"...for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." - Luke 16:8b KJV
I sometimes ask God in my prayer time 'who have I not seen lately?' because I am aware of the fact that I might not be as good at communicating as other folks are with the people I care for.
"For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel," - Philippians 1:8-12 ESV
"...while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you." - 2 Corinthians 9:14 ESV
"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." - Romans 1:11-12 ESV
I have noticed that in some circles of Church culture mainstream methods of communication can be lacking because the local assembly becomes the hub of interaction so people just interact there assuming everyone in those circles will be seen and found in that place. Often people can fall out of communication just because they haven't been around.
Out of sight can mean out of mind very easily.
"... for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord." - Ephesians 5:8-10 ESV
"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing." - Luke 15:4-5 ESV
This passage in Luke came up the other day and we focused on the fact that this shepherd was so aware that he knew that a sheep was missing and went after it. What good is the willingness to 'go after' people if you don't even know who is missing?
That is why I pray, 'Who is missing Lord?' because I know that is a prayer that is pleasing to God. He cares deeply for people. He isn't focused on our shortcomings or inabilities. He just wants our heart. He Is able.
Perhaps you feel like a disconnected person. Maybe you left and felt that no one missed you. I understand that feeling. I have had to give those emotions to God before and likely will again. I think it prepares us to be people who reach out if it gets processed through Christ's cross. We can either decide to blame places or people and perhaps end up with a root of bitterness or we can let God make us mindful of other people.
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Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Structured Freedom
Still reading Romans chapter 7 and just pondering why rules don't work for us in the long run.
"So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin." - Romans 7:12-14 ESV
"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh," - Romans 8:3 ESV
Ever work in a place with tight restrictive rules? A few people thrive but in most of the places I have been the relationships with management are always strained in some way. Those rules may be good rules or bad ones it. The culture is affected no matter what.
Folks teach that God is like that but He isn't. Rules were given so 'sin would be revealed as exceedingly sinful'. God isn't a micromanager.
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-36 ESV
God has made a family for himself and creates a divine culture in this family. It is one of freedom not oriented on restrictions.
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 'All things are lawful for me,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful for me,' but I will not be dominated by anything." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-12 ESV
This isn't a legal treatise. This is just me pondering on an ordered culture of freedom that has love, mercy, grace and honour. A place where we don't marvel at or concentrate on the rules or personal failure. We don't sweep it under the rug but we also don't live focused on how someone or something should be. We marvel at the mercy and live in a vision.
Rules just are not going to 'fix' people. Love will produce the change. Structured freedom creates an atmosphere of growth where failure isn't final.
Grace is sufficient. It really really is.
--
"So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin." - Romans 7:12-14 ESV
"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh," - Romans 8:3 ESV
Ever work in a place with tight restrictive rules? A few people thrive but in most of the places I have been the relationships with management are always strained in some way. Those rules may be good rules or bad ones it. The culture is affected no matter what.
Folks teach that God is like that but He isn't. Rules were given so 'sin would be revealed as exceedingly sinful'. God isn't a micromanager.
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-36 ESV
God has made a family for himself and creates a divine culture in this family. It is one of freedom not oriented on restrictions.
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 'All things are lawful for me,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful for me,' but I will not be dominated by anything." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-12 ESV
This isn't a legal treatise. This is just me pondering on an ordered culture of freedom that has love, mercy, grace and honour. A place where we don't marvel at or concentrate on the rules or personal failure. We don't sweep it under the rug but we also don't live focused on how someone or something should be. We marvel at the mercy and live in a vision.
Rules just are not going to 'fix' people. Love will produce the change. Structured freedom creates an atmosphere of growth where failure isn't final.
Grace is sufficient. It really really is.
--
Friday, September 22, 2017
Salvation Is Of Judah
"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:22-24 ESV
A great passage with rich meaning but today I'm focusing in on the 'Jewishness' of salvation. The word translated 'Jews' (Ioudaios - Strong's G2453) is an adjective, not a noun or a proper name. Some would even translate it 'Judahness' making a distinction between the northern and southern Hebrew kingdoms. Historically there was a split between 'Israel' and 'Judah'. Israel is known for making bad decisions because of bad leadership. Judah struggled and teeter-tottered back and forth. Salvation is 'of Judah' because Jesus is descended from Judah.
"And one of the elders said to me, 'Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.' " - Revelation 5:5 ESV
Jesus was and Is the best thing that was ever produced out of that land. He Is the Lion of that tribe. The Royal One.
Is salvation 'Jew-ish' or is it 'Judah-ish'. Is our spirituality? I would have to say based on the passage in John chapter 4 that it is both but it is also neither one.
In verse 9 we see that Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan woman who had her own somewhat warped ideas about spirituality and He was initiating life to her and saying that God is looking for present-day worshippers who have the right basis of understanding but are in their own category. They are 'graced out' ones who recieve and live in the grace of God. The Messiah was from Judah but what He brought was from Heaven and not steeped in an Earthern culture.
"So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." - Acts 11:25-26 ESV
Salvation is Jewish but spirituality is Christ-like because Christ-likeness is from Heaven. This isn't left wing versus right wing or based in morality. It isn't Baptist, Lutheran or Presbyterian. It is Jesus being manifested in the world. It is a man walking far out of His way to talk to an ostracized woman at a well and let her know that even though her concepts were wrong and she was known and cared for by just a few people on Earth... God cared for her and wanted to include her in His 'spirit and truth' fellowship.
Jesus provides hope for every person from every culture and economic background. He didn't come to make the world Jewish. He came so that the individual could be Christ-like. He came to save you and i out of all our wrong ideas and give us a new life with a new heritage.
Antisemitism has always been bubbling under the surface in culture after culture. It is no surprise. It isn't just a reaction to a people group that teeter-totters. It is a reaction to the Jewishness of salvation. It is a reaction to one carpenter's Son. Let's love that Son of man and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That place needs our prayer.
--
A great passage with rich meaning but today I'm focusing in on the 'Jewishness' of salvation. The word translated 'Jews' (Ioudaios - Strong's G2453) is an adjective, not a noun or a proper name. Some would even translate it 'Judahness' making a distinction between the northern and southern Hebrew kingdoms. Historically there was a split between 'Israel' and 'Judah'. Israel is known for making bad decisions because of bad leadership. Judah struggled and teeter-tottered back and forth. Salvation is 'of Judah' because Jesus is descended from Judah.
"And one of the elders said to me, 'Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.' " - Revelation 5:5 ESV
Jesus was and Is the best thing that was ever produced out of that land. He Is the Lion of that tribe. The Royal One.
Is salvation 'Jew-ish' or is it 'Judah-ish'. Is our spirituality? I would have to say based on the passage in John chapter 4 that it is both but it is also neither one.
In verse 9 we see that Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan woman who had her own somewhat warped ideas about spirituality and He was initiating life to her and saying that God is looking for present-day worshippers who have the right basis of understanding but are in their own category. They are 'graced out' ones who recieve and live in the grace of God. The Messiah was from Judah but what He brought was from Heaven and not steeped in an Earthern culture.
"So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." - Acts 11:25-26 ESV
Salvation is Jewish but spirituality is Christ-like because Christ-likeness is from Heaven. This isn't left wing versus right wing or based in morality. It isn't Baptist, Lutheran or Presbyterian. It is Jesus being manifested in the world. It is a man walking far out of His way to talk to an ostracized woman at a well and let her know that even though her concepts were wrong and she was known and cared for by just a few people on Earth... God cared for her and wanted to include her in His 'spirit and truth' fellowship.
Jesus provides hope for every person from every culture and economic background. He didn't come to make the world Jewish. He came so that the individual could be Christ-like. He came to save you and i out of all our wrong ideas and give us a new life with a new heritage.
Antisemitism has always been bubbling under the surface in culture after culture. It is no surprise. It isn't just a reaction to a people group that teeter-totters. It is a reaction to the Jewishness of salvation. It is a reaction to one carpenter's Son. Let's love that Son of man and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That place needs our prayer.
--
Friday, August 5, 2016
Bridging The Breaking Mechanism
Just a few thoughts about racism.
"Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him," - Luke 8:1 ESV
"Now the whole earth had one language and the same words... Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.'... And the LORD said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.' So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth." - Genesis 11:1, 4, 6-9 ESV
God saw something about fallen men. They had a desire to make 'a name for themselves' and He knew that if He confused their languages that it would act as a breaking mechanism for their ambition. People would gravitate towards other people that understood them. In those language groups the desire to 'make a name for themselves' would continue. If Babel would have gone on unhindered humanity would have built a huge unstable structure that would eventually topple and kill the all or most of the people involved.
In contrast... Jesus went to all the villages and spoke to all the people he could reach. He didn't go to those that spoke his language only. He had good news and was not trying to make a name for himself or His group. Jesus sought to pass through walls without destroying culture.
Recently someone in a group brought up the question, 'What language do you think we will speak in Heaven? Will we have one language?
Of course I don't know that answer because the scriptures don't specifically say but I do see these passages.
"For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory." - Isaiah 66:18 KJV
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" - Revelation 7:9 KJV
I think we will have the opportunity to speak and understand all of them. I think God wants to make us larger not smaller.
Let go to every village we can and learn to communicate. Hatred only cuts us off from knowing and appreciating the beauty of what God has done. Having good new motivates us to go. Making a name for ourselves motivates isolation.
--
"Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him," - Luke 8:1 ESV
"Now the whole earth had one language and the same words... Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.'... And the LORD said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.' So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth." - Genesis 11:1, 4, 6-9 ESV
God saw something about fallen men. They had a desire to make 'a name for themselves' and He knew that if He confused their languages that it would act as a breaking mechanism for their ambition. People would gravitate towards other people that understood them. In those language groups the desire to 'make a name for themselves' would continue. If Babel would have gone on unhindered humanity would have built a huge unstable structure that would eventually topple and kill the all or most of the people involved.
In contrast... Jesus went to all the villages and spoke to all the people he could reach. He didn't go to those that spoke his language only. He had good news and was not trying to make a name for himself or His group. Jesus sought to pass through walls without destroying culture.
Recently someone in a group brought up the question, 'What language do you think we will speak in Heaven? Will we have one language?
Of course I don't know that answer because the scriptures don't specifically say but I do see these passages.
"For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory." - Isaiah 66:18 KJV
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" - Revelation 7:9 KJV
I think we will have the opportunity to speak and understand all of them. I think God wants to make us larger not smaller.
Let go to every village we can and learn to communicate. Hatred only cuts us off from knowing and appreciating the beauty of what God has done. Having good new motivates us to go. Making a name for ourselves motivates isolation.
--
Monday, July 25, 2016
Healing In His Wings
This morning I am reading Mark chapter 6 and Matthew chapter 13 and 14 looking at the parallels between John the Baptist's life and Jesus' ministry. It is very interesting to me.
"He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them." - Mark 6:1-5 ESV
"King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, 'John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.' But others said, 'He is Elijah.' And others said, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.' But when Herod heard of it, he said, 'John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.'" - Mark 6:14-16 ESV
John had a primarily moral message, 'Clean up your act because God's kingdom is coming.' and that message got him is trouble because he was vocal about immorality on every level of society.
"For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not," - Mark 6:17-19 ESV
Herod was manipulated into having John killed and then when he hears about Jesus it reminds him that he had a good man killed and his superstitious mind makes connections. Jesus becomes the ghost of John in Herod's mind.
The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus in part because His message was not moral. Jesus had healing in His wings. John never had that.
Then I look at the world I live in today and see a similar dynamic. I am one of Jesus' disciples. There are those that look with familiarity and then there are those that associate Jesus with the ghost of a moral ministry. In the midst of it all Jesus is still healing. Healing took place in Nazareth but no 'mighty work' took place there. I think that mighty work is conversion and transformation.
Then there is a the culture that has blood on it's hands and when it sees Jesus it reminds them of that blood.
But the real truth stripped of familiarity and ghost stories is that Jesus is a gracious gentle healer who has come to be a lamb. He isn't the boy who lived next door and he isn't a resuscitated morality.
Those who walked with him then knew that and so do those who walk with him now. He heals. I wish people could see it. There is healing with Him that can be found no where else. My eyes fill with tears as I type this. He is not what religion says He Is. He is not a cross on a wall or a bad experience a person had in a Church. He is the Savior of the world and of each individual. He is kind and unique and eternal.
Please close your eyes and pray and open them again. Look and see Him as the scripture reveals Him. There is hope is him that can't be found anywhere else.
--
"He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them." - Mark 6:1-5 ESV
"King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, 'John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.' But others said, 'He is Elijah.' And others said, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.' But when Herod heard of it, he said, 'John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.'" - Mark 6:14-16 ESV
John had a primarily moral message, 'Clean up your act because God's kingdom is coming.' and that message got him is trouble because he was vocal about immorality on every level of society.
"For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not," - Mark 6:17-19 ESV
Herod was manipulated into having John killed and then when he hears about Jesus it reminds him that he had a good man killed and his superstitious mind makes connections. Jesus becomes the ghost of John in Herod's mind.
The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus in part because His message was not moral. Jesus had healing in His wings. John never had that.
Then I look at the world I live in today and see a similar dynamic. I am one of Jesus' disciples. There are those that look with familiarity and then there are those that associate Jesus with the ghost of a moral ministry. In the midst of it all Jesus is still healing. Healing took place in Nazareth but no 'mighty work' took place there. I think that mighty work is conversion and transformation.
Then there is a the culture that has blood on it's hands and when it sees Jesus it reminds them of that blood.
But the real truth stripped of familiarity and ghost stories is that Jesus is a gracious gentle healer who has come to be a lamb. He isn't the boy who lived next door and he isn't a resuscitated morality.
Those who walked with him then knew that and so do those who walk with him now. He heals. I wish people could see it. There is healing with Him that can be found no where else. My eyes fill with tears as I type this. He is not what religion says He Is. He is not a cross on a wall or a bad experience a person had in a Church. He is the Savior of the world and of each individual. He is kind and unique and eternal.
Please close your eyes and pray and open them again. Look and see Him as the scripture reveals Him. There is hope is him that can't be found anywhere else.
--
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Fictional Families
I awoke with a clear idea in my mind. In this time we live in people are more involved with fictional relationships than they are with real connections. Television friendships have stolen the intimacy of real friendships. Doctors in fictional hospitals model dysfunction weekly. People know and care about who a singer is dating and was seen with on the 4th of July in an unhealthy way and it robs them.
Here is an interesting passage. I will give the context directly afterwards.
"But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler." - 1 Peter 4:15 ESV
That word 'meddler' is translated 'busybody' in the King James. The Greek word is allotriepiskopos (Strong's G244) and it is a combination of two concepts, stranger and overseer. It is an interesting list isn't it? The first steals life. The second steals property. The third corrupts order and the fourth exercises power over strange people.
Here is the context.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" - 1 Peter 4:12-17 ESV
The fiery trial isn't the normal day to day one. It is the hurricane that strikes with fury. It is the flood that forces evacuation. It that day the fictions will fail us but the true connections have a chance of holding fast.
"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:13-21 ESV
There is a divine attachment and detachment that we are made for as people. Do we care about real things and real people? Perhaps that can make us vulnerable. Real people can hurt us. The world is a crowded place filled with isolated people. Smart phones create social zombies with fast thumbs and slow tongues.
Real attachments create real anxieties also and God would be our buffer so that we don't worship people or relationships.
"But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." - 1 Corinthians 7:28-34 ESV
God's grace is the balance.
God knows that wrong focus creates anxiety. Grace keeps us from being meddlers. We do not need to have control over strangers. It connects us but in a healthy way where God is in the middle as a buffer.
How strange it would sound if a public figure said in a public interview, 'Let's stop caring about who your favorite movie star is dating and start initiating Godly friendships with one another. That is none of your business. Let's evangelize people and get our heads out of our phones.' It would be scandalous.
God give us a new friend this week... not someone we meddle with... not some wrong connection that will cause anxiety... make us like salmon that swim against the current of our world... here and present be not 'of the world' in it's whims and obsessions... make us grace and mercy people who love and are involved in a healthy Godly way in what is real. We worship you and that is real worship. You are our anchor into what is lasting and actual. You are our God. Thank You Lord. We love you. You are the sun that lights our world. Illuminate our path today. We believe You will. Thank You God.
--
Here is an interesting passage. I will give the context directly afterwards.
"But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler." - 1 Peter 4:15 ESV
That word 'meddler' is translated 'busybody' in the King James. The Greek word is allotriepiskopos (Strong's G244) and it is a combination of two concepts, stranger and overseer. It is an interesting list isn't it? The first steals life. The second steals property. The third corrupts order and the fourth exercises power over strange people.
Here is the context.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" - 1 Peter 4:12-17 ESV
The fiery trial isn't the normal day to day one. It is the hurricane that strikes with fury. It is the flood that forces evacuation. It that day the fictions will fail us but the true connections have a chance of holding fast.
"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:13-21 ESV
There is a divine attachment and detachment that we are made for as people. Do we care about real things and real people? Perhaps that can make us vulnerable. Real people can hurt us. The world is a crowded place filled with isolated people. Smart phones create social zombies with fast thumbs and slow tongues.
Real attachments create real anxieties also and God would be our buffer so that we don't worship people or relationships.
"But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." - 1 Corinthians 7:28-34 ESV
God's grace is the balance.
God knows that wrong focus creates anxiety. Grace keeps us from being meddlers. We do not need to have control over strangers. It connects us but in a healthy way where God is in the middle as a buffer.
How strange it would sound if a public figure said in a public interview, 'Let's stop caring about who your favorite movie star is dating and start initiating Godly friendships with one another. That is none of your business. Let's evangelize people and get our heads out of our phones.' It would be scandalous.
God give us a new friend this week... not someone we meddle with... not some wrong connection that will cause anxiety... make us like salmon that swim against the current of our world... here and present be not 'of the world' in it's whims and obsessions... make us grace and mercy people who love and are involved in a healthy Godly way in what is real. We worship you and that is real worship. You are our anchor into what is lasting and actual. You are our God. Thank You Lord. We love you. You are the sun that lights our world. Illuminate our path today. We believe You will. Thank You God.
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Thursday, May 14, 2015
Grace And Idolatry in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10
I enjoy reading scriptures and asking God, 'How does this apply to me?'
I've been reading 1 Corinthians chapter 10 this morning
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." - 1 Corinthians 10:13-14 ESV
The chapter goes back forth on the issue of idolatry. Israel fell into it again and again.
"For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were" - 1 Corinthians 10:1-7a ESV
The Church was face to face with it in the Roman culture.
"For 'the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.' If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience - I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:26-31 ESV
The way of escape we are looking for is not just a way of escape from the personal temptation that may assault us. We have that and thank God we do. Jesus Himself is our way of escape. Practicing the presence of God is one aspect of that escape.
Paul is addressing culture in this chapter. Israel's culture and the Roman influenced culture of the day. Food sacrificed to idols was everywhere. The question is, 'Where is the focus when we sit down to eat together?'
What we do or don't do is glory oriented, capacity building and capacity preserving. God sees us all the time. People only see us some of the time and that is good. What we do in those times is on display and knowing that is part of our way of escape.
God dealt with Israel the way that He did for His name's sake. It was not sin oriented judgement because sin is paid for. It was reputation oriented. That is powerful. Israel had a national reputation and we have an individual one. God had to deal with Israel again and again because He loved them and they needed to be drawn back and saved from their own selves over and over again. Is that what we want?
Lust turns wood into idols. Grace turns idols back into pieces of wood. How I see the lumber of life around me adds to or removes from our portrayal of God's reputation. Our freedom and love proclaims that our God is a good God. Our bondage sends the wrong message.
If we focus on grace then at dinner that is what the person in front of us is seeing.
Grace is all wrapped up in our walk with God. Grace is the basis of our walk. The freedom of grace and the constraining love that a graced out person reveals. We are free to eat the food no matter what idol it was sacrificed to because we know that is all garbage anyway but we are also free to say no if it will hurt our brother because grace has loved us so very much that our hunger or desire to exercise our rights can't dictate our behavior.
Glory. What a high thought.
That the God of Heaven is glorified in our little lives is amazing. I want people to see God as He really is through my life. Grace is how God really Is. He Is holy and gracious at the same time.
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I've been reading 1 Corinthians chapter 10 this morning
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." - 1 Corinthians 10:13-14 ESV
The chapter goes back forth on the issue of idolatry. Israel fell into it again and again.
"For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were" - 1 Corinthians 10:1-7a ESV
The Church was face to face with it in the Roman culture.
"For 'the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.' If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience - I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:26-31 ESV
The way of escape we are looking for is not just a way of escape from the personal temptation that may assault us. We have that and thank God we do. Jesus Himself is our way of escape. Practicing the presence of God is one aspect of that escape.
Paul is addressing culture in this chapter. Israel's culture and the Roman influenced culture of the day. Food sacrificed to idols was everywhere. The question is, 'Where is the focus when we sit down to eat together?'
What we do or don't do is glory oriented, capacity building and capacity preserving. God sees us all the time. People only see us some of the time and that is good. What we do in those times is on display and knowing that is part of our way of escape.
God dealt with Israel the way that He did for His name's sake. It was not sin oriented judgement because sin is paid for. It was reputation oriented. That is powerful. Israel had a national reputation and we have an individual one. God had to deal with Israel again and again because He loved them and they needed to be drawn back and saved from their own selves over and over again. Is that what we want?
Lust turns wood into idols. Grace turns idols back into pieces of wood. How I see the lumber of life around me adds to or removes from our portrayal of God's reputation. Our freedom and love proclaims that our God is a good God. Our bondage sends the wrong message.
If we focus on grace then at dinner that is what the person in front of us is seeing.
Grace is all wrapped up in our walk with God. Grace is the basis of our walk. The freedom of grace and the constraining love that a graced out person reveals. We are free to eat the food no matter what idol it was sacrificed to because we know that is all garbage anyway but we are also free to say no if it will hurt our brother because grace has loved us so very much that our hunger or desire to exercise our rights can't dictate our behavior.
Glory. What a high thought.
That the God of Heaven is glorified in our little lives is amazing. I want people to see God as He really is through my life. Grace is how God really Is. He Is holy and gracious at the same time.
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