The Cross

Easter is coming. We celebrate the resurrection. We celebrate with abandon, but the only way is through the cross. In meditating about Easter you can't get very far without thinking hard and long about the cross. Michael Card years ago called it a violent grace. A man hanging on a tree taking the curse for you and me. You can't have a true resurrection without a death first. Life comes through death, and Christ showed us the way when He hung on the cross.

The cross has become something that modern Christianity doesn't always like to talk about. Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ, was shocking to us, and so it should be. Seeing in stark reality what our Saviour and our God went through for us is more than we can handle. The early church did not depict Christ on the cross. The earliest art form that we have discovered where Christ is hanging on a tree dates around 420 A. D. We could stop an wonder at this, but could it be that crosses were too much of a reality in that culture to graphically depict it? Maybe everyone was well aware of what dying on a cross meant. Maybe they had family members that had died in such a gruesome way, too many painful memories. A violent grace, the cross. Meditate with me today about just what it cost our Saviour.

One might lay down his life for a righteous man, but for a sinner such as I?

Blessed are the Meek

“Blessed are the meek,”

-Meek means being done with ourselves.

Prisons come in all shapes and sizes. Prisons of our own making usually are padded with faded dreams, expectations and heart breaks. Oh, don’t get me wrong, most of them are all good things. A friendship gone wrong, expectation of life, loves, children, husbands, God-All begun with hope that would lead to peace, contentment, and happiness. A prison of our own making starts out with wonderful things with all sorts of promises. The bars are made of the steel of dreams gone bad. It happens slowly at first. Picking yourself up by the bootstraps, trusting in you own way of dealing with dreams gone bad, visions that don’t fit with your expectations of what life is supposed to send your way. The prison bars are constructed slowly-you begin with a little, but before long you are caught in a prison that has such a hold on your heart you can’t see God in your life at all. The prison bars have been sheet-rocked solid, tight. God is there. He is always with us. He is with us in the prison as He was with Daniel in his prison, and in the prison of our own making that He has allowed. If we took a hack saw and begin sawing the sheet rock, and cutting through the steel bars-will that free us? When and if we ever get free what does true freedom feel like? If you have lived in a prison long enough you don’t really want to be free-its scary-

What does this have to do with being meek? Go back to our definition –Meekness is being done with ourselves. The only reason we are in our prisons is because self is possessing us.

Turn to Psalm 73 Read all

Sigh-“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” But maybe not to me! Only those other guys.

My kids are not perfect, my husband can be so very human, I have problems with my time, my house, my schedule, my mother, my friends (oh yea, I forgot this week I have no friends because so and so didn’t say anything to me at church-they must not “really” be my friend)-

Try to follow along in your outline-The consequences of envy are very destructive. Envy cuts through to our contentment, our joy, because it makes self prominent. That’s why this passage is so very relevant to being meek. We begin to believe God is good to everyone-but us; because we didn’t get what we wanted. The wicked, according to Asaph, have prosperity, health, and are completely burden free. God’s goodness, because of envy, is despised, not believed, and “our” truth becomes irrational. I don’t honestly think (as opposed to feel) that anyone is burden free. Another consequence to envy is our theology (what we know about God, becomes unknowable. God is good, but not in this situation. Maybe, I don’t really know God at all (v. 11). We begin to believe that God is no longer trustworthy or reliable. This leads us to those prison bars being erected all around us; not just around our hearts, but our minds as well. We then begin to believe and act like it all depends on me. Look at verses 13-16; READ

God I have been so good, I have given to my church, my family-I have gone the extra mile and given my cloak-But it was all for naught-It was in vain-for nothing, because YOU didn’t do what I wanted or expected you to do-esp. for all my sacrifices. Trials are for my good-but I can see no good from this, and if I tell or if I’m honest with somebody about this it might mar your reputation (v. 16). Are we more worried about what others think of God, or what others are thinking of us? Have you ever felt like that? If I’m known-if people really knew me, my situation, or what was really going on in my heart-they too would stop trusting you. Oh, that is the height of pride (v. 16). “It was oppressive to me.” “God opposes or oppresses the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

The consequences of being dependent on your self are myriad. Let’s look at the few in this passage. In verses 13-17 the word “I”is used 10 times in 5 verses. You become self absorbed. You don’t possess what others have, so you are live in a pity-party of selfishness. The illusion here is suicide-life is no longer worth living. We believe that God is good to everyone, but us… Our heart becomes grieved and embittered (v. 21) and I have become a brute beast (v. 22). We no longer see reality.

Let me take off on a Rabbit Trail-The Psalmist here is very upset because he envies the possessions of others-specifically the wicked. Verse 9 says, “There mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth." This is a complete anti-thesis of our verse in Matthew. about being Meek. The meek-those that are done with themselves-will inherit the earth. Let’s contrast this with possessing the earth.

Look at Luke 9:23-25

“Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very soul?”

Meek means to be done with self-loose your life-gain your soul.

Let me tell you a very hard truth that these passages reveal to us-Freedom, from our prisons, only comes as we possess nothing. Put another way; in order to be free we must possess nothing, but Christ. When we possess we hold on to. Meek means to be done with whatever the self is holding on to-Christ said we are to lose your life-and you will gain your soul-inherit the earth means we have it all!

Back to Psalm 73:17-This is how Reality is Restored-it’s restored through God’s perspective (v. 18) We begin to see life as it really is, people for who they really are, and we begin to replace our envy with compassion. People last for eternity, and God’s justice will be accomplished. Our reality is not only restored concerning life and people, but ourselves as well verse 23-I am always surrounded by God’s presence-It never left me-even in the prison cell. Finally reality is restored about God Himself. Verse 24-26 No one on earth do I desire besides you-I have you-I possess nothing and have it all at the same time. Verse 28 but as for me this is repeated from before-“it is good to be near God” God is good to me-and He always will be. When I trust in His goodness He makes me done with myself which makes me humble, grateful, and trusting. And this in turn gives me a love for the lost-“I will tell of your deeds.”

Isn’t it interesting as we consider the verse on meek, that meek means an open hand not possessing anything, and yet the second half of the verse has to do with having all things. This is one of the grand paradox’s of the Christian life, like being in the world and yet not of the world. You see Christians going to both extremes-hiding in their Christian ghettos never touching the world and therefore being irrelevant or to the opposite extreme-adopting everything concerning, yearning so for the world that they also are completely irrelevant. The Christian life is to be lived somewhere in the middle, in the trenches, in the battle, by faith. The paradox between having no possessions yet possessing all has two extremes as well. The monastics lived in monasteries possessing no worldly goods, having no family, having no trade, and they ended up, as a whole, being irrelevant to transforming culture. On the other extreme you have those who hoard away their possession, protecting their things (people, children, possessions) because they can’t trust God for them. We sometimes say, “My daughter/son can’t marry or be a missionary and travel across the world taking my grandchildren. I can’t get involved with people or get too close-they might move away, I might get hurt…” Let me warn you this only leads to prison cells. The Christian life is to be lived radically somewhere in the middle-by faith trusting God to always be good and to actually believe that He is Lord and we are to radically live for His kingdom-on the job, in our homes, everywhere-that’s what we are called to do-our focus is to be living and working for the advancement of His kingdom. What I mentioned before about being in a battle-The battle doesn’t happen on either side of these extremes. The battle occurs in the middle when you are walking by faith.

Our Psalm ends with being free from our prison of envy that we are truly meek, trusting so radically in the sovereign Lord that He is our refuge-and we tell others of His deeds.

By Faith

John 5:14-22

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.

Go and sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. What could be worse than being an invalid for thirty-eight years? Jesus had just begun working in this man’s life. Just beginning a journey where upon the man would see that there are worse things that can happen to you besides being an invalid for thirty-eight years. Often when we first come to Christ it is out of a physical need, an emotional upheaval, or something that has knocked us for a loop. Even if you have known Jesus all your life (it seems) you will come to a time of great need when it is not your parents turning to Christ for you, but you will turn to Him all by yourself. This man began his journey with great physical needs, and Jesus points him in the direction of the exploration of his sins. Wait a minute, does this mean Christ is saying that the man is responsible for his physical condition? No, but Jesus is always taking us one step further, maybe farther than we want to go. He is nudging him toward truth. The truth is that he was powerless toward his illness, and he is powerless to do anything about his sin as well. Jesus is not sending him into some “works” righteousness kind of mentality. This man will see that there really are worse things than the pain of lying by a pool, friendless, and powerless for thirty-eight years. Has Jesus led you down that path too? Where you feel absolutely powerless to anything about your sin, in whatever form yours comes in? That is exactly right where Jesus wants you! He took care of your sin on the cross, and paid the penalty for that sin, not just in a salvation kind of way either. He wants you to depend on Him for it all. The Galatians were “bewitched,” as Paul said, by thinking that grace was a thing that only applied to salvation, then we work for everything else. Listen to this:

1”O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."

You will more and more understand the depths of your sin, and the depths of Christ’s love for you, by faith. He is always leading us towards this point, by faith. ‘For the righteous shall live by their faith.”

More on Nathaniel

John 1:45-50

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."

More concerning our friend, Nathaniel.

Nathaniel, oh how I identify with him! Cynic that he is, skeptic and someone who’s heard it all before, is Nathaniel. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth, he says? What do I doubt, what do you doubt? What are you cynical about? Can anything good come out of the political landscape today? What about different dynamics of church, and home life? Promises, promises-broken-I’ve heard it all before. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Can Jesus really be for real?

Jesus’ remark here is astounding. He says-“Behold, an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” Jesus knows Nathaniel’s weakness and his strengths, and they are all summed up in that one statement. At first glance, we might think that Jesus is praising him, which He is, and He is affirming, validating, even his sarcasm, but Jesus also tells him that he saw him under the fig tree-that He saw him, that he knows him. Nathaniel knew then that the Son of God looked right through him, right deep down into his sarcastic, cynical soul, knew him, and loved him. At that point Nathaniel must have seen a mirror pointing at his face-the games he had seen played out all around him, he had played as well. He had hidden. He had not been completely truthful when it came to himself. It is all well and good to be truthful about others sin, but not about his own. Jesus, tongue in cheek, was saying –“Oh, Nathaniel, you are a man who doesn’t think anyone tells the truth anymore-except you. So you think you tell the truth, right out there, say what you mean, but, I saw you, I know you, you are just as deceitful as all the rest. Jesus says He saw Nathaniel hiding, or maybe he was pulling a fast deal under that fig tree. Whatever Nathaniel was doing, hiding or doing something unsavory, Jesus saw Him and He knew him, and He called him to follow Him, in spite of knowing all about him. Amazing!

Hiding Nathaniel

John 1:45-50

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."

At first glance this passage is a little puzzling. Especially in regard to our gifts and abilities. What gifts can we observe from this passage? Nathaniel should be rebuked, don’t you think? He is such a skeptic. He just couldn’t believe. Poor Nathaniel. Yet, that is not what Christ does. Christ praises Nathaniel for the gifts He had already given to him. Nathaniel spoke the truth, he was one of those people its not always pleasant to be around. Those folks that see the truth, tell the truth, and discern the truth. What a gift! With all gifts come pitfalls, warnings, and dangers. Gifts, if not used for the glory of God turn into self-serving, selfish, and “me” centered endeavors. Isn’t that true of your gifts?

Jesus didn’t rebuke Nathaniel; He simply told him that He knew everything about him. He knew the loneliness that Nathaniel had experienced having the gift of discernment. He knew how this pain had caused Nathaniel not to get too close to anyone very much. Hiding under the fig tree was his style. Waiting, searching, looking from afar, those were Nathaniel’s “modus operandi.” God is waiting to use the gifts He has given you for His glory. Sometimes they come in strange packages. Nathaniel's did. Know first, that they came from Him, and He will not tolerate the pride you might fall into when they are successful. What are your gifts? If you don’t know already begin to find out. Ask friends, parents, and professors, those that know you the best. And know you can only receive what is given to you from heaven.

ü What have you been given?

ü List gifts, both spiritual and physical.

ü Get feed back from those that know you the best.

ü Tell others what you have observed in their life.

ü How can you encourage them to use their gifts for God’s glory?

New Name

John 1:35-42:

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

Jesus asks the disciples what is it they want, and then He tells them to follow Him. The next thing he does is something pretty bold….He changes the name of the most radical among them. If you were to be the CEO (chief executive officer) of a large corporation and the first thing you did was to change the name or the title of one of the people in the company, what would this do? Let’s say, you elevated his/her title from janitor to vice president. The employee would gain a different perspective on his/her job. What about when someone you love calls you by a “pet” name? It could be cutie, bug, sweetie, whatever it is, if it is a term of endearment, how does this make you feel? Jesus meets Cephas, which means stone or pebble. Christ was telling Peter, which means rock, that he is now ruler over him. In the ancient world, when someone in charge changed the name of a subordinate it means he is his sovereign over that person. He is his lord. At the same time, Christ is teaching him that He writes the story. He began it and He will end it. He is still the Fisherman Peter, but God has given him a new calling where nothing is wasted. Not even long, hard, smelly, difficult, failures as a fisherman will ever go to waste. Ever feel this way after a long, terrible, no good day? What about a trial or a known battle that seems to last for the longest time? What have you been called to? Has Christ now called you by a new name? He has promised to make all things new. If He has, then you are His. He writes the story, the pains, the successes, the failures, gives the grace, and the gives calling.

“Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to His summons and service.”

Os Guinness, The Call

*I Corinthians 6:20, “…you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Live in the light of a new life!

God's Lost and Found

I have been reading for the last few months Paradise Lost by J. Milton.  Milton keeps coming up all over the place, every where I look.  Finally, I came across an article in World Magazine saying that it is Milton's 400th Birthday year.  As I saw the title again this morning, Paradise Lost and Regained on the cover of my Tabletalk (RC Sproul's devotional), it jumped out at me what a pattern that is in all of our lives.  I know you are probably saying to yourself, "yea, duh."  Well, sometimes the mundane, everyday, simple stuff is harder for me to grasp than the esoteric, ethereal, philosophical is, which sometimes is no good to anyone.  It dawned on me that about everything in life is lost and then found.  Lost and Found, I was many years ago now.  Lost and found are the many character (or should I say lack of character) qualities I have lost and found over the years.  I lose a tiny bit of self-centeredness and find joy in giving.  I lose my way, and find out God's way is much better.  I lose my "jobs" and find that I am loved for who I am not for what I do.  I lose things that I just cannot live without and find things of eternal value instead.  I lose peace in the world, and find contentment in Christ alone.  I lose myself, and find eternal life.  Death vs. life, who would choose anything different?  

To Him who gives me the grace to choose life......................Lynn