As Moses neared the end of his life, he gathered the people and gave them one last strong encouragement to follow God. He laid out the covenant between Israel and God before them including all the blessings and all the curses depending on the choices they made. Moses had given nearly his entire life to leading these people. He put himself between God’s wrath and their foolishness imploring God to give them another chance. Now, as he was about to die, he gave them all the wisdom he had gathered through the years of leading them. He wanted so much for them to experience God’s blessings, yet he was aware they would make wrong choices and experience God’s judgments on them.
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
While this is a direct covenant between Israel and God, I wonder if there may also be wisdom for me today. I wonder how many times I have walked away from God’s blessings – his best for me – because I was distracted by other things. Every day I make a ‘kazillion’ choices. First thing in the morning I choose if I will take time to read and meditate on God’s Word before getting into the business of my day. I choose whether I will take time to pray, send a note of encouragement to someone I know is struggling, spend time with and/or do something special for my spouse, make a phone call, send a check to an agency serving the poor and needy among us, or go myself and serve the poor and needy among us. And all of those choices may occur in my first waking hour of the day.
How do I know if I am making the right choices? What wisdom guides me? I don’t have a Moses standing before me telling me what to do. Ah, but I do have the Holy Spirit within me guiding my thoughts if I am open to that. And I do have the ‘Big Ten’ recorded in Scripture as well as the teachings of Jesus regarding those commandments. As I gather all this wisdom together and apply it to my day, it may change the focus and what determines success at the end of the day.
It would be easy to say that I had a good day if I was able to check everything off my ‘to do’ list. And it is easy to kick myself around if I don’t accomplish my list. But what about God’s list for me on any given day? When I get to the end of my day, what does God count as a successful day? “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
As I have pondered and meditated through Deuteronomy, I have found a God who is concerned with what wisdom we are following. He is concerned for the poor, the fatherless, the widow – those who are vulnerable in society around us. It seems that he blesses us in order for us to share his blessings with others, not for us to horde it all for ourselves. He is concerned with justice, yet he shows mercy to us when we fall short of living holy lives. It seems that he wants to delight in us and give us everything we could desire – a land flowing with milk and honey – yet, we are so quickly ‘spoiled’ by his goodness and turn to serving ourselves instead of others.
And I wonder, when will I get it? When will I understand that this God who wants to delight in me will provide everything I need and more if I turn my heart to him and follow his wisdom? When will I get over my selfish desires and my self-centered ways and become his ‘adopted child’ who desires to be like him. I am, in Moses’ words, a stiff-necked people. And I wonder how many blessings I miss because I am focused on ‘saving myself’ instead of trusting God’s wisdom and leadership to save me.
It seems Moses understood all of this and he left this world with these words, “Choose life!” Today, Lord, I choose life! I choose to love you and to follow you. Open my eyes to see your agenda, not mine, and to give freely to others because you have given so freely to me, whether it is financial, emotional, or just time. Amen.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Engaging in Battle
Deuteronomy begins with a quick summary of the Israelite’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. When they began their journey, God told them, “You need only to be still. I will fight the battle for you.” Exodus 14:14 paraphrased. They were a defeated people at that time. They had been enslaved to the Egyptians for some time and were weary and confused. God was strengthening their faith and their trust in him and the leadership of Moses.
Now, after many years wondering in the desert and the passing of the older generation, God has a different message for them. As they are about to enter the Promised Land, he says, “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.” Deuteronomy 2:24. God says, “I have given,” but you need to “begin to take possession.”
Suddenly, I wonder if this is just the history of Israel or if there is more here in understanding how God works. Might this message be for us today? In the Old Testament, we see a physical battle of Israel taking possession of the land God has given them. In the New Testament, we see a spiritual battle as the Kingdom of God comes lead by King Jesus. I wonder then, since I am part of this Kingdom since I am a follower of King Jesus, am I being told to look around me and notice the ‘sphere of influence’ I might have in my surrounding community? I wonder if God might be saying, “I want you to engage in the spiritual battle in this community you live in. I have already given it to you. You need to engage in the spiritual battle for the souls of those around you.”
This sounds very much like I need to be doing something – not just sitting around waiting for God to do it all. And if I need to be doing something, I am going to do far better if I am tuned into God’s wisdom. God gives the Israelites his wisdom as they set out. “Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” Deuteronomy 4:1-2 He goes on to tell them, “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” Deuteronomy 4:6
As I engage in the spiritual battles around me, my wisdom comes from obedience to God’s commands. In living a life that honors my Commander in Chief, others will take notice and will be drawn to his wisdom and understanding as well. And as they choose to come under the Kingship of Jesus and as they learn to become obedient to his commands, they will influence those around them, and the Kingdom of God will continue to grow.
It is an interesting battle we are engaging in. The war is already won. Jesus made sure of that when he died on the cross and rose again. But we are to engage in battle – in the spiritual warfare that is occurring around us – with those who ‘didn’t get the memo’ and continue to act as though there is no God or the battle hasn’t been won.
Our marching orders have been given. Go forth! Engage in the battle and take possession of the land God has given you!
Now, after many years wondering in the desert and the passing of the older generation, God has a different message for them. As they are about to enter the Promised Land, he says, “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.” Deuteronomy 2:24. God says, “I have given,” but you need to “begin to take possession.”
Suddenly, I wonder if this is just the history of Israel or if there is more here in understanding how God works. Might this message be for us today? In the Old Testament, we see a physical battle of Israel taking possession of the land God has given them. In the New Testament, we see a spiritual battle as the Kingdom of God comes lead by King Jesus. I wonder then, since I am part of this Kingdom since I am a follower of King Jesus, am I being told to look around me and notice the ‘sphere of influence’ I might have in my surrounding community? I wonder if God might be saying, “I want you to engage in the spiritual battle in this community you live in. I have already given it to you. You need to engage in the spiritual battle for the souls of those around you.”
This sounds very much like I need to be doing something – not just sitting around waiting for God to do it all. And if I need to be doing something, I am going to do far better if I am tuned into God’s wisdom. God gives the Israelites his wisdom as they set out. “Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” Deuteronomy 4:1-2 He goes on to tell them, “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” Deuteronomy 4:6
As I engage in the spiritual battles around me, my wisdom comes from obedience to God’s commands. In living a life that honors my Commander in Chief, others will take notice and will be drawn to his wisdom and understanding as well. And as they choose to come under the Kingship of Jesus and as they learn to become obedient to his commands, they will influence those around them, and the Kingdom of God will continue to grow.
It is an interesting battle we are engaging in. The war is already won. Jesus made sure of that when he died on the cross and rose again. But we are to engage in battle – in the spiritual warfare that is occurring around us – with those who ‘didn’t get the memo’ and continue to act as though there is no God or the battle hasn’t been won.
Our marching orders have been given. Go forth! Engage in the battle and take possession of the land God has given you!
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Sign of Jonah
When the Jewish people asked for a sign, Jesus referred them to Jonah: “As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Luke 11:29-30
What is this sign of Jonah? We tend to gravitate toward the idea that just as Jonah was three days inside the whale and then was returned to land, Jesus would be three days inside the tomb and then returned to life bringing salvation to all who repent. It is easy to go there and stay at the three days because from little on up, we are taught the story of Jonah as the miracle of his surviving three days in the belly of a great fish or whale. We tend to skim over the rest of the story. But I wonder if Jesus had more in mind than the three days comparison.
First, it is helpful to understand that the Ninevites were the worst of the worst people in the minds of the Jews. In Jonah’s day, they were a very threatening power to be reckoned with. Later, they gained even more power over the Jews which the Jews in Jesus’ time would have experienced as their history. After the time of Jonah, Assyria attacked and took captive Israel. Then they threatened Hezekiah and the kingdom of Judah. But God came to their rescue and sent and angel to kill the army of Sennacherib and freed Jerusalem from his siege. “So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.” II Kings 19:36
Jonah was asked to go to the people of Ninevah and preach against their wickedness. It is no wonder that he refused. He tells God why after God changes his mind when the people of Ninevah repent. “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.’” Jonah 4:1-2
Is it possible, then, that the sign of Jonah is that God is a compassionate and gracious God, forgiving even his enemies when they repent? Just as it was a hard pill for Jonah to swallow, it also was a hard pill for the Jews in Jesus’ day to swallow. If Jesus was their Messiah, surely he would get rid of their oppressors and their enemies and return the splendor of David’s and Solomon’s kingdoms to them. For Jesus to say that even their enemies were included in God’s compassion was unthinkable!
Yet, Jesus instructed them and us to, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Luke 6:35
Since I am not oppressed by a foreign government, it is easy to say I have no enemies. So this seems to either be an easy instruction to follow or it doesn’t apply to me. But if I open myself to God’s scrutiny on this one, he begins to point out to me people that I don’t like to be around. We might not shoot guns at each other or even throw punches, but we may shoot comments, tell others how terrible each other is, and avoid each other. Those may be the very people God is calling me to ‘love’ and ‘do good to’. I find that when I become willing, God softens my heart toward those people in my life. Sometimes it is a whole group of people that I classify as undesirable. And God graciously helps me to get to know individuals that fall into that class and softens my heart toward them. As I spend more and more time with my Father, he teaches me how much he loves others and teaches me to love them and have compassion for them as well.
So for me today then, the Sign of Jonah is that God is love, that he is a compassionate God who loves even the wicked, and that he forgives all those who repent. And he wants me to learn to be like him – to love my enemies, be compassionate to even the wicked, and forgive just as he forgave me.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Lessons from the Hummingbirds
As I sit in my quiet place watching hummingbirds come to the feeder and the plants nearby, God speaks to me. “Consider the hummingbirds…” And as I consider them, I see that the feeder has three feeding stations and that there are three hummingbirds all wanting to eat. But instead of each sitting at a station and eating, they fight. One hummingbird thinks the food is hers and no one else is to have any. The problem is that even as she chases the others away, she has to be on her guard all the time. She can’t enjoy the food because she is either chasing others away or she is worried they will come again.
I sit here and say, “Silly hummingbirds! There is way more food where that came from and I will keep the feeder filled. Please, all of you, share! Sit, eat and enjoy. There is plenty to go around for all.”
And there, with the quite hum of their wings interjected periodically with a loud buzz and chirping as they fight, God speaks to me. “Yes, it is like that for me as well. I can provide for you everything you need, and yet you hoard things and worry about retirement accounts. Relax! Share! Enjoy the life I have given you. I have blessed you so that you can share, not so that you can hoard.”
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes… how much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?... And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:22-34
I wonder how far I am to take this… Should I own nothing? Jesus once said, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Luke 12:33 Are we all supposed to do that?
I wonder if it is a matter more of the heart… how tightly do I hold on to things. The tighter I hold things, the more ‘stuff’ I have to manage and keep track of. If I travel lighter, I have more time to give to others because I am not spending so much time managing so much. If I need less, I have more to give to those in need.
I wonder if it is a matter more of the soul… how free am I to share the knowledge and wisdom and experience I have regarding God’s mercy, love and grace? Do I hoard it for myself and bask in my blessings? Or do I find needy souls around me and let God’s goodness flow through me and feed hungry souls? That would mean letting go of my precious time and listening to others – maybe even seeking them out when I know they are hurting or in need of my Master’s mercy. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48
“God is kind [even] to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Luke 6:35 If I am truly a follower of Christ, can I do any less? And if I am expected to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked, how much more so to those I call my friends and neighbors. And when I give, I am promised rewards both now and in eternity. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Silly hummingbirds… Share! Silly humans… Share!
I sit here and say, “Silly hummingbirds! There is way more food where that came from and I will keep the feeder filled. Please, all of you, share! Sit, eat and enjoy. There is plenty to go around for all.”
And there, with the quite hum of their wings interjected periodically with a loud buzz and chirping as they fight, God speaks to me. “Yes, it is like that for me as well. I can provide for you everything you need, and yet you hoard things and worry about retirement accounts. Relax! Share! Enjoy the life I have given you. I have blessed you so that you can share, not so that you can hoard.”
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes… how much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?... And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:22-34
I wonder how far I am to take this… Should I own nothing? Jesus once said, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Luke 12:33 Are we all supposed to do that?
I wonder if it is a matter more of the heart… how tightly do I hold on to things. The tighter I hold things, the more ‘stuff’ I have to manage and keep track of. If I travel lighter, I have more time to give to others because I am not spending so much time managing so much. If I need less, I have more to give to those in need.
I wonder if it is a matter more of the soul… how free am I to share the knowledge and wisdom and experience I have regarding God’s mercy, love and grace? Do I hoard it for myself and bask in my blessings? Or do I find needy souls around me and let God’s goodness flow through me and feed hungry souls? That would mean letting go of my precious time and listening to others – maybe even seeking them out when I know they are hurting or in need of my Master’s mercy. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48
“God is kind [even] to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Luke 6:35 If I am truly a follower of Christ, can I do any less? And if I am expected to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked, how much more so to those I call my friends and neighbors. And when I give, I am promised rewards both now and in eternity. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Silly hummingbirds… Share! Silly humans… Share!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Lessons from History
God warned Israel from the moment they left captivity in Egypt right up to the end. He had over 300 years of patience with Israel and over 450 years of patience with Judah, giving them every opportunity to turn back to him. He provided prophets to speak to them and warn them. But they continued in their destructive paths until Assyria put Israel back into captivity and Babylon put Judah back into captivity.
Where did they go wrong? “The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right… They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, ‘You shall not do this… They would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God… They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, ‘Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the Lord had forbidden them to do… They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols… They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshipped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in fire.” II Kings 17:9-17
It is so easy to look at that and say, “What were they thinking? How terrible they were to turn their hearts away from God! They even sacrificed their children!” But I wonder, if I am willing to look more closely at the character of these people and the character of people today, myself included, if there might be more in common than I would like to admit.
The church as a whole is not as separate as it once was from the world. Our structures have gone from being spirit led to being modeled after corporations. Rather than praying and carefully appointing leadership, we apply and hire. Rather than appointing based on prayer and expressed gifts of the spirit, we appoint based on wealth and power. We choose comfort over anything. We have become a consumer oriented church entertaining with programs rather than seeking what God might be saying to us. We get ourselves so busy with all the ‘things’ our churches are ‘doing’ that we fail to take time to study his Word and use it as our life guide. We fail to pray because we don’t understand the power of prayer. We don’t know the God we are supposedly talking to. If we do pray, we try to get him to line up with our plans rather than moving our hearts to line up with his.
As individuals, we choose our heroes from TV and movies, from performers of music and arts or sports and from those who make political splashes in the world – good or bad. We continue to search for the elusive ‘Fountain of Youth’ rather than enjoying the wisdom that comes with age. We go to doctors and expect them to be able to make us live forever and without pain rather than saying with Paul, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” (Philippians 1:21) or we become like King Asa and look only to doctors for healing and not to God (II Chronicles 16:12). We fail to see that it is God who gives us life and every day is a gift from him.
We make idols out of power and prestige. We shop at the finest of stores and parade in our latest fashions. We take only positions that come with high regard and monetary rewards. We will serve on the church board, but not clean the toilets or visit the sick or imprisoned. No one wants to teach the youth because that would take too much time and energy to keep them entertained. So we pay charismatic youth leaders to take them to concerts and entertainment parks. We avoid positions in ministry because they usually come with lower salaries or no salaries and ministry people don’t often get invited to the prestigious parties and ‘happening’ events.
We may not burn our children in fires, but we sacrifice them nevertheless. We sacrifice them to our own careers and entertainment or recreation plans. We leave them with day care workers, babysitters, neighbors, or even by themselves so we can work our prestigious, high-income jobs in order to have more ‘big toys’ to play with like high cost cars, vacation homes in exotic places, yachts, etc. We selfishly make our plans for retirement while our children jump up and down trying to get our attention about today’s needs to be loved and nurtured and to have a role model they can respect.
While the things done by the Israelites back in those days may have been more primitive to our way of thinking, their hearts were really not so different than ours – still in need of transformation by a loving and patient God. Of course, not all of our churches and/or Christians fall into all the trappings described above, but many do. And the ‘success’ of a church is often seen in how many people we have coming to our programs rather than what God is doing and how many lives have been transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.
Is it any wonder that the world looks at us and calls us hypocrites and says we have nothing to offer them? We often look so much like them that they can’t tell us apart.
A friend recently found that transforming power of Christ and is now looking for a church that understands it and will nurture spiritual growth. This person has been going to a fairly large church in a metropolitan area for a number of years. Suddenly, they see how void of Christ, his authority and power to change lives this particular church really is. It had provided a place to find friendship with basically ‘good’ people. But finding a place to be nurtured and discipled in this new found faith has become a challenge though there are thousands of churches all around.
Paul frequently talks about ‘freedom in Christ,’ yet we so blindly walk into captivity. I would that our hearts would be set free to follow Christ. “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 God, please help me to keep my eyes and ears tuned in to you so that I will not become “ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving,” as the people in Isaiah 6:9. Help me to avoid the trappings of this world and to follow whole-heartedly after you.
Where did they go wrong? “The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right… They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, ‘You shall not do this… They would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God… They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, ‘Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the Lord had forbidden them to do… They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols… They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshipped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in fire.” II Kings 17:9-17
It is so easy to look at that and say, “What were they thinking? How terrible they were to turn their hearts away from God! They even sacrificed their children!” But I wonder, if I am willing to look more closely at the character of these people and the character of people today, myself included, if there might be more in common than I would like to admit.
The church as a whole is not as separate as it once was from the world. Our structures have gone from being spirit led to being modeled after corporations. Rather than praying and carefully appointing leadership, we apply and hire. Rather than appointing based on prayer and expressed gifts of the spirit, we appoint based on wealth and power. We choose comfort over anything. We have become a consumer oriented church entertaining with programs rather than seeking what God might be saying to us. We get ourselves so busy with all the ‘things’ our churches are ‘doing’ that we fail to take time to study his Word and use it as our life guide. We fail to pray because we don’t understand the power of prayer. We don’t know the God we are supposedly talking to. If we do pray, we try to get him to line up with our plans rather than moving our hearts to line up with his.
As individuals, we choose our heroes from TV and movies, from performers of music and arts or sports and from those who make political splashes in the world – good or bad. We continue to search for the elusive ‘Fountain of Youth’ rather than enjoying the wisdom that comes with age. We go to doctors and expect them to be able to make us live forever and without pain rather than saying with Paul, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” (Philippians 1:21) or we become like King Asa and look only to doctors for healing and not to God (II Chronicles 16:12). We fail to see that it is God who gives us life and every day is a gift from him.
We make idols out of power and prestige. We shop at the finest of stores and parade in our latest fashions. We take only positions that come with high regard and monetary rewards. We will serve on the church board, but not clean the toilets or visit the sick or imprisoned. No one wants to teach the youth because that would take too much time and energy to keep them entertained. So we pay charismatic youth leaders to take them to concerts and entertainment parks. We avoid positions in ministry because they usually come with lower salaries or no salaries and ministry people don’t often get invited to the prestigious parties and ‘happening’ events.
We may not burn our children in fires, but we sacrifice them nevertheless. We sacrifice them to our own careers and entertainment or recreation plans. We leave them with day care workers, babysitters, neighbors, or even by themselves so we can work our prestigious, high-income jobs in order to have more ‘big toys’ to play with like high cost cars, vacation homes in exotic places, yachts, etc. We selfishly make our plans for retirement while our children jump up and down trying to get our attention about today’s needs to be loved and nurtured and to have a role model they can respect.
While the things done by the Israelites back in those days may have been more primitive to our way of thinking, their hearts were really not so different than ours – still in need of transformation by a loving and patient God. Of course, not all of our churches and/or Christians fall into all the trappings described above, but many do. And the ‘success’ of a church is often seen in how many people we have coming to our programs rather than what God is doing and how many lives have been transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.
Is it any wonder that the world looks at us and calls us hypocrites and says we have nothing to offer them? We often look so much like them that they can’t tell us apart.
A friend recently found that transforming power of Christ and is now looking for a church that understands it and will nurture spiritual growth. This person has been going to a fairly large church in a metropolitan area for a number of years. Suddenly, they see how void of Christ, his authority and power to change lives this particular church really is. It had provided a place to find friendship with basically ‘good’ people. But finding a place to be nurtured and discipled in this new found faith has become a challenge though there are thousands of churches all around.
Paul frequently talks about ‘freedom in Christ,’ yet we so blindly walk into captivity. I would that our hearts would be set free to follow Christ. “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 God, please help me to keep my eyes and ears tuned in to you so that I will not become “ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving,” as the people in Isaiah 6:9. Help me to avoid the trappings of this world and to follow whole-heartedly after you.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Great Unveiling
Why is it that even those who are free keep returning to bondage? Over the last 250 years, our nation that fought for freedom and uses the word freedom in any definition of who we are has continually moved back toward bondage. We create more and more laws to govern our society and hire more and more lawyers to defend our right to freedom and we send our children to war to fight for our freedom. And in the process we find ourselves getting more and more entangled in the web of our governing laws. We have so many laws that we have to appoint lawyers to study the laws and determine if we are abiding by them or not. I don’t think this is what our founding fathers had in mind when they set out to design a free nation.
Why is it, then, that our churches also find themselves bogging down in our own set of laws? Why do we try so hard to be like the world when Christ came to set us free from the bondage that the world is tied up in? We make laws for our denominations and then we appoint people to determine if people are living under the laws or not. We ‘kick people out’ if they don’t abide by our laws. And we study the laws and make more laws if we think people need to change.
What actually does a law do? It defines the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a society and unacceptable behavior is punished. The Law of Moses set out before the people what God expected of them in terms of behavior. The law points out when we are failing. It condemns us when we fail.
But even as the Law was being written, the Spirit of God brought a righteousness with it and it was apparent on Moses’ face. When Moses spent time with God, his face became so radiant that the people couldn’t stand it. So he put a veil over his face to hide the radiance from them because they couldn’t handle it.
Paul picked up on this and in his second letter to the Corinthians he encouraged them to move into the freedom Christ provided for them and to not let themselves get tied up in the bondage again. “If the ministry that condemns men [the law] is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness [salvation through Christ]!” II Corinthians 3:9
Paul goes on to talk about the veil that covers the hearts of people and keeps them from seeing the radiance of God. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory and are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:16-18
As I spend time with Christ (reading his Word, meditating, praying), I am being transformed into his likeness. And since his likeness is radiant with glory, I begin to become radiant. And as I become radiant, others have to determine if they will put up the veil that blocks that radiance or if they will become transformed by that radiance. Those who prefer the law over freedom will put up the veil. They will make even more laws to try to veil the radiance of my freedom in Christ. And so we have a tangled web of denominational structures trying to maintain the laws and making more laws to define the laws already in place. We kick out people who don’t abide by the laws we maintain and we invite people in only after they have studied our laws and agree to abide by them.
I wonder what our churches would look like if we lowered the veil and let Christ’s true radiance shine. If each of us took seriously our continuing transformation and allowed Christ’s radiance to shine in us, could we do with less structured laws and regain the freedom that Christ gave to us in the first place? Could we become a radiant church that shines so brightly in a community that people have to take notice of it and have to decide whether they want to become part of the brightness or put up veils to hide it?
I want to reflect God’s glory that lights up the world and exposes the darkness. Lord, let your radiance shine through me!
Why is it, then, that our churches also find themselves bogging down in our own set of laws? Why do we try so hard to be like the world when Christ came to set us free from the bondage that the world is tied up in? We make laws for our denominations and then we appoint people to determine if people are living under the laws or not. We ‘kick people out’ if they don’t abide by our laws. And we study the laws and make more laws if we think people need to change.
What actually does a law do? It defines the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a society and unacceptable behavior is punished. The Law of Moses set out before the people what God expected of them in terms of behavior. The law points out when we are failing. It condemns us when we fail.
But even as the Law was being written, the Spirit of God brought a righteousness with it and it was apparent on Moses’ face. When Moses spent time with God, his face became so radiant that the people couldn’t stand it. So he put a veil over his face to hide the radiance from them because they couldn’t handle it.
Paul picked up on this and in his second letter to the Corinthians he encouraged them to move into the freedom Christ provided for them and to not let themselves get tied up in the bondage again. “If the ministry that condemns men [the law] is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness [salvation through Christ]!” II Corinthians 3:9
Paul goes on to talk about the veil that covers the hearts of people and keeps them from seeing the radiance of God. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory and are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:16-18
As I spend time with Christ (reading his Word, meditating, praying), I am being transformed into his likeness. And since his likeness is radiant with glory, I begin to become radiant. And as I become radiant, others have to determine if they will put up the veil that blocks that radiance or if they will become transformed by that radiance. Those who prefer the law over freedom will put up the veil. They will make even more laws to try to veil the radiance of my freedom in Christ. And so we have a tangled web of denominational structures trying to maintain the laws and making more laws to define the laws already in place. We kick out people who don’t abide by the laws we maintain and we invite people in only after they have studied our laws and agree to abide by them.
I wonder what our churches would look like if we lowered the veil and let Christ’s true radiance shine. If each of us took seriously our continuing transformation and allowed Christ’s radiance to shine in us, could we do with less structured laws and regain the freedom that Christ gave to us in the first place? Could we become a radiant church that shines so brightly in a community that people have to take notice of it and have to decide whether they want to become part of the brightness or put up veils to hide it?
I want to reflect God’s glory that lights up the world and exposes the darkness. Lord, let your radiance shine through me!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Finishing Well
As we read through the history of the Kings of Israel and Judah, we are told that they either were a good king and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, or that they were not a good king and did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. What strikes me as interesting is how many of the kings that were good kings did not finish well or still had a couple areas of weakness in their following the Lord.
Asa was one of those kings. He cleaned up Judah and got rid of the shrine prostitutes and idols. He got rid of the Asherah pole of his grandmother and removed her from her position as queen mother. Then he stopped short of getting rid of the high places. “Although he did not remove the high places, his heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.” I Kings 15:14
Asa got tired fighting with Israel and took all the temple treasures of gold and silver and paid Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, to quit siding with Israel and side with Judah. Instead of turning to God for help, he went to an earthly kingdom to fight his battles for him. Later in life, we learn that King Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. “Though the disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.” II Chronicles 16:12
“At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: ‘Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.’" II Chronicles 16:7-9
Somewhere along the line, Asa quit fully relying on God and began to rely on the armies of men. He quite trusting God to care for him and began to rely on physicians. How could someone who started so strong end up so weak?
When athletes line up for a race, there are three parts to the race: the start, the middle, and the finish. Some athletes begin strong but fizzle out quickly, some run strong through the race but don’t finish well, and some start strong, run strong and finish strong. What is the difference in these athletes? An athlete that starts strong but fizzles out is generally one who hasn’t thought through the race in his head. He is someone who is not disciplined but rather ‘wings it’. He may not have conditioned his body for the race. He doesn’t understand how to pace himself. Even a strong, conditioned athlete can run a strong race all along but not reserve anything for the finish. To have a strong finish, the athlete needs to prepare himself totally for the race – physically and mentally. He needs to condition himself with winning in mind. He needs to know himself and know his opponents.
Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” I Corinthians 9:24-25
My life is made up of many smaller races that add up to the big race. Each day I run a race. When I get to the end of the day, can I say with confidence, “I started well, I ran a good race, and I finished well?” As I look at a week of my life, can I say, “I started well, I ran a good race, and I finished well?” How about the last year? Or the last ten years? When I get to my death bed, will I look back over my life and be able to say I ran a good race?
It seems that when the kings failed to finish well, it was because they took their eyes off of God and looked to foreign kings to save them from their enemies or to fight a battle for them. Or sometimes it was because they took stock of all that God had given them and thought they had in some way earned it and their pride in their own accomplishments kept them from finishing well.
What do I need to finish well? I think I need to begin each day with time set apart for God. This is a time when I seek his face and submit my will to his. It is a time when I draw my strength from his. It is a time when I learn to not rely on myself but to rather rely on him. It is a time when he prepares me for the race. Then, throughout the day, I need to persevere and draw on that strength and wisdom that he filled me with at the beginning of the day. Sometimes, I can get recharged throughout the day as well. The end of the day is the hardest part. When I am tired and battered, rather than forging ahead, I want to retreat. Sometimes I take my eyes off of the finish line and off of the Provider of Life and whine that I have nothing left. I forget to look back at all the things he has done for me and be encouraged to forge ahead to the finish line with the knowledge that he will continue to provide for me the strength and wisdom I need if I rely totally on him, not myself, not my circumstances and not others to hold me up.
I want to finish well – moment by moment, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year. That means I need to always keep my eyes on the Lord, the One who sustains me and not rely on anyone or anything else that comes along.
Asa was one of those kings. He cleaned up Judah and got rid of the shrine prostitutes and idols. He got rid of the Asherah pole of his grandmother and removed her from her position as queen mother. Then he stopped short of getting rid of the high places. “Although he did not remove the high places, his heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.” I Kings 15:14
Asa got tired fighting with Israel and took all the temple treasures of gold and silver and paid Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, to quit siding with Israel and side with Judah. Instead of turning to God for help, he went to an earthly kingdom to fight his battles for him. Later in life, we learn that King Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. “Though the disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.” II Chronicles 16:12
“At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: ‘Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.’" II Chronicles 16:7-9
Somewhere along the line, Asa quit fully relying on God and began to rely on the armies of men. He quite trusting God to care for him and began to rely on physicians. How could someone who started so strong end up so weak?
When athletes line up for a race, there are three parts to the race: the start, the middle, and the finish. Some athletes begin strong but fizzle out quickly, some run strong through the race but don’t finish well, and some start strong, run strong and finish strong. What is the difference in these athletes? An athlete that starts strong but fizzles out is generally one who hasn’t thought through the race in his head. He is someone who is not disciplined but rather ‘wings it’. He may not have conditioned his body for the race. He doesn’t understand how to pace himself. Even a strong, conditioned athlete can run a strong race all along but not reserve anything for the finish. To have a strong finish, the athlete needs to prepare himself totally for the race – physically and mentally. He needs to condition himself with winning in mind. He needs to know himself and know his opponents.
Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” I Corinthians 9:24-25
My life is made up of many smaller races that add up to the big race. Each day I run a race. When I get to the end of the day, can I say with confidence, “I started well, I ran a good race, and I finished well?” As I look at a week of my life, can I say, “I started well, I ran a good race, and I finished well?” How about the last year? Or the last ten years? When I get to my death bed, will I look back over my life and be able to say I ran a good race?
It seems that when the kings failed to finish well, it was because they took their eyes off of God and looked to foreign kings to save them from their enemies or to fight a battle for them. Or sometimes it was because they took stock of all that God had given them and thought they had in some way earned it and their pride in their own accomplishments kept them from finishing well.
What do I need to finish well? I think I need to begin each day with time set apart for God. This is a time when I seek his face and submit my will to his. It is a time when I draw my strength from his. It is a time when I learn to not rely on myself but to rather rely on him. It is a time when he prepares me for the race. Then, throughout the day, I need to persevere and draw on that strength and wisdom that he filled me with at the beginning of the day. Sometimes, I can get recharged throughout the day as well. The end of the day is the hardest part. When I am tired and battered, rather than forging ahead, I want to retreat. Sometimes I take my eyes off of the finish line and off of the Provider of Life and whine that I have nothing left. I forget to look back at all the things he has done for me and be encouraged to forge ahead to the finish line with the knowledge that he will continue to provide for me the strength and wisdom I need if I rely totally on him, not myself, not my circumstances and not others to hold me up.
I want to finish well – moment by moment, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year. That means I need to always keep my eyes on the Lord, the One who sustains me and not rely on anyone or anything else that comes along.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Boundaries and Belonging
As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, Moses gave them instructions for inhabiting the land. One of those instructions was, “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you live.” Numbers 33:35
And as we read their continued story, we see that indeed, those they did not drive out taught them to worship other gods and forget the commandments God had given them through Moses. Israel had many painful experiences as a result of turning their backs on God. But when they had enough, they would again cry out to God to save them, to heal them, and to be their God once again.
Today, we see some churches that have strong boundaries. They control tightly what their people do and where they go – even who comes to church on Sunday morning. They provide worship experiences for their people and they provide teaching for their children. They provide their own schools and do not allow their children to attend Bible School or summer camp programs of other churches or denominations. They want to be the only instruction their children receive. They have found the Promised Land and they circle around their families and children and keep them safe there.
There are other churches that have very little if any boundaries. There is no difference inside the church or outside the church except that at least some of the people inside the church have at some time said the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and became ‘saved’ or at least they have become ‘members’ of the church. If you asked those within such a church what they believed, many would have difficulty expressing any specific beliefs.
Boundaries define who we are. Boundaries give us a ‘safe zone’ in which to live. But as much as they keep us in, they can also keep others out. And frankly, they don’t seem to be real effective in keeping us ‘safe’ as over time, they seem to erode and break down. There is human will and desire to deal with and when there is something outside the boundary that we personally want, suddenly we are in favor of exceptions. Or worse yet, we act on our desires and pretend that we live within the boundaries at the same time creating what the world sees as hypocrisy.
Belonging, on the other hand, defines what we do – how we act. Within families we have characteristics that we share with each other. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” some say. Or a corporation or ministry that we belong to says, “There are other ways to do this, but this is the (insert corporate name) way to do it.” As we move to the New Testament, we find God’s people also move from boundaries to belonging. Jesus says, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus is calling us to act like the family we belong to – God’s family.
The Apostle Paul reminds us often that we have been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus. We belong to God. We are his adopted children. Jesus calls us ‘friends’ and ‘brothers’. If we are part of God’s family, then we need to act like his family. Here is what defines us as members of his family: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
This sense of belonging to God’s family, knowing we are loved by our Heavenly Father, allows us to focus on relationships – loving God and loving each other – rather than focusing on obeying laws. It is not that boundaries necessarily disappear, but they are not needed so badly if we operate out of our ‘family nature’ rather than out of our sinful nature. If we make decisions based on our love for God and love for each other, they will fall within the boundaries God set for us. If we are uncertain about a decision, we can go to God’s Word and discover the ‘boundary’ he set regarding that decision. And he has placed his Holy Spirit within us to help us with the wisdom we need especially when things seem unclear.
I wonder what our churches would look like if we operated out of God’s love for us and others and our love for God and for each other rather than out of defined boundaries. Somehow, I think we would become a place of healing and nurture. We would not be so worried about who is in and who is out and if our siblings are staying in the boundaries, but rather we would be inviting, honest with ourselves and each other, and always pointing people to our awesome Father and his son, Jesus Christ. Our boundaries of who is in and who is out may become less clear as we invite others to give up their sinful natures and become more like a member of God’s family. At what point is the ‘prodigal’ part of the family? When is the ‘woman caught in adultery’ a family member? At what point do any of us belong to God’s family? Maybe that point has more to do with which way our face is turned. Because once we look in Jesus’ eyes and see the love he has for us, we are drawn to him and to his family. We may all be at different places, but if our face is turned toward God and our desire is to belong in his family, we will begin to take on the characteristics of his family, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind and loving others as ourselves.
And as we read their continued story, we see that indeed, those they did not drive out taught them to worship other gods and forget the commandments God had given them through Moses. Israel had many painful experiences as a result of turning their backs on God. But when they had enough, they would again cry out to God to save them, to heal them, and to be their God once again.
Today, we see some churches that have strong boundaries. They control tightly what their people do and where they go – even who comes to church on Sunday morning. They provide worship experiences for their people and they provide teaching for their children. They provide their own schools and do not allow their children to attend Bible School or summer camp programs of other churches or denominations. They want to be the only instruction their children receive. They have found the Promised Land and they circle around their families and children and keep them safe there.
There are other churches that have very little if any boundaries. There is no difference inside the church or outside the church except that at least some of the people inside the church have at some time said the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and became ‘saved’ or at least they have become ‘members’ of the church. If you asked those within such a church what they believed, many would have difficulty expressing any specific beliefs.
Boundaries define who we are. Boundaries give us a ‘safe zone’ in which to live. But as much as they keep us in, they can also keep others out. And frankly, they don’t seem to be real effective in keeping us ‘safe’ as over time, they seem to erode and break down. There is human will and desire to deal with and when there is something outside the boundary that we personally want, suddenly we are in favor of exceptions. Or worse yet, we act on our desires and pretend that we live within the boundaries at the same time creating what the world sees as hypocrisy.
Belonging, on the other hand, defines what we do – how we act. Within families we have characteristics that we share with each other. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” some say. Or a corporation or ministry that we belong to says, “There are other ways to do this, but this is the (insert corporate name) way to do it.” As we move to the New Testament, we find God’s people also move from boundaries to belonging. Jesus says, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus is calling us to act like the family we belong to – God’s family.
The Apostle Paul reminds us often that we have been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus. We belong to God. We are his adopted children. Jesus calls us ‘friends’ and ‘brothers’. If we are part of God’s family, then we need to act like his family. Here is what defines us as members of his family: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
This sense of belonging to God’s family, knowing we are loved by our Heavenly Father, allows us to focus on relationships – loving God and loving each other – rather than focusing on obeying laws. It is not that boundaries necessarily disappear, but they are not needed so badly if we operate out of our ‘family nature’ rather than out of our sinful nature. If we make decisions based on our love for God and love for each other, they will fall within the boundaries God set for us. If we are uncertain about a decision, we can go to God’s Word and discover the ‘boundary’ he set regarding that decision. And he has placed his Holy Spirit within us to help us with the wisdom we need especially when things seem unclear.
I wonder what our churches would look like if we operated out of God’s love for us and others and our love for God and for each other rather than out of defined boundaries. Somehow, I think we would become a place of healing and nurture. We would not be so worried about who is in and who is out and if our siblings are staying in the boundaries, but rather we would be inviting, honest with ourselves and each other, and always pointing people to our awesome Father and his son, Jesus Christ. Our boundaries of who is in and who is out may become less clear as we invite others to give up their sinful natures and become more like a member of God’s family. At what point is the ‘prodigal’ part of the family? When is the ‘woman caught in adultery’ a family member? At what point do any of us belong to God’s family? Maybe that point has more to do with which way our face is turned. Because once we look in Jesus’ eyes and see the love he has for us, we are drawn to him and to his family. We may all be at different places, but if our face is turned toward God and our desire is to belong in his family, we will begin to take on the characteristics of his family, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind and loving others as ourselves.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
It's Too Much
The more I study about Moses and his leading the Israelites out of Egypt, the more respect I have for him. It took some prodding from God and giving him his brother Aaron to help him get started (Exodus 4). It took his father-in-law’s wisdom to appoint officials to hear complaints from the people so Moses didn’t have to spend all day settling disputes (Exodus 18). But it was Moses who regularly talked with God and who, with God’s guidance and help, led the people who likely numbered near 2 million (600 thousand men age 20 and over, the Levites, plus women and children).
At first, the people were excited to be free from slavery in Egypt. But it wasn’t long before they began complaining about living conditions and lack of food and/or water. I can’t fathom leading 2 million people on a camping trip in the desert for a week, let alone 40 years. But here is Moses, being faithful to God, leading these people. It is no wonder to me that Moses is saying, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin." Numbers 11:11-15
I wonder if I would have had the guts to even start out. Moses is thinking about giving up here. He is asking God to cut him loose from the burden he is carrying. Why doesn’t anyone see that it is a huge burden and step up to help him? The people begin to see Moses as the enemy rather than their leader and helper. It is a very painful place to be in leadership. There is much to be learned from how God and Moses handled the problems.
Moses, with God’s help, demonstrated great leadership by having set up an order to traveling and stopping. They were organized by tribes and each had a place to be when they stopped, arranged around the Tabernacle, and a place to be when they traveled, order in line. As they left in order, they opened a space for the Tabernacle and the Holy things as they moved them out. And as they settled, they moved in in order to make space for the Tabernacle and then enclose around it. It was like a chorus getting into place on the risers on stage and leaving in order when they have completed their program. Only this is about 2 million people rather than 40-50.
Even with this all in place and working, the people get hot, tired, hungry, thirsty and testy. And they think Moses should fix it. And so Moses cries to God, “The burden is too heavy for me.” Numbers 11:14 Since the people did not come forth to help Moses on their own, God tells Moses, “Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” Numbers 11:16-17
Now we have middle management and the people have someone else to wail at besides Moses. And then God says, “Okay, I’ll provide meat for you all. In fact, I’ll provide so much you’ll get sick of it!” (Numbers 11:18-20)
Rather than saying, “Thank you. Now there will be some peace again for a few days,” Moses says, “Where is all the meat going to come from? How can we feed this many people meat every day?” (Numbers 11:21-22)
“The Lord answered Moses, ‘Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.’” Numbers 11:23 And God did provide enough quail for all to eat and be filled.
This is not only a story of God providing meat for the Israelites in the desert. It is a story of a leader who is burned out. It is easy to be confident in our leadership when people are following and everything is going well. But when people bulk, complain, or in this case wail, it is a different story. Suddenly, our world falls apart and we want out. It was not only the people not trusting God for provision, it was Moses not trusting God to get him through this. Not that I blame Moses in any way for his reaction at that point. It was a very human response. But I can learn from him and from how God dealt with it, that God can be trusted. His arm is not too short. He can deal with the worst of circumstances and get us through it. And so, regarding my ability to trust God to take care of things, I say with the man in the New Testament who asked Jesus for healing for his son, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24
I’m so glad these rough times have been documented in the Bible as well as the good times. It gives me hope and builds my trust in a God who can reach down into any situation I find myself in and give me just what I need to not only get through that day, but to thrive – to become stronger and better for having gone through it. I hope the next time I find myself burning out I can reach up to God and trust him to get me through rather than complaining and wailing about the burden being too much.
At first, the people were excited to be free from slavery in Egypt. But it wasn’t long before they began complaining about living conditions and lack of food and/or water. I can’t fathom leading 2 million people on a camping trip in the desert for a week, let alone 40 years. But here is Moses, being faithful to God, leading these people. It is no wonder to me that Moses is saying, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin." Numbers 11:11-15
I wonder if I would have had the guts to even start out. Moses is thinking about giving up here. He is asking God to cut him loose from the burden he is carrying. Why doesn’t anyone see that it is a huge burden and step up to help him? The people begin to see Moses as the enemy rather than their leader and helper. It is a very painful place to be in leadership. There is much to be learned from how God and Moses handled the problems.
Moses, with God’s help, demonstrated great leadership by having set up an order to traveling and stopping. They were organized by tribes and each had a place to be when they stopped, arranged around the Tabernacle, and a place to be when they traveled, order in line. As they left in order, they opened a space for the Tabernacle and the Holy things as they moved them out. And as they settled, they moved in in order to make space for the Tabernacle and then enclose around it. It was like a chorus getting into place on the risers on stage and leaving in order when they have completed their program. Only this is about 2 million people rather than 40-50.
Even with this all in place and working, the people get hot, tired, hungry, thirsty and testy. And they think Moses should fix it. And so Moses cries to God, “The burden is too heavy for me.” Numbers 11:14 Since the people did not come forth to help Moses on their own, God tells Moses, “Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” Numbers 11:16-17
Now we have middle management and the people have someone else to wail at besides Moses. And then God says, “Okay, I’ll provide meat for you all. In fact, I’ll provide so much you’ll get sick of it!” (Numbers 11:18-20)
Rather than saying, “Thank you. Now there will be some peace again for a few days,” Moses says, “Where is all the meat going to come from? How can we feed this many people meat every day?” (Numbers 11:21-22)
“The Lord answered Moses, ‘Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.’” Numbers 11:23 And God did provide enough quail for all to eat and be filled.
This is not only a story of God providing meat for the Israelites in the desert. It is a story of a leader who is burned out. It is easy to be confident in our leadership when people are following and everything is going well. But when people bulk, complain, or in this case wail, it is a different story. Suddenly, our world falls apart and we want out. It was not only the people not trusting God for provision, it was Moses not trusting God to get him through this. Not that I blame Moses in any way for his reaction at that point. It was a very human response. But I can learn from him and from how God dealt with it, that God can be trusted. His arm is not too short. He can deal with the worst of circumstances and get us through it. And so, regarding my ability to trust God to take care of things, I say with the man in the New Testament who asked Jesus for healing for his son, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24
I’m so glad these rough times have been documented in the Bible as well as the good times. It gives me hope and builds my trust in a God who can reach down into any situation I find myself in and give me just what I need to not only get through that day, but to thrive – to become stronger and better for having gone through it. I hope the next time I find myself burning out I can reach up to God and trust him to get me through rather than complaining and wailing about the burden being too much.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Not Even a Hint
God is a holy God. There is no room for impurity in his presence. Before Jesus came to offer us a way back to God, the Law gave the people a way for restitution. One particular area of the Law covered unfaithfulness to one’s spouse and jealousy regarding one’s spouse. “… and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure – or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure – then he is to take his wife to the priest…” Numbers 5:14-15
The Law goes on to state that a curse will be put over the woman and if she is guilty, “may the Lord cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell.” Numbers 5:21
I wonder if the women at that time were very careful to not cause their husbands to become jealous. This would mean absolutely no flirting, no making eyes or even letting oneself think of sexual sin let alone participate in it.
Today, emotional and sexual encounters outside of marriage are commonplace in our society. Movies, billboards, and even email coming into our personal accounts flaunt it and invite people to participate in uncommitted, lustful encounters. People are no longer looked down on for this kind of behavior. Rather, they are encouraged. Couples sometimes purposefully try to make each other jealous with flirtatious behavior to check out how much the other loves them. And many find that behavior ‘cute’ and acceptable.
Obviously, we are far from being a holy people living the way God intended for us to live. Jesus taught, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 I’m pretty sure that is true for women as well in how they look at men.
I wonder how much stronger marriages would be and how much less divorce would occur if we as Christians could abide by this simple rule. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” Ephesians 5:3
If I want my marriage to be strong and to survive, I need to keep my focus on my spouse and not let my eyes wander. I need to look to my spouse for the deep relationship that God intends for us to have. Even when we argue or disappoint each other, my focus needs to be on repairing the relationship, not fleeing it. Forgiveness, not jealously, is the way back to full relationship.
I’m pretty sure the Laws on jealousy are not something Moses made up because he was tired listening to men complain about their wives. It seems God has had in mind right from the beginning of time that “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 3:24 God’s best for us is to keep focused on each other and keep jealousy totally out of the equation. There is no room for jealousy in a godly relationship – not even a hint!
The Law goes on to state that a curse will be put over the woman and if she is guilty, “may the Lord cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell.” Numbers 5:21
I wonder if the women at that time were very careful to not cause their husbands to become jealous. This would mean absolutely no flirting, no making eyes or even letting oneself think of sexual sin let alone participate in it.
Today, emotional and sexual encounters outside of marriage are commonplace in our society. Movies, billboards, and even email coming into our personal accounts flaunt it and invite people to participate in uncommitted, lustful encounters. People are no longer looked down on for this kind of behavior. Rather, they are encouraged. Couples sometimes purposefully try to make each other jealous with flirtatious behavior to check out how much the other loves them. And many find that behavior ‘cute’ and acceptable.
Obviously, we are far from being a holy people living the way God intended for us to live. Jesus taught, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 I’m pretty sure that is true for women as well in how they look at men.
I wonder how much stronger marriages would be and how much less divorce would occur if we as Christians could abide by this simple rule. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” Ephesians 5:3
If I want my marriage to be strong and to survive, I need to keep my focus on my spouse and not let my eyes wander. I need to look to my spouse for the deep relationship that God intends for us to have. Even when we argue or disappoint each other, my focus needs to be on repairing the relationship, not fleeing it. Forgiveness, not jealously, is the way back to full relationship.
I’m pretty sure the Laws on jealousy are not something Moses made up because he was tired listening to men complain about their wives. It seems God has had in mind right from the beginning of time that “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 3:24 God’s best for us is to keep focused on each other and keep jealousy totally out of the equation. There is no room for jealousy in a godly relationship – not even a hint!
Friday, June 18, 2010
When Leaders Fall
On my way through this faster read of the Bible, I am seeing something I don’t think I noticed before. I seem to be focusing on leaders as real people rather than just as people God called out and blessed and to whom God gave extra abilities – supernatural powers. These real people faced real decisions and some made good ones and some made poor ones. They faced real temptations and some rose above them and some fell. Rather than aggrandizing these leaders, I am beginning to understand how hard it was to be in their position.
For instance, think about Moses for a moment. He was called to lead Israel out of Egypt. He gave up his comfortable life with his family and put his life on the line as he approached Pharaoh time after time carrying out God’s plagues on Egypt. Then he took over a million people on a 40 year camping trip in the desert without much in the way food supplies. I can’t imagine walking in his shoes. Yet, he followed God closely and didn’t become proud of his position.
Joshua followed Moses and had to find a way to energize and encourage the people to move forward and take the land God had given them. There were giants in the way. Yet he followed God closely and led Israel into the promised land.
And then fast forward to Samuel. He was separated from his mother and father at a very young age and taught to serve God. He was wise and the people listened to him, but his sons didn’t. I wonder if he overcompensated and spoiled his sons because he had suffered such emotional loss early in life. At any rate, there was no one to follow in his footsteps and the people asked for a king.
Saul was selected to be their king. He came into kingship humble and not sure how he was chosen out of all the people. But as he led the people into battle and was successful, he began to forget that it was God’s hand that made him successful and began to think it was his own hand and his own brilliance that made him deserve the kingship. He began to like his position and wanted to keep it, so he thought he needed to please the people rather than teaching the people to follow God.
I wonder if that was his downfall. His devotion turned from God to himself and the people. “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.” I Samuel 15:24 I wonder if Saul also wanted to be known throughout the world as a great king and thought he could get there his way rather than God’s way.
God saw that Saul’s heart had left him and could no longer use Saul as king of his people. I wonder how many leaders in our churches suffer from ‘Saul syndrome’. They begin their ministry really in touch with God and wanting to lead the people to God’s throne. And as their churches grow and people tell them how good they are, their focus changes from pleasing God and teaching his Word to pleasing the people and keeping them happy and coming back so they can have a big church and look good in the eyes of their peers and their congregations.
I would venture to guess that before every fall of a church leader, erosion occurred in their thinking. Rather than seeing themselves as servants of the Most High God, they began to see themselves as pretty smart and deserving of the praise they get from people. And since it feels good to get praise from others, they keep finding ways to get praise from people rather than from God. Sometimes they even go so far as to think they have special power over the people. They become the king in their little kingdom.
Saul had everything. He was tall, good looking, and chosen by God to be king. But he forgot his place and began to think he was a god and could do whatever he wanted. In fact, sometimes he thought he was smarter than God himself and didn’t follow the instructions he was given from God. I believe that was his downfall. And when confronted by Samuel, he blamed the people rather than confessing his own sin. In that slippery slide, he went from being used powerfully by God to being useless to God.
That is frightening. Leadership is a scary thing! Success is something we strive for, yet it is success that can cause us to not see we are standing on the edge of a cliff and we walk right over the edge.
Oh Lord, help me to never be confused about where success comes from. It is from your hand and not from mine. My desire is to labor with you and to follow your leading, to remain humble before you. All that I am comes from you and belongs to you. Amen.
For instance, think about Moses for a moment. He was called to lead Israel out of Egypt. He gave up his comfortable life with his family and put his life on the line as he approached Pharaoh time after time carrying out God’s plagues on Egypt. Then he took over a million people on a 40 year camping trip in the desert without much in the way food supplies. I can’t imagine walking in his shoes. Yet, he followed God closely and didn’t become proud of his position.
Joshua followed Moses and had to find a way to energize and encourage the people to move forward and take the land God had given them. There were giants in the way. Yet he followed God closely and led Israel into the promised land.
And then fast forward to Samuel. He was separated from his mother and father at a very young age and taught to serve God. He was wise and the people listened to him, but his sons didn’t. I wonder if he overcompensated and spoiled his sons because he had suffered such emotional loss early in life. At any rate, there was no one to follow in his footsteps and the people asked for a king.
Saul was selected to be their king. He came into kingship humble and not sure how he was chosen out of all the people. But as he led the people into battle and was successful, he began to forget that it was God’s hand that made him successful and began to think it was his own hand and his own brilliance that made him deserve the kingship. He began to like his position and wanted to keep it, so he thought he needed to please the people rather than teaching the people to follow God.
I wonder if that was his downfall. His devotion turned from God to himself and the people. “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.” I Samuel 15:24 I wonder if Saul also wanted to be known throughout the world as a great king and thought he could get there his way rather than God’s way.
God saw that Saul’s heart had left him and could no longer use Saul as king of his people. I wonder how many leaders in our churches suffer from ‘Saul syndrome’. They begin their ministry really in touch with God and wanting to lead the people to God’s throne. And as their churches grow and people tell them how good they are, their focus changes from pleasing God and teaching his Word to pleasing the people and keeping them happy and coming back so they can have a big church and look good in the eyes of their peers and their congregations.
I would venture to guess that before every fall of a church leader, erosion occurred in their thinking. Rather than seeing themselves as servants of the Most High God, they began to see themselves as pretty smart and deserving of the praise they get from people. And since it feels good to get praise from others, they keep finding ways to get praise from people rather than from God. Sometimes they even go so far as to think they have special power over the people. They become the king in their little kingdom.
Saul had everything. He was tall, good looking, and chosen by God to be king. But he forgot his place and began to think he was a god and could do whatever he wanted. In fact, sometimes he thought he was smarter than God himself and didn’t follow the instructions he was given from God. I believe that was his downfall. And when confronted by Samuel, he blamed the people rather than confessing his own sin. In that slippery slide, he went from being used powerfully by God to being useless to God.
That is frightening. Leadership is a scary thing! Success is something we strive for, yet it is success that can cause us to not see we are standing on the edge of a cliff and we walk right over the edge.
Oh Lord, help me to never be confused about where success comes from. It is from your hand and not from mine. My desire is to labor with you and to follow your leading, to remain humble before you. All that I am comes from you and belongs to you. Amen.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Receiving God's Gifts
“Hear, O my people, and I will warn you – if you would but listen to me, O Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:8-10
Over the years, we have had a variety of birds build nests and care for their young near the doors of our houses. As we come and go, we watch the bird build the nest, hatch their eggs and feed their young until they are ready to leave the nest. All baby birds have an instinct to open their mouths wide when they are hungry. In fact, some of them even sleep with their mouths wide open. They don’t want to miss the food that mama bird brings to them.
So when I read this Psalm today, I pictured a baby bird in the nest with its mouth wide open waiting to be fed. And I wondered how I am to be like a baby bird? A baby bird can do nothing to take care of itself – except open wide its mouth and wait on its mother to feed it. And the mother and father birds feed all the young in the nest… and feed… and feed… and feed… Soon the baby birds grow up and become mature birds because of all the good food they are getting.
Birds don’t normally feed each other’s young. A Robin doesn’t feed a Cardinal and a Cardinal doesn’t feed a Carolina Wren. Each bird knows just what their young need. So when that little mouth is hanging wide open, mama and papa put in just the right stuff to help their young grow.
When I come before God each day, I wonder how much like a baby bird I am. Am I completely trusting in him as my provider and the one who keeps me safe? Am I looking to him to satisfy my needs? Am I eating what he brings me and maturing in my faith? Or am I looking other places to have my needs met – my spouse? my children? my friends? the government? comfort food? my doctor? All of those people or things have a place in my life, but not to completely satisfy my hunger. Only God can do that. And I will never be satisfied unless I let God fill me.
Do I open my mouth – maybe even sleep with it open – so God can fill me? Or am I distracted by other people and things and try to leave the nest before I am ‘satisfied’ with God’s provision. Will I become the bird that is maturing and flying high or will I be the baby bird sitting on the ground because I fell out of the nest and now am at great risk because of my own foolishness.
This is another beautiful lesson on trusting God. As I spend time reading and studying the Bible (which I believe is his written Word he gave us to help us find our way back to him), and as I meditate on these words, I continue to grow in my trust in him. As I am fed by time in nature, instruction from others who have matured in their faith, and especially by my own time spent with him, I continue to grow in my trust in him. And trust in him brings peace to each day – no matter how difficult or busy the circumstances. I know that he will give me just what I need to be satisfied each day.
Thank you, God, for caring for me so completely and so continuously. Today may I use what you give me to give back to you and to others. Amen.
Over the years, we have had a variety of birds build nests and care for their young near the doors of our houses. As we come and go, we watch the bird build the nest, hatch their eggs and feed their young until they are ready to leave the nest. All baby birds have an instinct to open their mouths wide when they are hungry. In fact, some of them even sleep with their mouths wide open. They don’t want to miss the food that mama bird brings to them.
So when I read this Psalm today, I pictured a baby bird in the nest with its mouth wide open waiting to be fed. And I wondered how I am to be like a baby bird? A baby bird can do nothing to take care of itself – except open wide its mouth and wait on its mother to feed it. And the mother and father birds feed all the young in the nest… and feed… and feed… and feed… Soon the baby birds grow up and become mature birds because of all the good food they are getting.
Birds don’t normally feed each other’s young. A Robin doesn’t feed a Cardinal and a Cardinal doesn’t feed a Carolina Wren. Each bird knows just what their young need. So when that little mouth is hanging wide open, mama and papa put in just the right stuff to help their young grow.
When I come before God each day, I wonder how much like a baby bird I am. Am I completely trusting in him as my provider and the one who keeps me safe? Am I looking to him to satisfy my needs? Am I eating what he brings me and maturing in my faith? Or am I looking other places to have my needs met – my spouse? my children? my friends? the government? comfort food? my doctor? All of those people or things have a place in my life, but not to completely satisfy my hunger. Only God can do that. And I will never be satisfied unless I let God fill me.
Do I open my mouth – maybe even sleep with it open – so God can fill me? Or am I distracted by other people and things and try to leave the nest before I am ‘satisfied’ with God’s provision. Will I become the bird that is maturing and flying high or will I be the baby bird sitting on the ground because I fell out of the nest and now am at great risk because of my own foolishness.
This is another beautiful lesson on trusting God. As I spend time reading and studying the Bible (which I believe is his written Word he gave us to help us find our way back to him), and as I meditate on these words, I continue to grow in my trust in him. As I am fed by time in nature, instruction from others who have matured in their faith, and especially by my own time spent with him, I continue to grow in my trust in him. And trust in him brings peace to each day – no matter how difficult or busy the circumstances. I know that he will give me just what I need to be satisfied each day.
Thank you, God, for caring for me so completely and so continuously. Today may I use what you give me to give back to you and to others. Amen.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Who is this Jesus?
Since the writers of the Gospels are focused on telling us about Jesus, I decided to ask the question, “Who is this Jesus?” as I was doing my fast read through Mark. There is no question that this is someone I want to know and have as a friend and mentor. So what makes him so attractive?
He is confident in his teaching and actions – not wishy-washy. I can count on him to be the same person tomorrow as he is today. “The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Mark 1:22
He draws his strength and focus from his relationship with God, the Father – not others, not the news, not his morning coffee. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 I wonder what would happen if we all started our day in this solitary place with God…
Jesus was filled with compassion. He couldn’t walk by someone in need without touching them, healing them, or blessing them. He was never too busy to show compassion. “A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.” Mark 1:40-42
He was a healer, not just of physical diseases, but a healer of the body, the soul, the emotion – whatever part of themselves people brought to him for healing and more. When friends brought a paralytic to him for healing, he forgave the man’s sins. He also healed him physically, but Jesus knew the man needed more than that. (Mark 2:1-12)
Jesus was a wise teacher and mentor to those who followed him. Crowds gathered around him and several individuals followed him and sat under his teaching. He told parables to help the people understand and remember what he was teaching. And the disciples developed faith and leadership as he set up learning opportunities for them. (Mark 6:6-13)
Jesus was distressed at stubborn hearts when the religious leaders followed their own interpretations of the Law and hurt people rather than helping them. “He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts…” Mark 3:5
Jesus was full of power. He calmed a storm that had frightened the disciples who were used to the squalls that came up on the sea. “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” Mark 4: 41 He was stopped only by lack of faith. “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:5-6
While he was teaching the crowds, he also satisfied their hunger. Mark 6:30-44 Jesus satisfies the hunger of souls as well as meeting the physical needs.
Jesus is God’s Son. Several of the disciples got a firsthand introduction on the mountain when Moses and Elijah showed up and God said (referring to Jesus), "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Mark 9:7
Jesus is our Savior, full of love, mercy and grace, a servant of all. He cares deeply about those society tends to trample (the poor, the fatherless, the widow) and has no tolerance for those who use their religion to take advantage of others. (Mark 11:12-20, Chapters 14-16)
Jesus could always see into the heart/motivation of people and prescribed just what the person needed to have peace with God. (Mark 10:17-22)
This Jesus is someone I want to be close to. I want his goodness to rub off on me – to challenge me and to put light on the areas of my life that need changing and to encourage me to be the person I can only be with his great influence in my life. As I let his love wash over me and consume me, I find that I have more love, compassion, mercy and grace for others. His wisdom is constantly available to me when I call out to him. My desire is to become more like Jesus, my Teacher, my Mentor, my Friend.
He is confident in his teaching and actions – not wishy-washy. I can count on him to be the same person tomorrow as he is today. “The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Mark 1:22
He draws his strength and focus from his relationship with God, the Father – not others, not the news, not his morning coffee. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 I wonder what would happen if we all started our day in this solitary place with God…
Jesus was filled with compassion. He couldn’t walk by someone in need without touching them, healing them, or blessing them. He was never too busy to show compassion. “A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.” Mark 1:40-42
He was a healer, not just of physical diseases, but a healer of the body, the soul, the emotion – whatever part of themselves people brought to him for healing and more. When friends brought a paralytic to him for healing, he forgave the man’s sins. He also healed him physically, but Jesus knew the man needed more than that. (Mark 2:1-12)
Jesus was a wise teacher and mentor to those who followed him. Crowds gathered around him and several individuals followed him and sat under his teaching. He told parables to help the people understand and remember what he was teaching. And the disciples developed faith and leadership as he set up learning opportunities for them. (Mark 6:6-13)
Jesus was distressed at stubborn hearts when the religious leaders followed their own interpretations of the Law and hurt people rather than helping them. “He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts…” Mark 3:5
Jesus was full of power. He calmed a storm that had frightened the disciples who were used to the squalls that came up on the sea. “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” Mark 4: 41 He was stopped only by lack of faith. “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:5-6
While he was teaching the crowds, he also satisfied their hunger. Mark 6:30-44 Jesus satisfies the hunger of souls as well as meeting the physical needs.
Jesus is God’s Son. Several of the disciples got a firsthand introduction on the mountain when Moses and Elijah showed up and God said (referring to Jesus), "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Mark 9:7
Jesus is our Savior, full of love, mercy and grace, a servant of all. He cares deeply about those society tends to trample (the poor, the fatherless, the widow) and has no tolerance for those who use their religion to take advantage of others. (Mark 11:12-20, Chapters 14-16)
Jesus could always see into the heart/motivation of people and prescribed just what the person needed to have peace with God. (Mark 10:17-22)
This Jesus is someone I want to be close to. I want his goodness to rub off on me – to challenge me and to put light on the areas of my life that need changing and to encourage me to be the person I can only be with his great influence in my life. As I let his love wash over me and consume me, I find that I have more love, compassion, mercy and grace for others. His wisdom is constantly available to me when I call out to him. My desire is to become more like Jesus, my Teacher, my Mentor, my Friend.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Tension in God's Family
There is a tension between Paul and the ‘chosen disciples’ of Jesus Christ. While we don’t hear too much about it from Peter or James or John, Paul talks about it in Galatians. First, Paul clearly stated his calling which was revealed to him through Jesus Christ while on the road to Damascus. We sometimes think that Paul got up from his meeting with Ananias and took off on his missionary journeys. While he likely shared what happened to him and began sharing the gospel with others, it seems that he took a few years to ‘restudy’ all that he knew from Scripture and reorganize it in his mind with his newfound faith in Jesus Christ. It was three years before he actually went to Jerusalem to “get acquainted with Peter” and spend a couple of weeks with him likely comparing notes and checking himself on his interpretations (Galatians 1:18). The tension: The disciples were called, but Paul also was clearly called.
Fourteen years later, Paul returned to Jerusalem, this time clearly to recheck what he understood and was teaching with the leadership in the church in Jerusalem. As they left that meeting, Paul says of the leadership in Jerusalem, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” Galatians 2:10 The tension: Jewish traditions vs. freedom in Christ.
A third tension, very related to the second tension, also comes out as Paul speaks to the Galatians because of the confusion or uncertainty of what is required to be a follower of Christ. Is it following the law (the circumcision group) or is it justified by grace – faith in Jesus Christ? It seems that there is already a ‘denominational’ split here and Paul is trying very hard to prevent it. This comes out in his discussion of the law vs. grace. While the Jews are trying to force circumcision on the Gentiles, Paul says, “Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.” Galatians 5:3 In other words, if our salvation is hinged on any part of the law, we need to perfectly obey the whole law – which we have proven over and over we are not capable of. The tension: The Law of the Jews; salvation through grace for all.
This third tension comes out when Peter comes to visit and before other Jews show up, he is comfortable eating with Gentiles. But once the Jews show up, they all pull back, including Peter. So Paul confronts Peter with all of them present and says, “Let’s talk about this… Why was Christ crucified if we can be saved by the law?” And then he goes on to talk about what it means to be crucified with Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.” Galatians 2:20-21
Paul then uses Scripture – the story of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael – to further talk about being children of God. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29
Once Paul is very clear where he stands in these tensions, he goes on to teach what it means to have freedom in Christ. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:13-15
The freedom in Christ that we often miss is the freedom to not be focused on ourselves and our self-centered desires, but rather to love others as Christ loves us and loves them. It is a wonderful peace that comes when I no longer have to compare myself with others or get upset when others don’t cater to my wishes. This freedom comes from caring more about what God thinks than what people think.
When Paul gives his list of things we do in the sinful nature, we tend to see drunkenness and debauchery , pat ourselves on the back for not having problems with that, and ignore “discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy…” Galatians 5:20-21 Yet, I wonder how many times our churches are torn apart by just those things. If we are truly living in the spirit of freedom in Christ, we will see “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22 Those come from the transformation that happens when we fully give up our own desires and take on the desires of Christ. Nearly every argument and faction that occurs in our churches, neighborhoods, and families comes from selfish desires clashing with each other. I wonder what it would be like to be part of a church that is full of freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:22) rather than sinful nature (Galatians 5:20-21).
The final tension, then, resides within me. Will I cave in to selfish desires or will I allow God’s spirit to fill me with his desires and experience peace, joy, patience, self-control. Will I choose to live by the law with tidy rules to follow each day (oops, messed up with that one…oh well, no one’s perfect) or will I choose to live in God’s grace being thankful for what Christ did for me and striving to live every breath making sure others know of this freedom in Christ.
Fourteen years later, Paul returned to Jerusalem, this time clearly to recheck what he understood and was teaching with the leadership in the church in Jerusalem. As they left that meeting, Paul says of the leadership in Jerusalem, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” Galatians 2:10 The tension: Jewish traditions vs. freedom in Christ.
A third tension, very related to the second tension, also comes out as Paul speaks to the Galatians because of the confusion or uncertainty of what is required to be a follower of Christ. Is it following the law (the circumcision group) or is it justified by grace – faith in Jesus Christ? It seems that there is already a ‘denominational’ split here and Paul is trying very hard to prevent it. This comes out in his discussion of the law vs. grace. While the Jews are trying to force circumcision on the Gentiles, Paul says, “Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.” Galatians 5:3 In other words, if our salvation is hinged on any part of the law, we need to perfectly obey the whole law – which we have proven over and over we are not capable of. The tension: The Law of the Jews; salvation through grace for all.
This third tension comes out when Peter comes to visit and before other Jews show up, he is comfortable eating with Gentiles. But once the Jews show up, they all pull back, including Peter. So Paul confronts Peter with all of them present and says, “Let’s talk about this… Why was Christ crucified if we can be saved by the law?” And then he goes on to talk about what it means to be crucified with Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.” Galatians 2:20-21
Paul then uses Scripture – the story of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael – to further talk about being children of God. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29
Once Paul is very clear where he stands in these tensions, he goes on to teach what it means to have freedom in Christ. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:13-15
The freedom in Christ that we often miss is the freedom to not be focused on ourselves and our self-centered desires, but rather to love others as Christ loves us and loves them. It is a wonderful peace that comes when I no longer have to compare myself with others or get upset when others don’t cater to my wishes. This freedom comes from caring more about what God thinks than what people think.
When Paul gives his list of things we do in the sinful nature, we tend to see drunkenness and debauchery , pat ourselves on the back for not having problems with that, and ignore “discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy…” Galatians 5:20-21 Yet, I wonder how many times our churches are torn apart by just those things. If we are truly living in the spirit of freedom in Christ, we will see “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22 Those come from the transformation that happens when we fully give up our own desires and take on the desires of Christ. Nearly every argument and faction that occurs in our churches, neighborhoods, and families comes from selfish desires clashing with each other. I wonder what it would be like to be part of a church that is full of freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:22) rather than sinful nature (Galatians 5:20-21).
The final tension, then, resides within me. Will I cave in to selfish desires or will I allow God’s spirit to fill me with his desires and experience peace, joy, patience, self-control. Will I choose to live by the law with tidy rules to follow each day (oops, messed up with that one…oh well, no one’s perfect) or will I choose to live in God’s grace being thankful for what Christ did for me and striving to live every breath making sure others know of this freedom in Christ.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Pass It On
Throughout the book of Judges, the Israelites frequently lose their way and various judges bring them back to God. Within a few years of that judge dying, the people are lost again. It brings to mind a verse from Proverbs. “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18 The King James version says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” One of the jobs of leaders is to keep the people focused on the vision. Where are we headed?
After Moses and Joshua both died, Israel did not have consistent strong leadership holding them together. They had multiplied in number and were spread out over the Promised Land. They failed to rid the land of the inhabitants and began to take on the foreign gods and forgot about their God who had freed them from slavery and led them to the Promised Land. Periodically, God called out leaders to turn their hearts back to him. And so we have the stories of Gideon and Sampson we teach in Sunday School and children especially like to imitate these ‘superheroes’.
But even in those stories there is a lot of unsettling behavior and conflict among the Israelites – horrible stories of prostitution, sexual abuses, civil war, and intermarriage with the nations they were to have driven out. My stomach turns as I read these portions of Scripture. The Israelites lost sight of their laws and of their God who had led them in previous generations. And their behaviors and lifestyles rapidly deteriorated leading them to come under enemy control.
I wonder, did God leave them or did they leave God? Or did God leave them to their own devices so that they would rediscover their need for him? “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.” Judges 13:1 That is the lead in to the story of Sampson.
And I wonder, how did the Israelites get so far from God so quickly? In just a couple of generations, they had completely forgotten what the Lord had done for them as a people. “After that whole generation had been gathered to their families, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 So what am I to learn from the book of Judges? I can’t help but think of God’s instructions through Moses. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
The only way to keep the future generations from falling into deep sin is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and strength. In doing that, I will instruct my children by the way I live my life. And as I talk about my God and what he means to me, my children will come to know him as their God as well. Maybe this is why in Revelation it says, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16 Taking our children to Sunday School is not enough. Saying memorized prayers at mealtime and/or bedtime is not enough. Our children need to see our dependence upon God; they need to see our active relationship with God and our service to God as we care for those God loves – the widow, the fatherless, the poor, etc. They need to be taught to have an active relationship with God as well. When they see our love for God and how much God loves us, they learn to love him as well.
In our culture, we see so much unnecessary suffering because people have turned their hearts away from God. We have the ebb and flow of revivals as periodically strong evangelists travel and point the way back to God. But within that, just as within the times of the Judges in Israel, there are individuals who love God with all their heart, soul and strength and continue to pass on that love from generation to generation. I’m so grateful my parents did that for me. Now it is up to me to pass that on to the next generation – and to everyone that God places within my sphere of influence.
After Moses and Joshua both died, Israel did not have consistent strong leadership holding them together. They had multiplied in number and were spread out over the Promised Land. They failed to rid the land of the inhabitants and began to take on the foreign gods and forgot about their God who had freed them from slavery and led them to the Promised Land. Periodically, God called out leaders to turn their hearts back to him. And so we have the stories of Gideon and Sampson we teach in Sunday School and children especially like to imitate these ‘superheroes’.
But even in those stories there is a lot of unsettling behavior and conflict among the Israelites – horrible stories of prostitution, sexual abuses, civil war, and intermarriage with the nations they were to have driven out. My stomach turns as I read these portions of Scripture. The Israelites lost sight of their laws and of their God who had led them in previous generations. And their behaviors and lifestyles rapidly deteriorated leading them to come under enemy control.
I wonder, did God leave them or did they leave God? Or did God leave them to their own devices so that they would rediscover their need for him? “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.” Judges 13:1 That is the lead in to the story of Sampson.
And I wonder, how did the Israelites get so far from God so quickly? In just a couple of generations, they had completely forgotten what the Lord had done for them as a people. “After that whole generation had been gathered to their families, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 So what am I to learn from the book of Judges? I can’t help but think of God’s instructions through Moses. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
The only way to keep the future generations from falling into deep sin is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and strength. In doing that, I will instruct my children by the way I live my life. And as I talk about my God and what he means to me, my children will come to know him as their God as well. Maybe this is why in Revelation it says, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16 Taking our children to Sunday School is not enough. Saying memorized prayers at mealtime and/or bedtime is not enough. Our children need to see our dependence upon God; they need to see our active relationship with God and our service to God as we care for those God loves – the widow, the fatherless, the poor, etc. They need to be taught to have an active relationship with God as well. When they see our love for God and how much God loves us, they learn to love him as well.
In our culture, we see so much unnecessary suffering because people have turned their hearts away from God. We have the ebb and flow of revivals as periodically strong evangelists travel and point the way back to God. But within that, just as within the times of the Judges in Israel, there are individuals who love God with all their heart, soul and strength and continue to pass on that love from generation to generation. I’m so grateful my parents did that for me. Now it is up to me to pass that on to the next generation – and to everyone that God places within my sphere of influence.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Suffering for the Sins of Others
I can remember several times through my growing up years when I have been punished for something others did. Once as a child when one of my siblings did something and wouldn’t confess, we all sat on chairs for a couple of hours and when no confession came, we were all punished. Another time in high school, a fellow classmate did something and the teacher kept the entire class after the bell had rung waiting for a confession that never came. And once in college, a student in the class stole the professor’s notebook early in the semester. The professor punished the entire class the whole semester by refusing to teach well and giving tests that covered material not taught. That was the longest ‘community punishment’ I ever endured. But some people sit in prison for many years of their lives because the courts were unable to sort out the truth from the lies only to find out 5 or 10 years later that they were innocent.
God had already shown the Israelites he was looking out for them. First there were the plagues in Egypt that they did not suffer though Pharaoh and the Egyptians did, the final plague being the most devastating when the first born all died. Then he parted the Red Sea for them to cross and gave them light while causing darkness over the Egyptians and finally closing the Sea over them when they kept coming after the Israelites. God provided manna and quail and water for them on their journey and their clothes and sandals did not wear out. Yet, when 12 spies were sent out (one from each tribe), only Joshua and Caleb returned with a good encouraging report that God would be with them and they could take over the land that was promised to them. The other 10 saw the descendants of Anak and how big they were, they panicked and caused the people to panic and they refused to go on. Joshua and Caleb endured 40 years of wandering in the desert for something the others did. That is a long time to be punished for someone else’s wrongdoing.
Joshua became Moses’ assistant and while we don’t hear much about Caleb during those years of wandering, I can’t help but believe he was close by. When it came time for Moses to die, God put Joshua in leadership to take the Israelites into the Promised Land. God made sure the Israelites knew that Joshua was his chosen leader for them. And he made sure Joshua knew he, God, was with him all the way. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 And then, over and over throughout his time of leadership, God said to him, “Be strong and courageous,” and Joshua was. As they began their journey into the Promised Land, God told Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.” Joshua 3:7 And that is exactly what happened. This time it was the Jordan that God parted for them.
When it came time to divide the land, Caleb got the choice land of Hebron. Moses had promised him, “He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly." Deuteronomy 1:36 Caleb was over 80 years old when he finally got there. But he was no more intimidated by the descendants of Anak than when he was 40. He understood God was with them and would go before them. He drove out the descendants of Anak and took the land and settled there. What a wonderful gift God had given him because he followed God with his whole heart.
When I try to put myself in the place of Joshua and Caleb, I wonder if I would have had the patience with the people who were rebelling and not ‘coming along’ with the plan – God’s plan – or if I would have walked away. As far as we know, once the spies returned only Moses, Joshua and Caleb believed God would give them the land. The people rebelled. And their punishment was 40 years in the desert until the generation that rebelled died off and their children would be the ones to go on. Joshua and Caleb had to wait (and endure the punishment of the others) for 40 years before the promise was fulfilled to them. It took 40 years for the people of Israel to get with the plan.
This seems to be a good study of leadership in the church. If the leadership in the church is very sure where God is leading, we need to not give up and give in to the people, but continue to lead. Maybe God is waiting for a stubborn, rebellious generation to die off before he will take the church where he is headed with them. If we are wholeheartedly seeking after God, he will lead us and stick with us the whole way. God doesn’t do everything in one generation. He works from generation to generation.
Unfortunately, people often do not respect God’s calling and if the leaders are not giving them what they want, they ‘fire’ them. What a messed up church we have become! It is so important for leaders to stay whole-hearted and steadfastly seeking after God. Leadership today, as always, calls for great wisdom and that wisdom comes only from God. And maybe we don’t have many church leaders who have parted seas or rivers, but if we are seeking whole-heartedly after God, we will see when God has ordained someone to lead. They will not fear the 'giants' of this land and they will move forward with courage following God as he goes before them showing them the way. Very likely, they will end up suffering for the sins of others as they wait patiently for people to get past their rebellion or give the next generation a try at trusting God with their lives.
I wonder where I fit into this… Leader? Encourager? Rebellious one? Maybe in different situations I fall into various places. I think I have a lot to learn from Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. I’ll be pondering this one for a while.
God had already shown the Israelites he was looking out for them. First there were the plagues in Egypt that they did not suffer though Pharaoh and the Egyptians did, the final plague being the most devastating when the first born all died. Then he parted the Red Sea for them to cross and gave them light while causing darkness over the Egyptians and finally closing the Sea over them when they kept coming after the Israelites. God provided manna and quail and water for them on their journey and their clothes and sandals did not wear out. Yet, when 12 spies were sent out (one from each tribe), only Joshua and Caleb returned with a good encouraging report that God would be with them and they could take over the land that was promised to them. The other 10 saw the descendants of Anak and how big they were, they panicked and caused the people to panic and they refused to go on. Joshua and Caleb endured 40 years of wandering in the desert for something the others did. That is a long time to be punished for someone else’s wrongdoing.
Joshua became Moses’ assistant and while we don’t hear much about Caleb during those years of wandering, I can’t help but believe he was close by. When it came time for Moses to die, God put Joshua in leadership to take the Israelites into the Promised Land. God made sure the Israelites knew that Joshua was his chosen leader for them. And he made sure Joshua knew he, God, was with him all the way. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 And then, over and over throughout his time of leadership, God said to him, “Be strong and courageous,” and Joshua was. As they began their journey into the Promised Land, God told Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.” Joshua 3:7 And that is exactly what happened. This time it was the Jordan that God parted for them.
When it came time to divide the land, Caleb got the choice land of Hebron. Moses had promised him, “He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly." Deuteronomy 1:36 Caleb was over 80 years old when he finally got there. But he was no more intimidated by the descendants of Anak than when he was 40. He understood God was with them and would go before them. He drove out the descendants of Anak and took the land and settled there. What a wonderful gift God had given him because he followed God with his whole heart.
When I try to put myself in the place of Joshua and Caleb, I wonder if I would have had the patience with the people who were rebelling and not ‘coming along’ with the plan – God’s plan – or if I would have walked away. As far as we know, once the spies returned only Moses, Joshua and Caleb believed God would give them the land. The people rebelled. And their punishment was 40 years in the desert until the generation that rebelled died off and their children would be the ones to go on. Joshua and Caleb had to wait (and endure the punishment of the others) for 40 years before the promise was fulfilled to them. It took 40 years for the people of Israel to get with the plan.
This seems to be a good study of leadership in the church. If the leadership in the church is very sure where God is leading, we need to not give up and give in to the people, but continue to lead. Maybe God is waiting for a stubborn, rebellious generation to die off before he will take the church where he is headed with them. If we are wholeheartedly seeking after God, he will lead us and stick with us the whole way. God doesn’t do everything in one generation. He works from generation to generation.
Unfortunately, people often do not respect God’s calling and if the leaders are not giving them what they want, they ‘fire’ them. What a messed up church we have become! It is so important for leaders to stay whole-hearted and steadfastly seeking after God. Leadership today, as always, calls for great wisdom and that wisdom comes only from God. And maybe we don’t have many church leaders who have parted seas or rivers, but if we are seeking whole-heartedly after God, we will see when God has ordained someone to lead. They will not fear the 'giants' of this land and they will move forward with courage following God as he goes before them showing them the way. Very likely, they will end up suffering for the sins of others as they wait patiently for people to get past their rebellion or give the next generation a try at trusting God with their lives.
I wonder where I fit into this… Leader? Encourager? Rebellious one? Maybe in different situations I fall into various places. I think I have a lot to learn from Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. I’ll be pondering this one for a while.
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