I realize that we are in an election year but please understand that this post is in no way an attack on our currant President.
As I've been working my way through the Bible this time I'm searching for the heart of God and recording my findings in a journal. Somethings that really stand out to me don't fit that category and so they are recorded in a separate notebook series I started back in college, sort of a though journal I'll keep for the rest of my life.
Yesterday, as I was reading in Deuteronomy I noticed that God, through Moses, gives instructions to the people about choosing their leaders. He then gives instructions for the leaders to follow as the undertake the responsibility of leading the people.
Deuteronomy 17.14-20, "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’ He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel."
Leadership is privilege, but with it comes great responsibility, as we've heard countless times from Uncle Ben in the Spiderman movies. Leadership is not something that is to be taken on lightly or rashly, and likewise the people shouldn't choose their leaders without careful consideration and examination.
The first instruction given is that the leader is not to be a foreigner, but one of your own people. A foreigner wouldn't have the best interest of the people at heart. His goals and ambitions wouldn't be for the best of the people, because they aren't his people. But a leader chosen from among the people knows the people they have been chosen to lead. They love the people, and desire the best for them.
Leadership is a responsibility, not an opportunity to gain wealth, comfort and prestige. Leadership is above all service. Leaders are to serve their people, to take care of them and make sure they are provided for, not to advance himself, gain wealth, or increase his comfort. If this is done, it is an abuse of the position. Leaders are there to make sure the people are taken care of and treated fairly with dignity. A good leader seeks the best for his people not his own pleasure and gain.
A leader is to set an example. He is to have one wife, and love her and cherish her. He is to care for his family and model being a husband and father. He is to teach his children to follow the truth, how to treat people, and how to handle responsibility. He is to model Godliness, and set an example for the people in that as well.
The thing that stood out to me the most is that when a leader takes power he is to write a copy of the law for himself. It is to be done in the presence of one who knows and guards the law. He is to have it with him and study it all of his life. A leader must know and keep the statues of God in order to be a leader blessed by God. A leader must know and follow the laws of the land to be loved and respected by the people.
Above all, a leader must stay humble. Again, leadership is primairly servanthood. A leader is to be a servant working for the the people he leads.
It is a privalge to lead, but "With great power comes great responsability." If God calls you into leadership, if people choose you to lead, take it seriously. Draw close to God every day, serve the people. Set an example.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Death Penalty Conversation
Have you ever had one of those conversations you keep playing over and over in your head wishing you would have said the response you thought of two days after the conversation happened? Happens to me all the time. But there is one that sticks out in my mind more than any other for some reason, and I'm not totally sure why. It doesn't come too frequently but this morning it did, and I'm sick of it, so I'm hoping by writing it out here that helps put it to rest.
The title of this post is the subject of the conversation that took place nearly six years ago in my collage Sociology class. It ended up being a complete waste of time and honestly this conversation I'm about to share is the only thing from the class that I have any real memory of. The class that day began with us being divided up based on our opinion on the death penalty. Those for it were in the back of the room, those against were on the front right (if you are facing the back from the front) and those who were unsure were on the front left. I was in the back.
The reason I'm writing this is not that my opinion has changed but after six years of maturing, studying, and learning/observing I've matured and have a much better answer than I did more than half a decade ago. One of the guys in the "against the death penalty group" stood up and used John 8.1-11 as his basis for not having the death penalty. It was after this that I responded. I don't really remember much of what I said, I just remember talking really fast, probably sounding angry, and since I hate debating getting red in the face from talking in front of people in that context. The basis for his response was that Jesus had pity and forgave this woman, and after all this time, I now have my response. Hopefully this is the last time I ever have this conversation with myself.
The following will be me giving a response I wish I had given.
Your usage of the events of John 8 aren't really valid here. If you look at the historical context, everything that the Pharisees did was to get rid of Jesus. Everything they did privately was plotting how they could get rid of Jesus, and everything they did publicly was putting those plots into action. The events of John 8 is one of these attempts. In their minds they have Jesus. There is nothing that He can say to them in this situation without getting in trouble.
If He says "Yes, stone her," then He is guilty of breaking the law given by the Romans. No Jew could exercise the death penalty under Roman law. So if He says "yes" they can take Him before the Roman Governor and accuse him of breaking the law. Also, Jesus has set up His ministry and gained His following based on teachings of mercy, grace, and forgiveness. If now, when it is being called into action, He refuses the very things He's taught His ministry will be ruined. People will stop following Him because He would be seen as a hypocrite. If He says "Yes, stone her," they will have succeeded and will be rid of Jesus.
On the other hand, if He says "No, let her live," that base is covered too. They remind Jesus that Moses said to stone such a woman. If Jesus shows mercy then He is guilty of breaking the law of Moses, and they will be able to take Him before than Sanhedrin to accuse Him of breaking their law and trying to cause a riot. They could then take Him before Rome on those charges and be rid of Him. In their minds, they have Him. Game, set, match, it's over. Anything that comes out of His mouth they are ready for.
And so Jesus, knowing all of this and their motivation, says nothing. He begins to write on the ground and after being asked persistently gets up and says "Whoever is without sin can cast the first stone." Though the text doesn't say this, He is using part the Law here too. Deuteronomy 17 says that the witnesses are to throw the first stone. And so Jesus, following the Law tells them to go ahead. But the condition is that only those who aren't guilty are allowed to.
The all begin to leave and then Jesus is left alone with the woman. He says, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She says, "No one," and then He says, "Then I don't condemn you either," and that is where you end your argument, but it isn't where the text ends. Jesus said, "Go and leave your life of sin." He said to her, "I do not condemn you, yet." He sets her free with the warning of final judgement, telling her that it is coming, and that if she doesn't change, she will be condemned. He says to her "You have a second chance, take advantage of it."
Your argument only looks at one side of God, it focuses only on mercy, but not justice. God is a just god. He has to be just in order to be Holy, Good, and Perfect. God hates evil and sin, He always has and always will. And sin must be punished. Again Deuteronomy 17 says, "On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness." There needs to proof, substantial proof, to enforce the death penalty. It isn't to be based on one witness that isn't supported, but when several people are in agreement and confirm it, it is to be carried out. And again, those who act as witnesses are to be the first ones to put the accused to death. And the purpose is to purge evil from the midst of the people.
God gives certain people the authority to carry out the death penalty. Romans 13 says, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God...for it is a ministry of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." We all have rights, but our rights only go so far until the encroach on someone elses. I lose the right to life if it takes away the rights of someone else. God has put authorities in positions to protect the rights and lives of the people they lead. Part of authority is carrying out the death penalty when, and only when, evidance is sufficant, in order to protect the rights of the rest of society.
End response.
This conversation and the response I've just shared has been nearly six years in the works in my mind. In it I see something crucial for me, the importance of study and organized thoughts. At the time of this conversation I was an immature, cocky, 20 year old college Sophomore who thought he knew a lot more about things than I did. I have matured over the last several years, and I can show, based on the above text, that I've learned and continue to learn.
The last time there was a presidential election, Mike Huckabee answered a question on the death penalty. He said that as a Governor it was the hardest decision he ever had to make because it was the one decision that when he signed the order, it was final. No judge or court could ever overturn that decision. God is a god of justice. Again He has to be in order to be Holy. One day He will destroy evil forever. Until then He has placed people in positions of authority to protect the rights and lives of society. Israel was to wipe out nations and destroy people in their own nation to protect them from being led astray from God.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
The title of this post is the subject of the conversation that took place nearly six years ago in my collage Sociology class. It ended up being a complete waste of time and honestly this conversation I'm about to share is the only thing from the class that I have any real memory of. The class that day began with us being divided up based on our opinion on the death penalty. Those for it were in the back of the room, those against were on the front right (if you are facing the back from the front) and those who were unsure were on the front left. I was in the back.
The reason I'm writing this is not that my opinion has changed but after six years of maturing, studying, and learning/observing I've matured and have a much better answer than I did more than half a decade ago. One of the guys in the "against the death penalty group" stood up and used John 8.1-11 as his basis for not having the death penalty. It was after this that I responded. I don't really remember much of what I said, I just remember talking really fast, probably sounding angry, and since I hate debating getting red in the face from talking in front of people in that context. The basis for his response was that Jesus had pity and forgave this woman, and after all this time, I now have my response. Hopefully this is the last time I ever have this conversation with myself.
The following will be me giving a response I wish I had given.
Your usage of the events of John 8 aren't really valid here. If you look at the historical context, everything that the Pharisees did was to get rid of Jesus. Everything they did privately was plotting how they could get rid of Jesus, and everything they did publicly was putting those plots into action. The events of John 8 is one of these attempts. In their minds they have Jesus. There is nothing that He can say to them in this situation without getting in trouble.
If He says "Yes, stone her," then He is guilty of breaking the law given by the Romans. No Jew could exercise the death penalty under Roman law. So if He says "yes" they can take Him before the Roman Governor and accuse him of breaking the law. Also, Jesus has set up His ministry and gained His following based on teachings of mercy, grace, and forgiveness. If now, when it is being called into action, He refuses the very things He's taught His ministry will be ruined. People will stop following Him because He would be seen as a hypocrite. If He says "Yes, stone her," they will have succeeded and will be rid of Jesus.
On the other hand, if He says "No, let her live," that base is covered too. They remind Jesus that Moses said to stone such a woman. If Jesus shows mercy then He is guilty of breaking the law of Moses, and they will be able to take Him before than Sanhedrin to accuse Him of breaking their law and trying to cause a riot. They could then take Him before Rome on those charges and be rid of Him. In their minds, they have Him. Game, set, match, it's over. Anything that comes out of His mouth they are ready for.
And so Jesus, knowing all of this and their motivation, says nothing. He begins to write on the ground and after being asked persistently gets up and says "Whoever is without sin can cast the first stone." Though the text doesn't say this, He is using part the Law here too. Deuteronomy 17 says that the witnesses are to throw the first stone. And so Jesus, following the Law tells them to go ahead. But the condition is that only those who aren't guilty are allowed to.
The all begin to leave and then Jesus is left alone with the woman. He says, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She says, "No one," and then He says, "Then I don't condemn you either," and that is where you end your argument, but it isn't where the text ends. Jesus said, "Go and leave your life of sin." He said to her, "I do not condemn you, yet." He sets her free with the warning of final judgement, telling her that it is coming, and that if she doesn't change, she will be condemned. He says to her "You have a second chance, take advantage of it."
Your argument only looks at one side of God, it focuses only on mercy, but not justice. God is a just god. He has to be just in order to be Holy, Good, and Perfect. God hates evil and sin, He always has and always will. And sin must be punished. Again Deuteronomy 17 says, "On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness." There needs to proof, substantial proof, to enforce the death penalty. It isn't to be based on one witness that isn't supported, but when several people are in agreement and confirm it, it is to be carried out. And again, those who act as witnesses are to be the first ones to put the accused to death. And the purpose is to purge evil from the midst of the people.
God gives certain people the authority to carry out the death penalty. Romans 13 says, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God...for it is a ministry of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." We all have rights, but our rights only go so far until the encroach on someone elses. I lose the right to life if it takes away the rights of someone else. God has put authorities in positions to protect the rights and lives of the people they lead. Part of authority is carrying out the death penalty when, and only when, evidance is sufficant, in order to protect the rights of the rest of society.
End response.
This conversation and the response I've just shared has been nearly six years in the works in my mind. In it I see something crucial for me, the importance of study and organized thoughts. At the time of this conversation I was an immature, cocky, 20 year old college Sophomore who thought he knew a lot more about things than I did. I have matured over the last several years, and I can show, based on the above text, that I've learned and continue to learn.
The last time there was a presidential election, Mike Huckabee answered a question on the death penalty. He said that as a Governor it was the hardest decision he ever had to make because it was the one decision that when he signed the order, it was final. No judge or court could ever overturn that decision. God is a god of justice. Again He has to be in order to be Holy. One day He will destroy evil forever. Until then He has placed people in positions of authority to protect the rights and lives of society. Israel was to wipe out nations and destroy people in their own nation to protect them from being led astray from God.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Recent Activity
There's a lot going through my mind right now, and so this is one of those posts that will probably be a lot of unrelated thoughts that end up coming together in the end somehow.
I've had a rough two months that have been pretty draining and discouraging. Part of me just wants to give up, wash may hands of all of it, and move on. But as I have these thoughts I'm reminded of a conversation I had with God about a month and a half ago. With that comes the reminder of the events recorded in Numbers 20, where Moses disobeyed God and was not allowed to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. I don't want to be disobedient, I won't be, but sometimes I wonder why obedience is so hard, and it just gets hard the longer we journey on.
A lot in my life doesn't make sense to me right now. And I keep asking God what the point of it all is. My mentor and I talked last week and he told me, "God is doing more in you right now than through you. This is preparation for the future." He followed that with some very encouraging things that I keep just for me. And after he said that I was reminded of another walk with God and the one word He gave me then was "Preparation."
As I look at all of that I think back to Sunday afternoon. My wife and I were out with my best friend and his fiance. The girls decided they wanted ice cream and so we went to The Cherry Street Creamery (I'm not big on ice cream just because it's not good for me, but if you're ever in Canal Fulton, Ohio, make sure you check this place out, they only take cash so be prepared for that). For whatever reason we took Rosie, our dog.
As we sat and talked a man sat down at the table across from us and began to unwrap his food. Rosie took an interest and moved towards him. I pulled on her leash and told her, "He doesn't want to share with you," and a conversation began. As he talked with us, God kept telling me to pray for this guy. My wife later told me that she heard the same thing. I had no idea what to pray for him for and so I was trying to tell God that, but He didn't let up. As we listened to him talk he said that he was unemployed, God said "There you go."
I don't know how long the conversation lasted, but as he talked more and more he shared that his wife was on Hospice care for ovarian cancer. He shared with us the story of the treatment and the currant situation. He said that this was one of the first times he'd been out of the house in a while because he hated leaving his wife, but his sister-in-law was there and had made him leave.
He isn't a believer, but said he's envious of them and the peace they have. He said he isn't an atheist and just hasn't figured it out yet. At the end of the conversation I asked if I could pray for him, and he was appreciative. I prayed that he would find a job this week that had benefits, to help with the cancer care. I prayed that his wife would be healed, and that God would reveal himself. That encounter was a highlight for me. It was neat seeing how God works like that if we're simply willing to pay attention and be obedient. If you could, please pray for Matt and his wife Lori, I would be very appreciative.
On a side note, I also found out last week that my friend in Arizona whose son had cancer is now in full remission and cancer free, another recent highlight.
A few years ago God laid on my heart a dream for the future. A ministry team made up of people with the same passion and fire for God, the same general goal and vision of becoming like Christ and building the Kingdom for the glory of God, but with different gifts, strengths, and ministry passions, and assembling them together to transform a community and hopefully in some way the world. It's been one of those that hasn't really gone away, just moved to the side. But over the last few days it's been on the front of my mind. I've started to write out names on a list that I call, "The Dream Team" and I'm praying that if it's God's will it comes to reality.
You know that feeling you had as a high school graduate of wanting to change the world and actually believing it was possible? I had it, and then college happened and part of it was smashed. After college came life in the real world, and there were people that smashed what was left. For the last few years I don't know that I've had much ambition or drive. Part of me has been just existing and making it from one day to the next, and I've hated it. That part of me is frustrated with life, the Church, and the decline of society. But recently part of me has started to once again want to do something about it. Part of me is starting to catch fire again. Part of me is getting the drive and ambition back. That change the world attitude, I think I'm starting to get it back.
I've found that now, as the fire is being stoked it's getting harder and harder to get it to blaze. I think that's usually the way it works. A coal or ember isn't too much of a threat, it's easy to take care of and smother out. A small fire is a little bit more dangerous but it's still manageable. But once it starts to blaze, then it gets out of control and there isn't much you can do about it. Satan doesn't want blazing fires for God, and he knows at that point there is very little he can do about it. So he works extra hard to prevent it from getting to that point.
I'm not normally good at asking for prayer for myself, not even with my brothers. Things have to get pretty bad before I even ask them. Part of it is a pride thing, actually all of it is. It's something I need to work on, or need to have worked on I should say. And so I'm going to ask anyone who reads this to pray for me. I need encouragement right now, and I need endurance to do what God has asked me to do and to do it well. I need the strength and patience to be a good husband, the man my wife deserves. I need protection as the coals and fire are stoked and fed into a blaze that is out of control for God. And above all, I need focus so that my thoughts and plans don't get in His way and slow down His work.
Thank you for all who do. I appreciate it more than you could know.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
I've had a rough two months that have been pretty draining and discouraging. Part of me just wants to give up, wash may hands of all of it, and move on. But as I have these thoughts I'm reminded of a conversation I had with God about a month and a half ago. With that comes the reminder of the events recorded in Numbers 20, where Moses disobeyed God and was not allowed to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. I don't want to be disobedient, I won't be, but sometimes I wonder why obedience is so hard, and it just gets hard the longer we journey on.
A lot in my life doesn't make sense to me right now. And I keep asking God what the point of it all is. My mentor and I talked last week and he told me, "God is doing more in you right now than through you. This is preparation for the future." He followed that with some very encouraging things that I keep just for me. And after he said that I was reminded of another walk with God and the one word He gave me then was "Preparation."
As I look at all of that I think back to Sunday afternoon. My wife and I were out with my best friend and his fiance. The girls decided they wanted ice cream and so we went to The Cherry Street Creamery (I'm not big on ice cream just because it's not good for me, but if you're ever in Canal Fulton, Ohio, make sure you check this place out, they only take cash so be prepared for that). For whatever reason we took Rosie, our dog.
As we sat and talked a man sat down at the table across from us and began to unwrap his food. Rosie took an interest and moved towards him. I pulled on her leash and told her, "He doesn't want to share with you," and a conversation began. As he talked with us, God kept telling me to pray for this guy. My wife later told me that she heard the same thing. I had no idea what to pray for him for and so I was trying to tell God that, but He didn't let up. As we listened to him talk he said that he was unemployed, God said "There you go."
I don't know how long the conversation lasted, but as he talked more and more he shared that his wife was on Hospice care for ovarian cancer. He shared with us the story of the treatment and the currant situation. He said that this was one of the first times he'd been out of the house in a while because he hated leaving his wife, but his sister-in-law was there and had made him leave.
He isn't a believer, but said he's envious of them and the peace they have. He said he isn't an atheist and just hasn't figured it out yet. At the end of the conversation I asked if I could pray for him, and he was appreciative. I prayed that he would find a job this week that had benefits, to help with the cancer care. I prayed that his wife would be healed, and that God would reveal himself. That encounter was a highlight for me. It was neat seeing how God works like that if we're simply willing to pay attention and be obedient. If you could, please pray for Matt and his wife Lori, I would be very appreciative.
On a side note, I also found out last week that my friend in Arizona whose son had cancer is now in full remission and cancer free, another recent highlight.
A few years ago God laid on my heart a dream for the future. A ministry team made up of people with the same passion and fire for God, the same general goal and vision of becoming like Christ and building the Kingdom for the glory of God, but with different gifts, strengths, and ministry passions, and assembling them together to transform a community and hopefully in some way the world. It's been one of those that hasn't really gone away, just moved to the side. But over the last few days it's been on the front of my mind. I've started to write out names on a list that I call, "The Dream Team" and I'm praying that if it's God's will it comes to reality.
You know that feeling you had as a high school graduate of wanting to change the world and actually believing it was possible? I had it, and then college happened and part of it was smashed. After college came life in the real world, and there were people that smashed what was left. For the last few years I don't know that I've had much ambition or drive. Part of me has been just existing and making it from one day to the next, and I've hated it. That part of me is frustrated with life, the Church, and the decline of society. But recently part of me has started to once again want to do something about it. Part of me is starting to catch fire again. Part of me is getting the drive and ambition back. That change the world attitude, I think I'm starting to get it back.
I've found that now, as the fire is being stoked it's getting harder and harder to get it to blaze. I think that's usually the way it works. A coal or ember isn't too much of a threat, it's easy to take care of and smother out. A small fire is a little bit more dangerous but it's still manageable. But once it starts to blaze, then it gets out of control and there isn't much you can do about it. Satan doesn't want blazing fires for God, and he knows at that point there is very little he can do about it. So he works extra hard to prevent it from getting to that point.
I'm not normally good at asking for prayer for myself, not even with my brothers. Things have to get pretty bad before I even ask them. Part of it is a pride thing, actually all of it is. It's something I need to work on, or need to have worked on I should say. And so I'm going to ask anyone who reads this to pray for me. I need encouragement right now, and I need endurance to do what God has asked me to do and to do it well. I need the strength and patience to be a good husband, the man my wife deserves. I need protection as the coals and fire are stoked and fed into a blaze that is out of control for God. And above all, I need focus so that my thoughts and plans don't get in His way and slow down His work.
Thank you for all who do. I appreciate it more than you could know.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Formless God
A few weeks ago someone mentioned to me how pictures and images of Jesus are helpful to some people for prayer and worship. Not sure where my response came from, but it has gotten me thinking after reading some stuff in Deuteronomy recently. My response was that the Bible tells us not to make images for worship. It's one of ten specific things God gave us as His standard for Holiness in Exodus 20. I'm not saying if you have a picture of Jesus in your house that you're going to Hell because it's an idol you worship, please don't hear that.
Recently I read this in Deuteronomy 4.15-20, "So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth. And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as today."
When God spoke to Israel they saw no form. In the Bible when God speaks people most often describe it as thunder. Over and over it says that those present heard a sound but saw no one. This happens with Israel at Horeb, with the people present at Jesus' Baptism, at the Transfiguration, and to the men traveling with Saul on the Damascus road. I just thought of this, but God didn't even let Moses see His face. In Exodus 33 He allowed Him to see His back, but He said that no one could see His face and life. A huge part of that is because its the face of God, and it would be overwhelming to the point of death to see His holiness face to face. Chapter 33 ends with, "but My face shall not be seen." I believe God doesn't show His face, or His form as Moses said in Deuteronomy 4, so that His people couldn't make a statue of Him.
God is living and breathing. He desires not just worship and praise from us, but an active, vibrant relationship with Him. You can't have a relationship with a statue or a picture. God desires more than glory from us, He wants our love. In the beginning He made all of creation, land and sea, birds and fish, plants and animals, the sun and stars. All of creation gives Him glory. All of creation worships Him.
And "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them... Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 1.26-27, 2.7). God made man to worship Him and exist in relationship with Him. God doesn't just want our worship, He wants us. God must be worshiped and so even if we don't, creation has that covered, but God wants a relationship with us that only comes from humans made in His image.
God cannot be confined to a statue or a picture. Even if we had His form to copy there is no way we could accurately display God in an image. God is so much more than what He looks like. God's characteristics are who He is, and all of them cannot be captured in an image. If we had an image of God our view of God would be limited and incomplete. Think about pictures you've seen of Jesus. If you're in America you'll have a very western/European looking man with a neatly trimmed beard, long conditioned hair, and if I can be honest a very weak build (some images even look femanine). If He isn't hanging on a cross He's probably surrounded by children or sheep. Every picture I've seen of Jesus catches His forgiveness, gentleness, and compassion very well; but what about the rest of who He is?
One of the first blogs I ever wrote is called A Handshake Like Jesus', and it talks about the masculine, powerful, dangerous side of Jesus. The side that spent decades in the carpenter's shop getting callused hands and strong arms. The side of Him that drove people out of the Temple for turning it into a den of robbers and stood up to the Pharisees for injustice and self-righteousness.
Again I'm not saying that having a picture of an artist's perception of Jesus is a sin, but look at how that has shaped your perception of Jesus. Look at how that has impacted your worship of Jesus. Look at how that has influenced your relationship with Jesus.
God wants us to know Him as He is, not to worship what He looks like. God wants us to know Him intimately. God never shows His form so that no one can ever make an idol of Him. God is not dead where we need a statue to remember and celebrate Him. God is alive, and we can worship and communicate with Him.
May we all focus on the living God. May we live in a constant relationship with Him.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Recently I read this in Deuteronomy 4.15-20, "So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth. And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as today."
When God spoke to Israel they saw no form. In the Bible when God speaks people most often describe it as thunder. Over and over it says that those present heard a sound but saw no one. This happens with Israel at Horeb, with the people present at Jesus' Baptism, at the Transfiguration, and to the men traveling with Saul on the Damascus road. I just thought of this, but God didn't even let Moses see His face. In Exodus 33 He allowed Him to see His back, but He said that no one could see His face and life. A huge part of that is because its the face of God, and it would be overwhelming to the point of death to see His holiness face to face. Chapter 33 ends with, "but My face shall not be seen." I believe God doesn't show His face, or His form as Moses said in Deuteronomy 4, so that His people couldn't make a statue of Him.
God is living and breathing. He desires not just worship and praise from us, but an active, vibrant relationship with Him. You can't have a relationship with a statue or a picture. God desires more than glory from us, He wants our love. In the beginning He made all of creation, land and sea, birds and fish, plants and animals, the sun and stars. All of creation gives Him glory. All of creation worships Him.
And "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them... Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 1.26-27, 2.7). God made man to worship Him and exist in relationship with Him. God doesn't just want our worship, He wants us. God must be worshiped and so even if we don't, creation has that covered, but God wants a relationship with us that only comes from humans made in His image.
God cannot be confined to a statue or a picture. Even if we had His form to copy there is no way we could accurately display God in an image. God is so much more than what He looks like. God's characteristics are who He is, and all of them cannot be captured in an image. If we had an image of God our view of God would be limited and incomplete. Think about pictures you've seen of Jesus. If you're in America you'll have a very western/European looking man with a neatly trimmed beard, long conditioned hair, and if I can be honest a very weak build (some images even look femanine). If He isn't hanging on a cross He's probably surrounded by children or sheep. Every picture I've seen of Jesus catches His forgiveness, gentleness, and compassion very well; but what about the rest of who He is?
One of the first blogs I ever wrote is called A Handshake Like Jesus', and it talks about the masculine, powerful, dangerous side of Jesus. The side that spent decades in the carpenter's shop getting callused hands and strong arms. The side of Him that drove people out of the Temple for turning it into a den of robbers and stood up to the Pharisees for injustice and self-righteousness.
Again I'm not saying that having a picture of an artist's perception of Jesus is a sin, but look at how that has shaped your perception of Jesus. Look at how that has impacted your worship of Jesus. Look at how that has influenced your relationship with Jesus.
God wants us to know Him as He is, not to worship what He looks like. God wants us to know Him intimately. God never shows His form so that no one can ever make an idol of Him. God is not dead where we need a statue to remember and celebrate Him. God is alive, and we can worship and communicate with Him.
May we all focus on the living God. May we live in a constant relationship with Him.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
One Chance
As I've been reading through the Bible looking for the characteristics of God, some other things are standing out to me as well. The book of Deuteronomy contains the last words Moses spoke to the people of Israel before he died and Joshua led the people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
In Deuteronomy 1 Moses begins by reminding Israel about the last forty years since they left Egypt, and in this account we see something we should take to heart. Sometimes we only get on chance. So often we wait or put things off, but what if we are missing the only chance we get?
In verses 20-21 it says, "I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites which the Lord our God is about to give us. See, the Lord your God has placed the land before you; go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'" God had made a promise to Abraham hundreds of years earlier that His descendants would take possession of the land. God had lead them out of Egypt, and brought them to the edge of the Promised Land, and then He said "Go take it, it's yours." God said go, after everything they had seen Him do to Egypt and the lessons they had learned in the desert you'd think they might have been inclined to trust Him.
But verse 22 says, "Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter.'" Rather than just going on what God said the people want to check out the land first. They want to know what they are getting into. God said go, and they should have just started marching, continuing to follow Him, but instead they said, "Hold up a minute, let's scout this out first."
Verse 23 tells us that Moses was pleased by this request, and so he sent twelve men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land. They bring back a good report, that the land is all the God said it would be. But they also bring back a warning, that the land is full of giants who live in strong fortified cities (Numbers 13). The people refuse to trust God, they refuse to obey Him, and instead the rebel against Him.
Because of this God is angry, and He says that those who refused to trust Him would not enter into the land of promise. Because they failed to trust God they missed out on the blessing. Because they wanted to know everything that was waiting for them they were overwhelmed and refused to move. God doesn't show us everything ahead of time, because if He did, then we wouldn't move, just like Israel didn't. Once they knew the dangers that were waiting for them, their faith in God was shaken. Because they wanted to know, the ended up missing out on the blessing.
But we see something about human nature here, once the promise has been taken away we are ready to fully trust. When we are about to miss out on something good, we're ready to jump in with both feet. But most of the time at that point it's too late. Deuteronomy 1.41-45, "Then you said to me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord; we will indeed go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And every man of you girded on his weapons of war, and regarded it as easy to go up into the hill country. And the Lord said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be defeated before your enemies.”’ So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. Instead you rebelled against the command of the Lord, and acted presumptuously and went up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do, and crushed you from Seir to Hormah. Then you returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord did not listen to your voice nor give ear to you."
Sometimes we only get one chance. I think for Israel this was the final straw. God had put up with so much from them, had brought them through so much, and now on the edge of the promises fulfillment they fail to trust and obey Him. It costs them everything. We need to learn from this story.
When God says "go", we need to move. He doesn't show us all the detail and hardships because if He did we, like Israel, wouldn't go. Salvation is like this, we only get this life for it. Once we see the result of not receiving it, it is too late. Just as Israel didn't trust until after God told them the punishment, many will refuse to believe until it's too late. Israel decided to trust after God passed judgment on them, but then it was too late.
God has given us this life to find Him, trust Him, and be saved by Him. He hasn't made Himself hard to find. Romans 1.20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." All of creation points to God. God alone has the power to create, and as the creator of the Universe, everything points back to Him. Yes, things are messed up and not used as God intended. Sin has entered the world through disobedience to God. Satan now takes God's good creation and twists it, corrupts it, and abuses it. But God is still in control and God is still seen in His creation.
God sent His Son to save the world and to redeem it. If we accept His forgiveness, then we will receive His blessing of the Promised Land. But we only have this one life to do it. Trust God while you can, because one day it will be too late. The Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2.10-11). One day all will acknowledge Him with the honor and glory that He must be given. But at that point it will be too late to trust Him. Don't demand all of the details from God, because He won't give them, knowing that if He did we would never take the first step. When God says move, move. We only get one chance, take it.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
In Deuteronomy 1 Moses begins by reminding Israel about the last forty years since they left Egypt, and in this account we see something we should take to heart. Sometimes we only get on chance. So often we wait or put things off, but what if we are missing the only chance we get?
In verses 20-21 it says, "I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites which the Lord our God is about to give us. See, the Lord your God has placed the land before you; go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'" God had made a promise to Abraham hundreds of years earlier that His descendants would take possession of the land. God had lead them out of Egypt, and brought them to the edge of the Promised Land, and then He said "Go take it, it's yours." God said go, after everything they had seen Him do to Egypt and the lessons they had learned in the desert you'd think they might have been inclined to trust Him.
But verse 22 says, "Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter.'" Rather than just going on what God said the people want to check out the land first. They want to know what they are getting into. God said go, and they should have just started marching, continuing to follow Him, but instead they said, "Hold up a minute, let's scout this out first."
Verse 23 tells us that Moses was pleased by this request, and so he sent twelve men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land. They bring back a good report, that the land is all the God said it would be. But they also bring back a warning, that the land is full of giants who live in strong fortified cities (Numbers 13). The people refuse to trust God, they refuse to obey Him, and instead the rebel against Him.
Because of this God is angry, and He says that those who refused to trust Him would not enter into the land of promise. Because they failed to trust God they missed out on the blessing. Because they wanted to know everything that was waiting for them they were overwhelmed and refused to move. God doesn't show us everything ahead of time, because if He did, then we wouldn't move, just like Israel didn't. Once they knew the dangers that were waiting for them, their faith in God was shaken. Because they wanted to know, the ended up missing out on the blessing.
But we see something about human nature here, once the promise has been taken away we are ready to fully trust. When we are about to miss out on something good, we're ready to jump in with both feet. But most of the time at that point it's too late. Deuteronomy 1.41-45, "Then you said to me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord; we will indeed go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And every man of you girded on his weapons of war, and regarded it as easy to go up into the hill country. And the Lord said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; otherwise you will be defeated before your enemies.”’ So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. Instead you rebelled against the command of the Lord, and acted presumptuously and went up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do, and crushed you from Seir to Hormah. Then you returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord did not listen to your voice nor give ear to you."
Sometimes we only get one chance. I think for Israel this was the final straw. God had put up with so much from them, had brought them through so much, and now on the edge of the promises fulfillment they fail to trust and obey Him. It costs them everything. We need to learn from this story.
When God says "go", we need to move. He doesn't show us all the detail and hardships because if He did we, like Israel, wouldn't go. Salvation is like this, we only get this life for it. Once we see the result of not receiving it, it is too late. Just as Israel didn't trust until after God told them the punishment, many will refuse to believe until it's too late. Israel decided to trust after God passed judgment on them, but then it was too late.
God has given us this life to find Him, trust Him, and be saved by Him. He hasn't made Himself hard to find. Romans 1.20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." All of creation points to God. God alone has the power to create, and as the creator of the Universe, everything points back to Him. Yes, things are messed up and not used as God intended. Sin has entered the world through disobedience to God. Satan now takes God's good creation and twists it, corrupts it, and abuses it. But God is still in control and God is still seen in His creation.
God sent His Son to save the world and to redeem it. If we accept His forgiveness, then we will receive His blessing of the Promised Land. But we only have this one life to do it. Trust God while you can, because one day it will be too late. The Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2.10-11). One day all will acknowledge Him with the honor and glory that He must be given. But at that point it will be too late to trust Him. Don't demand all of the details from God, because He won't give them, knowing that if He did we would never take the first step. When God says move, move. We only get one chance, take it.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Journey to New Life, Destination
"When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth.' The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'" John 11.43-44.
The journey to new life has a happy ending, as all journeys with God ultimately do. But the thing to notice is that this journey to new life turns into the journey of new life. This is not the end, but merely a new beginning.
For some new life is salvation, the forgiveness of sin through the grace and mercy of God by the blood of Christ. For salvation we call on the name of Jesus, and begin to follow Him. We have hope in Him because of the promises that He has made, and we invite Him to heal the wounds of the past. We move into the future obediently serving Him with the new life that He has given us.
But salvation is not the end of the journey, merely the beginning of a new life lived in relationship with Christ. I've shared this quote countless times, "You are pardoned to participate." We are set free from sin to join the work that Jesus started. His last words on earth were a commission to make more disciples. When we enter into a relationship with Him, we receive that same commission on our lives. And so a new journey begins.
For some new life is sanctification, or holiness, the filling with God's Holy Spirit for cleansing and empowerment. We call on Jesus to take us deeper, to make us more like Him. We follow Him as He leads us into deeper intimacy with Him. We have hope in Him because of the work that He has already done in us, and we invite Him to continue to transform us and mold us into His likeness. We obey Him more because it is our desire to please Him and live for Him. And here, the journey continues towards Christlikeness.
Paul said in Philippians 3, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul knew that the end of each journey was simply the beginning of a new one, and that the journey to Christlikness is one that is never complete until we reach heaven. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (Philippians 3.20-21).
The journey to new life is not the ending point, but a new starting point. After Lazarus is raised Jesus tells the people there to "unbind him and let him go." Lazarus has been given new life so that he can live it fully for the glory of God. God gives us new life so that we can glorify Him with it. That is the point of the journey, so that God may be glorified. We saw in the very beginning that God works in His timing on in His own way for His glory. He gives us new life at the end of the journey so that we can take that life and begin the next journey for Him.
We are given new life to live. Another quote that I've shared countless times says, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Death is not from God, but life is. God is glorified when we live life to the fullest, but that is only possible when we receive new life from Him. We can only live a life that glorifies God by receiving the life that He created us to have.
The journey doesn't end in this life, but with this life. As long as we have breath we are to constantly strive for more of God, for deeper intimacy with our Lord, Creator, and Savior. We are never done, we must continue to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
The journey to new life has a happy ending, as all journeys with God ultimately do. But the thing to notice is that this journey to new life turns into the journey of new life. This is not the end, but merely a new beginning.
For some new life is salvation, the forgiveness of sin through the grace and mercy of God by the blood of Christ. For salvation we call on the name of Jesus, and begin to follow Him. We have hope in Him because of the promises that He has made, and we invite Him to heal the wounds of the past. We move into the future obediently serving Him with the new life that He has given us.
But salvation is not the end of the journey, merely the beginning of a new life lived in relationship with Christ. I've shared this quote countless times, "You are pardoned to participate." We are set free from sin to join the work that Jesus started. His last words on earth were a commission to make more disciples. When we enter into a relationship with Him, we receive that same commission on our lives. And so a new journey begins.
For some new life is sanctification, or holiness, the filling with God's Holy Spirit for cleansing and empowerment. We call on Jesus to take us deeper, to make us more like Him. We follow Him as He leads us into deeper intimacy with Him. We have hope in Him because of the work that He has already done in us, and we invite Him to continue to transform us and mold us into His likeness. We obey Him more because it is our desire to please Him and live for Him. And here, the journey continues towards Christlikeness.
Paul said in Philippians 3, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul knew that the end of each journey was simply the beginning of a new one, and that the journey to Christlikness is one that is never complete until we reach heaven. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (Philippians 3.20-21).
The journey to new life is not the ending point, but a new starting point. After Lazarus is raised Jesus tells the people there to "unbind him and let him go." Lazarus has been given new life so that he can live it fully for the glory of God. God gives us new life so that we can glorify Him with it. That is the point of the journey, so that God may be glorified. We saw in the very beginning that God works in His timing on in His own way for His glory. He gives us new life at the end of the journey so that we can take that life and begin the next journey for Him.
We are given new life to live. Another quote that I've shared countless times says, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Death is not from God, but life is. God is glorified when we live life to the fullest, but that is only possible when we receive new life from Him. We can only live a life that glorifies God by receiving the life that He created us to have.
The journey doesn't end in this life, but with this life. As long as we have breath we are to constantly strive for more of God, for deeper intimacy with our Lord, Creator, and Savior. We are never done, we must continue to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Journey to New Life, Step Five: Obey
At the beginning of the journey things are easy. Spirits are high, bodies are strong and pain free. The first steps are easy. But as the journey progresses fatigue sets in. As the miles add up aches and pains start to be felt. The excitement has worn off, and sometimes we wonder why we even began the journey to begin with. But then as we round the next bend, the end is in sight, the destination we set out to reach is close at hand. It's important to finish the journey, especially this journey to new life. Because when we get to the end, we have the life that we were created for.
The final step of the journey is obedience to what Jesus says. After the previous steps this would seem like an easy one to end on, but how often do we fail to finish the journey? How often do we get so close to new life and fall short because we fail to obey?
John 11.38-41a, "So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, 'Remove the stone.' Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?' So they removed the stone."
When it all comes down to it, obedience is the key to receiving new life. Yes, this is the final step of the journey seen here in John 11, but it's a crucial step. We call on Him, follow Him, hope in Him, and invite Him, but if we fail to obey Him the journey has been a waste. Obedience is the step that finally brings us to the destination.
As I think about obedience my mind goes to the last words Jesus spoke on the earth. Matthew 28.19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Jesus sends His disciples into the world to make disciples by baptizing, and teaching the nations to obey all that He has commanded.
To be a disciple of Jesus means receiving new life. Jesus came to earth to give eternal life to all who would accept it. We accept it by calling on Him and following Him. To accept the gift there must be hope in the one giving it, and to receive it we must be willing to invite the giver to the place of death in our lives. But simply receiving new life is not enough. New life demands change, it implies change. When Jesus gives us new life we are to live differently, because by receiving new life from Him we become His disciples, and to be His disciple we must obey Him.
Sometimes obedience is hard. Sometimes it doesn't make sense, or it isn't the pleasant task we hope for. But if we fail to obey Jesus, then we cannot receive new life. The final step of obedience must be taken. Jesus has already done so much for us along this journey. We've called and He's answered, in His time and for His glory. We've followed and He has led the way, never leaving us. We've had hope in Him that He has affirmed and strengthened. We've invited Him and He has wept, meeting us at our point of pain and sorrow. How, here at the end, so close to the destination, could we fail to trust Him and obey Him?
God wants us to receive new life. On this journey we deepen our relationship with Jesus, we learn to trust Him, seeing that He does care, that He has our best interest at heart, that He wants good for us. It builds so that when we get to the end, tired as we may be, we are able to obey. God does not ignore the obedient.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
The final step of the journey is obedience to what Jesus says. After the previous steps this would seem like an easy one to end on, but how often do we fail to finish the journey? How often do we get so close to new life and fall short because we fail to obey?
John 11.38-41a, "So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, 'Remove the stone.' Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?' So they removed the stone."
When it all comes down to it, obedience is the key to receiving new life. Yes, this is the final step of the journey seen here in John 11, but it's a crucial step. We call on Him, follow Him, hope in Him, and invite Him, but if we fail to obey Him the journey has been a waste. Obedience is the step that finally brings us to the destination.
As I think about obedience my mind goes to the last words Jesus spoke on the earth. Matthew 28.19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Jesus sends His disciples into the world to make disciples by baptizing, and teaching the nations to obey all that He has commanded.
To be a disciple of Jesus means receiving new life. Jesus came to earth to give eternal life to all who would accept it. We accept it by calling on Him and following Him. To accept the gift there must be hope in the one giving it, and to receive it we must be willing to invite the giver to the place of death in our lives. But simply receiving new life is not enough. New life demands change, it implies change. When Jesus gives us new life we are to live differently, because by receiving new life from Him we become His disciples, and to be His disciple we must obey Him.
Sometimes obedience is hard. Sometimes it doesn't make sense, or it isn't the pleasant task we hope for. But if we fail to obey Jesus, then we cannot receive new life. The final step of obedience must be taken. Jesus has already done so much for us along this journey. We've called and He's answered, in His time and for His glory. We've followed and He has led the way, never leaving us. We've had hope in Him that He has affirmed and strengthened. We've invited Him and He has wept, meeting us at our point of pain and sorrow. How, here at the end, so close to the destination, could we fail to trust Him and obey Him?
God wants us to receive new life. On this journey we deepen our relationship with Jesus, we learn to trust Him, seeing that He does care, that He has our best interest at heart, that He wants good for us. It builds so that when we get to the end, tired as we may be, we are able to obey. God does not ignore the obedient.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Sunday, May 20, 2012
The Journey to New Life, Step Four: Invite
This fourth step is one I initially missed during my first few readings of the text. As I looked over the middle section of the story of Lazarus the theme that stood out predominately was hope. As I look at it hope is crucial to every step of the journey to new life. You don't call on someone that you don't have hope in. You don't follow someone that you don't have hope it. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13, that among faith and love, hope also remains. Hope is crucial.
But along with hope, which is prominently seen in Martha, once Mary and the mourners who have gathered meet Jesus, we see another key step of the journey. John 11.32-34, "Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.'"
Jesus must be invited to the tomb. If we never invite Jesus to come to the place of death, new life won't come. Hope is crucial, but it is not the final step of the journey. Hope does nothing by itself. We see in 1 Corinthians 13.13, that hope isn't even the greatest of the three things listed. Just as calling on Jesus is not the end of the journey, neither is hope. Hope is something we have that longs for the prize, that keeps us going until we get to the destination, but hope alone does not achieve that. Just as calling must turn into following, so hope must be accompanied by an invitation.
A cancer patient may have hope of healing, but if he never allows a doctor to administer Chemo, then the hope dies. Hope in Jesus does not good if we never invite Him to come to the place where new life is so desperately needed. Jesus will never force His way upon anyone. Jesus will never speak new life into someone who doesn't want it and ask for it. If we never invite Jesus to the place of death in us, there is nothing He can do.
It will be painful. For Mary and Martha going to the tomb of their brother would have been a painful reminder that He was gone, and that if Jesus had simply gotten there sooner this wouldn't have happened. For a cancer patient Chemo isn't fun. From what I've heard it feels like your bones are made of Napalm, and it comes with constant vomiting. But just has Chemo can destroy cancer and turn a cancer patient into a cancer survivor, giving them new life; inviting Jesus to the tombs in our lives, painful as it may be, is the only way to receive new life.
If Jesus is never invited to the tomb, the place of death, He cannot give new life. It doesn't matter how much we call on Him, where we follow Him, or how confident our hope in Him is; if He is never invited to the place of death, new life simply remains a distant hope.
That means that we must face it. We must come to the reality that there is death and that nothing we do in our power can fix it. It is difficult and painful. But here again we see that Jesus knows. We see that Jesus feels our pain. John 11.35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it is one of the most profound sentences ever written. "Jesus wept."
Jesus knew what was about to happen. He knew that dead Lazarus would soon join the world of the living again soon. He knew that soon the tears would turn into laughing, and the mourning would turn into a celebration. But He also knew the pain that Martha and Mary were feeling. He knew the pain and sorrow caused by death. Tradition tells us that Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, died when Jesus was in His teens. Jesus knew the pain and sorrow of death, he had experienced the loss of a loved one first hand. And even though He knew the glorious outcome that would take place in a few short minutes, He knows how difficult going to the tomb will be for the sisters. He meets them at their point of need and He weeps with them.
We see the heart of God so visibly on the journey to new life. He knows the uncertainty, the fear, and the pain that are involved with this journey. And since new life is something that we not only need, but is something He wants for us, He walks with us ever step of the way. We call, He answers. We follow, He leads. We hope, He affirms. We invite, He meets us where we are.
But the journey doesn't end with the invitation. We have not yet arrived at new life. But it is coming.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
But along with hope, which is prominently seen in Martha, once Mary and the mourners who have gathered meet Jesus, we see another key step of the journey. John 11.32-34, "Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to Him, 'Lord, come and see.'"
Jesus must be invited to the tomb. If we never invite Jesus to come to the place of death, new life won't come. Hope is crucial, but it is not the final step of the journey. Hope does nothing by itself. We see in 1 Corinthians 13.13, that hope isn't even the greatest of the three things listed. Just as calling on Jesus is not the end of the journey, neither is hope. Hope is something we have that longs for the prize, that keeps us going until we get to the destination, but hope alone does not achieve that. Just as calling must turn into following, so hope must be accompanied by an invitation.
A cancer patient may have hope of healing, but if he never allows a doctor to administer Chemo, then the hope dies. Hope in Jesus does not good if we never invite Him to come to the place where new life is so desperately needed. Jesus will never force His way upon anyone. Jesus will never speak new life into someone who doesn't want it and ask for it. If we never invite Jesus to the place of death in us, there is nothing He can do.
It will be painful. For Mary and Martha going to the tomb of their brother would have been a painful reminder that He was gone, and that if Jesus had simply gotten there sooner this wouldn't have happened. For a cancer patient Chemo isn't fun. From what I've heard it feels like your bones are made of Napalm, and it comes with constant vomiting. But just has Chemo can destroy cancer and turn a cancer patient into a cancer survivor, giving them new life; inviting Jesus to the tombs in our lives, painful as it may be, is the only way to receive new life.
If Jesus is never invited to the tomb, the place of death, He cannot give new life. It doesn't matter how much we call on Him, where we follow Him, or how confident our hope in Him is; if He is never invited to the place of death, new life simply remains a distant hope.
That means that we must face it. We must come to the reality that there is death and that nothing we do in our power can fix it. It is difficult and painful. But here again we see that Jesus knows. We see that Jesus feels our pain. John 11.35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it is one of the most profound sentences ever written. "Jesus wept."
Jesus knew what was about to happen. He knew that dead Lazarus would soon join the world of the living again soon. He knew that soon the tears would turn into laughing, and the mourning would turn into a celebration. But He also knew the pain that Martha and Mary were feeling. He knew the pain and sorrow caused by death. Tradition tells us that Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, died when Jesus was in His teens. Jesus knew the pain and sorrow of death, he had experienced the loss of a loved one first hand. And even though He knew the glorious outcome that would take place in a few short minutes, He knows how difficult going to the tomb will be for the sisters. He meets them at their point of need and He weeps with them.
We see the heart of God so visibly on the journey to new life. He knows the uncertainty, the fear, and the pain that are involved with this journey. And since new life is something that we not only need, but is something He wants for us, He walks with us ever step of the way. We call, He answers. We follow, He leads. We hope, He affirms. We invite, He meets us where we are.
But the journey doesn't end with the invitation. We have not yet arrived at new life. But it is coming.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Journey to New Life, Step Three: Hope
In the story of Lazarus, things go from bad to worse. First Lazarus is sick, and so His sisters call on Jesus for help. Two days later Jesus sets out for Judea, after Lazarus has died. Danger is waiting in Judea for Jesus, but His disciples follow Him there to at least die with Him if that is the outcome. We see later that when Jesus gets there Lazarus has been buried for four days.
The Jews did believe in resurrection, but they believed for a person to physically come back to life it had to happen within three days. After that the spirit left the body and it was at this point that the body would be buried (I've heard different traditions of burial so this part may or may not be true). So it's possible that Lazarus had been dead for a week by the time Jesus got there.
Things seem to be over. People have gathered to mourn, the sisters are grieving the loss of their brother, and now Jesus shows up. And it's here that we see the crucial next step towards new life, hope. Hope is crucial to any situation. Without hope, a cancer patient doesn't stand a chance of beating the disease. Without hope, a man stranded in the wilderness has no chance of survival. Without hope, a solider has no hope of winning the war. Without hope, an athlete has no shot at victory. Without hope, new life is not possible.
Martha, the sister of Lazarus comes to Jesus first, and says to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." She knew Jesus, and she knew that Jesus could have saved her brother, that's why they had called on Him. But even now, when Lazarus is dead and buried, she still shows hope in Jesus, "Even now I know..." She knows who Jesus is, she know what He is capable of, and her hope has not died with her brother.
"Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.'"
Jesus affirms the hope she has in Him. Jesus tells her that new life is coming, not just in the distant future at the final resurrection, but soon, very soon. He tells her that He is the resurrection and the life, that He has power over life and death. He has power over sin. He has the power to give new life, and it is power that she will witness first hand very soon.
We must have hope, without it new life is not possible. If we hold on to hope, even in the worst times, Jesus will strengthen it. These lyrics from the song The Words I Would Say come to mind, "Be strong in the Lord and, never give up hope," Our only hope is in Jesus, and as it says in Romans 5.5, "and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." It talks about how God showed His love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And that because of His love we can rejoice in our trials and hardships because of hope.
The step of hope is an essential step on the journey to new life. Hope does not disappoint us when it is rooted in God and His love.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
The Jews did believe in resurrection, but they believed for a person to physically come back to life it had to happen within three days. After that the spirit left the body and it was at this point that the body would be buried (I've heard different traditions of burial so this part may or may not be true). So it's possible that Lazarus had been dead for a week by the time Jesus got there.
Things seem to be over. People have gathered to mourn, the sisters are grieving the loss of their brother, and now Jesus shows up. And it's here that we see the crucial next step towards new life, hope. Hope is crucial to any situation. Without hope, a cancer patient doesn't stand a chance of beating the disease. Without hope, a man stranded in the wilderness has no chance of survival. Without hope, a solider has no hope of winning the war. Without hope, an athlete has no shot at victory. Without hope, new life is not possible.
Martha, the sister of Lazarus comes to Jesus first, and says to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." She knew Jesus, and she knew that Jesus could have saved her brother, that's why they had called on Him. But even now, when Lazarus is dead and buried, she still shows hope in Jesus, "Even now I know..." She knows who Jesus is, she know what He is capable of, and her hope has not died with her brother.
"Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.'"
Jesus affirms the hope she has in Him. Jesus tells her that new life is coming, not just in the distant future at the final resurrection, but soon, very soon. He tells her that He is the resurrection and the life, that He has power over life and death. He has power over sin. He has the power to give new life, and it is power that she will witness first hand very soon.
We must have hope, without it new life is not possible. If we hold on to hope, even in the worst times, Jesus will strengthen it. These lyrics from the song The Words I Would Say come to mind, "Be strong in the Lord and, never give up hope," Our only hope is in Jesus, and as it says in Romans 5.5, "and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." It talks about how God showed His love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And that because of His love we can rejoice in our trials and hardships because of hope.
The step of hope is an essential step on the journey to new life. Hope does not disappoint us when it is rooted in God and His love.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Journey to New Life, Step Two: Follow
Jesus, the only source of life, is the one we must call upon to receive new life. But calling on Jesus is just the first step of this journey. It is easy to call on Jesus. Millions, maybe billions, of people do it everyday, seeking help with a situation they are in. But my guess is with many it stops simply with asking for help. Many want God to do it all. Many want God to step in and just solve their problems. Many think that as soon as we ask it's over. But many times it doesn't happen that way, and especially when it comes to receiving new life.
This is a journey we are on, and no journey is complete with one step, even if that same step is repeated many times. There must be a second step in every journey. And as we see in John 11, the second step to new life is to follow Jesus.
We saw that when we call on Jesus, He does things in His time, when He is ready. And with this second step we see that Jesus does things His way. God has a plan about how things are best done. Remember John 11.4b says, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." God must be glorified, and everything He does is done in the way the gives Him the most glory. God's way might not always make the most sense, it might not be the most clear or certain, but it is the path that leads to new life.
Jesus, after waiting two days says to His disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." His disciples aren't crazy about this idea because the last time they were there the Jews had tried to stone Jesus. Going back is dangerous, and very possibly means death, not just for Jesus, but also for anyone with Him. They raise their concerns, and Jesus responds, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world." There are several meanings of this, but the one that hits me the hardest is that there are only twelve hours in a day. There is only so much time, and while there is plenty of time to do all that God has called us to do, there is no time to spare. Our time must be used well and not wasted, because we don't get it back.
Jesus knew that this would be His final trip to Judea. That shortly after the events that were about to happen a cross was waiting for Him. But He knew the end result of the cross, and He knew that the time had come, and so He prepares to head south. After some dialogue that the disciples don't understand, Jesus tells them, "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him."
And then Thomas makes a statement of courage, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him." Some suggest that this is an attitude of discouragement and being an downer, resolved to the fact that this is the inescapable outcome. But others, myself included, see it as a statement of courage. Thomas knew the absolute worst that could happen in Judea, but he was resolved to stick with Jesus even if it meant death.
Jesus' road seemed crazy, it seemed dangerous and uncertain. In some ways it probably seemed to be a waste. But we see that it was the path that leads to new life. And if we never follow Jesus down the uncertain road of danger we never get to new life.
God never gives us the full details of the journey. He doesn't tell us all of the obstacles that await us ahead of time. If He did we would never take the first step out of fear or the sheer overwhelming scope of it all. All God says is, "Follow Me. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be with you wherever you go."
If we want new life, we must follow Jesus no matter where He leads. It will have dangers, it will be full of uncertainty. But one thing we can be sure of is that He will lead and guide us every step of the way. And when we get to the end we will have new life that only He can give.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
This is a journey we are on, and no journey is complete with one step, even if that same step is repeated many times. There must be a second step in every journey. And as we see in John 11, the second step to new life is to follow Jesus.
We saw that when we call on Jesus, He does things in His time, when He is ready. And with this second step we see that Jesus does things His way. God has a plan about how things are best done. Remember John 11.4b says, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." God must be glorified, and everything He does is done in the way the gives Him the most glory. God's way might not always make the most sense, it might not be the most clear or certain, but it is the path that leads to new life.
Jesus, after waiting two days says to His disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." His disciples aren't crazy about this idea because the last time they were there the Jews had tried to stone Jesus. Going back is dangerous, and very possibly means death, not just for Jesus, but also for anyone with Him. They raise their concerns, and Jesus responds, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world." There are several meanings of this, but the one that hits me the hardest is that there are only twelve hours in a day. There is only so much time, and while there is plenty of time to do all that God has called us to do, there is no time to spare. Our time must be used well and not wasted, because we don't get it back.
Jesus knew that this would be His final trip to Judea. That shortly after the events that were about to happen a cross was waiting for Him. But He knew the end result of the cross, and He knew that the time had come, and so He prepares to head south. After some dialogue that the disciples don't understand, Jesus tells them, "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him."
And then Thomas makes a statement of courage, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him." Some suggest that this is an attitude of discouragement and being an downer, resolved to the fact that this is the inescapable outcome. But others, myself included, see it as a statement of courage. Thomas knew the absolute worst that could happen in Judea, but he was resolved to stick with Jesus even if it meant death.
Jesus' road seemed crazy, it seemed dangerous and uncertain. In some ways it probably seemed to be a waste. But we see that it was the path that leads to new life. And if we never follow Jesus down the uncertain road of danger we never get to new life.
God never gives us the full details of the journey. He doesn't tell us all of the obstacles that await us ahead of time. If He did we would never take the first step out of fear or the sheer overwhelming scope of it all. All God says is, "Follow Me. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be with you wherever you go."
If we want new life, we must follow Jesus no matter where He leads. It will have dangers, it will be full of uncertainty. But one thing we can be sure of is that He will lead and guide us every step of the way. And when we get to the end we will have new life that only He can give.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Journey to New Life, Step One: Call
The overarching theme of John chapter 11 is God giving new life to something dead. But in the story we see that getting to new life is a journey and there are steps we have to take along the way. The first step is to call on Jesus.
John 11 opens with a problem, Lazarus is sick, and he isn't getting better. His sisters are trying to take care of him, the doctors have come and gone, they've done everything that they have instructed, but nothing is working. And John 11.3, "So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.'" When things get bad, they call on Jesus.
I think many people resort to prayer as a last ditch effort out of total desperation. Usually its full of bargaining, offering God countless promises if He will just come through. Sometimes He does and sometimes He doesn't. I don't know why God answers some prayers and not others, and that's not what this post is trying to answer. Many people turn to God as an absolute last resort, and many times it's just because they need help, the promises offered aren't anything people have any intention on following through on most of the time. God isn't Santa, He isn't there to meet all our needs when we feel like calling on Him. God created us for a relationship, and He wants that relationship with us.
We see from the text, and one in Luke, that Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, had a relationship with Jesus. Verse 3 refers to Lazarus as the one Jesus loves. In verse 5 it says, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." Luke 10 tells us about a time Jesus was at their house. He spent time with them, He knew them, and they knew Him. There was a relationship there, and I think calling on Jesus was their natural inclination. I don't think it was a last minute desperation thing, I think as soon as they found out that this was a serious sickness they sent word to Jesus.
Notice that they don't ask Him to come, they just tell Him the situation. They knew that Jesus could help, and they knew that He didn't need to come in order to help. They had a relationship with Jesus, and when hard times came, the called on Him.
To receive new life, the first step is always to call on Jesus. In John 1.4 it says, "In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the Light of men." And John 10.10 tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Jesus wants to give life as it was meant to be. And while a relationship with Him helps, sometimes people call on Him without one. Sometimes out of desperation we turn to Jesus for the first time, and that's ok. A relationship with Jesus helps us not to panic in the hard times. When we know Jesus, and when we know He will take care of us, it helps us to remain calm and peaceful in the hard times. When we trust in Him, we are able to call on Him. People don't call out to someone they have lost trust in.
The journey to new life begins by us taking the first step of calling on Jesus. But the thing to remember is that God works on His own time frame, and does things when He will be able to influence the most people and receive the most glory. John 11.6, "So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was." and John 11.4, "But when Jesus heard this, He said, 'This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.'"
We cannot force the hand of God. His desire is to give new life to us. But it is always in His time, and for His glory. All of these steps to new life from God are steps of faith. God doesn't show us the whole journey before hand, if He did we'd be overwhelmed and never take the first step. Each step is a step of faith and trust in God. He is the source of life, and only in Him can we receive it. But to begin, we must call on Him.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
John 11 opens with a problem, Lazarus is sick, and he isn't getting better. His sisters are trying to take care of him, the doctors have come and gone, they've done everything that they have instructed, but nothing is working. And John 11.3, "So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.'" When things get bad, they call on Jesus.
I think many people resort to prayer as a last ditch effort out of total desperation. Usually its full of bargaining, offering God countless promises if He will just come through. Sometimes He does and sometimes He doesn't. I don't know why God answers some prayers and not others, and that's not what this post is trying to answer. Many people turn to God as an absolute last resort, and many times it's just because they need help, the promises offered aren't anything people have any intention on following through on most of the time. God isn't Santa, He isn't there to meet all our needs when we feel like calling on Him. God created us for a relationship, and He wants that relationship with us.
We see from the text, and one in Luke, that Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, had a relationship with Jesus. Verse 3 refers to Lazarus as the one Jesus loves. In verse 5 it says, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." Luke 10 tells us about a time Jesus was at their house. He spent time with them, He knew them, and they knew Him. There was a relationship there, and I think calling on Jesus was their natural inclination. I don't think it was a last minute desperation thing, I think as soon as they found out that this was a serious sickness they sent word to Jesus.
Notice that they don't ask Him to come, they just tell Him the situation. They knew that Jesus could help, and they knew that He didn't need to come in order to help. They had a relationship with Jesus, and when hard times came, the called on Him.
To receive new life, the first step is always to call on Jesus. In John 1.4 it says, "In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the Light of men." And John 10.10 tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Jesus wants to give life as it was meant to be. And while a relationship with Him helps, sometimes people call on Him without one. Sometimes out of desperation we turn to Jesus for the first time, and that's ok. A relationship with Jesus helps us not to panic in the hard times. When we know Jesus, and when we know He will take care of us, it helps us to remain calm and peaceful in the hard times. When we trust in Him, we are able to call on Him. People don't call out to someone they have lost trust in.
The journey to new life begins by us taking the first step of calling on Jesus. But the thing to remember is that God works on His own time frame, and does things when He will be able to influence the most people and receive the most glory. John 11.6, "So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was." and John 11.4, "But when Jesus heard this, He said, 'This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.'"
We cannot force the hand of God. His desire is to give new life to us. But it is always in His time, and for His glory. All of these steps to new life from God are steps of faith. God doesn't show us the whole journey before hand, if He did we'd be overwhelmed and never take the first step. Each step is a step of faith and trust in God. He is the source of life, and only in Him can we receive it. But to begin, we must call on Him.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Saturday, May 12, 2012
New Life
We're in the middle of Spring, and for possibly the first time in my life it feels great. All around me I see life. Last year I bought my wife a bush of her favorite roses for her birthday, that way she has fresh ones all the time. This year I bought a second one, both of them are blooming. The first rose bush got me hooked on gardening, and when my wife mentioned she loved raspberries, my mind went to the future and owning a house and property where I could grow them.
After talking with my grandma I learned that you can grow most berry bushes in a five gallon bucket their entire lives. With that knowledge I headed to Lowes and bought a raspberry bush. They take a few years to produce fruit so this gives it a head start. Well one turned into two and two blueberry bushes as well.
Shortly after the first rose my wife bought me a book so I would be able to take care of her rose (I really wanted the book and asked her for it). In the back they have other books on different types of gardening, one on vegetable, fruit and herbs. After I got the raspberry and blueberry bushes I convinced her that I needed that one too. I'm still not sure if that was a good or a bad idea. As I've looked through it I've begun to see everything I can grow, and so now my mindset is, "If it's edible and I can grow it, I'm going to." I have a new hobby, and I might be a little obsessed. Part of it has just made me want my own house and land even more badly so I can really get a good set up with my plants.
There is a part of the yard where we are now (I should clarify, the church owns the house we live in) that has been used as a garden in the past. Last year life was too hectic with starting working here, moving, and planning a wedding, that we didn't do anything with it. Life hasn't slowed down too much, honestly it's a little more hectic than last year, but I wanted to plant something. We decided on watermelon, it'll take up the whole area, there is plenty of sun, and we both love it. Plus its good for the dog to snack on as well. It got planted yesterday.
I'm a guy, and so the pride of accomplishing a task is big for me. I'm a pastor, and so I'm not rich. Anyway I can save money is good. And anyway I can save money and accomplish a task is even better. I decided to save apple seeds from the apples we buy at the store and try to plant them. About a month ago I planted fifteen, and I didn't think they were going to do anything. Yesterday as I was cleaning off the surface of the dirt in the pots, the green leaf didn't come out, one of my seeds has sprouted! My orchard has begun.
All around me I see new life. I've had a good couple of days. Yesterday I was able to work in my garden, prune my wife's roses, water all of my plants, and one of my seeds finally sprouted. Today I got to spend several hours with my goddaughter, she turned three today. We played together most of the afternoon. She's so young, and so full of life. I'm really tired, but it's a good tired.
I've had a rough year so far. I've been drained, discouraged, and over all just beaten down. But today, I feel full of new life. As I drove to see my goddaughter, I just keep thinking about how grateful I am for my wife. I spent most of the drive just thanking God for her, and asking Him to bless her. I love her so much and I can't put it into words. I am so grateful for her. (Our marriage is going great, and has been, the year hasn't been rough because of anything there, and I've always loved her.)
It's been a rough year, but today I feel like I have new life. All around me I see new life, and in me I feel new life. Tomorrow I am going to begin a three week study of the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back from the dead. At first I had planned to do all of John 11 in one week, but as I read it and prayed God led me to break it up and do three shorter sermons allowing more time for prayer. The overall theme of the story is obviously Jesus giving new life to a dead man. But this week as I read and studied the chapter God showed me the steps leading up to new life. This next week I'm going to blog about those steps.
I know I'm not the only one whose had a rough year. I know many out there have had much more difficult things hit them this year than I have, and my year would be a walk in the park to them. This blog series is not a check list, do these things and God will end your problems. He might, but then again He might not. Instead, these posts are intended to help those in difficult situations focus fully on Christ. Jesus is the source of life as John tells us in chapters 1 and 10. New life might be strength to endure the hardships. It might be the relationship with and confidence in Christ that Paul talks about in Philippians 4.11-13.
All around me I see new life, God has breathed that new life into me. He wants to do the same for you. Join me over the next few days as we look at what is involved in this journey.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
After talking with my grandma I learned that you can grow most berry bushes in a five gallon bucket their entire lives. With that knowledge I headed to Lowes and bought a raspberry bush. They take a few years to produce fruit so this gives it a head start. Well one turned into two and two blueberry bushes as well.
Shortly after the first rose my wife bought me a book so I would be able to take care of her rose (I really wanted the book and asked her for it). In the back they have other books on different types of gardening, one on vegetable, fruit and herbs. After I got the raspberry and blueberry bushes I convinced her that I needed that one too. I'm still not sure if that was a good or a bad idea. As I've looked through it I've begun to see everything I can grow, and so now my mindset is, "If it's edible and I can grow it, I'm going to." I have a new hobby, and I might be a little obsessed. Part of it has just made me want my own house and land even more badly so I can really get a good set up with my plants.
There is a part of the yard where we are now (I should clarify, the church owns the house we live in) that has been used as a garden in the past. Last year life was too hectic with starting working here, moving, and planning a wedding, that we didn't do anything with it. Life hasn't slowed down too much, honestly it's a little more hectic than last year, but I wanted to plant something. We decided on watermelon, it'll take up the whole area, there is plenty of sun, and we both love it. Plus its good for the dog to snack on as well. It got planted yesterday.
I'm a guy, and so the pride of accomplishing a task is big for me. I'm a pastor, and so I'm not rich. Anyway I can save money is good. And anyway I can save money and accomplish a task is even better. I decided to save apple seeds from the apples we buy at the store and try to plant them. About a month ago I planted fifteen, and I didn't think they were going to do anything. Yesterday as I was cleaning off the surface of the dirt in the pots, the green leaf didn't come out, one of my seeds has sprouted! My orchard has begun.
All around me I see new life. I've had a good couple of days. Yesterday I was able to work in my garden, prune my wife's roses, water all of my plants, and one of my seeds finally sprouted. Today I got to spend several hours with my goddaughter, she turned three today. We played together most of the afternoon. She's so young, and so full of life. I'm really tired, but it's a good tired.
I've had a rough year so far. I've been drained, discouraged, and over all just beaten down. But today, I feel full of new life. As I drove to see my goddaughter, I just keep thinking about how grateful I am for my wife. I spent most of the drive just thanking God for her, and asking Him to bless her. I love her so much and I can't put it into words. I am so grateful for her. (Our marriage is going great, and has been, the year hasn't been rough because of anything there, and I've always loved her.)
It's been a rough year, but today I feel like I have new life. All around me I see new life, and in me I feel new life. Tomorrow I am going to begin a three week study of the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back from the dead. At first I had planned to do all of John 11 in one week, but as I read it and prayed God led me to break it up and do three shorter sermons allowing more time for prayer. The overall theme of the story is obviously Jesus giving new life to a dead man. But this week as I read and studied the chapter God showed me the steps leading up to new life. This next week I'm going to blog about those steps.
I know I'm not the only one whose had a rough year. I know many out there have had much more difficult things hit them this year than I have, and my year would be a walk in the park to them. This blog series is not a check list, do these things and God will end your problems. He might, but then again He might not. Instead, these posts are intended to help those in difficult situations focus fully on Christ. Jesus is the source of life as John tells us in chapters 1 and 10. New life might be strength to endure the hardships. It might be the relationship with and confidence in Christ that Paul talks about in Philippians 4.11-13.
All around me I see new life, God has breathed that new life into me. He wants to do the same for you. Join me over the next few days as we look at what is involved in this journey.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Thursday, May 10, 2012
A Delightful Hour with God
A few weeks ago I met with my Co-District Superintendants, and we talked about how crucial prayer is. As we discussed some issues concerning the church right now their advice was to pray. They mentioned a prayer guide they used at the pastor's and wives retreat this past winter, and have since gotten me a copy of it.
As I've used it a few times now, it's a very helpful guide. It is set up to help you pray for an hour and stay focused on it. It follows the guidelines Jesus gave with the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6.
Our response to everything needs to be prayer. Below I have given the guide, called "A Delightful Hour With God" and at the bottom is a link to print off the guide so it can be easily copied onto the front and back of a piece of paper. I encourage you to use this. Prayer is the only tool we have that can accomplish things. May God bless your time with Him, and may He draw you closer to His heart through this hour.
A Delightful Hour With God
“For the LORD delights in you…” Isaiah 62:4 NKJV
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it…” Colossians 4:2
Adoration of God’s Glorious Names and Attributes (5 min)
“Our Father in Heaven” - Matthew 6:9a NKJV
Abba Father. Yahweh–The God who was, who is, who is to come. Elohim- Father, Son and Spirit. Jehovah Sabbaoth-Lord of Hosts. Jehovah Melech-King of Kings. Jehovah Shalom-Lord of Peace. El Shaddai-God Almighty All Sufficient One. El Elyon-God Most High. Adonai-Master and Lord. Awman- Faithful God. Jehovah Nissi-God My Victorious Banner. Jehovah Roi-God My Shepherd. Jehovah Jireh-God My Provider. Jehovah Tsidkenu-God My Rightousness. Jehovah Mikkadesh-God My Sanctifier. Makhseh-My Refuge. Jehovah Rapha-My Glorious Healer. Ancient of Days. Our Dwelling Place. Eternal Creator God. Jesus Savior/Messiah. Bright Morning Star. Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Lamb of God. My Sacrifice. All Consuming Fire. Beautiful. My Bridegroom Friend. The Way, The Truth, The Life. Redeemer. Wisdom. Holy. Hope of Glory. Anchor of my soul. Light. My Life my All…
Approach His Throne of Holiness with Repentance (5 min)
“Hallowed be Your name…” Matthew 6:9b
• Do I have any unconfessed sin or doubtful practices?
• Are there any obstacles keeping me from God?
• Have I been following the leadership of the Holy Spirit?
• Ask God for genuine life change and cleansing from sin.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Prayer for God’s Purposes to be Fulfilled in Others
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” Mt. 6:10
• Prayer for the salvation of lost people (5 min)
List 5 unsaved friends, families or individuals
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:38
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done…”
• Prayer for Local Congregations (5 min)
1. For presence saturated houses of prayer
2. For repentance, revival and spiritual awakening
3. For leaders to downshift to deeper intimacy with Jesus
4. For fulfillment of the Great Commission
5. For unified citywide prayer movements
• Prayer for the Nations to come to Christ (5 min)
1. For nations to know Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life.
2. For missions to unreached-unengaged people groups
3. For kings, tribal leaders, governments to know Jesus
4. For the spirit of prayer and revival to be poured out
• Prayer for God’s Work in our Youth Generation (5min)
1. For radically committed young disciples for Jesus
2. For relevant ministries to reach youth
3. For young people to come to deeper intimacy with God
4. For God to raise up young leaders for the nations
5. For revival in local and national schools/colleges
6. For the fire of God in youth ministries
Spend time in Quiet Wonder Waiting in His Presence (5 min)
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3
Spend time simply receiving God’s love and meditating on His Father heart and Shepherd-care over your life.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want…” Psalm 23:1
• God longs to be with me – what does that mean to me?
• I am God’s beloved child – He is for me!
• God is my Father and knows everything about me.
• Abba Father, what are You saying to me today?
“He rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 NIV
“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.” Psalm 36:7-8 NKJV
Bring your personal needs & requests before God (5 min)
“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11
1. _________________________________________
2. _________________________________________
3. _________________________________________
4. _________________________________________
5. _________________________________________
Prayer for Reconciliation and Healing Relationships (5 min)
“Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors…” Matthew 6:12
• Pray for forgiveness and healing of broken relationships
• Repentance for every fragment of racial prejudice
• Repentance for denominational – church divisions
• Pray for unprecedented biblical unity of the church
• Pray God would raise up multi-racial congregations
• What can I do personally to reconcile and heal?.....
Prayer for God to Breakdown Strongholds of Evil (5 min)
“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” Matthew 6:13
• Deliverance: Widespread rampant Sexual Immorality
• Witchcraft – Idolatry – Materialism/Greed
• Addictions –Entertainment, Drugs, Alcohol
• Global Injustice and Suffering
• The Sins of Abortion and Murder
• Racism, Ethnic hatred – Arrogance and Pride
• HIV/Aids Pandemic Globally and Locally
• Dullness, Lethargy and Unbelief in the Church
• Compromise and Shallowness in the Church
• Confess the Name of Jesus and the power of the blood!
• Put on the full armor of God and pray for protection
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Celebrate Your Life in God and Worship Him! (5 min)
“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” Matthew 6:13c
Take time to praise and worship the Lord. Thank God for His mercy, faithfulness and goodness in your life. Bless individuals who come to mind - in the name and power of Jesus Christ.
End your time in God’s Presence with Quiet Wonder (5 min)
• Practice The Art of Childlike Naïve Listening
“I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Isaiah 30:21
“One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:1-6
• Practice Living Life and Leading from the secret place
• Journal any words or reflections you sense the Spirit prompting or speaking:
Compiled by Gary Schmitz & Steve Weber from Prayers of Scripture, Global Day of Prayer and Praying Friends
(http://www.citywideprayerkc.com/docs/DelightfulHourWithGod.pdf)
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
As I've used it a few times now, it's a very helpful guide. It is set up to help you pray for an hour and stay focused on it. It follows the guidelines Jesus gave with the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6.
Our response to everything needs to be prayer. Below I have given the guide, called "A Delightful Hour With God" and at the bottom is a link to print off the guide so it can be easily copied onto the front and back of a piece of paper. I encourage you to use this. Prayer is the only tool we have that can accomplish things. May God bless your time with Him, and may He draw you closer to His heart through this hour.
A Delightful Hour With God
“For the LORD delights in you…” Isaiah 62:4 NKJV
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it…” Colossians 4:2
Adoration of God’s Glorious Names and Attributes (5 min)
“Our Father in Heaven” - Matthew 6:9a NKJV
Abba Father. Yahweh–The God who was, who is, who is to come. Elohim- Father, Son and Spirit. Jehovah Sabbaoth-Lord of Hosts. Jehovah Melech-King of Kings. Jehovah Shalom-Lord of Peace. El Shaddai-God Almighty All Sufficient One. El Elyon-God Most High. Adonai-Master and Lord. Awman- Faithful God. Jehovah Nissi-God My Victorious Banner. Jehovah Roi-God My Shepherd. Jehovah Jireh-God My Provider. Jehovah Tsidkenu-God My Rightousness. Jehovah Mikkadesh-God My Sanctifier. Makhseh-My Refuge. Jehovah Rapha-My Glorious Healer. Ancient of Days. Our Dwelling Place. Eternal Creator God. Jesus Savior/Messiah. Bright Morning Star. Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Lamb of God. My Sacrifice. All Consuming Fire. Beautiful. My Bridegroom Friend. The Way, The Truth, The Life. Redeemer. Wisdom. Holy. Hope of Glory. Anchor of my soul. Light. My Life my All…
Approach His Throne of Holiness with Repentance (5 min)
“Hallowed be Your name…” Matthew 6:9b
• Do I have any unconfessed sin or doubtful practices?
• Are there any obstacles keeping me from God?
• Have I been following the leadership of the Holy Spirit?
• Ask God for genuine life change and cleansing from sin.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Prayer for God’s Purposes to be Fulfilled in Others
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” Mt. 6:10
• Prayer for the salvation of lost people (5 min)
List 5 unsaved friends, families or individuals
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:38
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done…”
• Prayer for Local Congregations (5 min)
1. For presence saturated houses of prayer
2. For repentance, revival and spiritual awakening
3. For leaders to downshift to deeper intimacy with Jesus
4. For fulfillment of the Great Commission
5. For unified citywide prayer movements
• Prayer for the Nations to come to Christ (5 min)
1. For nations to know Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life.
2. For missions to unreached-unengaged people groups
3. For kings, tribal leaders, governments to know Jesus
4. For the spirit of prayer and revival to be poured out
• Prayer for God’s Work in our Youth Generation (5min)
1. For radically committed young disciples for Jesus
2. For relevant ministries to reach youth
3. For young people to come to deeper intimacy with God
4. For God to raise up young leaders for the nations
5. For revival in local and national schools/colleges
6. For the fire of God in youth ministries
Spend time in Quiet Wonder Waiting in His Presence (5 min)
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3
Spend time simply receiving God’s love and meditating on His Father heart and Shepherd-care over your life.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want…” Psalm 23:1
• God longs to be with me – what does that mean to me?
• I am God’s beloved child – He is for me!
• God is my Father and knows everything about me.
• Abba Father, what are You saying to me today?
“He rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 NIV
“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.” Psalm 36:7-8 NKJV
Bring your personal needs & requests before God (5 min)
“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11
1. _________________________________________
2. _________________________________________
3. _________________________________________
4. _________________________________________
5. _________________________________________
Prayer for Reconciliation and Healing Relationships (5 min)
“Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors…” Matthew 6:12
• Pray for forgiveness and healing of broken relationships
• Repentance for every fragment of racial prejudice
• Repentance for denominational – church divisions
• Pray for unprecedented biblical unity of the church
• Pray God would raise up multi-racial congregations
• What can I do personally to reconcile and heal?.....
Prayer for God to Breakdown Strongholds of Evil (5 min)
“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” Matthew 6:13
• Deliverance: Widespread rampant Sexual Immorality
• Witchcraft – Idolatry – Materialism/Greed
• Addictions –Entertainment, Drugs, Alcohol
• Global Injustice and Suffering
• The Sins of Abortion and Murder
• Racism, Ethnic hatred – Arrogance and Pride
• HIV/Aids Pandemic Globally and Locally
• Dullness, Lethargy and Unbelief in the Church
• Compromise and Shallowness in the Church
• Confess the Name of Jesus and the power of the blood!
• Put on the full armor of God and pray for protection
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Celebrate Your Life in God and Worship Him! (5 min)
“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” Matthew 6:13c
Take time to praise and worship the Lord. Thank God for His mercy, faithfulness and goodness in your life. Bless individuals who come to mind - in the name and power of Jesus Christ.
End your time in God’s Presence with Quiet Wonder (5 min)
• Practice The Art of Childlike Naïve Listening
“I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Isaiah 30:21
“One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:1-6
• Practice Living Life and Leading from the secret place
• Journal any words or reflections you sense the Spirit prompting or speaking:
Compiled by Gary Schmitz & Steve Weber from Prayers of Scripture, Global Day of Prayer and Praying Friends
(http://www.citywideprayerkc.com/docs/DelightfulHourWithGod.pdf)
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Faith and Works
One thing that my preaching professor told us in class years ago was to try to be able to sum up the sermon in one sentence. To boil it down to one phrase you want the audience to walk away with. I haven't always done that, other times I've put it as my title. Sometimes it's hard because there is a lot, but I've found that even then it all boils down to a few key words. Even in my own life, God has been summing up entire years with one word recently.
Last fall I was in a leadership class and the topic of Scripture memorization came up. It's something that comes and goes for me, recently it's been a lot more going. It's something I really need to discipline myself with. I remember in my preaching class I would memorize the text I was using so I could quote it. When I was a youth pastor and wasn't preaching every week I was still able to do that. Now it's a little harder because I'm using large sections of text each week.
But in class I was really convicted that I needed to get back into the Scripture memorizing habit. As part of this I decided to challenge the congregation to do it with me each week. I would pick the verse from the text that had the main idea I would be focusing on each week. We're up to twenty-one verses from John 3 to John 10.
This week the verse was John 10.37, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;". Jesus was asked by some Jews to tell them plainly if He is the Son of God. He tells them that He already has and they didn't believe Him, and that His works done in the Father's name testify about Him. He goes on to tell them that He and the Father are one, and they prepare to stone Him for blasphemy. He asks the crowd for which good work they are stoning Him, and they tell Him it is not for any work, but for His claims to be God. After some dialogue we come to the key verse this week, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;".
Jesus opens His life up for them to examine, and He says that if His actions don't line up with what He has said then they shouldn't believe Him. If His life and message aren't in sync then they shouldn't follow Him because He is a liar. But He then says that if they do line up, then even if they don't believe in Him they should believe in what He's doing so they can see the Father in Him. His life points to God not simply in what He said, but more powerfully, in what He did.
The main idea is that our lives need to be reflections of the faith we claim based on how we live. I used James 2 for some supporting text. Verses 14-20 and 26, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?... For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
We are not saved by works as Ephesians 2.8-9 reminds us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." The only way to salvation is through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But when we come to faith in Jesus we enter into a relationship with Him, and that relationship involves a change in life style. That relationship involves that we become like Christ, and allow Him to transform us into who God created us to be.
In Philippians 2 it says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." A relationship with Jesus demands that we serve others. We are called to become like Jesus, and He said in Mark 10.45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus came to show us what God is like, and how God would live life as a human. He shows us God's plan and purpose for our lives, and then He died and rose to make it possible for us to do it. After He went back to Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to live as He did. Jesus didn't save us to sit on the side lines and wait for Heaven. He didn't go to the cross just to save us from sin and get us our of Hell. "We are pardoned to participate." Jesus saved us so that we can get on the front lines of the battle and help with advancing the Kingdom forward.
Faith without works is dead. Faith that isn't lived out isn't faith. Faith that doesn't result in a changed life that causes you to live as Jesus lived isn't real or alive. It is impossible to live for God without serving Him. We cannot become like Christ if we do not do the things that Christ did. Faith without works is useless and dead.
Again, works don't save us, only faith does. But works are a sign of faith. And I think works strengthen faith. In our works for God we see God come through. In works of service others see God in us. My mentor has said "Separation of Church and state is never an issue when the Church gets down on its hands and knees and says, 'How can we serve you?'" When faith is real it leads to action. When faith is real it is lived out and the world sees it as genuine. Faith without works is dead.
God has called us out of sin into eternal life. Eternal life is God's quality of life. God has set us free through the blood of Jesus, and filled us with the power of His Holy Spirit so that our lives can be transformed into what He created us to be. It's easy to say we believe in Jesus and that we worship God. But as Jesus said in John 10.37, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;" if we do not do the works of our Father, the world should not believe us.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Last fall I was in a leadership class and the topic of Scripture memorization came up. It's something that comes and goes for me, recently it's been a lot more going. It's something I really need to discipline myself with. I remember in my preaching class I would memorize the text I was using so I could quote it. When I was a youth pastor and wasn't preaching every week I was still able to do that. Now it's a little harder because I'm using large sections of text each week.
But in class I was really convicted that I needed to get back into the Scripture memorizing habit. As part of this I decided to challenge the congregation to do it with me each week. I would pick the verse from the text that had the main idea I would be focusing on each week. We're up to twenty-one verses from John 3 to John 10.
This week the verse was John 10.37, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;". Jesus was asked by some Jews to tell them plainly if He is the Son of God. He tells them that He already has and they didn't believe Him, and that His works done in the Father's name testify about Him. He goes on to tell them that He and the Father are one, and they prepare to stone Him for blasphemy. He asks the crowd for which good work they are stoning Him, and they tell Him it is not for any work, but for His claims to be God. After some dialogue we come to the key verse this week, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;".
Jesus opens His life up for them to examine, and He says that if His actions don't line up with what He has said then they shouldn't believe Him. If His life and message aren't in sync then they shouldn't follow Him because He is a liar. But He then says that if they do line up, then even if they don't believe in Him they should believe in what He's doing so they can see the Father in Him. His life points to God not simply in what He said, but more powerfully, in what He did.
The main idea is that our lives need to be reflections of the faith we claim based on how we live. I used James 2 for some supporting text. Verses 14-20 and 26, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?... For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
We are not saved by works as Ephesians 2.8-9 reminds us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." The only way to salvation is through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But when we come to faith in Jesus we enter into a relationship with Him, and that relationship involves a change in life style. That relationship involves that we become like Christ, and allow Him to transform us into who God created us to be.
In Philippians 2 it says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." A relationship with Jesus demands that we serve others. We are called to become like Jesus, and He said in Mark 10.45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus came to show us what God is like, and how God would live life as a human. He shows us God's plan and purpose for our lives, and then He died and rose to make it possible for us to do it. After He went back to Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to live as He did. Jesus didn't save us to sit on the side lines and wait for Heaven. He didn't go to the cross just to save us from sin and get us our of Hell. "We are pardoned to participate." Jesus saved us so that we can get on the front lines of the battle and help with advancing the Kingdom forward.
Faith without works is dead. Faith that isn't lived out isn't faith. Faith that doesn't result in a changed life that causes you to live as Jesus lived isn't real or alive. It is impossible to live for God without serving Him. We cannot become like Christ if we do not do the things that Christ did. Faith without works is useless and dead.
Again, works don't save us, only faith does. But works are a sign of faith. And I think works strengthen faith. In our works for God we see God come through. In works of service others see God in us. My mentor has said "Separation of Church and state is never an issue when the Church gets down on its hands and knees and says, 'How can we serve you?'" When faith is real it leads to action. When faith is real it is lived out and the world sees it as genuine. Faith without works is dead.
God has called us out of sin into eternal life. Eternal life is God's quality of life. God has set us free through the blood of Jesus, and filled us with the power of His Holy Spirit so that our lives can be transformed into what He created us to be. It's easy to say we believe in Jesus and that we worship God. But as Jesus said in John 10.37, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;" if we do not do the works of our Father, the world should not believe us.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Passion
Recently I read Crazy Love and Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I found that pretty much everything in Crazy Love I've thought before, and parts of Forgotten God I had too. It was neat seeing someone else, with far more life experience and Biblical understanding, sharing my thoughts. It showed me that I'm thinking along the right path.
On the back of Crazy Love it says that Francis is committed to teaching directly from the Bible and passionate about seeing the church display a much deeper love for Jesus. And as I've thought about it that's what I really feel passionate about as well.
I love preaching/teaching, I love the study and sharing of what God reveals to me. I love the discipling aspect of Christianity. For the last few years, starting late in college, God has been showing me a lot through Philippians about genuine Christianity and a relationship with Him. I want to help people see what God intended for life to be.
I've come to see that the goal of life is to become like Christ and the purpose it to help others become like Christ. I recently took a leadership class and we had to develop a personal mission statement. The only thing that came to me was Live, Preach, Glorify, Love.
Live in the Spirit, Preach the Gospel of Jesus, Glorify the Father, Love God and others.
I want to help the Church become what it was created to be. I don't want to waste time doing things that don't matter in the light of eternity, and I still find myself doing that a lot. But as I've performed a funeral this year and come to a deeper understand of the reality of Hell, I don't want to waste time. I want my life to matter for the Kingdom, I want to leave the Church and the world better than when I got here.
Aside from preaching/teaching I specifically want to work with boys and men. I want to help them become and know that they are men, and help them to see what God expects of men. I want to help them realize that they are warriors created in the image of a warrior God who is strong and courageous and calls them to be the same. I want to help people see what God calls us to, and that life is ultimately about giving Him glory. I want to help men be men of God.
It starts we me being that man. It starts with me being the man God has called me to be, the husband my wife deserves, and the leader of His flock that He expects. I know it means being courageous and calling people out of idleness and complacency to greater things. It means boldly standing on the truth and proclaiming it, regardless of the consequences. It means sacrifice, and hard work. And I want to be willing to do whatever I am asked to do.
I want my life to make a difference for God.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
On the back of Crazy Love it says that Francis is committed to teaching directly from the Bible and passionate about seeing the church display a much deeper love for Jesus. And as I've thought about it that's what I really feel passionate about as well.
I love preaching/teaching, I love the study and sharing of what God reveals to me. I love the discipling aspect of Christianity. For the last few years, starting late in college, God has been showing me a lot through Philippians about genuine Christianity and a relationship with Him. I want to help people see what God intended for life to be.
I've come to see that the goal of life is to become like Christ and the purpose it to help others become like Christ. I recently took a leadership class and we had to develop a personal mission statement. The only thing that came to me was Live, Preach, Glorify, Love.
Live in the Spirit, Preach the Gospel of Jesus, Glorify the Father, Love God and others.
I want to help the Church become what it was created to be. I don't want to waste time doing things that don't matter in the light of eternity, and I still find myself doing that a lot. But as I've performed a funeral this year and come to a deeper understand of the reality of Hell, I don't want to waste time. I want my life to matter for the Kingdom, I want to leave the Church and the world better than when I got here.
Aside from preaching/teaching I specifically want to work with boys and men. I want to help them become and know that they are men, and help them to see what God expects of men. I want to help them realize that they are warriors created in the image of a warrior God who is strong and courageous and calls them to be the same. I want to help people see what God calls us to, and that life is ultimately about giving Him glory. I want to help men be men of God.
It starts we me being that man. It starts with me being the man God has called me to be, the husband my wife deserves, and the leader of His flock that He expects. I know it means being courageous and calling people out of idleness and complacency to greater things. It means boldly standing on the truth and proclaiming it, regardless of the consequences. It means sacrifice, and hard work. And I want to be willing to do whatever I am asked to do.
I want my life to make a difference for God.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Is Jesus Enough?
I don't read many blogs due to time and responsibilities, but one that I do try to read is by a pastor friend. Recently he wrote a post that asked the question "Is Jesus enough?" He was quoting a speaker he had heard, and here is what it said:
Is Jesus enough?
If you never build a large church, is Jesus enough?
If your church fails, is Jesus enough?
If you never get to speak at a conference like this, is Jesus enough?
If no one reads your blog or retweets your tweets, is Jesus enough?
If Jesus isn’t enough, you will always feel unsettled in your soul.
When Jesus isn’t enough, it’s not that you try to replace Jesus. You just try to add on to Jesus.
And then you become performance-driven.
Martin Luther said, “Whatever your heart clings to is your idol.”
Jesus plus anything or anyone leads to emptiness.
We all have to settle this in our hearts, not just once, but over and over again.
I am grateful for this simple question: Is Jesus enough?
I have that copied and on my desk top. It's a question that I've been wrestling with recently. Is Jesus enough? I want the answer to be yes. Some days I can honestly give that yes. But then there are days when I'd sadly have to say "Probably not."
I get frustrated with my current church situation at times. But in those time I need to ask the question, "Is Jesus enough?" And with that comes the reminder that Jesus has called me here, He has placed me here. And honestly it's pretty miraculous to have become a senior pastor at 24. I'm here because God wanted me to be here. Maybe I'm here to get to the point where Jesus is enough. To get to the point where Paul's words in Philippians 4 about contentment in Christ no matter what is the statement I make. Or as Paul said in Philippians 1, rejoicing simply because Christ is proclaimed regardless of motivation.
There is a hymn in the Nazarene hymnal that has the correct answer to this question as it's central theme.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead
I want to constantly be able to say that I'd rather have Jesus than anything. I want to be able to always be content because I have Christ. I want Jesus to always be enough. I want to be whole an complete in Christ, desireing nothing but more of Him. I want to be fully satisfied with Jesus, and the ability and opportunity to proclaim Him. I want Jesus to be enough, because no matter what happens, I will always have Christ.
Is Jesus enough for you? What in your life do you add to Jesus? The focus of my friend's blog is directed primarily at pastors, but the main question applies to all Christ followers. Is Jesus enough?
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Is Jesus enough?
If you never build a large church, is Jesus enough?
If your church fails, is Jesus enough?
If you never get to speak at a conference like this, is Jesus enough?
If no one reads your blog or retweets your tweets, is Jesus enough?
If Jesus isn’t enough, you will always feel unsettled in your soul.
When Jesus isn’t enough, it’s not that you try to replace Jesus. You just try to add on to Jesus.
And then you become performance-driven.
Martin Luther said, “Whatever your heart clings to is your idol.”
Jesus plus anything or anyone leads to emptiness.
We all have to settle this in our hearts, not just once, but over and over again.
I am grateful for this simple question: Is Jesus enough?
I have that copied and on my desk top. It's a question that I've been wrestling with recently. Is Jesus enough? I want the answer to be yes. Some days I can honestly give that yes. But then there are days when I'd sadly have to say "Probably not."
I get frustrated with my current church situation at times. But in those time I need to ask the question, "Is Jesus enough?" And with that comes the reminder that Jesus has called me here, He has placed me here. And honestly it's pretty miraculous to have become a senior pastor at 24. I'm here because God wanted me to be here. Maybe I'm here to get to the point where Jesus is enough. To get to the point where Paul's words in Philippians 4 about contentment in Christ no matter what is the statement I make. Or as Paul said in Philippians 1, rejoicing simply because Christ is proclaimed regardless of motivation.
There is a hymn in the Nazarene hymnal that has the correct answer to this question as it's central theme.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead
I want to constantly be able to say that I'd rather have Jesus than anything. I want to be able to always be content because I have Christ. I want Jesus to always be enough. I want to be whole an complete in Christ, desireing nothing but more of Him. I want to be fully satisfied with Jesus, and the ability and opportunity to proclaim Him. I want Jesus to be enough, because no matter what happens, I will always have Christ.
Is Jesus enough for you? What in your life do you add to Jesus? The focus of my friend's blog is directed primarily at pastors, but the main question applies to all Christ followers. Is Jesus enough?
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Man's Best Friend
About a week and a half ago my wife and I got a dog. My wife has been asking for one for months, and yes, I'm a dog person, but due to our trip to Israel in January I was wanting to wait until we got back to get one. My wife and I both said before we were married, actually it might have been on the first or second date, that we wanted a yellow lab. Turns out they are really expensive and part of me can't justify spending several hundred dollars on something that is only going to live a little over a decade providing nothing happens to it.
Her birthday is coming up in just under two weeks, and she told me the only thing she wanted was a puppy. I want to be a blessing to my wife, but at the same time I have our Israel trip constantly on my mind, and so I kept saying not yet. But God has a great sense of humor. I had to go to the hardware store in town to get a couple of keys made, and as we were walking out there was a flyer in the window for a $15 dog. For whatever reason I showed my wife, she made a call, and a few weeks later Rosie is part of our family.
The first week and a half has been a bit of a pain. My wife has compared her to Marley in the movie Marley and Me saying we could write a daily column on the events of our life with her. I'm praying that isn't true. The first day she wouldn't come near us, so I left the door connecting the garage and the house open so she could come and go when she was comfortable. That night she began to warm up to my wife a little, and over the next few days to both of us.
My wife has never had a big dog. Her experience was with a Doxen, which I won't even acknowledge as a dog. I've heard a lot over the last few days about how "Coco never did that! Why is she so gross/bad/loud?" It's been a huge adjustment, but the hardest part has been at night. We keep her in a cage at night, mainly because I don't trust her to not chew on everything. Usually she'll whine for about ten minutes, then she's good until around 6:00 am. She'll start barking, normally I get up and let her out. But over the past week it's gotten worse.
Two nights ago she started barking at 3:39 am, I was ready to kill her. My wife and I were both exhausted, it had been one of the most stressful weeks of our lives, and the last thing we needed was a barking dog at twenty to four. My wife has made numerous comments about taking her back. We were even looking at shock collars yesterday as a last attempt to get her to stop.
Last night we both were worn out, both from poor sleep for a week, and the highly stressful events of the previous week still. We both needed sleep. Recently the need for prayer has been hitting me a lot. And so laying on the couch last night petting Rosie and getting ready to put her in the cage for the night I told me wife that we were going to pray over the dog. For the first time since we've had her, she didn't whine last light, and didn't bark at all this morning. We both slept through the night, and after I had woken up she started to softly whine to be let outside. As she was outside, I layed on the couch and just said "Thank you," to God over and over.
I gave her food, and water, and layed back down to just pray some more, fully out of gratitude for rest. Once she had finished eating she came and lay down quietly beside me, and we had the best morning we've had in a long time.
God works in the small things to show us He cares. Both my wife and I needed sleep so we could recover from everything that's happened. And after asking God, He gave it to us. There is a lot going on right now that needs prayer, and after last night my faith has been strengthened by seeing that God really does care.
Currently I'm in a situation where God has asked me to do something and I've said yes. I'm still not totally crazy about it, but God has asked me and I want to faithfully serve Him. Last night God showed me that He cares. That when I come to Him, He will literally give me rest (Matthew 11.28). I cannot do what God has asked me to do without Him. I don't have the strength, patience, or ability in myself to do it. But last night God began to show me that the words He spoke to Joshua thousands of years ago are the same words He is speaking to me now. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1.9).
Dog has been called "Man's best friend." They are loyal, faithful, and loving no matter what. They are there to cheer you up, comfort you, and play with you. One of the biggest joys I have is when Rosie is waiting at the door when I get home. Her face just says, "I've been sitting here waiting for you for hours, and if you leave again, I'll do the same thing until you get back!" I keep thinking of the movie UP and the dog collars that speak the dog's thoughts.
I don't think it's accidental that the dog has been given that title, those characteristics, and God's name spelled backwards. People often debate over whether animals go to Heaven, and as I've thought about it and read the Bible, part of me really thinks they might. The Bible says that all things are being made new (Revelation 21.5) and that all of creation groans for the appearing of the Sons of God (Romans 8.18-22). Again, I don't know for sure, just taking what the Bible does say and following it to a possible conclusion. If all things are made new, if all of creaion groans, if Jesus came to save the world that God loves (John 3.16) why couldn't animals be included?
Not sure why that last bit got into this. Anyway, in dogs we see so many characteristics of God: unconditional and unceasing love, constant loyalty, a faithful confidant, and a desire to be our best friend. Growing up from junior high until moving out of the house, I had Molly, an English Springer Spaniel who is still clinging to life. I love that dog, whenever I'd come home from school at night she'd wake up and meet me at the door, then she'd sit next to me on the floor. Rosie doesn't yet have the same place in my heart that Molly does, but I'm sure as we go through the next several years together they will be tied. I believe that God gave us dogs to show us some of who He is, and to give us a companion that will constantly remind us of His desire to be Man's best friend, who gives unconditional and unceasing love, constant loyalty, and is an ever faithful confidant.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Her birthday is coming up in just under two weeks, and she told me the only thing she wanted was a puppy. I want to be a blessing to my wife, but at the same time I have our Israel trip constantly on my mind, and so I kept saying not yet. But God has a great sense of humor. I had to go to the hardware store in town to get a couple of keys made, and as we were walking out there was a flyer in the window for a $15 dog. For whatever reason I showed my wife, she made a call, and a few weeks later Rosie is part of our family.
The first week and a half has been a bit of a pain. My wife has compared her to Marley in the movie Marley and Me saying we could write a daily column on the events of our life with her. I'm praying that isn't true. The first day she wouldn't come near us, so I left the door connecting the garage and the house open so she could come and go when she was comfortable. That night she began to warm up to my wife a little, and over the next few days to both of us.
My wife has never had a big dog. Her experience was with a Doxen, which I won't even acknowledge as a dog. I've heard a lot over the last few days about how "Coco never did that! Why is she so gross/bad/loud?" It's been a huge adjustment, but the hardest part has been at night. We keep her in a cage at night, mainly because I don't trust her to not chew on everything. Usually she'll whine for about ten minutes, then she's good until around 6:00 am. She'll start barking, normally I get up and let her out. But over the past week it's gotten worse.
Two nights ago she started barking at 3:39 am, I was ready to kill her. My wife and I were both exhausted, it had been one of the most stressful weeks of our lives, and the last thing we needed was a barking dog at twenty to four. My wife has made numerous comments about taking her back. We were even looking at shock collars yesterday as a last attempt to get her to stop.
Last night we both were worn out, both from poor sleep for a week, and the highly stressful events of the previous week still. We both needed sleep. Recently the need for prayer has been hitting me a lot. And so laying on the couch last night petting Rosie and getting ready to put her in the cage for the night I told me wife that we were going to pray over the dog. For the first time since we've had her, she didn't whine last light, and didn't bark at all this morning. We both slept through the night, and after I had woken up she started to softly whine to be let outside. As she was outside, I layed on the couch and just said "Thank you," to God over and over.
I gave her food, and water, and layed back down to just pray some more, fully out of gratitude for rest. Once she had finished eating she came and lay down quietly beside me, and we had the best morning we've had in a long time.
God works in the small things to show us He cares. Both my wife and I needed sleep so we could recover from everything that's happened. And after asking God, He gave it to us. There is a lot going on right now that needs prayer, and after last night my faith has been strengthened by seeing that God really does care.
Currently I'm in a situation where God has asked me to do something and I've said yes. I'm still not totally crazy about it, but God has asked me and I want to faithfully serve Him. Last night God showed me that He cares. That when I come to Him, He will literally give me rest (Matthew 11.28). I cannot do what God has asked me to do without Him. I don't have the strength, patience, or ability in myself to do it. But last night God began to show me that the words He spoke to Joshua thousands of years ago are the same words He is speaking to me now. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1.9).
Dog has been called "Man's best friend." They are loyal, faithful, and loving no matter what. They are there to cheer you up, comfort you, and play with you. One of the biggest joys I have is when Rosie is waiting at the door when I get home. Her face just says, "I've been sitting here waiting for you for hours, and if you leave again, I'll do the same thing until you get back!" I keep thinking of the movie UP and the dog collars that speak the dog's thoughts.
I don't think it's accidental that the dog has been given that title, those characteristics, and God's name spelled backwards. People often debate over whether animals go to Heaven, and as I've thought about it and read the Bible, part of me really thinks they might. The Bible says that all things are being made new (Revelation 21.5) and that all of creation groans for the appearing of the Sons of God (Romans 8.18-22). Again, I don't know for sure, just taking what the Bible does say and following it to a possible conclusion. If all things are made new, if all of creaion groans, if Jesus came to save the world that God loves (John 3.16) why couldn't animals be included?
Not sure why that last bit got into this. Anyway, in dogs we see so many characteristics of God: unconditional and unceasing love, constant loyalty, a faithful confidant, and a desire to be our best friend. Growing up from junior high until moving out of the house, I had Molly, an English Springer Spaniel who is still clinging to life. I love that dog, whenever I'd come home from school at night she'd wake up and meet me at the door, then she'd sit next to me on the floor. Rosie doesn't yet have the same place in my heart that Molly does, but I'm sure as we go through the next several years together they will be tied. I believe that God gave us dogs to show us some of who He is, and to give us a companion that will constantly remind us of His desire to be Man's best friend, who gives unconditional and unceasing love, constant loyalty, and is an ever faithful confidant.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
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