As I think about those words, "Come Lord Jesus Come", I am reminded that they speak not only of what will happen in the future, but what has already started happening here on earth. Jesus came to earth, but not yet completely. A process of sanctification has already begun in the life of every one of His children. Creation itself awaits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. The Spirit, today, and yesterday, and tomorrow follows through with His work of Christ being proclaimed among every people.
The only way to prove that we indeed desire the New Heavens and New Earth over this one, is to do all we can to live in the manner NOW, that God intends for us to live eternally. We tell others of God's goodness as we live in response to it. For eternity we will worship, but it starts here. The call on our life is to put sin to death. Don't dabble, don't experiment, don't simply wound it, KILL IT! (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5) So if we are doing this, living as sin murderers, we are living as worshippers. Sin separates us from God, so the murdering of it makes God's glory all the more clear, on display. Our struggle here is that Christians still sin. Upon recognition of and belief in Christ, we don't simply do away with the realities of sin. But we now have what, or I should say who, we need to aim to put sin to death in every facet of our lives.
I have been thinking about how this should affect us in the way we serve others here on earth. As sinners who have been redeemed, the ransom has been paid and we belong to God. No longer slaves to sin, we are free. And, like Christ, Galatians 5:19 tells us that we have been freed to serve. Freedom has been granted to us that we might serve God. That is why we have been freed from the bonds of sin.
Are we serving freely?
My fear is that we can serve as freed slaves who still voluntarily wear the chains. These chains can come in a variety of forms and sizes. They can come in the form of the fear of man, lack of trust, anger, anxiety, arrogance, pride, idolatry, and a myriad of other forms. These chains DON'T help us in our service. They bind us up, trip us up, slow us down, and cause others to possibly mistake us for those who are still bound... still slaves to sin....
One thing I am lead to consider is if I am totally depending on Christ as I serve?
Not my own strength, but CHRIST. Picture yourself standing in a long line of believers in heaven, and God is addressing one after another after another after another, saying, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master." Consider that you just happen to be standing in line next to the most sinful believer that you know. As God nears you, He says to that "most sinful believer", "Well done my good and faithful servant..." and then says the same to you, and the guy behind you, and so on and so on...
Is there anything keeping you from entering into that joy? Is there any part of you that says, "Don't I deserve a little more praise than this guy? He's not even a Sunday School Teacher? He doesn't even tithe? I've heard him cuss....???
If there is any part of you that feels jipped, then you are relying on your own strength and your own works, not solely on what Christ has accomplished for you. Both of you are there because of the finished work of Christ!
Let us serve humbly, in Christ, never slipping into the spot of a god, thinking we deserve more praise and recognition than another.
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..."
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Conditional Praise
Can you praise God for the sunrise even if you are hungry?
Can you appreciate the stars even in a season of turmoil?
Can you honor God with a simple melody in the midst of complex uncertainty?
Is it only pretty if you feel good when you see it?
Can you appreciate the stars even in a season of turmoil?
Can you honor God with a simple melody in the midst of complex uncertainty?
Is it only pretty if you feel good when you see it?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Imperfect Abundance
After 3 weeks of Genesis 26, we have learned that God's blessings are always abundant but, by God's design, leave us wanting something more... or Someone more. The chapter opens with Isaac and his family having to move because of a famine in the land. A famine is an obvious indicator of hard times ahead. Sometimes when our conditions change for the "worse" we tend to have thoughts that suggest that maybe God has abandoned us, or He didn't hear our prayers, or He doesn't know what is best for us. For Isaac, God shows up and reminds him of the covenant promises, reminding us that in the midst of hardship and trial, rather than feeling neglected, we should look for God's warning and direction and guidance, remembering His promises.
Isaac follows God's direction and ends up in a place called Gerar, home of the Philistines. Upon arrival, Isaac pulls an "Abraham" and says that his wife is actually his sister, because he fears that they will kill him to get to his wife. Evidently a hot wife is part of the covenant blessings... Isaac has made a BONEHEAD decision; a move so wicked that he is reproved by the King of the Philistines. But in a crazy turn of events, Isaac is blessed. BLESSED! He has protection placed upon him and even more, he reaps a hundredfold in that same year. In our shortsightedness we may ask, "Why can't this happen to me? Why can't I make some boneheaded and sinful decision and end up blessed and protected?" In reality, we should look at Isaac and say, "That sounds a lot like my story. Not only have I never done anything to earn God's blessings, I have done the opposite. I have sinned and made bad decisions, yet God has redeemed me and blessed me abundantly." Isaac's story should not sound so unfamiliar to us.
Throughout the chapter, the ups and downs continue. We see that Isaac is rich, very wealthy, loved and blessed by God, protected by the King's orders, and in possession of flocks, herds, and many servants. It sounds like old Isaac has it pretty good. If this was the whole story, we could say that it seems like God wants us all to live trial-free and charmed lives. But the story continues. On top of all of the things previously listed, Isaac is also envied, despised, and afflicted. His wells have been stopped up with dirt by the spiteful locals. And every time he digs another well, the locals decide that they want it. Ultimately God never promises to deliver us from our trials, but THROUGH them. We can go back to our earliest ancestors of the faith and see that every one of their lives is mixed with blessings and trials. Anyone who tells you that it is going to be different and that God doesn't want you to have any hard times is telling you a very unloving lie. Through each trial your faith becomes harder to break. This is what it means to be proven and authentic in your walk. You cannot expect to grow, mature, and strengthen your faith without trials. God even goes so far as to say, "Do not be surprised when the fiery trial comes upon you, as though something strange were happening to you." Trials are the common means by which God shows us how great He is. But He never leaves us alone in our hard times. He reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Calvin stated “the blessings of God which pertain to the present earthly life are never pure and perfect, but are mixed with some troubles, lest quiet and indulgence should render us negligent." It would be unloving of God to let us fall in love with this earth. Every trial and every blessing should point us to that time in eternity when we will be in the presence of God, trial free and perfectly blessed. That is where our hope lies.
At the end of the chapter everything really seems to come together. There is peace between them and the King of the Philistines, they are blessed abundantly, there is a new well of water, and there is a feast to celebrate the occasion. This is like the end of the hallmark movie, where everything turns out perfectly. But the chapter doesn't end with verse 33. Verses 34-35 abruptly interrupt the feast with the tidbit of information that Esau married two Hittites and made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah. Isn't this how it usually is? The relationship problem is taken care of, and there is a financial trial. The financial trial is resolved, and there is a health issue. The health issue stabilizes, and there is a business downfall. The business downfall bounces back and here comes the relationship issue again... And through the ups and downs, God is reminding us to keep our eyes on Him, because ultimately, that is where we will be. Enjoy your imperfect abundance...
Isaac follows God's direction and ends up in a place called Gerar, home of the Philistines. Upon arrival, Isaac pulls an "Abraham" and says that his wife is actually his sister, because he fears that they will kill him to get to his wife. Evidently a hot wife is part of the covenant blessings... Isaac has made a BONEHEAD decision; a move so wicked that he is reproved by the King of the Philistines. But in a crazy turn of events, Isaac is blessed. BLESSED! He has protection placed upon him and even more, he reaps a hundredfold in that same year. In our shortsightedness we may ask, "Why can't this happen to me? Why can't I make some boneheaded and sinful decision and end up blessed and protected?" In reality, we should look at Isaac and say, "That sounds a lot like my story. Not only have I never done anything to earn God's blessings, I have done the opposite. I have sinned and made bad decisions, yet God has redeemed me and blessed me abundantly." Isaac's story should not sound so unfamiliar to us.
Throughout the chapter, the ups and downs continue. We see that Isaac is rich, very wealthy, loved and blessed by God, protected by the King's orders, and in possession of flocks, herds, and many servants. It sounds like old Isaac has it pretty good. If this was the whole story, we could say that it seems like God wants us all to live trial-free and charmed lives. But the story continues. On top of all of the things previously listed, Isaac is also envied, despised, and afflicted. His wells have been stopped up with dirt by the spiteful locals. And every time he digs another well, the locals decide that they want it. Ultimately God never promises to deliver us from our trials, but THROUGH them. We can go back to our earliest ancestors of the faith and see that every one of their lives is mixed with blessings and trials. Anyone who tells you that it is going to be different and that God doesn't want you to have any hard times is telling you a very unloving lie. Through each trial your faith becomes harder to break. This is what it means to be proven and authentic in your walk. You cannot expect to grow, mature, and strengthen your faith without trials. God even goes so far as to say, "Do not be surprised when the fiery trial comes upon you, as though something strange were happening to you." Trials are the common means by which God shows us how great He is. But He never leaves us alone in our hard times. He reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Calvin stated “the blessings of God which pertain to the present earthly life are never pure and perfect, but are mixed with some troubles, lest quiet and indulgence should render us negligent." It would be unloving of God to let us fall in love with this earth. Every trial and every blessing should point us to that time in eternity when we will be in the presence of God, trial free and perfectly blessed. That is where our hope lies.
At the end of the chapter everything really seems to come together. There is peace between them and the King of the Philistines, they are blessed abundantly, there is a new well of water, and there is a feast to celebrate the occasion. This is like the end of the hallmark movie, where everything turns out perfectly. But the chapter doesn't end with verse 33. Verses 34-35 abruptly interrupt the feast with the tidbit of information that Esau married two Hittites and made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah. Isn't this how it usually is? The relationship problem is taken care of, and there is a financial trial. The financial trial is resolved, and there is a health issue. The health issue stabilizes, and there is a business downfall. The business downfall bounces back and here comes the relationship issue again... And through the ups and downs, God is reminding us to keep our eyes on Him, because ultimately, that is where we will be. Enjoy your imperfect abundance...
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