I am listening to Isaiah 50 this morning. The Messiah is speaking...
"The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment." - Isaiah 50:5-11 ESV
There is so much here!
The voice of reason is right there. Jesus is the lamb of God (John 1:29, 36) and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
I don't want to say much. I just want to go phrase by phrase and let His logic and heart attitude wash over me.
The mind of The Lamb. The courage of The Lion.
--
Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Now Is The Hour
Jesus was and Is courageous.
"And Jesus answered them, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.' " - John 12:23-26 ESV
Jesus was not timid and careful. Passages like these challenge me to step out and not play it safe.
Different people have different 'safety margins'. For an introvert losing their life may mean one thing in practical application. Dying to self might resemble what an extrovert does... and vice versa.
Jesus knew that the moments to come would reveal the glory of God. Glorified here in this passage is the Greek word doxazo (Strong's G1392) and it means to magnify, celebrate and reveal.
Jesus didn't die to self to please the Father. The Father was already pleased with Him (see Matthew 3:17). He died to reveal the Father.
I don't know what this means to you personally. All of us struggle with different decisions at different times.
At one point going to Bible college was losing my life. Dorm life definitely was at times. {smile}
I lost my life when I handed a person a Gospel tract on the street. The only 'evangelists' I ever remember seeing growing up were a group of people in African dress in Times Square who had a big picture of Jesus drawn as a black man and wanted to argue with me that Jesus was black that white people had stolen their Bible from them. They were angry and violent men shouting through a megaphone who looked like they would happily hurt people if they could justify getting away with it. I didn't want to be associated with anything like that.
Can we walk into situations and say, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.' even if it means risking that people might misunderstand us?
I want to have this attitude for every hospital visit and each conversation with someone new. Jesus was going to the cross thinking this and I want to think this way as I go to His cross.
"If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV
This is the religious sacrifice. They do it to please someone who can't be pleased that way. They labor and hurt themselves and others in their labor because God's love isn't in it. God isn't motivating it. God isn't ultimate revealed in it.
Jesus can be revealed today. We don't have to say 'brother' a hundred times and end every sentence with 'Amen' to do it. We must however travel to the edge of our comfort zone and be willing to step into action by faith so that redemption can be manifested in the world.
Rest might be the thing at the edge of our comfort zone.
Can we rest saying, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.'... Yes... Resting in the storm glories God. Acting in faith obedience outside our personality glorifies God. Praise in the midst of chaos. Objectivity in the midst of the mob.
Thank You Jesus. Thank You for going to the cross. Thank You for coming to Earth and showing us what courage really is. You are our hero. Inspire us today. Send Your spirit to quicken our human spirit. We want to reveal the Father today. We want the invisible to become visible. Please make that happen and give us the backbone to go forward and not fall backwards. Thank You God.
--
"And Jesus answered them, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.' " - John 12:23-26 ESV
Jesus was not timid and careful. Passages like these challenge me to step out and not play it safe.
Different people have different 'safety margins'. For an introvert losing their life may mean one thing in practical application. Dying to self might resemble what an extrovert does... and vice versa.
Jesus knew that the moments to come would reveal the glory of God. Glorified here in this passage is the Greek word doxazo (Strong's G1392) and it means to magnify, celebrate and reveal.
Jesus didn't die to self to please the Father. The Father was already pleased with Him (see Matthew 3:17). He died to reveal the Father.
I don't know what this means to you personally. All of us struggle with different decisions at different times.
At one point going to Bible college was losing my life. Dorm life definitely was at times. {smile}
I lost my life when I handed a person a Gospel tract on the street. The only 'evangelists' I ever remember seeing growing up were a group of people in African dress in Times Square who had a big picture of Jesus drawn as a black man and wanted to argue with me that Jesus was black that white people had stolen their Bible from them. They were angry and violent men shouting through a megaphone who looked like they would happily hurt people if they could justify getting away with it. I didn't want to be associated with anything like that.
Can we walk into situations and say, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.' even if it means risking that people might misunderstand us?
I want to have this attitude for every hospital visit and each conversation with someone new. Jesus was going to the cross thinking this and I want to think this way as I go to His cross.
"If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV
This is the religious sacrifice. They do it to please someone who can't be pleased that way. They labor and hurt themselves and others in their labor because God's love isn't in it. God isn't motivating it. God isn't ultimate revealed in it.
Jesus can be revealed today. We don't have to say 'brother' a hundred times and end every sentence with 'Amen' to do it. We must however travel to the edge of our comfort zone and be willing to step into action by faith so that redemption can be manifested in the world.
Rest might be the thing at the edge of our comfort zone.
Can we rest saying, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.'... Yes... Resting in the storm glories God. Acting in faith obedience outside our personality glorifies God. Praise in the midst of chaos. Objectivity in the midst of the mob.
Thank You Jesus. Thank You for going to the cross. Thank You for coming to Earth and showing us what courage really is. You are our hero. Inspire us today. Send Your spirit to quicken our human spirit. We want to reveal the Father today. We want the invisible to become visible. Please make that happen and give us the backbone to go forward and not fall backwards. Thank You God.
--
Monday, February 9, 2015
Facing Down Goliath
"Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." - 1 Samuel 17:1-4 ESV
Goliath was a giant from a nation that reveled in war and all things warlike. War was a sport to them. Goliath was just out looking for a few more notches on his belt and basking in all the fear and shame he could produce in other people.
Fears are mighty foes and fear mongers capitalize on fear. They push anything that looks unstable and try to make it fall. It is emotional pyromania.
One of the healthiest things we can do is face our fears but to be honest who wants to go against Goliath? He has chewed up and spit out many men. It is what he does for sport.
"And the Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, 'Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.'
Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.'
When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." - 1 Samuel 17:43-48 ESV
Oh, It make you want to cheer inside doesn't it?
If fear is motivating us then we will just cower on our side of the mountain as the enemy amasses force on the other side. Goliath was just a stalling tactic. All that bologna about champion versus champion just a ploy to play on their honor to bring an easy victory. The Philistines wanted to shame the people to make them easier to fight. They never had any intentions of serving Israel.
It is easy to live a life of avoidance isn't it. To just cross unto the other side of the street face forward and just not get involved.
David wasn't a servant of Saul. He was on no man's leash. He was an arrow in the quiver of God. He was a free man.
Grace defies fear because it declares that God has given favor to a person. It is favor that no person or event can take away or diminish. It isn't foolish but it also doesn't back down.
David's speech was for the armies of Israel and for himself. His words made this contest a contest against God and His favor.
Go ahead and speak to that looming cloud that tries to cast it's shadow over your life. Rally your troops. A man or woman who serves The King of Kings needs never cower in fear.
We live in a victory that has already been won when we say, 'The battle is The Lord's!'
--
Goliath was a giant from a nation that reveled in war and all things warlike. War was a sport to them. Goliath was just out looking for a few more notches on his belt and basking in all the fear and shame he could produce in other people.
Fears are mighty foes and fear mongers capitalize on fear. They push anything that looks unstable and try to make it fall. It is emotional pyromania.
One of the healthiest things we can do is face our fears but to be honest who wants to go against Goliath? He has chewed up and spit out many men. It is what he does for sport.
"And the Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, 'Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.'
Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.'
When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." - 1 Samuel 17:43-48 ESV
Oh, It make you want to cheer inside doesn't it?
If fear is motivating us then we will just cower on our side of the mountain as the enemy amasses force on the other side. Goliath was just a stalling tactic. All that bologna about champion versus champion just a ploy to play on their honor to bring an easy victory. The Philistines wanted to shame the people to make them easier to fight. They never had any intentions of serving Israel.
It is easy to live a life of avoidance isn't it. To just cross unto the other side of the street face forward and just not get involved.
David wasn't a servant of Saul. He was on no man's leash. He was an arrow in the quiver of God. He was a free man.
Grace defies fear because it declares that God has given favor to a person. It is favor that no person or event can take away or diminish. It isn't foolish but it also doesn't back down.
David's speech was for the armies of Israel and for himself. His words made this contest a contest against God and His favor.
Go ahead and speak to that looming cloud that tries to cast it's shadow over your life. Rally your troops. A man or woman who serves The King of Kings needs never cower in fear.
We live in a victory that has already been won when we say, 'The battle is The Lord's!'
--
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Pack Some Courage
We are going to need courage.
"The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off." - Proverbs 24:9-14 ESV
Courage makes us part of the rescue party. We become ones who go or ones who are praying for and supplying the ones who go.
The scoffer lacks courage and the faint in heart end up in their company by default. Right and wrong is a small cause. It is low ground for those of small strength. Those with little power complain about those in power. Murmuring only results in gridlock and delay.
Courage rescues us and others.
Grace is a high cause. Mercy is royal. Grace is pure unadulterated good news. It mocks nothing. It only invites.
"When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." - Matthew 10:19-20 ESV
Live in grace now and you will have the guts to say what needs to be said later. Pray now and the answer will come later. Live in vision now. You may be mocked for it but you won't be a weak minded mocker.
Courage is cultivated. Sure, Some of us are more timid than others in our make up. There are bold ones that seem to be bold from an early age. Courage is more than that.
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 1:20-25 ESV
We don't know what the day will bring. I want to be ready so I'm going to pack what God has given me right where I can reach it if I need it then take a deep breath and rest in what God has done.
Jesus Is all I need to be courageous. His joy is my strength.
--
"The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off." - Proverbs 24:9-14 ESV
Courage makes us part of the rescue party. We become ones who go or ones who are praying for and supplying the ones who go.
The scoffer lacks courage and the faint in heart end up in their company by default. Right and wrong is a small cause. It is low ground for those of small strength. Those with little power complain about those in power. Murmuring only results in gridlock and delay.
Courage rescues us and others.
Grace is a high cause. Mercy is royal. Grace is pure unadulterated good news. It mocks nothing. It only invites.
"When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." - Matthew 10:19-20 ESV
Live in grace now and you will have the guts to say what needs to be said later. Pray now and the answer will come later. Live in vision now. You may be mocked for it but you won't be a weak minded mocker.
Courage is cultivated. Sure, Some of us are more timid than others in our make up. There are bold ones that seem to be bold from an early age. Courage is more than that.
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 1:20-25 ESV
We don't know what the day will bring. I want to be ready so I'm going to pack what God has given me right where I can reach it if I need it then take a deep breath and rest in what God has done.
Jesus Is all I need to be courageous. His joy is my strength.
--
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Stay In Jerusalem
Ah, Yes. The impossible situation. No answer in sight and emotions charged up to the hilt. Ever been there?
"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." - John 20:19-20 ESV
Jesus had been killed and they were sure they were next. Can't go this way or that way. Caught between a rock and a hard place.
I often think of this verse when my back seems to be up against the wall or I have painted myself into a corner somehow.
He walked through the wall peaceful and healthy and showed them His hands and side. It was like He was saying, 'See, The impossible is possible. God brings life out of death.'
That is so comforting to me. I don't even to know how to express how comforting it is.
Sure, Sometimes it is just our poor planning that gets us into impossible situations. Go ahead and take a moment to condemn yourself. That always works out well. Reminisce with 'what if' statements and 'maybe I should have done it this way or that way' conjectures.
I imagine the disciples were full of that thinking... trapped in a room with dwindling options and emotional disturbances.
But, Then Jesus walks in. All their self-justification and self-recrimination just fades away. I love this next part. To be perfectly honest I hate it and love it at the same time.
"He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' " - Acts 1:3-5 ESV
Did He say, 'Ok. Get out of this stuffy old room and sneak out of town. Go start over in Bethany. I will make sure you will be safe there. This will all blow over soon.'
No.
He commands them to stay free right there in Jerusalem. He calmly challenges them to use His promise against the fear that wants to eat them alive and consume their thinking. Power is coming. Power that overwhelms fear. Power that redeems lives. Power.
Fear is a bully. We can run and then make leaving and starting over a lifestyle or we can stay and fight fear with faith. Standing in grace insulates us from the violent electrical current that would otherwise energize a person.
God isn't always going to give use all the details of His plan. He gives use grace and promises. His grace is enough until He fills our gaps with His glory.
--
"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." - John 20:19-20 ESV
Jesus had been killed and they were sure they were next. Can't go this way or that way. Caught between a rock and a hard place.
I often think of this verse when my back seems to be up against the wall or I have painted myself into a corner somehow.
He walked through the wall peaceful and healthy and showed them His hands and side. It was like He was saying, 'See, The impossible is possible. God brings life out of death.'
That is so comforting to me. I don't even to know how to express how comforting it is.
Sure, Sometimes it is just our poor planning that gets us into impossible situations. Go ahead and take a moment to condemn yourself. That always works out well. Reminisce with 'what if' statements and 'maybe I should have done it this way or that way' conjectures.
I imagine the disciples were full of that thinking... trapped in a room with dwindling options and emotional disturbances.
But, Then Jesus walks in. All their self-justification and self-recrimination just fades away. I love this next part. To be perfectly honest I hate it and love it at the same time.
"He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' " - Acts 1:3-5 ESV
Did He say, 'Ok. Get out of this stuffy old room and sneak out of town. Go start over in Bethany. I will make sure you will be safe there. This will all blow over soon.'
No.
He commands them to stay free right there in Jerusalem. He calmly challenges them to use His promise against the fear that wants to eat them alive and consume their thinking. Power is coming. Power that overwhelms fear. Power that redeems lives. Power.
Fear is a bully. We can run and then make leaving and starting over a lifestyle or we can stay and fight fear with faith. Standing in grace insulates us from the violent electrical current that would otherwise energize a person.
God isn't always going to give use all the details of His plan. He gives use grace and promises. His grace is enough until He fills our gaps with His glory.
--
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