Sunday, May 20, 2012    

On His Terms

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Our culture has this misguided notion that we get to come to God on our own terms. You hear it in various forms, but here are a few:

“If the good in my life outweighs the bad then God will surely accept me.”

“If God is a loving God how could He send anyone to hell?”

“All roads lead to heaven.”

The problem with each of these statements is that they don’t come from God…they’re our statements. Things we think, hope, and wish were true. But does God get a say in this anywhere? Are we so arrogant to think that we get to come to God…the Creator of the Universe…on our terms instead of His terms?

This hit home with me this week as I continued my reading through the book of Deuteronomy. In chapter 12 God makes this declaration…

Do not worship the Lord your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods. Rather, you must seek the Lord your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes—the place where his name will be honored. (Deuteronomy 12:4-5, NLT)

God repeats this phrase over and over again in the chapters that follow. He commands His children to worship Him…to come to Him in fellowship…on HIS terms, not ours. HE will chose the place where He is to be worshiped, not the other way around. He is very clear on this point…He says it over and over again so that there is no confusion. His children are called to worship Him at a place of His choosing.

But that was then…what about now? Jesus makes a similar statement, but in a different way…

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NLT)

His terms…not ours. Our way to God is only through Jesus. Period. It has nothing to do with how good or bad we are. All roads don’t lead there…only one road. We simply do not get to pick and choose…God chooses. And He chose Jesus.

So should we…

31.03.2011 Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Sinner by Trade

Monday, March 28th, 2011

I am increasingly convinced that everyone now and again, God chooses to speak to me through repetition. He sends me the same message through various sources. Maybe that’s what it takes to get my attention…and I must confess that it seems to work (is that because I’m just slow?).

This week’s topic? My nature…more specifically, my sinful nature.

The topic came up during a LifeGroup discussion yesterday afternoon (thanks again to Danny & Suzanne for letting me sit in with them). The group started talking about how little we tend to get out of our comfort zone and talk with others about God. Then it turned to how the church has often alienated itself from those who need God (I’ll let you fill in this list).

During this discussion, it struck me that maybe the issue is that we think a little too highly of ourselves. We’ve convinced ourselves that we’ve “arrived”…that’s we’re “holy” and “righteous”. None of that is true. At our core, we are sinful creatures that God has redeemed to Himself (Romans 3:9-26). I didn’t do it…God did.

With this perspective, who am I to think for one nano-second that I have the right to withhold God’s love from others (even for my own comfort)? I can’t fix myself much less anyone else. It’s just my job to love on others and let God the rest. My fear and my own self-righteousness too often gets in the way.

And then this quote from my reading today in Richard Foster’s book on Prayer:

We are not sinners because we commit sinful acts; rather, we commit sinful acts because we are sinners. (page 46)

I get this one backwards all the time. It’s good for me to remember that God has saved me from myself. Being a pastor doesn’t change my condition. Being a good person doesn’t change my condition. Only Jesus can change me (or those He’s placed in my life). I just need to accept His free gift and follow Him with everything I’ve got (which I often fail at doing because of the above truth).

I needed this reminder this week. I think I was getting a little too big for my own britches.  =0)

28.03.2011 Faith, Spiritual Musings No Comments

New Wineskins

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

I’ve read the following passage many times and it’s always been intriguing to me. I’ve even preached on the passage before. But as often happens, I read it this morning and saw something new once again. Here’s the passage:

Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

(Luke 5:36-39, NLT)

For the longest time I struggled with what Jesus was saying with all the discussion about new patched, old patches, new wineskins, and old wineskins. I understand now that He’s talking about the new kind of relationship He was ushering in. No longer where God and His children going to be separated. Jesus came to bring something new…a close, personal relationships with Him. He’s the new patch and the new wine. And he doesn’t fit into the old way of doing things (Law, Pharisaical ways, our old thinking, etc.). It was brand new and He was bringing an entirely new package to us…wine and wineskins.

So why do I bring all this up? What’s new for me today?

That last sentence: “But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

Jesus is talking about us being set in our ways. Too often we can’t accept His new way because we’re too used to the old way…our way. I don’t want to be one of these people Jesus us talking about who think “the old is just fine”. It’s not just fine. Jesus’ way is so much better than my way…but am I too afraid to give it a try (even when others tell me how good it is)?

I want the new wine. I want the new patch.

I want Jesus.

23.03.2011 Jesus, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

Talking Donkeys

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

It’s been awhile since I’ve read the story of Balaam and his donkey. It’s a humorous story with a serious message. If you haven’t ever read it (or if it’s been awhile) I highly encourage you to do so (the entire story is in Numbers 22).

The long and short of it is that Balaam is a “hired gun” who performs blessings, curses, divining, and any other sort of soothsaying for the right price. At this point in the story, Israel is trying to cross through Moab, peacefully. However, King Balak doesn’t like that idea because he’s afraid of how many Israelites there are. So he tries to hire Balaam to curse Israel before attacking them.

But God gets a hold of Balaam first. He tells Balaam not to go…Balaam agrees but hopes God will change is mind (there’s a lot of cash on the line)…God tells Him to go…Balaam goes, but has a little incident with an angel and his talking donkey (that’s the funny part of the story)…Balaam gets his head screwed on right and proceeds to meet with King Balak with a strict understanding that he’s only to do what God instructs him to do.

It’s a great story.

But it’s also got an important message…at least for me (and anyone else who speaks to others about God…this includes every disciple, but especially those doing it as their vocation). Here’s the lesson that Balaam learns and proclaims to King Balak:

Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.” (Numbers 22:28, NLT)

That’s such an important lesson and reminder. It’s my goal every time I speak in a Sunday morning. I want to “speak only the message that God puts in my mouth”. I think I do that most of the time…but not all of the time. I just hope God doesn’t have to send a talking donkey my way to be sure I get the message.

15.03.2011 Ministry, New Pastor Journal, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

Redeemed

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

There are all kinds of words that we hear, read, and say over and over in Christians circles. We say them and hear them so often that I think sometimes we lose touch with what they really mean. They become too familiar unless we step back now and again and take a fresh look. Today, for me, that word is: Redemption.

I came across the word and the concept this morning in my reading in Numbers. A little history of a word never hurts to put it back into focus. Here’s the passage:

The firstborn of every mother, whether human or animal, that is offered to the Lord will be yours. But you must always redeem your firstborn sons and the firstborn of ceremonially unclean animals. Redeem them when they are one month old. The redemption price is five pieces of silver (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs).

However, you may not redeem the firstborn of cattle, sheep, or goats. They are holy and have been set apart for the Lord. Sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Numbers 18:15-17, NLT)

Every firstborn…human or animal…belonged to the Lord and was supposed to be offered (as a sacrifice) to Him. But God had made a provision for them to be spared from their death…redemption. God’s people were allowed to buy their firstborn back from death (with the noted exceptions). There was a price to be paid and I imagine all parents paid it willingly.

Jump forward a few thousand years and we see Jesus doing that very thing for us. He is paying the ultimate price…buying His children back from death. He does it willingly. He does it because He loves us.

Jesus redeemed me. He redeemed you. He paid the price so we don’t have to. It’s a good reminder!

12.03.2011 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Feeling Out of Focus

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

This week has been weird. I feel out of focus. It’s nothing specific, just one of those general feelings of discontent. I’m getting my work done so it’s not that I’m actually out of focus…I just feel out of focus.

I was hoping that writing about it would help, but so far no luck!

I did read something this morning in the book of Numbers (a book I was dreading, but am now finding that I am enjoying). It was about Moses…more specifically about how God defended Moses when Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses (how cool would that be? To have God Himself come to defend you personally?). Here’s what God said about Moses:

But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:7-8, NLT)

Two things I notice here. First, God says He speaks to Moses clearly…with no riddles. I know a lot of people who wish that’s how God would speak (although I think He does and we just make it hard). Second, Moses “sees the Lord as He is”. I love that phrase. Moses saw God without any filters. He really saw God. I want that.

So I’m off to try and find some focus today…maybe I’ll learn to hear and see God more clearly in the process.

09.03.2011 Devotional, Misc Ramblings, New Pastor Journal, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

Cursing Fig Trees

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

During my Scripture reading this morning I read the following passage:

The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12-14, NLT)

This particular scene has always disturbed me. Partly because I didn’t really understand what Jesus was doing here (the scene doesn’t seem to really mean much upon my initial reading). And then partly because Jesus curses this tree…but the tree wasn’t supposed to have fruit yet. Doesn’t seem fair, but I know Jesus did it so there must have been a good/right purpose behind it.

I confess that before this morning I hadn’t really done much digging to see what was really going on here. I solved that problem this morning and I learned two main lessons from this passage.

First is the more technical reason behind what Jesus was doing here. This scene is a prelude to Jesus entering Jerusalem and clearing out the temple. The scene with the fig tree was a foreshadowing indicating that Jesus was condemning the actions of the religious leaders…their time was coming to an end because they weren’t fruitful. He also used it as an opportunity to teach the disciples about faith (see Mark 11:21-25).

Second, and more applicable to me personally…Jesus is making a statement here about the fruitfulness of our lives. It’s time to start making fruit. There’s no excuse for His disciples not to bear fruit. We can’t be barren fig trees. Jesus expects us to bear fruit in our lives and there are consequences for a fruitless life.

A lesson I continue to hear and am trying to fulfill in my own life…

03.03.2011 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Is Your Heart Too Hard?

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Most of us have heard the term “hard heart” before. Many of us may even know someone we would describe as having a hard heart. A few of us may even confess that we’ve had a hard heart at one time or another.

But largely we think about this phrase in terms of other people. This is especially true for those of us who are trying our best to follow Christ. We look at those around us who don’t seem to want to follow Him and may conclude that their hearts are simply too hard. And that may very well be the case…but we must be careful about casting stones. Sometimes the stones we throw bounce right off those hard hearts and hit us squarely in the forehead.

Let me give you an example from Scripture:

[The disciples] were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. (Mark 6:50-52, NLT)

Jesus had just fed well over 15,000 people (the 5,000 only counted the men in the crowd) with just a few loaves of bread an some fish scraps. They head out in a boat, get caught in a storm, and see Jesus walking on water to help them out. They freak out…understandable. But it isn’t their reaction to the walking on water that Mark says they didn’t understand.

Mark says they still don’t understand the feeding of the crowds…the miracle of the loaves. Why? Did they not understand because the physics don’t make sense? Did they not understand because too much was happening all at once? None of the above. These spiritual giants, men chosen by Jesus Himself, didn’t understand because “their hearts were too hard to take it in”. They weren’t ready…their hearts hadn’t been softened enough. They couldn’t yet take something like that in.

I think I’ve been there…might be there right now. My heart is way too hard at times to take in what God wants me to take it…much less what He’s done. Between my hard hearts and my faithless attitude it’s a wonder He ever gets anything done with me. Thank goodness His power overcomes my weakness! Hard heart and all!

24.02.2011 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

How to Stop a Miracle

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

I continue to read through the book of Leviticus as part of my One Year Bible reading plan. Thankfully, I’ve also got some New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs thrown into the mix. Leviticus has some good stuff, but today’s reading was all about how a priest should handle people with skin diseases. Necessary…but gross!

The passage I read int he book of Mark this morning was another matter altogether. As often happens (more so recently), I saw something new in a story I’ve read many times before. That’s one of the many things I love about reading Scripture…there’s always something new because God is just that awesome!

Here is the story I read this morning:

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. (Mark 6:1-6, NLT, emphasis mine)

Jesus goes home and finds out that his own family and friends refuse to accept Him or believe in Him. And it has a huge affect. Because of their unbelief He can’t do any miracles among them (save for a few “minor” healings). I’ve never made this connection before, or at least not this clearly. Jesus’ ability to perform miracles among the people was heavily dependent on their faith in the miracle.

Wow…and ouch!

The same must be true for me today. How is my faith affecting the work of God in my own life? Am I stopping the miracle because I don’t believe in it (or in Him)? Am I expecting the miracle FIRST and THEN I’ll believe? Or do I believe in the miracle and the one who is going to perform it and then He does His amazing work?

Am I expecting the miracle or keeping it from happening in the first place? I wonder…

23.02.2011 Devotional, Faith, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Paschal Spirituality

Monday, February 14th, 2011

I just finished reading the sixth chapter in Brennan Manning’s The Signature of Jesus and I had to summarize some of his thoughts and ideas (more for myself, but perhaps you’ll gain something and/or decide to pick up the book for yourself). In this chapter Manning is talking about a concept he calls “Paschal Spirituality”. I must confess that I’d never heard the term before. He’s using the term “paschal” as a reference to the Hebrew concept of overcoming death with life…as Jesus did in the resurrection. Here’s his definition of “paschal spirituality”:

Essentially, it is our daily death to sin, selfishness, dishonesty, and degraded love in order to rise to newness of life. (p.75)

Manning then gives us seven characteristics of Paschal Spirituality. Here are the seven with a quick quote I took from each section (again, as much for my own reference as anything else). Paschal Spirituality…

  1. Is Christocentric, meaning it is through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ.
    The author of the fourth Gospel puts but one question to his readers: Do we know Jesus? To know him is life. Everything else fades into twilight and darkness. (p. 77)
  2. Is aware of the community of God’s people.
    The Christian life is meant to be lived in community. And community life is a radical imitation of the holy and undivided Trinity who is dialogue, spontaneous love, and relationship. (p. 80)
  3. Looks upon human nature as fallen but redeemed–flawed but, in essence, good.
    Human nature, freed from the slavery of sin, is capable of awesome holiness. (p. 83)
  4. Is stamped with the signature of Jesus.
    Tepid preaching and lifeless worship have spread so many ashes on the fire of the gospel that we scarcely feel the glow anymore. (p. 84)
  5. Is joyful and optimistic.
    Joy in the risen Jesus is directly connected with the quality of our faith. (p. 86)
  6. Promotes unity without uniformity.
    Each of us is called to be a unique and singular manifestation of Christ’s truth and love, not a carbon copy of someone else. (p. 87)
  7. Regards persons as free.
    If we really knew the God of Jesus, we would stop trying to control and manipulate others “for their own”, knowing full well that this is not how God works among his people. (p. 88)

There’s a lot to chew on in this chapter (one of the reasons for my summation here). Whenever I come across “good stuff” like this I tend to find myself asking where I most need to focus and improve. On this list it’s a close race between #4 and #5.  I want the signature and fire of Jesus stamped on my life and I want that to be reflected in the joy and optimism of my life. But I’m afraid I’ve allowed the cynicism and pessimism of our culture (and that includes Christian culture) to “dim the glow” and infect my joy.

The solution? As always, it’s found in Jesus!

14.02.2011 Books, Jesus, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

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