The 6th Test of Christian Behavior
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
The story of the rich young man comes to mind when I read this verse. In Mark 10, a rich young man comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. The man calls Jesus 'good teacher' to which Jesus immediately points out that no one is good - except God alone. Jesus then recites the commandments. The rich young man declares he has kept these since he was a boy. The man was probably excited now, thinking he was good to go. However, Jesus said there is one thing you lack. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
The man loved what he had so much that he could not bring himself to give up any of it up, much less all of it, so he walked away from the only true Savior. How sad!
Too often people think they are good enough to save themselves because they have kept the high level commandments. However, we fail to see all the layers within those commandments, and we fail to see God's very high and unattainable standards. We may not go out and kill someone but every time we hate someone we commit murder in our heart. When Jesus pointed out to the man that no one is good, except God, he was telling him your best is not good enough to save yourself. Jesus wanted him to realize he needed help gaining eternal life. He needed a Savior! He needed someone who lived up to God's very high standard and would be an appropriate sacrifice to restore us unto God. The only one good enough is God himself, and he was standing right there before him in the human form of Jesus, but the man failed to see his own need and thus failed to see Jesus for who he was.
Why did the man fail to see his own need? I think it was because life was good! He had money and with money comes possessions, security, prestige, and power. He was comfortable. He had no worries. He had no crisis facing him that he was ill equipped to handle. He was in control and his pride told him he was capable of handing anything because thus far he had. He didn't need to give up everything he had to follow this man.
I believe Jesus was trying to get the man to see his need, to see Jesus as the fulfillment of that need, and to be willing to give up every worldly thing in exchange for the heavenly things he could offer. Worldly things do not really satisfy. They have the illusion of satisfying but they don't. They leave you empty at the end of the day. Worldly things will be useless in eternity no matter where you end up. Your internal resources are not sufficient to cure your spiritual condition, it requires a spiritual Savior.
My most favorite verse in this story is found in verse 21; Jesus looked at him and loved him. I believe Jesus knew this man's heart and knew that he would not choose to come to him for salvation. I believe Jesus knew this man would reject him in favor of his worldly wealth. Jesus, Lord and Savior, had what this man needed but knew the man would walk away. He knew, and yet he loved him! This speaks volumes to me about the depth of love Jesus had for humanity.
Jesus was still approaching his suffering and death, as his time had not yet come, but he knew this was all leading to the cross. He was going to take on all the sins of the world. Yours, mine, the rich young man's, and all of humanity's sins would be placed on Jesus and the full fury of God's wrath would be poured out on him. And here in this story, walking away from Jesus, was an ungrateful, rejecting soul. But Jesus loved him! God loved him! They loved him enough to follow through with the plan, to make way for salvation, even though this man, and others, would decide not to accept the gift they had to offer.
Any one else would have given up. Why bother? They don't even care. Why should I go through all this pain and suffering and death for these rejecting souls? Thank God Jesus loved us enough to follow through! Thank God the gift is open to all! Thank God we have ample opportunity to make a choice for Jesus. This rich young man may have walked away at this point, but we do not know if there came a time in his life where he recognized his need and made the choice for Jesus. I believe God pursues us all the days of our life and we are placed in many circumstances to help us see our need. How sad, though, for those who get to the end of this life and have never taken the leap of faith into Jesus arms.
Do not love the world. Do not find your salvation in yourself, your accomplishments, your virtues, your wealth, your friends, your spouse, your government, or in your possessions. So not desire the things of this world, or let them have such a hold on you, that you can't let them go of them in exchange for the things of God. Respond to God's calling by choosing Jesus and accepting the gifts he has to offer. If walking away equals sad then walking toward equals joy!
May you experience the peace and joy that only Jesus can offer!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
1 John 2:9
The 5th test of Christian Behavior
1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
To back up for a minute, verse 8 is helpful to read before dissecting verse 9.
v. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Who is the light? God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit. The Trinity, who now lives in you, because Jesus made the gift possible and you have accepted the gift. They have made their home in you.
If you walk into a closet and close the door it is dark inside. But as you slowly open the closet door, light begins to shine in, eventually overtaking the darkness. An unbelievers heart is like being in a closet with the door shut. There is no light, only darkness. A new believer is starting to open the door and the light is present and begins to flood the dark closet. The light eventually takes over all the darkness and this is called sanctification and is a lifelong process. It sometimes takes awhile for the light to break through to all the nooks and crannies in the closet. There may be shadows for a while.
Love is the very nature of God. He loves us beyond measure, and he wants us to love him back and to love those he loves. God wants us all to come to know him, so that means we are to love everyone, especially fellow believers, but everyone.
Love is hard for us because our natural self is selfish, prideful, arrogant, and impatient. We naturally want to fight, divide, and conquer. We couldn't begin to love ourselves or anyone else without the love of God living in us. We couldn't begin to look at others the way God does without knowing for ourselves how much God loves. God didn't come after us with disgust and shame for our behavior. He pursued us with love and grace. He loved us first and accepted us.
Once we see our sinful self against his holy presence, and experience his love DESPITE all that we are, then we can truly know what love and grace have done for us. Experiencing that for yourself allows you to be humble and gracious toward others. Knowing God's heart and desire for all to find peace in him, we feel compelled to tell others about him. We reach out in love and acceptance with the message of God's hope and we let the Word of God convict those, just as we were convicted. We don't go running in stating all they are doing wrong because that's not how God caught our attention.
It's not easy to love others. It is hard to love the sinner and hate the sin. It is even hard to love other Christians most times. We cannot do it on our own. We need to be constantly in prayer and dependent on Christ to give us his eyes, to give us his heart, and to give us the servant attitude we need to love others. We look to him as our example, as our guide, as our source of love. He fills us up and gives us what we need to overflowing, so that his love can be shared with others.
We should examine ourselves from time to time. How are we loving those around us? Do we need to start praying for help in this area? Have we really identified personally, the way Christ has loved us, and how that love has impacted our lives? Is the impact moving us to reach out to others? Is the love of Christ overflowing out of us? Spend some quiet time thinking about what Christ has done for you, how he has affected your everyday life, how you are different, and what might you have learned that you could share with others so they to may be impacted by Christ the way you have.
1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
To back up for a minute, verse 8 is helpful to read before dissecting verse 9.
v. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Who is the light? God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit. The Trinity, who now lives in you, because Jesus made the gift possible and you have accepted the gift. They have made their home in you.
If you walk into a closet and close the door it is dark inside. But as you slowly open the closet door, light begins to shine in, eventually overtaking the darkness. An unbelievers heart is like being in a closet with the door shut. There is no light, only darkness. A new believer is starting to open the door and the light is present and begins to flood the dark closet. The light eventually takes over all the darkness and this is called sanctification and is a lifelong process. It sometimes takes awhile for the light to break through to all the nooks and crannies in the closet. There may be shadows for a while.
Love is the very nature of God. He loves us beyond measure, and he wants us to love him back and to love those he loves. God wants us all to come to know him, so that means we are to love everyone, especially fellow believers, but everyone.
Love is hard for us because our natural self is selfish, prideful, arrogant, and impatient. We naturally want to fight, divide, and conquer. We couldn't begin to love ourselves or anyone else without the love of God living in us. We couldn't begin to look at others the way God does without knowing for ourselves how much God loves. God didn't come after us with disgust and shame for our behavior. He pursued us with love and grace. He loved us first and accepted us.
Once we see our sinful self against his holy presence, and experience his love DESPITE all that we are, then we can truly know what love and grace have done for us. Experiencing that for yourself allows you to be humble and gracious toward others. Knowing God's heart and desire for all to find peace in him, we feel compelled to tell others about him. We reach out in love and acceptance with the message of God's hope and we let the Word of God convict those, just as we were convicted. We don't go running in stating all they are doing wrong because that's not how God caught our attention.
It's not easy to love others. It is hard to love the sinner and hate the sin. It is even hard to love other Christians most times. We cannot do it on our own. We need to be constantly in prayer and dependent on Christ to give us his eyes, to give us his heart, and to give us the servant attitude we need to love others. We look to him as our example, as our guide, as our source of love. He fills us up and gives us what we need to overflowing, so that his love can be shared with others.
We should examine ourselves from time to time. How are we loving those around us? Do we need to start praying for help in this area? Have we really identified personally, the way Christ has loved us, and how that love has impacted our lives? Is the impact moving us to reach out to others? Is the love of Christ overflowing out of us? Spend some quiet time thinking about what Christ has done for you, how he has affected your everyday life, how you are different, and what might you have learned that you could share with others so they to may be impacted by Christ the way you have.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
1 John 2:6
4th Test of Christian Behavior
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
I sure hope Jesus didn't do the Michael Jackson moon walk because I have never been able to master that walk. As much as I tried as a kid, practicing in front of my bedroom mirror, I was never able to do it. I'm doomed!
All kidding aside, I thankfully don't think this was the kind of walk referred to in this passage. So, what does it mean by 'must walk as Jesus did'?
As I contemplate the earthly ministry of Christ, two things came to mind about how Jesus might have walked.
1. In God's Will
2. For God's glory
Everything that Jesus did was according to the Father's will. We see many examples of Jesus in prayer to the Father. We hear many times Jesus, himself, referring to the will of the One who sent him. Where he went, who he hung around with, what he said, what he did, all of these were according to the Father's will. He was subjective in everything to the Father!
As a man, Jesus must have had free will and his own humanistic spirit, just as we do. Otherwise, how would he have clearly understood what it is like for man to be tempted in every sense of the word. He came as one of us, and yet he lived a life in complete submission and in complete harmony with the Father. A sinless life. He did this to be our sufficient sacrifice. He, also, is our example on how to live.
We should look to the example of Christ in knowing the Father and his character, in trusting the Father to know best, in seeking the Father's guidance in everything we do, in obeying the Father in all things, and in loving as the Father loves.
Secondly, everything Jesus did was to bring glory to Father. Jesus didn't seek glory for himself from the world or of man. He sought only to please his Father. He sought to bring all glory, honor, and renown to the heavenly Father. All he did, pointed back to the One who sent him. Jesus sought to gain his significance through the work of the Father and through the affirmation of the Father. He defined himself as a servant of God. He was humble to One greater than he. He submitted to the authority and direction of the Father, for his Father's glory.
Can we say those two things about ourselves? Do we seek God's will in everything we do? Do we seek to do the work of the Father? Do we seek to bring glory to him alone? Do we deny ourselves, our glory, our desires for his alone?
Walk as Jesus did. Strong words from John. Words I'm guilty of not living up to. So, far we've covered living in the light, confessing our sins, obeying his commands, and now walking as Jesus did. At first glance, this one seemed easier then the first three, until you unpack it and really understand what it means. Humility is all that comes to mind at the moment. I am so far removed from the vision God has for Christians.
I'm sitting here wondering how to continue with this entry. Reading and teaching the words are one thing, living them out quite another. You can understand the objective and still find it very difficult to implement. I'm struggling under the conviction that I have a lot to learn in this area and apply to my life. I can just see Jesus, shaking his head at me, because I have taken the words into my mind, but not into my heart.
In God's will. For God's glory.
Two simple sentences that I plan on playing over and over again in my head for the next several days, weeks, months, or however long it takes me to really get it. Repeating again and again, until Jesus needs to stop shaking his head at me. Maybe it will work for you too.
In God's will. For God's glory.
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
I sure hope Jesus didn't do the Michael Jackson moon walk because I have never been able to master that walk. As much as I tried as a kid, practicing in front of my bedroom mirror, I was never able to do it. I'm doomed!
All kidding aside, I thankfully don't think this was the kind of walk referred to in this passage. So, what does it mean by 'must walk as Jesus did'?
As I contemplate the earthly ministry of Christ, two things came to mind about how Jesus might have walked.
1. In God's Will
2. For God's glory
Everything that Jesus did was according to the Father's will. We see many examples of Jesus in prayer to the Father. We hear many times Jesus, himself, referring to the will of the One who sent him. Where he went, who he hung around with, what he said, what he did, all of these were according to the Father's will. He was subjective in everything to the Father!
As a man, Jesus must have had free will and his own humanistic spirit, just as we do. Otherwise, how would he have clearly understood what it is like for man to be tempted in every sense of the word. He came as one of us, and yet he lived a life in complete submission and in complete harmony with the Father. A sinless life. He did this to be our sufficient sacrifice. He, also, is our example on how to live.
We should look to the example of Christ in knowing the Father and his character, in trusting the Father to know best, in seeking the Father's guidance in everything we do, in obeying the Father in all things, and in loving as the Father loves.
Secondly, everything Jesus did was to bring glory to Father. Jesus didn't seek glory for himself from the world or of man. He sought only to please his Father. He sought to bring all glory, honor, and renown to the heavenly Father. All he did, pointed back to the One who sent him. Jesus sought to gain his significance through the work of the Father and through the affirmation of the Father. He defined himself as a servant of God. He was humble to One greater than he. He submitted to the authority and direction of the Father, for his Father's glory.
Can we say those two things about ourselves? Do we seek God's will in everything we do? Do we seek to do the work of the Father? Do we seek to bring glory to him alone? Do we deny ourselves, our glory, our desires for his alone?
Walk as Jesus did. Strong words from John. Words I'm guilty of not living up to. So, far we've covered living in the light, confessing our sins, obeying his commands, and now walking as Jesus did. At first glance, this one seemed easier then the first three, until you unpack it and really understand what it means. Humility is all that comes to mind at the moment. I am so far removed from the vision God has for Christians.
I'm sitting here wondering how to continue with this entry. Reading and teaching the words are one thing, living them out quite another. You can understand the objective and still find it very difficult to implement. I'm struggling under the conviction that I have a lot to learn in this area and apply to my life. I can just see Jesus, shaking his head at me, because I have taken the words into my mind, but not into my heart.
In God's will. For God's glory.
Two simple sentences that I plan on playing over and over again in my head for the next several days, weeks, months, or however long it takes me to really get it. Repeating again and again, until Jesus needs to stop shaking his head at me. Maybe it will work for you too.
In God's will. For God's glory.
1 John 2:3-6
3rd Test of Christian Behavior
1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love[a] is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Jesus, himself, told the disciples to love him meant keeping his commands.
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
While Jesus was in the upper room with the disciples, in his last days before his death, he told them more than once that to love him meant keeping his commands. Someone once said, if Jesus says something once you better listen. If he says it twice, you better sit up and take notice, and if he says it three times, we're best to fall on our knees in humility. Well, I think this is a fall on your knees test.
What does it mean to keep his commands? Are we expected to be perfect, completely sinless? God knows we are not capable of being perfect this side of heaven, but there should be a marked, progressive difference in our lives and in the condition of our hearts. The great command is to love the Lord your God and the second is to love your neighbor. When Jesus is talking about obeying his commands, I believe he is talking about loving, God and man.
If Christ lives in you, then his love is in you. You should be a changed person as a result. Your eyes should see things differently when you look at those in the world. Your response or reaction to others should be different.
Your natural tendencies do not automatically go away. In fact, I would argue they never do, but conviction starts to happen. Conviction, is a tool the Holy Spirit uses to shames us into understanding our natural response is the wrong response. We begin to learn how to work with God in controlling our natural self, and replacing our spirit with his spirit, out of a sincere desire to be obedient to Him. As time goes on, our spirit becomes more controlled and under the authority and submission of our Lord, Jesus Christ. His Spirit rules in us. His love begins to come forth from us.
Remember the people Jesus hung out with while here on earth; sinners, rejects, lower class, ordinary folk. The world would like us to believe we are too good to hang out with these types of people. The world would like us to overlook them, turn away from them, judge them, make fun of them, trample them, use them, or keep our distance. The world would want us to draw a dividing line that keeps them out of our inner circles so as not to bring us down to their level.
But, this is not what Jesus did. No, he drew them into his inner circle. He loved them and accepted them. He had compassion on them. He accepted the challenge to help, to impact, to do good, to serve them. He humbled himself for them. His love, humility, and servitude gave him influence over their lives and he was able to change their eternal condition. He didn't see what the world saw. He saw loneliness, pain, suffering, worry, fear. He took the time to look at their hearts, and to see their real need, and then he met their need. He loved them!
Jesus understands the condition of the world and the power of his love to rectify that condition. Jesus understands the world's natural tendency to hate each other and to overlook and condemn. Jesus is stressing the importance first, of having his love in you, and second, submitting to that spirit within you to further the kingdom of God.
The 3rd test of Christian behavior is obeying Christ commands. Have you, or will you, submit your natural spirit to the influence and control of the spirit of Christ so that he may work through you to reach the world? A fall on your knees approach is prudent here, in asking the Lord to help you see, and to love, the world the way he does. We bring glory to God when we obey and are useful in his work of furthering the kingdom of God.
1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love[a] is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Jesus, himself, told the disciples to love him meant keeping his commands.
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
While Jesus was in the upper room with the disciples, in his last days before his death, he told them more than once that to love him meant keeping his commands. Someone once said, if Jesus says something once you better listen. If he says it twice, you better sit up and take notice, and if he says it three times, we're best to fall on our knees in humility. Well, I think this is a fall on your knees test.
What does it mean to keep his commands? Are we expected to be perfect, completely sinless? God knows we are not capable of being perfect this side of heaven, but there should be a marked, progressive difference in our lives and in the condition of our hearts. The great command is to love the Lord your God and the second is to love your neighbor. When Jesus is talking about obeying his commands, I believe he is talking about loving, God and man.
If Christ lives in you, then his love is in you. You should be a changed person as a result. Your eyes should see things differently when you look at those in the world. Your response or reaction to others should be different.
Your natural tendencies do not automatically go away. In fact, I would argue they never do, but conviction starts to happen. Conviction, is a tool the Holy Spirit uses to shames us into understanding our natural response is the wrong response. We begin to learn how to work with God in controlling our natural self, and replacing our spirit with his spirit, out of a sincere desire to be obedient to Him. As time goes on, our spirit becomes more controlled and under the authority and submission of our Lord, Jesus Christ. His Spirit rules in us. His love begins to come forth from us.
Remember the people Jesus hung out with while here on earth; sinners, rejects, lower class, ordinary folk. The world would like us to believe we are too good to hang out with these types of people. The world would like us to overlook them, turn away from them, judge them, make fun of them, trample them, use them, or keep our distance. The world would want us to draw a dividing line that keeps them out of our inner circles so as not to bring us down to their level.
But, this is not what Jesus did. No, he drew them into his inner circle. He loved them and accepted them. He had compassion on them. He accepted the challenge to help, to impact, to do good, to serve them. He humbled himself for them. His love, humility, and servitude gave him influence over their lives and he was able to change their eternal condition. He didn't see what the world saw. He saw loneliness, pain, suffering, worry, fear. He took the time to look at their hearts, and to see their real need, and then he met their need. He loved them!
Jesus understands the condition of the world and the power of his love to rectify that condition. Jesus understands the world's natural tendency to hate each other and to overlook and condemn. Jesus is stressing the importance first, of having his love in you, and second, submitting to that spirit within you to further the kingdom of God.
The 3rd test of Christian behavior is obeying Christ commands. Have you, or will you, submit your natural spirit to the influence and control of the spirit of Christ so that he may work through you to reach the world? A fall on your knees approach is prudent here, in asking the Lord to help you see, and to love, the world the way he does. We bring glory to God when we obey and are useful in his work of furthering the kingdom of God.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
1 John 1:8-10
2nd Test of Christian Behavior
1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
What is your perception of man? Basically good or basically evil? I would venture to guess more people would say basically good versus the alternative. But, is this a biblical view of man?
The Old Testament is full of stories and examples of man's natural tendencies to do evil and his inability to remain faithful to the covenant relationship with the One True God. From the Garden of Eden forward, God promised a Savior who would come and serve as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
God, himself, tells us the human condition is sinful and full of evil desires, and that we cannot save ourselves. God says that?!?! You bet! He's the Creator of the universe. This is HIS story. I have to believe that the Creator, Writer, and Illustrator of the story knows His characters better then they do. I also believe that he loved us enough to do something about it.
If we say that we are not that bad, or think that we can save ourselves, then Jesus came for nothing. If we were good enough all along, or able to atone for this problem on our own, then Jesus came, suffered, and died unnecessarily. God didn't have to give up His only Son for us. He didn't need to write that into the story. In effect, we are saying God was a Liar.
Can a Holy God lie? Can a Holy God mislead us? No, it goes against the very nature of God to lie. But, can you recall the one who's very nature it is to lie? The Great Deceiver, Satan. What was his line again in the Garden of Eden to Eve? "Did God really say?" Who is the one always trying to plagiarize the original writer or who is the one always trying to revise the story? Satan. It is his work that leads us to the conclusion that we don't need a Savior because we are good to go on our own. Unfortunately, this leads to a different eternal outcome.
Our natural self would like us to believe we are good, or that if we TRY to be good, it will be enough. We don't want to face the dark, ugly side of us. We don't want to gaze upon the face of God and see ourselves in comparison because it is not a pretty sight. We would find that we are small, meaningless, evil, sinful, and completely contrary to the Living God. We should be crushed by his glory. We are not even worthy to be in His presence. That is how we need to see ourselves. That is who God saw when He said we needed a Savior and the only one that would suffice was His very own Son.
It's that Savior, Jesus Christ, that washes away our sinful self, and makes us a new creation by the blood he spilled on our behalf. It's a loving and forgiving God, that sent Jesus for us so that we could once again be restored unto Him. It's that Creator that ensured the story contained a hero.
A biblical worldview of who man is says we are evil, in need of a Savior. It says we are only made holy through the sanctifying work of Jesus Christ in our lives. We can only be sanctified by Christ, if Christ lives in us. We need to invite him in. We only invite, once we have come to the realization that we need Him. There's no other way. He's it. We admit our sinful nature. We invite Him in. God makes His home in us and He keeps us and protects us. We surrender and let Him lead.
So, can you say you fulfill the second test of Christian behavior?
1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
What is your perception of man? Basically good or basically evil? I would venture to guess more people would say basically good versus the alternative. But, is this a biblical view of man?
The Old Testament is full of stories and examples of man's natural tendencies to do evil and his inability to remain faithful to the covenant relationship with the One True God. From the Garden of Eden forward, God promised a Savior who would come and serve as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
God, himself, tells us the human condition is sinful and full of evil desires, and that we cannot save ourselves. God says that?!?! You bet! He's the Creator of the universe. This is HIS story. I have to believe that the Creator, Writer, and Illustrator of the story knows His characters better then they do. I also believe that he loved us enough to do something about it.
If we say that we are not that bad, or think that we can save ourselves, then Jesus came for nothing. If we were good enough all along, or able to atone for this problem on our own, then Jesus came, suffered, and died unnecessarily. God didn't have to give up His only Son for us. He didn't need to write that into the story. In effect, we are saying God was a Liar.
Can a Holy God lie? Can a Holy God mislead us? No, it goes against the very nature of God to lie. But, can you recall the one who's very nature it is to lie? The Great Deceiver, Satan. What was his line again in the Garden of Eden to Eve? "Did God really say?" Who is the one always trying to plagiarize the original writer or who is the one always trying to revise the story? Satan. It is his work that leads us to the conclusion that we don't need a Savior because we are good to go on our own. Unfortunately, this leads to a different eternal outcome.
Our natural self would like us to believe we are good, or that if we TRY to be good, it will be enough. We don't want to face the dark, ugly side of us. We don't want to gaze upon the face of God and see ourselves in comparison because it is not a pretty sight. We would find that we are small, meaningless, evil, sinful, and completely contrary to the Living God. We should be crushed by his glory. We are not even worthy to be in His presence. That is how we need to see ourselves. That is who God saw when He said we needed a Savior and the only one that would suffice was His very own Son.
It's that Savior, Jesus Christ, that washes away our sinful self, and makes us a new creation by the blood he spilled on our behalf. It's a loving and forgiving God, that sent Jesus for us so that we could once again be restored unto Him. It's that Creator that ensured the story contained a hero.
A biblical worldview of who man is says we are evil, in need of a Savior. It says we are only made holy through the sanctifying work of Jesus Christ in our lives. We can only be sanctified by Christ, if Christ lives in us. We need to invite him in. We only invite, once we have come to the realization that we need Him. There's no other way. He's it. We admit our sinful nature. We invite Him in. God makes His home in us and He keeps us and protects us. We surrender and let Him lead.
So, can you say you fulfill the second test of Christian behavior?
1 John 1:5-7
1st Test of Christian Behavior
1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
2 Co. 6:14-16 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
If the living, infinite God lives in us, we cannot still be living in the world. We cannot compartmentalize our lives and give some to God and some to the world, because the two do not mix. God cannot tolerate the things of the world (wickedness, false gods, idols). There is no commonality, harmony, or agreement between God and these things.
Someone recently said to me, "Not everyone who goes to church is a Christ follower". So, how do you know if you really are a Christ follower? According to the Apostle John, the first test of Christian behavior is this: Are you walking in the Light?
God is Light. The world, Satan, and your own sinful desires are darkness.
Walking in the light requires a total surrender of ourselves (heart, mind, body, and soul) to God and his ways. It means allowing yourself to be controlled by God's spirit and denying your natural self and shunning evil. When we allow God's purposes and love to lead us, we experience true commonality, harmony, and agreement with God. These things allow us then to be in complete fellowship with him and with other Christians (who are also walking in God's light).
Walking in God's light would also mean a desire to 'know' God intimately so that you would understand his precepts and purposes, and be able to fully understand the depth of love he has for you. Are you in God's Word and in conversation with him on a regular basis? How else will you be able to discern his will, his mind, and his spirit? We have to be diligent in getting to know the One we claim to follow! How can we call ourselves followers if we don't take the time to understand what and whom we claim to follow?
So, my challenge for you today is, to answer this question with sincere honesty.
Are you walking in the light?
If the answer is yes - Great - Keep doing so! If the answer is no - I challenge you to examine what it is that is holding you back from surrendering all to the Lord of the Universe. What part of yourself, or the world, is holding you back from that complete surrender?
1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
2 Co. 6:14-16 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
If the living, infinite God lives in us, we cannot still be living in the world. We cannot compartmentalize our lives and give some to God and some to the world, because the two do not mix. God cannot tolerate the things of the world (wickedness, false gods, idols). There is no commonality, harmony, or agreement between God and these things.
Someone recently said to me, "Not everyone who goes to church is a Christ follower". So, how do you know if you really are a Christ follower? According to the Apostle John, the first test of Christian behavior is this: Are you walking in the Light?
God is Light. The world, Satan, and your own sinful desires are darkness.
Walking in the light requires a total surrender of ourselves (heart, mind, body, and soul) to God and his ways. It means allowing yourself to be controlled by God's spirit and denying your natural self and shunning evil. When we allow God's purposes and love to lead us, we experience true commonality, harmony, and agreement with God. These things allow us then to be in complete fellowship with him and with other Christians (who are also walking in God's light).
Walking in God's light would also mean a desire to 'know' God intimately so that you would understand his precepts and purposes, and be able to fully understand the depth of love he has for you. Are you in God's Word and in conversation with him on a regular basis? How else will you be able to discern his will, his mind, and his spirit? We have to be diligent in getting to know the One we claim to follow! How can we call ourselves followers if we don't take the time to understand what and whom we claim to follow?
So, my challenge for you today is, to answer this question with sincere honesty.
Are you walking in the light?
If the answer is yes - Great - Keep doing so! If the answer is no - I challenge you to examine what it is that is holding you back from surrendering all to the Lord of the Universe. What part of yourself, or the world, is holding you back from that complete surrender?
Monday, April 20, 2009
When Religion Gets Confused With Christianity
My mother grew up Irish Catholic and my Father German Lutheran at a time when the two did not mix. In fact, there was a very distinct dividing line in the community separating the two, the railroad tracks. To one side was the predominately Irish Catholics families, and to the other the German Lutherans. To be Catholic or Lutheran defined who you were as much as being German or Irish did. It was definitely a different time.
When my Grandpa discovered that my mom had been dating a Lutheran boy he was furious. My Grandma rushed up from the barn to the farmhouse to warn my mother and asked her to pack a bag and leave before Grandpa came up from the barn himself. My mother packed a bag as she was told. She called my future Father then walked down the long dead end road out to the main road and waited there for him to pick her up. My mother was not allowed back on the home farm for SEVEN years! That was her punishment for disobeying her Father's wishes. I am not even sure if my Mother understood the boundaries my Grandpa expected her to stay within, or if she was openly defiant of them. Regardless, my Mother ended up marrying my Father, maybe as much out as need and loneliness as anything. In trying to control the situation, my Grandpa pushed my Mother into the one thing he wanted to avoid. What irony! Needless to say, my parents are divorced today and my Mother has since gone back to her Catholic roots and faith but we children were raised Lutheran.
It should come at no surprise to us, then, that as my family, and my sister's family, move away from the Lutheran faith toward a Christian, but non-denominational Church, that we should be experiencing conflict with our extended families. If we look to the history our parents have themselves lived through, and the environments they were raised in, it is easy to understand where they are coming from.
Over the Summer, both of our families, independently made a move to a new Church. It just happened to be the same one, and I do believe there to be divine purpose in that. Imagine my surprise when I shared with my sister that we were attending this new Church, and she shared with me that their family also had started attending there. This Church has 3000 worshipers every weekend across three services, so it was easy to not know they were there too. My sister previously had been attending the same church we grew up in, along with our Father and paternal Grandparents. She started experiencing the conflict first, and it has since spilled over to my family.
Last night while celebrating our daughter's twentieth birthday my Father had many comments to make about our Church. "It's an entertainment Church". "I get more out of our Wednesday children's church service than I get out of your Church". "We don't sit around in the basement talking about the financial world" (a misguided perception of the bible study we host in our home called The Truth Project). "If you need to keep defending your Church somethings wrong." He then tells me that both my sister and I get too worked up and that he is only kidding.
I looked around the table and saw my children. All of them present have not yet made a personal choice for Jesus for themselves. I wondered what these so called 'innocent, tongue in cheek jabs' from my Father about the Church we were attending played out in our children's minds. I usually let these things just slide in the attempt to maintain peace. However, I looked my father in the eye and said this is why I get upset. "It is important to me for my children to have a saving faith and when you criticize and make fun of our church you undermine our credibility with them."
I can understand my Father's perspective based on his history and upbringing. I can understand his fear or concerns. I understand his framework and how it was shaped.
I would love to share with him that our Church is biblically sound. I would love to share with him the work Jesus has done in our lives. I would love to share with him how much we have grown in Christ since joining this church. I would love to share with him how much I appreciate the christian education he provided for us as children, and how I am continuing what he modeled in my own family. I would love to share with him the love of Jesus that I have come to experience deeply and how our church works very hard at making disciples who will expand the kingdom of God. I would love to show him, as a friend recently said to me, a whole other side to Christianity that I never knew existed. We are following the faith of our Fathers, just not under the Lutheran denomination.
Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Evangelical are all labels man made up to group themselves together and form an identity, to separate themselves from others. I guess in a fallen world, these things are sometimes necessary. However, none are mentioned in the bible and Jesus himself prayed that believers would be one just as He and God are one. How can we be one when we draw lines that divide? Satan will use these titles to divide and conquer. Satan would love us to believe the title is more important than the truth being taught. Satan would love us to believe that the man made rituals, worship style, and human traditions are more important than the biblical content being taught. Satan would love us to keep dividing into fractions, smaller and smaller, more exclusive each time. A house divided by itself cannot stand! That's what Satan wants!
I've heard a lot of people calling for, and praying for, reformation and revival in today's Church. I understand why. We have made the church 'ours' and have forgotten that it is Christ's Church! He is the head. It should be his purposes we seek to live out! There are Christians (Christ followers/disciples) in every biblically sound Church denomination and these denominational lines should not prevent us from being as one with each other and with Christ purposes. There are also many who believe themselves to be Christians who are not showing any evidence or fruit of that in their life and that goes across all denominations as well.
So, I am not necessarily, pulling away from a denomination, but rather running toward Christ! I run straighter and more effectively in the Church we call home today than I did elsewhere. I believe my Church to be biblically sound, effectively teaching and leading, and making disciples of the members who then become willing to do Christ work in this fallen world. I want my children to come to a personal decision for Christ for themselves. When my husband and I are being fed and led, we can feed and lead our children, and with the support the Church provides along with us, they have the information they need to come to that choice. I hope they will end up on the same narrow path and be able to run as straight and as effectively as possible, too!
For now, I pray that our families will not let Satan divide us and for Christ to intercede in this matter.
When my Grandpa discovered that my mom had been dating a Lutheran boy he was furious. My Grandma rushed up from the barn to the farmhouse to warn my mother and asked her to pack a bag and leave before Grandpa came up from the barn himself. My mother packed a bag as she was told. She called my future Father then walked down the long dead end road out to the main road and waited there for him to pick her up. My mother was not allowed back on the home farm for SEVEN years! That was her punishment for disobeying her Father's wishes. I am not even sure if my Mother understood the boundaries my Grandpa expected her to stay within, or if she was openly defiant of them. Regardless, my Mother ended up marrying my Father, maybe as much out as need and loneliness as anything. In trying to control the situation, my Grandpa pushed my Mother into the one thing he wanted to avoid. What irony! Needless to say, my parents are divorced today and my Mother has since gone back to her Catholic roots and faith but we children were raised Lutheran.
It should come at no surprise to us, then, that as my family, and my sister's family, move away from the Lutheran faith toward a Christian, but non-denominational Church, that we should be experiencing conflict with our extended families. If we look to the history our parents have themselves lived through, and the environments they were raised in, it is easy to understand where they are coming from.
Over the Summer, both of our families, independently made a move to a new Church. It just happened to be the same one, and I do believe there to be divine purpose in that. Imagine my surprise when I shared with my sister that we were attending this new Church, and she shared with me that their family also had started attending there. This Church has 3000 worshipers every weekend across three services, so it was easy to not know they were there too. My sister previously had been attending the same church we grew up in, along with our Father and paternal Grandparents. She started experiencing the conflict first, and it has since spilled over to my family.
Last night while celebrating our daughter's twentieth birthday my Father had many comments to make about our Church. "It's an entertainment Church". "I get more out of our Wednesday children's church service than I get out of your Church". "We don't sit around in the basement talking about the financial world" (a misguided perception of the bible study we host in our home called The Truth Project). "If you need to keep defending your Church somethings wrong." He then tells me that both my sister and I get too worked up and that he is only kidding.
I looked around the table and saw my children. All of them present have not yet made a personal choice for Jesus for themselves. I wondered what these so called 'innocent, tongue in cheek jabs' from my Father about the Church we were attending played out in our children's minds. I usually let these things just slide in the attempt to maintain peace. However, I looked my father in the eye and said this is why I get upset. "It is important to me for my children to have a saving faith and when you criticize and make fun of our church you undermine our credibility with them."
I can understand my Father's perspective based on his history and upbringing. I can understand his fear or concerns. I understand his framework and how it was shaped.
I would love to share with him that our Church is biblically sound. I would love to share with him the work Jesus has done in our lives. I would love to share with him how much we have grown in Christ since joining this church. I would love to share with him how much I appreciate the christian education he provided for us as children, and how I am continuing what he modeled in my own family. I would love to share with him the love of Jesus that I have come to experience deeply and how our church works very hard at making disciples who will expand the kingdom of God. I would love to show him, as a friend recently said to me, a whole other side to Christianity that I never knew existed. We are following the faith of our Fathers, just not under the Lutheran denomination.
Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Evangelical are all labels man made up to group themselves together and form an identity, to separate themselves from others. I guess in a fallen world, these things are sometimes necessary. However, none are mentioned in the bible and Jesus himself prayed that believers would be one just as He and God are one. How can we be one when we draw lines that divide? Satan will use these titles to divide and conquer. Satan would love us to believe the title is more important than the truth being taught. Satan would love us to believe that the man made rituals, worship style, and human traditions are more important than the biblical content being taught. Satan would love us to keep dividing into fractions, smaller and smaller, more exclusive each time. A house divided by itself cannot stand! That's what Satan wants!
I've heard a lot of people calling for, and praying for, reformation and revival in today's Church. I understand why. We have made the church 'ours' and have forgotten that it is Christ's Church! He is the head. It should be his purposes we seek to live out! There are Christians (Christ followers/disciples) in every biblically sound Church denomination and these denominational lines should not prevent us from being as one with each other and with Christ purposes. There are also many who believe themselves to be Christians who are not showing any evidence or fruit of that in their life and that goes across all denominations as well.
So, I am not necessarily, pulling away from a denomination, but rather running toward Christ! I run straighter and more effectively in the Church we call home today than I did elsewhere. I believe my Church to be biblically sound, effectively teaching and leading, and making disciples of the members who then become willing to do Christ work in this fallen world. I want my children to come to a personal decision for Christ for themselves. When my husband and I are being fed and led, we can feed and lead our children, and with the support the Church provides along with us, they have the information they need to come to that choice. I hope they will end up on the same narrow path and be able to run as straight and as effectively as possible, too!
For now, I pray that our families will not let Satan divide us and for Christ to intercede in this matter.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Hot Pink Purse
Yesterday, I purchased for myself a large, beautiful, shiny, hot pink purse!
It has been a long dreary winter here in Wisconsin. When I saw that purse displayed on the store shelf, all memory of the cold and snowy winter was erased, and replaced with hopeful thoughts of spring and summer. Just looking at it boosted my mood.
I don't think my husband likes it though. Well, I'll let you draw your own conclusions by sharing his comments upon seeing it sitting on our bedroom dresser. He emerged from the bedroom asking, "Who killed the Pink Panther, skinned it, and left it's hide laying on my wife's dresser?"
Well, just like women will never understand a man's need for power tools, gadgets, and electronics; I guess men will never understand a woman's desire for shoes and purses.
However, I have to admit, as much as I love the purse, it is a little impractical. I ran to the local Dollar General this morning in my sweat clothes and noticed the hot pink purse didn't exactly go with my red Nike outfit. I had to improvise by just taking my wallet into the store with me. But when I got back in the car and saw that beautiful purse sitting on the seat next to me, I was still glad I purchased it.
Yes, my husband may always conjure up visions in his head of the Pink Panter being slayed whenever he sees my purse, but a little imagination never hurt anyone. So, as I am happily toting my new purse along into the next two seasons, I will take the time to think about of all the fun I have brought to my husband's internal thoughts in the process. I will think of him and giggle, too!
It has been a long dreary winter here in Wisconsin. When I saw that purse displayed on the store shelf, all memory of the cold and snowy winter was erased, and replaced with hopeful thoughts of spring and summer. Just looking at it boosted my mood.
I don't think my husband likes it though. Well, I'll let you draw your own conclusions by sharing his comments upon seeing it sitting on our bedroom dresser. He emerged from the bedroom asking, "Who killed the Pink Panther, skinned it, and left it's hide laying on my wife's dresser?"
Well, just like women will never understand a man's need for power tools, gadgets, and electronics; I guess men will never understand a woman's desire for shoes and purses.
However, I have to admit, as much as I love the purse, it is a little impractical. I ran to the local Dollar General this morning in my sweat clothes and noticed the hot pink purse didn't exactly go with my red Nike outfit. I had to improvise by just taking my wallet into the store with me. But when I got back in the car and saw that beautiful purse sitting on the seat next to me, I was still glad I purchased it.
Yes, my husband may always conjure up visions in his head of the Pink Panter being slayed whenever he sees my purse, but a little imagination never hurt anyone. So, as I am happily toting my new purse along into the next two seasons, I will take the time to think about of all the fun I have brought to my husband's internal thoughts in the process. I will think of him and giggle, too!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Old Me, New Me
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5
I am divorced and remarried.
There is a night and day difference between my first marriage and my second marriage. Why?
50% of the first marriage involved me and 50% of my second marriage involves me. So, honestly, how can there be such a difference?
Exchanging one husband for another didn't get rid of my contributions to the marriage. In reality, many of the issues I had in the first marriage would automatically carry over into the second, just because I am the common denominator in both circumstances. And, yet, there is such a difference. Why?
Here's the answer: I am not the same person anymore! I am a new creation in Jesus Christ!
This morning I made a quick inventory of the things I value most. Then, I made a list of the things I USE to value in this life. Take a look.
VALUE NOW / VALUED THEN
God / Career
My Bible / Money
Husband / Power
Children / Recognition
Grandchildren / Credit Card
Extended Family / Weekends-ME Time
Friends / Cigarettes
Small Groups / Clothes
Homemaker Role / Promotions
Church / Significance
What use to drive me, determined how I spent my time and who I spent my time with. I was working more than I was in the home. When I wasn't working, I was trying to create the illusion of success and power through shopping and leisure activities that we could not afford. I wasn't just trying to 'keep up with the Joneses', I wanted to surpass them. I abdicated my motherly role to daycare providers. I stifled my husband. I brought financial insecurity to my family. I was selfish, trying to get mine, and seeking to be significant. Emotional baggage and childhood hurts added to the fuel. I was very unwilling to trust in anyone but myself. I had walls up around my heart so that I couldn't be hurt by anyone. I made poor decisions out of a deep need to stay in control. This was my 50% contribution to my first marriage.
This is the same state and type of contributing that I entered into my second marriage with. So, why is the outcome so different?
At first, I gave all the credit to my husband, putting him up on a pedestal. He was perfect in every way and somehow he would be able to hold this all together by his sheer perfectness. What a surprise when I discovered he wasn't all that I made him out to be. Don't get me wrong, he is a wonderful husband and I love him dearly, but we both had shortcomings.
But, God began a work in both of us and continues to do so today. Neither one of us are close to being the same people anymore. Our hearts are different. What use to be important is no longer. What use to motivate us no longer has the same effect. What use to make us feel significant no longer fills us up. The past no longer holds us hostage. The present no longer is meaningless. The future now holds much hope and promise. We have found purpose in God's story!
In Mark 9:33-37, the disciples discuss who is the greatest, and Jesus tells them in order to be the greatest you must become the least. Words of contradictions: Greatest/Least; First/Last; Prideful/Humble; Authority/Servant; Master/Slave; Willful/Submissive.
I tried to get all the 'first' words for myself, my way. This is the way of the world and the flesh. I have since learned that taking the heart position of the 'second' set of words brings peace and order to our lives. Our reward is in heaven and awaits us there. I no longer need the reward of this world to gain significance and meaning.
Many of you have been able to save your first marriages by the grace of God, and you will be so blessed for it. I, however, didn't allow God in soon enough to save my first marriage or my children from all of that pain. My greatest regret is also my greatest failure. However, God is gracious and good, and has given me a second chance. He dwells in us and we trust in him. God is the difference in this marriage. To him be the glory!
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