"... the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
(Israel's response):
"With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? " (Micah 6:2-7 NIV2010)
You see it play out in the movies, possibly because it's true to life: The young, wealthy, spoiled character, who was given - by his affluent father - everything that money can buy (including trouble), is now in trouble with the law. And the character doesn't pretend that he didn't do what he is accused of doing - in fact everyone knows he did it. Maybe he's sorry he got caught, but for sure he's not sorry that he did it. He just wants to cut to the chase with the judge to find out how much it's going to cost this time to get himself out of trouble - how much of his father's money is he going to have to cough up to pay the fine or to pay the penalty for whatever he did.
If you think about it, the Israelites were kind of like this spoiled character. God blessed them tremendously. In fact everything they had, including their freedom, their land, their cattle, was given to them by their most affluent Father - God. And yet they found a way to use what they had been blessed with to get into trouble and to do anything and everything but what God, their Father, wanted them to do. And when confronted with their sins, the Israelites, like the character in the movie, wouldn't be sorry - at least not truly sorry or penitent. According to Micah's insight into the Israelite's spirit and thought process, all the Israelites wanted to do was to figure out what kind of sacrifice they could offer up to appease God. What's it going to cost this time: a calf, a thousand rams or a thousand rivers of oil, or maybe if that wasn't enough - their first born?
How about us? Can we draw any similarities between the attitude and actions of the Israelites, or the attitude and actions of the character from the movies, and our own actions and attitudes? Have we not also been ridiculously blessed by God? Even in the midst of a serious economic recession, we are still living in a land of virtual milk and honey, and most importantly a land where we are still free to worship the true God. Not to mention how we have all been ridiculously blessed Spiritually speaking. We all have the sure hope that we will one day be brought from the wilderness of this world - from our own personal Shittims, to Gilgal, to the Promise Land of heaven. This is how God has treated us, and yet don't we sometimes choose to use what God has blessed us with to serve interests that conflict with God's law and will? If we are honest in our self-examination, we will realize that we are like the character in the movie and like the Israelites, in that we have been blessed, but in many cases have gone prodigal with the blessings by sinning.
But this is where the similarity ends though, right? There's no way that we, living in New Testament times, would ever attempt to appease God with our own sacrifices. We know we're forgiven by faith alone and by grace alone. We know that it's only through Christ's sacrifice that we are forgiven... When we've felt guilty for something we did or didn't do, rather than fall on our knees and ask for mercy, have we ever stayed standing? Have we ever had the devil plant the idea in our minds that we should actually try to do something to try and butter God up - as though we can somehow get ourselves back in God's good graces - as though we can somehow earn God's favor and get Him to want to continue to have mercy on us? God is good and merciful and continuously gracious towards us all on His own. This held true even when we were His enemies -keep in mind, "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) When we realize we have gotten caught up in breaking God's law and going against His will, the temptation can be to look to try and do something to appease, but all God wants is our hearts. We humans tend to look for outward action, but "the LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) When we part ways with God's will, in order to return, God doesn't want us to do anything, He has done it all already by sacrificing His son Jesus for us. What God wants is our hearts. He wants our contrite hearts. "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:16,17)
The great American Lutheran hymnist Jaroslav J. Vajda realized the condition of man's heart and captured the spirit of true contrition as he suggests who to turn to in order to have our heart disease healed. Vajda reworked Martin Luther's great hymn of true penitence, "From Depths of Woe I Cry to You." Vajda titled his hymn, "In Hopelessness and Near Despair," here's verse 2:
"I see my heart's condition now, my heart's diverse affections.
Why do I love the things you loathe; I'm torn in two directions:
Now prodigal, now Pharisee. O God, be merciful to me;
Who else but you can help me?" (CWS 738:2)
When we, like the Israelites (and the character in the movies), go prodigal with what God has blessed us with by sinning, let's avoid trying to turn to ourselves for the solution. We have nothing to bring to the redemption table. Rather than doing something, let's keep in mind that Jesus has already done it all. Let's do nothing except dropping to our knees to ask for mercy and continued grace, recognizing that Jesus has already made the complete sacrifice for us - once for all: "First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10) Jesus has made the sacrifice for all our transgressions, all God desires is that our heart, through contrition and faith, trusts in Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us. Let's humbly pray with the Psalmist David: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:10-12). Once our hearts are pure again, then our heartfelt natural response will be to want to do something to express our thanks to God for Jesus - God's Sacrifice that trumps all other sacrifices. The LORD is pleased with this post-redemption action of thanks and praise.
Thank you Jesus for being the perfect sacrifice. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for us prodigals. Amen!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
January 20, 2011
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19 NIV 2010)
Have you ever seen a bumper sticker on the bumper of a car that you were following, that had lettering in extremely small font - so small that you would only be able to read it if you were right on the tail of the car you were following? I have seen a number of these, and often the phrase you will find, if you are able to make it out, turns out to be something vulgar in nature. But once I saw one of these stickers that I could actually appreciate - it posed the question (again in very small font only visible from short distances) "Are you following Jesus this closely?" It's a question worth asking ourselves. Can we truthfully say that we are "tailgating Jesus?" Or have we allowed other "cars" like self-centeredness, or the world and its pleasures, or some other kind of car to get in between our car and Jesus bumper? Of course if it were up to us and our own driving skills, we would have lost Jesus' lead, be down the wrong road, and crashed in no time... I am by no means a follower of pop-culture, but the refrain of a pop song made famous by Carrie Underwood happened to pop into my head, and while including it seemed a little silly, it also seemed to be a fitting plea for us reckless drivers: "Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands, 'cause I can't do this on my own. I'm letting go so give me one more chance to save me from this road I'm on. Jesus, take the wheel." Even as we accept the invitation to follow Jesus, we must realize that we absolutely need Jesus to take the wheel, to guide us, and to draw us ever closer to Him so that we are able to follow.
"Draw us to thee; oh grant that we may walk the road to heaven!
Direct our way lest we should stray and from thy paths be driven." (CW 170:3)
When we are drawn to Jesus, when we are tailgating Jesus, one thing that we will be following is His example. When we follow Jesus closely we will quickly see that compassion and love for people dominates His attitude and actions. Doesn't it seem like we are almost to the point that if the people of this world aren't loving themselves, then they aren't loving at all? Jesus Himself warned, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12) If we find ourselves following the world at all, it is likely that our love, if it doesn't grow cold, will for sure grow colder. But when we follow Jesus we will see that in all Jesus' healings and in all His dealings, His feelings of love and compassion predominated.
"Come follow me," the Savior spoke, "All in my way abiding,
deny yourselves; the world forsake; Obey my call and guiding.
Oh, bear the cross, what e'er betide; take my example for your guide." (CW 453:1)
In following Jesus, we will find out that what the Psalmist wrote is true - "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8) When we follow Jesus we would do well to pray that He would Kindle in us the fire of His love, that we may imitate Him and show warmth and love and compassion towards others whose love is growing cold. "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. " (Ephesians 5:1-2) When we imitate Jesus and follow Jesus and His example closely, our own sense and level of love and compassion for our neighbors will be heightened. And how can we show our love for our neighbor more, or be more compassionate towards our neighbors, than by being concerned with their Spiritual needs? And so when we follow Jesus' example and follow Jesus' command, we will find ourselves being busy making disciples - fishing for men. Our fishing can follow Jesus' example by starting out by being genuinely compassionate towards people and their problems, showing genuine care and concern, and providing help when possible. But then above all else, nothing is more compassionate or shows more love towards our neighbor than getting them hooked on God - than getting their own car following, and then closely following, and eventually even tailgating Jesus.
"Are you following Jesus this closely?" When we follow Jesus our Savior closely - or more accurately when He in mercy steers us closer to Him - we will be comforted by the tremendous amount of love and compassion that He showers upon us and everyone He comes in contact with. The more time we spend following Jesus, and the closer we follow Jesus, the more we will be prone then to follow His example of compassion and love, and then direct that compassion and love towards others around us. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5) Ultimately the best way to follow Jesus' example of looking to the interest of others and loving and showing concern for others, is to fish them - to share Jesus and His love with them, and get them hooked on Jesus, so that they will want to follow Jesus closely too.
Have you ever seen a bumper sticker on the bumper of a car that you were following, that had lettering in extremely small font - so small that you would only be able to read it if you were right on the tail of the car you were following? I have seen a number of these, and often the phrase you will find, if you are able to make it out, turns out to be something vulgar in nature. But once I saw one of these stickers that I could actually appreciate - it posed the question (again in very small font only visible from short distances) "Are you following Jesus this closely?" It's a question worth asking ourselves. Can we truthfully say that we are "tailgating Jesus?" Or have we allowed other "cars" like self-centeredness, or the world and its pleasures, or some other kind of car to get in between our car and Jesus bumper? Of course if it were up to us and our own driving skills, we would have lost Jesus' lead, be down the wrong road, and crashed in no time... I am by no means a follower of pop-culture, but the refrain of a pop song made famous by Carrie Underwood happened to pop into my head, and while including it seemed a little silly, it also seemed to be a fitting plea for us reckless drivers: "Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands, 'cause I can't do this on my own. I'm letting go so give me one more chance to save me from this road I'm on. Jesus, take the wheel." Even as we accept the invitation to follow Jesus, we must realize that we absolutely need Jesus to take the wheel, to guide us, and to draw us ever closer to Him so that we are able to follow.
"Draw us to thee; oh grant that we may walk the road to heaven!
Direct our way lest we should stray and from thy paths be driven." (CW 170:3)
When we are drawn to Jesus, when we are tailgating Jesus, one thing that we will be following is His example. When we follow Jesus closely we will quickly see that compassion and love for people dominates His attitude and actions. Doesn't it seem like we are almost to the point that if the people of this world aren't loving themselves, then they aren't loving at all? Jesus Himself warned, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12) If we find ourselves following the world at all, it is likely that our love, if it doesn't grow cold, will for sure grow colder. But when we follow Jesus we will see that in all Jesus' healings and in all His dealings, His feelings of love and compassion predominated.
"Come follow me," the Savior spoke, "All in my way abiding,
deny yourselves; the world forsake; Obey my call and guiding.
Oh, bear the cross, what e'er betide; take my example for your guide." (CW 453:1)
In following Jesus, we will find out that what the Psalmist wrote is true - "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8) When we follow Jesus we would do well to pray that He would Kindle in us the fire of His love, that we may imitate Him and show warmth and love and compassion towards others whose love is growing cold. "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. " (Ephesians 5:1-2) When we imitate Jesus and follow Jesus and His example closely, our own sense and level of love and compassion for our neighbors will be heightened. And how can we show our love for our neighbor more, or be more compassionate towards our neighbors, than by being concerned with their Spiritual needs? And so when we follow Jesus' example and follow Jesus' command, we will find ourselves being busy making disciples - fishing for men. Our fishing can follow Jesus' example by starting out by being genuinely compassionate towards people and their problems, showing genuine care and concern, and providing help when possible. But then above all else, nothing is more compassionate or shows more love towards our neighbor than getting them hooked on God - than getting their own car following, and then closely following, and eventually even tailgating Jesus.
"Are you following Jesus this closely?" When we follow Jesus our Savior closely - or more accurately when He in mercy steers us closer to Him - we will be comforted by the tremendous amount of love and compassion that He showers upon us and everyone He comes in contact with. The more time we spend following Jesus, and the closer we follow Jesus, the more we will be prone then to follow His example of compassion and love, and then direct that compassion and love towards others around us. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5) Ultimately the best way to follow Jesus' example of looking to the interest of others and loving and showing concern for others, is to fish them - to share Jesus and His love with them, and get them hooked on Jesus, so that they will want to follow Jesus closely too.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
January 13, 2011
"Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations... [God] says: “It is too small a thing for you [Jesus] to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:1,6)
Under the premise, "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37), imagine for a minute what it would be like if God would interfere with the laws of nature as we know them. Imagine if God were to make it so that the food that was eaten, by anyone in the world who didn't have a certain people's blood running through their veins, Haitian blood for example, that the food would no longer nourish their bodies. Imagine if God were to make it so that the water that was drunk, by anyone in the world who didn't have Haitian blood running through their veins, would no longer hydrate their bodies. Imagine if God were to make it so that the sun would no longer bring heat or light to anyone who didn't have Haitian blood running through their veins. What you would be imagining, would be the majority of the people of the world dark and dead and destroyed.
As dismal as this imaginary painted picture may be, how much more dismal it is ,that Spiritually speaking, the majority of the world is actually currently Spiritually hungry, thirsty, dark, dying and on the road to destruction. "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7:13) BUT, this is the case NOT because they have the wrong blood flowing through their veins. And while God may use the laws of nature as we know them to pull the plug and turn out the lights, causing certain nations to rise and fall according to His will and purpose, Spiritually speaking, God doesn't leave any people of any nation of the world to starve to death in darkness. The Apostle Peter recognized this, "Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." (Acts 10:34-35) The Apostle Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Romans, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:12-13)
Sin doesn't show favoritism either however. Sin affects and infects all people from all nations. There is no person, no matter what nation they belong to or what kind of blood is running through their veins, who was born Spiritually full or Spiritually alive. "We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:9-12) The Good News, strike that, the Great News is that God made Jesus a light, not only for those who have Israelite blood, the blood of Jacob, running through their veins, but also to ALL who are alike under sin, even those from the distant nations and even to the ends of the earth. Through faith all people, no matter what kind of blood is running through their veins, are redeemed, are justified, and are right with God. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)
Because the Servant Jesus brought salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain Spiritually hungry or Spiritually thirsty or Spiritually dead: "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6:35, 57-58) Because the Servant Jesus brought salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain Spiritually thirsty or Spiritually dead: "Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) In the Beatitudes we learn, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) In John's Revelation we see those from all nations who through faith will indeed be filled forever: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst." (Revelation 7:14-16) Because the Servant Jesus, the Son, brought the light of salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain in Spiritual darkness or has to remain Spiritually dead, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Because the Servant Jesus brought the light of salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain Spiritually hungry, Spiritually thirsty, in Spiritual darkness or Spiritually dying; but they will, unless they call on Jesus' name and become one of His disciples. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Romans 10:13-14) People of any and every nation who are still starving and are still parched and are still in the darkness - people who are Spiritually dying, need to hear that Jesus has brought salvation and relief to the ends of the earth - so they can believe - so they can be saved. "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19) We who know the message, have the privilege and responsibility of sharing the message, as we do what Jesus has told us to do, to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)
If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say He died for all.
Take the task He gives you gladly;
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth,
“Here am I, send me, send me.” (CW 573:2,4)
Through Jesus the light of the world, God has brought His salvation to the ends of the earth. As beneficiaries of that salvation, our response will be to gladly take that message of love and relief, that message that Jesus has saved ALL, to those of every nation who are still Spiritually starving to death. A good place to start is with the people who we encounter everyday in our little end of the earth. Let's gladly take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth!
Under the premise, "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37), imagine for a minute what it would be like if God would interfere with the laws of nature as we know them. Imagine if God were to make it so that the food that was eaten, by anyone in the world who didn't have a certain people's blood running through their veins, Haitian blood for example, that the food would no longer nourish their bodies. Imagine if God were to make it so that the water that was drunk, by anyone in the world who didn't have Haitian blood running through their veins, would no longer hydrate their bodies. Imagine if God were to make it so that the sun would no longer bring heat or light to anyone who didn't have Haitian blood running through their veins. What you would be imagining, would be the majority of the people of the world dark and dead and destroyed.
As dismal as this imaginary painted picture may be, how much more dismal it is ,that Spiritually speaking, the majority of the world is actually currently Spiritually hungry, thirsty, dark, dying and on the road to destruction. "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7:13) BUT, this is the case NOT because they have the wrong blood flowing through their veins. And while God may use the laws of nature as we know them to pull the plug and turn out the lights, causing certain nations to rise and fall according to His will and purpose, Spiritually speaking, God doesn't leave any people of any nation of the world to starve to death in darkness. The Apostle Peter recognized this, "Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." (Acts 10:34-35) The Apostle Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Romans, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:12-13)
Sin doesn't show favoritism either however. Sin affects and infects all people from all nations. There is no person, no matter what nation they belong to or what kind of blood is running through their veins, who was born Spiritually full or Spiritually alive. "We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:9-12) The Good News, strike that, the Great News is that God made Jesus a light, not only for those who have Israelite blood, the blood of Jacob, running through their veins, but also to ALL who are alike under sin, even those from the distant nations and even to the ends of the earth. Through faith all people, no matter what kind of blood is running through their veins, are redeemed, are justified, and are right with God. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)
Because the Servant Jesus brought salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain Spiritually hungry or Spiritually thirsty or Spiritually dead: "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6:35, 57-58) Because the Servant Jesus brought salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain Spiritually thirsty or Spiritually dead: "Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) In the Beatitudes we learn, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) In John's Revelation we see those from all nations who through faith will indeed be filled forever: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst." (Revelation 7:14-16) Because the Servant Jesus, the Son, brought the light of salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain in Spiritual darkness or has to remain Spiritually dead, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Because the Servant Jesus brought the light of salvation to the ends of the earth, no one of any nation has to remain Spiritually hungry, Spiritually thirsty, in Spiritual darkness or Spiritually dying; but they will, unless they call on Jesus' name and become one of His disciples. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Romans 10:13-14) People of any and every nation who are still starving and are still parched and are still in the darkness - people who are Spiritually dying, need to hear that Jesus has brought salvation and relief to the ends of the earth - so they can believe - so they can be saved. "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19) We who know the message, have the privilege and responsibility of sharing the message, as we do what Jesus has told us to do, to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)
If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say He died for all.
Take the task He gives you gladly;
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth,
“Here am I, send me, send me.” (CW 573:2,4)
Through Jesus the light of the world, God has brought His salvation to the ends of the earth. As beneficiaries of that salvation, our response will be to gladly take that message of love and relief, that message that Jesus has saved ALL, to those of every nation who are still Spiritually starving to death. A good place to start is with the people who we encounter everyday in our little end of the earth. Let's gladly take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
January 6, 2011
"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
Maybe this phrase has almost fallen out of use completely, but occasionally I still hear a waitress or a barkeep ask, "what's your pleasure?" Spiritually speaking, if we carefully considered it, our answer to the question "what's your pleasure?" would be the old safe Sunday School default answer to any religious question - "Jesus." And boy would we be right! Offer anything in the world and put it next to Jesus and you can "Take the world, but give me Jesus." Jesus, the one whom God is well pleased with, is also our pleasure. Jesus is our greatest and purest pleasure.
"Hence, all earthly treasure! Jesus is my pleasure; Jesus is my choice.
Hence, all empty glory! Naught to me thy story, told with tempting voice.
Pain or loss or shame or cross, shall not from my Savior move me, since he deigns to love me." (CW 349:4)
The very reason Jesus is our purest pleasure, is because the only reason God the Father can be well pleased with us, is because of Jesus and what Jesus did for us. When we have faith in what Jesus has done for us, we are pleasing to God, but "without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) Without Jesus we have nothing to have faith in. With Jesus and through faith in Jesus - who accomplished well the will and purpose of God the Father, which was to make us holy - we are pleasing in the Father's sight. What God's will was, and what God was pleased with was the sacrifice that Jesus made for us all. "[Jesus] said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you [God the Father] did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then [Jesus] said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10)
God the Father was pleased that Jesus would accomplish His will, His good pleasure, which was to make us holy through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ," (Ephesians 1:9) God the Father was also well pleased with Jesus and His execution of His will and execution of His plan for our salvation. Right before Jesus began his public ministry leg of winning for us Salvation, the Father expressed His vote of confidence in Jesus to carry out the plan - at Jesus' baptism: "And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Right before Jesus began his Passion leg of winning for us Salvation the Father again expressed His vote of confidence in Jesus to carry out the plan - at the Transfiguration: While [Peter] was still speaking [to Jesus], a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5) Because God was well pleased with Jesus' substitutionary life and because God was well pleased with Jesus sacrificial death, we are now pleasing to God. And because we are now pleasing to God, we are well pleased with Jesus and the work He did for us. Jesus is our greatest pleasure.
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” God the Father knew what had to be done to save us, and God the Son did well what had to be done to save us. And with this God was well pleased. "What's our pleasure?" Our answer will agree with the words of the hymnist - "what pleases God, that pleases me!" Jesus is God's pleasure, and because God is also well pleased with us who have faith in Jesus, Jesus is our pleasure too!
"God knows what must be done to save me;
His love for me will never cease.
Upon His hands He did engrave me,
With purest gold of loving grace.
His will supreme must ever be;
What pleases God, that pleases me." (CW 414:2)
Maybe this phrase has almost fallen out of use completely, but occasionally I still hear a waitress or a barkeep ask, "what's your pleasure?" Spiritually speaking, if we carefully considered it, our answer to the question "what's your pleasure?" would be the old safe Sunday School default answer to any religious question - "Jesus." And boy would we be right! Offer anything in the world and put it next to Jesus and you can "Take the world, but give me Jesus." Jesus, the one whom God is well pleased with, is also our pleasure. Jesus is our greatest and purest pleasure.
"Hence, all earthly treasure! Jesus is my pleasure; Jesus is my choice.
Hence, all empty glory! Naught to me thy story, told with tempting voice.
Pain or loss or shame or cross, shall not from my Savior move me, since he deigns to love me." (CW 349:4)
The very reason Jesus is our purest pleasure, is because the only reason God the Father can be well pleased with us, is because of Jesus and what Jesus did for us. When we have faith in what Jesus has done for us, we are pleasing to God, but "without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6) Without Jesus we have nothing to have faith in. With Jesus and through faith in Jesus - who accomplished well the will and purpose of God the Father, which was to make us holy - we are pleasing in the Father's sight. What God's will was, and what God was pleased with was the sacrifice that Jesus made for us all. "[Jesus] said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you [God the Father] did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then [Jesus] said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10)
God the Father was pleased that Jesus would accomplish His will, His good pleasure, which was to make us holy through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ," (Ephesians 1:9) God the Father was also well pleased with Jesus and His execution of His will and execution of His plan for our salvation. Right before Jesus began his public ministry leg of winning for us Salvation, the Father expressed His vote of confidence in Jesus to carry out the plan - at Jesus' baptism: "And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Right before Jesus began his Passion leg of winning for us Salvation the Father again expressed His vote of confidence in Jesus to carry out the plan - at the Transfiguration: While [Peter] was still speaking [to Jesus], a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5) Because God was well pleased with Jesus' substitutionary life and because God was well pleased with Jesus sacrificial death, we are now pleasing to God. And because we are now pleasing to God, we are well pleased with Jesus and the work He did for us. Jesus is our greatest pleasure.
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” God the Father knew what had to be done to save us, and God the Son did well what had to be done to save us. And with this God was well pleased. "What's our pleasure?" Our answer will agree with the words of the hymnist - "what pleases God, that pleases me!" Jesus is God's pleasure, and because God is also well pleased with us who have faith in Jesus, Jesus is our pleasure too!
"God knows what must be done to save me;
His love for me will never cease.
Upon His hands He did engrave me,
With purest gold of loving grace.
His will supreme must ever be;
What pleases God, that pleases me." (CW 414:2)
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