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

Tag: Salvation (Page 14 of 17)

Are You Willing to Climb? Luke 19:1-10

January 20, 2019 /

 “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. “‘

Exactly when did Jesus know that this man would run through the thick of the crowd that had gathered and climb up into a tree—simply to get a look at Him? Zacchaeus, this chief tax collector, this marginalized, ostracized son of Abraham…

Was it while Jesus was teaching yet another crowd on another day in some other little village; concerning the Parable of the lost? The lost Sheep, coin, and son that is. Was it during His time of teaching His disciples about forgiveness and faith? Maybe It was after He had entered a small village somewhere between Galilee and Samaria and ten men covered in leprosy cried out to Him for healing? Or, perhaps it was in a Nanosecond of time somewhere in eternity? Was Jesus standing over the dark void perhaps when the plan to meet Zacchaeus under the Sycamore-fig came to be?

The Bible doesn’t fill in that particular blank for us…

Suffice it to say however, God knew the exact second this man of small moral and physical stature both would quite literally be found, “up a tree!” More, it had always been God working just below the surface of Zacchaeus’s knowing. Across the span of his lifetime; unnoticed by him, unrecognized, yet ever-present in every-thing that had ever-happened to him, or in him, or through him! God had used every-thing. Every joy, each smile, every pain, hurt, disappointment. Every rejection, each harsh word spoken, every bright ray of sun that had ever pierced the darkness of Zacchaeus isolation—and loneliness. God had used them all to pave the path that would eventually lead Zacchaeus to this exact tree, at this precise time.

The Holy Spirit is stealth—and intentional. There are no accidents with God. No almost…

God had a plan for Zacchaeus’s life. Just as surely as He had for Father Abraham’s. Different certainly. Each of ours are—different that is; those plans God has for you, and you, and me. Yet similar because we are One Body in Christ Jesus, if we believe. God has a plan for our salvation; if we are found in Him. He has a plan for our transformation. Just as He had a plan that would empower Zacchaeus to do what he had not done, probably, since boyhood. Climb a tree. God will drive us towards the most peculiar of tasks and, He’ll do it at the most inopportune of times. Our time that is, not His. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” –Jeremiah 29:11.

There is no reason given us in Scripture as to why Zacchaeus wanted to “see” Jesus.

He, unlike the blind beggar that shouted out to Jesus from the roadside entrance of this same Jericho village had his sight; physically speaking that is. But in fact, it was the blind man who had 20/20 vision when compared not only to Zacchaeus, but to many others gathered together that day! He saw Jesus for who He was. But that’s best left for us to explore another day. The blind beggar knew he wanted to receive healing from Jesus. He stated it plainly. “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied –Luke 18:41.

Yet we never hear Zacchaeus crying out to Jesus for healing or forgiveness. Verse six plainly says that when Jesus called him down out of the tree that they might share lunch together, “Zacchaeus climbed down quickly and with great joy and took Jesus into his house.” Where’s the shame? The downcast eyes, heart, and spirit? Where’s the wailing and tearing of garments that might evidence Zacchaeus’ feeling the weight of his sins? Where is the sackcloth and ashes? Where’s the remorse? Thank God that He sees what mere men cannot! But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” –1 Samuel 16:7.

In this account of Zacchaeus, I was reminded of yet another wayward son of Abraham—a son separated from his family and community as a result of his sins and selfish choices. We’re never told what drove Zacchaeus to become a chief tax collector—perhaps the vilest of jobs a Jew could have. Maybe we should ask the Apostle Matthew? Remember, he too was a tax collector up until the moment Jesus “just happened” to walk by him that day in the Temple.

In spite of their both being men and tax collectors I saw myself in Zacchaeus and Matthew. Broken and dead in sin. Separated from family and friends due to poor choices. Having lusted after the things of this world. Sullied by the sin of countless offences. More, I too was separated from God. Thankfully for each of us, God, unbeknownst to us, was never far from us. Plus, unlike blind Bartimaeus, it had never occurred to me to call out to Jesus! Sure, I knew of Him. Believed in Him even—at least I believed that He was. But I never opened my mouth. Never asked for what I needed most. How fortunate (such a pale expression of such an incomprehensible blessing!) I was that Jesus determined to walk past me—just as He did Abraham, Zacchaeus and Matthew, Paul too. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” –Romans 5:8.

For whatever His reason God chose each of us in Himself long before we had a clue!

While Zacchaeus and Matthew were swindling and cheating people out of their hard-earned money and goods and while Paul’s heart was burning with murderous intentions to kill those that believed in this Jesus, God had sealed each of them in Himself—as His own. Me too. Scripture is clear that Zacchaeus never cried out to Jesus. Never shouted out to get Gods attention. Matthew either. In each of their cases—Paul’s also, it was God who made certain He had gotten their attention. It was God who came to them. It’s always God. God whom presented Himself to each of them in such a way that to not follow after Him—not leave it all behind, not change their ways—not repent, was not an option. Me too. “Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them” –Romans 4:10-11.

I don’t profess to understand the depths of God—or fully understand His ways for that matter. I see and understand in part.  I’m no biblical scholar. Just a simple sheep following after a God that is far too big—to marvelous—too brilliant, creative, deep, Holy, and pure for me to ever comprehend in full this side of eternity. Nor would I want to. I am incredibly happy being me and knowing that I serve a God who is far too big for me to get my mind, knowing—and heart around. What I am capable of doing, by His grace, is climbing whatever tree necessary to get a better look at—a more intimate understanding of—a deeper revelation of, the One I love. The One who stood over the void and said to himself, “This world will not be complete without my daughter in it.” The One who left the Fathers side that He might walk before me. Making certain that I don’t forget my way back home.

And I know that my brothers Abraham, Zacchaeus and Matthew and Paul, and all in that great cloud of witnesses, felt much the same as I do now.

How about you?

Are you willing to climb?

Beloved, I encouraged  you today to keep climbing! let nothing or no one stop your running after or seeking out our Lord. Especially not those lies the enemy of your soul whispers incessantly. Telling you you’re not saved, or good enough, smart enough, or that God could never love someone who has made the mistakes you’ve made. Sinned as grossly as you have. It’s a lie! God has chosen you. And He’ll never let go of you! See, even now, He’s passing you by…

And friend, if you’ve yet to ask Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior, let today be your day. Look! Just there. He’s coming your way. Won’t you ask Him to come in and dine with you? HE will if you will…

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” Romans 10:9-10.

Three Crosses. Matthew 6:33.

July 29, 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 our relationship with Him. Leading us, ultimately, to our final cross—the Cross of Christ which we are blessed to share in—to carry….

A Cross is formed where the vertical meets the horizontal.

Before we can be used of God outwardly, we must first be called into relationship with Him inwardly…

Over the next three weeks we will be exploring three distinct yet interconnected areas where our vertical relationship with God intersects our horizontal service to produce the fruits of sacrifice and service. The place where our primary relationship with God moves us away from our selfishness, our comfort zones, demanding sacrifice. And calls us into that place where He begins the work of stretching us towards relationship, service, calling. Stretching us ever towards reflecting Christ to a lost and dying world.

At its height, a life lived in absolute surrender— its width, a picture of perfect submission and humility…

A task only One Man is fully able to surrender to—to embrace, as one embraces a lover; Jesus—our Teacher, our Guide, our Lord. Yet, if we’re a believer, then we too are called to follow Jesus’s sacrificial example—even if following that example leads us to our deaths. Not popular I know—but True nonetheless. His Cross stands as the pure Light which tries us, tests us, illuminates our darkest recesses, exposing us for what we are—sinners in need of salvation—in need of restoration—in need of God. Of the vertical relationship that ultimately will stretch us horizontally—enabling us, empowering us, willing within us, the desire to follow His example, His will, His laws…

In order that we might understand both the power and the purpose of The Cross of Christ—we must first understand all that God did to pave the way to the one place – towards the One person, who connects, bridges, advocates between Heaven and earth. God shows us—lays out for us, the way to the Cross. And, one of the ways in which He did this was through the Law. Yet, in giving us these laws God knew not one of His creation could keep them perfectly—wholly, as His Righteousness requires, demands, so, out of His great love for us, He chose to leave behind the glory of heaven and donned human flesh with all its needs and constraints. The Omnipresent One chose to be bound by what He created and sits above. The Bread of Life chose to have to eat bread that He might live. God chose to need what we need: sleep, rest, food, shelter—to feel what we feel: hunger, tiredness, loneliness, rejection, and physical pain. It was, after all, a man’s hands and feet that were nailed to His Cross. His physical body whose side was pierced by the Roman spear. Human Blood was spilled, staining the Cross He was nailed to; it was not stained with the sacrificial blood of bulls, goats, or sheep…

The first three of Gods Laws—His Commandments, are vertical. They point us towards Him. Towards the supremacy of the One True God. Jesus, in Matthew 22:37, confirms this for us as He points us towards the central teaching, the heart of the Law found in Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” –Deut. 6:5. This first Commandment, declares—makes plain, there is only One God.

Everything else we need to know flows down from that Triune foundational Truth. That One Source…

The law then goes on to instruct us how it is we must approach, revere, honor, exalt this Sovereign God of the universe. We are to have no other gods before Him, not make for ourselves graven images. Don’t exalt an image of what was created over the One who created it. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. Don’t toss around the Name of the Sovereign God of the universe like it was some common, everyday name—don’t abuse or defame His Holy Name. We’re to remember the sabbath day, keeping it holy. You have six days a week to work, as God did at creation, this sabbath day is intended as a time to be spent with Him, allowing Him to refresh you. The rest of the Law is horizontal in nature—teaching us, pointing us towards our responsibilities towards others, as well as those actions and desires we are to run from—disavow.

We were created in God’s image, to serve and honor Him. He alone sustains us, and, within these three commands He establishes His dominion—His Sovereignty, over our lives. They are a perfect list of our vertical duties—requirements, for serving a Holy God. Yet, even in having these we will still, forever, fall short of their perfect standard.

Enter Christ Jesus the Sinless Sacrifice ready to die for our sins and failures…

Yet Christ never came to abolish these Laws, rather to fulfill them. To do for us what the law couldn’t. Nonetheless, the law will forever have its place in our lives both as guideposts and as a stark reminder; mirrors both that reflect back to us our need for Jesus in our lives…

In Hebrews Chapter 10 Paul assures us that that the laws of Moses were only a dim preview of the good things to come—they weren’t, nor did they contain, the Power of the good things themselves. Under the Law a sacrifice needed to be made repeatedly as the shed blood of bulls and goats couldn’t bring about perfect cleansing. Rather, these very sacrifices reminded the one offering them of their sin and guilt—of their continual need for sacrifice and forgiveness. Paul goes on to assure us that the law’s requirements for the blood of bulls and goats could never, was never intended to be a permanent solution for absolving man of his sin. It was a mere shadow, a ‘first-step” on the path that would eventually lead to the beckoning Cross of Christ that is ever before us…

We witness the Truth of this in the life of Father Abraham. A man made righteous by his faith, by the will of God—not by blood sacrifices or works. How? A mystery. In the Beginning the Word already existed…

The Cross, and the salvation it affords, has always been Gods plan for His creation…

“Therefore, when Christ enters into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But [instead] You have prepared a body for Me [to offer] In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no delight. “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come To do Your will, O God— [To fulfill] what is written of Me in the scroll of the book.’” –Hebrews 10:5-7

Join us next week when we will examine the effects of our second cross—The Lord’s Prayer. (for a deeper, more complete understanding of Christ and the law reading through Chapters 7-10 found in the Book of Hebrews, Romans Chapters 4 & 7, and Genesis 14:17 through 15:17, among other Scriptures, would help fill in the gaps for you).

And Friend, if you’re here today and have read through this but have not yet asked this Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior, I believe today is your day for salvation to visit you! Stop now and pray, just simply ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior, then trust Him as He begins a good work in you that He alone is faithful to complete… ”because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.” –Romans 10:9-10

 

Restoration. Romans 5:10

June 3, 2018 /

 “ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].”

John 3:16, one of the most quoted verses of Scripture assures us of the unfathomable, unplumbed love of God. Listen: “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.”

And, God did this while we were yet His enemies—separated from partaking in, sharing in a loving, intimate relationship with Him because of our sin and rebellion. Yet so great is His love for His creation that even in our fallen state, He, this God we’ve denied, turned away from, rebelled against, said “no thanks” to, sacrificed the person He loved most—Jesus, His only Son. So that through Him—through His life, His death, and His resurrection—a way back to God—back to intimate relationship with Him, would be made for us…

Now I’ve been given many a gift over the course of my lifetime. Some that were downright amazing! However, never, never has anyone loved me so much that they were not only willing, but in fact went as far as, giving up their life—dying, to ensure that I was afforded the opportunity to have, share, partake of—life everlasting with God! Not even my momma, the one God chose to love me “the best”. Though I am certain that her mother’s prayers pierced His heart on more than one occasion—it is only Jesus who stood before the Father and said, Here I am Dad, I’ll die in her place.

And, in your place, and his, and hers, and theirs, and in place of the whole world…

Imagine if you will, the sacrificial love of both God and Christ towards us through this very pale light of comparison:

Most of us have heard of “Spiderman”. His name is Mamoudou Gassama. He’s the 21-year-old man who recently scaled a 5-story building to save the life of a little 4-year-old boy whose life hung—quite literally, in the balance. Now imagine further, if Mamoudou went to such extreme lengths to save this child, do you believe he would then deny this same child He had sacrificed so much for—”time for a visit with each other” if it was something the child he saved asked of him?

If a mere man—heroic and self-sacrificing as he may be, is capable of such extreme acts of sacrificial love, how much more God? “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” Romans 5:10.

And, if this same God sacrificed His very best—His greatest, most precious possession, His only begotten Son so that He might have relationship with—have reconciled to Himself a people He knew beforehand would reject His gift—reject Jesus; how much more will this same God give to those who have, who will, opened their hearts to this sacrificial loving gift of His Son? We find the full weight of that answer in our Scripture verse today.

Since He gave so mush to us while we were yet His enemies, how much more will He save those He calls His friends!

Jesus, God’s gift freely given to a sin-soaked, seditious world for the express purpose of reconciliation to, and relationship with Himself. A relationship none of us can ever—will ever have outside of our acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior. “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up” John 6:44. Jesus, while speaking to His disciples—expresses this inextricable Oneness, this unity—the mystery of the Trinity between The Father and Himself. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” –John 14:6 (emphasis my own).

God gave all—the very best He had to give while you and I were His enemies…

There is a perpetual bond that now exists between Mamoudou Gassama and the child who is known only as, “the child dangling from a 4th floor balcony.” Here is what this young hero had to say about his selfless act: I ran. I crossed the street to save him. He said he didn’t think twice. When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing.

If a perpetual bond can exist between a mere man—a stranger and a child, born from one heroic act of selfless sacrifice—how much deeper, wider, stronger is the bond between God and those that know Him—that call Him Father? “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” –Romans 5:6-8. Belonging to God—having a relationship with Him doesn’t guarantee us, as with the toddler in Paris, that we’ll never be in a life-threatening situation.

He does guarantee us however, that He will scale any wall, face any enemy, endure any suffering, sacrifice everything to save us. In fact, He’s already done it! “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.…” Romans 5:7.

If you are a child of God take great comfort in the Father’s Providential love for you—in His promise of, “how much more”, found in Romans Chapter 8. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” 8:38-39.

Beloved, it’s no coincidence you’re here right now. If you have yet to call Him your Lord, today is the day! He’s just waiting for you to call out to Him, “Help, Jesus! Save me please!”  He hears your pray and is on His way before you even ask.  “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” –Isaiah 65:24

 

Worthy. John 14:1

March 18, 2018 /

 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.” 

Worthy. None of us are. We each deserve death for our sins against God alone. Yet, because of the Precious Lamb of God, because of the One, the only One, who is and was and will forever be worthy, we who have been chosen by Him, washed in His shed Blood, are made worthy through Him…

We are witnesses to the shift in a conversation. A shift in the way we witness love—our understanding of it, our part in it, our own worth as a result of it…

Jesus has talked to His disciples about His impending death. But, during this conversation, one of these, Peter, proclaims that so great is his love, his belief in Jesus—that he’s ready to die for him! And that’s where Jesus tells Peter—bold Peter, certain Peter, that not only won’t he die for Him anywhere soon—he’s about to betray Him by denying he ever knew Him! In fact, Jesus gets so specific, He tells Peter that he’ll deny Him not once, or twice, but three times before the morning fully comes…

And then it happens. The pivot—the shift in the conversation…

As if Jesus had not just dropped these back to back “bombs”—these, game changing, life altering declarations, He tells everyone present to be calm—not to get all worked up about what He had just said. “Do not let your heart be troubled.” Are you kidding me right now! Don’t let your hearts be troubled after Jesus, tells them that He’s about to die after only three years of friendship? Really? They were just getting to know and deeply trust Him…

And what of Him being the Messiah?

Who would free them from Roman tyranny if He died?

And Why? Why was this happening? How could Jesus say something so contrary to the state of each of their “already fearful” hearts?

“Believe in God, believe also in Me.”  Jesus is trying to shift their focus from fear and fright—to a deeper faith in Him. Towards the work He knew He was about to do, and had already done, in them. He knew also that in just a moment the Holy Spirit would come to them turning their mourning, their fear and sadness, in to joy unspeakable! He’d turn their every question mark into a period. He’d expose them to Pure Truth.

Jesus knew His friends believed in Him, but He also knew that even believers have heart trouble at times. And this was one of those times. Yet, if they would only trust in Him just a little longer…

Our friends had each missed the shift—the opportunity to change the basic assumptions they had lived out as fact. They missed the peek into Truth—into what was truly real. Into the who, what and why of Jesus, the purpose for His coming—and going. They missed entirely how their worth was really His. How when God saw them—He saw Jesus and His finished redemptive work in their lives—and ours.They had each been called to follow Him. To leave all that they had known, were, for this new life He had for them, in Him…

They missed the clue Jesus had just given them into what was about to happen—to them all…

Jesus knew long before any of these had even thought to follow Him He had chosen them as the very vessels He would use to usher in His Church—the Way. Use them to bring about, to cause, an upheaval in the fixed, rigid, legalistic, idolatrous world system. The way in which some Jews, and the rest of the world, had come to view God, His Temple, and their relationship with Him.

And, Peter was about to become the leader of this new revolution!

It’s why he was, in part, created—chosen. Made worthy. Redeemed, again and again. Yes, this same Peter whom Jesus had just stated would thrice betray Him will end up being the great apostle God will use to build His Church.  If you’ve ever betrayed Jesus, you should be shouting for joy now! Not for your betrayal, but because If God forgave Peter and saw worth in him—He’ll  do the same for you too!

It is, was, and will forever be—all about Jesus. His work. His will. His choosing and love of us, first, that makes us worthy to boldly come before Him.

Where we see failure, frailty, ambiguity, God sees our worth…

Jesus alone modeled an untroubled heart amid what certainly appeared—to those gathered, to be a time of trouble. He alone knew Gods will not only for Himself—for why He had come at all, but also for each one gathered with Him and more—for you and me and for the whole of humanity. We are their harvest, the apostles. But we are Gods seed.

Jesus saw Peter as worthy—as a son, not as a betrayer. Perhaps that’s why He didn’t belabor the point with Peter concerning his betrayal after He had spoken of it? Jesus saw Peter as a finished product—complete and sinless in Himself; high and lifted-up—already seated with Him in Heaven, victorious. Through the very work He had talked to them about and would soon accomplish on His Cross—by His resurrection, the defeat of sin, death, and the grave, it was through this reality—by this Truth, that Peter, and each of these disciples was made worthy.

As are each of us called by His name and into the family of God…

Jesus continues telling His friends that shortly, it may seem that He’s left them—He never will. But, He must go before them to prepare all that He has predestined for them all from the moment it entered Him to bring them forth, give them life and a purpose, a calling. He reminds them—instills in them, that He is the only way in which anyone can be re-united with God. He tells them plainly that in seeing Him, they have in fact—seen God. And, if they can’t yet get their heads around that fact for its own sake, believe it because of all His works—the signs, wonders, and miracles He had done.

This is the second time our friends have heard Jesus claiming this same Truth.

It was wintertime in Jerusalem, the time of Hanukkah. Jesus and these same friends were walking around the Temple near Solomon’s colonnade when a high-spirited crowd broaches Him with a very pointed question. Read John 10:22-42 to hear their whole conversation…

But to get back to the conversation Jesus is having with His friends—lets once again listen in…

Jesus affirms each of them as worthy in Him—by Him, through Him, as He tells them that these very same miracles He has done they too will do—and even greater things than these! He reiterates that He’s going back to the Father and, in that moment a mystery is exposed to them—yet another shift occurs. Jesus makes plain that because He’s going back to God they will now be able to have access to the same power of God Jesus Himself had. All they must do is ask the Father anything in His name and, so long as it’s the Fathers will, it will be done for them as it was for Jesus. Because of His choice of them—they have been made worthy of heaven—of relationship with God. Of sonship.

And, Jesus will use them each to change the world for heaven’s sake!

One cannot meet God and remain unchanged. Christ in them caused such a love for Himself to swell up on the inside, they joyfully, willingly, obeyed His commands. Just as He lovingly, willingly obeyed the Father’s. Christ in us—a true encounter with Christ, will always cause disruption to our norm.  Will always bring about both a letting go—and a letting in. Love makes us want to be—stretch to become, the very best version of ourselves. Love causes us to surrender to itself. And, it is in that surrender that our worth is found. We are worthy because He chose us as His own.

The question is—do you believe it?

Have you found your worth in the Living God—Jesus Christ? If you don’t know Him, haven’t yet met Him, invited Him, and all He offers you, into your life, do it today. While there’s still time. Why continue living feeling like your unworthy when God has so much more planned for your life? Christ died to show you just how worthy He thought you were. Don’t pass that by. Call out to the One who holds your worth, my worth, in the palm of His nail pierced hand…

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.” 

Sound Familiar? Matthew 14:30

February 25, 2018 /

 “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.”

What greater words could any man ever utter! How blessed a plea! Three simple words that sum up our hearts cry when we acknowledge—are face to face with, the limits of our mortal coil…

“Lord, save me!”

Only a moment ago Peter was boldly—confidently, asking Jesus to bid him come to Him on the water—so that he too could walk upon the waves. Now, moments later, Peter is being swallowed up by this very same raging sea!

What was sure and solid beneath him a second ago—is now threatening to consume him! Yet, before Peter realizes that he is dealing with the engulfing effects doubt can have on a soul—he’s able to cry out to the only One he knows can help him—save him, Jesus…

When Jesus bid Peter come He was promising him he could in fact, do what he sought to do—walk on water. And, for one faith-filled moment Peter did just that. He defied the law of nature through the power of the One who both created and controls nature! When we doubt the promises given us by God—when we start to pick-and-choose what we’ll believe, once we allow doubt in—our faith is damaged, weakened, and, will inevitably fail us as it did Peter. And, we will find ourselves being swallowed up by waves of doubt as well…

Have you ever been in this same state with Jesus?

One minute your chest is bursting with bold confidence that you truly can do all things through Christ in you. Then, just for a second you take your eyes off Him, and before you know what hit you—wham! You too are being swallowed up by doubt! Taken under by lack of faith…

You’re in need of saving—yet again!

As a Christian, it’s not difficult for me to imagine the confusion, shame and guilt Peter might have felt after Jesus restored him safely back into the boat. His sense of, what just happened to me? I was just walking on that water; how did I end up under it? I don’t understand…!

Have you ever tasted the bitter bile of doubt? Have you been left to swallow the awful after-taste lack of faith leaves in your mouth? Has shame ever covered you as completely—as uncomfortably, as Peter’s wet clothes covered and clung to him?

If you’re cringing right now—you get it. You’ve been where Peter was.

I have too…

But, what caused Peter to take his eyes off Jesus? It’s not like the storm wasn’t there all along. What happened to cause Peter to look away?

Jesus answers this question for us in the following verse: It was doubt…

The conditions surrounding Peter hadn’t changed. Jesus hadn’t suddenly disappeared. Scripture never mentions anything about a creäture of sorts coming up out of the water to attack Peter.

It was doubt. Plain and simple. “Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  (vs.31)

In Hebrews 11:6 Scripture informs us: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Jesus had bid Peter to come.

He had Jesus’ Word that he could walk on the water if he so chose to. The same power that allowed Jesus to walk on water was available to Peter too. “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” –John 5:19. So why Jesus and not Peter?

Aside from Jesus being God in the flesh, Jesus had unwavering, immovable trust in His Father. Peter wasn’t there yet…

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Therefore,  in this instance, I posit for your consideration that —God was enacting all the above—in tandem, within Peter. Building in him faith, trust, steadfastness through, despite, his weakness —in what appeared at that moment as a failure? For the divine purpose of what was yet to come.

Scripture appears to bear this out. After Peter’s brush with death, we see him running away from—denying Jesus, multiple times… (Luke 22:54-62). Once again, Peter’s fears and doubts have taken him under. Left him filled with deep shame, an awareness that he too has betrayed and abandoned his friend—Judas wasn’t  the only one to betray Jesus. And so we see Peter doing what we are guilty of doing ourselves. Peter gives up and returns to what he knows… (John 21:3). Sound familiar? Have you done that as well? Are you there now perhaps? Defeated, shamed, hands and head hung low in disgrace and self-disappointment? If so take heart, there’s forgiveness and restoration waiting for you just as it was for Peter….

We’re now back in a boat with Peter and several of the apostles. It’s nearing the shore after a night of unsuccessful fishing. At the shore, a figure they do not recognize—once again, is standing. He bids them to cast their empty nets over the right-hand side of the boat. They do, and in an instant, their nets are teeming with fish!

At that moment it is John who recognizes that it’s Jesus, risen from the dead, standing on shore. He tells Peter as much. And, once again we hear of Peter jumping out of a boat to be where Jesus is. After Jesus feeds Peter and the others with natural food He takes Peter aside and asks him three questions He knew the answer to…

Three simple, gentle, restorative questions that release Peter from the shame, guilt, and anguish of betraying his friend and his Lord…

Friend, if you too have jumped out of the boat, chasing after the One you love—and then failed Him due to lack of faith, doubt, a drug relapse, divorce, imprisonment, alcoholism, pride, and rebellion—take heart…

Hear the Words Jesus spoke to one just like yourself; and make them your own. Allow them to wash over you taking away—removing eternally, your shame, guilt, pain, and, betrayal’s ugly blight.

You too have a divine purpose to fulfill!

If you are a child of God, speak your name, in place of Peter’s,as you read this Scripture. “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to __________Simon Peter, “_____________Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.” –John 21:15

The Living Word of God restored Peter…

It restores all men who say yes when called. And He will restore you also.

Will you jump out of the boat one last time? Will you trust Him afresh, sin stained as you are? Will you join Him for a meal that will forever alter the direction of your life? He’s standing right here at the shore of your heart bidding you to come, eat what He has already prepared for you while you were away…

And, if you don’t yet know Him, Jesus is asking to come into your heart—right now, He’s already done everything for you too, He prepared the way for you to come to Him through the work He did on His Cross.

Please say yes to His invitation friend…

“Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:19-21.

It Was, And Is, A “We” Thing…Luke 23:34

January 21, 2018 /

 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

So, here’s the question: Which them was Jesus referring to when He asked the Father to forgive them?

I wasn’t standing among the crowd that day, but that fact didn’t limit Jesus’s knowing that on a particular day and time, some two thousand plus years later, I would need His prayer—His forgiveness. And so, would you. It wasn’t necessary for us to be standing there as witnesses.

Love knows no limits…

There is no such thing as time and distance where love is concerned. Ask any parent—they’ll tell you the same. When it comes to reaching the child they love, nothing can stop them.

How much more God?

How much further reaching is the one that fashioned us in our mother’s womb—knows our every thought, and the number of each hair on our heads? The One who knows not only the moment He predestined us to be born—to live, but knows also, the exact millisecond He will ask for our breath to be returned to Him…

So, as Jesus hung dying on His Cross, just who was He asking the Father to forgive?

Was it for Pilot’s succumbing to the blood-lust of Caiaphas the high priest and his followers? —John 18:12-28. Maybe it was for the thief hanging beside him—the one chiding Him to, “Come down off your cross?”— Luke 23:39. Or, maybe He was asking the Father to forgive those underhanded religious leaders who had Jesus dragged, in the middle of the night, in front of some of the scheming and self-serving Sanhedrin. As if the cover of darkness could hide the darkness within them! —Mark 14:53-65. Or, is it possible that Jesus asked this forgiveness for the amped-up many who stood crying out to Pilot for His Blood? “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”, can you hear their malevolent cries…? —Luke 23:21. Was He asking forgiveness for the soldiers whose hands were still wet with His Blood? —John 19:18. Or, perhaps it was for those who’d been hunched over at the foot of His Cross, throwing dice for His clothes? —John 19:23-24.

More, Scripture tells us that this same Jesus that prayed this prayer as He hung dying, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. —Hebrews 13:8.

Thus, inferring that His desires, His intentions, remain the same also. Those being, in this instance, intercession and forgiveness. So, with that in mind, I would posit, and Scripture points towards, Jesus—in addition to each of those souls listed above, was praying in fulfillment of Scripture for you and me too. “…Because He [willingly] poured out His life to death, And was counted among the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore and took away the sin of many, And interceded [with the Father] for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:11-12; emphasis my own. He was praying for the whole of humanity who—as with those above, had no clue—didn’t fully understand, the import, the weight of their sin. Nor did they understand what was being accomplished on that Cross…

Neither do any today who deny Jesus…

They’ve no understanding the far-reaching implications of their choice. If anyone in that blood-thirsty crowd, on that fateful day, had any idea that their words, spoken in frenzied mob speak, would bring about the death of the very Messiah they had prayed for—one must wonder if they wouldn’t have run around just as feverishly; physically covering up the mouths of any one shouting, “Crucify Him!” Who in their right mind would want to put to death the very person they had prayed would come and save them? That would be the equivalent of a drowning man refusing the life-saving buoy thrown to him…

“Mercy here!” but the drowning man gulping, says “Thanks, I’m good, I can swim!”

Yet, many that day did exactly that. Why? Because their help didn’t come the way they anticipated it would. Didn’t say, speak, look like, what they thought it would. So, they reject it. No, they made sure this “impostor”, this false Messiah, this blasphemer,  would never come back to tell His imprecate tales. And, for those in authority who were threatened by Him, afraid that if He succeeded they would fail—lose out. His being sent away wasn’t an option. They needed an end to Him and all He stood for. “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

All the while Mercy was praying—extending to “all who would”, the opportunity to be forgiven…

“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”—Hebrews 10:17 (Also see: Hebrews 8:12; Isaiah 43:25; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Psalm 103:11-12).

The good news is some, that fateful day, heard Jesus’s prayer—and said yes to His unfathomable offer of mercy and forgiveness of their sins. And, as I said at the start, I believe though you and I weren’t standing among those in the crowd that day—Jesus saw us.

We were included in His offer of forgiveness…

Cornelius, the Roman centurion at the foot of His Cross heard it—more, he received it. Listen: “Surely this man was the Son of God!”—Matthew 27:54. And the thief, the other one, not the one who chided Jesus, he too accepted Mercys offer of forgiveness, listen to his dying words: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”—Luke 23:42. So long as there is breath, there is hope. And, there was Nicodemus too, a member of the Sanhedrin. He said yes to mercy—along with his friend, Joseph of Arimathea—a secret disciple of Jesus. —John 19:38-40. Lastly, there were some three thousand who were gathered in Jerusalem. Whether any of them heard Jesus’s offer of forgiveness at His Cross is unknown—but they heard it nonetheless!Mercy reach is limitless. “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”—Acts 2:41.

And don’t forget me! I was sitting in a church pew in 2008 when suddenly Mercy said, You are mine. You’re forgiven, Now, come, follow me… And, by His grace, I’ve never looked back!

Friend, Jesus’s prayer to the Father for forgiveness is for you too…

There was a  piece of ground at the foot of His Cross with your name written on it. It’s purpose? To traverse across time and space that it might reach you today. If you’d just stand still and look up, right where you are, you’d be looking into the eyes of the One who is offering you forgiveness. More, an opportunity to go where He is and spend eternity with Him.

But, first, you must say yes to Mercy’s invitation…

Won’t you please say yes, now? Mercy has been praying for you. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”—Ephesians 1:7

The Foreshadowing Part 1; Genesis 3:21

December 24, 2017 /

 “The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.”

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” —Leviticus 17:11

 

Before we get into this Word, let’s pray:

Spirit of the Living God, illuminate your Word, breath your Ruach Breath on it, that it may come alive in us, and through us, feed may. In Jesus’ matchless name we pray, amen.

The law was clear. In order that God’s righteous anger regarding sin be satisfied, blood must be shed. Now before you lose your mind over that Truth, try to understand the Righteous anger of God in this context: J.I. Packer summarizes: “God’s wrath in the Bible is never the capricious, self-indulgent, irritable, morally ignoble thing that human anger so often is. It is, instead, a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil” (Knowing God, 151).

So  then, how can a sinful man offer a pure blood sacrifice in an attempt to satisfy God’s Righteous anger?

The answer is—he cannot. Only one who is sinless—a pure substitute, can stand in the place of a sinner to make atonement. And so, we see God’s plan of redemption from the beginning of man’s existence unfolding through His merciful covering of the sin of Adam and Eve with bloodied animal skins.  Substitution. It’s a murky shadow of what was yet to come; not only for Adam and His wife, but for all mankind.

The covering of our sins started in a garden. It is here we get our first glimpse of The Babe in the manger. The Most Precious Lamb of God…

Come with me into that garden. It’s okay, we’ve been invited. Quietly though, so not to interrupt—let’s watch what’s unfolding between God, Adam, Eve, and a serpent…

Adam and Eve have sinned. They have each knowingly done what God commanded them not to do! Adam explicitly heard God say not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—and, that if he did, he would surely die! “But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”—Genesis 2:16-17 But Adam was not alone! Scripture clearly shows that Eve knew not to eat the fruit also. Scripture points out that God had instructed her, as He had Adam. “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die”—Genesis 3:2-3.

So, now their hiding—as people do, or try to, when they know that they’ve sinned by disobeying God. It’s a carnal proclivity all have inherited from our original parents—a knee-jerk reaction. Don’t believe that? Catch any three-year-old doing something they know they have no business doing and watch how quickly and how easily they’ll lie when confronted! We are each born with a sin nature. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard”—Romans 3:23. And, simply because some refuse to accept this Truth—In no way voids it reality…

Just ask King David. He will tell you all about what happens when we to hide our sins (2 Samuel 12).

But more on that next week…

Thankfully, God wasn’t then, nor is He now—caught off guard by our propensity to lie and cover up our sins. In fact, He had, unbeknownst to Adam and Eve, implemented a permanent solution for their, and our, sinful condition…

But first—a foreshadowing of God’s all-inclusive plan…

From the time God’s first image bearers—Adam and Eve sinned, God grieved the loss of communion with His people. He went to extreme lengths to restore our relationship by sending His one and only Son “to seek and to save the lost” —Luke 19:10. Without the birth of Jesus, and without His unconditional willingness to die on His Cross, to shed His Innocent Blood as payment for our sins, thus offering us the hope of restoration back to God, we each would be eternally lost. Dead in our sins…

God called. Adam and Eve hid. Let me ask you, are you hiding also? Has the Holy Spirit been convicting you—calling you? And has your response, like Adam’s, has been; “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” (3:10) Has that sin you committed left you feeling exposed—guilty, shameful? You’re not alone. But might I urge you to come out of hiding—confess to God what He knows that you’ve done! Don’t follow Adam and Eve’s lead by playing the blame game with God. We, each, are responsible for our actions and responses (Genesis 3:12-13). Rather, go to God and confess your sins and ask His forgiveness. You may not escape the consequences of your sin—that is something only God will decide, but, you will be forgiven…

However, to do this, to be forgiven, you first must have a relationship with God…

So, if you are feeling something inside of you that’s telling you to ask Jesus for forgiveness—it’s the Holy Spirit doing what He does—the will of God! God wants you for Himself! Won’t you stop here, now, and simply say yes to Jesus? Ask Him to come into your life and be your Lord and Savior. He wants you, loves you, He died for you—

but, He won’t force you…

Little did Adam and Eve know, that God knew they would fall—would sin. And, little did they know that He had predestined a way—the only way—for all who sin to be forgiven. And yes, that means you too! He’s made a way just for you. As surely as He did for Adam and Eve, for Abraham and Moses, for Rahab the prostitute, and, for all those who will…

How? Through the Blood of Jesus. His Only Son…

He would be born to a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). Wrapped in milk rags and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7). A king would try to kill Him (Matthew 2:16). He would be despised by those He was sent to save. And in the end, His own would betray Him and demand He was handed over to those who would crucify Him (Luke 23:21). He’d be nailed to a cross (Luke 23:26-43). But not before they beat Him so severely His insides were literally hanging out (Isaiah 52:14). His innocent Blood shed. He would be hung high and naked on that cross—innocence between two thieves (Matthew: 38; Luke 23:32).  And, He’d be buried in a tomb not His own (Isaiah 53:9). He’d be left alone—abandoned by those whom He loved, who’d promised to follow Him always (Mark 14:50). But, early on a Sunday morning the stone they’d used to seal Him off—shut Him up, be done with Him, was rolled away!He was not there (Luke 24:1-12). Had anyone been listening the prophets of old, as well as to Jesus Himself, each had foretold of these events. How they must happen and why (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22; Psalm 16; Luke 9:22; Matthew 17:23). An animals blood was never meant to be a lasting substitute. It was only a foreshadowing— for The One yet to come.

Jesus—the One who would come in the fullness of time (Hebrews 10).

Animal blood could never fully quell God’s righteous anger caused by man’s sin and rebellion. Sin is so grievous to God that only death would be its just payment…

But, now, standing here in the garden, we witness God’s first hint of a love that is far too big for any of us to take in this side of eternity. We watch as God’s great love and mercy for His own, His children, gives birth to His killing innocent animals in place of Adam and Eve—that His justice be served. Even though their sin warranted their death. And, then, God lovingly covers their bodies with those bloody sacrificial skins—signifying their sin was forgiven.

Blood must be shed for atonement—for the forgiveness of sin. It’s the law…

Yet, though they were forgiven—the consequences of their choices followed them (Genesis 3:13-23). God is loving, yes. But He is also Just. We forget that, or try to…

Again, we need only look to King David as an example, both of God’s forgiveness and His justice ((2 Samuel 12:16-18).

And, while all this was happening  in the garden, Jesus was there, watching. Knowing He’d be next. He was—willingly, patiently, waiting. So, in God’s perfect timing, His sacrificial death would atone for our sins—once, for all.

Love came in the form of a babe wrapped in milk rags and laid in a manger—

His Atoning Blood would come later…

“Are You Mephibosheth?” Part 2

October 22, 2017 /

  …And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. “And David said, Mephibosheth.” “Yes sir?”  “Don’t be frightened,” said David. “I’d like to do something special for you in memory of your father Jonathan. To begin with, I’m returning to you all the properties of your grandfather Saul. Furthermore, from now on you’ll take all your meals at my table.” Shuffling and stammering, not looking him in the eye, Mephibosheth said, “Who am I that you pay attention to a stray dog like me?” David then called in Ziba, Saul’s right-hand man, and told him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and his family, I’ve handed over to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants will work his land and bring in the produce, provisions for your master’s grandson. Mephibosheth himself, your master’s grandson, from now on will take all his meals at my table.” Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. “All that my master the king has ordered his servant,” answered Ziba, “your servant will surely do.” And Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, just like one of the royal family. Mephibosheth also had a small son named Mica. All who were part of Ziba’s household were now the servants of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, taking all his meals at the king’s table. He was lame in both feet” (2 Samuel 9:6-13).

So, to recap:

Last week we learned a few things about Mephibosheth. We learned that being the grandson of Saul—the former king, had left him feeling intensely vulnerable in the wake of this new king’s summons.

  • We learned that he was familiar with living in hiding—with being physically isolated.
  • We learned too, that he was fearful for his life.
  • Additionally, we learned that having lived his life with a disability—at a disadvantage, Mephibosheth knew a thing or two about pain and persecution—but also about perseverance.
  • And, that, being a royal descendant doesn’t spare you from the trials and tribulations life brings along with it each new morning.

Can you relate? Have you shared in, experienced, any of what Mephibosheth went through? Do you have scars too? Feel isolated? Do you know what it’s like to be hurting and lonely? Then please, keep reading, because as it was for Mephibosheth, so too, might it be for you. Where there’s still breath, there’s hope.

We also saw last week, that everything—literally, that Mephibosheth thought he knew about his circumstances, (his future, who he thought he was—as a man, and an heir, how he self-identified) ended up being used as means to a future he had not so much as left a crack in the door for!  He was too busy keeping his head down, living small in Lo Debar… “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?”

Are you feeling like you’re at the end of yourself? That all you’ve been through has automatically disqualified you from anything better than what you’ve known—have been through, survived? Do you believe too, that how it is you’ve always seen yourself is really how it is? Who you truly are? If so, then you might be in the exact right spot for a setup to get up!

From Lo Debar to the King’s table. From prostrating himself in humility, to having every worldly possession his family had owned restored to him. More, a guarantee from the king that, for as long as he lived, Mephibosheth would never again have to eat alone. There would always be a place set for him at the king’s table—Mephibosheth now had a lasting place to call home. “So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table.”

Mephibosheth had a choice to make. He could except the unbelievably gracious—the beyond generous, undeserved offer of the king, or, he could continue to believe—live with, what had been his reality for most of his life—hurt, lack, wanting, isolation—separation. And as it was with Mephibosheth, so too is it with you, and me, and all those invited to always dine with the king. The offer has been extended—the place set. The only thing that remains is will we, the Mephibosheth’s, have the courage to show up and take our place at the table? Can we push past the voices that have taken up residence in our heads? Those voices that tell us dogs are not allowed at the dinner table..

Yet, for any of this to have happened for Mephibosheth, a change had to occur first. A shift…

Something had to happen, some inquiry made, an introduction perhaps, someone powerful enough, beckoning to him, calling, for him to come out of hiding—out from behind obscurities shadow.  “And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?”

And so David, The King, sends Ziba, a former servant of King Saul’s, to go and find Mephibosheth.

And, as it was for this man with a past—this broken, lost, disconnected man—So too, it is for us. Only we, much more than this man with the tongue-twister of a name, have the great privilege of The King Himself having come to find us! Listen to how this is told to us in the Gospel of Saint John: “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life” (3:16).

In David, a mere shadow of the King of King’s —we see the desire and the heart of God. Who so loved you so much Mephibosheth, who so loved me, the world, that He sent for us—in the Person of Jesus, His only begotten Son. He not only prepared a place for us at His table, more, He fed us with His Most Choice Food—the very best Wine, all this, that we might never be hungry or thirsty—or broken, or alone—separated from Him ever again. “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you,unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.…” (John 6:53-54).

But what if Mephibosheth had been too afraid of David to come when he had called? Chances are the man with a tongue-twister of a name might still be living in Lo Debar. Still disfigured and carrying the weight of all the years, and all the names and taunts and hurts and lack—every scar, on his own, still. While all the time someone very much wanted him at their table—so much so that they had set a place for him, made a way for him to come back safely, no questions asked. Listen to how the Prophet Micah shared this sentiment: “Where is the god who can compare with you— wiping the slate clean of guilt, turning a blind eye, a deaf ear to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most. And compassion is on its way to us. You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing. You’ll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean…” (Micah 7:18-19, The Message Bible)

Friend, if David, a mere man—imperfect and sinful, sent someone out searching for Mephibosheth to ensure he be brought back to him unharmed so that he might reestablish Mephibosheth, how much more God the Father? A perfect, sinless God who created you and knows your ‘stuff, my stuff,’—all of it. This God who sent His Only Son to find you and tell you not to be afraid, the king doesn’t want to kill you—the king wants you returned to himself safely, that he might restore what’s been taken from you. More, that the two of you might always be together. He already knows all you’ve been through—done, or had done to you. He knew that before He even sent for you! He doesn’t care as much about that as He does about you—He can turn all ‘that’ around, just as he did with Mephibosheth.

He just wants you back where you belong. Period. That’s his heart—no strings attached…

“But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans: 8).

The table had been set, the servant sent—and Mephibosheth came.

Trembling he came.

Fearful for what might come next—he came.

Ashamed—he came…

So, my question to you is this: Despite all that’s held you back, will you come—just as you are, when the King calls?

Are you Mephibosheth?

“Are You Mephibosheth, Pt. 1?” 2 Samuel 9

October 15, 2017 /

 “And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, so they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there no longer anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodness and graciousness of God?” Ziba replied to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, [one] whose feet are crippled.” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba replied to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent word and had him brought from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell face down and lay himself down [in respect]. David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 7 David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall always eat at my table.” 8 Again Mephibosheth lay himself face down and said, “What is your servant, that you would be concerned for a dead dog like me?”

Mephibosheth thought himself a sure enemy of David’s—this new king.

You see custom dictated that when a new king was installed—each of the former king’s family members were to be put to death. The thought was, if any relatives were left alive—contrary to age, they may one day get it in their head’s to attempt to retake the throne from the new reigning king. So, doing away with any vestiges of the former king’s family was the only sure way to stave off a future wanna-be from executing a coup. But not so with this King David. He was gracious and kind. Even though the former king—King Saul, had lost his mind and attempted, on numerous occasions, to kill him, David nevertheless remembered his oath—the promise he had made, to King Saul’s son—his dearest friend, one like a brother, Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-16).

And, it is because of this oath, that Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, is called out of hiding from Lo Debar and brought before the king. An obscure dwelling place Lo Dabar was—a place of lack, and of barrenness—there was nothing green or growing there. There was little hope…

We first hear of this man with the tongue-twister of a name in 2 Samuel 4:4, listen: “Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth. He was five years old when the news came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed. The woman who cared for Mephibosheth picked him up and ran away. But while running away, she dropped the boy, and he became crippled in both feet.”

And now his hiding place— this Lo Debar, ascetic as it may have been, has been exposed by an old family servant of Mephibosheth’s grandfather (vs.4).  When he’d heard the news that he was to be brought before King David surely his first thought was that his death was imminent—that these were certainly his last hours on earth (vs.7)! Imagine the fear in this man who had once been in line to be a King himself? You can almost see his face growing pale with panic! Now too, imagine his shame? Being  crippled from such a young age, Mephibosheth undoubtedly grew up being bombarded with cruel and demeaning insults. We see evidence of his scars in his reply to David’s offer of unfathomable grace and restoration. Of restored dignity…

“What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me” (2 Samuel 9:8; emphasis my own)? It’s impossible to miss Mephibosheth’s deep wells of fear and insecurity. Those wounds left by cutting name calling and lashing insults, by isolation. Yet, despite all he has endured, we witness this great display of humility coming from Mephibosheth.  He, in a display of reverence, lays prostrate and utterly vulnerable at the king’s feet (vs.6).

In many middle-eastern communities of ages past, and some yet today, dogs were thought of as, ‘a vile and contemptible animal’, ‘the most ignoble and contemptible of animals’, despised and generally wretched.’ So, if being called a dog, more—a useless dead dog, was just one of the wicked slurs—the barbed, verbal lashes that assailed Mephibosheth as a young child—is it any wonder he cringed in fear and shame before this illustrious, ruddy King?

For years Mephibosheth lived in anonymity. His physical disability, paired with his equally crippling fallacious beliefs kept him bound—separated from the slightest possibility, from any hope of—wholeness and restoration. He had yielded to, been taken under by, the prevailing weight of reality—as he understood it. The weight of separation, lack, disfigurement—brokenness.

And now, the very man He recognizes as having the power of life and death over him tells him he will not die but live! And, as if allowing him to live were not blessing enough, not an unfathomable demonstration of grace and mercy, everything that he had been in line to receive as the child of Jonathan will also be restored to him—and, there’s nothing he must do to earn this! No strings attached. A place was set for him at the King’s table—unlimited provision, he is now accepted, fully restored to son-ship. And, in yet a further act of mercy, this king assigns servants to work the land that’s been restored to him. David knew Mephibosheth’s limitations. And so, without Mephibosheth’s even having to ask, he graciously, practically, made provision for his every need. David knew that this blessing would require laborers to help Mephibosheth do what he wasn’t able on his own (Matthew 6:8). There was no need for Mephibosheth to have to ask David for help. By virtue of his sonship having been restored, David brought others alongside him to provide the help he’d need to care for all that this king had blessed him with..

David was a kind and gracious king. A king who remembered the vow he’d made to his beloved Jonathan. And he ensured it was carried out, even unto the least of those left to be blessed. More, David remembered the favor of the Lord in his own life. He remembered the mercy, kindness, grace, and, undeserved favor and David’s heart, his great desire, was to give nothing less than he’d once been given in return…

Join us next week as we’ll delve a bit deeper into the story of David and Mephibosheth. We’ll witness Jesus, and transfor, you wmaive power of love, you won’t want to miss it! Who’s to say you won’t see your story peeking through the cracks of Mephibosheth’s? Perhaps there’s a blessing of restoration coming to you! Join us on 10/22 and find out…!

 

“Free to Choose” Rom. 8:6

June 18, 2017 /

 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Choose: is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as follows: to select freely and after consideration.

Contrary to all that the world is aggrandizing—contrary to its boasting of the supposed ‘choices’ people have, truth be told, there have continually only been two choices given to every man. The way of Life and the way of death. There’s a right way and a wrong way, there is no third way. These two choices were offered to Adam and Eve in the Garden by God and the same two choices stand today. And, even if you are a Christian, we too need to be reminded of this—daily.  To live according to The Word of God—according to a fixed way of life, of choices and consequences clearly mapped out for us in that Word we profess. Or, of choosing, and it is our choice, to live according to the ways of our fallen flesh—aka, in rebellion to God. Ignoring—pushing aside, disregarding, dismissing, Him or His ways and doing ‘our’ thing instead. Our thing, our way, our choice…

A daily battle.

And so it was that through one such self-gratifying, rebellious, choice—that sin entered into the world through man’s rebellion against God’s command. “And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis. 2:16-17).

Yet—these above choices mentioned and those below, the opportunities, blessings, tests, and, trials—all of it, everything, literally starts with our first—our most important choice. Asking Jesus into our lives. To be our Lord and Savior. To be our Guide, our Friend. To have and grow in a loving relationship with Him.

Listen…

The Apostle Paul, being the author of both Colossians and Romans, sums up—echoes, within Colossians what he was driving at—teaching, in Romans 8:6. The better way, the Godly way. “And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth” (Colossians. 3:2).  Yet, every believer has the freedom to choose between the way of the Spirit—the higher things, or, the way of the flesh, earthly things…

And, because we are flesh, there are moments—choices, that we absolutely get wrong. Why? We make them in the flesh. ‘Flesh’, in this case, referring to the way of death—as in things fleshly,  finite. Or, as with our choices, those things resulting from its nature. Our physical bodies that is, and its fruits—the byproducts of our choices. It is only those things—decisions, actions, thoughts, born from the Spirit—that have any true lasting, or eternal value.

Paul teaches that we live, move, and, react as a result of how it is we truly believe. In other words, our actions are a result of—a byproduct of, what we deeply, firmly, believe and confess. If we profess God, we must live Godly lives, doing all we can to put to death our old ways. Whatever they were. In Romans 8:12-13 he says it this way: “So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]— for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever.”

According to the Old Testament, at least two witnesses are required to establish any charge. Jesus Himself confirms this law—this truth, while He’s addressing the Jews concerning their charges—their accusations, against Him and His healing of a man who had been disabled for 38 years. Listen to what Jesus says about the necessity for witness in John 5:31-37: “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.  “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me…”

So then, based on this need for two witnesses, let’s turn to the Apostle Peter as our second witness. Let’s listen to his confirmation—his witness, to what Paul has already taught us. In Chapter 1 of 2nd Peter, starting with verse 12 Peter expounds on—reiterates, our need to remain—that is, for those in Christ—believers—to continue in choosing Godly living. And, how we might escape the corruption of this world through our knowledge of Christ. Here the word, ‘world’ is used as ‘flesh’ was in Paul’s teaching. Pointing to our baser desires and their subsequent actions. Peter says—choosing self-indulgence, willful rebellion—our choosing ‘the flesh’ over the ways of The Spirit—will lead to death: 1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul.”

We have now seen evidence—heard teachings of both the Apostles Paul and Peter concerning our need to make Godly choices. To choose the ways of God—our need of His Spirit to lead and guide us, to strengthen us, to help put to death our most base and fleshly desires. Those corrupt, fallible, finite impulses. To walk away from—train ourselves to renounce, the ‘things’ of our flesh (fornication, adultery, unclean passions, evil desires, lying, stealing, and, covetousness—to mention some). Those things that lead us away from God’s will for our lives. Away from living a life that offers us hope for an eternity spent with Jesus and, that aides us today—in our daily living. Strengthening us to become more Christ-like, more reflective of His imagine and likeness in this world.

The Opposing way is—has continually been, foolishly been, to choose—some short-lived, self indulgent, existence we might piece together. The Bible is littered with many such examples—and their common demise.

Two witnesses have now been established in Peter and Paul.

The Word of God clearly tells us that God does not want any man—His creation, to perish. But to have eternal life with Him (2 Peter 3:9). Peter and Paul both, were talking to those who had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We, like those Christians, are each given this same opportunity—this choice, this magnificent free gift through belief in—relationship with, Jesus Christ. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy. 2:3-4).

The ‘will have’ in this Scripture reflects God’s heart that all men should come to Him. And not a guarantee that just because you were born that you will come to Him…

The main subject—the very title of this teaching, relates to making a choice—it reflects this one Truth.  You must choose.

Jesus Christ died so that all men might be saved. Jesus loves you. You are a part of the, “all men” spoken of in 1 Timothy above. That is a Truth so solid, so fixed—you can anchor your life to it. Will you, like Peter and Paul, and countless others, choose Jesus’ way over your way of doing things? Or will you go the way of Adam and rebel? Allowing your sins—your choices, to separate you from a God that created you to love you—and, to have a relationship with you? Jesus is patiently waiting for you to choose Him…

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” emphasis my own; Hebrews 3:15

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