"When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make a covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17: 1-2
This scripture passage marks a very important moment in the history of the world as we know it. In it we see the beginnings of the covenant of grace - an agreement initiated by God between Himself and humans to once again bless us despite our sinful disobedience. This covenant was made with Abram, a man specially chosen by God to be the recipient of this unmerited gift. God promised to bless this 99 year old man with descendants that would out number the stars, a great name, and a father of many nations. Only problem from Abram's (and his wife Sarai) perspective was that they had no children, and humanly speaking they were a little past their prime (at least as far as child bearing went).
This passage comes 13 years after Abram and Sarai lost their patience and faith in the God who always keeps His promises. They decided to take matters into their own hands by hooking up Abram with Sarai's maidservant, Hagar. Consequently, Hagar had a child named Ishmael. However this child was not to be the child of promise. Abram and Sarai's sin and lack of patience with God only produced a child who was destined to become, "a wild man, whose hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him." Their disobedience had produced not a child of blessing, but of curse. Abram and Sarai had messed up their part of the covenant with incredible expediency, and they had to have known it. Interestingly enough, God did not speak to Abram again for 13 years after his failing - 13 years of silence from God.
But God did speak again, because unlike Abram, God keeps His promises. It may have taken 13 additional years, but God gracefully gave Abram and Sarai a second chance by reaffirming the covenant with him.
I think it's significant to note the name which God gives Himself in His re-introduction to Abram. He tells him that He is God Almighty. The Hebrew name used here is one you might be familiar with - El Shaddai. This name literally means - the God who is wholly sufficient - and most times when you find this name used by God in the Old Testament it is given in greeting whenever His servants are particularly despairing or hard pressed and need reassurance. Abram clearly questioned the sufficiency of the LORD to provide him a descendant, this much is obvious because he tried to provide one himself. Abram undoubtedly was despairing, likely wondering if his poor choice had removed God's favor from him.
But God did not give up on Abram...He came to him again reminding him that He is and always will be El Shaddai - the God who is wholly sufficient.
This story hits home for me in a couple of ways (and I wonder if the same is true for you): I see myself quite clearly in the sandals of Abram. I too have often questioned the fidelity of the LORD in the promises He has made to me. I have disobeyed His call to me to walk before Him and be blameless. I too have tried to provide for myself on my own, in any number of creative ill fated ways, and in so doing questioned His sufficiency in my life. By all accounts God should have left both Abram and I alone in the dust with the consequences of our choices. I would've had no reason for complaint.
However...God did not give up on me. With much grace and mercy, He continually re-introduces Himself to me as El Shaddai, the God who is wholly sufficient. Though reassured and humbled by this act, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised...I am after all (like you) one of those promised descendants [exceeding multiplications] of Abram, and God's promises run deep and long.
O LORD, please give me the courage and the strength to name you as the El Shaddai in every area of my life.
Be God's, Scott
Monday, March 9, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Homeless and lonely - (Saturday a little early)
" Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you."
Psalm 25: 16-25
I had lunch with a homeless guy once in Toronto. We developed a quick intimacy over our conversation and a plate of whatever it was we were serving that day in the soup kitchen. Towards the end of our meal, I asked him a question, not knowing whether he'd answer me, or send me back a stupefied stare. I asked him, "what the hardest part of being homeless was," and the moment it left my mouth, I wished that I could've grabbed it a jammed it back in there. Stupid question, right? Well, truth be told, he didn't seem offended at all. In fact he truly seemed appreciative of the question.
His answer moved me, and I never forgot it. He looked me square in the eyes, took a sip from his styrofoam coffee cup and told me, "The hardest part of being homeless is the loneliness. It's like you don't exist. People walk past you and over you like your a piece of garbage and not a real person. Being homeless is lonely."
Needless to say, my heart broke for him, and all the other lonely people on the streets. God did not design people to be lonely and afflicted, rather to be valued children of God in vibrant affirming relationship with Him. From that day on, whenever I pass a homeless child of God on the streets of the city I make sure to turn towards them and look them straight in the eyes. I want them to know that I see their humanity - that I don't think they're garbage - that they are valuable.
Our sin has made us spiritually homeless, lonely apart from our God. Even after we have come to faith in Him and had our relationship renewed, we can still feel the pain and affliction of loneliness when we sin and push God away - running away from home and back into the streets. We were never meant to endure affliction and hurt and loneliness.
Thanks be to God, that He does not ignore us, or walk past us with scorn. Thank God that He treats us much better than we treat each other. God turns towards us, looks us square in the eyes, and embraces us. Every time we sin and alienate ourselves from Him, every time we run away from Him, He chases us down, forgives our sins, and loves us all over again. Truly, our hope is in Him.
Lord, look upon our affliction and distress and take away all of sins. Guard our lives and rescue us. AMEN
Be God's, Scott
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you."
Psalm 25: 16-25
I had lunch with a homeless guy once in Toronto. We developed a quick intimacy over our conversation and a plate of whatever it was we were serving that day in the soup kitchen. Towards the end of our meal, I asked him a question, not knowing whether he'd answer me, or send me back a stupefied stare. I asked him, "what the hardest part of being homeless was," and the moment it left my mouth, I wished that I could've grabbed it a jammed it back in there. Stupid question, right? Well, truth be told, he didn't seem offended at all. In fact he truly seemed appreciative of the question.
His answer moved me, and I never forgot it. He looked me square in the eyes, took a sip from his styrofoam coffee cup and told me, "The hardest part of being homeless is the loneliness. It's like you don't exist. People walk past you and over you like your a piece of garbage and not a real person. Being homeless is lonely."
Needless to say, my heart broke for him, and all the other lonely people on the streets. God did not design people to be lonely and afflicted, rather to be valued children of God in vibrant affirming relationship with Him. From that day on, whenever I pass a homeless child of God on the streets of the city I make sure to turn towards them and look them straight in the eyes. I want them to know that I see their humanity - that I don't think they're garbage - that they are valuable.
Our sin has made us spiritually homeless, lonely apart from our God. Even after we have come to faith in Him and had our relationship renewed, we can still feel the pain and affliction of loneliness when we sin and push God away - running away from home and back into the streets. We were never meant to endure affliction and hurt and loneliness.
Thanks be to God, that He does not ignore us, or walk past us with scorn. Thank God that He treats us much better than we treat each other. God turns towards us, looks us square in the eyes, and embraces us. Every time we sin and alienate ourselves from Him, every time we run away from Him, He chases us down, forgives our sins, and loves us all over again. Truly, our hope is in Him.
Lord, look upon our affliction and distress and take away all of sins. Guard our lives and rescue us. AMEN
Be God's, Scott
Directions
"Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from old.
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD."
Psalm 25: 4-7
I don't like the idea of the GPS technology. I suppose I don't like the idea of some computerized voice telling me where to go and when to turn. Why, you ask? Because I am amazing at directions, and finding my own way...OK...truth be told, not so much. I actually stink at directions, and finding my own way, but I am excellent at being stubborn and proud in my driver's seat. This, combined with my penchant for always wanting to be at least 5 minutes early for everything has caused me to be very snippy with my wife on more than one occasion (much to my shame ;) I'm not sure what possesses me to have this "do it on my own" tendency, but have it I do at times. Don't tell me where to go and when to turn. Let me find my own way, even if it means being late, getting lost, or sinning against my wife. What's up with that?
But I'm probably the only one with this problem...right? ;)
How many of us struggle with this stubborn pride in our spiritual life journeys as well? I mean, how many of us walk through life getting lost, taking wrong turns, and sinning against the ones we love all because we wont take the simple directions of our loving God? We think we know best, despite the fact that sin still clouds our decision making ability. Self-reliance trumps reliance on God much to our detriment. We are a stubborn lot aren't we?
David had it right - though I wonder how long it took him to come to this realization - when he finally said:
"Show me your ways - teach me your paths - guide me."
Oh that that would be my prayer as well, for my driving stubbornness is often reflective of my general spiritual stubbornness.
To rightly pray this to God, I think one needs to deny oneself and do two things: Confession and Obedience. Confession is a humble and honest admission that I don't really know the best way to live my life. I make mistakes and wrong turns. I sin and get lost. I confess that I cannot direct myself - I will always fail.
Obedience is listening for God's direction and then, well, obeying it. First, we must listen to God's direction through His Word and prayer. Then, thankfully, and trustingly doing that which God wants you to do. When God shows you the way to go - go that way. When God teaches you the correct path - take it. Where God guides - follow Him. Obedience is our act of submission and faith.
O LORD, save me from myself and my stubborn nature. Help me to remove my pride and help me to listen and trust. AMEN
Be God's, Scott
PS. It's my day off, so I am off for a drive with my wife...I promise to be humble and behave ;)
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from old.
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD."
Psalm 25: 4-7
I don't like the idea of the GPS technology. I suppose I don't like the idea of some computerized voice telling me where to go and when to turn. Why, you ask? Because I am amazing at directions, and finding my own way...OK...truth be told, not so much. I actually stink at directions, and finding my own way, but I am excellent at being stubborn and proud in my driver's seat. This, combined with my penchant for always wanting to be at least 5 minutes early for everything has caused me to be very snippy with my wife on more than one occasion (much to my shame ;) I'm not sure what possesses me to have this "do it on my own" tendency, but have it I do at times. Don't tell me where to go and when to turn. Let me find my own way, even if it means being late, getting lost, or sinning against my wife. What's up with that?
But I'm probably the only one with this problem...right? ;)
How many of us struggle with this stubborn pride in our spiritual life journeys as well? I mean, how many of us walk through life getting lost, taking wrong turns, and sinning against the ones we love all because we wont take the simple directions of our loving God? We think we know best, despite the fact that sin still clouds our decision making ability. Self-reliance trumps reliance on God much to our detriment. We are a stubborn lot aren't we?
David had it right - though I wonder how long it took him to come to this realization - when he finally said:
"Show me your ways - teach me your paths - guide me."
Oh that that would be my prayer as well, for my driving stubbornness is often reflective of my general spiritual stubbornness.
To rightly pray this to God, I think one needs to deny oneself and do two things: Confession and Obedience. Confession is a humble and honest admission that I don't really know the best way to live my life. I make mistakes and wrong turns. I sin and get lost. I confess that I cannot direct myself - I will always fail.
Obedience is listening for God's direction and then, well, obeying it. First, we must listen to God's direction through His Word and prayer. Then, thankfully, and trustingly doing that which God wants you to do. When God shows you the way to go - go that way. When God teaches you the correct path - take it. Where God guides - follow Him. Obedience is our act of submission and faith.
O LORD, save me from myself and my stubborn nature. Help me to remove my pride and help me to listen and trust. AMEN
Be God's, Scott
PS. It's my day off, so I am off for a drive with my wife...I promise to be humble and behave ;)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
He Covers Me
"To You O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause"
Psalm 25: 1-3
Shame...a powerful human emotional state. Shame defined is a painful feeling of being exposed, uncovered, unprotected, vulnerable. Going back to the origins of the word we can find the meaning "to cover." Though, do we really need a bookish definition to know what shame is? Shame is something we have all felt over our lifetimes to varying degrees. In fact we have likely done backflips of choices through our life journeys in order to avoid being shamed. How often have we done ethically questionable things in order to "cover up" something we did that might expose us and leave us vulnerable to the slings and arrows of an unforgiving world.
I can remember instances of my own boys boldly lying to me when they were very young (too young to have been culturally conditioned to know what they were doing) about doing something they were forbidden to do, even though they were caught red handed. For them, like us, the thought that one might get "found out" is almost too much to bear. These episodes reminded me of Adam and Eve's shame, after disobeying God. Immediately after doing so, they realized their nakedness and sought to cover themselves, and then they hid from God.
After an honest evaluation of your relationship with God, how many of you find yourself still paralyzed by shame as you relate with God? How many of you are secretly fearful of God because He knows the "real" you, secret shames included? How many of you are truthfully fearful of the Lord's return and judgment day, because you believe on that day that your secret, sinful and shameful life will be exposed for all to see? I think shame hinders our spiritual journeys more than we'd care to admit.
David did not want to be publicly shamed for His allegiance to God. Though I suspect David also feared being shamed by God for his own sins and indiscretions as King of God's chosen people. So, David turned to God and prayerfully implored Him to cover him up. He did this by doing an act of faith - he lifted his soul and gave it to God (relinquishing his own sense of control) and fully trusted Him to care for it and cover it. Deep in his heart, David knew this truth about God...He does not want to shame us, or for us to feel ashamed in His presence because of our sins. He wants to cover us.
That's why He sent Jesus to take on our shame, and be fully exposed, uncovered, and vulnerable on the cross. In willingly mounting the cruel cross, Jesus scorned its shame in order to remove ours from our relationship with God. In fact the good news of the gospel is that God did not leave us like Adam and Eve futilely trying to cover our shame on our own. The good news is that He covers us up with the righteousness of Christ. Our shame is gone in the presence of God because Jesus covers us.
May you also lift your soul to Him, put your trust in Him, and let Him clothe you in His glorious righteousness.
Be God's, Scott
O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause"
Psalm 25: 1-3
Shame...a powerful human emotional state. Shame defined is a painful feeling of being exposed, uncovered, unprotected, vulnerable. Going back to the origins of the word we can find the meaning "to cover." Though, do we really need a bookish definition to know what shame is? Shame is something we have all felt over our lifetimes to varying degrees. In fact we have likely done backflips of choices through our life journeys in order to avoid being shamed. How often have we done ethically questionable things in order to "cover up" something we did that might expose us and leave us vulnerable to the slings and arrows of an unforgiving world.
I can remember instances of my own boys boldly lying to me when they were very young (too young to have been culturally conditioned to know what they were doing) about doing something they were forbidden to do, even though they were caught red handed. For them, like us, the thought that one might get "found out" is almost too much to bear. These episodes reminded me of Adam and Eve's shame, after disobeying God. Immediately after doing so, they realized their nakedness and sought to cover themselves, and then they hid from God.
After an honest evaluation of your relationship with God, how many of you find yourself still paralyzed by shame as you relate with God? How many of you are secretly fearful of God because He knows the "real" you, secret shames included? How many of you are truthfully fearful of the Lord's return and judgment day, because you believe on that day that your secret, sinful and shameful life will be exposed for all to see? I think shame hinders our spiritual journeys more than we'd care to admit.
David did not want to be publicly shamed for His allegiance to God. Though I suspect David also feared being shamed by God for his own sins and indiscretions as King of God's chosen people. So, David turned to God and prayerfully implored Him to cover him up. He did this by doing an act of faith - he lifted his soul and gave it to God (relinquishing his own sense of control) and fully trusted Him to care for it and cover it. Deep in his heart, David knew this truth about God...He does not want to shame us, or for us to feel ashamed in His presence because of our sins. He wants to cover us.
That's why He sent Jesus to take on our shame, and be fully exposed, uncovered, and vulnerable on the cross. In willingly mounting the cruel cross, Jesus scorned its shame in order to remove ours from our relationship with God. In fact the good news of the gospel is that God did not leave us like Adam and Eve futilely trying to cover our shame on our own. The good news is that He covers us up with the righteousness of Christ. Our shame is gone in the presence of God because Jesus covers us.
May you also lift your soul to Him, put your trust in Him, and let Him clothe you in His glorious righteousness.
Be God's, Scott
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Blessed be Your Name
"Immediately, the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him." Mark 1: 12-13
Discovery channel has this great show on called Man vs. Wild (Zach and I really like to watch it together). On it, this guy named Bear Grylls travels to distant places in the world that would be difficult to survive in, and then he goes on to show you how one could do just that. He's gone to the Amazon, Alaskan Wilderness, and the African plains to name but a few. One of my favorites was the episode I saw where he went to the Moab desert in Utah. Here's a glimpse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlFpb5nofrg
This episode reminded me of Jesus' time in the wilderness/desert where He survived 40 days despite fasting and temptations. Seeing the hot, punishing conditions made Jesus' humble turn in the wilderness all the more real for me. That must have been incredibly trying! The Son of God, rather than let temptation find Him, willingly was driven out to face it head on, in the most sensational way possible. Out of His hunger and in His human weakness, He was tempted with food, pride and the desire for power and possessions. Even in His weakest human moment, He did not give in to temptation, but rather clung to the fidelity of His relationship with God. Out of this time of trial He was attended by His angels, ready to begin His purposeful journey towards Calvary.
The word tempted here comes from the Greek word peirazo, which literally means to put to the test or trial in order to discover the type of person someone is. Through Jesus' trial we discovered that He was indeed perfect, blameless and holy, fully willing to endure anything for the sake of His beloved. The temptation validates Jesus' candidacy for the more difficult journey ahead.
God seems to have a habit of putting His people to the test to discover the type of people they are, and to test their readiness for that which is yet to come. He did this very same thing with His people Israel as the wandered in the desert for 40 years, before emerging into the promised land. And I know that He often through the power of His Spirit drives many of us out into our own times of trial in the wilderness. What wilderness has God brought you through? Perhaps the trial of disease, poverty, death of a loved one, persecution...in some sense we all have our own type of wilderness trial don't we, and they are not pleasant.
For those in the wilderness, please be assured by this: your God is always with you - in fact He can absolutely sympathize with your weakness and what you are going through, because He too walked through the desert. And count yourself worthy that God has chosen to use whatever wilderness experience (suffering) that you might have to endure in order to prepare and shape you for a glorious journey yet to come. "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind." (1 Peter 4: 1b)
As you find yourself identifying with the wilderness trial of Jesus, may you sing along with Matt Redman,
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Be God's, Scott
Discovery channel has this great show on called Man vs. Wild (Zach and I really like to watch it together). On it, this guy named Bear Grylls travels to distant places in the world that would be difficult to survive in, and then he goes on to show you how one could do just that. He's gone to the Amazon, Alaskan Wilderness, and the African plains to name but a few. One of my favorites was the episode I saw where he went to the Moab desert in Utah. Here's a glimpse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlFpb5nofrg
This episode reminded me of Jesus' time in the wilderness/desert where He survived 40 days despite fasting and temptations. Seeing the hot, punishing conditions made Jesus' humble turn in the wilderness all the more real for me. That must have been incredibly trying! The Son of God, rather than let temptation find Him, willingly was driven out to face it head on, in the most sensational way possible. Out of His hunger and in His human weakness, He was tempted with food, pride and the desire for power and possessions. Even in His weakest human moment, He did not give in to temptation, but rather clung to the fidelity of His relationship with God. Out of this time of trial He was attended by His angels, ready to begin His purposeful journey towards Calvary.
The word tempted here comes from the Greek word peirazo, which literally means to put to the test or trial in order to discover the type of person someone is. Through Jesus' trial we discovered that He was indeed perfect, blameless and holy, fully willing to endure anything for the sake of His beloved. The temptation validates Jesus' candidacy for the more difficult journey ahead.
God seems to have a habit of putting His people to the test to discover the type of people they are, and to test their readiness for that which is yet to come. He did this very same thing with His people Israel as the wandered in the desert for 40 years, before emerging into the promised land. And I know that He often through the power of His Spirit drives many of us out into our own times of trial in the wilderness. What wilderness has God brought you through? Perhaps the trial of disease, poverty, death of a loved one, persecution...in some sense we all have our own type of wilderness trial don't we, and they are not pleasant.
For those in the wilderness, please be assured by this: your God is always with you - in fact He can absolutely sympathize with your weakness and what you are going through, because He too walked through the desert. And count yourself worthy that God has chosen to use whatever wilderness experience (suffering) that you might have to endure in order to prepare and shape you for a glorious journey yet to come. "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind." (1 Peter 4: 1b)
As you find yourself identifying with the wilderness trial of Jesus, may you sing along with Matt Redman,
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Be God's, Scott
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
"It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mark 1: 9-11
Relational...in a word (as if a word could suffice), God at the core of His being is relational. The baptism of Jesus is a clear and beautiful portrait of God's relational nature. We see in this event the perfect yet mysterious inner workings of the trinity. Briefly, to say God is triune is to say that God is three distinct persons, yet also, at the same time One God. God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are distinct while at the same time One: they are co-eternal, co-equal, and in constant communication. The glue that holds this transcendent union together is relationship - specifically an eternal relationship of magnificent love.
In Jesus' baptism, we see the Holy Spirit gently descending upon Him as a sign of Christ's anointing. And we also hear the presence of the Father, lovingly proclaiming how pleased He is with His beloved Son. Even in the Son of God's humiliating descent into this world broken and stained with sin. Even in His eternal nature taking on the fragile human flesh. Even in His suffering and tears. Even in His being subjected to mocking, taunts and insults by the very people He made...the relational love union that bound together our triune God, remained strong and intact. They forever dance, glory and delight in the presence of the other.
The doctrine of the trinity would be in danger of becoming an obscure triviality if it were not for one amazing truth. Our relational God also seeks to re-establish the relationship with us that we dissolved when we sinned. You see God created us to be in loving relationship with Him. Christ came to forgive our sins, and to allow us to re-enter into that which we were made for.
When we put our faith in Christ, we are said to have union with Him. As mind boggling as it sounds, in Christ, we are graciously invited to participate in the marvelous and dynamic relationship of love that binds together the trinity. We too are welcome to dance, glory and delight in the presence of our majestic and eternal God. God stepped down, not only to meet us half-way in mending the relationship...God stepped down and elevated as high as we could possibly go - right into the heart of His love!
May each of you, today, take a moment to dance, glory and delight in your relationship with our triune God.
Be His, Scott
Relational...in a word (as if a word could suffice), God at the core of His being is relational. The baptism of Jesus is a clear and beautiful portrait of God's relational nature. We see in this event the perfect yet mysterious inner workings of the trinity. Briefly, to say God is triune is to say that God is three distinct persons, yet also, at the same time One God. God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are distinct while at the same time One: they are co-eternal, co-equal, and in constant communication. The glue that holds this transcendent union together is relationship - specifically an eternal relationship of magnificent love.
In Jesus' baptism, we see the Holy Spirit gently descending upon Him as a sign of Christ's anointing. And we also hear the presence of the Father, lovingly proclaiming how pleased He is with His beloved Son. Even in the Son of God's humiliating descent into this world broken and stained with sin. Even in His eternal nature taking on the fragile human flesh. Even in His suffering and tears. Even in His being subjected to mocking, taunts and insults by the very people He made...the relational love union that bound together our triune God, remained strong and intact. They forever dance, glory and delight in the presence of the other.
The doctrine of the trinity would be in danger of becoming an obscure triviality if it were not for one amazing truth. Our relational God also seeks to re-establish the relationship with us that we dissolved when we sinned. You see God created us to be in loving relationship with Him. Christ came to forgive our sins, and to allow us to re-enter into that which we were made for.
When we put our faith in Christ, we are said to have union with Him. As mind boggling as it sounds, in Christ, we are graciously invited to participate in the marvelous and dynamic relationship of love that binds together the trinity. We too are welcome to dance, glory and delight in the presence of our majestic and eternal God. God stepped down, not only to meet us half-way in mending the relationship...God stepped down and elevated as high as we could possibly go - right into the heart of His love!
May each of you, today, take a moment to dance, glory and delight in your relationship with our triune God.
Be His, Scott
Monday, March 2, 2009
Zachariah
And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh: the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth." Genesis 8: 12-17
My eldest sons' name is Zachariah. He is named after the Zachariah found in scripture. Zachariah was an old testament prophet, and as was the case with most Biblical names, the name Zachariah meant something significant. Zachariah means, the LORD remembers. This is a simple (yet, really quite profound) theological truth for us fallible humans to get our heads around. God remembers everything. Well perhaps better technically said, God knows and sees everything. He does so, because He reveals himself to us as both omniscient (all knowing) and eternal (He has no beginning and He has no end and He exists outside of time). So God knows everything that's going on and He sees all past, present and future all at once. The LORD remembers.
However, I think this truth (that the LORD remembers) also refers to God's faithfulness - specifically that God can be trusted to always keep His promises. When God makes a promise He will always remember to keep it. This remembrance/faithfulness can be seen in God's covenant (or special everlasting promise) to every creature of the earth through Noah. After the flood - a time when one can clearly see the just repulsion of sin from our holy God - the LORD, in an act of mercy and grace promises all flesh that He will never again send a flood to destroy them. His sign to us that He would remember this promise, was the rainbow - something we can still see today and be reminded of God's faithful love for us.
During this season of Lent, when one often becomes painfully aware of ones own shortcomings and sinfulness, how does this truth - knowing that God remembers, make you feel?
Think about it, a God who is so repulsed by sin that He sent a flood to destroy everything, is fully aware of every sin you do, and even those ones you haven't done yet. For how many of us is God some type of all knowing figure skating judge, carefully recording every mistake we make only to poorly grade us publicly later? Perhaps the idea of God always remembering sends a shiver up your spine. In the case of our sins, it would be in our best interests to have the God who remembers, not remember anymore.
Fortunately God's merciful love is seen for us in Jesus Christ. You see, just as God promised security to all flesh through Noah - a total act of grace. God (He who remembers), also promises to remember our sins no more through Jesus. Jeremiah told of the coming of Jesus, a time when He would die in order to forgive our sins before God. "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more," (Jer. 31: 34) says God. This time has come to pass. Our sin is forgotten by God in the righteousness of Jesus. When our faith is placed in this Christ, it's just as if we had never sinned. As the God who remembers looks upon His children of faith, He does not see our filthy disobedience...rather the holiness of Jesus.
You do not need to look up to the sky for a rainbow in order to remember God's faithfulness - look no further than the waters of your baptism as your sign and seal of God's covenant of grace with you through Christ. Indeed, the LORD remembers, and I am grateful to Him that He does. May you remember the waters of your baptism during this season and know with assurance of God's faithful love for you.
Be God's, Scott
My eldest sons' name is Zachariah. He is named after the Zachariah found in scripture. Zachariah was an old testament prophet, and as was the case with most Biblical names, the name Zachariah meant something significant. Zachariah means, the LORD remembers. This is a simple (yet, really quite profound) theological truth for us fallible humans to get our heads around. God remembers everything. Well perhaps better technically said, God knows and sees everything. He does so, because He reveals himself to us as both omniscient (all knowing) and eternal (He has no beginning and He has no end and He exists outside of time). So God knows everything that's going on and He sees all past, present and future all at once. The LORD remembers.
However, I think this truth (that the LORD remembers) also refers to God's faithfulness - specifically that God can be trusted to always keep His promises. When God makes a promise He will always remember to keep it. This remembrance/faithfulness can be seen in God's covenant (or special everlasting promise) to every creature of the earth through Noah. After the flood - a time when one can clearly see the just repulsion of sin from our holy God - the LORD, in an act of mercy and grace promises all flesh that He will never again send a flood to destroy them. His sign to us that He would remember this promise, was the rainbow - something we can still see today and be reminded of God's faithful love for us.
During this season of Lent, when one often becomes painfully aware of ones own shortcomings and sinfulness, how does this truth - knowing that God remembers, make you feel?
Think about it, a God who is so repulsed by sin that He sent a flood to destroy everything, is fully aware of every sin you do, and even those ones you haven't done yet. For how many of us is God some type of all knowing figure skating judge, carefully recording every mistake we make only to poorly grade us publicly later? Perhaps the idea of God always remembering sends a shiver up your spine. In the case of our sins, it would be in our best interests to have the God who remembers, not remember anymore.
Fortunately God's merciful love is seen for us in Jesus Christ. You see, just as God promised security to all flesh through Noah - a total act of grace. God (He who remembers), also promises to remember our sins no more through Jesus. Jeremiah told of the coming of Jesus, a time when He would die in order to forgive our sins before God. "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more," (Jer. 31: 34) says God. This time has come to pass. Our sin is forgotten by God in the righteousness of Jesus. When our faith is placed in this Christ, it's just as if we had never sinned. As the God who remembers looks upon His children of faith, He does not see our filthy disobedience...rather the holiness of Jesus.
You do not need to look up to the sky for a rainbow in order to remember God's faithfulness - look no further than the waters of your baptism as your sign and seal of God's covenant of grace with you through Christ. Indeed, the LORD remembers, and I am grateful to Him that He does. May you remember the waters of your baptism during this season and know with assurance of God's faithful love for you.
Be God's, Scott
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