"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him - not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." Philippians 3:8-9
The period of Lent is a time of self examination for most. It often involves the Spirit of God making us quite aware of our own brokenness and complete need for God. It is a time when we stop for a moment and think to ourselves - wow, being a Christian is tough sledding...it's a constant struggle between sin and obedience.
Of interest to me in this passage is the word "rubbish." Paul says that in comparison to knowing God and having a relationship with Him, everything else in his life (his best accomplishments, good works, his money, his power, his fame, his legacy...everything) is rubbish. Paul is making a strong statement here and you might not even realize how strong, for in the Greek in which it was originally written, the great theologian of the church dishes out some uncharacteristically salty language. The greek word translated "rubbish" is skubalon. Skubalon is only used one time in the whole of the Bible, and it literally means #$^@*$! (or human dung if you will).
Paul is shouting in as loud a voice as possible that everything else in his life is #$^@*$! compared to knowing Jesus. In other words, all that matters in life is ones relationship with Jesus.
As we begin our entrance into Holy Week with Palm Sunday tomorrow, let me ask you to reflect on this...
What matters most to you in your life? How does that manifest itself in the way that you live it?
**thanks again for journeying with me through Lent - this will be my last post for the season. I look forward very much to celebrating Easter week with you - either here in the Bay in person, or in the Spirit of unity wherever it is that God has placed you.
Be God's, Scott
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Running Lines
"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126: 5-6
In the movie Hoosiers (one of my all time favorites) Gene Hackman plays the role of new basketball coach Norman Dale, at a little school in Indiana called Hickory High. This school had a very small basketball team that had never achieved very much in that basketball mad state. Coach Dale set the goal of winning a state title before them, and the way that they were going to achieve it was through team play, fundamentals and hard work...lots of hard work. In fact at the beginning of his tenure there, for the first few practices, the team didn't even pick up a ball, they just ran ran lines over and over and over. This physically and mentally exhausted the kids - some even quit. They were not used to this type of suffering in practice. When they (or their parents) complained, Dale simply said, "my practices are not designed for your enjoyment."
What his practices were designed for, whether the kids realized it or not, was to shape them into champions so that they might achieve their goals. The torturous hard work of running lines got them into shape and brought them together as a team. The corporate tears they sowed in practice eventually led to (spoiler alert for a movie released in 1986) them reaping the joy of the Indiana State championship, beating a team much bigger and stronger than them. I don't think that it would be hard to argue that without the blood, sweat and tears of suffering at practices those boys would not have enjoyed the State title. Coach Dale put them through difficulty in order for them to reap amazing joy. I have no doubt that the moment they won that game and experienced the joy of achieving their goals - that all their suffering and toil was forgotten.
I don't know any player who really enjoys running lines, it's hard work that is not a lot of fun - but any player worth his salt will tell you that unless you do this hard work, you will never achieve your athletic goals. As they say, "no pain...no gain."
The Christian life is a lot like running lines at times isn't it? We hurt, we strain, we suffer under the difficult circumstances of life. We work hard at serving our Lord, only to be persecuted, or laughed at. As long as their is sin in the world, life will be hard - "we will sow in tears and continually go forth weeping." Sin and its effects are not pleasurable, our bodies and souls were never designed for sins enjoyment. We were designed for righteousness and God's unfiltered presence. Friends, life will be hard and beat us down.
But our goal is heaven - our hope is victory in Jesus!
We run the race to gain the prize - the salvation of our souls. We shall reap in joy at the harvest because all our suffering and toil will be forgotten the moment we see our saviour face to face.
I never liked running lines, but the thing that got me through was focusing on my goals and not the present struggle. Even in the midst of our earthly struggle, may our eyes be fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Be God's, Scott
In the movie Hoosiers (one of my all time favorites) Gene Hackman plays the role of new basketball coach Norman Dale, at a little school in Indiana called Hickory High. This school had a very small basketball team that had never achieved very much in that basketball mad state. Coach Dale set the goal of winning a state title before them, and the way that they were going to achieve it was through team play, fundamentals and hard work...lots of hard work. In fact at the beginning of his tenure there, for the first few practices, the team didn't even pick up a ball, they just ran ran lines over and over and over. This physically and mentally exhausted the kids - some even quit. They were not used to this type of suffering in practice. When they (or their parents) complained, Dale simply said, "my practices are not designed for your enjoyment."
What his practices were designed for, whether the kids realized it or not, was to shape them into champions so that they might achieve their goals. The torturous hard work of running lines got them into shape and brought them together as a team. The corporate tears they sowed in practice eventually led to (spoiler alert for a movie released in 1986) them reaping the joy of the Indiana State championship, beating a team much bigger and stronger than them. I don't think that it would be hard to argue that without the blood, sweat and tears of suffering at practices those boys would not have enjoyed the State title. Coach Dale put them through difficulty in order for them to reap amazing joy. I have no doubt that the moment they won that game and experienced the joy of achieving their goals - that all their suffering and toil was forgotten.
I don't know any player who really enjoys running lines, it's hard work that is not a lot of fun - but any player worth his salt will tell you that unless you do this hard work, you will never achieve your athletic goals. As they say, "no pain...no gain."
The Christian life is a lot like running lines at times isn't it? We hurt, we strain, we suffer under the difficult circumstances of life. We work hard at serving our Lord, only to be persecuted, or laughed at. As long as their is sin in the world, life will be hard - "we will sow in tears and continually go forth weeping." Sin and its effects are not pleasurable, our bodies and souls were never designed for sins enjoyment. We were designed for righteousness and God's unfiltered presence. Friends, life will be hard and beat us down.
But our goal is heaven - our hope is victory in Jesus!
We run the race to gain the prize - the salvation of our souls. We shall reap in joy at the harvest because all our suffering and toil will be forgotten the moment we see our saviour face to face.
I never liked running lines, but the thing that got me through was focusing on my goals and not the present struggle. Even in the midst of our earthly struggle, may our eyes be fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
laugh
"When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue was singing." Psalm 126: 1-2
Lent isn't a time that you'll often hear reflections on laughter - so today is your day!
I am a laugher. I am a smiler. I always have been, and I hope I always will be. One big issue I had with church growing up was that there was little room for these two things. I grew up worshipping with lovely godly folks, but laughter and smiles were in short supply in our church - particularly during the worship service. The pastors always seemed so serious, and most congregants appeared dour (almost downright angry). I never heard anyone ever say anything funny during a worship service (at least intentionally). Sometimes funny things happened but people were too serious to laugh it off.
I remember one time, in the very first church that I served as a youth pastor, that bears this out: The senior pastor was a loving, yet very grumpy looking fellow - he loved God and His people but I recall finding him rather intimidating and serious (and I don't think I was alone). We were celebrating communion (as an aside, isn't funny that we say "celebrating" communion, when really our partaking of the sacrament is anything but celebratory - at least in the way that we usually think of celebrating) and our loving, yet dour faced minister fumbled the tray of communion cups during the hand off to the elder. The tray, along with all the cups and juice went flying and spraying everywhere. The minister had this never before seen frazzled and panicked look on his face as the tray fell. It made such a loud crash, and for a moment everyone was silent as the minster and elders just stood there frozen in shock.
I wanted to laugh out loud so much. This could just be my bizarre sense of humour, but I thought it was probably one of the funniest things I had ever seen. In fact, thinking now, if I was in the minister's place, I would've likely broke the tension and made some sort of funny quip poking fun at my self. This minister, after he got over his shock and embarrassment just kept going on like nothing ever happened. In fact the spilled tray and cups stayed there on the floor for the duration of the service.
Laughter is an outward sign of inner joy. Laughter is what the victorious do when their victory is assured. Laughter belongs in church and in our faith lives. I think that God is richly blessed when we laugh and smile. I think that God would have been warmly joyed when my minister fumbled the communion tray in much the same way that we are when we watch a puppy we love chase a butterfly. I suppose we could rightly be accused of taking ourselves too seriously.
Now sin is a serious thing - something worthy of eternal consequences that are anything but funny.
But here's where laughter comes into our faith life - God has brought us back from the captivity of sin! We've won! And He did so by the most extraordinary means possible - actually becoming a human infant growing only to die and rise again. We've been brought back from the dead - a situation that is so ludicrous and implausible that ones mouth cannot help but be filled with laughter, and our tongues fit for singing.
May you revel and laugh with God today in the sure joy of your deliverance!
Be God's, Scott
Lent isn't a time that you'll often hear reflections on laughter - so today is your day!
I am a laugher. I am a smiler. I always have been, and I hope I always will be. One big issue I had with church growing up was that there was little room for these two things. I grew up worshipping with lovely godly folks, but laughter and smiles were in short supply in our church - particularly during the worship service. The pastors always seemed so serious, and most congregants appeared dour (almost downright angry). I never heard anyone ever say anything funny during a worship service (at least intentionally). Sometimes funny things happened but people were too serious to laugh it off.
I remember one time, in the very first church that I served as a youth pastor, that bears this out: The senior pastor was a loving, yet very grumpy looking fellow - he loved God and His people but I recall finding him rather intimidating and serious (and I don't think I was alone). We were celebrating communion (as an aside, isn't funny that we say "celebrating" communion, when really our partaking of the sacrament is anything but celebratory - at least in the way that we usually think of celebrating) and our loving, yet dour faced minister fumbled the tray of communion cups during the hand off to the elder. The tray, along with all the cups and juice went flying and spraying everywhere. The minister had this never before seen frazzled and panicked look on his face as the tray fell. It made such a loud crash, and for a moment everyone was silent as the minster and elders just stood there frozen in shock.
I wanted to laugh out loud so much. This could just be my bizarre sense of humour, but I thought it was probably one of the funniest things I had ever seen. In fact, thinking now, if I was in the minister's place, I would've likely broke the tension and made some sort of funny quip poking fun at my self. This minister, after he got over his shock and embarrassment just kept going on like nothing ever happened. In fact the spilled tray and cups stayed there on the floor for the duration of the service.
Laughter is an outward sign of inner joy. Laughter is what the victorious do when their victory is assured. Laughter belongs in church and in our faith lives. I think that God is richly blessed when we laugh and smile. I think that God would have been warmly joyed when my minister fumbled the communion tray in much the same way that we are when we watch a puppy we love chase a butterfly. I suppose we could rightly be accused of taking ourselves too seriously.
Now sin is a serious thing - something worthy of eternal consequences that are anything but funny.
But here's where laughter comes into our faith life - God has brought us back from the captivity of sin! We've won! And He did so by the most extraordinary means possible - actually becoming a human infant growing only to die and rise again. We've been brought back from the dead - a situation that is so ludicrous and implausible that ones mouth cannot help but be filled with laughter, and our tongues fit for singing.
May you revel and laugh with God today in the sure joy of your deliverance!
Be God's, Scott
Monday, March 22, 2010
Stench
"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?" Isaiah 43: 18-19
I have met a lot of people over the years, and I have heard a lot of different stories of sin. Many of the sins could be classified as small (at least from a human perspective), yet some have been staggeringly huge. Truth be told, I have heard enough stories of sin from enough different people, that new stories of sin (no matter how shocking) rarely take me by surprise. However, regarding these stories that I hear from people - I have found a pattern that repeats itself time and time again despite the wide variety of people, and the wide variety of sins: Folks have a hard time letting go of their guilt and moving on.
It seems to me that we have a hard time forgetting and moving past those sins that we have done. Often they seem to follow us around like the stench of a skunk. We often try to move on, but then, out of nowhere, we catch a whiff of our past failure and our guilt brings us back. Feelings of guilt from past sins can prevent us from experiencing joy, intimacy in relationships, and even freedom. Many of us choose to stitch our past sins on our shirts like the Scarlet Letter A - marking us out for all to see as a failure and a sinner. I mean, it's not like we're proud of them...quite the opposite. We do so because we think we deserve it, that we're not worthy to forget and move on. This is a horrible way to live, yet so many of us do so - self-imposed chains tying us to our past.
Thanks be to God, it does not have to be so.
Jesus died to forgive our sins - all of them, even the ones that cause us guilt and shame. And He came to deliver us into a place of freedom. Through the blood of Jesus, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us. Jesus shed His blood that you might have freedom from your past, and a renewed hope for the future. In case you're not reading between the blatant lines here, let me say it straight. You needn't feel any guilt anymore for the sins you've done, you needn't beat yourself up over them, or carry them around with you as a reminder of your failure - Those sins (and all your sins) were nailed on the cross with Jesus and then buried with Him in the grave, and there they shall stay.
Jesus wants to remove your guilt and shame. Ask Him to, and He will. He'll give you the freedom that you long for. One where you'll no longer remember the former things, or consider those things of old - God will do a new thing in you.
Be God's, Scott
I have met a lot of people over the years, and I have heard a lot of different stories of sin. Many of the sins could be classified as small (at least from a human perspective), yet some have been staggeringly huge. Truth be told, I have heard enough stories of sin from enough different people, that new stories of sin (no matter how shocking) rarely take me by surprise. However, regarding these stories that I hear from people - I have found a pattern that repeats itself time and time again despite the wide variety of people, and the wide variety of sins: Folks have a hard time letting go of their guilt and moving on.
It seems to me that we have a hard time forgetting and moving past those sins that we have done. Often they seem to follow us around like the stench of a skunk. We often try to move on, but then, out of nowhere, we catch a whiff of our past failure and our guilt brings us back. Feelings of guilt from past sins can prevent us from experiencing joy, intimacy in relationships, and even freedom. Many of us choose to stitch our past sins on our shirts like the Scarlet Letter A - marking us out for all to see as a failure and a sinner. I mean, it's not like we're proud of them...quite the opposite. We do so because we think we deserve it, that we're not worthy to forget and move on. This is a horrible way to live, yet so many of us do so - self-imposed chains tying us to our past.
Thanks be to God, it does not have to be so.
Jesus died to forgive our sins - all of them, even the ones that cause us guilt and shame. And He came to deliver us into a place of freedom. Through the blood of Jesus, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us. Jesus shed His blood that you might have freedom from your past, and a renewed hope for the future. In case you're not reading between the blatant lines here, let me say it straight. You needn't feel any guilt anymore for the sins you've done, you needn't beat yourself up over them, or carry them around with you as a reminder of your failure - Those sins (and all your sins) were nailed on the cross with Jesus and then buried with Him in the grave, and there they shall stay.
Jesus wants to remove your guilt and shame. Ask Him to, and He will. He'll give you the freedom that you long for. One where you'll no longer remember the former things, or consider those things of old - God will do a new thing in you.
Be God's, Scott
Saturday, March 20, 2010
un Worthy
"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Luke 15: 18-19
The story of the Prodigal Son (or the Loving Father, however you wish to read and name it) is one of the greatest stories in the grand scope of literature. What makes it great, is that it is really our story, isn't it? The son essentially tells his Dad that he wishes that he were dead. He is leaving and the father better well give his inheritance NOW. Graciously, the father does let his son choose his own path, gives him the money, and lets him go. The son goes on to blow all of his money on wild and sinful living, only to be found homeless, penniless, and without friends and family taking up residence in a pig sty. The son hit rock bottom, realized what a huge mistake he made, and decided that home with Dad wasn't so bad after all. He dusted himself off, humbled and penitent, hoping just to get a job on his Dad's farm.
The above scripture is the reunion scene - and it tells us a lot about God, and a lot about what our response to God ought to be.
The Father (representing God) saw his son approaching the homestead, even though he was a long way off - that meant the father never stopped looking and longing for his son to return. When he saw him, he ran towards him and tackled him down in a flurry of love hugs and kisses - the father didn't force his son to take the walk of shame up the laneway, he, overjoyed at his return, ran to him and showed him how much he loved him and missed him. Through his actions, the father clearly welcomed his son back like he had never left. The great love of the father for his lost and returned son forgave and reinstated in one huge embrace.
God misses us. Many of us have run away from God, and He legitimately misses us. His love for us is so great, that He is actively looking for us, and longing for us to return home to him. And when we do, He will absolutely run to us, embrace us and welcome us home. The pain of what we did, gets swallowed up in His fierce love.
And what of the son...He doesn't take the love and acceptance of his father for granted. Even though his father obviously welcomes him back, and is clearly delighted that he is home - the son realizes that he does not deserve to be there. He still goes through with the speech that he had planned, confessing his sin to his father. He recognizes that his father's response is not only unexpected, it is undeserved as a result of the way that he treated him. He confesses the reality that he was no longer worthy to be called a son anymore.
We, ran away from God's home. We turned our back on His love and care, and went off to go it on our own. The reality is that none of us are worthy to be welcomed back into the family of God. Our sin and disobedience ought to preclude us from ever setting foot there again.
Thankfully, God's outrageous love for us makes us worthy and grants us sonship.
In light of this story, I wonder how often we forget our unworthiness before God's great love. I wonder how often we forget that we really have no right to be here - in fact we still deserve to be in the pig sty.
May we never feel entitled to the love of God, or take His mercy for granted.
Be God's, Scott
The story of the Prodigal Son (or the Loving Father, however you wish to read and name it) is one of the greatest stories in the grand scope of literature. What makes it great, is that it is really our story, isn't it? The son essentially tells his Dad that he wishes that he were dead. He is leaving and the father better well give his inheritance NOW. Graciously, the father does let his son choose his own path, gives him the money, and lets him go. The son goes on to blow all of his money on wild and sinful living, only to be found homeless, penniless, and without friends and family taking up residence in a pig sty. The son hit rock bottom, realized what a huge mistake he made, and decided that home with Dad wasn't so bad after all. He dusted himself off, humbled and penitent, hoping just to get a job on his Dad's farm.
The above scripture is the reunion scene - and it tells us a lot about God, and a lot about what our response to God ought to be.
The Father (representing God) saw his son approaching the homestead, even though he was a long way off - that meant the father never stopped looking and longing for his son to return. When he saw him, he ran towards him and tackled him down in a flurry of love hugs and kisses - the father didn't force his son to take the walk of shame up the laneway, he, overjoyed at his return, ran to him and showed him how much he loved him and missed him. Through his actions, the father clearly welcomed his son back like he had never left. The great love of the father for his lost and returned son forgave and reinstated in one huge embrace.
God misses us. Many of us have run away from God, and He legitimately misses us. His love for us is so great, that He is actively looking for us, and longing for us to return home to him. And when we do, He will absolutely run to us, embrace us and welcome us home. The pain of what we did, gets swallowed up in His fierce love.
And what of the son...He doesn't take the love and acceptance of his father for granted. Even though his father obviously welcomes him back, and is clearly delighted that he is home - the son realizes that he does not deserve to be there. He still goes through with the speech that he had planned, confessing his sin to his father. He recognizes that his father's response is not only unexpected, it is undeserved as a result of the way that he treated him. He confesses the reality that he was no longer worthy to be called a son anymore.
We, ran away from God's home. We turned our back on His love and care, and went off to go it on our own. The reality is that none of us are worthy to be welcomed back into the family of God. Our sin and disobedience ought to preclude us from ever setting foot there again.
Thankfully, God's outrageous love for us makes us worthy and grants us sonship.
In light of this story, I wonder how often we forget our unworthiness before God's great love. I wonder how often we forget that we really have no right to be here - in fact we still deserve to be in the pig sty.
May we never feel entitled to the love of God, or take His mercy for granted.
Be God's, Scott
Friday, March 19, 2010
Welcome
"Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2
Here's the thing we often forget about Jesus and what He actually did during His ministry years - He spent time with the social outcast. Sure He spent the majority of His time with His disciples, teaching a leading them - this was, after all the task of a Rabbi. However, much of His ministry time, in and amongst the people He dearly loved, was spent with those particular folks who were sneered at and looked down upon by the religious establishment. The Pharisees detested the tax collectors, because they were Jews working for the Romans interests by taking a large and unfair amount of money away from them (some above and beyond for their own pockets) in the name of Caesar. Tax Collectors were cheats and turncoats - despised. Sinners in the eyes of the Pharisees were anyone from prostitutes to lepers to Gentiles. There was a very clear delineation between sinner and saint in the eyes of the religious in Jesus' day and the general rule was that never the two should meet.
Jesus, however, a Rabbi working within this same religious system, turned this general rule on its ear - Jesus did more than simply not avoid sinners - He sought them out and shared intimate meals with them. In so doing, He made it known that God loves everyone, that God is willing to step down into the world of the sinner and show compassion, and that followers of Him ought not to keep their religion behind closed doors with a sign that says "For Saints Only."
Who are the "sinners" in our world? I know, I know, we are all sinners...but who are those people that society in particular singles out as pariahs? They may be different people in different parts of the world - but are these not the people that Jesus would be sharing His life and company?
As Christians, we are called to be like Jesus. The fact that Jesus ate with sinners, tells us that to be a follower of Jesus is to do likewise. Our churches and worship services were never intended to be exclusive gatherings for the pious and holy - rather, places for all people to come and sup with the love divine. May our lives and churches be places accused of welcoming sinners.
Be God's, Scott
Here's the thing we often forget about Jesus and what He actually did during His ministry years - He spent time with the social outcast. Sure He spent the majority of His time with His disciples, teaching a leading them - this was, after all the task of a Rabbi. However, much of His ministry time, in and amongst the people He dearly loved, was spent with those particular folks who were sneered at and looked down upon by the religious establishment. The Pharisees detested the tax collectors, because they were Jews working for the Romans interests by taking a large and unfair amount of money away from them (some above and beyond for their own pockets) in the name of Caesar. Tax Collectors were cheats and turncoats - despised. Sinners in the eyes of the Pharisees were anyone from prostitutes to lepers to Gentiles. There was a very clear delineation between sinner and saint in the eyes of the religious in Jesus' day and the general rule was that never the two should meet.
Jesus, however, a Rabbi working within this same religious system, turned this general rule on its ear - Jesus did more than simply not avoid sinners - He sought them out and shared intimate meals with them. In so doing, He made it known that God loves everyone, that God is willing to step down into the world of the sinner and show compassion, and that followers of Him ought not to keep their religion behind closed doors with a sign that says "For Saints Only."
Who are the "sinners" in our world? I know, I know, we are all sinners...but who are those people that society in particular singles out as pariahs? They may be different people in different parts of the world - but are these not the people that Jesus would be sharing His life and company?
As Christians, we are called to be like Jesus. The fact that Jesus ate with sinners, tells us that to be a follower of Jesus is to do likewise. Our churches and worship services were never intended to be exclusive gatherings for the pious and holy - rather, places for all people to come and sup with the love divine. May our lives and churches be places accused of welcoming sinners.
Be God's, Scott
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Ambassador
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5: 20
David Jacobson was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Canada on October 2, 2009 after his appointment from President Obama. Mr. Jacobson lives in Ottawa, the Capital city of Canada, though he doesn't actually live in Canada. Technically, he lives in and works out of the American Embassy - this property is officially US soil. An ambassador is appointed by the highest authority in his/her country to reside in the capital city of another country, in order to represent the affairs of their homeland. They are given authority as ambassadors to speak on behalf of their leader, in addition to ensuring their country's best interests are maintained. An ambassadors primary work is communication - communication with both his/her leader, and the country they're appointed to serve in. Essentially, ambassadors are called to sacrifice living on their home soil, in order to speak for and represent their country in a foreign land. Though, I'd hardly call Mr. Jacobson's appointment a sacrifice (Ottawa is a pretty nice and safe place to live) - sacrifice might to be easy a term for Karl Eikenberry: US Ambassador to Afghanistan, or William Garvelink: US ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Isn't it interesting that Paul calls all Christians, ambassadors for Christ. Whether we realize it or not, we have been appointed by Christ Himself (the very highest leader in the Kingdom of Heaven) to represent Him in this world. We are given the authority to speak on His behalf, and to represent His interests here. And we are called to do so sacrificially, while living in a foreign land - made so by the taint of sin and rule of the devil. Just as an ambassadors primary job is communication - our primary job as ambassadors for Christ is communication. We are at once to be in constant communication with our leader Jesus, while at the same time communicating His message with those dwelling amongst us in this world.
And what message does Christ want us to communicate? What are His interests that He desires us to represent in how we live, and by what we say?
Reconciliation...
The message that all may find peace and unity in the Kingdom of Heaven. The reality that Jesus Christ died and rose again in order to free all from the chains of sin and the devil - that no one needs to be His enemy, that everyone is welcome in Kingdom through the forgiveness of Jesus. We have been reconciled to God through Jesus.
Reconciliation is the message that Christ calls all Christians to bear into the world as His ambassadors.
May each and every one of us fulfill our appointment with faithfulness.
Be God's, Scott
David Jacobson was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Canada on October 2, 2009 after his appointment from President Obama. Mr. Jacobson lives in Ottawa, the Capital city of Canada, though he doesn't actually live in Canada. Technically, he lives in and works out of the American Embassy - this property is officially US soil. An ambassador is appointed by the highest authority in his/her country to reside in the capital city of another country, in order to represent the affairs of their homeland. They are given authority as ambassadors to speak on behalf of their leader, in addition to ensuring their country's best interests are maintained. An ambassadors primary work is communication - communication with both his/her leader, and the country they're appointed to serve in. Essentially, ambassadors are called to sacrifice living on their home soil, in order to speak for and represent their country in a foreign land. Though, I'd hardly call Mr. Jacobson's appointment a sacrifice (Ottawa is a pretty nice and safe place to live) - sacrifice might to be easy a term for Karl Eikenberry: US Ambassador to Afghanistan, or William Garvelink: US ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Isn't it interesting that Paul calls all Christians, ambassadors for Christ. Whether we realize it or not, we have been appointed by Christ Himself (the very highest leader in the Kingdom of Heaven) to represent Him in this world. We are given the authority to speak on His behalf, and to represent His interests here. And we are called to do so sacrificially, while living in a foreign land - made so by the taint of sin and rule of the devil. Just as an ambassadors primary job is communication - our primary job as ambassadors for Christ is communication. We are at once to be in constant communication with our leader Jesus, while at the same time communicating His message with those dwelling amongst us in this world.
And what message does Christ want us to communicate? What are His interests that He desires us to represent in how we live, and by what we say?
Reconciliation...
The message that all may find peace and unity in the Kingdom of Heaven. The reality that Jesus Christ died and rose again in order to free all from the chains of sin and the devil - that no one needs to be His enemy, that everyone is welcome in Kingdom through the forgiveness of Jesus. We have been reconciled to God through Jesus.
Reconciliation is the message that Christ calls all Christians to bear into the world as His ambassadors.
May each and every one of us fulfill our appointment with faithfulness.
Be God's, Scott
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Glove Love
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
I have had the same baseball glove for years, and if you saw or ever had occasion to wear my glove, you would have no problem identifying this fact. It's old and beaten up - there are cracks and rips in the leather, and the lacing is all messed up. I tried rescuing my glove last year with a repair kit to no avail. Truth be told, my glove doesn't catch baseballs very well. I suppose it's time to get a new one. Here's the problem though...I'm comfortable with my old glove, I've grown accustomed to it, and I'm not sure I'm willing to part with her.
Besides, getting a new glove requires some adjustment and discomfort. For one, it comes all stiff and shiny. In order to get a new glove ready to play you have to work it in. You need some linseed oil and a lot of massaging, pounding and maneuvering to get it just right, otherwise your hand won't be able to squeeze it shut very well to catch the ball. It takes some time, effort and adjustment to get the glove just right. I'm not sure I want to go through the adjustment - but then again my old glove just doesn't catch the ball anymore.
How much is our old life pre-Christ like my old baseball glove? That life of sin and giving in to temptation and living for self was so comfortable. We'd lived it so long that we have grown accustomed to it, and there are times that we are seemingly unwilling to part with it.
Christ has graciously given us a new life in order to replace our old life of sin. Our old life was leading us towards death, while this new life leads us towards eternity - the best life possible. Our response to this amazing gift ought to be to completely rid ourselves of our old life and its habits - despite their beckon to comfort and habit. My baseball glove used to be able to perform its function well, but now I can't even catch a ball with it - Truth is, regarding our old life, its only function ever, was to lead us to death. New life in Christ allows us to really live and do so forever.
However, like a new glove, new life in Christ is not always easy, and it does require some effort, time and work at adjustment. New life in Christ requires persistence and habitually doing the work of thankful obedience. This work stands in stark contrast to the comfortable work of our old life, but like a new glove, the more you do it, the more comfortable and rewarding the new life will become.
Thanks be to God for giving us new life, and for transforming us from death to life. I guess I ought to pony up and purchase a new glove after all...oh well, at least I'll get to go to the Sports store :)
Be God's, Scott
I have had the same baseball glove for years, and if you saw or ever had occasion to wear my glove, you would have no problem identifying this fact. It's old and beaten up - there are cracks and rips in the leather, and the lacing is all messed up. I tried rescuing my glove last year with a repair kit to no avail. Truth be told, my glove doesn't catch baseballs very well. I suppose it's time to get a new one. Here's the problem though...I'm comfortable with my old glove, I've grown accustomed to it, and I'm not sure I'm willing to part with her.
Besides, getting a new glove requires some adjustment and discomfort. For one, it comes all stiff and shiny. In order to get a new glove ready to play you have to work it in. You need some linseed oil and a lot of massaging, pounding and maneuvering to get it just right, otherwise your hand won't be able to squeeze it shut very well to catch the ball. It takes some time, effort and adjustment to get the glove just right. I'm not sure I want to go through the adjustment - but then again my old glove just doesn't catch the ball anymore.
How much is our old life pre-Christ like my old baseball glove? That life of sin and giving in to temptation and living for self was so comfortable. We'd lived it so long that we have grown accustomed to it, and there are times that we are seemingly unwilling to part with it.
Christ has graciously given us a new life in order to replace our old life of sin. Our old life was leading us towards death, while this new life leads us towards eternity - the best life possible. Our response to this amazing gift ought to be to completely rid ourselves of our old life and its habits - despite their beckon to comfort and habit. My baseball glove used to be able to perform its function well, but now I can't even catch a ball with it - Truth is, regarding our old life, its only function ever, was to lead us to death. New life in Christ allows us to really live and do so forever.
However, like a new glove, new life in Christ is not always easy, and it does require some effort, time and work at adjustment. New life in Christ requires persistence and habitually doing the work of thankful obedience. This work stands in stark contrast to the comfortable work of our old life, but like a new glove, the more you do it, the more comfortable and rewarding the new life will become.
Thanks be to God for giving us new life, and for transforming us from death to life. I guess I ought to pony up and purchase a new glove after all...oh well, at least I'll get to go to the Sports store :)
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Confess
"When I keep silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin." Psalm 32: 3-5
As part of our Sunday morning worship services, we have a fixed time when we confess our sin to God. Every once in a while I have an astute parishioner who asks a really intelligent question about this: they ask, "if God completely forgives our sins when we become a Christian, those past, those being done right now, and even those we've yet to do (and He does), why do we still need to confess our sin to God on a regular basis?" Now that is a good question wouldn't you say?
I always give back a two part answer as to why it is important for us to do this, and both parts are really for our benefit rather than God's. The first reason is because confessing ones sin has a way of humbling ones heart, recognizing our weakness and brokenness, and ultimately, reminding us of our complete need of a saviour. Confession leads the sinner into an assurance of God's presence and forgiveness. In this sense confession grounds us in the reality of our fallen nature.
I think that today's passage steers us towards the second reason for confession of sin. In it, David speaks of the consequences of unconfessed sin; of bones growing old, groaning, heaviness of heart, and a lack of vitality. David was waxing poetic on something we really already know, and that's that unconfessed sin hurts and oppresses us as humans. It's as if we carry a needless weight around our neck that hinders us from running. It's as if we handicap ourselves with earphones and blindfold hindering us from clearly hearing and seeing God's will. Unconfessed sin can be so oppressive of spirit that it can even have physical consequences - ultimately, unconfessed sin discourages and prevents us from doing God's will.
We must regularly confess our sin to God in order to free ourselves from its burden. Confession is an act of spiritual hygiene - a scrubbing of the conscience with a reminder of God's love and forgiveness.
David knew his brokenness all to well, and he often felt the weight of its consequences. David confessed so that he might once again know God's grace, while at the same time freeing himself from its burden. "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD."
Be God's, Scott
As part of our Sunday morning worship services, we have a fixed time when we confess our sin to God. Every once in a while I have an astute parishioner who asks a really intelligent question about this: they ask, "if God completely forgives our sins when we become a Christian, those past, those being done right now, and even those we've yet to do (and He does), why do we still need to confess our sin to God on a regular basis?" Now that is a good question wouldn't you say?
I always give back a two part answer as to why it is important for us to do this, and both parts are really for our benefit rather than God's. The first reason is because confessing ones sin has a way of humbling ones heart, recognizing our weakness and brokenness, and ultimately, reminding us of our complete need of a saviour. Confession leads the sinner into an assurance of God's presence and forgiveness. In this sense confession grounds us in the reality of our fallen nature.
I think that today's passage steers us towards the second reason for confession of sin. In it, David speaks of the consequences of unconfessed sin; of bones growing old, groaning, heaviness of heart, and a lack of vitality. David was waxing poetic on something we really already know, and that's that unconfessed sin hurts and oppresses us as humans. It's as if we carry a needless weight around our neck that hinders us from running. It's as if we handicap ourselves with earphones and blindfold hindering us from clearly hearing and seeing God's will. Unconfessed sin can be so oppressive of spirit that it can even have physical consequences - ultimately, unconfessed sin discourages and prevents us from doing God's will.
We must regularly confess our sin to God in order to free ourselves from its burden. Confession is an act of spiritual hygiene - a scrubbing of the conscience with a reminder of God's love and forgiveness.
David knew his brokenness all to well, and he often felt the weight of its consequences. David confessed so that he might once again know God's grace, while at the same time freeing himself from its burden. "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD."
Be God's, Scott
Monday, March 15, 2010
Transitions
"Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan."
Joshua 5:9-12
I have had a few transitions in my life that have been monumental. For me, a monumental transition is one where something of significance happens that changes the course and fabric of my life forever in a very profound way. Perhaps you have experienced transitions such as this. Two of my biggest life transitions occurred when I was married at the age of 24, and when my first child was born at the age of 26.
When I was married, I went from single man living on my own (and really only responsible for myself) - to a married man sharing my entire life with my wife for the rest of my life. I transitioned from independent and autonomous, to interdependent and a shared life. This moment happened when we said our "I Dos" and I distinctively remembering that my life will never the same again...and it has not. My story with becoming a Father was similar. The moment that Zach was born, Tanya and I lost our freedom to only make decisions for ourselves. We lost our sleeping routines, spending patterns, leisure time and many other aspects of our previous lifestyle. The requirement of caring for a child is an experience that changes your life.
The above passage describes a moment of transition for the people of Israel - a turning point from the old way of things to a new way of things. God had just brought them out of slavery in Egypt and through a 40 year desert sojourn towards the promised land of Canaan. God had been faithful to them in their old life, always providing for them, leading them, and protecting them. In fact, every day He provided for their needs by raining down manna from heaven for them to eat until they made it to the land flowing with milk and honey. The passage above describes the very moment that they made it into the promised land and ate their first meal from its fruitful produce. At that moment, God no longer needed to feed them their daily manna, and it stopped. For Israel, nomadic desert life was done, and settled life in Canaan had begun. A transition moment that changed their lives.
I believe that my marriage and the birth of my kids were moments of transition brought to me by God's good hand to lead me to a new place in my life, in much the same way that God led the Israelites through their moment of transition to the promised land. God provides for us before and after our transitions, though often in different ways, however our old life and our new life are both characterized by God's bountiful hand.
Today, lets celebrate this God who leads through life's transitions all the while providing us with exactly what we need.
Be God's, Scott
Joshua 5:9-12
I have had a few transitions in my life that have been monumental. For me, a monumental transition is one where something of significance happens that changes the course and fabric of my life forever in a very profound way. Perhaps you have experienced transitions such as this. Two of my biggest life transitions occurred when I was married at the age of 24, and when my first child was born at the age of 26.
When I was married, I went from single man living on my own (and really only responsible for myself) - to a married man sharing my entire life with my wife for the rest of my life. I transitioned from independent and autonomous, to interdependent and a shared life. This moment happened when we said our "I Dos" and I distinctively remembering that my life will never the same again...and it has not. My story with becoming a Father was similar. The moment that Zach was born, Tanya and I lost our freedom to only make decisions for ourselves. We lost our sleeping routines, spending patterns, leisure time and many other aspects of our previous lifestyle. The requirement of caring for a child is an experience that changes your life.
The above passage describes a moment of transition for the people of Israel - a turning point from the old way of things to a new way of things. God had just brought them out of slavery in Egypt and through a 40 year desert sojourn towards the promised land of Canaan. God had been faithful to them in their old life, always providing for them, leading them, and protecting them. In fact, every day He provided for their needs by raining down manna from heaven for them to eat until they made it to the land flowing with milk and honey. The passage above describes the very moment that they made it into the promised land and ate their first meal from its fruitful produce. At that moment, God no longer needed to feed them their daily manna, and it stopped. For Israel, nomadic desert life was done, and settled life in Canaan had begun. A transition moment that changed their lives.
I believe that my marriage and the birth of my kids were moments of transition brought to me by God's good hand to lead me to a new place in my life, in much the same way that God led the Israelites through their moment of transition to the promised land. God provides for us before and after our transitions, though often in different ways, however our old life and our new life are both characterized by God's bountiful hand.
Today, lets celebrate this God who leads through life's transitions all the while providing us with exactly what we need.
Be God's, Scott
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Figs
"Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
Luke 13:6-9
I for one am glad for God's patience with us.
The man in the parable was losing patience with his fig tree - I mean fig trees are supposed to bear figs after all. His tree had not been giving him figs for 3 years. That's a long time - considerably longer when you consider Leviticus 19: 23-25which sets out some laws regarding trees and fruit. Fruit from newly planted trees was not to be eaten for the first 3 years, and in the 4th year, all the fruit was to be given to the Lord. Since he hadn't been getting his fruit for 3 years, it's likely that his tree was 7 years barren. His solution...cut it down, it's fruitless and taking up valuable soil nutrients.
Agriculturally speaking - does this make sense? Actually, yeah, it does make sense. Chances are pretty good that the tree will not produce fruit after not having done so for three years. In fact, it could be argued that this man was more than patient already for letting it go 7 years.
But then, an unnamed individual begs for more patience - one more year with extra special care, and then if there was still no fruit, cut it down. One more year than the tree deserved. One extra year of care and special tending doing whatever possible to coax fruit from the barren tree.
As Christians, we are called to bear fruit. Fruit of character action like love, kindness, gentleness, self-control etc. In short we are to live our lives like Jesus did - holy and righteous. To not do so is to live as a barren tree - one that is intended to bear fruit, but not doing so. The reality of this parable is that God has the right to cut us down whenever He pleases. He planted us for the purpose of bearing fruit, and if we do not do so, we are fit to be cut down in judgment - and be sure that judgment will come.
I for one am glad that God is patient with us.
Jesus came that we might be fruitful. Jesus begs with the Father for patience and long suffering. Jesus nurtures and cares for us, kind of like digging a trench around us and fertilizing us. He does everything He can to allow us to produce fruit. Yet, all to often we still resist, don't we. God, by all rights, should have cut us down long ago - but He has not. Instead, He continues to show us patience and love and nurture. Yet, we shouldn't take His mercy for granted, for judgment is assuredly coming.
In the midst of God's loving patience, may you endeavor to be fruitful for God.
Be God's, Scott
“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
Luke 13:6-9
I for one am glad for God's patience with us.
The man in the parable was losing patience with his fig tree - I mean fig trees are supposed to bear figs after all. His tree had not been giving him figs for 3 years. That's a long time - considerably longer when you consider Leviticus 19: 23-25which sets out some laws regarding trees and fruit. Fruit from newly planted trees was not to be eaten for the first 3 years, and in the 4th year, all the fruit was to be given to the Lord. Since he hadn't been getting his fruit for 3 years, it's likely that his tree was 7 years barren. His solution...cut it down, it's fruitless and taking up valuable soil nutrients.
Agriculturally speaking - does this make sense? Actually, yeah, it does make sense. Chances are pretty good that the tree will not produce fruit after not having done so for three years. In fact, it could be argued that this man was more than patient already for letting it go 7 years.
But then, an unnamed individual begs for more patience - one more year with extra special care, and then if there was still no fruit, cut it down. One more year than the tree deserved. One extra year of care and special tending doing whatever possible to coax fruit from the barren tree.
As Christians, we are called to bear fruit. Fruit of character action like love, kindness, gentleness, self-control etc. In short we are to live our lives like Jesus did - holy and righteous. To not do so is to live as a barren tree - one that is intended to bear fruit, but not doing so. The reality of this parable is that God has the right to cut us down whenever He pleases. He planted us for the purpose of bearing fruit, and if we do not do so, we are fit to be cut down in judgment - and be sure that judgment will come.
I for one am glad that God is patient with us.
Jesus came that we might be fruitful. Jesus begs with the Father for patience and long suffering. Jesus nurtures and cares for us, kind of like digging a trench around us and fertilizing us. He does everything He can to allow us to produce fruit. Yet, all to often we still resist, don't we. God, by all rights, should have cut us down long ago - but He has not. Instead, He continues to show us patience and love and nurture. Yet, we shouldn't take His mercy for granted, for judgment is assuredly coming.
In the midst of God's loving patience, may you endeavor to be fruitful for God.
Be God's, Scott
Friday, March 12, 2010
Worse
"Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Luke 13:1-3
During the days of Jesus, Pilate was the most hated man in Jerusalem. He was a loose cannon, and did whatever he wanted, without any regard for the Israelites and their traditions. In this Bible passage, we find Jesus being questioned by the Pharisees during a particularly explosive political climate. Many scholars believe that the blood situation being invoked here by the pharisees had to do with his procuring money from the temple treasuries in order to build one of his grand projects. The Jews naturally protested and caused problems for him. Pilate wanted to quell the uprising, but arresting or publicly killing the rabble rousers would likely only incite them more, so here's what he did...he recruited and some greedy Galilean Jews to attend temple worship in and amongst the insurgents. Then, in the midst of the worship ceremony, these undercover Roman cops for a day pulled out their concealed daggers, killed the protest leaders. Everyone knew that Pilate was behind it, but no one could come right out and prove it. Pretty rotten of Pilate and the Galilean Jews.
The pharisees were hoping that Jesus would speak out and condemn Pilate and the Galileans for their atrocities. Jesus answers in an interesting way, though not condoning what happened, he sends a question right back at them..."Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way."
He does an interesting thing here, he doesn't dismiss the sin of the murderers, rather he points out the fact that those questioning him were also sinners, and that their sin was no better than those of the traitors. In fact, if they did not repent of their sin, their end result would be the same - they too would perish.
Jesus dismisses a common myth out there today - that some people are worse off in God's eyes because their sins are worse off in our eyes - and conversely that people who live better in our eyes are better off in God's eyes. This is not true. The reality is that all people are equally sinners and fit to perish. Still, we do this all the time don't we? I'm a much better person than such and such, because they did this or that. We tend to rank and judge others on the basis of what they did or didn't do.
Jesus challenges us to look in the mirror, rather than always looking outward. We need to deal with our own junk rather than condemning others. This is a humbling thought, but one that causes me to love others as God does, as well as praise and thank God that He chose to die for a sinner like me.
Be God's, Scott
Luke 13:1-3
During the days of Jesus, Pilate was the most hated man in Jerusalem. He was a loose cannon, and did whatever he wanted, without any regard for the Israelites and their traditions. In this Bible passage, we find Jesus being questioned by the Pharisees during a particularly explosive political climate. Many scholars believe that the blood situation being invoked here by the pharisees had to do with his procuring money from the temple treasuries in order to build one of his grand projects. The Jews naturally protested and caused problems for him. Pilate wanted to quell the uprising, but arresting or publicly killing the rabble rousers would likely only incite them more, so here's what he did...he recruited and some greedy Galilean Jews to attend temple worship in and amongst the insurgents. Then, in the midst of the worship ceremony, these undercover Roman cops for a day pulled out their concealed daggers, killed the protest leaders. Everyone knew that Pilate was behind it, but no one could come right out and prove it. Pretty rotten of Pilate and the Galilean Jews.
The pharisees were hoping that Jesus would speak out and condemn Pilate and the Galileans for their atrocities. Jesus answers in an interesting way, though not condoning what happened, he sends a question right back at them..."Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way."
He does an interesting thing here, he doesn't dismiss the sin of the murderers, rather he points out the fact that those questioning him were also sinners, and that their sin was no better than those of the traitors. In fact, if they did not repent of their sin, their end result would be the same - they too would perish.
Jesus dismisses a common myth out there today - that some people are worse off in God's eyes because their sins are worse off in our eyes - and conversely that people who live better in our eyes are better off in God's eyes. This is not true. The reality is that all people are equally sinners and fit to perish. Still, we do this all the time don't we? I'm a much better person than such and such, because they did this or that. We tend to rank and judge others on the basis of what they did or didn't do.
Jesus challenges us to look in the mirror, rather than always looking outward. We need to deal with our own junk rather than condemning others. This is a humbling thought, but one that causes me to love others as God does, as well as praise and thank God that He chose to die for a sinner like me.
Be God's, Scott
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Temptation
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Cor. 10:12-13
Go ahead, take one...you know you want it...you know you need it...doesn't it look good? How can you just look at it, and not take it? Just one isn't going to hurt you...c'mon grab it, indulge...if you don't take it someone else will...might as well be you.
So what was that one thing for you? What was it? We all have those things don't we? Things that we know aren't good for us, that like to tug and pull at our senses - promising us a momentary jolt of satisfaction. These temptations have been known to derail the lives of great men and women over the years. Some temptations are relatively harmless, like Ice Cream or Pickles (or both if you're pregnant) - others can be very dangerous like drugs or adultery. The common denominator with all temptations is that they lead you away from obedience to God, and, if you think about it, finding your satisfaction in Him. Sin is like that though, isn't it? It ultimately devours and destroys you.
The Devil has been playing the same con for years - holding up something shiny and tasty for us to consume and be satisfied that pulls us away from God. Many have been led astray by his hollow promises. So what can we do to avoid temptation - especially the ones that can really do us damage?
I have a number of really good friends who are admitted addicts. They know temptation - it's power and pull, as well as the collateral damage it can leave in its wake, better than most. They could tell you very quickly how best to avoid temptation, as it's found in their 12 steps: the very first thing to do is to admit that you were powerless over the addiction (ie. the addiction/temptation was stronger than you), the second thing was to believe and turn to One more powerful than the temptation to deliver you (ie. turning to God and letting Him strengthen you to overcome the addiction). My addict friends know full well that the only way they can overcome their temptation is by first admitting their own weakness and then by turning to God for His strength.
As Paul says in the above Scripture, when dealing with your temptations..."if you think your standing so firm, be careful that you don't fall"...ie. in your sinful state the sin and temptation is stronger than you. And like the addict, when you are tempted, don't try to go it alone, rather turn to God, "He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Be God's, Scott
Go ahead, take one...you know you want it...you know you need it...doesn't it look good? How can you just look at it, and not take it? Just one isn't going to hurt you...c'mon grab it, indulge...if you don't take it someone else will...might as well be you.
So what was that one thing for you? What was it? We all have those things don't we? Things that we know aren't good for us, that like to tug and pull at our senses - promising us a momentary jolt of satisfaction. These temptations have been known to derail the lives of great men and women over the years. Some temptations are relatively harmless, like Ice Cream or Pickles (or both if you're pregnant) - others can be very dangerous like drugs or adultery. The common denominator with all temptations is that they lead you away from obedience to God, and, if you think about it, finding your satisfaction in Him. Sin is like that though, isn't it? It ultimately devours and destroys you.
The Devil has been playing the same con for years - holding up something shiny and tasty for us to consume and be satisfied that pulls us away from God. Many have been led astray by his hollow promises. So what can we do to avoid temptation - especially the ones that can really do us damage?
I have a number of really good friends who are admitted addicts. They know temptation - it's power and pull, as well as the collateral damage it can leave in its wake, better than most. They could tell you very quickly how best to avoid temptation, as it's found in their 12 steps: the very first thing to do is to admit that you were powerless over the addiction (ie. the addiction/temptation was stronger than you), the second thing was to believe and turn to One more powerful than the temptation to deliver you (ie. turning to God and letting Him strengthen you to overcome the addiction). My addict friends know full well that the only way they can overcome their temptation is by first admitting their own weakness and then by turning to God for His strength.
As Paul says in the above Scripture, when dealing with your temptations..."if you think your standing so firm, be careful that you don't fall"...ie. in your sinful state the sin and temptation is stronger than you. And like the addict, when you are tempted, don't try to go it alone, rather turn to God, "He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Be God's, Scott
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sanctuary
"O God you are my God; early I will seek you. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory." Psalm 63: 1-2
This psalm actually has a title that gets us into its context and setting - "A psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah." Being in a desert type wilderness is not an easy experience: there is little food to find, little water to be had, excruciating elements to endure, and prowling predators looking to take your life. David was in such a wilderness when he wrote this psalm. In spite of his fear and discomfort, he was not consumed by them. The desert did not overcome him. David you see found his comfort, protection and sustenance in his God. Early on, in his foray into the desert of Judah, he sought the God that cared for him, and he relied wholly on his God to watch over him.
It can be very easy to let the desert times in our life overtake us. More often than not, the fear seems larger than our hope, our harsh and excruciating situations weaken us to the point of surrender, and our spirit are being starved to the point of unconsciousness. We too, like David, need to seek our God early in our wilderness journey. But sometimes that is really hard to do isn't it? Doesn't feel as if sometimes when we survey our situation, we have a hard time seeing God, only more and more sand dunes and despair. What can we do when we have a hard time finding God's care in the wilderness?
David went looking for God in the sanctuary to be reminded of His power and glory.
David went back to that place in his life (perhaps even literally back) where God's glory and presence and love for him was so real and tangible that it made the hair on the back of his neck stand at attention. He went back to the place where he most remembered God's power knocking his socks off. He went back to the sanctuary.
Do you have a sanctuary? Do you have a place in your life where you had an amazing, never forget it experience with our God, where He made your knees weak with His presence and comforted you with His love? I hope so. This place can be your sanctuary to look for God when the deserts of life try to consume you. I have even had times in my life where, in the midst of difficulty, I have even physically traveled back to one of my sanctuaries in order to find the reality of God's love, protection and provision. I thank God for places like this and the fact that His presence is so amazing that it leaves such a residual memory for us.
Maybe you need to look for God in the sanctuary right now - as you do so, may you be overwhelmed by His power and glory.
Be God's, Scott
This psalm actually has a title that gets us into its context and setting - "A psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah." Being in a desert type wilderness is not an easy experience: there is little food to find, little water to be had, excruciating elements to endure, and prowling predators looking to take your life. David was in such a wilderness when he wrote this psalm. In spite of his fear and discomfort, he was not consumed by them. The desert did not overcome him. David you see found his comfort, protection and sustenance in his God. Early on, in his foray into the desert of Judah, he sought the God that cared for him, and he relied wholly on his God to watch over him.
It can be very easy to let the desert times in our life overtake us. More often than not, the fear seems larger than our hope, our harsh and excruciating situations weaken us to the point of surrender, and our spirit are being starved to the point of unconsciousness. We too, like David, need to seek our God early in our wilderness journey. But sometimes that is really hard to do isn't it? Doesn't feel as if sometimes when we survey our situation, we have a hard time seeing God, only more and more sand dunes and despair. What can we do when we have a hard time finding God's care in the wilderness?
David went looking for God in the sanctuary to be reminded of His power and glory.
David went back to that place in his life (perhaps even literally back) where God's glory and presence and love for him was so real and tangible that it made the hair on the back of his neck stand at attention. He went back to the place where he most remembered God's power knocking his socks off. He went back to the sanctuary.
Do you have a sanctuary? Do you have a place in your life where you had an amazing, never forget it experience with our God, where He made your knees weak with His presence and comforted you with His love? I hope so. This place can be your sanctuary to look for God when the deserts of life try to consume you. I have even had times in my life where, in the midst of difficulty, I have even physically traveled back to one of my sanctuaries in order to find the reality of God's love, protection and provision. I thank God for places like this and the fact that His presence is so amazing that it leaves such a residual memory for us.
Maybe you need to look for God in the sanctuary right now - as you do so, may you be overwhelmed by His power and glory.
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Soda Pop
"Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance." Isaiah 55: 2
The New York State government in its efforts to make some money (and allegedly improve the health of its residents) have proposed a somewhat controversial sugar tax. Under the new proposal, all soda pop (non-diet) and sugary beverages will be taxed 1 cent for every ounce. Bureaucrats believe that this sugar tax will net the state a cool 400-450 million dollars a year. This same proposal came up last year as well but was voted down, though all signs this year point to its passing. Many people are outraged over this tax, especially those who make a living off of the production, distribution and selling of these drinks, and those who love to drink them.
To me, it's much ado about nothing. I guess it doesn't bother me at all, because I don't drink these drinks - but it did get me to thinking...it's interesting that Soda has absolutely no nutritional value for us. In fact, Soda has a negative effect on our health - it actually hurts us. Nutritionally speaking, God designed us to consume certain things in order to survive and function - Soda is not one of those things. Whenever we buy and consume a Soda, we are inevitably spending our money on that which does not ultimately satisfy. You have to have a really good marketing department to create and sell something to people that has no redeeming value and actually hurts you.
Our addiction to purchasing and consuming Soda even though it does not satisfy us is really a good metaphor for our spiritual consumption as well.
We spend a lot of time and effort chasing after this and that to make us feel important, validated, fulfilled, and satisfied. We spend a lot of money on leisure time, big screen TV's, cars and boats, investments, you name it. We spend a lot of time on self actualization, relationships, climbing the corporate ladder, making as much money as we can. All of these pursuits are done with the hope of finding satisfaction in life.
The reality is that they will not...they will always leave you wanting more. In fact, much like Soda Pop they can actually do you harm. The Devil and his marketing department have done an excellent job of creating and selling something to people that has no redeeming value and actually hurts you.
Our only real satisfaction comes through Jesus Christ - knowing, glorifying and loving Him. Says Jesus to you today, "Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance."
Be God's, Scott
The New York State government in its efforts to make some money (and allegedly improve the health of its residents) have proposed a somewhat controversial sugar tax. Under the new proposal, all soda pop (non-diet) and sugary beverages will be taxed 1 cent for every ounce. Bureaucrats believe that this sugar tax will net the state a cool 400-450 million dollars a year. This same proposal came up last year as well but was voted down, though all signs this year point to its passing. Many people are outraged over this tax, especially those who make a living off of the production, distribution and selling of these drinks, and those who love to drink them.
To me, it's much ado about nothing. I guess it doesn't bother me at all, because I don't drink these drinks - but it did get me to thinking...it's interesting that Soda has absolutely no nutritional value for us. In fact, Soda has a negative effect on our health - it actually hurts us. Nutritionally speaking, God designed us to consume certain things in order to survive and function - Soda is not one of those things. Whenever we buy and consume a Soda, we are inevitably spending our money on that which does not ultimately satisfy. You have to have a really good marketing department to create and sell something to people that has no redeeming value and actually hurts you.
Our addiction to purchasing and consuming Soda even though it does not satisfy us is really a good metaphor for our spiritual consumption as well.
We spend a lot of time and effort chasing after this and that to make us feel important, validated, fulfilled, and satisfied. We spend a lot of money on leisure time, big screen TV's, cars and boats, investments, you name it. We spend a lot of time on self actualization, relationships, climbing the corporate ladder, making as much money as we can. All of these pursuits are done with the hope of finding satisfaction in life.
The reality is that they will not...they will always leave you wanting more. In fact, much like Soda Pop they can actually do you harm. The Devil and his marketing department have done an excellent job of creating and selling something to people that has no redeeming value and actually hurts you.
Our only real satisfaction comes through Jesus Christ - knowing, glorifying and loving Him. Says Jesus to you today, "Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance."
Be God's, Scott
Monday, March 8, 2010
To Good To Be True
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price."
Isaiah 55: 1
Isn't that a wonderful bit of Scripture from Isaiah! Imagine with me for a moment that the above quote was taken from a Newspaper article for the grocery store here in our River community. Could you imagine the response from the readers..."hello, what is this?!? Free food and drink for anyone that wants it! What a great store!"
I suspect the lineups and rush to cash in, on this incredible freebie would be long, and swift to grow. I also think that this store would very quickly run out of groceries at the expense of their greedy consumers. I mean, who wouldn't want something for nothing - where can you get that anymore? And this offer is apparently for anyone, because everyone thirsts, right?
I guess if I read this in the newspaper, I would just figure it was a joke (perhaps April Fools Day) or that there would be some type of strings attached. My folks taught me when I was little that if it sounded too good to be true, than it probably was.
Of course, this Scripture is not talking about real food and drink, and grocery stores gone wild - so then, what is it talking about? It still seems like a pretty incredible offer, no?
God our good Father offers us all salvation and new life in Jesus Christ. He offers to quench our spiritual thirst for a saviour, and our spiritual hunger for the Word of God, now and forever more. And this offer from God to you is an incredible one! There is nothing you can do to earn or purchase it, it has already been purchased for you by Jesus. It's a gift that you need only grab and claim with thanksgiving. All may come and avail themselves of this amazing freebie. This offer from God is not too good to be true...it's real.
May you enjoy your salvation today, and the simple knowledge that Christ fully satisfies you!
Be God's, Scott
Isaiah 55: 1
Isn't that a wonderful bit of Scripture from Isaiah! Imagine with me for a moment that the above quote was taken from a Newspaper article for the grocery store here in our River community. Could you imagine the response from the readers..."hello, what is this?!? Free food and drink for anyone that wants it! What a great store!"
I suspect the lineups and rush to cash in, on this incredible freebie would be long, and swift to grow. I also think that this store would very quickly run out of groceries at the expense of their greedy consumers. I mean, who wouldn't want something for nothing - where can you get that anymore? And this offer is apparently for anyone, because everyone thirsts, right?
I guess if I read this in the newspaper, I would just figure it was a joke (perhaps April Fools Day) or that there would be some type of strings attached. My folks taught me when I was little that if it sounded too good to be true, than it probably was.
Of course, this Scripture is not talking about real food and drink, and grocery stores gone wild - so then, what is it talking about? It still seems like a pretty incredible offer, no?
God our good Father offers us all salvation and new life in Jesus Christ. He offers to quench our spiritual thirst for a saviour, and our spiritual hunger for the Word of God, now and forever more. And this offer from God to you is an incredible one! There is nothing you can do to earn or purchase it, it has already been purchased for you by Jesus. It's a gift that you need only grab and claim with thanksgiving. All may come and avail themselves of this amazing freebie. This offer from God is not too good to be true...it's real.
May you enjoy your salvation today, and the simple knowledge that Christ fully satisfies you!
Be God's, Scott
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Great Understatement
"As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)" Luke 9:33
So Jesus took three of His disciples with Him (Peter, James, and John) on a little trek up a mountain to pray. Once they got there, and while they were praying, something pretty amazing happened. The rugged and plain visage of the earthly rabbi Jesus was visibly and physically altered right before the eyes of the disciples. Jesus face changed and His clothing shone and flashed like lightning. In short, Jesus fully revealed His heavenly glory to these 3 disciples. What was previously covered and hidden by the limitations of human flesh, beautifully spilled out of Jesus for the disciples to gaze upon. Their eyes beheld the full glory of God - an incredible gift.
Now, to make this moment even more amazing - long gone heroes of the Jewish faith, Moses and Elijah miraculously appeared before them also shining majestically. They proceeded to speak with Jesus about His impending life, death, resurrection and ascension. Moses, and Elijah! This is the American equivalent of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln showing up at your backyard Barbecue. Yet there they were, right before the eyes of the now mouth agape disciples, frankly discussing Jesus end game.
So, in light of this incredible, never happen again situation - the full glory of Jesus shining like the sun before them, and the very real presences of Moses and Elijah there joining Him - Peter makes his great understatement...
"It is good for us to be here."
Now, I don't know if He was trying to play it cool, or if he didn't really get the gravity of the situation, but whatever the case, here was this incredibly awesome event unfolding before him, and Peter utters a statement that might have been more appropriate for someone attending an exciting football game. "Boy, this is a good game, we should stay til the end." This seems to me to be a real underwhelming response to an overwhelming event. I'd like to think that if I was blessed to have been in Peter's shoes that I would have been immediately thrown to the ground prostrate on my face in worship of Jesus, instead of looking for tents.
What if I told you, that as Christians, even though we can't physically see Him, we are in the holy and glorious presence of the fully glorified risen Lord Jesus. I often like to think of this when I attend worship on Sunday morning. How often is our response to Jesus' glorious and real presence in worship really a great understatement. More often than not, we say even less than Peter - "it was not good to be here, I would rather be somewhere else." And far, from putting up tents and staying longer, we impatiently check our watches when the service goes one minute past the regular dismissal time.
The glorious Jesus deserves more than our great understatement. May your life be filled with the reality of the presence of our awesome King, and may your response be nothing less than awe and worship.
Be God's, Scott (ps. next post will be on Mon. - meeting all day tomorrow in Syracuse)
So Jesus took three of His disciples with Him (Peter, James, and John) on a little trek up a mountain to pray. Once they got there, and while they were praying, something pretty amazing happened. The rugged and plain visage of the earthly rabbi Jesus was visibly and physically altered right before the eyes of the disciples. Jesus face changed and His clothing shone and flashed like lightning. In short, Jesus fully revealed His heavenly glory to these 3 disciples. What was previously covered and hidden by the limitations of human flesh, beautifully spilled out of Jesus for the disciples to gaze upon. Their eyes beheld the full glory of God - an incredible gift.
Now, to make this moment even more amazing - long gone heroes of the Jewish faith, Moses and Elijah miraculously appeared before them also shining majestically. They proceeded to speak with Jesus about His impending life, death, resurrection and ascension. Moses, and Elijah! This is the American equivalent of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln showing up at your backyard Barbecue. Yet there they were, right before the eyes of the now mouth agape disciples, frankly discussing Jesus end game.
So, in light of this incredible, never happen again situation - the full glory of Jesus shining like the sun before them, and the very real presences of Moses and Elijah there joining Him - Peter makes his great understatement...
"It is good for us to be here."
Now, I don't know if He was trying to play it cool, or if he didn't really get the gravity of the situation, but whatever the case, here was this incredibly awesome event unfolding before him, and Peter utters a statement that might have been more appropriate for someone attending an exciting football game. "Boy, this is a good game, we should stay til the end." This seems to me to be a real underwhelming response to an overwhelming event. I'd like to think that if I was blessed to have been in Peter's shoes that I would have been immediately thrown to the ground prostrate on my face in worship of Jesus, instead of looking for tents.
What if I told you, that as Christians, even though we can't physically see Him, we are in the holy and glorious presence of the fully glorified risen Lord Jesus. I often like to think of this when I attend worship on Sunday morning. How often is our response to Jesus' glorious and real presence in worship really a great understatement. More often than not, we say even less than Peter - "it was not good to be here, I would rather be somewhere else." And far, from putting up tents and staying longer, we impatiently check our watches when the service goes one minute past the regular dismissal time.
The glorious Jesus deserves more than our great understatement. May your life be filled with the reality of the presence of our awesome King, and may your response be nothing less than awe and worship.
Be God's, Scott (ps. next post will be on Mon. - meeting all day tomorrow in Syracuse)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Citizenship
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which is able even to subdue all things to Himself." Philippians 3: 20-21
My oldest son is a high achiever - he does very well academically in school. For him, anything less than a 90% kind of bums him out. He recently came home from school with this perturbed look in eyes. I could tell something was bugging him because he had this indignant clenched jaw thing going on. So I asked him how his day at school went. He went on to tell me that in his 7th grade social studies class they were given a pop quiz for credit consisting of actual questions from the US citizenship test. My little perfectionist was definitely non-plussed about the 60% he scored. I actually thought it was pretty good, considering he is a Canadian and has only been in the US school system for 1 and a half years, but I could see how his youthful fairness meter would be tipping to unfair.
Me, being the clever Father that I am, suggested he obtain some questions from the Canadian citizenship test in order to quiz his teacher and if she failed to score better than he did on his US quiz - he could get a guaranteed A+ in the course...that was when I got the "Dad, you're a crazy man" look.
Citizenship is an interesting thing. In order to become a citizen of the US, you need to either be born here, or naturalized into one through a number of different means. It can often be a long and difficult process to become a naturalized citizen of the USA. However, once you are a citizen, you are a citizen, just as if you were born here, complete with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that come with it. To become an American is to live into the ideals and precepts of freedom and democracy, as well as abiding by its constitution and bill of rights and the law of the land.
Paul describes Christians as having a citizenship in heaven. New life in Christ allows one to become a birth citizen in the Kingdom of God - this is an incredible privilege. It's also one that is not a difficult or onerous process - there are no tests, paperwork, fingerprinting, and time constraints. The entrance point is simply faith in Christ.
And citizenship in heaven trumps any type of earthly citizenship because it is eternal and our leader is a holy, all powerful God rather than a fallen worldly leader. So what is our responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Just as American citizens are called to abide by the constitution and the bill of rights and the law of the land - Citizens of heaven are called to obey and abide by the Word of God, the Bible.
Just as American citizens are called to live into the precepts of democracy and freedom - Citizens of heaven are called to live into the precepts of love and mercy.
As citizens of heaven, we are called to allow our identity be swallowed up in the glorious identity of our head - Jesus. May we endeavor to do so, and as we do - may others recognize the amazing privilege of our citizenship and want to join in too.
Be God's, Scott
My oldest son is a high achiever - he does very well academically in school. For him, anything less than a 90% kind of bums him out. He recently came home from school with this perturbed look in eyes. I could tell something was bugging him because he had this indignant clenched jaw thing going on. So I asked him how his day at school went. He went on to tell me that in his 7th grade social studies class they were given a pop quiz for credit consisting of actual questions from the US citizenship test. My little perfectionist was definitely non-plussed about the 60% he scored. I actually thought it was pretty good, considering he is a Canadian and has only been in the US school system for 1 and a half years, but I could see how his youthful fairness meter would be tipping to unfair.
Me, being the clever Father that I am, suggested he obtain some questions from the Canadian citizenship test in order to quiz his teacher and if she failed to score better than he did on his US quiz - he could get a guaranteed A+ in the course...that was when I got the "Dad, you're a crazy man" look.
Citizenship is an interesting thing. In order to become a citizen of the US, you need to either be born here, or naturalized into one through a number of different means. It can often be a long and difficult process to become a naturalized citizen of the USA. However, once you are a citizen, you are a citizen, just as if you were born here, complete with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that come with it. To become an American is to live into the ideals and precepts of freedom and democracy, as well as abiding by its constitution and bill of rights and the law of the land.
Paul describes Christians as having a citizenship in heaven. New life in Christ allows one to become a birth citizen in the Kingdom of God - this is an incredible privilege. It's also one that is not a difficult or onerous process - there are no tests, paperwork, fingerprinting, and time constraints. The entrance point is simply faith in Christ.
And citizenship in heaven trumps any type of earthly citizenship because it is eternal and our leader is a holy, all powerful God rather than a fallen worldly leader. So what is our responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Just as American citizens are called to abide by the constitution and the bill of rights and the law of the land - Citizens of heaven are called to obey and abide by the Word of God, the Bible.
Just as American citizens are called to live into the precepts of democracy and freedom - Citizens of heaven are called to live into the precepts of love and mercy.
As citizens of heaven, we are called to allow our identity be swallowed up in the glorious identity of our head - Jesus. May we endeavor to do so, and as we do - may others recognize the amazing privilege of our citizenship and want to join in too.
Be God's, Scott
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Giant Delivery
"And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD."
Psalm 27:6
Triumph, victory, that feeling of having overcome an difficult obstacle - these are feelings and opportunities that we are blessed with every now and then. And they are wonderful empowering moments in any ones life. The only problem is that getting to that feeling, means first undergoing adversity, and difficulty while facing hopeless looking odds. These types of situations we are more familiar with...yes?
I mean, how often do the circumstances of life stack up against you? A mountain of debt, a relationship that looks beyond repair, a fearful disease, the hurt of losing a dear loved one - I could go on, but you get the idea. Everyone of us faces our own unique giant enemies, and at times we feel consumed by them.
David, who wrote this Psalm, knew these giant enemies all too well. Sometimes we forget that David the poet and songster King began his biblical career as a boy slayer of Giants. David literally was faced with a mountain of an enemy in the form of Goliath, that frankly, he had no chance of overcoming. Yet...armed with only a sling, a stone, and faith in a God who does move mountains, who does crush giant enemies, and who is larger and greater than all our obstacles - overcome he did.
Listen to David's brash words to his giant enemy. "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel...for the battle is the LORD's." I love it. David's confidence and strength to overcome his giant enemy came not in his own strength or might or chance...but from the hand of the LORD. It was really His battle. God overcome David's enemy on His behalf.
The same is true for us. Do you really believe that there is any obstacle or giant enemy facing you that God cannot overcome, slay, and deliver you from? Put your faith in Him and allow Him to fight your battle for you. He will give you triumph, victory, and that great feeling of overcoming an immense obstacle. He can, because He is almighty...He wants to because He is a faithful Father.
And when He does, please, like David, do not chalk it up to coincidence, or your own self actualization - give thanks and praise to God. Worship Him with all you've got. He is your deliverer.
Be God's, Scott
Psalm 27:6
Triumph, victory, that feeling of having overcome an difficult obstacle - these are feelings and opportunities that we are blessed with every now and then. And they are wonderful empowering moments in any ones life. The only problem is that getting to that feeling, means first undergoing adversity, and difficulty while facing hopeless looking odds. These types of situations we are more familiar with...yes?
I mean, how often do the circumstances of life stack up against you? A mountain of debt, a relationship that looks beyond repair, a fearful disease, the hurt of losing a dear loved one - I could go on, but you get the idea. Everyone of us faces our own unique giant enemies, and at times we feel consumed by them.
David, who wrote this Psalm, knew these giant enemies all too well. Sometimes we forget that David the poet and songster King began his biblical career as a boy slayer of Giants. David literally was faced with a mountain of an enemy in the form of Goliath, that frankly, he had no chance of overcoming. Yet...armed with only a sling, a stone, and faith in a God who does move mountains, who does crush giant enemies, and who is larger and greater than all our obstacles - overcome he did.
Listen to David's brash words to his giant enemy. "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel...for the battle is the LORD's." I love it. David's confidence and strength to overcome his giant enemy came not in his own strength or might or chance...but from the hand of the LORD. It was really His battle. God overcome David's enemy on His behalf.
The same is true for us. Do you really believe that there is any obstacle or giant enemy facing you that God cannot overcome, slay, and deliver you from? Put your faith in Him and allow Him to fight your battle for you. He will give you triumph, victory, and that great feeling of overcoming an immense obstacle. He can, because He is almighty...He wants to because He is a faithful Father.
And when He does, please, like David, do not chalk it up to coincidence, or your own self actualization - give thanks and praise to God. Worship Him with all you've got. He is your deliverer.
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Home is...
"One thing I have desired of the LORD, that I will seek: That I may dwell in the home of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple." Psalm 27: 4
"Home is where the heart is." "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." "Home is not where you live, but where they understand you." "I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." "Home is the place where it feels right to walk around without shoes." "Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, but grow old wanting to get back to." "Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved."
What is home for you?
Home at it's best is an idyllic safe haven. And it's more than just a place - it's a place where loving community happens that you can join in on. In other words, home is defined not so much by the bricks and mortar and property on which it sits, rather by the relationships that happen therein.
Many of us, have at times, been privileged to live in homes such as these - though in reality, even those homes had their rough spots, and were anything but perfect. In fact, a good many of us grew up in poor homes. Homes that did not always feel safe; where loving relationships didn't really create an atmosphere of home. Many of us merely grew up in houses. It could be that many of us are merely residing in houses right now, and long for the warm sense of home that seems out there somewhere.
Everyone longs to be in a home like this, because we were made to dwell in a home like this.
God made us in order for us to dwell with Him in His home. The Psalmist identifies this inner human craving, by putting voice to our inner thoughts - I desire and seek to dwell in the home of the LORD all the days of my life. We sell our selves short whenever we choose to hang our hats anywhere else. Dwelling any place other than the home of the LORD is a huge step down, whether we realize it or not. That's why the Psalmist declares later on "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the home of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10)
The LORD offers an idyllic safe haven for all to dwell in - a home where we can rest in the presence of a relational loving God. Of course the best part is the view...gazing upon the beauty of the LORD.
Why settle for any other house, when you can dwell in the perfect home with the perfect family all the days of your life.
Be God's, Scott
"Home is where the heart is." "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." "Home is not where you live, but where they understand you." "I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." "Home is the place where it feels right to walk around without shoes." "Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, but grow old wanting to get back to." "Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved."
What is home for you?
Home at it's best is an idyllic safe haven. And it's more than just a place - it's a place where loving community happens that you can join in on. In other words, home is defined not so much by the bricks and mortar and property on which it sits, rather by the relationships that happen therein.
Many of us, have at times, been privileged to live in homes such as these - though in reality, even those homes had their rough spots, and were anything but perfect. In fact, a good many of us grew up in poor homes. Homes that did not always feel safe; where loving relationships didn't really create an atmosphere of home. Many of us merely grew up in houses. It could be that many of us are merely residing in houses right now, and long for the warm sense of home that seems out there somewhere.
Everyone longs to be in a home like this, because we were made to dwell in a home like this.
God made us in order for us to dwell with Him in His home. The Psalmist identifies this inner human craving, by putting voice to our inner thoughts - I desire and seek to dwell in the home of the LORD all the days of my life. We sell our selves short whenever we choose to hang our hats anywhere else. Dwelling any place other than the home of the LORD is a huge step down, whether we realize it or not. That's why the Psalmist declares later on "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the home of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10)
The LORD offers an idyllic safe haven for all to dwell in - a home where we can rest in the presence of a relational loving God. Of course the best part is the view...gazing upon the beauty of the LORD.
Why settle for any other house, when you can dwell in the perfect home with the perfect family all the days of your life.
Be God's, Scott
Monday, March 1, 2010
Staring at the Stars
"Then God brought Abram outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And Abram believed the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." Genesis 15: 5-6
Life is never dull when you're walking with God.
Our culture beckons us to pursue comfort. Relaxation and leisure time are noble worldly pursuits; and the ability to simply not do anything is something that many people work their fingers to the bone for. We find comfort in our toys, our vacations, our retirement, our days off, our technology - lots of things. God says to all who will listen, "Comfort, comfort my people." Is God really calling us, as Christians to pursue this type of leisurely comfort as part of faith walk? Does our salvation give us a free ticket to no longer worry about what may come and therefore relax your way towards heaven - Hakuna Matata.
I believe that the life of a comfortable Christian in this sense is really a misnomer. It makes the Christian life seems easy, and quite frankly, a little boring. God does not call us to a life of dull inactivity. What God calls us to is a life of surrender - "carry your cross and follow me." What God calls us to is a life of radical faith - "follow me and I will make you fisher's of men." What God calls us to is a life of suffering for His name's sake. What God calls us to is a life of thankful obedience. These callings from God certainly do not come across as comfortable to me (at least in our understanding of the word comfort). So what kind of comfort does God offer us in the midst of this radical call to change your lifestyle?
God certainly upset the applecart of Abram's comfortable life. In his old age, God called him to be the father of His children - the person through whom God would interact and bless humanity with. God chose to do this by making Abram an impossible promise, and then by asking him to believe Him, and obey Him no matter how crazy it sounded. Abram, naturally was a little hesitant to the idea. I mean, who wants to have their life turned upside down, from a life of creature comfort to a life of difficulty. Could he believe this promise making God?
God convinced Abram to follow Him in faith, by taking him outside on a beautiful clear night and directing his attention to the skies. He showed him the vastness and beauty of the stars, and said "see all those stars, that's how many descendants you will have, I'm good for it." Abram, at this point, believed the promise keeping God, and as the story goes, God did exactly what He said He would do, and we today are one of those stars he initially gazed upon.
Abram found his comfort, not in his circumstances, but in a promise keeping God. He did not let the impossible or difficult nature of the call dissuade him from following, because in his heavenly gazing, he saw a vast awesome God that dwarfed any impossibility or any difficulty.
The stars have been up there for a long time. Did you ever stop to think that the same stars that God showed Abram, are the same stars that we see in our night sky? When we gaze into the heavens on a clear summer night, we are not only staring galaxies and astronomical occurrences - we are staring firmly into the eyes of an awesome promise keeping God.
The Christian journey is not intended to be comfortable, and as a result it is certainly not dull. God will call you to do impossible and difficult things. He will make promises to you that will seem ludicrous. So why do them? Why pursue this type of illogical comfort?
Just look up at the stars.
Be God's, Scott
Life is never dull when you're walking with God.
Our culture beckons us to pursue comfort. Relaxation and leisure time are noble worldly pursuits; and the ability to simply not do anything is something that many people work their fingers to the bone for. We find comfort in our toys, our vacations, our retirement, our days off, our technology - lots of things. God says to all who will listen, "Comfort, comfort my people." Is God really calling us, as Christians to pursue this type of leisurely comfort as part of faith walk? Does our salvation give us a free ticket to no longer worry about what may come and therefore relax your way towards heaven - Hakuna Matata.
I believe that the life of a comfortable Christian in this sense is really a misnomer. It makes the Christian life seems easy, and quite frankly, a little boring. God does not call us to a life of dull inactivity. What God calls us to is a life of surrender - "carry your cross and follow me." What God calls us to is a life of radical faith - "follow me and I will make you fisher's of men." What God calls us to is a life of suffering for His name's sake. What God calls us to is a life of thankful obedience. These callings from God certainly do not come across as comfortable to me (at least in our understanding of the word comfort). So what kind of comfort does God offer us in the midst of this radical call to change your lifestyle?
God certainly upset the applecart of Abram's comfortable life. In his old age, God called him to be the father of His children - the person through whom God would interact and bless humanity with. God chose to do this by making Abram an impossible promise, and then by asking him to believe Him, and obey Him no matter how crazy it sounded. Abram, naturally was a little hesitant to the idea. I mean, who wants to have their life turned upside down, from a life of creature comfort to a life of difficulty. Could he believe this promise making God?
God convinced Abram to follow Him in faith, by taking him outside on a beautiful clear night and directing his attention to the skies. He showed him the vastness and beauty of the stars, and said "see all those stars, that's how many descendants you will have, I'm good for it." Abram, at this point, believed the promise keeping God, and as the story goes, God did exactly what He said He would do, and we today are one of those stars he initially gazed upon.
Abram found his comfort, not in his circumstances, but in a promise keeping God. He did not let the impossible or difficult nature of the call dissuade him from following, because in his heavenly gazing, he saw a vast awesome God that dwarfed any impossibility or any difficulty.
The stars have been up there for a long time. Did you ever stop to think that the same stars that God showed Abram, are the same stars that we see in our night sky? When we gaze into the heavens on a clear summer night, we are not only staring galaxies and astronomical occurrences - we are staring firmly into the eyes of an awesome promise keeping God.
The Christian journey is not intended to be comfortable, and as a result it is certainly not dull. God will call you to do impossible and difficult things. He will make promises to you that will seem ludicrous. So why do them? Why pursue this type of illogical comfort?
Just look up at the stars.
Be God's, Scott
Saturday, February 27, 2010
A Hungry God
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for 40 days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry." Luke 4: 1-2
This passage gets (at least for me) to the heart of Jesus and His love for us. Technically speaking, as far as the economics of our salvation goes, the bare minimum required was for Jesus, the Son of God to bear our flesh, live a perfect sin-free life, die on the cross for our sins, and then rise from the dead. This incredibly humbling act of grace earns for us by faith our salvation. It was really all that was required.
Jesus however, did more than the bare minimum.
God himself, not only took on our flesh, but He also took on every possible form of suffering that comes with being a human hip deep in a sinful world. His journey to the cross began not with a coronation or pep rally - but with a 40 day journey of suffering in the desert. God willingly walked towards difficulty, and in an amazing turn of events, He did not use His might to immediately snuff it out - rather, He took it all.
He suffered temptation, the likes of which we could only imagine, and He forced Himself to know and experience hunger. And all of this suffering took place, not at the park, the mall, or the golf course, but in the loneliness of the desert. He allowed the devil to sock Him with his best punch, without any evident defense. God suffered.
So why did Jesus suffer? Why did He do more than the bare minimum?
Out of His great love for us. Whenever we must endure temptation, whenever we are hungry, whenever we must struggle through the desert - know this: We are loved, and carried, and strengthened by one who has gone before us. Jesus fully understands how we feel and what we're going through. Jesus did more than was needed because He wanted to be able to love you as much as He possibly could.
The God who loves you is a hungry God.
Be God's, Scott
This passage gets (at least for me) to the heart of Jesus and His love for us. Technically speaking, as far as the economics of our salvation goes, the bare minimum required was for Jesus, the Son of God to bear our flesh, live a perfect sin-free life, die on the cross for our sins, and then rise from the dead. This incredibly humbling act of grace earns for us by faith our salvation. It was really all that was required.
Jesus however, did more than the bare minimum.
God himself, not only took on our flesh, but He also took on every possible form of suffering that comes with being a human hip deep in a sinful world. His journey to the cross began not with a coronation or pep rally - but with a 40 day journey of suffering in the desert. God willingly walked towards difficulty, and in an amazing turn of events, He did not use His might to immediately snuff it out - rather, He took it all.
He suffered temptation, the likes of which we could only imagine, and He forced Himself to know and experience hunger. And all of this suffering took place, not at the park, the mall, or the golf course, but in the loneliness of the desert. He allowed the devil to sock Him with his best punch, without any evident defense. God suffered.
So why did Jesus suffer? Why did He do more than the bare minimum?
Out of His great love for us. Whenever we must endure temptation, whenever we are hungry, whenever we must struggle through the desert - know this: We are loved, and carried, and strengthened by one who has gone before us. Jesus fully understands how we feel and what we're going through. Jesus did more than was needed because He wanted to be able to love you as much as He possibly could.
The God who loves you is a hungry God.
Be God's, Scott
Friday, February 26, 2010
Equality
"Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him." Rom. 10: 11-12
I learned early on in life that there is a pecking order in our world - a social hierarchy if you will. I remember vividly the inequality in the society of the elementary school playground - boys outranked girls (at least in the eyes of the boys). I remember vividly the inequality in the society of the burgeoning puberty of junior high - looking good brought you to the top of the ladder. I remember vividly the inequality of high school popular society - a cutthroat pecking order based on anything from looks, and athletic performance, to the ability to party without conscience.
Adulthood has it's social hierarchy too, doesn't it? Money, vocation, family, looks, gender, race, political preference...all of these things and more tend to peg us into some sort of social strata. Life can certainly be difficult and a burden when lived out on one of the bottom rungs of the ladder, constantly being stepped on by others advancing at your expense. Quite frankly sometimes life isn't fair, and we treat others differently based on their place in the pecking order - whether we realize it or not.
The Kingdom of God is completely different from the cutthroat hierarchy of the world. It stands out in stark opposition. For in the Kingdom of God, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, beautiful and plain, male and female, intelligent or slow, a CEO or a fry cook. The Kingdom of God is a safe place where anyone and everyone can enter in, and never be put to shame. There is equality in Christ.
This Kingdom is an Oasis of safety and healing from the dog eat dog nature of our society. The good news is that anyone can enter this Kingdom and receive the blessing of God.
May you know the blessing of unity in Jesus.
Be God's, Scott
I learned early on in life that there is a pecking order in our world - a social hierarchy if you will. I remember vividly the inequality in the society of the elementary school playground - boys outranked girls (at least in the eyes of the boys). I remember vividly the inequality in the society of the burgeoning puberty of junior high - looking good brought you to the top of the ladder. I remember vividly the inequality of high school popular society - a cutthroat pecking order based on anything from looks, and athletic performance, to the ability to party without conscience.
Adulthood has it's social hierarchy too, doesn't it? Money, vocation, family, looks, gender, race, political preference...all of these things and more tend to peg us into some sort of social strata. Life can certainly be difficult and a burden when lived out on one of the bottom rungs of the ladder, constantly being stepped on by others advancing at your expense. Quite frankly sometimes life isn't fair, and we treat others differently based on their place in the pecking order - whether we realize it or not.
The Kingdom of God is completely different from the cutthroat hierarchy of the world. It stands out in stark opposition. For in the Kingdom of God, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, beautiful and plain, male and female, intelligent or slow, a CEO or a fry cook. The Kingdom of God is a safe place where anyone and everyone can enter in, and never be put to shame. There is equality in Christ.
This Kingdom is an Oasis of safety and healing from the dog eat dog nature of our society. The good news is that anyone can enter this Kingdom and receive the blessing of God.
May you know the blessing of unity in Jesus.
Be God's, Scott
Thursday, February 25, 2010
simple
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"
Rom. 10:9-10
I realize this will make me sound old, but...is it just me, or are things just getting more and more complicated? Things that used to be simple, are now elaborate, time consuming tasks. Last year I coached basketball at the local high school - something I really enjoy doing, and have done so, off and on in different places for years. When I first began volunteering at the school, it was a very simple process - meet with the coach and principal to get their permission, and that was it. This year, the New York State High School Athletic Association decided that all coaches (paid or volunteer) needed to take 3, 3 credit junior college courses on coaching, and receive training in 3 other seminars - all of this would have been at my expense, and I would have had to travel at least a half hour or so for the training.
Now, I am not really complaining - it is what it is. But wow, they sure made a simple thing very complicated.
I wonder if we've done that with salvation. You must attend a certain church for a certain amount of time, you must attend certain classes in said church, and know certain and particular things, you must tithe 10% of your income, you must listen to Christian music, you must have a Jesus fish bumper sticker, you must not smoke or chew or go with girls who do, you must be fluent in the language of the church - Christianese, you must dress a certain way, you must always bring your specialty to the potluck etc. etc.
You get the idea right...I wonder if we haven't made coming to Jesus more about conforming to some type of complex Christian sub-culture rather than the simple plan of the Bible.
The Bible can at times be difficult to understand, but I don't think the way to salvation is - it's simple.
Believe in your heart in the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ - and confess this belief out loud for all to hear and see. This belief and confession might take many shapes and forms, but it's ultimately about the belief and confession and not the way one manifests them.
God still offers a simple plan of salvation to all through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Believe it in your heart, and confess it with your mouth.
Be God's, Scott
Rom. 10:9-10
I realize this will make me sound old, but...is it just me, or are things just getting more and more complicated? Things that used to be simple, are now elaborate, time consuming tasks. Last year I coached basketball at the local high school - something I really enjoy doing, and have done so, off and on in different places for years. When I first began volunteering at the school, it was a very simple process - meet with the coach and principal to get their permission, and that was it. This year, the New York State High School Athletic Association decided that all coaches (paid or volunteer) needed to take 3, 3 credit junior college courses on coaching, and receive training in 3 other seminars - all of this would have been at my expense, and I would have had to travel at least a half hour or so for the training.
Now, I am not really complaining - it is what it is. But wow, they sure made a simple thing very complicated.
I wonder if we've done that with salvation. You must attend a certain church for a certain amount of time, you must attend certain classes in said church, and know certain and particular things, you must tithe 10% of your income, you must listen to Christian music, you must have a Jesus fish bumper sticker, you must not smoke or chew or go with girls who do, you must be fluent in the language of the church - Christianese, you must dress a certain way, you must always bring your specialty to the potluck etc. etc.
You get the idea right...I wonder if we haven't made coming to Jesus more about conforming to some type of complex Christian sub-culture rather than the simple plan of the Bible.
The Bible can at times be difficult to understand, but I don't think the way to salvation is - it's simple.
Believe in your heart in the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ - and confess this belief out loud for all to hear and see. This belief and confession might take many shapes and forms, but it's ultimately about the belief and confession and not the way one manifests them.
God still offers a simple plan of salvation to all through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Believe it in your heart, and confess it with your mouth.
Be God's, Scott
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Angels
"For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up lest you dash your foot upon a stone." Psalm 91: 11-12
I don't know if you've noticed, but angels are everywhere. There is a peculiar fascination with angels like never before in our culture. They're on TV shows, and the focus of movies and books. There are a multitude of websites about them, and even stores which sell nothing else but angel stuff. Much of this information is fanciful at best. People are enamoured with the idea of angels. Unfortunately, there are many that take their fascination too far, to the point of worship. So what's the real deal with angels?
Angels certainly are real. They are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him and us, His beloved children. They are not objects of worship or any more special than humanity. They are just another amazing aspect of God's creative brilliance designed to bring Him glory. Now the real role and substance of angels may not sell many books, movies, or figurines but I would argue that it is more than amazing.
What would you think, if I told you that angels were created in large part because of God's great love for you. God loves you so much that He dreamed up these amazing heavenly beings. And these amazing heavenly beings were charged with the task of watching over you: ministering to you, both physically and spiritually, and protecting you from danger. Angels, in essence, act as God's protective hands and feet, invisibly watching over you and I, keeping us safe from harm. God has given His angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways.
Who knows, how many times we have been spared from calamity through the protective intervention of angels? I suspect, more times than we could even know.
I do think it important to note though, in our consideration of these beings, that they are simply doing what they were created to do. They are instruments of God - graciously used by Him for our protection and benefit. If anyone is to be thanked and venerated for this gracious act, it our beloved Father - He who cared and continue to care for us enough to create and sustain spiritual beings to minister to us.
Thanks be to God for angels who bear up those who love Him. May you know His love and protection on this day.
Be God's, Scott
I don't know if you've noticed, but angels are everywhere. There is a peculiar fascination with angels like never before in our culture. They're on TV shows, and the focus of movies and books. There are a multitude of websites about them, and even stores which sell nothing else but angel stuff. Much of this information is fanciful at best. People are enamoured with the idea of angels. Unfortunately, there are many that take their fascination too far, to the point of worship. So what's the real deal with angels?
Angels certainly are real. They are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him and us, His beloved children. They are not objects of worship or any more special than humanity. They are just another amazing aspect of God's creative brilliance designed to bring Him glory. Now the real role and substance of angels may not sell many books, movies, or figurines but I would argue that it is more than amazing.
What would you think, if I told you that angels were created in large part because of God's great love for you. God loves you so much that He dreamed up these amazing heavenly beings. And these amazing heavenly beings were charged with the task of watching over you: ministering to you, both physically and spiritually, and protecting you from danger. Angels, in essence, act as God's protective hands and feet, invisibly watching over you and I, keeping us safe from harm. God has given His angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways.
Who knows, how many times we have been spared from calamity through the protective intervention of angels? I suspect, more times than we could even know.
I do think it important to note though, in our consideration of these beings, that they are simply doing what they were created to do. They are instruments of God - graciously used by Him for our protection and benefit. If anyone is to be thanked and venerated for this gracious act, it our beloved Father - He who cared and continue to care for us enough to create and sustain spiritual beings to minister to us.
Thanks be to God for angels who bear up those who love Him. May you know His love and protection on this day.
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Desert Survival
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and fortress; my God, in Him will I trust." Psalm 91: 1-2
The desert is one of the harshest places on earth for humans to survive. The unforgiving temperature and sparse landscape make any type of prolonged existence in a desert more than difficult. Two things in particular have brought about the death of unprepared desert wanderers over the years - dehydration and heat stroke. The lack of water, and the human body simply overheating are the two obstacles that must be overcome if you ever found yourself stranded in a desert. With this in mind, there is one thing that will help you with both, something to look for immediately...and that is shade.
Not only can the temperature be considerably less in the shade, thus keeping your body temperature down, but the shade also helps you conserve water by discouraging sweat. When faced with a harsh desert environment, the first thing you must do find some shade and be still.
Much of the Bible was written by people all too familiar with the harshness and danger of the desert. Israel was surrounded by the Sahara desert to the south and the Arabian desert to the east. In fact much of their land is on what geologists would call a rocky plateau desert. They knew that deserts could kill you, if you did not respect them. They knew the value of shade for one's salvation.
David, in the Psalm above, describes God as shade, and encourages all to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Journeying through life can certainly feel like journeying through an unforgiving desert can't it? Not only can it beat us down, starve and exhaust us - but it can often leave us feeling all alone, scared, and uncertain about what might be coming next. It doesn't take much living to come to the realization that life is more likely to be desert than amusement park.
For those wandering in the desert, David gives us hope and salvation. He invites us to take up residence in the shade of God: To draw near to Him and to be still in the protection of His shadow.
The desert moments in our lifes journey will come, and they will try to consume and overtake us. We have two choices to make in response - try to go it on our own by stubbornly putting our head down and trudging through the heat of the day in no particular direction, or to seek out the protective shade of our good and loving God.
May the shadow of our LORD protect and replenish you on your journey.
Be God's, Scott
The desert is one of the harshest places on earth for humans to survive. The unforgiving temperature and sparse landscape make any type of prolonged existence in a desert more than difficult. Two things in particular have brought about the death of unprepared desert wanderers over the years - dehydration and heat stroke. The lack of water, and the human body simply overheating are the two obstacles that must be overcome if you ever found yourself stranded in a desert. With this in mind, there is one thing that will help you with both, something to look for immediately...and that is shade.
Not only can the temperature be considerably less in the shade, thus keeping your body temperature down, but the shade also helps you conserve water by discouraging sweat. When faced with a harsh desert environment, the first thing you must do find some shade and be still.
Much of the Bible was written by people all too familiar with the harshness and danger of the desert. Israel was surrounded by the Sahara desert to the south and the Arabian desert to the east. In fact much of their land is on what geologists would call a rocky plateau desert. They knew that deserts could kill you, if you did not respect them. They knew the value of shade for one's salvation.
David, in the Psalm above, describes God as shade, and encourages all to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Journeying through life can certainly feel like journeying through an unforgiving desert can't it? Not only can it beat us down, starve and exhaust us - but it can often leave us feeling all alone, scared, and uncertain about what might be coming next. It doesn't take much living to come to the realization that life is more likely to be desert than amusement park.
For those wandering in the desert, David gives us hope and salvation. He invites us to take up residence in the shade of God: To draw near to Him and to be still in the protection of His shadow.
The desert moments in our lifes journey will come, and they will try to consume and overtake us. We have two choices to make in response - try to go it on our own by stubbornly putting our head down and trudging through the heat of the day in no particular direction, or to seek out the protective shade of our good and loving God.
May the shadow of our LORD protect and replenish you on your journey.
Be God's, Scott
Monday, February 22, 2010
Road Trip
"He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and now behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land which you, O Lord, have given me. Then you shall set it before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God."
I just came back from a road trip sort of vacation with my family to New York City. My boys are at an age now where they simply stick their heads in their video games for the trips duration - nary a peep to be heard. I found myself feeling a sense of nostalgia for the days when they were little and filled with wide eyed wonder, and would spend 90% of any Road Trip asleep in the vehicle. We would start out at home surrounded by familiar sights and smells, only to have then wake 4 or 5 hours later, (like it was only a minute or two for them) in a completely different world for their senses to consume. I would have loved for my boys to have experienced New York City like this (it's really quite different than Alexandria Bay you know ;)
I can just imagine them staring up in awe at all the lights and huge skyscrapers, all the while wondering, "where are we and how did we get here?"
As we begin our journey of Lent together today, lemme ask you - Where are you right now, and how did you get there? Are you at a place you want to be? Are you at a place where God wants you to be?
God took the Israelites on a journey to the promised land of milk and honey, and once they arrived, they had one of those moments of clarity. A moment wherein they recognized how far they'd come, and how much different and better this new place was from slavery in Egypt.
Their response was one that I think we'd be wise to consider for ourselves in our journey - They recognized that it was God's doing that brought them there, they were filled with thanksgiving, and their wide eyed wonder gaze, upon this great and good God, led them to a place of worship.
God is still great and good - and He still wants to lead you to places of "milk and honey." I'm afraid we spend way too much of our lives resisting God's direction in lieu of our own best laid plans, even though God's direction is clearly and evidently best. The Israelites did this more than once in their 40 year journey to the promised land - but God was patient and faithful with them. He brought them home.
May you be aware of God's good and great leading in your life, and may His direction cause you to stare in wide eyed wonderful thanksgiving, as you worship Him anew.
Be God's, Scott
I just came back from a road trip sort of vacation with my family to New York City. My boys are at an age now where they simply stick their heads in their video games for the trips duration - nary a peep to be heard. I found myself feeling a sense of nostalgia for the days when they were little and filled with wide eyed wonder, and would spend 90% of any Road Trip asleep in the vehicle. We would start out at home surrounded by familiar sights and smells, only to have then wake 4 or 5 hours later, (like it was only a minute or two for them) in a completely different world for their senses to consume. I would have loved for my boys to have experienced New York City like this (it's really quite different than Alexandria Bay you know ;)
I can just imagine them staring up in awe at all the lights and huge skyscrapers, all the while wondering, "where are we and how did we get here?"
As we begin our journey of Lent together today, lemme ask you - Where are you right now, and how did you get there? Are you at a place you want to be? Are you at a place where God wants you to be?
God took the Israelites on a journey to the promised land of milk and honey, and once they arrived, they had one of those moments of clarity. A moment wherein they recognized how far they'd come, and how much different and better this new place was from slavery in Egypt.
Their response was one that I think we'd be wise to consider for ourselves in our journey - They recognized that it was God's doing that brought them there, they were filled with thanksgiving, and their wide eyed wonder gaze, upon this great and good God, led them to a place of worship.
God is still great and good - and He still wants to lead you to places of "milk and honey." I'm afraid we spend way too much of our lives resisting God's direction in lieu of our own best laid plans, even though God's direction is clearly and evidently best. The Israelites did this more than once in their 40 year journey to the promised land - but God was patient and faithful with them. He brought them home.
May you be aware of God's good and great leading in your life, and may His direction cause you to stare in wide eyed wonderful thanksgiving, as you worship Him anew.
Be God's, Scott
Introduction
Hello everyone - Blessings to you and yours wherever you are.
My Lenten journey with you begins today.
I hope to write a daily devotional throughout the season of Lent in order to help make our journeys to the cross this Easter both meaningful and reflective.
It's been my experience in talking with people that we reflect far too infrequently any more - let alone on spiritual matters, the grandeur of God, or our sinful estate. Yet there is much value in slowing down, taking a deep breath, and carefully examining where we are at, how we got here, and where we are headed. Lent, for me, acts as a Yield sign on my spiritual journey to slow down and to take in my surroundings.
Each devotional will follow the scriptural suggestions of the Revised Common lectionary. I welcome your comments and input as well, for those who wish to make this shared journey conversational.
Be God's, Scott
My Lenten journey with you begins today.
I hope to write a daily devotional throughout the season of Lent in order to help make our journeys to the cross this Easter both meaningful and reflective.
It's been my experience in talking with people that we reflect far too infrequently any more - let alone on spiritual matters, the grandeur of God, or our sinful estate. Yet there is much value in slowing down, taking a deep breath, and carefully examining where we are at, how we got here, and where we are headed. Lent, for me, acts as a Yield sign on my spiritual journey to slow down and to take in my surroundings.
Each devotional will follow the scriptural suggestions of the Revised Common lectionary. I welcome your comments and input as well, for those who wish to make this shared journey conversational.
Be God's, Scott
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