Exodus 9
15For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
34But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.
Luke 12
1In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
The heart is an interesting and revealing thing and has a way of surfacing no matter how hard we may try and hide it. What's going on in yours and mine today?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
You can't be serious
"So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
This is one of those passages (verses 25-33) that obviously can't be taken at face value. I mean, certainly we must understand that what Jesus was saying had many layers of meaning. Simply reading his words and accepting their denotation is far too simplistic an approach to scripture. Jesus didn't even speak english, so we really must take passages of like this and place them in the larger context of his life. You know, enduring the cross and despising the shame. Oh, wait.
This is one of those passages (verses 25-33) that obviously can't be taken at face value. I mean, certainly we must understand that what Jesus was saying had many layers of meaning. Simply reading his words and accepting their denotation is far too simplistic an approach to scripture. Jesus didn't even speak english, so we really must take passages of like this and place them in the larger context of his life. You know, enduring the cross and despising the shame. Oh, wait.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Check in
How's everybody doing w/ the reading/relating to God? We've been at it together for almost 2 months, so no doubt the "work" of this has more than become evident. How are yall? Have you fallen off the horse? Is God doing stuff in your heart? What's up, folks?
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Blue pill, red pill time
Exodus 4
This is one of those passages that has a very Matrix feel to it, if I may. It's God changing the very state of matter and declaring lordship over reality itself. If God says the stick is a snake, it's a snake in reality. You know you're on the edge of something wonderful and scary and awe inspiring and potentially deadly when God begins to pull back the cover of "reality" to show us Reality.
So, when we hear Jesus say that least is greatest and death is life, it is an echo. He is not merely speaking in moral platitudes. He is peeling back the same cover and giving us a glimpse of the same reality, and it's every bit as wonderful and scary and awe inspiring and potentially deadly as picking up a snake by its tail.
1 Corinthians 8
Had to hit this one too.
"This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up." (v1b)
This is a killer in the "information age". You get here the warning of Jesus against the "leaven of the pharisees". Puffing gives something the appearance of being bigger than it is without any substance being added. Building up, on the other hand, means you're adding actual "stuff" to something to make it bigger. If we could learn to despise knowledge without love (not in casting off knowledge but in adding love), we could stem the tide of our puffing and begin actually building.
We read and study and learn, and then we imagine we know something (v2). Let's not be prideful of our puffing or deceived by the puffiness of those who seem to have great knowledge. Rather, love God (v3).
This is one of those passages that has a very Matrix feel to it, if I may. It's God changing the very state of matter and declaring lordship over reality itself. If God says the stick is a snake, it's a snake in reality. You know you're on the edge of something wonderful and scary and awe inspiring and potentially deadly when God begins to pull back the cover of "reality" to show us Reality.
So, when we hear Jesus say that least is greatest and death is life, it is an echo. He is not merely speaking in moral platitudes. He is peeling back the same cover and giving us a glimpse of the same reality, and it's every bit as wonderful and scary and awe inspiring and potentially deadly as picking up a snake by its tail.
1 Corinthians 8
Had to hit this one too.
"This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up." (v1b)
This is a killer in the "information age". You get here the warning of Jesus against the "leaven of the pharisees". Puffing gives something the appearance of being bigger than it is without any substance being added. Building up, on the other hand, means you're adding actual "stuff" to something to make it bigger. If we could learn to despise knowledge without love (not in casting off knowledge but in adding love), we could stem the tide of our puffing and begin actually building.
We read and study and learn, and then we imagine we know something (v2). Let's not be prideful of our puffing or deceived by the puffiness of those who seem to have great knowledge. Rather, love God (v3).
Hello, my name is...
Exodus 3:
13Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
There's something in knowing a person's name. What does it mean to you when you learn a new person's name?
God introduces himself as "I AM WHO I AM". What?!? Mysterious. Mind blowing. Think about it and send your brain on overdrive.
13Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
There's something in knowing a person's name. What does it mean to you when you learn a new person's name?
God introduces himself as "I AM WHO I AM". What?!? Mysterious. Mind blowing. Think about it and send your brain on overdrive.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Lepers' Deliverer
The correlations between Exodus and Luke are yet again amazing. What struck me were people of both OT and NT crying out for a Deliverer.
This gives me chills in light of the Gospels and today:
God Hears Israel’s Groaning - Exodus 2
23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Here's a great Rich Mullins song that so well captures the essence of this thought:
My Deliverer
Joseph took his wife and her child and they went to Africa
To escape the rage of a deadly king
There along the banks of the Nile, Jesus listened to the song
That the captive children used to sing
They were singin'
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
Through a dry and thirsty land, water from the Kenyon heights
Pours itself out of Lake Sangra's broken heart
There in the Sahara winds Jesus heard the whole world cry
For the healing that would flow from His own scars
The world was singing
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
He will never break His promise - He has written it upon the sky
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
I will never doubt His promise though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
He will never break His promise though the stars should break faith with the sky
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
________
Jesus Cleanses a Leper - Luke 5
12While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 13And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.
Thank you Jesus for this passage which combats a heart that tends to wander to pride. My leprosy may not be on the outside as this man, but inside I am a dirty leper looking to live in hiding and shame. Maybe it's easier to hide an inner leper (which may not be an advantage), but when it comes down to it, this passage cuts me to the quick. Not only does Jesus approach me willing to speak/listen to me, but at his own peril, he reaches out to touch me...something that "clean" people never do to contagious lepers. I am being humbled a day at a time...God's word humbles this leprous heart.
This gives me chills in light of the Gospels and today:
God Hears Israel’s Groaning - Exodus 2
23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Here's a great Rich Mullins song that so well captures the essence of this thought:
My Deliverer
Joseph took his wife and her child and they went to Africa
To escape the rage of a deadly king
There along the banks of the Nile, Jesus listened to the song
That the captive children used to sing
They were singin'
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
Through a dry and thirsty land, water from the Kenyon heights
Pours itself out of Lake Sangra's broken heart
There in the Sahara winds Jesus heard the whole world cry
For the healing that would flow from His own scars
The world was singing
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
He will never break His promise - He has written it upon the sky
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
I will never doubt His promise though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
He will never break His promise though the stars should break faith with the sky
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
________
Jesus Cleanses a Leper - Luke 5
12While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 13And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.
Thank you Jesus for this passage which combats a heart that tends to wander to pride. My leprosy may not be on the outside as this man, but inside I am a dirty leper looking to live in hiding and shame. Maybe it's easier to hide an inner leper (which may not be an advantage), but when it comes down to it, this passage cuts me to the quick. Not only does Jesus approach me willing to speak/listen to me, but at his own peril, he reaches out to touch me...something that "clean" people never do to contagious lepers. I am being humbled a day at a time...God's word humbles this leprous heart.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Mysterious ways
Exodus 1
God is truly omnipotent. His will is not thwarted by our sin or "the world" or anything else. Jesus' lineage is protected by Egyptian midwives. Amazing.
Luke 4
"he was hungry" In light of the sympathetic high priest from Sunday's sermon, can there be any doubt that Jesus faced the exact temptations we do? Power, prestige, independence.
God is truly omnipotent. His will is not thwarted by our sin or "the world" or anything else. Jesus' lineage is protected by Egyptian midwives. Amazing.
Luke 4
"he was hungry" In light of the sympathetic high priest from Sunday's sermon, can there be any doubt that Jesus faced the exact temptations we do? Power, prestige, independence.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Anything but cowardly
Genesis 49
"8 Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father's sons shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion's cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?"
The Lion of Judah. Amazing image.
Luke 2
You cannot easily get past the humility in this story. From being seated on a throne to being born in a stable. Born in a stable in the shadow of a cross. He was driven from cradle to grave and out again by love.
Job 15
OK, at this point I'm not sure what motivates the OAF to continue berating Job. Bring back the silent companions of chapter 1!
"5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
your own lips testify against you."
Gee, thanks, Eliphaz.
1 Corinthians 3
God is working on my heart on the subject of unity. Unity is, after all, our eternal destiny. Jesus prays for it in John 17. May God deliver us from the shackles of our individualism into the freedom of service and sacrifice.
"19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God."
Amen.
"8 Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father's sons shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion's cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?"
The Lion of Judah. Amazing image.
Luke 2
You cannot easily get past the humility in this story. From being seated on a throne to being born in a stable. Born in a stable in the shadow of a cross. He was driven from cradle to grave and out again by love.
Job 15
OK, at this point I'm not sure what motivates the OAF to continue berating Job. Bring back the silent companions of chapter 1!
"5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,
and you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;
your own lips testify against you."
Gee, thanks, Eliphaz.
1 Corinthians 3
God is working on my heart on the subject of unity. Unity is, after all, our eternal destiny. Jesus prays for it in John 17. May God deliver us from the shackles of our individualism into the freedom of service and sacrifice.
"19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God."
Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
As The World Turns
Genesis 46
This whole story reminds me of a soap opera, and we are cheering on the characters. The family has been revealed. And now one final moment. The moment between father and his son whom he thought was dead. You can feel the intensity. You can hear the dramatic music. Joseph sees his daddy, and throws his arms around him, and they weep for a very long time. Israel finally speaks and says, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." Fade to black.
On a serious note, Joseph is a role model for those of us who have a soap opera family, friendship, church, work environment, etc. I am still amazed at his willingness to forgive. And not just forgive, but to provide for his family who sold him into slavery. How many of us can say that we would forgive our family 100% if they did that to us? I honestly can say it would be really really difficult. But I am called to do just that. To truly live out our Lord's Prayer: "And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." would be such a lifting of my spirit. God has forgiven me... who am I to not do the same.
This whole story reminds me of a soap opera, and we are cheering on the characters. The family has been revealed. And now one final moment. The moment between father and his son whom he thought was dead. You can feel the intensity. You can hear the dramatic music. Joseph sees his daddy, and throws his arms around him, and they weep for a very long time. Israel finally speaks and says, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." Fade to black.
On a serious note, Joseph is a role model for those of us who have a soap opera family, friendship, church, work environment, etc. I am still amazed at his willingness to forgive. And not just forgive, but to provide for his family who sold him into slavery. How many of us can say that we would forgive our family 100% if they did that to us? I honestly can say it would be really really difficult. But I am called to do just that. To truly live out our Lord's Prayer: "And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." would be such a lifting of my spirit. God has forgiven me... who am I to not do the same.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Part Deux
Today has greatly impacted me. The Story is so evident when something like Genesis 45 is laid out alongside Mark 15. Joseph was a normal person whose life God used to point to the Story and bring a taste of restoration. But no matter whether it's Joseph or Paul or even ourselves, it all points to Jesus and brings Him glory. Once again, how is God calling us to immerse ourselves more fully in His story? Are we doing it?
Gen 45
:3 "I am Joseph!" - What's our reaction when Jesus reveals himself to us...the first time or the endless times following? Joseph was ready to bust before he said this...he wept so loud the whole court heard him. How much more so is the One who was utterly forsaken for your soul?
:5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
:7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive many survivors. :8 So it was not you who sent me here but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
God is at work for good - for life preservation - for keeping his covenant...always--throughout the whole of the Story.
:11 There I will provide for you for there are 5 years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have do not come into poverty.
The brothers came to Egypt driven by their belly and in total need. But deeper than physical was the spiritual guilt and hunger they carried with them over what they had done to Joseph. Joseph could have had the revenge of a lifetime to his family or "slave-traders". But mercy and pardon and compassion and testimony of God's goodness are all that flow from this man God has spent years humbling. Not only does Joseph's family find food for their bellies, but also they find restoration and family and provision beyond their wildest dreams ("the fat of the land") in a time when famine and death were a way of life. Apply this to your life and Jesus!
Our lives as a backdrop of the Story...just like Joseph's. It's just around the corner. As we were reminded, it's within arms length of the world around you…the real estate you tread daily. It's something as simple as putting a month's worth of pride aside to drive up and ask forgiveness from a bank teller for jumping all over them because you thought they lost your license (ahem...personal? yep). Not tooting any horns here...I was way in the wrong. But after doing something as simple as that, not only have I felt incredible freedom and joy, but it makes me want to see where else I can be used to bring a little more restoration. B/c being a part of this story is just way too addicting.
Gen 45
:3 "I am Joseph!" - What's our reaction when Jesus reveals himself to us...the first time or the endless times following? Joseph was ready to bust before he said this...he wept so loud the whole court heard him. How much more so is the One who was utterly forsaken for your soul?
:5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
:7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive many survivors. :8 So it was not you who sent me here but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
God is at work for good - for life preservation - for keeping his covenant...always--throughout the whole of the Story.
:11 There I will provide for you for there are 5 years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have do not come into poverty.
The brothers came to Egypt driven by their belly and in total need. But deeper than physical was the spiritual guilt and hunger they carried with them over what they had done to Joseph. Joseph could have had the revenge of a lifetime to his family or "slave-traders". But mercy and pardon and compassion and testimony of God's goodness are all that flow from this man God has spent years humbling. Not only does Joseph's family find food for their bellies, but also they find restoration and family and provision beyond their wildest dreams ("the fat of the land") in a time when famine and death were a way of life. Apply this to your life and Jesus!
Our lives as a backdrop of the Story...just like Joseph's. It's just around the corner. As we were reminded, it's within arms length of the world around you…the real estate you tread daily. It's something as simple as putting a month's worth of pride aside to drive up and ask forgiveness from a bank teller for jumping all over them because you thought they lost your license (ahem...personal? yep). Not tooting any horns here...I was way in the wrong. But after doing something as simple as that, not only have I felt incredible freedom and joy, but it makes me want to see where else I can be used to bring a little more restoration. B/c being a part of this story is just way too addicting.
Part 1
More to come later tonight. Only got through Gen. 45 this morning, but oh my is my heart doing backflips! (my heart...not my body...that would be scary and painful). The story of Joseph has been like a multi-day "to be continued" story and it climaxes today with Joseph's revelation.
God did it...God did it...God did it...to preserve life.
Mark 15 still to come...wow...exclamation point!
God did it...God did it...God did it...to preserve life.
Mark 15 still to come...wow...exclamation point!
Monday, February 11, 2008
I do not know this man of whom you speak.
Genesis 44
An elaborate test. Are the brother's sorry for their betrayal? Joseph has to see their hearts. Ligon Duncan says of the close of the chapter:
"It is interesting, isn’t it, here, the guilty [Judah] offers himself as a substitute for the innocent [Benjamin]. But there would be another lion of the tribe of Judah who was innocent, but who would offer himself as a substitute for his guilty brothers. And that substitute would be accepted and He would live and die in their place that they might experience His glory."
Mark 14
The beautiful mystery of communion. The ugliness of betrayal. The shame of denial. How dark that night must have felt. I can't imagine the confusion.
Job 10
Job walks a tightrope. On the one hand, he maintains God's position over all of creation:
"Remember that you have made me like clay;
and will you return me to the dust?" (v 9)
On the other hand he seems to assert that God is not acting "fairly".
"And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion
and again work wonders against me." (v 16)
This whole conversation between Job and his "friends" continues with both sides not ultimately getting it.
Romans 14
God is ultimately about reunifying his people. We ought to be working tirelessly for unity in the body, and yet we continue to create labels to describe how different "they" are from "us" (and ultimately, we must be right).
An elaborate test. Are the brother's sorry for their betrayal? Joseph has to see their hearts. Ligon Duncan says of the close of the chapter:
"It is interesting, isn’t it, here, the guilty [Judah] offers himself as a substitute for the innocent [Benjamin]. But there would be another lion of the tribe of Judah who was innocent, but who would offer himself as a substitute for his guilty brothers. And that substitute would be accepted and He would live and die in their place that they might experience His glory."
Mark 14
The beautiful mystery of communion. The ugliness of betrayal. The shame of denial. How dark that night must have felt. I can't imagine the confusion.
Job 10
Job walks a tightrope. On the one hand, he maintains God's position over all of creation:
"Remember that you have made me like clay;
and will you return me to the dust?" (v 9)
On the other hand he seems to assert that God is not acting "fairly".
"And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion
and again work wonders against me." (v 16)
This whole conversation between Job and his "friends" continues with both sides not ultimately getting it.
Romans 14
God is ultimately about reunifying his people. We ought to be working tirelessly for unity in the body, and yet we continue to create labels to describe how different "they" are from "us" (and ultimately, we must be right).
Saturday, February 9, 2008
When is a penny not a penny?
Genesis 42
Here is the faithfulness of God. Man's evil is just as subjected to God's sovereignty as are man's good deeds. There is nothing that is somehow beyond Him. Take heart and be encouraged.
Mark 12
This chapter is another rapid-fire series of quick exchanges. The parable of the vineyard is certainly an indictment of Israel. We can't simply leave it there, though, can we? We have the words of the very same servants and we have the life of the Son. What do we do with them?
The chapter ends with yet another hard lesson. It (money, stuff, relationship, everything) really does belong to God. Oh how we hate that. Surely my wise decisions and hard work have made the difference. Then again - not so much.
Job 8
It seems that Bildad has joined the local Orthodox Ass Fellowship and sits next to Eliphaz. It seems that they were looking for a televangelist gig as well.
"If you will seek God
and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright,
surely then he will rouse himself for you
and restore your rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small,
your latter days will be very great."
Says who? They've turned back to our old friend "religion".
Romans 12
I don't know exactly what it is about this chapter. It's a tug of war within. Picture the old Frosted Mini Wheats commercials. The moralist in me loves the talk of 'sober judgment' and patient suffering, but then I read 'Let love be genuine' and I'm slapped back into the reality of my complete inability to live this life apart from Christ.
Here is the faithfulness of God. Man's evil is just as subjected to God's sovereignty as are man's good deeds. There is nothing that is somehow beyond Him. Take heart and be encouraged.
Mark 12
This chapter is another rapid-fire series of quick exchanges. The parable of the vineyard is certainly an indictment of Israel. We can't simply leave it there, though, can we? We have the words of the very same servants and we have the life of the Son. What do we do with them?
The chapter ends with yet another hard lesson. It (money, stuff, relationship, everything) really does belong to God. Oh how we hate that. Surely my wise decisions and hard work have made the difference. Then again - not so much.
Job 8
It seems that Bildad has joined the local Orthodox Ass Fellowship and sits next to Eliphaz. It seems that they were looking for a televangelist gig as well.
"If you will seek God
and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright,
surely then he will rouse himself for you
and restore your rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small,
your latter days will be very great."
Says who? They've turned back to our old friend "religion".
Romans 12
I don't know exactly what it is about this chapter. It's a tug of war within. Picture the old Frosted Mini Wheats commercials. The moralist in me loves the talk of 'sober judgment' and patient suffering, but then I read 'Let love be genuine' and I'm slapped back into the reality of my complete inability to live this life apart from Christ.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Don't Listen, Just Talk
I know, I know..it's not my day...but did you hear what Eliphaz was saying to Job? Eliphaz (from now on simply E) presumes upon Job's sensibilities..invades his safe place.. because Job needs to be set straight. Starting in Job 4, E begins to explain to Job how he needs to "buck up and accept the inevitable." You are a good man, but no one is completely innocent...accept this pain as simply the inevitable result of being just another sinner! Essentially, E is saying, "Job, you are suffering because you have sinned." He backs this up..4:8-you reap what you sow; 4:17-is any man more righteous than God? 5:6,7-trouble doesn't just happen, it is the result of man's sinful actions! "Job, what you need to do is take responsiblity for the fact that you are a sinner, God is righteous and His judgement on you is justified. In fact, you deserve what you are getting and the proper response should be to be grateful that God cares enough to discipline you, because, as Hebrews teaches us: God disciplines those whom He loves!" It goes on..."Quit complaining..5:1..call out! Who's going to pay attention to you? 5:8-Quit complaining and start praying!!! Job you need to repent, realize that this is for your good, to get you to love God more, to get you to turn loose of those idols in your heart, to get you to be more righteous. Your suffering is God's discipline and when you see that you will really be blessed!" Wow. You know what? On the surface, this is all true! We do suffer because we live in a fallen world. Man does sin and God will not allow sin to go unnoticed. He does discipline those whom He loves. The votes are in: E is orthodox! But E is an orthdox ass.
In Job 3, Job wishes that he had never been born. How would you respond to that? E decides to rebuke Job. Job's honest, soul-bearing rants don't fit E's theological grid. E is more interested in correcting than empathizing. He's defending God's integrity! How dare Job be so honest and up front and..and..sinful!?! E is sorely lacking in compassion and wisdom.
We all tend to forget that discipline is not the only purpose for suffering. Remember John 9..the story of the man born blind. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned and brought this on the man. Jesus points out that no one's sin was the cause of this. Now, to be sure, fallenness is the source of blindness, but the blindness was not retribution for sin...it was not the consequence of this man's parents' or his own waywardness! This man was blind so that God's works could be put on display in the present and future and people would be able to see those works and praise His holy name! He was blind to be a blessing to future generations who would be given eyes to see and ears to hear!!!!
We must remember that God is always telling a story much bigger than our own. Paul tells us in 2 Cor 4 that death may be working in us, so that life may be produced in someone else!
What about Joseph? In Genesis 39 he is being completely upright. In v. 9 he is determined to please God. He refuses the advances of Potiphar's wife, not because he is fearful of the consequences or because he doesn't want to be a nasty fornicator. He refuses saying, "How could I do such a wicked thing and SIN AGAINST GOD!" Now tell me...wouldn't that make God's heart soar!? Here's one of His creatures saying, "I don't want to sin because it would offend God." I would have written the story differently...by defending Joseph's AND God's integrity! Potiphar's wife's nose would have fallen off. She would have been afflicted with hiccups and farted non-stop for the next 40 years. Potiphar wouldn't have laid a hand on her! Instead, God let's her get away with a grand deception and Joseph goes to prison! But in verses 2, 3, 21 and 23 there is a beautiful set of parentheses..."the Lord was with him." Huh? What does that mean? It means that God was not abandoning Joseph (or Job..or anyone else) but was writing a grand story that puts His majestic glory on display! God had a plan...Joseph would tap into that later..."What man intends for evil, God intends for good."
Job and Joseph experienced great pain, pain that boggles our imaginations. In the course of this pain they were losing dreams and hopes and aspirations. This exposed their hearts. We hear of both of them ranting and raving, weeping and wailing. They questioned God, argued with God, disagreed with Him. And through it all, God listened. He didn't get His feelings hurt. He didn't turn His back. "The Lord was with him....." And you and I get a reminder that God's hand of providence, though not always pleasant, is always merciful and good and purposeful. He is always writing a bigger story than ours and we are getting to be a part of "telling it to the generations to come."
In Job 3, Job wishes that he had never been born. How would you respond to that? E decides to rebuke Job. Job's honest, soul-bearing rants don't fit E's theological grid. E is more interested in correcting than empathizing. He's defending God's integrity! How dare Job be so honest and up front and..and..sinful!?! E is sorely lacking in compassion and wisdom.
We all tend to forget that discipline is not the only purpose for suffering. Remember John 9..the story of the man born blind. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned and brought this on the man. Jesus points out that no one's sin was the cause of this. Now, to be sure, fallenness is the source of blindness, but the blindness was not retribution for sin...it was not the consequence of this man's parents' or his own waywardness! This man was blind so that God's works could be put on display in the present and future and people would be able to see those works and praise His holy name! He was blind to be a blessing to future generations who would be given eyes to see and ears to hear!!!!
We must remember that God is always telling a story much bigger than our own. Paul tells us in 2 Cor 4 that death may be working in us, so that life may be produced in someone else!
What about Joseph? In Genesis 39 he is being completely upright. In v. 9 he is determined to please God. He refuses the advances of Potiphar's wife, not because he is fearful of the consequences or because he doesn't want to be a nasty fornicator. He refuses saying, "How could I do such a wicked thing and SIN AGAINST GOD!" Now tell me...wouldn't that make God's heart soar!? Here's one of His creatures saying, "I don't want to sin because it would offend God." I would have written the story differently...by defending Joseph's AND God's integrity! Potiphar's wife's nose would have fallen off. She would have been afflicted with hiccups and farted non-stop for the next 40 years. Potiphar wouldn't have laid a hand on her! Instead, God let's her get away with a grand deception and Joseph goes to prison! But in verses 2, 3, 21 and 23 there is a beautiful set of parentheses..."the Lord was with him." Huh? What does that mean? It means that God was not abandoning Joseph (or Job..or anyone else) but was writing a grand story that puts His majestic glory on display! God had a plan...Joseph would tap into that later..."What man intends for evil, God intends for good."
Job and Joseph experienced great pain, pain that boggles our imaginations. In the course of this pain they were losing dreams and hopes and aspirations. This exposed their hearts. We hear of both of them ranting and raving, weeping and wailing. They questioned God, argued with God, disagreed with Him. And through it all, God listened. He didn't get His feelings hurt. He didn't turn His back. "The Lord was with him....." And you and I get a reminder that God's hand of providence, though not always pleasant, is always merciful and good and purposeful. He is always writing a bigger story than ours and we are getting to be a part of "telling it to the generations to come."
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Whoa....
I am overwhelmed by today...it is so crammed full of good stuff.
Genesis 38 is a most bizarre and sordid story. One of those where I found myself scratching my head and thinking, huh...really?...did I need to know about that? But Judah and Tamar's story, as messy as it may be (messy=hope for me), is another piece in fulfilling the covenant and a step closer to Christ and redemption. God is relentless to keep his word and his covenant...and we are a part of that covenant. Security, much?
Romans 8 - can I just put the whole thing here? AMAZING chapter.
15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our Father...Our Father...lemme say that one more time...Abba...Daddy. Think about and dwell on what that means! We, wretched and dirty sinners enslaved to our flesh, have been adopted and grafted in as full heirs and children. And we can NEVER be separated from that. I can't even begin to wrap my arms around it...Abba, help lead us toward understanding of that! We are yours!
Mark 8
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
I must give props to ChitChat for drilling v.34 into our heads. Lose your life...die to self...suffer. Not pretty and comfortable...but to follow Abba and truly live...does that not make your soul groan?
Genesis 38 is a most bizarre and sordid story. One of those where I found myself scratching my head and thinking, huh...really?...did I need to know about that? But Judah and Tamar's story, as messy as it may be (messy=hope for me), is another piece in fulfilling the covenant and a step closer to Christ and redemption. God is relentless to keep his word and his covenant...and we are a part of that covenant. Security, much?
Romans 8 - can I just put the whole thing here? AMAZING chapter.
15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our Father...Our Father...lemme say that one more time...Abba...Daddy. Think about and dwell on what that means! We, wretched and dirty sinners enslaved to our flesh, have been adopted and grafted in as full heirs and children. And we can NEVER be separated from that. I can't even begin to wrap my arms around it...Abba, help lead us toward understanding of that! We are yours!
Mark 8
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
I must give props to ChitChat for drilling v.34 into our heads. Lose your life...die to self...suffer. Not pretty and comfortable...but to follow Abba and truly live...does that not make your soul groan?
Monday, February 4, 2008
Putting the fun back in dysfunctional
Genesis 37
So, we've got a dad who plays favorites, a son who loves to tattle and is quick to bring up dreams demonstrating his superiority, and the other sons who despise the one son because of the father's obvious bias.
Recently, Frodo Jr (hehe) brought this passage home as a perfect example of the maxim: We are all both victims of and perpetrators of sin. As long as there have been families, there have been dysfunctional families (ahem, Cain and Abel). It is important to identify areas of victimization, not to bemoan them or use them as crutches, but to trace them into our own hearts and lives. Sins we commit today likely have roots in earlier life. Without careful consideration, prayer, and mortification, they will inevitably become the sins of the next generation as well.
Mark 7
The first half of the chapter deals with the basic question: Am I clean or dirty? The pharisees had concluded that they were basically clean so long as they kept the dirty world far enough away. Jesus is fairly direct in his rebuttal: "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." What a startling statement that must have been. You are not clean so long as you avoid dirty things - you are dirty until you are cleansed by something outside yourself. This is one of those conversations where I wonder how much the cross was on the mind of Jesus. He knew the hearts of those men and he knew ours. He knew the cost of cleansing us even as he said the words.
Job 3
Job finishes the first chapter (losing most of his family and possessions) with worship. He finishes the second chapter (losing his health) with silence. Now we see the first chink in the armor (losing his sense of purpose). No longer does he celebrate the creative and destructive power of God as he did in chapter 1. The hedge that God put around him was a blessing in chapter 1, now it is seen as God's way of blocking Job's path.
It is hard for any of us to judge Job harshly for his downward spiral. May God mercifully spare us from even a taste of his hardship. However, we can even now see how much bigger God's purposes are than we can imagine. It is not so much (in my opinion) that we are to be wary of complaints because Job's circumstances are so much words (that is certainly true). The question on my mind is: what does this say about purpose? Job's purpose did not change from chapter 1 to chapter 3 - only his circumstances.
Romans 7
"The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me." (v 10)
Sin perverts law until we die. John Owen warns us that if we are not daily engaged in the work of killing sin, it will kill us. Sin does not overtly contradict the law by saying something like "murder is good." No. Sin takes the law which we acknowledge is "holy and righteous and good" (v 12) and twists it into a weapon with which to kill us.
You can feel the frustration of Paul who sees his body held captive to a force his mind knows is evil.
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v 24-25a)
So, we've got a dad who plays favorites, a son who loves to tattle and is quick to bring up dreams demonstrating his superiority, and the other sons who despise the one son because of the father's obvious bias.
Recently, Frodo Jr (hehe) brought this passage home as a perfect example of the maxim: We are all both victims of and perpetrators of sin. As long as there have been families, there have been dysfunctional families (ahem, Cain and Abel). It is important to identify areas of victimization, not to bemoan them or use them as crutches, but to trace them into our own hearts and lives. Sins we commit today likely have roots in earlier life. Without careful consideration, prayer, and mortification, they will inevitably become the sins of the next generation as well.
Mark 7
The first half of the chapter deals with the basic question: Am I clean or dirty? The pharisees had concluded that they were basically clean so long as they kept the dirty world far enough away. Jesus is fairly direct in his rebuttal: "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." What a startling statement that must have been. You are not clean so long as you avoid dirty things - you are dirty until you are cleansed by something outside yourself. This is one of those conversations where I wonder how much the cross was on the mind of Jesus. He knew the hearts of those men and he knew ours. He knew the cost of cleansing us even as he said the words.
Job 3
Job finishes the first chapter (losing most of his family and possessions) with worship. He finishes the second chapter (losing his health) with silence. Now we see the first chink in the armor (losing his sense of purpose). No longer does he celebrate the creative and destructive power of God as he did in chapter 1. The hedge that God put around him was a blessing in chapter 1, now it is seen as God's way of blocking Job's path.
It is hard for any of us to judge Job harshly for his downward spiral. May God mercifully spare us from even a taste of his hardship. However, we can even now see how much bigger God's purposes are than we can imagine. It is not so much (in my opinion) that we are to be wary of complaints because Job's circumstances are so much words (that is certainly true). The question on my mind is: what does this say about purpose? Job's purpose did not change from chapter 1 to chapter 3 - only his circumstances.
Romans 7
"The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me." (v 10)
Sin perverts law until we die. John Owen warns us that if we are not daily engaged in the work of killing sin, it will kill us. Sin does not overtly contradict the law by saying something like "murder is good." No. Sin takes the law which we acknowledge is "holy and righteous and good" (v 12) and twists it into a weapon with which to kill us.
You can feel the frustration of Paul who sees his body held captive to a force his mind knows is evil.
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v 24-25a)
Saturday, February 2, 2008
A Prophet Without Honor and Job's Three Friends
Mark 6
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
This passage breaks my heart. My first reaction is defensiveness for my Saviour. My next reaction is condemnation for his hometown. My third reaction is questioning myself if I would react the same. My fourth reaction is understanding that I would..."And He was amazed at their lack of faith." I have always said it would be so different, "it" being my faith in Christ, if He was walking in my midst, talking in my church, eating at my table. BUT, you know, He is, and I am not... but I am getting there.
47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
This passage is another one of those 2X4's that I seem to be coming across here lately... my head is really starting to hurt. Once again, a simplistic story that is a reflection into my life. The first time I read this when I became a Christian, I didn't quite understand why Jesus waited for so long before going out and helping. He waited, and waited, and waited through four watches. He finally went out, not to the boat, but walking almost right pass them. The disciples had to scream out for Him to respond.
But I think I understand it now. He was waiting for them to call out to Him, always so watchful never leaving. But they didn't. So, He made Himself more visable and accessible, and they responded in a scream. However, our patient God didn't criticize them for taking so long or screaming at Him, He responded immediately with words of encouragement, and calmed the turmoil occuring around them.
So my "aha" for today: He is waiting for me to call out to Him, and frankly, I wait until I have exhausted all of my own abilities. Prayfully, as I continue to grow in my faith in Him, I will "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)... and I won't wait until I am screaming.
Job
11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Friends like these, it would be such a different world! Reread verse 13 and let that sink in.
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
This passage breaks my heart. My first reaction is defensiveness for my Saviour. My next reaction is condemnation for his hometown. My third reaction is questioning myself if I would react the same. My fourth reaction is understanding that I would..."And He was amazed at their lack of faith." I have always said it would be so different, "it" being my faith in Christ, if He was walking in my midst, talking in my church, eating at my table. BUT, you know, He is, and I am not... but I am getting there.
47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
This passage is another one of those 2X4's that I seem to be coming across here lately... my head is really starting to hurt. Once again, a simplistic story that is a reflection into my life. The first time I read this when I became a Christian, I didn't quite understand why Jesus waited for so long before going out and helping. He waited, and waited, and waited through four watches. He finally went out, not to the boat, but walking almost right pass them. The disciples had to scream out for Him to respond.
But I think I understand it now. He was waiting for them to call out to Him, always so watchful never leaving. But they didn't. So, He made Himself more visable and accessible, and they responded in a scream. However, our patient God didn't criticize them for taking so long or screaming at Him, He responded immediately with words of encouragement, and calmed the turmoil occuring around them.
So my "aha" for today: He is waiting for me to call out to Him, and frankly, I wait until I have exhausted all of my own abilities. Prayfully, as I continue to grow in my faith in Him, I will "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)... and I won't wait until I am screaming.
Job
11 When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
Friends like these, it would be such a different world! Reread verse 13 and let that sink in.
Wait till the midnight hour
Romans 3:
For there is no distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
This passage has captured me all over again. The fact that God is just and my justifier blows me away and has been on my mind for the past day. What perfection...what mercy...what a plan that undeserving doesn't even begin to describe. My soul bows low.
For there is no distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
This passage has captured me all over again. The fact that God is just and my justifier blows me away and has been on my mind for the past day. What perfection...what mercy...what a plan that undeserving doesn't even begin to describe. My soul bows low.
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