When I look through the Gospels, I can’t help but notice how Jesus’ day, every day, was one of constant interruptions. He had an agenda. Jesus had come to earth to proclaim the arrival of God’s Kingdom. He had towns to visit. Lessons to teach. Proofs of God’s Kingdom to display.
Yet, where ever He was going it was blind men calling out “Son of David.” Lepers begging for healing. Funeral processions stopped. There were always people grasping, touching, pulling, crowding, asking and asking and asking for His attention - asking for His attention.
I get the feeling of being sucked dry just reading about it.
To Jesus - well - to Jesus it was completely different.
The reason that people couldn’t interrupt Jesus from His agenda is because people were His agenda.
Jesus came to earth with the expressed purpose of bringing us safely home.
The reason that people can’t interrupt Jesus from His agenda is because people are His agenda.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
What’s In Your Mind?
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of invisible and visible winged seeds, so the stream of time brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of those unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them.”
Thomas Merton - “Seeds of Contemplation”
Don’t panic. I know that Merton was a pagan - with a sprinkling of Christian influence. Nevertheless, what he says here is true. The seeds of learning from the world around us, must eventually lead to the world inside us. If these seeds of learning are not allowed to take root, how in the world can anything grow?
God is saying to all of us, “Discover Me. If you seek for Me I will allow Myself to be found by you. Take in and grow from what I reveal to you about Myself; grow from what I reveal to you about yourself.”
“Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings.” Proverbs 1:20-21
“Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice? She's taken her stand at First and Main, at the busiest intersection. Right in the city square where the traffic is thickest, she shouts, "You—I'm talking to all of you, everyone out here on the streets! Listen, you idiots—learn good sense! You blockheads—shape up! Don't miss a word of this—I'm telling you how to live well, I'm telling you how to live at your best. My mouth chews and savours and relishes truth— I can't stand the taste of evil! You'll only hear true and right words from my mouth; not one syllable will be twisted or skewed. You'll recognize this as true—you with open minds; truth-ready minds will see it at once. Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money, and God-knowledge over a lucrative career. For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.” Proverbs 8:1-5
“Blessed is the person who listens to me, For he who finds me finds life. Proverbs 8:34-35
Part of what these verses are saying is that wisdom and truth are right there in front of you. The evidence for the existence of Creator God is all around us. Shouting to us. Let God open your spiritual eyes and you can’t miss it.
Do you listen? Can you listen? Have you cultured a listening heart or have you bought into the secular lie that the busier you are the more value you have?
Do you understand what the existence of the Laws of Physics is saying?
Do you get what a genetic code in every living cell, including the very first living cell means?
Does a mathematical universe declare anything to you besides, “Duh, we sure are lucky.”?
The Hebrew word for “wisdom” means “The skill of living.”
Use that skill.
Plant that skill deep and let it take root.
Wisdom is calling to you.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language anywhere in the world where their voice is not heard.” Psalm 19:1-3
Thomas Merton - “Seeds of Contemplation”
Don’t panic. I know that Merton was a pagan - with a sprinkling of Christian influence. Nevertheless, what he says here is true. The seeds of learning from the world around us, must eventually lead to the world inside us. If these seeds of learning are not allowed to take root, how in the world can anything grow?
God is saying to all of us, “Discover Me. If you seek for Me I will allow Myself to be found by you. Take in and grow from what I reveal to you about Myself; grow from what I reveal to you about yourself.”
“Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings.” Proverbs 1:20-21
“Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice? She's taken her stand at First and Main, at the busiest intersection. Right in the city square where the traffic is thickest, she shouts, "You—I'm talking to all of you, everyone out here on the streets! Listen, you idiots—learn good sense! You blockheads—shape up! Don't miss a word of this—I'm telling you how to live well, I'm telling you how to live at your best. My mouth chews and savours and relishes truth— I can't stand the taste of evil! You'll only hear true and right words from my mouth; not one syllable will be twisted or skewed. You'll recognize this as true—you with open minds; truth-ready minds will see it at once. Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money, and God-knowledge over a lucrative career. For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.” Proverbs 8:1-5
“Blessed is the person who listens to me, For he who finds me finds life. Proverbs 8:34-35
Part of what these verses are saying is that wisdom and truth are right there in front of you. The evidence for the existence of Creator God is all around us. Shouting to us. Let God open your spiritual eyes and you can’t miss it.
Do you listen? Can you listen? Have you cultured a listening heart or have you bought into the secular lie that the busier you are the more value you have?
Do you understand what the existence of the Laws of Physics is saying?
Do you get what a genetic code in every living cell, including the very first living cell means?
Does a mathematical universe declare anything to you besides, “Duh, we sure are lucky.”?
The Hebrew word for “wisdom” means “The skill of living.”
Use that skill.
Plant that skill deep and let it take root.
Wisdom is calling to you.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language anywhere in the world where their voice is not heard.” Psalm 19:1-3
Because . . .
I think that I’ve finally exhausted all the ways in which a healed and forgiven relationship with Jesus has brought wonderful, freeing change into my life. For thirty days straight (give or take) I have been able to describe the radical life transforming power of the Living Messiah.
If you still think this is all a fantasy - try it. Make something up. Invent an invisible friend, and watch it transform your life. You can pray to it if you want. Or offer it sacrifices or cook up some ritual where you wash your hands five times a day. Try it! And then see if what has taken place in my life happens in your life as well.
I’ll tell you what’s going to happen. The only thing you’ll become is a “spiritual” version of the same person. That is simply not the case with those who have entered into a heal relationship with Jesus.
Am I who I want to be?
Not yet.
Am I who I should be?
Getting there.
Am I who I used to be?
Not even close.
Jesus is real. He is alive and He comes with the power to change anyone from the inside out. What He has done for me can be described in one word - Freedom!
None of these freedoms were mine prior to my healed relationship with Jesus. I was like a ship in the middle of the ocean with no navigational system. I could go any direction I chose, but I had no idea how to find a safe harbour for my soul.
Now, because of my relationship with Jesus, I have the freedom to say to life,
"Rain on, I will not drown, for I am standing on higher ground!"
If you still think this is all a fantasy - try it. Make something up. Invent an invisible friend, and watch it transform your life. You can pray to it if you want. Or offer it sacrifices or cook up some ritual where you wash your hands five times a day. Try it! And then see if what has taken place in my life happens in your life as well.
I’ll tell you what’s going to happen. The only thing you’ll become is a “spiritual” version of the same person. That is simply not the case with those who have entered into a heal relationship with Jesus.
Am I who I want to be?
Not yet.
Am I who I should be?
Getting there.
Am I who I used to be?
Not even close.
Jesus is real. He is alive and He comes with the power to change anyone from the inside out. What He has done for me can be described in one word - Freedom!
None of these freedoms were mine prior to my healed relationship with Jesus. I was like a ship in the middle of the ocean with no navigational system. I could go any direction I chose, but I had no idea how to find a safe harbour for my soul.
Now, because of my relationship with Jesus, I have the freedom to say to life,
"Rain on, I will not drown, for I am standing on higher ground!"
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Here’s Why
I saw another one today; a blog post asking why bad things happen to good people.
How about, because we live in a world where bad things happen - to all people.
The people who ask this type of question NEVER seem to ask the next question. Why did bad things happen to Jesus, the only “good” and perfectly innocent person to ever walk the face of the earth?
Whatever we may say about how and why God has allowed His creation to wallow in the effects of sin, the fact remains that God took His own medicine. This is an important point for us to contemplate. Why would God come to earth to specifically experience the horrors that this life has to offer?
There are many possibilities for why Jesus came to experience life as we experience life, but one conclusion must surely be to show us that life’s problems are not without reason. For example, “Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered.”
The fact is, “God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:11.
When that verse says “everything” it means that nothing happens without it coming under the umbrella of our Creator’s sovereign plan. I don’t know what that means for those on the outside, but for those of us who love God and who have been called according to His purpose, it means that ALL things are used by God so that we who are saved might be conformed to the likeness of His Son.” Romans 8:28,29.
THAT is God’s will for us and if we join Him in making that our sole goal, our one intent, our main objective in life, then anything and everything that happens to us can be turned for spiritual and emotional profit.
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:2-4.
We in Christian circles often hear about “The Fruit of the Spirit” Galatians 5:22-23, or the characteristics of love as they are found in 1st Corinthians chapter 13:4 - 8a. I would go so far as to claim that these characteristics never come about in the absence of pain, loss and suffering. Because of God, our difficulties possess meaning and context and purpose.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There is nothing in life that we should fear more than succeeding in those areas that carry no heavenly importance. That requires a significant shift in priorities.
“How can it be of any benefit to gain the whole world yet lose one’s soul?”
After making this paradigm shift, Paul said, “But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider all of them complete loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. For my determined purpose is that I may perceive and recognize and understand the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness even to His death, in the hope that if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead even while in the body. Philippians 3:7-11.
This means that if we allow Him control of our lives, our Creator will allow us to personally know His power, His suffering, His destiny.
Become like Jesus.
Make His life your life.
Do that and nothing that this life can throw at you can destroy your stability.
“Those who wait upon the Lord are like Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.”
Do that and you will move from having faith in Jesus to having the faith of Jesus.
How about, because we live in a world where bad things happen - to all people.
The people who ask this type of question NEVER seem to ask the next question. Why did bad things happen to Jesus, the only “good” and perfectly innocent person to ever walk the face of the earth?
Whatever we may say about how and why God has allowed His creation to wallow in the effects of sin, the fact remains that God took His own medicine. This is an important point for us to contemplate. Why would God come to earth to specifically experience the horrors that this life has to offer?
There are many possibilities for why Jesus came to experience life as we experience life, but one conclusion must surely be to show us that life’s problems are not without reason. For example, “Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered.”
The fact is, “God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:11.
When that verse says “everything” it means that nothing happens without it coming under the umbrella of our Creator’s sovereign plan. I don’t know what that means for those on the outside, but for those of us who love God and who have been called according to His purpose, it means that ALL things are used by God so that we who are saved might be conformed to the likeness of His Son.” Romans 8:28,29.
THAT is God’s will for us and if we join Him in making that our sole goal, our one intent, our main objective in life, then anything and everything that happens to us can be turned for spiritual and emotional profit.
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:2-4.
We in Christian circles often hear about “The Fruit of the Spirit” Galatians 5:22-23, or the characteristics of love as they are found in 1st Corinthians chapter 13:4 - 8a. I would go so far as to claim that these characteristics never come about in the absence of pain, loss and suffering. Because of God, our difficulties possess meaning and context and purpose.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There is nothing in life that we should fear more than succeeding in those areas that carry no heavenly importance. That requires a significant shift in priorities.
“How can it be of any benefit to gain the whole world yet lose one’s soul?”
After making this paradigm shift, Paul said, “But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider all of them complete loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. For my determined purpose is that I may perceive and recognize and understand the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness even to His death, in the hope that if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead even while in the body. Philippians 3:7-11.
This means that if we allow Him control of our lives, our Creator will allow us to personally know His power, His suffering, His destiny.
Become like Jesus.
Make His life your life.
Do that and nothing that this life can throw at you can destroy your stability.
“Those who wait upon the Lord are like Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.”
Do that and you will move from having faith in Jesus to having the faith of Jesus.
Because . . .
Because of my relationship with Jesus, I have the freedom to do something valuable until my dying breath, freedom to not only accept, but to enjoy my weaknesses, and I have the freedom to give away my time, my money and my self.
Because of my relationship with Jesus, I have the freedom to counter my culture, and the freedom to find contentment in every single situation. This contentment comes from knowing beyond any doubt that, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" "My God will supply ALL my needs."
These things were simply not mine prior to Jesus finding me and bringing me safely into His kingdom. Atheists think that I’ve received these dozens and dozens of benefits because I’ve conjured up a false belief or an imaginary friend. I challenge anyone anywhere to think up some imaginary belief or friend and watch these type of changes take place in their lives because of having done that.
It will not and cannot happen. Jesus is real. He is alive and He works powerfully in the lives of those who humbly trust Him and follow Him. It’s the people making these accusations that are living in a fantasy world.
Because of my relationship with Jesus, I have the freedom to counter my culture, and the freedom to find contentment in every single situation. This contentment comes from knowing beyond any doubt that, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" "My God will supply ALL my needs."
These things were simply not mine prior to Jesus finding me and bringing me safely into His kingdom. Atheists think that I’ve received these dozens and dozens of benefits because I’ve conjured up a false belief or an imaginary friend. I challenge anyone anywhere to think up some imaginary belief or friend and watch these type of changes take place in their lives because of having done that.
It will not and cannot happen. Jesus is real. He is alive and He works powerfully in the lives of those who humbly trust Him and follow Him. It’s the people making these accusations that are living in a fantasy world.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Extravagant Love!
This series, which began a couple months ago gives real life examples of where our Creator shows us how to love extravagantly.
In like manner we are told to give our lives away, to die to self.
The example of Jesus of Nazareth, our Creator, is to love extravagantly.
The Bible talks about God healing the “brokenhearted.” This is not some trite phrase describing someone who is sad or blue. The term “heart” as it’s used in the Bible describes the essence of humanity. It means our soul. It’s who we are at our core and at our core we are broken - literally. Jesus came to heal our heart and make us fully alive.
“You lead me to peaceful places. You restore my soul.” Psalm 23:1
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;” Isaiah 42:3
My point is this. We cannot love, we will not love extravagantly when we are still clutching and protecting our own broken hearts. We need to ask Jesus for healing, in all areas, “And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you.” From Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians 4:24
We must love others as God first loved us.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 - 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 Saviour.
THIS is love!
In like manner we are told to give our lives away, to die to self.
The example of Jesus of Nazareth, our Creator, is to love extravagantly.
The Bible talks about God healing the “brokenhearted.” This is not some trite phrase describing someone who is sad or blue. The term “heart” as it’s used in the Bible describes the essence of humanity. It means our soul. It’s who we are at our core and at our core we are broken - literally. Jesus came to heal our heart and make us fully alive.
“You lead me to peaceful places. You restore my soul.” Psalm 23:1
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;” Isaiah 42:3
My point is this. We cannot love, we will not love extravagantly when we are still clutching and protecting our own broken hearts. We need to ask Jesus for healing, in all areas, “And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you.” From Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians 4:24
We must love others as God first loved us.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 - 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 Saviour.
THIS is love!
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