We are often confronted with this challenge whether Christian or not. Do we give it a try or just stay with the familiar? Do we make some changes, try something new, find out something, enquire, go and see or do we just keep doing the same old thing? Do we flinch at the first obstacle cowering in fear and anxiety ready to give up and throw in the towel?
Exodus 12 – 14. The Israelite nation had stepped out of bondage in Egypt with the help of God’s power and miracles. They had endured 400 years of oppression and slavery, hopelessness and futility – our story without Jesus. They were saved by the powerful hand of God and now were on a journey of faith towards the Promised Land.
God directed them to camp beside the sea – an impenetrable barrier! God often leads us to camp beside a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. It is part of our faith building journey. It is also common to our experience that the impossibility of the situation can become a deep darkness, a brooding anxiety, a constant worry. Do we give up and turn back to the familiar, the old comforts (which enslaved us)?
The Israelites moaned as they saw themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s armies and the sea. Exodus 14:11, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you (Moses) have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you brought us out of Egypt?”
How fickle and short are our memories. Our circumstances often drown out the voice of God and blind us to his immeasurable power. The same God who miraculously saved them (and us) also led to them to this seemingly fatal situation! Moses answer to them and us is this.
Exodus 14: 13- 14, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while YOU KEEP SILENT.”
God instructed the Israelites to move forward (Exodus: 14:15). What are you doing in your trial and darkness to move forward? Who are you looking at and listening to? The temptation (the voice of Satan) to give up and go back is very strong. This is your test today – find a way to move forward. Choose to build, stand in faith, to speak out loud His faithfulness, focus on His power miracles or simply focus on the greatest miracle of all – His forgiveness poured out for you in the cross of Jesus and the peace of His presence IN YOU through the Holy Spirit. Remember the seemingly small miracles and the way in which He has already held your hand and led you.
CHOOSE TO MOVE OUT AND KNOW GOD INTIMATELY – HE WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU. SEE WHAT HE DID FOR THE ISRAELITES IN EXODUS 14:15-31.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The mark of a healthy church
Who’s in charge?
What is the mark of a thriving, healthy church?
Jesus said “you know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16 – 17).
How easy it is for a group to embark on the slow journey to self protection and top down control. The members become the hangers on who are never really challenged to grow and participate. We know that leaders are essential to forming, feeding and growing a group. The power and culture of a group are directly influenced by those who present themselves as leaders. So why can church (koinonia) become a strange, cold place of clicky, isolated groups led by the same small group of leaders who are unwilling to entrust people the opportunity to share from their own significant life experiences and maturity? Why does church become a monotonous repetition of precisely practised routines where the spontaneous and unexpected are ruled out in favour of organisational success? Why does church represent a single moment on a single day in a single time slot that is then over and everyone vanishes back to their safe havens to share with well known friends.
Surely this moment needs to be one of the most impacting, significant life changing events of the week where we connect with others in a significant way, share our journey and find comfort and healing through hearing Jesus word. So why are so many turned off this event?
In my experience the health of a thriving fellowship or group can be seen and felt as soon as one enters that group’s environment or space. One can know that Jesus is truly the leader by the way the people of that group surround you, encourage you, accept you and incorporate your life and experience into that group. Group leaders are simply facilitators of the word of God and channels of God who encourage members to fully participate according to their talents. Leaders are not forcing their stamp or mark on the members or enforcing rules to protect the future viability and identity of the group. True leaders have suffered the way of the cross, come out praising God and are able to stand in the face of impossible odds. They know the path and have walked many roads being walked by others. These leaders direct members to the healing power of the word and the power of the holy spirit in a daily relationship with Jesus.
So you know a church by its fruits. Ask these questions? Are you welcomed and given the opportunity to share? Are you connected to others and welcomed into loving relationships? Are there leaders who enquire after you, your interests and life journey, who promote you and your talents for the praise of God? Is the power of the holy spirit present in meetings through healing, convicting and encouraging prophecy, or in the preaching of the word? Is the cross of Jesus, forgiveness of sin, His resurrection power and complete word of God central to all teaching and preaching?
Things to watch for: Is the group identified by the “special understanding” (revelation) or charisma of a few or even one? If it is then the foundations are very shaky and the group is open to conflict and hurt. Are there group and leader behaviours which appear quirky and weird, cultish and oppressive, authoritarian, cold, formal, dead, lacking joy, praise and encouragement? How old is the group? Is there a thriving and bursting young peoples group who are able to express themselves freely, who serve willing and openly declare their faith? How do you feel after meeting with this group? Are you closer to Jesus and others? Do you feel healed and encouraged to stand strong, grow in faith and desire for the word of God? Are you willing and motivated to serve Jesus in whatever calling he has as a life purpose?
ANSWERS to these questions demonstrate the marks or fruits of a strong, thriving and alive church group or otherwise.
What is the mark of a thriving, healthy church?
Jesus said “you know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16 – 17).
How easy it is for a group to embark on the slow journey to self protection and top down control. The members become the hangers on who are never really challenged to grow and participate. We know that leaders are essential to forming, feeding and growing a group. The power and culture of a group are directly influenced by those who present themselves as leaders. So why can church (koinonia) become a strange, cold place of clicky, isolated groups led by the same small group of leaders who are unwilling to entrust people the opportunity to share from their own significant life experiences and maturity? Why does church become a monotonous repetition of precisely practised routines where the spontaneous and unexpected are ruled out in favour of organisational success? Why does church represent a single moment on a single day in a single time slot that is then over and everyone vanishes back to their safe havens to share with well known friends.
Surely this moment needs to be one of the most impacting, significant life changing events of the week where we connect with others in a significant way, share our journey and find comfort and healing through hearing Jesus word. So why are so many turned off this event?
In my experience the health of a thriving fellowship or group can be seen and felt as soon as one enters that group’s environment or space. One can know that Jesus is truly the leader by the way the people of that group surround you, encourage you, accept you and incorporate your life and experience into that group. Group leaders are simply facilitators of the word of God and channels of God who encourage members to fully participate according to their talents. Leaders are not forcing their stamp or mark on the members or enforcing rules to protect the future viability and identity of the group. True leaders have suffered the way of the cross, come out praising God and are able to stand in the face of impossible odds. They know the path and have walked many roads being walked by others. These leaders direct members to the healing power of the word and the power of the holy spirit in a daily relationship with Jesus.
So you know a church by its fruits. Ask these questions? Are you welcomed and given the opportunity to share? Are you connected to others and welcomed into loving relationships? Are there leaders who enquire after you, your interests and life journey, who promote you and your talents for the praise of God? Is the power of the holy spirit present in meetings through healing, convicting and encouraging prophecy, or in the preaching of the word? Is the cross of Jesus, forgiveness of sin, His resurrection power and complete word of God central to all teaching and preaching?
Things to watch for: Is the group identified by the “special understanding” (revelation) or charisma of a few or even one? If it is then the foundations are very shaky and the group is open to conflict and hurt. Are there group and leader behaviours which appear quirky and weird, cultish and oppressive, authoritarian, cold, formal, dead, lacking joy, praise and encouragement? How old is the group? Is there a thriving and bursting young peoples group who are able to express themselves freely, who serve willing and openly declare their faith? How do you feel after meeting with this group? Are you closer to Jesus and others? Do you feel healed and encouraged to stand strong, grow in faith and desire for the word of God? Are you willing and motivated to serve Jesus in whatever calling he has as a life purpose?
ANSWERS to these questions demonstrate the marks or fruits of a strong, thriving and alive church group or otherwise.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Mark of Christianity part 2 - The Cross of Jesus
The Mark of Christianity part 2 - The Cross of Jesus
I pray that what is said here brings enlightenment and peace. I was disturbed when I discovered the underlying philosophy of a movement that promotes unity and peace and sacrifice for the poor – goals I totally agree with but not at the expense of the Cross of Jesus and His resurrection. At the heart of their philosophy is this statement:
“The (real) Christos (anointed one) is a place in consciousness where you become aware of who and what you are. When you become aware of the presence within, you awaken from a deep sleep. You become aware of the beauty around you. Things that once seemed a burden are no longer a burden. You become aware that nothing is yours and yours alone. You are aware that all things and all people belong to God. You know you are his child and you see that if you are a child of God, all others are children of God.” http://www.theonenesslovefoundation.org/aboutthefounder.htm
The “real Christos” is not a place in our consciousness, a state of awareness. That is reducing Jesus to a mere state within and leaves us without any sure hope or anchor. If we a left on our own to rediscover a new consciousness and peace and peace in others we are still on our own defining our own truth which often collides with other definitions. We need a reference point outside of our own consciousness and thinking. Humanity is confused and lost - a ship without lighthouses and radar – a plane without a pilot.
What is this reference point? Jesus walked on earth, died in our place so that we could be forgiven, destroyed the power of death and is now present for all to receive. We become children of God when we receive Jesus and walk across the great gulf of sin and meet with the father - “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).
Awareness, peace and unity of purpose is a great goal - but can it be achieved without seeing our own hearts of unbelief, hopelessness, selfishness and pride and our desperate need for repentance and forgiveness?
The Cross of Jesus stands in our place as our sacrifice taking all our sin and paying the penalty for all injustice and deception. “When you were dead in your transgressions (sin), He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions (Colossians 2:13).
What are defining moment! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
For it was the fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross, and although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:19 – 22)
I know that organised religion has often forgotten the centre – the meaning of the Cross. This does not mean we begin to redefine God as being us and everyone as a reaction against meaningless doctrine and blatant hypocrisy. We all stand as individuals before God in our weakness and pride and frailty and gaze upon the love of God demonstrated in the cross of Jesus. As we all bow the knee and regain true consciousness through accepting our plight and receiving forgiveness through Jesus, peace can be known with God and each - other. We are not the centre, we are not God and we do not make up God. God waits for us as a father to accept the free gift of His grace and forgiveness in Jesus.
I pray that what is said here brings enlightenment and peace. I was disturbed when I discovered the underlying philosophy of a movement that promotes unity and peace and sacrifice for the poor – goals I totally agree with but not at the expense of the Cross of Jesus and His resurrection. At the heart of their philosophy is this statement:
“The (real) Christos (anointed one) is a place in consciousness where you become aware of who and what you are. When you become aware of the presence within, you awaken from a deep sleep. You become aware of the beauty around you. Things that once seemed a burden are no longer a burden. You become aware that nothing is yours and yours alone. You are aware that all things and all people belong to God. You know you are his child and you see that if you are a child of God, all others are children of God.” http://www.theonenesslovefoundation.org/aboutthefounder.htm
The “real Christos” is not a place in our consciousness, a state of awareness. That is reducing Jesus to a mere state within and leaves us without any sure hope or anchor. If we a left on our own to rediscover a new consciousness and peace and peace in others we are still on our own defining our own truth which often collides with other definitions. We need a reference point outside of our own consciousness and thinking. Humanity is confused and lost - a ship without lighthouses and radar – a plane without a pilot.
What is this reference point? Jesus walked on earth, died in our place so that we could be forgiven, destroyed the power of death and is now present for all to receive. We become children of God when we receive Jesus and walk across the great gulf of sin and meet with the father - “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).
Awareness, peace and unity of purpose is a great goal - but can it be achieved without seeing our own hearts of unbelief, hopelessness, selfishness and pride and our desperate need for repentance and forgiveness?
The Cross of Jesus stands in our place as our sacrifice taking all our sin and paying the penalty for all injustice and deception. “When you were dead in your transgressions (sin), He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions (Colossians 2:13).
What are defining moment! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
For it was the fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross, and although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:19 – 22)
I know that organised religion has often forgotten the centre – the meaning of the Cross. This does not mean we begin to redefine God as being us and everyone as a reaction against meaningless doctrine and blatant hypocrisy. We all stand as individuals before God in our weakness and pride and frailty and gaze upon the love of God demonstrated in the cross of Jesus. As we all bow the knee and regain true consciousness through accepting our plight and receiving forgiveness through Jesus, peace can be known with God and each - other. We are not the centre, we are not God and we do not make up God. God waits for us as a father to accept the free gift of His grace and forgiveness in Jesus.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Mark of Christianity
The Mark of Christianity Psalm 145:8-16
Why would a strong fundamentalist evangelistic faith burn down a Christian’s house, set fire to the occupants, mutilate the daughters, dismember the parents and then rejoice? Why would an entire family be assassinated at there doorstep because they decided to follow Jesus and not the Muslin faith? These events happened yesterday in three countries. Is this aggression the mark of a living and relevant faith? What is that stirs up so much hate and resentment?
What would we expect from a faith that works? Psalm 145:8 says,
“The Lord is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness,
The Lord is good to all
His mercies are over all His work”
Psalm 145:14-16
“The Lord sustains all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down”
The God of Christians and of all those who call upon the name of Jesus is a God who is gracious and merciful. Christianity is defined by the act of grace in the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus was given as a sacrifice for our sins in our place. We bow before him in thankfulness for his mercy and restoration. Jesus did not stay on the cross but overcame the power of death in order to offer us the same gift – eternal life. Why is this gift so hated and trampled by large sectors of Islam and even atheistic humanistic groups? Why is the love of God rejected? True Christians who follow Jesus as their saviour do not burn down houses and persecute others – they offer the grace of God in the cross and resurrection of Jesus through lives of sacrifice and giving to those in need.
John 3:19-20 states “that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather that the light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
I would prefer to seek a God who I know loves me, is merciful, patient and wants to guide me and speak with me in an intimate and close relationship (Matthew 11:28 – 30). This God exists apart from me as a person. He is not the circle of life but the creator of life, who holds it all together. What distinguishes Christianity is the absolute demonstration of love in the giving of Jesus on the cross and power of his resurrection – not incarnation. What does Islam or evolutionary, atheistic humanism have to offer a world full of hate, bitterness and ethnic, religious divisions? What do religious groups who have recreated there own existence through doctrinal differences and who have forgotten the central meaning and purpose of Christianity have to offer?
What is the mark of true Christianity? It is the forgiveness and love of God given at the cross of Jesus and His resurrection power given as a gift to the seeking heart. It is not belonging to an organisation. It is a personal decision to receive Jesus as Lord and His Holy Spirit and live with him in a life of giving, hope and joy. This is not a life lived in isolation but is joined with others on the same journey – called the church. Make sure that this church or fellowship of people, are people who live for Jesus, are filled with His Spirit and receive His word (the Bible) as it stands!!
Why would a strong fundamentalist evangelistic faith burn down a Christian’s house, set fire to the occupants, mutilate the daughters, dismember the parents and then rejoice? Why would an entire family be assassinated at there doorstep because they decided to follow Jesus and not the Muslin faith? These events happened yesterday in three countries. Is this aggression the mark of a living and relevant faith? What is that stirs up so much hate and resentment?
What would we expect from a faith that works? Psalm 145:8 says,
“The Lord is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness,
The Lord is good to all
His mercies are over all His work”
Psalm 145:14-16
“The Lord sustains all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down”
The God of Christians and of all those who call upon the name of Jesus is a God who is gracious and merciful. Christianity is defined by the act of grace in the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus was given as a sacrifice for our sins in our place. We bow before him in thankfulness for his mercy and restoration. Jesus did not stay on the cross but overcame the power of death in order to offer us the same gift – eternal life. Why is this gift so hated and trampled by large sectors of Islam and even atheistic humanistic groups? Why is the love of God rejected? True Christians who follow Jesus as their saviour do not burn down houses and persecute others – they offer the grace of God in the cross and resurrection of Jesus through lives of sacrifice and giving to those in need.
John 3:19-20 states “that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather that the light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
I would prefer to seek a God who I know loves me, is merciful, patient and wants to guide me and speak with me in an intimate and close relationship (Matthew 11:28 – 30). This God exists apart from me as a person. He is not the circle of life but the creator of life, who holds it all together. What distinguishes Christianity is the absolute demonstration of love in the giving of Jesus on the cross and power of his resurrection – not incarnation. What does Islam or evolutionary, atheistic humanism have to offer a world full of hate, bitterness and ethnic, religious divisions? What do religious groups who have recreated there own existence through doctrinal differences and who have forgotten the central meaning and purpose of Christianity have to offer?
What is the mark of true Christianity? It is the forgiveness and love of God given at the cross of Jesus and His resurrection power given as a gift to the seeking heart. It is not belonging to an organisation. It is a personal decision to receive Jesus as Lord and His Holy Spirit and live with him in a life of giving, hope and joy. This is not a life lived in isolation but is joined with others on the same journey – called the church. Make sure that this church or fellowship of people, are people who live for Jesus, are filled with His Spirit and receive His word (the Bible) as it stands!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Stand your ground you have a reason to!!!
Psalm 146:1 Stand your ground you have a reason to!!!
We are finite. There are times and seasons when we can see clearly, understand what is needed and move forward. Yet are there also times and seasons where we simply cannot see and all we can say is “Praise the Lord” (V1). Our reality comprises the unseen and the seen (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Suffering, emotions, our frailty, and our death are part of the seen, the felt, it is our humanity. This is our side. Inside and around this reality is the unseen, an opportunity to engage in the incredibly satisfying intimacy of Jesus who stands at our door beckoning and welcoming us to receive His love and eternity. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego contemplated the seen, the fiery furnace but also stood their ground on the unseen. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O King, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up (Daniel, 3:17-18). Sometimes our reality is black, dead, seemingly forsaken and hopeless. It is in this time we have a choice to rise up and hold tight to the unseen and boldly say, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, I will praise the Lord while I live (despite my seen reality). I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. In other words I will not give my mind and energy to the gods of this earth – the hopeless belief that God is everything and we are God therefore I am it, or naturalism and evolutionary humanism or the Godless, empty motivational sound good speeches that exclude any reference to our maker or simply the seeking of financial security and pleasure.
Who do we look at in times of darkness? What do you believe is your reality? We are made to praise God and find our meaning in a reference point outside of ourselves in the infinite God who demonstrated his love for us by entering our seen world in the face of Jesus who gave His life as a sacrifice in our place for our sin. The cross is a historical event just like Martin Luther King. In our world Jesus smashed the power of death (I Timothy 1:10) by His resurrection (John 11.25) and revealed the incredible promise of eternal life through believing in Him and then journeying with Him through death into paradise. What else is there on this planet that gives such an incredible Hope? Praise the Lord.
We are finite. There are times and seasons when we can see clearly, understand what is needed and move forward. Yet are there also times and seasons where we simply cannot see and all we can say is “Praise the Lord” (V1). Our reality comprises the unseen and the seen (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Suffering, emotions, our frailty, and our death are part of the seen, the felt, it is our humanity. This is our side. Inside and around this reality is the unseen, an opportunity to engage in the incredibly satisfying intimacy of Jesus who stands at our door beckoning and welcoming us to receive His love and eternity. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego contemplated the seen, the fiery furnace but also stood their ground on the unseen. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O King, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up (Daniel, 3:17-18). Sometimes our reality is black, dead, seemingly forsaken and hopeless. It is in this time we have a choice to rise up and hold tight to the unseen and boldly say, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, I will praise the Lord while I live (despite my seen reality). I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. In other words I will not give my mind and energy to the gods of this earth – the hopeless belief that God is everything and we are God therefore I am it, or naturalism and evolutionary humanism or the Godless, empty motivational sound good speeches that exclude any reference to our maker or simply the seeking of financial security and pleasure.
Who do we look at in times of darkness? What do you believe is your reality? We are made to praise God and find our meaning in a reference point outside of ourselves in the infinite God who demonstrated his love for us by entering our seen world in the face of Jesus who gave His life as a sacrifice in our place for our sin. The cross is a historical event just like Martin Luther King. In our world Jesus smashed the power of death (I Timothy 1:10) by His resurrection (John 11.25) and revealed the incredible promise of eternal life through believing in Him and then journeying with Him through death into paradise. What else is there on this planet that gives such an incredible Hope? Praise the Lord.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Waiting
Psalm 37:1-7 Psalm 40:1-2
Why is it hard to wait? Because in the waiting we are being made or positioned by God. Our soul wants what we want NOW – waiting and silence are unbearable, we must have action, we must SEE. Jesus rebuked the crowds because they were milling around only to get more from him to satisfy their immediate need (John 6:26). Many fell in the wilderness (our life journey!) because they could not wait (or believe) on the promises of God (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). So what do we want – the person or our needs met? Do we really want our needs? Do we really know what we want? The Psalmist suggests waiting and in this time find rest – “rest in the Lord” – who are we to rest in? “the Lord”. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Here is the secret power of waiting – we either stop clawing our way forward and anxiously reaching for a need or we stop fretting and REST. What will happen? – Psalm 40:1 “He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Let our goal be to be still and trust Him - “Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3) – this is the making of us. If we continue to worry and fret we will miss the road and become lost in a dark forest of many vague pathways. This is why Jesus said that He is the Way, the Life and the Truth – HIM personally. Receive Him into your soul, into your life and find rest and comfort – what else is there in this world outside of yourself and your own thoughts that can bring meaning, assurance, identity and everlasting peace?
Why is it hard to wait? Because in the waiting we are being made or positioned by God. Our soul wants what we want NOW – waiting and silence are unbearable, we must have action, we must SEE. Jesus rebuked the crowds because they were milling around only to get more from him to satisfy their immediate need (John 6:26). Many fell in the wilderness (our life journey!) because they could not wait (or believe) on the promises of God (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). So what do we want – the person or our needs met? Do we really want our needs? Do we really know what we want? The Psalmist suggests waiting and in this time find rest – “rest in the Lord” – who are we to rest in? “the Lord”. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Here is the secret power of waiting – we either stop clawing our way forward and anxiously reaching for a need or we stop fretting and REST. What will happen? – Psalm 40:1 “He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Let our goal be to be still and trust Him - “Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3) – this is the making of us. If we continue to worry and fret we will miss the road and become lost in a dark forest of many vague pathways. This is why Jesus said that He is the Way, the Life and the Truth – HIM personally. Receive Him into your soul, into your life and find rest and comfort – what else is there in this world outside of yourself and your own thoughts that can bring meaning, assurance, identity and everlasting peace?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Frailty of Life
The Frailty of Life
Psalm 144:4
Man is like a mere breath
His days are like a passing shadow
It is good to for us to see the big picture – we live in frail, temporary bodies. Paul says “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary light affliction (suffering) is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18). If we fail to see and understand the temporary nature of life we not only lose our spiritual sharpness but our focus on what is important. Look around. A friend suddenly dies from cancer. A friend of my teenage son is killed in a car crash – burned to death. A colleague discovers cancer in her body and is under extreme medication. Our young church leader and golfing partner succumbs to cancer. 100,000 people are incinerated in a few minutes by an atomic bomb. Millions are dying from HIV and Aids. The boy we took into our house on many occasions is killed in a car being driven by his fiancé. Our baby daughter at 22 months dies in our arms. I am now 53 and yet I was 27 only a few years back! Some of these events are too big to understand – all we can know from suffering and death is that our life is a tender piece of grass that can be blown away in an instant! So what do we do? Argue with God and blame him for the apparent mess? How can we blame someone who can deliver us from suffering, pain and our final enemy – death? In our frailty and death we look and hear the one who says now “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies” (John 11:25). This is our perspective, our world view that transcends all suffering and death and the seeming pointlessness of many seemingly tragic events in life that are well beyond our finite minds. “In Him we have redemption” (Ephesians 1: 3-7). Read these verses to gaze upon the treasures we have by receiving Jesus into our life. What else is there in this life that gives such an assurance and is connected to a profound historical event in the cross of Jesus and His resurrection witnessed by hundreds? He is alive and beckons us to His side!
Psalm 144:4
Man is like a mere breath
His days are like a passing shadow
It is good to for us to see the big picture – we live in frail, temporary bodies. Paul says “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary light affliction (suffering) is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18). If we fail to see and understand the temporary nature of life we not only lose our spiritual sharpness but our focus on what is important. Look around. A friend suddenly dies from cancer. A friend of my teenage son is killed in a car crash – burned to death. A colleague discovers cancer in her body and is under extreme medication. Our young church leader and golfing partner succumbs to cancer. 100,000 people are incinerated in a few minutes by an atomic bomb. Millions are dying from HIV and Aids. The boy we took into our house on many occasions is killed in a car being driven by his fiancé. Our baby daughter at 22 months dies in our arms. I am now 53 and yet I was 27 only a few years back! Some of these events are too big to understand – all we can know from suffering and death is that our life is a tender piece of grass that can be blown away in an instant! So what do we do? Argue with God and blame him for the apparent mess? How can we blame someone who can deliver us from suffering, pain and our final enemy – death? In our frailty and death we look and hear the one who says now “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies” (John 11:25). This is our perspective, our world view that transcends all suffering and death and the seeming pointlessness of many seemingly tragic events in life that are well beyond our finite minds. “In Him we have redemption” (Ephesians 1: 3-7). Read these verses to gaze upon the treasures we have by receiving Jesus into our life. What else is there in this life that gives such an assurance and is connected to a profound historical event in the cross of Jesus and His resurrection witnessed by hundreds? He is alive and beckons us to His side!
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