Be alive

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. - Colossians 2:13-14

Today I feel like the whole world has turned on me.  We have had enough of you it is saying.  You can't do anything well and so we are going to take what you do have and move on to the next guy.  It seems like every job has problems and needs me to work extra on it, but I just can't make that a priority.  It seems every person I interact with is unsatisfied with my work, but I just can't make that a priority.  It seems the people in my office don't think I'm working enough, but I just can't make that a priority.

Forsaking the whole world, He gave Himself for those He loved.  No matter what the world says about me, no matter who is disappointed in me, no matter who doesn't like me, I have to follow Jesus who put those He  loved first and served them.  And today all of us have the ability to choose Him and be forgiven, but most importantly, we have the ability to live close to Him.  Jesus is life and God is love, so loving is life.  Today I can live life by loving someone, not some "thing".

I pray that I choose Jesus first today.  I pray that Jesus will help those around me work out their perceptions or perspectives.  I pray that I will be who He made me to be and reflect Him to those around me, no matter what is hurled towards me.  I pray most that I would love others today and in so doing live my life fully.

Apr 13

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:12-15 NIV)

The crowds were looking for an earthly political King. Jesus wasn't as concerned, however, about the temporary things of this world.  Instead, he was and remains today much more concerned about establishing an eternal kingdom in the hearts of men.  Being fully God, he knew that a political king, someone who could lead a rebellion against Rome and re-establish the geopolitical greatness of the times of David, would not lead to an eternal kingdom.  In fact, he made this point plain: Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36 NIV). 

We often expect the God of the universe to conform to our understanding or to our desires of who we want him to be. Do not be deceived or so prideful as to think that God must conform to you or your wishes.  We are to conform to Him.  

Today's verses remind us that we must pay attention to the entirety of scripture to capture the true understanding of God.  

Apr 10

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. (Proverbs 3:27, 28 NIV)

How often does someone share a problem or request prayer and our response is "ok, I will?"  It seems to me that when someone requests prayer, that is the exact moment to do so. After all, can't we always pray?  

Apr 9

For  certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. (Jude 1:4, 16, 19 NIV)

These selected verses from the book of Jude remind us that satan is out to thwart the work of the church. One of his weapons is people within the church. People who water down or change the gospel message; people who "pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality..."  Sound familiar?  There are many topics being debating within the church today that are simply black and white in scripture. Satan is winnig when we debate these topics in front of nonbelievers.  

How about "grumblers and faultfinders?"  Do you ever come out of church griping about the music, the temperature, the flat delivery of the message, or something else?  I've become particularly sensitive to the number of people who have some negative critique of church, but cannot recall the message.  You've done yourself and all of those around you a great disservice when you appoint yourself a critic and fail to grasp the message.  None of us are in a position to criticize!  We are all terrible sinners and deserve death. The fact that we are privileged enough to worship God freely and without persecution provides an opportunity to hear God speak, see him work in and around us, and worship him with abandon.  Failure to do so is our own fault, no one else's, so we all need to stop adding sin upon ourselves like heaping coals by thinking that God has appointed us a critic.  

The text goes on to indict those who criticize others in the church or constantly brag about themselves. These people just wear me out. They are obviously needy and insecure and somehow that is my fault or responsibility to address.  

So to all of us I say STOP!  Knock it off!  Shut your ignorant, critical mouth, and quit giving satan a foothold in your own life, the lives of those around you, and in the life of the church.   Recognize that we are all sinners and in need of grace. Look for what God is offering you through others and through the service rather than what doesn't "meet your needs". Scripture says you need to die!  That we are not struck down by a bolt of lightning is cause enough to celebrate!  

I challenge you to quit being so self centered that you feel even the urge to criticize.  Become so focused on loving God and loving others that His love overwhelms and even casts out your critical spirit.  Endeavor to walk away from church, SS, or encounters with others feeling blessed rather than deprived.  

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25 NIV)

Apr 15

Matt 22:  ¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax^[a] to Caesar or not?” ¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, ²⁰ and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” ²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” ²² When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (NIV)

Tax Day, Ugh.  I hate the whole process of how we pay taxes.  I'm very fortunate that Reja has the patience to wade through thousands of pages of law and instructions to figure out how to take the appropriate deductions to reduce our tax burden.  I'm not even organized enough to fill out the receipts from Waterfront Rescue, so we have at least two loads of charitable contributions that cannot be deducted because I didn't fill out the form. 
Worse, I hate where some of my tax money is spent.  Subsidies for those "less fortunate" are very necessary and I like the fact that our society is benevolent.  Unfortunately, however, we've developed a trend of pursuing votes through government dependency which dooms our nation to a slow, painful economic death.  How do I know we're doomed?  Because scripture says "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” (2 Thes 3:10) and I know that nothing separate from God can last.  
I wish we could simplify government and taxes by simply going to a flat tax or a consumer tax, but I'm afraid that politicians have discovered that we are easily manipulated by the laws they pass.  As I age, I become more and more angry about this manipulation, but feel helpless to do anything about it other than rant.  I'm only somewhat comforted by the knowledge that in the end, God wins.  I'm afraid that end may be very painful if not for me, for my kids. 
Regardless, my job according to Christ, is to obey the authorities over me.  So, I filed my taxes and I'm heading off to work.  As I do so, I pray that somehow I can be a force of change.  I don't want to beat people into submission (although it somehow seems easier...), but I do want people to wake up to the truth that God expects us to work.  What are you doing today to earn your next meal?  Are you applying yourself to school, work, and assigned chores, or are you content to be spoiled by your parents?  If you really read this, leave me a comment!

Peace Be With You!

Jesus said, “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” - John 20:21

The disciples are all huddled in a home with the doors locked, fearful of the Jews who might come and slaughter them as they have crucified Jesus.  Yet Jesus is among them in the house and He reveals Himself to them.  Yet even one week later they are again inside the home with locked doors and Jesus comes through the doors.  I want to believe that after seeing Him alive again with his nail scars they would not be afraid anymore, but as I consider that I think about myself and how I am afraid sometimes.  I want to believe that after having experienced my risen Savior personally I would not be afraid of anything of this world, but sometimes I do still find some hidden fears.  How can that be?  Where God isn't, fear is.

Three times in seven verses does Jesus say "Peace to you" as He reveals Himself to them.  I have to believe this is purposeful.  It conveys a sense of directed calm at His disciples who, being locked in a home together afraid for their lives, seem to need some assurance.  But maybe He is also calling back to their memory of His teachings, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)  "Peace to you" Jesus greets them,  "My peace to you ... do not be afraid." 

"As my Father has sent Me, I am sending you."  "Where?"  I am sure this is the first question asked by the disciples.  And this is quickly followed by relief with the thoughts, "Thank you Lord!  Those Jews out there want to kill us."  Completely misunderstanding that it is to those Jews they are being sent.  "Peace be with you!" Jesus commands as He greets them.  My perception of this is He is conveying their purpose.  ...  Where My peace is no man can reach and no man can overcome.  "My peace be with you! ... Do not be afraid. ... I am sending you."  Don't huddle inside this home afraid!  I am sending you for Me just as I was sent for Him.  Believe in Me with your whole heart!  Follow Me!

Jesus had prayed for these disciples specifically in John 17:20-23.  He also prayed for you and me specifically as one who believes in Him through their word.  "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

As Jesus sent His disciples who followed Him as He went being sent by our Father God.  So shall we who believe in Jesus through the words of His disciples be sent so that the world may know that Jesus was sent by the Father and He loves us just as the Father loves Him.

Peace be with you!  As the Father sent Jesus and Jesus sent the disciples, He sends you and me!

Apr 14

John 20: ²¹ Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you. (AMP)

 

I Wonder if the people around me recognize me as a Christian through my actions as well as my words?  Do I even want them to recognize me as a Christian? Do the people I was crammed into the Stadium with this weekend recognize Jesus in me?  Do the drivers around me see Jesus in my driving?  Do the people that I interact with at the store, or the restaurant, or the hotel recognize Jesus when I'm there?  I hope my friends and coworkers know where I stand.  Jesus said "³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven" (Matt 10).  Therefore, our witness is not just important, its a matter if life and death! 

Apr 13

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:12-15 NIV)

The crowds were looking for an earthly political King. Jesus wasn't as concerned, however, about the temporary things of this world.  Instead, he was and remains today much more concerned about establishing an eternal kingdom in the hearts of men.  Being fully God, he knew that a political king, someone who could lead a rebellion against Rome and re-establish the geopolitical greatness of the times of David, would not lead to an eternal kingdom.  In fact, he made this point plain: Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36 NIV). 

We often expect the God of the universe to conform to our understanding or to our desires of who we want him to be. Do not be deceived or so prideful as to think that God must conform to you or your wishes.  We are to conform to Him.  

Today's verses remind us that we must pay attention to the entirety of scripture to capture the true understanding of God.  

Watch and Do

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that. - Ephesians 5:1-2 (Message)

I don't often quote from the Message Bible but today it expands upon these verses well.  It does leave off the end of verse 2 as interpreted in NKJV and NIV which indicate that the love of Christ to sacrifice for us was a pleasant aroma or fragrant offering to God.  Matthew Henry comments "that the sin-offerings were never said to be of a sweet-smelling savour, but this is said of the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."  God was pleased and accepted the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.  God was pleased in the love of Jesus to love us as God loves us and to serve us through His own sacrifice.

"Watch what God does, and then you do it."  I like this.  It has very Henry Blackaby 'Experiencing God' feel to it in referring to the idea of watch where God is working and join Him there.  It also has tones of "What Would Jesus Do" in its delivery. 

"Keep company with Him ... observe how Christ loved us."  In the way that Jesus loved us as God loved us, so shall we strive to love as God loves.  In this way will our sacrifice, with Christ with us, be a pleasant aroma to God.  It is very important for us to read and talk with God so that we might be able to allow more and more of Him to rule in our life.  While we speak of our own sacrifice, I find that when we are more closely aligned with God, this that we consider "sacrifice" changes and we begin to consider it our necessary service.  It is what we do because we love others.  And it is that love, the love of God, that rules our hearts on the behalf of others.

The Other Disciple

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.  Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.  Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside.  He saw and believed. - John 20:1-8

This is one of the oddest written portions of John to me.  Why does he write while not naming "the other disciple".  It seems strange but purposefully done.  The key verse is the last verse, "He saw and believed."  I want to immediately think that he then believed in who Jesus was as God at that moment, but he could have equally just believed that someone had taken Him.  However, the reason I don't believe he was thinking that someone had just taken Jesus is the way it is written.  The description of how the linen and head cloth are lying there describe more than He was just taken.  It describes that the body had disappeared. 

I find the story is a great analogy of someone as they are coming into a belief in Christ.  This may be why the text is written without naming the other disciple, as this other disciple could be any one of us.  I get the sense that "the other disciple" looked in, saw the linen deflated and it was too much to the senses to enter.  As when a person first realizes that Jesus could be God.  The mind is opened up and thoughts start racing and it is too much for the senses at first.  This person then has to decide whether to "enter" into the belief or to stay outside.  Do they dare to go "in"? 

Here, once Peter had entered, the other disciple then had the courage to go in and confirming the absence of the body, the resurrection, he believed.  Most often, a person will follow a disciple who believes into their own belief.  Peter knew who Jesus was and had already confirmed it (Matthew 16:16).  Peter had gone in and this disciple decides to go in also and he believes because of it.  Similarly, an unbeliever at that point of decision may see us living without doubt in the belief of the resurrection and decide to believe themselves. 

An important aspect, not be overlooked, is that the other disciple was with Peter.  If we want to influence others, we have to be with them.  We can't live on our believer's island and hope to influence someone on the mainland.  We need to walk (in this case run) with them to their point of decision and walk them into the fact of the resurrection of Christ.

On a more personal level, what aspects of our lives still live outside the tomb?  What part of me have I not allowed to enter into the tomb and believe wholly upon His resurrection?  What part of me does not depend upon and trust in the power of God?

Service

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself ... Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  - Philippians 2:3,5-8

This aspect of the Christian life is so very hard to live.  When we are being blessed with success financially, with good children, in ministry, in friendships, with our hobbies, in our relationships, in our health or in any other area, it is difficult not to be proud.  Whether we think we have done something or we think we are above others and so God has blessed us, it can be a slippery slope to walk to be careful and not be proud. 

We are to serve others.  It should not be a goal for us to be lifted up before others.  We should not be working our ministry, or giving generously to a charitable effort, or fighting for some cause, so others can see how good we are.  Jesus purposely pointed this out in His observation with the disciples of watching how people gave their offerings at the temple.  These things are to be done with an intended secrecy so we are truly serving others and not ourselves.  If discovered and other men want to lift us up and present accolades, it is very important to present the source of our life and our ability to serve and to testify to the work that Jesus has done.

Jesus did not use His advantage as God's Son and come to the earth and rule it.  He could have done so, but where would man be in relation to God?  He came as a non-ruler, a poor man, but rich as the Father's Son, and served all of man by even subjecting himself to the rule of man so as to die on a cross so man could be in a relationship with God.  He, the most powerful "man" on the earth, humbled Himself to be ruled over, beaten, cursed, ridiculed and crucified.  All so each of us, so I, can know God personally.

I am to humble myself; I am to search out for all pride in my life and have it removed; I am to be mindful of the extreme Jesus went to for me and be willing to do as much for others.  I am to demonstrate God's grace and mercy to others, not because I'm doing them a favor, but because that is my best service to them.

Seemingly, the most difficult time for being proud is when we are tired.  There will exist a time when we have served many, given much, and feel forgotten.  We might even be under some kind of attack from finances, children making bad choices, have serious health issues, friendships crumbled, or some other happenstance.  It is this time when we may be tempted to believe we deserve something.  ...  Where is my reward Lord?  ...  It was at this time that Jesus prayed His deepest prayers.  It was at this time that Jesus was asked for an alternate course, but yielded to His Father's will.  ...  In all of our life, the simplicity of personal communion with our living Christ, must be all we desire or want.  Do not let a need to feel like your life mattered take hold.  If you live your life clinging closely with Jesus in your heart, your life matters. 

As He gave to the end of his physical life, so let us pray that we might be able to give as He did, in humility and in service.

Deal with it.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. - Hebrews 9:27-28

I've heard so many sermons on verse 27 in the Baptist churches I've attended and so little sermons on it in the Methodist church.  I do crave for a good 'ole fashioned sermon sometimes on a verse like this instead of the "high brow" preaching.

Hey, it's pretty straightforward.  You're going to die and be judged because you are a human being.  Deal with it.  No amount of money, success, failure, right works, wrong works, good attitude, bad attitude, or theology will get you out of it.  It's going to happen.  Christ Himself died once and so will you.  No matter how much you love the people around you, or hate the people around you; no matter how much you love life, or hate life; no matter how much you love your stuff, or long for stuff; no matter what you've accomplished, or didn't accomplish; YOU WILL DIE and BE JUDGED. ...  Again I say, deal with it.

As an eternal being in a physical body, you have the opportunity to live eternally with God or not too.  It's your choice and the judgment is solely based on that choice.  Believe in something you cannot see but can experience and feel inside your being and know is as real as the world you see.  Or refuse to believe it.  Believe in Jesus and all that He did as the Messiah, our Savior, sacrificing Himself for all our sins or don't believe it.  Upon that your judgment rests and the sentence of that judgment is your eternity.  The choice is ours.

There is also a daily choice for those of us who believe upon Jesus through faith.  Is our Savior still alive or is He dead?  Is it Friday for us and Jesus is on the cross crucified, physically dead?  Is it Saturday for us and is Jesus dead in the tomb?  Or is it Sunday for us and Jesus is resurrected and living?  Where is your Jesus?  Is He alive in your life?  Are you trusting Him for your everything today?

What is the insurmountable problem in your life?  Is it your career?  Is it a relationship that won't heal?  Is it a need to be accepted and feel equal to others?  Is it unforgiveness for yourself for things you've done?  Is it exercise?  Is it a weight problem?  Is it pride? ... What is that "thing" in your life? ... Is Jesus dead or alive for you today?  If He's alive and you have put your trust in Him for your very salvation, is there some reason you aren't trusting Him in these other areas and trusting Him for deliverance from them also?  If we don't do that, aren't we saying that we really don't won't Him completely?  He is resurrected and living!  May we not put Him back in the grave!

I declare that we shouldn't wait until we physically die to die.  We should seek that we should die today to whatever we are refusing to allow Jesus to save within us.  Only Jesus can save that which is lost.  I have some lost things inside of me and I need Jesus to save me; only He can wash them clean or set them in order; only He can clean the house and make it usable.  "To live is Christ and to die is gain."  I pray that I die today and I know that my Christ is living.