dimly lit...

Scriptural Dialogue...

I love teaching young people about God, His Word, and character, but I'm very excited about having the opportunity to lead a class of adults this summer on a journey through the book of Hebrews.  Which by the way is an incredible book - all about the significance of the Gospels.  It's a sort of - "okay, you read what happened, but did you get it?!"

I've already been considering how to approach the opportunity.  Book studies and homework assignments seem so cliché and lecturing my fool head off would be near criminal and certainly arrogant.  I desire to lead people into a conversation of - and ultimately a response to - "God's Breath." 

There are many appropriate things we can do in response to Words of our Lord.  One of the most intimate and transparent of them is prayer.  So... I'm proposing an idea of studying for those 45 minutes in order to obtain a corporate prayer to God.  We may just use the A.C.T.S. model (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). 

During our time of study we will look for ways in which we can Adore God - what titles are introduced?  What characteristics were revealed?  What powers do we see at work?  We can put these down to begin our prayer climax as a way to adore the Lord. 

We will find things which humble us in these scriptures as well - things which we must Confess to the Lord in order to put ourselves in the proper place in this narrative - to humble ourselves and make us candidates for His grace. 

What awesome things did God do for us?  What are we to be Thankful for?  These will be recorded for a time of Thanksgiving in our concluding prayer.  Thanksgiving is a powerful tool which moves people to separate their attachments to things and move their attachment to the Creator of Things. 

Lastly - as revealed in the scripture - what must we ask for?  Our time of Supplication.  The question we ask here is – what does God wish for us to desire and can we move ourselves into a position of asking for it? This is quite different in focus from – What do we want? What is bothering us? 

Certainly God just wants to hear from His people and hear their hearts - just as any parent would just like a phone call from their child who is away from home.  But, there are those conversations with your child that are truly riveting and precious.  These often come as a result of mutual understanding and a seeking out of each other's personhood. 

God is revealed to us in scripture and it can serve as a glimpse to His image in which we are communicating with.  One that I believe will enhance our prayers and change our lives. 

Our Daily Bread...

When teaching his disciples to pray Jesus has them ask for something very basic - "our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11).  Such a request suggests God wants us to have what is appropriate and sufficient to do whatever necessary.  We are to have the faith that God will deliver on this request and in all ways - for everything he asks of us - He will provide.  He will provide not in excess and not in scarcity but what is appropriate and sufficient. 

Jesus operates on a very simple principal - what you see me do and hear me speak, do.  I believe the same applies here.  In our lives we are asked to give and supply to others what is appropriate and sufficient - "our daily bread."  I ran into this principle as I am working through the Bible this year through daily readings.  I got a few days behind the other day and I can certainly make it all up (and probably will) and if my end result was simply to make it through the Bible that would be sufficient. But a life rightly lived is not something that is made up for - it is a lifestyle. 

This helps me to draw a couple of conclusions.  The first is most obvious - we need to be committed to daily practices of loving others and loving God.  The second is as ministers of the Gospel - are we stealing more than what is appropriate and sufficient from people as we ask them to serve "the Lord" when we encourage them to serve within the church community?  Busyness is often a smokescreen for ungodliness.  Lastly, we can't make up for yesterday.  Jesus sent the adultress woman away with a simple command - "Go and sin no more."  When we speak of daily, we can't be talking about yesterday, and we can only vaguely refer to tomorrow. 

Greatness happens as a result of choices made in mundane moments that the ordinary deem insignificant.

Christmas without a donkey...

Of course the Christmas story found in Luke 2 is cute with the angels, wise men, shepherds, and the donkey and lamb keeping time for songs while the baby never cries.  Though it is a great account worthy of newspaper print the significance of this occurence is best found in the book of Hebrews. 

Check out Hebrews 2:5-18.  Here we read of the Christ who chooses to become Jesus - lower than angels - and to become OUR BROTHER.  Why?  So that he could do what we all dread - DIE!  But isn't that crazy?  Of course - but when we are in love we all do crazy things (how many crazy things have you done lately? what about your church?). 

Jesus was able to break the devil's back by coming to earth - experiencing all of our temptations so that he might be able to help us through them - and die.  I fear we often make Jesus extra-human when he was attempting to do just the opposite.  His desire was to be VERY human and to do so in a way that would maximize his expression of love to us. 

Corrective lens...

My driver's license has a line that reads "Restrictions: Corrective Lens."  My life should too...

Very few examples appear in the Bible where a man changes the mind of or convinces God of something other than he has planned.  It could even be argued that God never changed his mind but was putting those ment to test.  The examples I can think of are Abraham in talking with God about Sodom (Genesis 18), and maybe Moses pleading on behalf of the Israelites. 

I am convinced more than ever problems lie with us and not with God.  It sounds elementary - but just listen to our prayers and you would think we were a people following a wayward, unfaithful, forgetful, deviant god.  We often forget how great and good He is. 

As I am reading through the Psalms I get very frustrated at the same lines of "Lord don't forget me," "Lord vindicate me," "Lord remember how good I've been," "Lord quit turning your back on me," etc.  I read these things and think "Man, what a miserable person, is this my God?"  And I begin to worry and wonder if I like the idea of following this God.  Then the psalmist changes his tune as he ends his prayers - "How great your goodness," "the Lord's unfailing love surrounds," "his favor lasts a lifetime," "you turned my wailing into dancing," etc. 

The psalmist (usually David) learns something by the time he completes his prayers - it is not God who needs the adjustment - it is us.  We need the corrective lenses.  Are we not the ones who are messed up?

I was at a conference this weekend (Dare 2 Share - Greg Stier) and the speaker spoke of David.  The difference between David and the rest of the Israelites, as they faced down Goliath, is he had his vision checked (1 Samuel 17).  After tearing apart a lion and a bear in the fields he knew how great his God was and through those spectacles Goliath's mass was brought into perspective. 

Daily we can get our vision aligned through prayer and the reading of God's Word.  Stephen Covey was on to something when he said - "seek first to understand and then to be understood" - I think the same applies as we deal with our Lord.  And when we do - miracles are just around the corner.

Is he safe...?

There seems to be some mixed ideas about the person of Jesus and the character of God.  There are those who hold to the idea he is a soft, frail man who talks much like a ballerina dances - using his hands in flowing gestures and a fragile tenor voice.  Others insist he is a powerhouse - a no holds bar brute who delivers truth and justice without hesitation or consideration. 

The Lord is the perfect embodiment of all of the fruits of the spirit.  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23).  Christ embodied all of these things to their fullest extent.  Some would argue there is one fruit of the spirit - love - and the rest of the attributes are extensions of love - and they may have a good point exegitically.  That would allow us to say that God's character (including all members of the Trinity) in one word is LOVE. 

So what does love look like lived out?  I believe C.S. Lewis shed some light on this in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe."   

'"Is -- is he a man?" asked Lucy.

"Aslan a man!" said Mr. Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of the Beasts? Aslan is a lion -- the Lion, the great Lion."

"Ooh," said Susan, "I thought he was a man. Is he -- quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."

"That you will, dearie, and make no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else silly."

"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver, "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you"  (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe).

 I wonder if C.S. Lewis had the following scripture in mind as he penned those words.

"Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:5-7)

Our God should be feared and he should also be adored as the embodiment of love.  Of course he isn't safe, but he's good.  He's the King I tell you!

Intent and forgiveness...

So as I was reading Genesis 20 a few things struck me.  Firstly - God's recognition of intent.  Abimelek claims he took Sarah in good conscience (which just sounds strange anyway - to kidnap a woman in good conscience).  Apparently God was convinced for he stated he would be spared of any consequences if he returned Sarah and if Abraham would pray for him.

There is the second interesting point.  Abraham has the ability to pray and relieve Abimelek of any consequences for his actions. 

How often are we violated against and we take time to fully forgive and pray for that person and ask that they be relieved of any consequences that would come their way as a result?  Have we really forgiven someone if we aren't willing to wish them well after the offense?

And just to get you thinking.  In this case God seems to stay out of the middle of the mess and seems to take the stance that Abimelech's offense is with Abraham - and as long as Abraham is willing to make this right then the offense will be forgiven and consequences nullified.  Now... fast forward seveal years.  King David has Bathsheba's husband (Uriah) killed and takes Bathsheba for himself - all in evil intent.  In his confession he states "against God have I sinned."  That gives us some insight about sin.  When it is intentional it is against God and it is God that we need to make retribution with.  When it is unintentional it is still serious and there may even be consequences from God (God would not allow Abimelech to have children) but the retribution may still need to be made with whomever the offense was against. 

Some other scripture on this subject - words of Christ - "If you forgive anyone his sins - they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" (John 20:23).  Tough one to swallow and calls for some serious exegesis and soul searching - but it may bring to light the seriousness of these words from Jesus, "Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First, go and be reconciled with your brother; then come and offer your gifts" (Matthew 5:23-24).

It is apparent - God takes forgiveness seriously.  He does not find holding grudges, getting in the last word, or making something up to somebody cute.  God alone can take care of vindication.  We are to live at peace with each other and do whatever is necessary to make ammends and pay retribution.  In the above passage we are told to even leave our worship to make amends with our brother - God loves his worship and he takes it very seriously (just look in the OT) but he would much rather we be able to do it with a clear conscience and in harmony with the rest of our community. 

Moses, the servant of the Lord...

It's unfortunate that our elderly people feel so left out and sometimes outright useless.  I must say that I haven't done much to help this situation but something really stands out in scripture on this subject.  The notion of retirement and being finished with your service in the church and community are purely Western society ideas - not biblical ones. 

"And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said." - Deut 34:5

Right up until the day Moses died his title was "the servant of the LORD."  Sarah (Abraham's wife) had a child at 90, Noah didn't board the ark until 600 (or so), and the list goes on. 

We are here to bring God's kingdom down to this earth and we are not released from that charge until we pass on to God's heavenly kingdom.  Elderly people need to hear that they are valuable and sometimes need to be exposed to practical ideas they can do that will involve them personally (not folding newsletters). 

So I say - HOORAY for 'old folk!'  We love you and we want you involved!