Jesus Embodies Reconciliation

Romans 3:22, 23

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.

I plead guilty – I have joined the Face Book crowd.  It started a year or so ago when a summer intern at work suggested it as a way to market our company to college graduates.  From there, Tracy encouraged me to do it so she could learn about her friends.  That lasted a short time and she got the addiction and went off on her own.  I’ve gone on though and reconnected with a lot of people.  I found out that a friend I went to church had married a guy I went to high school with and they didn't even know each other last I knew.  I’ve reconnected with youth I taught in Sunday School 25 years ago, who are well into their own adulthood now.  And today, I called up one of my dearest friends from over 20 years ago who had sent me a FB note.  It was amazing how in about 5 to 10 minutes we had covered the bases of changes, and fallen back into the same comfortable conversation I remember.  Shared memories and values. 

Have you left the relationship you had in the past with your Lord and Savior?  Did you ever develop that close friendship?  Reconciliation is waiting - Jesus has paid the price for us all in full, and is eager to spend time with you. 

Natural Instincts and Harmony

(NOTE:  This one is not in sequence with the other postings or related to my WTBC writings.  Next Saturday we'll pick back up with #4 in the series "Jesus Embodies".) 

Psalm 42:1-2

For the director of music.   

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

My wife has recently been blessed with a new job at a zoo.  Beyond the oft made comments about her vast amount of experience living with me for almost 20 years giving her impeccable credentials, she is being exposed to many new things and new ways of thinking about old things.  Yesterday, as we were in the car riding across the state on a beautiful fall day, we had a great conversation about many facets of her new job.  One of her lessons struck a spiritual chord with me.

She was telling me how she learned from the zoo keepers how adolescent animals have to be removed from the cages they have always called home once they reach a certain age.  They can never return to live with their parents due to a risk of the parents coming to view them a threat and the potential for fights and animal injury.  These actions are driven by instincts not learned, and cannot be trained away.  Despite the natural correlation to adult children who resist leaving home and the common tendency for them to come back that has become rampant in our culture, that's not the new note in the chord I heard (I've heard and sang that note way too often, but that's another story). 

If God cares about the lemurs and servals enough to give them natural instincts for survival in the wild that generations of captive breeding can't take away, He has no doubt put the longing for the spiritual dimension of life inside every person - and that longing is really a hole that only God can fill.  I'm no theology student, and have long ago accepted my limitations on understanding everything God does.  I don't know how He does it, and I have no need to understand it before I believe it.  A clear and beautiful tone.

But the music isn't over; it is always playing.  I have a friend who has a coworker who is more conspicuously adamant about separation of religion and faith from the workplace than what is common in our Midwestern community.  I believe there are two things going on.  The first is that I believe that someone is hearing that natural instinct that God has put inside them, and it's manifesting itself as resistance to Him, to His presence in their life and to other people who demonstrate their faith (even if that demonstration is unintentional).  The second is my friend is an instrument in God's hand.   Can you hear the crescendo swelling as our God directs His chorus and orchestra to participate in an eternal and ever changing  musical involving all creation?

And I ask myself - am I suitable to be an instrument in God's hand?  Am I aware of His presence in my life daily?  Am I aware of the people around me who lack His presence and my opportunity/obligation to play a note in God's symphony that I may be the only one who can?

Jesus Embodies Redemption

John 1:10-12 (NIV)

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

I feel it a real honor to be allowed to prepare these devotionals, but I have to admit to sometimes struggling with the actual writing.  For instance, today’s:  I found that I just couldn’t make it work.   I’d written at least three different devotionals plus many drafts and pieces in my head for today and discarded each.  I’d pulled references from biblegateway.com and the dictionary (8 definitions for “redemption” if anyone’s counting).  Yet today as I re-read verses 10-12, it’s as new and fresh as if the words were added last night.  He is with me always (work, family, recreation, trying to write) and I too often fail to recognize Him.  I am given the right to become His child, if I just believe.  But I get too busy, too independent, too afraid to ask, and have any number of other distractions, yet I long to see His glory. 

Where are you today?  Are you conscious of how He made the world?  Do you recognize Him and receive Him?  Do you enjoy all the rights that come from being His child?

Our Burden vs. My Load

(NOTE:  This one is not in sequence with the other postings or related to my WTBC writings.  Next Saturday we'll pick back up with #3 in the series "Jesus Embodies".)


Galatians 6:2-5

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. 

Last Friday at breakfast, my friend Chuck shared this passage with our group.  When he did, I noticed notes in my bible that addressed the difference in the burdens we are to share and those we shoulder alone.   

The word translated "burden" refers to a load that cannot be borne alone.  It reminded me of carrying 25 large sheets of 3/4" plywood with about 25,000 springs on the back that make up the floor that gymnasts perform on - that can't be carried by one guy - at least not by this one.  I need help to set up that floor.  And I'm extremely grateful to the other gymnast's parents who help. 


The words translated "his own load" above refers to that which one person can and should carry for himself like a soldier's back pack.  I don't need help carrying my laptop to work.  There's no reason anyone should carry it for me, and it's not good for me to depend on others for such simple things.  


Bottom line - there are things we need help on/need to help others with, and things that are our own responsibility.  By having both, the body of Christ develops and functions as we should.

-------------------------------Warning -----------------------------------

POLITICAL COMMENT AND PERSONAL OPINION AHEAD:

I believe this scripture is one of the foundations America was built on.  There are people who need help with their burdens from their neighbors.  I believe there are roles for the organized church, community groups, individuals, and even the government in helping those who need temporary help due to events beyond their control.  I even more strongly believe we all have a duty and responsibility to carry our own load - to do those things we can for ourselves and for others.  Enabling people to be lazy is not God's plan for anyone. 



The Apostle Paul can close this thought better than I can (II Thessalonians 3:6-15)

Warning Against Idleness
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Jesus Embodies “Justice, Mercy and Faith”.

Matthew 23:23 (NIV)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

This morning, as I have done pretty much daily for the last 14 plus years, I slipped in and kissed my daughter’s cheek as she slept.  As I did, I specifically prayed for her day to be filled with mercy, grace, peace and love.  I know the world is filled with pain, sorrow and challenge, yet in those few words I asked God to keep bad things from her, to bless her with good things, to let her feel her Father’s love and to know the peace that only our God can bring. 

I’ve never asked God to bring His justice on her (or on me for that matter), and it will be her own growing faith that will determine her adult relationship with God.  But as her daddy, I can pray for her to know mercy – and to give it to others. 

Who do we know that needs to be shown mercy?  Whose faith are we helping to grow?  Are we staying focused on the important things Jesus taught about here? 

Joy in His Presence

(NOTE:  This one is not in sequence with the other postings or related to my WTBC writings.  Next Saturday we'll pick back up with #2 in the series "Jesus Embodies".)


Psalm 43:4

Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

We are blessed at my house to have a small rabbit officially named Samson (I think my daughter named him after the story of the Lion's Den in the bible, so we will be working on remedial bible story characters with her soon). He's about four pounds and has always been a house pet. Our two cats raised him, and I call him Puppy. He's well trained and stays loose in the house most of the time, but spends his nights in his cage.

Our workday morning routine usually involves my wonderful wife letting him out while I'm in the shower. Most mornings, he hears me open the closet door, and comes tearing down the hall, into the bedroom making a huge sweeping arc because he is going too fast to turn quickly. He skids to a stop at my feet and looks up. Sometimes, he is so excited he literally jumps straight up in the air and quivers. Always we do a dance where he circles my feet - around in one direction. I take a step - and he goes around the other way. I put my feet together, and he runs really close. I open them up, and he ducks between. A different pattern, but the same steps daily - and always with pauses for him to jump and tremble. And he always stops at my feet long enough for me to reach down and pet him. His joy is overflowing - and contagious. Such a nice way to start a day!

This week, as I shared his joy, I realized how much I want to be like Puppy. I want to watch daily for signs of my Master's presence. I want to listen intently and hear God walking near me. When I sense Him, I want to eagerly run to Him and be overcome with excitement and joy at the opportunity to just be in His presence. I want to tremble inside because my God loves me. I need to know He smiles, and reaches down to touch me. It is such an awesome thought that God loves me - much more than I love a small rabbit. Even more than I love my family and friends. More than anyone can imagine.

I also thought about how much I have come to look forward to Puppy coming in every morning. The dance, the jumping, the petting. Wiping the shedding hair off my hand. But some mornings he gets distracted, and most Friday mornings I leave early so he is still in his cage. And I miss him. And I realize another lesson - God is eager for me to come to Him. He wants to see me. He wants me to run to him. See my excitement. Demonstrate my love for him. And bless me when I do. And When I don't come to Him, He misses me.

And so I wonder - Why do I struggle so much to have a consistent quiet time?

Jesus Embodies Restoration

In Matthew 11:3 John the Baptist asks of Jesus “Are you the Messiah?"

   ¹When Jesus finished placing this charge before his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in their villages.
 ^2-3John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" ^4-6Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what's going on:

   The blind see,
   The lame walk,
   Lepers are cleansed,
   The deaf hear,
   The dead are raised,
   The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.
"Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!"  (Matthew 11:1-6, The Message)

Do you ever doubt?  I sure do.  When I spent six months looking for a job a few years ago, I wondered where God was.  I have a friend today who is unable to work because of her cancer treatments.  I remember my friend Bryan dying with a young family almost nine years ago.  In raising my children – well, I know you parents relate to that.  Today as my family struggles to find a church like Williams Trace after leaving Sugar Land over five years ago, I often doubt that God will provide us with another church family like that one. 

Then I see in this scripture that Jesus responded to the one who had baptized him with understanding.  His response can be paraphrased “See the things I have done” – then He reiterates them just in case we can’t remember.  For each of my doubts above, I have many more examples of blessings and confirmations of His love and care. 

How about it - Is your glass half empty today, or overflowing?   If you need reminded, just ask Him – He doesn’t mind, and He has abundant answers