Last night, my pastor, was teaching from the beautitudes in Matthew 5. As we came to verses 6 and 8, something he said really struck a chord with me. These are the verses that especially spoke to me:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
And the statement as I heard it that he made was, "Each of us have as much of God's righteousness as we want. Maybe not as much as we would like to have. But as much as we want." My wife heard it as related to the Holy Spirit (as least from her memory this morning, as we discussed it further). Either would be true.
Is not there much truth to that. We may "think" we would like to have more. We may even "think" we have more than we do. We may wish we had more of God's righteousness or His purity or His holiness or the Holy Spirit. But when it comes to doing what is necessary to acquire it, we do not follow through. We're just unwilling to do the work necessary.
For much of my life, I have been all about growth, maturity, seeking to know more and more. I was told years ago that the word "philosophy" means lover of wisdom or lover of the chase (in that pursuit). And I have been a "lover of the chase"--the pursuit of wisdom--godly wisdom.
And yet, there is within me laziness. I WISH I had more, but I am not really willing to PURSUE what is necessary for more. Not willing to SEEK above other things the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I have as much as I want, but not as much as I wish I had or as much as I COULD have.
Yes, growth in Christian maturity depends on God's provision--on His pouring out His blessings, His love, the experiences of life that provides that growth. But along with God's side is my side. My pursuit of Him--my abiding in Him and letting His words abide in me--my willingness to pray and study and fellowship and share Him and do other spiritual disciplines that would aid my growth in holiness and righteousness and the Holy Spirit.
So what do I often do? I settle for less than God offers. I settle for "as much as I want" but don't strive toward all of God's purpose and plan for me (see Philippians 3 for Paul's striving for finding God's purpose). I have as much as I want but not as much as I wish for. And therefore, I settle for less than I could have spiritually, in righteousness and holiness. And less of the Holy Spirit, Himself, than I could have. (Actually I have all of the Holy Spirit; but I do not let Him have all of me. I keep control instead of being in His control. I will receive no more of the Holy Spirit by allowing Him more control. I will just have more of life focused on Him and His purpose.)
I have all that I want--all that I am willing to pursue--to seek--to strive or work toward--all that I allow God to control. But there is so much more that I "wish" I had; so much more that is available to me, as I make myself more available to God and His Holy Spirit.
What about you, my friend? Do you have all that you want? Are you settling for much less than you could have? Much less than you often wish?
If you have not started the journey, then begin it. If you have lost your way or gotten sidetracked on this pursuit of God and His purpose, then get back to the path and pursuit. If you are seeking, then how could you seek more than you are seeking right now?
In the words of Neil Diamond song, "The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads us to who knows where, who knows where." But the road is worth the effort--worth the pursuit--worth the challenges and the time. And there is more and more and more available.
Join me as a lover of the chase--lover of wisdom--lover of God. And see how you and I could make up some of the difference between "as much as we want" and "as much as we wish."
Join me.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
NOTHING ADDED
I could add nothing to these:
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green, (Psalm 92:12-14, NIV)
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV)
{Thanks to biblegateway.com}
"... yields its fruit in season ... leaf does not wither ...still bear fruit in old age ... will stay fresh and green ... leaves are always green ... never fails to bear fruit."
I like that. I would like that to be true of me.
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green, (Psalm 92:12-14, NIV)
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV)
{Thanks to biblegateway.com}
"... yields its fruit in season ... leaf does not wither ...still bear fruit in old age ... will stay fresh and green ... leaves are always green ... never fails to bear fruit."
I like that. I would like that to be true of me.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Except Ye Abide
I read this devotional thought today from Andrew Murray's, "The True Vine." It is free to read or copy from ccel.org. Normally I make my own posts, and only make one per day, but this was too good not to share. So here it is:
EXCEPT YE ABIDE
As the Branch Cannot Bear Fruit of Itself, Except It Abide In the Vine; No More Can Ye, Except
Ye Abide in Me—John 15.4
As the Branch Cannot Bear Fruit of Itself, Except It Abide In the Vine; No More Can Ye, Except
Ye Abide in Me—John 15.4
We know the meaning of the word except. It expresses some indispensable condition,
some inevitable law. “The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine. No
more can ye, except ye abide in me.” There is but one way for the branch to bear fruit, there
is no other possibility, it must abide in unbroken communion with the vine. Not of itself,
but only of the vine, does the fruit come. Christ had already said: “Abide in me”; in nature
the branch teaches us the lesson so clearly; it is such a wonderful privilege to be called and
allowed to abide in the heavenly Vine; one might have thought it needless to add these words
of warning. But no—Christ knows so well what a renunciation of self is implied in this:
“Abide in me”; how strong and universal the tendency would be to seek to bear fruit by our
own efforts; how difficult it would be to get us to believe that actual, continuous abiding in
Him is an absolute necessity! He insists upon the truth: Not of itself can the branch bear
fruit; except it abide, it cannot bear fruit. “No more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
But must this be taken literally? Must I, as exclusively, and manifestly, and unceasingly,
and absolutely, as the branch abides in the vine, be equally given up to find my whole life
in Christ alone? I must indeed. The except ye abide is as universal as the except it abide. The
no more can ye admits of no exception or modification. If I am to be a true branch, if I am
to bear fruit, if I am to be what Christ as Vine wants me to be, my whole existence must be
as exclusively devoted to abiding in Him, as that of the natural branch is to abiding in its
vine.
Let me learn the lesson. Abiding is to be an act of the will and the whole heart. Just as
there are degrees in seeking and serving God, “not with a perfect heart,” or “with the whole
heart,” so there may be degrees in abiding. In regeneration the divine life enters us, but does
not all at once master and fill our whole being. This comes as matter of command and
obedience. There is unspeakable danger of our not giving ourselves with our whole heart
to abide. There is unspeakable danger of our giving ourselves to work for God, and to bear
fruit, with but little of the true abiding, the wholehearted losing of ourselves in Christ and
His life. There is unspeakable danger of much work with but little fruit, for lack of this one
thing needful. We must allow the words, “not of itself,” “except it abide,” to do their work
of searching and exposing, of pruning and cleansing, all that there is of self-will and selfconfidence in our life; this will deliver us from this great evil, and so prepare us for His
teaching, giving the full meaning of the word in us: “Abide in me, and I in you.”
Our blessed Lord desires to call us away from ourselves and our own strength, to Himself
and His strength. Let us accept the warning, and turn with great fear and self-distrust to
Him to do His work. “Our life is hid with Christ in God!” That life is a heavenly mystery,
hid from the wise even among Christians, and revealed unto babes. The childlike spirit
learns that life is given from Heaven every day and every moment to the soul that accepts
the teaching: “not of itself,” “except it abide,” and seeks its all in the Vine. Abiding in the
Vine then comes to be nothing more nor less than the restful surrender of the soul to let
Christ have all and work all, as completely as in nature the branch knows and seeks nothing
but the vine.
Abide in Me. I have heard, my Lord, that with every command, Thou also givest the
power to obey. With Thy “rise and walk,” the lame man leaped, I accept Thy word, “Abide
in me,” as a word of power, that gives power, and even now I say, Yea, Lord, I will, I do
abide in Thee.
WAY TO GOD?
Another of Jesus' "I AM" statements is another amazing statement! All of Jesus' "I AM" statements are amazing statements about who He is. The next to last is "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)
In the context, Jesus is speaking of the fact He is leaving, and He is going where the followers cannot follow Him now. But one day they will go where He is going. Thomas says, "How can we come if we don't know where you are going and don't know the way." And then Jesus says, "I AM the way."
In other words, where Jesus is going, and that is into the presence of God, cannot be gone to unless one goes through Jesus' way. And Jesus is the way. In other words, you have to know the leader and let Him lead you there.
Mapquest will not help me get there. The Bible may point me to the One who can get me there. But only by accepting the One who is the way can I go with Him to where He has (now) gone. It is all about a personal relationship of trust in Jesus, the One who knows the way because He is the way to God.
He is the superhighway to God--the pathway--the road. But He is also the "truth."
Many other paths say they have truth or are truth. Jesus says that also, but He has backed it up through His prediction that He would die, but then rise again. Who else has done that? None. Jesus said He would die, but then in three days be raised from the dead. Followers who knew Him before His death saw Him and recognized Him after He rose. They talked with Him, walked with Him, ate with Him, recognized Him by His voice and mannerisms. If all of this were a hoax, why would many of these same people be willing to die in the book of Acts for this belief that He came alive from the grave. Jesus backed up what He said; He is the truth.
He is also the life--Eternal life--the abundant life--the best life. And He leads, at our death, to a place of eternal living that will have no hardships or trials or death or pain, and that is in the very presence of God Himself.
That eternal life--abundant life--best life begins the moment when one accepts Jesus and lives in trust in Jesus here on this earth. But that is only the beginning of this eternal life.
The way to God, the truth of God, the way to eternal life with God is found in Jesus. What other person ever made that statement and was able to prove the truthfulness of it? Only the One who came alive from the dead--that would be Jesus.
Consider Jesus--consider His teachings--consider His actions in the Gospel of John, and you will find One who is believed by Christians to be the "way, the truth, the life." No one can come to the Father (God) except by coming through relationship with Him.
But the best part of that "hard" and exclusive statement is that He offers that relationship to everyone--anyone--all. He doesn't just offer it to some. And that is good news from Jesus!
In the context, Jesus is speaking of the fact He is leaving, and He is going where the followers cannot follow Him now. But one day they will go where He is going. Thomas says, "How can we come if we don't know where you are going and don't know the way." And then Jesus says, "I AM the way."
In other words, where Jesus is going, and that is into the presence of God, cannot be gone to unless one goes through Jesus' way. And Jesus is the way. In other words, you have to know the leader and let Him lead you there.
Mapquest will not help me get there. The Bible may point me to the One who can get me there. But only by accepting the One who is the way can I go with Him to where He has (now) gone. It is all about a personal relationship of trust in Jesus, the One who knows the way because He is the way to God.
He is the superhighway to God--the pathway--the road. But He is also the "truth."
Many other paths say they have truth or are truth. Jesus says that also, but He has backed it up through His prediction that He would die, but then rise again. Who else has done that? None. Jesus said He would die, but then in three days be raised from the dead. Followers who knew Him before His death saw Him and recognized Him after He rose. They talked with Him, walked with Him, ate with Him, recognized Him by His voice and mannerisms. If all of this were a hoax, why would many of these same people be willing to die in the book of Acts for this belief that He came alive from the grave. Jesus backed up what He said; He is the truth.
He is also the life--Eternal life--the abundant life--the best life. And He leads, at our death, to a place of eternal living that will have no hardships or trials or death or pain, and that is in the very presence of God Himself.
That eternal life--abundant life--best life begins the moment when one accepts Jesus and lives in trust in Jesus here on this earth. But that is only the beginning of this eternal life.
The way to God, the truth of God, the way to eternal life with God is found in Jesus. What other person ever made that statement and was able to prove the truthfulness of it? Only the One who came alive from the dead--that would be Jesus.
Consider Jesus--consider His teachings--consider His actions in the Gospel of John, and you will find One who is believed by Christians to be the "way, the truth, the life." No one can come to the Father (God) except by coming through relationship with Him.
But the best part of that "hard" and exclusive statement is that He offers that relationship to everyone--anyone--all. He doesn't just offer it to some. And that is good news from Jesus!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE
Jesus next "I AM" statement comes in John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;" (NIV)
The context is of Lazarus' death. Lazarus was friend of Jesus and brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus hears of Lazarus' death, waits a few days, and then goes to Bethany. As he arrives, he is met (accosted, scolded) by sister Mary. Here is one of the most important statements by a follower of Jesus as to who He is and what He can do. Maybe even an expectation of what he will do (raise Lazarus now from the dead).
In this passage, we find both an important sign (miracle pointing to who Jesus is and God's power within Him) and an "I AM" statement. (Note the mixing of Jesus' word and deed--pointing to who He is.)
Before the raising of Lazarus, Jesus says, "I AM the resurrection and the life."
Mary believes that Jesus could "prevent" death--"If only you had been here ..."
Jesus teaches and shows that He has power over death, EVEN AFTER IT HAS OCCURRED.
"I AM the resurrection and the life." I am the power to come alive again. (Doesn't only God have power over death? Who, therefore is Jesus?)
And I am the life itself--eternal life, abundant life, life with no limits.
All of that Jesus provides for the believer, disciple, follower--an overcoming of death (often seen as the final event or the final victory of Satan), and a genuine and abundant life (one that will last forever).
Then Jesus proves His statement here by raising Lazarus from the dead. Word and deed--statement and proof--saying followed up by action.
If there is eternal life and abundant life and overcoming of death, even after it occurs, isn't that a reason to investigate Jesus more for yourself.
Because of Jesus being the "resurrection and the life," the follower/believer in Jesus does not need to worry about earthly death. It will be overcome by Jesus' action.
So the Christian celebrates Easter being Jesus' resurrection. And the Christian sings the song, "Because He (Jesus) lives, I can face tomorrow" and whatever may come in this life, including death.
Jesus raised Lazarus. Jesus was raised from the dead Himself. And one day, Jesus will raise all those who place their trust/faith/hope/life into His keeping. That's a reason to live today with confidence and hope!
The context is of Lazarus' death. Lazarus was friend of Jesus and brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus hears of Lazarus' death, waits a few days, and then goes to Bethany. As he arrives, he is met (accosted, scolded) by sister Mary. Here is one of the most important statements by a follower of Jesus as to who He is and what He can do. Maybe even an expectation of what he will do (raise Lazarus now from the dead).
In this passage, we find both an important sign (miracle pointing to who Jesus is and God's power within Him) and an "I AM" statement. (Note the mixing of Jesus' word and deed--pointing to who He is.)
Before the raising of Lazarus, Jesus says, "I AM the resurrection and the life."
Mary believes that Jesus could "prevent" death--"If only you had been here ..."
Jesus teaches and shows that He has power over death, EVEN AFTER IT HAS OCCURRED.
"I AM the resurrection and the life." I am the power to come alive again. (Doesn't only God have power over death? Who, therefore is Jesus?)
And I am the life itself--eternal life, abundant life, life with no limits.
All of that Jesus provides for the believer, disciple, follower--an overcoming of death (often seen as the final event or the final victory of Satan), and a genuine and abundant life (one that will last forever).
Then Jesus proves His statement here by raising Lazarus from the dead. Word and deed--statement and proof--saying followed up by action.
If there is eternal life and abundant life and overcoming of death, even after it occurs, isn't that a reason to investigate Jesus more for yourself.
Because of Jesus being the "resurrection and the life," the follower/believer in Jesus does not need to worry about earthly death. It will be overcome by Jesus' action.
So the Christian celebrates Easter being Jesus' resurrection. And the Christian sings the song, "Because He (Jesus) lives, I can face tomorrow" and whatever may come in this life, including death.
Jesus raised Lazarus. Jesus was raised from the dead Himself. And one day, Jesus will raise all those who place their trust/faith/hope/life into His keeping. That's a reason to live today with confidence and hope!
Friday, April 6, 2012
THE DAY I CARRIED THE CROSS
A friend of mine was out on campus today, holding a big cross and giving out nails as a reminder of Good Friday and its meaning. It reminded me of an experience I had a few years ago, while I was still in collegiate ministry. I wrote about this (and it was published) in "Discipleship Journal," a magazine then put out by Navigators (NavPress).
I was out on campus with several students from our ministry, holding the cross and passing out nail tracts, sharing about the sacrifice of Jesus and the nails that held him to the cross. After a few hours on campus, it was time to go back to our ministry building. All of the students helping needed to get to class or other places. I was left with the cross, probably about 8 feet tall, and a large box of nail tracts that we were passing out that morning.
I guess it was probably about a mile back to our ministry building, and I was crossing campus, struggling to carry the cross and the box of tracts alone. From time to time, I would shift the items from side to side--it was not only heavy, but awkward to carry as well.
What was interesting was that, as I struggled with the cross and box, I caught myself feeling embarrassed that I was struggling with this in full sight of students and others passing by. Not only was it tiresome, but I was embarrassed. Finally, I got back to our ministry building with a sigh of relief.
As I reflected on the experience later, I thought to myself, "What a contradiction!" For a few hours, with others, I was comfortable holding the cross and passing out the tracts. Then when it was just me, I not only struggled physically, but emotionally as well--embarrassed to be seen struggling with this all.
I realized that Jesus struggled on this day--Good Friday--with a much harder load to carry--a real cross, real nails, a message rejected by most, and the public ridicule of those while He was on the cross, dying for the sins of others. And I got embarrassed struggling with carrying a cross and a box, but in no danger of being killed. What a contrast--what a contradiction between what I had been doing and what I was now doing!
For me it was a good lesson in humility and in standing up for what I said I believed to be true. How easy I left being a good follower, and like Peter, denied my Lord in my embarrassment.
It is easy for me to quote Luke 9:23, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Jesus said it.) But living it out is much harder. Words sometimes are cheap; living life is not.
I am glad that Jesus did not get embarrassed carrying my cross--for my sins. I am glad He did not turn back from His destiny ("Nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done.").
I have a Savior who is both effective in His action on behalf of a sinful world, but also a worthy model to emulate.
Maybe you and I should more often carry a cross in a public place, struggle with carrying both it and a box of nails, to remind us, in a very small way, of what Jesus went through for us on that, as we call it, "Good Friday."
Thank You Jesus. Teach me what lessons I need from this experience.
I was out on campus with several students from our ministry, holding the cross and passing out nail tracts, sharing about the sacrifice of Jesus and the nails that held him to the cross. After a few hours on campus, it was time to go back to our ministry building. All of the students helping needed to get to class or other places. I was left with the cross, probably about 8 feet tall, and a large box of nail tracts that we were passing out that morning.
I guess it was probably about a mile back to our ministry building, and I was crossing campus, struggling to carry the cross and the box of tracts alone. From time to time, I would shift the items from side to side--it was not only heavy, but awkward to carry as well.
What was interesting was that, as I struggled with the cross and box, I caught myself feeling embarrassed that I was struggling with this in full sight of students and others passing by. Not only was it tiresome, but I was embarrassed. Finally, I got back to our ministry building with a sigh of relief.
As I reflected on the experience later, I thought to myself, "What a contradiction!" For a few hours, with others, I was comfortable holding the cross and passing out the tracts. Then when it was just me, I not only struggled physically, but emotionally as well--embarrassed to be seen struggling with this all.
I realized that Jesus struggled on this day--Good Friday--with a much harder load to carry--a real cross, real nails, a message rejected by most, and the public ridicule of those while He was on the cross, dying for the sins of others. And I got embarrassed struggling with carrying a cross and a box, but in no danger of being killed. What a contrast--what a contradiction between what I had been doing and what I was now doing!
For me it was a good lesson in humility and in standing up for what I said I believed to be true. How easy I left being a good follower, and like Peter, denied my Lord in my embarrassment.
It is easy for me to quote Luke 9:23, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Jesus said it.) But living it out is much harder. Words sometimes are cheap; living life is not.
I am glad that Jesus did not get embarrassed carrying my cross--for my sins. I am glad He did not turn back from His destiny ("Nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done.").
I have a Savior who is both effective in His action on behalf of a sinful world, but also a worthy model to emulate.
Maybe you and I should more often carry a cross in a public place, struggle with carrying both it and a box of nails, to remind us, in a very small way, of what Jesus went through for us on that, as we call it, "Good Friday."
Thank You Jesus. Teach me what lessons I need from this experience.
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