Loved Beings Being Selfless Beings

But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 

----- Ephesians 4:20 - 24

In order put on a new self that is made after the image of God, a new self that responds to situations in righteousness and holiness, I first have to know, to understand, what righteousness and holiness are.  I cannot decide what is right and holy on my own. I must know them as defined by the One who IS right and holy. I must know what Christ Jesus taught.

Jesus said the greatest command is to love God. That means that in all I do, I seek to obey Him. My love for God is expressed in my words, in song, in my witness...but God understands my love best when I trust His guidance in obedience. When God asks me to do something--especially something outside my comfort zone or something in opposition to my own wants and desires--when I follow though on what He asks of me, I demonstrate my love for God.

Jesus said the second greatest command is like the first: to love my neighbor as myself. I am to love those around me. Today, with communication technology and transportation opening the world, that means "those around me" is an ever-widening circle to be loved. 

And how do I love my neighbor? Well, the culture says if I give them everything they want, then I love them. But that's not love. That's indulgence. Though God lavishes His love upon us, He does not give us everything we want. In love, God asks us to give up what we want, what we desire--sometimes because what we want is not right for us, sometimes because our desires are deceitful and lead us into pain and misery.  Sometimes God, who loves us so much, does not give us what we want because there is something better ahead that we cannot see. 

So I go back to the question: how do I love my neighbor? I love him/her by putting his/her needs above my own. I guess that means first understanding my own needs. I have a need for "honor" and recognition. I put that down to recognize the efforts of someone else. I see that they receive honor for what they do. 

I have a need for comfort, to be warm and safe and well-fed. These are important needs  that when met enable me to help others.  But do I love myself so much that my personal needs come first before meeting the needs of others?  Maybe in order to love my neighbor, I need to lower the thermostat so that money is saved to help another person pay their heating bill. Maybe it means the groceries I add to my cart should be filling someone else's cupboard. 

The thing is, called to relationship with Christ is called to a relationship beyond self. The world is seeking after self...and teaching that that's what a person has to do. But Christ came to set the world on its ear. As His followers, we are to set self aside and put on a new image--an image that seeks after the things that God has determined are right and holy: loving Him in obedience and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Oh, God, it is all about self...about me putting myself aside...about putting others in that place formerly occupied by self.  That is the "put[ting] on of the new self"--a self created after the One who put my needs above His own.  Lord, help me see this new self that seeks after the needs of others as a fresh, well-fitting and flattering garment...as a garment I was meant to wear everyday.

Loved Beings Being Loving Beings

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

----- 1 John 4:19 - 21

We are such feeble creatures. We cannot see God; therefore we don't believe.  Jesus came to reveal God to us. He put on the garments of flesh and walked about in a human body. We could see Him, hear Him, touch Him, smell Him. He therefore existed...and then He was gone.  But after leaving, He gifted those who believe with His Spirit.  The Spirit of God lives within each one of us to guide us and teach us and keep us in relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is with us so that Jesus shines from us, so that those who don't believe can see Jesus...and believe.  We can reveal God to non-believers by loving them, because God IS love. When someone is shown love, they are shown God.

But this passage takes it a bit further and reminds me that it's all or nothing when we love God. It's impossible to love God and hate a brother...or a neighbor...or our president...or the dissenting pastor...or even a bitter enemy. If we say we love God, we are the vehicles He will use to love others. We cannot love God if we put up a block to the love that He is desperate to extend to those who cannot see Him.

Love for God is proven in our obedience. And the single command that demands obedience is loving one another. And so my question this morning is, against whom do I harbor hateful feelings that keep me from loving God? Ouch!

There are so many people with whom I disagree...do I hate them? I sense very negative feelings when I think of them...do those feelings come close to hate? If I'm honest with myself I have to admit that yes, they do. So when I say I love God, but negativity raises so easily...I need help to love those with whom I disagree despite their opinions.

There are people who criticize me, who come against me or are uncommitted to my leadership. This brings on the negative feelings. I want to fight back with criticism and disagreement of my own. So when I say I love God, but strive to be contentious just to spite, to get back...I need help to love despite my annoyances.

There are people who have hurt me, who have never apologized, who blame me for the pain. Again negative feelings arise when I think of them. Do these negative feelings lead to hate? In some cases the people are family...I cannot say I hate them. But I do dislike them.  So when I say I love God and even dislike people, am I a liar? The Spirit is nudging me to say, yes I am. I need help to love despite the pain of the past and present.

I do love you, God. Yet I see how I contradict myself when I say I love, and harbor bitterness and anger against others. I am so weak in this area, Father, but my love for you is strong. I believe then that you will help me love others. I believe you have given me your Spirit so that I can overcome these feelings and be your representative in this world. I can be one who reveals you because I love. Help me, Father, to love despite disagreement, despite contrariness, despite wounds and pain.

The Visible God

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. ----- Colossians 1:15 - 20

Oh, this is powerful Scripture. How easy it is to read these verses and move past them because they are introductory.  How easy to plow through, looking for the "meat" of the letter. This IS the meat! Before creation, Jesus is. Before God crafted a single cell of mankind, Jesus is. And Jesus with God in creation.

Before God's perfect human creation could rebel and fall away, God had a plan to bring us back to Him. Can I even take that in? This is how awesome our Creator is. How can there be a person in this world who could not believe that He exists?

Is it because that person has not seen Jesus?

The first verse of this passage clearly tells us that Jesus is God, Spirit made visible to mankind. We don't know God because He is invisible, we can't see Him.  In our simple-mindedness, we only know what we can see.  And God, our compassionate Creator, knows this. So He sent Jesus. All that God is--mercy, compassion, love, kindness, gentleness, peace, goodness...all that God is...it is all packaged into the man Jesus...all for the purpose of showing God to the people...so that they will believe.

He is first in all creation, and Jesus is the firstborn of the dead.  He died the human death, but God restored His life and called Him back to His place above creation. Jesus died, but He lives. And He remains on earth...invisibly.

So who can see Him today?  Is it any wonder people don't believe...frail people who must see to believe?

Jesus has given us--those who do believe--He has given us His Spirit...so that we can be filled with the fullness of God. So that all that God is can dwell within us. So that we can be Jesus--God--made visible.  So that the world can know Jesus.

Oh, Jesus, I pray that on this day especially that you would make yourself visible through me. Help me get out of your way; if there is one who needs to see you today, Jesus, please help me put myself down so that you can shine through. Oh, that the invisible God would be seen in the visible Jesus...Jesus the light shining through me.

A True "Magic" Kingdom

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

     and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

----- Isaiah 11:3 - 5

The Kingdom of God is here. Jesus introduced it over 2000 years ago. It will fully come, it will be fully established, when He returns. But I have to accept that the Kingdom IS here and now. As a disciple of Christ, I am a citizen of the Kingdom. And I am sensing more and more: that's not a ticket for entry into a never-ending Disney-created place of fun and magic. I received admission the moment I accepted Christ. That "ticket" was stamped for immediate entry; at that moment I walked through the turnstile.

The Kingdom of God is here and now. That means that the King reigns today.  That means that the godly King is judging in righteousness and faithfulness...not when He returns, but now. And judging in righteousness is all about making things right.

• Poverty is not right; no one deserves to live in poverty. People may be impoverished due to the circumstances of their lives. Some may judge that they get what they deserve...they haven't taken advantage of the opportunities given to them. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in impoverished circumstances. He will make right the injustice of poverty.
• Oppression is not right; no one deserves to live only to be used by another. People may be oppressed because they cannot fight back. They have no voice, no power, no one standing alongside them. Some may judge that they've gotten what they deserve...they were ignorant or weak, so of course they were taken advantage of. But the godly King says the real injustice is that sin entered the world and put people in circumstances that allowed others to take advantage and use them. This King will make right the injustice of oppression
• Racism is not right; no human deserves to be cast aside, discarded, or discounted because of race. People may be looked down on because of the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes, or the culture in which they were raised. Some may judge that they were born to a lower status. But the godly King says that the real injustice is that sin entered the world and people feel the need to place themselves above others. The King will make right the injustice of racism.
• Prostitution, addictions, abuse, murder, cheating, stealing, adultery, abortion, war, materialism...these things are not right. And homosexuality. These things were never a part of God's creation. They entered our world through sin. They settled and eroded the care and nurture God entrusted to us. It may be judged that some of these cause no harm--they are "victimless," choices that adults of reason should be allowed to make. It may be judged that some of these are justifiable, not crimes at all. It may be judged that some are to be handled by the state, that man's governing ability can decide what is just and unjust.  But only the godly King can judge...and He has been anointed to judge in righteousness...to make things right.  Sin can be forgiven.  And in the King's order of righteousness, it is forgiven...and then forgotten. Only the godly King can rule with that kind of justice. Only a godly King can lead His people to forgive as He has forgiven them.  

This is the true "Magic" Kingdom. It is the Kingdom of God, and it is here and now. The King leads in righteousness and faithfulness...today. He leads His people...me. So I have to ask, am I waiting around for Jesus to return so that He will make things right? Or am I living as a citizen of the Kingdom here and now...today...seeking to work with Him today to make right the injustices around me? Am I simply a spectator to this business of making right? Am I watching from the sidelines, looking to Him to do it all? Or am I allowing Him--the King who leads in righteousness and faithfulness--to lead me to join Him as a player.

Lord Jesus, make me a player--a first-string player. Help me judge not with eyes nor ears, but judge through your righteousness. Lead me, my King, to the work of your kingdom. Amen.

The Thing I Fear

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”  The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the a thick darkness where God was.  ----- Exodus 20:18 - 21 

Fear. In many circles today, it is a word to issue when one disagrees with another. Rather than accepting the point of disagreement, response becomes an accusation: Fear! It seems that disagreement does not mean a difference of opinions; it means fear--specifically a fear of change.

Of course, there is some truth to the charge...change is frightening. It means a disruption to the usual.  Change means adapting to the unusual.  And it is the unusual, the out-of-the-norm that we fear.

Take, for an example, a visit from an angel. That's out of the ordinary.  And throughout Scripture, such visits illicit fear. Mary and Zachariah each experienced fear in the presence of Gabriel.  This is because angel appearances are unconventional, out-of-the-ordinary....unusual.

The verses from Exodus 20 paint a fearful picture: thunder, lightening, smoking mountain, and a trumpet sound.  Thunder and lightening are common enough (well, common enough to our experiences; were they unusual to people who had lived in Egypt?), but  to see a mountain on fire and hear the blare of a trumpet...all these things happening at once...it must have been a terrifying scene.

For the Hebrew slaves, having experienced the miracles of the ten plagues, the possibility that this Mighty God would speak to them was unusual...frightening. It could only mean their certain death.  I smile...how silly...the God who desires relationship with his people would not strike them dead in conversation. Though this fear was a healthy sign--such reverence would keep the people from sinning--conversation with God was not to be feared.

Then why do I fear it?  Why is prayer so difficult for me? Why when I sit down w/devotions or sermon prep, why when I feel the nudge to quiet myself and begin w/prayer...why is it so difficult to actually do it? It's not the fear of death the Hebrews had. My fear does not show that degree of reverence; in fact, I think it shows a more casual attitude toward Almighty God. My fear is a self-centered fear: a fear of failure...I won't do it right...I won't please God w/my prayers...therefore, I won't get what I want. I lack obedience because I know God on the New Covenant level. I know the forgiveness, the grace. Yet, when I take advantage of that grace and decide that God will forgive me if I willfully choose disobedience over His nudge to pray...then I lack the reverence, the fear, that will keep me from sinning. I will disregard (grieve) the Holy Spirit who keeps those nudges coming...to keep me from sinning.

Oh, Lord, please do not put out the light of your Holy Spirit. I thank you for every call He gives, whenever I feel like going off on my own:  nudges to pick up the phone and make a call, nudges to stick w/my writing and not give in to distractions, and especially nudges to sit quietly and enjoy your presence, dear God. Thank you for shining light on my darkness, on the self-centeredness, that fills me with foolish fears.  All praise and glory, all reverence belongs to you Father God Almighty. Amens

Rescue Me

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

----- 1 CORINTHIANS 1:3 - 4

This is a very favorite passage. It gives me an answer for suffering, for why God allows tragedy in our lives.  Yes, God could easily step into the situations of our lives and prevent the tragedies  and heartache.  But He doesn't...not always.  We need to be remember that we aren't even aware of tragedy that God has kept from us. Yet, some does enter our lives. Why? Why is God okay with our heartbreak, loneliness, rejection, abandonment, and loss?

Could it be that God is more interested in redeeming our miseries and misfortunes than in giving us a rescue, a way out?

I am reminded that this is God's nature. He does rescue, but it is His nature to redeem, to buy back, that which was taken from Him. It is in suffering that we are more likely to know our need for Him.

There is a story of a drowning man who recognized His need for God--that only God could rescue him.  "God, if you save me, everything, all that I am, is yours. I will give myself totally to you." Suddenly the man felt stronger.  Hope filled him. He paddled a little further, then promised, "God, maybe I don't have to give you everything. But I promise I will give to the church if you save me." The man felt a pull to the shore; drowning did not seem to be his only outcome.  "Maybe you don't need my money, God.  If you save me maybe I'll just come to church," he said. "Uh," he added, "when I can get there." The man felt sand under his feet. As he walked toward the shore, he declared, "I made it. I thought I was a goner, but I stayed with it. I'm just lucky I'm a strong swimmer."

God rescued the man in this story...but it made no difference in how the man lived his life.  Despite promises to give everything to God--to give money, to go to church, once the man was safely ashore--despite it all, he forgot that God had rescued him.  He never followed through on a single promise made in the dire moments when his life was on the line.

The man was saved, yet he remains adrift.  He is lost.  He is not, however, beyond the reach of the Father.  God will save him, but salvation will accompany pain and suffering because this is what is redeemed.  The struggle, anguish, the heartache are bought by God because once He owns them, He can make them new...and good.  Only until we experience tragedy will we know our need for God.  Being rescued won't clarify the need. Being redeemed will validate it.

But even after redeeming the tragedy, God isn't done with us.  He then blesses us with others who need our comfort.  Because of the misery we've suffered, because of our trust that God will redeem it and make something new, God will place people in our lives who need the comfort of our experience.  Our suffering will be used to help someone else get through their own time of suffering.  If God stepped in to rescue, someone might miss the blessing of the comfort we are able to provide.  It is only in this that we can give thanks for our heartbreak.

Covered with Love

15 What then?  Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. ----- Romans 6:15 - 18

Philip Yancey calls it grace abuse: taking God's forgiving grace for granted, and forging ahead according to my own plans and desires.  Grace abuse is continuing to live as a slave to sin, "trusting" God's grace to bail me out. This is what cheapens grace. And it's effects are damaging to the Kingdom of God.

God's grace does indeed cover me. He has lavished me with forgiveness. In this same letter to the church in Rome, Paul reminds me that there is nothing in this world or in the spiritual realm that will ever come between me and God's grace.

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 -----Romans 8:38 - 39

This is such an awesome promise to take hold of, to put my trust in: there will never be a distance, a gap...a breath...between me and God's love.  Nothing will come between me and His love! That's a promise on which to build my faith. It surrounds me.  NO, it covers me.  I belong to Him, and He will never abandon me.  Because of that, don't I owe Him everything? Because I will always have the support of the One, True God, the Almighty and Eternal, should I not surrender all that I have, all that I am, to Him? Is there even such a thing as "my" will when considering all that I have in Christ Jesus?

Yes, there is. I still have the ability to choose to go my own way--to sin--or to choose obedience. This great God has not covered me with an encumbering, robotic conformity. Instead He has entrusted to me willful obedience. I have the ability to choose His ways. And when I surrender my self-centered desires and ambitions--when I choose to obey the ways of God--I choose to love Him. Obeying God is my greatest act of love. It means I trust His outcomes. I hold His promises with deepest faith.  The grace of God is with me through whatever I encounter. And I honor that grace when I choose to obey. That is slavery I can accept.