Walking With Him

Well, the sun came up this morning!  After all the voting, analysis and hand-wringing, here we are facing another day.  I am reminded that no matter what, God is still in control. I am very glad for that.  It keeps me going!  And I want to keep going WITH HIM.  I said this past Sunday in my sermon, “When you are doing God’s work with God you can’t fail.”  So here we go for another day, serving the KING.

I've Been Thinking (about myself)

We live in a society that puts such high value on self-sufficiency.  Recently our President suggested that “you didn’t build that” when it came to beginning and running a business.  The reaction to those comments has been fierce.  People don’t like to be told they are dependent on someone else for anything.  We like to be self-sufficient.

While it is true that we are responsible for ourselves and should not expect others to carry us through life, there is also truth in recognizing that “no man is an island unto himself,” to paraphrase English pastor and poet John Donne.  The point he was making is that we are all connected; we do indeed need one another.

This is especially true when it comes to your (and my) spiritual life.  This is one area where the Gospel is very much counter-culture.  Where our culture says be self-sufficient, do it yourself for yourself, Jesus teaches that spiritual life is one thing you cannot do by yourself or for yourself.

We have been saved by grace – God’s gift of life that we cannot earn or deserve in any way – and the Church usually gets that right.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says as much, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

But so often Christians lose an essential element of life in Christ when we lose sight of how much we need God’s ongoing grace in our lives.  Paul was amazed at how the Galatian church missed it. “Tell me this one thing: did you receive God's Spirit by doing what the Law requires or by hearing the gospel and believing it? How can you be so foolish! You began by God's Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?” (Galatians 3:2-3)

Like them we usually can agree that we need God’s grace to be saved, but we forget that we also need His grace to live the Christian life each day.  I cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to living the way Jesus tells me to live.  I can only do that by trusting Him to live in me and through me.  Then my life, in addition to my salvation, is “by grace… through faith —and this is not from myself, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

It can be so difficult to admit that I can’t handle something all by myself; pride gets in the way so much. But until I am able to confess that and stop trying to be righteous on my own I won’t be able to truly trust in Jesus for His righteousness given to me.  I have been saved by grace and I must also live by grace. I don’t deserve this life, can’t earn it and can’t live it by myself either.

It is what Paul wrote about when he said, That I may “be found in Him (Christ), not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law (and my own efforts to obey it), but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Phil. 3:9)

Which way should we go? Knowing which way to go when riding a barely visible trail in the mountains is a very important thing.  That is why I would never, ever, never, EVER attempt such an outing on my own.  Instead I follow Vance who knows his way around.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this plan.

Neither is there anything wrong with the plan of following Jesus through my life.  He knows where He is going and the best way for me to go in my life.  I am convinced of it.  The most difficult parts of the trail I travel through life occur usually when I decide to strike out on my own, or I think that I can handle it myself.  Thankfully Jesus is gracious and when I call out for His help He is faithful to lead me back to His way.

I am grateful, so very grateful for friends who know which way to go because I don't.

My Royal Son

Add this to my list of things I never expected.  When I spoke with his sister, she too, was amazed.  But it just goes to show you that we don't really know what tomorrow holds. 

That was the serious thought I took from the whole Homecoming experience.  I go about making my plans and thinking about what I expect and don't expect when all along I really have no control over it at all.

I was reminded of Proverbs 19:21, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails."  And also Psalm 33:11 reminds me that my plans come with no guarantees but, "the plans of the Lord stand firm forever."

I just finished reading about Joseph's life and was struck by how it was all about God's plan. I have a funeral this week and was reminded again that we don't always have a tomorrow. My son never ceases to amaze me.  Perhaps I am too easily amazed that the way I see things isn't chiseled in stone.

But as I said, that was the serious thought that I took from the whole Homecoming thing.  I also just had fun watching my boy grow up a little more.  In two more years perhaps it will be King and  not just attendant! Never say never!

Too Much For One Sermon

It's a short week after getting back (a day late - thank you United!) from vacation with my family. (it was a FABULOUS week together!) (read Amanda's blog for more details on that)

Anyway, I have been using this short week to get ready for Sunday and have just finished my sermon except that there was more I wanted to talk about!  It just didn't all fit.  So I decided to write a little about it here to get it out of my head and hopefully not get too sidetracked on Sunday.  (nobody likes two sermons squeezed into one!)

I am preaching from Ezekiel 47:1-12 and referring to Jesus' comments in John 7:37-39.  The sermon will focus on the power and spiritual healing of the Holy Spirit that we recieve when we believe in Jesus. I can only touch on the point that we then become LIKE Jesus and the Holy Spirit will flow through us to others.

That is where the sermon could get much longer!  I was reading and thinking about the balance that God put in the whole idea and how we too often fail to maintain.  Right from the start I want to affirm that I believe BOTH ideas are needed, otherwise there would be no balance and our life and faith would not be what God has intended for us.

So allow me to begin my second sermon.  In Ezekiel 40-46 God had the prophet measuring the boundaries of the land and walls of the temple.  One commentator pointed out that these represent legalism which emphasizes the need for separation and holy living.  This has for many believers constituted the main emphasis of being "Christian."  We point to Jesus Himself laying down the law to the rich young ruler and say, "See, THAT is what it takes to be a 'Christian.'"  That leads us to focus our efforts at presenting the gospel to sin as humanity's problem, forgiveness as our need and the gospel as the means by which we reach forgiveness and peace with God.  It's what the Romans Road and many gospel presentations are based on, "All have sinned...the wages of sin is death...but there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  Understand that is all 100% true but it is best suited for people with a strong ethical, moral sense of what is right and wrong, and who feel an obligation to live up to a certain standard or code of morality.  "It is a way of showing those who believe in the existence of walls, like the rich young ruler, that they themselves are on the outside."  To that person showing them their sin is the best way to invite them to forgiveness so they can come inside.

The problem is when we start to believe that this is the ONLY way to present the good news of Jesus.  We currently live in a society that is not merely immoral but actually moving fast to becomeing amoral.  So many people just can't see the world in black and white; right and wrong. (thank you postmoderism)  To continue the imagery of walls, many today don't believe that spiritual walls actually exist.  It is a world of many ways to get to heaven, if there is one. So if I don't believe that walls really exist, then I reject the premise that I am on the outside needing to come in.  If I don't believe I am guilty, I don't need to be forgiven.  And so we need to be able to present the gospel (same good news) in a different way.  Instead of the sin - forgiveness - gospel equation can we look at the problem - need - solution this way?  We still have a problem but instead of guilt could we focus on bondage?  That would make our need, liberation and the gospel then is our solution that enables us to be free to be what God created us to be.

This is seen in the River of Ezekiel's vision in chapter 47 that flows from the temple.  It represents a gospel of freedom and fullness.  No walls can contain it and it grows in depth and power able to wash away any barrier and bring life to all that it touches.    It still leads us to a relationship with God through Jesus but is presented in a different "language."

It's sad that so many today have abandoned the walls of the temple (the church) in search of total freedom; a life with no rules or restrictions, do whatever I please. And they fail to see that the one true free flowing River begins right there.  It often involves us not understanding that, "Sin is not just breaking the rules, it is living a life centered around something other than God."And equally sad is how the church too often tries to put a wall around the river, too, not inviting sinners to approach and be healed for fear they may contaminate us. 

I guess it reminds me of the Apostles on Pentecost speaking one truth - God longs for a relationship with everyone - and each man was able to hear it in his own language.  I'm not saying that we can/should never lead someone down the Romans Road or use the Four Spiritual Laws.  I guess I am just thinking we ought to know who we are talking to enough to know what "language" they speak.  If they believe in walls, show them the walls. If not point them to the River that flows freely from Jesus and invite them to believe and drink their full.

(the quotes above and the impetus for some of my thoughts came from the Ezekiel volume of The NIV Application Commentary written by Iain M. Duguid)

No More of Me

The other day I was reading The Sense of the Call by Marva J. Dawn and was reminded again of one of the truths that has and is transforming my life.   God really accepts me - plain and simple - without me doing anything to deserve it.

Ms. Dawn quotes Eugene Peterson who wrote, "We do not progress in the Christian life by becoming more competent, more knowledgeable, more virtuous, more energetic. We do not advance in the Christian life by acquiring expertise. Each day, and many times each day, we return to Square One...We hear Jesus say, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt.18:3). And so we become as little children...we adore and we listen....The world does not need more of you; it needs more of God.... The Christian life consists in what God does for us, not what we do for God."

God, I don't deserve Your grace, but I am so thankful for it. Continue to mold me into the child you want me to be.

Free At Last!

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

That cry originated with an old Negro Spiritual and was made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his famous “I Have A Dream” speech and it has been a rallying cry for many different people and groups who feel oppressed and enslaved. You can feel the emotion of emancipation whenever you say the words, even if you personally aren’t subjugated in any way.

What is the power in that word, “free” and the concept of freedom? For most of human history freedom, it seems, has been the desire of one group or nation or race from another almost non-stop.

Freedom was a driving force in our own nation’s Revolution and has been a rallying cry for every war since. The Fourth of July is a celebration of our freedom. Even Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forced Day; how many holidays do we celebrate that are related in some way to achieving and protecting our freedom? We Americans love our freedom!

And we should. But our political freedom is only part of the picture. The Bible calls us to focus on the best freedom of all, spiritual freedom in Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has provided us with something we could never gain on our own; freedom from sin. That is something worth celebrating!

As I read Romans 8 I get the same feeling as when I read the stirring words of MLK Jr. See if you feel it too…

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”