It’s Not What You Think
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” [Jesus replied] “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5 NIV
Over the years I have thought of Jesus as a very serious, almost brooding character. Even the scriptures that predicted his entrance into the world described him as someone full of sorrows and familiar with suffering (Ezekiel 53:3). But for the first time, I am looking at the words of Jesus in a different light. Instead of an irritated, "Why are you dragging me into this" sort of reluctance, I think Jesus was fostering his mom’s faith. He was reminding her of the words Simeon and Anna had spoken, "He will cause the fall and rise of Israel. He is the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:33-38). He took that moment to remind his mom of his real purpose in life. He took that moment to tell us of the impending spiritual cleansing and the “new wine” only he could bring.
I no longer think that Jesus turned water into wine at the insistence of his mom. Nor do I think that Jesus needed to be prodded into action. But I do think that Jesus waited for someone to ask for help. And then Jesus answered far and above the call. And maybe God is the same way with us. He can help. He wants to help. He is going to help. But He wants us to ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7-8). God isn't so much full of angry reluctance to help as much as He longs to do more than we can ask (or imagine). But it all starts with asking, and with faith.
My mind is drawn to the Canaanite woman that asked Jesus to heal her daughter. He responded in telling her that he was sent only to the lost sheep if Israel. And her response was classic! She said that "Even dogs get crumbs." (Matthew 15:21-26). Jesus responded to his mom the same way that he responded to the Canaanite woman. He pushed back, I think, to encourage and challenge their faith. He wanted to bring out the condition of their hearts. Likewise, God sometimes "seems" to resist only in that He is revealing the condition of our hearts and growing our faith. And I think Mary gave the proper response. She responded with trust and instruction to "do whatever he tells you to do." And when we call for God to help us, trust the Lord. Sometimes it seems like God is saying no to us, but it may not be what you think. If we continue to hold on to the Lord, Blessing will come!
Friday, December 27, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
What happened to Christmas?
What happened to Christmas?
The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV
I went to a Christmas musical at a church. The performers dressed as if they had been pulled right from the pages of a Charles Dickens book. They danced and sang the carols that one might expect. If you can believe it, the stage hands even created a gentle snow fall among the performers. After twenty minutes of dancing and cheer, I suddenly became skeptical. I started thinking about how some people aren’t having a holiday filled with wonder and merriment. Some are struggling with loneliness, illness and loss. I was wondering why a church would put on such an elaborate display without any spiritual insight? I sat there contemplating, “What happened to the real reason for Christmas?” And at just that moment, the performers literally fell to the floor, the music stopped and the stage went black. After a long theatrical pause, a spot light erupted from the darkness and followed the pastor as he moved onto the stage. The pastor asked, "How did the real Christmas story get lost in all of this?"
I think a lot of people like the idea of “X-Mas” or the “Holiday Season” because neither of those titles demands of us a choice. Neither of those titles calls us to remember the humble beginnings of God’s first moments in the flesh. When we remove Christ from Christmas, we no longer have to deal with the reality of Jesus and what it means to ignore him.
Some may think of Christmas as a one day a year event. Some see the holiday as an opportunity to enjoy a few days off from work. But for the believer, Christmas isn’t a once a year festival, it is a daily event. We aren’t filled with hope, cheer and good will towards men once a year, but we walk in it daily. For believers do not walk in darkness, but in the illumination of Christ. Jesus said that he came into the world to bring light to mankind (John 8:12). I think that Jesus came to bring our minds out of the darkness of sin and into the light which is the knowledge of God. And that is something truly worth celebrating!
The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV
I went to a Christmas musical at a church. The performers dressed as if they had been pulled right from the pages of a Charles Dickens book. They danced and sang the carols that one might expect. If you can believe it, the stage hands even created a gentle snow fall among the performers. After twenty minutes of dancing and cheer, I suddenly became skeptical. I started thinking about how some people aren’t having a holiday filled with wonder and merriment. Some are struggling with loneliness, illness and loss. I was wondering why a church would put on such an elaborate display without any spiritual insight? I sat there contemplating, “What happened to the real reason for Christmas?” And at just that moment, the performers literally fell to the floor, the music stopped and the stage went black. After a long theatrical pause, a spot light erupted from the darkness and followed the pastor as he moved onto the stage. The pastor asked, "How did the real Christmas story get lost in all of this?"
I think a lot of people like the idea of “X-Mas” or the “Holiday Season” because neither of those titles demands of us a choice. Neither of those titles calls us to remember the humble beginnings of God’s first moments in the flesh. When we remove Christ from Christmas, we no longer have to deal with the reality of Jesus and what it means to ignore him.
Some may think of Christmas as a one day a year event. Some see the holiday as an opportunity to enjoy a few days off from work. But for the believer, Christmas isn’t a once a year festival, it is a daily event. We aren’t filled with hope, cheer and good will towards men once a year, but we walk in it daily. For believers do not walk in darkness, but in the illumination of Christ. Jesus said that he came into the world to bring light to mankind (John 8:12). I think that Jesus came to bring our minds out of the darkness of sin and into the light which is the knowledge of God. And that is something truly worth celebrating!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Bitter or Better
Bitter or Better
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 1:18-21 NIV
I think it is intriguing how two people can go through an identical circumstance and yet they have two very different perspectives. One will say that it wasn't that difficult and the other will lament the pain and frustration. I think it is true that we will all go through something terrible and how we come out the other side depends on our response, how we choose to handle the problem.
I read about a famous Christian musician that lost his grandmother. When he learned that his grandmother had died, he ran into the street and started crying and worshiping God... in the middle of the night. People came out of their homes, dressed in pajamas and robes to find this man singing praise songs, crying and proclaiming the greatness of the Lord. The neighbors joined in and worshiped the Lord, at night, in the middle of the street.
When you experience loss, what is your response? You get to choose... You can choose to become bitter or you can trust God and let Him make you better. Your pain, your troubles, your sufferings make you capable of tending to the needs of others. I think it is a selfish thing to assume that someone else can't understand your troubles. No trouble (or temptation) has seized you that is not common to all men (1 Corinthians 10:13). True, some people are better equipped to comfort others if they have faced the same trouble. But generally, compassion for others often times comes on the heels of our own struggles, no matter what they are. I would venture to say that sometimes, the way to healing, the way to get better is to serve someone else in need. Your blessing may not come until you serve others. When we face these trials and maintain trust in God in spite of our hardships, that is what pushes bitterness out the door.
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 1:18-21 NIV
I think it is intriguing how two people can go through an identical circumstance and yet they have two very different perspectives. One will say that it wasn't that difficult and the other will lament the pain and frustration. I think it is true that we will all go through something terrible and how we come out the other side depends on our response, how we choose to handle the problem.
I read about a famous Christian musician that lost his grandmother. When he learned that his grandmother had died, he ran into the street and started crying and worshiping God... in the middle of the night. People came out of their homes, dressed in pajamas and robes to find this man singing praise songs, crying and proclaiming the greatness of the Lord. The neighbors joined in and worshiped the Lord, at night, in the middle of the street.
When you experience loss, what is your response? You get to choose... You can choose to become bitter or you can trust God and let Him make you better. Your pain, your troubles, your sufferings make you capable of tending to the needs of others. I think it is a selfish thing to assume that someone else can't understand your troubles. No trouble (or temptation) has seized you that is not common to all men (1 Corinthians 10:13). True, some people are better equipped to comfort others if they have faced the same trouble. But generally, compassion for others often times comes on the heels of our own struggles, no matter what they are. I would venture to say that sometimes, the way to healing, the way to get better is to serve someone else in need. Your blessing may not come until you serve others. When we face these trials and maintain trust in God in spite of our hardships, that is what pushes bitterness out the door.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Belonging to Christ
Belonging to Christ
And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:6 NIV
Welsh Pastor Selwyn Hughes said that, "Some churches substitute Christianity for Christ. Too many pulpits are occupied by men and women who are strong on assertions but weak on assurance." I admit that Pastor Hughes' words bring to light my own affliction as well. I sometimes find myself playing the role of a Christian while only loosely engaging Christ. Without a steady and strong relationship with Christ, I slip into religion instead of relationship.
I think that religious rules are no place to engage God. While the protocols of religion are not bad in themselves, they have a horrible habit of fooling us into thinking we have engaged God. In other words, going to church and being a "good Christian" will never take the place of knowing that (and living like) you belong to Jesus. Pastor Hughes says it better, "The end of our calling is not to be good, but to belong." We should do the things we do not out of a religious fervor, but out of knowing that we belong to Christ.
Every ministry, no matter its size, becomes effective when its leaders make religion second and make Jesus first. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and everything else will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Make Christ Lord and he will add wisdom, blessing, godly hardship that leads to maturity, finances, healing, understanding and joy. Without making Jesus Lord, any good thing will be hard to come by. Belonging to Jesus must always come first. Knowing that you belong to God is the wellspring from which all other good things flow.
And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:6 NIV
Welsh Pastor Selwyn Hughes said that, "Some churches substitute Christianity for Christ. Too many pulpits are occupied by men and women who are strong on assertions but weak on assurance." I admit that Pastor Hughes' words bring to light my own affliction as well. I sometimes find myself playing the role of a Christian while only loosely engaging Christ. Without a steady and strong relationship with Christ, I slip into religion instead of relationship.
I think that religious rules are no place to engage God. While the protocols of religion are not bad in themselves, they have a horrible habit of fooling us into thinking we have engaged God. In other words, going to church and being a "good Christian" will never take the place of knowing that (and living like) you belong to Jesus. Pastor Hughes says it better, "The end of our calling is not to be good, but to belong." We should do the things we do not out of a religious fervor, but out of knowing that we belong to Christ.
Every ministry, no matter its size, becomes effective when its leaders make religion second and make Jesus first. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and everything else will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Make Christ Lord and he will add wisdom, blessing, godly hardship that leads to maturity, finances, healing, understanding and joy. Without making Jesus Lord, any good thing will be hard to come by. Belonging to Jesus must always come first. Knowing that you belong to God is the wellspring from which all other good things flow.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Always Yes
Always Yes
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No” but in him it has always been “Yes.”
2 Corinthians 1:19 NIV
Thank you Father, you have said yes. While others continue to discount and ignore me, you always say, “Yes.” When I don't measure up, you still say yes. When loved ones pushed me away, you still said yes. I remember times that I purposefully lived against you. I know I have failed you far too many times, bringing tears to your eyes. I know I have embarrassed you. I know that sometimes I have left you speechless...
When the world told me, "No", you said, "Yes". When I broke your commands and when I ran from "the call", you provided a yes. In spite of all my failings, betrayals and unfaithfulness, you still have the nerve, the strength and the commitment to say yes. By now I should have figured out that with you, it is always yes. When a man such as me calls for you, calls for forgiveness, you say yes. The one thing you can't turn away is a contrite heart (Psalms 51:17), I believe, because there is always a yes in Jesus.
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No” but in him it has always been “Yes.”
2 Corinthians 1:19 NIV
Thank you Father, you have said yes. While others continue to discount and ignore me, you always say, “Yes.” When I don't measure up, you still say yes. When loved ones pushed me away, you still said yes. I remember times that I purposefully lived against you. I know I have failed you far too many times, bringing tears to your eyes. I know I have embarrassed you. I know that sometimes I have left you speechless...
When the world told me, "No", you said, "Yes". When I broke your commands and when I ran from "the call", you provided a yes. In spite of all my failings, betrayals and unfaithfulness, you still have the nerve, the strength and the commitment to say yes. By now I should have figured out that with you, it is always yes. When a man such as me calls for you, calls for forgiveness, you say yes. The one thing you can't turn away is a contrite heart (Psalms 51:17), I believe, because there is always a yes in Jesus.
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