Will you Throw Jesus Off a Cliff?

I am an ambitious individual.  I see what is set before me, and I go for it.  I want to be effective and successful in everything I set my hands to, be it ministry or the work that I do for the State of Vermont.  I have learned that as I am intrinsically motivated and driven, I need to continually search my heart and my motivations.  I often echo David’s prayer from Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”  I felt lead to study the following passage the other morning, and wanted to share what I learned.  I was struck by the question, “What is my motivation for being a Christian?  Am I in it for what I can get out of it, or have I received the call to His mission?” 

Luke 4:20, And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus has just read from Isaiah 61, and from that passage declares Himself to be the fulfillment of prophesy.

22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

Often times we read of the reaction His kin, in Nazareth, had to His self-declaration as negative, as if they did not believe that He was the fulfillment of the prophesy.  In actuality, their reaction was in reception of Jesus’ statement, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

“Is not this Joseph’s son?” is not a dismissive statement, but one where they are recognizing that He is one of them.  Their recognition of His self-declaration coupled with their limited understanding of Jesus mission leads them to understand His mission as a benefit to them first.  They receive Jesus as a blessing from God, but primarily to benefit them His kin, as He is one of them and should be expected to have His hometown in mind before any other.  

23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

Jesus, knowing what they are thinking, responds to what is behind all that they are saying.   “Physician, heal yourself” is in reference to their thinking that He is one of them and should be there as a benefit to His kin first.  In verse 24, Jesus presents what their true reaction is to the real purpose of His mission.  His mission is to the lowly, the outcast, those who have no hope, and He goes on to parallel Elijah and Elisha’s ministry to Gentiles (those who were not people of the promise).

25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

Now their true reaction to His ministry is seen, as, in finding out that Jesus mission is not to benefit them first, they want to kill Him.    

Do we receive Jesus as the answer for all, or only as our answer, individually, for our own benefit?  In our ministry to others, as we are all ministers, do we take joy in and glory in the Lord as others are healed and excel in their place and calling, even while we may suffer to bring the message?  Do we expect that Jesus’ ministry in our own lives will benefit us first and others after?  Or have we received His heart and love others before ourselves?  Do we expect Jesus to prosper us as a result of our ministry to others? 

We may never know great success, wealth, and full physical healing in this life, but will we continue to go out and proclaim the good news of a savior?  Or because we have not benefitted from Jesus directly in the way we expect and see others benefit, will we look to throw Him off a cliff?  Can we, as the Church, see that the beauty of the Gospel is the glory of the Father in Heaven, and that we may never know our reward in this life?  The minute we become Christ followers, it immediately stops being about us.       

Coming Glory

I'm sure you have noticed the leaves in our area.  They are changing their shade and putting on their coats of many colors signifying Yahweh's favor over them.  It’s just the beginning of the coming glory of this region during this season.  There is an excitement that I experience as I think about the family trips to harvest parties and apple picking. 

 

Then I am reminded of the coming frustration associated with this season, the “leaf-peepers.”  That is what we Vermonters call the "out-of-staters" who drive around gawking at the brilliant colors as they drive through the mountain passes.  These are those who drive 35 MPH in a 50 MPH zone and hold me up while I am in a hurry to make a meeting.  Even though there will be times of intense frustration, as I restrain my propensity toward road rage since I am originally from NY, it still doesn't compare to the anticipation of watching my daughter experience all the wonders of Fall in Vermont. 

This makes me think of something Paul wrote, "(18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (19) For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 8:18-19, ESV) 

This glory, that we are empowered by, in anticipation through faith in His promise, far outweighs the frustrations we experience in this present age and life.  Whatever happens in our government, whatever the state of the economy, however aggravating and menial our tasks may be at work, or even the sin, or propensity toward doing the wrong thing, that I can't seem to shake even when I try so hard, none of these things outshine the coming glory we have guaranteed to us in Christ Jesus. 

This promise motivates us toward being like Him, loving like Him, and serving like Him.  All Creation looks forward, with us, with intense desire for "that day."  Even the leaf-peepers can't steal my joy! This promise, and the assurance of it, is the way we experience "that day" right now, even in the midst of our present struggles.  We walk in the Spirit, by faith, holding on to the future hope; this is our inheritance and our possession provided through the work of Jesus Christ!

Be the man that I have called you to be

"Be the man that I have called you to be."

Often times we know the things that God has set aside for us to do.  And often times we hold back from doing those things for reasons like: the fear of failure, concern over our ability or inability, what if I'm not liked or appreciated, etc.  The truth is that we have no idea how far we can go, in what we have been given to do, unless we step toward the goal.  Our perceived ability or inability is completely unknown as it has yet to be tested.  It is all, in reality, a unknown variable that is out of our control.

In the case where we look in our past a remember past failure and allow that to be the force that holds us back from a possible future, we are challenged to change our thinking about failure.  Is failure the mark of limitation, or is failure an opportunity to learn how to go farther?  

The challenge is to our way of thinking.  Do we believe that God can do things through people with failings?  Or do we believe that He labels us as unusable or somehow flawed in our design, even though that would infringe on His reputation as designer?  Or does He view our recognition of our inability to accomplish a goal with our present ability a catalyst for His glory?  If we are unable to accomplish a goal, and place ourselves in the position to trust Him to guide us through a process of meeting the right people, learning the necessary skills, and finding ourselves in the right moment for the right opportunity, then He receives the glory for the things we were unable to control.  In a sense, He shares the glory with us, as He brought us to the place where we enjoy a certain level of success.  

The outcome of a realized goal becomes a mosaic of variables that we could not fit in the proper place, and our steps, into what we cannot control, toward the goal is faith.  A faith in His ability to bring the pieces together.  A faith that He will use someone who might not have it all together, and may not be altogether complete when the goal is reached.  This is the progression "from glory to glory."  (2 Cor. 3:18)

And in this "progression" from one degree of glory to another, we find that the success we enjoy in a goal met was never the Spirit's goal.  His goal was primarily that we as individuals and as a corporate body would reveal the glory of Jesus to a greater degree.  And still in our success, by His power, He will show Himself to others, and this is where those who see Him will begin their "progression."

So, the Spirit says, "Be the man that I have called you to be."  As we deal with the insecurities that hold us back from moving in faith.  Remember that, rather in success or failure, He is moving us all to a place of real success, our projection of His image to a world, that when they look in the mirror, only see themselves and their limitations.  Don't be afraid to take a step toward what He has called you to do.  As the writer of Hebrews warned, "3:13 But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception. 3:14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end. 3:15 As it says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."  

If you understand that He has given you direction, move.  

The Struggle to Serve

Romans 12:1 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." 2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

It is reasonable that, as a result of the grace that we have received through Christ and by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, we continually seek to know (both understand and experience) the ways of God, which are always good, acceptable, and perfect.  Not so much for the sake of how it affects life around us, but for the sake of it's affect on us.  "For this is the will of God, your sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3  And, 1 Peter 2:15 "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 

And therein lies my struggle.  I find that I am often frustrated by those in authority around me, as I disagree with some of their decisions and direction.  It is not something that comes naturally to me, as my ambitions rise up and compel me toward my goals, to honor them anyways.  Scripture teaches us to place ourselves as sacrifices for the whims of others, but not as victims complaining or congratulating ourselves for our pious suffering.  We are called to serve in every aspect of our lives, and this to the glory of God.  This, as His witnesses.  We have received a service beyond comprehension, that God came down to supersede His own religious system to set us free to love, in love, by His love.  And this is our testimony, not just by the things that we say, but by the lives we live in service to others.  

Serving those who take advantage of you, like humanity took advantage of Christ on the cross, will never get easy.  But this is what we are to prepare for.  This is what Scripture calls, "your spiritual worship," which could also be translated "your reasonable service."         

1Peter 1:13 "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 14 "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance," 15 "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct," 16 "since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”"  

Our "former ignorance" protects itself from the others, but the holiness of God conducts itself in service to others and not for selfish personal gain.  But for the benefit of those in need.

As we deal with the effects of the decisions those in authority over us may have on us, remember the service that Christ provided at the cross.  He served, and as we have received so should we give.  And this is the will of God.

Encountering God, Pursuit

Encountering God is a life's pursuit.  The moment that we cease to pursue Him we have become distracked from the goal.  The NKJV words Isaiah 50:7 like this, "For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed."  Even in times of pressure and struggle He must be the focal point.  If not, what we will encounter will be the consequence of denying Him.

Hosea 6:3 "Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; 

his going out is sure as the dawn; 

  he will come to us as the showers, 

as the spring rains that water the earth.”"

This verse is part of a call to repentance.  In this call we find a truth about knowing God.  What we know of God must be worked out in our experiences, and that "knowing" must me pursued.

Verse 6 "For I desire steadfast love (or mercy) and not sacrifice, 

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

Our religious practice (a life of praise is an accurate definition of religious practice) must be the outworking of our inner reality.  We know and experience Him, and in turn our lives and choices are shaped by understanding Him.  We stumble, but we recognize our short comings because we know Him.  

Israel fell and Ephraim was judged, because of their pride (the ultimate in misdirected focus).  The knowledge of Him is the cure for pride.  In knowing and experiencing Him there is no place to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  In knowing and experiencing Him we become acutely aware of our inadequacies and shortcomings.  Still, in knowing and experiencing Him, we find that the possibilities are endless, because He is endless.  And in knowing and experiencing Him we will begin to embody His image.  Even in times of trouble, our hope will not fail, our confidence will not be shaken, because we know Him. 

Encountering God

Encountering God is not merely a practice of waiting for a "sense" of His presence, but it includes recognizing that God reached toward you through His Son, Who in turn reached toward you on the cross and by filling you with the Holy Spirit, Who in turn reached toward you by convicting you of sin, providing comfort, and illuminating the truth.  Encountering God starts with the decision to reach back through a lifestyle of worship and praise manifested in, at times, exuberant corporate worship gatherings.

Encountering God is a pursuit of what has been provided.  We know that physical healing has been provided through the strips that Jesus suffered during the passion week.  We know that our Father is sovereign over all authority and power.  We know that as He created all things material, and He sustains their continued existence.  We can trust that we, His children and witnesses, can expect the necessary provision for what we are called to do.  We know that He put His Spirit in us, who are created both with natural bodies and inner spirits, and placed us in the world as His witnesses.  So, we can expect the "normal" will be defined by the intersection of the "spiritual rhelm" and the "material rhelm".  We can expect that God will be present and "inturupt" the natural order that He created as He sees fit.  And we pursue this understanding by an effort, by the power of His Spirit, to allign with the truth of His provision.  It is true that we cannot expect something if we do not know that it is ours.  So, first in knowing what can be expected through provision we can then allign our understanding with the truth, and then experience the reality.    

Encountering God is an expectation.  We expect that God will be present, because He said He would be.  We expect to see His "evidence" in the lives of those around us.  And we can expect the manifestation of His prsence, because He is already in the midst of everything.  This is so because all things exist within Him, as in Him we live, move, and have our being. (Acts 17:28; Rom. 11:36; Col. 1:17)  

What else does "encountering God" mean?  

Romans 8, a summary

Recently, my family has been touched by the fear of death.  Since this trial began I have been constantly meditating on the truth that our life is hidden in His hands, and standing on John 11:4, as I believe it is the Lord's heart in this situation. 

This morning I was reading through Romans and was stirred by chapter 8.  In this time it has a new significance.  This is the product of the Spirit's movement on my heart this morning. 



Set your mind on the things of the Spirit. 

The mind that is set on the things of the flesh is plagued by fear.  This fear, in the mind of the flesh, is frantically grasping fruitlessly, as it has no power to affect life in place of death.  But we, who walk according to the Spirit, know peace even in the midst of death, because Jesus affected life in place of death when we could not. 

We have an intimate, experiential knowledge of this peace that comes by walking by the Spirit, because the Spirit resides within us.  And the Spirit of God gives life, even to our corruptible bodies, just as He raised Jesus from the dead. 

We are free from falling back into the fear of death, because He has adopted us as sons and daughters of God.  Since He has provided the revelation of His love in this way, we cry out, Abba! Daddy!  Whatever we may go through pales in comparison to this love that IS and is being revealed to us, that Father loves us.  Because of this, we can remain confident when our weakness becomes obvious.  Even when we don't know what to do or say, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf, "and know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." 

He knew you would choose Him before time began, and because of this, He predestined you to be made like Jesus. 

Since Father did not spare His only Son, we know He will give us everything that we need.  Who can rightfully accuse us?  Who or what can put a wedge between us and Him Who has been raised up to the thrown at the right hand of the Father, and has been given authority over everything and anything? 

Because of our connection to this Jesus we are more than conquerors.  This is because we are convinced that there is no possibility of us being separated from Father's love, this love that Jesus has shown us through Jesus Christ.  

A Psalm from the Shadows

I feel so tied up by life.  Where is the freedom?  Where is the joy?  My circumstances, although always better than someone else, seem to hem me in, taking away choice and the excitement of discovery.  Life is like four walls with no windows and no door.  I can't see outside of the day to day, and there seems no way out.  Are You with me here?  Am I as alone as I feel?  You said You would never leave, that there is nothing that can change the connection between us, but I feel bare, exposed, like a car just sitting in the desert fading and being devoured by rust and time.

I give You my impossible dreams.  There is nothing I can do to make them a reality?  It seems fruitless and futile to dream, like there is no reason to keep trying, no good goal to attain, no higher level to aspire to, but I choose to continue to believe.  If my cup is to drink mediocrity, my prayer is that You find glory in the fact that I will continue to praise You.

As it seems there is no point, I can't give up.  I choose to believe you.  That you have won the victory even while I am on the bottom of the pile.  You said to stand.  You don't expect me to fight.  Is this why it seems futile?  Because it is a battle that I can't win. 

Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

To me this verse means a lot.  Paul says to “put on” the armor, and in that I will be strong.  I think of the strength of God and how putting on His strength, by relying on Him, is what covers my weakness.  I can do nothing on my own; I can’t even stand in the truth.  In the recognition of that is the beginning of receiving the strength I need to stand.  But even in being empowered by the Lord to stand, it is not those around me who are the enemy.  Even as it seems some would leave me here to flail against an unseen enemy.  They don't lift a finger, waiting for me to quit.

I can't feel you here.  But I trust you are.  You said you would be...

 

The Divine Hero, Called of God for a Purpose: Confessions of a Misguided Minister

I remember it being spoken over me, maybe 10 years ago, that I will be called "the ambassador of love."  This phrase always seemed comical to me.  It sounds somehow silly. It is not what I would like to be remembered as, but this is the word of the Lord spoken over me by one of His prophets.  Not just a self proclaimed mouth piece of the One and only Living God, because I hear the voice of my Father in the words.  The Spirit in me bears witness to it, and His Spirit takes my life and holds it up to the light of the word.  "Ambassador of Love"  And like Joseph, the word of the Lord tested him until the day that it was fulfilled.

"Ambassador of Love," this is not the gallant conqueror that I want to see myself as.  It is not the Conan like figure, riddled with muscles, blade flashing in the light against the backdrop of the scorched earth, the lone warrior triumphing single-handedly against the forces of evil.  Don't get me wrong, I don't want to glorify myself, but I want to be a glorious demonstration of the power of God.  The power that takes a devastated life, like mine, and changes it to a life with an eternal significance.

"Ambassador of Love" sounds somehow sweet, docile, like bunny rabbits hopping and skipping in a field of wild flowers, or like the Care bears with their arms linked engaged in their care stare, emanating a vivid rainbow. 

And this, I am realizing, is my insecurity.  I want to be called of God to do the work that He has created me to do, but I don't want the call that He has spoken over my life. 

This insecurity has created havoc in my life; the source of the depression that drags me down, at times, making me someone that I never wanted to be.  This desire to honor God with my life, but not in the way that He has called me to.  It seems that I have romanticised the work of the ministry.  Like Barbie and Ken driving off into the sunset in their pink corvette, I have a picture of what it should look like.  As if the creation can tell the Creator how the finish product would best represent Him.

Thinking about this grieves me, as it dishonors the blood of the martyrs, those who have given their lives as a testimony to the greatness of our Father in Heaven.

Father forgive me for only being willing to serve and glorify You in my own expectations.