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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Month: August 2018

A Promise In The Storm… Matthew 14:27

August 26, 2018 /

“But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!'”

“I am here!” A promise from God in the midst of your storm—your trial, is the only anchor that will surely keep you from going adrift…

My suitcases are packed. Boxes shipped, my ticket long purchased. I’m due to get on the plane Saturday night…

I had made peace with leaving my beloved Aina. Hawaii Nei, my other home. One need not be born in a place for it to be their home. Now, just days before I’m scheduled to leave for my return to the mainland hurricane Lane has hit our Island chain. Red, raging, swirling models of a “catastrophic category 5 hurricane” flashing on everything that can flash. Island wide tsunami warning sirens alerting us all that danger is on the way—is imminent;to say nothing of the obviousness of nature’s warnings. Its lashing, tree bending winds. Rain that’s causing once trickling streams to turn into raging Niagara’s overnight. Yup. This is happening live…

So, what do you do then when the unexpected storm hits you?

When every fear-filled voice you hear—your own included, is warning; “danger’s about to come and kick in your door!” This is no polite little storm. Well, first, you catch your breath. When an unexpected storm threatens your life it most certainly can take our breath away. It’s OK. Acknowledge the feelings—the fear of the unknown. Just don’t live there. Give yourself time to process what you’re facing.

If you try to get rid of fear and anger without knowing their meaning, they will grow stronger and return. –Deepak Chopra

But please, in the midst of your fear stop and pray. Even if all you can manage is; “God I’m afraid. I don’t know what to do with this. Help me please!” Those simple words invite God in. They connect you to the source of your strength. Yes, certainly you heed the advice, the professionals: you shop for food, close windows, seek shelter, yes you need to apply the wisdom God has given you. What you shouldn’t do, what isn’t wise, is to answer the door each time fear incessantly knocks on it with every gust of wind or downed branch. That is simply crazy making. It’s a thief…

Is it easy to tear your eyes away from the flashing screens, text alerts, and bending trees? Away from that doctor’s report, those divorce papers, or that grave stone? Away from the bottle of whatever that’s calling your name? No. No it’s not. For anyone that has ever been through such a storm—whether natural, physical, or emotional, you know exactly what I’m talking about…

For those that have not—pay attention. The storm is coming. I’m not being a naysayer. It’s just life. Storms are inevitable. They take courage to endure. They take faith because every now and again, a storm will hit with such unforeseen, unexpected intensity that the absolute best you can do is: do the stuff on the list and then surrender to the process.

Lean into the fact that you are not—are not, repeat, you are not in control. Prayerfully, you know the One who is.

The One who speaks to the storms—even the category Five storms that hit us unexpectantly. God alone telling them to be still. Notice I didn’t say He removes the storm—nor it’s often ravaging effects. He didn’t get to skip the ravaging effects of His storm, the Cross—so who are we, His followers, to think we should escape the effects of ours? Sometime the storm is exactly what we need in order that we arrive safely at our next destination. Oxymoron I know. But if you’ve known God for any length of time, you know what I’m saying is true. Sometimes the storms of life are God’s way of rerouting us. Now, does that mean He caused our storm? No. not necessarily. But maybe? Or maybe He simply allowed it to fulfill His plans—His purpose for our life. He most certainly knew it was coming. So, He put a plan in place that would benefit you, me, each of us—In the end. What I’m saying is: rather than removing the storms, He gives us the peace and the strength we need to walk through them. To not fold because of them. He walks through them with us—hand-in hand.

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. – Joseph Campbell

I had absolutely no intention of posting again until September 9th. Until I had reached the mainland and had a moment to walk through this transition, to acclimate a bit—get my footing. Once again, God had a different plan. I’m typing this as I’m watching palm trees bowing at the waist. While I listen to the music of the wind—a mighty rushing wind. His voice truly does rise above all others if we are listening. “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track” –Proverbs 3:6.

I’ll keep this short. If you’re facing a storm today—whatever its size or intensity, please, listen for the voice of God in the midst of it. I promise you—I promise you, He’s right there with you. “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” –Exodus 14:14.

And, if you’ve not met this God that speaks to the storms—now is the time. Don’t go through one more storm on your own. Repent of your sins, say your sorry and mean it. Ask God to come into your life as Lord and Savior. Let God speak peace—not perfection, not your expected, desired outcome—but peace, into your storm. “Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm’” –Mark 4:39.

Delayed does not mean denied! Trust God. I had my plan in place. But so, did God… “A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure” –Proverbs 16:9.

 

Baby Sips. Isaiah 43:13

August 19, 2018 /

 

 “Even from eternity I am He, And there is no one who can rescue from My hand; I act, and who can revoke or reverse it?”

Before any created thing ever even heard my Voice as I stood over the void. Before time, as it exists in your finite minds, was, I have always been.

You will never be able to undo the plans I have for you…

I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s a lot to take in. I imagine even those we consider “fathers of the faith”, those we place in the “super-Christian” category paused for a moment when taking a drink from that very tall glass?

Baby sips. That is how we must drink in—absorb, the enormity of our God. His scope. And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live”  Exodus 33:18-20.

He alone knows what we’re able of taking in at one sitting. And He alone knows what we can’t take in. What will stop us from flourishing. This Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient God offers us sips, recurrently, consistently over our lifetimes, allowing the densely concentrated richness of Himself to nourish, sustain, and increase our understating of just who this God we love, is. Consequently, through this sipping—via this gnosis, we grow as He Expands—increases, our capacity to take in more of Him. And so it goes with each new sip. As it is with our sanctification, so it is with our “understanding” of this unplumbed God. “Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” –Job 26:14.

When we allow the Truth of this passage of Scripture to wash over us—to wash us clean of our usual “everyday” seeing; in an instant of divine revelation, divine clarity, we’re brought face to face with its purity, its holiness, and its scale. Then again, how could God’s Word be anything other than what He is? And, in that transformative moment of revelation—of awakening from our every-day-ness, we cannot help but be both humbled and enlarged—in chorus.

Suddenly this Sovereign God of the universe—the universe, shows up. Dwells among us. Stirs up our bellies. Our inner-most parts.This same God whom we all too often try to condense, make small to fit our desire for the route one-point-five-hour version of the God we seek on Sunday mornings, just shows up! Filling us with just the faintest whisper of His presence. And we are left silent, awe-struck, left limp, splayed out before Him. Coming away from this “unscheduled” encounter with just the slightest clue, the slightest clue, into just how powerful this God we serve is. He comes  to us when He chooses and, He leaves us in much the same way. “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” –Psalm 8:3-4.

Job knew this all too well.

In one day, out of what I’m sure felt like left field to him—this devout, “blameless” man of God, this loyal, church-going, every day Bible reading man, lost all 10 of his children, his servants, wealth, livestock, and health. Even his four besties turned on him! These “friends” of his share their opinions on his sudden calamity. They range from: it must be all your fault Job, to, perhaps God hadn’t punished you severely enough! And, adding insult to injury, these friends also suggest that Job’s children must have done something “awful”. Suggesting that perhaps they had brought about their own deaths. If Job hasn’t yet completely imploded from the weight of his sheer grief and dejection his own wife now takes a turn at him telling him to curse God and be done with it! After all, this isn’t what she had signed up for! And all of this because this unsearchable God allowed—granted, permission for Satan to test Jobs faith.

Our God is the God of Job. The unsearchable One. The One who both gives and takes away. For His good purpose…

And, if our love for this God should ever be so tested, we would be wise to be of the same mind concerning the ways of the Lord as was Job when, after much striving to figure Him out concluded: The wisdom of God is hidden from the human mind. Nonetheless, Job determines he will pursue such wisdom by fearing God and avoiding iniquity.  “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” –Job 42:10.

Our Big God is also the God of Abraham.

The God who provides a Ram in the bush foreknowing we’ll take up the knife in obedience.

He is the God who gives us the desire of our heart long after our hope for the thing has all but faded away. Then, once we “have” this desire—this precious thing He’s blessed us with, this God who is jealous for our affections just may ask us to return it—to offer it up to Him in faith. Not because He needs, He owns both the universe, as well as all the gifts He’s given us. It may not be that He even wants it back. What He wants, what He’s seeking, is us. All of us. All our heart, soul, mind, and strength. What He wants is for us to trust Him. To love Him above all else. All else. And, yet, knowing our love for Him is true, is first, held precious in our hearts above all else, He built into this test of loyalty, of commitment, mercy.

This All-knowing God has His answer before He ever asks us the question. The testing of our commitment to Him above all else is for our benefit not His. It’s for our growth. To strengthen our faith in this God we love and serve. He is after all, God all by Himself. He does not need us, He chooses us. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” –James 1:2-4.

This God, this beyond what we can even wildly dream of God, the One who speaks galaxies into existence, more, created the complexity and intricacy of those galaxies, putting them into orbit, each exact element in its exact place. He too hung the stars in the night sky and knows each by name. He’s the only One who has the answer as to how many grains of sand exist on every beach, lake, pond, on each shore, everywhere. As well as how many and the exact number of hairs on your head, on my head, on every head.

This same God thought up just how to create the most gossamer of veils. Then He placed them, these whisper thin filmy creations as wings on the backs of Dragon Flies. And He created green. And all the other colors. This Mighty God, this God who sits on the Throne of heaven seeing every-thing, everything, at once. Nothing—not one thing ever, escaping His All-Seeing eye fits Himself into my too small frail flesh that we might be One. That I might—you might, partake of heaven, of Righteousness—His, not ours, now, here on this earth. This God, too big to take in in 1000 lifetimes created me—you, that we might co-create with Him. Doesn’t that just blow your mind! God wants to use you. Partner with you.

This same God who created Neptune and breath and daisy petals wants to partner with you…

So, when I contemplate today’s Scripture, I quickly realize there is far too much I do not know—will never know, was not meant to know, this side of eternity, about this God. And I’m okay with that. I’m okay with it because I can pray for the wisdom I need. He gives it in abundance, freely. I can scour His Word too. And, I can seek this God directly for His wisdom. I have that kind of relationship with Him, because of Him. So, rather than even trying to answer today’s question posed by God ourselves, instead, let’s allow His own Words to give us our answer: “When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Only God can undo something He has done—allowed. Only He has that kind of Power. Even the curse of death must obey Him. Only God can save. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This is the God we serve. And I for one, am humbled and blessed to be called to sit at His feet and proclaim, “My God How Great Thou Art!” Knowing I have only the slightest understanding of this Truth.

We come by faith believing, baby sips…

Friend, if you have yet to meet this God who you’ve just read about, now is the right time. This is the right place. You’re not here by accident. Please, stop, and repent of your sins, just tell God you’re terribly sorry, and ask this God into your life as your Lord and Savior. Remember, nothing gets past Him. He knew you’d be here, more, He’s the reason you are here….

 

 

 

 

 

Three Crosses: The Conclusion. Matthew 6:33

August 12, 2018 /

 “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

It has always been and will forever be, all about Jesus…

We preach Christ crucified. This is the focal point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a picture of blood flowing from Christ’s veins as He hung on the cross. The message of shed blood is repugnant to many, and they turn from such a gory sight, feeling that their delicate sensibilities have been outraged. Many people will accept Christ’s character, but they reject His crucifixion. –Billy Graham

“It is finished.” The three most powerful Words ever spoken. In them the “amen” to every promise God ever made for those who believe in Him…

Those three Words were sitting inside Jesus’s mouth waiting to be released over a world He had yet to speak into existence. As He said, “Let there be light”, “It is finished” was holding its breath, back straight, ready—waiting its turn. As the Light of the world literally spoke light into existence—a way had been made too for that same Light to pierce the darkness of sin-stained hearts…

… “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” –John 19:30. The cross of Jesus Christ is elemental to the Christian faith. The cross unveils the character of God. The Cross is where God’s love for sinners and His perfect justice converge. It’s where Jesus said a visible yes to the will of God. “Yes, I’ll lay down my life for them Father.” “Yes, though it means leaving heaven to take on their every sin, I’ll go. Though it means wrapping up the Light of my glory, concealing it in flesh, though it means betrayal and heartbreak and hunger and pain, though it means rejection and ridicule, being momentarily forsaken by You, I’ll go. Though it meant that the One who knew no sin would take into Himself every sin that every person ever created had ever committed—past, present, and future, still, before any one of us had broken through our mother’s womb—drew our first breath in, He had already said yes, “I’ll die for her, for him, for all of them”.

If God had to send His only Son to the cross in order to pay for sin, than sin must be dark indeed in the sight of God.–Billy Graham

In the Cross we see two inseparable Truths:

The greatest proof of Love known to man was ordained before one living-soul stepped foot on the earth. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” “It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And, besides this evidence of such great a love, we see evidence too of God’s intense hatred of sin. Both attributes are inextricably linked, foundational Truths standing side-by-side, indivisible. “The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them” (John 3:16; Romans 5:7-8; Ezekiel 18:20).

And, though we have His love and can also know His Love; to fully rest in its promises, we must first come to the Cross He stepped down across time and space to lay Himself upon. And we must answer His call of Love. We must first confess our guilt and ask forgiveness for it. We, like Peter, must answer this one question: “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God” –Matthew 16:15-16.

In so doing, in answering this one life-changing question, what we’re professing is this:

Jesus I know, I admit, You are God. I know I deserve to be hanging there—not You. I know it should be my blood spilled and not yours. I’m the sinner, not You. I’m sorry, terribly sorry, I repent of my sins and I thank you that You’ve made a place at the foot of Your Cross for me to come and acknowledge openly that You are God and I am not, and that I need you. Thank you for taking my place Jesus. And thank you that I’m now able to serve you, to be with you eternally…

This final teaching on the Cross of Christ may make some a bit uncomfortable. I make no apologies for that. Truth can often makes us squirm a bit. And that’s okay. Rather, I boldly offer you the Truth His Cross offers the world—the Life it affords us all. Instead of offering an apology for the Cross, I’ll ask that you think of—conjure up, the most unimaginable, most vile, hate-filled, perverse, twisted sin you can scarcely image, have ever heard tell of.

Got it? Now, understand this: As much as God hates that sin, hates all sin—He loves us, the sinners, infinitely more…

That same Cross that offends so many, that shed Blood of Jesus Christ—the Sinless Son of God, the One who left heaven for you and me, took that unimaginable sin, no, more, He willingly died, to take upon Himself all the unimaginable sins. And, with them, every other sin ever committed—and to be committed, so that the ones who confess those sins and truly repent of them will not have to die for having committed them. He did that for us—died in our place that is. That is the power, the humility, the forgiveness, and the unfathomable pure Love of our final and greatest Cross. The Cross of Jesus Christ. Sit with that thought for a second…

This Jesus came and in His coming, is the incarnate New Covenant. Covering laws, we could not keep with His Blood, once for all, so that we might be afforded life eternal. “For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second” –Hebrews 8:7.

All are welcomed at Jesus’ Cross. It doesn’t matter who you are, Jew or gentile, black, white, brown, tan or “other”. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or who you’ve done it with. It doesn’t matter who you identify as—not even that “scarcely unimaginable sin” you’d heard of earlier is any match for the Love God has for you. For the Power of Jesus’ shed Blood to scrub it so white, only you will ever know it was ever there. “And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” –1 John 4:10.

So, to recap: At our first cross, the Law, we saw God lay down an exacting, yet life-giving path that leads us towards the knowledge of who He is—of His standards. At our second Cross, we witnessed Jesus teaching us—transitioning us, readying us for a more intimate, a more “Parent-child” relationship with Himself. Teaching us the “how to’s” of presenting ourselves, our prayers and petitions, before Him. How to carry on a conversation with our Father. And here, now, at our third and final Cross—The Cross of Christ, we witness the price God our Father was willing to pay that we might be restored into relationship with Him. A relationship destroyed by sin. A relationship only the Cross of Christ; faith in Truth of His life, death, and resurrection could afford us… “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” –2 Corinthians 5:21.

The cross of Christ is not only the basis of our peace and hope–but it is the means of our eternal salvation. The goal of the cross is not only a full and free pardon, but a changed life lived in fellowship with God. No wonder Paul said 2,000 years ago, “We preach Christ crucified.” The world needs this message today. This is the message of hope, peace, and brotherhood. This is what the world calls “foolishness” but what God has been pleased to call “wisdom.” What do you call it? –Billy Graham

Friend, if you haven’t yet come to His Cross, I implore you to come today. Christ died for you. Confess your sins to Him, ask Him into your life, and let your life truly begin anew… “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]” –2 Corinthians 5:17.

Three Crosses Part 2. Matthew 6:33

August 5, 2018 /

  “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

The Cross of Christ. There is only One…

So why is this teaching entitled, “Three crosses?” Allow me to explain. The “Three crosses” we’ll explore over the next few weeks are pathways created by God to both draw us into and to refine, as with gold, our relationship with Him. Leading us, ultimately, to our final cross—the Cross of Christ which we are blessed to share in—to carry.

Last week we looked at the how God established—laid out, His Laws in such a way that they lead us first, into a vertical relationship with Him—our firm foundation from which all else is built, then secondly, horizontally into relationship with each other.

Next week we will explore our final Cross. The Cross of Christ.

This week, however, we’ll find our second Cross of meeting and refinement in the teaching of a prayer…

Today, as we stand at the foot our second Cross—this simple yet profound prayer, this model, this exchange—let’s peek behind its surface, shall we?

Let’s look towards—take in, examine, challenge each other with, its lessons…

In the age of the patriarchs, each man understood that he was the priest of his household. He was responsible for all those he covered . He knew too, that his name stood as more than a mere title used to identify him. His name was attached to his identity, his character. It was cultural, part of the fiber of who he was, or would become. Jesus, our High Priest, is no different. He couldn’t be. That He might atone for our sins, empathize with our weaknesses, it was necessary for Him to take on human flesh, becoming “like us in every way”. It was necessary for God to take on flesh in the person of Christ Jesus and walk among us—yet being fully God still—He remains nonetheless, sinless. “Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind]” Hebrews 2:17

It is this God, The Only Begotten of the Father, who is teaching our brothers—teaching us. His Character our model.

Let that sink in a moment…

Let’s head over to listen to how Matthew describes the way Jesus instructed him and his brothers—and through them, us—to pray.

Jesus says, pray like this: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” –Mathew 6:10-13

 

“Our Father in heaven”: Jesus straightaway leaves no room for doubt about who it is we must pray to. He points His disciples towards—and through them us, this revolutionary new way to address God. More, this new way to understand and enter into relationship with Him. Now, instead of calling on God by title only, as His creation— as El Shaddai, Yahweh, or G_d, as was custom, Jesus is teaching His friends to see themselves as His child, as personally connected—intimately connected to God, as a child is to their Father. His friends had witnessed Jesus taking time away to pray to His Father this way. Now they wanted this for themselves. There is a great lesson in their desire for us all… “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son-ship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” –Romans 8:15.

“May your name be kept holy.” Some versions rend this as “Hallowed by thine name.” Your name isn’t like any other. Your name, as is your person, is, “sanctified; consecrated; sacrosanct—set-apart.” Jesus, in part, teaches His friends the proper awe and reverence one should always have—even as a friend, even as a child must have when interacting with their Holy Father God. This is a Name that should not slip unguarded from colorful lips set on calling down curse on themselves or others. This Name is Holy. And, as with all things holy, it must be set apart for sacred use—not common. “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:3

“May your Kingdom come soon.” The Tabernacle of God—The Lamb who was from the beginning of the world. Slain for their sins and the sins of the whole world, was teaching them to pray for heaven to dwell on earth. For Gods perfect rule—a world without sin—to become a reality. They were all too familiar with evil and murder and persecution and lies and treachery. Jesus is teaching them—us, to pray for Gods perfection to be manifested. Firstly, in our own hearts. As our deepest desire. As we patiently await that glorious time when heaven will come in all its fullness. “They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power; To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations” –Psalm 145:11-13.

“May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Jesus is, in part, teaching His friends to set aside their way of doing things. Set aside their feelings, our feelings and wants and ought to be’s—our ways of wanting God to show up and act and do. Stop asking God to bless our plans—our “golden calf”. Stop speaking to God in redundant, empty, ritualistic words. Pray instead that the will of The One who created you and everything in this world be sought after by every man—desired by all. That none miss out on heavens plan for their lives. That Gods perfect will—as it is in heaven—be done, lived out, strived for, shared, hungered after, here and now, on earth. God is seeking those who are willing to empty themselves of their will that He might manifest His own through them. The One who willingly laid down His life is teaching us this lesson. “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded” –John 10:18.

“Give us today the food we need…” Father, as with any good dad, we are trusting you to take care of us today. We’re resting in you. Firstly, give us more of you. Give us the spiritual milk we thirst after, the Living Water we need, and fill our bellies with your Life-giving Word. And shelter us and cloth us and protect us from harm. Then, please, meet our physical needs as well. We come to you in humble reliance daily—minute by minute, that you alone might nourish and sustain us rather than us looking to make it happen our way for ourselves. “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”’ –Matthew 4:4.

“And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” His disciples had experienced firsthand how often Jesus flipped the proverbial script on them—commanding them to do, live, be, exactly opposite of what the world taught them. To love, to forgive their Roman oppressors and those who persecuted them. And, this forgiveness of those that sinned against them business was no different. Jesus teaches in order that they be forgiven their continued sinning, their daily sins, their guilt, and offenses, they must first forgive everyone else to the full measure they would hope to be forgiven of God. No exceptions. Least the pride of unforgiveness cause a chasm to form between them and the Father who wants desperately to bless His children with every good thing. This God, in His Perfect justice, cannot however, forgive us of our sins if we choose to close Him out and harden our hearts by hanging on to—nurturing an offense rather than forgiving it. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” –Matthew 6:14-15.

“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Again, Jesus is, in part, teaching our brothers what they—and we, will hear from our brother Paul later on in his letter to the Philippians. Jesus, unbeknownst to them in that moment, is teaching them to allow the nascent roots of their faith in this “Father”, this “Abba God”, to go deep. To fully believe that the One who called them to Himself, the One that is teaching them how to communicate with Himself, will keep them safe from the enemy of their soul. Will provide a way out when the flood of temptation threatens to overtake them. And it will threaten to overtake them. Being His child did not  not exempt them and it does not exempt us from temptation—from falling, face first, into sin. Often actually, temptation singles us out as targets. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” –1 Corinthians 10:13.

Friends, our second cross, this simple, powerful, pure prayer is yet another way that God—our Father, our Daddy, Poppa, has paved the way for us to come to Him—to get to know Him, to enter into communion with Him. He has taken us from His Laws, which must never be forgotten, into relationship. He offers us this simple prayer as a model, a guide. He lovingly takes time to teach us to abandoned ourselves into His care. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?” 1 Corinthians 6:19. He sets our feet on a path that strengthens us each time we walk on it—which each new step on it. Trusting in its straightness and its solid foundation to keep us safe. But never, I beseech you, lose sight of, reverence for the fact, that “Our Father” is the Sovereign God of the universe. The Great I Am. Your Creator ,and the Creator of all heaven and earth. The Bright and Morning Star. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. “Let all the earth fear and worship the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” “Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]
And discover the knowledge of God” Psalm 33:8;Proverbs 2:5.

Never forget to whom it is you have been given the awesome, unfathomable honor of praying to—of communicating with. And, the price the One teaching this simple prayer paid that you might be afforded that honor. “But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed…” Corinthians 4:7-9.

Friend, if you find yourself here today not knowing this Father God, I ask that you take a moment as Jesus’s friends did, and ask Him for yourself how to pray. Ask Him first to come into your heart, if you haven’t already; to forgive you of your sins that He might come in and show you how to have ongoing communion with Our Father…

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