Part of our Christmas celebration this year occurred at the cabin. There is something about the North Country that seems to stir my thoughts even in the midst of work. On Sunday late afternoon, I spent a bit of time outside. I began to ponder what it meant to fully identify with Christ. There is a Biblical principle of the believer’s identification with Jesus. We can expect to experience many same things that Jesus experienced; both the suffering and the glory.
I believer that there is no greater privilege than having our lives mirror the life of Jesus as revealed in the scriptures. We rejoice when attacked by the religious establishment of our day. We are blessed when people say all sorts of falsehoods about us because we are following Christ. I am convinced that there is no death more honorable than dying for the cause of Christ.
While following Christ frequently seems to bring us to the point of death, death is not the end for those that identify with Jesus. Scripture clearly outlines that if we identify with Christ in His suffering, we will also experience His glory.
Bev and I have experienced the truth of the words of scripture, especially during the past several years. At no time in our lives have we been as blessed as recently. God has restored many of the dreams of the past all the while fulfilling the present dreams as well. Conversely, at no time in our lives have we been attacked on a personal level like the past years.
I do not think that our experience is out of the ordinary for followers of Jesus. As I posted earlier this month, Simeon spoke prophetically that Jesus would be a sign that would be spoken against. Jesus told His disciples that they (we) would experience the things He experienced. Followers of Jesus can expect that they too will become a sign that will be attacked.
I want to encourage you – Do not be fearful of the attacks. Do not be diverted by the falsehoods. Lose your life for the sake of Christ. If you do, you will be sure to find it!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
the revealer of hearts
I was reading the account of Simeon blessing the baby Jesus. A line in the blessing grabbed my attention - Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (I added the emphasis). Jesus' life would be a sign that would be spoken against that the hearts of many may be revealed.
What an interesting statement! Who would speak against the Son of God? Why would someone speak against the Son of God? Interestingly, the immediate context of these words indicates that they apply to Israel. But why would God's chosen people speak against God's revelation of Himself? Perhaps we could understand that the Gentiles, the sinners, would reject the revelation of God. Yet earlier in Simeon's prophecy we find that Jesus would be a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles.
As I reflect further on this, it makes more sense. Even today, those who consider themselves as "God's chosen" frequently speak against the life of Jesus. When one follows Jesus in a practical way, when one patterns their life after Jesus life, it does not take long until the verbal attacks begin. Something about the untamed and unpredictable pattern of Jesus threatens those whose security is found in the confines of a religious, self-centered mindset. Jesus and His followers threaten the status quo.
Interestingly, Simeon's prophetic word indicates that the attacks on Jesus would reveal the heart of those doing the attacking. Jesus was not killed by sinners, rather it was those who purported to be doing the work of God who clamored for His death. Their actions revealed that their pious facade hid an unregenerate heart. Even today, Jesus and His life lived through us still reveals the thoughts of the heart.
What an interesting statement! Who would speak against the Son of God? Why would someone speak against the Son of God? Interestingly, the immediate context of these words indicates that they apply to Israel. But why would God's chosen people speak against God's revelation of Himself? Perhaps we could understand that the Gentiles, the sinners, would reject the revelation of God. Yet earlier in Simeon's prophecy we find that Jesus would be a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles.
As I reflect further on this, it makes more sense. Even today, those who consider themselves as "God's chosen" frequently speak against the life of Jesus. When one follows Jesus in a practical way, when one patterns their life after Jesus life, it does not take long until the verbal attacks begin. Something about the untamed and unpredictable pattern of Jesus threatens those whose security is found in the confines of a religious, self-centered mindset. Jesus and His followers threaten the status quo.
Interestingly, Simeon's prophetic word indicates that the attacks on Jesus would reveal the heart of those doing the attacking. Jesus was not killed by sinners, rather it was those who purported to be doing the work of God who clamored for His death. Their actions revealed that their pious facade hid an unregenerate heart. Even today, Jesus and His life lived through us still reveals the thoughts of the heart.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
the message of Christmas
This Christmas season I have been thinking about the message of Jesus coming to earth. Now I realize that it is highly unlikely that Jesus was born on December 25. I am also fully aware that the celebration of Jesus' birth on December 25 was the replacement of a pagan holiday with a Christian holiday. However, that does not change the value of celebrating the fact of "God with us".
In a nutshell, the message of Christmas is about God with us. God chose to identify fully with us by the birth, life, and death of Jesus. What incredibly good news - God coming to us to reconcile us to all that is Him! Interestingly, as I read the gospel accounts, the coming of Jesus was not good news for everyone. Those with self-centered agendas in both the religious and political worlds were threatened by the presence of God. However, for the "little people" the coming of Jesus offered hope in an otherwise hopeless existence.
For the untouchables, the lepers and sinners, God with us signified a new way of life. During the ministry of Jesus, He repeatedly stopped to associate with the little people. He ate with the sinners. He touched the lepers. He offered forgiveness to those needing forgiveness. The little people got it; they understood the transformational power of God with us. As a result they were healed, forgiven, and restored.
I have noticed that some things don't change. The little people still get the meaning of Christmas. They are fully aware of their shortcomings, their need for a Savior. Since they have been largely brushed aside by the religious community, they are not encumbered by the religious bondage that binds those who grasp for power and position in the religious community. The simplicity of Jesus is not lost on them.
For the sinners, for those marginalized by the societal and religious elite, the message of Christmas is exceedingly good news!
In a nutshell, the message of Christmas is about God with us. God chose to identify fully with us by the birth, life, and death of Jesus. What incredibly good news - God coming to us to reconcile us to all that is Him! Interestingly, as I read the gospel accounts, the coming of Jesus was not good news for everyone. Those with self-centered agendas in both the religious and political worlds were threatened by the presence of God. However, for the "little people" the coming of Jesus offered hope in an otherwise hopeless existence.
For the untouchables, the lepers and sinners, God with us signified a new way of life. During the ministry of Jesus, He repeatedly stopped to associate with the little people. He ate with the sinners. He touched the lepers. He offered forgiveness to those needing forgiveness. The little people got it; they understood the transformational power of God with us. As a result they were healed, forgiven, and restored.
I have noticed that some things don't change. The little people still get the meaning of Christmas. They are fully aware of their shortcomings, their need for a Savior. Since they have been largely brushed aside by the religious community, they are not encumbered by the religious bondage that binds those who grasp for power and position in the religious community. The simplicity of Jesus is not lost on them.
For the sinners, for those marginalized by the societal and religious elite, the message of Christmas is exceedingly good news!
Monday, December 7, 2009
are we really that delusional?
Some recent observations have me scratching my head in wonderment. In fact last week I said to Bev - "are we really that deluded?" Two differant incidents happened within close proximity of each other, incidents that would have been funny had they not been so serious.
Last spring I received an email from a "ministry". I quote directly from the email:
The Lord told me to look at the nation [the United States] as He sees it, not through my eyes but through His. I could not look too long before I had to agree and repent of loving Babylon. Once I repented the Lord told me to prepare for the fall as time is running out. I must preach the Gospel of The Kingdom not the Gospel of America. America is already judged, the time of shaking is now and will increase rapidly this summer. Water shortages and food shortages will become common this summer, as well as fuel shortages. Civil unrest will become common place in large cities first but will spill over into the rural areas as well.
If you are not aware of it...there were not water and food shortages that were commonplace in the United States this past summer. Civil unrest did not become common either. Last week I re-read this "word". I decided to email both the ministry that had distributed the "word" as well as the man who gave the word asking about the veracity of this supposed word from God. The responses I got were bizarre at best.
From the ministry that distibuted the word - I did not believe that his [the man giving the word] sense of timing was correct. However the ministry claims this man to be a credible prophet in their promotion of him! How can one be a credible prophet when he claims to have a word from God but the "minor detail" of timing is incorrect? Did God make a mistake? Or did the "prophet" insert his own thoughts into the word?
I also received a response from the man giving the word - I believe these things are going to happen maybe God is giving more time. Besides I did not give this word out of the flesh. Quite obviously neither was the word from God. So what was the source of the word?
Here is the truth of the matter. A word was spoken as the prophetic word of God. Instead of admitting the truth that the word did not come to pass, there is a willful ignorance of what is.
The second incident had to do with something I read on the internet. I was reading about a new church. The words used to describe this new church were -Birthed out of a vision for unity within the body of Christ, we strive to be connected with each other and other churches. Noble words indeed! There is only one slight problem with this statement. I have enough knowledge of the situation to know that this church start was actually the result of a church split! No amount of niceties, no amount of noble words will mask the fact that the foundation of this church did not come from unity but from division.
I am beginning to believe that we so desparately want to believe certain things. I believe the "prophet" wants to believe that his word was true even though it never came to pass. I believe the leaders of this new church want to believe that unity is important, but the truth is that they caused a great deal of pain and angst in the body of Christ with their divisiveness.
When we choose to believe something that is not truth, we are worse than deceived, we are delusional. Perhaps we are seeing a fulfillment of the scriptures from 2 Thessalonians 2.
1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Last spring I received an email from a "ministry". I quote directly from the email:
The Lord told me to look at the nation [the United States] as He sees it, not through my eyes but through His. I could not look too long before I had to agree and repent of loving Babylon. Once I repented the Lord told me to prepare for the fall as time is running out. I must preach the Gospel of The Kingdom not the Gospel of America. America is already judged, the time of shaking is now and will increase rapidly this summer. Water shortages and food shortages will become common this summer, as well as fuel shortages. Civil unrest will become common place in large cities first but will spill over into the rural areas as well.
If you are not aware of it...there were not water and food shortages that were commonplace in the United States this past summer. Civil unrest did not become common either. Last week I re-read this "word". I decided to email both the ministry that had distributed the "word" as well as the man who gave the word asking about the veracity of this supposed word from God. The responses I got were bizarre at best.
From the ministry that distibuted the word - I did not believe that his [the man giving the word] sense of timing was correct. However the ministry claims this man to be a credible prophet in their promotion of him! How can one be a credible prophet when he claims to have a word from God but the "minor detail" of timing is incorrect? Did God make a mistake? Or did the "prophet" insert his own thoughts into the word?
I also received a response from the man giving the word - I believe these things are going to happen maybe God is giving more time. Besides I did not give this word out of the flesh. Quite obviously neither was the word from God. So what was the source of the word?
Here is the truth of the matter. A word was spoken as the prophetic word of God. Instead of admitting the truth that the word did not come to pass, there is a willful ignorance of what is.
The second incident had to do with something I read on the internet. I was reading about a new church. The words used to describe this new church were -Birthed out of a vision for unity within the body of Christ, we strive to be connected with each other and other churches. Noble words indeed! There is only one slight problem with this statement. I have enough knowledge of the situation to know that this church start was actually the result of a church split! No amount of niceties, no amount of noble words will mask the fact that the foundation of this church did not come from unity but from division.
I am beginning to believe that we so desparately want to believe certain things. I believe the "prophet" wants to believe that his word was true even though it never came to pass. I believe the leaders of this new church want to believe that unity is important, but the truth is that they caused a great deal of pain and angst in the body of Christ with their divisiveness.
When we choose to believe something that is not truth, we are worse than deceived, we are delusional. Perhaps we are seeing a fulfillment of the scriptures from 2 Thessalonians 2.
1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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