Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Friday, June 11
Deuteronomy 11:1 You must love the LORD your God and obey all his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.
Too often I look at verses like this one as an order shouted by our commando God in 'boot-camp' churches where fear reigns. The truth is much deeper and sweeter. To look at this verse I want to put it in some context first. The reason being is sometimes Jesus can be used as the Sunday school answer to why we should obey; but Deuteronomy was written long before Jesus came down to earth. Let's think about why the Hebrew nation would love God.
The nation was established with Jacob/Israel's twelve sons. Then one of those sons was sold into slavery and brought to Egypt. Through God's provision that son rose to be the second in charge. He used his position to save his family and therefore the nation of Israel from a seven year famine. Generations later the Jewish identity was reestablished as the Egyptians put them under their feet and used them as slave labor. The Hebrews renewed their worship of the One true God, Who then sent Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. To free them from bondage. To end their slavery. So, as Moses bartered for their freedom God showed up and showed Pharaoh it was time to let his people go. There is a prevailing arguement that because of the loss of all the first born children in Egypt, the reigning Pharaoh died (being himself a first born) and a new Pharaoh came to power. This Pharaoh pursued the Jews into the desert after having already granted their freedom. God showed up and opened up a sea for them to cross on dry land, then drowning the pursuing Egyptians.
God then leads them through the wilderness. He disciplines them, feeds them, sustains them, He loves them. While doing all this He gives them His laws through Moses. When reading the verse in context it seems that the Hebrews don't really need a reminder, they should be forever grateful to their God; but they aren't. These Hebrews are living in a wilderness. Too often they took their eyes of their Lord and realized that their surroundings were very bleak. They could not see the land they were promised and focused instead on the barren land around them. They were unsatisfied living off of what God gave them, they wanted more.
Sound familiar? When have you lost sight of God's provision and felt lost in a wilderness? I know it's not easy when you're standing in a barren land, being laughed at by the world and even your fellow sojourners because you want to follow God fully.
Remember this, God loved you first. God came down to save you from your slavery to sin. He came to take you home. Yes, this life is full of brokenness; but we cannot forget that we are traveling out of here. If we believe and follow Him we will love Him and we will arrive at Home in the promised land.
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Friday, June 11, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Job 5:11
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Friday, June 4
Job 5:11 He [God] gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.
Passages like these have caused some to leave the faith completely. For some it has caused struggle. I have struggled; because it sounds so good until I look at the world. Then like many I begin to question, which leads to doubt, which for some leads to not believing at all. How do you answer, "Where was God when my mother died? during the holocaust? in war? etc." Pick the scenario; but when you look at the raw brokenness of life, trite words and phrases learned in Sunday School seem empty and useless. Where is God? He is there; but maybe not in the way you think He is.
The Bible is often described as a love story, albeit an odd one sometimes and maybe that's because it's a Hebrew love story not a Hollywood love story. God created us in His image and loves us. He made us His people. We rebelled. He loves us so much He wants to be married to us. So, His son came down to pay the price for us. Then He left to prepare a place for us. So, He sent us His Holy Spirit. To dwell in us. See, in Gensis when Adam and Eve are married by God, there is a verse that reads: "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one (Genesis 2:24, NLT)." This is God's picture of marriage. Paul describes the church as a "a pure bride to one husband—Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, NLT)." If we are the bride of Christ then we are to be united to Him as ONE! We are to be ONE with GOD!! Paul even describes the Church as the body of Christ! "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)."
Isn't that wonderful! We are one with our savior Jesus Christ our Lord and God.
Isn't it sobering. Think about it.
We are His body. We are His body. We are His body.
Do you get it yet? I'm still struggling to grasp it fully; because if I really am part of His body, doesn't that mean that I represent Him. His Holy Spirit is supposed to be in me, and I'm supposed to be His body...yeah, well look at my life and tell me if I really look like Christ. The answer is no.
Christ's love has redeemed me. Christ has promised Himself to me, and as a token He has provided the Holy Spirit, which is like having Christ anyway because the Holy Spirit is the third part of the same God. So, I'm free from who I was and now I'm part of the body of Christ. We have overused that word and it means something different now. Think about what that word really means! Because right now the 'body' of Christ has Parkensons. We are not listening to Christ our head at all! And that is why this verse is not relevant to our world. That is why people leave the Church. That is why we are the biggest hypocrites in town. That is why others have to step in the gap and do our job - healing the sick, visiting the widows, orphans, and prisoners, clothing the homeless, feeding the hungry, saving the lost, stopping human trafficking, ending wars, fighting against injustice, etc., etc., etc. and another never ending etc.!
But there is an end to injustice and suffering, and we have the key. It is Christ. Through Christ we enter into the presence of our Lord, we enter heaven. It is our love for the one who loved us first, and loves us still, which must compel us to be like Him and to do and be and speak the good news.
Friday, June 4
Job 5:11 He [God] gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.
Passages like these have caused some to leave the faith completely. For some it has caused struggle. I have struggled; because it sounds so good until I look at the world. Then like many I begin to question, which leads to doubt, which for some leads to not believing at all. How do you answer, "Where was God when my mother died? during the holocaust? in war? etc." Pick the scenario; but when you look at the raw brokenness of life, trite words and phrases learned in Sunday School seem empty and useless. Where is God? He is there; but maybe not in the way you think He is.
The Bible is often described as a love story, albeit an odd one sometimes and maybe that's because it's a Hebrew love story not a Hollywood love story. God created us in His image and loves us. He made us His people. We rebelled. He loves us so much He wants to be married to us. So, His son came down to pay the price for us. Then He left to prepare a place for us. So, He sent us His Holy Spirit. To dwell in us. See, in Gensis when Adam and Eve are married by God, there is a verse that reads: "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one (Genesis 2:24, NLT)." This is God's picture of marriage. Paul describes the church as a "a pure bride to one husband—Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, NLT)." If we are the bride of Christ then we are to be united to Him as ONE! We are to be ONE with GOD!! Paul even describes the Church as the body of Christ! "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)."
Isn't that wonderful! We are one with our savior Jesus Christ our Lord and God.
Isn't it sobering. Think about it.
We are His body. We are His body. We are His body.
Do you get it yet? I'm still struggling to grasp it fully; because if I really am part of His body, doesn't that mean that I represent Him. His Holy Spirit is supposed to be in me, and I'm supposed to be His body...yeah, well look at my life and tell me if I really look like Christ. The answer is no.
Christ's love has redeemed me. Christ has promised Himself to me, and as a token He has provided the Holy Spirit, which is like having Christ anyway because the Holy Spirit is the third part of the same God. So, I'm free from who I was and now I'm part of the body of Christ. We have overused that word and it means something different now. Think about what that word really means! Because right now the 'body' of Christ has Parkensons. We are not listening to Christ our head at all! And that is why this verse is not relevant to our world. That is why people leave the Church. That is why we are the biggest hypocrites in town. That is why others have to step in the gap and do our job - healing the sick, visiting the widows, orphans, and prisoners, clothing the homeless, feeding the hungry, saving the lost, stopping human trafficking, ending wars, fighting against injustice, etc., etc., etc. and another never ending etc.!
But there is an end to injustice and suffering, and we have the key. It is Christ. Through Christ we enter into the presence of our Lord, we enter heaven. It is our love for the one who loved us first, and loves us still, which must compel us to be like Him and to do and be and speak the good news.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
James 2:19
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Wednesday, June 2
James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
I know this verse very well. I've heard it many times adding fuel to the inquisition fires (small and large). Today I want to shy away from using this as a faith-tester verse. I want to look at it as an applicable verse - a life changing verse. This is not a license to gossip and judge, this is an internally searching verse.
If you love cars, do spend all your time sailing? If you love art, do you spend all your time studying equations? If you love Jesus, do you spend all your time sinning?
I'm not saying we should all ascribe to a list of rules so that we don't sin. The rules, though good, are not what we need to follow. We need to follow Jesus. Why? Because when you look at the rules He's asking us to obey you see that He really loves us.
I have to ask myself, "if we follow Jesus Christ, who died to save us, why is Gandhi the modern standard for 'good deeds'?" I'm not asking for Christians to have that kind of fame, but I am asking why we are not on the front lines of global activism. Jesus came to save the lost and stood against the establishment. Why? Because they forgot who they were supposed to be ruling. Jesus came as the answer to economic stability, environmental sustainability, political calm, etc. His Love will conquer all.
His love is the answer, and if we believe that shouldn't we be acting on it? The way you act will be different to the way I act; but inactivity is not an answer. As Paul said, "Christ's love compels us, (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)" therefore we go and do good things.
Wednesday, June 2
James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
I know this verse very well. I've heard it many times adding fuel to the inquisition fires (small and large). Today I want to shy away from using this as a faith-tester verse. I want to look at it as an applicable verse - a life changing verse. This is not a license to gossip and judge, this is an internally searching verse.
If you love cars, do spend all your time sailing? If you love art, do you spend all your time studying equations? If you love Jesus, do you spend all your time sinning?
I'm not saying we should all ascribe to a list of rules so that we don't sin. The rules, though good, are not what we need to follow. We need to follow Jesus. Why? Because when you look at the rules He's asking us to obey you see that He really loves us.
I have to ask myself, "if we follow Jesus Christ, who died to save us, why is Gandhi the modern standard for 'good deeds'?" I'm not asking for Christians to have that kind of fame, but I am asking why we are not on the front lines of global activism. Jesus came to save the lost and stood against the establishment. Why? Because they forgot who they were supposed to be ruling. Jesus came as the answer to economic stability, environmental sustainability, political calm, etc. His Love will conquer all.
His love is the answer, and if we believe that shouldn't we be acting on it? The way you act will be different to the way I act; but inactivity is not an answer. As Paul said, "Christ's love compels us, (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)" therefore we go and do good things.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Ecclesiastes 7:8
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Tuesday, June 1
Ecclesiastes 7:8 Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.
Ok... I'm not really sure what to do with this. I'm guess I'm too proud to back down so I'm going to tackle this, but how?
For someone on the cusp of so many good things, this is a very weird verse to read...well, at least the first part. Patience over pride is an easy concept to understand even if it's really hard to implement. Though patience and pride are an odd pairing, we know that as Christians patience is much better than pride. Patience is long-suffering, kind, loving; while pride is arrogant, distant, self-serving. As believers in and followers of Jesus we should emulate patience and rid ourselves of pride.
Other than proving its own point, I think that the verse is speaking about endurance. That the end is better than the beginning. To understand this, think about a race. Though the beginning is important, it's what you do after that which will produce the outcome.
An excuse used by our society is "I was born this way" or "my parents made me this way"; but there is much truth in the many quotes that go something like this, "your choices define you". You can be a king or a hobo, what you choose to do with your life, resources, etc. defines who you are.
In a race, if you start off well that helps, but if you look back and start comparing yourself with others you slow down. You think that you're ok and that no one will beat you. Your pride gets in the way. Then, someone else will outrun you. It is not the one who begins the best, but the one who ends the best who will receive the medal. That takes patience. That takes determination. That takes effort, endurance, and never ending motivation.
As humans we cannot run the race ourselves. We're so lost we don't even know if we're on the right track. We follow other goals, other ends. Its as if we got in our running gear and then blindfolded ourselves, hoping to follow the noise of the crowd to show us the right way. We're not getting anywhere. I'm not getting anywhere. Too often I willingly blind-fold myself and run away from God's reward.
He is the reward. He is the motivation. He is the end, and He will provide the patience, endurance, and determination because He has already provided the effort. Somehow I forget this. Yes, there are days when I am basked in the bright beauty of His glory, but other days I blindfold myself. I just forget. How? How can we forget? I get so lost in the crowd, I hear their voices, I see their shiny lives, and I get sidetracked. But How? How do I forget?
God loved me, even though I'm a sinner - even though I do wrong, I live only for myself - He gave it all! See He didn't just die. He gave up His glory to come down from heaven and woo His people, and then He died without His glory. He gave up heaven to come down and be with His people, then He gave up His life, and then He sent His Holy Spirit. I am floored by His love, and somehow I still forget.
Lord, forgive me. Let me not be swayed by this world. Let me keep my eyes on you, that I may run and run only to you. I started off badly, I started off alone lost in my sin; but now I have you. Let me run to you, that the end may be sweet and beautiful, better than the beginning.
Tuesday, June 1
Ecclesiastes 7:8 Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.
Ok... I'm not really sure what to do with this. I'm guess I'm too proud to back down so I'm going to tackle this, but how?
For someone on the cusp of so many good things, this is a very weird verse to read...well, at least the first part. Patience over pride is an easy concept to understand even if it's really hard to implement. Though patience and pride are an odd pairing, we know that as Christians patience is much better than pride. Patience is long-suffering, kind, loving; while pride is arrogant, distant, self-serving. As believers in and followers of Jesus we should emulate patience and rid ourselves of pride.
Other than proving its own point, I think that the verse is speaking about endurance. That the end is better than the beginning. To understand this, think about a race. Though the beginning is important, it's what you do after that which will produce the outcome.
An excuse used by our society is "I was born this way" or "my parents made me this way"; but there is much truth in the many quotes that go something like this, "your choices define you". You can be a king or a hobo, what you choose to do with your life, resources, etc. defines who you are.
In a race, if you start off well that helps, but if you look back and start comparing yourself with others you slow down. You think that you're ok and that no one will beat you. Your pride gets in the way. Then, someone else will outrun you. It is not the one who begins the best, but the one who ends the best who will receive the medal. That takes patience. That takes determination. That takes effort, endurance, and never ending motivation.
As humans we cannot run the race ourselves. We're so lost we don't even know if we're on the right track. We follow other goals, other ends. Its as if we got in our running gear and then blindfolded ourselves, hoping to follow the noise of the crowd to show us the right way. We're not getting anywhere. I'm not getting anywhere. Too often I willingly blind-fold myself and run away from God's reward.
He is the reward. He is the motivation. He is the end, and He will provide the patience, endurance, and determination because He has already provided the effort. Somehow I forget this. Yes, there are days when I am basked in the bright beauty of His glory, but other days I blindfold myself. I just forget. How? How can we forget? I get so lost in the crowd, I hear their voices, I see their shiny lives, and I get sidetracked. But How? How do I forget?
God loved me, even though I'm a sinner - even though I do wrong, I live only for myself - He gave it all! See He didn't just die. He gave up His glory to come down from heaven and woo His people, and then He died without His glory. He gave up heaven to come down and be with His people, then He gave up His life, and then He sent His Holy Spirit. I am floored by His love, and somehow I still forget.
Lord, forgive me. Let me not be swayed by this world. Let me keep my eyes on you, that I may run and run only to you. I started off badly, I started off alone lost in my sin; but now I have you. Let me run to you, that the end may be sweet and beautiful, better than the beginning.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Word on the Way - Deuteronomy 13:4
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Monday, May 31
Deuteronomy 13:4 Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.
I used to be scared off by verses like these. They are so frightening, unless you look at them from a redeemed view point. When we acknowledge our freedom from sin, we begin to see the horror of not following His voice. The fear we should feel is not of Satan or sin's grasp, but of God. Why? Because without Jesus, God is VERY intimidating. Can you tell the God of creation that you shouldn't get what you deserve? In His love God sent His son to redeem us, and now we look at His commands and know that they are good.
Monday, May 31
Deuteronomy 13:4 Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.
I used to be scared off by verses like these. They are so frightening, unless you look at them from a redeemed view point. When we acknowledge our freedom from sin, we begin to see the horror of not following His voice. The fear we should feel is not of Satan or sin's grasp, but of God. Why? Because without Jesus, God is VERY intimidating. Can you tell the God of creation that you shouldn't get what you deserve? In His love God sent His son to redeem us, and now we look at His commands and know that they are good.
Word on the Way - Romans 12:16
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Saturday, May 29
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
It is so hard to live like this. Really, do we really live in harmony? If you've ever seen a symphony play, everything is on time and works out perfectly so that the listeners get the full and beautiful effect. People want to come and see and hear the beautiful harmony that our conductor points us to. What would it look like for the church to be in harmony? Right now we just sound like we're warming up, catching up on the symphony gossip, our backs turned to our conductor. Some of us are off playing our on songs. Some of us are playing the song we're supposed to playing but we're off time, or only including our section. Imagine if you heard Beethoven's third with only the percussion, or just the cello's. Do you really think that would sound good? So, why do we think that it's going to work in the church?
This is not an accusation saying I'm better than anyone. To be honest that would just make me even worse. I know that I can't get it right. I struggle every day with this. I want to be in harmony, I want to enjoy the company of others, but I'm the one who thinks I know it all.
Yesterday, I was kicking a soccer ball around near where I am about to move next week. The field is across from a housing project. I could see the invisible wall keeping the blacks in and the whites out. It was like a different country. The church is the same way, as an Anglican there are invisible walls thrown up whenever I speak to a Baptist or Presbyterian. God is weeping over Jerusalem. We are the new Jerusalem and we are failing. We need to repent and lay down our arms instead of attacking each other. We need to lay down our pride and look to God for direction, discipline and unity. We need to stop the mindless theological arguments, stand up for orthodox and authentic Christianity, while unifying around our Savior's last words - the commission to go out making disciples of all men. We do this not for our pride, or our glory, or our fame; we do it because God loved us and so in our reception of that love we conform to His image, follow His heart, and love Him back.
Saturday, May 29
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
It is so hard to live like this. Really, do we really live in harmony? If you've ever seen a symphony play, everything is on time and works out perfectly so that the listeners get the full and beautiful effect. People want to come and see and hear the beautiful harmony that our conductor points us to. What would it look like for the church to be in harmony? Right now we just sound like we're warming up, catching up on the symphony gossip, our backs turned to our conductor. Some of us are off playing our on songs. Some of us are playing the song we're supposed to playing but we're off time, or only including our section. Imagine if you heard Beethoven's third with only the percussion, or just the cello's. Do you really think that would sound good? So, why do we think that it's going to work in the church?
This is not an accusation saying I'm better than anyone. To be honest that would just make me even worse. I know that I can't get it right. I struggle every day with this. I want to be in harmony, I want to enjoy the company of others, but I'm the one who thinks I know it all.
Yesterday, I was kicking a soccer ball around near where I am about to move next week. The field is across from a housing project. I could see the invisible wall keeping the blacks in and the whites out. It was like a different country. The church is the same way, as an Anglican there are invisible walls thrown up whenever I speak to a Baptist or Presbyterian. God is weeping over Jerusalem. We are the new Jerusalem and we are failing. We need to repent and lay down our arms instead of attacking each other. We need to lay down our pride and look to God for direction, discipline and unity. We need to stop the mindless theological arguments, stand up for orthodox and authentic Christianity, while unifying around our Savior's last words - the commission to go out making disciples of all men. We do this not for our pride, or our glory, or our fame; we do it because God loved us and so in our reception of that love we conform to His image, follow His heart, and love Him back.
Word on the Way - Ecclesiastes 10:4
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Friday, May 28
Ecclesiastes 10:4 If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
I sneaked a peek at this verse yesterday to see what I had coming, and I was a little weirded out by this verse. Yet, as I read it today I started to see what the words were saying. To me its talking about integrity. Integrity is not just about being right all the time, actually anyone can be right all the time. Integrity usually only shows up when you're wrong. When somehow you are called into question; and this verse displays, probably, the best reaction. The verse says, take it! Take responsibility and endure that your boss can see that you are dependable, even when you are wrong.
This is hard. You have to shelf your pride and be willing to be seen as a failure. Yet, as Christians we should be used to this. Christianity is the road less traveled. Unfortunately, now I have to say true Christianity is the road less traveled. The closer we get to our Lord the more we begin to focus less on ourselves and more on Him, the more our motivations change from temporal to eternal. With the Lord's help we will persevere through the rough times with integrity as an example of the Lord's love, which transcends this earthly realm.
Friday, May 28
Ecclesiastes 10:4 If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
I sneaked a peek at this verse yesterday to see what I had coming, and I was a little weirded out by this verse. Yet, as I read it today I started to see what the words were saying. To me its talking about integrity. Integrity is not just about being right all the time, actually anyone can be right all the time. Integrity usually only shows up when you're wrong. When somehow you are called into question; and this verse displays, probably, the best reaction. The verse says, take it! Take responsibility and endure that your boss can see that you are dependable, even when you are wrong.
This is hard. You have to shelf your pride and be willing to be seen as a failure. Yet, as Christians we should be used to this. Christianity is the road less traveled. Unfortunately, now I have to say true Christianity is the road less traveled. The closer we get to our Lord the more we begin to focus less on ourselves and more on Him, the more our motivations change from temporal to eternal. With the Lord's help we will persevere through the rough times with integrity as an example of the Lord's love, which transcends this earthly realm.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Word on the Way - Hebrews 13:8
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Tuesday, May 25
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
We've all heard that line "What a difference a day makes, twenty four little hours..." accompanied with some sweet jazz.
Yet, that's really the story of our lives. The song speaks about a movement from darkness into light; but I know we've all had our share of the reverse. This world turns and our days can change so quickly. The reality is that we live in a broken world, even if we have those few days that stand to the contrary. Actually, at my current job we fear good days; because we know that a good day is going to bring three or four bad days to follow. Maybe we're superstitious but that's the way the trend goes; and I'm all about trends (but I'm not trendy, I just like watching people's habits and repetitive movements).
There is no trend with God, He doesn't change. He may repeat Himself; but He is creative and original while constant.
Maybe a different way to look at it is through how we define ourselves over our lives. At first we're defined by our parents, then by our toys, friends, school, activities, or cars. Then we move to our jobs, our wives, our house, our dog/cat, hobbies, social circles, and yes our cars. Then we are defined by our children, their schools, their activities, etc. Then maybe its our grandchildren, retirement home, etc. (I haven't gotten that far, I'm only half down the list). If we dig deeper we see that our motivations change over time, who we are literally changes - even if its only the way others look at us. College was big for me because I could experiment with who I am, I learned a lot about who I am, but I was also changed. I feel that I've become more introverted. I hope that I've slowly become a better man.
Yet, God knows who He is and is revealing Himself to us in the scripture, in His creation, and in His relationship with us; and it does not change. He does not change. Though He may speak to you differently today as He did yesterday, He is the same. He was, is and always will be the same.
If there is sin in your life, bring it to Him and revel in His mercy. If you feel insignificant, come sit at His feet and behold His glory knowing that He gave up that glory to be with you. If you feel burned out, come rest in His arms knowing that there is nothing you can do for Him to love you. He already has, does and will forever love you. Rest here, live here, love here for God is here and He is calling you. He's been waiting, so come sit and relate to the love of your life.
Tuesday, May 25
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
We've all heard that line "What a difference a day makes, twenty four little hours..." accompanied with some sweet jazz.
Yet, that's really the story of our lives. The song speaks about a movement from darkness into light; but I know we've all had our share of the reverse. This world turns and our days can change so quickly. The reality is that we live in a broken world, even if we have those few days that stand to the contrary. Actually, at my current job we fear good days; because we know that a good day is going to bring three or four bad days to follow. Maybe we're superstitious but that's the way the trend goes; and I'm all about trends (but I'm not trendy, I just like watching people's habits and repetitive movements).
There is no trend with God, He doesn't change. He may repeat Himself; but He is creative and original while constant.
Maybe a different way to look at it is through how we define ourselves over our lives. At first we're defined by our parents, then by our toys, friends, school, activities, or cars. Then we move to our jobs, our wives, our house, our dog/cat, hobbies, social circles, and yes our cars. Then we are defined by our children, their schools, their activities, etc. Then maybe its our grandchildren, retirement home, etc. (I haven't gotten that far, I'm only half down the list). If we dig deeper we see that our motivations change over time, who we are literally changes - even if its only the way others look at us. College was big for me because I could experiment with who I am, I learned a lot about who I am, but I was also changed. I feel that I've become more introverted. I hope that I've slowly become a better man.
Yet, God knows who He is and is revealing Himself to us in the scripture, in His creation, and in His relationship with us; and it does not change. He does not change. Though He may speak to you differently today as He did yesterday, He is the same. He was, is and always will be the same.
If there is sin in your life, bring it to Him and revel in His mercy. If you feel insignificant, come sit at His feet and behold His glory knowing that He gave up that glory to be with you. If you feel burned out, come rest in His arms knowing that there is nothing you can do for Him to love you. He already has, does and will forever love you. Rest here, live here, love here for God is here and He is calling you. He's been waiting, so come sit and relate to the love of your life.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Word of the Way - 1 Peter 5:7
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Monday, May 24
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Let this wash over you. Taking away the burdens in your heart weighing you down.
This is Jesus. Why? Because I needed this verse. I'm sitting here with a bad case of the Mondays wondering if God will ever help me out of this bad job situation. I want to do more than add numbers together and watch them be ignored. I want to do good for the Lord and for the world, and selfishly for myself. But these are worries and cares that are beyond me. I have no real power over my destiny, my path or, a better way to put it, where God wants me.
So, here I am giving my worries and cares to God...well, I'm trying, because its hard. Giving them away means I have to relinquish my control over my life, over these cares that are burning me out. It's actually surprising that I hold onto them, because I really have no control over them. Either you have to accept that God is control or that life is random (you could argue that we have control - but I think in the end we have to answer the fundamental question: God or no God; when we answer that our belief system develops accordingly), but both leave you mostly powerless to really do anything. A random life will leave you spinning your wheels for direction or listlessly following the flow of life regardless of what the future holds. A God controlled life leaves you in the hands of God.
The verse tells us to take our cares to God. I think if you actually pictured yourself before Almighty God, you would be speechless. Your cares would be so insignificant to His glory; but the truth is God cares. Despite our insignificance, despite our sin He still cares for us. He is calling us closer. He is asking to hear our prayers. He is asking us to bring our brokenness to Him. Like Tenth Avenue North in their song "Any Other Way", God comes to us and says "I need your hurt, I need your pain; it's not love any other way". How can God love us if we don't trust Him with our needs?
See, God is not calling us to a religion of independence. He is calling us to relational dependence. I was thinking about this on the way to work; and the truth is God will always be the creator and we will always be the creation. There was a time when I always asked for strength; but I should have been asking for weakness so that I could run to Him and depend on His strength. He wants to love me and my holding back on trusting Him with my worries and cares is holding back on my receiving His love. In other words, my holding on to the control of my life is standing in between my breaking and hurting heart and His love.
But God still loves me. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit loves me enough to care about my worries. He loved me so much He sent His son, He came down and died, He dwells in my heart.
Monday, May 24
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Let this wash over you. Taking away the burdens in your heart weighing you down.
This is Jesus. Why? Because I needed this verse. I'm sitting here with a bad case of the Mondays wondering if God will ever help me out of this bad job situation. I want to do more than add numbers together and watch them be ignored. I want to do good for the Lord and for the world, and selfishly for myself. But these are worries and cares that are beyond me. I have no real power over my destiny, my path or, a better way to put it, where God wants me.
So, here I am giving my worries and cares to God...well, I'm trying, because its hard. Giving them away means I have to relinquish my control over my life, over these cares that are burning me out. It's actually surprising that I hold onto them, because I really have no control over them. Either you have to accept that God is control or that life is random (you could argue that we have control - but I think in the end we have to answer the fundamental question: God or no God; when we answer that our belief system develops accordingly), but both leave you mostly powerless to really do anything. A random life will leave you spinning your wheels for direction or listlessly following the flow of life regardless of what the future holds. A God controlled life leaves you in the hands of God.
The verse tells us to take our cares to God. I think if you actually pictured yourself before Almighty God, you would be speechless. Your cares would be so insignificant to His glory; but the truth is God cares. Despite our insignificance, despite our sin He still cares for us. He is calling us closer. He is asking to hear our prayers. He is asking us to bring our brokenness to Him. Like Tenth Avenue North in their song "Any Other Way", God comes to us and says "I need your hurt, I need your pain; it's not love any other way". How can God love us if we don't trust Him with our needs?
See, God is not calling us to a religion of independence. He is calling us to relational dependence. I was thinking about this on the way to work; and the truth is God will always be the creator and we will always be the creation. There was a time when I always asked for strength; but I should have been asking for weakness so that I could run to Him and depend on His strength. He wants to love me and my holding back on trusting Him with my worries and cares is holding back on my receiving His love. In other words, my holding on to the control of my life is standing in between my breaking and hurting heart and His love.
But God still loves me. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit loves me enough to care about my worries. He loved me so much He sent His son, He came down and died, He dwells in my heart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
