What Are You Looking At?

The Word is first...

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33, NIV)

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

This morning, my wife was tearing up the house looking for her white baseball cap. You could hear her going through drawers, opening and closing doors and flinging things everywhere to look under them for that cap. Eventually she called out for help and I responded with a "can't help you." My reply no sooner left my lips than she declared success and remarked "it would help if I looked up."

All the while she had been looking, she had been looking down; on the floor, on shelves, in drawers, everywhere the cap wasn't. The cap was hanging on a hook above her head, right where it belonged waiting for her.

This unfortunately illustrates how we seek the kingdom of God. Based on our perceived needs and preconceived notions, we look for God in many places where he isn't. In the pursuit of happiness, people turn to all manner of ineffective substitutes which are all at or below eye-level. By this I mean they look to worldly things to provide them with spiritual satisfaction. These things never satisfy and only serve to make matters worse. And the more we pursue them, the worse matters get.

But if we lift our eyes UP, we see that God is right there waiting for us. If we then go about our daily business with our eyes lifted high, our focus on Him, then all the worldly matters are taken care of by Him.

In today's verse, Jesus is teaching against worry and anxiety. He is admonishing us not to waste time, energy and happiness in the pursuit of food, drink or clothing. Rather we are to fully invest ourselves in revealing the kingdom of God on Earth. That's His prescription for true happiness. And if we follow His example, the promise is that the necessities of life (food, drink) and societal requirements (clothing) will be super-naturally met.

I needed to be reminded of this today as I scurry about trying to tie up loose ends, finish projects and pack my bags for camp. I had my eyes cast down on those things, trying to do them under my own steam so to speak. This verse snapped me back to reality and brought my eyes UP to where they belong.

What are you looking at?

In His Service,
Carl

Don't Quit Doing Right

The Word is first...

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

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

I've been away from my blog for over a week now and it's hard to bring myself back to this place. Not because I don't like it or don't want to do it, but because I've gotten out of the habit. Just that easily the good habit of a morning devotional and journal entry is broken. The breaking of this habit started innocently enough; I got sick, slept late, missed work and generally disrupted all my routines. But I've been 'well' for about a week now and I'm just now coming back to my devotional time. It seems odd to me that it's so easy to lay aside a good habit, such as a morning devotional, yet so difficult to lay aside a bad habit such as smoking, sleeping, gossiping, gluttony, lust, you name it.

The truth is that it's hard to keep doing the right thing. All the world, the culture, society, media, business, everything is just that; worldly and it is oriented towards keeping us comfortable and complacent. That means that doing 'worldly' things is easier than doing 'godly' things.

This is nothing new and in today's study verse, the Apostle Paul speaks to this very thing. In this passage, Paul reiterates the truth that a man reaps what he sows. If a man takes the easy path and sows according to the world, then he will reap according to the world. On the other hand, if a man sows according to The Spirit then by The Spirit he shall reap.

The problem with this is two-fold. Doing the 'worldly' or 'wrong' things is not only easy but it is often accompanied by a more immediate reward; instant gratification if you will. Doing the 'godly' or 'right' thing is not only difficult but the most substantial portion of the reward is greatly delayed. In fact, you don't receive the reward till this life is over.

So Paul enjoins us to "not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Paul has chosen an agricultural context for this lesson and I'd like to expand on it just a little bit. Consider gardening... preparing the ground to receive seed is back-breaking work at the end of which you have a patch of ground or a field that is nothing more than dirt. To give up the garden at this point would be a total waste of the effort and in little time, all the gains would be lost to the cycles of the season. If you then cast seed on the dirt and pull the dirt over to cover the seed, the work is tedious though not as difficult as the tilling. But again, at the end of that effort the garden is still a patch of dirt; smooth and organized but still dirt. With the rain and patience though, the seeds will bring forth plants and weeds. Now, the more difficult task is met, that of constantly, carefully and patiently removing all the plants that don't belong in the garden; weeding. At the end of the day, you have a beautiful garden and a pile of refuse for the compost pile and the reward is just the sense of accomplishment. Tomorrow though, the work must be repeated and the next day and the next lest the 'weeds' overtake the garden and choke out the desirable plants. In time, many months after the initial work, the plants bring forth their fruit and there is a great banquet to be had.

If the gardener sticks to the task, at the appropriate time there is a great reward. But if he gives up anywhere or anytime before the end, all the effort is wasted and there is no reward at all.

That's how it is with our doing God's work in this garden. It's a long cycle and the temptation to stop prematurely is very strong. Yet if we persevere, we will share a great banquet at God's table. Let's keep this in mind today and everyday.

Shalom,
Carl

What Have You Seen?

The Word is first...

"Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”" (Luke 5:26, NIV)

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

When confronted with the reality of God, a typical first response is one of fear. We know that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that all must pass through this state at one time or another. For the believer, this fear is felt while still alive; for the unbeliever, this fear shall be made real at the seat of judgment. I shall not mention the unbeliever again for nothing below pertains to them as their fate is sealed.

As for the believer however, fear is a rational response to the knowledge and understanding of our innate sinfulness. Were this the entire equation it would not be so much fear as it would be disgust. But when you combine the knowledge of our own filthiness with the understanding of God's holiness, what began as disgust moves rapidly to despair. And it is out of this despair as we stand between the high-high wall of God's holiness and the deep-deep pit of our sinfulness that we know fear. This fear is borne of the realization that if we stay where we are at, we will inevitably slip down into the pit that leads to Hell. Yet to aspire to scale the wall of God's holiness is to try to come into the very presence of God, the thought of which is overwhelming except for the knowledge that He loves me and is waiting for me.

And in that thought my fear resolves into gratitude. For God has not abandoned me to my own devices. Around the pit of sinfulness He has erected fences and barricades. He has in fact, reached out to me as I struggled within the pit to physically pull me out of that darkness. That gratitude that I feel for the one who has saved me washes over my fear and provides a layer of isolation upon that fear. The fear that once riveted me in place now forms the underpinning of a developing relationship with God. That fear is always there just below the surface but it is "white-washed" by the blood of Christ which brings forth such gratitude so as to drown out the chattering of my teeth as I tremble in fear.

The gratitude that I feel is that of the drowning man for the lifeguard. How can I every say "thank you" enough? How many cards would I have to send to fully express the scope of this emotion? Is there anything I could every do that would be sufficient to convey my love? Indeed, there is. I need only to live my life in such a way as to be worthy of His sacrifice. This is the calling upon my waking life.

As I grapple with that realization I am filled with reverent awe. God, who spoke everything into existence speaks to me. God, who formed stars and planets, placing them into the most complex orbits, flinging them to the farthest reaches of space and time, meets with me each morning. The very hands that formed Adam from the clay and Eve from Adam's rib hold me in their loving embrace. From galaxies to ants and for everything in between, God is involved and aware and busy. Yet He loves me. He has time enough for me. He has forgiven me and He helps me and He waits for me with eager anticipation. How can this be? It is and it is this that fills me to overflowing with awe and wonder.

For the Pharisees, the religious leaders, "some men" and a paralytic; they were in the very presence of Immanuel. While there with him, they witnessed healings of both physical and spiritual afflictions. Scripture tells us that "everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"

Like the people in this story, I have seen (and pray that you too have seen) remarkable things in your life. Things that can only be attributed to God. Things that fill you with wonder and awe and which overflow out of your life in the form of praise. If you don't already have a list of such things on the tip of your tongue, I challenge to set pen to paper and make a list, count your blessings so to speak. I am certain that you will find plenty of remarkable things to which you can attest. As for me, I need only look at who I was and who I now am to be able to say "I have seen remarkable things today."

Shalom,
Carl

Power of Authority

The Word is first...

"Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God." (Luke 5:23-25, NIV)

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

Having just heard Jesus declare to the paralytic that his sins had been forgiven the Pharisees and other religious leaders we in a state of inner turmoil. Afterall, they had just heard with their own ears Jesus making a declaration that is only attributable to God. Knowing their thoughts Jesus seized the opportunity to finish the lesson he was teaching.

You see, this story is not about the paralytic or the four men who brought him to Jesus. True enough there are lessons to be learned by the actions of those people but the core lesson is not of his ability to heal physical malady but rather it is his God-given authority to forgive sin. To this point, there had been nobody able to forgive sin except for God himself. So the concept of Jesus being not just a messenger from God but a manifestation of God was a foreign and perplexing concept.

Nevertheless, Jesus laid his entire mission 'on the line' in this passage. You see, when Jesus fulfilled his mission with respect to the paralytic by forgiving his sins, he had done something that could not be proven. The forgiveness of sin has no outward manifestation. There are no symptoms that could be seen to be different, no conditions have changed. To the human eye, the forgiven appear exactly as they appeared before. Thus, there is no objective way that the Pharisees could test or prove whether Jesus had actually forgiven the sins of the paralytic. Forget for a moment that they considered it to be blasphemy and consider how they might find this preposterous.

So Jesus laid it out for them. He acknowledged the thought in their minds that anyone could 'say' that your sins are forgiven and that as a claim to power, it could be neither proven nor disproven. In order to prove that which could not be proven, Jesus made a declaration that could be immediately verified. It is written '"but that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."' Now this was a bold declaration and would surely grab the rapt attention of the Pharisees and religious leaders.

You see, they all believed in God and they all accepted that God could both forgive sin and heal the afflicted. It came down to this... IF Jesus was who he said he was and IF God approved of Jesus' forgiveness of sin THEN God would heal this man. But IF Jesus had not the authority to forgive sins then God would NOT heal this man. The proof would be immediate, obvious and irrefutable.

The passage continues "Immediately he (the paralytic) stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God." I can imagine that the religious leaders were shocked! The healing had occurred by the speaking of Jesus and if he could do 'that' which was so hard, then he must be able to forgive sins as well.

Tomorrow, we'll examine the response of the people in attendance. But for today, let's ponder our faith. By this passage, we can see that Jesus had the authority that he claimed to have. The logical conclusion is that Jesus was who he said he was. If we are to believe any scripture then we are to believe all scripture. This means that Jesus still lives! It means that Jesus still has the authority to forgive sins. This means that Jesus IS who he says he IS. And by his words and his sacrifice, we know that our faith in him and that by his authority we are forgiven our sins and reconciled to God the Father. We know by his words that The Holy Spirit now dwells within us and that we are all children of the King. Now that's something to think about.

In His Grip,
Carl

What Are You Thinking

The Word is first...

"The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?" (Luke 5:21-22, NIV)

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

Our Lord Jesus has just forgiven the sins of the paralytic who has been carried by his friends and lowered through the roof into the presence of Jesus. At this stage, the paralytic has had his most critical need addressed (forgiveness of sin) and yet remains a paralytic. Were he to remain in this same state it would nevertheless be a joyous occasion for to be spiritually healed yet physically afflicted is of no consequence compared to spiritual affliction and perfect physical health.

Yet in this moment, the Pharisees and teachers of the law took great exception to what Jesus had done, for they rightly attributed the ability to forgive sins with God alone. That Jesus is the Son of God is not accepted by them and their hearts cried out against the blasphemous act that they believe Jesus has committed.

But, I think it is important to note that they did not cry out against him. They did not rise up to challenge him. Note that the Scripture is very particular that they "began thinking to themselves." Note too that "Jesus knew what they were thinking..."

I'd like to know why they had those thoughts but did not articulate them. I know from my personal experience that I too have 'thoughts in my heart' that are rooted in doubt and disbelief and I too do not articulate them. I wonder how many of my fellow believers are faced with the same situation; that of having questions or doubts but hiding them in their hearts rather than speaking them out loud.

I suppose that this could be a dangerous ploy of our common enemy that we hide our doubts and maintain a weak facade of faith. For by the speaking of our questions and doubts, we may hear answers and proofs such as would be sufficient to assuage our concerns. Were those doubts and concerns addressed, our faith could then become ever stronger, our love ever deeper, our outreach more powerful and our testimony more effective. Certainly Satan would suffer an ignoble defeat were this to happen. Yet... many, like those Pharisees, foster doubt in their heart and guard their eyes and ears from anything that might challenge their secret thoughts.

But as we see in V22, these thoughts are not secret! "Jesus knew" then what doubts and charges existed in the hearts of those religious leaders. Jesus knows today what doubts and questions exist in the hearts of man today. And just as Jesus challenged those men in that room, questioning their thinking, so too does he challenge us today regarding our own thinking.

So, from this passage today, I am challenged and I challenge you to drag out your questions, concerns and doubts. Bring them forth and lay them on the table, right in front of Jesus, that he may shine the light of truth on them and chase them away like so many shadows fleeing the noon-day sun.

Shalom,
Carl

Principal Priority

The Word is first...

"Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”" (Luke 5:18-20, NIV)

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

I have continued to consider this same passage for a few days now. In all honesty, numerous things have risen up to disrupt my study time and to keep me from my posting up my journal to this blog. All things considered, I knew it was coming but even with that knowledge I walked right into the trap. So I have no excuse.

Nevertheless, I am here today and now ready to talk about the last verse in this three-verse passage. And like the realization that my quiet time is the most important part of my time, I believe that V20 is the most important verse in this passage.

With respect to this passage in Luke, I have written of the power of The Holy Spirit and of the celebrity of Jesus. I have written of the importance of getting our friends into the presence of Jesus. I have written of the tenacity of four friends in overcoming the obstacles that would preclude them from coming into the presence of the Son of God. And here we are, four men have lowered their friend into a crowded room right in front of Jesus.

I can imagine how they held their breath waiting to see what was going to happen next. They had a ringside seat for a match between Jesus and that which afflicted their friend. They had great expectations for a healing of their friend and for relief from having to 'tote him around.' All it would take to make their joy complete would be a word or a touch from Jesus and to see their friend rise to his feet and walk away. What would happen next?

In that moment, the Son of God assessed the situation and quickly moved to resolve the immediate problem. He looked that the four men and with the understanding of the what they had done; how their actions reflected their complete faith in His ability to bring about healing, Jesus did the most important thing. He forgave his sins.

V20 reads simply 'When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."'

Despite the man's paralysis, Jesus knew that the most critical affliction was the sin in the man's own heart. As such, the forgiveness of sin is a divine priority. Temporal afflictions are simply a distraction no matter how much we cling to the contrary notion that the healing of the body is more important that the healing of the soul. Jesus was not to be distracted from his prime direction of reconciling mankind to God, Jesus had his priorities straight.

Recognizing the man's need for forgiveness, Jesus addressed the issue immediately. I think it is interesting that in that moment, the paralytic man was added to a list of names that included Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David and so on.; all the great men of God who were identified as the 'faithful'. And now, the paralytic was added to their ranks. By the faith that these men showed, not by the words they spoke but by the deeds they committed, sin was literally 'sent away' from this man on a mat.

The affliction from which we all suffer is sin and like this paralytic, we need forgiveness of our sin and the healing of our soul far more than we need healing of our various aches, pains and sicknesses.

This passage helps to teach us the virtues of caring for others, overcoming adversity and of the healing balm of forgiveness. It sets as the highest calling the ministry of reconciliation to which we have each been called.

Shalom,
Carl

Climb Every Mountain

The Word is first...

"Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”" (Luke 5:18-20, NIV)

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

Yes, yes you are right. This is the same passage today as yesterday. It's no mistake and it is by intention that I continue to 'wring out' these verses. Though I've read this passage before, this time it speaks loudly to me and I find that "there's gold in them there hills" that is waiting to be mined out. So we visit it again today.

In response to my post yesterday, my friend and mentor Dr. Bill Berry (the right reverend:)) commented about our responsibility to 'carry our corner' (of the mat). He had recently heard a sermon on this topic and could see the parallels between what I wrote and what the preacher had preached. I like that concept of 'carrying my corner' and share it with you in hopes that it will speak into your life as well.

But I will not expound on that point today as it has been done. What I really want to examine today is verse 19. It is important to keep this verse in context so as to remember the situation. A group of men, presumably friends, carried their paralytic friend (on a mat) to see Jesus. They were doing this in the hope of Jesus performing a miracle in the form of healing their afflicted friend. Upon arriving at the house where Jesus was teaching, they discovered a great throng of people. Scripture tells us that it was the Pharisees and teachers of the law from all throughout the land that were in that place. So there they were, friend in tow, shoulders likely burning from carrying this man on his mat, hoping to get to Jesus.

Let us pickup now with V19 "When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus."

We read that verse and likely give it no notice whatsoever. We accept it as a matter of fact, an observation reported by a witness and look no further into it because we are anticipating what is coming. As an aside, I submit that we do this throughout our lives in everyday situations and that we miss the divine that is in the seemingly mundane. I choose to tarry on this verse and offer these four observations for your consideration.

As mentioned yesterday, this 'band of brothers' carrying their dependent brother came seeking Jesus with expectations. They had 'heard' rumors and reports of his healing power and came not to see for themselves as casual observers but rather they brought their friend as an intended recipient of Jesus' grace. I believe that most of the people I come into contact with on a daily basis have heard of Jesus. For some, they have heard rumors, others have heard stories and many have heard the good news of Jesus Christ. But for many, the stories of Jesus are just that, stories. They draw no distinction between "the brothers Grimm" and the Apostle Paul. Yet there are others that when they hear the name of Jesus, something within them stirs and responds as though encountering something familiar. It is like when the unborn baby John jumped within the womb of Elizabeth with Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came into proximity. In fact, for those people, there is an unborn baby of sorts that is jumping within them when they come into proximity of Jesus. These people, when invited to church or when 'brought to church' as it were, come with expectations. They don't fully understand them and probably cannot articulate them but nevertheless they are real. Each of us, seeker and believer alike, have expectations of Jesus just the same as "some men" carrying a paralytic on a mat.

These men along with their friend encountered obstacles in their path on the way to Jesus. For them, it was a great crowd of people blocking entrance into the house. I can imagine that they went from door to door, peeking over shoulders, looking through windows, trying to find a way to get through the crowd. I can imagine their frustration and concern as they realized that the way was completely blocked. As I consider the seekers who come to church with expectations, hoping to meet Jesus, I realize that there are myriad obstacles to them as well. Perhaps it is a look of judgment or condemnation from someone in the parking lot, perhaps it is a perfunctory greeting at the door, perhaps it is the perception of the assemblage of people on the inside who have something in common with each other and nothing in common with the seeker. Maybe it's the music; too old-fashioned or too modern; too loud or not loud enough. Perhaps it is the conviction of their sinfulness. Perhaps it is the requirement that they die to themselves and rely on Jesus. Perhaps it is the voice of condemnation; satan at work in their lives trying to deceive and dissuade. Whatever the obstacle, they are everywhere. For some, they shrink from the obstacle and turn away; others wait for the obstacle to be removed; still others work to shove the obstacle aside or attempt to climb over it. Some, go from door to door looking for another way in.

But these men with their paralytic friend were not dissuaded from their task. Though confronted with an intimidating obstacle (let's not forget the crowd consisted of the religious leaders) these men resolved to overcome. They were not to be deterred or denied. Instead of being crushed, what rose up in them was tenacity and perseverance. Seeing that the doors were blocked, seeing that the windows were inaccessible, they resorted to creativity. V19... "When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles..." Carrying their friend up onto the roof (can you imagine how hard that was?) they took a chance. In so doing, they had to take apart a piece of what had been built. They had to 'break the rules' as it were so that their friend would have a chance to see Jesus and be healed. Perhaps there is a lesson for us all to learn in this, that sometimes we have to get creative in bringing people to Jesus. Sometimes we have to tear apart some of what has been built or 'break the rules' so that someone afflicted by sin can come to the master and be healed. We have to help remove the obstacles between the seeker and the healer. In order for them to exit the tomb of their sinful existence, we have to roll away the stone so that they can be resurrected into a life in Christ.

V19 continues "lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus." Oh my gosh, can you imagine the audacity? Can you imagine the outrage of the Pharisees and religious teachers that their time with Jesus might be interrupted by a cripple? Talk about line-breakers! These men, the friends of the paralytic, had overcome every obstacle and delivered their friend into the very presence of Jesus "right in front of Jesus." This was an audacious gambit on their part; to interrupt the teaching that was taking place; to take center-stage or to steal the 'lime light.' But I say that it is not the teaching that is important... it is the reaching! Jesus was in no way offended by their boldness, rather I imagine that he smiled to himself and perhaps chuckled at the lengths to which those men had gone to bring just one man to be in front of Jesus. Friends, I tell you that we NEED to be like those men in our efforts to bring the seeker into the kingdom. There are times when it is appropriate to teach but it is ALWAYS appropriate to reach.

So I challenge you today, as The Spirit has challenged me in this study, to have expectations when bringing your afflicted friend to Jesus for healing. I challenge you to be tenacious, persistent and to persevere and to be diligent in overcoming every obstacle. I implore you to resort to every means necessary to get that person in front of Jesus. Don't be afraid of what others may think, don't stand on protocol or tradition. Get the job done to the best of your ability, that is the mark of true friendship.

Even as I typed those words I realized that some of you reading this are not the men carrying the mat but instead are the afflicted person in need of healing. To you I say, COME. Come to church with expectations, ignore and fight off every obstacle that will assuredly appear in your path. Look past the crowds and the preconceived notions. Push your way past the back rows and come forward all the way to the front. Don't worry about what those around you may be thinking and for your sake, don't be concerned about whose chair you might sit in. Get yourself right in front of Jesus and see what happens next.

In His Grip,

Carl

Friendly Persuasion

The Word is first...

Luke 5:18-20 (NIV)

¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹ When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. ²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

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

Everywhere Jesus went, people came. They crowded around him to hear him teach and they watched his every move hoping to see him perform some miracle. These people, and people today, are looking for signs and wonders to stimulate their minds or to add some excitement to an otherwise dreary existence. What is difficult to comprehend is the degree to which Jesus was a celebrity everywhere he went. Today, we are familiar with celebrities and it is the television and the telephone that are used to keep us up-to-date on their every move. Yet in the age of Jesus, there was neither television nor telephone and it was literally word-of-mouth that spread the news of his whereabouts.

On this particular day, Jesus is inside a house and again the throngs had gathered. The house was full and still there were people crowding the entrances and perhaps filling the courtyards and other areas around the house. Now in this same time there was a group of men who apparently had a paralytic friend. They too had heard of Jesus and the wondrous miracles he had performed. And being a friend to the paralytic they took it upon themselves to bring their afflicted friend to Jesus.

Today's study verse records that "Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus." Quite often, this verse is quickly passed over and overshadowed by the verses that follow but it deserves our study and today I wish to explore it with you.

"Some men" is an interesting opening for this verse. The men this verse refers to are unnamed and for good reason. If we were given their names, they would take on distinct personalities and would become characters in a story. But their anonymity keeps the focus off of them while at the same time creating the opportunity for us to identify ourselves with them.

These men apparently were in the habit of rendering help to a paralytic. "Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat..." Now I've never had to carry a grown person anywhere before and I can imagine that it is quite a difficult matter. Though Scripture does not reveal the true relationship between "some men" and the "paralytic" I surmise that there must have been some form of a real friendship between them. After all, who but a true friend would make such a sacrifice to put forth the effort of hauling around a man on a mat? As friends then, I further surmise that 'some men' must have felt a duty towards their helpless friend.

On that subject I offer two observations. First, these men had to work together. Hauling a man on a mat requires teamwork and no amount of individual skill can compensate for a lack of teamwork. An aspect of good teamwork as demonstrated by these men is practice and familiarity. Thus I surmise that they must have a history of doing this very thing. Secondly, though burdensome they took their duty to their friend seriously. Otherwise, they would have just left him where he lay and tried to bring Jesus to their friend.

In response to their burden or perhaps in spite of it, these men earnestly desired to bring their friend to Jesus. The work associated with such an endeavor was no obstacle to them as they were committed. Perhaps their desire was born out of love for their friend. Perhaps their desire was born out of being sick and tired of hauling their friend around. After all, if Jesus would heal him, they would be relieved of their duty! But no matter their motivation, their response was to bring their friend to Jesus no matter the cost.

And no matter their motivation, they knew that Jesus could heal their friend. Were these men disciples of Jesus? No. Were they converts and followers of Jesus? Scripture does not reveal. Yet their actions reveal quite clearly that they had faith in Jesus and his ability to perform miracles. And so they hauled their friend across town to where Jesus was, thus demonstrating their faith.

As a result of their faith, they also had expectations. That is, they brought their paralytic friend to where Jesus was teaching expecting a miracle. Through Scripture doesn't specify, I don't believe they were hoping for a miracle, they were expecting a miracle. Whether their motivation was altruistic or selfish makes no difference. They believed not only that Jesus could heal their friend but also that he would heal their friend.

As believers and followers of Jesus, we should have the same faith and the same expectations of the Risen Lord. And our faith should compel us to bring our own friends to Jesus. True enough that our friends may or may not be physically afflicted but certainly there is some number of our friends that are spiritually afflicted and in need of the healing touch of Jesus. Are we good enough friends to go to any effort required to bring our friends to Jesus? Are we to be counted among 'some men' who are committed to action in response to faith? Or are we as the gathered throng, sitting around listening? We are charged in James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

What is your response to your faith? What is your duty to your friends? Do you believe strongly enough to shoulder the burden?

Shalom,

Carl

The Source of Power

The Word is first...

Luke 5:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.

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

We open this verse with another testimony to the power of Christ to draw people to him. In previous verses we saw the healing power of Christ and we explored how throngs of people came to listen to him and to be healed. We also read how Jesus often withdrew to lonely places where he would pray. In my exploration of those verses, I posited that one of the purposes of his prayers was to be refreshed and strengthened. I believe that the study verse today explains a key concept to the necessity for frequent solitude and prayer.

Today's verse opens with Jesus doing something he frequently engaged in; teaching. "One day as he was teaching" seems like such an incidental statement as to bely the importance of what it signifies. The Son of God came to earth as a man and instead of parading around soaking up the praises of his people, he sat and taught. This indicates, to me, that he was not interested in mindless obedience but rather that he earnestly worked to help people understand God's word and will. He took the written Word which had become the 'property' of the religious professionals and opened it up in ways that spoke to the common man. He used the parable in a masterful way to reveal things of Heaven to a people who were desperately in need; who ARE desperately in need.

Nevertheless, on this particular day as he was teaching, "Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there." What an incredible assemblage of scholars and lawyers this must have been! They had heard of him and had come from miles around to hear for themselves, the words of this man. Of course, this was no small feat in itself for travel was neither easy nor pleasant in those days; to the contrary, it was arduous and dirty. Yet they had come and they had assembled that they might hear from his lips what they had only heard as hearsay to this point. I can imagine that he expounded 'The Law' for the Pharisees and amazed them that such a 'common man' would have such a profound understanding of God's word. In this way, he revealed to them his divinity. Yet, on what he was teaching that day, Scripture is silent and we are left not with a revelation based on what he taught but rather insight into who he is.

Consider how this passage progresses to "And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick." As I read this single verse, I am struck by three portrayals of the person of Jesus; teacher, celebrity and instrument. And it is the last characteristic, that of an instrument, that I seize upon as the most important component of this verse and a critical attribute of the character of Jesus the Christ.

Jesus, the Son of God became as nothing to become the Son of Man that he could live among us as an instrument of God. I believe that Christ laid aside his diety and with it all the divine power that is attendant to being the Son of God. I believe that he walked the earth just as we do and that of himself he had no more inherent power than you.

But what he had was the most profound faith ever to grace this planet. And as a result of this extravagant faith he was a vessel for The Holy Spirit such as had never been seen before. It is from the indwelling Holy Spirit that the power of God was unleashed through the instrument of Jesus. Jesus was the physical manifestation of Christ the Son and The Spirit is the earthly manifestation of God's power. The source of Jesus' power to heal was not Jesus himself but rather the Spirit of God that lived within him. The source of power is God the Father. The miracles he wrought while alive were the fruit of the deepest most intimate relationship that man can have with God. And that relationship was nurtured and developed in the lonely places and through prayer.

Now I accept that this may be an inflammatory assertion and I admit that I do not fully understand this. But I write under the direction and leading of The Spirit and offer this to you with the expectation that in the spirit of Romans 12:2 and 1 John 4:1 you will 'test' my writing and that in the spirit of 2 Timothy 3:16 you will offer me rebuke or correction as appropriate. With that in mind I offer these three points for your consideration.

We are made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). All men and women as descendents of Adam and Eve then must inherent some qualities that reflect the Lord our God. I believe the manner in which we reflect the image of God is a spiritual not physical one. I believe it is a matter of capacity or potential to love and to be in relationship that is the true reflection of the image of God. Insomuch as Jesus was fully man, he too was formed in the image of God. He is the model for us to emulate. He is the standard to which we are to strive. Therefore, I believe that each of us has the same capacity to love as Jesus loves. I believe that each of us can achieve a significant degree of the relationship the Jesus had with God the Father through study, meditation and prayer. We were made for the garden and it was to the garden that Jesus went to strengthen his relationship with God. If we live our lives as Jesus lived, setting the will of God ahead of our own, often withdrawing to lonely places and living lives of constant prayer, that potential may be realized.

We are temples of the living God and we were made for relationship with God. Adam was created to walk with God in the garden. I believe that Jesus was the same in this respect; made for relationship. Further, Jesus was a willing vessel for the Holy Spirit and we have the same capacity. 1 Cor 6:19 teaches us that our 'body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.' I believe it is the same Holy Spirit that inhabited Jesus and it is the same Holy Spirit by which the miracles he performed were accomplished. That's why today's study verse says "the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick." Further, I believe that it was the total yieldedness of Jesus to God that enabled The Spirit to do such amazing things; things we believe we cannot do. But that flies in the face of Christ's own words in John 14:12 where Jesus said "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than therese, because I am going to the Father." I believe that at the point where we achieve the same measure of yieldedness, The Spirit will bloom inside of us and come bursting forth in ways that amaze and give testimony to the power of God. I believe that Eph 4:24 speaks to this very matter and that it is by that depth of relationship with God that we achieve our potential as having been created in the image of God. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not asserting that we in any way can rival Jesus but rather that we can become that which he modeled for us. We cannot become Jesus nor can we become the Christ, but what we can become is a totally selfless instrument for the will of God.

We are meant to be instruments for the will of God. I believe we have been placed on the earth to praise God through thought, word and deed. There is no better way for us to live out this charge than to be the hands and feet of God in the same way that Jesus lived.

As for praising God through our thoughts, consider Philippians 4:8 where it is written "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." This is the charge upon our lives to give our thoughts over to the thoughts of God. Romans 12:2 challenges us to 'conform no longer to the patterns of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.' What could this possibly mean other than to praise God by the surrender of our minds to him?

As for praising God through our words, consider Col 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." We are charged in Col 3:8 to "rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." It is through these efforts that we may then praise God through our words.

As for praising God through our deeds, consider James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." And Jesus himself said in John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you lvoe one another." This is not in thought nor in word but in every action to which we commit. In this way, we praise God through our deeds or actions.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus came to pay the price for our sins and to show us what living in God and for God can do in our world. Jesus was not the source of the power of the miracles which he performed, God is the source of power and by the Holy Spirit reaches into our lives as well. We need only to live for him as Jesus did to see the truth of this matter in our own lives.

In His Grip,

Carl

Fortress of Solitude

The Word is first...

Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

¹⁵ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. ¹⁶ But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

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

I confess that I grew up watching Superman on TV. Week after week I watched him, whether it was in black&white, live action color or cartoon, I followed Superman. And one of the things that has stuck with me about Superman is his Fortress of Solitude. (It's funny but my little fortress of solitude just got a little bit quieter as I typed those words! cue music...) From time to time, the 'Man of Steel' would escape the pressures of everyday super-hero life by flying off to his Fortress of Solitude and there he would study, rest, speak with his father, meditate and contemplate. Invariably he would then return, refreshed and renewed, to the pressing matters of saving the world. Having regained his 'mental strength' he would resume saving lives, thwarting the bad guys and fending off the endless attempts to take his life.

As I type this out, it occurs to me that I could write a book comparing and contrasting the modern day Superman with the eternal Son of God and perhaps that would be interesting. But I only brought up Superman as a frame of reference for the concept of a Fortress of Solitude. Having established that frame, it's time to turn my attention to the scripture before me today.

Contextually, my study passage today follows the healing of a man with leprosy. For whatever reason, after healing this man Jesus charged the man with two responsibilities. First, keep this to yourself. Second, go and make the appropriate sacrifices as a testimony. Apparently, Jesus was conducting a covert operation and did not want his cover blown just yet. I find it interesting that Jesus made such a specific point of making certain that the healed man was intentional about fulfilling his obligation under the law. I think that in this thought there is a whole chapter to be written.

Despite his efforts to continue in his covert operation, Jesus was exposed. That's where I pick up today. V15 says "Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses." It occurs to me that the man having been healed from such a terrible malaise was so excited, so appreciative and so profoundly changed that he could not 'keep it to himself'. And like a modern-day 'telephone tree' as this man shared with those he met, they shared with their friends who in turn shared with their friends and so on such that this miracle soon became common knowledge. Not just common knowledge but important and inspirational knowledge. The people in need, those who were sick, were encouraged and inspired to seek out Jesus that they too could be healed. And so the word spread and the people came and came and kept on coming. From that day to this day, people who hear the news of Jesus and recognize their own sickness seek him out. I know this to be true because I was one who heard these stories and I came to Jesus to be healed of my own terrible, repugnant afflication; sin. And like that man I have gone to the priests and I have made my sacrifice and I have shared the news of His power and I point the way towards him for others who seek his healing.

But the point of V15 is that great throngs of people sought him out, hounding him at every turn. Completely absorbed by their own needs, they laid upon him a great burden. With no care for his own needs Jesus responded to them with love and compassion and by the power of The Lord, he healed them. This put tremendous pressure on the Son of Man and was not without a price. Yet Jesus, knew what he needed to do that he could continue in his mission.

V16 tells us 'But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.' There are three significant points I wish to share today.

First is frequency; 'Jesus often withdrew.' Our Lord Jesus recognized his own needs and would often or frequently withdraw that he could be refreshed and renewed. He did this so often that it is a central component of who he is, it is an essential ingredient of his character. Once cannot miss this fact when reading Scripture. No matter where he was or what was going on around him; whether surrounded by great multitudes or in the intimate circle of his friends, Jesus routinely and regularly withdrew. He would by intention, set aside the demands being placed on him, allow the world to carry on without his immediate presence and 'escape' to his Fortress of Solitude.

Now, if we are to aspire to the character of Christ, if we are to emulate him in thought, word and deed and surely we are, then we too are to often withdraw. No matter how important we think we are, no matter what is going on around us, no matter where we are, we too should 'often withdraw.' In my own walk with Jesus, there came a time when my growth reached a plateau. Recognizing this I turned to my mentor who rightly encouraged me to establish a pattern or habit of often withdrawing. He taught me to do this in the form of a daily quiet time. He helped me to create a fortress of solitude of my own, one that is entirely portable, to which I could withdraw. He taught me the value of withdrawing, he helped me to establish the habit of withdrawing and together we prayed that it would become a central component of who I am that my character would conform more to that of Christ.

The second point is practical; that Jesus withdrew to 'lonely places.' This doesn't mean the place was desolate, barren or uncomfortable. Nor does it mean that in those places Jesus was lonely. What it means is that the distractions of everyday life did not penetrate into those places. We read in Scripture that Jesus withdrew to the desert, to gardens, to a boat on a lake, to mountain tops, to a distance a "stone's throw" away and ultimately to Heaven. You see, he didn't require a special or specific place. All that was required was a place that provided an opportunity to quiet his mind and heart away from distractions.

We read in Scripture that Jesus taught his disciples to 'go into their room and close the door' to pray. This is the practical application of the concept by which Jesus lived, to withdraw to a lonely place. Jesus had no room into which he could withdraw so he withdrew out of doors. How appropriate that the Son of God should withdraw to the garden where his Father's own creation would be his fortress of solitude.

The last point is purposeful; Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. He did not escape the demanding crowds that he could languish or relax. He did not seek solitude that he could think or plan or sleep. He was purposeful in doing that one thing that restored him to full capacity, he prayed. Superman talked to his father Jarel while in his fortress. Jesus talked to his father, GOD while in his fortress. This was not a time for monologue or diatribe, it was time for conversation. In the same way that our physical strength is renewed with each bite of bread, so too is our spiritual strength renewed by every word from God. And as it is for us, so too is it for Jesus who thrived upon the word of God.

In fact, we read of one such time that Jesus withdrew to a lonely place and prayed. In that instant, he prayed that 'this cup pass from him but that God's will be done.' And in that lonely place, having conversed with God the Father, angels were dispatched to minister to Jesus. When I enter into my lonely place and go before my heavenly Father with prayer I expect no less than to be strengthened and renewed by every word from God. And yes, I do believe that the angels still are dispatched to minister to those in need.

So I close my time and this journal entry today with three questions for you;

Do you often withdraw? If you do, don't stop. If you don't, get started. We have the example of Jesus to model for and encourage us. I'm of the mindset that what's good for Him is also good for me and you.

Where is your 'lonely place'? Do you have a fortress of solitude into which you can slip whenever necessary? If you do, cherish and protect it. If you don't, just step out into the yard leaving the cares and demands of the world behind you.

Do you talk to your father? Do you really? Do you listen or just list? Praying involves a conversation, you must speak and you must listen. Do it.

Love in Christ,
Carl