Gospel of Matthew
An Epiphany Reflection: Christ in me–Christ in you
January 6, 2013 | 
Author An Epiphany Reflection: Christ in me–Christ in you
Readings: Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 ◊ Isaiah 60:1-6 ◊ Ephesians 3:1-12 ◊ Matthew 2:1-12
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)
Today the Church recognizes the Epiphany of Jesus; “Christ, brought to light.” Epiphany is the season of enlightenment, which we focus our attention on Jesus and the unfolding manifestation of his glory. There are four core events at the heart of Epiphany relative to the observance of the Church; these events are the birth of Christ (although this event has been removed since the fourth century), the visit of the Magi from the East, Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan River, and Jesus turning the water into wine at the Cana wedding. The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek verb phainein, which means to “cause to appear” or “to bring to light.”
I am thinking about what this season means to me. As we process the season of Advent and we “wait expectantly for the Light,” now the Light has appeared. Christ has come. In what ways do I see Him and what difference does this make in my life. The challenge I have extended to myself during this season is to make every opportunity a manifestation of the Light. I want to be able to “see” Jesus in every human encounter—to see Christ in others, no matter who they are—we are; after all, created as imago dei, the image of God. I want to be a conduit for Christ as well; this means I am a manifestation of Light too. As a Christ follower, people should be able to witness Christ in me. This will be my practice and goal for the next five weeks.
The Rule of Benedict reminds us that we should make every effort to receive guests (others) as Christ, because He will say: “I was a stranger and you took Me in” (Mt 25:35). And let due honor be shown to all, especially to those “of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10) and to wayfarers. These will serve as strong reminders and encouragement to me during these days of Epiphany along with the very words of Jesus, also from Matthew’s gospel; “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Finding Christ in the other and exhibiting Christ to the other are moments of Epiphany.
If you love God, you will do everything possible to serve and please him. Love is impatient to do good. It is also quick and active and observant. Faith will encourage you. Hope will set you spinning like the spring in a watch. Reverence for God will rouse you out of your sleepiness. Enthusiasm for spiritual things will set you on fire. The more aware you are of God, the more involved you will be in working for him. Those who trifle lose their labor. -Richard Baxter
I think…Epiphany finds us most profoundly when we practice one thing, to love God will all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength.
A Prayer:
Almighty and ever-living God, we confidently call you Father as well as Lord. Renew your Spirit in us to make us more perfectly your Light, shining and illuminating the darkness around us. May you be ever present and complete in us, so we might be the Light of your holy city on a hill.
If indeed I am to radiate your light to the world, Lord Christ, then let that light burn within me to purge and purify until I know only you and seek only you and, finding you in everyone I meet, enable them to find you even in me.
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns and lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Surrender: “Let’s Go Die with Jesus”
Surrender: “Let’s Go Die with Jesus”
Reading: John 11:9-16, 25-26 <> Psalm 31 <> Luke 9, 14, 22
The past few days I’ve been thinking about what it means to “surrender” to Jesus. I wonder about how surrender might be defined. It seems, in our society, there is a desire 
for this word to have cultural impositions placed upon it. Sometimes I get the impression from the words of others that “surrender” is similar to tolerance. Other times I get the impression that surrender is conditional and given only until it reaches a certain point of a person’s predetermined limitations; “I surrender this amount of me or I surrender only certain of my rights.” It seems rare that I encounter the idea of surrender being full and unconditional.
I wonder how Jesus interpreted and defined surrender.
We have the Bible to provide us with what Jesus said and while his words seem indisputable, they must be… disputable, because there are so many variations and degrees to how people interpret them. We have interpreted “Carry your cross…” from the wearing of a tiny charm/pendant to literally nailing ourselves to wooden crosses and everything in between those extremes. We’ve interpreted “Deny yourselves” from not eating chocolate to punishing, deathly ascetic lifestyles and every point in between those extremes. I’m reasonably sure other instructive commentary from Jesus; “You must lose your life to save it” and “Follow me…” have equally colorful interpretations as well. So, the question remains; “What does Jesus require with regard to a surrendered lifestyle?”
Over and over again, I am reminded of how Jesus emptied himself and provided us with the ultimate explanation and visible expression of surrender. I find these defining moments in many places throughout Scripture, but I think a few of the primary passages that bring substance to “surrender” can be found in the following:
All of the above verses represent a very radical commitment to the way of following Jesus, and in many cases, can be very different from what is taught to people attending Christian churches in North America. It is not my intent to slam or criticize anyone or any organization, but the message of radical surrender to the person and mission of Jesus Christ as Jesus described, taught, and modeled is a rare message in our churches today… even more rare in our society at large.
I don’t know what “surrender” means to other people, but when I read the call of Jesus from the Gospels, I cannot come to any other definition or meaning other than total and complete loss of and abandonment of self. Not only do I find his words crystal clear, but the example shared by the apostle Paul (Phil. 2:5-8) is difficult to argue against; “Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.” (The MSG Bible)
Surrender is what I encounter when I look upon the night of Jesus’ arrest as he prayed earnestly to his heavenly Father; “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want… Again, he went away for the second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’” (Matthew 26:36-46 NRSV).
“Those who in fact risk all for God will find that they have both lost all and gained all… Everything other than pleasing God is nothing” -St Teresa of Avila
I think when it has all been considered… maybe Thomas had it pretty well defined. Jesus had announced to his disciples that he was heading back to Judea (where he had been threatened by stoning)and his disciples tried to change his mind, fearing for Jesus’ life and their own… I’m sure. After a few more words, Jesus is undaunted and begins to head back to Bethany… and Thomas adds; “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.” (John 11:16) NLT. Surrender. I think this captures the definition as well as can be described. Surrender is to “go too—and die with Jesus.”
I suppose the question we live and die with is whether or not we are truly willing to surrender according to Jesus’ definition and terms or do we constantly excuse ourselves from surrender with efforts to redefine what it really means?
It’s a tough call…but in the end, these are His words; “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me…” (John 12:24-26 NRSV). Maybe even more specifically, I should ask what losing my life looks like as I live my life for Christ day to day.
Holy Spirit—Union With God
Holy Spirit—Union With God
I steep and soak in my reflections on what it means to be “filled with the Holy Spirit.” I have been reading, studying, asking questions, and organizing my thoughts in a non-stop immersion since just after Easter of this year. I have, of course, studied this aspect of Christian faith before now, but I have followed a hunger to really pull out all stops and dig deeply into a myriad of unsettled questions I have had and see where my studies and God’s Spirit leads me.
Most recently, after reading a few books and reflecting in Scripture, an analogy I have pondered previously began to clarify and take on deeper meaning to me. I should probably do a little context work before I proceed further.
One of the questions I have been asking lately is in response to my personal witness of the Christian journey; that is, the daily life lived out in the pursuit of becoming perfected in the likeness of Jesus Christ. I have written out many of my thoughts on this subject over the course of the past decade, but consolidated some of those ideas in a recent series here (see link). Essentially, I am wondering aloud, if we are able to complete the Christian journey intact (aka eternally perfected—saved) without the “full in-filling” or baptism of the Holy Spirit as it is spoken about in Scripture. I realize there are many thoughts and doctrine about this teaching with a great deal of diversity and disparity of interpretation therein, but the role and work of the Holy Spirit, as mysterious as it may be, is very prominent in the Scriptures from beginning to end. Considering this prominence, I cannot help but be very drawn to trying to understand what my response should be to the influence of the Holy Spirit.
There are a few assumed conclusions I have settled upon at this juncture of my studies (always subject to change as I continue to study and learn) and subsequent understanding; they are as follows:
- We are incapable of living out the life of holiness God commands us to live without the work of the Holy Spirit within us. In other words, we cannot become what God wants of us without God within us.
- Christian perfection (becoming like Christ in every way) is part of the plan of God from before the beginning of time.
- Not becoming perfected (especially willful refusal to grow in the ways of spiritual maturity) in the Way of Christ can influence our eternal future.
- Visible manifestations and measurable evidences (spiritual fruit) are part of the Christian journey and useful in the grading (aka judging) one another’s progression and course of discipleship.
I might share a few more questions floating around my head before describing my analogy. I wonder at what point a person is filled with or baptized with the Holy Spirit. Is it something that happens at the moment of spiritual rebirth/regeneration? Is it a specific second work of grace that takes place subsequent to regenerative conversion? If being “born again” and “filled with the Spirit” are a singular event, how do we explain the discrepancies for singularity we read about in the Bible (the original followers of Jesus, the household of Cornelius, and the believers at Ephesus are a few examples). Is the total surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer an optional path of discipleship? There are other questions influencing my study, but I consider these sufficient to provide a backdrop for my analogy.
Union with God ◊ Marriage Metaphors
All throughout Scripture, God employs the use of marriage and sexual intimacy as strong metaphors to describe the relationship between man and the Triune Godhead. God calls the people of Israel “adulterers and adulteresses” for forsaking their primacy of relationship with Him for other gods. He also gives Hosea specific instructions to marry a prostitute in order to construct a visual aid for all to see how He perceives His relationship with the chosen people of Israel. Likewise, the beauty of intimacy is described in vivid detail with the Song of Solomon, and is believed to be a metaphor for the bond of love between Christ and the Church. The Church is mentioned as the “Bride” of Christ, and the “Marriage Feast of the Lamb” is a prominent event mentioned in Scripture, especially in the Book of the Revelation. The description of a man and woman becoming “one flesh” and the “oneness” described by Jesus in his Priestly Prayer (John 17) cannot be ignored as we consider all these descriptions, metaphors, and analogies. What is it that God is portraying for us in them? How are we to interpret what God is speaking through these descriptions? Why is it that these particular and strong word pictures are featured so predominately?
One last disclaimer and qualifier: Every metaphor limps—because no metaphor is perfect. This is why we use metaphors, because the “perfect explanation” is out of our reach and our closest approximation is to say, “Blank is like blank.” Remember; like is not is.
I think the Christian journey as the baptism of the Holy Spirit relates to it is like the courtship to marriage relationship.
- I think many persons will make their first steps toward Christian rebirth under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches the Holy Spirit is involved with drawing fallen humans to God. I see similarity between the “wooing” of the Spirit and how the courtship of a man and woman might progress. Whereas the spiritual journey might see the respondent opening to their awareness to God, the physical relationship between a man and a woman might similarly see them opening to one another (becoming more agreeable to conversations and the depth of information each other are willing to disclose). I might liken these first steps to an introductory or initial dating phase.
- As dating and courtship continue between human relationships, so does the relationship between man and God. As the man’s curiosity and awareness to the presence and activity of God is heightened, he is driven and drawn to learn more about this God who “woos” him. Similarly, we see the same behavior exhibited between a man and woman as they learn the dance of romance as well as determine their compatibility and need for one another.
- Counting the cost of relationship is wise advice according to the words of Jesus. I believe this applies to temporal relationships between men and women as much as it applies to the temporal-eternal relationship between man and God. A woman might consider how a man will treat her, provide for her materially and emotionally… what kind of father he might be to her children, and etc. Likewise, Jesus advises the potential follower-disciple to evaluate the cost involved in following or “being married to” Him.
- Eventually there comes a nexus where betrothal, engagement, or the promise to marry becomes the primary question. In this moment, a commitment takes place between the parties consigning devotion to one another. I think this same process occurs in the spiritual relationship with Christ. The speed and the means by which the process unfolds might look differently from person to person, but the realization of the question, answer, and ultimate decision is probably very similar.
- Marriage. The Covenant agreement. In both cases there seems intellectual and soulful agreement to belong to one another. Jesus’ promise to all who would follow Him devotedly is that He would never leave or forsake them. Similarly, the covenant agreement in marriage vows echoes a “forever” commitment, “…to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.” I don’t know the ritual covenantal vows for all cultures and Christian denominations, but would imagine they might be very common to those I mention. Jesus, on many occasions, uses the marriage metaphor to describe the relationship between his followers and himself (Matt 9:15; 25:1-10; John 3:29). I completed a study and wrote an essay on the parallels of marriage as a divine institution some years ago that has more information on these thoughts (see link).
- Consummation. I believe the in-filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit might be likened to the consummation of a marriage. I realize how stark and intimate this metaphor seems, but it is the analogy that God uses throughout the Holy Scriptures to describe the relationship between Himself and mankind. As I mentioned in point number five, I believe that becoming “born again” may happen at the time of intellectual and soulful agreement to the person of Jesus Christ and the affirmation of the atoning sacrifice of his life for our sin. I believe in accordance to the teaching of Scripture that this is a justifying act of grace declared by the voice and hand of God who declares that soul as “saved.” This declaration is a divinely valid agreement and the person over whom it is declared is as eternally secure and “saved” as they can or ever will be. I think the same can be said for the person who is married… they are never any more legally married or bound to their respective spouse on the first day of marriage than they are on their fiftieth year of marriage. Can a person be legally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically married without the act of conjugal consummation? I believe the answer is yes, but in many cultures, the lack of consummation can be grounds for annulment of the marriage…not divorce, but annulment. Annulment states specific grounds for which the marriage is declared void—as if it never took place—and was never actualized as a real marriage. Jesus declares the baptism of the Holy Spirit a divine imperative; consummation of the divine relationship is a mandate and expectation. Jesus speaks very explicitly about this union with his followers in his teaching about abiding in him (John 15) and in the prayer for unity and oneness found in John chapter seventeen. The parallel is also seen when Jesus reminds the teachers of the Law that it was God’s divine planning for a man to leave his family to be “joined as one flesh” with his wife. It is the joining of the Holy Spirit with the believer that makes him or her more than they were as their former self. Jesus said believers would receive “power from on high” when the Holy Spirit came to take up residence within them. This is the ultimate form of love in union. It requires absolute trust and absolute surrender. We are taught by Jesus that he “chose us as his own” for the purpose of bearing fruit for His Father, God, and His Kingdom. Christian fruit (john 15) can only come from “consummation” of the relationship (infilling/baptism of the Holy Spirit) just the same as children from a couple can only come through consummation of marital relationship. The reciprocity of surrender and giving of selves to one another naturally produce godly “fruit”—this might be manifest in the most basic of levels, with children…and in other manifestations deeper intimacy of relationship and “knowing” one another. Perhaps… this might help us to understand why it is that Jesus speaks so forthrightly about men and women who professed their “marriage” to Christ on the Day of Judgment. Jesus speaks the following words from the Gospel of Matthew chapter seven:
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21-23)
It is interesting to me the word Jesus uses “knew” is the same word, and I believe the same contextual meaning, as his mother, Mary, used when she answered to the angel Gabriel for example in Luke 1:34, “And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I do not know (Strongs-1097 /ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man.
It may be that without the active infilling and baptism of the Holy Spirit, Jesus does not know us in the strictest and most important way we are to be known.
I think ultimately we also need to realize that living in union and communion with God is not about being perfect or achieving some level of Christian perfection. I definitively believe and understand the process of Christian formation or entire sanctification is not measured by perfection, but is measured by the level of our surrender to the process and to the Holy Spirit who guides it.
The Perennial Question–How Do You Answer?
The Lord will guide us continually, and satisfy our needs in parched places, and we shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
MATT. 16:13 – “Who do people say I am?” “…and who do you say I am?”
Is this not the perennial question or questions before us? Who does the world say Jesus is and who do I say he is? The tension these question(s) bring and my response to them is what hangs in the balance—always before me—always begging an answer.
My heart is ready, O God; I will sing your praise. O LORD, Open my lips—and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
I say Jesus is God. I say he not only existed in the flesh and walked this same earth as two thousand years ago, but I say he is; in fact, the Immortal, Ancient of Days, who has always existed even before time was. He is the One who has no beginning or end, but simply… IS. I say he is the very breath that animates my body and the energy, which gives the spark of life to my soul. At times I can feel the smothering crackle of His Presence all around me, and flowing through me… at other times my faith must lay a siege works against my doubt, so I might be reminded evermore that He is near.
Rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is near.
Who do I say He is? I say He is Jesus, my Savior, my Lord, and my God… Regardless of my confession, no matter the radical nature of my conversion and transformation to His nature and image, I wrestle and groan while in this body. I only see in part—I only understand as much as this failing body and mind will allow. Yes, the Spirit transforms and reveals; I am being changed from glory to glory, but that will not be complete until He fulfills all things. I only see in part and I long to be made whole—truly whole, where all wrestling ceases and I cry no more.
When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
May the God of peace sanctify us entirely; and may our spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls us is faithful and will do this—Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Thank you, Almighty God, for your Ruach, the Spirit Breath, which keeps me alive in You.
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Gospel of Matthew, iCrucified, Meditations, Prayer, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation | 
Tags: Discipleship, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, Spiritual Formation | 
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[28APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[28APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Renewal: Week 3 | Day 7
Scripture Reading: Mark 6:30-32; Matthew 6:6; Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35
Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
There is no substitute for “alone time” with God. I think most Christians might agree with this statement, although how we interpret that “time alone” with God might be up for discussion. It might be argued that time alone with God could look very different from person to person, but I’m not convinced that argument is true.
It used to be that I considered my devotion to God as time that I spent doing things for Him. My participation in and with ministry activities accounted for the majority of my time spent with God. Considering there are only so many hours in a day, I wasn’t left with much time remaining after I devoted time to ministry “doing,” employment, daily chores, family time, eating, and sleeping. It was easy for me to justify my acts of ministry, church attendance, and small group as my time with God. If I am honest with myself though, I realize as profitable and God-glorifying as those activities may be, they are still not a substitute for time spent alone with God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes; “We are so afraid of silence that we chase ourselves from one event to the next in order not to have to spend a moment alone with ourselves, in order not to have to look at ourselves in the mirror.” There simply is no substitute for devoted, intentional, silent time, alone with God. It is in this space, alone with Him, where we learn to hear the intimately personal Voice of God. Oh yeah, and as much as I wanted for it to count…my daily commute to work didn’t really qualify as the alone quiet time my soul needed with God; not that I couldn’t pray and/or worship on a work commute or long drive alone, but the distraction of attentive driving precluded devoted attentive listening to God.
Following a number of years of this faithful devotion, I realized the passion and fire of my faith was lacking. I was pretty much on autopilot and going through the motions of religion without much of a relationship with the God of my religion. Oh, I was a good person who was doing good things and I was surrounded by other good people who were doing good things. I’m relatively certain my salvation was secure during this season of life, but there really wasn’t much life in this season, at least not the abundant life that Jesus promises us. I was busy all the time, tired most of the time, and always feeling as if the rest and peace of God were always just out of reach. It pains me to admit this, but I would often claim to be living and experiencing the peace and joy of God, but more often than not, my words were empty faith claims. Around the year 2005-06 I started making silence and solitude with God a top priority in my life. As this has become a faithfully practiced discipline over my past six plus years, I now realize and live in the place of God’s rest, peace, and joy. The times when I fall short in my devotion of solitude with God, I quickly begin to unravel and resort to my old practices of hurried and harried living.
Reflect on and examine the schedule of your life; do you have margin for spending extended quiet time alone with God? When was the last time you spent extended and regular time alone in His presence?
Our Prayer: Father God, I miss You. I know that I could be more devoted in the time I set aside to sit at Your feet and enjoy Your presence. I’m sorry for making excuses and justifying my busy-ness as a reason for not getting alone with You. I pray that You would guide me and help me to reevaluate and reorganize my schedule, so I can make “alone time” with You my most valuable priority. Amen.
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Becoming the Word, Bible Speak, Eastertide, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Liturgical Year, Meditations, Spiritual Formation, The Liturgical Year | Tags: Discipleship, Eastertide, Jesus, Spiritual Formation, The Gospels, The Liturgical Year | No Comments »
[21APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[21APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Repentance: Week 2 | Day 7
Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25-35 (see also: Matthew 10:16-40, Luke 9:57-62, John 15:18-25)
“If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple…But don’t begin until you count the cost”
I included a few bonus passages of Scripture this morning because I think that sometimes we overlook a critical aspect of the process that is repentance. I know I did and Jesus’ words to us reveal a seemingly inarguable position that he also believed this point was critical… so much so that he told would-be followers, “don’t begin until you count the cost.” The very idea of what may be implied in these words puts a lump in my throat.
As we have examined some of the elements rolled into this word “repentance,” we’ve realized that it doesn’t just mean “feeling bad about the things I do.” Repentance means to change your mind about your life’s direction, making a turn toward that new and better destination, and then moving continually along the path always moving closer to the ultimate destination with eyes, heart, and hope fixed on arriving at the goal. But Jesus also says; “Don’t begin until you count the cost.” Why does he say this?
The reason Jesus makes this point is that staying the course of repentance and remaining a faithful disciple of Jesus is not easy. The path of repentance will take us on a journey through trials and temptations, desolations and consolations of the soul, extreme mountain-top experiences with the presence of God and tearfully lonely times when it seems as though God is far from us… We will lose things and people we love, ideas and beliefs will be broken, and our false idols crushed… And, this might just be the beginning of what lies along the road of repentance. Yes, there are glorious days that await us and we will experience some of them along the way, but the point is this: “Don’t begin until you count the cost.” Jesus desires disciples that are all in and willing to complete the journey.
The result of a disciple who has fully counted the cost and then decided to trust and follow Jesus is this: confidence in the face of adversity, joy even in seasons of grief, gentle calmness of soul even when chaos surrounds, discernment, knowledge, and wisdom…yes, the very mind of Christ in a world that reeks of uncertainty. He has given us everything we need to live a godly life; even to sharing in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-4). How do we do this; what is our part? Our part is to trust, obey, die to self and follow. It isn’t easy, but it is simple…and it will always, always begins with a repentant heart.
Have you ever really counted the cost of your journey with Jesus? Do you have unrealized expectations about your Christian journey? Are your expectations unrealistic? Are your expectations consistent with the teachings of Jesus? Have you considered giving up on your faith because it was harder than you realized? How do you feel or what do you think about the current state of your relationship with God?
Our Prayer: O Holy and Eternal Father, I admit that I might have unreal expectations sometimes with the dailyness of my faith. While I know there will be trials, sometimes they seem harder than I can bear and other times they simply do not make sense to me what their purpose may be. I know You said, “Take comfort” and “rejoice in times of suffering…” but I find it hard to do this. I pray You to help me in my growing pains; help me to overcome as you overcome. Help me to confidently put on your cloak of righteousness and walk with the heart of a submissive servant, anxious to do Your will and grow in Your grace. May it be so in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
[13APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[13APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Brokenness: Week 1 | Day 5
Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:57-75, John 18:12-27
In these readings we are provided an account of the proceedings when Jesus is presented for questioning by the high priest, Caiaphas. As I read about the events taking place, I notice evidence of brokenness in the life of Peter that has striking similarities to my own brokenness.
Some of the first words in this account explain that Jesus is being taken to the high priest’s home to be questioned. As Jesus is brought before the council of elders, we are also told the following:
“Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.” (Matt. 26:58)
It is easy to speculate why Peter may have “followed at a distance,” but further into the events of the evening in question we are told Peter denies any knowledge or affiliation with Jesus (Matt. 26:69-74). I have heard many explanations on the reasons why Peter may have acted in the manner he did on that evening…I have heard that it was cowardice, frustration with Jesus, misunderstanding of Jesus’ actions, and even anger with Jesus. Any of these explanations may be valid, but two things we know are indisputably true; (1) Peter put distance between himself and Jesus, and (2) Peter emphatically denied knowing Jesus even to the point of cursing himself in the process.
The similarities of Peter’s actions and my own may be separated by generations of culture and situational circumstance, but I believe there are similarities nonetheless. On this particular night Peter had professed deep love and undying loyalty to Jesus. Also on this night, Peter had been willing to fight for Jesus…even perhaps to the death since he had stricken a guard with his own sword. Yet when his loyalty was pressed, whatever his motivation and reason, Peter distanced himself from Jesus and when cornered, he denied Jesus altogether. I admit my brokenness has defeated my loyalty to Jesus at times when I wanted to be popular, when I have been involved in career advancement and with issues of money and with taxes…even at times when I have been involved in buying and selling. My actions have betrayed knowledge of Jesus in the ways I have acted less than Christ-like and devoid of an ethic that honors Jesus.
Can you think of times that you may have “placed distance” between you and Jesus? Have you been guilty of denying Jesus out right or through your actions?
Our Prayer: Dear Jesus, I don’t have to listen long before I can hear the cock crowing in my own life. I surrender my brokenness to you with humility and sadness. I know there are times that I have denied you and I have not admitted it. I feel that by not talking about it, maybe it didn’t happen, but I know that it has. I ask your forgiveness and I ask you to help me be bold in my faith, help me to walk closely with you and never allow distance between us that would provide me with opportunity to deny you ever again. I wish to be seen with you and be like you as you want me to be. Amen.
[12APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[12APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Brokenness: Week 1 | Day 4
Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:14-16, Luke 22:3-6, John 6:70-71
There is not a great detail of information about Judas Iscariot and the betrayal of Jesus. The accounts we are given from Scripture are all brief and very “matter of fact.” I think it is for this reason that we might not give the brokenness of Judas much thought as it regards the parallels that might exist in our own lives. It is far easier to consider Judas a bad man from the outset…a traitor… something you or I would never be.
As I’ve given the involvement of Judas consideration, I’ve had to admit to myself that I probably have as much or more in common with him than I do any of the other disciples. It is believed that Judas was a zealot, possibly a freedom fighter, who was involved in guerilla warfare against the Romans. In this case, he would have been a patriot, not necessarily a bad thing. He was a man who believed in the Law and the prophecies concerning the Messiah. He was also hand-picked by Jesus, and he had hope for the fulfillment of God’s promises, culminating with the eternal reign of God among men on earth. This sounds like someone you’d like to have on your church leadership team.
I think the problem arises when our expectations, similar to the case of Judas, are unrealized. Judas thought Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman government possibly with the use of force (thoughts of Joshua, Saul, and David may have come to his memory). Jesus’ teaching had been more pacifistic in nature and he was now speaking about dying by crucifixion (the most humiliating of deaths). In all likelihood, it was Judas who was feeling betrayed.
Similar to Judas, our brokenness leads us to have ideas that aren’t always equal to the plans of God. When the sovereign plans of God begin to cause friction with our plans and ideas, we often will feel betrayed or misled by the God we profess our love to. He doesn’t make sense and won’t listen to our best laid plans. While we might not confess our displeasure aloud, inside we might be angry or seething with feelings of betrayal. We might even feel that given the opportunity we could do something radical to force God’s hand into seeing our way of thinking… maybe like Judas was thinking.
Are there times that you have prayed, talked to God, and explained how your plan was so much better than His yet God was not convinced to see your plan as an option? Have you ever been angry with God’s choices? Have you ever given God “the silent treatment” or acted out in some other way to show your displeasure with Him?
Our Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am a broken person. Sometimes I act out in ways that show me as traitorous as was Judas. I honestly do not think I intentionally act out against you, but I know when I think about myself above you and others this is generally what happens. Help me, O Lord, to think first of Your kingdom before I think of myself. Help me to see a big picture that includes Your eternal reign. Help me, Lord Jesus, to understand that suffering in the short-term is sometimes necessary for long-term gain.
[11APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
[11APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series
For 20-days leading up to Easter Sunday, I had the privilege of writing a devotional series for my church. I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks. Each week in this devotional series consisted of a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.
Brokenness: Week 1 | Day 3
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:15-26
This portion of Scripture typifies, to me, the example of “mountaintop” and “valley” experiences, which occur over the course of the Christian journey. In this first section of this passage, Jesus asks his disciples; “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to confess that Jesus is Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus affirms and celebrates Peter’s proclamation testifying to this moment being a high point in the life of Peter.
How quickly things can change…
Soon after the revelation of Jesus as Messiah, Jesus begins to explain to his disciples about his coming Passion, the journey to Jerusalem that would culminate in his arrest, torture, and crucifixion. The Scriptures reveal that it was this explanation by Jesus that caused Peter to pull Jesus aside and rebuke him for speaking about such things, saying; “Heaven forbid, Lord, this shall never happen to you.”
Jesus immediately responds to Peter with a rebuke of his own, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
The brokenness we experience even as followers of Jesus can be manifest so quickly. In this particular account between Peter and Jesus, we see in one moment, Peter speaking under inspiration of the Holy Spirit…truth revealed, Jesus says, by God alone. In the next incident, Peter goes from being called (by Jesus) a vessel of God to a minister of Satan. Why? Brokenness can distort our perception and sensibilities. From the mind of man, Peter is doing a noble thing by wanting to prevent Jesus’ going to Jerusalem. Jesus is Messiah; Jesus can share about the Kingdom of God… Jesus can change the world. Clearly, it is better for Jesus to remain alive rather than to be captured and killed. Right?
Our brokenness often distorts what appears to be the right thing with things that may not be what God desires. Often, we do not see the plan of God in circumstances because we think with “our mind” or the mind of man. We should always seek to understand the plan of God and surrender our thinking to the mind of Christ, so we might not be a hindrance to the will and the way of God.
Take some time to reflect on times when you were disturbed by what you thought “God wanted” to do in a circumstance. Could you see a “better” plan that you wanted to implement? Did you implement your plan because it seemed better? (examples might be: financial investments, purchases, career moves, child rearing, other personal relationships, etc.)
Our Prayer: Father, I confess that I do not always understand your plans. Often it seems that I know a better way or a way that might involve less stress for me. It hurts me to think that when I consider your plans difficult that I might be a stumbling block used by Satan. It is hard for me to let go of control in circumstances that I might manipulate for what seems like my good. Help my faith, Lord, so I might trust your plans even when they appear scary to me. I know you have good planned for your people even when the short term outcome might bring challenges for us. Provide for us your strength for the glory of your Kingdom. Amen.
Lent | Holy Week 2012: Day 46—Reflection
[07APRIL2012] Lent | Holy Week 2012: Day 46—Reflection and Meditation
Holy Saturday: The Great Darkness…
O God, Creator of heaven and earth: grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
♦ Psalms 31:1-4, 15-16
“Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29)
A day of emptiness, despair, hopes and expectations unrealized, and deep, heart-wrenching loss.
Abandoned and left in the dark…this may have been some of what the disciples were feeling—still reeling from the tortuous murder of their teacher, the one they had placed all their hope in. Yes, even the one they had thought was the very Son of God…but now…he had been killed. How could this have happened? If he was the prophesied Son of God, would not God’s plans have been fulfilled? But he was dead. Rome had won.
Maybe the disciples were feeling betrayed themselves. It was clear now they had misunderstood the message and the instructions of Jesus, their teacher. They had imagined the kingdom of God in political terms, sure that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman rule of their precious Jerusalem. But Jesus was dead. Surely the revolution was to come, but how now? Who would be the next self-proclaimed Messiah? Jesus had promised it was him…signs, wonders, and things too marvelous to mention had surrounded him, but he couldn’t protect himself from Rome? The hope for the new Jerusalem and the reign of God had been crushed along with Jesus, their hopes as cold and dead as Jesus now was.
I imagine besides the fear they now had, they were filled with equal parts of anger. Many of these disciples had left family, friends, and careers. Could they go back? Had they burned bridges? Would they be turned over to Roman authorities?
Joan Chittister writes about Holy Saturday:
Everyone who has ever lived, who will ever live, will someday undergo a Holy Saturday of our own. Someday we will all know the power of overwhelming loss when life as we know it changes, when all hope dies in mid-flight. Then, and only then,, can we begin to understand the purpose of Holy Saturday.
The importance of Holy Saturday lies in its power to bring us to the kind of faith the spiritual masters call “mature.” Holy Saturday faith is not about counting our blessings; it is about dealing with darkness and growing in hope. Without the Holy Saturdays of life, none of us may ever really grow up spiritually.
Today, alone and bereft, we come face-to-face with the question we try so hard to avoid the rest of the year: how do we deal with the God of darkness as well as the Giver of light? Have we been abandoned? Are we left now on our own in this world? Is there nothing else? Was all the rest of it pure fairy tale?
“Everyone will someday undergo a Holy Saturday of our own…” I know this is true. I’ve had a few Holy Saturdays. Never cared for a single one of them. I do know this about them…enduring the darkness has taught me more about the light than any other teaching tool. Hang on. The darkness, the aloneness…is always the darkest and loneliest just before the light.
