Mary, Did You Know?

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  Luke 2:19

A young and innocent girl, with a servant’s heart, one favored by God, submits her heart and her body to the purposes of the Almighty God.  In rejoicing in the blessing and holiness of God, how could she grasp the depth of her submission?

A young mother after delivering her baby boy is visited by strangers who have come to see and worship. How much more was she, herself, struck with awe and wonder at all that was happening?

A young woman watches as her son, in growing up, seems to be growing away from his parents.  He must be about his Father’s business in the temple rather than keeping up with his mother and father on their travels.  Did she know what that business was to be?

As a guest attending a wedding with her son, watching water become wine, could she grasp the significance of this miracle?  

All those memories and experiences – so mysterious – that were treasured up in her heart:  prophecies, prayers, angels, worshiping shepherds and wise men, miracles, ministry, teaching.  Did she know where this road would lead?  Could she possibly have envisioned Calvary?

Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her soul.  Did she remember those words when she watched a sword pierce the side of her beloved son? 

Mary, Did You Know?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God.

Oh Mary did you know---

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb---.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM.

Lyrics by Mark Lowry

Light and Dark

Thus says the Lord:  "Keep justice and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed."  (Isaiah 56:1)

We are in the last few days of this Advent season, the season in which we focus on the coming of the Messiah into the darkness of our world - both as a tiny baby lying in the manger and the expectant waiting for his return in great glory, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  God's salvation has come and his deliverance has been revealed.  And as Christians, we await the second coming when the fullness of his deliverance will be realized in all of creation.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)  

Yet, here we are in the "between times" where there is most definitely pain, mourning, tears and suffering. Unimaginable acts of violence, famine, natural disasters, fears and worries confront us daily, even hourly. The world can be and is a frightening place.  How do we keep justice and do righteousness in this dark world?  Recall the words from Micah 6:8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  (Micah 6:8)  

How is this possible?  For me, the answer is in that last phrase:  Walk humbly with your God.  Follow him, allow him to be the Lord of your life - all aspects of your life.  Allow him to love the unlovable through you, to give you a heart of compassion and mercy towards the sick, wounded and afflicted, to be his light in the darkness, to share the good news of God's salvation and deliverance, freedom to those who are in prisons of guilt, anger, shame, bitterness or unforgiveness.  To keep justice and righteousness is impossible on our own.  Only through the work and power of the Spirit can there be true justice and righteousness.  Only by abiding in Christ, living and walking in his strength, can we ever know peace in a world of confusion, pain and sorrow.

God's peace does not come from turning a blind eye to suffering, trying to be untouched or removed. Peace in the midst of suffering can only come from knowing that God is good, he is sovereign, he is holy.  He is intimately aware of every detail, he sees every tear, he hears every prayer.  In the face of evil, God is greater.  

The light of Christ has come into the world.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not [cannot] overcome it.  (John 1:5)  That's the truth, the good news of Advent.  The world needs this news. Those who are surrounded by the darkness are crying out for the light to break through.  In God's infinite wisdom, he has chosen you and me to be his light bearers. 

• “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  (Matt. 5:14-16) 
• For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6)
• Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.... (Phil.2:14-16)
• Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12)

Good Morning!

I woke up early this morning, enjoyed my cup of tea, read my Bible and my devotionals.  Nice to enjoy the quiet of the house and not be rushed.  Now, as I write this, it's still pretty dark outside; the sun is barely making itself known.  But that's all it takes to signal the birds that it's time to wake up.  I have my window open just a little bit and can hear the chirps and tweets as the little creatures start to stir, start to sing and greet this new day.  It's pure instinct.

The Scriptures are full of verses recounting the many ways creation gives praise and glory to its Creator.  It's part of the very nature of nature to reflect the beauty of the One who called it all into being.  The heavens declare the glory of the Lord, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork (Ps. 19:1).  The birds sing and chirp to welcome each new day; the rhythm of their existence matching the rhythm of sunrise to sunset.  I used to own a parrot that had a fairly decent vocabulary.  Every evening she would let us know she was "ready to go night-night", her request becoming more insistent the later it got until she'd finally say, "Emmy go night-night, right now!"  What an amazing thing to pay attention to the created order, the cycles of sleep and alertness, to see the ways creation responds to God's order.

Shouldn't we follow the example?  Sabbath - keeping the Sabbath - is a command.  Rest for our bodies, rest for our minds, is crucial to maintaining health and well-being.  Rest for our souls - finding our rest in God, abiding, being still, waiting and sitting in silence, listening for God's still small voice to speak to our spirits being present to Love, resting in Love, knowing Peace.  Our quiet time with God, our creator and sustainer, brings us into the presence of the very essence of love and peace, joy and wisdom, the one who calls us each by name and longs to spend one-on-one time with us.  Be still (cease striving) and know that he is God: our creator, sustainer, guide, protector, a very present help in times of trouble, a comfort to those who mourn, the one who will one day restore all creation, wipe away every tear, and welcome us into the arms of our Good Shepherd, our loving and faithful Lord.  In the meantime, we can enjoy moments of true peace even in the midst of this crazy, chaotic world, as we seek God's face, listen for his voice and rest with him and in him.

Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31)

Expect the Unexpected

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.  (Matthew 17:1-8 ESV)

Rise and have no fear.

Jesus spoke these words to Peter, James and John when they were so overcome and terrified by the awesome presence and voice of God at the time of Jesus' transfiguration.

Rise and have no fear.

The bright cloud that overshadowed them, the voice of God coming from that cloud, the experience of having seen Moses and Elijah!  They had every reason to find themselves on their faces in holy fear and trembling.

Rise and have no fear.

Jesus speaks.  Their teacher, friend, the one they have been walking with and listening to, that sweet and familiar voice calming their fears and bringing them back to earth from their incredible mountaintop experience.

Rise and have no fear.

These three men have had their eyes opened to the greater reality, to a deeper understanding of God's purpose in and through the life and mission of their Master.  Their scope of vision, their limited understanding had been abruptly altered; their minds must have been reeling!  Jesus' voice tells them that this is not a time to be fearful.  They must rise and be about the business at hand, fulfilling the divine mission.

Just like these three dear men, we occasionally need our understanding stretched, our eyes opened, our attention drawn toward heaven - toward God's purposes and plans for our lives.  We limit ourselves, we expect too little from God.   What does it take to shift our awareness, our expectations?  How can we become more willing to be surprised by God's holy purpose for our own lives?

Several times over the years of my Christian walk, I've prayed the words of Isaiah 6:  "Here I am!  Send me." I've prayed those words fearfully, sincerely and expectantly; they have not been prayed flippantly. Each time, I've had the sense of a holy encounter, a moment of choice - a choice to willingly and gladly submit to God's plans for my life, whatever they are and wherever he leads me.

Lately, I've been sensing a new direction emerging, a new path.  I have that feeling of a child on Christmas Eve holding a beautifully wrapped gift that is not yet ready to be opened.  I might shake it, look at it and wonder, but nothing gives away the surprise inside.  As an adult, I have worries  and what if's that go along with my curiosity: What changes will be required once I know what's inside my gift?  As I wonder what my future may hold, I hear the voice of Jesus saying, "Rise and have no fear."  I must keep on walking the path he has laid before me - on his path, following his leading and walking alongside the one who promises never to leave me or forsake me.

Following the examples of Peter, James and John, I trust Jesus to explain what I don't yet understand and to show me the way. I believe these men were learning to expect the unexpected! I can't wait to open my "gift" and see what's inside!

The Power of Love

Over the past weeks and months, I've had encounters and reminders that fall under the category of "the power of love".  I used those words as a title for a post I wrote for our church Advent blog but even before then the nudges were coming, the phrase was floating around in my thoughts.  Not a bad thing to have hanging out in your mind.  This morning as I wrote in my journal and reflected on yesterday's prayer opportunities, I had even more examples and thoughts to file away in my mental file cabinet.  I wondered: how many people really have an encounter - a true experience - with the power of God's love?  Are they just words heard in a sermon or read in an inspirational book (or blog)?  How does the reality line up with the words?  

We see the power of love in our many relationships; it can bring comfort, happiness, laughter and even sadness when it's taken away.  We get a deeper glimpse into love's power to render us speechless at the birth of our child, a marriage, or a death, sickness or other tragedy.  These experiences, as strong as they can be, are only mere shadows of the power of the love of God.  Using those same words from my earlier comment (comfort, happiness, laughter, sadness) and examining or experiencing those emotions in the light of God's love is like going form 0 - 60 in a nanosecond.  The deep comfort God provides is a comfort beyond anything the world can give us; it goes to the core of who we are, the very heart of our beings.  Happiness becomes true joy; laughter can become a joyous release, a child-like freedom way beyond the laughter we share over humorous events.  Attending the birth of a child, sharing that experience in the light of God's presence and love, can open our eyes to creation as never before, to the precious, unconditional and holy love God has for us, his children.

I prayed this morning to be allowed to continue to share the power of God's love with those he sends my way.  I'm blessed to be part of a powerful and active prayer ministry and see people's lives transformed over and over again by that power.  There is no greater force, no greater power, no greater love; it's so far from the watered-down version we are prone to believe in.  The thing that continues to amaze me is how God allows me, as a prayer minister, to be ministered to and blessed by the same powerful love he is pouring out on the person we are praying for.  I get to splash around in the same waterfall of love and for that I will be eternally grateful, blessed and amazed!

I've been away from this blog for quite a while.  During that time, I've been working on my own thoughts and ways of understanding God's hand on my life.  It's been a time of prayer, reflection, discussion, lots of questions and sometimes few answers; but always the awareness that God has never left.  He is, in fact, closer and more present than I can ever imagine.  He's teaching me more deeply what it means to abide in him, to walk in his power and love even into dark or difficult places, to love those who may be difficult to love, to serve when, instead, I want to be served, and to look to him as the sufficiency for ALL my needs. He is enough.  He is more than enough.  When I look to people in my life to do what only God can do, he gently pulls me back and reminds me to lift my eyes and look to him.  

Even as I wrote the words "lift my eyes", I had to pause.  It's a wrong description, isn't it?  We don't even have to look up or around or out there somewhere to see God.  At that first gentle prompting he's already looking at us, calling our name and drawing us to himself by the power of his sweet, tender love.

Sanctuary

I have consecrated this house that you have built by putting my name there forever.  My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.  I Kings 9:3

God's eyes and heart are in his sanctuary.  What does that mean to us who enter?  How would it affect our entering, our worship, and our leaving if we grasped this fact?  We talk about going to God's house; but that keeps him at a distance, like some kind landlord.  We may even talk about his presence in our time of worship but what does that mean?  A good feeling?   A sense of holiness, reverence, awe?  What if we knew, really knew, that as we walked in the doors of our churches this morning, that we were walking where the eyes and heart of God were?  Just stop and think about that!

The eyes of God - seeing everything, nothing hidden.  When we are being looked upon by God, he sees and knows all those things we think are so cleverly hidden.  But he is also looking at us with such great love and compassion.  He is our Abba, our loving Father.  When he sees us he is delighted, overjoyed, looking on his children with more love than we can ever imagine.  So, as he sees those secret, hidden places in our hearts - our sins, fears, hurts, doubts - he's reaching out to us, calling us to come to him and receive his love, his healing, his forgiveness.  Do we really think about the loving eyes of our Father when we enter his sanctuary?

His heart is there, too.  We can't separate his Father's heart from his loving eyes; but to think of walking into the place where his heart dwells - walking into Love, himself, as well as peace, safety, comfort, welcome, true unconditional love.  This should bring us to our knees in worship and adoration!

In the passage above from I Kings, the temple was made holy simply by his name.  The holiness of the Name that is above all names sanctified the temple.  Apart from God's name, it would have been just a building; an incredibly beautiful building, but a hollow shell nonetheless.  

Have you made the connection yet?  Aren't we, like Solomon's temple, beautiful on the outside but hollow on the inside without the Name of God?  The Good News in Jesus is that we don't have to wait until the Lord's day to enter his sanctified dwelling place, to be looked upon through his eyes of love or to know his heart.  God's promise through the Old Testament prophets and to us today is that he will and does dwell among us; he is our loving shepherd, our God and  has made us his people, the sheep of his pasture.  We are the temple of his Holy Spirit, we are being sanctified by his Name, and we are the apple of his eye, dwelling, abiding IN God and God in us - always and for all eternity.

Walking in the doors of our churches, we gather with our brothers and sisters to praise, worship, listen and learn at the feet of our Lord all the while knowing the blessing of his life filling us, pouring out his love in us and through us, transforming us into the image of Jesus.  What a miracle!  What a privilege and blessing!

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  (Philippians 4:4 ESV)

Rejoice in the time of trial, in pain, in frustration and anger, in loneliness and despair; not because of those things but because of who God is in the midst of hardships and trials.  The very fact that he IS is reason enough to rejoice; but the fact that he is with us to strengthen, bring peace and calm to the very core of our being should cause us to rejoice.  We are never alone no matter how alone we feel; in sickness, pain or loss, we are never alone.  This is not some pie-in-the-sky platitude, a pipe dream   God's presence is real and is closer than our very breath.  If you doubt, ask him to make you aware of his presence, to let you know his peace that passes all understanding - the peace that doesn't depend on circumstances; or ask him to fill you with his joy that is not evidence of your happiness but evidence of the very nature of the God who loves you.

Indeed, life is hard and is often unfair; that's the nature and result of living in this fallen world and often the consequences of our own wrong choices and sin.Those are the very things that can separate us from God. But God's word tells us to draw near to God, and he will draw near to you (James 4:8).  It's God's own desire to be close to us, in relationship with us; we are the ones that walk away.  God's grace, his love puts the desire in our hearts to reach out to him.

Rejoice that we are creatures of the Creator God who is always seeking the one who is lost, calling out our name, beckoning us to draw near, to seek him.  Rejoice that instead of facing hardships alone and without hope, we can trust in God who is mighty to save, who works in all things to accomplish his purposes for our good.  Rejoice that we are created for eternity, not bound to this limited span of time where there are tears and disease; but, instead, look forward to the new creation, restored to God's perfect plan where there will be no more tears, no pain and sickness, no death.  Rejoice that we will worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and with all creation sing, "Holy, holy, holy" before the throne of the Most High God.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 4:6-7 The Message)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 NIV)

When It's All Been Said and Done

I had the words of this song by Robin Mark on my mind this morning during my quiet time.  It's a wonderful song to pray so I thought it was worth sharing this morning.  I tried to post a video so you could enjoy the music but being so very un-techie, I failed.  Here's a link to a you-tube video, though.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1llIIhBMCjU&feature=youtube_gdata

Hope the words are a blessing.


When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth
Did I live my life for You
When it's all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I've done for love's reward
Will stand the test of time

Lord Your mercy is so great
That You look beyond our weakness
And find purest gold in miry clay
Making sinners into saints

I will always sing Your praise
Here on earth and ever after
For You've shown me Heaven's my
true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone

Lord I'll live my life for You

The Man on the Cross

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43)

Two criminals sentenced to death; one mocked Jesus, the other somehow knew and recognized Jesus for who he was.  This man rebuked the other; after all, they were all under the same penalty of death.  But this unnamed criminal looked over to Jesus, called him by name, and asked to be remembered when Jesus came into his kingdom.  

Had he heard his teaching or seen Jesus' miraculous works?  Had he only heard about them?  Whatever the case, the seed of faith had been planted and this dying criminal prayed to the Son of God; his prayer was heard and answered.  He was saved from spiritual death as he was dying that horrible physical death.

It's quite a remarkable story - to think of this unknown criminal knowing who Jesus was and knowing there was a coming kingdom, even for the dying.  The Bible doesn't tell us how he knew.  I wish we could know more of the back-story but what we have is enough.  What really matters is the bottom line. This sinful man, at his death, was welcomed into paradise when he prayed his simple prayer:  "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Our loving Lord, even as he was dying, was reaching out to a lost sheep.  He was saving a condemned man even as the mockers were crying out for him to save himself.  This criminal was forgiven, set free and saved from eternal death.  

So he told them this parable: “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. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:3-10)

Laughter

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then they said among the nations,

“The LORD has done great things for them.”

The LORD has done great things for us;

we are glad.  (Psalm 126:2-3 ESV)

We Christians can be a serious, somber lot.  How sad, when we have so much to rejoice over, to give thanks for, and to celebrate.  Think (or do a quick search on your computer) of the many times joy and laughter are mentioned in the Bible.  Sarah laughed when she heard she was about to become a mother at her advanced age; David's psalms and his life were filled with times of celebration.  One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy; Jesus promises us fullness of joy.  One of the sweetest passages is in Zephaniah:   The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)  Oh, how we need to meditate over the fact that our God exults over us with loud singing.  

Today due to a silly mistake, I ended up with, as my mother used to say, my giggle box turned over.  I could not stop laughing - sitting by myself in the living room, just laughing. It was wonderful!  When I finally pulled myself together, I thanked God because it felt like such a gift, something I hadn't done in so long!  He knew how badly I needed to just let go and laugh and that's exactly what happened.  Most likely, nobody else would have even thought it was funny, but what a good time that was!  

Maybe I needed that reminder.  Maybe you do, too.  Take some time today to reflect on the joyfulness of our walk with Jesus, the reasons to celebrate who he is and who we are in him.  We are not meant to show the world a sour face, dutifully going about our business as if we are carrying around the weight of the world on our shoulders.  I pray that the Lord blesses you with the gift of laughter today - just for the fun of it!

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6:21)

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return

 and come to Zion with singing;

 everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

 they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

(Isaiah 35:10)

Trust

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.  He will bring forth righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.  Psalm 37:4-7

Trust in him and he will act.  

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

Trust.  

Be still.  

Wait patiently.

Our God is true to his word, his promises.  The hardest thing for us, his children, is the waiting, being still in his presence - a holy waiting in the awareness of the presence of God's peace.  Sometimes, the hardest thing is the trusting.  Oh, we say we trust God to answer our prayers, to act on our behalf.  But what, then is at the root of our impatience, our worries or questions of "what if"?  Is it not a lack of trust, maybe even disbelief?

Trust.  

Be still.  

Wait patiently.

Delight yourself in the Lord - he delights in us.  Be at peace in the love he showers over us and in us.  Abide in him, rest in the knowledge of his faithfulness, his promises.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  He will never leave our prayers unanswered.  Trust him.  Wait with him and for him.  He will act.

I have been young, and now am old, 

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken 

or his children begging for bread.  Psalm 37:35

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)

Blinded by the Light

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.  (Acts 9:3-9 ESV)


Saul, on the road to Damascus, was struck blind by the brightness of the light of the glory and presence of Jesus.  "Who are you, Lord?", he asked.  Isn't it interesting that his question was who are you instead of what is this?  He sensed the presence - life - not an inanimate thing.  This light was so full of life that somehow, Saul in his blindness KNEW.  And that presence commanded respect.  "Who are you Lord?"  He hadn't yet realized that he was in the presence of the LORD.  


Remember Paul's list of credentials?  If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.  (Philippians 3:5-6 ESV)  Here was a well-taught, respected, faithful Jewish man zealously fighting what he thought was God's battle only to be confronted by the very God he thought he was obeying.  When he thought he was fighting for and guarding the truth, he discovered he had, all along, been blind to Truth.  What a shock!


The reality of sin is so vividly described in this passage.  Do we realize our sins are not only against ourselves or our fellow man, but against God?  Do we really grasp that?  Saul persecuted the new Christians.  Jesus shows up on the road to Damascus in great glory and asks why Saul is persecuting him.  He asks us the same question.  Our sin is not a private matter; it is not a secret.  The Light of the world cannot be overcome by the darkness of sin and sin cannot hide from the light of Christ.


There's another part of Saul's story worth noting.  In Acts 9:1, Saul is described as "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord."  In that horrid state, he meets Jesus.  There is no condemnation, only the question "Why?" followed by instructions for Saul to go to the city and wait.  Saul's transformation is beginning.  The man, Paul, who is to take the Good News to the Gentiles, and become the author of so much of our New Testament, is being birthed from this violent, threatening, murderous persecutor, Saul.  The transformation begins in the light of Jesus - the light that confronted Saul's darkness and blindness and brought true vision, healing and new life.  Saul became Paul - a man zealous for the Gospel of Jesus, a man who knew the saving power of his Lord, a man whose eyes were opened to the truth by the One who IS Truth.

More Lessons from King Hezekiah

At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. (Isaiah 39:1-2)


Hezekiah opened up for display all his wealth and treasures to the men from Babylon.  They came from another country bringing letters and a present - traveling all that distance just to pay Hezekiah a visit.  Who wouldn't be flattered?  Our enemy rarely shows himself in his true colors - pure evil.  Why or how would we ever be drawn in if that were the case?  Remember these words:  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a  roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  (1Peter 5:8)  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14)  


We are often seduced through our pride.  Once we're vulnerable, exposed, we give our enemy a glimpse into the treasures he can plunder.  As was true for Hezekiah, all we have and are, are gifts from God (2 Chronicles 29:14).  In Hezekiah's prideful display, his sin was revealed and Isaiah prophesies that the very things he bragged about would be taken away during the reign of his son.  How amazing that Hezekiah's only response seems to be that he won't have to worry about it since these events would happen after his death and would not be his problem to deal with (see Isaiah 39:8).  The pride and self-centeredness is amazing!  Hezekiah has gone from (finally) falling on his knees before his God - the God of his people - in humility and wearing sackcloth to this boastful, arrogant man caught up in the enemy's flattery.  Prior to this event, God had healed the king of a condition that was fatal, granting him 15 more years of life.  Where is the thankfulness?  The gratitude?

We look at these stories and wonder.  If we, like Hezekiah, had been snatched from death's door, surely we'd behave differently!  We thank we'd never be as stiff-necked and rebellious as the Israelites who saw the incredible miracles of God as he delivered them from Egyptian oppression.  I challenge you (and myself!) to spend some time reflecting on the many blessings of God:  a home to live in, loving friends and family, the many and expensive "toys" and gadgets at close hand, our health, our jobs, etc., etc.  What is our attitude towards these things?  Are we, like Hezekiah, proud of ourselves for the ability to acquire all we have?  Are we seeking the praise and attention from those around us for all our accomplishments?  Are we holding out our hands for more or are we lifting our hands in praise and thanksgiving to the God who has poured out the blessings of our health, our intelligence, our abilities?  We can learn a lot from the story of Hezekiah.  God was, and will always be, faithful, loving, healing, just and merciful.  And God is also a jealous God:  my glory I will not give to another (Is. 48:11).

In closing, consider the words in Isaiah 48:17:  Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17) 

Lord, you have given us so much, so many gifts.  The greatest gift of all is your love.  Forgive our pride, our turning a blind eye to your many blessings.  Forgive our turning away from your love and turning a deaf ear to your voice calling out to us.  Create is us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.

When God Delays

Isaiah 36 and 37 relate the story of King Hezekiah and the people of Judah who are being threatened and invaded by the Assyrian army.  The attackers are mocking God, making false promises to the people and generally striking fear in every heart.  Garments are torn in distress, sackcloth is donned - the king and his people are in dire straits.  Hezekiah sends his assistants to the prophet Isaiah asking him to pray on their behalf:  And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the LORD your God  [emphasis mine] will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”  (Isaiah 37:2-4)  


God hears and answers Isaiah's prayer:  Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land. (Isaiah 37:7)  This is only a temporary reprieve, the threats and mockery continue.  This time, however, Hezekiah himself goes to God in prayer.  And this time, he is seeking the LORD our God.  Isaiah delivers the word of the Lord:  Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him. . . . (Is. 37:21) This time there is not just a reprieve, but victory.  Was Hezekiah not trusting in God the first time?  Did he believe Isaiah's faith was somehow "better" than his own?  God waited for Hezekiah to come on his own, to seek the Lord, to cry out from his his heart on behalf of his people.


Granted, this is an ancient event but the reactions and tendencies of Hezekiah are all too relevant.  When have we ever relied on someone else's faith instead of going to God ourselves?  God only asks that we come to him just as we are:  weak faith, doubts . . . whatever.  Just come to him, seek his face, pour out our fears, our prayers, and leave it in his loving hands.  As in Hezekiah's story, God doesn't ignore others praying on our behalf or in our stead; but perhaps the fullness of his answer is waiting for our realization that God wants us to trust him and come to him in whatever state or condition we find ourselves.  We don't have to meet a certain standard before we can come before our heavenly Father.  Because of Jesus, we can come boldly before the throne of grace; not because of our goodness, worth or righteousness but because of Jesus'.  GRACE.


We don't have to seek out a "holier" friend to pray for us.  We have a friend who is already doing just that.  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)  Out of the deep desire of our loving Father that we enter into relationship with him, God may allow our circumstances to be the very thing that finally brings us to come to him in prayer and humility.  Remember the story of Lazarus?  Upon hearing of the illness and death of his friend, Jesus delayed in going to Bethany because of his love for this dear family.  (John 11)  He knew the greater purpose to be accomplished, the more glorious demonstration of God's love.  So, he waited.  


Only God knows how Lazarus' sisters were being prepared in their hearts to receive this love - how their spiritual eyes were readied to view the truth behind the miracle they witnessed.  Nothing is wasted in God's kingdom.  He is faithful to complete the work he has begun in us.  When he delays, when he answers our prayers in part, don't lose heart.  Know that God's ways are perfect and beyond what we can see, know or understand.  Lean on him with all your heart, all your faith, no matter how "weak" you perceive it it be. It is enough.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Holiness

I've been reading through the Old Testament (Leviticus, in particular, these past few weeks) - reading about all the details of the law, the sacrifices, the priestly duties.  It's not that hard to see how easily the people could get bogged down in analyzing the law, trying to understand every bit, so there would be no missteps.  From that perspective, it's not a big step to find oneself caught up in legalism.  Remember the harsh words Jesus had for the Pharisees who were so enmeshed in the letter of the law that they had completely ignored the spirit of the law leading them to miss the law-giver standing there in their midst.


It must be that legalism begins when mankind tries to fulfill the letter of the law in their own power - not trusting in God to guide them.  The law was a framework in which the image of holiness was framed.  Jesus Christ came that we might see, not the image of holiness, but holiness itself: in the flesh, in its purest form, in the face of God.  Holiness cannot be achieved by man, by his striving to keep the law, to be holy by his "acts" of holiness.  Holiness is a grace bestowed by God - it is a transformational process that begins with Jesus, continues in Jesus and is completed by Jesus.  We must not fall into the trap of thinking that our good deeds, our acts of holiness, will make us righteous in God's eyes.  Remember the word from Isaiah 64:5 (NIV) all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.  Instead, look to Jesus Christ, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2). Look to the Holy Spirit who comes alongside to guide, teach, empower us and transform us into the image of our holy Lord and Savior. Look to God our Father who has created us in his image - his holy image - and who calls us his children, giving us all the rights and privileges of sonship in the family of God.   


The mystery, the beauty and the reality of salvation is that because of Jesus' obedience, love and sacrifice, we have become - and are becoming - a royal priesthood, a holy nation, (1 Peter 2:9), sons and daughters of the King of kings, the beautiful, pure bride of Christ; and this is not accomplished by our good works, our close attention to doing the right and good things we should do.  


It is a beautiful work of God.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1)

 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Ephesians 1:3-4)