Why is it that Christians seem to be so content with so little of what Jesus offers. Its kind of like an acorn being content with being an acorn though it knows that it could be an oak tree. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:12ff Do we really believe this? I sometimes think that when we don't see the power of God in healings, deliverance, or provision that we believe that Jesus must be kidding when he said the words above. Could it really be true that we could do 'greater things' than Jesus? The context here is clearly referring to the miracles Jesus did. Maybe we don't see 'greater things' because we don't really take Jesus at His word, even if we took Him at His word we don't expect Him to do them through us and because maybe He knows that all to often we would steal His glory if He did do them through us. So we go on living an acorns life when we could become the oak tree God created us to be.
Monday, August 26, 2013
The Father's Poem
I've been thinking about a verse that sometimes gets neglected because of the two verses that precede it. Ephesians 2:8,9 says,
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
These are critical verses in understanding the relationship between grace, faith, and salvation. But the next verse, often omitted, is critical in understanding who we are as God's creation. It says,
"For we are his workmanship,..."
The word 'workmanship' can mislead us. It can give us the impression that God was toiling, hard at work when He created you and me, hardly enjoying the process. This couldn't be further from the truth .Recently I attended a conference where Len Sweet was a speaker and he pointed out that creation is the result of a Creator at play, not work. Think about it, when are we most creative? We are far more creative when we are free from the pressures of work. It has been said that if one enjoys what they do, they will never work a day in their life. You see, in the original language the word 'poiema' is used. This is the same word from which we get the English word 'poem'. This is huge. We are the lyric written by the Master lyricist and we are the result of His playful creativity. Any true artist will tell you that their masterpiece was a labor of love and enjoyment. None of us are an accident. The reality of our birth means that we are the product of God's labor of love. He created us with aptitudes, personalities, gifts and environments that are unique to each one.
Since God wrote the lyric that is each one of us, I think He gives us the freedom to supply the tune by our attitudes, word, and actions . A song's tune can make the difference between a song that brings people joyful tears or one that is painful to listen to. We have all heard the national anthem sung done by professional musicians and jr. high choirs. One is generally much easier to listen to than the other.
When I look at my own life I see times when the tune I supplied was angry, or without hope, or sad, or confused or defeated. My life was out of tune. It doesn't matter how beautiful the lyric, or how perfect the tune fits the lyric,if it is sung out of tune, it is difficult to listen to.These times didn't reflect the faith I professed. As I practice with the Master as my teacher, I sing more and more on-key and my life sounds more of contentment, hope, joy, victory and trust. Maybe you can relate.
It is amazing to me that He wrote the lyric of our lives for His pleasure, purpose and enjoyment. Like the parent of the novice musician beams with pride and joy at the recital even when there are missed notes, so our heavenly Father beams with the same as He hears the recital which is our life. He is not surprised by our missed notes and being off key at times. He knows that it gets better with time and practice. Most of all He knows that there is coming a day when the tunes of all of those who love Him will blend in perfect harmony as we sing His praise before His throne. How cool is that!!!
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
These are critical verses in understanding the relationship between grace, faith, and salvation. But the next verse, often omitted, is critical in understanding who we are as God's creation. It says,
Since God wrote the lyric that is each one of us, I think He gives us the freedom to supply the tune by our attitudes, word, and actions . A song's tune can make the difference between a song that brings people joyful tears or one that is painful to listen to. We have all heard the national anthem sung done by professional musicians and jr. high choirs. One is generally much easier to listen to than the other.
When I look at my own life I see times when the tune I supplied was angry, or without hope, or sad, or confused or defeated. My life was out of tune. It doesn't matter how beautiful the lyric, or how perfect the tune fits the lyric,if it is sung out of tune, it is difficult to listen to.These times didn't reflect the faith I professed. As I practice with the Master as my teacher, I sing more and more on-key and my life sounds more of contentment, hope, joy, victory and trust. Maybe you can relate.
It is amazing to me that He wrote the lyric of our lives for His pleasure, purpose and enjoyment. Like the parent of the novice musician beams with pride and joy at the recital even when there are missed notes, so our heavenly Father beams with the same as He hears the recital which is our life. He is not surprised by our missed notes and being off key at times. He knows that it gets better with time and practice. Most of all He knows that there is coming a day when the tunes of all of those who love Him will blend in perfect harmony as we sing His praise before His throne. How cool is that!!!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Evidence
I like CSI/NCIS shows and something I have noticed is how often the word 'evidence' is used. There seems to be two kinds of evidence; hard evidence and circumstantial evidence. Hard evidence is what is needed to offer some certainty of guilt while circumstantial evidence may suggest guilt but doesn't prove guilt.
Likewise, our lives as followers of Jesus are proved by evidence. Too often the evidence we offer is merely circumstantial. We attend church regularly, behave as good citizens, practice good hygiene, and give to good causes. All of these and more are just circumstantial evidence. So what is the hard evidence of a relationship with Jesus? The apostle Peter tells us...
"... always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, " (1 Peter 3:15)
It appears that hope is hard evidence. For someone to ask about our hope they must first recognize it in us. Do our attitudes, words and actions reveal hope or fear. Do they suggest confidence concerning the future especially when circumstances would allow otherwise. I'm afraid that many who claim the name of Jesus have put more of their hope in their wealth or a political stance than in Jesus.
Jesus gives us another piece of hard evidence when he says...
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:35)
Love is the other key piece of hard evidence that proves our guilt as followers of Jesus. Why are so many telling of how they have been hurt by the church? The bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves yet this is interpreted to mean send a check to someone far away. How many of us would rather turn away from someone who is hurting rather than risk getting our hands dirty and our reputations tarnished loving someone who, by most accounts, doesn't deserve our love. (see the parable of the Good Samaritan) We seem to forget the we are undeserving of His love for us. You see love is a great evidence because we can't generate this kind of love. We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4) We have the ability to love the unlovable because we have experienced His love for us!
With this in mind the question has been suggested by another, and paraphrased ' If we were on trial for being a follower of Jesus would there be enough hard evidence to convict us?'
I wonder...
Gotta go, CSI is on.
Likewise, our lives as followers of Jesus are proved by evidence. Too often the evidence we offer is merely circumstantial. We attend church regularly, behave as good citizens, practice good hygiene, and give to good causes. All of these and more are just circumstantial evidence. So what is the hard evidence of a relationship with Jesus? The apostle Peter tells us...
"... always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, " (1 Peter 3:15)
It appears that hope is hard evidence. For someone to ask about our hope they must first recognize it in us. Do our attitudes, words and actions reveal hope or fear. Do they suggest confidence concerning the future especially when circumstances would allow otherwise. I'm afraid that many who claim the name of Jesus have put more of their hope in their wealth or a political stance than in Jesus.
Jesus gives us another piece of hard evidence when he says...
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:35)
Love is the other key piece of hard evidence that proves our guilt as followers of Jesus. Why are so many telling of how they have been hurt by the church? The bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves yet this is interpreted to mean send a check to someone far away. How many of us would rather turn away from someone who is hurting rather than risk getting our hands dirty and our reputations tarnished loving someone who, by most accounts, doesn't deserve our love. (see the parable of the Good Samaritan) We seem to forget the we are undeserving of His love for us. You see love is a great evidence because we can't generate this kind of love. We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4) We have the ability to love the unlovable because we have experienced His love for us!
With this in mind the question has been suggested by another, and paraphrased ' If we were on trial for being a follower of Jesus would there be enough hard evidence to convict us?'
I wonder...
Gotta go, CSI is on.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Community
When was it decided that taking care of the poor, sick, and underprivileged is the government's reponsibility. The bible I read tells me that it is the local church's responsibility.
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
James 1:27 (ESV)
"...all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Acts 2:44-45 (ESV)
For all it's talk about community the local church isn't very good at doing it. The church is good at getting people to gather at a given place and time, but gathering and having coffee and cookies does not equate to experiencing community. The bible's word for community is koinonos which means, " a sharer, i.e. associate :- companion, × fellowship, partaker, partner." (—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary) If the church is going to model true community it is going to have to come along side of the poor, sick and underprivileged which means being involved in their life in a way that exhibits the love of Jesus on a very personal, incarnational level. It seems like many christians have chosen to deal with these people by writing a check, (or using a card). Funds are important to meeting needs yet I wonder if sometimes writing checks is way to avoid getting one's hands dirty. It is certainly more convenient. How will they see Jesus if they never get to see the person who wrote the check. They will not experience His love until we invite them into our homes for lodging and meals. They will not understand His provision until the His body takes upon itself the responsibility for physical care of their body as well as their soul.
Maybe if our local churches would have kept doing biblical community, the health and human services department either wouldn't exist or be a fraction of its current size, there would be no health care debate and we would not be living in what is considered post-christian America.
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
James 1:27 (ESV)
"...all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Acts 2:44-45 (ESV)
For all it's talk about community the local church isn't very good at doing it. The church is good at getting people to gather at a given place and time, but gathering and having coffee and cookies does not equate to experiencing community. The bible's word for community is koinonos which means, " a sharer, i.e. associate :- companion, × fellowship, partaker, partner." (—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary) If the church is going to model true community it is going to have to come along side of the poor, sick and underprivileged which means being involved in their life in a way that exhibits the love of Jesus on a very personal, incarnational level. It seems like many christians have chosen to deal with these people by writing a check, (or using a card). Funds are important to meeting needs yet I wonder if sometimes writing checks is way to avoid getting one's hands dirty. It is certainly more convenient. How will they see Jesus if they never get to see the person who wrote the check. They will not experience His love until we invite them into our homes for lodging and meals. They will not understand His provision until the His body takes upon itself the responsibility for physical care of their body as well as their soul.
Maybe if our local churches would have kept doing biblical community, the health and human services department either wouldn't exist or be a fraction of its current size, there would be no health care debate and we would not be living in what is considered post-christian America.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Consumption
On Thanksgiving Day we consume food as if we haven’t eaten in a week. For the rest of the weekend we buy stuff with the same ravenous approach we brought to the table on Thursday. Why do we value consumption so much? Maybe I should change the pronouns because I have little or no influence concerning ‘our’ behavior. I do, however, have control over my attitudes and behaviors. You see ‘we’ value consumption because ‘I’ value consumption. I can deride the conspicuous consumption of our culture while I stuff myself at buffets, (or Thanksgiving) and own more stuff than my house and garage can really contain. I can make derogatory comments about the size of a house I see but at the same time if I had the means I might build a house just as big. I can complain about the conspicuous extravagance of church buildings around the country yet I know that I would probably attend the more extravagant church over a warehouse church all other things being equal. There is a fine line between having and using stuff, and worshipping stuff. The bible calls stuff, mammon. It says that it is impossible to worship God and stuff at the same time. It also says that there is no benefit in gaining all the stuff in the world now if we end up spending eternity in hell. I hear my friends in business use the phrase cost/ benefit analysis. I might butcher the concept but it seems to me that if I want to surrender my life to the pursuit of stuff the benefit is the stuff. The cost, however, is eternity in hell separated from God. The alternative is to surrender my life to God as the cost and receive peace in this life and eternity in heaven with Jesus as the benefit. When I see it put this way the choice is so obvious, why then is it so hard?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Missiology 101
Today I saw a website that all kinds of resources on missiology. I wondered why anyone would look to these resources if they had been reading what the word of God said about missiology. I don't think that God's intent for missiology is so biblically obscure that we need volumes written by 'experts' to explain it to the rest of us. Don't get me wrong, the personal study of missiology is a good thing and I know some people whose heart is broken over those who are lost who have made a study of it.
There are two potential problems that can arise when there is an unhealthy focus on the study of missiology. The first is that we create missiological experts which can intimidate (probably unintentionally) the average christian into a missional paralysis because of fear they won't do it right. The second is the we can get so caught up in the study that we lose sight of the action required to accomplish missions. Knowledge of approaches to missions and a variety theologies of missions doesn't mean a thing if we aren't bringing Jesus to our everyday living exposing the people around us to the gospel as exhibited by the hope, love, joy, and grace in our lives.
I guess the bottom line is this if we are spending more time studying what people have written about missiology than we have spent studying scripture concerning missiology I doubt whether we will ever become truly biblically missional. Stated another way: If we can't develop a solid theology of missions from the bible alone, we probably aren't really paying that close of attention to what it says.
There are two potential problems that can arise when there is an unhealthy focus on the study of missiology. The first is that we create missiological experts which can intimidate (probably unintentionally) the average christian into a missional paralysis because of fear they won't do it right. The second is the we can get so caught up in the study that we lose sight of the action required to accomplish missions. Knowledge of approaches to missions and a variety theologies of missions doesn't mean a thing if we aren't bringing Jesus to our everyday living exposing the people around us to the gospel as exhibited by the hope, love, joy, and grace in our lives.
I guess the bottom line is this if we are spending more time studying what people have written about missiology than we have spent studying scripture concerning missiology I doubt whether we will ever become truly biblically missional. Stated another way: If we can't develop a solid theology of missions from the bible alone, we probably aren't really paying that close of attention to what it says.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
What can Followers of Jesus learn from Veterans
Today is veteran's day. A time to honor those who have served, many of whom have suffered, and even given their lives to protect our freedoms and quality of life. When these men and women serve they have no gaurantees that what they are fighting for will be preserved. Those in Iraq and Afganistan today can only hope that their efforts will result in acheiving stated objectives. Much of the success or failure rests on the decisions of beaurocrats who are nowhere near the combat zones. Why then do these men and women volunteer to be put in harm's way? Because they love their country!
Their is a spiritual lesson here. As believers in Jesus Christ we are foot soldiers for the Kingdom of God. We don't use weapons of violence and death. Our weapons are far more powerful. We have the weapons of truth, love, grace and mercy in the Holy Spirit because of Jesus Christ. We also know something our enemy doesn't want others to know, the victory is already won! We still fight battles because the enemy has convinced those who don't believe that they could still achieve ultimate victory.
With this in mind, knowing the victory is won, lets storm the gates of hell with all the weapons at our disposal. Lets take the hill or the city or the neighborhood for the Kingdom of God with the same passion, love, zeal and preparedness that the veterans who have served our nation had.
Their is a spiritual lesson here. As believers in Jesus Christ we are foot soldiers for the Kingdom of God. We don't use weapons of violence and death. Our weapons are far more powerful. We have the weapons of truth, love, grace and mercy in the Holy Spirit because of Jesus Christ. We also know something our enemy doesn't want others to know, the victory is already won! We still fight battles because the enemy has convinced those who don't believe that they could still achieve ultimate victory.
With this in mind, knowing the victory is won, lets storm the gates of hell with all the weapons at our disposal. Lets take the hill or the city or the neighborhood for the Kingdom of God with the same passion, love, zeal and preparedness that the veterans who have served our nation had.
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