1 Peter 2
"Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
(see blog post of 9/29/08 for Paul's assertion of the same topic to the Galatian church).
The paradoxes of the gospel are, as one might expect, simultaneously compelling and repulsive. As a good American, I know that freedom means I don't have to do nothin' for nobody and if anyone so much as tries to say otherwise, I can punch 'em in the mouth.
In the gospel, though, we see our true freedom lies in servanthood (slavery). Freedom, first and foremost is freedom from self...self-awareness...selfish concerns. As free people, our identity is completely swallowed up in that of Christ (Galatians 2:20). As we come to understand that our best life starts with death - that our ultimate freedom is being shackled to the risen Christ - we can begin to love as he loved.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Content or contempt?
1 Timothy 6
"But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (v8)
It was tempting to write only about verse 9 and the dangers of riches, but that would have been to skip the dangers of want. Notice shelter is not in the list. I'm not saying we should all be homeless, but even things we consider absolute necessities really aren't (something about foxes and holes comes to mind here). Could I see God's provision in only food and clothing? Can I see God in Kenya or the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala or the coast of the Dominican Republic? I'm stung particularly because some of the most seemingly contented people I have ever met live in one of those three places. I say seemingly contented because I only experienced brief flashes of time with them. This past week in conversation, I said to someone that there appears to be an inverse relationship between what we have and gratitude. It's odd. If someone with nearly nothing is grateful for food and clothing, why can't I be? Rather, why won't I be?
"But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (v8)
It was tempting to write only about verse 9 and the dangers of riches, but that would have been to skip the dangers of want. Notice shelter is not in the list. I'm not saying we should all be homeless, but even things we consider absolute necessities really aren't (something about foxes and holes comes to mind here). Could I see God's provision in only food and clothing? Can I see God in Kenya or the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala or the coast of the Dominican Republic? I'm stung particularly because some of the most seemingly contented people I have ever met live in one of those three places. I say seemingly contented because I only experienced brief flashes of time with them. This past week in conversation, I said to someone that there appears to be an inverse relationship between what we have and gratitude. It's odd. If someone with nearly nothing is grateful for food and clothing, why can't I be? Rather, why won't I be?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Better late than never
Psalm 110
"The LORD says to my Lord" v1
It would be very wrong to skip Psalm 110 without any reflection. David witnesses a conversation between two members of the Trinity. David sees the declaration of the coming priest-king (v4). Priesthood and kingship did not mix, but there was one coming who would unite the two. Luther called this psalm the main one relating to Jesus.
"The LORD says to my Lord" v1
It would be very wrong to skip Psalm 110 without any reflection. David witnesses a conversation between two members of the Trinity. David sees the declaration of the coming priest-king (v4). Priesthood and kingship did not mix, but there was one coming who would unite the two. Luther called this psalm the main one relating to Jesus.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Syrup on that waffle?
1 Kings 18
"How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." v21
See, sometimes God is God, but a lot of the time I am. Do I want a God who offers transactions or do I want to take the risk with a God who cannot be made a debtor? Baal is so much more appealing when I want to think I have control or make myself the center of the universe. God is too intent on showing me reality. Ignorance is bliss for sure.
"How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." v21
See, sometimes God is God, but a lot of the time I am. Do I want a God who offers transactions or do I want to take the risk with a God who cannot be made a debtor? Baal is so much more appealing when I want to think I have control or make myself the center of the universe. God is too intent on showing me reality. Ignorance is bliss for sure.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Continuing Ed, anyone?
Psalm 86
"Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name." (v11)
This stood out to me today. Here, God's greatness and mercy is being extolled. He does great and wondrous things (v10). What, then, does the psalmist ask for from this wonderful Fount of Every Blessing? In the first verses, an answer, life, grace, joy (gladden the soul), listening. In the last verses, grace and a sign. In the middle, though, are are six verses of praise and one request: teach me obedience.
Now, I'm ok with asking for life and grace and joy, but who would actually ask to obey? Only the person who is convinced that obedience is best for his own soul. If we believe God is arbitrary or cruel or aloof, we would never ask and seek obedience. If we, on the other hand, believe God is just and merciful and loving, we're fools to do anything else. Obedience is not about pleasing God (something accomplished solely on the Cross), it's acknowledging that his pleasure is our pleasure; that love overflows in love.
So, am I ready to set aside my own pursuit of death and decay and latch onto the only real hope for lasting peace? Help me in my unbelief.
"Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name." (v11)
This stood out to me today. Here, God's greatness and mercy is being extolled. He does great and wondrous things (v10). What, then, does the psalmist ask for from this wonderful Fount of Every Blessing? In the first verses, an answer, life, grace, joy (gladden the soul), listening. In the last verses, grace and a sign. In the middle, though, are are six verses of praise and one request: teach me obedience.
Now, I'm ok with asking for life and grace and joy, but who would actually ask to obey? Only the person who is convinced that obedience is best for his own soul. If we believe God is arbitrary or cruel or aloof, we would never ask and seek obedience. If we, on the other hand, believe God is just and merciful and loving, we're fools to do anything else. Obedience is not about pleasing God (something accomplished solely on the Cross), it's acknowledging that his pleasure is our pleasure; that love overflows in love.
So, am I ready to set aside my own pursuit of death and decay and latch onto the only real hope for lasting peace? Help me in my unbelief.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wow...has it really been that long?
I may be the only person to continue reading this, but writing these posts actually helps me stay up on the reading...so, paint this a selfish exercise.
Galatians 5
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:13-14
Here we have one of many declarations of true freedom. True freedom is not the ability to gratify ourselves. When Jesus flips our economics upside down, we find freedom in service. What? I had to read that again...use your freedom - serve one another. We are no longer desperate people trying to draw life from the dying world...we are able to draw life from eternal things so that we are a source of light to the world.
Galatians 5
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:13-14
Here we have one of many declarations of true freedom. True freedom is not the ability to gratify ourselves. When Jesus flips our economics upside down, we find freedom in service. What? I had to read that again...use your freedom - serve one another. We are no longer desperate people trying to draw life from the dying world...we are able to draw life from eternal things so that we are a source of light to the world.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
It made good sense at the time.
Numbers 14
But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? (v41)
This chapter is not a proud moment for Israel. Their complaining against God presumes a higher wisdom and a better purpose. Then, Moses asks the question that absolutely has to be asked (and asked of us). This is not about some quest for self-righteousness in order to make God unnecessary. This is not about a set of rules laid out as some sort of twisted test...like God is playing MouseTrap and we're trying not to get caught.
Why are you sinning when it doesn't work?
It doesn't make God unnecessary - it makes him, if anything, more necessary. It doesn't display higher wisdom or better purpose. It is folly. You don't have to be on a quest for your own righteousness to work for obedience. Those quests end poorly. At some point, you look up and realize that obedience is the only thing that makes sense.
But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? (v41)
This chapter is not a proud moment for Israel. Their complaining against God presumes a higher wisdom and a better purpose. Then, Moses asks the question that absolutely has to be asked (and asked of us). This is not about some quest for self-righteousness in order to make God unnecessary. This is not about a set of rules laid out as some sort of twisted test...like God is playing MouseTrap and we're trying not to get caught.
Why are you sinning when it doesn't work?
It doesn't make God unnecessary - it makes him, if anything, more necessary. It doesn't display higher wisdom or better purpose. It is folly. You don't have to be on a quest for your own righteousness to work for obedience. Those quests end poorly. At some point, you look up and realize that obedience is the only thing that makes sense.
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