Don't Miss Jesus!

Religious beliefs in any religion are helpful in guiding us and keeping us together in social groups. But are they meant to be walls around us? I grew up in a faith-filled home where the Bible was read openly and we were taught straight from the Bible in church and home. The things I learned were helpful in the decisions I made as my faith was being developed and taking shape. Unfortunately, those very same laws became a stumbling block because all my good works gave me confidence in the wrong place – in my ability to follow the rules and do the “right” thing. That is called self-righteousness and it is a nasty business.

Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field. The disciples were hungry and pulled off a few heads of wheat to chew on as they walked. Those who were devout followers of the Law had determined that what the disciples did was called work and it is a sin to work on the Sabbath. They confronted Jesus and the disciples with scathing judgment. In that process, they totally missed Jesus, the Messiah! He tried to tell them, “There is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Then, Jesus went on to push a few more buttons for the religious leaders. They asked Him, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” They had already made a judgment. Healing was determined by them to be work. Jesus tried to help them re-frame that judgment. He asked them if they wouldn’t be merciful and rescue a farm animal that was in distress even if it was the Sabbath, and they all knew they would. And He continued then to tell them that a person is ever so much more valuable than a farm animal. Of course, the law would permit a person to do good on the Sabbath – including healing a man with a deformed arm! And He proceeded to heal the man. And the religious leaders proceeded to condemn him and plot how to kill Jesus! How dare He question their interpretation of the law? Again, they missed Jesus, their Messiah!

Yes, self-righteousness is a nasty business. It keeps us from seeing Jesus! We look at others through the eyes of judgment and condemnation – interpreting the law from our perspective and visiting it on others around us. We condemn them, look down our noses at them, and avoid them.

But Jesus!

Cornelius was not a Jew. He was a Roman officer. Yet he was a devout believer in God. He prayed. He gave to the poor. God sent an angel to him with specific directions to ask Peter to come. At the same time, God had some work to do in Peter to get him ready to go. He gave Peter a vision inviting him to feast on unclean animals (animals the Jewish law forbade them to eat). Three times Peter saw the same vision. In dream interpretation, that means it is God’s final answer and it is going to happen immediately. Peter was puzzling over that when Cornelius’ party arrived at Peter’s door. Now Peter understood. There was no question what God was asking him to do. He was to go with the men and preach the gospel – to Romans who were considered by the law to be unclean! Peter went and Cornelius and his family and friends he had invited to join them were all saved! And just to make sure Peter didn’t waver, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and all who were with him and there was no question that they were also saved and citizens of God’s kingdom!

God does not follow our rules. He does not dwell within the walls we have built! What he wants is our repentance and a personal encounter and relationship with each one of us. If we are willing, He wants to dwell inside us! He is Lord even over the Sabbath! When He says come, we are to come. When He says go, we are to go. Yes, He gave us the Bible to guide us. But that is not enough. He wants to guide us and He can only do that through a personal relationship with Him. When we see our own need for His mercy, we are free to give mercy to others. Instead of spreading condemnation, we are filled with His Holy Spirit and begin to spread love and grace. We encourage others and teach them who God is and then let God work in them – just as He has worked in us to bring us to a place of deep, abiding, fruitful relationship with Him!

Lord, in your mercy, fill me with your love for others that I can be an agent of healing and grace in their lives. Amen.

Here I Stand

Job’s friends were without mercy! The kept telling him God wouldn’t be punishing him if he hadn’t done something wrong. Job is in pain – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He is grieving deeply and doesn’t understand why all this has happened to him, but he does believe he is in God’s hands. Job begins his response to his friends with sarcasm. “You know everything, don’t you?” In his pain Job tries to help his friends see how they are hurting him, not helping him! “People who are at ease mock those in trouble. They give a push to people who are stumbling.” Job 12:5 NLT.

Job is frustrated with his friends who are speaking from their own wisdom and not God’s wisdom. He would prefer them to remain silent! He asks them, “Are you defending God with lies?” As though God needs to be defended! He tells them their “platitudes are as valuable as ashes,” and their “defense is as fragile as a clay pot.” Job 13:12 NLT This is so full of warning to self-righteousness! Job teaches us what it means to fear God. “Doesn’t His majesty terrify you? Doesn’t your fear of Him overwhelm you?” Job understands that God is powerful and that his friends could be next and not know it! They believe they are protected by their “right living.”

When we speak from a place of self-righteousness, we are believing it is our good works that protect us. Job understands it is God who protects us and allows us to suffer. He is miserable and he wants relief. He wants so badly to talk with God about what he feels is an injustice visited on him that he says, “God might kill me, but I have no other hope.” Job 13:15 NLT Job understands his vulnerability before God – the God who gives breath and knows the number of our days. Job is in a submissive position – like a dog on his back with his belly exposed. He fully trusts God and yet understands God has full authority and power over his very life.

Psalm 14 reminds us that none of us are righteous in our own right. We all need God! Psalm 15 says, “Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?” And then answers … those who speak truth with sincere hearts, refuse to gossip, refuse to harm neighbors, refuse to speak evil of friends… keep promises even when it hurts, lend money without interest, cannot be bribed to lie. While we are busy being self-righteous in our churches, how many of these places do we fail? In the past couple of months, I have seen lies, gossip, harm, and more in our little church alone. How many churches struggle with this? Lord, come and convict us and turn us around! We want to worship you with all our heart and we need to prepare ourselves to do this with repentance!

Self-righteousness is never fruitful. It judges others and harms them without understanding the pain and suffering the other is enduring. It says, “If you live right and make good decisions, no harm will come to you.” And it doesn’t take into account where God is working and that there is an evil force in the world that brings much pain to its victims. Job makes me ask the question, “How can I catch someone who is stumbling rather than push them on down?” What does this look like in our church? In our family? In our neighborhood? Lord, give me eyes to see and wisdom filled with love and mercy to care for those around me and help them get back up!

 

The Battle Rages On

As a follower of Christ, I live in a constant tension. As I am transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ, I fit less and less into the world. Yet, my calling is clear: “Go and make disciples…” says Jesus as He is about to ascend into heaven. We are in a spiritual war. And while we know the outcome (our highest-ranking officer, King Jesus Christ, declared victory when He rose from the dead!), currently the battle rages on and will until the day of His return. That means we are soldiers – some with special units that have special tasks, some with support roles, some on the lines and in the trenches, some spying out the land, some in hand-to-hand combat, some binding wounds and performing surgeries to the injured, some leading and giving commands, some following and working hard toward the victory that is to come.

When there is conflict in the ranks, it brings great devastation to the immediate battles and the strategies of the commanding officers are undermined and everyone is at risk. That is why Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is for unity. We all know that when we are in battle, unity is extremely important. We move as a unit. We cover each other’s backs. We have a common objective.

So I wonder, what does this look like in the church? In the past few months, I have 4 friends who have all lost spouses, 3 to cancer, 1 to a lifetime battle with physical challenges. Each of these individuals are soldiers in God’s army. They have giftings and special assignments. But they are temporarily disabled by severe grief. They are among the wounded. I have another friend who has lost a job and is struggling with confidence. He is among the wounded. I have other friends who have had surgeries and are among the wounded. And still others who have been in abusive relationships and find themselves separated or divorced. And another who was in a severe accident and is recovering from many physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds. And there are those who for various health reasons cannot be out on the front. They are not on active duty.

Our objective is to make disciples. Our environment is hostile – in some cases so hostile that our lives are physically endangered. For now, I find myself serving among the wounded. I am on special assignment to go out to the battlefield and bring back the wounded and dress their wounds and do whatever it takes to bring the wounded to a place of healing and help them get back into full service. The Apostle Paul talks frequently about the Church being the body of Christ with many parts. When one part suffers, we all suffer and when one part rejoices, we all rejoice, says Paul in I Corinthians 12. He encourages us to, take care of each other to keep the body strong. When we are living in unity, bringing healing balms to the sick and weary, we strengthen each other – build up the body so we can be a formidable front to the enemy.

Holy Father, sometimes we get battle weary. Sometimes we get angry with those who have fallen and push them out rather than restoring them and strengthening them to bring them back into the battle. Help us, Lord, to be the body of soldiers you have called us to be – to move as one unit and take enemy territory for you! Help us to hear our assignments each day, to obey them and to live in the victory you have already won! Thank you for your constant presence with us guiding us through the rough terrain and bringing us safely home. Amen.