HUMBLING LEUKEMIA--SHE WAS JESUS

Leukemia and chemo is a very humbling experience.  There are times when one cannot get out of bed or do any personal self-care, due to the weakness.  And that's hard for most any American to take.

John 13:6-8

Context--Jesus with his disciples in the upper room, preparing them for his death, resurrection, ascension and them living life without him there.  Jesus is doing a task that only the lowliest slave of a house would do--washing people's dirty feet.

When Jesus gets to Peter, he protests--"Lord you will never wash my feet."  You are rabbi and leader, Lord.  You shouldn't be doing this lowly task.  (Notice Peter didn't offer in the text to get up and take Jesus' place.)  Jesus explained to Peter that Peter did not yet understand what Jesus was doing (or about to do in going to crucifixion for Peter and all others.  Jesus would lower Himself again, through the Cross, and take the sin of the world.

A few days after the stem cell transplant, I was sitting up in chair and able to do my own bath, but could still not get to my feet due to swelling in my legs.  The nurse tech washed them for me, and it dawned on me, and I said it, John 13.  I told her about how Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples just as she was washing my feet.  The worst day with the feet was the day they had sweated very badly, and smelled very badly, and I told her to just get two tubs of water to let me put them in and soak because they were terrible to me.  But she did so without complaining or making me feel like I was less than a person.

It was humbling for me when my wife did this, but even more humbling when a nurse tech, one I didn't know well at all, was doing this and other self-care for me. 

What did Peter learn (and I learn) that could help us live our lives with the Lord better?

• None of us (especially Christians) should be too good to humble ourselves, lower ourselves to meet a practical need another has.  We all are equal in the sight of God.
• None of us should be too good to humble ourselves, and let another serve us, when it is our time to have a need, and someone comes to help and serve.  Ecclesiastes 3 says, "There is a time for every purpose under heaven"--a time to be well and a time to be sick.  Do not rob someone of their opportunity to minister and serve.
• What is important is not "position" in life; what is important is doing what God asks us to do.
• Meeting practical needs is showing Jesus' love and humility.  Follow His example.  (Remember, Jesus original call to Peter was "Follow Me.")
• Spiritual eyes must be open for practical needs to be seen, and spiritual hearts must be open to move from seeing to doing.  But that's what faith is--seeing, believing, and then doing--"follow up or follow Me."

What do you learn from this important episode in Peter's life?

PETER WALKS ON WATER

Walking on water is impossible--but in Matthew 14:22-36, we find two different people walking on the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus had a busy day of ministry, so he sends the disciples in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus goes to a mountain to pray to His Father and spends evening and much of the night.  The disciples are fighting to get the boat across because a storm comes up. 

Early in the morning, Jesus joins them by walking on the Sea.  The disciples see Him, and are afraid he is a ghost.  I mean, who can walk on water?

Jesus tells them not to be afraid, that it is He (literally "I am.")

When Peter realizes it is Jesus, he asks Jesus to identify Himself by asking Peter to come to Him, walking on the water.  Jesus tells Peter to come, and Peter does.

Successfully walking toward Jesus, Peter then sees the storm and effects of the wind, and begins to sink.  Of course, he asks Jesus to save him.  Jesus lifts him out of the waves and asks Peter, "O you of  little faith, why did you doubt. (ESV)

They get into the boat; the storm ceases, and the disciples worship Jesus and say, "Truly, You are the Son of God."  Good statement since only God can control nature.

Peter--impetuous, fool hardy, maybe full of faith, and yet like us all, he has his doubts too, especially when he thinks about the situation he faces.  Who can walk on water?  Who can do so during a storm?  Certainly I can't; I don't have the power to overcome those forces, yet Peter was doing that due to Jesus' power just a minute before.

What so often happens with us like Peter, is that we take our eyes off Jesus.  We look more at the situation than we do the God who can control anything and do miracles.  So we let the situation become bigger as we make Jesus smaller.  Who is the Lord--the situation you face or Jesus?

Henry Blackaby (Experiencing God) used to say, "Look at the circumstance from God's perspective rather than looking at God through the circumstance."    In other words, what could God achieve through this; how could He grow me through this; what purpose might He have that I might join and obey and follow?

Jesus saved Peter, but He also shows Him that faith is necessary to do what God wants.  We should not doubt His power to do ANYTHING.  The impossible is possible with God and His son, Jesus.

Peter and the disciples learn important lessons from this story.  They learn to trust God (at least for now) for anything--even impossible things.  They learn to focus on Jesus not circumstances.  And they learn a bit more of who Jesus is--they worshiped Him and called Him the Son of God.

What do you face right now that is IMPOSSIBLE?  Will God be there for you in this seemingly impossible situation/task?  Is He powerful enough to overcome or help you get through it?

Keep your focus on Jesus, not the problem or situation; look for His perspective.

And through this all, you will learn that Jesus is the Son of God, and you will learn more of what that means--all good lessons for followers of Jesus who are on a long and winding road.  And the more you learn about the real Jesus, the more you will worship Him.

ALWAYS FISHING

Some people are always fishing--spring, summer, fall and even ice fishing. 

I'm looking at the life of Peter right now, and notice some beneficial things in the call of Peter to "Follow Jesus."  (Mt 4:18-22; Mk 1:16-20; Lk 5:1-11).  The Lucan account may be a fuller version of the same story in Mt and Mk, or could be another story.  I focus on the fuller account in Lk today.

The professional fishermen, Peter, James, John, had fished all night and not caught anything.  Jesus tells them to cast the nets out deeper for a catch.  Simon Peter doesn't protest, but just says they were unsuccessful overnight, their best time to fish.  This highlights the story even more.

Peter and the others cast the nets as Jesus tells them, and get a miraculous amount of fish.  "so full that their nets begin to break" and they fill two boats.  Peter recognizes Jesus' appearance and miracle show he (Peter) is in the presence of God--at least something only God could do.  So as Isaiah in Is. 6, when God appears, Peter realizes he is sinful and not worthy to be in Jesus' presence.  He is awestruck and amazed.

Similar words when God shows up to people (theophany) in the Old Testament, "Don't be afraid."  Saying, "I am here for a good purpose; I want to empower you to do my work."

"From now on you will catch men."  (Whatever that means)

In all three Gospels, the fishermen leave family, business, leave everything to follow Jesus.

Peter was told to fish in "deeper" water.  Probably not an allegory really here, but there are times in life when people expect too little, need challenges and a change from the same old.  But Jesus does not call us to a life of ease and comfort.  He calls us to listen to Him for directions.  And that means we go into deeper water than we would on our own.

Even when it doesn't make sense, I am to listen and obey the Lord.  And it often does not make sense from my or a human standpoint.  But remember, God's ways are not our ways.

When one recognizes he/she is in the presence of God, the attitude one needs is that of awe, worship, respect, and realizing one`s sinfulness.  It is only of God's grace and mercy that we can be in the presence of a Holy God.

God comes to us with an important and good purpose in mind.  Greater service for Christ is part of our gratitude for His forgiveness and grace.

Fear is human; not godly.  Focus on God can take fear away.

When the challenge from God comes, the answer for us is to "leave everything and follow Him."

For the disciple/believer/follower of Christ, everyday is an opportunity to be an influencer for Jesus among people we are around.  It is a chance to "fish for men/women." 

I will probably never see 3000 accept Christ through my service, like Peter did at Pentecost (Acts 2).  But I can help people move closer to becoming followers of Jesus everyday--one by one.  And that too is part of praying, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Let's go fishing, even in an informal way.

EXISTENCE--> PRESENCE--> POWER

REAL EXISTENCE offers His PRESENCE, which leads to His POWER.

Joshua 1

"Be strong and courageous."

"Be strong and very courageous."

"Be strong and courageous, because I AM."

"Be strong and courageous, because I AM with you."

"Be strong and courageous,  because I AM with you wherever you go."

1. REAL EXISTENCE--God Is--Gen. 1--God exists
2. PRESENCE--"I AM with you!  This God who exists offers His Presence to you and me.
3. POWER--"I AM with you, SO be strong and courageous."  This God who exists, offers His Presence to you, which leads to His POWER being available to you."

Acts 1:8

"And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (Presence through His Existence).  And you shall be my witnesses"..."wherever you go." (Josh 1)

Draw strength from the One who has always EXISTED today, as He offers you His POWER through His PRESENCE, wherever you go.


REAL EXISTENCE-->PRESENCE-->POWER

FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS

Focus is often lacking among Christians as it is among Americans.  We have so many projects going at once--"too many irons in the fire," the old saying goes.  We try to get everything out of life we can--and more done all the time--more, more, more.  Is there anything wrong with that?  Could be.

I wish every believer could read A Testament of Devotion, a small devotional book by Quaker, Thomas Kelly.  I especially wish everyone could read the short essay within the book titled, "The Simplification of Life."  It discusses being controlled, not by the pulls of life, not by our own thoughts, desires, needs, urgencies, but by the Divine Center.  (Quakers use many terms for God unfamiliar to other Christians.)  But, as he says, we so often do not seek out the "Divine Center" to focus on what is important and what is OUR service, our ministry, our way of loving Him and loving others.  Instead, we just shoot out shotgun at everything in our path, rather than the focus of the rifle at the real target each of us should be striving toward.

Kelly says, where there is time made to "focus" on God and His purpose, then we find ourselves being less pulled in too many directions and more focused on what is important.  But what is important should be for the Christian "what is important to God," not just to you and me.  And truthfully, I don't want to live that way--that means "denying self, taking up my cross, and following Jesus" (how's that for a good biblical idea--Lk 9:23).  But my self doesn't want crucifying--just let me live my life the way I want to, as I seek to worship and follow Christ "MY" way.

Kelly says, we know there are some who slip into the Divine Center and live their live--even busy lives--less harried, less split, less feverishly--and they find joy, peace, rest in the midst of it all.  They seem to find fulfillment when many of us are just involved going from activity to activity, and just feeling more tired rather than joyful in doing good.  What is the difference?  Gaining focus from God as to His purpose for me.

I have also been reading a book titled, Plan B, by Pete Wilson.  It discusses what one does when my Plan A is not God's plan, but God brings to us Plan B.  What happens when what I want to do conflicts with what God brings into my life--like illness or failure or (you add the circumstance).  How do you and I, as believers, deal with God's Plan B?

Again it is a matter of focus.  Wilson says we so often focus on the what, when and where of knowing God's will (and God's plan) "that we neglect the most important question, which is why."  (Wilson, p. 77)  Why are we doing what we are doing?  Why am I living my life for Christ?  Why am I here?

As Wilson discusses the Apostle Paul, he says this, "He knows why he's doing what he's doing.  He knows his purpose, his mission--to bring glory to God with his life." (Wilson, p. 77)

When one knows his purpose, his mission, then it is easier to live that out through daily interactions with people, daily events, and to leave off those that are not part of that purpose.  Simplicity--focus--saying "yes" to some, and "no" to others.  But you must know the "why," the purpose, your purpose.

And where do we learn that purpose, and continue to refocus on that purpose?  By spending time with the "Divine Center"--God Himself.  Jesus did it when there was so much healing, preaching and teaching to do, but he went off by himself to pray, and then he told his disciples, "we must move on to other cities, because that is why I came."  There was great success where He was, but He got alone with God to refocus on His purpose--"WHY" He was here.  If Jesus needed that, do you?

What are you involved in that you should probably let someone else do or that you just need to drop?  (This applies to churches as well--see a book titled, Simple Church.)  The reason this happens though is for focus, and the focus comes when we ask God "why" and He reveals to us what is most important to us living out the "why."

Focus, focus, focus.  Do you need to get alone with God, to consistently ask God, "why"?  Why am I doing what I am doing?  Is it really to "glorify God with my life" or is it for some other reason?

Wouldn't it be great to be "busy doing what you were created to do and be" rather than just pulled in every direction.  Seek out the Divine Center, consistently, and see the focus of life change.

GOD'S WORK

The Bible is a book about God and His purposes and His ways.  There are people mentioned, of course, but the focus is God.

As I read through Joshua now, I see this focus clearly.  The Israelites are receiving what God promised Abraham in God's covenant with them.  They were to receive three things--relationship with God, many descendants, and a great land.  They had received all by this time in the Bible except the promised land, and we see this happening in the book of Joshua.

Chapter 6 is the initial conquest, which is the city of Jericho.  God gives them the plan, and it is not like any war plan any military leader would come up with.  Israel was to march around the city for 7 days, each of the first six days, one time, while blowing a trumpet (shophar).  Then they would go back to their camp.  However, on the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times, and then when the signal was given, shout.  The walls then were to fall down and they were to go into the city and fight.

And the plan worked. On the seventh day, they went into the city and wiped out everyone in the city, including the animals.  This was a ban the God had put on the city.  Israel was to take no spoils but to destroy everyone/thing, except for metals and what would not burn.  These were then to be given to the treasury of the Lord.

Rahab, the woman who had saved the spies earlier in Joshua, was spared along with her family that had gathered in her house during the siege.  This was promised to her that they would be spared, as she had asked.

What do we find in Joshua 6?  Remember first that in the last of chapter 5, the "commander of the army of the Lord" had met with Joshua.  Did he give instructions then to Joshua?  Did he appear to lead Joshua, implying that this place was "holy ground," that is, dedicated to God (thus the ban on the people and things found there)?

One thing we note--for the walls to fall down like this (trumpet and shout), it had to be a work of God.  This was not, and still is not, military planning.  It was not the superior forces of Israel for this to happen, and it is not just coincidence that it happened when it did (even if an earthquake occurred or some other physical phenomena).  The timing was God's--the work was God's--it was God's doing, not Israel's doing.  God gave the plan in advance--and then He followed through on His plan--proving His Word would occur. 

The ban--the killing of everyone--a tough situation--not something telling Israel that this would be a principle for all time or every battle, though it did occur in Canaan.  They were to wipe out the people and things that related to worship of other gods there.  Part of that was the sin of the Canaanites (see references in your reference or study Bible).  Part of that was protection for Israel as they moved in, that they would not go after false gods.  (However, they didn't follow God's instructions, and they dealt with going after false gods all the time they were in the Promised Land.)

This ban was for a certain time and place--not a principle for all time--not an ethnic cleansing, since some were spared (not only Rahab's family, but the Gibeonites later in Joshua).  God has the power, as God to create, to destroy, as He is creator but also judge.  And only God sees perfectly--no person ever does.  And as Sovereign, He is God over all.

Gold, silver and other things were given to the treasury to prevent greed on the part of the people and also to help with building a Temple later on as well.

So this was a work of God.  God's work is to be done God's way.  Even when it sounds totally illogical (Are you smarter than God?) or not the way you or any person would do it.  But in this way, God got the credit for it.

However, word got around at the end about Israel, their God, and Joshua. "So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land." (NIV)  It proved to Israel that God was with Joshua as God had been with Moses, thus making his leadership more trustworthy in their eyes.  But the word also got around the Promised Land about the invasion of Israel, and the fear grew among the people who lived there.  (Remember what Rahab had said earlier when the spies came, that people were in fear of this nation.)

What situation are you facing that you have trouble believing God can do it?  Or maybe God is saying something about the situation, but to you, it doesn't make sense.  Who you going to trust--God or yourself?  Is God getting the glory in your life for things that are happening or are you getting the glory?  What walls in your own life need to come down, so you can trust God more fully?

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?

Whose side are you on?  Who is on your side?  Whether an argument, a team sport, or problems in relationships, often we find a side to be for or against.

In Joshua 5, Joshua and the Israelites are getting prepared to go into the Promised Land, the final aspect of the Covenant that God made with Abraham--the aspect that had not yet been fulfilled.

As they did so, they got spiritually prepared--and remember this is a new generation--second generation out of Egypt.  So first of all, the act of circumcision for this new generation.  It represented to the Jew the acceptance of God's Covenant with them.  So this new generation had to accept it for themselves--they could not live on their parent's acceptance of the Covenant with God.

A second aspect we find here is that they observed the Passover.  It was remembering what God had done, in bringing them out of slavery into freedom.  It was a way of showing solidarity with their history, their past, and past generations.  They were to observe this each year, but had not for several, so this action on their part showed their obedience to God once again.

Not only had they accepted God's covenant, they also were showing their willingness to live in obedience to Him and His commands.  And these were part of the covenant God made with them.  These are important things for them, as they prepare to go into the Promised Land to receive what God had promised.  Spiritual preparation is always important--in fact, the most important for believers.

But then a curious passage (Josh. 5:13-15).  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, God's chosen man, goes near Jericho.  As he does so, a man with a drawn sword appears before him.  Joshua asks the man, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"  In other words, whose side are you on.  (Word had gotten around the land of Canaan that the Israelites were right near Canaan and things they had done already to other enemies--so fear was there among the people living in Canaan). 

The man's response, "Neither."  I am for neither you nor your enemies.  And he goes on to say, "As commander of the LORD's army I have now come."  Now wait a minute!  Wasn't the Lord behind Joshua and the Israelites taking over this land?  Wasn't He the one giving them this Promised Land?

Was this an angel of the LORD?  Was it the LORD Himself?  Joshua immediately bows down before the man in reverence and asks, "What message do you have for me?"  He recognizes this is either God or one representing the LORD.  So he asks a good question, "Why are you here?  What is the message you are to deliver to me?  (Angels or God doesn't just appear, it seems for no reason.)

The man before Joshua tells him to take off his sandals, because he is only holy ground.  You remember this was also said to Moses at the burning bush.  So it was a confirmation to Joshua that indeed "God was with him in the same way He'd been with Moses."  It should build up the faith--the strength and courage (chapter 1)--of Joshua on the eve of beginning the battles to capture the land.

But what other messages were probably here?  One, God is not on our side; He wants us to be on His side.  Now God loves everyone; sinners as well as believers.  He loves the sinner and hates the sin.

Is our side always right?  Of course not.  But is God's side/mind/purpose always right?  Of course.  So we need to come to God and listen to Him, not just ask God to "bless" our plans, our works for Him, our purposes.  We should get our marching orders from Him, not He from us.  A good reminder for Joshua and Israel as they enter the Promised Land.

That also says things should be done "God's way," not necessarily the way we think.  God would give His people specific instructions as they captured the land.  When they followed Him, they achieved success.  When they didn't listen or disobeyed, they found failure.  The battles were dependent on God and listening to His instructions/plans.

God doesn't need to know my plans and join me (whose side are you on), I need to know His plans  and join Him.

Be aware also that when God speaks, that is "holy ground."  When God chooses to speak to us, that is not the norm--the everyday--the common.  Therefore, that is holy ground--a message to be heard and heeded, not taken lightly.

The Promised Land was indeed holy ground, but it was only holy ground because of God, His blessing, His covenant, His choosing, His purpose.  Entering that land needed to be done in God's way and behind His leading, not just what they thought.

Are not our lives also "holy ground" as God communicates to us and wants us to "be on His side, not just He be on our side"?  I need to hear from God more than He needs to hear from me.  And then, I need to obey.

How might this apply to your life right now?  Where do you see yourself in this story about Joshua?