
‘As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices accepted to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message...’ 1 Peter 2:4-8.
Every one of us has the building potential to 'set our stone' anchored to the Cornerstone. Some of us will live out our lives as dead stones setting the focus of our lives on the earthly temperate troubles and goals but others of us will anchor our lives in the living love and purpose of God. Our obedience towards the message of collecting more stones for the spiritual house of God will ensure a more powerful and fortified Body of Christ.
Anything that we are building in our lives based on our own will and in our own strength will be disassembled, stone by stone. Blessed are we who believe that this Stone is precious!
I have just finished the study of James and am sad that it is over. I never realized James, half-brother of Christ, was such a predominant figure in Christianity. He was Jewish to the bone and never wavered away from his upbringing, but rather infused the Old Testament teachings and prophesies into the perfect New Testament picture. He was killed before the second destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. When Rome besieged Jerusalem the Temple was destroyed stone by stone as predicted by Jesus around 30 A.D. ‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’ Mark 13:2
This destruction did not catch God off guard but played into the redemptive plan that God has for each of us. As magnificent as the Temple was, it was only a place built by human hands. Just as a home becomes only a house when a family moves out, such is the same with God’s spirit. After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, there was a new blue print in place. A new foundation was poured and we each have a perfect place to set our stone. No stone is greater than another for each has a perfect purpose and place in that spiritual temple. Because of the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have all that is required to be a living stone in this world. God planned out the redemptive reconciliation between Himself and the world. He sent His son to pour out His life for us, thereby pouring a new foundation for the Temple of God. The Holy Spirit resides within us to enable our lives to pursue purity and righteous living.
‘As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices accepted to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message...’ 1 Peter 2:4-8.
Every one of us has the building potential to 'set our stone' anchored to the Cornerstone. Some of us will live out our lives as dead stones setting the focus of our lives on the earthly temperate troubles and goals but others of us will anchor our lives in the living love and purpose of God. Our obedience towards the message of collecting more stones for the spiritual house of God will ensure a more powerful and fortified Body of Christ.
Anything that we are building in our lives based on our own will and in our own strength will be disassembled, stone by stone. Blessed are we who believe that this Stone is precious!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Clifford
“‘This is the covenant I will make’…declares the Lord. ‘I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” Hebrews 8:10-11.
There are few emotions as powerful as those we associate with comfort from our childhood. I experienced this yesterday when I was with my 24 year old son. When he was born he was given a brown stuffed animal dog with long floppy ears who he eventually named Clifford. He took Clifford everywhere he went from the moment he awakened until bedtime with Clifford tightly tucked under his arm. Yesterday, while at a store, Michael came up to me holding a replica of Clifford with his expression being that of a three year old. As soon as he saw the stuffed animal emotions stirred in his heart lifting up memories of joy, comfort and love. Michael was his master and Clifford was Michael’s joy. Michael treasured in his heart all of the things that Clifford shared with him along the journey of childhood.
When we decide to spend time in the Word we allow our Father to communicate important truths, promises and comforts to our hearts. We come as children with blank hearts for Him to begin the beautiful process of exchanging our perceptions for His truths, and our hurts for His healing. His words are communicated to us through the Holy Spirit becoming our own ‘Clifford’s of comfort’ evoking love, confidence and security in our lives. We are able to carry our spiritual comfort with us from morning to night tucked securely in our hearts. This comfort that comes from our Father is available to everyone who in on this earth. No one will have to depend on others to provide this emotional fellowship and love for God gives freely and personally to all who love Him.
God promises that if we will open our minds and hearts to Him the ink will never run dry and the words will never fall short. As we grow in our Christian walk, we will treasure the things for which we have experienced with our Lord, and hold dear the shared time we spend with our Father.
There are few emotions as powerful as those we associate with comfort from our childhood. I experienced this yesterday when I was with my 24 year old son. When he was born he was given a brown stuffed animal dog with long floppy ears who he eventually named Clifford. He took Clifford everywhere he went from the moment he awakened until bedtime with Clifford tightly tucked under his arm. Yesterday, while at a store, Michael came up to me holding a replica of Clifford with his expression being that of a three year old. As soon as he saw the stuffed animal emotions stirred in his heart lifting up memories of joy, comfort and love. Michael was his master and Clifford was Michael’s joy. Michael treasured in his heart all of the things that Clifford shared with him along the journey of childhood.
When we decide to spend time in the Word we allow our Father to communicate important truths, promises and comforts to our hearts. We come as children with blank hearts for Him to begin the beautiful process of exchanging our perceptions for His truths, and our hurts for His healing. His words are communicated to us through the Holy Spirit becoming our own ‘Clifford’s of comfort’ evoking love, confidence and security in our lives. We are able to carry our spiritual comfort with us from morning to night tucked securely in our hearts. This comfort that comes from our Father is available to everyone who in on this earth. No one will have to depend on others to provide this emotional fellowship and love for God gives freely and personally to all who love Him.
God promises that if we will open our minds and hearts to Him the ink will never run dry and the words will never fall short. As we grow in our Christian walk, we will treasure the things for which we have experienced with our Lord, and hold dear the shared time we spend with our Father.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Shouting & Dancing
“‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him…Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire – he is God.’… Then they called on the name of Baal…they shouted. But there was no answer. And they danced around the altar they had made…So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come here to me.’ They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins.” 1 Kings 18:21-30.
Where do I begin to draw the parallels in this story which is so rich in principles? This ancient story is of Elijah, God’s prophet, 450 prophets of Baal, a ceremonial standoff and a set-up for God to show Himself as the One & Only. Of course God prevailed.
We have two options of flesh upon which we call upon in our lives – the flesh we desire or the Word made flesh. What does the life of a person living in the flesh look like? It is the person who places their advancement in business above the good of others. That person dances around their self-made altar calling upon their own greatness and power. It may be the woman who pursues and builds her own fleshly image by tearing down the image of another. She shouts loudly with her criticisms calling upon her god of judgment and slashes her own reputation by her actions.
We do not have to look beyond ourselves to see the altars for which we build. We build altars of bitterness, resentment, money and power. We have been duped by our own mind that we can call upon ourselves to fulfill everything we desire. By the time we realize that what we worship cannot deliver our life is out of control. The shouting stops, the dancing dies and the darkness sets in. We look at our lives as it lies before us in ruins. The landscape looks dark and bleak, with busted altars and unworthy sacrifices that never brought the fire…only parched hearts and thirsty souls.
Then an ember is sparked by the Word made flesh and He says to all His people, ‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the water…Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near…Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.’ Isaiah 55:1, 6-7.
If we are going to shout and dance before an altar let it be with empty hands held high and eyes to the skies! Let our altar for worship be a vertical focus to Heaven instead of a horizontal focus of earth.
Where do I begin to draw the parallels in this story which is so rich in principles? This ancient story is of Elijah, God’s prophet, 450 prophets of Baal, a ceremonial standoff and a set-up for God to show Himself as the One & Only. Of course God prevailed.
We have two options of flesh upon which we call upon in our lives – the flesh we desire or the Word made flesh. What does the life of a person living in the flesh look like? It is the person who places their advancement in business above the good of others. That person dances around their self-made altar calling upon their own greatness and power. It may be the woman who pursues and builds her own fleshly image by tearing down the image of another. She shouts loudly with her criticisms calling upon her god of judgment and slashes her own reputation by her actions.
We do not have to look beyond ourselves to see the altars for which we build. We build altars of bitterness, resentment, money and power. We have been duped by our own mind that we can call upon ourselves to fulfill everything we desire. By the time we realize that what we worship cannot deliver our life is out of control. The shouting stops, the dancing dies and the darkness sets in. We look at our lives as it lies before us in ruins. The landscape looks dark and bleak, with busted altars and unworthy sacrifices that never brought the fire…only parched hearts and thirsty souls.
Then an ember is sparked by the Word made flesh and He says to all His people, ‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the water…Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near…Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.’ Isaiah 55:1, 6-7.
If we are going to shout and dance before an altar let it be with empty hands held high and eyes to the skies! Let our altar for worship be a vertical focus to Heaven instead of a horizontal focus of earth.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Pray, Pray, Pray
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16.
James managed to name every person in every situation. He called out the person who was experiencing troubling circumstances. He searched for that person who was experiencing joy and blessings in their season of life. He exhorted the one who had become sick as a result of unconfessed sin in his life needing to confess and receive forgiveness. He singled out the person who needed to approach someone for forgiveness for the way they had treated another. He demanded his audience to pray for those they had wronged. I believe his message was to pray! Pray for everything and everyone. Pray like there is no tomorrow, for there may not be.
First and foremost, prayer should not be motivated by resolution and desire. Prayer is about intimate fellowship with God. The relationship with God is primary and the responses from God are secondary. God promises many blessings regarding those who approach His throne with confidence. We only develop this confidence by getting to know the One with the ear to hear and the heart to respond. We would never go to God without the circumstances listed above. If we were soaring through life without any demands, challenges, out of control emotions, etc… we would have no reason to approach God at all. Think of the times we enter into God’s presence in prayer. Truthfully told, the majority of time is when we are requesting something from Him…not just Him.
As we continue to experience trouble, blessings, sickness and sin let us take it all to the Father who knows and loves us best.
James managed to name every person in every situation. He called out the person who was experiencing troubling circumstances. He searched for that person who was experiencing joy and blessings in their season of life. He exhorted the one who had become sick as a result of unconfessed sin in his life needing to confess and receive forgiveness. He singled out the person who needed to approach someone for forgiveness for the way they had treated another. He demanded his audience to pray for those they had wronged. I believe his message was to pray! Pray for everything and everyone. Pray like there is no tomorrow, for there may not be.
First and foremost, prayer should not be motivated by resolution and desire. Prayer is about intimate fellowship with God. The relationship with God is primary and the responses from God are secondary. God promises many blessings regarding those who approach His throne with confidence. We only develop this confidence by getting to know the One with the ear to hear and the heart to respond. We would never go to God without the circumstances listed above. If we were soaring through life without any demands, challenges, out of control emotions, etc… we would have no reason to approach God at all. Think of the times we enter into God’s presence in prayer. Truthfully told, the majority of time is when we are requesting something from Him…not just Him.
As we continue to experience trouble, blessings, sickness and sin let us take it all to the Father who knows and loves us best.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Yield for Yield
“Be patient…until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! …As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy…Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, or you will condemned.” James 5:7-12.
I love the beauty of rose bushes and have a few of my own. In the early spring, when I first see a red bud peeking out of the tightly attached stem leaves surrounding the rose, I am tempted to prematurely pick the rose. I certainly have been impatient before and plucked them off the top of the stem only to abort the growth process and stunt its beauty. I soon realized that whenever I would collect the yield before the matured growth, I always got a disappointing version of the beautiful rose. It would never fully open and the potential of its beauty was never fulfilled.
Waiting is one of the most difficult things in life. Whether we are waiting on something specific or a resolution to a situation, everyone generally hates to wait for anything. James was speaking specifically in our passage above about the second coming of Christ but I think his words can certainly be applied to our own struggles.
Waiting to yield our valuable crop…what does this look like? Is it the person waiting for their life partner with no person in sight? Is it that couple who has planned for years to welcome a little one into their family with no success? Could it be the business owner who, after several years, is still waiting for financial profit? Waiting is both critical and necessary in all circumstances for it builds certain traits required as we move towards the image of Christ. The Lord knows the yield for which each of us anticipates. He is well aware of the time required to fulfill our desires and what must occur to bring about His will for our lives. When we hear His yes, we must thank Him for the answer and courageously move forward in Him. When we hear His no, we must thank Him for the wisdom He obviously used in the decision, sitting on our situation until we hear His yes. Many times, His no in the present is His yes in the future. But if we move ahead of Him, ahead of the autumn and spring rains, we threaten the very outcome of our desire.
We must stand firm on His will, His wisdom and His timing. When we yield our determinations, calculations and manipulations in any given situation, He will produce a yield of valuable crops in our lives that will display our full potential of beauty and blessings.
The way to receive our yield from Him is to yield our circumstances to Him.
I love the beauty of rose bushes and have a few of my own. In the early spring, when I first see a red bud peeking out of the tightly attached stem leaves surrounding the rose, I am tempted to prematurely pick the rose. I certainly have been impatient before and plucked them off the top of the stem only to abort the growth process and stunt its beauty. I soon realized that whenever I would collect the yield before the matured growth, I always got a disappointing version of the beautiful rose. It would never fully open and the potential of its beauty was never fulfilled.
Waiting is one of the most difficult things in life. Whether we are waiting on something specific or a resolution to a situation, everyone generally hates to wait for anything. James was speaking specifically in our passage above about the second coming of Christ but I think his words can certainly be applied to our own struggles.
Waiting to yield our valuable crop…what does this look like? Is it the person waiting for their life partner with no person in sight? Is it that couple who has planned for years to welcome a little one into their family with no success? Could it be the business owner who, after several years, is still waiting for financial profit? Waiting is both critical and necessary in all circumstances for it builds certain traits required as we move towards the image of Christ. The Lord knows the yield for which each of us anticipates. He is well aware of the time required to fulfill our desires and what must occur to bring about His will for our lives. When we hear His yes, we must thank Him for the answer and courageously move forward in Him. When we hear His no, we must thank Him for the wisdom He obviously used in the decision, sitting on our situation until we hear His yes. Many times, His no in the present is His yes in the future. But if we move ahead of Him, ahead of the autumn and spring rains, we threaten the very outcome of our desire.
We must stand firm on His will, His wisdom and His timing. When we yield our determinations, calculations and manipulations in any given situation, He will produce a yield of valuable crops in our lives that will display our full potential of beauty and blessings.
The way to receive our yield from Him is to yield our circumstances to Him.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Wild Fires
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Tim. 1:6, 14.
We live in the middle of the woods with few neighbors in sight. To the left of our property is a wooded lot on which the owner has never built a home. For many years, they have brought a load of dead Christmas trees together and set them ablaze as part of their tradition after New Year’s Day…and man is it a blaze! The height and intensity of the flame is overwhelming and the heat must be so intense that faces must be turned away for a break. All of this however fails in comparison to the impact it would make if it were to no longer be contained and spread throughout the property. This brings me to our little patio, our little propane heater, the little pilot light and the limited heat it puts out. In relation to my spiritual gift of compassion and mercy, I offered a space heater this weekend.
God has entrusted me with a grief ministry that provides me the privilege of witnessing first-hand the healing work of the Holy Spirit. I am tenderly connected with a raw heart to the pain and suffering of those who are experiencing the loss of loved ones. But this morning, I am both convicted and saddened by my lack of compassion and mercy to someone who tearfully shared with me the pain of facing the one year anniversary of the loss of their loved one. This particular person has provided me with a more than challenging relationship over many years. I am completely ashamed to admit that her tears fell on a cold heart this weekend. Apparently, at some point along the way, I forgot that I was created in the image of God – not created to be God. Emotionally, I decided my ministry didn’t extend to all and apparently only to some. ‘But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it…Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!’ James 2:9-13. Like most mornings, the Word had a voice louder than any other noise.
I am praising God this morning for His forgiveness and for sending the Holy Spirit to rescue me from myself. I humbly expose myself this morning to exhort everyone to live out your faith ‘burning dead Christmas trees’ with the possibilities of catching every heart around you on fire for God. Don’t live your life hunched up against a cold metal pole searching for that one little spot that provides warmth for a few.
Let our gifts from God fan out to everyone instead of handpicking the ones who we deem as worthy. Let our hearts be focused on setting the cold hearts of this world ablaze in order that all will know God. Jesus Christ obediently and submissively climbed up on that cross for every person on this earth, including the ones who nailed Him to the cross.
May each of us bring our own spiritually dead Christmas trees for God’s holy match to ignite!
We live in the middle of the woods with few neighbors in sight. To the left of our property is a wooded lot on which the owner has never built a home. For many years, they have brought a load of dead Christmas trees together and set them ablaze as part of their tradition after New Year’s Day…and man is it a blaze! The height and intensity of the flame is overwhelming and the heat must be so intense that faces must be turned away for a break. All of this however fails in comparison to the impact it would make if it were to no longer be contained and spread throughout the property. This brings me to our little patio, our little propane heater, the little pilot light and the limited heat it puts out. In relation to my spiritual gift of compassion and mercy, I offered a space heater this weekend.
God has entrusted me with a grief ministry that provides me the privilege of witnessing first-hand the healing work of the Holy Spirit. I am tenderly connected with a raw heart to the pain and suffering of those who are experiencing the loss of loved ones. But this morning, I am both convicted and saddened by my lack of compassion and mercy to someone who tearfully shared with me the pain of facing the one year anniversary of the loss of their loved one. This particular person has provided me with a more than challenging relationship over many years. I am completely ashamed to admit that her tears fell on a cold heart this weekend. Apparently, at some point along the way, I forgot that I was created in the image of God – not created to be God. Emotionally, I decided my ministry didn’t extend to all and apparently only to some. ‘But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it…Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!’ James 2:9-13. Like most mornings, the Word had a voice louder than any other noise.
I am praising God this morning for His forgiveness and for sending the Holy Spirit to rescue me from myself. I humbly expose myself this morning to exhort everyone to live out your faith ‘burning dead Christmas trees’ with the possibilities of catching every heart around you on fire for God. Don’t live your life hunched up against a cold metal pole searching for that one little spot that provides warmth for a few.
Let our gifts from God fan out to everyone instead of handpicking the ones who we deem as worthy. Let our hearts be focused on setting the cold hearts of this world ablaze in order that all will know God. Jesus Christ obediently and submissively climbed up on that cross for every person on this earth, including the ones who nailed Him to the cross.
May each of us bring our own spiritually dead Christmas trees for God’s holy match to ignite!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Heaven's Museum
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Jesus Christ, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph. 2:10.
It never ceases to amaze me how the interpretation of art on a canvas can vary from person to person. Each admirer sees their own explanation of what they believe the artist is trying to communicate through his work. Each interpretation is rooted in theory, but it is only the artist who can interpret in reality. After all, it was the artist who created the work in thought first, then in creation. He had pictured the outcome many times and knew the intended finished beauty that would ultimately be displayed.
One Greek translation for the word ‘workmanship’ is ‘work of art.’ God considers and knows us in thought before one splash of color is ever put to the canvas. He has the completed work of our lives laid out before He ever picks up the brush. ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you…You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.’ Jeremiah 1:5, 7.
We were never meant to be the interpreters of our own lives. With God as our Creator, His interpretation is accurate and perfect. Through getting to know Him we begin to see through the eyes of the Artist and are able to make out the images and picture of our lives. We become more and more dependent on His vision for our lives since every day and every experience is one that builds on the previous day and prepares for the following day. Hopefully, we eventually live out Acts 17:28, ‘For in Him we live and move and exist.’ We rise if we are given another day; we go where He has ordained us to go; we speak His thoughts and His wisdom to His intended people… in Him we live and move and exist. We are because He is!
His handiwork is shown in nature everyday with its marvel and beauty. We do not try to alter the beauty of the mountains or tune out the songs of the oceans as the waves break and crash. Why do we strive so hard to alter the person for which God has both ordained and created? Why do we try to interpret our lives instead of seeing the beauty of who we are through the eyes of the Creator?
In past times there have been instances where amateurs have painted over valuable pieces of art from brilliant artists. As the surface images are slowly removed the beauty of the original artwork is revealed and the value of the piece skyrockets. The same is with our lives when we allow God to remove our brushstrokes and display His original art work.
We will have a spiritual worth beyond anything in this world. We will all hang in heaven's museum displaying our unique reflection of the most brilliant Artist who ever painted.
It never ceases to amaze me how the interpretation of art on a canvas can vary from person to person. Each admirer sees their own explanation of what they believe the artist is trying to communicate through his work. Each interpretation is rooted in theory, but it is only the artist who can interpret in reality. After all, it was the artist who created the work in thought first, then in creation. He had pictured the outcome many times and knew the intended finished beauty that would ultimately be displayed.
One Greek translation for the word ‘workmanship’ is ‘work of art.’ God considers and knows us in thought before one splash of color is ever put to the canvas. He has the completed work of our lives laid out before He ever picks up the brush. ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you…You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.’ Jeremiah 1:5, 7.
We were never meant to be the interpreters of our own lives. With God as our Creator, His interpretation is accurate and perfect. Through getting to know Him we begin to see through the eyes of the Artist and are able to make out the images and picture of our lives. We become more and more dependent on His vision for our lives since every day and every experience is one that builds on the previous day and prepares for the following day. Hopefully, we eventually live out Acts 17:28, ‘For in Him we live and move and exist.’ We rise if we are given another day; we go where He has ordained us to go; we speak His thoughts and His wisdom to His intended people… in Him we live and move and exist. We are because He is!
His handiwork is shown in nature everyday with its marvel and beauty. We do not try to alter the beauty of the mountains or tune out the songs of the oceans as the waves break and crash. Why do we strive so hard to alter the person for which God has both ordained and created? Why do we try to interpret our lives instead of seeing the beauty of who we are through the eyes of the Creator?
In past times there have been instances where amateurs have painted over valuable pieces of art from brilliant artists. As the surface images are slowly removed the beauty of the original artwork is revealed and the value of the piece skyrockets. The same is with our lives when we allow God to remove our brushstrokes and display His original art work.
We will have a spiritual worth beyond anything in this world. We will all hang in heaven's museum displaying our unique reflection of the most brilliant Artist who ever painted.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
"Who Are We?"
“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge…you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:11-12. “Any one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things." Romans 2:2.
The Bible speaks loudly about the attitude of judging and speaking about the actions of others. The Greek term translated ‘slander’ in the NIV also means ‘criticize’ (HCSB) and ‘speak against’ (NASB). To judge anyone, no matter what has been done, is a matter of the heart and to speak it takes judgment to the next level of slander. The very moment we judge, we become guilty of breaking it ourselves. ‘For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.’ James 2:9.
Even Jesus was held up to this law with the expectation of living without judgment over others. ‘For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’ John 3:17. So who are we to sit on that throne and lift or lower the king’s scepter for acceptance or refusal? Christ is the only one who earned the seat to the right of God. The life of Christ was all about ‘doing the work of his Father,’ not playing jury, judge and executioner. He left that up to the Judge who knows all truth. ‘We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on truth.’ Romans 2:2. God is not only an eye witness to everything that is done but He is a heart witness and knows the motivation behind why it is done.
Bottom line is that when we criticize, speak against and/or judge others we place ourselves at the mercy of the court for we have become guilty of the very thing for which we judge. It seems that this is one of those impossible laws to keep and, at first glance, could discourage our walk with God. The opposite is true as the point is to increase our awareness of our own flaws and tendency to sin as we deal with the flaws of others. ‘The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment.’ 1 Co. 2:15 (NIV). This translates in the life of the believer that as long as we judge the things people are doing and not the people we will not be judged. We have all heard the statement ‘Hate the sin and not the sinner’ which is a present way of echoing the passage from 1 Corinthians.
The Bible speaks loudly about the attitude of judging and speaking about the actions of others. The Greek term translated ‘slander’ in the NIV also means ‘criticize’ (HCSB) and ‘speak against’ (NASB). To judge anyone, no matter what has been done, is a matter of the heart and to speak it takes judgment to the next level of slander. The very moment we judge, we become guilty of breaking it ourselves. ‘For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.’ James 2:9.
Even Jesus was held up to this law with the expectation of living without judgment over others. ‘For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’ John 3:17. So who are we to sit on that throne and lift or lower the king’s scepter for acceptance or refusal? Christ is the only one who earned the seat to the right of God. The life of Christ was all about ‘doing the work of his Father,’ not playing jury, judge and executioner. He left that up to the Judge who knows all truth. ‘We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on truth.’ Romans 2:2. God is not only an eye witness to everything that is done but He is a heart witness and knows the motivation behind why it is done.
Bottom line is that when we criticize, speak against and/or judge others we place ourselves at the mercy of the court for we have become guilty of the very thing for which we judge. It seems that this is one of those impossible laws to keep and, at first glance, could discourage our walk with God. The opposite is true as the point is to increase our awareness of our own flaws and tendency to sin as we deal with the flaws of others. ‘The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment.’ 1 Co. 2:15 (NIV). This translates in the life of the believer that as long as we judge the things people are doing and not the people we will not be judged. We have all heard the statement ‘Hate the sin and not the sinner’ which is a present way of echoing the passage from 1 Corinthians.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Choose A Horse!
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:6-7
Oppose - to be in competition, conflict, or battle with a...fighting force; Gives - to allow somebody to have something such as power or a right; a verb used to indicate that somebody presents or delivers something that he or she owns to another person to keep or use
Resist - to remain unaltered by the damaging effect of something; to yield, to accept somebody else's authority or will, especially reluctantly or under pressure. Draw/come near - to move in a particular direction, often alongside, toward, or away from something else, and with a smooth steady motion
I have chosen these definitions in an effort to expand on these powerful words of James. He spoke to his audience with a sense of urgency and exhortation. Throughout the book of James he continuously addressed his audience as his brothers. His exhortations were grounded in love but bluntness with no flowery language.
I remember another time when I heard bluntness grounded in love. Bruce and I were trying to make a life-altering decision. We held our prism to the light a million times and had turned it every single direction trying to see the reflections of our decision. Finally, my father-in-law, in his loving wisdom, looked at us and said, ‘You are riding two horses with one foot on each – choose a horse.’ We will never forget that image and within the week a decision had been made.
This image comes to mind with James’ words this morning. We go through life with one foot on two horses – pride and humility, our will and God’s will. Applying our definitions this morning I am drawn to fact that the word opposes is not an attitude but an action. It is God’s desire to present us in both this life and the next with everything He possesses. He will ride into battle and fight everything that may prevent us from this goal. God opposes the attitude of pride, not the person. He is aware that the horse that carries pride is the one the devil is leading and the horse that carries humility is the one on which He rides. ‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.’ Rev. 19:11
So I ask myself this morning, why risk it? Why keep that foot on the back of pride? Why not, in everything, submit myself to God and receive what He desires to give me? By simply lifting one foot off of the back of a horse named Pride and faithfully riding alongside Faithful and True, I can remain unaltered by the harmful force of the devil.
So, in my desire for you to have all through Christ, I say with the same love in which my father-in-law said, ‘Choose a horse!’
Oppose - to be in competition, conflict, or battle with a...fighting force; Gives - to allow somebody to have something such as power or a right; a verb used to indicate that somebody presents or delivers something that he or she owns to another person to keep or use
Resist - to remain unaltered by the damaging effect of something; to yield, to accept somebody else's authority or will, especially reluctantly or under pressure. Draw/come near - to move in a particular direction, often alongside, toward, or away from something else, and with a smooth steady motion
I have chosen these definitions in an effort to expand on these powerful words of James. He spoke to his audience with a sense of urgency and exhortation. Throughout the book of James he continuously addressed his audience as his brothers. His exhortations were grounded in love but bluntness with no flowery language.
I remember another time when I heard bluntness grounded in love. Bruce and I were trying to make a life-altering decision. We held our prism to the light a million times and had turned it every single direction trying to see the reflections of our decision. Finally, my father-in-law, in his loving wisdom, looked at us and said, ‘You are riding two horses with one foot on each – choose a horse.’ We will never forget that image and within the week a decision had been made.
This image comes to mind with James’ words this morning. We go through life with one foot on two horses – pride and humility, our will and God’s will. Applying our definitions this morning I am drawn to fact that the word opposes is not an attitude but an action. It is God’s desire to present us in both this life and the next with everything He possesses. He will ride into battle and fight everything that may prevent us from this goal. God opposes the attitude of pride, not the person. He is aware that the horse that carries pride is the one the devil is leading and the horse that carries humility is the one on which He rides. ‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.’ Rev. 19:11
So I ask myself this morning, why risk it? Why keep that foot on the back of pride? Why not, in everything, submit myself to God and receive what He desires to give me? By simply lifting one foot off of the back of a horse named Pride and faithfully riding alongside Faithful and True, I can remain unaltered by the harmful force of the devil.
So, in my desire for you to have all through Christ, I say with the same love in which my father-in-law said, ‘Choose a horse!’
Monday, January 2, 2012
Friend Request
“Was it not our ancestor, Abraham who was considered righteous when he offered his son Isaac on the altar…Abraham believed God…and he was called God’s friend.” James 3:21, 23 ‘…that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.’ John 15:13-14
In our cyber world of social networking the concept of ‘friend’ has taken on a life of its own. Like any invention, the greatest value lays within its purest form. We are all tempted by its intoxicating lure of self promotion. We all have a fleshly desire to be accepted, approved of and chosen. Social Networking can be a worldly master to whom we enslave ourselves. We update our status to our circle of friends who have become our friends by simply pressing a button. With a simple click we invite friends into our make believe cyber lives and choose to exclude others. Our ‘friendships’ can be based upon nothing more than our moods and prejudices.
Jesus made it clear in John as to the manner in which He chose friends. His friends were those who opted to fellowship with Him, learn under Him, watch Him and respond to Him. It wasn’t until Abraham acted upon his belief in what God was telling him that he became God’s friend. Friendships with God are more than ‘Liking’ a Bible verse or clicking on a button to accept Him. Friendship with God will always accompany action. ‘The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.’ Gal. 5:6.
He has status updates and postings that will never time out or disappear in the News Feeds – the Holy Bible. The friendship He esteems is one of privacy and intimacy that involves spirit to spirit and presence to presence…not click to click. His heart beats for fellowship and authenticity in intimacy with each of His children.
Don’t get me wrong…Facebook has reconnected me with so many precious friends from the past, but these friendships came about through walking together, living together, and spending our lives together. It has also connected me with new wonderful friends. Leave it to the enemy to use something good to tear us down. Facebook has also stirred up in me feelings of insecurity and resurrected deep tendencies to measure myself against others. We must be careful that we define ourselves and our friends by God’s standards and not our own.
We will never see our Divine friend face to face on earth but we will see Him in the same way Moses saw him – presence to presence. ‘The LORD spoke with Moses…just as a man speaks with his friend.’ Ex. 33:11.
In our cyber world of social networking the concept of ‘friend’ has taken on a life of its own. Like any invention, the greatest value lays within its purest form. We are all tempted by its intoxicating lure of self promotion. We all have a fleshly desire to be accepted, approved of and chosen. Social Networking can be a worldly master to whom we enslave ourselves. We update our status to our circle of friends who have become our friends by simply pressing a button. With a simple click we invite friends into our make believe cyber lives and choose to exclude others. Our ‘friendships’ can be based upon nothing more than our moods and prejudices.
Jesus made it clear in John as to the manner in which He chose friends. His friends were those who opted to fellowship with Him, learn under Him, watch Him and respond to Him. It wasn’t until Abraham acted upon his belief in what God was telling him that he became God’s friend. Friendships with God are more than ‘Liking’ a Bible verse or clicking on a button to accept Him. Friendship with God will always accompany action. ‘The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.’ Gal. 5:6.
He has status updates and postings that will never time out or disappear in the News Feeds – the Holy Bible. The friendship He esteems is one of privacy and intimacy that involves spirit to spirit and presence to presence…not click to click. His heart beats for fellowship and authenticity in intimacy with each of His children.
Don’t get me wrong…Facebook has reconnected me with so many precious friends from the past, but these friendships came about through walking together, living together, and spending our lives together. It has also connected me with new wonderful friends. Leave it to the enemy to use something good to tear us down. Facebook has also stirred up in me feelings of insecurity and resurrected deep tendencies to measure myself against others. We must be careful that we define ourselves and our friends by God’s standards and not our own.
We will never see our Divine friend face to face on earth but we will see Him in the same way Moses saw him – presence to presence. ‘The LORD spoke with Moses…just as a man speaks with his friend.’ Ex. 33:11.
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