Lately I've become so saddened by the lack of faith I see. It seems it's increasing, or perhaps I just am becoming more aware of it, no matter how subtle it may seem. I hear people request prayer, express their desire for whatever it is, and then attach a "God's will be done" to it. Which, at first seems perfectly reasonable and so "spiritual". What bothers me about this is that more often than not, the spirit with which it's said is not one of surrender, but one of doubt.
I know because I've been guilty of this same doubt in my own life far too often. I have prayed about situations and added my own, "If it's Your will" to the prayer. More often than not, when I've added that, it had simply been a security blanket.
I was reading in Matthew this morning, and read this...
Matthew 8:1-3
1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Something about this struck me as sincere and true. This man was fully aware that Jesus COULD do it. He had the faith and confidence, he simply had the surrender as well. That's where our "if it's Your will" should come from...but it doesn't. We add it too often so that later, when He doesn't answer our prayer the way we want Him to, we can fall back on the fact we have included that, lest we become disillusioned with God.
I've heard so many people say that it's just because they've been disappointed by God so many times; they can't help but pray this way. (Which, at the risk of sounding judgmental, makes me wonder just how surrendered we are if this is the case...)
Oh that we as His children wouldn't approach prayer with the attitude of being afraid of being disappointed. For what's fear but lack of knowing who our God is?
Oh that we wouldn't pray expecting to be disappointed! As James says, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord" (1:6-7).
And oh, that we wouldn't blame God for such disappointment, but instead ourselves!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Holiness
This morning, I cannot stop thinking, and inwardly weep, about the lack of reverence for our God. What tragedy that the church of Jesus Christ hardly recognizes this character of our God. Why..how... have we lost sight of the God who is Holy, Holy, Holy?
I remember hearing Eric read this bit from Jewish Literacy in the lesson, "Consecration" and it gripped me then and still does now. Ohh how I wish Christians would hold such an understanding and view of holiness..
God's world is great and holy. The holiest land in the world is the land of Israel. In the land of Israel the holiest city of Jerusalem. In Jerusalem the holiest place was the Temple, and in the Temple the holiest spot was the Holy of Holies...There are seventy peoples in the world. The holiest among these is the people of Israel. The holiest of the people of Israel is the tribe of Levi. In the tribe of Levi the holiest are the priests. Among the priests, the holiest was the High Priest...There are 354 days in the [lunar] year. Among these, the holidays are holy. Higher than these is the holiness of the Sabbath. Among Sabbaths, the holiest is the Day of Atonement, the Sabbath of Sabbaths...There are seventy languages in the world. The holiest is Hebrew. Holier than all else in this language is the holy Torah, and in the Torah the holiest part is the Ten Commandments. In the Ten Commandments the holiest of all words is the name of God...And once during the year, at a certain hour, these four supreme sanctities of the world were joined with one another. That was on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and there utter the name of God. And because this hour was beyond measure holy and awesome, it was the time of utmost peril not only for the High Priest but for the whole of Israel. For if in this hour there had, God forbid, entered the mind of the High Priest a false or sinful thought, the entire world would have been destroyed.
Oh, Lord, give us the correct view of You. May we tremble in fear of Your complete and otherly Holiness... and yet still long to be intimately close to you.
Ohh, may we not take lightly verses like 1 Corinthians 6:19 - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own"
I remember hearing Eric read this bit from Jewish Literacy in the lesson, "Consecration" and it gripped me then and still does now. Ohh how I wish Christians would hold such an understanding and view of holiness..
God's world is great and holy. The holiest land in the world is the land of Israel. In the land of Israel the holiest city of Jerusalem. In Jerusalem the holiest place was the Temple, and in the Temple the holiest spot was the Holy of Holies...There are seventy peoples in the world. The holiest among these is the people of Israel. The holiest of the people of Israel is the tribe of Levi. In the tribe of Levi the holiest are the priests. Among the priests, the holiest was the High Priest...There are 354 days in the [lunar] year. Among these, the holidays are holy. Higher than these is the holiness of the Sabbath. Among Sabbaths, the holiest is the Day of Atonement, the Sabbath of Sabbaths...There are seventy languages in the world. The holiest is Hebrew. Holier than all else in this language is the holy Torah, and in the Torah the holiest part is the Ten Commandments. In the Ten Commandments the holiest of all words is the name of God...And once during the year, at a certain hour, these four supreme sanctities of the world were joined with one another. That was on the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and there utter the name of God. And because this hour was beyond measure holy and awesome, it was the time of utmost peril not only for the High Priest but for the whole of Israel. For if in this hour there had, God forbid, entered the mind of the High Priest a false or sinful thought, the entire world would have been destroyed.
Oh, Lord, give us the correct view of You. May we tremble in fear of Your complete and otherly Holiness... and yet still long to be intimately close to you.
Ohh, may we not take lightly verses like 1 Corinthians 6:19 - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own"
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Saturday morning ponderings
I was reading and meditating on this verse this morning, and these are just some of the thoughts that ended up flowing out of that eventually.
Romans 16:17 - Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
It's verses like this that make me shake my head, for they put too many Christians to shame. I'm not entirely sure what "avoiding them" would look like yet, but Christians don't try to in any sense, it seems. We just take anything remotely under the label of Christian and think it's wonderful. We don't test it against the Scripture, and only then declare it's value.
This is what is sad: that cults and sects like the Jehovah's Witnesses have more diligence about this (and many other commands/rules/etc.) than we who have the real truth do. Some Christians keep away from such verses just to not look like them (not just Jehovah's Witnesses). But in doing so, we lose our God. For we must take all of Him or none at all. If we think we have Him and follow Him because we have pieces of Him (usually only the comfortable pieces)we fool ourselves.
It also is heartbreaking because as much as this world pokes at Christianity, they want to see it truly lived out. What Christianity are we displaying? When sects, cults, etc. show more devotion in following what they believe, it takes from our credibility. We don't, and seemingly can't, live what we teach. Those in sects and cults are not going to believe we have the truth, and those who don't believe at all have nothing to draw them in. This world is looking for and aching to see that the Bible is true and God Is. May we prove to this world the Bible is not just another book, but the Word of God!
Oh may we, His children, be rightfully diligent. May we count all things as loss compared to knowing Him. May we leave the past right where it is and pursue Him and the calling He has for our lives. (Phil 3 ;)) For out of that flows holiness and not just legalism. And true holiness is what this world is longing to see. And true holiness is what will make the difference for His glory.
Romans 16:17 - Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
It's verses like this that make me shake my head, for they put too many Christians to shame. I'm not entirely sure what "avoiding them" would look like yet, but Christians don't try to in any sense, it seems. We just take anything remotely under the label of Christian and think it's wonderful. We don't test it against the Scripture, and only then declare it's value.
This is what is sad: that cults and sects like the Jehovah's Witnesses have more diligence about this (and many other commands/rules/etc.) than we who have the real truth do. Some Christians keep away from such verses just to not look like them (not just Jehovah's Witnesses). But in doing so, we lose our God. For we must take all of Him or none at all. If we think we have Him and follow Him because we have pieces of Him (usually only the comfortable pieces)we fool ourselves.
It also is heartbreaking because as much as this world pokes at Christianity, they want to see it truly lived out. What Christianity are we displaying? When sects, cults, etc. show more devotion in following what they believe, it takes from our credibility. We don't, and seemingly can't, live what we teach. Those in sects and cults are not going to believe we have the truth, and those who don't believe at all have nothing to draw them in. This world is looking for and aching to see that the Bible is true and God Is. May we prove to this world the Bible is not just another book, but the Word of God!
Oh may we, His children, be rightfully diligent. May we count all things as loss compared to knowing Him. May we leave the past right where it is and pursue Him and the calling He has for our lives. (Phil 3 ;)) For out of that flows holiness and not just legalism. And true holiness is what this world is longing to see. And true holiness is what will make the difference for His glory.
Monday, July 4, 2011
In Our Weakness, He...
This weekend, God gave me lessons on grace. And how grateful am I for that! Friday, I woke up not feeling well at all. It just kept getting worse, to the point where a friend was going to walk me back to my dorm room. A staff member caught up with us, told me that she didn't want me in the dorms alone in case of an emergency, prayed for me, and let me sit in the back of the chapel. Suddenly, I was hearing a message on Right-handedness. And it begun with talking about the rights we feel we have. That was the first time God pricked my heart. I thought that because I didn't feel well, I had "the right" to check out. That everyone would understand if I just laid down across the chairs - that's all my body would let me do really. But God whispered, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness".
It wasn't just encouragement or positive thinking as I had approached this verse in the past. It was God explaining to me what He was about to do. His grace is His Spirit working in and through me. He reminded me of this and I took a sigh of relief. I didn't have to do anything but surrender. He wanted me to sit up, pay attention, and take notes. And since I was too weak to do it, He lovingly did it for me. I went on the rest of the day, feeling ill, but letting His right-hand have control and uphold me. I never felt better, though I was feeling awful. Ha!
Saturday, though, was worse. I felt even more ill than on Friday. And I couldn't stop the tears from coming because it seemed I couldn't just surrender to His grace that day. All I could think about was how badly it hurt, how much I was shaking, and how my eyes couldn't focus on much of anything. The same staff member who cared for me on Friday came to me again and prayed with me. she encouraged me to turn outward. That there were other students who were ill as well.
Suddenly I realized the enemy had so much power over me when it comes to sickness. He probably gets so excited because he knows he can convince me to just look out for me. Thankfully, I realized this and refused this time. While I did lay down and rest, I surrendered to His grace rather than self-centeredness. I began to pray for my classmates who were sick. Within an hour (I think - I know it wasn't much more than that) I was feeling much better. Not shaky, I could see and my head wasn't throbbing nearly as much.
I went outside with my friend who graciously checked on me periodically. I was about to learn an incredibly valuable lesson - one which now seems like "Duh, Mary". She hadn't been feeling well that morning either, but God asked her to be focused outward on me instead. And there I was, praying for her. I also found out that she was feeling better as well!
Oh my, how His grace works! When everyone is turned outward, everyone is taken care of! Why we ever buy the enemy's lies that we need to take care of ourselves is baffling to me now!
It wasn't just encouragement or positive thinking as I had approached this verse in the past. It was God explaining to me what He was about to do. His grace is His Spirit working in and through me. He reminded me of this and I took a sigh of relief. I didn't have to do anything but surrender. He wanted me to sit up, pay attention, and take notes. And since I was too weak to do it, He lovingly did it for me. I went on the rest of the day, feeling ill, but letting His right-hand have control and uphold me. I never felt better, though I was feeling awful. Ha!
Saturday, though, was worse. I felt even more ill than on Friday. And I couldn't stop the tears from coming because it seemed I couldn't just surrender to His grace that day. All I could think about was how badly it hurt, how much I was shaking, and how my eyes couldn't focus on much of anything. The same staff member who cared for me on Friday came to me again and prayed with me. she encouraged me to turn outward. That there were other students who were ill as well.
Suddenly I realized the enemy had so much power over me when it comes to sickness. He probably gets so excited because he knows he can convince me to just look out for me. Thankfully, I realized this and refused this time. While I did lay down and rest, I surrendered to His grace rather than self-centeredness. I began to pray for my classmates who were sick. Within an hour (I think - I know it wasn't much more than that) I was feeling much better. Not shaky, I could see and my head wasn't throbbing nearly as much.
I went outside with my friend who graciously checked on me periodically. I was about to learn an incredibly valuable lesson - one which now seems like "Duh, Mary". She hadn't been feeling well that morning either, but God asked her to be focused outward on me instead. And there I was, praying for her. I also found out that she was feeling better as well!
Oh my, how His grace works! When everyone is turned outward, everyone is taken care of! Why we ever buy the enemy's lies that we need to take care of ourselves is baffling to me now!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
True Grace
On June 22, we had a glorious day! The morning started off with wonderful worship, including a powerful reading of His names. And then, we continued celebrating by witnessing 23 (if I counted correctly) classmates declaring to the heavenlies that they were dead to sin and self and alive in Christ just before they were baptized. It just kept getting better from there as we took communion together. The message we then heard that afternoon fit so perfectly as well.
The common question I’ve heard around here, after hearing the Reckoning with Truth message I talked about in the last blog entry, has been "why has no one ever told me this?" There's frustration at realizing the Gospel has been told in an incomplete way in most churches in America. That was how I felt when I heard the message on grace.
I've always heard grace explained as "unmerited favor", which is no doubt part of it. But it's incomplete. Grace is "the enabling power of God, given to the saints of God, to carry out the errands of God".
Jude 1:4 says how some have turned "the grace of our God into lasciviousness" - they've let it become an opportunity for the flesh to still reign. How sad, when it's supposed to be the opposite.
Christians are to die to self (flesh), to not fear death, to love His way, to be dead to sin and be slaves to righteousness instead, and to be holy and perfect. Impossible? For those who are not in Christ I suppose. But that was what was purchased on the cross - not just forgiveness.
We are in Christ - covered by his blood and clothed in His righteousness. And now, He wants to make our bodies the home of His Spirit, so that His will will be done. That's grace.
Colossians 1:23-29 displays that grace is Christ is in you. That grace is how we are presented perfect. Not stained and defeated, perfect. Or, as Oswald Chambers put it, "We are to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, not be struggle and effort, but by the impartation of that which is perfect."
Ephesians 3 makes it clear that His grace is given to us in order that His calling on our lives may be done. It also leaves us knowing, without question, that it is HIM who does the work through us. Grace is so much more than favor.
Grace is Galatians 2:20-21 - "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
The common question I’ve heard around here, after hearing the Reckoning with Truth message I talked about in the last blog entry, has been "why has no one ever told me this?" There's frustration at realizing the Gospel has been told in an incomplete way in most churches in America. That was how I felt when I heard the message on grace.
I've always heard grace explained as "unmerited favor", which is no doubt part of it. But it's incomplete. Grace is "the enabling power of God, given to the saints of God, to carry out the errands of God".
Jude 1:4 says how some have turned "the grace of our God into lasciviousness" - they've let it become an opportunity for the flesh to still reign. How sad, when it's supposed to be the opposite.
Christians are to die to self (flesh), to not fear death, to love His way, to be dead to sin and be slaves to righteousness instead, and to be holy and perfect. Impossible? For those who are not in Christ I suppose. But that was what was purchased on the cross - not just forgiveness.
We are in Christ - covered by his blood and clothed in His righteousness. And now, He wants to make our bodies the home of His Spirit, so that His will will be done. That's grace.
Colossians 1:23-29 displays that grace is Christ is in you. That grace is how we are presented perfect. Not stained and defeated, perfect. Or, as Oswald Chambers put it, "We are to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, not be struggle and effort, but by the impartation of that which is perfect."
Ephesians 3 makes it clear that His grace is given to us in order that His calling on our lives may be done. It also leaves us knowing, without question, that it is HIM who does the work through us. Grace is so much more than favor.
Grace is Galatians 2:20-21 - "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Reckon It
I use the phrase "I reckon" quite a bit. "I reckon we should go", "I reckon that's what he meant", "I reckon I've had enough coffee for today." I've always used it instead of saying "I think". Now whenever I say it as "I think", I pause. And laugh. Because it isn't always the most appropriate.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin." Romans 6:11a
I don't reckon it's enough just to think about this :P In fact, I know it's not. the fact that we are dead to sin is not something we just should think on. "Reckon" is an accounting term and we need to approach it as such. Too many Christians don't. They rejoice in being saved and having "a relationship" with Christ. But that's where it stops. For too long Christians have looked at the calls to be holy 1 Pet 1:16), to be perfect (Matt 5:8), to be slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:19), to be dead to sin (Romans 6:10-12), to be loving in a supernatural way (Luke 6:27-31), and to be dead to self (Matt 1:24) and have tried...and failed.
Why? Because we haven't reckoned. We rejoice that He's forgiven us that we will spend eternity with him and then turn to Romans 7 to explain away the fact that there's still sin in our lives. In the Bible, a lot of the time, when "flesh" is used, it does mean the body. But in Romans 6-12, the term "flesh" is referring to the "Old Man". The person who was born the first time. Read Romans 6-8 knowing that and they quickly become the triumphant chapters they were meant to be.
Read that passage from Romans 7 knowing that, and you realize you were meant for more than surrendering to sin. Romans 7:24-25 reveals the secret - Jesus Christ is your way out of that. Get IN HIM.
You - the Old Man you - was crucified with Him (Rom 6:6, Rom 6:3, Gal 2:20). you - the new you - was resurrected with Him (Rom 6:4-5, Gal 2:20, Romans 6:11, 2 Cor 5:17). You don't have to listen to the Old Man anymore. As my roommate puts it, it's like going to a graveyard and waiting to hear the people buried speak to you. And if they did..you'd run right? Exactly. Present and yield yourselves to Him alone (1 Cor 6:19-20, Rom 12:1). You are seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph 1:18-22, Eph 2:4-6).
What is under His feet is under yours. What He does, you do. Where He goes, you go. Only what can get to Him can get to you if you are IN Christ. And sin can't touch Him.
Romans 6:11 doesn't say we should be longing to be dead to sin. It doesn't say we should think about it in theory and think it's a lovely idea. We are to take hold of it, daily (1 Cor 15:31b).
Reckon it.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin." Romans 6:11a
I don't reckon it's enough just to think about this :P In fact, I know it's not. the fact that we are dead to sin is not something we just should think on. "Reckon" is an accounting term and we need to approach it as such. Too many Christians don't. They rejoice in being saved and having "a relationship" with Christ. But that's where it stops. For too long Christians have looked at the calls to be holy 1 Pet 1:16), to be perfect (Matt 5:8), to be slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:19), to be dead to sin (Romans 6:10-12), to be loving in a supernatural way (Luke 6:27-31), and to be dead to self (Matt 1:24) and have tried...and failed.
Why? Because we haven't reckoned. We rejoice that He's forgiven us that we will spend eternity with him and then turn to Romans 7 to explain away the fact that there's still sin in our lives. In the Bible, a lot of the time, when "flesh" is used, it does mean the body. But in Romans 6-12, the term "flesh" is referring to the "Old Man". The person who was born the first time. Read Romans 6-8 knowing that and they quickly become the triumphant chapters they were meant to be.
Read that passage from Romans 7 knowing that, and you realize you were meant for more than surrendering to sin. Romans 7:24-25 reveals the secret - Jesus Christ is your way out of that. Get IN HIM.
You - the Old Man you - was crucified with Him (Rom 6:6, Rom 6:3, Gal 2:20). you - the new you - was resurrected with Him (Rom 6:4-5, Gal 2:20, Romans 6:11, 2 Cor 5:17). You don't have to listen to the Old Man anymore. As my roommate puts it, it's like going to a graveyard and waiting to hear the people buried speak to you. And if they did..you'd run right? Exactly. Present and yield yourselves to Him alone (1 Cor 6:19-20, Rom 12:1). You are seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph 1:18-22, Eph 2:4-6).
What is under His feet is under yours. What He does, you do. Where He goes, you go. Only what can get to Him can get to you if you are IN Christ. And sin can't touch Him.
Romans 6:11 doesn't say we should be longing to be dead to sin. It doesn't say we should think about it in theory and think it's a lovely idea. We are to take hold of it, daily (1 Cor 15:31b).
Reckon it.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Search It Out
Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Job 29:16 - I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.
These verses were referenced in a class session after "Persecuted Church Night". They are two verses I can't stop contemplating. God is using them to stir something in my soul. Thankfully.
Most people, myself included, read Luke 19:10 and focus on Jesus saving the lost. But the fact that He seeks us first is catching my attention. I know it's only because of Him I have faith. But our God is not One to just wait for people to come to Him so He may save them. He searches for them, He seeks them out actively.
If we are in Christ, we go where He goes, we do as He does. Job understood this. He did as his God did. Job knew he had a calling. Even if he didn't know the specifics, he looked for them. Our life has to be like that. Jesus told us our calling. We all have a call to the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the lost. What God wants us specifically to do with each will vary. But that doesn't mean we should sit idly and wait til we feel like giving to the homeless, or like loving the widow, or til we feel like sharing the gospel with a lost soul. We are not ruled by feelings, but by His Spirit. We are to seek Him, search out the causes that are on His heart, and then ask the specifics of what are to do.
Job 29:16 - I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.
These verses were referenced in a class session after "Persecuted Church Night". They are two verses I can't stop contemplating. God is using them to stir something in my soul. Thankfully.
Most people, myself included, read Luke 19:10 and focus on Jesus saving the lost. But the fact that He seeks us first is catching my attention. I know it's only because of Him I have faith. But our God is not One to just wait for people to come to Him so He may save them. He searches for them, He seeks them out actively.
If we are in Christ, we go where He goes, we do as He does. Job understood this. He did as his God did. Job knew he had a calling. Even if he didn't know the specifics, he looked for them. Our life has to be like that. Jesus told us our calling. We all have a call to the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the lost. What God wants us specifically to do with each will vary. But that doesn't mean we should sit idly and wait til we feel like giving to the homeless, or like loving the widow, or til we feel like sharing the gospel with a lost soul. We are not ruled by feelings, but by His Spirit. We are to seek Him, search out the causes that are on His heart, and then ask the specifics of what are to do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)