"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34).
Really? They didn't know what they were doing? But Jesus, they were spitting on you and tearing your clothes and hitting you! They knew all of those actions would cause physical harm to your body, didn't they? How could they not have known that nailing you to a cross would kill you? How could they not have been aware of the blood as they watched it spill from your body? They had to have known what they were doing. They couldn't possibility have misunderstood what their brutality would cause. They killed you, cheering all the while. They shouted, "crucify him!" and celebrated your final breath. How could you say, "they do not know what they are doing"? Didn't they know precisely what they were doing?
I'm so quick to want to hold people in judgement for their actions. When someone does wrong I want them to get their justice…and quickly. I read the story of Jesus' crucifixion and I want a swift and severe penalty for the sin of all those who nailed Him to that cross.
But then I am stopped dead in my tracks, humbled by my blind ignorance and deceitful heart.
I nailed Him to that cross. My sin put Him there. Every disobedient action was my own cry of "crucify him!" Every step outside of God's will was my own moment to spit on Jesus as He passed by me on His way to Calvary. When my heart has been turned away from Jesus I have been busy casting lots for His clothes, helping to fashion the crown of thorns that would be placed on His head in an act of scorn. I put Jesus to death. The judgement I wish upon the mockers and pharisees in the New Testament is the same exact judgement that should fall upon me.
Jesus, the perfect One who didn't deserve to be killed, doesn't cry out for harsh and heavy-handed judgement to be taken against the guilty. He understood what I so often forget, they didn't know what they were doing because they didn't understand that He was truly the perfect Son of God sent to pay the price for the sins of the world. He had to endure the cross to fulfill His life-saving mission on earth. He did it so that He could redeem those who killed Him, not judge them.
When I stir inside with thoughts and desires of judgement for my fellow sinners I must come back to the foot of the cross and look up. It is there that I am reminded that I am one of those hateful sinners who put Jesus up there to hang, suffer and die. I am not apart from the voices on the ground throwing insults, spitting and cursing the Lord; I am one of them, I am in their company.
The only hope I have of stepping out of that crowd is to find forgiveness for my sins in the sacrifice of Jesus. He paid the price for my sin, disobedience and hate. Until I embrace His forgiveness in my own life I cannot step out of that crowd and pour out His forgiveness to others. Until my heart is overcome with Jesus' forgiveness, I am powerless to forgive others and I remain a hypocrite, filled with hatred in my heart.
As Jesus taught in His final hours on the cross, those who need forgiveness don't even know what hurtful and sinful actions they have taken that have led to their need for repentance. They don't know that they need forgiveness. But that lack of understanding on the part of the sinner doesn't change the need for the offer of forgiveness to be given on the part of the one hurt. Jesus, despite being brutally killed and beaten, offered forgiveness to those who never asked for it or even knew they so desperately needed it. His offer wasn't contingent on the request of the sinner, it was rooted in the will of the Father.
Oh Lord, how I need your help to be a forgiver, not a judge. Even when those that hurt me don't know what they are doing and don't ask for forgiveness I need your help and power in me to forgive. What profit is there to me if I forgive those who come seeking my forgiveness? That doesn't require your Spirit and power. But I want the forgiveness that is found only in You. The forgiveness I desire and need is the forgiveness that keeps forgiving regardless of any other human action.
Because "they know not what they do." But I know what you did. You forgave. Through your perfect gift of forgiveness I can be filled with that same power to forgive. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit I am empowered to be a forgiver because you first forgave me, even when I knew not what I was doing.
Friday, April 11, 2014
The end of the obituary
Life is fleeting. Life is short. Life is like a wind storm - fierce and all consuming while it rages, but silent and soon a fading memory, once it passes.
This morning as I flipped through the pages of the local newspaper I was reminded of the fragility of life. The obituaries that cover page after page of the Pittsburgh paper were a stark reminder of how brief all of our lives are. In the end, all of our days, all of problems, all of our accomplishments get whittled down to a paragraph printed in black and white. In the end, we each get a brief synopsis of our lives, a condensation within a few paragraphs of newsprint.
As I read through the obituaries this morning, I was struck by how greatly each person's life varied from one to another. One man had an obituary that listed every group he ever belonged to, accomplishments dating back fifty years, and an array of exotic travel locations to which he had traveled. And then, the very next obituary listed nothing but the woman's name, age and surviving loved ones. Another tribute was for a twenty-one year old who died suddenly. Her family wrote about her artistic ability and her love of beauty. Each obituary was as unique as each individual.
When I finished reading I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sorrow. Although natural to feel sadness and grief after reading about the deceased, there was something deeper causing my pain. My sorrow was over how each obituary ended.
They all ended with a grave. A burial. A goodbye forever.
But the story doesn't have to end there. The end doesn't have to come in the form of a memorial service and calling hours. The end of the obituary can actually be the beginning of the story.
At the end of our lives, when our bodies fail, the journey doesn't have to come to an end. Through the salvation of Jesus Christ the story can just be getting started. We can still have eternity ahead of us. This life, no matter how brief or how long, is really just an overture. When you and I find salvation in Jesus Christ we pass through this life into the real action, the grand opera, the main event. This is just the prelude to the true greatness to come.
Without becoming born again by the blood of Jesus Christ this life ends with the burial, with the final words of the obituary. There is no eternal life in heaven after death apart from Christ. He alone is the path to Heaven and eternity in God's kingdom. As Jesus clearly states in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." It is that simple and that straightforward. There are no back doors, alternate routes or exceptions. To experience eternity in Heaven you and I must come to Jesus on earth, accept His free gift of salvation and claim Him as our Lord and Savior.
Thanks to the redeeming work of Jesus Christ you and I can look forward to a life spent in eternity. After our life on earth ends we can spend eternity in Heaven among the angels of glory, singing unending praises to God our great Father. There will be no sin, destruction or pain. All of the world will be perfect and joy will be overflowing. There will be perpetual peace and overwhelming light.
So you see why I don't want my obituary to end with a service of burial? My life won't truly be ending when I am put in a grave. For me, life will just be getting started.
Can you look forward to the same eternal glory? The promise of Heaven can be yours to claim and anticipate. The gift of salvation is extended to you through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. He died so that even as you take your last breath on earth, you will be stepping into Heaven, without sin or blemish. You will be justified and made new. Jesus Christ died so that you could be clean in the eyes of the perfect God. He paid the penalty for your sin and mine. Through Jesus Christ we have the security of eternity. Jesus, the way and the truth and the life, has paved the way for you and me to live a life of victory at the end of our obituary.
This morning as I flipped through the pages of the local newspaper I was reminded of the fragility of life. The obituaries that cover page after page of the Pittsburgh paper were a stark reminder of how brief all of our lives are. In the end, all of our days, all of problems, all of our accomplishments get whittled down to a paragraph printed in black and white. In the end, we each get a brief synopsis of our lives, a condensation within a few paragraphs of newsprint.
As I read through the obituaries this morning, I was struck by how greatly each person's life varied from one to another. One man had an obituary that listed every group he ever belonged to, accomplishments dating back fifty years, and an array of exotic travel locations to which he had traveled. And then, the very next obituary listed nothing but the woman's name, age and surviving loved ones. Another tribute was for a twenty-one year old who died suddenly. Her family wrote about her artistic ability and her love of beauty. Each obituary was as unique as each individual.
When I finished reading I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sorrow. Although natural to feel sadness and grief after reading about the deceased, there was something deeper causing my pain. My sorrow was over how each obituary ended.
They all ended with a grave. A burial. A goodbye forever.
But the story doesn't have to end there. The end doesn't have to come in the form of a memorial service and calling hours. The end of the obituary can actually be the beginning of the story.
At the end of our lives, when our bodies fail, the journey doesn't have to come to an end. Through the salvation of Jesus Christ the story can just be getting started. We can still have eternity ahead of us. This life, no matter how brief or how long, is really just an overture. When you and I find salvation in Jesus Christ we pass through this life into the real action, the grand opera, the main event. This is just the prelude to the true greatness to come.
Without becoming born again by the blood of Jesus Christ this life ends with the burial, with the final words of the obituary. There is no eternal life in heaven after death apart from Christ. He alone is the path to Heaven and eternity in God's kingdom. As Jesus clearly states in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." It is that simple and that straightforward. There are no back doors, alternate routes or exceptions. To experience eternity in Heaven you and I must come to Jesus on earth, accept His free gift of salvation and claim Him as our Lord and Savior.
Thanks to the redeeming work of Jesus Christ you and I can look forward to a life spent in eternity. After our life on earth ends we can spend eternity in Heaven among the angels of glory, singing unending praises to God our great Father. There will be no sin, destruction or pain. All of the world will be perfect and joy will be overflowing. There will be perpetual peace and overwhelming light.
So you see why I don't want my obituary to end with a service of burial? My life won't truly be ending when I am put in a grave. For me, life will just be getting started.
Can you look forward to the same eternal glory? The promise of Heaven can be yours to claim and anticipate. The gift of salvation is extended to you through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. He died so that even as you take your last breath on earth, you will be stepping into Heaven, without sin or blemish. You will be justified and made new. Jesus Christ died so that you could be clean in the eyes of the perfect God. He paid the penalty for your sin and mine. Through Jesus Christ we have the security of eternity. Jesus, the way and the truth and the life, has paved the way for you and me to live a life of victory at the end of our obituary.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Just wait
Yesterday afternoon the birds were singing, the sun was
shining and the temperature finally broke fifty degrees. Yes, spring finally
sprung in Northern Pennsylvania.
I decided to celebrate the grand occasion with a run at the
Peninsula along the no longer frozen bay. The parking lots were packed and the
bike path filled with excited Erie-ites who were eager to emerge from their
winter hibernation. Everyone seemed thrilled to be in the great outdoors
without the need for Eskimo apparel. It truly was a wonderful day.
As I ran along my scenic route of trees and squirrels I listened to a sermon on my phone thanks to one of the many
apps available from churches all across America. I love the ministry of sermons
made available on phones, computers and iPads. No matter where I am I can
listen to the word of God. I have my pick of what topic, scripture or speaker
I’m in the mood to hear from on that particular day. The advent of technology
has given birth to a whole new way to learn from God’s word and I love soaking
in its benefits.
I chose to listen to the pastor from Mars Hills church in Seattle
Washington. He was a guest speaker at Saddleback Church in California – a
massive congregation with more parking lots than my church has people. The
guest speaker’s sermon was on being born again and following Jesus. The first twenty minutes were promising but I can't tell you anything about the second half of the pastor's sermon. I never ended up hearing much past the introduction and first two points of the forty minute message because technology decided to take a nap. Or maybe God told it to go take a nap. Either way, the message was cut short.
Right before the speaker went silent he was telling a story about taking his kids out on a windy day to fly
kites. Just as he was about to tell the congregation about what happened to
the kite in the windstorm the app cut out. Normally I would stop, fix the malfunction and the continue on my run but at this particular moment I
didn’t want to stop because I didn’t need to hear any more of what the speaker
had to say. His message had already made its point to me.
The last words before the audio cut out were precisely what I needed to hear. The pastor told his daughter just as he was about to let go of the kite to send it flying up and into the wind, "Just wait, this is going to be amazing." And that was it. Not another word was necessary. Those words were all the sermon my spirit desperately needed.
No matter where I am, what I’m going through or what my
circumstances look like from the outside, I just need to wait. God has
something amazing up ahead. Even when life is windy I can hold onto the promise
that God has something great in store.
Romans 8:28 assures me, “God causes all
things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose.”
There are amazing surprises up ahead. I must get ready and with great expectation, anticipate
the wonder of what God is going to bring forth. Just like the pastor told
his daughter when she was getting ready to watch her first kite fly into the
sky, what God has on the horizon is going to be amazing.
Sometimes that’s all you and I need to hear. We don’t need
to hear that our problems are small or to get over whatever difficulty we face today. We just need to be reminded that what God has in the future is
amazing. Sometimes the one message that we need to hear is, "just wait." That simple truth makes the present difficulties and the fierce storms
of life all the more tolerable. They are just temporary. Something amazing is
right around the corner if we will just wait.
So get ready and just wait. Because God is about to do
something big. Beloved, hold onto your hat, because it’s going to be amazing.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Don't listen….to your heart
"Listen to your heart."
This might be the absolute worst advice ever given.
Sure, it sounds like a lovely romantic notion. Just look inside of yourself…. Chase your own star…. Listen to the small voice inside of you….
I just want to scream, "no!" Don't do any of that! That is horrible, terrible, twisted, faulty advice!
I know that the world is going to tell you that your heart knows the way, that your heart won't lead you wrong. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but actually your heart will lead you in a million wrong directions and cannot be trusted. All of the heart felt, intuition based advice that sounds mystical and sentimental is completely off base, dead wrong, faulty and dangerous.
If you are doubting my advice, just look at Eve in the Garden of Eden. She went wrong the moment she followed her heart. In her head she knew right from wrong. She even told the serpent what God had commanded in Genesis 3:3, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." The knowledge was right there in her mind but she didn't listen to it. She followed her heart.
The serpent told her that she would gain all of God's knowledge if she could eat from that one tree. He appealed to her fleshly desires and not her knowledge of true obedience. So she ate from that particular tree and the rest is history. Heart triumphed over head and sin entered into the whole human race.
And now I'm supposed to believe that by listening to my heart I will end up in the right direction, making the right decisions? I don't think so.
The actions and direction of my life should not be ordered by the longings of my heart but by the commands and directive of God. In Proverbs 23:26 the scripture teaches, "give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways."
Clearly this isn't feel-good, romanticism. The Bible doesn't promote that kind of living. The Bible gives clear instruction on how to make decisions and go through life. There are definite rights and absolute wrongs. Listening to the heart makes everything look like a sea of grey, it doesn't show the stark clear difference between God's commands and human disobedience. The heart wants to say that whatever it wants is best, end of story. But one look at the Bible and that theory is kaput.
By following my heart I am led down paths of destruction and confusion. I am led straight into sin disguised as desire. The heart blinds my eyes from seeing truth and drags me into disobedience. If I am relying on my heart to direct my life then I am in for a roller coaster ride of deep lows, false highs and devastating sin.
The heart is only good when it is completely surrendered to Christ. If my heart is nothing more than an instrument of my own flesh and a mouth piece for my own desires then it is tainted and impure. The best posture for my heart, the only worthwhile position for my heart, is one of praise and adoration to God. When my heart becomes my guide I am deceived. But when my heart is committed to obedient praise and worship it is pure, bringing glory God.
God doesn't desire a people who are all running around chasing their hearts. He wants people chasing Him, giving their hearts over to His care, trusting that He is the only trustworthy and flawless guide. I don't want to be run by my heart and I don't want to be running after my own heart.
I want to follow the commands of God, surrendering all of my heart and desires at His feet, following Christ alone. He is the defender of my heart, the One worthy of all my praise and adoration. By laying my heart and my life down at His feet I am under the care of the perfect guide who will guide me in paths of righteousness.
This might be the absolute worst advice ever given.
Sure, it sounds like a lovely romantic notion. Just look inside of yourself…. Chase your own star…. Listen to the small voice inside of you….
I just want to scream, "no!" Don't do any of that! That is horrible, terrible, twisted, faulty advice!
I know that the world is going to tell you that your heart knows the way, that your heart won't lead you wrong. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but actually your heart will lead you in a million wrong directions and cannot be trusted. All of the heart felt, intuition based advice that sounds mystical and sentimental is completely off base, dead wrong, faulty and dangerous.
If you are doubting my advice, just look at Eve in the Garden of Eden. She went wrong the moment she followed her heart. In her head she knew right from wrong. She even told the serpent what God had commanded in Genesis 3:3, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." The knowledge was right there in her mind but she didn't listen to it. She followed her heart.
The serpent told her that she would gain all of God's knowledge if she could eat from that one tree. He appealed to her fleshly desires and not her knowledge of true obedience. So she ate from that particular tree and the rest is history. Heart triumphed over head and sin entered into the whole human race.
And now I'm supposed to believe that by listening to my heart I will end up in the right direction, making the right decisions? I don't think so.
The actions and direction of my life should not be ordered by the longings of my heart but by the commands and directive of God. In Proverbs 23:26 the scripture teaches, "give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways."
Clearly this isn't feel-good, romanticism. The Bible doesn't promote that kind of living. The Bible gives clear instruction on how to make decisions and go through life. There are definite rights and absolute wrongs. Listening to the heart makes everything look like a sea of grey, it doesn't show the stark clear difference between God's commands and human disobedience. The heart wants to say that whatever it wants is best, end of story. But one look at the Bible and that theory is kaput.
By following my heart I am led down paths of destruction and confusion. I am led straight into sin disguised as desire. The heart blinds my eyes from seeing truth and drags me into disobedience. If I am relying on my heart to direct my life then I am in for a roller coaster ride of deep lows, false highs and devastating sin.
The heart is only good when it is completely surrendered to Christ. If my heart is nothing more than an instrument of my own flesh and a mouth piece for my own desires then it is tainted and impure. The best posture for my heart, the only worthwhile position for my heart, is one of praise and adoration to God. When my heart becomes my guide I am deceived. But when my heart is committed to obedient praise and worship it is pure, bringing glory God.
God doesn't desire a people who are all running around chasing their hearts. He wants people chasing Him, giving their hearts over to His care, trusting that He is the only trustworthy and flawless guide. I don't want to be run by my heart and I don't want to be running after my own heart.
I want to follow the commands of God, surrendering all of my heart and desires at His feet, following Christ alone. He is the defender of my heart, the One worthy of all my praise and adoration. By laying my heart and my life down at His feet I am under the care of the perfect guide who will guide me in paths of righteousness.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Walk of love
From a distance I could tell it was her, my childhood neighbor from the distant past. I hadn't seen her for years but the time hadn't erased the memory of her stride. Even from a block away I was sure that the girl out in the distance was the same girl I had known when I was young.
Each person has a distinctive walk. Have you ever noticed how every gait is unique to one particular individual? You can recognize a friend from behind, yards away and under the cover a dark sky just by the manner in which they take their steps. It is remarkable how many different ways in which a person an walk. The slight differences in stride seem minor until you realize how great an impact they have on how we identify each other.
It makes me wonder what my walk looks like to the outside world. I am a quick walker. I have been told in the past that I look like I'm a mission even when I'm simply strolling through the mall. Personally, I blame my mother. Growing up she was always speedy walker. To keep up I had to learn to move quickly. My best friend's mother was also a speed walker so I had to move quickly to keep up her, too. Overtime my own pace was upped and it has remained at a high rate ever since. I imagine that my quick, small strides are recognizable to those who know me best.
Maybe I have a distinctive way of moving my arms, too. Most everyone has their own flare when it comes to arm movement and walking style. Who can forget the classic Seinfeld episode where one of the guest characters, a woman in Elaine's office named Sam, laments that she isn't fitting in at work. Elaine points out that maybe the problem is that Sam never moves her arms when she walks. Elaine then proceeds to interpret a caveman. A cat fight ensues. Obviously, the way a person walks can be a sensitive issue.
Beyond the quick pace of my stride and the unique way in which I move my arms, I wonder how the rest of my walk is recognized to the outside world. Beyond the characteristics of my physical walk, I wonder what my spiritual walk looks like to those I encounter and those who know me best. What about my spiritual walk is recognizable? Are there features of my spiritual life that point back to Christ? Do people look at my spiritual walk and see a gracious, loving, kind and merciful God fearing woman? Can anyone recognize my spiritual life at all by my daily walk?
The greatest desire for my walk is to be known for Christ-like love. John 13:34-35 lays out the fundamental quality that is to characterize my walk. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." The feature of my life that Jesus intends to stand out above all the rest, the one attribute that should be recognizable to the rest of the world is my love for others. By this all men and women should recognize my spiritual walk with Christ.
If I don't walk in love then my spiritual walk will be impossible to recognize. The onlooking world won't see that I'm walking with Christ. Without love I won't be known as a disciple of Christ and a follower of the Almighty God. It is love that characterizes me as a child of God and a member of His family.
Whether or not I swing my arms when I walk is of little importance in the kingdom of God. He isn't as concerned about the speed of my stride or the quirks unique to my gait. His desire is for me to have an upright walk with Him that is characterized by unconditional love that flows from the Lord Jesus Christ. By this all men will know that I am walking with the one and only Savior of the world. That is the walk God desires, the walk that brings glory to His name and a smile to His face.
Each person has a distinctive walk. Have you ever noticed how every gait is unique to one particular individual? You can recognize a friend from behind, yards away and under the cover a dark sky just by the manner in which they take their steps. It is remarkable how many different ways in which a person an walk. The slight differences in stride seem minor until you realize how great an impact they have on how we identify each other.
It makes me wonder what my walk looks like to the outside world. I am a quick walker. I have been told in the past that I look like I'm a mission even when I'm simply strolling through the mall. Personally, I blame my mother. Growing up she was always speedy walker. To keep up I had to learn to move quickly. My best friend's mother was also a speed walker so I had to move quickly to keep up her, too. Overtime my own pace was upped and it has remained at a high rate ever since. I imagine that my quick, small strides are recognizable to those who know me best.
Maybe I have a distinctive way of moving my arms, too. Most everyone has their own flare when it comes to arm movement and walking style. Who can forget the classic Seinfeld episode where one of the guest characters, a woman in Elaine's office named Sam, laments that she isn't fitting in at work. Elaine points out that maybe the problem is that Sam never moves her arms when she walks. Elaine then proceeds to interpret a caveman. A cat fight ensues. Obviously, the way a person walks can be a sensitive issue.
Beyond the quick pace of my stride and the unique way in which I move my arms, I wonder how the rest of my walk is recognized to the outside world. Beyond the characteristics of my physical walk, I wonder what my spiritual walk looks like to those I encounter and those who know me best. What about my spiritual walk is recognizable? Are there features of my spiritual life that point back to Christ? Do people look at my spiritual walk and see a gracious, loving, kind and merciful God fearing woman? Can anyone recognize my spiritual life at all by my daily walk?
The greatest desire for my walk is to be known for Christ-like love. John 13:34-35 lays out the fundamental quality that is to characterize my walk. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." The feature of my life that Jesus intends to stand out above all the rest, the one attribute that should be recognizable to the rest of the world is my love for others. By this all men and women should recognize my spiritual walk with Christ.
If I don't walk in love then my spiritual walk will be impossible to recognize. The onlooking world won't see that I'm walking with Christ. Without love I won't be known as a disciple of Christ and a follower of the Almighty God. It is love that characterizes me as a child of God and a member of His family.
Whether or not I swing my arms when I walk is of little importance in the kingdom of God. He isn't as concerned about the speed of my stride or the quirks unique to my gait. His desire is for me to have an upright walk with Him that is characterized by unconditional love that flows from the Lord Jesus Christ. By this all men will know that I am walking with the one and only Savior of the world. That is the walk God desires, the walk that brings glory to His name and a smile to His face.
Willing but weak
Moving day.
All of my furniture was loaded onto a big U-haul rental truck along with boxes of dishes, books, clothing and the random odds and ends that would soon fill the drawers of my new kitchen and bathroom drawers. I couldn't wait to unpack and get settled into my new home.
As I approached the U-haul and opened the big door on the back of the truck I was energetic and enthused, ready to tackle the challenge at hand. I immediately went to the first box and attempted to lift it up. The box didn't budge. Maybe I just needed to bend more from the knees and flex my muscles some more. With my new stance and mental muscle all ready, I tried again. No luck.
Suddenly I was struck with the reality of my moving situation: I could not physically move all of this stuff down from the truck and into the house. The boxes and furniture were far too heavy. The couch was too cumbersome. I was way over my head. I was way short on muscles! Although I was willing to do the moving, I simply couldn't. I was too weak.
With a U-haul packed with furniture I needed help...and fast. I needed some movers! Specifically some movers with big muscles and lots of strength.
To make a long story short, movers were called and within no time at all the truck was empty and the house was full. Without the help and strength of the movers that U-haul truck would still be parked in my driveway, full of my belongings with no hope of ever being unloaded.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? You wanted to perform a certain task, rise to a certain standard or avoid a particular pitfall, but no matter how hard you tried you came up short every time? Have you ever discovered that you aren't strong enough to fulfill all the willingness of your eager spirit?
Jesus warns us of this dilemma. In the Garden of Gethsemane before He was betrayed, Jesus took three of His disciples with Him up onto the mountain while He prayed. He wanted to go off alone to talk to God but before He went He told His disciples to stand watch. When He returned they were asleep, taking a nap instead of watching as they were told to do.
Jesus warned them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41).
Even with the best of intentions, the disciples weren't strong enough to remain awake by their own willingness. They fell into the temptation of a nap. They wanted to please Jesus, yet they were easily drawn into the comfort of a restful sleep in a quiet garden. Their flesh was weak, too weak to keep them awake.
When you and I fall into the same dilemma of a willing spirit but a weak body, what can we do? Are we helpless? Should we just take a nap?
Jesus tells us to pray. Our only hope is to pray and call on the strength of God to help us. When we call on the name of Jesus we turn to His strength to act in us. We aren't relying on our own weak flesh, we are relying on God's limitless strength!
Temptations will come. Some days we may be tempted to get angry and speak words that are mean and hurtful. Some days we may be tempted to disobey our parents or lie to our friends. How can we overcome the weakness of our flesh and live obediently to the commands of God? We must ask God for help.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ you and I have a Savior who has overcome our sin. He never sinned. He was and is perfect. Yet, He died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and removed. When we pray to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness we can overcome our weakness and be filled with His strength. God will give us the strength to obey His Word and do His will.
God's strength is only a prayer away. So stay awake, watch and pray. Remembering that the flesh is weak even as the spirit is willing. But thank the Lord that God is strong!
All of my furniture was loaded onto a big U-haul rental truck along with boxes of dishes, books, clothing and the random odds and ends that would soon fill the drawers of my new kitchen and bathroom drawers. I couldn't wait to unpack and get settled into my new home.
As I approached the U-haul and opened the big door on the back of the truck I was energetic and enthused, ready to tackle the challenge at hand. I immediately went to the first box and attempted to lift it up. The box didn't budge. Maybe I just needed to bend more from the knees and flex my muscles some more. With my new stance and mental muscle all ready, I tried again. No luck.
Suddenly I was struck with the reality of my moving situation: I could not physically move all of this stuff down from the truck and into the house. The boxes and furniture were far too heavy. The couch was too cumbersome. I was way over my head. I was way short on muscles! Although I was willing to do the moving, I simply couldn't. I was too weak.
With a U-haul packed with furniture I needed help...and fast. I needed some movers! Specifically some movers with big muscles and lots of strength.
To make a long story short, movers were called and within no time at all the truck was empty and the house was full. Without the help and strength of the movers that U-haul truck would still be parked in my driveway, full of my belongings with no hope of ever being unloaded.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? You wanted to perform a certain task, rise to a certain standard or avoid a particular pitfall, but no matter how hard you tried you came up short every time? Have you ever discovered that you aren't strong enough to fulfill all the willingness of your eager spirit?
Jesus warns us of this dilemma. In the Garden of Gethsemane before He was betrayed, Jesus took three of His disciples with Him up onto the mountain while He prayed. He wanted to go off alone to talk to God but before He went He told His disciples to stand watch. When He returned they were asleep, taking a nap instead of watching as they were told to do.
Jesus warned them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41).
Even with the best of intentions, the disciples weren't strong enough to remain awake by their own willingness. They fell into the temptation of a nap. They wanted to please Jesus, yet they were easily drawn into the comfort of a restful sleep in a quiet garden. Their flesh was weak, too weak to keep them awake.
When you and I fall into the same dilemma of a willing spirit but a weak body, what can we do? Are we helpless? Should we just take a nap?
Jesus tells us to pray. Our only hope is to pray and call on the strength of God to help us. When we call on the name of Jesus we turn to His strength to act in us. We aren't relying on our own weak flesh, we are relying on God's limitless strength!
Temptations will come. Some days we may be tempted to get angry and speak words that are mean and hurtful. Some days we may be tempted to disobey our parents or lie to our friends. How can we overcome the weakness of our flesh and live obediently to the commands of God? We must ask God for help.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ you and I have a Savior who has overcome our sin. He never sinned. He was and is perfect. Yet, He died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and removed. When we pray to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness we can overcome our weakness and be filled with His strength. God will give us the strength to obey His Word and do His will.
God's strength is only a prayer away. So stay awake, watch and pray. Remembering that the flesh is weak even as the spirit is willing. But thank the Lord that God is strong!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Rotten bananas
There is nothing more unappealing than a black, mushy, spotted, decomposing, rotten banana. Such fruit is no longer appetizing. The once sweet and satisfying snack passes it's prime and becomes destined for the garbage can. Not even a hungry monkey would want this fruit.
Bananas go bad so quickly, don't you think? Seemingly overnight the once vibrant yellow of the banana's skin turns dull and before you know it brown specks abound. Banana buyer beware: the fruit you are about to purchase won't look tasty for long. So eat up...and fast!
When a banana goes bad in the summer, oh boy, watch out for the fruit fly invasion! When I told you there is nothing appealing about a rotten banana I wasn't speaking from a fruit fly's perspective. They are probably the only living organism on earth that find pleasure in a rotten banana. In fact, the more rotten bananas the better if you were to ask a fruit fly. Which would be challenging since they don't talk or even meow. You'll just have to take my word for it or watch fruit flies descend on a rotten banana. You'll see what I mean. All you have to do is leave a decomposing banana out on the counter for five minutes in the month of August and you'll see the little bugs appear. They have rotten banana radar.
Thankfully, I'm nothing like a fruit fly and therefore I want nothing to do with rotten bananas or any other rotten fruit for that matter. I want the good fruit, fresh off the vine. I want fruit that is so fresh it never even has to be transported on a truck or shipped across the state, country or county. I'd like apples right off the tree and berries plucked directly from the bush that grew the delicate beauty. The kind of fruit I crave is vibrant, colorful, flavorful and oh so fresh!
I want fresh fruit on more than just my plate, but in my spiritual life, too. My kitchen counter isn't the only place where fruit can go to rot. In my spiritual life I am constantly at risk of the slow decay and rot that comes from being detached from the vine. To remain fresh I must remain constantly attached to my vine, The Lord Jesus Christ.
The moment I detach from The Lord, my lifeline, my mighty Tree and Vine, I begin to rot. The process of perishing might be slow or, like a banana during a hot August, the process might come quickly. No matter the speed the result is the same: detached from the vine I go bad.
Bad spiritual fruit stinks as much as bad fruit purchased in the grocery store or your local 7/11. Rotten spiritual fruit is unappealing in the eyes of The Lord, only desirable to the fruit flies of this world. I don't want to produce fruit only attractive and appetizing for a fruit fly. I want the fruit that pleases The Lord. I want to produce the fragrant, bountiful, beautiful fruit that brings glory to my Savior.
To produce good fruit I must heed the command of Jesus given in John 15:5, "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit..." To produce fruit you and I must remain constantly attached to our vine, never separating, never losing our grip and connection. God is the root system, the vital lifeblood, producer of all good fruit and giver of life. He will produce the most beautiful and desirable fruit in us when we remain in Him.
Bananas go bad so quickly, don't you think? Seemingly overnight the once vibrant yellow of the banana's skin turns dull and before you know it brown specks abound. Banana buyer beware: the fruit you are about to purchase won't look tasty for long. So eat up...and fast!
When a banana goes bad in the summer, oh boy, watch out for the fruit fly invasion! When I told you there is nothing appealing about a rotten banana I wasn't speaking from a fruit fly's perspective. They are probably the only living organism on earth that find pleasure in a rotten banana. In fact, the more rotten bananas the better if you were to ask a fruit fly. Which would be challenging since they don't talk or even meow. You'll just have to take my word for it or watch fruit flies descend on a rotten banana. You'll see what I mean. All you have to do is leave a decomposing banana out on the counter for five minutes in the month of August and you'll see the little bugs appear. They have rotten banana radar.
Thankfully, I'm nothing like a fruit fly and therefore I want nothing to do with rotten bananas or any other rotten fruit for that matter. I want the good fruit, fresh off the vine. I want fruit that is so fresh it never even has to be transported on a truck or shipped across the state, country or county. I'd like apples right off the tree and berries plucked directly from the bush that grew the delicate beauty. The kind of fruit I crave is vibrant, colorful, flavorful and oh so fresh!
I want fresh fruit on more than just my plate, but in my spiritual life, too. My kitchen counter isn't the only place where fruit can go to rot. In my spiritual life I am constantly at risk of the slow decay and rot that comes from being detached from the vine. To remain fresh I must remain constantly attached to my vine, The Lord Jesus Christ.
The moment I detach from The Lord, my lifeline, my mighty Tree and Vine, I begin to rot. The process of perishing might be slow or, like a banana during a hot August, the process might come quickly. No matter the speed the result is the same: detached from the vine I go bad.
Bad spiritual fruit stinks as much as bad fruit purchased in the grocery store or your local 7/11. Rotten spiritual fruit is unappealing in the eyes of The Lord, only desirable to the fruit flies of this world. I don't want to produce fruit only attractive and appetizing for a fruit fly. I want the fruit that pleases The Lord. I want to produce the fragrant, bountiful, beautiful fruit that brings glory to my Savior.
To produce good fruit I must heed the command of Jesus given in John 15:5, "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit..." To produce fruit you and I must remain constantly attached to our vine, never separating, never losing our grip and connection. God is the root system, the vital lifeblood, producer of all good fruit and giver of life. He will produce the most beautiful and desirable fruit in us when we remain in Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)