Jesus told a parable about a path, rocks, thorns, and fertile ground that illustrates the great difficulty required to reach the fertile ground of God’s glory.  Jesus taught that there is a seed to be sown, and contrary to modern “faith” preachers, Jesus did not say the seed is money.  He said:  “The seed is the Word of God.” 

That word is not just the Bible, the written word, but the living Word of the voice of God speaking to human hearts in our generation.  Jesus said;  “My sheep hear My voice.” 

When God speaks, what He says hits us in 4 ways:

1)  God’s words can land on the hard places in our heart, which, like a well-traveled path, don’t allow the seed of what God says to take root.  There are areas in our heart that the word cannot penetrate.  To move towards God’s glory, we must have the guts to allow the Holy Spirit to break up the hard ground in us.

2) God’s words can land on the stony areas of our soul that don’t have much soil.  Here His words may begin to grow in us, but not be able to grow deep roots.  When trouble or criticism comes, it rips God’s word right out of our heart.

3) What God says to us can land among our heart’s thorns — the things that capture our attention and distract us from God.  Jesus said that the thorns are the worries of our daily lives, the seduction of money, and our own desires.  These things take what God says to us and squeezes it out of our heart so that we don’t obey His word.  His voice gets ignored and cannot produce the lifestyle He has planned for us.

4) God’s words can land on fertile soil in our soul, where we hear, accept what He says, and allow it to permanently alter our thinking and behavior so that His kingdom comes and His will is done in us, as it is in Heaven.  That’s glory.

The way of growth in God requires us to acquire the spiritual disciplines and skills and the courage to break up the hard places, get rid of the rocks, and pull up the thorns in our heart.  Then what God says to us can take deep root in the good soil of our heart and begin to produce what the New Testament calls the “ever-increasing glory” that “changes us into His image.” 

To read this parable in Jesus’ own words, turn in a Bible to Matthew 4:1-20.  Enjoy!

Earlier this week on the blog for girls, we began a study on the names/descriptions of Jesus found in the gospel of John. The first name is Word. (See John 1:1-2, John 1:14 and Rev 19:13). In these verses, the original Greek is “logos” which can be described as the entirety of God’s declaration. I think of it as all encompassing.

But, the Greeks had lots of words which we often translate into the same English word.  One example is the “word” Jesus quoted  (originally from Deuteronomy) during his temptation by the devil in the desert.

“…Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”  (Matthew 4:4 NIV).

The original Greek for ”word” Jesus spoke in the desert is not logos but “rhema.” Vines defines it as an utterance, a speech, a discourse. I think of it as a specific utterance rather than the entirety of God’s word.

Obviously, God’s word is his word, whether it be a smaller passage or the scriptures as a whole.  

So why are the original words different in the Greek?

Have you ever been in a desperate place, with a terrific need for a specific word of encouragement or hope from God? Something that would keep you going?

You had faith. You knew Christ as your Saviour, yet you needed something specific to get through a storm?

That’s rhema. We live on the very word of God. We need it daily, in digestible pieces. It sustains us, grows us. We don’t need only the knowledge of the gospel and the salvation Christ offers for the end of our lives, we need the Word to live — day by day. 

So, my favorite Daddy phrase applies. “Same thing, just different” – and all good!

I think of  a person who avoids conflict and tries hard to keep harmony within a group. You might even go so far as to think of them as people-pleasers.

Is that a weakness?

Are you now thinking “doormat?” It wouldn’t surprise me. Society doesn’t send many messages about being peacekeepers.

But, in the beatitudes, Christ said:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God  

Matt 5:9 (NIV).

Let’s remind ourselves of two things:

1) Blessed in these verses means “happy.”

2) The scripture preceeding this verse reads, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Might we put these two beatitudes together and get:

Pure heart toward God  + Peaceful attitude toward men  =  Formula for Happy Person

If the point of being peaceful toward men is to glorify God, then I think the doormat image tends to disappear. It shifts motive from self to God. From fear to strength.

Someone who’s not afraid to stand for God and his word, but prefers peace over drama whenever possible – that sounds strong to me.

It takes strength to stand for God’s rights and strength to choose peace over confrontation when it’s only my “rights” at stake.

What do you say? What situations are the hardest to be peacemakers? Or when is it necessary to stand up for God even when it displeases people around you?

I opened my Bible to Luke 11 to get the context. The scripture noted was Christ’s response to a woman’s declaration after witnessing Jesus cast out a demon from a mute man.

 ²⁷As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

 ²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”    Luke 11:27 – 28 NIV

The first few words of verse 28 reminded me of the beatitude verses we’ve been studying. Today, we come to the following.

Matthew 5:7 – 8  (NIV)

Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.

Heart is the connector for me on all of these verses. I believe Jesus’s response in Luke 11:28 urges us to see we are not blessed based on birth, family position, or position in society. Rather, a person is blessed if they will hear the word of God and be changed by it. A true change creates resulting actions.

Mercy is an act of compassion. Compassion comes from the heart.

Mercy, compassion, pureness of heart — they all come from a willingness to hear the word of God and be changed by it. A willing heart. A heart with faith.

The faith-filled heart is a foundation to all things of importance. This too, is a gift from God.

Lord, fill us with renewed faith today. Overcome our doubts, and our unbelief, our grief. Faith releases us to obey  Your promptings. I praise you, Jesus, as the author and perfector of my faith. (see Hebrews 12:2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c24En0r-lXg  Let Faith Arise, by Chris Tomlin.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they will be filled.”

I don’t know about you, but in my opinion, a couple of words in this verse likely evoke different thoughts in today’s culture than when originally spoken. “Hunger” and “righteousness.” 

Have you ever experienced a desperate state of hunger? I haven’t, not to a point of entering starvation. It’s always been within my ability to satisfy my need (or to be real, more often my desired craving.)

What about righteousness? Outside of scripture, the most common form I hear of this word is “self-righteous.”  What a negative connotation that brings, and the opposite of what the verse addresses.

Matthew 5:6 is saying those who recognize their own emptiness and inability to satisfy a true hunger for right standing before the holy God, they will be filled. Not the ones who only want the benefits of a mighty God. Not ones who want to compare themselves to others and be called righteous. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness recognize a crucial need for knowing God and being close to Him, and understand they must rely on God to fill that need.

I’m reminded of a song, part of the lyrics say, “Blessed are the ones who understand, we’ve nothing to bring but empty hands.” The song is Fall Apart by Josh Wilson.

Here the entire song here, with lyrics posted.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKISYTwnn0A

God, here are my empty hands.

Matthew 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (KJV)

Meek means gentle, mild. Webster’s gives one word: submissive.Jesus is our best example of being meek. He described himself this way.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (KJV)

 Jesus treated man with gentleness and mildness. Remember when the adulterous woman was about to be stoned, and Jesus did not condemn her? Even when Jesus was arrested and his disciples drew swords to defend him, cutting off the ear of a Roman soldier, Jesus says “No, I’m not leading a revolt.” (my paraphrase).

Being gentle and mild with people around us shows a submission to God and his dealing with us.

Jesus taught the people with great authority. Jesus stood up to repeated attacks by the Pharisees and though gentle, he was direct and bold in his answers. He even told them He was the Lord of the Sabbath when they “caught” him “working” on this day. (See Matthew 12: 1 – 8).

So, meek does not mean weak. Meek means confident in God, to the point of being submissive to His plans and dealing with you. Be bold for him with gentleness toward others, confident in heart of who you belong to.

This week, I’ve read posts on Facebook and blogs of mothers sending their first child off to college, and others sending their last. Lots of red eyes and wet cheeks can be found on those campuses. And I bet they’ll continue behind the walls of homes for weeks ahead.

Still others are mourning a more lasting loss, that of a friend, a parent, a spouse, even a child. I read another update about a wife who held her husband in her arms practically two days straight after leaving the hospital for home.  She cradled him as he left this earth.

Mourning meets every one of our lives. Mostly, it is out of our control to hide from it. However, there is a type of mourning that we can actually choose.  Let’s consider the next verse in the beatitudes since our last post.

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

In this verse, the original Greek word for ‘mourn’ is ‘pentheo’.  It refers  to a general mourning, or lament. Other Greek words specifically tie mourning to death and suffering. According to my Bible dictionary, ‘pentheo’ can encompass death, sorrow for sin, grief over condoned sin, grief for a church, sorrow over Babylonian system- it is an encompassing use of the word mourn. 

So, if we read this verse from Matthew and extend our thoughts of mourning beyond death of a loved one to include the examples above, we might see a heart condition behind the word ‘mourn’.  If  we mourn over sin in our own lives, if we mourn for the lack of God in our own actions, in an alive joy for His word in our churches, in the disregard for our God’s ways in our world – that is a heart condition. A heart condition that exalts God and His Ways to the point of grieving (as opposed to shaking our heads and rolling or eyes).

But what about the mourning we choose?

There is a personal mourning we can willingly take on when we give up something we dearly want, solely because we know God is telling us to. I’ve done that on some occassions and He has truly comforted me and made me happier on the other side of it. By choosing to be obedient in giving up something I desired to chase (mourning it), I experienced pain and heartache, and some consequences. But in that place (weak, yet obedient) I clung to my God and He comforted me, and gave me a bright joy after the hurt.

It reminds me of a song lyric that uses ‘morning’ (get it, a homophone to ‘mourning’ – okay so maybe it’s a

word-nerd thing).

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

A great song by Darrell Evans. Here’s a video of the song with all the lyrics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KsfwvpcQhY

This is the first in the vereses we refer to as “The Beatitudes.”

We already established that “blessed” in these verses is from the Greek word “makarios.”  This means “happy.”

Happy are the poor in spirit. Hmmm, this seems to make no sense. If someone is poor in spirit, I think of them as being upset, depressed, sad. Happy are the sad? 

What does poor in spirit really mean?  The original word for poor really translates poor. Not sad, but poor, meaning in need, as a beggar. The original word for spirit comes from the Greek  ”pneuma.”  The Vines translation explains it as the element in which a man perceives, reflects, feels, desires.

If we use additional words to relay the meaning, the verse might read something like “Blessed with happiness are those who are needy beggars in their own hearts and minds, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To use fewer words, it might say, ” Happy are those who aren’t full of pride and entitlement, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

We don’t like to think of ourselves as prideful, but it creeps into our thinking all the time.

I’ve been a good wife, mother, employee – surely God could do this one thing for me. An entitled, deserving way of thinking.

At least I haven’t acted like him/her – comparing yourself to others again thinks your behavior has earned something.

Least we think God is harsh in saying we must recognize our beggar state before Him, remember His desire is to reward us with the kingdom of heaven. 

An unfair trade, in our favor.

To say that Friday, the day before, was traumatic would be an understatement of epic proportion. It was, with out a doubt, one of the worst days of my life. It was not the type of terrible that I felt when I lost my Grandfather… I knew that his death was immenent… I had a chance to spend his last days with him. I sang hymns to him and talked to him, although he couldn’t talk back. My heart was broken knowing that the man that showed God’s love to all, who was a Saint to everyone who knew him, would no longer walk with us mere mortals down here on this earth was crushing. But Daddy John was in pain, and he was suffering, and I knew that we all had to let him go. He had lived a miraculous life. He would give anyone in need the shirt off of his back or the last few dollars in his pocket. He adopted a child although he had children of his own because he loved God’s little one’s. He worked hard but never had much… but he always had enough and was always willing to share if he had anything extra. He spoke softly, and rarely spoke at all… but when he did everyone strained to hear because while his words were few they were thoughtful and full of love. He has a sparkle in his eye and a sweet grin…The legacy that he left for all who were blessed to know him and to learn from him was “It truly is in giving that we received…” as Jesus said, “Every thing is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23. My  Grandfather believed, and his belief was the seed that he planted in us all.

My aunt Mitzi was born in 1938…  months pre-mature. My Grand momma stepped on a nest of bees.  Being deathly allergic, she developed such a high fever that her taste buds literally burned away. Miraculously my Grand momma lived… but from that time on she could only tell whether food was salty or spicy or sweet… that didn’t prevent her from being the best cook I have ever known even though she couldn’t even taste the flavor of her own food! My aunt lived too…although she only weighed 2 pounds… in 1938! My grandparents, at the recommmendation of the wise doctors of the day, fed her Eagle Brand milk with a dropper day and night to keep her alive. We all have stories of survival… and  stories of sacrifice. But sacrifice for people we love is not a burden but a gift freely given… with nothing expected in return but that the gift be accepted, and that the love that comes from it to be shared.

My Grandfather fell off of a barn and broke his back when my mother was a baby. When the rescue workers came they were amazed that he was alive considering he was snapped in two…the back of his head was touching his rear…his back was broken. He was totally paralyzed. He was driven the long hours on winding bumpy roads, before any interstate systems made traveling what we know it to be today… in 1948 he was transported to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota from Greeneville, Tennessee. He had three young children at home; the love of his entire life, my Grand momma; a farm with crops and cattle to tend… and he wished he were dead. He didn’t want to be a burden. But God had plans for him… God had much more for him to do.So Daddy John laid on a board, perfectly still… enduring surgeries that he couldn’t afford and being away from everyone and everything that he knew… for months and months. But he lived. And he came back.  And he walked. And he farmed his land, and loved his wife, and took care of his family and community and left memories that touched lives of hundreds if not thousands of people that he met over his 90 years of life. He was my hero.

Martin Luther  King, Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”

Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”

Nido Qubein said, “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”

I know sad. I’ve know the deaths of people that I loved. I have had miscarriages. That was a terrible grief …the loss of  someone that was my own that would never be… a future ended before it even began… a loss of something wanted yet unknown. The unfulfilled possibilities. Friday afternoon I felt a similar  kind of grief and loss that I felt when I miscarried… But this time it was my own heart that seemed to stop beating. I was so shocked I couldn’t breath. I couldn’t cry. I thought that my “situation”  would be so obvious, so grave that even a person who had no prior knowledge of my last 20 years would somehow be able to see… would divinely have their mind and heart opened. That was my prayer… that the judge would hear, and be decerning and see the truth… but she is a human judge and can only make a decision on what her human ears hears… and what her human eyes see and what her human understanding knows. She trusts that people on the stand take their oaths seriously. I keep learning lessons about good and evil. I have some peace knowing that there is a higher Judge that knows all and sees all and He will be the one that each of us must be accountible to one day.

Grief at the loss of something that would have been beautiful… that should have happened but didn’t… that could have been the fresh start that I needed and that three of my four children dreamed about… with the fourth conflicted, but willing to leave what he has known here for 10 years to go somewhere else that he has known for longer. I just wanted to go home. A place where I know that we would be taken care of… a place that my children feel unconditional love. A place of peace. But we can’t go. A judge says we can’t go, so we have to stay where we are. How can you tell a judge that there is an iceburg lurking under the deep dark water when all that they see is the tip that doesn’t look very menacing? How can a judge see all of the colors and textures that have created an intricate and complicated portrait when all that is provided is a pencil, a timer and a representative to tell your story through questions, objections, and “yes” or “no” answers?

Yesterday I had to take my children to school… the school that I thought we would be leaving. My popular eldest son was greeted with smiles and hand-shakes… my eldest daughter wished she were anywhere but there. She wanted to be near her grandparents, her cousins, her friends, her new brother and sister and her new “bonus” dad… yes, my new husband and his children. All of our loved ones were waiting for us and wanting us…but the judge said the children had to stay… and everyone knows that I would never leave my children. Their father who sees them 6 days out of 30 wouldn’t let us go. I am really not sure how a person can have that much power over other people’s lives… but it happened. He succeeded. The papers where I was sued for full custody of my children, his pain and suffering,his legal fees,  jail time for me and a fine (for having my now husband and his children in our home before we were married) was delivered to me the day before my birthday.  The only thing that makes any sense to me is that the judge thought that she was being fair by not giving me what I wanted… I didn’t get to leave…and not giving him what he wanted… but the irony is that he never wanted custody anyway. His attorney was overheard telling that he didn’t really want full custody anyway. It was just a “strategy”. Did anybody tell the judge? Would it have even mattered or been “heresay”?  He got his way. He always gets his way. The ends always justify the means.  He wanted me here… He told me a year ago that I was stuck. I guess he really was right. I can get a divorce… but I am still stuck.

Here I am… until God works a miracle and the father of my children sees that we want to go and that the only person who got his way was him… or until my youngest child is 19. Ten more years. What is 10 more years when I have been doing what he wants me to do for the past 20?

But I had a dream in those Saturday morning early hours, and this is what happened: I knew I was dreaming because I had over the years often had a dream about driving a car with faulty brakes. Sometimes the brakes were slow to stop… I would have to pump them or slam my foot on them. Eventually the car will stop, although it might be several feet from where I meant to stop… or sometimes the car will skid into something and stop… another car, a tree, a curb.

“I can’t find anything wrong with them” the guy at the shop would always tell me.. so I leave frustrated and worried because I know that it will just happen agan… and I don’t know when or where, but I know that my brakes don’t work right… and it’s only a matter of time before something  bad happens.

Saturday morning my dream took a brand new twist. This time there was a passenger in my car… my mom. I was also in a parking lot high up on a hill top. I tried to pull into a space to park, but my car kept rolling toward the edge of the lot. I knew that we were high.  The car did it’s regular routine of not stopping when I wanted it to, so we rolled closer and closer to the edge…but in the past it had always stopped, and I was certain that it would stop again. I took comfort in knowing that even if I couldn’t control the brakes, even if I was frustrated and worried,  that it would be ok… it always had been ok. Not good, but no terrible damage done except making me scared. So, when we slowed at the edge I sighed a big “Whew!”

But the car didn’t stop. We went right over the edge. It was a sheer rocky cliff with nothing to stop the fall. But we didn’t nose dive as a car would have done in real life… we flew off the cliff… going fast and decending and out-of-control… and I knew that when people fell off of high cliffs that meant that a crash was imminent, and that death was likely, so in my mind… because I was too scared to make a sound… I said to my mom, “I love you.” and she said back without words, “I know.” Then before the car landed I woke up. My heart was racing and my initial reaction was that I had just had a very bad dream… but then I started to calm down and breath and within seconds the quote by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. came to me. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

I realized that it didn’t end. I didn’t crash or die. I didn’t know what was going to happen but even with the fear and the uncertainty, even with the knowledge that I was completely in a situation that was out of my control,  that the prevalent, dominant, last feelings I remembered before I woke were hope and love.

Rev. King also said this, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Ella Baker said, “Give light and people will find the way.”

Robert Frost said, “The best way out is always through.”

We will make it through. My children and I… and my new beautiful husband will make it through. We will do it with light and laughter and faith and hope and most of all love. It might take time, but I have learned to wait. I trust that God is at work to give me the desires of my heart in His perfect time… not in my impatient time. I am terribly sad, but I know that there is a reason that I just cannot see right now… maybe it is to get finances settled, or to have a transition period to put all things in order before so many new things happen at one time. I don’t know, but I have faith that if God leads me to it, He will see me through it… and I have gotten this far following Him. I will hold tightly to His hand even if I cannot see where he leads and KNOW that where He will take me is far better than anything that I can imagine.

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me onto glory.” Psalm 73:23

As the old prayer ends “And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” Peace. Light.  And Love.

Most people feel it infers something received from God.

When a family moves to a new house, sometimes they’ll say,           “We’re very blessed.” Or, if everyone’s healthy, we’ll say, “We’re so blessed.”  That’s how I usually hear this word, in reference to  something that’s profitable, either materially or emotionally.

I don’t think this is incorrect. It’s right to thank God and acknolwedge him as the giver of wonderful things in our lives.

We read this in Genesis 12: 1 – 3. God tells Abraham he will bless him, and that he will bless all the people on the earth through him.

The Greek translation of the word “bless” in this passage is “barak,” a verb that literally means “to bless.”  One definition in Webster’s dictionary defines this as “to favor divinely.”

However, if that’s where we stop with the word “blessed,” we are missing another meaning. Blessed can infer something that God gives which is not of the tangible variety.

The Greek translation of “blessed” in many verses is “makarios.”  This means “happy.”

Happiness is an internal gift from the Lord, which should not be dependent upon circumstances. In fact, one of the most studied pieces of scripture in the entire Bible uses this form of “blessed” nine times. And the circumstances the word “blessed” is coupled with in these verses don’t necessarily make us think “happy!” At least not in our way of understanding.

I’m referring to The Beatitudes, also known as The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5: 3 – 12.  I’ll be studying and blogging on these verses in coming posts. I hope you’ll begin studying them and praying over them with me. Let’s see what God will reveal to us.

In the meantime, thank God for all of the ways he has blessed you in the “barak” meaning. Be specific with your praises and thanksgiving!

Holy Spirit is more than willing to take us on deep journeys of truth much like plunging into water.  When I was younger I went swimming often, spending most of my time in the end of the pool where my feet touched bottom.  But the more familiar I got with water, the more confidence I gained and the more daring I became so that eventually I dove deep to the bottom of the pool.  It was only there where the noise above was muted and even silenced, and it was at the bottom where I would find little treasures, usually money, because only a few people wanted to go that deep.  I can only imagine what it must be like for deep-sea divers as they traverse the deepest, darkest parts of this universe, far away from all the noise above, to discover treasures out of reach for most of us.

So it is with the Word of God. We can read and enjoy our devotional time, attend an occasional bible study, and listen to a sermon.  But the more consistently we soak in His Word, the more familiar we get, the more confidence we gain in God, and the more daring our lives in Christ become so that we dive deep into the mysteries of Him who saved us. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”  

It is only in the depths of God’s love and truth that the voices of this world are muted or even silenced and we desire to hear only His voice above all others.  Psalm 29:3-4 “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” Unfortunately, many of us do not spend enough time hanging out in His Word (the pool) so are not even familiar with the surroundings, and others of us are satisfied staying where we feel safe and comfortable(in the shallow end) instead of seeking Him in His secret place (the deep end of the pool).  This familiarity only leads to boredom where nothing is new or exciting, thus we get out of the pool of His Word and onto the splash pad of this world.  The splash pad only brings temporary relief from the heat and is only so much fun.  The immersion effect from being in the depths of His knowledge, love, and truth is SO much better and gives permanent relief and everlasting joy!

Recently I have been plunged into the depth of an old familiar story as my husband and I teach on the various petitions of the Lord’s Prayer at our church.  Holy Spirit has taken me deep into His Word, given me a fresh outlook, and an exciting “in-look” into a prayer I have known for decades.  I have been renewed and electrified with fresh awe-inspiring truths of His Name, His Word, and His Truth. 

I have never known a time in my life when I did not know Jesus as My Lord and Savior and I would guess I learned this prayer as early as three or four years old. I admit very often I prayed it just because everyone else did and at other times I gave serious thought to what I was praying.  I remember memorizing the petitions along with their meanings from Luther’s Small Catechism in confirmation classes, enjoying every minute of it. (I joke that the reason I loved studying the Word even at an early age was because I had no social life and though that is true, the reality is God had a hold on me and Jesus WAS my social life for which I praise Him). Yet, over the years I stopped praying this prayer as often, and have only recently discovered I had let the familiar become mundane instead of highly esteeming it.

Jesus spoke to His disciples and us about prayer in Matthew 6.  Three times in verses 5-7 He tells them what to do “when” they pray; no need to garner attention by praying to impress Him or others and vain repetition was forbidden.  However, they were to pray to their Father in the secret place because He sees in secret and will reward openly.  Then Jesus goes on to instruct what to say when we pray using the words we have titled “The Lord’s Prayer”.  Verses 9-13 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

These are beautiful words but also come with deep meaning to be discovered throughout our journey of life.  Luke 11 shares the same words but gives a little more insight into what was happening before Jesus told them to pray. Verses 1-4 “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’ So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Hopefully you see these words of our Lord are meant to serve as a catalyst to prayer and as motivation to develop a prayer life like Him. Notice the disciple did not say “Lord, teach us how to pray” but “Lord, teach us to pray”.  This is our clue that the disciples watched and admired Jesus’ prayer life which resulted in magnifying their own lack of zealous prayer or else they wouldn’t have made this request.  They were spurned on as a result of seeing Jesus pray and wanted to be like Jesus!  He had no problem responding quickly and affirmatively, “When you pray, say…”  

Unfortunately some people have toted these words of Jesus as merely a “model” prayer, meant to teach us how to pray but obviously this is much more than a “model”.  The words we pray/say are important.  We are to pray this prayer using these words that Jesus said to say, AND we are to grab hold of more profound truths by diving deeper into His bottomless ocean of truth.

We must understand how important words really are. In fact, they are so weighty that as Christians it is imperative we speak the Word and pray the Word using the words in the Word!  Words communicate our thoughts, feelings, information, instructions, and promises.  We can certainly communicate to some degree without words, (and many of us would be wise to talk less) but nonetheless, words help convey and impart our heart to other people.  Thus when Jesus says when we pray, say… and then we pray, say what He said, we are conveying and imparting our heart to our Father according to the Word, as well as allowing Him to convey and impart His heart to us.

It is interesting that Jesus said when we pray, “say…” and yet people say He didn’t really mean to say those words exactly.  They cite His earlier words not to use vain repetitions. We have only to back up and see what Jesus really said so that we say what He said to say.  Jesus said “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites…they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets…” and “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do…”

He did not tell us not to pray the words He taught!  His warning is not to be like hypocrites and heathen who pray to be seen and heard by men instead of having their hearts pierced in the secret place with God. We read this in Isaiah 29:13 “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me…”  Jesus wasn’t saying it is wrong to pray in public or wrong to recite prayers.  He was saying the motives of the heart count and then teaches us to pray so that we are heard by our Father in heaven!

We cannot and should not underestimate the value of the words Jesus said to say! He said “In this manner, therefore, pray…” Matthew 6:9 and “When you pray, say…” Luke 11:2. There is no indication He meant for us not to take this literally.  There is every indication He meant for us to say it, do it, and live it! 

So take the plunge!  Say what Jesus said to pray!  Don’t be afraid to pray this prayer!  As long as you don’t do it in vain, without purpose or meaning, you can repeat it as often as you like!  Holy repetition is a good thing – vain repetition is not! Let God stimulate you today as you pray and let Him splash you with His joy, renovate you in His presence, do something new and fresh in your thought life, and surprise you with a new outlook!  Let Him take you deeper!  You will hear His voice in the deep and you will find treasures that can be found only in Him!

Jesus said:  “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”  There is a spiritual flow from deep within believers waiting to be released.  We need to open the watergate and let it flow. 

Here are some quotations about God’s rivers:

“The Holy Spirit will unleash a river of life within you that will shoot up like a fountain and refill you.  All that has drained you of energy and hope will be submerged and will dissipate beneath its strong current.”  –Michelle McKinney Hammond

“See to it that you are filled with the Spirit, and Jesus will see to it that out of your life shall flow rivers of holy influence and power to bless the world.”  –Samuel Logan Brengle

“Jesus is rivers of living water.  He is like streams which flow through dry places to irrigate the land and enable it to be fruitful.  He does this in us by His Spirit.”  –Sarah Hornsby

One who walks in the Spirit is pouring out that which the Spirit pours in — His joy, His peace, His patience, His goodness, His faithfulness.”  –Esther Burroughs

“We need to receive the living water which Jesus Christ will give us and which alone can satisfy our souls.”  –Sadhu Sundar Singh

“Keep your relationship right with Jesus.  He is pouring out rivers of living water through you.  –Oswald Chambers

“The evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the outflow.”  –Esther Burroughs

“Inner enlightenment wells up forcefully within the person.”  –Abraham Isaac Kook

“Revival is being absolutely filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.”  –Roy Hession

“Jesus says; ‘Out of the desert of your life shall burst forth the abundance of My life, rivers of living water.  These rivers cannot be contained but must flow to the ocean of humanity feeding people around you with all the good things I have given you.”  –Sarah Hornsby

“The Holy Spirit can flow from you as living waters, as a river of life, that brings the life-giving touch of God to those around you.”  –Jim Feeny

“Strive to be a vessel for Jesus Christ through which living water flows.”  –Esther Burroughs

“Whatsoever relations believers held to the Spirit in the beginning, they have a right to claim today.”  –A.J. Gordon

“Let Your living water flow over my soul.  Let Your Holy Spirit come and take control.”  –John Watson

What caused the media stir?

Comments Hawking made in a recent interview saying, “The brain is a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers, that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.”

I figure a huge percentage of the population didn’t know who Stephen Hawking was before these comments. The media’s promotion of  his comments has since spread his name into many household, water-cooler, and online discussions.

Society loves to debate, it thrives on controversy. We move from one “15 minute of fame” incident to another. And we also make much of ourselves and our ideas. How many books and articles are centered on self-esteem and self-worth, emphasis on self?

I pray to keep a perspective that is found in Matthew 16: 13 – 19. The critical question for myself and my life is asked by Jesus to Peter.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16: 15 NIV

This is the most critical question in life.

Based on his comments regarding heaven, it appears Stephen Hawking has answered the question for himself.  But instead of focusing on what he’s said or getting angry about it, I pray he may yet change his heart and mind to discover faith in the truth. Beyond that, I keep answering and living the question for myself. I agree with the disciple Peter’s response.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Matthew 16:16 NIV

When Jesus arrived at Calvary where He was crucified after being severely beaten and treated worse than a common criminal, His clothes were ripped off His body, divided and taken as the people just stood by and watched the humiliation continue. The rulers sneered and looked at the people saying to them “…He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” (Luke 23:35)  If those rulers knew what they were doing they would not have challenged Jesus with that “IF”!  And if the people knew what they were doing they would not have stood by as mere spectators!  And if the soldiers knew what they were doing they would not have blurted out their big “IF” as they taunted and mocked Jesus, insulting Him even further by offering sour wine. “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” (Luke 23:37) If Jesus had taken them up on their “if’s” and saved Himself where would we be? And if we know Who He is, what are we going to do about it? 

Jesus ignored their “if’s” and obeyed His Father, fulfilling His will instead of saving Himself, and in the process saved all of us! After Jesus’ own people, the soldiers, and the rulers had falsely accused and condemned Him who was innocent, doing everything to annihilate Him, Jesus did the unthinkable! He talked to His Dad on their behalf! “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’…” (Luke 23:34)

Those two words, “Jesus said…” are found repeatedly in the Gospels and they should make us stop and listen up!  There is much power packed in them because everything Jesus said serves as a pattern for us to follow today!  With this in mind we do not have the liberty to ignore anything He said, make light of it, put it off, or come against it! In fact, the only wise and prudent response when Jesus says something is to do it! When we see “Jesus said…” in the Bible we ought to look carefully at what follows, knowing it is a Word for us today!    

In this verse, Jesus establishes the pattern of forgiveness!  Part of unfolding this pattern is taking note of why Jesus asked His Father to forgive these people.  After all, Jesus is God and Father knew the people did not know what they were doing and since Jesus did not sin He was not in need of Father’s forgiveness.  However, we do sin and there are many who sin against us who are in need of our Father’s forgiveness which is why we must note the “pattern” Jesus demonstrated here.  We are commanded to pray for and love our enemies! Jesus prayed for His enemies in the midst of pain and suffering.  We must do the same! The one thing our enemies need is forgiveness! Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”

Likewise, what are we continually in need of?  Forgiveness!  Mark 11:25-26 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” We need to forgive so that we can be forgiven!  We must not put it off until we’re ready, confess it is too hard, or determine our enemies do not deserve it. Father God is very serious about forgiveness – He must be since He sent His One and Only Son to forgive so that we would understand the gravity of our sin!  Jesus shed His blood that we would be forgiven and forgive!  Think on that!

Jesus said…Father forgive them!  If Jesus said, then we must say it as well!  And we must say it out loud like Jesus did! That is the pattern which He set!  Oh, I know it doesn’t specifically state “out loud” prayers of forgiveness here in Mark 11 but the phrase “stand praying” suggests speaking out prayers to God.  Standing was the typical position the Jewish people took when praying for others because it showed how they held the world up in prayer, in other words, the world was held up by their “standings” (prayers). And we cannot pray sincerely for God to do good for our enemies if we have not forgiven from the heart – so we forgive in our heart and express it with our words. 

This pattern Jesus established is also crucial to our understanding of communicating with God.  Even though Father already knows what is necessary in each situation we are still instructed to ask Him but we are not to “pray” vain repetitions thinking we will be heard but pray from our heart!  Matthew 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them (heathen). For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”  So why ask Him to forgive the people who have wronged us if He already knows? We do it because we need to get real with ourselves and talk to Father personally, intimately, and specifically.  Notice it isn’t a “general” prayer by Jesus!  He details exactly why they need forgiveness  “because they do not know what they do”.  It is important to be specific in forgiving people who have wronged us for our sake,for their sake, and most of all, for Jesus’ sake!    

You see Jesus had already forgiven the people and then He prayed FOR them. This pattern gives the perfect opportunity for us to clean house, forgive people, and then ask Father in Jesus’ Name!  John 16:23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing.  Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” By asking Father to forgive in Jesus’ Name we are completely surrendering to Him the people who wronged us! We relinquish our right to hold on to un-forgiveness along with its effects; hurt, disappointment, resentment, bitterness, anger, and desire for retribution. 

Even though people sin against us, we are still not blameless or without sin in our lives yet Jesus forgives us when we confess and repent!  I know!  There are people who sin against us who don’t confess their sin or even acknowledge they are in sin – but still – Look at the pattern – None of the people persecuting Jesus were repentant yet He forgave them and asked Father to do the same! 

Let’s face it – Jesus knew He was going to die!  When He was nailed to the cross He knew it was only a matter of time.  He set the pattern for forgiveness which is prompt!  NOW is the time!  And forgiveness is perpetual as we stay in a constant mode of forgiving and being forgiven. Let’s be like Jesus – forgive while the hurt is on!  Waiting only risks our own freedom! 

Look in the newspaper or online today and see all the tragic endings to life!  I’m sure the people who were sightseeing wildfires didn’t expect to crash within thirty minutes of take-off and have their lives ended.  I’m sure the two people killed in a head-on collision on an interstate highway had no clue when they got in their cars to go home it would be their last drive.  I’m certain the young person killed in a drive-by shooting didn’t know it was their last night on earth!  The same is true for all those who die as a result of tsunami’s, earthquake’s, fires, tornadoes, flash floods, and the like!

Jesus knew He was dying and why so left a pattern for us to follow as He was going through! None of us know the day or hour of our departure from this life to the next but we all should be keenly aware that we are dying because of sin so we better take care of those things Jesus said to take care of, forgiveness being at the top of His list.  He shed His blood to forgive us our sin and redeem us that we might inherit eternal life!  

Listen to the words Jesus said!  Luke 6:45-49 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Today, dig deep!  Lay a firm foundation on the Rock!  Call Him Lord, and then let’s do what He says!  Let forgiveness reign abundantly in our hearts so that it easily comes forth from our mouths! Don’t let this Easter pass by without doing what Jesus said to do!  Forgive and ask Father to forgive those who have wronged you, whether they know what they are doing or not!  We can’t afford not to!  Jesus suffered, died, and rose again so we could live in a state of forgiveness.  Let’s not hang on to our baggage or anyone else’s! Jesus left it all at the cross – He gave it all up!  Let’s follow His pattern and live in the power of His resurrection! 

I don’t know how many hundreds if not thousands of times I’ve been through sound checks: your spirit is sizzling, your clothes are dazzling, you have your voice ready, your instrument tuned… But no one is going to bless or be blessed unless “they hear” the Sender through “the one who has been sent.” And how can we be sure they can hear unless we go out into their situation in the sanctuary and sit and listen: this is the sound check and it is also sound doctrine- we must be able to discern what is to be said and what is to be heard.

When it comes to sound doctrine checks, I believe we should be our own harshest critic. We need to tear ourselves and our staging down, examine the pieces in the light of Christ and ask Him to rebuild us. Regularly.

This is as true on a wide scale as a local Body, as an individual and on every scale in-between: as a family, in our close discipleship group… Nations, corporations and all institutions do well to follow this principle.

TOGETHER

But, there is only one constructive way to do so: together. If we fail to converse with each other, we stop participating in artistry and become an art critic who can do nothing to alter the work. This is not something for the back board room but for the baptistry: we must publicly profess and corporately confess to release the potential locked up in “having all things in common.” The community of Christ enjoined in continual comely conversation and all forms of communal participation experiences constant invigoration.

Perhaps the frequency of such examination needs not be as great in a larger context as in our moment by moment personal conversation with Christ, but neither should we misconstrue the appearance of the “work of the ministry” as the righteous availing much. Just because something is happening in the Body doesn’t mean something constructive is getting done for the Kingdom of God.

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
1 Corinthians 11:28-29

Good reason indeed to examine ourselves- and “the body” in the relevant scope of examination. We must know when the telescope and the microscope are appropriate- but I’ll leave that for later.

ARE WE SERIOUS ABOUT EKKLESIA IN KOINONIA?

Just as the first followers of Christ continued house to house daily in the breaking of bread, so also the frequency and fervency of our examination and participation in the Body should be a daily walk through life together. Are we serious about seeking the results of ekklesia in koinonia?

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you -unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Can we say Christ is in us when we are wandering around disconnected from His Body? It is for good reason we are commended not to forsake the assembling of ourselves: otherwise we are headless zombies with body parts flailing and lifeless. It has been thus from the beginning…

when God communed with His beloved in the cool of the evening, through the Hebraic pattern of rabbinical walking through promises as commanded in Deuteronomy 6, and in the Christ’s fulfillment of this and all the law.  The constancy of Christ is not found in a momentary or occasional consummation during some weekly quality time, but we function as a body in continual conjugation across the continuum of all of our resources in time and space: “having all things in common” and “house to house.”

When examining the actions and activities of your life and that of your local Body, keep asking why until the answer is “Jesus said…” or “Jesus did…”   Or, if that’s not the answer, then stop it.

BUILDING ON THE LAW AND THE PROPHETs: a GOOD place to begin your self-check

Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets perfectly.  He and His Followers constantly had experiences and conversations in which they examined themselves individually and corporately to the law and prophets; Christ even used the sarcasm and insinuations of the Pharisees to examine – and sometimes cross-examine.

It is the Body now who is carry on in the same manner doing what He commanded and doing what He did that fulfilled what He commanded.  It seems most believers agree with this until it comes to how it was that He fulfilled the Scriptures. After 30 years of sitting with religious believers in many different brands of church institutions, I concluded that I needed to get out and walk with Christ followers. It took another year or two of useless wrangling on Facebook and other social networks for me to reach this conclusion:

The religious believer refuses to accept that how Christ lived is as relevant to their lives as their religious traditions and theological theories.

Seminarians are particularly lost.  It is astounding the volumes of rhetoric that they can produce to obfuscate their rejection of simply following Christ in order to sustain the practices that give them their authority and paychecks.  The Roman Catholics and their progeny- especially those who claim to be Reformers- have now had just as many centuries or more as the Pharisees of Scripture to bind the Body.

Key prophetic phrases from Deuteronomy 6 that precisely predict the life of the first followers of Christ in Acts 2:

• “all the days of your life” = “daily”
• “that it may go well with you” = “having favor with all the people”
• “that you may multiply greatly” = “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved”
• “love the Lord your God all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” = “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Is it any wonder in the environment of such obedience that Acts 2:43 records this description:

“And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.”

God has given us explicit prophetic instruction in the Old Testament and He has shown us the results in the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Why do we think our “Acts” take precedence over those He has lovingly recorded for us?

RADICAL SIMPLICITY

Is God asking too much of us? Is this really radical?  Or, is it just radically simple and therefore unappealing to the educated? It may seem impossibly radical for those Jesus fans who are just standing around watching.  It is common sense- common spiritual sense- for those who are truly intimate team players with Jesus.

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

HEY, FANBOY, ISN’t YOUR LIFESTYLE REALLY THE ISSUE?

If we find our seminary sponsored western lifestyle is not conducive to radical discipleship and we decide that we are not willing to change then our expectations of the efficacy of our faith should be curtailed accordingly. Don’t blame Jesus and don’t beat His Bride when she is being misled by blind guides! Her minister has her thinking her marriage is to be one of convenience and not one resulting in oneness conforming to the One and His Way.

Examining me… impacting the body

In light of the gravity of what Paul has said (“light” and “gravity”- how I’d love to take time to talk about the relevance of this phrase to the Kingdoms of this world, space-time, and the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ)… Urgently I come constantly to the task of testing my consistency: I hold my beliefs up to the Light and set to determining what it is I truly believe.

Can I say I believe something if I do not follow it? If I find I do not follow, I must repent before further corrupting the Body and contaminating the fellowship. I do not attempt to describe or pretend to be a perfect person, but I purpose to be a persuadable person not resisting the perfecting process.

Bringing it down to just ONE verse

When I read this next verse I believe it is VERY important to consider it in it’s context to the TRUE believer. I perceive its meaning is only clear and relevant to the true Christ-following believer.

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4

Paul says, “to everyone who believes.” To be clear, this statement and those surrounding and connected to it are addressed to believers- true, obedient, literally following the Christ believers- ones who examine themselves in the way I’ve been describing.

We MUST learn how we are to determine what constitutes being a true believer or we will read Scriptures such as these- nearly all of the epistles- and we will misapply them and remain undiscerning and indiscriminate in wielding the Sword of God’s Word. We will find our expectations will run aground and we will wreck others faith in the process.

Without discernment, I become exasperated by self-proclaimed “believers.” There have been occasions when I literally have stood waiting for such people to pursue Christ- and been left disappointed and bitter. And to those who say I only need an attitude adjustment or a chill pill, I beg you to read on and avoid glossing over where we are commanded to be deeply involved – or, perhaps more painfully, vice versa: we dig into things with people when we should leave them to God and Satan to sort out.

I have discovered that it is no more likely for a merely mentally assenting believer to spontaneously become a follower than for a sports fan to come leaping up from the stands to enter a game in progress- and on the rare occasions I’ve witnessed such a spectacle, they certainly didn’t contribute to the team’s progress and only brought unwanted attention to themselves and, not surprisingly, a foul or injury becomes inevitable: and I am most certainly speaking of the Body of Christ.

With Scripture as our Guide and the Holy Spirit as our Helper, we learn that there is a discernible progression by which the believer joins the Team of Christ. Otherwise, it seems the believing fan is just as likely to start rooting for the wrong team if they don’t like what they see on the field or disagree with what the Coach (a retired Player Himself) is saying.

There are many fans who will clearly just want to be cheerleaders and then there are those who want to wear a uniform but would be quite put out if it were somehow to become soiled. They’d rather just get their jersey autographed and get back to their clean and comfortable life in the stands.

Perhaps I’m taking this analogy a step too far, but in being a fan, or an uninvolved non-participating believer, allows only indirect participation in any blessings the winning team will receive on earth and certainly does not entitle them to any of the season’s winnings, a championship ring or induction into the Hall of Fame. Who notices when a fan retires? But I digress.

WHAT WOULD JESUS SWALLOW?

I have found it helpful to my sanity to learn to differentiate between mentally assenting believers and the following faithful. When I fail to make such a distinction, I can end up in useless conversations, wasting extreme amounts of energy, and eventually burned out and sometimes burned up as the end result. Leaving the ninety-nine applies to sheep, not goats – we are not called to pursue the obstinate bucking animals, but those who have been transformed into meek Christ-followers and yet have encountered a snare or other danger.

To put it plainly, as Jesus always did, we’re exploring with Christ what He described as the difference between wheat and tares, and sheep and goats. Most graphically, we are describing the difference between being Jesus’ puke and being palatable to Him.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:2-4

AMERIDOCEA

I have previously written an essay entitled “Ameridocea” which has since been lost to the vagaries of the ‘net.  Perhaps there are other more generic passages that aptly describe the North American church, but this address by Christ seems to most specifically describe the self-satisfied, “define success for yourself and you always win” American monstrosity masquerading as the Body of Christ:

And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15‘ I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”  Revelation 3:14-22

Read Romans 10:14 carefully again- it is vitally important if we are to keep our head in the game and not be distracted by the noise from the stands:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Who then truly is part of “everyone who believes?” From the earlier analogy, we are NOT talking about a fan of the team. We are not talking about someone who thinks fondly of the coach’s managerial style. This phrase and countless others like it in Scripture addressing “believers” demand discernment on the part of the reader and require insight into the REAL meaning of belief- belief with on-the-field results. Or, to borrow from
James 2:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”-and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Someone might say I am being too harsh- that by being so critical I am
making things too hard on everyone. Can’t we all just get along? Here’s Paul’s advice from 2 Corinthians 13:

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Others have objected that we are suggesting that Christ is engaged in spousal abuse, to which I respond that we are only clarifying who the Spouse of Christ is by the bridegroom’s own description and choosing: “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19

As adopted children of God, we must get this right to move forward- can the team accomplish it’s goals if it doesn’t know who it can count on? How much more important is it just to know who is on the team?

When it comes to Romans 10:14 we have a very important clue for those who are training their minds to be discerning.

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes”

To those fans of Jesus who say this means that the law is ended, we who have more discernment will understand that we must read it in a manner to be reconciled with this statement from 1 John 5: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.”

Keeping these concepts in mind, we can now appreciate this paraphrase of Romans 10:14: “The one who is intimate with Christ knows and experiences in Him the total experience of obedience and fulfillment of the law.”

Looking into the Greek, “the end” is “telos,” which is to say “the ultimate expression” or, as some interpreters unfortunately have chosen, “the end.”  I say “unfortunately,” because countless believers have taken this as an opportunity to pretend they are not subject to the law, and so neither are they availed of the blessings of keeping them.  I have seen utterly lost and confused believers unable to find their way to follow Christ because of this wrong signal – it leads to a rejection of the less palatable aspects of God’s moral law and even of the Ten Commandments themselves.

Ironically, it is precisely those who are in such a state who need the law most desperately to bring them to Christ

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:24

who has said

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

I will stop writing for now with this last discourse by Christ. If there was some altar call or word of hope to cling to amongst what is recorded by Luke on this occasion, I would be glad to share it.  But this is a warning for those who will build on the Foundation of Christ:

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.^c49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”  Luke 6:37-49

Revelation 3:17-19 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

So it seems that the things that make me think that I am rich, that I am happy and that I’ve got everything covered are lying to me… here’s what Jesus said in the face of such temptation (Matthew 4):

“It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

“‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

If pressed to use one word to remind myself of this journey, it’d have to be HEART.

Why? Because it reminds me of what my relationship with Jesus Christ is all about. It reminds me of what God desires from me.

The old and new testaments are so cohesive.  God’s word tells us over and over again, he desires our hearts.

In the second chapter of Malachi, the priests are disciplined for not honoring God in their hearts.  “You have not set your heart to honor me” (from verse 2).

The priests are performing duties and blessing people, but it all means nothing to God because of their heart condition. In fact, he says it’d be better if,  “You would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you” (from 1:10).

What does please God?  Faith.

Only faith counts as righteousness. It’s been true since Genesis, see Gen 15:6 where Abraham is found righteous based on his faith in God. Look at Romans Ch 4 and all of Hebrews Ch 11. Again and again, we see righteousness comes only by faith in God and specifically, faith in Jesus Christ – who is our righteousness.

So back to our priests in Malachi, they felt confident in their positions, their routines, their performances. That’s a good description of myself a few years ago, and who I have to guard against being every day.

By earnestly asking God to help me seek him and know him, I have grown. By not being satisfied in what I knew and beleived, but confessing I needed to pursue him. That’s how I am moving from devout to devoted. From obedient to honoring. From a believer to a personal follower.

I need a pure heart from God EVERY DAY. Then, I can do things to honor him out of love for him, not out of a sense of duty nor out of  seeking security that I did “the right thing.” Nope, only out of love for my Jesus, my righteousness.

James 2:22 explains that Abraham’s faith led to his actions (actions that did not make any sense in Abraham’s human way of thinking nor in his understanding of the promises God had made to him. But, Abraham’s faith was so true that his actions followed beyond his understanding.)  ”You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”

Jesus tells us in Revelation that he will search our hearts and repay us for our deeds (see Rev 2:23b).  Yet, Jesus has given us everything that is needed – HIS BLOOD. 

In Revelation, John sees a multitude in white robes in the presence of angels and before the throne of God. John asks who they are, and an angel answers: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”  Rev 7:14.

Surrender your heart to him. Don’t just invite him into your heart – surrender yours to him. Then, you are invited to life, true and eternal.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (MSG)

**** **** **** ****

What do you give the guy who’s got everything?  What do you give to Jesus? You can give him your trust.

Because God gives you a choice, he doesn’t have your trust until you give it to him. Faith is voluntary. God will never force you to trust him. It is up to you to decide how much you will trust God in 2011.

So let me just get real blunt, what are you expecting God to do in your life in 2011? If you expect him to do a lot, God can do a lot. If you expect him to do a little, God can do a little. If you don’t expect him to do anything, he won’t do anything because Jesus says, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matthew 9:29 NIV)

Are you going to trust yourself, are you going to trust the economy, are you going to trust somebody else, or are you going to trust God?

Will you trust Jesus enough to give him your whole life? Jesus makes an amazing promise for anybody who does this. He says, if you will seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, then he will give you the other things as well. (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

But we must seek his kingdom first. We must seek God’s purpose and plan and righteousness for our lives, and that requires that we give him our trust. Ask God to help you give your trust entirely to him this coming year, and then watch what he does in your life.

Listening to the radio, this familiar line from a Christmas tune caught my attention.  What a truth, buried in this cheerful song about pumpkin pie and chestnuts. 

What feelings do we try to buy from this world? 

I think almost every feeling. The feeling of  importance, acceptance, happiness, love.  Whether we try to buy it with money or “buy” it with our efforts, the world can’t give us a lasting feeling of value or worth (which is what all of these things add up to.)

In the gospel of John chapter 15, we read Jesus’s words. Christ tells us he is the vine and we are the branches. We must stay attached to him.

How?   LOVE, pure, lavish love.  It’s the stuff that binds us to Him, pulls us in. 

Read John15: 9 – 14. 

My favorite part of that passage is verse 11. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”    NIV

Jesus does not tell us to obey him, “Because I said so.”  He says to obey him, because that places his joy in us, a completing joy.  Then he offers an easy to remember summary of what to obey:  Love each other as Christ has loved us.

John 15 has been one of my favorite passages for a long time. In my bible reading, I recently completed the books of 1 John and 2 John. The message on love stands firm.

I challenge you to read these verses throughout the week.   1 John 2: 3 – 11;  1 John 3: 1 – 3; 10;  1 John 4:7 – 21. 

Notice the connection between God’s love toward us, our choosing to follow in that love, and the completeness we receive.

Ask God to show you any area where His love needs to override your feelings. We all get offended. We all get hurt. Sometimes with good reason. But we are clearly instructed to love, as Jesus loved. He wouldn’t tell us to love our brothers if he isn’t able and willing to take us there.

Bible Reading to Date: 

Old Testament:  Completed through Daniel, in 5th chapter of Hosea.

New Testament:  Completed through 1 John.

A few nights ago, I watched election results. An ABC newsperson commented, “Well, as Shakespeare said, the rain falls on the just and the unjust.”  He was speaking to the number of democrats who’d lost their seats in the house, even though many of them voted against highly debated “democratic” policies. (Don’t worry, I don’t want to discuss politics!)

My immediate reaction was, that’s not Shakespeare! Jesus said those words. After flipping through my Bible a few minutes, I found the verses in mind. 

Matthew 5:45, but for context, verse 44 should be included.

“But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  NIV

Jesus is pointing to the good provision God makes for all as an encouragement for us to love all . (However, this is only for a certain time. We have many verses from Christ telling us there will be a day of judgement ahead. See Matt 10: 11 – 15; Matt 11: 20 – 28; Matt 13: 24 – 30; Matt 13: 47 – 51.)

The news commentator was using the idea of “rain” as a negative, indicating individuals were suffering not for their own actions, but for the actions of their associated group. But I’d always thought of the sun and the rain both as good, both as necessary. And they are, but too much of either can be damaging. Too little of one can be damaging.

This brings me to recently read words in Jeremiah and Lamentations. Jeremiah was God’s true prophet. Though Jeremiah was obedient and served the Lord, the punishment God brought on Jerusalem and Judah affected Jeremiah. He suffered alongside them, but only for a time.

I’m reminded of these truths in seeing so many friends, and friends of friends, suffering. So many sicknesses, tragedies and losses.

It is all only for a time. We must hold hope and comfort as Jeremiah proclaimed in Lamentations,  3:19 – 24.

I urge you to read those verses and place faith in God’s faithfulness.  Hope for the plans he has for us that are so far from the suffering of today.

Bible Reading to Date: 

Old Testament: Completed through Lamentations

New Testament: Completed through Hebrews 5

Judging from that you could say I’m not a big fan of silence, which is kinda true… but the real reason I love listening to music is where it takes me. I love music that’s so powerful it gives me goosbumps or brings me to tears with its beauty. I love music that reminds me of times and places; music that brings back memories. I love music that I can close my eyes to and let my imagination run free with.

This is the power of music. It can stir your emotions and make you feel something that isn’t there. Music can manipulate your thoughts and feelings, sometimes without you knowing it. You’ve probably heard about “sad chords” and “happy chords” on guitar or piano? Well, they’re just an example of the power of music. Simple melancholy chords played on piano can reduce a person to tears at the sight of a dead animal, regardless of whether they feel sadness for the animal or not. Music has power.

When a composer is writing the music for a movie, they don’t just write some pretty music that sounds good; they write music to further add to the mood of the film. Most scary movies aren’t actually scary or suspenseful if you take away the shrill violins playing in the background and most movie kisses aren’t as romantic without the soppy music in the background. I mean, imagine if ACDC was playing behind a romantic kissing scene? There goes the romance!

As I said before, music can make you feel something that isn’t there; it can take you places you’ve never been. I love listening to classical music, especially full-bodied orchestral stuff… like the songs by those old church choirs that sing in Latin within the acoustic surroundings of an old Cathedral. It gives me shivers, that’s how good it is. I also love listening to the soundtracks from my favourite movies, because when I listen to the theme music from Gladiator or Master and Commander or Lord of the Rings, I feel as if I’m in the movie; I’m part of it. It feels as if I’m inside some epic adventure in another land… which I love.

But… if epic music from the soundtracks of movies takes me far away into fantasy worlds and other times, what does music about sex, drugs and alcohol do? What about Lady Gaga, Eminem, Britney Spears, Kesha? What about all those songs about absolute rubbish? Where do they take you? I know exactly where they take you to… clubs, bars, parties, jail, bed. If you’re listening to songs about drinking and sleeping around that make you think about drinking and sleeping around… doesn’t that mean you will start drinking and sleeping around? Because frankly, if Middle Earth existed or I could jump back in time, I would be there.

So here’s the warning: watch out what you listen to and where it takes your mind, because you may not realise it but music can make you feel things you otherwise wouldn’t feel. It can influence you more than you know.

“I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. . . . Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.”

John 15:1,4