One Heart and One Mouth

The Word is first...

Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶ so 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

The Word is first...

Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)

⁹ For 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. ¹⁰ And 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, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^b to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in 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

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

The Word is first...

2 Timothy 2:20-22 (NIV)

²⁰ In 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. ²¹ If 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.

²² Flee 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

The Word is first...

Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)

¹⁹ Pray 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, ²⁰ for 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

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

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

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 4:5-12 (NIV)

⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For 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.

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

The Word is first...

1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

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

The Word is first...

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ For 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

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. ² He 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. ³ Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

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

⁵ Jonah 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. ⁶ Then 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. ⁷ But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. ⁸ When 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.”

⁹ But 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.”

¹⁰ But 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. ¹¹ But 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

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

The Word is first...

1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

¹¹ But 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

The Word is first...

Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)

²² And 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

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

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ For 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