Grace and Vision

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.  On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.  1 Corinthians 15:10

Paul's ministry was driven by grace.  He seemed always aware of how undeserving he was of God's gift of salvation - he knew so well "from whence he came."  Paul's conversion turned him from a zealous persecutor of the followers of Christ to a man zealous to bring others to the Lord he had come to know.  It was his mission from then on to follow and serve the Lord, to tell his story and to preach the good news of salvation to the Gentile world that they, too, may come to the knowledge of the love of Christ for, in and through them.  Paul never seemed to take for granted the grace of God.  His work was propelled by the knowledge of all God had done to bring him into this new life.

Can we say the same thing?  Is the Good News burning in us, compelling us to share it?  Speaking personally, I know how easy it is for me to get so caught up in the day-to-day busy-ness of my life that I forget how I got where I am.  I stay busy doing the Lord's work but don't always pause to look back and see how far the Lord has brought me - that it's only by his grace and power that I do anything.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  (Matt. 10:8 NIV) In other words, all that we do in the name of Christ and for his kingdom is done out of all he has done and is doing in us.

Look around.  Where has God placed you - what community, church, neighborhood?  Who has he sent your way, what are the needs, where is the one who doesn't yet know the love of Jesus?  Where is the one who is sick in soul, mind or body?  Who is Jesus asking you to minister to today?  We are not all called to stand on street corners and pass out tracts but we are called to give freely of the love we have so freely been given. Watch for opportunities and be willing to share your story, your heart, your time, or whatever the Lord might be asking of you.

Take Him at His Word

And my people shall be satisfied with my goodness declares the Lord.  For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.  (Jeremiah 31:14b, 25)

How we strive to satisfy our soul's desires!  We feel a need and try to fill that need or emptiness ourselves: go shopping, buy new "toys", work harder, gain more prestige, perhaps pursue a new relationship.  When we become aware of an emptiness, we feel it must be filled and we run around trying many things or ways to satisfy.  But the truth is we're looking in the wrong direction and we're missing the true reason for our emptiness.  Temporary, earthly things can never satisfy the need that can only be filled by our eternal God. Everything else may feel like a quick fix but the depth of our need can only be addressed by God.

God placed within us our need for him.  We may spend our life running after love, things, fame, prestige, money, etc, thinking that's all it will take to satisfy, only to find the emptiness still there.  We see it all around us in people's lives spinning out of control, or in a desperate striving that never stops.  When is enough enough?

Only the one who created us, our deepest innermost parts, can answer and fill our deepest needs.  It's simple, really, and we can make it so complicated!  Be still and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).  Or, as in the NASB version, Cease striving and know that I am God.  Stop this endless rat race like the hamster on its little wheel.  Cease striving. KNOW that he is God.

God's goodness is enough.  HE is enough.  He is the sufficiency for all our needs and it is enough.  God's goodness is abundantly more than we can ever ask for or imagine (Eph. 3:19); there is no limit and no end to the love, mercy, grace and goodness of our God.  The searching, running around, restlessness, striving, and constant reaching stops here, in the presence and fullness of our Lord.  In Ephesians 1:3, we read that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.  How astonishing that is!  Every - not some - every spiritual blessing.  Nothing is left out or held back.  What an amazingly good and generous Father we have.

He promises to satisfy every weary, worn out, beaten-down soul and to replenish every languishing, weak, neglected, disheartened soul.  Look around.  These soul-weary people are everywhere.  You can see it in their eyes, their posture, their very presence.  You might even catch a glimpse when you look in the mirror. Our God is waiting, calling, reaching out to each one of us, saying:  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28 NIV).  He promises us his peace - not the peace the world can offer but the peace of God which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  He promises us love; not the weak, watered-down, conditional love of this world but the love that knows no limits, is tender, compassionate and the love that will never leave us or forsake us.  His is the love that can never be taken away by anything:  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 38-39)

God's promises are true, they are forever.  Read these words again and take them to heart - take God at his word:  

And my people shall be satisfied with my goodness declares the Lord.  For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.  (Jeremiah 31:14b, 25)

Fellowship

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

What a blessing it is to walk out our Christian journey within a community faith.  The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to encourage each other, gather together as a community, and help each other along as we live out our faith.  How badly we need to hear and receive these words.  In our world today, we are too inclined to try to get by on our own, considering the need of others almost as a weakness.  In God's perfect plans, it is through relying on one another that we are strengthened, grown and matured in our faith.  We learn from each other, we celebrate together and weep together, we discern God's will for each other and hold one another accountable.  What a gift that is.  


I had an occasion this morning to be reminded of a quote which is also the title of a book by Eugene Peterson:  "a long obedience in the same direction".  That is such a great description of a faith journey. It is long but purposeful; it is moving, not stagnant.  How much better - necessary - to walk among our brothers and sisters in the faith.  How can we possibly stay faithful and obedient if we wander along by ourselves?  I don't believe we can.  We can't be, and were never intended to be, Christians in isolation.  God created us for relationships - with him and with each other.  


I've been writing and reflecting on discipleship lately as I've been preparing a Bible study on the life of Peter, what a life of discipleship looks like from beginning to end with all its beauty, mistakes, sins, denials, transformation and sanctification.  Our Lord was preparing Peter for the role he was to step into in this new body of believers.  It was certainly not an easy path, this process of training and refining Peter went through.  But he was surrounded by his brothers and sisters in the faith who were learning with him, praying with him, weeping and celebrating with him.  They were strengthening each other even in their darkest moments.  Even in their doubt, as they may have scattered and separated from each other when Jesus was arrested, they came back together to try and make sense of all they had seen and were together in prayer as they were empowered to go out and serve their risen Lord.  Where else could they be but with each other?  Who else could really understand the depths of their emotions and the heights of joy when true understanding came?


Where else can we go?  The gift of community - of true Christ-centered friendships - is a gift beyond measure.  Those dear ones in our lives who know us and love us anyway - who encourage, support, pray, correct and re-direct when we need it - are the picture and reality of Christ among us.  

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

running down on the collar of his robes!

It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,

life forevermore.

(Psalm 133 ESV)

Sight to the Blind

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. (Matt.20:29-34 ESV)

Isn't it interesting that these men who were physically blind, could still see the truth?  They recognized, as Jesus was passing by, that this was the Son of David, the Messiah.  There were so very many others who, though seeing, were blind to Jesus' identity and though hearing, were deaf to his message.  In the Matthew passage we are told that Jesus took pity on their physical blindness and healed them, restoring their sight. The passage ends with the statement that the men followed Jesus. it appears that, based on their recognition and acknowledgement of Jesus as Messiah, they had already begun to follow Jesus.


We, as believers, had to take that first step from blindness to sight. We had to recognize, see, Jesus for who he truly is - our savior, our deliverer. Once our eyes were opened to the truth, the decision was made to follow. Our blindness had been healed. I wonder, is it possible for someone to see Jesus as he really is, and choose to walk away, to remain in darkness? How sad to think that one could see the great light of the world and turn away! Great hardness of heart, sin, surely takes its toll. Jesus lovingly gives us a choice. He never forces us; but how compelling is that love and forgiveness!


Jesus asks questions of us just as he did those in the Gospel accounts. To his disciples - and us - he asks, "Who do you say that I am?" To the lame man waiting years by the pool, he asks, "Do you want to be healed?" The man had waited 38 years for his healing! There are those who know the agony of years of suffering, of waiting to be healed. The answer to that question seems obvious. But, is it? Do we understand the depth of that question - what new life in Jesus is like? Are we ready to receive what Jesus is offering?


Who do we say that Jesus is? Who is he to us, right now? Are we blind, deaf or lame - unable to see Truth, hear Truth or walk in the path of Truth? Or are we responding, even in our blindness to Jesus' voice calling us to see him, hear and respond to his word and follow him?

[Jesus said,] “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” [The blind man replied,] “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:39; 9:25 (NLT)

Corrections and Coaches

My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.  (Hebrews 12:5-6 The Message)

How do we recognize God's corrections?  Sometimes for me, it's immediate and other times I need the advantage of hindsight to recognize God's re-direction or guidance.  The fruit of his discipline and correction, according to Hebrews, is "righteousness to those who have been trained by it."  Consider the rendering of Heb. 12: 9-11 by The Message:  While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.  

So many times words like "training", "endurance", "running the race" are used to describe our Christian journey.  Sports analogies don't always work for me - not being particularly athletically inclined. But a recent conversation with a friend about her son has stayed with me and is, I think, a great "parable" for this passage. My friend's son is a terrific soccer player; he loves the game, the competition, the challenge. It appears he's also very team-minded and a good little sportsman. She mentioned how much he values a coach who is willing to fuss at them or yell at them if he needs to. Being perhaps a little too tenderhearted, I question this approach and wonder why coaches can't be warm, fuzzy, gentle and soft-spoken. However, my young friend knows that his coach is helping them dig deep, push hard and achieve more than they may have thought they could. This young soccer player is growing in his sport, being challenged and maturing as an athlete - becoming well-trained so that he can excel in the sport he loves. And isn't that the point of the scripture passage above? God, our Father, lovingly corrects and guides us - redirects us when we've stepped off the path of righteousness. He's maturing us in our faith, giving us the skills we need to run this race. And not just run the race, but finish the race well.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:12-14 ESV)  Or as The Messsage puts it:  So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity.

As my friend's son knows well, we're in this together.  We have a loving Father that corrects us when we need it, "coaches us" through this race and generously, lovingly, purposefully, and graciously empowers us to persevere.  And we have our community of faith - our "team" - to hold us accountable, support us, pray with and for us, and walk beside us as brothers and sisters of Christ.  

Overcome

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  John 16:33


In a recent conversation with someone very near and dear to me, the statement was made that sometimes it seems like the darkness is winning.  What does it look like to live through dark days in the truth of Jesus' words above?  The key word in that last sentence is through.  We get through it - we're not undone, not defeated when we hold on to Jesus.  No, correct that -- Jesus is holding on to us.  Even when we're not aware of it, he's there and he never lets us go.  No one or nothing can snatch us from his hand.  Too often - way too often - I act as if it's my job to grab hold of Jesus when he's already there holding me up, strengthening me and enabling me to carry on.


We may suffer "battle fatigue" as we go through dark, difficult times.  We may feel battered by the storms. But Jesus is so near to us, aware of our wounds from the battle, tending to us, ministering to us, and lifting our heavy burdens.  I'm reminded of the old hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  You can find the lyrics here but remind yourself of some of the truths within this hymn:  
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?  Precious Savior, still our refuge - take it to the Lord in prayer.

Blessed Savior, thou hast promised thou wilt all our burdens bear; may we ever, Lord be bringing all to thee in earnest prayer.

My friends, the reality of who Jesus is, how he loves us, what he does for us and how near and present he is to us is a reality that I pray you will come to see and know more and more.  Pray for the eyes of your heart to be opened.  Ask him to make his love real to you, to make his presence known to you.  Where you have doubts, ask Jesus.  I can tell you from my own experiences, it's a prayer he loves to answer.  He has overcome the world.  The darkness cannot, has not and will not overcome the Light of the world - our Lord Jesus.

Our Father

Hebrews 4:16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


Grace.  Mercy.  Help.  It's too bad we can't see in the natural what's going on in the spiritual when we pray.  If we could actually see the throne of grace as we drew nearer, how our hearts would be changed!  In the presence of the glory and majesty of God our Father, in his throne room, we can stand with boldness and confidence and courage.  We can stand in the knowledge that we are welcomed, embraced and loved.  Our Abba is waiting lovingly for us to draw near.  God, the Creator of the universe, is our Abba - our Papa; we are children of the living God who, like all loving fathers, deeply desires for his children to spend time with him.  He wants to hear what's on our hearts, our worries and fears, our problems, the thing we've done wrong and the help we need to keep from further wrongs. Furthermore, in Hebrews we are told of the awesome gift we have through Jesus: Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)

I am blessed to have very dear friends who are mighty prayer warriors.  I can recall many times when I've called asking for prayer and they'd already been interceding.  The Holy Spirit had whispered to their hearts that a friend was in need; my faithful sisters had been praying.  That's the gift we have in and through Jesus.  Jesus sees clearly, knows all things, is working his purposes and plans in our life and is interceding in and with his holy, omniscient, perfect love.


This is the throne of grace to which we draw near.  We find mercy.  We experience God's grace.  We receive his help in our time of need.  Again and again.  God's mercies are new every morning; great is his faithfulness!  Great is his love!  We can be bold and confident as we approach God's throne because he is so loving.  He IS love - pure, perfect, holy love.  There is no fear in the presence of God's love, no condemnation, no shame.  Even - especially - in our sinfulness, we can stand in the presence of LOVE and find mercy, forgiveness, healing and grace.


Yesterday was Father's Day.  we celebrated and remembered the fathers or father-figures in our life.  In thinking about the love of our earthly fathers, let's look to our heavenly Father, whose love knows no bounds, is perfect, without sin or favoritism, and is eternal. Our loving earthly fathers are (were) flawed but we can allow their love to point to the One who is perfect. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)


Bring your worries, cares, anxieties, sins, questions - your deepest heart's desires - and go boldly into the presence of your Abba. Sit with him, open your heart. He hears, he loves, he is merciful and good.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  (Ephesians 3:20-21)