Wow! Solomon has some pretty strong thoughts on "fools."
He spends so much of this passage referring to fools, I think we need to first define what the word fool means. When the Bible refers to foolishness, it is not generally focused on intelligence. Just because someone is slow-witted does not mean that they fit the criteria for being called a fool. When you consider the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus said anyone who calls another man a fool is in danger of the fires of hell,,,you know the word has to carry more weight than simply being a synonym with "idiot." Most often in the Bible the fool is the person who is spiritually blind. It has nothing to do with raw intellect and is centered around a person's response to God with their lives. Jesus himself called the religious leaders in his community "fools" in Matthew 23:17 because they could not see through their own pride to what was important. They were blinded by ambition and selfishness, and could not see that the God they claimed to serve was walking around in the flesh amongst them (Jesus) - they were fools. So a truly foolish person is someone who is blind to the work of God in the world...does not acknowledge the existence of the Creator...does not humble themselves before God...is too prideful to understand their need for salvation. That is the kind of person that Solomon is referring to, and it really fits with his words of wisdom.
Verse 4 - Solomon instructs us to stay away from useless conversations with the spiritually blind. Don't get drawn into arguments that are going to descend into bitterness and hate...if you allow yourself to do that, you are acting foolishly. Honor God with your words...stand up for your faith...but when a person who is spiritually blind seeks to draw you in to verbal confrontation - walk away. Nothing positive comes from arguments with fools. Remain consistent in your love and remain consistent in your words/deeds...let that be your argument.
Verse 11 - One of the most famous and graphic descriptions of spiritual blindness in scripture. "Like a dog returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly." Dogs are such simple creatures...they are driven by appetite...and they can't help themselves. Even when staring a pool of their own vomit...they see "tempting" morsels within and cannot help but eat the food they just threw up. I know that is a disturbing image, but Solomon equates it to the life of a fool...and I think it is very accurate. A person who live in rebellion against God...a person who refuses to see the work of God in the world...they will continually go back to the foolish choices that have always plagued them. Without an anchor of unshakable truth provided by God, there is nothing to keep people from making the same mistakes over and over again. No matter how many times material possessions/other human beings/achievement/etc have let people down...they will continue to return to those things for fulfillment when they live in foolishness. It is heartbreaking. Do you see areas in your life where foolishness has crept in? Where you continue to seek out the stupid things that have brought pain and destruction into your life before? What do you need to do about that? What needs to change so that you do not continue to go back to the same pile of vomit believing that this time it will taste better?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Ephesians 6:10-18
I think in the church sometimes, we get so used to famous verses from the Bible (like this one) that we not longer give them the appropriate attention they need. How many times have we heard bible studies, youth lessons, children's teachings and sermons on The Armor of God? If you grew up in church like...it has got to be dozens of times. But as you read through it today, I want you to forget that you have read this a hundred times and I want you to really try to grasp why Paul felt it was so important for Christians to see these attributes of faith as pieces of armor used in preparation for war.
The first line highlights the ultimate human problem - pride. We try to take care of everything on our own. We think we are strong enough...smart enough...good enough to handle anything on our own...and I just want to ask - how has that worked out for you so far? Not well, if you are like me. We cannot find purpose on our own. We cannot find fulfillment. We cannot save ourselves. We are not strong enough. We will always let ourselves and others around us down! That is why we cannot be anchored in ourselves...we must find our strength in the might of God.
In verse eleven and twelve Paul lays out for us the gravity of the situation. We need to prepare ourselves for war, because that is exactly what we are caught in the middle of. In our current-day culture we think very little about the realities of spiritual warfare that are constantly going on around us. It just doesn't fit into a nice little scientific bubble...and it is just plain freaky to think about. But Jesus, Paul and all the other Old and New Testament writers understood that there is a battle being waged that we cannot always see. There are temptations and whispers and obstacles that are being thrown at you from behind the veil of the physical world and you need to be prepared to face these things...you need to understand that these things are a reality so that you can call upon the spiritual light of God to help you combat these unseen foes.
Why do we put on the armor of God? So that we can stand firm in the faith and stand toe to toe with evil in this world. Isn't that what you want to do? Isn't that what you want your kids to do? One of my goals in training up teenage disciples of Christ is to shape them so that they can stand confidently in their faith after they leave the youth ministry. Paul is giving us the inside track on what needs to be in place to have that kind of confidence.
The belt of truth. Why is truth important? Why is it crucial for you to understand the reality of what is going on around you in the world...to understand God's narrative that has been playing out since the beginning of time? Because it is the lies that lead us away from God...that lead us away from truth. The lie that everything revolves around you. The lie that someone else can fulfill your every need. The lie that you will be happy if you can just get more stuff! You must have God's truth holding everything together in order to see the lies for what they are.
Breastplate of righteousness. What is righteousness? When you are righteous...it basically means that you are in a right relationship with God and because of that right relationship with God you can have right relationships with others. Righteousness comes from God because God, even while we were still His enemies, gave His life so to pay the price for our sins and to make things right between us. Do you allow that truth to shape who you are...how deeply you love God...how you treat others?
Shoes of the Gospel. What is the Gospel? It is the Good News that God loved you so much that He came down to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. It is the Good News that Jesus died on the cross to save us knowing that we could not save ourselves. It is the Good News of the freedom, forgiveness and righteousness that come through that gift. Why shoes? Because shoes take you where you want to go...and if you understand the truth of who God is and how much He loves you...if you understand the righteousness that came to you through Jesus Christ...then you want to go and tell others about the Good News!
Shield of Faith. What is faith? To quote the Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see." Faith is crucial to our lives and crucial in the unseen battle raging around us. Even when you don't have all the answers...even when you don't understand why things are happening...faith is trusting in God regardless. Faith is clinging to the hope that had been given to you by God...faith is believing that God is who He said He was, even when you cannot see Him with your eyes...faith is vital in the midst of this faithless world.
Helmet of Salvation. What is salvation? It is the great rescue. It is the moment that you exited the grip of death and found true life. It is the weight of sin being lifted from your soul - taken by Jesus Christ. It is freedom. And when you don the helmet of salvation...you are etching into your mind the way that Jesus brought you back from death...you are writing on your soul how you were once lost and are now found. It is with you every day and it reminds you that you need to live like the saved, not the condemned. It shapes the way you talk to people...it shapes the way you act...because you have been given a new lease on life and you should use it to honor God and change the world.
Sword of The Word of God. Why a sword? I thought Jesus said that if we live by the sword we will die by the sword. Why does Paul close out his description of the armor of God with a weapon? Because we are not called to be the doormats of the world. We are not called to just sit back and taking anything the the evil forces of this world have to throw at us. We are not called to sit in little holy huddles with other Christians while the world goes to hell in a hand-basket. God's Word gives us ammunition. God's Word cuts through the lies of the world that are constantly flying at us. God's Word shows us what we are supposed to care about. God's Word shows us what we are supposed to stand up for. With God's Word written on our hearts and minds and lives we can show the world the absurdity of evil...we can show a better way...we can strike blow after blow to the evil schemes of the accuser.
The first line highlights the ultimate human problem - pride. We try to take care of everything on our own. We think we are strong enough...smart enough...good enough to handle anything on our own...and I just want to ask - how has that worked out for you so far? Not well, if you are like me. We cannot find purpose on our own. We cannot find fulfillment. We cannot save ourselves. We are not strong enough. We will always let ourselves and others around us down! That is why we cannot be anchored in ourselves...we must find our strength in the might of God.
In verse eleven and twelve Paul lays out for us the gravity of the situation. We need to prepare ourselves for war, because that is exactly what we are caught in the middle of. In our current-day culture we think very little about the realities of spiritual warfare that are constantly going on around us. It just doesn't fit into a nice little scientific bubble...and it is just plain freaky to think about. But Jesus, Paul and all the other Old and New Testament writers understood that there is a battle being waged that we cannot always see. There are temptations and whispers and obstacles that are being thrown at you from behind the veil of the physical world and you need to be prepared to face these things...you need to understand that these things are a reality so that you can call upon the spiritual light of God to help you combat these unseen foes.
Why do we put on the armor of God? So that we can stand firm in the faith and stand toe to toe with evil in this world. Isn't that what you want to do? Isn't that what you want your kids to do? One of my goals in training up teenage disciples of Christ is to shape them so that they can stand confidently in their faith after they leave the youth ministry. Paul is giving us the inside track on what needs to be in place to have that kind of confidence.
The belt of truth. Why is truth important? Why is it crucial for you to understand the reality of what is going on around you in the world...to understand God's narrative that has been playing out since the beginning of time? Because it is the lies that lead us away from God...that lead us away from truth. The lie that everything revolves around you. The lie that someone else can fulfill your every need. The lie that you will be happy if you can just get more stuff! You must have God's truth holding everything together in order to see the lies for what they are.
Breastplate of righteousness. What is righteousness? When you are righteous...it basically means that you are in a right relationship with God and because of that right relationship with God you can have right relationships with others. Righteousness comes from God because God, even while we were still His enemies, gave His life so to pay the price for our sins and to make things right between us. Do you allow that truth to shape who you are...how deeply you love God...how you treat others?
Shoes of the Gospel. What is the Gospel? It is the Good News that God loved you so much that He came down to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. It is the Good News that Jesus died on the cross to save us knowing that we could not save ourselves. It is the Good News of the freedom, forgiveness and righteousness that come through that gift. Why shoes? Because shoes take you where you want to go...and if you understand the truth of who God is and how much He loves you...if you understand the righteousness that came to you through Jesus Christ...then you want to go and tell others about the Good News!
Shield of Faith. What is faith? To quote the Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see." Faith is crucial to our lives and crucial in the unseen battle raging around us. Even when you don't have all the answers...even when you don't understand why things are happening...faith is trusting in God regardless. Faith is clinging to the hope that had been given to you by God...faith is believing that God is who He said He was, even when you cannot see Him with your eyes...faith is vital in the midst of this faithless world.
Helmet of Salvation. What is salvation? It is the great rescue. It is the moment that you exited the grip of death and found true life. It is the weight of sin being lifted from your soul - taken by Jesus Christ. It is freedom. And when you don the helmet of salvation...you are etching into your mind the way that Jesus brought you back from death...you are writing on your soul how you were once lost and are now found. It is with you every day and it reminds you that you need to live like the saved, not the condemned. It shapes the way you talk to people...it shapes the way you act...because you have been given a new lease on life and you should use it to honor God and change the world.
Sword of The Word of God. Why a sword? I thought Jesus said that if we live by the sword we will die by the sword. Why does Paul close out his description of the armor of God with a weapon? Because we are not called to be the doormats of the world. We are not called to just sit back and taking anything the the evil forces of this world have to throw at us. We are not called to sit in little holy huddles with other Christians while the world goes to hell in a hand-basket. God's Word gives us ammunition. God's Word cuts through the lies of the world that are constantly flying at us. God's Word shows us what we are supposed to care about. God's Word shows us what we are supposed to stand up for. With God's Word written on our hearts and minds and lives we can show the world the absurdity of evil...we can show a better way...we can strike blow after blow to the evil schemes of the accuser.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Isaiah 40:27-31
Another famous section of scripture...this has been turned into quite a few songs, but I think the songs often miss out on the point of why these amazing statements were said about God...
You'll notice in verse 27 that the people have been complaining about God. They says, "God, can you see what is going on down here!?" When life is going perfectly, they want to blame God. "This is not the way I want the world to work God. You are not working on my timetable God. Why are you doing this God? When are you gonna consider what I want God?" We have all been here haven't we? We have all had the arrogant audacity to question the Creator of the universe, as if He doesn't know what He is doing.
Well, the famous verses in this passage are God's answer back to the complaints of the people of the world (Through Isaiah of course). This reminds me a lot of God's response to the complaints of Job. God questioned Job - "Where you there when I laid the foundation of the earth? Were you there when I created the great sea creature?" God was basically saying to Job, "What right do you have to question me...I am the maker of everything...I am holding it all together?"Here Isaiah reminds us that God is everlasting...He is infinitely wise...He never takes a break...He doesn't miss anything that happens on the earth...and when you add all of that together with the rest of God's awesomeness, you get a being that knows a lot more about how things should operate on earth than you or me. Right?
Instead of questioning God, we should place our hope and trust in the fact that He knows what He is doing. When life is hard...when things are going terribly...we should rest in the truth that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose. As we wait on the Lord...as we make the choice to trust in Him...we will be given the strength we need to handle anything this world has to throw at us.
You'll notice in verse 27 that the people have been complaining about God. They says, "God, can you see what is going on down here!?" When life is going perfectly, they want to blame God. "This is not the way I want the world to work God. You are not working on my timetable God. Why are you doing this God? When are you gonna consider what I want God?" We have all been here haven't we? We have all had the arrogant audacity to question the Creator of the universe, as if He doesn't know what He is doing.
Well, the famous verses in this passage are God's answer back to the complaints of the people of the world (Through Isaiah of course). This reminds me a lot of God's response to the complaints of Job. God questioned Job - "Where you there when I laid the foundation of the earth? Were you there when I created the great sea creature?" God was basically saying to Job, "What right do you have to question me...I am the maker of everything...I am holding it all together?"Here Isaiah reminds us that God is everlasting...He is infinitely wise...He never takes a break...He doesn't miss anything that happens on the earth...and when you add all of that together with the rest of God's awesomeness, you get a being that knows a lot more about how things should operate on earth than you or me. Right?
Instead of questioning God, we should place our hope and trust in the fact that He knows what He is doing. When life is hard...when things are going terribly...we should rest in the truth that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose. As we wait on the Lord...as we make the choice to trust in Him...we will be given the strength we need to handle anything this world has to throw at us.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
I Corinthians 13:4-13
Here is a verse that you have probably heard at every wedding you have ever attended. Please don't let that fact keep you from seeing the amazing power of these verses. I want you to do what I did this morning...walk yourself through this description of love and ask, "Is this what I embody every day?" It was a fairly brutal exercise for me this morning...
Love is patient and kind - am I?
Love does not envy or boast - do I?
Love is not proud...it does not envy or boast - am I...do I?
Love rejoices in truth, not in the failure of others - do I?
Love believes...hopes...and endures anything - do I?
I look at those descriptors and find myself very lacking in the love department. So often, I am too busy looking out for myself...too busy worrying about how other people view me or whether or not I am happy to really put authentic love on display for the world...for my family...and that is a travesty.
Paul tells us that love does not end. It is eternal. I think about all the time and effort I spend on things that are temporary...things that are passing away...things that are truly meaningless in the big picture of eternity, and my heart is broken. If I want to leave something behind me that last...I need to love. You and I...if we want to have an impact on eternity...if we want to leave behind a legacy that matters...if we want to create something that will last throughout eternity...then we need to LOVE! We need to put on display for this world a reflection of God's incredible love. We need to be so patient that people cannot even fathom how we do it...they need to know it is something that human beings cannot do without God. We need to be so humble that it is shocking to others...so shocking that they are drawn into the presence of God as they search for the source of our humility. We need to be able to love those that hate us...those that persecute us...those that go to war against us, because vengeance does not last...hatred does not last...retaliation does not last...only love lasts.
Isn't it funny how Paul talks about being a child and acting childish versus being a man and acting as a man should in relation to love? Look around the world...most of the "manliest" men you know act like total babies! They act like little spoiled brat kids. They don't get their way...they get angry. They don't get what they want...they pout. Somebody says something mean to them...they wanna fight. How is that any different from a two year old. It is time for Christian men and women to stand up and show the world the strength of love...to show the world what godly maturity looks like. Men who could care less what other human beings say about them, because they know who they are in Christ. Women who forgive and refuse to hold grudges. People who care infinitely more about God and others than they do about getting their way. That is love on display.
Finally, in churches we talk all the time about faith. The necessity of faith...the primacy of faith...the importance of faith...and don't get me wrong - faith is huge! Without faith we are lost...we are wallowing in our own sinfulness with no hope of redemption. But look at how Paul closes out this passage - without love...there is no faith. Faith, hope and love are eternal...but love is the ultimate goal. Love is the greatest. Love should be our focus...our passion...our desire. God is love, and as people who place their faith in God...we should be love as well.
Love is patient and kind - am I?
Love does not envy or boast - do I?
Love is not proud...it does not envy or boast - am I...do I?
Love rejoices in truth, not in the failure of others - do I?
Love believes...hopes...and endures anything - do I?
I look at those descriptors and find myself very lacking in the love department. So often, I am too busy looking out for myself...too busy worrying about how other people view me or whether or not I am happy to really put authentic love on display for the world...for my family...and that is a travesty.
Paul tells us that love does not end. It is eternal. I think about all the time and effort I spend on things that are temporary...things that are passing away...things that are truly meaningless in the big picture of eternity, and my heart is broken. If I want to leave something behind me that last...I need to love. You and I...if we want to have an impact on eternity...if we want to leave behind a legacy that matters...if we want to create something that will last throughout eternity...then we need to LOVE! We need to put on display for this world a reflection of God's incredible love. We need to be so patient that people cannot even fathom how we do it...they need to know it is something that human beings cannot do without God. We need to be so humble that it is shocking to others...so shocking that they are drawn into the presence of God as they search for the source of our humility. We need to be able to love those that hate us...those that persecute us...those that go to war against us, because vengeance does not last...hatred does not last...retaliation does not last...only love lasts.
Isn't it funny how Paul talks about being a child and acting childish versus being a man and acting as a man should in relation to love? Look around the world...most of the "manliest" men you know act like total babies! They act like little spoiled brat kids. They don't get their way...they get angry. They don't get what they want...they pout. Somebody says something mean to them...they wanna fight. How is that any different from a two year old. It is time for Christian men and women to stand up and show the world the strength of love...to show the world what godly maturity looks like. Men who could care less what other human beings say about them, because they know who they are in Christ. Women who forgive and refuse to hold grudges. People who care infinitely more about God and others than they do about getting their way. That is love on display.
Finally, in churches we talk all the time about faith. The necessity of faith...the primacy of faith...the importance of faith...and don't get me wrong - faith is huge! Without faith we are lost...we are wallowing in our own sinfulness with no hope of redemption. But look at how Paul closes out this passage - without love...there is no faith. Faith, hope and love are eternal...but love is the ultimate goal. Love is the greatest. Love should be our focus...our passion...our desire. God is love, and as people who place their faith in God...we should be love as well.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Genesis Chapter 1
Over the next two weeks we are gonna be making scriptural fly by of the entire Bible by looking at 10 passages that really lay out a picture of the Bible as God's love letter to humanity. Hope you enjoy it!
1:1 - In the first line of the Bible...in the first few words...we get a glimpse into the nature and character of God. He creates. He is the Creator. God is missional...He wants to give Himself away. He forms an entire universe...an entire ecosystem on earth...an entire animal kingdom...the human race...so that He can share His love...so that He can share His creativity...so that He can invite us to join in creating and loving with Him. Do you embody these characteristics as someone created in His image?
1:26 - Very famous verse. God says, "Let US make man in OUR image." This language is clearly plural in the Hebrew scriptures and it is the first foundational scripture that leads Christians to believing in the triune (three-part) nature of God. There is a plurality to God that is not clearly explained here...but that is quite real in its existence. God exists in the community of Himself with Father, Son and Spirit...they can create together because they are three persons of one holy entity. This is important for us to understand as Christians, because Jesus was here. From the very beginning...he created the heavens and the earth as part of the God-hood and driven by love he left that glory behind to come down to earth to save us!
The second important part of this passage is the fact that all men and women are created in the image of God. You and me...we are image bearers for the Gd of everything! Do you let that determine the value which you give yourself? Do you let that truth guide how you are going to interact and love other people? All people should be treated with dignity and respect as God's image bearers...do not forget that.
1:27 - Another important note. You will notice that God talks freely about making both male and female in His image. There is no delineation here about whether one of the sexes is better than the other...in fact they are both held up as "good" with regard to the way that they reflect the image of God in their maleness and femaleness. There are aspects of God's character that are reflected by men and aspects of God's character that are reflected by women, so both are equally vital in presenting the beauty of God to the world. It is a shame that women have so often been relegated to second class in the cultures of the world, when clearly God's original intention was for men and women to work together beautifully to reflect godliness. Though we live in a fallen world, Christians should always fight to live out the truth of the world as it should be.
1:1 - In the first line of the Bible...in the first few words...we get a glimpse into the nature and character of God. He creates. He is the Creator. God is missional...He wants to give Himself away. He forms an entire universe...an entire ecosystem on earth...an entire animal kingdom...the human race...so that He can share His love...so that He can share His creativity...so that He can invite us to join in creating and loving with Him. Do you embody these characteristics as someone created in His image?
1:26 - Very famous verse. God says, "Let US make man in OUR image." This language is clearly plural in the Hebrew scriptures and it is the first foundational scripture that leads Christians to believing in the triune (three-part) nature of God. There is a plurality to God that is not clearly explained here...but that is quite real in its existence. God exists in the community of Himself with Father, Son and Spirit...they can create together because they are three persons of one holy entity. This is important for us to understand as Christians, because Jesus was here. From the very beginning...he created the heavens and the earth as part of the God-hood and driven by love he left that glory behind to come down to earth to save us!
The second important part of this passage is the fact that all men and women are created in the image of God. You and me...we are image bearers for the Gd of everything! Do you let that determine the value which you give yourself? Do you let that truth guide how you are going to interact and love other people? All people should be treated with dignity and respect as God's image bearers...do not forget that.
1:27 - Another important note. You will notice that God talks freely about making both male and female in His image. There is no delineation here about whether one of the sexes is better than the other...in fact they are both held up as "good" with regard to the way that they reflect the image of God in their maleness and femaleness. There are aspects of God's character that are reflected by men and aspects of God's character that are reflected by women, so both are equally vital in presenting the beauty of God to the world. It is a shame that women have so often been relegated to second class in the cultures of the world, when clearly God's original intention was for men and women to work together beautifully to reflect godliness. Though we live in a fallen world, Christians should always fight to live out the truth of the world as it should be.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Romans 4:16-25
It is all about faith. Belief. Trust. Knowing that God brings life to the dead. He brings into existence things that did not exist before. I've seen it - haven't you? I have seen God bring life to people' s lives that were utterly dead...people who were roaming to world as walking zombies...empty...confused. I have seen God bring love into a heart, where no love existed before that. I have experienced God bringing life and new creation to my own life. Do you believe that? Do you have faith?
Abraham placed his faith in God...Abraham believed that God would make him a father of many nations even though he was old and his wife was barren. He trusted God and he was counted as righteous. And Paul tells us that these words are not only reserved for Abraham. These words are also reserved for you and I! Do you ever think about that? Paul is saying that we are able to experience that same righteousness by faith that was experienced by Abraham the father of Judaism and Christianity. If you choose only to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was crucified for our sins and rose from the dead...you will be counted as righteous. You will be honored as the sons and daughters of God!
Rule following cannot save you. Church attendance cannot save you. Tithing 10% of your income cannot save you. Service projects cannot save you. If we were judged by our actions and our ability to follow God's Law, we would all be found to be unrighteous. But if we choose instead to focus on the amazing grace of God...if we choose instead to believe in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins...if we choose to place our faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ and the redemptive work he is doing in the world - we will be saved! And through that righteousness...through that salvation...our actions will become more God-honoring...we will seek godly community...we will become exceedingly generous and servant hearted. But faith comes first. You believe your way into good works...you do not work your way in faith.
Abraham placed his faith in God...Abraham believed that God would make him a father of many nations even though he was old and his wife was barren. He trusted God and he was counted as righteous. And Paul tells us that these words are not only reserved for Abraham. These words are also reserved for you and I! Do you ever think about that? Paul is saying that we are able to experience that same righteousness by faith that was experienced by Abraham the father of Judaism and Christianity. If you choose only to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was crucified for our sins and rose from the dead...you will be counted as righteous. You will be honored as the sons and daughters of God!
Rule following cannot save you. Church attendance cannot save you. Tithing 10% of your income cannot save you. Service projects cannot save you. If we were judged by our actions and our ability to follow God's Law, we would all be found to be unrighteous. But if we choose instead to focus on the amazing grace of God...if we choose instead to believe in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins...if we choose to place our faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ and the redemptive work he is doing in the world - we will be saved! And through that righteousness...through that salvation...our actions will become more God-honoring...we will seek godly community...we will become exceedingly generous and servant hearted. But faith comes first. You believe your way into good works...you do not work your way in faith.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Philippians 2:1-11
One of my favorite passages in the Bible!
Think about Paul's challenge in verse 1...IF you have found encouragement in Christ...IF you have found comfort in his love...IF you have experience connection to the Spirit...affection...sympathy....IF you have experienced any of these things it should change the way you live you life. And Paul is a great communicator...he knows that you have experienced these things...he knows that you have been touched by the infinite wonders of a relationship with Jesus Christ. And so he challenges each of us...if this faith you claim means anything to you - SEEK UNITY! Christian should be driven by the love that has been poured out on them from above...by the forgiveness that has been offered to them...by the purpose that has been given to them, to love one another. To do everything they can to have pure authentic community with fellow Christians and to do everything they can to bring people outside of the faith into that community!
But what about the things they said to me? But what about the ways that they hurt me? She gossiped about me! He lied to me! I can't stand them! I hate to break it to you...but it's not really about you. As much as we want it to be...the universe does not revolve around us...certainly the Kingdom of God does not revolve around us. And if we want to be a part of the incredible things that God is doing...if we want to continue to walk side by side with our incredible savior...then we are commanded to seek unity at all cost. We have all been hurt...we have all been rejected...we have all been sinned against - what does holding a grudge do to make that go away? Nothing! When we refuse to forgive, the only person we are hurting is ourselves. All we are doing is allowing the person who has hurt us to continue to have control over our lives. Paul is telling us, "If following Jesus means anything to you - then do everything you can to build unity in the Body of Christ." God knows everything about being hurt, rejected, and sinned against...He has experience all of those things by my hands...and yours. We have done all of those things to God, yet He responded to us with forgiveness and salvation. God so desperately wanted to redeem His community with us that He was willing to die for our sins!!! Maybe we can consider treating people the same way that He has treated us...by offering radical, undeserved forgiveness for the sake of community and love.
And Paul drives his point home by explaining the depth of the love of Jesus Christ...though he was in the form of God...though he was a part of the Trinity...though he was the creator and sustainer of the universe...he made himself nothing. Jesus left the glory of heaven behind and crammed himself into a man suit. He experienced weakness, suffering, hurt...he washed the feet of people he created...he was mocked and crucified by the same. God made Himself NOTHING! Read that again. Let that sink in. That is how much you are loved. If that love means anything to you...if that sacrifice means anything to you...if that forgiveness means anything to you...you will live to honor it. Are you willing to make yourself nothing for the sake of community and the sake of the Kingdom?
Think about Paul's challenge in verse 1...IF you have found encouragement in Christ...IF you have found comfort in his love...IF you have experience connection to the Spirit...affection...sympathy....IF you have experienced any of these things it should change the way you live you life. And Paul is a great communicator...he knows that you have experienced these things...he knows that you have been touched by the infinite wonders of a relationship with Jesus Christ. And so he challenges each of us...if this faith you claim means anything to you - SEEK UNITY! Christian should be driven by the love that has been poured out on them from above...by the forgiveness that has been offered to them...by the purpose that has been given to them, to love one another. To do everything they can to have pure authentic community with fellow Christians and to do everything they can to bring people outside of the faith into that community!
But what about the things they said to me? But what about the ways that they hurt me? She gossiped about me! He lied to me! I can't stand them! I hate to break it to you...but it's not really about you. As much as we want it to be...the universe does not revolve around us...certainly the Kingdom of God does not revolve around us. And if we want to be a part of the incredible things that God is doing...if we want to continue to walk side by side with our incredible savior...then we are commanded to seek unity at all cost. We have all been hurt...we have all been rejected...we have all been sinned against - what does holding a grudge do to make that go away? Nothing! When we refuse to forgive, the only person we are hurting is ourselves. All we are doing is allowing the person who has hurt us to continue to have control over our lives. Paul is telling us, "If following Jesus means anything to you - then do everything you can to build unity in the Body of Christ." God knows everything about being hurt, rejected, and sinned against...He has experience all of those things by my hands...and yours. We have done all of those things to God, yet He responded to us with forgiveness and salvation. God so desperately wanted to redeem His community with us that He was willing to die for our sins!!! Maybe we can consider treating people the same way that He has treated us...by offering radical, undeserved forgiveness for the sake of community and love.
And Paul drives his point home by explaining the depth of the love of Jesus Christ...though he was in the form of God...though he was a part of the Trinity...though he was the creator and sustainer of the universe...he made himself nothing. Jesus left the glory of heaven behind and crammed himself into a man suit. He experienced weakness, suffering, hurt...he washed the feet of people he created...he was mocked and crucified by the same. God made Himself NOTHING! Read that again. Let that sink in. That is how much you are loved. If that love means anything to you...if that sacrifice means anything to you...if that forgiveness means anything to you...you will live to honor it. Are you willing to make yourself nothing for the sake of community and the sake of the Kingdom?
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
John 13:31-35
I am going to guess that the disciples were just as confused at this point as many people today who read this passage are. Jesus has just bent down and washed his disciples feet (something that was relegated to servants)...He has told them that there is a traitor among them...and is yet again in the process of telling them that he will die. His death will be slow, tortuous and brutal. He will be mocked, beaten, whipped, kicked, punched, clubbed, nailed to a cross and stabbed. He knows the way that he is going to die...yet look at how he describes it in verses 31-35. He says that he is about to be glorified! He said now is the time that I head to my glorification...a place where you cannot follow me...death. And he continues on by saying that God will be glorified through that horrific death as well. How is that possible? How is a torturous death the pinnacle of glory in the life of Jesus? How is being crucified by the people you created a crowning achievement for the ruler of everything? Because it is in this moment that God shows us the infinite power of love. He steeped into the broken mess of this world and said, "Even though you deserve to be punished for the destruction you have brought to your lives and to this creation...I love you so much, I am going to die for you." There has never been anything more glorious...there has never been any love more deep...this is the moment in which God shows what a person of love can truly do with their actions. God is love. Love sacrificed itself on the cross for our sake. That is what Jesus means when he walks of his glorification on the cross. In that moment he showed us how different he is than us...no pettiness...no jealousy...no anger...no demand for justice...he simply showed us that love wins.
We get so caught up in getting respect and being treated right and receive what we deserve...we get so angry when things don't go our way...we treat other people with such judgment, while demanding mercy for ourselves. That is not love. That is self-centeredness...that is self-worship. Jesus tells us exactly what it looks like to truly be one of his disciples. He says that we are to love other people like he loved us. And what does that look like? Read the opening paragraph again...that's what it looks like. The love that Jesus has for us was displayed on the cross for all to see...does your life reflect that sacrificial, merciful, glorious, powerful love? It should...
We get so caught up in getting respect and being treated right and receive what we deserve...we get so angry when things don't go our way...we treat other people with such judgment, while demanding mercy for ourselves. That is not love. That is self-centeredness...that is self-worship. Jesus tells us exactly what it looks like to truly be one of his disciples. He says that we are to love other people like he loved us. And what does that look like? Read the opening paragraph again...that's what it looks like. The love that Jesus has for us was displayed on the cross for all to see...does your life reflect that sacrificial, merciful, glorious, powerful love? It should...
Monday, April 23, 2012
Acts 1:1-11
In the beginning of the book of Acts, we get some insight into the time that Jesus spent on earth after he rose from the grave and we witness the birth of the church. We know from this text that Jesus spent forty days with the disciples teaching them about the Kingdom of God. He was giving them the foundation they would need, to continue to be the pioneers of this new Kingdom...a kingdom that was not focused on military or economic power, but a kingdom fueled by devotion to God and humble service. Before Jesus ascends into heaven, he instructs his followers to stay in Jerusalem until they receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit (Which is described in chapter 2).
1:6 - I love the disciples because they remind me so much of myself...of us...they are so human! Jesus spent forty days teaching them about the Kingdom of Heaven and at the end of it...they just want to know when he is going to make Israel a world power again! They have set their sites so low...they have totally missed the point. Jesus is calling them to something so much greater...so much more magnificent. They wanted the restoration of Israel. While God was working on the redemption of the world! Do you see a little discrepancy there. That is like having a cold, dirt covered hot dog you found on the ground, instead of a perfectly seasoned Filet Mignon cooked medium rare right off the grill (Mmmmmm!). I think we do this too...we often pray timid prayers and set the bar too low on what God has called us to do with our lives. We set our sites on being "good," when we should be setting our sites on joining God in the incredible, miraculous, mind-blowing, mercy-filled, powerful work that He is doing in the world. Don't sell yourself short...you are a totally unique person who God has created to do a ministry that really only you can do! And don't sell God short...He infinitely more than able to provide you with the strength and wisdom you need to live boldly in your faith.
1:8 - Where is my focus? How about you - where is your focus? Are we caught up in the minutia of our daily existences? Are we focused almost totally on our own comfort...our own success...our own happiness? Are we focused only on our congregation...on our church...on how it makes us feel...on experiencing warm fuzzy feeling from being there? I read this verse and I hear the command of Jesus. He does not say, "Hey guys, will you be my witnesses all over the world...I could really use the help?" No, he says, "You WILL be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth." He called them to minister to their communities, to their countries, to their enemies and to the whole world. Basically he is saying that they are the plan...we are the plan. Yes, God is at work powerfully all over the world...yes, the Holy Spirit of God is shaping the hearts and minds of people everywhere...yes, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was for the sins of the whole world...but you and I, we are called to be the witnesses! We are called to be the ones who live our the resurrection...who live out the redemptive work of God for all to see. Are we listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He calls us to go into all the world?
1:11 - Then Jesus is gone. He ascends into heaven. He died. He rose from the grave. He taught them as much as he could in forty days...and then he left. The disciples were totally awestruck - wouldn't you be? Have you ever seen anyone fly off into the heavens? I haven't. They are just standing there, staring into the sky...silent...shocked...confused...scared...amazed. We don't know exactly what is going through their minds, because the text doesn't tell us, but they may have wanted to stay. They may have wanted to hang out there...to wait for Jesus to return. They may have wanted to build a special monument there to celebrate the ascension of Jesus...to delight in the mystery and the power of this inexplicable moment. Well, whatever is going through their minds at that moment...the bubble is burst. Two angels appear before them and ask, "What are you goobers doing staring at the sky? Have you never seen clouds before? Come one, let's get a move on...you have work to do?" And they went. Don't let yourself get so caught up in the big moments of your faith journey - the events, the worship services, the special mission trips - that you forget about the mission that you are called to live out on a daily basis. Don't spend your life staring back at huge events, wishing that you could go back there...the journey with Christ has only just begun...GO! DO! ACT! BE!
1:6 - I love the disciples because they remind me so much of myself...of us...they are so human! Jesus spent forty days teaching them about the Kingdom of Heaven and at the end of it...they just want to know when he is going to make Israel a world power again! They have set their sites so low...they have totally missed the point. Jesus is calling them to something so much greater...so much more magnificent. They wanted the restoration of Israel. While God was working on the redemption of the world! Do you see a little discrepancy there. That is like having a cold, dirt covered hot dog you found on the ground, instead of a perfectly seasoned Filet Mignon cooked medium rare right off the grill (Mmmmmm!). I think we do this too...we often pray timid prayers and set the bar too low on what God has called us to do with our lives. We set our sites on being "good," when we should be setting our sites on joining God in the incredible, miraculous, mind-blowing, mercy-filled, powerful work that He is doing in the world. Don't sell yourself short...you are a totally unique person who God has created to do a ministry that really only you can do! And don't sell God short...He infinitely more than able to provide you with the strength and wisdom you need to live boldly in your faith.
1:8 - Where is my focus? How about you - where is your focus? Are we caught up in the minutia of our daily existences? Are we focused almost totally on our own comfort...our own success...our own happiness? Are we focused only on our congregation...on our church...on how it makes us feel...on experiencing warm fuzzy feeling from being there? I read this verse and I hear the command of Jesus. He does not say, "Hey guys, will you be my witnesses all over the world...I could really use the help?" No, he says, "You WILL be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth." He called them to minister to their communities, to their countries, to their enemies and to the whole world. Basically he is saying that they are the plan...we are the plan. Yes, God is at work powerfully all over the world...yes, the Holy Spirit of God is shaping the hearts and minds of people everywhere...yes, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was for the sins of the whole world...but you and I, we are called to be the witnesses! We are called to be the ones who live our the resurrection...who live out the redemptive work of God for all to see. Are we listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He calls us to go into all the world?
1:11 - Then Jesus is gone. He ascends into heaven. He died. He rose from the grave. He taught them as much as he could in forty days...and then he left. The disciples were totally awestruck - wouldn't you be? Have you ever seen anyone fly off into the heavens? I haven't. They are just standing there, staring into the sky...silent...shocked...confused...scared...amazed. We don't know exactly what is going through their minds, because the text doesn't tell us, but they may have wanted to stay. They may have wanted to hang out there...to wait for Jesus to return. They may have wanted to build a special monument there to celebrate the ascension of Jesus...to delight in the mystery and the power of this inexplicable moment. Well, whatever is going through their minds at that moment...the bubble is burst. Two angels appear before them and ask, "What are you goobers doing staring at the sky? Have you never seen clouds before? Come one, let's get a move on...you have work to do?" And they went. Don't let yourself get so caught up in the big moments of your faith journey - the events, the worship services, the special mission trips - that you forget about the mission that you are called to live out on a daily basis. Don't spend your life staring back at huge events, wishing that you could go back there...the journey with Christ has only just begun...GO! DO! ACT! BE!
Friday, April 20, 2012
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Great passage for me to read today...great reminder! Generosity is not just about giving money to somebody. Generosity is a way of life. Generosity is an outlook. Generosity is a worldview. Read verse 8 again. That describes the heart of the matter...if you find true contentment in God...if you believe and live out the fact that God is sufficient enough to meet all your needs (And so much more!!!)...it frees you t live generously. When you know in your heart that God is enough, then you don't develop that sinful obsession with material wealth that so many of us have. When you trust that God will provide everything you need, then you don't hold to the things of this world that so many have convinced themselves are "essential." Understanding that God is enough, frees us to serve...it frees us to follow the greatest commandment by loving God and others more than ourselves...it frees us to focus on pouring out good works in this broken world because we are no longer deceived into believing that the things of this world can meet our needs (They can't if you haven't figured that out yet!).
If it is not enough to know that we can be generous because of God's sufficiency to meet our needs, verse 9 drives home another reason that we should live generously...the nature of God. Look at that beautiful verse! God distributes freely (no strings attached)...God gives to the poor...God exudes righteousness. Paul gives us a window into the heart of God...Paul shows us part of what drives God and what is a major part of His nature - generosity and care for others. It seems clear to me that anyone who considers themselves a follower of God should strive to embody this character as well. If God gives generously to those in need without any expectations of reciprocation...shouldn't we? If God is righteous in everything He does...shouldn't we work towards a lifestyle of righteousness (And by "righteousness" I do not mean self-righteousness, or acting like your better than everyone else, I mean right relationships with God and others)?
Finally, the last portion of the verse from verse 10 really jumped out at me today. It says, "And increase the harvest of you righteousness." There are many church leaders out there in the world who like to make promises to people...promises that say, "If you give money t the church...you will we be rewarded with greater financial gain." That is not what I read when I look at scriptures that deal with generosity and giving in the Bible. Will you be richly blessed through generosity? Yes. Does it mean that you will be richer in terms of worldly wealth? Absolutely not. Mandy and I give a significant portion of our money to the church and humanitarian organizations each year, and guess what? We don't miraculously have more money than we started with at the end of the year! Part of faithful giving is making a sacrifice. Part of a lifestyle of generosity is living within the financial means of that generosity. We do not give because we expect God to give us more money back in return. We give because we know that God is good...we know that God will provide...we know that God's nature is generous...and because it helps to keep our focus on what really matters - God and others. Paul makes no bones about the reality of giving...he does not say that God will pay you back ten times in financial gains...Paul says that God will increase the harvest of righteousness in your life. And I don't want to sound insincere here, but that is the gift that really matters! We are promised deep spiritual gains...we are promised deeper levels of righteousness as we join God in generously pouring out love into the world...we are taking steps towards becoming more like our Father in heaven. And those things are more valuable than all the money in the world!!!
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