There is this slang usage of the word “word”, indigenous to the late 20’s early 30’s crowd as far as I know. I found an online slang dictionary to help me out. It can be a statement of agreement, an affirmative response to a question, a substitute for taking an oath indicating you are telling the truth and an inquiry to the veracity of a statement.
What got me started on that?
Jesus says, in John 8: 51, “I tell you the truth, If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death!” Now that calls for two pitches for the use of “word, ”:
“Word?” (is that true?)
And “Word!” (affirmative response!)..
So what “word” is Jesus referring to? Well I went back to the beginning of the conversation that this sentence is extracted from and find Jesus making this statement in 8:12, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The Greek word for word is logos. Its application can refer to a thought , a statement or a single word.
Now that statement in 8:12 can be considered a thought and the use of the logos in verse 51 may be referring back to the introductory statement.
That being said, I can only say “word!” (that’s exciting, that’s great news!) If we follow Jesus we will have the light of life! Eternal life!! But there’s more!
“Word?”
“Word up!”
IN John 1: 1 it says “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. . . .” In verse 14 it says , “ And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
That means God is Divine Expression (thought reason knowledge intelligence logic etc.) In Genesis, God said “let there be light." He spoke the universe into existence!
“Word!!!!!”
And in John chapter one, it's basically saying that Jesus is the word of God: the spoken creative (creating out of nothing!) power of God!
“”Word!!”
Therefore, whatever Jesus says is the divine, authoritative, creative, redemptive, inspirational, power of God! What ever he says, goes! It's the Truth!
Hey kid! All I can say is “Logos!”
Lord
Thank you for being the creative force that made this world
Thank you for knowing us intimately from before we were conceived!
Thank you for coming to us in the flesh to make the “Word” available to us to be intimately known by us.
Amen!
Stay close to “the Word!!”
REG
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Vision, Clarity, Understanding
Was reading in proverbs today. Came to one that many people are familiar with, Proverbs 29:18
Take a look at the widely different translations and then lets’ talk.
NIV
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law
The Message
If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves;But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
New Living Translation
When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
New American Standard
18Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
KJV
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
NCV
Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled, but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.
TNIV
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;but blessed are those who heed wisdom's instruction.
Amplified
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.
Young’s literal Translation
Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!
NRSV
Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law.
So, . . . an interesting buffet of words to choose from, No?
Look at the broad range of translation of the Hebrew word pronounced phonetically in English: chazòn A text book for studying biblical Hebrew called a BDB Dictionary lays out these possible definitions
vision
vision (in ecstatic state)
vision (in night)
vision, oracle, prophecy (divine communication)
vision (as title of book of prophecy)
You can almost see where different groups of translators chose their particular meaning and took off in that particular direction. I lean toward the third offering of the definition so with that I am going to try to offer a comprehensive statement of what we are looking at in this witty proverb
“When in the course of human events” (okay so that’s not very original, but it is relative) people do not receive, or worse yet reject, an opportunity to know God, it’s not going to be a pretty sight. They will not have a revelation (understanding) of who He is, and therefore an understanding of what His will is for their lives. This vision, revelation, understanding, prophecy, Word of God is intended to give meaning, direction, protection and discipline in their lives. It is at worst beneficially instructional guidelines for living but spiritually it is life giving and essential. It is the forth telling of truth: the inarguable reality of who God is and what our interactive relationship with Him is supposed to be.
Without this divine communication, the people will live a wild life, have no moral standard, be accountable to no one, have no sense of meaning and purpose to their life, be subject to a march toward anarchy and be found “naked” or spiritually dead. Not knowing the Truth they will stumble over themselves believing in and falling for anything.
But with an understanding of who God is, they will joyfully and willingly obey the Law knowing that it delights the Lord to do so. They will be blessed, favored by God. They will receive wisdom from God. They will strive to avoid sin. They will have order and respect in their lives but most importantly they will have purpose and meaning to their lives individually and as a people.
Knowing the God who created us, having a divine communication from Him, gives us a sense of belonging; a sense of knowing whose we are. It gives us a deeper richer understanding of the origins of love, righteousness, holiness, grace, mercy, justice, good and evil, and a host of other things related to understanding God.
Having that revelation given to us also helps us understand that we are participants in God’s plans. Sometimes we are the “messenger”, If we do not pass on the message someone will “perish.” Sometimes we are the “huggers” extending God’s love. Sometimes we are the “forgivers”, extending God’s mercy. Sometimes we are the “blessing giver” extending grace: giving to others things not earned or deserved.
Given the BDB definitions of chaòzoòn I cannot totally rule out receiving a vision in the form of a dream or ecstatic concept of what tomorrow holds but I don’t think I can buy into its application where some can take it. Have you ever seen anyone take just the first stanza of the verse (usually from the KJV translation), spice it with some cultural influence and tell you that this is instruction to the church to come up with a 1, 5, and 10 year plan for ministry with measurable goals, objectives and strategies? Not that these things are evil but is church meant to look like a business?
In his book, Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning tells about a reporter named John Kavanaugh who sought clarity about what to do with his life. (I would interpret this to have a contemporary application of vision for his life). He had volunteered to work at "The House of the Dying" in Calcutta, founded by Mother Teresa. Before they parted ways, Mother Teresa asked him, “What can I do for you?” He replied by asking that she pray for him. “What do you want me to pray for?” she asked. “Pray," he said, "that I have clarity.”
Her abrupt response took him aback. “No," she told him, "I will not do that.” When he asked why not, she told him, “Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” When Mr. Kavanaugh observed that she seemed to have the kind of clarity he wanted, she laughed out loud and told him, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God.”
Is it possible that we can have such an understanding of God that we simply blindly trust Him?
JOhn 17: 25-26
Righteous Father though the world does not know you, I know you and they know you have sent me. I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
Lord,
Help me to continue to learn what chazòn really is!
"In the secret in the quiet place I want to know you more"
Help me to relay your "Divine communication," the liberating message of the gospel , to other people.
Lead me to your laws that I might find happiness and joy in obeying them and pleasing You.
Help me to blindly trust You.
Open my eyes if I am to receive something such as a “vision.”
Help me to know that it would truly be from You!
In Jesus Name I Pray.
Amen
Stay close to Jesus
REG
Take a look at the widely different translations and then lets’ talk.
NIV
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law
The Message
If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves;But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
New Living Translation
When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
New American Standard
18Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
KJV
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
NCV
Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled, but those who obey what they have been taught are happy.
TNIV
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;but blessed are those who heed wisdom's instruction.
Amplified
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.
Young’s literal Translation
Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!
NRSV
Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law.
So, . . . an interesting buffet of words to choose from, No?
Look at the broad range of translation of the Hebrew word pronounced phonetically in English: chazòn A text book for studying biblical Hebrew called a BDB Dictionary lays out these possible definitions
vision
vision (in ecstatic state)
vision (in night)
vision, oracle, prophecy (divine communication)
vision (as title of book of prophecy)
You can almost see where different groups of translators chose their particular meaning and took off in that particular direction. I lean toward the third offering of the definition so with that I am going to try to offer a comprehensive statement of what we are looking at in this witty proverb
“When in the course of human events” (okay so that’s not very original, but it is relative) people do not receive, or worse yet reject, an opportunity to know God, it’s not going to be a pretty sight. They will not have a revelation (understanding) of who He is, and therefore an understanding of what His will is for their lives. This vision, revelation, understanding, prophecy, Word of God is intended to give meaning, direction, protection and discipline in their lives. It is at worst beneficially instructional guidelines for living but spiritually it is life giving and essential. It is the forth telling of truth: the inarguable reality of who God is and what our interactive relationship with Him is supposed to be.
Without this divine communication, the people will live a wild life, have no moral standard, be accountable to no one, have no sense of meaning and purpose to their life, be subject to a march toward anarchy and be found “naked” or spiritually dead. Not knowing the Truth they will stumble over themselves believing in and falling for anything.
But with an understanding of who God is, they will joyfully and willingly obey the Law knowing that it delights the Lord to do so. They will be blessed, favored by God. They will receive wisdom from God. They will strive to avoid sin. They will have order and respect in their lives but most importantly they will have purpose and meaning to their lives individually and as a people.
Knowing the God who created us, having a divine communication from Him, gives us a sense of belonging; a sense of knowing whose we are. It gives us a deeper richer understanding of the origins of love, righteousness, holiness, grace, mercy, justice, good and evil, and a host of other things related to understanding God.
Having that revelation given to us also helps us understand that we are participants in God’s plans. Sometimes we are the “messenger”, If we do not pass on the message someone will “perish.” Sometimes we are the “huggers” extending God’s love. Sometimes we are the “forgivers”, extending God’s mercy. Sometimes we are the “blessing giver” extending grace: giving to others things not earned or deserved.
Given the BDB definitions of chaòzoòn I cannot totally rule out receiving a vision in the form of a dream or ecstatic concept of what tomorrow holds but I don’t think I can buy into its application where some can take it. Have you ever seen anyone take just the first stanza of the verse (usually from the KJV translation), spice it with some cultural influence and tell you that this is instruction to the church to come up with a 1, 5, and 10 year plan for ministry with measurable goals, objectives and strategies? Not that these things are evil but is church meant to look like a business?
In his book, Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning tells about a reporter named John Kavanaugh who sought clarity about what to do with his life. (I would interpret this to have a contemporary application of vision for his life). He had volunteered to work at "The House of the Dying" in Calcutta, founded by Mother Teresa. Before they parted ways, Mother Teresa asked him, “What can I do for you?” He replied by asking that she pray for him. “What do you want me to pray for?” she asked. “Pray," he said, "that I have clarity.”
Her abrupt response took him aback. “No," she told him, "I will not do that.” When he asked why not, she told him, “Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” When Mr. Kavanaugh observed that she seemed to have the kind of clarity he wanted, she laughed out loud and told him, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God.”
Is it possible that we can have such an understanding of God that we simply blindly trust Him?
JOhn 17: 25-26
Righteous Father though the world does not know you, I know you and they know you have sent me. I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
Lord,
Help me to continue to learn what chazòn really is!
"In the secret in the quiet place I want to know you more"
Help me to relay your "Divine communication," the liberating message of the gospel , to other people.
Lead me to your laws that I might find happiness and joy in obeying them and pleasing You.
Help me to blindly trust You.
Open my eyes if I am to receive something such as a “vision.”
Help me to know that it would truly be from You!
In Jesus Name I Pray.
Amen
Stay close to Jesus
REG
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Troubled Hearts
Trust
Well its mid-afternoon. I just had lunch with a treasured friend of over 25 years. He was sharing some of the incredible burdens he’s been enduring. Not just him; his family too. None of these burdens are the result of any poor decisions, lack of discretion, or failure to be proactive about anything in life. He’s as faithful as they come and I have to add him to the list of those I prayed for just two days ago. He and several other family members are bearing the cup of suffering as we talked about a couple days ago due to nothing more than the imperfections of this broken world we live in.
I want to go to John 14:1. Jesus speaks these words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” Easier said than done as we all know. Jesus was referring to a future point in time in the specific instance that we see him speak these words. John 14 is often quoted at funerals because it is a comforting reminder that we can go where Jesus is going. He is going ahead of us to get things ready. We are to not let our hearts be troubled because we are not yet home in our eternal destination.
Is our problem just rooted in the fact that we live too much in the here and now and can’t seem to focus on the then and where? Maybe, at least when we forget about how things will play out into eternity. I can fast forward, jump to the future, and think about eternity. With relative ease as a believer I am able, with victory, to not let my heart be troubled . . . about that. But, there are other things in between that trouble our hearts
I believe it troubles us when we think about the process of concluding things here and stepping into eternity. It is in our nature that when potentially lethal things threaten our earthly existence we are troubled because of the unknowns it presents. We all struggle with the 100% mortality rate when it comes to our earthly bodies. Is it because we become so attached to them that we struggle to stand on and believe in the truth promises about eternal life? Why? Maybe because we know dying is going to take us out of our comfort zones. It troubles our hearts when we think about end of life issues. But Jesus say, “Trust in Me.”
There are everyday situations before we even get to the dying part that can make our hearts troubled too. How will a soldier and his family survive as he returns home missing an arm or leg or both? How will a family survive with both husband and wife out of work? How does person get along with the recent lose of a spouse, a parent at the loss of a child, a child at the loss of a parent? How does a family cope when one of theirs is captivated by addictions? Jesus says, “Trust in Me.”
And ow about when plans unravel? I tend gravitate towards the worrisome thinking if I’m not careful. “Now what?” Then the depression comes from dwelling on it too long followed by the negative attitude it cultivates. When circumstances go against the plans we have made (plans that intentionally were made to glorify God) we must still hear and submit when Jesus says, “Trust in me.” (That’s real hard for some of my friends who feel they need to be in control of every detail of their lives.) When we wait and trust, eventually God reveals the better plan. I have learned this lesson several different times in the last few years. I have seen people I respect go through their own journeys with their version of the unraveling of “the plan.” Often the waiting gets too unbearable and we cry out, “When Lord when?”
I also thought there is something engineered in our hearts to trouble them in another way. Because we are created in God’s image, there are attributes that come from Him that are designed to make our hearts troubled. We are created by a God of righteousness therefore when we see or suffer an injustice it rubs against our moral fiber because we feel the raw emotions of the injustice and it makes our heart troubled. We know when we’ve been robbed, cheated, violated, lied to, or abused. When there is not an quick fix for the injustices it really troubles our hearts
Going along with being created in God’s image and to be in relationship with him, there is another way still that our hearts can be troubled. I know from personal experience, when we have unconfessed sin, the Holy Spirit brings a troubled heart on us because we are not right with God. Guilt can give us a troubled heart Confession and repentance can fix that. At least cause and cure are almost tangible with that kind of troubled heart.
The unfairness of life, sin, circumstances, failed plans, death and dying: they all trouble our hearts but Jesus says, “Trust in Me.” Everything was created through Him as we learn in John chapter one. Everything will also be resolved and made right through Him as well as we read in Revelation 21:5. Each one of us lives out an epic story. Even though we may not like some of the things we go through and even though they may seem unbearable at times, we must trust Jesus because he is the author of the final chapter of each one of our lives. If we are believing in Him we will not be lost or forsaken.
One thing that helps me to trust in Jesus is to remember that we are not just animate beings who, by happen chance, are having a temporary spiritual encounter created by our own minds and limited only to the days we live out on earth. Instead, we must see the big eternal picture and realize that we are created with purpose as permanent spiritual beings having a temporary earthly experience in preparation to spend all eternity with Jesus.
1 Peter 5 :6-7 says, “Humble yourselves under God’s might hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”
Stay close to Jesus, stay real close!
REG
Well its mid-afternoon. I just had lunch with a treasured friend of over 25 years. He was sharing some of the incredible burdens he’s been enduring. Not just him; his family too. None of these burdens are the result of any poor decisions, lack of discretion, or failure to be proactive about anything in life. He’s as faithful as they come and I have to add him to the list of those I prayed for just two days ago. He and several other family members are bearing the cup of suffering as we talked about a couple days ago due to nothing more than the imperfections of this broken world we live in.
I want to go to John 14:1. Jesus speaks these words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” Easier said than done as we all know. Jesus was referring to a future point in time in the specific instance that we see him speak these words. John 14 is often quoted at funerals because it is a comforting reminder that we can go where Jesus is going. He is going ahead of us to get things ready. We are to not let our hearts be troubled because we are not yet home in our eternal destination.
Is our problem just rooted in the fact that we live too much in the here and now and can’t seem to focus on the then and where? Maybe, at least when we forget about how things will play out into eternity. I can fast forward, jump to the future, and think about eternity. With relative ease as a believer I am able, with victory, to not let my heart be troubled . . . about that. But, there are other things in between that trouble our hearts
I believe it troubles us when we think about the process of concluding things here and stepping into eternity. It is in our nature that when potentially lethal things threaten our earthly existence we are troubled because of the unknowns it presents. We all struggle with the 100% mortality rate when it comes to our earthly bodies. Is it because we become so attached to them that we struggle to stand on and believe in the truth promises about eternal life? Why? Maybe because we know dying is going to take us out of our comfort zones. It troubles our hearts when we think about end of life issues. But Jesus say, “Trust in Me.”
There are everyday situations before we even get to the dying part that can make our hearts troubled too. How will a soldier and his family survive as he returns home missing an arm or leg or both? How will a family survive with both husband and wife out of work? How does person get along with the recent lose of a spouse, a parent at the loss of a child, a child at the loss of a parent? How does a family cope when one of theirs is captivated by addictions? Jesus says, “Trust in Me.”
And ow about when plans unravel? I tend gravitate towards the worrisome thinking if I’m not careful. “Now what?” Then the depression comes from dwelling on it too long followed by the negative attitude it cultivates. When circumstances go against the plans we have made (plans that intentionally were made to glorify God) we must still hear and submit when Jesus says, “Trust in me.” (That’s real hard for some of my friends who feel they need to be in control of every detail of their lives.) When we wait and trust, eventually God reveals the better plan. I have learned this lesson several different times in the last few years. I have seen people I respect go through their own journeys with their version of the unraveling of “the plan.” Often the waiting gets too unbearable and we cry out, “When Lord when?”
I also thought there is something engineered in our hearts to trouble them in another way. Because we are created in God’s image, there are attributes that come from Him that are designed to make our hearts troubled. We are created by a God of righteousness therefore when we see or suffer an injustice it rubs against our moral fiber because we feel the raw emotions of the injustice and it makes our heart troubled. We know when we’ve been robbed, cheated, violated, lied to, or abused. When there is not an quick fix for the injustices it really troubles our hearts
Going along with being created in God’s image and to be in relationship with him, there is another way still that our hearts can be troubled. I know from personal experience, when we have unconfessed sin, the Holy Spirit brings a troubled heart on us because we are not right with God. Guilt can give us a troubled heart Confession and repentance can fix that. At least cause and cure are almost tangible with that kind of troubled heart.
The unfairness of life, sin, circumstances, failed plans, death and dying: they all trouble our hearts but Jesus says, “Trust in Me.” Everything was created through Him as we learn in John chapter one. Everything will also be resolved and made right through Him as well as we read in Revelation 21:5. Each one of us lives out an epic story. Even though we may not like some of the things we go through and even though they may seem unbearable at times, we must trust Jesus because he is the author of the final chapter of each one of our lives. If we are believing in Him we will not be lost or forsaken.
One thing that helps me to trust in Jesus is to remember that we are not just animate beings who, by happen chance, are having a temporary spiritual encounter created by our own minds and limited only to the days we live out on earth. Instead, we must see the big eternal picture and realize that we are created with purpose as permanent spiritual beings having a temporary earthly experience in preparation to spend all eternity with Jesus.
1 Peter 5 :6-7 says, “Humble yourselves under God’s might hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”
Stay close to Jesus, stay real close!
REG
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Come Just As You Are
There is a beautiful praise song by this title that is an invitation to come to Christ and accept him as Savior. Some of words in the song invite the listener to taste the living waters. This of course is a reference to the life that springs forth from hearing and internalizing the words of truth spoken by a living Savior.
Now you would think that people would get that and not have any hang-ups but the #1 and #2 (no scientific survey conducted, just my personal opinion) reasons why I see people decline the invitation to accept Christ is that they either think they have done so much wrong they will never be accepted or they think they have to do all this changing to get themselves all straightened out before they present themselves to Christ for his approval: bad theology all the way around. (by the way, my third reason would be that they don’t know they need a Savior: we’ll save that one for another day).
I often find myself talking to such individuals saying, “it’s not about who you were; it’s about who you want to be. It’s not about what you have to change first; it’s about Christ making the changes in you after you come to Him.” As I was going down the road today I was thinking neither one of those statements are specifically made in scripture vebatum, can I back them up? Well take my privilege to preach and teach away if I can’t!
First scripture that comes to mind is the scene where Jesus is confronted for mingling with “undesirables”, the sick, the sinners, In Matthew 9: 12 and 13b He says to the Pharisees “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. . . . . for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” There you have it: not reformed, conformed, or transformed sinners. Rather, simply, sinners just as they are. A similar statement again made by Christ in Luke 19:10, “For the son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
A second proof is from Romans, 5:8, “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” In context that is a statement about the universal plan of salvation for us as a lot, the whole human race. From start to finish, God provides a plan for all who would choose to receive it through one single act done on our behalf. It has its personal application to each one of us on our horizon of history when we realize God did that way before we even realized we as individuals are sinners.
A third proof ( I tihnk the most powerful one) is found in the story of the lost son. (Luke 15: 11-32) In the parable the father accepts the son just as he is; even throws his arms around him and kisses him before the son can say anything. I am reminded of the time I was trying to make this “come just as you are” point in a Bible study at jail. To test everyone on how well they knew this story, I started to read it and when I got to the very part where the father runs to greet the son, I deviated from the story and said, “ And while the son was still along way off, the father shouted,’ Stop!. Don’t take another step. Don’t you dare step foot back on this land until you have cleaned yourself up, repaid the fortune that you squandered, and confess and make right all the wrongs you have done!’ ” No one stopped me!!!! Don’t worry, I confessed and it became a powerful moment to explain what the world expects of us in making things right and what Jesus expects of us as we come to Him who has made things right.
What gets people thinking they are too far gone as a sinner or too helpless to become worthy? Well ultimately it is a lie Satan wants all people to believe. Sadly, I believe it’s transmitted through people and even the church. Some people abuse their authority as a parent or spouse or other influential person in an individual's life by saying things like, “you’ll never amount to anything.” Or, “God is going to strike you dead in your tracks for the things you have done.” Or, “you’ll never get into heaven. You’re too evil.” IF a person is in a fragile emotional state of mind these kind of statements can leave wounds that can only be healed by Jesus.
When the church fails to lovingly communicate the transformation that is going to take place in a person’s life (and also fails to be patient while that is taking place) the only message an unsaved person can hear from the church is, “If you want to be accepted by us (and therefore God) you have to follow these rules.” The message of being saved by grace through faith gets lost in the may lay of “following the rules.” That’s what the Pharisees were so crafty at and that’s what the church can still do today if we focus on how to live a holy life and not on who makes us Holy.
Honoring God’s law does not justify us. Filling ourselves with the truth about God’s love, grace and mercy along with the work of the Holy Spirit living in us leads to a transformation of the heart that makes us want to follow the law to honor Him.
I know many of you can share more scripture to support “come just as you are” and I invite you to do so in the comments.
Lord
Thank you for not demanding anything other than a broken contrite heart ready to receive your grace.
Thank you for not making us change first before being accepted into your kingdom.
Help us to not be spiritual abusers like the Pharisees.
Enable us to communicate the truth of grace to overcome the lies embedded in people’s heart that keep them on the outskirts of the joy of your salvation.
Amen
Come Just As You Are – J. Sabolick
Come just as you are. Hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are.
Come and see, come receive, come and live forever.
Life everlasting, strength for today, taste the living water, and never thirst again.
Come just as you are. Hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are.
Come and see, come receive, come and live forevermore.
Stay close to Jesus
REG
Now you would think that people would get that and not have any hang-ups but the #1 and #2 (no scientific survey conducted, just my personal opinion) reasons why I see people decline the invitation to accept Christ is that they either think they have done so much wrong they will never be accepted or they think they have to do all this changing to get themselves all straightened out before they present themselves to Christ for his approval: bad theology all the way around. (by the way, my third reason would be that they don’t know they need a Savior: we’ll save that one for another day).
I often find myself talking to such individuals saying, “it’s not about who you were; it’s about who you want to be. It’s not about what you have to change first; it’s about Christ making the changes in you after you come to Him.” As I was going down the road today I was thinking neither one of those statements are specifically made in scripture vebatum, can I back them up? Well take my privilege to preach and teach away if I can’t!
First scripture that comes to mind is the scene where Jesus is confronted for mingling with “undesirables”, the sick, the sinners, In Matthew 9: 12 and 13b He says to the Pharisees “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. . . . . for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” There you have it: not reformed, conformed, or transformed sinners. Rather, simply, sinners just as they are. A similar statement again made by Christ in Luke 19:10, “For the son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
A second proof is from Romans, 5:8, “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” In context that is a statement about the universal plan of salvation for us as a lot, the whole human race. From start to finish, God provides a plan for all who would choose to receive it through one single act done on our behalf. It has its personal application to each one of us on our horizon of history when we realize God did that way before we even realized we as individuals are sinners.
A third proof ( I tihnk the most powerful one) is found in the story of the lost son. (Luke 15: 11-32) In the parable the father accepts the son just as he is; even throws his arms around him and kisses him before the son can say anything. I am reminded of the time I was trying to make this “come just as you are” point in a Bible study at jail. To test everyone on how well they knew this story, I started to read it and when I got to the very part where the father runs to greet the son, I deviated from the story and said, “ And while the son was still along way off, the father shouted,’ Stop!. Don’t take another step. Don’t you dare step foot back on this land until you have cleaned yourself up, repaid the fortune that you squandered, and confess and make right all the wrongs you have done!’ ” No one stopped me!!!! Don’t worry, I confessed and it became a powerful moment to explain what the world expects of us in making things right and what Jesus expects of us as we come to Him who has made things right.
What gets people thinking they are too far gone as a sinner or too helpless to become worthy? Well ultimately it is a lie Satan wants all people to believe. Sadly, I believe it’s transmitted through people and even the church. Some people abuse their authority as a parent or spouse or other influential person in an individual's life by saying things like, “you’ll never amount to anything.” Or, “God is going to strike you dead in your tracks for the things you have done.” Or, “you’ll never get into heaven. You’re too evil.” IF a person is in a fragile emotional state of mind these kind of statements can leave wounds that can only be healed by Jesus.
When the church fails to lovingly communicate the transformation that is going to take place in a person’s life (and also fails to be patient while that is taking place) the only message an unsaved person can hear from the church is, “If you want to be accepted by us (and therefore God) you have to follow these rules.” The message of being saved by grace through faith gets lost in the may lay of “following the rules.” That’s what the Pharisees were so crafty at and that’s what the church can still do today if we focus on how to live a holy life and not on who makes us Holy.
Honoring God’s law does not justify us. Filling ourselves with the truth about God’s love, grace and mercy along with the work of the Holy Spirit living in us leads to a transformation of the heart that makes us want to follow the law to honor Him.
I know many of you can share more scripture to support “come just as you are” and I invite you to do so in the comments.
Lord
Thank you for not demanding anything other than a broken contrite heart ready to receive your grace.
Thank you for not making us change first before being accepted into your kingdom.
Help us to not be spiritual abusers like the Pharisees.
Enable us to communicate the truth of grace to overcome the lies embedded in people’s heart that keep them on the outskirts of the joy of your salvation.
Amen
Come Just As You Are – J. Sabolick
Come just as you are. Hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are.
Come and see, come receive, come and live forever.
Life everlasting, strength for today, taste the living water, and never thirst again.
Come just as you are. Hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are.
Come and see, come receive, come and live forevermore.
Stay close to Jesus
REG
Monday, July 21, 2008
Can you drink from the cup?
There is this metaphor often used in scripture that must seem rather peculiar and hard to understand to someone who is reading the Bible for the first with the hopes of understanding. It’s the use of the word “cup”. There is the cup of joy, cup of sorrow, cup of wrath, cup of judgment and a few more. Probably the most well known use from the Old Testament is found in Psalm 23 “my cup overflows” (NIV). Not too hard to understand in context that David meant he was blessed more than what he thought was his share. It creates for me a picture of a child not having to worry when asking for a cup of water. The imagery indicates there is always so much to be given that there is no concern for overflowing the cup.
But there are a couple other places where the word “cup” is used that requires more cultural and contextual understanding (sorry, one of the hermeneutical phrases from when my “cup” was being filled at seminary). You can go here for a nice article on the use of the word cup in the bible: http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/C/CUP/ . Where I want to focus on today is found in Mathew 20:22 and 26:39.
IN 20:22 the sons of Zebedee and their mother come before Jesus to petition him for a seat of honor and authority when his kingdom is fully established (Was this a codependent mom? :) ). Jesus implies there is a price to pay for that honor and he asks “can you drink from the cup I am going to drink?” Now if you are someone who doesn’t know the whole story, how it comes to play out in the not too distant future of that statement, it really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to use the word cup. So let me take a more practical attempt to explain the word so we all can help those who are trying to study the Bible. A simple way to put it is that cup is used to refer to an experience that one has been through or is about to go through.
Jesus was asking, “if you want sit to my left or my right, can you endure the same things I am about to endure?” As we fast forward to Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, (Matthew 26:39) we find him wrestling through the potential for Him to succumb to his being in the flesh. He does not give in to the temptation but, toes to the chalk line, he knows he is about to experience the ultimate infliction of pain and suffering and ultimately death by torture on his earthly journey. In His human anguish over this in His conversation with the Father he says, “My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”
Now I can relate to that. There are things we all go through that we would rather not experience. A lot of times we can look ahead and know full well what "the cup” is going to be: the cup of suffering or the cup of sorrow, etc. Further, more often than not, the cup is not of our choosing. But the hope we can get from looking at the passion of the Christ is that on the other side of the experience is something that makes enduring the journey worth it. We have to trust that the reward is in the hands of a loving Savior. Ultimately, as we mature in the faith, we know we will honor Christ best and be strengthened most by submitting to the process.
Sometimes we are blessed in a way that we experience that reward in “real” time: the suffering is short and the blessing comes soon after in this life. On other occasions there is a ‘long suffering” to that cup. Sometimes the suffering is for a life time or nearly that. They can be seasons that last years and can be either emotionally or physically painful or both. The woman from Luke 8:43 is specifically identified to have been suffering for 12 years.
I know far too many people who have suffered this long or longer. I have some very special friends who are reading this that have been through incredibly long seasons of suffering. You probably know some people too. I want to honor them here today for their faithfulness to Christ in the midst of their cup of suffering.
To my suffering friends:
You are an inspiration to me because your faithfulness while enduring “the cup.” I realize that your experience does not come without great pain, grieving and expressions of frustration and anguish but I admire your courage for not giving up and, in your own way, expressing the words, “My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.” The world may try to offer you antidotes for an end to the suffering, but you have chosen the right cup, the cup of salvation, Jesus Christ to help endure the suffering.
Father I pray that you bless my friends who are drinking from a “cup" they did not choose, a “thorn" they did not expect. May we who are not chosen for that cup recognize these friends as someone who has a place of honor in your courts because they have been found strong and worthy enough to endure something I do not (yet?) have as my appointment in life. Remind us daily to lift them up to you as honored martyrs of the faith knowing that if what they seek, the end of this suffering, is not fulfilled totally in this life, may they know that they will have earned a place of honor at your table in heaven because of what they have endured here on earth. May they know now, right now, how special they are to You and how loved they are by You and may that bring them spiritual healing for the day. Thank You for their testimony of faith that edifies the rest of us.
Father I endure to petition You. In the name of Jesus I lift my many friends who suffer emotionally and physically to You and petition You like the persistent widow of Luke 18 that they be healed now so that we may have the joy of celebrating with them and the opportunity to hear their testimonies of a God who still performs miracles today. Amen
Stay close to Jesus!
REG
But there are a couple other places where the word “cup” is used that requires more cultural and contextual understanding (sorry, one of the hermeneutical phrases from when my “cup” was being filled at seminary). You can go here for a nice article on the use of the word cup in the bible: http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/C/CUP/ . Where I want to focus on today is found in Mathew 20:22 and 26:39.
IN 20:22 the sons of Zebedee and their mother come before Jesus to petition him for a seat of honor and authority when his kingdom is fully established (Was this a codependent mom? :) ). Jesus implies there is a price to pay for that honor and he asks “can you drink from the cup I am going to drink?” Now if you are someone who doesn’t know the whole story, how it comes to play out in the not too distant future of that statement, it really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to use the word cup. So let me take a more practical attempt to explain the word so we all can help those who are trying to study the Bible. A simple way to put it is that cup is used to refer to an experience that one has been through or is about to go through.
Jesus was asking, “if you want sit to my left or my right, can you endure the same things I am about to endure?” As we fast forward to Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, (Matthew 26:39) we find him wrestling through the potential for Him to succumb to his being in the flesh. He does not give in to the temptation but, toes to the chalk line, he knows he is about to experience the ultimate infliction of pain and suffering and ultimately death by torture on his earthly journey. In His human anguish over this in His conversation with the Father he says, “My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”
Now I can relate to that. There are things we all go through that we would rather not experience. A lot of times we can look ahead and know full well what "the cup” is going to be: the cup of suffering or the cup of sorrow, etc. Further, more often than not, the cup is not of our choosing. But the hope we can get from looking at the passion of the Christ is that on the other side of the experience is something that makes enduring the journey worth it. We have to trust that the reward is in the hands of a loving Savior. Ultimately, as we mature in the faith, we know we will honor Christ best and be strengthened most by submitting to the process.
Sometimes we are blessed in a way that we experience that reward in “real” time: the suffering is short and the blessing comes soon after in this life. On other occasions there is a ‘long suffering” to that cup. Sometimes the suffering is for a life time or nearly that. They can be seasons that last years and can be either emotionally or physically painful or both. The woman from Luke 8:43 is specifically identified to have been suffering for 12 years.
I know far too many people who have suffered this long or longer. I have some very special friends who are reading this that have been through incredibly long seasons of suffering. You probably know some people too. I want to honor them here today for their faithfulness to Christ in the midst of their cup of suffering.
To my suffering friends:
You are an inspiration to me because your faithfulness while enduring “the cup.” I realize that your experience does not come without great pain, grieving and expressions of frustration and anguish but I admire your courage for not giving up and, in your own way, expressing the words, “My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.” The world may try to offer you antidotes for an end to the suffering, but you have chosen the right cup, the cup of salvation, Jesus Christ to help endure the suffering.
Father I pray that you bless my friends who are drinking from a “cup" they did not choose, a “thorn" they did not expect. May we who are not chosen for that cup recognize these friends as someone who has a place of honor in your courts because they have been found strong and worthy enough to endure something I do not (yet?) have as my appointment in life. Remind us daily to lift them up to you as honored martyrs of the faith knowing that if what they seek, the end of this suffering, is not fulfilled totally in this life, may they know that they will have earned a place of honor at your table in heaven because of what they have endured here on earth. May they know now, right now, how special they are to You and how loved they are by You and may that bring them spiritual healing for the day. Thank You for their testimony of faith that edifies the rest of us.
Father I endure to petition You. In the name of Jesus I lift my many friends who suffer emotionally and physically to You and petition You like the persistent widow of Luke 18 that they be healed now so that we may have the joy of celebrating with them and the opportunity to hear their testimonies of a God who still performs miracles today. Amen
Stay close to Jesus!
REG
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