Closer Today Than Yesterday

That Hurts

2010-03-05T08:17:00.002-06:00

The Word is first...

Revelation 2:29

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

In considering this verse I am reminded of the numerous times that Jesus said "let he who has ears, hear." I always thought of that in terms of an admonishment to 'pay attention.' But today, I have a totally different thought.

Most of us have ears and are capable of hearing; yet we often choose not to listen. In the same way most everyone can read The Bible but there are many that are incapable of understanding it. What is it that makes the difference?

Circumcision. I am not talking about a gender-specific surgical procedure but rather a spiritual process. Specifically, it is the spiritual cutting away of the flesh that makes the difference. The eyes are uncovered, the ears are cleared, the veil that separates us from God is torn asunder.

For those that can read The Bible and not understand, it is the flesh that hinders them. The same is true for those that hear the truth and choose not to listen. Only the spiritually-circumcised ear is capable of listening and obeying the Word of God.

In this passage then, it is the believers, those that have been spiritually circumcised that are being addressed. It is the believers that are being reminded to listen! To pay attention to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Do you hear? Are you listening?

Peace,
Carl

Eyes of Faith

2010-02-16T08:45:00.002-06:00

The Word is first...

Galatians 1:11-12

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Many people think of 'revelations' as some sort of wispy vision, dreams, appearances in the air or apparitions in the living room. It may be true that in some circumstances God does indeed choose to 'reveal' to people in this manner. But when I consider Jesus and the extraordinary manner in which he dealt with ordinary people, I believe that the vast majority of such 'revelations' are of a more common nature. By that I mean the 'revelation' is the revelation of Christ by the Spirit and the opening of the eyes of faith that we may see The Christ Jesus for whom He truly is.

As much as I long to gaze upon the face of the God-man who loved me so sincerely, as much as I long to linger upon his radiance, I am profoundly satisfied that I see Him clearly using my eyes of faith. And though my physical eyes ever search without seeing Him, I feel Him in my heart and know His power, presence, grace and glory. It is that revelation that brings about transformation, renewal and repentance.

So the story to which I testify is not one of folklore and fable, it shall not be found in the fiction section. Rather I shall live it out for it is my biography penned by The Spirit.

Peace,
Carl

And In Summary....

2010-01-20T08:52:00.002-06:00

In Matthew 7:12 Jesus sums up the whole of the law and the prophets when he says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Just treat others the way you want to be treated and we will fulfill the law. Yet even with such a simple sounding maxim, we are incapable of doing this. Consider the pizza. You and your family sit down to a piping hot pepperoni pie. Do you take the first piece? Do you scope out which piece is best and go for that one? Or do you wait until everyone else has chosen and then you choose from what remains? Do you do that cheerfully or begrudgingly? And if we can be tripped up by something so innocuous as a pizza, what do we do when it is something really important?

But it's not about how easy or how hard doing the right thing is, it's about the right thing. Jesus teaches us to place others needs ahead of our own, to give more than asked, to be lavish in our generosity; even as He is lavish in his generosity. He calls us to the higher standard of treating others as we would like to be treated.

I want God's forgiveness, I must forgive all others.
I want God's love, I must love all others.
I want God's blessings, I must bless all others.
I want God's family, I must be God's family to all others.

It's easy to want those things and to just skip past our own obligations, that's the "wide gate" of the world. But where I want to go is at the end of the narrow path and beyond the "narrow gate".

Let's not fall in with the crowd today as they jam through the wide gate. Let's humbly and gently take someone by the elbow and lead them to the narrow path. And let's be sure to set our own feet securely onto that path ourselves.

Peace,
Carl

Setting the Standard

2010-01-18T08:07:00.002-06:00

In Matthew 4 we read of how Jesus began his ministry by setting the standard to which we can all aspire. Immediately after being baptized, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert for the purpose of being tempted by the devil himself.

Now normally, I'm praying to God that he 'lead me not into temptation' but here we clearly see that sometimes God's will is that we be tempted. From this we can understand that temptation itself is a part of God's plan not just for Jesus but for us also. It was in the crucible of the desert that we learn a valuable lesson, from Jesus, as to how we are to respond to Satan and his schemes. The standard that Jesus set was to use the very words of God as a weapon to rebuke and rebuff Satan. In so doing, we see that the words of God are powerful and effective as our first response to temptation. And we learn too that Satan will withdraw from the battle. In this one short passage we learn two important lessons from Jesus' example.

The first is a willingness to be led by the Spirit. Jesus could have commanded the Spirit or simply exercised his own will to avoid the desert and its' attendant temptations. Instead Jesus was led as a willing participant. This sets the standard of how we are to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.

The second is the ability to wield the sword of God's Word. I do not believe that Jesus was born knowing all the scriptures but rather that as a child he studied and committed to memory all the same teachings that all other Hebrew children were presented. In this he sets the standard for hiding God's word in his heart.

If we apply these two lessons to ourselves, if we follow the example of Jesus then our lives will be profoundly different.

Peace,
Carl

To Fulfill All Righteousness

2010-01-13T08:29:00.002-06:00

In reading the Gospels I cannot help but notice how consumed Jesus was with accomplishing God's will. It seems that every decision, every action, every word was carefully chosen so as to advance the accomplishment of God's will. What an example to me of how I am to live my life today. I should be, as He was, a man of prayer and a man who is wholly committed to God. A man where every decision, action, thought, word and deed is carefully evaluated to determine whether it is of God or of me.

In Matthew 3, we read the account of John the Baptist preaching the coming King and also of how Jesus was baptized by John. By human reasoning, the baptism of Jesus by John would seem to not make sense. Afterall, John was right when he said in v14 that "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" John recognized the authority of Jesus and was subservient to it. But Jesus, having all authority did not exercise it but rather submitted himself to God's will.

The words of Jesus in v15 "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." reveals exactly what was important to Jesus. Jesus did everything according to God's instructions and in order to not provide material for arguments from the religious leaders, he too had to be baptized.

The last bit of v15 is important to me. "Then John consented." Jesus wanted to do things God's way and John submitted himself to the authority and example of Jesus. Fully aware of his own shortcomings, John felt unworthy to baptize Jesus but in order to fulfill the righteousness set down by God, he submitted.

I too am keenly aware of my own sinfulness. I too feel unworthy to call myself a follower of Christ. I look in the Bible and see Jesus and like John, I must choose to submit myself to the will of God and I must commit myself to fulfill all righteousness.

Peace,
Carl

And So Was Fulfilled

2010-01-12T08:55:00.002-06:00

In Matthew 2 there are two prominent stories and one underlying theme. The two stories are the arrival of the Magi to worship the new-born King and the escape to Egypt of Jesus and his fmaily.

With respect to the Magi (wise-men) we see a group of men that were willing to saddle up their camels, put together a caravan and travel great distances bearing gifts that they may come before the king in the proper manner. They came to worship. "We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." This is a story that continues to this day. Those that are paying attention see the sign of his coming. No, it's not a star in the East, it is the changed life right next to them. It is the rebirth and new life of every believer that testifies to his coming. To those that see the sign and understand it, they too want to come before the king and to worship. Every believer lives out this pattern in their own way.

The escape to Egypt reflects the extent to which those who fear The Lord will go to oppose His will. Herod was willing to kill off babies in an effort to thwart God's plans. This story reveals the depths of depravity of the human heart and the willingness of man to stop at nothing to 'protect their territory.' Yet this story also reflects how God's will cannot be thwarted and to oppose God is to guarantee defeat.

The underlying theme is the certainty with which the words of God, as revealed by his prophets, come to pass. In Matthew 2:5, Herod receives the counsel of his advisers who directly quote the prophet when they inform Herod that the new King will be born in Bethlehem. And indeed, Christ was born in Bethlehem and so was fulfilled the prophecy.

In Matthew 2:13-15 we see how the angel tells Joseph to take his family and flee to Egypt that they may escape the coming slaughter. "And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'"

In Matthew 2:16 we see Herod's slaughter of the boy-children of Bethlehem and it's surrounding area. As despicable as it was, it nevertheless underscores the certainty of God's words. For in v17 we read "Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:" and this was a reference to the weeping and great mourning of the mothers over their slain children.

In Matthew 2:19-23 we read of the return of Jesus' family from Egypt and how Joseph, again warned in a dream, takes his family to Nazareth rather than to their traditional home. "So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: 'He will be called a Nazarene.'"

As I read this passage today, I am reminded of the omniscient nature of God and of how His word does not return void. If God said it, we can depend on it. It will be fulfilled. We should take heed of his words and bring our own lives into alignment with Him for we know what is coming. The day will come when people will say "and so was fulfilled" God's word concerning the return of His Son.

We better get ready.

Peace,
Carl

So We Would Know

2010-01-11T08:01:00.002-06:00

Our Senior Pastor has challenged the congregation to read through the New Testament in a year, this year. While that doesn't seem like a extraordinary request, I know from previous experience that it will get tough. Nevertheless, today I join hundreds or thousands of others in rising to this challenge by opening my Bible and reading.

Today, we start with Matthew 1 which opens with the genealogy of Jesus. I must admit that I was more interested in this genealogy than I've ever been before. Typically, I just skip through the genealogies to get to the 'good stuff.' But today, somehow, this IS the good stuff.

Giving consideration to why God found it necessary to present us with the genealogy of Jesus, I have three theories;

The first is to demonstrate God's Grand Design, specifically that Jesus (the man) was not an after-thought but had been intended from the beginning of time. In this way, we can more plainly see the thread of God's plan for salvation that winds its way through the Old Testament, the New Testament and into our lives today. This too reveals how the old covenant (Abrahmic) and the new covenant are not separate and unrelated promises but they are inextricably linked together across time and generations.

The second has to do with God's nature of perfect justness or more plainly, the legal ramifications. It is necessary for Jesus to be in the lineage of Abraham, et al so as to plainly establish his authority, his sovreignty and his 'right' to claim the throne. Jesus is no pretender to the throne nor is he some long-lost overlooked branch on the family tree. The blood of Abraham flows in the veins of Jesus and Jesus is the personification of 'the seed of Abraham' which God promised. Thus to establish the unbroken line from Abraham to Jesus clearly established the 'legal' authority for Jesus to ascend to the throne.

The third has to do with God's nature of perfect redemption, this is a spiritual dimension to the genealogy. In the genealogy of Christ we see a variety of men, women and personalities. With only a passing familiarity of the people in this list we can immediately identify prostitutes and adulterers. If God can so use those people in the realization of His divine plan, how then can anyone be outside the scope of being used by God? This is a great relief to a sinner such as I!

So, in considering the genealogy of Jesus, let us look behind the list of ancient names to understand the ancient story of God. A story which now includes the likes of you and me.

Peace,
Carl

Spiritual ramification

Digging In

2009-12-16T08:45:00.002-06:00

The issue of obedience comes down to a single question; "what's more important to me; God's way or my way?" Depending upon how hungry we are for communion with God and fellowship with His people, we make our decision. Our decision is driven by our appetite.

Consider this...

Proverbs 16:26 (NIV)

²⁶ The laborer’s appetite works for him;

his hunger drives him on.

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

If our appetite for God is keen, our hunger drives us to ever greater communion. We study more intently, serve more freely, love more and our every decision is tested against the litmus test of whether it draws us closer to God. If our appetite is more for the comforts and conveniences of the world, then our hunger drives us to greater distraction. We lay aside our studies of God, withdraw from service and fellowship becomes a burden. Every decision is weighed as to whether it serves our purposes or our pleasures.

What are you hungry for?

Peace,

Carl

Digging Out

2009-12-15T08:05:00.003-06:00

Years ago when I was first challenged, by my mentor, to begin daily devotions I was pointed towards the concept of reading one chapter of Proverbs per day. There are after all, thirty-one chapters of Proverbs so its and easy introduction to a new discipline.

Last night as I was sharing with my accountability group how I had stopped my daily devotions and that I felt as dry and crusty as week-old bread, they (bless them) challenged me to get back into my discipline by reading a chapter of Proverbs per day. Then they 'made' made me read chapter 14 to them on the spot as a way of getting started.

Thank God for my friends and brothers who have lifted me up in the spirit of Eccles 4:10a "If one falls down, his friend can help him up." They are true friends who challenge me and hold me accountable in this manner. How blessed I am!

So today, I take the next step as I read chapter 15 of Proverbs.

Peace,
Carl

Starving in the Presence of Sustenance

2009-11-17T08:13:00.002-06:00

The Word is first...

Psalm 107:5 (NIV)

⁵ They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.

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

With respect to God's plans and provisions for us it is amazing to me how stupid we can be. Psalm 107 is a treatise to the goodness of God and of how he has delivered the redeemed from their despair. Literally everyone that has any understanding of God can read this passage and see themselves. It is a comprehensive list of all the myriad ways that we can be 'lost' and of how God can overcome all those obstacles, burdens and afflictions to draw us to him. Though the salvation offered by God is the 'end all' of our salvation needs, though it secures our place in his presence for all eternity, it does not stop us from being stupid.

There are those, myself included, who will come to the banquet table of the Lord, eat our fill and then depart for barren lands. There are those who having drank from the cup of eternal life, will leave from the wellspring and strike off into the desert. I speak of those who receive the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sin, the covering of Christ's blood and the imputation of righteousness yet choose not to live a life of communion with God.

The focus verse today describes the life led by such as these. "They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away."

Contextually, this is a reference to those who are lost, spiritually. But I believe it is also an admonition for those that are lost, practically. Understand that I am not calling into question their salvation but rather the quality of their life and more specifically, their relationship with God.

As humans our hearts are prone to wander, we are inclined to leave the presence of God, to decline the gifts he offers on a daily basis and instead, wander in the meaningless wasteland of everyday life. How sad it is that we choose not to attend the banquet of God's presence and guidance in all the matters of our lives through reading, study, prayer and meditation. How profoundly unwise of us to turn to earthly sources for wisdom, comfort and help. Yet that is exactly what happens.

Do not let your life ebb away, live life to the fullest today by returning to the God's banquet table. Spend time with Him daily, pray to Him in all things and trust in Him. Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I think that means right now, today, not just sometime in the future. An intimate relationship with God that permeates the fabric of our lives is heaven on earth.

Peace,
Carl

It's Not In Me to Change

2009-10-23T07:55:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Jeremiah 13:23 (NIV)

²³ Can the Ethiopian^a change his skin

or the leopard its spots?

Neither can you do good

who are accustomed to doing evil.

^a Hebrew Cushite (probably a person from the upper Nile region)

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

I've heard the question dozens of times "can a leopard change it's spots?" Its always been a nod to the inevitability of certain behaviors and a capitulation to complacency. Its a way of saying that "you're just the way you are and you're never going to change." Yet I know from personal experience that this saying is both true and not true.

It is true to the extent that of ourselves, we are unable to effect lasting change at our core. Oh we can certainly modify our behavior such that an outward change is apparent but sooner or later, the curtain will come down and our true selves will be revealed.

The saying is not true to the extent that it precludes the power of God to effect real and lasting change in the very center of our being. This change effects not only our inner self but our outer self at all. This change is 'regeneration.'

The leopard cannot change its' spots (its nature) but by the power of God it can be reborn without spots; it can be reborn with a new nature. More specifically, we can be reborn into the family of God and our sin nature left behind.

God's word explains this in...

Titus 3:5-6 (NIV)

⁵he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

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

Through rebirth and renewal, by the death and resurrection of Christ, we can be reborn with a new nature, without spots. It's not in me to change, it's God in me that makes the change.

Peace,
Carl

Here... This if for you, take it!

2009-10-19T07:36:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c198

Since before the fall, God has predestined a plan of salvation to reconcile us to him. The elegance of His plan is beyond comprehension or compare and it is complete to the uttermost. While each of us can grasp some portion of it, none may plumb the depths of it.

God's plan of salvation was designed exclusively and expressly for us. It is not applicable for the animals and it is not available to the angels. It is well beyond the grasp of Satan and it cannot be undone by any amount of demonic intervention. It is designed and intended for us, all of us.

Today's verse discloses two components of God's plan for us as well as a key consideration.

Beginning with the consideration, let's examine the very first word of the verse; "Take." This is an imperative, a command, something to be done without hesitation and so it should be for it is for our own good. But even more important that the tense with which the author presents this is the concept that it is something that cannot be bought, negotiated or traded. It is as though God is saying "Here! This is for you, take it! It's a gift for you and I've been waiting for you to get to this point so I could offer it to you. I made it myself, I know you'll like it."

What then is the nature of this gift that is so forcefully offered to us? The verse continues "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Therein are the two things which we most need.

The helmet of salvation not only protects our head, our mind, from attack but it also anoints the entire body. Salvation is the balm for everything that ails us, it heals us completely. It is this knowledge of salvation that draws us into a more intimate relationship with God which is entirely enabled by salvation itself.

The sword of the Spirit, the very word of God, is offered to us not only as an offensive weapon against whatever would come against us, but as a comfort, a guide and a proof of ownership. We know that we are God's children because he has given us his seal (his spirit) and his sword (his word).

Offering us salvation, redeeming us from sin, is not an after-thought of God but rather the very essence of his divine plan for us. Offering us his spirit is not some ad-hoc, "oh yeah" kind of moment but rather a carefully crafted solution to the problems that vex us on this Earth.

Take up the helmet of salvation today. Place it upon your head to protect your mind and to declare your allegiance to The King of Kings whom you serve. Fix the sword of the Spirit to your belt (of truth) knowing that you have the best weapon to bear against your enemies.

Shalom,
Carl

To Be Presented Righteous

2009-10-07T07:32:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

¹¹When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,^a he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. ¹²He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^b so that we may serve the living God!

^aSome early manuscripts are to come

^bOr from useless rituals

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Heb 9:11-14

In this passage I see more on the topic of Christ's role as my High Priest which God has been keeping in front of me throughout this week. I find it wholly wonderful how God presents his son to me, through the word and by the Spirit, that I may know him better. The more I know Him, the more I love Him and the more perfectly I may follow Him.

With regards to this passage, I sense the purpose with which Christ entered the world and in the opening fragment of this verse (v11) "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here..." there are three thoughts that immediately captivate me. First is the certainty that Christ did come as expressed "when Christ came." As a believer, I operate with that certainty at the very core of my being. Here it is presented as a presumptive fact and I find that confidence comforting. Second is that he 'came as high priest.' He did not come as a mere man to experience life as a man but to fulfill a particular role. He did not grow into this role or 'happen' into this role as many of us do with respect to our various parts played in life. Rather, this was a central purpose and a core motivation. Third, is the description of mankind being 'the good things that are already here.' This harkens back to Genesis where God saw all that he had created and declared that 'it was very good.' In this we can derive that Jesus came as the high priest of all creation, he is in front of everything even as the high priest is in front of the 'congregation' before God.

The second half of this verse "he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation" speaks if how Christ functions at a supernatural level far beyond what a human priest is capable of. According to my understanding, the high priests of old, having cleansed themself (ceremonially) and having offered atonement for the sins of the people would then enter into the Holy of Holies; that portion of the man-made tabernacle in which God dwelt. They would come into the very presence of God albeit imperfectly and yet separated by the construction of the tabernacle. Not so with Christ. Christ did not come before God by way of the man-made tabernacle but by the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle.' My understanding on this matter is imperfect and as yet unclear. At once I see both the concept of the man-made tabernacle being inextricably linked to the Old Covenant and the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made' representing the New Covenant as well as the concept of the man-made tabernacle (physical) and the 'more perfect' tabernacle as being spiritual or super-natural. With either understanding I realize that the distinction is that what came before Christ was insufficient and that Christ is sufficient.

Moving on to v12 we see clear reference to the cost of admission (sacrifice) to God's presence and the explicit understanding that Christ did not enter by the normal (imperfect and temporary) means of animal sacrifice. "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves." His entrance into the Holy Place was by means of the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice (perfect and eternal); his own blood. "but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." The permanence of the sufficiency of the sacrifice secures eternal presence with God and He need never leave it again. With this picture in mind it is easy to overlook the fact that he 'obtained eternal redemption' and it is upon this point that our hope and joy is hung. We rightfully celebrate our redemption and I believe we should equally rejoice in Christ's entrance as our High Priest into the presence of God (the ascension). For in a picture of things yet to come, Christ is bodily in the presence of God as we too shall be.

V13 "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death," is a mouthful. Whereas animal sacrifice was sufficient to temporarily cleanse the outside for the purposes of ceremony, the inside is far more important (and difficult to cleanse). The fact that Christ's blood is sufficient for the uttermost cleansing of the innermost being speaks of the power or efficacy of the blood. "How much more" will the blood cleanse indeed!

I close with the last fragment which speaks of the purpose for which all this occurred. "so that we may serve the living God!" We have been reconciled to God through Christ our Lord not for our own benefit, though we receive benefit, but that we may serve God! I believe that anyone who truly understands the depravity of their own sinfulness and comprehends the depth of Christ's love as evidenced by his sacrifice on our behalf, will not long sit in the pew. Instead, they will rise up with hearts of joy and enter into service to God by meeting the needs of his people.

How wonderful is our God! How wonderful is His Son! How wonderful is The Spirit that has been given us by God to lead, teach and convict us! Let us stream into the streets and paths, let us beat the bushes and look behind every hedgerow and bring others to the feast of reconciliation to God.

Shalom,
Carl

I'm With Him

2009-09-30T09:53:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

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

When Christ ascended into Heaven, he was enthroned at the right-hand of God. Now my natural inclination is to consider him in a state of repose, looking out over the kingdom and commenting to God now and then about something interesting that piques his interest. But I know that nothing could be farther from the truth.

Recently, I had the good fortune to learn just a little bit about what it is Jesus is doing in Heaven right now. Now, there wasn't anything really new but it was presented to me as a list and being a list-maker myself, it seemed particularly real to me and I want to share it with you. So, here's Jesus's "to-do" list;

Be your Savior
Be your Intercessor
Be your High Priest
Be your Mediator
Be your Advocate (Lawyer)

I'm sure that I could extract a 12 week sermon series on this concept and on the verses underlying this little list but today, I am struck by the fact that God presented me with Hebrews 4:15 to study and therein we see a reference to the role of Jesus as my High Priest.

Many may not even realize they have a High Priest (by name) but indeed we do in Jesus Christ. He has fulfilled his chief obligation associated with this role in that he has made atonement for my sin according to God's laws. In the course of this great task, he has presented me with a path to God for it is 'through the Son' that I must go in order to be reconciled to God.

Now, as today's study verse reveals, our High Priest is no high-minded, elitist, out-of-touch functionary. The verse teaches that "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses." This means that Jesus, our High Priest, is not detached from our suffering or our human condition.

Thank about the implications of that truth. In the hour of our need, we cannot rationalize bad behavior or decisions becauce "you don't know what it's like..." The fact of the matter is that Jesus does know what it's like; exactly what it's like. Consider the second half of the verse "but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin."

In order to make the connection with us, Jesus was born just as you and I were born. He grew up enduring all the trials and tribulations of childhood and walked the Earth as a man, same as us. Along the way, he faced all the same temptations that we face. Do you think that Jesus was never hungry? angry? lonely? tired? His friends betrayed and abandoned him. The general population mobbed him. Religious leaders despised him and ultimately murdered him. Yet through it all, he did not sin.

I submit that Jesus knows far more about temptation than you and I ever will. Consider this thought... I have given into temptation. It's true. More than once. By giving in, I cut off the temptation because once you're in the middle of sin, the temptation is gone. That means that I never experienced the full force of the temptation. Somewhere between slightly tempted and overwhelmingly tempted, I would capitulate to stop the temptation. Jesus never did that. That means, to me, that the temptation he experienced was as intense as it could possibly be. In that he experienced more temptation than I have ever known.

To be sure, things are different for me now in that temptation no longer holds dominion over me. But it's not because of anything I've done. Rather, it is the power of The Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that cuts off the temptation before capitulation. So even today, it is Jesus that deals with the temptation that is more than I can bear.

As a result, Jesus can relate to me, to us. When he goes before the Father as our High Priest, he does so with a fervor that is rooted in his own visceral experience. He has sympathy for us as well as empathy and this adds to his motivation that is rooted in God's will that we be reconciled.

There is no other high priest with His qualifications. And I for one am ecstatic that I have Jesus preparing a way for me.

Shalom,
Carl

Sustaining Production

2009-09-24T08:34:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

John 15:4 (NIV)

⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

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

The concept of 'remaining' in Christ is a difficult thought for many people yet as this verse reveals, it is critical. I believe there are two challenges we face with respect to 'remaining' in Christ.

The first challenge is one of perception. Unless we perceive a connection, our weaknesses lead us to believe the connection is lost and that we have been detached from the tree of life. Yet we know that we will all go through various 'cycles' where we feel close and connected as well as when we feel distant and disconnected. These are nothing more than passing 'feelings' and we need only continue in the disciplines of the faith till such time as the 'feeling' passes.

The second challenge is one of reality. Isaiah 59:2 teaches us that "your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sin has hidden his face from you..." So the reality is that when we sin, we drive a wedge between the branch (us) and the vine (Christ). 1 John 1:9 teaches us that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness." In this manner, the wedge is removed, the wound is healed and the connection is restored. But if we harbor unconfessed sin in our life, the wedge remains, the wound festers and the connection is compromised. I don't mean to imply that salvation is lost but our ability to 'perceive' the connection is impaired and our ability to produce fruit in His name is sacrificed.

To remain in Christ means that we must continually confess our sins, continually receive His forgiveness and continually remain in a state of renewal or sanctification. This process is enabled by our studying, learning and applying his commands in our daily life. We remain in Christ by loving him. We love Christ by keeping his commandments. In this manner, the connection of the branch to the vine is made apparent in the spirit of John 14:21 which teaches "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Our awareness of our connection to Christ is a function of His response to the love we have for Him.

If I were to walk through the orchard of your life, would I have to step carefully over all the fruit that has fallen to the ground? Would I have to duck repeatedly so as not to run into the abundant fruit hanging from the branches? Or would I have to look at the leaves of the tree to even know what type of tree it is since there is no fruit?

My challenge to you today then is to measure your harvest for Christ. If your bushel baskets overflow, sing praise. If your baskets are empty then examine the connection between the branch and the vine. Give attention to nurturing the grafting site so that the rich nutrients of Christ may flow into your branch and you may produce fruit in His name.

Peace,
Carl

From Whence We Came

2009-09-14T08:44:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Psalm 107:10-16 (NIV)

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,

prisoners suffering in iron chains,

¹¹ for they had rebelled against the words of God

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

¹² So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

¹³ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom

and broke away their chains.

¹⁵ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

¹⁶ for he breaks down gates of bronze

and cuts through bars of iron.

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

The body of believers is a great amalgamation of people. Long before the United States of America laid claim to the title 'melting pot' God defined that concept. The redemption offered by God through Jesus cuts across all boundaries, real or imagined and knows no geographical, political or physical boundaries. Neither the hue of skin nor the different melodies of speech offer any restriction. By the grace of God and the blood of Christ, all (that is ALL) may be adopted into the family of God. Praise Him!

Today's passage is an exploration of the circumstances in which some of the lost find themselves. In fact this Psalm (107) illustrates the variety of places and situations from which the lost may be redeemed and brought into the family and favor of God.

This particular section (v10-16) speaks of the situation in which those who have defied and ignored God find themselves. These few verses speak to me in a profound way for in them I see and understand myself a little bit better.

The essence of this section is that those who rebel against God, those that hear his counsel yet choose their own path will suffer. "Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains," is the description. In fact, anyone that does not walk in the light of God not only sits in darkness but walks, sleeps and works in it as well. Though they may stand in the center of the brightest lights known to man, the darkness of their sin and hopelessness prevails. In fact, within them, in their hearts and their minds may be found the 'deepest gloom' for such a person is without hope. Even if they walk the Earth as a 'free' man, still they are prisoners and suffer. To borrow a line from a popular song "we are all just prisoners here of our own device." And so it is.

This passage reveals to us that as a result of our rebellion and folly there are consequences. "So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help." Ack! The fool lives in darkness, is oppressed by the deepest gloom, suffers in iron chains AND leads a life of hard labor. What a sentence "life in hard labor." We're talking in terms of the 'chain-gang', a most unpleasant thought. Even beyond that, is the profound loneliness and vulnerability "they stumbled and there was no one to help." Ecclesiastes 4:10 speaks to this "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" What a terrible and terrifying situation in which to live!

And yet, this passage speaks of the hope in God as it continues "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress," Like me, there are many that must reach a deep, dark place before they 'come to their senses.' And what I see here is that great hope that whenever someone reaches the end of them self, when they have suffered enough to burn through the hardness of their own heart, then they cry out to God. And GOD IS LISTENING FOR THEIR CALL. Our merciful God grieves over their suffering and is mighty to save them. In this too we can see that our own works have no role in this exchange. All that is required is to call out to God.

Once we reach the end of our self and cry out to God, "He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains." To me this speaks to the fact that the delivery offered by God, the salvation and reconciliation to Him is total and complete. The darkness gives way to light, the gloom yields to hope and the chains are broken. There is nothing left to do, there is no aspect left undone.

Our response, as the redeemed is then portrayed "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men." Our only right response to the thought of, the knowledge of, the arrival of, the presence of and the passing of the Lord is worship. Driven by a heart of thankfulness let our lips not be still and instead rejoice! Rejoice!

Closing this passage is a testimony to the power of God; "for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." Simply, He is the strongest of strong and there is nothing, not one thing, that He cannot overcome.

Whatever bondage you find yourself in, no matter what your chains are made of, no matter how deep you may be in the dungeons of sin, these are of no consequence to God. Cry out to Him! He will hear your cry and he will deliver you. He is the ONLY ONE that can and will do this.

In His Grip,
Carl

Only One To Reconcile Us

2009-09-12T07:11:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)

⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

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

A few decades ago there was this movie that I really liked and watched over and over. This movie had a really cool line in it that I've quoted hundreds of times; "There can be only one!" This of course was always in reference to myself and some aspect of victory or superiority that I would hold over someone. Wow, seeing that typed out reminds me of what a fool I was!

Nevertheless, that was then and this is now and though it's been a very, very long time since I've declared "There can be only one" I am happy to proclaim today that "THERE IS ONLY ONE!" Fortunately, this has nothing to do with my own prowess or ability and speaks only of the nature of Jesus Christ.

My study verse today states it plainly and without obfuscation; "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." Within this passage there are two ONE'S which are of course still one.

In the first fragment of this passage, Paul declares that 'there is one God'. This is an important and life-changing truth; one that came as quite a shock to me. Before everything there was God and from the nothingness, God spoke and created everything. His action didn't stop there and he has persisted across the ages, persists today and will persist forever yet. But like many, I balked at the concept of 'one God' and moved from altar to altar worshiping may gods. All had one thing in common; they were false. So when finally, I came to understand the truth that 'there is one God' it was a real eye-opener for me.

The second fragment of this passage declares by implication that there is some need for men to be reconciled to God and that there is only one way person capable of that task. "and one mediator between God and men" is the song that this passage sings. Not only is there one God, we have been separated from him by our sin (Isaiah 59:2 / Romans 3:23) but there is only one road that we may travel that brings back into fellowship with God and that is revealed in the third fragment of this passage.

"the man Christ Jesus" is revealed to be the only ONE that is capable of reconciling us to God. It never occurred to me till just this moment that Jesus is the original mediator. Neither works nor piety nor service nor anything else will reconcile us to God. Only Jesus THE Christ has the power to reconcile us to God. And the lengths to which he went to accomplish the task simply boggle the mind.

For those of you who may be searching, ever searching and not finding, let me help you out. There is only one God and there is only one path to Him and that is by and through Jesus Christ. To know Jesus is to know God. There is only one to reconcile us.

Peace,

Carl

His Way or Death

2009-09-11T08:31:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

¹² There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.

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

I get paid to help people find better ways to do things. Of course, the things they want help with all involve business; productivity, profits, procedures, projects and processes. My ability in these matters is a gift or perhaps more accurately the product of the gifts that God has given me. In many ways, when I analyze a particular project or process I can 'see' or 'sense' a way that is better or right. It makes perfect sense to me and it's difficult for me to see how it could have ever gotten into the state it is in that requires my help. In the grand scheme of things, they don't matter and by the metaphorical morrow they will all be gone.

My abilities in matters of true importance are not so good. I've discovered, painfully, that my heart is deceptive and will easily lead me in the wrong direction. In the matters of life that really count, my track record is pretty poor. At least, it was till I started consulting the instruction manual and relying on The Holy Spirit to show me the right way.

My study verse today speaks of this phenomena as it teaches "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." When you combine the temptations of this world in the light of our sinful and selfish desires we see a dangerous opportunity for deception. We often mistake 'the way' that fulfills our desires or feelings for the 'right way.' We allow our happiness and sense of fairness to govern our decisions which often leads to terrible results, even death.

Consider those who believe there are many paths to God. That whole concept "seems right", it "seems fair" and it plays into our selfish nature in that it gives us license to live a life according to our rules. It's an easy palliative to the bitter pill of doing what's right in the sight of God. No matter how it "seems" it is nevertheless a lie and in the end, the pain, agony and death that will be suffered as a result of such a choice will be eternal.

I challenge you to examine your life, your habits, your relationships and your walk with Christ today. Ask The Holy Spirit to reveal to you those 'ways' in your life that 'seem right' but in fact are not. Ask God to forgive you for those choices. Ask The Holy Spirit to lead you in the 'right way', the Way that is Jesus.

I know it 'seems right' to let this be a long and thorough process. But I want to urge you to do this immediately. Tomorrow may never come and after lunch may be too late. Get right with God starting right now.

Shalom,
Carl

The Sound of Silence

2009-09-10T08:04:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)

² But your iniquities have separated

you from your God;

your sins have hidden his face from you,

so that he will not hear.

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

There are times when God is tremendously silent, when our prayers seem to fall to the floor instead of rising towards Heaven and when we lift our voice in praise it is awkward and unnatural. These times or seasons seem to slip over us like a blanket, gently, quietly and without any pretense. There comes a moment when we are profoundly aware of a tomb-like quality of such silence. It is in those moments that we have choices to make whether to lie quietly in our coffin of self or to start kicking, screaming and clawing our way out of that box.

These times or seasons are very real and they come for numerous reasons. Today's study verse speaks of one such reason; sin. As a created being it was sin that separated us from God in the garden and sin separates us still.

Isaiah 59:2 teaches us "But your iniquities have separated you from your God." Iniquities are defined by Webster as "gross injustice" or "a wicked act or thing." When can think of them as those sins we commit knowingly and willfully. Consider James 4:17 which speaks "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." Whether by omission or commission, sin is sin and our God cannot tolerate sin in his presence. Whenever we choose to sin, knowing full well what God has said about our actions, we elevate the sin to a position ahead of God. We state that our will reigns in our lives not God's will. The isolation from God that we feel when we are in a state of sinfulness is real. It is because our sin, our iniquity, has separated us from our God. It is not as though God has left us, it is as though we have driven a wedge between us. In the same way that you use a wedge to split a piece of wood, the wedge of sin splits us apart from God.

The study verse continues; "your sins have hidden his face from you." You may recall that when "The Law" was all we had, we were separated from God by a great curtain in the temple. We were prevented from seeing God or coming into his presence by this veil. Though that particular veil has been torn asunder by the shed blood of Jesus, there is yet another veil that works in the same manner. This veil however, is not made of fabric but is constructed of our sin. God can be standing right in front of us, facing us and we are unable to see him if we are in a state of sinfulness. It's not because he is invisible or has 'left the building' but our sight is hampered by our sin; "your sins have hidden his face from you..." The same sin that has forcefully separated us from the presence of God covers our eyes like scales so that we are blind to Him.

The last fragment of this verse "so that he will not hear" reveals why we perceive that God is silent and brings us into the full realization of why we feel that we are alone. The wedge of sin acts as a stopper or plug in the 'ears' of God. I think it is important to note that the phrase is "will not hear" instead of "can not hear." This indicates that God is ignoring the prayers of the unrepentant sinner. Our iniquities isolate us from God, blind us to God and renders our prayers ineffective.

What a dire situation this is! Yet all is not lost! That wedge of sin can be easily removed, fellowship restored, sight returned and prayers rendered powerful and effective! All that is required is confession and repentance.

When we submit ourselves before The Lord and confess our sins He hears. 1 John 1:9 teaches us
^"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." The contrite heart gets God's attention above the noise and chaos of sin. And as he forgives us and cleanses us, we are returned to his fellowship and the veil that hid Him from us is once again dissolved.

Let us not forget though that confession is but one step in the process. Having a contrite heart, being in full realization of our sinfulness and our helplessness, we confess and fellowship is restored. But it is the repentance that secures us in that fellowship. Jesus said "go and sin no more" and that is the very basis of repentance. To turn away from sin and go in the opposite direction is the order of the day and in so doing, we leave the wedge of sin that would divide us, lying the mud forgotten.

So if you are in such a season of isolation and separation, examine yourself carefully to be certain that there is no unconfessed sin contributing to your situation. If during your examination you discover there to be sin, repent, confess and be restored. If you find no sin to explain your situation then praise God for His faithfulness and be resolved to finish the current test in a manner that glorifies God.

Peace,
Carl

How Do You Feel About Payday?

2009-09-02T09:15:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^a Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

Few of us would look forward to a payday where we received what we deserved. However, most would be ecstatic to have a payday where we received what we think we are worth. The reality is that in our jobs, our compensation is somewhere between what we deserve and what we think we are worth. Our compensation is most likely associated with what our boss thinks we are worth. That same principle is at work with respect to spiritual matters.

Today's focus verse speaks to what we deserve. "For the wages of sin is death..." Whether we like it or not, we have all toiled under the taskmaster of sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's all as in well, all, everyone. This means that as 'sinners' our just compensation, our wages, is death. That's harsh but it's reality. God himself set the standard by which we are to be judged, he established the rules and made them known. Our ancestor, Adam, chose to be disobedient and brought all of mankind under the wrath of God. As sinners, we deserve death. To receive what we deserve is the very essence of justice.

But God, being exceedingly just, is not without mercy and He established that though we deserve death we could have this sentence served by someone on our behalf. God himself selected our proxy, appointed him to the task and empowered him to accomplish the feat; which he did to the uttermost. By his sacrifice, by Jesus' sacrifice, all mankind may slip the noose of justice (death) and fall into the embrace of God's mercy. To be spared what we deserve is the very essence of mercy.

Yet God, perfectly just and overflowing with mercy, was not satisfied with this act of mercy and decided to go much further and thereby defines grace. The second half of today's verse gives testimony to the extreme measure of God's grace. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Though we have done absolutely nothing to deserve this wondrous gift from God, nevertheless, he gives it to us. To receive that which we do not deserve is the very essence of grace.

So the only conclusion that I can draw from this thought is that we are not compensated according to our worth. We are gifted according to the worth of Jesus Christ but only to the extent to which we depend on and willingly choose to follow the Son of God. The absolute truth of this matter can be found in 1 John 5:12 where we are taught that "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

When payday rolls around and we all queue up with our palms open, you can have my place in the 'get what you think you are worth' line. I'm falling in behind Jesus in the 'get what Jesus is worth' line. I'm going to hold a spot for you though so that you can step out of the queue you're in and into the queue with Jesus. He's already done all the work, all that remains is your decision to accept him as your proxy, your Lord and Savior. It's your choice, life or death; choose wisely.

Loving Him,
Carl

At What Cost Peace

2009-08-26T08:56:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Romans 5:1 (NIV)

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^a have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

^a Or let us

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

For me, the war is over. Though I've never served in the military and I've never set foot upon an earthen battlefield, I was once at war. The battles I fought were not with governments or men but with God. I didn't bring any real weaponry, only my will and the freedom of choice which, ironically, God had given me in the first place. As a result of my choices, I put myself into opposition with God and attacked him, though feebly, whenever I had a chance. As the battles raged, the casualties mounted; my self respect, my honor and my dignity all fell. All in all, I successfully snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Yet God did not and does not enjoy winning such battles. His sincere desire is for me to defect from the 'enemy' and join Him. He wants to share victory with me. In fact, God wants peace so badly that he was willing to do whatever it took to obtain it. My study verse today speaks to the extent to which God was willing to go to reconcile me to him.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith..." The faith to which this verse refers is the sincere, life-changing acceptance of the FACT that the Son of God, Jesus, "was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Rom 4:25)

As a result of our acceptance of this fact, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This is the ONLY way which peace may be obtained. The only battle that needs to be won for us to enjoy this peace is the battle over our selfishness and pride and ego. It is the acceptance that we cannot win the 'war', we can never achieve peace except that God offers it to us according to his own terms. And as God has ascribed such a value to this peace, I can only believe it is his sincerest wish that I (and you) should enter into it with him through his Son Jesus.

So for me, the war is over and peace prevails. You too can know this peace, you too can lay down your weaponry run up the white flag and surrender your self. By your faith in Jesus, who believed in peace with God at any cost, you too can share in his victory.

Regards,
Carl

If Only...

2009-08-24T08:43:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

John 4:10 (NIV)

¹⁰Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

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

If, only... those words haunt my decisions and fan the flames of my selfish desires like no others. Of all the bad decisions that I've made in my life, they all have this in common now; if only I had known. If only I had listened. If only I had paid more attention. If only I had given my best effort. If only I had been more concerned with someone other than myself. If... only. They are the ghosts of regret of folly and fear. They are legion.

Though I am no longer that person, though I seldom wallow in the mud of self-recriminations, nevertheless I still struggle with the "if onlies." Only now, instead of being in retrospect, they are forward looking. If only I could break that habit, then I'd be happy. If only my spouse would respect me, then I'd be happy. If only I could make more money, then I'd be happy. If only they would listen to me, things would be better. Even though the perspective has changed, the lie of the "if onlies" holds fast and beckons me to speculation and living in an alternate reality.

There is however, a single "if only" that chases away the demons of self-recrimination and washes away the mist of speculation. In today's study verse, we see an implied "if only". In his conversation with the woman at the well, the woman asked how he (Jesus) could ask her for a drink. (This of course was because it was socially unacceptable for a Jew to associate with a Samaritan, even for the necessity of water.) It is in Jesus' reply that we see the one true 'if only.'

'Jesus answered her, "If [only] you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him [instead] and he would have given you living water."' While there is plenty of material in this one sentence for sermons and lessons, my take-away today is one of conviction and concern.

How many souls across eternity had lamented "if only I had known the truth of Jesus I would not be suffering in Hell now." If only. I myself met the Son of God at the well and he poured living water into my soul indeed. Yet he did not do this to merely satisfy my 'thirst.' He did this that I might turn and pour it into the one I meet 'at the well.' And here is where the conviction sets in. How many people, one day, will declare... "Carl! If only you had told me of Jesus, I would not be suffering in Hell now." If only I would have opened the streams of living water that flow within me, the needs (the real needs) of another may have been met.

I'm a busy guy, a bit of a Martha I am afraid and what I'm learning (slowly and painfully) is that the 'work' I do is of little consequence compared to the love I share. Going forward, I must forget about all the 'if onlies' in the past, set aside my selfish 'if onlies' for the future and focus on the 'if only' of right now. If only I shared Jesus in everything I think, say and do. If only I share Jesus with you.

Shalom,
Carl

Rules of Engagement

2009-08-17T07:54:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

2 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)

⁵Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.

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

When I was very young, I played on a basketball team. The coach had very carefully explained how to dribble, pass and shoot and it was finally my time to get into the game. As fate would have it, the very first thing I had to do was to 'inbound' the ball. This required me to step out of bounds, receive the ball from the referee and put the ball into play. However, nobody had explained to me that I had to PASS the ball to a player who was already inbounds. So as I stepped across that line and started dribbling, the whistle blew and I was guilty of my very first turnover. I had failed to play by the rules and there was a penalty for the infraction.

In my Christian walk, there are rules by which I must compete. Let's be clear though that the concept of 'competition' is only a metaphor for we do not compete against each other to see who will be the 'best Christian.' The concept of competition is a metaphor to explain the work, dedication and devotion that is required of Christians that we might finish 'the race' well. It is the difference between the redeemed who is simply a 'regular attender' at church (who just waits for things to happen) and one who is actively engaged in their sanctification process (helping it to happen).

What then is the 'work, dedication and devotion' that separates the complacent from the dedicated Christian? I think it includes attributes such as;

Discipline - the dedicated or 'competing' Christian must willfully and willingly become familiar with and dedicated to the disciplines of the faith. Church attendance is not the objective; Christlikeness is. To that extent, the growing Christian must set aside anything and everything that works contrary to this objective and engage in rigorous and purposeful application of those behaviors that are put forth in God's Word.
Self-control - the growing Christian must become familiar with and committed to self-control. There are many habits and proclivities that we engage in that are either inconsistent with or contrary to the goal of Christlikeness in our lives. If there is anything in our life that controls us, other than obedience to God, then it literally calls out for self-control. This includes exercising self-control over; our thoughts, our words, our appetites, our lusts, our avarice, our spending, our consumption and our greed.
Endurance - the growing Christian soon learns that starting out strong is only a first step. After the initial lap (so to speak) the Christian walk through this life becomes one of endurance. Discipline is only hard after the initial commitment has become familiar. Self-control is only meaningful if it is lasting. The Christian life is a marathon not a sprint and if we apply discipline and self-control as God intends, our endurance will be developed.
Service - the measure of a Christian is not in their discipline, their self-control or their endurance. These things are simply the tools which are used to bring forth the real fruit of Christlikeness, namely love for others. And there is no measure of love for others that is more accurate than that of service. The disciplined, self-controlled and long-suffering Christian will exhibit a love for others that is unmistakable. Their words, their touch, their very thoughts will all reflect a sincere desire for the welfare of others. This manifests itself as service. Whether doing manual labor or teaching a class, the concept is one of ministry and mission.

I know that I want to live my life in a way that brings glory and honor to God. I want to live my life in a way that is worthy of the calling that God has placed upon my life. I want to not only finish 'the race' but I want to compete and I want to complete and to do those things well. So, I will learn from my mistakes (I know now to inbound the ball by PASSING) and I will continue my practice and I will continue listening to my coaches so that I can be the best me for God.

Gripped,
Carl

Can I Get a Witness?

2009-08-13T08:25:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

Romans 8:16 (NIV)

¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

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

Having been born into the family of Adam, I am keenly aware of my heritage and inheritance. The Bible lists out some of the details of that inheritance such as;

Death. 1 Corinthians 15:22
Dead in my transgressions and sins. Ephesians 2:1
A propensity to follow the ways of the world, disobedience. Ephesians 2:2
Being God's enemy. Romans 5:10
Being a slave to sin. Romans 6:17
Condemnation. John 3:18
Disobedience and lack of love. 1 John 3:10

To be sure, there are many others and my 'rap' sheet had grown to gigantic proportions before it was erased. And there's the heart of the matter. As much as I was a child of Adam in my life before Christ, I am even so a child of God now that I have Christ! My 'rap' sheet has been completely, irrevocably and eternally ERASED by the washing of it with Christ's blood. When I came to proclaim Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I was 'plucked' from the family of Adam and adopted into the family of God.

Through the years I've used the term 'red-headed step-child' as means of conveying the concept of being treated as a partial son. That is not what I am to God. In the eyes of God, I am a child born into his family. This is the promise found in 2 Cor 5:17 which states that the 'old has gone, the new has come.' As if calling Jesus my brother is not enough, The Bible details the inheritance I have as a child of God such as;

Made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22
Alive to God. Romans 6:11
Reconciled, presented holy without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:22
Participation in the divine nature of God and escape from worldly corruption. 2 Peter 1:4
I am the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Works of righteousness and love for others. 1 John 3:10

Now, the thing is that you don't have to take my word for it. I've got a witness to my assertion that I am a child of God! The Holy Spirit testifies with (not to) my spirit that I am God's child. So when I come before God in that moment of judgment, not only will Jesus say "I know that one and his debti is paid" but The Spirit will testify that I AM a child of God and that as such, I am entitled to my co-inheritance in Jesus Christ. With Jesus as my advocate and The Spirit as a witness for the defense, I am certain that I will be acquitted of all charges.

I've got a witness, now can I get an Amen?

Peace Out,
Carl

Deep Longing

2009-08-12T08:21:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Psalm 119:81 (NIV)

ך Kaph

⁸¹ My soul faints with longing for your salvation,

but I have put my hope in your word.

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

At some point in our lives, all of us have been looking for something to fill a void within ourselves. For many, the things offered by this world seem to be the right fit; cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, gluttony, lust, adultery, work, sports, all offer transient satisfaction. For some, they seek satisfaction in things that are other worldly, spirituality, mysticism, asceticism, and a host of other 'isms' promise satisfaction but ultimately fail to fit the bill. For a precious few, they turn to the true source of satisfaction, namely God.

In today's passage, the psalmist expresses the depth of the longing that we all feel. He writes "my soul faints with longing..." This is an emotion and a mental state to which we may all relate. Such a deep and desperate longing at the core of our being, our soul, is actually a manifestation of God's plan. God has 'wired' us to experience this feeling, this hunger, this thirst. Of course, his intention was that he be the source of our longing. But Satan, the prince of this world, has found subtle and subversive ways to bend our longing and deceived us into thinking that things of this world, in fact anything other than God himself, can satisfy this longing.

The psalmist however, has rightly identified the the object of his desire. "My soul faints with longing for your salvation..." That void that is within us, that vacuum, is the result of sin. I've heard it described as a "God-shaped hole" and I believe that is an accurate depiction. The separation from God that was caused by Adam's sin figuratively created that space within us that we try to fill. I interpret 'salvation' to mean not only the avoidance of eternal damnation but more importantly the joy of eternal fellowship with God; it is the elimination of the separation.

Our need to eliminate this separation is so strong that we literally faint from the longing. For those pursuing satisfaction in the world, it is as though they are on an endless and eternal treadmill. At first, it is easy but then it gets progressively more difficult till all our strength is sapped and we literally faint from the exertion. Yet, the longing remains.

But the psalmist continues and explains "but I have put my hope in your word." This is the only response to our longing that offers complete and eternal satisfaction. It is the only 'treatment' that overcomes the fainting of our souls. And in securing our hope to His word, we find security, peace and respite. Our soul finds rest, renewal and regeneration. God's word is the ultimate hope for what was, is and will be.

If your soul is fainting from the pursuit, if your soul is fainting from the longing for the 'something' that fills that 'hole' within you, follow the example of the psalmist and put your hope where it belongs. Then you will find that what belongs in that 'hole' will fill you completely and make you whole.

Shalom,
Carl

Sweat Equity

2009-08-10T08:25:00.002-05:00

As I headed out to the gym this morning, I paused briefly to fix the verse for the day in my mind. God, whose sense of humor is as grand as the universe, led me to 1 Tim 4:8. I know you'll laugh with me when you read this...

The Word...

1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

⁸For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

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

So anyway, I'm back from the gym now and my clothing is heavy with the sweat from my workout. It was a hard workout. Not only had I missed all my workouts last week while traveling, but I cranked up the resistance this morning. The reward for my effort was 500 calories burned, 3.7 miles run and 1.25 miles climbed.

This year I've been working out in an effort to lose weight, improve my muscle tone and secure a better future for myself and my family. It's been neither easy nor fun and it requires as much discipline as anything I've even engaged in. The more I do, the more remains to be done! Yet for all it's effort, the effects of my commitment are transient. A few months in the buffet line and I'll be right back where I started, or worse. What I've really done is committed myself to a lifetime of vigilance with respect to my physical well-being and more importantly 'temple stewardship.'

Now, contrast this with the commitment to a daily devotional or my spiritual exercise. I've committed myself to this effort in order to grow closer to God, nourish the fruit of righteousness and to increase wisdom in all matters of importance. These things I do are to secure a better future for myself and my family. It is not easy but it is often fun. It requires more discipline that I have but it is self-perpetuating. The more I do, the more I want to do. Yet the effects of my commitment are not transient! Indeed, they are eternal.

Consider that concept for a minute. Go ahead, I'll wait. It's tough for us to think in terms of eternity because frankly, our watches, calendars, clocks and schedules simply do not reflect that concept. Yet it is for eternity that we labor. Whereas my commitment to physical stewardship is a commitment for a lifetime, my commitment to spiritual stewardship is a commitment for thousands of thousands of thousands of lifetimes.

And unlike physical discipline, spiritual discipline is not about looking good; it's about being and doing good. In today's study verse, Paul uses the term 'godliness' and it is here that we need to pause. In this passage, Paul is contrasting the concept of physical training (and it's temporal nature) to godliness and it's eternal nature.

Whereas the physical aspect is one of training and preparation, the concept of godliness is of action and immediacy. By action, I do not mean to imply only physical action but rather action in your mind, heart and body. By committing yourself to being a 'man of God' and by conducting yourself always in a 'godly' manner you are preparing yourself for the eternity in which you are already living.

Now truth be told, this verse is not meant to imply that physical training (exercise, diet) is to be eschewed for spiritual training. Rather it is an exhortation to keep you priorities straight. For instance, if your daily workout routine is getting in the way of godly living, guess which one has to go? Sit-ups and push-backs are no replacement for prayerful living and loving others. As Paul said, "physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Sweaty,
Carl

Got Hope?

2009-08-07T07:20:00.003-05:00

So this morning I get up and realize that I forgot to set the alarm for the house last night. (Not my house, the one I'm staying in) For a moment, I panicked with the thought that "I slept all night unprotected." Then that thought was swept aside with another one; "God was still protecting me." Thank God that I don't have to remember to punch in a code to enable his watchfulness. Thank God for watching over me through the night and for giving me this day.

The Word...

Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)

¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

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

Here again we see the prayer warrior Paul who, on behalf of the Ephesians, goes before the Lord with a petition of purpose. Nowhere is there any of this mamby-pamby "help them have a good day" rather a prayer to bring about hope, revelation and understanding.

By his words we see that the hope is found in our collective calling to Jesus Christ. I do not consider this a hope for tomorrow or even further in the future. It is far more than a hope for eternity indeed it is hope for this moment. For it is in this moment only, the now, that we may respond to this calling by laying aside our selves and selfishness to become true disciples of Jesus. What a wonderful prayer that we may be enlightened so that we may know the hope that surrounds and permeates us! The lack of this enlightenment is the source of dark depression, depravity and hopelessness. How sad that there are many who live lives literally swimming in the hope represented by our calling to fellowship with Jesus who never know of it's omnipresence. Now then we should be aware of how important a prayer this is for us to pray on behalf of the lost; that they be enlightened.

But Paul's petition is not just for enlightenment to the hope rooted in the calling, it is also for enlightenment to know "the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." We are constantly concerned with OUR inheritance in The Lord. But this verse speaks to GOD'S inheritance in the saints, that's us! Come now, have you ever considered yourself, your very soul, something to be inherited? God considers the legacy of Christ's sacrifice, that is the redeemed, to be "riches" and a 'glorious inheritance'. Oh my gosh! What does God see in me? This is amazing and establishes my value in a manner which cannot be calculated in human terms. I have extreme value to God and he rejoices in receiving me as an inheritance. If we can truly grasp the undertanding of this fact, if we can be enlightened that we may know the hope in this statement, then our self esteem should soar! This makes me want to run out into the streets dancing and shouting! What other response could there be?

If this were not enough, Paul continues to pray for a third understanding. Again, this is a present hope and this one is based on 'his incomparably great power for us who believe.' What is this power? I believe it is The Holy Spirit power! It (dynamis) is a 'spiritually dynamic and LIVING force.' Dynamis? Dynamite anyone? Paul goes on to describe the nature of this power. Consider his description that it may contribute to your enlightenment to its' inherent hope. It is a WORKING power (energeian). It is neither latent nor potential but rather it is in motion and accomplishing its task. It is OF his mighty (kratous) which overcomes all resistance and it is of his mighty STRENGTH (ischyos) which God literally provides to and for us.

The manifestation of this power, the reality that we can see with our eyes and know with our minds and feel in our hearts, is the raising of Christ from the dead and placing him at God's right hand in heaven. It was God's power which overcame death, defeated Satan and raised Jesus to a place of glory and authority. This same power is available to us today, NOW.

This is an incredible truth which defies reason and logic. It is as slippery as a fish and that is why Paul prayed that the Ephesians (and by extension you and I) would be enlightened (another manifestion of the power) that we may be secure in this hope.

Just as I was secure under God's watchfulness last night (serendipity!) so too in every moment am I to be secure in this hope. I am looking forward to this day and what other treasures God has prepared for me and I pray that you too may walk in this hope, NOW.

Gripped!
Carl

The Testimony of Three

2009-08-06T07:21:00.003-05:00

This morning as I prayed, I thanked God for all the experiences in my life that have led me to this moment. Even as I prayed that I realized that the sum total of those experiences do not define who I am today. That's because God poured his Holy Spirit into me and that is the ingredient that brought forth good from all those past experiences. So I had to thank God for the Holy Spirit and for the work he is doing in me today.

The Word...

1 John 5:7-8 (NIV)

⁷For there are three that testify: ⁸the^a Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

^a Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the sixteenth century)

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

I think the immediate thought concerning this verse is that it validates the Holy Trinity. Were we to consider only this verse, it should be easy to use it to prove the truth of the Triune God. But keeping this verse in context, it is apparent to me that this would be a false interpretation. Please do not misunderstand me, I am not implying that the concept of the Trinity is false but rather that this passage is not about the Trinity and is instead about three significant facts concerning Christ that are presented as proof positive of his divinity. To me, this is a far more important point for our entire belief system would be undermined were Christ not the Son of God. Whereas we can argue, pointlessly, about the Trinity for our salvation does not depend on that. Yet all of eternity rests on Christ.

To that extent then, this verse is about God testifying to us (v10) about his own Son. Jesus, being wholly man, according to the customs and the law as pertaining to righteousness was baptised. I believe this is the water that is referenced in this verse. It was this action that confirmed his humanity and revealed his divinity.

It was at this same baptism that the Spirit descended upon him as a dove. This I believe is the same Spirit referenced in this passage and marked the beginning of Jesus' ministry on this Earth. It established the pattern by which we are cleansed and then filled by the Holy Spirit. In this manner his humanity was confirmed yet again. However, God's voice accompanied the filling by the Spirit and declared that Jesus was the very Son of God.

Lastly, this verse speaks of the testimony of the blood. I believe that if the baptism (water) signified the beginning of Jesus' ministry, then it is the shedding of his blood that marks the completion of his ministry on Earth. By his own declaration "it is finished."

In this way, I see that the three 'elements' in this verse (Spirit, water, blood) are all in agreement that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, Immanuel. They testify to my heart and soul and mind today that this is a truth that is irrefutable. If I am to accept the testimony of a man who has foresworn "so help me God" how much more do I believe the very word of God! My faith rests on this fact and my salvation depends upon it. My life depends on it.

In His Grip,
Carl

Sent From Above

2009-08-05T07:08:00.003-05:00

This morning as I started my day in prayer I found myself praying "Lord thank you for the Sun that warms the Earth that I am not freezing in the vacuum of space. And thank you for your presence and the presence of your Son that I am not freezing in the vacuum of my own existence." That phrase really stuck in my mind and reminds me of how empty and meaningless my life was before I gave myself to The Lord. With that said, my blog continues...

The Word....

Psalm 57:3 (NIV)

³ He sends from heaven and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah

God sends his love and his faithfulness.

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

Again The Lord has led me into the Psalms to study the writings of David. In this particular Psalm we see David rejoicing in the Lord as he again escapes the clutches of Saul. His joy is almost palpable, his poetry sincere and his confidence in God boundless.

This speaks to me of the common experience of all men who are pursued by Satan and their own sin nature that they may be destroyed and lost forever. And it convicts me that my own joy in deliverance from my oppressors, including my self, is so easily diminished. Where are my songs? Where is my poetry? What is it that distracts me from my own confidence in God and causes me to turn to my self? Why do I have to be so intentional not to take my self out of the warmth of God's providence and into the empty vacuum of self? I believe it is the comforts of life that make it so easy to slip into complacency and to forget the source of all blessings.

But I digress... in all my shortcomings, in all the tests, trials, temptations and tribulations that I might face, it is God that saves me. It is never my own strength, my own intellect, my own will or my own efforts. To think otherwise is to be deceived by my own heart. No, it is from God on high, from heaven, that my deliverance comes.

In considering the second phrase of this passage, I must ask; how often have I been stalked and the predator turned aside by God without my having ever been aware of the danger I was in? Sure, there are plenty of times when God stepped in and swept aside obstacles, dangers and predators in front of my eyes but what of the things beyond my sight? What of the spiritual attacks in the heavenly realms that I am not privy too? What of the stealthy lion lying in wait that is stayed as I pass by? God rebukes those who hotly pursue me today, just as he did for David thousands of years ago. This is something to think about as we go through our days, secure in the Lord and his protection.

Nevertheless, no matter the method by which God saves me or turns aside my attackers, it is the very manifestation of his love and faithfulness. Though I certainly do not deserve his attention, protection or intervention, he loves me and keeps his word. And he loves you the same and will keep his promises to you as well.

Let us all remember, with great joy, our deliverance from self and sin. Let us all rejoice in the Lord who goes before us clearing the way even as he is behind us turning aside predators. Let us rejoice and multiply his love through our daily actions with others. Let us be faithful to God and to one another as a tribute to his great love and faithfulness.

Shalom,
Carl

Trust Who You Know

2009-08-04T07:06:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ Those who know your name will trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

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

How joyful we are when finally we come to know The Lord! It is as though we are miners working a hard, dry hole when suddenly we come across a river of gold. EUREKA! The gold was there all along waiting for us but we were simply looking in the wrong place.

The verse today was 'penned' by David and is his declaration the the Lord is true and faithful. This of course was the result of God having delivered David from his enemies. God was faithful the entire time but David had struggled with seeing Him amidst the oppression David was suffering. When at last the faithfulness of God was readily apparent to David he had his own EUREKA! moment and his joy was complete.

For those who wander the earth ever seeking satisfaction and happiness in the things of this world, it is as though they are working a hard, dry hole. The 'gold' they seek, God, is always there for them, ever waiting for them to call out to him so that he can reveal his mercy and grace to them. They toil in vain and far too many will die before ever they realize that they are looking in the wrong place. Great will be their grieving when they look up from their torment to see His face.

That is why we, as Christians, having discovered that which was right before us must turn to our brother in the hole and point them towards God. EUREKA! they will shout when at last they find Him and great will be the rejoicing both above and below.

Shalom,
Carl

Prayers with Purpose

2009-07-23T08:11:00.002-05:00

The Word is First...

Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)

¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^a of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

^a Or a spirit

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

The Apostle Paul sets many examples for us through descriptions of his actions as conveyed in his letters. There is one behavior though that I note is repeated throughout his writings namely prayer for those to whom he writes. According to his letters he is constantly beseeching God to bless, reveal, strengthen and provide for those to whom he ministered. When I consider the content of Paul's prayers and contrast them to my own, I realize that I'm not paying close enough attention.

In today's study verse we see this pattern of behavior repeated and I am again convicted to 'amp up' my prayer life for my friends. With respect to this verse though, under the overarching theme of constant prayer there are three points which command my attention.

First is the centrality of Jesus Christ. Paul is not praying 'to' Jesus nor is he praying simply to 'God.' Note the ownership implied in his description of to whom he is praying; "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father..." In this manner, Paul is establishing the relationship of Jesus as 'the Son' and is in effect praying 'through' Jesus to God. He is also establishing the authority of Jesus to identify the true God, the one to whom our prayers should be directed, and he is expressing a yieldedness to Christ in that Paul follows Jesus who follows God the Father. I believe that Paul is also firmly reiterating that Jesus is the Son of God and that it is by his authority the Paul may present his requests to God.

Second is the nature of the petition. Paul is praying on behalf of his friends in the church at Ephesus. He is not praying is some nebulous form that they be 'blessed' or 'protected' or 'strengthened' or 'convicted.' Rather he is praying specifically that God grant them 'a spirit of wisdom and revelation.' In this instance, I do not believe Paul is speaking of The Holy Spirit as that Spirit has already been granted unto them. Further, true wisdom and revelation cannot be present without the simultaneous presence of The Holy Spirit. So it is my contention that Paul is praying that in addition to The Holy Spirit that the readers be given 'a spirit' or 'attitude' or 'disposition' of wisdom and revelation. For clarity's sake, I believe that 'wisdom', in this context, implies the ability to discern the true nature of things. 'Revelation' is the 'unveiling' or 'full understanding' of whatever is being discussed which in this case is God himself. This then is a petition of serious import the granting of which would greatly benefit the recipient. What a wonderful example of how we should pray for one another!

Third is the purpose of the prayer. Though the granting of this petition would greatly benefit the recipient, the purpose is not for personal advancement, achievement, comfort or happiness. The real purpose of this prayer is that the person for whom this prayer is prayed is 'so that you may know him [God] better.' Paul is not speaking of any form of abstract knowledge or the accumulation of of objective facts with respect to God. Rather he speaks of a deep, meaningful and intimate awareness of God's character and will. This is the revelation for which we all thirst and hunger. This is the relationship that satisfies the soul and pushes away everything unworthy.

Compared to the glorious riches implied in this petition from Paul, all those requests to 'help with my finances' or 'reveal the job intended for me' or 'give me peace, respite and relief' are but paltry pleas for our own comfort. I believe that I'll pray instead for 'a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better.' When you're in that relationship with God, all the other things will be given unto you.

In His Grip,
Carl

Where Do You Place Your Trust

2009-07-22T08:32:00.002-05:00

The Word is First...

Psalm 22:4-5 (NIV)

⁴ In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.

⁵ They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

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

Read the whole Psalm. Go ahead, I'll wait.... Okay, now we can proceed.

My 'verse spinner' pointed me to V4 today and I immediately added V5. Then as I began my study, I read the entire Psalm (it's short) so that I could have the correct context for these two focus verses. But before I write on the focus verses, I just have to mention a couple of points about Psalm 22 in it's entirety.

First, I can't help but notice that the opening words of this Psalm are the very words that Christ cried out as he hung upon the cross. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" That really got my attention! I know from personal experience and from talking with others that everyone (if not everyone, then nearly everyone) has moments when they 'feel' as though they have been abandoned or forsaken by God. More often than not, in those times, I have depended upon my own abilities which got me into the mess from which I needed rescue. Even so, God uses those times, those moments of crisis, to remind me that I need to depend on him and not on my own understanding. My perception of being forsaken is caused by my taking my eyes off him and consequently, I am unable to see him even though he is ever-present.

Second, in the progression of the Psalm, I see concentric circles of threat and a foreshadowing of Christ upon the cross. V6 speaks of the low opinion of others. V7 speaks of the hatred and vitriol that so easily flows from the mouths of men. V12 speaks of 'bulls surrounding' which makes me think of the Jewish leaders whose bull-headedness led them to condemn Jesus. V13 speaks of 'roaring lions' which makes me think of the Roman Empire which in a moment of 'devouring' carried out a false judgment of Jesus. V14 speaks of "pouring out like water" and "my bones are out of joint." Both of these remind me of Jesus' experience upon the cross. From his side flowed blood and water; from the torturous position on the cross, joints would separate as a result of the tremendous stress upon them. V15 speaks of "dried up" strength and how the "tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth." Again, I am reminded of Christ withering upon the cross and how a sponge laden with vinegar and something soothing was offered to slake his thirst and ease his pain by the dulling of his senses. V16 speaks of 'dogs surrounding him' and that too draws my mind to the throngs of onlookers at the cross who came to see the spectacle of a murdered man. There too is a reference to 'a band of evil men' that have 'pierced my hands and my feet.' My mind runs to the Roman soldiers, hammer in hand as they carried out the sentence. V17 speaks of "counting all my bones", "people stare and gloat over me", "they divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." As I envision Jesus upon that cross, all these things are realities.

So as I read this psalm, intellectually I understand that this is David writing of his own experiences. But emotionally, I feel that it is a depiction of things to come, horrible things that though meant for evil, were the very basis for the most wonderful blessing of salvation.

The truth is that David suffered at the hands of men just like I have, perhaps like you have. Christ too experienced those same pains so that it could be said that in specific ways, David, Jesus, me, we are not that different. Yet Jesus endured far worse than either David or us that proves just how different we are from him. We endure these types of trials often of our own making whereas Jesus endured innocently, on our behalf.

Whether it is David suffering the wilderness of the desert or Jesus suffering the cross, neither lost sight of God. That's the core message of this psalm; God is faithful. David called out to God and placed his trust in Him. Jesus called out to God and his faith in God never wavered.

We can trust in God, same as David, same as Jesus. Where DO you place your trust?

Peace Out,
Carl

There is Yet Hope

2009-07-10T08:21:00.004-05:00

The Word is first...

Isaiah 54:11 (NIV)

¹¹ “O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,

I will build you with stones of turquoise,^a

your foundations with sapphires.^b

^a The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

^b Or lapis lazuli

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

This passage is written about the city of Jerusalem that suffered and indeed still suffers many troubles or storms. The Lord's promise to rebuild the city with precious stones reflects His care and esteem for the city.

God's 'care and esteem' for the city of Jerusalem is nothing compared to His passion for people. The city is a place, a place for people but it cannot praise nor bring glory to God. People however, can enter into a relationship with God, praise Him and bring glory to His name.

The truth is that no matter where you are right now, no matter the storms you face, no matter how down-trodden you feel or how full of sin you are, God can and wants to redeem you. He wants to receive your broken-down, hopeless and despairing self. He wants to rebuild you into something magnificent. Where he would use turquoise to rebuild a city, he will use love and compassion to rebuild you. Where he would build city foundations of sapphire, he will undergird you with foundations of the strength and righteousness that is found in Christ.

Place your hope in The Lord and rejoice for He is faithful; His love endures forever.

Shalom,
Carl

Our Hope in God

2009-07-06T09:02:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

1 Peter 1:21 (NIV)

²¹Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

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

God has given us many opportunities to believe in Him. For those who have no access to the Good News of Jesus Christ, there is evidence of God in creation. Even the most illiterate and simplistic people can look at the wonder of creation and know there is a God. Throughout history, God has proven his existence with signs and wonders. Yet at every opportunity, man turns aside from belief and puts his faith in things of this world. In an effort to win the hearts and minds of man, God sent his Son Jesus and allowed him to suffer on our behalf that we could be reconciled forever unto God. He even provided a literacy reference, The Bible, to share the facts of this truth and he has preserved The Bible across generations, causing it to be distributed throughout the world.

For us today, it is the story of Jesus and his sacrifice that moves our hearts to faith. We love him because he first loved us. And as we gather around the feet of Jesus, as we place our faith in him, he is continually pointing us to his Father. Thus, whatever faith and hope we find in Christ, is grounded to the Father. If we believe in The Son, we must necessarily believe in The Father.

There is no better vault to store the treasure of our faith and hope than God himself. So let us come to the Father through Christ the Son as it is the only path to salvation. Our faith and our hope are in God.

Shalom,
Carl

One Heart and One Mouth

2009-06-26T07:44:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)

⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I find that even as I read this passage, my initial reaction is one of disbelief and lack of faith. It's hard enough to have unity with only two people let alone an entire Sunday School class, a congregation, a church, an association, a denomination. If unity is what we are to strive towards, why are we always at each other's throats?

Apparently, this problem has persisted for thousands of years and Paul confronts it in the early church through this passage. He calls upon the only power that strong enough to unite a disparate collection of people, the one who gives endurance and encouragement. I believe he did this because he recognized that people were incapable of this under their own power and that endurance and encouragement are core components to true unity.

Paul also speaks of the purpose of this unity "so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." It's not so that we can all "get along", hold hands and sing kum-ba-ya around the campfire. It is so our praise and worship can be multiplied to the ultimate level.

In the story of Christ's birth, the heavenly host spoke as one in celebration of the birth of Immanuel. I believe that models the unity that we are to strive towards so that we can speak as one not only to God our Father but also to the world of unbelievers.

My lack of faith and disbelief is grounded in my own failing at preserving unity. I find it odd that I would attribute my own inability and shortcomings to a lack of power in God but there it is.

The truth is that only God can bring about that unity and certainly He can do it. Lord, I believe, help me with my unbelief! The steps that I must take are two-fold. I must not do those things that I want to do that lead to separation and disunity and I must do those things which promote unity. Both of these require a continual pouring out of my self and a continual filling by the Spirit. This is a good lesson for me today and one that is sorely needed.

I have a wonderful opportunity to practice this in the coming days as I embark on my first foreign mission project. I'll be a stranger in a strange land but I will be travelling with 30+ others, some that I know very well, others I barely know at all. What a great place for me to yield to God in the name of Christian unity so that we may function as a team, as one, for the glory of God's kingdom.

Shaking,
Carl

Strengthened With All Power

2009-06-25T07:01:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)

⁹For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^b to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption,^c the forgiveness of sins.

^b Some manuscripts us

^c A few late manuscripts redemption through his blood

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

It seems silly to me to go forth and add "numbers" to the kingdom with no thought given to the spiritual development of all those baby Christians. And in this passage Paul models the type of behavior that we, as Christians, ought to have towards all those who profess their belief in Jesus.

Note that the first thing Paul does is resort to the power of prayer. His prayer is targeted towards developing the most important aspects of a developing relationship with God. His initial request is one for knowledge (discernment) of God's will. He prays that this be developed through a filling of spiritual wisdom and understanding. To me, this reflects upon something else Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2 wherein he charged the believer to "no longer conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind" that in this way the believer would "be able to test and approve" God's will. This ability, to discern God's will, is a critical component for an effective life in Christ.

Paul then prays that the new believer would "live a life worthy of the Lord". This doesn't mean that we lead a life that is without sin so as to be found suitable for the presence of the Lord. Rather it means that we are to change our priorities in recognition of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ which brought us to this point of understanding. If we understand the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf, we ought to be filled with an overwhelming desire to live up to that sacrifice.

In this verse, Paul charges through prayer that the believer live to "please him in every way." Recently, a friend of mine shared with me his new understanding that he is to live to 'please God, not appease God.' I found this to be a profound thought and one worthy of our consideration. Afterall, we 'appease' out of fear but we 'please' out of love. Thus, as a token of the great love that we hold for God, we should examine every aspect of our lives; feed and nurture those aspects that please the Lord and starve to death every aspect that displeases Him.

The manifestation of this is demonstrated in the fruit we bear in his name. I do not believe this is measured by the number of people we 'lead to the Lord' but rather in the number of people to whom we show God's love. Though the number of people we may have the privilege to lead in "the sinner's prayer" may be quite small, the number we can love is limitless. The Lord God is "abounding in love" and our lives should be able to be described in the same way.

The natural progression of leading a life pleasing to God and bearing fruit in every good work, is that the believer will continue to grow in relationship with God. The deeper this relationship goes, the better we, as disciples, come to know God. And as we come into an ever-increasing knowledge of God, the more we know, the more we are strengthened. The better we are able to make sound decisions and so long as we rely on this strength, that which comes from The Lord and not from our selves, we become patient and long-suffering, able to endure the endless trials and tribulations of this present life. One aspect of this strengthening, one thing that gives us the ability to sustain our faith in the face of adversity, is the hope we have in the inheritance which awaits us as children of God. Though we have received but a portion of it now, as reflected in the new life we lead, we give thanks for what we have received and for what is yet to come. We can give thanks in advance because, as Paul writes, the Father "has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." What a beautiful picture that presents in my mind! What hope to be multiplied in the sharing.

All these things are possible and available to the believer who has been rescued by God. We have been snatched, lovingly, from the "dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son [God] loves." It is by His sacrifice that we have been redeemed, our sins 'sent away' from us that we may be brothers and sisters of and in Christ.

Nourished by this understanding and claiming this prayer of Paul for myself I go into the marketplace now and in a couple of days I go into a distant land. I will seek every opportunity to live up to Christ's sacrifice and to seek out every chance to be flesh and bone to the love of God in the sight of all men.

In His Grip,
Carl

He Will Protect You

2009-06-23T22:25:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Psalm 91 (NIV)

Psalm 91

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^a

² I will say^b of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

⁸ You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the Lord, who is my refuge—

¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

^a Hebrew Shaddai

^b Or He says

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

It's just beautiful. And the most beautiful is v14 spoken in first person by God.

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name."

I'm safe in God's hands.

Peace Out,
Carl

A Vessel of Honor

2009-06-23T12:51:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

2 Timothy 2:20-22 (NIV)

²⁰In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. ²¹If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

²²Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

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

To be useful to God is an honorable desire and is a recurring prayer of my own. Over time I have developed an understanding that I am unique and that I am not to judge my usefulness through comparison to others but rather to God's design.

This passage speaks to the wisdom of that understanding. When studying this passage it is important to understand what is meant by "large house" and also by "noble" and "ignoble" purposes.

The 'large house' refers to the Church, the whole church and not just sizable congregations. As Christians we are all members of 'the' church and it is indeed a large house with room sufficient for everyone.

The terms noble and ignoble are references to the function served by a particular vessel (person). Those vessels that are for 'noble' purposes are seen in public, kept in good repair and preserved. This might include pitchers for water or wine, plates or bowls for eating, etc. Thank of it as all those things which are 'set out' when company is coming. :) On the other hand are the vessels for ignoble purposes. Simply stated, they are for garbage or excrement. They are not presented for inspection, kept in good repair and indeed, they are discarded when their purpose is accomplished. Either way, honor or shame is bestowed upon a vessel by the way in which the owner uses them.

This passage speaks to the necessity of preparing ourselves for service to The King. It speaks of cleansing oneself so that one could be a vessel of noble purpose. To me, this means a couple of things. First, the vessel must be empty. If I've filled my 'self' with pride, arrogance, self-sufficiency, etc, there is no room for God to use me. But if I've emptied myself then the only remaining matter is one of cleanliness. Jesus admonished the Pharisees to 'clean the inside of the cup and the outside would be clean also.' This is the same concept. We must submit to being cleaned by God through contrition, confession and forgiveness. We must endeavor not to spoil his work by pouring pollution back in after the cleanup has occurred.

This passage speaks specifically to flee the evil desires of youth; some versions say "youthful lusts." This includes not only the obvious physical lusts of youth but also the lust for power, fortune and fame; anything self-aggrandizing falls into this category as well. Instead, we maintain our cleanliness and suitability for purpose by pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace and this we do in fellowship with other believers, not as individuals.

With great effort against my sin nature, I live a life of fleeing from all manners of sin and in hot pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace. To be honest, I'm not very good at it. But whenever I find that I've poured the pollution into the pitcher, I pour it all back out and submit to the hands of He who can cleanse me and make me anew. Then I wait, sometimes impatiently, for him to decide what to do with me and then to fill me up and put me to use.

I suppose that's why I'm headed to Guatemala. God must feel like he can use me there and it is my fervent prayer that he would use me for noble purposes to serve those in that country. I know where I stand but what's your choice? Tea pitcher or honey-pot? They look so similar...

Ewwww,
Carl

Please, Pray for Me

2009-06-22T20:53:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)

¹⁹Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

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

I've been pondering this simple request for a few weeks now. And I've been wondering about that whole 'being filled with the spirit and speaking in tongues' thing. I wonder if the apostles spoke foreign languages or whether the hearers simply heard a foreign language. Or if the apostles spoke some kind of God-given universal language that everyone could understand because it operated at a totally different level than we are accustomed to.

The reason this has been on my mind is because I'm headed of to a Spanish-speaking country and I don't speak Spanish. I've really been concerned about what kind of witness or evangelist I could be when I don't speak the language of the people I'm around. Sometimes I wonder if I really get it or not. I mean I'm going as a representative of the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, who numbers the decreasing numbers of hairs on my head as well as the stars in the sky. Why oh why would I be worried about such a small matter as language? I like to believe that God is letting me flex my stupidity so that he can really blow me away when He does what He has planned. Geez, the things I worry about!

So then God sends along this verse, to remind me that I'm focused on the inconsequential and that I'm just a mouth-piece.

The Apostle Paul prayed to receive words that he could 'fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel' and that he 'may declare it fearlessly, as [he] should.' That seems like a much more substantial and far more important prayer than the one I've been praying. And the thing that makes it so much more powerful is that it focuses cleanly on God's will and not on anyone's self. Paul did NOT pray for persuasive words, nor the ability to communicate. He prayed that he could fearlessly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. I'm giving up my paltry self-centered prayer and adopting this one as my own. I can do that you know because God GAVE IT TO ME.

There is something else that he gave me; common sense. So I've put some of that to use and I've bought a bi-lingual Bible to take with me. Between now and then though I'm studying it instead of my usual Bible. And I'm going to mark out 'la via romana' in preparation. That way, I can be prepared to fearlessly declare "la buena noticia de Jesucristo!"

Okay, so like please, pray for me that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mysteries of the gospel.

Adios,
Carl

Declare His Glory

2009-06-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

1 Chronicles 16:23-33 (NIV)

²³ Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

²⁵ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

he is to be feared above all gods.

²⁶ For all the gods of the nations are idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and joy in his dwelling place.

²⁸ Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength,

²⁹ ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.

Bring an offering and come before him;

worship the Lord in the splendor of his^c holiness.

³⁰ Tremble before him, all the earth!

The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

³¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

³² Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

³³ Then the trees of the forest will sing,

they will sing for joy before the Lord,

for he comes to judge the earth.

^c Or Lord with the splendor of

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

This is a beautiful passage of scripture which attests to the glory of God which describes the right response of all creation. Rather than pick this passage into individual pieces, I just want to parse through and hit some highlights.

First, this passage contains commands and it is declarative. We are commanded to sing, proclaim and declare his glory among the nations. We are to share his marvelous deeds with everyone, everywhere.

The passage declares that the Lord is great and most worthy of our praise. He is to be feared. He is fundamentally different from all the god's of the people of this earth for He alone is real. The power of creation is His and reflects His splendor.

We are then commanded to 'ascribe' to him glory and strength. This means that we are to refer to Him as the source, cause or author of glory and strength. We are to do this not because of anything he has done, though He has done much, but rather because of His name alone. His name is Holy.

Continuing with commands we are directed to bring an offering and enter into his presence. At this time, this meant a bull or ram or something else that was suitable to be sacrificed. But today, due to the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus, we need bring only ourselves as living sacrifices. And it is the doing of that that we are able to worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

The last command to us is that we tremble; and tremble we should. We often forget the raw power and supremacy of God as we seek to be in relationship with him. But the truth is that God is all-powerful, all-holy and so far above us as to be incomprehensible. The thought of standing in front of him with my chin held high, my chest inflated and knees locked in place is ludicrous! Knee-knocking scared is what I am.

The passage ends with further declarations about the heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields and the trees. That all these things declare his glory and rejoice for joy at the coming of the King. On this I have to quote the words of the modern philosopher Carmen who said "Ain't no rock gonna take my place!" What an embarrassment it would be for all of creation, except for man, to glorify the Lord.

Okay, where do I go from here? I'm reading this as instructions for my upcoming trip to Guatemala. I'm going to build houses, etc but I'll have a song in my heart and on my lips. Given the opportunity, I will declare his glory to the people around me and I will try to convey his splendor and his glory as I understand them. I just hope someone asks me "why?" as in "Senor Carl, why do you come to my country to build a house for me?" And I'll say because Jesus is building a house for me.

Shalom,
Carl

Blessed To Be A Blessing

2009-06-20T12:05:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV)

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

³ I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.”

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

Abram... what a guy. Commanded to leave so he left, commanded to sacrifice his son so he set about doing it, faithful, obedient, an example to be emulated. In fact, today's passage is where God told Abram to pack it up and move out. No forwarding address, just a caravan of people and animals striking out in the direction that God pointed, so to speak. Oh, and a promise, let's not forget that.

Today's passage contains not only the command from God to Abram to 'move out' but also the promise for his obedience. God said to Abram "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Now THAT is a blessing indeed! Let's look at it bit by bit, as is my habit.

Almighty God, the one worthy to be praised and the rightful heir to all the blessings we can give is promising to Abram that He, God will bless him, Abram. He will cause Abram's family to be the root from which a great nation will grow. From reading the books of history we know that that great nation is Israel, God's chosen people.

Then God says that he will make Abram's name great and Abram will be a blessing. Well, need I say anything more than "Father Abraham?" When counting down the hall of fame for those counted faithful in the eyes of God, Abram is near the top of the list. I'd say that's a pretty great name he has received. And it is through Abram that Israel became a nation and it is from Israel that Jesus came. In this way, Abram is indeed a blessing.

God promises to bless those who bless Abram and to curse those who curse him. At this point, I'm not certain he is referring to Abram the man or Israel the nation but regardless, we need look no further than today's headlines to see that this promise is still being fulfilled. Am I the only one predisposed to Israel?

God promises that 'all peoples on earth will be blessed through you' and this is the supreme blessing in the person of Jesus Christ.

Great lands, fame, fortune and power were not the things that Abram needed as part of his blessing. All he needed was the favor of God to be upon him and for God to use him in the grand scheme of things. Abram was blessed to be a blessing.

My prayer is that God would bless me too to be a blessing to others. Oh sure, I'd appreciate an over-abundant bank account but God gives me an abundance of friends instead. And as I count the many blessings that God has bestowed to me, I pray that my friends count me among their blessings too. I'm happy to be blessed to be a blessing. Now, as I set forth for strange lands and strange people in response to God's calling, I pray that he will use me in that place, as Abram was used, as a blessing to others.

Grace and Peace unto you,
Carl

Alive in Christ

2009-06-19T15:41:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 4:5-12 (NIV)

⁵For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^a made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

^a Gen. 1:3

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

In a scant eight days I will be in Guatemala on my first mission trip. To say that I'm a little apprehensive would be a gross understatement, even for Captain Obvious. I know what I'm supposed to do there but being unable to communicate will be a real test for me. In studying this passage, I am reminded that it isn't about me, it's about Jesus.

I go to Guatemala not to advance myself but to advance His kingdom. Since His kingdom is one of love and action, words are of little value in this instance; action is what counts. So I go to serve through building houses or whatever else they need me to do. If I want to own today's passage I would say "I do not preach my self, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and I am your servant for Jesus' sake."

I go to Guatemala not because it is glamorous or fun or rewarding but to let my light shine before men that they may glorify my Father in Heaven. In my life, God has already sent light into the darkness of my heart. I always say that I'm glad that "you don't have to get the darkness out before you can let the light in. The light chases away the darkness." Owning this passage I would say "God said 'Let light shine out of darkness,' and indeed he make his light shine in my heart so that I would know of His glory as presented by Christ and I would thirst to share it with others."

I go to Guatemala not to prove that I am strong or capable but to demonstrate that God can use me, even though I am frail. If I had big muscles and years of experience at this, what would that prove? But since I have neither, any success will be plainly attributable to God alone. Owning this passage I would say "I have the treasure of Christ in my body made from clay so don't thank me, thank God."

I go to Guatemala not to be comfortable but to show that discomfort is valuable and perseverance worthwhile. God has not called me to a life of luxury or comfort. I mean, Christ came and didn't even have a pillow. How then could I possibly expect better? How can I keep my mouth shut and not praise him LOUDLY for the wonderful blessings I already enjoy? To own this passage I would say "I face adversity and sometimes it gets me down, but it never defeats me. I stand accused and guilty but not made captive. Though my body may be destroyed, I will live forever."

I go to Guatemala not as my self but as the hands and feet of Jesus. I'm thinking of Galatians 2:20 now which reminds me that "I have been crucified in Christ and I myself no longer live but Christ lives in me." So though my body goes to Guatemala, I'm little more than a mode of transportation. Owning this verse I would say "I forever remember the sacrifice of Christ on my behalf and I live to show how Jesus lives in me now and can live in you too."

I go to Guatemala not to go unseen but to boldly show. What I go to show is that people who are yielded to Christ love others, in fact, love strangers. They love strangers so much that they are willing to give of their time, talent and treasure just for the fleeting chance that they might be able to share a word of Christ's love. To own this verse I would say "I live now, really live and every day I give my self away so that I can be filled with Jesus so that you may see him and his eternal beauty in my mortal body."

It is true that I have died to myself and that this is something that I must CONSTANTLY do. It's not a one-time, it's-all-done kind of thing. Every moment, every breath I have to die anew. The more I do that, the more The Spirit is poured into me and the more I live for Him. That's why I'm going to Guatemala, to live less for me and more for him.

Shalom,
Carl

Prepare Your Mind

2009-06-19T08:32:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

¹³Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^a

^a Lev. 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7

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

The Christian life is not one of passivity. Knowledge is not gained by osmosis and growth is not realized through a sedentary life. One of the great promises in scripture is found in Romans 12:2 wherein we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is not something that just 'happens' to us nor do we have no responsibility to contribute to this process.

This passage today calls us to meaningful and purposeful action. It challenges us to take responsibility for contributing to our spiritual growth through intention and application.

This passage calls us to 'prepare your minds for action.' We should add knowledge of God's word through study but we should also be looking forward to how we are going to apply that knowledge not only to our own lives but into the lives of others as well.

This passage challenges us to 'be self-controlled.' Truly, self-control is a gift of the spirit but it is not something that can be developed passively. It requires exercise and as this passage exhorts, we are to 'be self-controlled.' This implies a continuous and ongoing effort, eschewing our self and our selfish desires, to lay aside those types of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that we may be suitable for use by God.

Further, this passage advises us to 'set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.' This really gets me fired up because I know the grace I have already received and it's enough for me! But it's not all that God has in store for me. As this verse teaches, we are to look forward with great anticipation to what is coming when our Lord Jesus is revealed to all the world and his glory is unavoidable.

The next verse (v14) reminds me that though I am a parent (hehe) I am also God's child and as such there are expectations and responsibilities. To begin with, there is the implied expectation that I will be obedient to God. And as an obedient child, I am called to never return to the indulgences of my prior life, I am not to "conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance." Yes, I was ignorant. Ignorant that my behavior and my desires were separating me from God and hurting people at a deep level. But now that my eyes have been opened to the truth of Jesus Christ, I have no excuse and instead I have a choice. This verse is about that choice. I can choose death and follow my evil desires despite the fact that I know better. I can choose life and follow God.

Verses 15 & 16 charge and challenge me to BE HOLY. Just as the previous verse charged me to be self-controlled, this verse calls me to BE HOLY. That is, engage in a purposeful, ongoing and neverending quest to bring myself ever closer to that holiness which is our God. Though I can never achieve holiness in this life, nevertheless, I am to do everything in my power to preserve my body as a temple, as a holy place that is suitable for the presence of God. This I must do because God has said "Be holy, because I am holy." That is a direct command that echoes down the corridor of time from the book of Leviticus and loudly proclaims to me today that I have a responsibility to God.

So today my prayer is that God will grant me the strength to do all that is written here that I can become a vessel of noble purpose. That I can serve and not detract. That I can go and represent Him in all that I do.

Peace Out,
Carl

A Purpose-Driven Life

2009-06-18T07:04:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

¹⁰For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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

It is in my nature to ask questions; some are simple, some obvious, some existential. Most people I know have asked the same questions themselves such as "who am I?" and "Why am I here?" I find it interesting that God, who created us, anticipated such questions and thoughtfully provided answers for us, in advance.

Consider today's passage. It elegantly answers both those questions with a single sentence. As for "who" this passage teaches us that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus..." You, me, we are no mere accidents of genetic roulette. Nor are we by products of some other project. We are intentionally made by a master craftsman, made precisely as envisioned by the artist. We are God's 'piece de resistance!' That alone should suffice to give us comfort and peace. But if that's not enough, we were "created in Christ Jesus." Thus we are related to God, our human lineage notwithstanding.

Knowing that we are the intentional product of God's process of creation, we can then turn our attention to "why?" Again, this passage teaches us that we have been created to "do good works." We are not placed here and now in order to pursue our selfish passions or desires. Nor are we here to make a lot of money and accumulate a lot of inanimate objects. Neither are we here as mere decorations to be admired. We are here to 'do good works.' I read this to mean that we are to be the hands and feet of God in the world today. We are to be the skin with God inside.

As for the 'good works' we are to do, these are not some kind of incidental projects! The works we are to do have been "prepared in advance for us to do." God has set out the materials and supplies and they await our creative action. It's like on Sunday mornings when I go into the classroom, setup the tables, provide all the markers, pens, glue, glitter, scissors and paper. Then the kid's show up and at the end, there are wonderful cards, or bags, or aprons that are then given away to bring joy to another. The 'works' God has prepared for us are like that. We do them and bring joy to others. We worship and praise God, which pleases him. We grow in the image of His son which pleases him. We love on others, meeting their needs and giving of ourselves to them that they may be lifted up. We reach out and share our own joys and faith with others that they too may have that same joy and confidence and purpose. That's the 'why.'

God is sending us out into the world with an important message to deliver, one of love, joy and hope. I pray that I may be consumed with his purpose, that he will give me the strength and that I will accomplish the task before me.

Shalom,
Carl

Should I Not Be Concerned

2009-06-17T19:58:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Jonah 4:1-11 (NIV)

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

4 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. ²He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. ³Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

⁴But the Lord replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”

⁵Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. ⁶Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. ⁷But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. ⁸When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

⁹But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?”

“I do,” he said. “I am angry enough to die.”

¹⁰But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. ¹¹But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

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

Jonah is NOT one of my favorite Bible heroes; in fact, it is hardly fair to use the term "hero" and the name "Jonah" in the same sentence. But what Jonah excels at is providing an example that helps us to more fully understand the God we serve.

One of the reasons I dislike Jonah is because he reminds me too much of myself. For instance, this passage opens with Jonah getting angry that things aren't happening the way he wanted them to. He was 'displeased and became angry.' Ding! That's me.

He prayed to the Lord and said "I told you so" to GOD. Ding! That's me.

He justified or rather, rationalized, his decision to be disobedient. Ding! That's me.

He acknowledges that God is "gracious and compassionate... slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." He has the gall to say this as he himself is "testing the limits" and of One who knows no limits. It could be argued that he is abusing Grace. Ding! That's me.

Jonah was petulant. Ding! That's me.

Jonah did his best to make himself comfortable even as he was making himself suffer. He was insufferable. Ding! Me again.

Despite his insolent behavior to the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, God showed him mercy and did not smite him. God showed grace and gave him relief thus proving the accusation that He is "a gracious and compassionate God,... abounding in love... relents from sending calamity." I can almost hear God chuckling to himself about 'that poor child.' Ding! Hello!

And when Jonah failed to respond to the merciful and gracious compassion given by God, The Lord provided the appropriate motivation to get Jonah moving again. Ding!

Ultimately, Jonah was consumed with worry about him self. Though God was repeatedly showing Jonah object lessons in concern for others, all he could be concerned about was himself. Ding! I hate this guy!

End the end God makes it plainly known to Jonah what a selfish jerk he has been. While all Jonah can worry about is self, God is grieving over 120,000 Ninevites. God asks "should I not be concerned?"

What a lesson to me, to us all, about our loving and powerful God who can be concerned about one man and also about 120,000 or even 15,000,000 and still more. How then can I serve God and be consumed with my self? God is teaching me that I am to be concerned with others and specifically with the things with which He is concerned.

My prayer is that when the boat leaves for Ninevah, I'm on it. God give me the strength!

In His Grip,
Carl

A Light To The Nations

2009-06-17T07:26:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

" Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength— he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”" (Isaiah 49:1-6, NIV)

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

In this passage we see an exhortation to all the people of the Earth to listen and to hear. The islands represent the Gentiles and 'distant nations' represent those people who live a great distance from God's chosen people. I believe that the 'distance' in this passage refers not only to a geographic distance but also a distance in time. Thus, I believe this passage is referring not only to the people of the time in which it was written but also to you and me today.

There is a recurring theme that is reflected in the start of today's passage, that of listening to God. I don't mean the mindless listening as we do when driving with the radio on but rather active listening, hearing, taking to heart and allowing what we have heard to shape our thoughts and actions.

The second half of the first verse identifies the speaker for our benefit; it is The Christ who was promised and called before he was ever born. Throughout scripture we see the unfolding realization of the promise of a Messiah and his name was known prior to his becoming flesh.

The passage continues (v2) with a statement of the power of Christ (the speaker) and of his word. More specifically, the power of the sword to visit destruction upon the disobedient through the final judgment of the unrepentant. And also the power of the arrow to pierce the heart; this I believe is a reference to the manner in which Christ pricks the heart of the sinner such that they come to know him as their Lord and Savior.

The speaker then identifies himself (v3) as Israel, not the nation itself but the image of what it could have become had the people of that nation remained faithful. And the purpose is revealed as that of a servant and the vessel through which God's splendor will be revealed to all. Of course, it is also true that Jesus was an Israelite and in this manner, the entire Jewish nation was His servant and it is by Christ's birth into that lineage that God displayed His splendor.

Yet, the speaker is not without eyes and cannot help but note that all his labors and his sufferings are wasted upon God's chosen people. This is a foretelling of how Christ will be ignored, marginalized and murdered by his own people. With respect to them, his efforts are indeed wasted. Yet not all is lost for there is still a reward that God provides in season and this I believe is a reference to the reconciliation of the Gentiles unto God through Christ the Son. The fact of the matter is that no matter how people responded to Christ's labor of love, his obedience to the Father is rewarded by the Father. This is an important point for the evangelical worker to remember, that though none may answer the call that he perpetuates, the reward is for obedience.

The passage continues (v5) by establishing the authority of the Lord by his power of creation and the assignment of purpose. Christ was formed in the womb as a servant for the express purpose of fulfilling God's promise to the Jews that they, and all their ancestors be reconciled to God, 'gathered to himself' as it were. The image that I get in my mind is that of a rancher. The rancher owns the herds and flocks and as they are scattered across the pastures, he sends his servant, the shepherd, to collect them all back together and to return them to the safety of the barn.

Through obedience and submission (to God) the servant (Christ) is honored in the sight of God. All the while his (Christ's) work is accomplished not by his own strength but by relying on God and His limitless strength.

Nevertheless, God knew that the Israelites would not respond and in v6, the importance of Christ's role is expanded beyond the reconciliation of the Jews but to include all the people of the Earth. Further, that his ministry should not be confined to the geographical boundaries of what we know to be the Middle East but that the word of Christ and by him the salvation offered by God should be distributed to the very ends of the Earth; everywhere and every when.

Now, as a disciple of Christ, I have been created to live a life in emulation of Him. And in this I accept the responsibility to continue His ministry and to carry His name and His love to those both near and far. Being a Gentile, I am keenly aware of the gift which has been given to me and I understand that I can multiply that gift by giving it to others. Thus, I go to Guatemala to be a light to the nations. This I do not of my own strength but in complete surrender and dependence upon God. Though I do not seek honor in the eyes of God for my obedience, I know that in season, God will reward my obedience according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

My prayer is that I will be salt on the tongues of those to whom I minister that they might thirst for the living water of Jesus. And that my actions will be a light unto those who stumble in the darkness of this world.

Shalom,
Carl

Chase and Pursuit

2009-06-12T07:28:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

¹¹But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

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

In the preceding passage Paul speaks of those who "teach false doctrine", "who think that godliness is a means to financial gain" and "people who want to get rich." He further writes that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." In this small paragraph Paul says a mouthful.

And then in today's study verse, he exhorts Timothy (and by way of extension all who seek to serve The Lord) to "flee from all this". I have a tendency to think of 'fleeing' as a one-time, escape the current temptation type of statement. But in studying this passage, it seems to me that it indicates a more continual and ongoing avoidance or shunning. I believe however that this is just a figurative instruction and the real admonition is to "not get involved in any way." This is sound instruction and needs to be heard and practiced by many in our culture. The line forms behind me.

I say that because the chasing of worldly gain and success is something that I've engaged in for most of my life and even now, in my new life in Christ, I struggle against this ingrained habit. Because of this, I must confront myself in the areas of worry, anxiety, doubt, faithlessness, greed and stewardship. Far better that I could live out this instruction from Paul and just put all this away from me. The chasing of worldly financial success (or more likely excess) is an exercise in capturing the wind.

By way of contrast to this 'negative' exhortation with respect of what to avoid, Paul provides 'positive' teaching or more explicitly lists those things that are to be pursued. He admonishes us to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." Pursuit of these godly characteristics draw us ever closer to God and into a deep and abiding relationship with Him; this is the true goal of the disciple.

Chasing and Pursuing,
Carl

PS: Please forgive the inadequacies of this post and focus on the sufficiency of the text. The original post was lost in transit and I've tried to recreate it to the best of my ability within the time allowed.

Construction Zone

2009-06-11T07:24:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)

²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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

Driving along I see a variety of important signs and markers. Of note, I see "Men At Work", "Construction Zone" and "Future Home of ". Sometimes I even see all three at the same place and time. For instance, on Union Avenue just last Sunday I saw all three signs at a work-site. Unfortunately, they were on the property were once stood Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a beautiful, old edifice which is now placarded as "Future Home of Chick-Fil-A." From church to restaurant could hardly be considered progress but certainly should be considered as a sign of the times in which we live.

Nevertheless, in our study verse today, Paul speaks of the progress in the lives of the gentiles and the gentile church. If we begin reading at v11 we can see that Paul is speaking of the work that Christ accomplished and of the work that is ongoing. In fact, we can apply the use of those same three signs (above) to this passage.

Consider "Men At Work". Prior to the arrival of Christ and the reconciliation offered through his atoning sacrifice, men worked to live up to the law. I use the term 'worked' because it was an arduous and unrelenting task that ultimately led to failure and condemnation. It is the same way today for the lives of the unrepentant. Though they may not try to assuage the requirements of God's laws, nevertheless, their success and salvation is completely dependent upon their own works. I can keenly recall the conditions that existed in my life, prior to Christ, when the only sign on me was "Men At Work". It is a poor explanation of the disaster zone from which God created a "Construction Zone."

Yet, that is exactly what happened. Once Christ arrived and achieved the reconciliation that is explained in this passage section, the sign on the church changed from "Men At Work" to "Construction Zone." This is because Christ brought along a work-crew and relieved men of the responsibility for building the church. The church was changed from a monument of a building to the ever-changing fellowship of believers. That same transition occurs in the life of the individual believer. Once repentance has been planted in the heart of the believer, the "Men At Work" signs come down and "Construction Zone" signs take their place. This is to reflect the work that The Spirit is effecting in the heart and mind of the believer.

The purpose of this construction, within both the collective church and the individual believer is to prepare a place suitable to be inhabited by Almighty God. From the church perspective, the body of believers is being built together into a single entity. United in purpose and joined together across denominations and congregations into a glorious oneness through Christ our Lord. We know that this one body is represented in scripture as 'the bride.' As such, 'she' is being prepared for the bride-groom who will soon arrive. From the perspective of the individual, the heart, mind and soul is being constantly and ever-tighter bound to The Holy Spirit and by this union, true change is effected in the life and lifestyle of the disciple. "Construction Zone' is a truly accurate depiction of the process.

The purpose of all this construction though as taught in today's verse, is to prepare a dwelling place in which God lives by his Spirit. Thus there is a natural progression from sinner to saint. From "Men At Work" to "Construction Zone" and ultimately to "Future Home of THE KING."

Though I'm tempted to pick up a hammer and join in, I think I'll just keep my hard-hat handy and watch as God accomplishes the task.

In His Grip,
Carl

Nothing Else Will Do

2009-06-10T07:22:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Psalm 62:5 (NIV)

⁵ Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

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

As The Lord reveals himself to a sinner, the sinner's heart is spoiled to the things which once lay hold to their affection. Where once money satisfied, there is dissatisfaction. Where once sinful pursuits of carnality provided pleasure, there is profound displeasure. Any sense of pride, accomplishment and complacency is scattered as the leaves before a storm.

This is part and parcel to the realization of sin and the burden or wages of sin. It is not until the sinner recognizes their helplessness and hopeless state that The Lord may take possession of their heart. Accordingly, those things in which the sinner once found refuge or rest cease to satisfy. The hope that was built upon personal success or perceptions of control crumbles.

Once the deceitful heart has been shown its true condition and the sinful self has been poured out, The Lord pours in The Spirit and sets about overcoming every condition which vexes and perplexes. He does this not by satisfying the repentant sinner's hunger for worldly things but rather by creating a hunger for godly things. Righteousness for unrighteousness, atonement for transgression, grace, faith, hope and love. And along with the new appetite, The Lord sets out a great banquet that will satisfy that hunger. Once tasted, the banquet of The Lord's table ruins every lesser thing. Nothing else will do.

So, like David in today's passage, the rest that we most need; not the renewal of physical strength but the rejuvenation of our souls, is found in God alone. The redeemed experience a restlessness of their souls when not aligned with God's will. But when properly aligned, though their bodies grow weary and weak, their soul rests perpetually in the bosom of God and there is found peace. Knowing this, experiencing this, unleashes the hope for tomorrow which sustains us.

Let us join David in his exhortation "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him."

Shalom,
Carl

Delayed Gratification

2009-06-08T07:26:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

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

Serving the Lord and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ is not always easy. In the United States we may speak freely of Jesus and have no fear of retribution. But elsewhere in the world, that is not necessarily the case. It is sad but true that even today, 2000 years after Jesus walked the Earth, people can still be imprisoned or killed for his sake. Yet the telling of the truth must go forward just as it did in the days of Paul.

In the passage before us today (7-12), Paul speaks of the fact that on behalf of Jesus he had endured and continued to experience persecution. He then speaks of the certainty of his convictions that he will share in the victory of Jesus and of the purpose of his suffering.

In our study verse (v17) Paul teaches us to keep the right perspective on the troubles that currently vex us as we labor on behalf of Jesus Christ. Though he endured severe punishments, the likes of which we shall never endure, he refers to them as "our light and momentary troubles." This reminds us that no matter what we endure in this life, it is nothing compared to the torment of eternity in Hell. It also reminds us of the impermanence of this life and that our time here is short.

He further teaches us that any suffering we endure in the here and now are really investments with the gains to be realized at a future date. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." To me this speaks of something akin to a retirement plan. A steady investment over time yields much larger returns later.

By implication, this verse speaks of another side to this coin as well. There are many who face troubles. Some will respond as Paul and labor now for the delayed gratification that is sure to come. Yet others will give up and abandon their post which while convenient now, greatly diminishes the true rewards that come much later.

With this understanding, there are two points to bear in mind. First, we should not give up doing what is right in our labors for Christ. Secondly, though difficult to continue in faithful service now, the future rewards completely outweigh any present suffering.

We should then not only redouble our resolve to remain steadfast in our service to God but we should also reach out to and encourage one another to not give up. This reminds me of Hebrews 10:25 wherein we are taught "let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

"The Day" is indeed approaching and there is much remaining to be done. Pick up your tools and continue to push forward in your service to God. Remember that at the appropriate time, in season, you will reap a bountiful harvest in the kingdom of God.

Shalom,
Carl

What Are You Looking At?

2009-05-29T08:01:00.002-05:00

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

2009-05-28T08:46:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-05-18T08:57:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-15T08:44:00.002-05:00

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

2009-05-13T08:26:00.002-05:00

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

2009-05-11T08:11:00.000-05:00

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

2009-05-06T07:46:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-05T08:19:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Luke 5:18-20 (NIV)

¹⁸Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹When 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. ²⁰When 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

2009-05-04T08:37:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Luke 5:17 (NIV)

¹⁷One 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

2009-05-01T08:41:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

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

Call Me Clingy

2009-04-28T08:09:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Psalm 63:8 (NIV)

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

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

I have some friends who are rock climbers. Though I can't climb a canyon wall, I delight in seeing them scamper up the side of a cliff as though it were ladder. But there are times when the going gets tough and they have to hold on with all their might lest they fall. Their hands are strong from years of use and hours upon hours of clinging to small outcroppings and crevices in the rock formations.

I've seen similar hand strength displayed by other people who are far less conditioned for such activity. For instance, I've thrown a rope to a person who is trapped in the middle of a raging river and in imminent danger of being swept away. It is amazing how tightly they were able to cling to that rope as we pulled them in against the current. Once they reached the shore, it was equally amazing how reluctant they were to relinquish their grasp on that literal lifeline.

Both these examples share some things in common. They both involve physical strength and they are both about what an individual can do when properly motivated. They are also practical examples, metaphors if you will, of the concept of clinging to that which offers us hope, safety and salvation. Both serve to illustrate the importance of holding on to the appropriate thing at the appropriate time that life may be preserved.

Now take that concept and apply it to spiritual matters where it is even more important to cling to that which sustains and to release that which drains. For truthfully, if the rock climber loses his grip, he loses his life and if the canoeist loses their grip on that rope they are swept away in the current to be dashed against the rocks downstream. But if our soul clings to something that is unstable, if we pin our eternal life upon something that is false, then have lost something far more important that our physical life; we lose eternal peace. If our soul relinquishes its grasp upon that which is stable or willfully removes its piton from the one true hope, then all hope is lost as we are swept away in the current of worldly living. And in the end, when the truth is revealed, we too shall cry out for one more chance only to hear the empty echo of our own voice calling back to us.

Today's study verse was written by David as he traversed the desert. Though hunger and thirst ravaged his body, though physical death was ever present, David never relinquished his clinging grasp upon the rock that is our God. He wrote "My soul clings to you" as a proclamation of his faith and as an example to us. But he didn't stop there for that concept again speaks only of the efforts of the individual and does not adequately portray the truth of the matter.

Consider the drowning man to whom I threw a lifeline. As you envision the situation, put yourself in that position. And now, honestly evaluate the circumstances by which you were saved. Did God throw you a lifeline? I believe He threw me a line to hold on to but he didn't haul me out of the raging current of my sinfulness by that line. I was sinking beneath the surface when he plunged his hand into the river and scooped me out of the water. It was not by the rope that I was saved, it was by His hand that I was rescued. It was his beautiful, nail-scarred hand that lifted me to new life. Was it the same for you?

Apparently it was the same for David for even as he wrote "My soul clings to you" he continued with "your right hand upholds me." Isn't that a beautiful picture to consider? Our clinging to God as he carefully picks us up out of death and lifts us to a new life in Him?

And now that God has saved me from the suffocating flood of selfish, sinful, wastefulness I too cling to Him and I too am upheld by His right hand. You can call me clingy if you like, I call it blessed.

Shalom,

Carl

Help Me Out Here

2009-04-27T08:29:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

Romans 8:3-4 (NIV)
³For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, ⁴in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

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

There are just some things I cannot do alone. For instance, yesterday I was reminded that by myself I am unable to get a 150lb water heater into the attic. In order to get that tank up into the attic not only did I have to broaden the opening but I also had to identify, ask, accept and depend upon help from another. It took two men the better part of the day to accomplish the job but in the end, it was finished.

Inasmuch as I am unable to do that job by myself, so too am I unable to meet the righteous requirements of God's Perfect Law. No matter how much I might struggle and strain, my sin nature condemns me under the law as I am unable to carry it out. I can't blame my ancestors for I myself have sinned and fallen far short of God's glorious standards.

In my youth (and my folly) I tried to broaden the way to Heaven. I mistakenly thought that if I could just make it a little bit wider, more inclusive so to speak, then I could make it through the opening and into the presence of God. Not only was I unable to broaden that gate, it was the wrong gate at the end of the wrong road. Long before I ever set out for that destination, my sin and The Law had already sealed my fate.

But even before I struck out on that journey, another knew my need and he himself threw open the gates by paying the penalty of my sinfulness on my behalf. He built bridges from the road I was destined to travel that I could escape the dead-end of sin and cross over onto the Highway of Holiness (nod to Dr. Stephen Olford who articulated this for me).

Though I had sinned and fallen short, though by my own efforts I could not overcome the righteous requirement of God's Perfect Law, by his sacrifice the sin in me was condemned and I was set free. Not only was I set free from the chains which I had fashioned myself but I was declared righteous. I was given a new life in Christ to be lived according to the Holy Spirit and by that the requirements were met.

All I had to do was to identify the risen Christ as my Lord and Savior. I had to ask for God's forgiveness for my sin. I had to accept the sacrifice of Jesus as a blood offering on my behalf. And I have to depend upon Him for the daily strength to live according to the call He has placed upon my life. It took a death upon the cross and the better part of my life to accomplish the job but in the end, it is finished.

Perhaps like me, you are trying to do this job by yourself. Perhaps like me, you think that by broadening the opening and trying harder you accomplish the task. Trust me when I say that this is one job that you absolutely, positively can not do. You need the help of Jesus. There! The first step is done; that is to identify the one who can give you the help you desperately need. Now it's up to you to ask, accept and depend. As soon as you do, that job is done, it is finished.

Shalom,
Carl

In The Midst of Problems

2009-04-21T08:04:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Jeremiah 45:5 (NIV)

⁵Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’ ”

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

During the troubling economic times in which we live, there are many who have lost their jobs, lost their savings, lost their cars, their homes and many other earthly possessions. By conventional wisdom it would seem that we have little to celebrate. Yet of all the things from which we are separated, we are neither separated from life itself nor from the love of God. By godly wisdom we have a great deal to celebrate. Though the stock-market may fall, it is but the loss of an idol. Though our car be repossessed, the fact that it is repossessed is clear indication it was not ours to begin with! Though we be forceably evicted from our home, we continue to be welcomed in God's house.

Truthfully, during such times we have an opportunity to exercise our faith in God and this afterall is the right response he desires. If we step back and look at the situation objectively we can see that our Sovereign God is putting the nation to the test. He is allowing us to suffer the consequences of our idolatry and faithlessness. Yet, he has not forsaken nor abandoned us anymore than we forsake our children when allowing them, in the spirit of discipline, to suffer the consequences of their actions.

But even now, there are those that seek to not only survive the test but to excel. It is a peculiar desire that in the midst of destruction we seek not only to be spared but also to prosper. It is particularly perplexing to hear someone say that "they don't deserve" this suffering or that they somehow are entitled to prosper even as all those around them are confronted with calamity.

It is somehow comforting for me to know that this is not a unique phenomena. Today's study verse is God's response to Baruch who in the midst of destruction thought that he was somehow entitled to something better than everyone else. Based on earthly lineage Baruch expected to be a high-ranking government official but instead had the office of secretary to an unpopular king. Even as the entire nation was being punished by divine judgment, Baruch moaned and groaned about his position and his circumstances. Rather than crying out for relief for his people he cried out about how God's judgment added sorrow to his pain.

Our merciful God responded to him that even as I (God) am overthrowing what I have built and uprooting what I have planted, everywhere... "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life."

In this passage we can sense the frustration God must have felt towards the people who turned their backs on him and disobeyed his commandments. Yet even in the midst of such frustration he showed mercy to Baruch in that he allowed him to live. He gently rebuked Baruch for his self-serving aspirations and corrected him by pointing out that which remained even though all else would be removed.

As I watch my life savings dwindle away I have two choices. On the one hand I could bemoan my misfortune and lament the loss of money. Or, on the other hand, I could thank God not only for my life but also for my family and for his continued provision of our needs. I could be bitter about the loss or I can rejoice in the opportunity to exercise my faith as I learn to more fully rely on God.

You too face a similar choice. Will you grieve the death of the idols of wealth, financial security and retirement? Or will you rejoice in the eternal life that God has freely given? God did not free me from sin so that I could be bound by golden chains to financial success. He freed me from sin that I could live. That's the choice I make. That's the challenge we all face. How will you choose?

In His Grip,
Carl

Consistent and Persistent

2009-04-16T08:20:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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

My daily prayer is to be different today. Specifically, I pray to be closer to the image of Christ today than yesterday. I also pray that tomorrow I will be closer than today. In that way, I acknowledge who I was, who I am and who I want to be. The truth of the matter is that I am a work in progress, in a transient state and in a sense inconsistent. Of course, it is wonderful not to be consistent in the state I was in yesterday, the old me! I praise God for taking me out of that life, giving me a new life and a model, in His Son, that I am to emulate.

One of the many beautiful things about Jesus is reflected in today's study verse; he is unchanging. Not only has he existed since the beginning, he exists today and he will continue to exist forever. He is persistent in his existence. More than that though is that his character is consistent. As Scripture tells us "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." There are two points for me to ponder in these ten words.

First, is this tense of this passage; it is present tense. It does not say that Jesus Christ was the same yesterday as he is today. Nor does it say that he will be the same tomorrow. It says that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow." This gives me a sense of the eternal presence or persistence of Christ in that he exists outside of time as we know it. The tense paints a vivid picture for me of the fact that God, Jesus and The Spirit exist in my three known tenses (past, present & future) simultaneously. Whether this reveals an understanding of how time really 'works' is of no consequence to me. I pass through time in a linear fashion in that I was yesterday and am no longer. I am today and shall soon be no longer and prayerfully I will be tomorrow, God willing. The Holy Trinity by way of contrast just is and this of course reminds me that God identified himself to Moses as I AM. Jesus Christ is persistent across all time.

The second point that fascinates me is that this verse celebrates the immutability of Christ. He is neither prone to nor susceptible to change. Hallelu Yah! As He is in the beginning so too is He now. As He is now, so too is He tomorrow. He does not change in any fashion. The attributes and characteristics inherent to Him never diminish or expire. There is no room for improvement nor fear of vascillation for he is perfect. He never wavers, changes his mind or regrets for he is consistent. This is in stark contrast to mortal man, to me.

I am as grass in the field, here today but gone tomorrow. I am as a reed blowing in the wind, back and forth, to and fro and I am just as likely to change my mind moment to moment as the sun is to shine. Whereas Christ is perfect, my greatest characteristic is that there is room for change, lot's and lot's of room for change. Hallelu Yah! Whereas Christ is complete I am a work in progress and as I move ever closer towards the image of Christ I am improved. Hallelu Yah! Whereas Christ is fully mature, I am but a baby; immature and full of potential.

It is important for me to have something solid in my life, something that I can depend on, something upon which to build my house. Praise God that Jesus Christ is that something for me. In fact, he is my everything. He is.

Not Yet Done,
Carl

The Measure of Treasure

2009-04-14T08:22:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 6:10 (NIV)
10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

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

I see this bumper sticker around town that reads "Don't let my car fool you, my real treasure is in Heaven." Usually it's plastered onto the back of a car that is well past it's prime but just the other day I saw it on the back of a brand new luxury car. At the time I thought that was an odd statement to make on that particular vehicle. But in retrospect I realize that I based that opinion on false assumption and a misplaced value. You see, I was thinking that the person didn't need to make excuses for their vehicle as was the case with those cars that are 'past their prime.' I was thinking that the car itself IS the treasure. Both these statements reflect a problem in me that wrongly assigns value to Earthly things based on their outward appearance. I had lost touch or perhaps I have not yet matured as a Christian to the point where I can eschew things of this world to the extent that God would have.

The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, in his letter to the Church at Corinth articulates a value system that is based on faith in God and the total confidence that accompanies such a fervant belief. In the passage presented for study today Paul writes of the challenges he faces in terms of contrast. In the verses that precede v10 he contrasts; glory and dishonor, bad report and good report, genuine yet regarded as impostors, known yet regarded as unknown, dying yet living on, beaten but not killed. In each of these pairs we see one aspect that is enough to discourage and one aspect that is sufficient to encourage. The one which governed the life and attitude of Paul was whichever he chose and so it is with us. By worldly standards, Paul had plenty of reasons to pout and protest. Yet he did not and the reason he did not was because of the faith which fueled him. By his faith he was able to chose the aspect of every situation that was encouraging.

In v10 Paul remarks that as a servant of God he commends himself to... sorrow yet always rejoicing. I believe that the sorrow that motivated Paul was not the petty anxiety of concern over his situation. Rather I believe it was a deep compassion and empathy for the lost. I believe that Paul's sorrow was for his fellow man and the road not taken. Yet he rejoiced; he rejoiced in the fact that he served a God of second chances who can, will and does pluck the repentant off the path to destruction and place their feet on the highway to holiness. As a redeemed sinner, Paul had plenty over which to rejoice and welcomed every opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus.

Paul further speaks of poverty; "poor, yet making many rich." Of course, he was not making people rich by the giving of money but rather through the act of charity that is sharing the truth of salvation and the promise of eternal life. Paul was following the example of Jesus Christ in reaching out to the poor, both from a conventional perspective and from a spiritual perspective. Where the redemption offered by Christ is there to are riches beyond comprehension. Thus a person can be at once poor (monetarily) and extravagantly rich if he has but the love of Jesus in his heart.

Paul continued in this vein when he spoke of "having nothing, yet possessing everything." I find this concept to be irreconcilable with the world and culture in which I live. Not only is possession nine-tenths of the law, it is ten-tenths of perceived success. But if we examine this not with respect to money but with respect to eternal matters, we can see the wisdom of it. As Christians we recognize that we are only stewards of Earthly things which means we 'have' nothing. Yet by demonstrating our ability to be faithful with that which God has entrusted to us, we find ourselves rewarded with still greater responsibility. In this way, we possess everything that we may give it back to God. Further, as Christians we recognize that this world is not our eternal home and that though we may 'have' things of this world, it is only for a season and then it is gone. However, the matters of love, faithfulness, gentleness and joy, though have no substance in the world, they are the very things that we may possess forever.

With this new and improved understanding I can see that the drivers of both cars, the one past it's prime and the one that is pristine, perhaps have a better grasp on the principles of Paul than I give credit for. The wisdom given by God and the conviction delivered by The Spirit must be put to use in my life. I must move past the point where outward appearance is equated with success.

Growing,
Carl

Redemption by First Fruits

2009-04-13T08:17:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...
1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV)

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

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

Beginning in Genesis and continuing throughout Scripture we see a consistent requirement that God receive the first fruits of our lives. Not just of our labors, nor just of our money but in every matter be it of the heart, the soul, the mind or the body, God deserves and expects that our very finest be given unto him.

The matter between Cain and Abel was a matter of the intentional setting aside of first fruits versus the haphazard giving of whatever was laying about. It was the willingness to give of the best, the first choice so to speak that elevated Abel's sacrifice to the level of acceptability to God.

Abraham was called to give his first-born Son as a sacrifice and he purposefully set about to do that very thing. Yet in the final moment, God intervened and spared the life of Abraham's son. Nevertheless, it was Abraham's willingness to give his first fruits to God that allowed him to find favor in the sight of God and he was accordingly judged faithful.

When God revealed The Law to the nation of Israel, he set forth the penalties of sinfulness to be a sacrifice; a sacrifice of the first fruits. And when God set forth the requirements for tithing, it too was to be of the first fruits.

And so we see God's expectation. We know that God reconciled us to himself by the sacrifice of his own first fruit and it is by that sacrifice that we have the surety of salvation. As further proof of our redemption, he has placed his seal upon us in the form of The Holy Spirit. From our own experience we can testify to the reality of the indwelling Holy Spirit and by it's proddings, groanings and guidance, we know with certainty that we have been adopted into the family of God and are claimed as his own. This work was accomplished, finished by Jesus as he died upon the cross as the vicarious sacrifice for our sins.

In my mind, this is but half of the mystery. It is by the sacrifice of God's first fruits that I have been redeemed, freed from the bondage of sin. I do not believe that it was the death of Christ Jesus that secured my eternal life. It is the resurrection of Christ Jesus that, his victory over death, that assures me of eternal life. Inasmuch as I participate in his death by dying to myself, I participate in his resurrection by being reborn in him the surety of which is the new life which I now live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.

By Jesus' sacrifice, the penalty for sin has been satisfied and I have been declared worthy in the sight of God. By Jesus' resurrection, death has been defeated and all those that have died in Christ shall also be resurrected in the final days and will then live forever in God's presence. The resurrection of Christ is the firstfruit which enables all believers to be included in the resurrection.

So then I live my life in constant remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross which freed me from sin. And I celebrate the empty tomb which testifies to the resurrection of my Lord and gives me faith that I too shall be resurrected in the next life into his presence.

In His Grip,
Carl

Are You Hated?

2009-04-08T08:14:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

John 15:19 (NIV)

¹⁹If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

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

Of constant interest to me is the charge that we are to live in the world yet not be about the world. By that I mean that we are not to chase after things of the flesh and we are to cast aside all the carnal desires that are so important to people who are about the world. As Christians, we are to love not just one another but everyone no matter their faith or lack of faith. We are to forgive ourselves, our brothers and sisters as well as our neighbors; basically everyone. We are to be salt in light in the world that those who do not yet know Jesus are encouraged to come taste of him and to come bask in the light of His glory. We are, at every opportunity, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone that crosses our path.

If we live up to our charge, if by the power of Holy Spirit we are successful in doing all these things, we can expect to be hated by the very people that we serve. This is not for any wrongs we have committed against those we serve but rather because of the 'rights' we have committed in their sight. By living joyful and exemplary lives in front of them while at the same time eschewing their entire value system, we reveal them for what they are; lost, hopeless, frustrated, disappointed, shallow people. For our ability to love them we shall be hated.

This ability to love is a divine blessing and an inheritance that accompanied our adoption into the family of God. And that adoption is the proof that we have been chosen by Jesus to be called his own. So our service to others in love and forgiveness marks us as Christians and invites those who bow at the altar of idols to hate us.

If then the proof of who owns us is measured by whether we are hated by the world I must ask you "Are you hated?" Do you recoil at the very thought that someone might hate you? Is that because you spend your time and energy trying to convince everyone that you are lovable? When you sense that someone hates you does your mind immediately go to "what have I done?" Consider the very real possibility that you have done nothing, what is hated in you is what Christ has done.

It seems counter-intuitive that if we love so fully and forgive so completely, if we are so clearly associated with Jesus Christ as to be unmistakably His disciples, then we will be hated. Yet, there it is in John 15:19.

So I leave you now with this charge... love so much, forgive so much, sacrifice so much that you are hated.

In His Grip,
Carl

A Promised Reward

2009-04-06T08:53:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

Revelation 2:17 (NIV)

¹⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

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

Today's study passage is contained in the letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. In this letter, Christ commends the church for its faithfulness though existing in the very seat of sin described as "where Satan lives" and he admonishes them for continuing fellowship with "people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam.. who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans."

A quick study of the teaching of Balaam and the teaching of the Nicolaitans reveals a propensity towards idolatry, the consumption of food sacrificed to idols and towards sexual immorality. The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible indicates the Nicolaitans were a "heretical sect" whose sins were equated with the teaching of Balaam. We have to go to the OT to find out exactly what those sins were and it is there that we learn that it was Balaam who advised Balak to prey upon the Israelites weaknesses so as to separate them from fellowship with God. These weaknesses included intermarriage with the Moabites, the worship of idols and sexual immorality associated with the Moabite religious practices.

It saddens me to say that thousands of years later, we as a people are susceptible to the same bag of tricks. It is far too easy for us to run after every opportunity for profit and to rush headlong into one of mankind's oldest traps; namely idolatry. Throughout the Bible we read of entire nations that turned away from the One True God and towards idols of stone, wood and metal. Though the materials of which the idols are constructed are different, nevertheless, modern idolatry is real.

We need look no further than the sports page of the local newspaper or to scan the channels of our television sets to see that there is a plethora of substitutes proffered by man for us to worship. There are people who spend thousands of dollars so that they can see a sports star play a game yet they neither tithe nor give to charity; idol worship. There are millions of people who sit glued to the television set to see who will be given the title of 'idol' in a competition of talent and popularity; idol worship. There are millions of people who chase after the thrill of illicit sex, whether virtual or literal and bow at the altar of sexual indulgence; idol worship.

These same people don a mask on Sunday mornings and file into our churches that they may give lip service to the Almighty God and maintain the appearance of righteousness. They are modern-day Nicolaitans and they too hold to the teaching of Balaam. Though they do not know the name and in fact call themselves by other names, they are nevertheless, idolaters.

In the letter in which our study passage is found, Christ calls upon the church to REPENT! Otherwise, he himself will come and "fight against them with the sword of [his] mouth." A mighty weapon is the Word of God and sharp is the sword of Christ's mouth. I want no part of that battle!

Therefore, the word today calls us to PAY ATTENTION. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." REPENT. And for those that hear, for those that engage the battle of repentance now, for those that turn away from the idols of this world and turn towards the kingdom of God, there is a promised reward. RECEIVE. Christ says "To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."

The condition for the fulfillment of the promise is to be an overcomer. We need only to depend upon God, enjoy his fellowship through Jesus and to live lives led by the Spirit to meet this divine condition.

The content of the promise is 'hidden manna' and 'a white stone with a new name written on it'. I turned to Merriam-Websters for further understanding of what this might entail. I was rewarded with the concept of "divinely supplied spiritual nourishment" and "a sudden and unexpected source of gratification, pleasure, or gain." Now I will freely admit that using a secular dictionary has its' pitfalls but I believe the concept is valid. That is, those that overcome receive a special dispensation from Christ himself.

As for the 'white stone with a new name' I do not know whether it means that a new stone has been added to the breastplate of the high priest with the new name being a tribe name or whether each individual receives a new name along the lines of Simon called Peter. But what I do know is that Christ has promised a reward to those who overcome. I know that Christ would not offer something of worldly value but rather offers more than I can comprehend.

Therefore, I hear and I listen and I call upon you to do the same. Turn away from the idols of the world in which we live. Commit yourselves to the true teaching of Christ Jesus and stand your ground in his name. In doing so, not only will you live a life that is full and rich serving God in this life but you will lay aside eternal treasures to be realized in the life hereafter.

Shalom,
Carl

Not As Silver

2009-04-02T09:54:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Isaiah 48:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ See, I have refined you, though not as silver;

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

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

In the passage that precedes this verse, God is reminding the nation of Israel of their wickedness and of the fact that his redemption of them is for His sake, not theirs. This is a fact that we can all take to heart. Being the selfish lout that I am, I have a tendency to think that God redeemed me so that I could be with Him; that's simply not the case. God redeemed me so that He could be with me. In the former statement, the focus is on me, my needs and my benefit. In the latter statement the focus if rightly on God, his desire and his will. That is a fundamental change in perspective or paradigm that I would be well-served to internalize and live out. As Rick Warren said "It's not about [me]."

The study verse today speaks of how the people had been refined at the hands of God. It is this refining process that brings us to the point of "presentability" to God; this is the nature of sanctification. However, God draws an important distinction in this passage between the common metaphor of the silversmith and the reality of what God is doing.

God said "though not as silver" and herein is the point. We often think of ourselves as the silver and God as the silversmith. It's a fair metaphor that helps us to understand the process of sanctification. However, there are two points that we need to consider.

First, we need to be careful not to overvalue ourselves. For us to compare ourselves to silver is to assign a value to us that may not be realistic. I'm made from clay, a common component that is walked upon every day. I'm made by God and called according to his purposes. In that realization there is true value. Think of it this way... I'm a painting. If I'm a painting by Carl Schultz, I will never fetch a high price at auction. But if I'm a painting by Renoir or Rembrandt or Monet, I will be worth a fortune at auction. As a painting, I have no intrinsic value but as a creation of a master, I am invaluable.

Second, in the practice of refining silver the silversmith heats the silver and draws away the dross or contaminants. This practice is continued until there is virtually no contaminant in the silver; it is pure; sterling. Now compare this concept to the nation of Israel who repeatedly turned from God to idols and sinfulness. If God were to refine them as silver, after removing all the dross, in the end there would be nothing left and they would be thrown out. Rather, God has refined them to a point, partially refined them if you will to the point where He finds them acceptable yet not pure.

So it is by the refining process of affliction that the good in us is brought out. It is by our sharing in the suffering that we may become the vessels of noble purpose which God intends for us. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, our afflictions reveal God's glory and it is for His sake that we are tested and refined. Though indeed we benefit from the process and from His favor, we must not forget that it is for His sake that we are.

Peace,

Carl

We Are Made Right

2009-03-31T08:14:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

²¹God 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

2009-03-30T08:50:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

John 15:8 (NIV)

⁸This 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

2009-03-26T07:43:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-24T07:34:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

Ephesians 2:12 (NIV)

¹²remember 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

2009-03-19T17:14:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-19T06:11:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

Be Holy

¹³Therefore, 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

2009-03-17T08:20:00.003-05:00

The Word is first...

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

⁹God, 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

2009-03-16T08:47:00.003-05:00

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)
⁸Do 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. ²Do 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

2009-03-12T08:06:00.004-05:00

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?

2009-03-11T08:43:00.002-05:00

The Word is first...

1 John 5:20 (NIV)

²⁰We 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!

2009-03-05T08:00:00.002-06:00

The Word is first...

Revelation 2:29 (NIV)

²⁹He 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

2009-03-04T08:34:00.002-06:00

The Word is first...

John 14:2 (NIV)
²In 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

Sweet Memories

2009-02-27T07:26:00.002-06:00

The Word is first...

1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

³We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I sometimes think it odd the way that my memory works, or doesn't. For whatever reason I don't remember details of events. Dates, times, places, words, appearances all seem to slip elusively from my grasp. What I do remember are feelings and emotions and the people associated with them. So rather than being able to recall what someone did, I remember how it made me feel. Good or bad, I associate and remember people and feelings.

The difficulty with this comes when trying to express thanks to someone. How do I say "thank you so much for making me feel so good?" It seems strange to thank someone for my feelings when they really have no control over how I feel! Nevertheless, I believe the best way to show my appreciation for what others do in my life is to remember them before the Lord. My study verse today speaks of a time when Paul specifically mentioned to the church at Thessolonica how he did that very thing and remembers before God the work of their hands and hearts.

In consideration of this verse, there are five points for me to ponder.

"We continually remember..." speaks to the fondness of heart that is directed towards others. To continually remember means that the memory is so strong as to demand frequent attention and recollection. Now, simply recalling a person, place or thing with fond remembrances alone is a selfish indulgence. But in this context, the continually remembering is translated into prayer. Knowing that God uses others in our lives to accomplish His purposes and that we are to go before the Lord with a heart of thanksgiving, what better way to pray than to repeatedly give thanks for those who have touched our lives?

We do this by bringing this memory and the thanks associated with it "before God and Father." I know that there is a place for a heartfelt face-to-face thank you. I know that there is a place for reciprocation or 'paying it forward.' Each of these has its time and place or season. However, there is no better or more beneficial treatment than to take it before God in prayer and to convert it to praise for our sovereign God.

I note also that Paul specifically mentions three aspects for which he is thankful. He begins with 'work.' We all know people for whom we are thankful for their labors. Whether they are cooking, cleaning, mending, fixing, teaching or otherwise laboring, we realize the immediate benefits of their efforts and feel a sense of gratitude. But I don't think this is necessarily what Paul is speaking of. You see, he mentioned "your work produced by faith." To me, this speaks of a different type of labor, one that is not rewarded by revenue; one that is not necessarily enjoyable; one that is motivated by a higher calling that can only be heard through the filter of faith.

He continues with 'labor' but not just casual labor but rather 'your labor prompted by love.' For me, this speaks of some undertaking which requires a great deal of time, attention and effort that is not necessarily evident in the finished product. I don't want to cheapen this concept but what comes to my mind is spaghetti sauce. Making spaghetti sauce, from scratch, is a labor of love that typically involves a full day in the kitchen with lots of messy ingredients. There's lots of chopping, dicing, boiling, stirring and cleaning involved. In the end, there's a plate of spaghetti. The labor of the day is consumed in fifteen minutes. Now were it not for the motivation of love, it would be far easier to just open a jar, reheat the contents and serve. Fifteen minutes prep, fifteen minutes eating, you're done. But love... that requires effort, forethought and sacrifice. It is only by love that I would undertake the day-long process of sauce-making. I think this is the type of labor that Paul is speaking of; labor that is undertaken by choice rather than pursuing the route of convenience.

He goes further and mentions the 'endurance' demonstrated by the recipients of this letter. The work produced by faith was not fleeting. Their labor prompted by love was not easy nor quick. It required tenacity, perseverance and endurance. I know from experience that endurance is developed purposefully over time by practice, repetition and sacrifice. Running a 26 mile marathon doesn't just happen overnight, it is a long and arduous process of preparation. The endurance required to sustain the preparation and the race itself is all predicated upon something else. The runner races for the prize. Were there no hope for victory, it would all seem as pointless as tilting with windmills. But Paul speaks of the basis for their endurance as being rooted in the most fervent hope imaginable; our Lord Jesus Christ. The Thessalonians did whatever it is they did because of the hope they shared in Jesus.

When I consider the people who serve me or serve alongside me, I wonder if their motivations, I wonder if MY motivations are the same as the church at Thessalonica. Faith, love and hope are the inspiration for great things. As we see in this passage, faith begets works; love begets labor and hope begets endurance. For these things then we must ever be in prayerful remembrance.

Shalom,
Carl