It is easy to be joyful when things go the way we want them to… when “life is good”… when we have everything we could wish for and more… when friends are loyal… when family members get along… when the birds are singing and a cool breeze is blowing…
But whether I read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, Luke or Mark, those Beatitudes cause me to ponder where real joy comes from. Luke takes the cake! After saying, “Blessed are you who are poor… hungry… weeping… when men hate you… exclude you… insult you… he ends by saying, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy…” Luke 6:20-23
What on earth would cause us to leap for joy in those circumstances?
As I ponder this, I see a young child learning to walk… Blessed is the child who gets some bumps and bruises when he falls down because he learns to walk… Blessed is the child who is discouraged because she learns where to go for encouragement and to hang in there… Blessed is the child who deals with some adversity because he becomes strong… Blessed is the teen who makes a poor decision because she learns forgiveness, grace and consequences in life and learns to make good decisions…
It is in the difficult things in life that we grow in character, wisdom, and strength. But more importantly, when we suffer the difficulties in this world, we have opportunity to grow spiritually – to grow closer to God. Part of this is because our focus changes. When we are hungry or poor, we understand that God is our Provider. When we are weeping, we understand that God is our Comforter. When we are looked down on or even excluded or rejected by others, we understand that God is Love. When things are humming along without those adversities, we might get to thinking that we don’t need God… that we are pretty okay on our own… that we are even our own little god and our happy little kingdom is just fine. Our full focus is on the here and now. Life is good!
But when things are difficult, how do we get from enduring, making it through, or just hanging in there and surviving to “leaping for joy”? The rest of the verse is, “… because great is your reward in heaven.” Luke 6:23b I’ve been reading the book, “Just Like Jesus,” by Max Lucado. In it, he talks of Jesus preparing for the crucifixion. He says that Jesus was able to go forward in spite of God not answering his prayer (to remove this cup), in spite of his friends deserting him (they all ran away), and in spite of the pain and suffering because he knew what heaven was like. He came from there and was going back there. And while we have limited information regarding heaven, one thing is sure: Jesus was willing to take on the sin and shame of the entire world so we could join him there. He must really love us! And, it must be a fantastic place – an awesome reward – something to really look forward to! Max Lucado pictures it as, “… we’ll take our place at the table. In an hour that has no end, we will rest. Surrounded by saints and engulfed by Jesus himself, the work will, indeed, be finished. The final harvest will have been gathered, we will be seated, and Christ will christen the meal with these words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ Matthew 25:23.”(p. 149) The reward is not so much in ‘things’, but in a Presence – the Presence of Christ – an overwhelming ‘feel good’ forever.
I wonder then, do I have to wait for eternity to experience some of this forever ‘feel good’? Maybe the reason I can leap for joy now is because heaven and earth are not so far apart. Even as we have troubles in this world, we can experience the Presence of Christ and walk and talk with him. We can accept his assurances, his comfort, his love, his mercy, and his grace; and we can respond with love and worship of him even now. As we anticipate the great banquet, the blessings of all blessings, we can do way better than survive. We can leap for joy because we know we are going ‘home’ and it won’t be long.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Confidence
I like to believe that I am ‘good’ at some things and ‘very good’ at others. That is part of who I am. Throughout my life, I have gained skills and gotten even ‘better’ at some of those things. So when I am ‘in my element’ I can really shine. And I love it when others say, “Wow! You really know what you are doing here.”
According to Luke 5, Simon (later known as Peter) owned his own fishing boat. He had to have been a very good fisherman. It was what he was good at – not just good, but very good! He made a living for himself and for others he hired to help on his boat. No doubt other fishermen would say, “There goes Simon. He’s one of the best fishermen in the whole area.” And little boys who liked fishing would say, “When I grow up, I want to be like Simon and have my own fishing boat and catch big fish.”
It would be quite easy for Simon to feel proud of himself. He had accomplished something important with his life. He was successful at what he did. When Jesus asked to use his boat to speak to the people on the shoreline, Simon must have felt quite proud that Jesus had selected his boat out of all the boats there. He might have thought, “Even Jesus thinks my boat is the best. He chose to use it today.” Yes, Simon’s confidence was high. Well sort of… he had a not-to-successful night fishing the night before and wondered who did what to the sea that there weren’t so many fish to catch anymore. But you’ll have this once in a while. Tonight he would go out again and fill the nets because he was that good and that successful.
After Jesus was done talking with the people, Jesus turned to Simon and asked him to take him on a deep sea fishing trip. Simon was quick to inform Jesus that if he, one of the best fishermen on the coast, was unable to catch anything last night, there was nothing there to be caught. But if Jesus wanted to go out and drag the nets around a while, he would humor him and let him see for himself that there just were no fish in the area right now. Besides, you can’t expect to get fish in the heat of the day – they go deeper and further out. This Jesus sure didn’t know much about fishing.
Wait! What’s going on with the nets? Are they really filling with fish? How can it be? James! John! Come quick and help. This is a huge catch – the most I’ve ever seen in all my years fishing! “… and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” John 5:7b
Simon’s response was quick, “… he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” Luke 5:8 He recognized instantly that only God could do something this huge. Everything that he thought he was, everything that he took confidence in within himself was worthless compared to who he was standing next to. And then Jesus invited Simon to come with him. “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” Luke 5:10 And Simon didn’t hesitate, nor did James and John. “So they pulled their boats up on shore, and left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11
Two things happen when we truly come into the presence of the Lord. First, we see ourselves for what we really are – filthy rags next to his holiness and incompetent next to his greatness. All the greatness that we think we are is suddenly nothing when we truly set our eyes on Jesus. And secondly, when we discover that he loves us in spite of ourselves and that he is inviting us to join him in his work, we are willing to drop everything and follow him. We can do nothing less because there is no place we would rather be than following him.
According to Luke 5, Simon (later known as Peter) owned his own fishing boat. He had to have been a very good fisherman. It was what he was good at – not just good, but very good! He made a living for himself and for others he hired to help on his boat. No doubt other fishermen would say, “There goes Simon. He’s one of the best fishermen in the whole area.” And little boys who liked fishing would say, “When I grow up, I want to be like Simon and have my own fishing boat and catch big fish.”
It would be quite easy for Simon to feel proud of himself. He had accomplished something important with his life. He was successful at what he did. When Jesus asked to use his boat to speak to the people on the shoreline, Simon must have felt quite proud that Jesus had selected his boat out of all the boats there. He might have thought, “Even Jesus thinks my boat is the best. He chose to use it today.” Yes, Simon’s confidence was high. Well sort of… he had a not-to-successful night fishing the night before and wondered who did what to the sea that there weren’t so many fish to catch anymore. But you’ll have this once in a while. Tonight he would go out again and fill the nets because he was that good and that successful.
After Jesus was done talking with the people, Jesus turned to Simon and asked him to take him on a deep sea fishing trip. Simon was quick to inform Jesus that if he, one of the best fishermen on the coast, was unable to catch anything last night, there was nothing there to be caught. But if Jesus wanted to go out and drag the nets around a while, he would humor him and let him see for himself that there just were no fish in the area right now. Besides, you can’t expect to get fish in the heat of the day – they go deeper and further out. This Jesus sure didn’t know much about fishing.
Wait! What’s going on with the nets? Are they really filling with fish? How can it be? James! John! Come quick and help. This is a huge catch – the most I’ve ever seen in all my years fishing! “… and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” John 5:7b
Simon’s response was quick, “… he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” Luke 5:8 He recognized instantly that only God could do something this huge. Everything that he thought he was, everything that he took confidence in within himself was worthless compared to who he was standing next to. And then Jesus invited Simon to come with him. “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” Luke 5:10 And Simon didn’t hesitate, nor did James and John. “So they pulled their boats up on shore, and left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11
Two things happen when we truly come into the presence of the Lord. First, we see ourselves for what we really are – filthy rags next to his holiness and incompetent next to his greatness. All the greatness that we think we are is suddenly nothing when we truly set our eyes on Jesus. And secondly, when we discover that he loves us in spite of ourselves and that he is inviting us to join him in his work, we are willing to drop everything and follow him. We can do nothing less because there is no place we would rather be than following him.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
A Lovely Kingdom in a Lovely Place
Once upon a time, there was a lovely kingdom in a lovely place. People in this kingdom were very kind to each other. They were polite and always said, “Good morning. How are you?” to each person they passed. They worked hard to set up programs to entertain and teach each other about the God who created them. When someone had a need, they were quick to respond. They loved to take a meal to someone who just had a baby or who was recovering from surgery. They gave gifts to people who were grieving. When they got tired of doing good things day after day, they encouraged each other by quoting things the king had taught them in the book that contained all the rules.
As in all kingdoms, there was a king who ruled over this kingdom. It was his rules that the people followed carefully and it was his teachings that they taught each other. The king would go for walks each day and he would see the busy people doing their good things. He wanted to have conversations with them and to personally encourage them and comfort them, but they never seemed to notice him too much or have time for a conversation. Most of them really didn’t even quite know what he looked like and, because he didn’t wear outstanding, flashy garments and a big glittery crown, they simply didn’t recognize him.
Sometimes, when people would have a particularly difficult time, they would cry out to the king for help. The king was excited that they came to him and was very glad to be able to help them. But as soon as the trouble was over, they would tell him they had a lot to do hoping he would understand and again take off with their busy schedule and not notice him or talk with him again for a very long time. And the king would again walk among them unnoticed other than the polite, “Good morning, how are you?” exchanges.
The king longed to have closer friendships with the people and day after day, he continued to walk among them and invite them to sit down and have a good long conversation with him, but there were only a few who would take him up on it. Those who would sit with him were quick to tell others about their conversations and encourage them to also take time to sit down with the king, for he was a very kind and wise king and had so much to teach them. He could explain things from the book they took their rules from so that they would understand how much he loved them and how much he wanted for them to be content and happy.
When someone in the kingdom took time to sit with the king, they soon seemed to be more at peace – content with their lives no matter what their circumstances were. They seemed to have joy that came from somewhere other than their belongings or vacations or a great party. And some people would take notice and ask them about it. They also seemed to have an urgency to help others find time to meet and sit with the king because they believed that the king had much good wisdom for everyone and they just enjoyed their conversations so much they had to tell others about them. They believed that the wisdom they learned from the king would lead to healing in relationships, contentment with life, and even more sharing and caring among the people. And they found out after they began to regularly meet with the king that they didn’t get so tired of doing good things for other people. They didn’t feel so worn out and used, but instead, they were quick to lend a helping hand to others who needed help. Time with the king energized them like nothing else.
When people who spent a lot of time with the king would grow old and be near death, they would be excited because they knew that they would soon be going with him to a better kingdom where they could always be with the king and worship and honor him. The king had told them that they would not have any more struggles or disappointments, but that they would live in his new kingdom and be filled with peace and joy forever. People who didn’t know the king well would be mystified as to why these people would be happy about leaving the kingdom they were in. After all, it was a lovely kingdom in a lovely place.
The king tried to tell them that this was a temporary kingdom, that a time was coming when it would disappear completely. Those who chose to be part of the new kingdom could count on it being there forever. And so the king would stand and say, “Come, welcome to my new kingdom.” And those who knew him would shout for everyone to hear, “Come! Come with me and meet the king in person! Feel his warm hug and learn from his wisdom and learn about the mysteries of his new kingdom.”
The lovely kingdom in a lovely place with polite people is the “lower case” church that we attend on Sunday mornings and sometimes Wednesday evenings. There are many good people in the church doing many good things. But only a few of the people in the church doing lots of good things actually take the time to visit with the king – our Lord. Sure, we say “good morning,” and “thank you for this food,” and “please bless my family,” and “keep my children safe.” But how much of our days do we walk right past the king and ignore him while we are busy doing our many good things?
God desires for us to have a close relationship with him and is constantly inviting us into conversations. He wants to be a part of everything we do and say. His wisdom is there for the asking. I wonder… will we take the time to come and sit with the King? Or will we walk on by because we are we too busy…
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
As in all kingdoms, there was a king who ruled over this kingdom. It was his rules that the people followed carefully and it was his teachings that they taught each other. The king would go for walks each day and he would see the busy people doing their good things. He wanted to have conversations with them and to personally encourage them and comfort them, but they never seemed to notice him too much or have time for a conversation. Most of them really didn’t even quite know what he looked like and, because he didn’t wear outstanding, flashy garments and a big glittery crown, they simply didn’t recognize him.
Sometimes, when people would have a particularly difficult time, they would cry out to the king for help. The king was excited that they came to him and was very glad to be able to help them. But as soon as the trouble was over, they would tell him they had a lot to do hoping he would understand and again take off with their busy schedule and not notice him or talk with him again for a very long time. And the king would again walk among them unnoticed other than the polite, “Good morning, how are you?” exchanges.
The king longed to have closer friendships with the people and day after day, he continued to walk among them and invite them to sit down and have a good long conversation with him, but there were only a few who would take him up on it. Those who would sit with him were quick to tell others about their conversations and encourage them to also take time to sit down with the king, for he was a very kind and wise king and had so much to teach them. He could explain things from the book they took their rules from so that they would understand how much he loved them and how much he wanted for them to be content and happy.
When someone in the kingdom took time to sit with the king, they soon seemed to be more at peace – content with their lives no matter what their circumstances were. They seemed to have joy that came from somewhere other than their belongings or vacations or a great party. And some people would take notice and ask them about it. They also seemed to have an urgency to help others find time to meet and sit with the king because they believed that the king had much good wisdom for everyone and they just enjoyed their conversations so much they had to tell others about them. They believed that the wisdom they learned from the king would lead to healing in relationships, contentment with life, and even more sharing and caring among the people. And they found out after they began to regularly meet with the king that they didn’t get so tired of doing good things for other people. They didn’t feel so worn out and used, but instead, they were quick to lend a helping hand to others who needed help. Time with the king energized them like nothing else.
When people who spent a lot of time with the king would grow old and be near death, they would be excited because they knew that they would soon be going with him to a better kingdom where they could always be with the king and worship and honor him. The king had told them that they would not have any more struggles or disappointments, but that they would live in his new kingdom and be filled with peace and joy forever. People who didn’t know the king well would be mystified as to why these people would be happy about leaving the kingdom they were in. After all, it was a lovely kingdom in a lovely place.
The king tried to tell them that this was a temporary kingdom, that a time was coming when it would disappear completely. Those who chose to be part of the new kingdom could count on it being there forever. And so the king would stand and say, “Come, welcome to my new kingdom.” And those who knew him would shout for everyone to hear, “Come! Come with me and meet the king in person! Feel his warm hug and learn from his wisdom and learn about the mysteries of his new kingdom.”
The lovely kingdom in a lovely place with polite people is the “lower case” church that we attend on Sunday mornings and sometimes Wednesday evenings. There are many good people in the church doing many good things. But only a few of the people in the church doing lots of good things actually take the time to visit with the king – our Lord. Sure, we say “good morning,” and “thank you for this food,” and “please bless my family,” and “keep my children safe.” But how much of our days do we walk right past the king and ignore him while we are busy doing our many good things?
God desires for us to have a close relationship with him and is constantly inviting us into conversations. He wants to be a part of everything we do and say. His wisdom is there for the asking. I wonder… will we take the time to come and sit with the King? Or will we walk on by because we are we too busy…
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Comfort Enough to Share
Just when I think I got this ‘love others as yourself’ thing down and think I am over being self-centered, God gently points out not one, but two things in my life I am being selfish with – in one morning devotional time!
In one of the devotional books I am using, Bill Klees asks the question, when we worship, are we thinking about how much we enjoy the song, the voices of others in the group, etc. or are we thinking about God and how he is worthy of our praise and thinking about what Jesus did for us and how undeserving we are but how grateful we are that he was willing to die for us? I hate it, but I have to admit that only some of the time I think about how awesome God is and how humbled I am by his great love and desire for relationship with me – in spite of how undeserving I am! More often I think, “Oh, I really like this song.” Or, “I haven’t heard this one before – it’s not as fulfilling to sing different songs I’m not familiar with.” Or, “Wow, the congregation sounds good this morning!”
And even as I am rethinking my worship, I begin to read II Corinthians. And Paul starts right out talking about comfort. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from God.” II Corinthians 1:3-4
In my pain and suffering, I gladly receive the comfort of God, but quite frankly, I thought it was for me. But Paul clearly says it is also for the purpose of comforting others. Being a true introvert, I want to stay away from the questions and fears of others as I deal with my pain. I want to retreat to my own quiet place and ponder things. But God doesn’t mean for us to keep his comfort to ourselves. Paul goes on to say, “…just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” II Corinthians 1:7b As others express their sadness at out loss, sharing in our sufferings, I have opportunity to share God’s comfort with them. As others join us in praying for this comfort, they need the opportunity to rejoice in the answers to prayer as we receive comfort. “Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” II Corinthians 1:11b
When Jesus walked on this earth, people took mourning and grieving each other’s losses seriously. They would gather and weep and wail together for several days. Today, we are expected to use our 2-3 days of leave from work, get over it and get back to work and not talk about it as it makes others uncomfortable. Yet, I find in God’s family great support when I am willing to share my pain. And I realize that the greatest comfort comes from those who have gone before me through the grief and pain of losing someone close to them. I realize also that this journey doesn’t end on this side of heaven. Whether it is 3 months, 3 years, or 30 years, people continue on this journey. But neither does the comfort end. And now, it is my turn to comfort those who share in my suffering and also those who come behind me entering this journey for the first time.
It is also an opportunity to quell the fears of those who wonder if they will ever have to travel this road. I can assure them that we have a God we can trust, who delivers the comfort we need when we need it – enough to share!
In one of the devotional books I am using, Bill Klees asks the question, when we worship, are we thinking about how much we enjoy the song, the voices of others in the group, etc. or are we thinking about God and how he is worthy of our praise and thinking about what Jesus did for us and how undeserving we are but how grateful we are that he was willing to die for us? I hate it, but I have to admit that only some of the time I think about how awesome God is and how humbled I am by his great love and desire for relationship with me – in spite of how undeserving I am! More often I think, “Oh, I really like this song.” Or, “I haven’t heard this one before – it’s not as fulfilling to sing different songs I’m not familiar with.” Or, “Wow, the congregation sounds good this morning!”
And even as I am rethinking my worship, I begin to read II Corinthians. And Paul starts right out talking about comfort. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from God.” II Corinthians 1:3-4
In my pain and suffering, I gladly receive the comfort of God, but quite frankly, I thought it was for me. But Paul clearly says it is also for the purpose of comforting others. Being a true introvert, I want to stay away from the questions and fears of others as I deal with my pain. I want to retreat to my own quiet place and ponder things. But God doesn’t mean for us to keep his comfort to ourselves. Paul goes on to say, “…just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” II Corinthians 1:7b As others express their sadness at out loss, sharing in our sufferings, I have opportunity to share God’s comfort with them. As others join us in praying for this comfort, they need the opportunity to rejoice in the answers to prayer as we receive comfort. “Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” II Corinthians 1:11b
When Jesus walked on this earth, people took mourning and grieving each other’s losses seriously. They would gather and weep and wail together for several days. Today, we are expected to use our 2-3 days of leave from work, get over it and get back to work and not talk about it as it makes others uncomfortable. Yet, I find in God’s family great support when I am willing to share my pain. And I realize that the greatest comfort comes from those who have gone before me through the grief and pain of losing someone close to them. I realize also that this journey doesn’t end on this side of heaven. Whether it is 3 months, 3 years, or 30 years, people continue on this journey. But neither does the comfort end. And now, it is my turn to comfort those who share in my suffering and also those who come behind me entering this journey for the first time.
It is also an opportunity to quell the fears of those who wonder if they will ever have to travel this road. I can assure them that we have a God we can trust, who delivers the comfort we need when we need it – enough to share!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Mothers Who Said Good-Bye
Most often, the birth of a child is a joyful time. As we birth and raise our children, we begin to understand so much more about God the Father. We begin to learn trust in a new way as we see our child totally dependent upon us. And if we allow ourselves to see it, we see the confidence God had in Mary and Joseph when he chose them to be the place where his One and Only Son, Jesus, would be born, a helpless infant, nurtured and taught in their home, raised to be an adult who glorified God and let go to fulfill the purpose God had for him.
As I ponder this, I look back through Scripture and find Sarah and Abraham. Isaac was a child of promise, given to them in their old age. Prophecy was spoken and fulfilled through his birth. And I wonder if Sarah knew what Abraham was doing when he took Isaac up the mountain… Yet God was there every step of the way, building a nation that would bring him honor and glory.
Then there was Hannah who, tired of the ridicule she received for not having any children, prayed for a child. She was given Samuel . To fulfill the promise she had made to God, she took him to Eli as soon as he was weaned. How hard this must have been for her – yet she knew from the moment of conception, Samuel belonged to God and would be used for his purposes.
Samson’s mother is only known as the wife of Manoah. Again, they knew from conception that Sampson was set apart for God. It must have been hard to believe as Sampson was ‘carousing’ with women from other nations. Yet, God used Sampson for his purposes – even in his death. How the wife of Manoah must have suffered!
Elizabeth and Zechariah were filled with joy when they finally conceived and gave birth to a son. The angel Gabriel had made it clear that this baby was special – set apart to do God’s work. John the Baptist was a son to be proud of. Though he was ‘different’, people flocked to him to hear what he had to say and they heard him, repented and were baptized. But in his outspokenness, he confronted Herod with his sin of adultery. He was beheaded around the age of 30. We don’t know if Elizabeth was still living since she was already up in years when John was born. But if she was, what awful sorrow she would have experienced.
Mary was chosen. The angel Gabriel told her so. What an awesome joy and responsibility to be the mother of the Messiah. Prophecies from Simeon and Anna surely left her wondering what she was in for. At 12, Jesus was discussing Scripture with the teachers in the temple courts. They were amazed at his understanding. He was already letting Mary know that she needed to let go of him. The same Mary who was blessed to be the mother of Jesus stood and watched her son die a horrible death on the cross after being tortured to within an inch of his life. How her heart must have grieved and nearly stopped beating that awful day. I wonder if she looked to God and asked what happened to her blessing.
Salome is believed to be the mother of James and John. What a happy, noisy house they must have had as these ‘Sons of Thunder’ grew up. Salome was with Mary when Jesus was crucified. She knew her sons were disciples. I wonder what thoughts were going through her mind. And then it happened. James was the first of the disciples to be killed in the persecution that followed. I wonder how Salome dealt with her sorrow. I wonder if she lived in fear that John would be next and maybe hoped that she would be chosen to die as well.
I ponder these women in the Bible as I consider my own experience. Little is said about them other than that they were there, they wept and mourned. Simple sentences with years of pain and sorrow attached to them if we allow ourselves to think about it.
While our Andrew may not have books written about him and be looked upon as these special men who were set aside for God’s purposes, there are similarities that help me understand these women in the Bible more. Andrew was a ‘surprise’, our first clue that God had a special purpose for him. Andrew was a child that had a special relationship with God seen early in his life. He worshiped God, absorbed Scripture and read much to nurture his life with God. At the age of 12, he made a firm decision to follow Jesus. He never wavered on that decision. Prophecy was spoken over him that summer and it was another clue that we needed to be willing to let him go to be used for God’s purposes. Andrew walked with Jesus. He learned from him and applied daily what he learned. He took Matthew 25 seriously and served those who most people step over or avoid completely. He was quick to give a ride, encourage hope in the hopeless, and spent his life serving others. He brought people alongside him, mentoring and teaching by the way he lived his life. He died suddenly at the age of 28 leaving those who loved him, worked side-by-side with him and those mentored by him wondering why. While his life affected many, his death has affected even many more and only God knows how many people will join Andrew in heaven worshiping at the feet of Jesus because he was willing to be used according to God’s purposes.
I now join Elizabeth, Mary, and Salome saying good-bye to our young adult sons, pondering in our hearts all that God is doing and will continue to do because they were willing to be used by him for his purposes. We are all blessed to be the mothers of special young men. That blessing has not been removed. Yet, we have been asked to do a very hard thing. Somehow, knowing that God is using it to his honor and glory gives us the strength to go on. We are in ‘partnership’ with God who continues to bless us and meet all of our needs as we continue on this journey he has assigned to us.
Oswald Chambers says that it is in the fire of sorrow that we find ourselves. He says that success leads to pride, monotony leads to complaining, and only sorrow leads to finding ourselves. (My Utmost for His Highest, June 25, updated edition) When we find ourselves, we become compassionate and loving people because we allow God to express himself through us. I believe that it is in sorrow that we finally give up our last hold on selfish desires and present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, ready to serve him wholeheartedly. Sorrow is a refining fire that purifies our motives and desires. We find ourselves as we discover the true purpose for which God has created us and called us to be.
Lord, help me to lean into the sorrow that you have given me to bear and not pull back. Help me to learn everything that you have for me to learn in this experience so that I will be the most useful to you in your purposes as I finish out my life on this earth. Thank you for your constant presence that comforts me and guides me. Thank you that you have not left me alone but have provided others to walk beside me on this journey. I worship you and praise you alone.
“You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. … How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! ... Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:5-10;17;23-24
As I ponder this, I look back through Scripture and find Sarah and Abraham. Isaac was a child of promise, given to them in their old age. Prophecy was spoken and fulfilled through his birth. And I wonder if Sarah knew what Abraham was doing when he took Isaac up the mountain… Yet God was there every step of the way, building a nation that would bring him honor and glory.
Then there was Hannah who, tired of the ridicule she received for not having any children, prayed for a child. She was given Samuel . To fulfill the promise she had made to God, she took him to Eli as soon as he was weaned. How hard this must have been for her – yet she knew from the moment of conception, Samuel belonged to God and would be used for his purposes.
Samson’s mother is only known as the wife of Manoah. Again, they knew from conception that Sampson was set apart for God. It must have been hard to believe as Sampson was ‘carousing’ with women from other nations. Yet, God used Sampson for his purposes – even in his death. How the wife of Manoah must have suffered!
Elizabeth and Zechariah were filled with joy when they finally conceived and gave birth to a son. The angel Gabriel had made it clear that this baby was special – set apart to do God’s work. John the Baptist was a son to be proud of. Though he was ‘different’, people flocked to him to hear what he had to say and they heard him, repented and were baptized. But in his outspokenness, he confronted Herod with his sin of adultery. He was beheaded around the age of 30. We don’t know if Elizabeth was still living since she was already up in years when John was born. But if she was, what awful sorrow she would have experienced.
Mary was chosen. The angel Gabriel told her so. What an awesome joy and responsibility to be the mother of the Messiah. Prophecies from Simeon and Anna surely left her wondering what she was in for. At 12, Jesus was discussing Scripture with the teachers in the temple courts. They were amazed at his understanding. He was already letting Mary know that she needed to let go of him. The same Mary who was blessed to be the mother of Jesus stood and watched her son die a horrible death on the cross after being tortured to within an inch of his life. How her heart must have grieved and nearly stopped beating that awful day. I wonder if she looked to God and asked what happened to her blessing.
Salome is believed to be the mother of James and John. What a happy, noisy house they must have had as these ‘Sons of Thunder’ grew up. Salome was with Mary when Jesus was crucified. She knew her sons were disciples. I wonder what thoughts were going through her mind. And then it happened. James was the first of the disciples to be killed in the persecution that followed. I wonder how Salome dealt with her sorrow. I wonder if she lived in fear that John would be next and maybe hoped that she would be chosen to die as well.
I ponder these women in the Bible as I consider my own experience. Little is said about them other than that they were there, they wept and mourned. Simple sentences with years of pain and sorrow attached to them if we allow ourselves to think about it.
While our Andrew may not have books written about him and be looked upon as these special men who were set aside for God’s purposes, there are similarities that help me understand these women in the Bible more. Andrew was a ‘surprise’, our first clue that God had a special purpose for him. Andrew was a child that had a special relationship with God seen early in his life. He worshiped God, absorbed Scripture and read much to nurture his life with God. At the age of 12, he made a firm decision to follow Jesus. He never wavered on that decision. Prophecy was spoken over him that summer and it was another clue that we needed to be willing to let him go to be used for God’s purposes. Andrew walked with Jesus. He learned from him and applied daily what he learned. He took Matthew 25 seriously and served those who most people step over or avoid completely. He was quick to give a ride, encourage hope in the hopeless, and spent his life serving others. He brought people alongside him, mentoring and teaching by the way he lived his life. He died suddenly at the age of 28 leaving those who loved him, worked side-by-side with him and those mentored by him wondering why. While his life affected many, his death has affected even many more and only God knows how many people will join Andrew in heaven worshiping at the feet of Jesus because he was willing to be used according to God’s purposes.
I now join Elizabeth, Mary, and Salome saying good-bye to our young adult sons, pondering in our hearts all that God is doing and will continue to do because they were willing to be used by him for his purposes. We are all blessed to be the mothers of special young men. That blessing has not been removed. Yet, we have been asked to do a very hard thing. Somehow, knowing that God is using it to his honor and glory gives us the strength to go on. We are in ‘partnership’ with God who continues to bless us and meet all of our needs as we continue on this journey he has assigned to us.
Oswald Chambers says that it is in the fire of sorrow that we find ourselves. He says that success leads to pride, monotony leads to complaining, and only sorrow leads to finding ourselves. (My Utmost for His Highest, June 25, updated edition) When we find ourselves, we become compassionate and loving people because we allow God to express himself through us. I believe that it is in sorrow that we finally give up our last hold on selfish desires and present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, ready to serve him wholeheartedly. Sorrow is a refining fire that purifies our motives and desires. We find ourselves as we discover the true purpose for which God has created us and called us to be.
Lord, help me to lean into the sorrow that you have given me to bear and not pull back. Help me to learn everything that you have for me to learn in this experience so that I will be the most useful to you in your purposes as I finish out my life on this earth. Thank you for your constant presence that comforts me and guides me. Thank you that you have not left me alone but have provided others to walk beside me on this journey. I worship you and praise you alone.
“You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. … How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! ... Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:5-10;17;23-24
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A New Body
Not that I haven’t thought about it before, but since our son left his earthly body a few months ago, I’ve thought about it a lot more. As I was reading Paul’s writings in I Corinthians 15 this morning, I was amazed at how detailed Paul was. I know I read this many times before, but this time I was paying more attention!
First, Paul voices the question. “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” I Corinthians 15:35 His answer: “How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” I Corinthians 15:36 I began wondering about seeds. Most seeds are very small. They have a kernel of life in them, but it is not until they are buried in the ground and shrivel up and the outer shell disintegrates – dies – that they truly become what they were meant to be – full of life and producing fruit. Out of that small seed comes a beautiful flowering plant, a huge tree, or a productive garden vegetable. It is more alive than the seed ever appeared to be.
Paul tells us, “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” I Corinthians 15:42-44 “And just as we have born the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed.” I Corinthians 15:49-52
In this world, we look at death as a horrible thing. We strive to live as long as we can, not wanting to let go of what we have here on this earth. But as I read these words, I wonder why! If death is our passage to becoming truly alive to being raised in glory and power forever, why do we cling so tightly to this thing we call life on this earth? Why do we put so much energy into obtaining things that we think will bring us happiness such as a bigger house, a newer car, a super vacation, a great retirement plan, and so little into preparing our spirits (which I see as the kernel inside us that will grow into a thing of beauty once we die) for an eternity of glory and power?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 I wonder what these treasures are that we are storing in heaven? I think they are relationships that we nurture in this world. I think they are the people saved as we share the Gospel of Christ with others. I think they are the love we have for our fellow travelers in this world as we give of our blessings and our time to others around us. I think they are the special times, memories we have as we grow in our relationship with Christ. These are all the things that pertain to the soul – the spirit within us. That is the imperishable part of who we are and who we will become as we die to this world and are raised up with Christ.
As I understand more about what is to come, I can easily say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!” Philippians 1:21 I’m looking forward to eternity and I’m working at storing treasures there as I get ready to go.
First, Paul voices the question. “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” I Corinthians 15:35 His answer: “How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” I Corinthians 15:36 I began wondering about seeds. Most seeds are very small. They have a kernel of life in them, but it is not until they are buried in the ground and shrivel up and the outer shell disintegrates – dies – that they truly become what they were meant to be – full of life and producing fruit. Out of that small seed comes a beautiful flowering plant, a huge tree, or a productive garden vegetable. It is more alive than the seed ever appeared to be.
Paul tells us, “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” I Corinthians 15:42-44 “And just as we have born the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed.” I Corinthians 15:49-52
In this world, we look at death as a horrible thing. We strive to live as long as we can, not wanting to let go of what we have here on this earth. But as I read these words, I wonder why! If death is our passage to becoming truly alive to being raised in glory and power forever, why do we cling so tightly to this thing we call life on this earth? Why do we put so much energy into obtaining things that we think will bring us happiness such as a bigger house, a newer car, a super vacation, a great retirement plan, and so little into preparing our spirits (which I see as the kernel inside us that will grow into a thing of beauty once we die) for an eternity of glory and power?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 I wonder what these treasures are that we are storing in heaven? I think they are relationships that we nurture in this world. I think they are the people saved as we share the Gospel of Christ with others. I think they are the love we have for our fellow travelers in this world as we give of our blessings and our time to others around us. I think they are the special times, memories we have as we grow in our relationship with Christ. These are all the things that pertain to the soul – the spirit within us. That is the imperishable part of who we are and who we will become as we die to this world and are raised up with Christ.
As I understand more about what is to come, I can easily say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!” Philippians 1:21 I’m looking forward to eternity and I’m working at storing treasures there as I get ready to go.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Thunderous Voice of God
Last night I woke up to a ‘crash-banger’. It was a pretty noisy one. As I lay there listening to the thunder, I was reminded of times in the Bible where God’s voice is referred to as thunder. “The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.” John 12:29 This was after Jesus had prayed, “’Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’” John 12:28
When Moses was up on the mountain talking with God and receiving the Ten Commandments, the people were waiting below. “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.” Exodus 20:18
Job’s young friend Elihu was speaking. “He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” Job 37:3-5
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)” Revelation 19:6-8
When our son Andrew was in first or second grade, he was to walk home with a friend after school. I was working in an office near the friend’s house. A thunderstorm hit about the time the boys were to walk home. I assumed the mother of the friend would pick the boys up at school. However, I found out later her car wouldn’t start. Two very wet and shaking young boys walked into the office – terrified by the storm they had endured. From that time until he was 12, Andrew cowered whenever a thunderstorm came through. He would come find me wherever I was and he would curl up in a corner a few feet (or inches sometimes) from where I was working. If it was night, he would crawl into our bed. I knew to not leave him alone in a thunderstorm. He was simply terrified.
At the age of 12, Andrew met God in a new and deep way. And miracle of miracles, he was no longer frightened by the thunder. In fact, he began to enjoy a good thunderstorm seeing it as a demonstration of God’s great and awesome power at work. I wonder if he began to hear God’s voice rather than the loud noise that made him tremble. He obviously had began to trust rather than fear.
I wonder… When God speaks to me, will I hear his voice – his words – or will I hear thunder? Will I tremble and fall down before him – before his great and awesome power and majesty? Will I fear and stand back or will I go up the mountain as Moses did and talk with God?
What a mixture of sensations when we draw near to an awesome and powerful God! Who can stand in his presence, yet, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 He calls us friends!
Lord, help me to hear what you are saying to me – not just noisy thunder. But help me to understand your holy majesty and power as I tremble at the sound of your voice as well. Amen
When Moses was up on the mountain talking with God and receiving the Ten Commandments, the people were waiting below. “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.” Exodus 20:18
Job’s young friend Elihu was speaking. “He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” Job 37:3-5
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)” Revelation 19:6-8
When our son Andrew was in first or second grade, he was to walk home with a friend after school. I was working in an office near the friend’s house. A thunderstorm hit about the time the boys were to walk home. I assumed the mother of the friend would pick the boys up at school. However, I found out later her car wouldn’t start. Two very wet and shaking young boys walked into the office – terrified by the storm they had endured. From that time until he was 12, Andrew cowered whenever a thunderstorm came through. He would come find me wherever I was and he would curl up in a corner a few feet (or inches sometimes) from where I was working. If it was night, he would crawl into our bed. I knew to not leave him alone in a thunderstorm. He was simply terrified.
At the age of 12, Andrew met God in a new and deep way. And miracle of miracles, he was no longer frightened by the thunder. In fact, he began to enjoy a good thunderstorm seeing it as a demonstration of God’s great and awesome power at work. I wonder if he began to hear God’s voice rather than the loud noise that made him tremble. He obviously had began to trust rather than fear.
I wonder… When God speaks to me, will I hear his voice – his words – or will I hear thunder? Will I tremble and fall down before him – before his great and awesome power and majesty? Will I fear and stand back or will I go up the mountain as Moses did and talk with God?
What a mixture of sensations when we draw near to an awesome and powerful God! Who can stand in his presence, yet, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 He calls us friends!
Lord, help me to hear what you are saying to me – not just noisy thunder. But help me to understand your holy majesty and power as I tremble at the sound of your voice as well. Amen
Thursday, June 9, 2011
How Did He Do It?
When I feel overwhelmed by life or the things God is asking me to do, I only need to look at Moses. I’m glad I’m not Moses. God asked Moses to lead about 2 million people on a 40-year camping trip in the desert without much in the way of supplies. No matter what I find myself doing, the task will not begin to compare to that!
Though my tasks are not that overwhelming, I can still learn a lot from Moses and how he managed this experience.
1. He was prepared
Moses was spared – Pharaoh had ordered the infant boys to be killed - and he was prepared. He grew up in Pharaoh’s Palace, but until he was weaned he was with his Hebrew family. So his early years were filled with learning God’s ways.
Living in the palace, he would have received a very good education and would have learned a lot about leadership and administration. He would have rubbed shoulders with world leaders and understood a lot about politics.
2. He was called
Moses didn’t ignore the burning bush but went to explore it because he noted that it was on fire, but it was not being consumed. Something was different about this bush. He could have walked on by and totally missed what God was doing at that moment. Maybe he often wished he had! But his calling was clear. There was no mistake. God was asking him to take leadership and help the Israelites leave the bondage they were in as slaves in Egypt. “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10
3. He was humble
“(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)” Numbers 12:3
Moses was also a Friend of God – they talked face to face. Numbers 12:8 says, “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles…” This close relationship with God probably didn’t just start when he was out in the desert with the people. Somehow, I believe that Moses was seeking after God all along. That is why he recognized the burning bush as being something to stop and pay attention to.
4. He trusted God
Numbers 14 speaks of a time when the people rebelled against Moses and God. Moses trusted God even when the tribal leaders were working against him. I’m thinking that Moses would have gladly given up the leadership if God would have allowed him to at this point. He would have gladly gone back to herding sheep for his father-in-law. But God showed his power and his might in support of Moses. Moses didn’t need to ‘take control’ and make the people follow.
When the people grumbled, Moses went to God to supply their food and water. He knew that he did not have the ability to provide for 2 million people, but God did.
5. He loved the people
He interceded more than once for the people when God wanted to destroy them because of their rebelliousness. God was ready to do away with them and grow Moses’ family up into a nation. But Moses reminded God of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and also reminded God of what it would look like in the eyes of the world if he destroyed his own people. Moses’ great love for the Israelites caused him to give up power and glory in his own life for the sake of his people.
So how does this apply to me?
Like Moses, I have been prepared. God has given me a rich heritage of Christian family, walking with other believers, and faith. When I look at specific things I have dealt with in my life, I can see how God prepared me and led the way. He placed people in my life to encourage me to grow in areas where I was the weakest. He put me in job situations that prepared me for what was then the future. As I look back, I can see many ways God has prepared me for what was to come.
I am called. Moses went to the burning bush – he was paying attention and didn’t ignore it. When my focus is on God and what he is doing, I see opportunities for ministry and go with him. Like Moses, I explore what is going on around me and listen for God’s voice. I talk with God and listen for his direction. He leads me on in ministry as he places opportunities in front of me.
Being humble comes from understanding my relationship with God. He is God and I am his servant. He is my Father and I am his child. He loves me and I love Him. When I understand this relationship, I cannot be puffed up and full of myself. I need first to bow before my Maker and offer myself as a living sacrifice to him. Secondly I need to put others’ needs and welfare before my own. Being humble also means being teachable – a willingness to learn from God and from others as I go along.
I am learning to trust God in all things. When things seem overwhelming, I’m tired or just out of sorts, I need to trust that God can and will continue to use me and that he will be glorified by my service and honor to him. “And my God will meet all of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
I am challenged to love those God places before me – even those who at first seem unlovable. When I’m filled with God’s great and awesome love for me, I am able to be a loving presence even to the difficult person, co-worker or neighbor. God has placed me next to them. In loving them, I intercede for them and nurture them with the wisdom and knowledge God has given me. If I love well, in the end we are all better for it.
If I can learn from Moses how to be a good leader, like Moses, I can lead people to the Promised Land.
“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” I Corinthians 1:7-8
Though my tasks are not that overwhelming, I can still learn a lot from Moses and how he managed this experience.
1. He was prepared
Moses was spared – Pharaoh had ordered the infant boys to be killed - and he was prepared. He grew up in Pharaoh’s Palace, but until he was weaned he was with his Hebrew family. So his early years were filled with learning God’s ways.
Living in the palace, he would have received a very good education and would have learned a lot about leadership and administration. He would have rubbed shoulders with world leaders and understood a lot about politics.
2. He was called
Moses didn’t ignore the burning bush but went to explore it because he noted that it was on fire, but it was not being consumed. Something was different about this bush. He could have walked on by and totally missed what God was doing at that moment. Maybe he often wished he had! But his calling was clear. There was no mistake. God was asking him to take leadership and help the Israelites leave the bondage they were in as slaves in Egypt. “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10
3. He was humble
“(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)” Numbers 12:3
Moses was also a Friend of God – they talked face to face. Numbers 12:8 says, “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles…” This close relationship with God probably didn’t just start when he was out in the desert with the people. Somehow, I believe that Moses was seeking after God all along. That is why he recognized the burning bush as being something to stop and pay attention to.
4. He trusted God
Numbers 14 speaks of a time when the people rebelled against Moses and God. Moses trusted God even when the tribal leaders were working against him. I’m thinking that Moses would have gladly given up the leadership if God would have allowed him to at this point. He would have gladly gone back to herding sheep for his father-in-law. But God showed his power and his might in support of Moses. Moses didn’t need to ‘take control’ and make the people follow.
When the people grumbled, Moses went to God to supply their food and water. He knew that he did not have the ability to provide for 2 million people, but God did.
5. He loved the people
He interceded more than once for the people when God wanted to destroy them because of their rebelliousness. God was ready to do away with them and grow Moses’ family up into a nation. But Moses reminded God of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and also reminded God of what it would look like in the eyes of the world if he destroyed his own people. Moses’ great love for the Israelites caused him to give up power and glory in his own life for the sake of his people.
So how does this apply to me?
Like Moses, I have been prepared. God has given me a rich heritage of Christian family, walking with other believers, and faith. When I look at specific things I have dealt with in my life, I can see how God prepared me and led the way. He placed people in my life to encourage me to grow in areas where I was the weakest. He put me in job situations that prepared me for what was then the future. As I look back, I can see many ways God has prepared me for what was to come.
I am called. Moses went to the burning bush – he was paying attention and didn’t ignore it. When my focus is on God and what he is doing, I see opportunities for ministry and go with him. Like Moses, I explore what is going on around me and listen for God’s voice. I talk with God and listen for his direction. He leads me on in ministry as he places opportunities in front of me.
Being humble comes from understanding my relationship with God. He is God and I am his servant. He is my Father and I am his child. He loves me and I love Him. When I understand this relationship, I cannot be puffed up and full of myself. I need first to bow before my Maker and offer myself as a living sacrifice to him. Secondly I need to put others’ needs and welfare before my own. Being humble also means being teachable – a willingness to learn from God and from others as I go along.
I am learning to trust God in all things. When things seem overwhelming, I’m tired or just out of sorts, I need to trust that God can and will continue to use me and that he will be glorified by my service and honor to him. “And my God will meet all of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
I am challenged to love those God places before me – even those who at first seem unlovable. When I’m filled with God’s great and awesome love for me, I am able to be a loving presence even to the difficult person, co-worker or neighbor. God has placed me next to them. In loving them, I intercede for them and nurture them with the wisdom and knowledge God has given me. If I love well, in the end we are all better for it.
If I can learn from Moses how to be a good leader, like Moses, I can lead people to the Promised Land.
“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” I Corinthians 1:7-8
Thursday, May 26, 2011
When We Know Better Than God
What set Moses apart from all the others in Israel? Why did God choose him to lead the people out of Egypt? Was Moses so special? I wonder if I would have liked Moses as a leader or if I too would have grumbled against him from time to time.
There is nothing like someone standing out in the crowd to bring out the jealousy and resentment in people. That was true of Aaron and Miriam and it was true of many of the people of Israel. When Aaron and Miriam started talking about Moses, God didn’t take it lightly. If his own brother and sister did not have confidence in his leadership, what would happen to the rest of the people? God called a meeting and spoke specifically to Aaron and Miriam. “When a prophet to the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” Numbers 12:6-8
God made it very clear that he personally selected Moses from among all the people to be the leader. He gives us a couple of clues as to why he chose Moses. “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3 “He is faithful in all my house.” Numbers 12:7b
Soon after this, Moses, at God’s command, called out 12 leaders to explore the land of Canaan, the land promised to Israel by God. When they came back, they reported how great the land was and showed them the fruit from the land. But all but two of them also brought back a report of the ‘giants’ in the land and assured the people they could not take the land because they could never fight those ‘giants’ successfully. “And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, ‘The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size… We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.’” Numbers 13:32-33
This is a leadership nightmare! To have the leaders among the tribes frighten the people rather than encourage them was undoing everything the Lord had done through Moses up to that point. It was at this point God told Moses that he was ready to wipe out the whole bunch and start over with Moses’ family. And what leader wouldn’t agree? God offered to Moses to get rid of all his enemies, all those who were not ready to follow him. I wonder if most of us wouldn’t say, “Thanks God, go get um!” But not Moses. He was “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3 And instead of cheering God on to their destruction, he pleaded in their behalf for God to forgive them. And God did, but not without punishment. God told Moses, “No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it [the Promised Land].” Numbers 14:23b They spent many more years in the desert until all who were 20 years old and older at the time of the uprising had died. Only their children along with Joshua and Caleb (who had tried to encourage the people that God would be with them and they could go into the Promised Land) were to go on to the Promised Land.
Four words jump out at me as I read these chapters: humble, obedience, trust, and contempt. As I study this piece of the history of Israel, I wonder that God continues to be patient with any of us. How often have I not trusted God – held him in contempt? Yet, “The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.” Numbers 14:18a When I do not trust God, I cannot be obedient. I see the ‘giants’ and I run. But when I am humble, when I believe that God knows better than I do and I trust him, I can be obedient and overcome the ‘giants’ in my life. The question is, will I hold God in contempt with my distrust and end up taking a few more laps around the desert before being willing to obey and lose the blessings he has for me? Or will I take him at his word and move forward with him, trusting him to fight the ‘giants’ for me and deliver me safely to the ‘Promised Land’.
Lord, thank you for being trustworthy even when I lack trust. Thank you for your patience with me as I learn to walk in faith and trust you with every detail of my life. Thank you for your awesome love that reaches into every corner of my life and compels me to follow you. Amen
There is nothing like someone standing out in the crowd to bring out the jealousy and resentment in people. That was true of Aaron and Miriam and it was true of many of the people of Israel. When Aaron and Miriam started talking about Moses, God didn’t take it lightly. If his own brother and sister did not have confidence in his leadership, what would happen to the rest of the people? God called a meeting and spoke specifically to Aaron and Miriam. “When a prophet to the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” Numbers 12:6-8
God made it very clear that he personally selected Moses from among all the people to be the leader. He gives us a couple of clues as to why he chose Moses. “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3 “He is faithful in all my house.” Numbers 12:7b
Soon after this, Moses, at God’s command, called out 12 leaders to explore the land of Canaan, the land promised to Israel by God. When they came back, they reported how great the land was and showed them the fruit from the land. But all but two of them also brought back a report of the ‘giants’ in the land and assured the people they could not take the land because they could never fight those ‘giants’ successfully. “And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, ‘The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size… We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.’” Numbers 13:32-33
This is a leadership nightmare! To have the leaders among the tribes frighten the people rather than encourage them was undoing everything the Lord had done through Moses up to that point. It was at this point God told Moses that he was ready to wipe out the whole bunch and start over with Moses’ family. And what leader wouldn’t agree? God offered to Moses to get rid of all his enemies, all those who were not ready to follow him. I wonder if most of us wouldn’t say, “Thanks God, go get um!” But not Moses. He was “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3 And instead of cheering God on to their destruction, he pleaded in their behalf for God to forgive them. And God did, but not without punishment. God told Moses, “No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it [the Promised Land].” Numbers 14:23b They spent many more years in the desert until all who were 20 years old and older at the time of the uprising had died. Only their children along with Joshua and Caleb (who had tried to encourage the people that God would be with them and they could go into the Promised Land) were to go on to the Promised Land.
Four words jump out at me as I read these chapters: humble, obedience, trust, and contempt. As I study this piece of the history of Israel, I wonder that God continues to be patient with any of us. How often have I not trusted God – held him in contempt? Yet, “The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.” Numbers 14:18a When I do not trust God, I cannot be obedient. I see the ‘giants’ and I run. But when I am humble, when I believe that God knows better than I do and I trust him, I can be obedient and overcome the ‘giants’ in my life. The question is, will I hold God in contempt with my distrust and end up taking a few more laps around the desert before being willing to obey and lose the blessings he has for me? Or will I take him at his word and move forward with him, trusting him to fight the ‘giants’ for me and deliver me safely to the ‘Promised Land’.
Lord, thank you for being trustworthy even when I lack trust. Thank you for your patience with me as I learn to walk in faith and trust you with every detail of my life. Thank you for your awesome love that reaches into every corner of my life and compels me to follow you. Amen
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Broken Promises
We’ve all done it somewhere along the line… made a promise that we failed to keep. Maybe it was a simple, “I’ll call you right back,” followed by getting busy with something and forgetting until the next day or two that we were supposed to call them back. Or maybe it was a bigger thing like broken wedding vows. Or often we tell people, “I’ll pray for you,” when we hear they are struggling with something and then get busy with our own lives and completely forget to pray for them.
“But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same.” Mark 14:31 Shortly after this emphatic statement, Peter disowned Christ, not one time, but three times, just as Christ had predicted he would.
We never know what we will do in a time of trial until we are in that time of trial. But Jesus had good advice for preparing. He took the disciples to Gethsemane and told them to sit there while he prayed. Then he took Peter, James and John a little further in and said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” Mark 14:34 Jesus went a little further and fell to the ground and prayed a deep prayer of submission to the Father. He had a promise to keep – a promise that was made over and over from the beginning of time. It was the most heart-wrenching thing anyone would ever have to do – take on the sin of the world and die on the cross. He asked God to take it away, but then submitted to God’s will, not his own.
I promised to love and follow Christ no matter what happened in my life. I had read the book of Job many times and each time, I resolutely promised that if God ever allowed such sorrow to come into my life, I would still follow him. I read and held on to verses like, “Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him…” Job 13:15 And, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
Even as I made these promises to God, I hoped that it would never be necessary to be tested on this. Many times I had played the scenario in my mind – how would I respond if the State Police came to the door to tell me that one of our sons or my spouse had died in a car accident or had been murdered? Would I faint? Would I scream or at least cry out loudly? Would I yell at God for letting such a thing happen?
As I studied Christ and his disciples, I learned something important: Pray – keep in touch with the Father through the good times as well as the hard times. In Gethsemane, Jesus told the disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
Trust – God can be trusted. He keeps his promises. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1
Be steadfast – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” John 16:33
I had a promise to keep. January 24 was my Gethsemane. When we received the call that our 28-year-old son had died, we had to decide how we would respond. Yes, it is still a decision to make. Even as we held each other absorbing the shock, the first words out were, “He gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21 paraphrased. How glibly we sing that song when there is nothing being taken away! How hard it is to sing when the loss is great!
Faith that hasn’t been tested is no faith at all. It is merely an idea. Once it has been tested, it becomes real. I now understand the words ‘sorrowful’ and ‘anguish’. I am beginning to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” John 14:34 It is the feeling that it would be better to have never been born than to have to go through this pain. “Yet, not as I will, but what you will.” John 14:36 It is a time of submission – not just resignation to something we cannot change, but purposeful submission to being willing to walk with God ‘even though he slay me.’ It is a time of understanding that God has the big picture and I need to trust him to carry out his perfect plan – even when I can’t understand the ‘troubles’ I’m having.
There is a peace that comes with that submission. Just as Christ submitted to the cross because of his great love for us, I can submit to God because of my great love for him, ‘even though he slay me.’ In my mind, it is the picture of a dog rolling on his back, belly up, to a human who has the power to harm him or rub his belly. It is the most submissive position they can have. A dog who has learned to trust the human puts his whole life on the line trusting that it will be a belly rub. Can I be that submissive to God? Can I trust that even in my most vulnerable moments he will respond in love?
Yes, my faith has been tried. And I have found a God who keeps his promises. How tenderly he has cared for us in the midst of our ‘trouble’. How often he has comforted us, held us as we wept, and encouraged us through his Word and his people.
Lord, I choose to follow you, even though you slay me. I fully submit my life and everything I have to you and your purposes. I trust in your great love. Amen.
“But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same.” Mark 14:31 Shortly after this emphatic statement, Peter disowned Christ, not one time, but three times, just as Christ had predicted he would.
We never know what we will do in a time of trial until we are in that time of trial. But Jesus had good advice for preparing. He took the disciples to Gethsemane and told them to sit there while he prayed. Then he took Peter, James and John a little further in and said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” Mark 14:34 Jesus went a little further and fell to the ground and prayed a deep prayer of submission to the Father. He had a promise to keep – a promise that was made over and over from the beginning of time. It was the most heart-wrenching thing anyone would ever have to do – take on the sin of the world and die on the cross. He asked God to take it away, but then submitted to God’s will, not his own.
I promised to love and follow Christ no matter what happened in my life. I had read the book of Job many times and each time, I resolutely promised that if God ever allowed such sorrow to come into my life, I would still follow him. I read and held on to verses like, “Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him…” Job 13:15 And, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
Even as I made these promises to God, I hoped that it would never be necessary to be tested on this. Many times I had played the scenario in my mind – how would I respond if the State Police came to the door to tell me that one of our sons or my spouse had died in a car accident or had been murdered? Would I faint? Would I scream or at least cry out loudly? Would I yell at God for letting such a thing happen?
As I studied Christ and his disciples, I learned something important: Pray – keep in touch with the Father through the good times as well as the hard times. In Gethsemane, Jesus told the disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
Trust – God can be trusted. He keeps his promises. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1
Be steadfast – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” John 16:33
I had a promise to keep. January 24 was my Gethsemane. When we received the call that our 28-year-old son had died, we had to decide how we would respond. Yes, it is still a decision to make. Even as we held each other absorbing the shock, the first words out were, “He gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21 paraphrased. How glibly we sing that song when there is nothing being taken away! How hard it is to sing when the loss is great!
Faith that hasn’t been tested is no faith at all. It is merely an idea. Once it has been tested, it becomes real. I now understand the words ‘sorrowful’ and ‘anguish’. I am beginning to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” John 14:34 It is the feeling that it would be better to have never been born than to have to go through this pain. “Yet, not as I will, but what you will.” John 14:36 It is a time of submission – not just resignation to something we cannot change, but purposeful submission to being willing to walk with God ‘even though he slay me.’ It is a time of understanding that God has the big picture and I need to trust him to carry out his perfect plan – even when I can’t understand the ‘troubles’ I’m having.
There is a peace that comes with that submission. Just as Christ submitted to the cross because of his great love for us, I can submit to God because of my great love for him, ‘even though he slay me.’ In my mind, it is the picture of a dog rolling on his back, belly up, to a human who has the power to harm him or rub his belly. It is the most submissive position they can have. A dog who has learned to trust the human puts his whole life on the line trusting that it will be a belly rub. Can I be that submissive to God? Can I trust that even in my most vulnerable moments he will respond in love?
Yes, my faith has been tried. And I have found a God who keeps his promises. How tenderly he has cared for us in the midst of our ‘trouble’. How often he has comforted us, held us as we wept, and encouraged us through his Word and his people.
Lord, I choose to follow you, even though you slay me. I fully submit my life and everything I have to you and your purposes. I trust in your great love. Amen.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Treasure in Heaven
The Bible is the most amazing Book of Wisdom. It continues to be relevant thousands of years after it was written. Each circumstance in our lives makes us more sensitive to specific pieces of wisdom. I love reading it over and over because each time I read it, it has something different or more poignant for me to absorb.
Since our son left this earth sooner than we expected (though assuredly in God’s timing), verses concerning heaven and eternity jump off the pages. Psalms of distress and sorrow read differently. Today is a ‘sorting, packing and giving’ day. I will be going through household items, boxing them and preparing them to go to an organization that helps refugees get resettled. As I hold and bless and give these things to others, they are filled with sweet memories of time spent together here on this earth.
This morning, I read about the Rich Young Man who came to Jesus asking about inheriting eternal life. When Jesus spoke to him about keeping the commandments, the young man responded that he had kept them meticulously since he was a boy. I wonder, was he trying to get Jesus to say, “Good job! You’re in!” and expecting a pat on the back? Or was he really wanting to gain more wisdom?
Jesus response then was, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21
In a nation where the prosperity gospel is regularly preached, it is easy to interpret the ‘treasure in heaven’ as all the things we think we need and wish for on this earth – a bigger TV, a new car, gold, silver, diamonds, a big house that is self-cleaning, etc. But today, as I sort through Andrew’s things that were useful on this earth and pass them on to other people who can use them, it occurs to me that I have a treasure in heaven and it is not gold or silver or diamonds or things. It is my son. And it is my grandmother, my grandfather, and my friends who have gone before me. Those relationships don’t die – those people are among the “cloud of witnesses” cheering us on and ready for us to join them when our time on this earth is finished. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
More than ever, things have become just that – things. While they serve us here on this earth, they do not have eternal value. Only what we do with those things has eternal value. Do we use the things we have been blessed with to love and serve others, or do we hoard and accumulate until they suffocate us? Andrew was good at holding his belongings with ‘open hands.’ He was blessed with a car – he was quick to give rides to those who needed them. He was blessed with food – he was quick to invite friends and neighbors to eat with him. He was blessed with health and energy – he was quick to serve others in whatever way he could. He sought God's forgiveness if he hesitated even for a moment. Those people and acts of kindness are the eternal treasures stored up in heaven. Each person he served was someone loved by Jesus and hopefully, many of them will someday be with Andrew in eternity saying, “Thanks for your kindness. You helped me find hope when I had none. You helped me find Jesus.”
Lord, give me wisdom as I sort through things today. Help me to enjoy the memories and then pass on the blessings to others who have need of them. Amen.
Since our son left this earth sooner than we expected (though assuredly in God’s timing), verses concerning heaven and eternity jump off the pages. Psalms of distress and sorrow read differently. Today is a ‘sorting, packing and giving’ day. I will be going through household items, boxing them and preparing them to go to an organization that helps refugees get resettled. As I hold and bless and give these things to others, they are filled with sweet memories of time spent together here on this earth.
This morning, I read about the Rich Young Man who came to Jesus asking about inheriting eternal life. When Jesus spoke to him about keeping the commandments, the young man responded that he had kept them meticulously since he was a boy. I wonder, was he trying to get Jesus to say, “Good job! You’re in!” and expecting a pat on the back? Or was he really wanting to gain more wisdom?
Jesus response then was, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21
In a nation where the prosperity gospel is regularly preached, it is easy to interpret the ‘treasure in heaven’ as all the things we think we need and wish for on this earth – a bigger TV, a new car, gold, silver, diamonds, a big house that is self-cleaning, etc. But today, as I sort through Andrew’s things that were useful on this earth and pass them on to other people who can use them, it occurs to me that I have a treasure in heaven and it is not gold or silver or diamonds or things. It is my son. And it is my grandmother, my grandfather, and my friends who have gone before me. Those relationships don’t die – those people are among the “cloud of witnesses” cheering us on and ready for us to join them when our time on this earth is finished. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
More than ever, things have become just that – things. While they serve us here on this earth, they do not have eternal value. Only what we do with those things has eternal value. Do we use the things we have been blessed with to love and serve others, or do we hoard and accumulate until they suffocate us? Andrew was good at holding his belongings with ‘open hands.’ He was blessed with a car – he was quick to give rides to those who needed them. He was blessed with food – he was quick to invite friends and neighbors to eat with him. He was blessed with health and energy – he was quick to serve others in whatever way he could. He sought God's forgiveness if he hesitated even for a moment. Those people and acts of kindness are the eternal treasures stored up in heaven. Each person he served was someone loved by Jesus and hopefully, many of them will someday be with Andrew in eternity saying, “Thanks for your kindness. You helped me find hope when I had none. You helped me find Jesus.”
Lord, give me wisdom as I sort through things today. Help me to enjoy the memories and then pass on the blessings to others who have need of them. Amen.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
I Can Do It Myself!
When our youngest son was about two years old, I had to make sure I heard him wake up in the morning. If I didn’t get to him in time, he would go to the refrigerator, get the apple juice out and try to pour himself a glass of apple juice. It would be all over the floor and under the refrigerator and I would have a sticky mess to clean up not to mention that we would be out of apple juice again. That was one of the many ways he tried to do things for himself. All he had to do was come to me and ask and I would help him, but he seemed unaware of that and generally thought he needed to do things for himself.
“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10
As I read the book of Judges, I see a people who generation after generation would forget that they had a God who loved them and would take care of them. So, like my son, they would try to do things for themselves and make a big mess. The Lord would let them go for a while and live in bondage and then, “the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.” Judges 2:18b In his compassion, the Lord would send them another Judge, someone who knew God and followed him, who would lead the people out of bondage again. But as soon as that Judge was gone, the people would go right back to worshiping other gods and, therefore, right back into bondage.
I wonder if we have learned anything from the history recorded in the Bible. I look at churches today… a new church will grow up led by someone with real passion for God and for leading his people to victorious lives. As time goes on, several things happen. Sometimes the leader gets prideful of what ‘he’ accomplished forgetting it was God who was doing the work. Sometimes the leader moves on to plant another church and new leaders come in who are less passionate. People get comfortable in the established congregation and follow the rituals without their hearts being passionate for Christ. While the parents have distant memories of what God has done, the children are clueless – they haven’t been taught and it isn’t an ongoing experience, so they are not learning who God is and how he works in their daily lives. And so the church grows cold and after a while begins to dwindle in attendance and eventually dies out or carries on with a mostly dead body.
So I wonder, where does the passion come from that keeps a church body alive and well? We have something that those Israelites didn’t have – we live in a time after Jesus came and took on human flesh, died and was resurrected and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Ephesians 2:18 We don’t have to wait for a judge or priest to take us back to the Lord. We can approach him every day and ask for his help with every battle in our lives. I somehow think the passion comes from knowing how much he has done for us and how much we need him. And if we are humble enough to admit that, not only will he ‘show up’ and help us, but our children will see our dependence upon God and learn to also walk with him. I don’t think passion is something that can be passed on, but it is something that must be learned through personal experience with God. Yes, we can get a ‘buzz’ from being next to someone who is passionate, but it will not ‘stick'.
How rich we are! We have a compassionate God who loves us. We don’t have to wade around in the sticky messes we make for ourselves. We can ask him for help. And he is faithful… “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5
“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10
As I read the book of Judges, I see a people who generation after generation would forget that they had a God who loved them and would take care of them. So, like my son, they would try to do things for themselves and make a big mess. The Lord would let them go for a while and live in bondage and then, “the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.” Judges 2:18b In his compassion, the Lord would send them another Judge, someone who knew God and followed him, who would lead the people out of bondage again. But as soon as that Judge was gone, the people would go right back to worshiping other gods and, therefore, right back into bondage.
I wonder if we have learned anything from the history recorded in the Bible. I look at churches today… a new church will grow up led by someone with real passion for God and for leading his people to victorious lives. As time goes on, several things happen. Sometimes the leader gets prideful of what ‘he’ accomplished forgetting it was God who was doing the work. Sometimes the leader moves on to plant another church and new leaders come in who are less passionate. People get comfortable in the established congregation and follow the rituals without their hearts being passionate for Christ. While the parents have distant memories of what God has done, the children are clueless – they haven’t been taught and it isn’t an ongoing experience, so they are not learning who God is and how he works in their daily lives. And so the church grows cold and after a while begins to dwindle in attendance and eventually dies out or carries on with a mostly dead body.
So I wonder, where does the passion come from that keeps a church body alive and well? We have something that those Israelites didn’t have – we live in a time after Jesus came and took on human flesh, died and was resurrected and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Ephesians 2:18 We don’t have to wait for a judge or priest to take us back to the Lord. We can approach him every day and ask for his help with every battle in our lives. I somehow think the passion comes from knowing how much he has done for us and how much we need him. And if we are humble enough to admit that, not only will he ‘show up’ and help us, but our children will see our dependence upon God and learn to also walk with him. I don’t think passion is something that can be passed on, but it is something that must be learned through personal experience with God. Yes, we can get a ‘buzz’ from being next to someone who is passionate, but it will not ‘stick'.
How rich we are! We have a compassionate God who loves us. We don’t have to wade around in the sticky messes we make for ourselves. We can ask him for help. And he is faithful… “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5
Sunday, April 10, 2011
For the Sake of Your Name
The Psalms are full of good stuff for grieving people. While Psalm 23 is a comfort, there are many Psalms that cry out to God, “Rescue me from my enemies.” On the journey of grief, we find many enemies along the way. Fear is the worst one. Our daughter-in-love made a list of 20 fears that she deals with. I share many of those fears. The first one is that somehow we are responsible for our son’s death, followed by I’ll never get past this grief and obsession over him and then I’ll forget to remember him. Irrational? Yes. But, nevertheless, real intrusions into our thoughts.
As I was reading Psalm 31 this morning, it grabbed my attention already in verse 1. “In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge…” Then, “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.” Psalm 31:2-3
And there is was: “for the sake of your name.” Suddenly I see David (and myself) in a new light. In my self-aware, self-centered frame of mind, I’m thinking the emphasis is on, “save me,” “rescue me,” “hide me,” “shelter me,” but David says, “for the sake of your name,” take care of me. David was focused on what God was doing for the sake of God’s name – not just on saving his own skin. As I ponder this, I think of Moses when he was interceding for the Israelites after they had committed grievous sin while Moses was on the mountain with God. “But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God, “O Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel… Then the Lord relented.” Exodus 32:11-14 Moses was also interested in “for your name sake” even as he pleaded for God’s mercy.
As I read down through the Psalm, I find, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” Psalm 31:5 Jesus quoted the first part of this verse from the cross. Jesus was submitting to the will of God – even to the point of death on the cross.
“Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” Psalm 31:9-10 I share this pain with David. I’m weary with grief and anguish.
“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands: deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” Psalm 31:14-16 “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city [a state of grief]. In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. ‘Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful.’” Psalm 31:19-23
I wonder then, as I journey through this grief, if my focus is on “for the sake of your name,” or is it on me? If my focus is on me, I find myself drowning in irrational fear and pain. If my focus is on the Lord, I see his hand outstretched to me, pulling me out of my sea of fear and pain, rescuing me, because he is a loving and merciful God. And I shout with David, “Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful.” Psalm 31:23
As I was reading Psalm 31 this morning, it grabbed my attention already in verse 1. “In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge…” Then, “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.” Psalm 31:2-3
And there is was: “for the sake of your name.” Suddenly I see David (and myself) in a new light. In my self-aware, self-centered frame of mind, I’m thinking the emphasis is on, “save me,” “rescue me,” “hide me,” “shelter me,” but David says, “for the sake of your name,” take care of me. David was focused on what God was doing for the sake of God’s name – not just on saving his own skin. As I ponder this, I think of Moses when he was interceding for the Israelites after they had committed grievous sin while Moses was on the mountain with God. “But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God, “O Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel… Then the Lord relented.” Exodus 32:11-14 Moses was also interested in “for your name sake” even as he pleaded for God’s mercy.
As I read down through the Psalm, I find, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” Psalm 31:5 Jesus quoted the first part of this verse from the cross. Jesus was submitting to the will of God – even to the point of death on the cross.
“Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.” Psalm 31:9-10 I share this pain with David. I’m weary with grief and anguish.
“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands: deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” Psalm 31:14-16 “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city [a state of grief]. In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. ‘Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful.’” Psalm 31:19-23
I wonder then, as I journey through this grief, if my focus is on “for the sake of your name,” or is it on me? If my focus is on me, I find myself drowning in irrational fear and pain. If my focus is on the Lord, I see his hand outstretched to me, pulling me out of my sea of fear and pain, rescuing me, because he is a loving and merciful God. And I shout with David, “Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful.” Psalm 31:23
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Longest Sermon
If I knew I only had 24 hours to live, what would I do with that time? I’ve asked myself that and similar questions many times trying to figure out my priorities in life. If I only had 1 year, or 3 months, or 1 month, or two weeks, or one week… Having recently lost a son to sudden death, the question has become more prominent in my mind.
I think of relationships with family and friends, I think of projects unfinished in my ‘basement of dreams’ and of the too many belongings that need to be gone through and dispersed. But as I read through Acts and see what we call ‘Paul’s Missionary Journey,’ I find myself thinking of something different. Paul didn’t ‘plan’ his journey saying, “First I will go here and then after 3 months, I will move on to…” Rather, he was constantly pushed on by persecution and threats of prison and death if he stayed. As he journeyed, he picked up leaders in the various communities that he mentored and taught. He sometimes took different folks with him to the next place, mentoring them on the way. But he was always teaching, teaching, teaching, preaching, preaching, preaching… And many people – Jews and Gentiles – came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives as a result of Paul’s persistence in teaching the Gospel. Many churches grew up in many cities and countries because of Paul’s persistence in teaching the Gospel.
Always, hanging over Paul was the threat of eminent death – he was stoned, beaten, and imprisoned time after time. But he persisted. What did he teach? When he was with the Jews he tried to use their own Scriptures to convince them that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah and Savior of the world. When he was with the Gentiles, he taught them of the One True God… “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth… he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men… and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance. But now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising them from the dead.” Acts 17:24-31
We find Paul at Troas for seven days. On the last day he was there, “because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight… [Eutychus fell asleep and fell out the window, was dead, Paul raised him back to life] Then he [Paul] went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.” Acts 20:7, 11 It seems that Paul’s heart was to teach the people and especially the leaders the truth about Jesus, his purpose, his mission, and his death and resurrection. With every breath he was given, it was Paul’s purpose to make sure that no one went without hearing that Jesus was the Messiah and that he had come, lived and died and rose again to save them from their sins. “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” Acts 20:25-27 Paul was convinced that every breath he had belonged to God and he would use it to proclaim God’s love and grace to everyone he came in contact with.
The question then remains, what if I only had 24 hours to live, how would I spend it? What is it that God wants me to do with every breath that he gives me? The mission of Jesus was to make sure everyone understood how much God loved them – even to the point of death on the cross. His resurrection brought with it the promise of eternal life with him in heaven for all who believe in him and accept his gift of grace – forgiveness of sins. Paul’s mission was to make sure no one went without hearing that good news. The Apostles worked diligently to spread the Gospel as far and wide as they could. Peter tells us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 The Lord does not want anyone to perish. His desire is that everyone hears the good news and has opportunity to repent and be saved from their sins.
I am not an orator and would have a difficult time preaching/teaching all day and all night as Paul did, but still, when I take my last breath, I want to be able to say with Paul that I am innocent of the blood of all men. I want to be able to say that I shared the good news with anyone and everyone that God brought into my path or sent me to. I want to pour out my life for God’s kingdom just as Jesus poured out his life for me. My priorities should not change whether I have 50 more years to live or whether I die tomorrow. My priority is to make sure everyone has an opportunity to respond to God’s invitation to become part of his kingdom.
Help me, Lord, to not squander the life you have given me to live, but to use it to your honor and glory, today and as long as you give me breath.
I think of relationships with family and friends, I think of projects unfinished in my ‘basement of dreams’ and of the too many belongings that need to be gone through and dispersed. But as I read through Acts and see what we call ‘Paul’s Missionary Journey,’ I find myself thinking of something different. Paul didn’t ‘plan’ his journey saying, “First I will go here and then after 3 months, I will move on to…” Rather, he was constantly pushed on by persecution and threats of prison and death if he stayed. As he journeyed, he picked up leaders in the various communities that he mentored and taught. He sometimes took different folks with him to the next place, mentoring them on the way. But he was always teaching, teaching, teaching, preaching, preaching, preaching… And many people – Jews and Gentiles – came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives as a result of Paul’s persistence in teaching the Gospel. Many churches grew up in many cities and countries because of Paul’s persistence in teaching the Gospel.
Always, hanging over Paul was the threat of eminent death – he was stoned, beaten, and imprisoned time after time. But he persisted. What did he teach? When he was with the Jews he tried to use their own Scriptures to convince them that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah and Savior of the world. When he was with the Gentiles, he taught them of the One True God… “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth… he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men… and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance. But now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising them from the dead.” Acts 17:24-31
We find Paul at Troas for seven days. On the last day he was there, “because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight… [Eutychus fell asleep and fell out the window, was dead, Paul raised him back to life] Then he [Paul] went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.” Acts 20:7, 11 It seems that Paul’s heart was to teach the people and especially the leaders the truth about Jesus, his purpose, his mission, and his death and resurrection. With every breath he was given, it was Paul’s purpose to make sure that no one went without hearing that Jesus was the Messiah and that he had come, lived and died and rose again to save them from their sins. “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” Acts 20:25-27 Paul was convinced that every breath he had belonged to God and he would use it to proclaim God’s love and grace to everyone he came in contact with.
The question then remains, what if I only had 24 hours to live, how would I spend it? What is it that God wants me to do with every breath that he gives me? The mission of Jesus was to make sure everyone understood how much God loved them – even to the point of death on the cross. His resurrection brought with it the promise of eternal life with him in heaven for all who believe in him and accept his gift of grace – forgiveness of sins. Paul’s mission was to make sure no one went without hearing that good news. The Apostles worked diligently to spread the Gospel as far and wide as they could. Peter tells us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 The Lord does not want anyone to perish. His desire is that everyone hears the good news and has opportunity to repent and be saved from their sins.
I am not an orator and would have a difficult time preaching/teaching all day and all night as Paul did, but still, when I take my last breath, I want to be able to say with Paul that I am innocent of the blood of all men. I want to be able to say that I shared the good news with anyone and everyone that God brought into my path or sent me to. I want to pour out my life for God’s kingdom just as Jesus poured out his life for me. My priorities should not change whether I have 50 more years to live or whether I die tomorrow. My priority is to make sure everyone has an opportunity to respond to God’s invitation to become part of his kingdom.
Help me, Lord, to not squander the life you have given me to live, but to use it to your honor and glory, today and as long as you give me breath.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
He is the God of the Living
It is an interesting experience to read the last few chapters of Matthew followed by Psalm 22. How could David write these things so many years prior to them happening to Christ?
I wonder if it was because David was so close to God… He sought after God, worshipped God, struggled with God, repented and came back to God for healing over and over. God gave him the song that became what we know as Psalm 22. It was a glimpse of what was to come.
And Jesus obviously knew the Scriptures and knew this Psalm. So much of it became his experience… “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?... He trusts the Lord; let the Lord rescue him… they have pierced my hands and my feet… they divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing… the poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him… all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations… they will proclaim his righteousness to the people yet unborn – for he has done it.” Psalm 22:1, 8, 16, 18, 26-28, 31
Jesus’ death on the cross was no accident of fate. It was a carefully planned out event on God’s kingdom calendar. It was the ultimate Passover and he was the Passover lamb. It was his victory over death – part of his eternal plan rescuing us from sin and death. “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:32 When he rose from the dead, he took away Satan’s power of fear of death. Because I know I will live in eternity, I don’t have to fear what happens to this mortal body. It is simply a vehicle to get around in this world and can be used to praise God while I’m here as I will praise God in heaven.
I have a really hard time saying the words, “My son is dead.” I think it is because I don’t believe it. I’m not in denial that his physical body as I have known it will not walk through my door with his big smile or wrap me in his big hug. But death has been conquered. I can now see it for what it really is – a passage from life on the timeline of this world to life in eternity. God is the God of the living – whether they are living in this world in the mortal body or whether they are living in eternity with him. Jesus showed us with his resurrection that life continues. In fact, life in eternity is more life than life in this world can ever be!
So I’m waiting – with hope and full of his promises – until I cross over into eternity where real life begins. In the meantime, I’m living in my mortal body as a disciple of Jesus Christ and trying to keep learning what it means to be God’s servant, to honor him with my life on this side of eternity, and to be part of his body here on this earth by reaching out to others and loving them. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Jesus asked those who follow him to get this message out to the world. This is our job description: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
What is it we are commanded to do? While we have many more teachings of Jesus, he summed it up with, “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 Spurred on by our son’s great faith, I will continue to grapple with what this looks like in daily life and interactions with others – as long as God gives me breath on this earth.
I wonder if it was because David was so close to God… He sought after God, worshipped God, struggled with God, repented and came back to God for healing over and over. God gave him the song that became what we know as Psalm 22. It was a glimpse of what was to come.
And Jesus obviously knew the Scriptures and knew this Psalm. So much of it became his experience… “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?... He trusts the Lord; let the Lord rescue him… they have pierced my hands and my feet… they divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing… the poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him… all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations… they will proclaim his righteousness to the people yet unborn – for he has done it.” Psalm 22:1, 8, 16, 18, 26-28, 31
Jesus’ death on the cross was no accident of fate. It was a carefully planned out event on God’s kingdom calendar. It was the ultimate Passover and he was the Passover lamb. It was his victory over death – part of his eternal plan rescuing us from sin and death. “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:32 When he rose from the dead, he took away Satan’s power of fear of death. Because I know I will live in eternity, I don’t have to fear what happens to this mortal body. It is simply a vehicle to get around in this world and can be used to praise God while I’m here as I will praise God in heaven.
I have a really hard time saying the words, “My son is dead.” I think it is because I don’t believe it. I’m not in denial that his physical body as I have known it will not walk through my door with his big smile or wrap me in his big hug. But death has been conquered. I can now see it for what it really is – a passage from life on the timeline of this world to life in eternity. God is the God of the living – whether they are living in this world in the mortal body or whether they are living in eternity with him. Jesus showed us with his resurrection that life continues. In fact, life in eternity is more life than life in this world can ever be!
So I’m waiting – with hope and full of his promises – until I cross over into eternity where real life begins. In the meantime, I’m living in my mortal body as a disciple of Jesus Christ and trying to keep learning what it means to be God’s servant, to honor him with my life on this side of eternity, and to be part of his body here on this earth by reaching out to others and loving them. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Jesus asked those who follow him to get this message out to the world. This is our job description: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
What is it we are commanded to do? While we have many more teachings of Jesus, he summed it up with, “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 Spurred on by our son’s great faith, I will continue to grapple with what this looks like in daily life and interactions with others – as long as God gives me breath on this earth.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
I'm Walking on Water
When someone we love dearly leaves this earth, we grieve deeply. When Jesus received the news that John the Baptist had been killed by Herod, “he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” Matthew 14:13 But the only ‘private’ and ‘solitary’ he got was while he was in the boat because, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:14
After feeding the 5,000 men plus women and children with only five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him in the boat, dismissed the crowds, and then “he went up on the mountainside by himself to pray.” Matthew 14:23 Not only was his time for grieving taken from him, but he put in a long, hard day before he was able to finally get by himself and deal with his grief through prayer – alone time with just Jesus and his Father.
It was after this ‘alone time’ that Jesus, in the early hours of the morning, walked out to his disciples on the water which would have been anything but calm. Matthew tells us that the boat was “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” Matthew 14:24 And it was at this time that Peter, wild with the possibilities of what Jesus could do, climbed out of the boat and began his walk toward Jesus – on the water! We give Peter a hard time about his lack of faith when he took in his circumstances (wind and waves) and began to sink. But I wonder if I would have had the courage and the faith to climb out of the boat!
When they got to the other side, people spotted him and once again Jesus was surrounded with people who wanted to be healed from their sickness. Couldn’t he have a break? After all, now that we know more about grieving, we understand that it takes several years and many cycles of anger and acceptance. Wouldn’t a loving Father protect him and give him a year or two to heal before returning to his ministry?
And I wonder how Jesus must have felt – giving and giving. People came after physical healing and he had so much more to give them. He obviously was drawing on a power and strength from his heavenly Father. That is why he had to spend a good portion of the night in prayer. He had to keep his focus on the things of God – not the things of man. A heavenly perspective on things could keep him from going into a great depression. A heavenly perspective on things gave him the compassion to continue healing the sick even as he was dealing with his own loss.
I wonder how many of those who where healed stuck around for the ‘more’ that Jesus had to give them? We focus so much on our physical world – understandingly so – it is the world we live in. But Jesus has so much more to offer us if we will just open our eyes to the possibilities and get out of the boat!
Seven weeks after our son has left this world, we are still being asked, “Have you gone back to work yet?” The answer is yes, we went back to work as soon as we returned from dealing with his earthly belongings (closing out his apartment, canceling utilities, etc.) and dealing with the legal issues that come with leaving this world. God, in his compassion, gave us several days to deal with the initial shock and grief. But then we could soon see that there was work to be done. There were many hurting people around us who needed assurances. Some needed to find their salvation in Christ. Some needed to return to Christ after wondering away. Some needed to hear Christ’s call to ‘step out of the boat.’
And we needed to find our ‘solitary places’, get recharged, and keep going. Jesus showed us how to do that and being his disciples, we choose to learn from him. There are a lot of good books out there about grieving. Many of them hold some good wisdom. But the book I have the most confidence in is the Word of God. That is where I find the healing and the strength I need to go on. Every day that God gives me is another day to ‘bear fruit’ for him. It is another day to walk in his strength and share his love and goodness with those I come in contact with.
And who knows… If I climb out of the boat and keep my eyes on Jesus, well, maybe I’ll have enough faith to walk on water too.
After feeding the 5,000 men plus women and children with only five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him in the boat, dismissed the crowds, and then “he went up on the mountainside by himself to pray.” Matthew 14:23 Not only was his time for grieving taken from him, but he put in a long, hard day before he was able to finally get by himself and deal with his grief through prayer – alone time with just Jesus and his Father.
It was after this ‘alone time’ that Jesus, in the early hours of the morning, walked out to his disciples on the water which would have been anything but calm. Matthew tells us that the boat was “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” Matthew 14:24 And it was at this time that Peter, wild with the possibilities of what Jesus could do, climbed out of the boat and began his walk toward Jesus – on the water! We give Peter a hard time about his lack of faith when he took in his circumstances (wind and waves) and began to sink. But I wonder if I would have had the courage and the faith to climb out of the boat!
When they got to the other side, people spotted him and once again Jesus was surrounded with people who wanted to be healed from their sickness. Couldn’t he have a break? After all, now that we know more about grieving, we understand that it takes several years and many cycles of anger and acceptance. Wouldn’t a loving Father protect him and give him a year or two to heal before returning to his ministry?
And I wonder how Jesus must have felt – giving and giving. People came after physical healing and he had so much more to give them. He obviously was drawing on a power and strength from his heavenly Father. That is why he had to spend a good portion of the night in prayer. He had to keep his focus on the things of God – not the things of man. A heavenly perspective on things could keep him from going into a great depression. A heavenly perspective on things gave him the compassion to continue healing the sick even as he was dealing with his own loss.
I wonder how many of those who where healed stuck around for the ‘more’ that Jesus had to give them? We focus so much on our physical world – understandingly so – it is the world we live in. But Jesus has so much more to offer us if we will just open our eyes to the possibilities and get out of the boat!
Seven weeks after our son has left this world, we are still being asked, “Have you gone back to work yet?” The answer is yes, we went back to work as soon as we returned from dealing with his earthly belongings (closing out his apartment, canceling utilities, etc.) and dealing with the legal issues that come with leaving this world. God, in his compassion, gave us several days to deal with the initial shock and grief. But then we could soon see that there was work to be done. There were many hurting people around us who needed assurances. Some needed to find their salvation in Christ. Some needed to return to Christ after wondering away. Some needed to hear Christ’s call to ‘step out of the boat.’
And we needed to find our ‘solitary places’, get recharged, and keep going. Jesus showed us how to do that and being his disciples, we choose to learn from him. There are a lot of good books out there about grieving. Many of them hold some good wisdom. But the book I have the most confidence in is the Word of God. That is where I find the healing and the strength I need to go on. Every day that God gives me is another day to ‘bear fruit’ for him. It is another day to walk in his strength and share his love and goodness with those I come in contact with.
And who knows… If I climb out of the boat and keep my eyes on Jesus, well, maybe I’ll have enough faith to walk on water too.
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