We Are Made Right

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin^a for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

^a Or be a sin offering

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

The Creator our God took what was perfect, His Beloved Son, and used him as a sin offering on our behalf. God the Father did this that by his sacrifice, we could be seen as what we ought to be. That by His goodness we could be approved, accepted and live eternally in right relationship with Him.

We 'become' the righteousness of God. It is not that 'we are', it is that 'we become.' This accomplishment of God's will is not based on any effort of our own nor is it based on any good work, act of charity or by depth of study. It is not the result of knowledge, talent, skill or experience. It is by the blood of Christ alone that we are made right.

With this in mind then I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1 where he said "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship."

We are not called to be the lamb laid upon the altar, that work is done. We are called to live lives that are worthy of the calling that God has placed upon us. Our choice is to either accept the sacrifice of Christ Jesus and to live for him, even as he died for us OR to reject his sacrifice and embrace the condemnation that is rightfully ours. It is the choice between life or death.

Choose wisely.

Shalom,

Carl

For God's Glory

The Word is first...

John 15:8 (NIV)

⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

The chief aim of Jesus is to glorify the name of his Father. This was accomplished by selfless obedience through which Jesus reconciled mankind to God. While He walked the Earth it pleased him to call others to himself that they too may take up his objective to glorify God and hand it down generation by generation that it would be an enduring legacy.

Today, as we don the mantle of Christ's righteousness we too shoulder the responsibility to faithfully represent He by whose name we are called; Christians. It is our time, our opportunity to bring honor and glory to the name of God.

We do this by turning from the ways of the world and towards the ways of God. By our decisions and actions we bear witness to His name. By our words we praise His name and spread the Good News to others as is an appropriate answer to the charge which has been given us.

Today's study passage reveals to us, in the words of Jesus, how we best accomplish our objective and bring glory to the Father. According to Jesus it is the witness of the fruit we bear that demonstrates that we are true disciples of Jesus Christ and it is by our abundant fruit that we bring glory to The Father.

I have fruit trees on my property and over the course of the past few years I've come to learn a bit about them. When first I moved here, the trees had no fruit and consequently I could not tell exactly what type of trees they were. But over time, the maturing fruit revealed to me the truth of those trees. I discovered that I have an apple tree, a fig, plums, persimmons, wild cherry and pecan. By it's "fruit" I also discovered that I had a couple of "sweet gum" trees, two magnolias, a dogwood, pine trees and oaks. Though there are other trees their absence of fruit relegates them to the status of 'scenic background' and as such they receive little attention.

On the other hand, the trees bearing fruit require much more attention in the form of intentionalized care and maintenance. Failure to perform the maintenance guarantees there will be no fruit. They require constant watering or the fruit will be shriveled and unfit. They require pruning, the removal of dead growth and the purposeful "topping" which results in an even more abundant crop.

In some seasons, the fruit is sparse and I must research and rectify the cause. In other seasons, there is so much fruit that the limbs bow and break under the pressure. But year after year, one thing is certain; the tree is identified by the fruit it bears and there is rejoicing over the abundant tree.

This of course is metaphor and simile for us! We are those trees requiring care and maintenance in the forms of prayer and study. Our growth is dependent upon an abundant supply of water, not H2O but the living water of Jesus Christ. The dead growth of our past lives must be stripped away, the new growth must be stressed and new shoots must be 'topped' so that the crop of fruit in our lives may be multiplied. We too go through seasons of diminished production and seasons of abundant production. And it is clear to everyone around us what type of tree we are based on the type of fruit that we bear.

If we bear a bumper crop of fruits of the Spirit; loving our fellow man, finding joy in every circumstance, living in peace with one another, bearing patiently with everyone, expressing kindness in thought, word and deed, living virtuous lives, holding tightly to what we believe and fulfilling every commitment we make, treating others with dignity, respect and gentleness, and exercising self-control over our flesh in thought word and deed, then we are known to be Christians. Then we have shown ourselves to be true disciples of Christ. Then we bring glory and owner to the name of God.

In His Grip,
Carl

A Father's Love

The Word is first...

Psalm 87:1-2 (NIV)
¹ He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;

² the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Most of us have chosen our homes based on our personal preferences. We like the land, the location, the construction, the interior and the exterior. We have chosen it above all others and in so doing, expressed our preference. It suits us.

God too has chosen his dwelling place and as revealed in the study passage for today, it is on the holy mountain. He made the mountain upon which His dwelling place has been established and he has chosen Zion above all other places as his dwelling place.

But of that place, God is especially fond of the gates. It says "the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." When I think of gates, I tend to think in terms of large, impenetrable, imposing, forboding assemblies of wood and metal. These are set into large constructions of stone and serve to keep out the uninvited. Think castles and you'll likely envision my own association of gates.

That understanding though does not seem to line up with the gates of Zion which God so dearly loves. You see, I think this is a reference to Jesus who said in John 14:6 "...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We can therefore rest assured that Jesus is that opening into the city of Zion through which all believers may pass.

In John 10:1 Jesus used a common metaphor to make this point when he said "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." In fact, John 10 goes on using rich imagery to explain in the words of Jesus "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep." In this passage, we see that Jesus identifies himself as 'the gate.' Jesus is the very gate of Zion.

As a gate, Jesus is an imposing and impenetrable obstacle to those who do not believe. For they who cannot believe, the gate opposes and confounds them. Though they try to scale the walls by erecting ladders of good works, though they try to scamper up the parapets aided by the grappling hooks and lines of moral conduct, though they erect ramps of legal obedience, they will be rebuffed. Jesus is the gate that cannot be overcome, cannot be broken and shall never be breached. The non-believer sees only the walls of Zion and the opposing gate.

But for the believer, that same gate that repels the non-believer, is thrown wide in welcome. We as the sheep of The Good Shepherd are free to enter in and experience all that is within. We shall see not only the walls of Zion but also its' mansions, storerooms, treasuries and the throne-room. We shall have an audience with the King.

All this thought given to gates and walls is relevant but it should not distract us from today's study passage. God loves the gate. God loves Jesus more than anything. It was God that set Jesus as the gate to Zion that we, those that have responded to the invitation, may enter in to eternal communion. I can imagine that God is extremely proud of his Son and for the admirable way that he laid down his life on our behalf. I can imagine that the love that God felt towards Jesus was magnified exponentially by his obedience unto death. And when we all gather in the great halls of Zion, we will express our joy through praise and God's own joy will be complete; there in the throne-room with Jesus and the multitudes.

So let us look forward to seeing the walls of Zion and let us become intimate with the gate even now. Let us take the hands of others and set them upon the latch of the gate that they too may open it and enter in.

In His Grip,

Carl

A Dark and Dismal Place

The Word is first...

Ephesians 2:12 (NIV)

¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

There are some things that we forget no matter how hard we try to remember. There are some things we remember no matter how hard we try to forget. There are memories both painful and joyful, elaborate and simple that come an go through our conscious mind with hardly a notice. Often there are lessons that we learned or need to learn that are associated with those memories and there are memories that serve as important milestones along the road of life.

In today's study passage we are called to recall that time in our lives when we walked apart from God. For me those memories are associated with emotions of fear, helplessness, powerlessness, loneliness and despair. Of themselves these memories are of little use to me and hearken me back to time I'd rather forget. But when contrasted with my present day life they provide an important lesson that I need to remember. That lesson is; no God, no peace, know God, know peace.

This passage reminds us that as citizens of the world (and more specifically Gentiles) we were separated from Christ yet not from His love. Being born a Gentile we had no stake in the lineage of Israel yet we are living descendants of Adam and heirs to his legacy. In such a state we had no claim nor could we take hold of the promises that God had declared to his chosen people. What a dark and dismal place that was for me! What a dark and dismal place that is for so many. Lives lived and wasted in the total absence of God.

If the story ended there, overcome by darkness with no hope of redemption, there would be neither hope nor joy in the world. Yet for us, those who have chosen to believe in the atoning blood of Christ, there is both hope and joy. In Christ we have been adopted into the citizenship of Israel. We can lay claim to the promises of God and live lives that reflect the hope that we share in the coming King.

This morning, I will recall no matter how painful the life that I lived without Christ; my life of despair. And I will rejoice for I despair no longer! Those are but memories of what has past and they are no longer real. They hold no power over me, they do not define me and the bitterness is overshadowed by the sweetness of a life in Christ. So remember with me that time in your own life and rejoice in where you are today for God is good, His love endures forever.

Shalom,
Carl

An Afternoon Insight

As I sat on the balcony of my hotel room reading my book and gazing out over the white sands and blue-green waters of the gulf something cool happened. I reached the end of a chapter, laid the book aside, folded my hands in my lap and talked with God. It began as a prayer but quickly became a conversation and object lesson.

Seeing the vastness of the Gulf of Mexico I realized that the immense expanse of water that I could see is just a minute fraction of the Gulf itself. In the realization of the largeness of the Gulf I realized that it was just a minute fraction of the Atlantic Ocean. In that realization came the understanding that the Atlantic Ocean is just a fraction of the seas and oceans that cover the majority of Earth.

Then I understood that whatever scale of understanding I have of God and His attributes (faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, power, holiness....) that is just a minute fraction of all that He is. The fraction that I understand is more than I can comprehend yet it is quite enough to overwhelm me. I can no more grasp the depth, width, length and height of God than I can drink the Gulf of Mexico. I can only taste the Gulf and even if I drink to my utmost capacity, the Gulf would not be diminished at all. So too it is with God. I can only taste Him. Though He fills me to my capacity, he is in no way diminished or reduced.

My understanding of God is as a drop in the Gulf of Mexico. The God who loves me is huge beyond description. Yet... he meets with me, talks with me, strengthens me, edifies me, encourages me, sits with me and above all that, He loves me.

The tears leaking from my eyes run down my face, fall to the ground and ultimately... end up in the Gulf. Fifteen minutes on the balcony with God, what a delight.

Shalom,
Carl

Be Prepared

The Word is first...

1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Therefore... for that reason, because of that. In order to understand this verse we must consider what 'therefore' is there for. By backing up a couple of verses we discover that the matter at hand is grace, faith, salvation, The Gospel. More specifically that the prophets looked forward to the revelation of God's grace, to the coming of Christ and all that would follow his arrival. Not only that but also the fact that 'even angels long to look into these things.'

That being the case, or therefore, we are not to be swept along in the daily routines of life or to be passive Christians. We are to 'prepare our minds for action.' With respect to this, I have two beliefs. First we are to be active participants in the renewing of our mind that we may be transformed. The Apostle Paul exhorted us in Roman 12:1-2 to offer our bodies and to break out of the mold of the world. He stated, and I believe, that we can accomplish that by being transformed. Not in some passive sense where we stand idly by as God polishes us up but in an active sense where we seek out that which edifies and we lay aside that which distracts. To that extent, my second belief is that 'preparing our minds' means that we intentionally set aside time for study and communion with God. That we open our hearts and minds to him that he might instruct us in his way, impart to us his wisdom and equip us for every good work which he intends for us. To enter into the world everyday with an unprepared mind is to give Satan, the world and our flesh and opportunity to subvert us as Christians. Thus we have an obligation to prepare our minds for the battles of the day, for the sirens song of sin and also to actively share the good news of Jesus Christ to those whose paths we cross.

A fundamental benefit of preparing our minds in this manner is the realization of fruits of the Spirit and in particular 'self control.' This passage reads 'Therefore... be self-controlled.' I can't help but notice that it does not say 'be controlled by the Spirit.' It is our incumbent responsibility to exercise our self-control under the direction of the Holy Spirit and by such exercise we build strength. Not only strength of body and muscle but also of heart, mind and spirit. I do not mean to imply that the application of self-control is as simple as taking a drink of water for it certainly is not! We have lived in a world that promotes and rewards self-indulgence for so long as to lose sight of self-control. Self-control then is a difficult and arduous journey towards holiness. It flies in the face of conventional wisdom and in so doing, brings honor and glory to the name we bear as Christians.

The passage continues with instruction that we 'set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.' Here then is the motivation for preparing our minds and developing our self-control. Again, it is something that is contrary to the ways of the world. The grace to which this passage refers is a matter of delayed gratification. In this life of instant pudding and microwave dinners, movies on demand and high-speed internet, we have become accustomed to instant gratification. Money for nothing as it were. But the riches of God are reserved for an appointed hour and we labor towards that hour with nothing but the hope of what is to come. I say 'nothing but the hope' but what I mean is that hope is everything for our hope is placed on a faithful God and I am confident that what he has promised will be done.

So my friends, today and everyday, prepare your minds for victory in Christ through right living and action. Exercise and flex your self-control in all situations. Look forward with great anticipation of the grace to be poured out to the faithful. Check the clouds constantly and be vigilant for He is coming and in that day, Glory!

Shalom,
Carl

A Fundamental Fact in Five

The Word is first...

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

⁹ God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

As I consider today's study verse, I am reminded just how deceitful my heart is and how deceptive are humans. We make commitments and promises with no intention of ever keeping them. We make commitments and promises with every intention of keeping them but absolutely no ability to keep them. Every human relationship I have ever or will ever enjoy has or will be tainted with the bitter reality of disappointment. It's in our DNA.

However, we are not doomed to never knowing the joy of a dependable and faithful relationship! We just can't experience that with people. Nor can we experience such a relationship with 'things' of this world such as power, prestige, money, sports or television. Yet we routinely elevate the common, even mundane things of this world to 'god' status. More often than not, it takes a long time for us to realize the folly of our mistake and then an even longer time to recover from the inevitable disappointment.

But if we want to have the joy of such a dependable and faithful relationship, we must have a relationship with God. Consider these five comments on the fundamental fact of our faithful God.

The True God will call you into fellowship. The things of the world that we would elevate to the status of 'god' do not call us into relationship. They call us into addiction, isolation and distraction. Though we may be surrounded by 70,000 others who like us worship at the altar of the gridiron, true fellowship is not present. Though we may have a million dollars piled up on the table, there is no fellowship at all; greed drives out fellowship. As we know from Scripture, there is no profit in attaining the entire world if we have lost our soul or have not love. We can know, we can discern the True God by the fact that he calls, pleads, begs and cajoles us to enter into an abiding relationship, to have true fellowship.

The True God will call you into fellowship with his Son Jesus. The offer of fellowship from the True God will always be predicated upon a vibrant and living fellowship with his Son Jesus. The True God will never offer a relationship that is not accomplished through his son. Any such offer, no matter how tempting or tantalizing is to be shunned immediately and exposed for the deception that it most certainly is.

The True God will call you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ. The son through which we may enjoy fellowship with God is no mere mortal, nor prophet, nor seer, nor mystic. He is none other than THE CHRIST. I believe we have a tendancy to think of Christ in Jesus Christ as a surname or a family name. It is a title! He is THE CHRIST, the one promised, the one expected, the one born, killed and risen. He is our Savior and our Salvation, our Hope and our Reward. In Him there is no deception or falsehood or sin of any kind. As for fellowship, He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. It is by our fellowship with Jesus alone that we may know the deep, abiding, rewarding and restful relationship with God that sets the standard for all relationships.

The True God will call you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Yet knowing Jesus, accepting the truth of His divinity, his death, his descent and his destiny is insufficient to secure the fellowship for which our souls yearn. It is only when we place the crown of Lordship, for our selves, on his head that we may come into the presence of God. It is then that we are bound tightly to Him and through Him to God by cords that cannot be broken.

The True God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. We can know that based upon the facts herein that the True God is faithful; he wavers not. He neither lies nor deceives nor changes his mind. He neither diminishes nor increases for He is unchanging. Across all time and in all things He alone remains steady and steadfast. His promises, of which there are hundreds, are certainties, covenants that will not be broken.

If we enter in to fellowship with Him, we can do so without reservation or hesitation for we can depend on Him to never leave nor forsake us. He offers comfort and joy, truth and love. Were I friends with every normal person across all the generations I would have no friend like Him. Though I may be disappointed it will not be because He has failed me, it will be because I have removed myself from His will. Know that The True God is faithful.

Shalom,
Carl

Presupposing Conditions

The Word is first...

Psalm 37:5 (NIV)

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

We need only look around us at the world in which we live to know that God loves us. Living on a blue marble suspended in the vast emptiness of space, warmed by the Sun and cooled by the breeze, we can easily see the delicate balance of creation that sustains us. As we look beyond the boundaries of our own atmosphere across incomprehensible distances to the next-nearest star we see the marvels of the galaxies, each imprinted with the signature of the same God who carefully and purposefully knitted us together in the warm, moist wombs of our mothers. Truly, it is a marvel and a testimony to the power of God.

How is it that we can examine the physical world and know that God is real yet not believe that he has great treasures and gifts that await us? If we can accept the account of creation, if we can accept the sacrifice of Christ that reconciles us to God, why do we find it so hard to accept everything that is written between those two points? It is with this thought in mind that I approach the study verse for today.

I believe what the Bible says. And what the Bible says is that if I will meet the requirements put forth by God I will know His grace in profound ways. The limitless depths of his grace are poured out into my life not because I have earned them but because I love Him and He loves me.

My love for God is manifested in the application of my belief in what He has said and made known to me. He said that I am made in his image. He said that He loves me. He said that I was a sinner. He said that there was a penalty to be paid for my sinfulness. He said that there had to be a sacrifice to atone for my sins. He said that He would provide the sacrifice. He said that if I believed in His Son that I would not be lost but would enjoy communion with Him forever. He said that it is finished.

He also said that if I would surrender my life over to Him, if I would live for Him, that he would bless me in this life, right now. Though there are numerous places in scripture where this truth is repeated, there are three that come immediately to my mind. Each of these promises are accompanied by presupposing conditions that if met, unlock the potential for the fulfillment of the promise in my present life.

First...
Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The Promise: You will be prosperous and successful.
The Presupposing Condition: that I would hold tightly to the Word of God, that I would dwell on it, contemplate it and mull it over all the time. That in so doing, I would be attuned to the will of God and carry out its' instructions to me.

Second...
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.^a

^a Or will direct your paths

The Promise: He will make your paths straight.
The Presupposing Condition: That I would totally, without hesitation, without reservation, depend on God. That I would lay aside my Earthly logic and my prideful insistence that things make sense to me. That in everything I do, I would give Him the credit that is His due.

Third...
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^a act of worship. ² Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

^a Or reasonable

The Promise: That your mind would be renewed. That you would be attuned to the will of God with the ability to discern the truth.
The Presupposing Condition: To offer your body as a vessel of noble purpose for His service. To lay aside the cravings of your flesh that his temple, your body, would be holy. To eschew the things the world says are right, to break the mold of sinful indulgence and to willingly yield to the transformative power of God's Holy Spirit.

Now the truth is that at this moment, I am being overwhelmed by the remembrances of His promises and the accompanying presupposing conditions that are throughout His Word. And though I should like to list each and every one, though I would endeavor to expound upon them for your edification and benefit, I know that I can do no better a job than has been done. So, it is with that understanding that I direct you to your own copy of His Word. It is with the promise of riches that I encourage you to mine God's Word and to extract every precious jewel that is hidden therein.

Live your life in the freedom of the knowledge of the certainty with which God says "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this..."

In His Grip,
Carl

When Consequences Hurt

The Word is first...

Jeremiah 14:9 (NIV)

⁹ Why are you like a man taken by surprise,

like a warrior powerless to save?

You are among us, O Lord,

and we bear your name;

do not forsake us!

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Today's study passage from Jeremiah comes from a time when God's chosen people were being punished by drought for their sinfulness. In this section is a vivid description of the suffering of the land, the people and the animals of that country as God repeats the lamentations of the people. At the end of this lament (V8-9), God shares with Jeremiah how the people address their God and try to cajole Him into action on their behalf.

In V8 they acknowledge that God is the 'Hope of Israel' and 'its Savior in times of distress' but from there they quickly devolve into needling God in hopes of provoking a positive response. In V9 they question God "Why are you like a man taken by surprise..." which is to say that 'under normal circumstances you would have the ability and wherewithal come to our aid but in this situation you have been caught unprepared, surprised out of your wits to the extent that you are now powerless.' I think that's a mighty presumptuous charge on the part of a nation of backsliding sinners!

They don't stop there and instead continue with 'like a warrior powerless to save?' In this question they acknowledge that God once possessed the power to win in combat but now has not the strength to lift his sword and shield to engage in battle. Again I find this extremely provocative and as is revealed in the next verse, it is ineffective.

V9 closes with the acknowledgment that despite their sinfulness, "You are among us, O Lord." Even in their desperation they do not lose sight of the fact that God is faithful and ever-present among his believers. Though they don't act like believers nevertheless they are believers. Otherwise, they would not have confessed their great backsliding and sinfulness. Further there is an acknowledgment that "we bear your name" and a plea "do not forsake us!" All of which is for naught for even though they confessed their sinfulness and even though they poetically lament their condition to God yet they have not yet repented. Accordingly, the pleas and confessions are not accepted and forgiveness is withheld. Repentance is a fundamental condition to forgiveness.

My thoughts turn to consider how often I have cried out to the Lord in my rightful suffering. By rightful suffering I mean 'enduring the consequences of my sinfulness.' There have been times when I have experienced great remorse at my sinfulness yet nevertheless continued in my bad behavior. I too bear the name "Christian" and though I cried and whined and said "I'm sorry," God allowed me, as a matter of discipline, to suffer my self-inflicted wounds. It was not till I turned from my sinfulness and repented that God intervened and removed me from that painful situation.

What about you in the grips of the consequences of your sin? What is your response when consequences hurt? Do you cry out to the Lord like a petulant child with a heart of remorse yet with an attitude of pride? Or do you confess and repent that the Lord may bring the rain to the barren desert of your suffering? Do you try to provoke God by calling him names or questioning his power? Or do you prostrate yourself before him, praising him for his power, thanking him for his faithfulness and enjoining him to further refine you towards the image of his Son Jesus? There is likely truth to be told in response to each of these questions and I leave that as a matter between you and your God; the God by whose name you are saved and called.

In His Grip,

Carl

What Do You Know?

The Word is first...

1 John 5:20 (NIV)

²⁰ We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

In the movie "Lord of The Rings" there is a scene where two characters are huddled together under an 'elven' cloak. The properties of this cloak are special in that when wrapped completely about oneself, you are effectively invisible. It's not that you don't appear to be there, it's that the cloak totally obscures the truth of who you are. This of course is presented as a form of magic which saves the two characters from certain death. I share this tidbit with you because it illustrates a concept that is in today's study verse.

To say that the Son of God has come is a statement of fact and to acknowledge that with him, through him and by him, we have also received the spirit of understanding is to accept the truth. The understanding that he brought is a gift from God that forever removed the barriers between us and God; we have been unbound from ignorance and stupidity and many other false beliefs. This was accomplished "so that we may know him who is true"; namely God Almighty.

By accepting these truths and by believing in the messenger (Jesus) who delivered them to us, we are gathered into the family of God. "And we are in him who is true--" speaks to this certainty. But the verse goes on to remind us that those who are in the Father are also in the Son for none may come to the Father except by the Son. The Father, the Son and The Spirit 'He is the true God and eternal life.'

Now about that 'cloaking' concept I alluded to earlier... we are 'in his Son Jesus Christ.' And like the 'magic cloak' that hides the wearer from searching eyes, the cloak of Jesus Christ obscures our sin stain that we may be presentable to the Father. Unlike the 'magic cloak' there is no 'magic' in the cloak of Jesus Christ for 'magic' is myth and fable. What there is in reality is power, supernatural power that flows from the creator of the universe into our lives, our bodies, our minds and our spirit.

So today, I praise God for sending his Son to us that we may receive the gifts of mercy and grace. I praise God for sending his Son that I may see the truth and discern the path to the one from whom all truth flows. I praise God for sending his Son that I may be wrapped in the cloak of His righteousness and made presentable for His courts. I praise God for he is the One True God.

Shalom,
Carl

Listen Up!

The Word is first...

Revelation 2:29 (NIV)

²⁹ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

For many years though I heard the good news of Jesus Christ, it could penetrate neither mind nor heart. Though I could hear the words of men, I could not listen nor could I understand because I had no ears for the Spirit. Thankfully, there came a day when the stone was rolled away, the shekels removed from my eyes and the veil removed from my heart and I could at last hear the voice of the Spirit calling me through God's Scripture. In that moment, God gave me ears with which to hear the Spirit.

Repeatedly, Christ exhorts those around him with the phrase encapsulated in today's passage. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." This is true for the time he walked the Earth and after his ascension. During the time that Christ walked the Earth, he embodied the Spirit and his message was for the church universal. Thus when he would share a parable followed by "let he who has ears, hear!" it was implied "let he who has ears, hear what the Spirit says to the church." Christ's words were for all mankind and were an invitation to intimate relationship with Him.

In the passage today, his words are for the believers and they are an admonition to return to true communion with Him. Though a slightly different intended audience, the underlying message reamins exactly the same. Namely, repent and return to fellowship lest you perish.

For those with an ear, by that I mean believers who have the hearing accorded by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are to LISTEN UP, pay attention, give heed and respond to the exhortations of Christ who calls us. We are to examine ourselves with respect to the conditions Christ presented to 'the churches' in Revelation to see that we are indeed 'in the faith' and to react accordingly by adjusting our behavior or beliefs.

To me, in my mind's eye, I see the coming Christ as a dream, the manifest Christ as a lamb and the risen Christ as a lion. The promise of his coming gave hope. The sacrifice of the lamb gave redemption. The lion commands and consumes. Thusly, when I read this passage as spoken by the risen Christ, I hear the roar of the lion and I tremble. This is not just a good idea or a suggestion, it is a stern command.

Love,
Carl

We Have a Room For You

The Word is first...

John 14:2 (NIV)
² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I like the idea of living with family and fellow believers in community. I've often touted the idea of buying a piece of land and putting in a tight-knit subdivision just for that purpose but someone always labels the idea a 'commune' and that carries enough baggage to kill the idea.

But living in community is exactly what Christ wants for us. In fact, our ultimate goal as Christians is to spread the word of Christ's love far and wide so as to add as many as possible to Christ's family. And then ultimately for the entire family to live together in community as we commune with Christ when the end of this earth comes.

Christ told us that this is so in the study verse for today. He has gone on ahead of us to prepare a place for us in His Father's house. I find it interesting that I will not have a house in Heaven but I will have a home. In God's house, there are many, many rooms that have been prepared in advance and are reserved for God's children. And there I will live forever in the house of my Father. One community of believers communing with One God. It's going to be beautiful, I just know it.

In His Grip,
Carl