Matthew 4:18-22
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Being the father of four young boys, I have just about forgot what the word “immediately” means. In my house nothing is immediate anymore. To simply get everyone ready to go out to town might take 30 minutes. To get everyone ready to go to a trip to grandma’s house could take a couple of hours. At my house, the immediate rarely happens.
When I think about Simon and Andrew I realize that they were fishermen. For them, immediate wasn’t an often experienced thing either. They had to prepare nets. They had to row the boats. They had to cast the nets. They had to haul the nets in. They had to prepare the catch. They had to repair the nets and so the cycle continues. Their lives were not lived at a fast “immediate” pace. They worked with the rhythm of the day and the season. They moved in a steady gradual pace. That is, until they met Jesus.
Jesus, saw them doing what they had done day in and day out all of their lives. He said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The text then says “Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Immediately? What got into these two brothers that they would change their whole lifestyle at the request of a stranger? Immediately? What did Jesus offer to them that could possibly make them follow him? IMMEDIATELY—wow!
I don’t know about you, but there was obviously something about this Jesus that made a difference—right then and there! Most of us, are not immediate people. We like to think. We like to plan. We like to ponder. This is especially so when it comes to the church. One of the common statements about the church is that we are continually behind the curve when it comes to adopting new ways of thinking and doing ministry. While it is good to think, plan and ponder, I sometimes feel that God wants us to just react—IMMEDIATELY to the opportunities that lie in front of us.
What do you think?
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Conjunction Junction
Luke 10, 22
At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, " All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Growing up, like most kids, Saturday morning was a time for cartoons. I especially liked what ABC did between the cartoons. I still remember their tunes to help me learn parts of speech, and the constitution. For instance, “…Conjunction Junction, what’s your function. Hooking up words and phrases and clauses…” The tune still comes to my mind. As I was reading the days Scripture, the conjunction AND near the end of the verse is what came to my mind.
In the words that precede it, we are told the following:
Taken by themselves, these two statements are rather exclusionary. Unless you are the Son or the Father—you are left out of the loop! But, then, the little conjunction –AND—comes into play. “who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” If we want to know the Father, we must first know the Son. When we know the Son, He—the Son will reveal to us the Father. It is the Son that chooses the “anyone” to which he will reveal the Father.
Somehow, folks seem to miss this little tidbit. They think they can know God and learn about God without first knowing the Son. I don’t think that this is so. If we want to truly understand God, we must first understand Jesus and what he has done and is doing for us.
Think about it.
At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, " All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Growing up, like most kids, Saturday morning was a time for cartoons. I especially liked what ABC did between the cartoons. I still remember their tunes to help me learn parts of speech, and the constitution. For instance, “…Conjunction Junction, what’s your function. Hooking up words and phrases and clauses…” The tune still comes to my mind. As I was reading the days Scripture, the conjunction AND near the end of the verse is what came to my mind.
In the words that precede it, we are told the following:
- No one knows who the Son is, except the Father.
- No one knows who the Father is, except the Son.
Taken by themselves, these two statements are rather exclusionary. Unless you are the Son or the Father—you are left out of the loop! But, then, the little conjunction –AND—comes into play. “who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” If we want to know the Father, we must first know the Son. When we know the Son, He—the Son will reveal to us the Father. It is the Son that chooses the “anyone” to which he will reveal the Father.
Somehow, folks seem to miss this little tidbit. They think they can know God and learn about God without first knowing the Son. I don’t think that this is so. If we want to truly understand God, we must first understand Jesus and what he has done and is doing for us.
Think about it.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Under Whose Authority
Matthew 8:5-11
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."
As I read this passage, I began to wonder, “Why did this centurion have such faith?” So I began to read the passage again and again. Then it struck me. The centurion had such faith because he was “…a man under authority.” In our society, there are only some people that know what that means. Persons serving in the military or the police forces would know what it means to be under authority. Most of us as everyday citizens don’t understand what it means for someone to say to us, “Do this” or “Do that” and for that person to expect us to DO IT. We don’t have such a structured life.
Then again, as Christians, maybe we do.
We say that at the name of Jesus every knee shall one day bow. We call him King of Kings. We talk in hierarchical and authoritarian language all the time. However, few of us have ever really put him or herself completely under the authority of Jesus. Sure we play at it every now and then, but, when push comes to shove, most of us still like to do things our way.
Could this be the reason that we see so few miracles? Could our lack of trust in the one that made us, be the reason that our faith is so weak? Think about it.
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."
As I read this passage, I began to wonder, “Why did this centurion have such faith?” So I began to read the passage again and again. Then it struck me. The centurion had such faith because he was “…a man under authority.” In our society, there are only some people that know what that means. Persons serving in the military or the police forces would know what it means to be under authority. Most of us as everyday citizens don’t understand what it means for someone to say to us, “Do this” or “Do that” and for that person to expect us to DO IT. We don’t have such a structured life.
Then again, as Christians, maybe we do.
We say that at the name of Jesus every knee shall one day bow. We call him King of Kings. We talk in hierarchical and authoritarian language all the time. However, few of us have ever really put him or herself completely under the authority of Jesus. Sure we play at it every now and then, but, when push comes to shove, most of us still like to do things our way.
Could this be the reason that we see so few miracles? Could our lack of trust in the one that made us, be the reason that our faith is so weak? Think about it.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Keep Awake
Mark 13, 33-37
Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."
Being the father of four young children, I am discovering that sleep is precious. I am also discovering that it is very hard to come by. Over Thanksgiving, I had some of the best sleep I have had in a long time. I slept until about 8:00 a.m. each morning, that’s at least 2 hours more sleep than I normally get. I have determined that I am just about continually sleep deprived. If I get too calm and rested during the day, I am likely to doze off for a few seconds. This wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to do things like drive a car!
I know the causes of my sleep deprivation. I know what could make it better. It’s just finding the time to make it happen. It’s deciding that sleep gets a primary focus in my life.
As for the admonition in today’s text to Keep Awake, well, I have to understand that it’s not talking about physical sleep. It’s talking about a spiritual form of awareness that too often gets clouded in our day to day lives. Too often we forget, the promised return. We forget that we don’t know the day or the time and that God could return at any moment. We forget—we’ve been waiting now for 2000 years—what’s another hour going to matter? What difference can a day make? Will a year really matter? What will we be doing when Jesus comes again at the sound of the archangel’s trumpet? What will happen to us when we see the dead in Christ rise from their graves? Will we also rise to meet him in the air, or will we be caught unaware?
Advent is the time to start thinking again about these kinds of questions. Even as we begin the story cycle over with His promised first coming and birth, we must never forget that we have his second coming still to occur. Will we be ready, or will we be asleep?
Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."
Being the father of four young children, I am discovering that sleep is precious. I am also discovering that it is very hard to come by. Over Thanksgiving, I had some of the best sleep I have had in a long time. I slept until about 8:00 a.m. each morning, that’s at least 2 hours more sleep than I normally get. I have determined that I am just about continually sleep deprived. If I get too calm and rested during the day, I am likely to doze off for a few seconds. This wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to do things like drive a car!
I know the causes of my sleep deprivation. I know what could make it better. It’s just finding the time to make it happen. It’s deciding that sleep gets a primary focus in my life.
As for the admonition in today’s text to Keep Awake, well, I have to understand that it’s not talking about physical sleep. It’s talking about a spiritual form of awareness that too often gets clouded in our day to day lives. Too often we forget, the promised return. We forget that we don’t know the day or the time and that God could return at any moment. We forget—we’ve been waiting now for 2000 years—what’s another hour going to matter? What difference can a day make? Will a year really matter? What will we be doing when Jesus comes again at the sound of the archangel’s trumpet? What will happen to us when we see the dead in Christ rise from their graves? Will we also rise to meet him in the air, or will we be caught unaware?
Advent is the time to start thinking again about these kinds of questions. Even as we begin the story cycle over with His promised first coming and birth, we must never forget that we have his second coming still to occur. Will we be ready, or will we be asleep?
Sunday, November 20, 2005
"Lord, when was it..."
Matthew 25:31-46
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
As I read this passage I am struck by the fact that there was no real difference between those that helped and those that didn’t help. Both groups, after Jesus has told them what happened, say the same thing: “Lord, when was it…” The group that had clothed the naked, fed the hungry, ministered to the sick, visited those in prison, and given homes to the homeless, were just as much in the dark about what they did as was the group that had not done these things. Neither group knew what it was doing, yet one did the right thing—and one did not.
Sometimes I think that we get too bound up in our decision making processes. As a church, an opportunity comes before us and we will committee and study it to death trying to discern every possible outcome and seeing if it will truly be of benefit to us. Perhaps, we need to sometimes take a less structured approach to things. Perhaps at times we just need to go with the flow of the moment and do what we instinctively know is the right thing to do –not the measured and thought out thing to do. I am sure that the group that failed to minister as Jesus had hoped they would could have thought it our and realized that they might be doing a service to him, they would have done it in a heartbeat.
Therein lies the difference between the two groups. The group that did things correctly also didn’t have the chance to analyze the situation and say—“Yep, that’s what God would want us to do.” They didn’t know God was testing them either. However, they were different in that they instinctively saw a need and responded to that need. No board meetings to discuss it. No surveys to see the mood of the congregation. No trial balloons to see if it was feasible. They saw someone in need and they acted.
How can we do likewise?
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
As I read this passage I am struck by the fact that there was no real difference between those that helped and those that didn’t help. Both groups, after Jesus has told them what happened, say the same thing: “Lord, when was it…” The group that had clothed the naked, fed the hungry, ministered to the sick, visited those in prison, and given homes to the homeless, were just as much in the dark about what they did as was the group that had not done these things. Neither group knew what it was doing, yet one did the right thing—and one did not.
Sometimes I think that we get too bound up in our decision making processes. As a church, an opportunity comes before us and we will committee and study it to death trying to discern every possible outcome and seeing if it will truly be of benefit to us. Perhaps, we need to sometimes take a less structured approach to things. Perhaps at times we just need to go with the flow of the moment and do what we instinctively know is the right thing to do –not the measured and thought out thing to do. I am sure that the group that failed to minister as Jesus had hoped they would could have thought it our and realized that they might be doing a service to him, they would have done it in a heartbeat.
Therein lies the difference between the two groups. The group that did things correctly also didn’t have the chance to analyze the situation and say—“Yep, that’s what God would want us to do.” They didn’t know God was testing them either. However, they were different in that they instinctively saw a need and responded to that need. No board meetings to discuss it. No surveys to see the mood of the congregation. No trial balloons to see if it was feasible. They saw someone in need and they acted.
How can we do likewise?
Friday, November 18, 2005
Spellbinding Seromns
Luke 19:45-48
Then Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers." Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.
Have you ever watched a magician perform his illusions? You sit there staring intently as he manipulates his hands to reveal a multitude of objects. You wonder how does he do it? You stare some more. You try to find out. You are spellbound.
As a preacher, I think I do an okay job with my sermons. There are, however, a lot better preachers out there than me. No one would really say that I keep the congregation “spellbound” as I preach. Jesus, though, well that’s another story. There was something about him that captured the attention of the hearer. This man was a simple carpenter from Galilee. This was a man who could give sight to the blind. This man was able to drive out demons. This was a man that could raise the dead to life. Like the old E.F. Hutton commercials, When Jesus talked, people listened.
Since I will never be Jesus, I have to rely on something else to keep people spellbound during my sermons. I have to rely on the Word of God found in the Scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit found inside each one of us. God’s Word can hold us spellbound when we allow the Holy Spirit to move freely in our lives as we hear the word proclaimed. I suppose that what I am saying is, that I believe that if you want to be spellbound by my, or any other preacher’s sermon, then perhaps you need to come to worship prepared to let the Holy Spirit move freely inside of you as you hear God’s word.
Then Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers." Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.
Have you ever watched a magician perform his illusions? You sit there staring intently as he manipulates his hands to reveal a multitude of objects. You wonder how does he do it? You stare some more. You try to find out. You are spellbound.
As a preacher, I think I do an okay job with my sermons. There are, however, a lot better preachers out there than me. No one would really say that I keep the congregation “spellbound” as I preach. Jesus, though, well that’s another story. There was something about him that captured the attention of the hearer. This man was a simple carpenter from Galilee. This was a man who could give sight to the blind. This man was able to drive out demons. This was a man that could raise the dead to life. Like the old E.F. Hutton commercials, When Jesus talked, people listened.
Since I will never be Jesus, I have to rely on something else to keep people spellbound during my sermons. I have to rely on the Word of God found in the Scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit found inside each one of us. God’s Word can hold us spellbound when we allow the Holy Spirit to move freely in our lives as we hear the word proclaimed. I suppose that what I am saying is, that I believe that if you want to be spellbound by my, or any other preacher’s sermon, then perhaps you need to come to worship prepared to let the Holy Spirit move freely inside of you as you hear God’s word.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
God, Are You Listening?
Psalm 16(17):1, 6, 8, 15
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words. Guard me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
Being the father of four younger children, I am constantly being bombarded by questions. Why is the sky blue? Are raindrops really God’s tears? How does this work? At times, though, it becomes easy to tune out the one thousandth question of the day. Sometimes it is hard to hear the voice that says over and over Daddy, Daddy, Dad—a voice just trying to get my attention. That’s all they want, yet sometimes I just don’t hear the still small voice of one of my children calling out because I am in overload mode.
I suppose that if anyone could claim to be in overload mode, it would be God. Not only does God have me calling out to him, but also everyone else in the world as well. The good news for us is that God does not overload and tune out our incessant cries. When we say, Abba, Father, Daddy—He is listening.
Have you called out to God today. If you have, then He has heard and He will answer you.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words. Guard me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
Being the father of four younger children, I am constantly being bombarded by questions. Why is the sky blue? Are raindrops really God’s tears? How does this work? At times, though, it becomes easy to tune out the one thousandth question of the day. Sometimes it is hard to hear the voice that says over and over Daddy, Daddy, Dad—a voice just trying to get my attention. That’s all they want, yet sometimes I just don’t hear the still small voice of one of my children calling out because I am in overload mode.
I suppose that if anyone could claim to be in overload mode, it would be God. Not only does God have me calling out to him, but also everyone else in the world as well. The good news for us is that God does not overload and tune out our incessant cries. When we say, Abba, Father, Daddy—He is listening.
Have you called out to God today. If you have, then He has heard and He will answer you.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
A Visit from Jesus
Luke 19:1-6
Jesus was passing through Jericho, and a man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.
What would it be like if Jesus came to”…stay at our hose today…”? I don’t know about you, but when company is coming over there is a mad rush at my house to pick up toys, clean counter tops, put away clothes. We want to get the place spruced up and ready for visitors. I wonder, though, what would we do differently if we knew that Jesus was going to be visiting our home today?
Would we dress in our finest clothes?
Would we make sure the kids had a bath and in their best outfits?
Would we make sure that the garbage had been taken out?
Would we get the Bible out and put it on the coffee table?
Would we change the way we acted with one another and put on our best behaviors?
What would you do if Jesus was coming to visit your home—today?
Well, according to Scripture, our bodies are the temple of God and God’s Holy Spirit dwells within us. That means that Jesus is already in our homes. He is already aware of how we act in our worst moments. He knows our anger. He knows our frustrations. He knows our joys. He knows everything about us and our families.
The Good News is—HE STILL LOVES US. The Scriptures say that “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I don’t know about you, but that kind of love is hard to ignore.
What would you do if Jesus came to your home for a visit? Welcome him. Thank him. Serve him.
What would you do?
Jesus was passing through Jericho, and a man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.
What would it be like if Jesus came to”…stay at our hose today…”? I don’t know about you, but when company is coming over there is a mad rush at my house to pick up toys, clean counter tops, put away clothes. We want to get the place spruced up and ready for visitors. I wonder, though, what would we do differently if we knew that Jesus was going to be visiting our home today?
Would we dress in our finest clothes?
Would we make sure the kids had a bath and in their best outfits?
Would we make sure that the garbage had been taken out?
Would we get the Bible out and put it on the coffee table?
Would we change the way we acted with one another and put on our best behaviors?
What would you do if Jesus was coming to visit your home—today?
Well, according to Scripture, our bodies are the temple of God and God’s Holy Spirit dwells within us. That means that Jesus is already in our homes. He is already aware of how we act in our worst moments. He knows our anger. He knows our frustrations. He knows our joys. He knows everything about us and our families.
The Good News is—HE STILL LOVES US. The Scriptures say that “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I don’t know about you, but that kind of love is hard to ignore.
What would you do if Jesus came to your home for a visit? Welcome him. Thank him. Serve him.
What would you do?
Monday, November 14, 2005
Blind Beggars
Luke 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." Then he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
The blind man in this passage sets a marvelous example for situation. “…a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.” This suggests to me our situation in regards to God. If we do not know God, we are blind. We cannot see the things of God. We cannot know God’s glory. We do not recognize God’s love. Yet, we are begging. We are wanting more out of life because within each of us is a spiritual vacuum that is waiting to be filled by God. We sit day by day in our darkness—begging—yearning wanting to fill the void within us.
At some point, there is a commotion inside of our spirit. We hear a song. We read a poem. We hear a preacher. We witness God working in someone else’s life. We are disturbed enough to ask the question, “What’s happening? What’s going on?” We learn that there is a man named Jesus. That he loves us. That he gave his life for us while we were yet sinners. Something within us comes alive. We realize that the void can be filled.
We shout “JESUS. SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” He comes into our lives. We are reborn. The spiritual vacuum is filled with a love we never before imagined and life begins anew for us.
Like the blind man we are given new sight. We see a new world—one in which God’s Kingdom is now visible to us. We glorify God. We praise God. We begin to follow his Son—our Savior—Jesus Christ.
We have taken the first step of a journey that will last for eternity.
Have you taken that step or are you still sitting beside the road begging that the spiritual void be filled in your life?
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." Then he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
The blind man in this passage sets a marvelous example for situation. “…a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.” This suggests to me our situation in regards to God. If we do not know God, we are blind. We cannot see the things of God. We cannot know God’s glory. We do not recognize God’s love. Yet, we are begging. We are wanting more out of life because within each of us is a spiritual vacuum that is waiting to be filled by God. We sit day by day in our darkness—begging—yearning wanting to fill the void within us.
At some point, there is a commotion inside of our spirit. We hear a song. We read a poem. We hear a preacher. We witness God working in someone else’s life. We are disturbed enough to ask the question, “What’s happening? What’s going on?” We learn that there is a man named Jesus. That he loves us. That he gave his life for us while we were yet sinners. Something within us comes alive. We realize that the void can be filled.
We shout “JESUS. SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” He comes into our lives. We are reborn. The spiritual vacuum is filled with a love we never before imagined and life begins anew for us.
Like the blind man we are given new sight. We see a new world—one in which God’s Kingdom is now visible to us. We glorify God. We praise God. We begin to follow his Son—our Savior—Jesus Christ.
We have taken the first step of a journey that will last for eternity.
Have you taken that step or are you still sitting beside the road begging that the spiritual void be filled in your life?
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Opening Our Spiritual Eyes
Open My Eyes That I May See….
These words to an old hymn recently began to make new sense to me. I have been the pastor at the Virginia Avenue & Macedonia Churches since the end of June 2005. I arrived in the height of summer. The leaves were green and the forests lush with vegetation. As I traveled back and forth to Macedonia, it was almost like driving through a green tunnel at times.
Now, however, it is fall. The leaves are falling away and I am beginning to see things that were there all the time, but that have been hidden from my sight. I have discovered houses I had been driving by but could not see. I now see foundations from former homes that have long since rotted away. I see refrigerators dumped at the side of the road. All of these things were there when I arrived in June, its only after the leaves have fallen, though, that I can see them.
I sometimes wonder, “What is blocking my spiritual vision? What is all around me that I cannot see until some veil or blockage is removed from my sight?”
Have you ever thought about your spiritual vision? What do you now see and what could you be seeing in relation to God’s Kingdom if only your eyes could be opened?
These words to an old hymn recently began to make new sense to me. I have been the pastor at the Virginia Avenue & Macedonia Churches since the end of June 2005. I arrived in the height of summer. The leaves were green and the forests lush with vegetation. As I traveled back and forth to Macedonia, it was almost like driving through a green tunnel at times.
Now, however, it is fall. The leaves are falling away and I am beginning to see things that were there all the time, but that have been hidden from my sight. I have discovered houses I had been driving by but could not see. I now see foundations from former homes that have long since rotted away. I see refrigerators dumped at the side of the road. All of these things were there when I arrived in June, its only after the leaves have fallen, though, that I can see them.
I sometimes wonder, “What is blocking my spiritual vision? What is all around me that I cannot see until some veil or blockage is removed from my sight?”
Have you ever thought about your spiritual vision? What do you now see and what could you be seeing in relation to God’s Kingdom if only your eyes could be opened?
Are You Able
Matthew 25:14-22
"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward..."
I’ve always been provoked to thought about this passage of Scripture. As I was reading it this morning, the phrase near the beginning “to each according to his ability” jumped out at me. I am so glad that God is a God of even handedness. I would hate to think that God is going to ask of me more than I am capable of doing. I sometimes wonder, though, what God knows about me that I don’t know about myself.
You see, every now and then, God asks me to do something that seems way beyond my ability. When that time comes, I am faced with a choice. I will either step out in faith and believe that if God is calling me, God will provide a way, or else I will simply say, “I can’t do it.” More often than not, I have stepped out in faith. There have been a few times, that I have not stepped out and later have come to regret my lack of faith.
What about you? Are their times when you felt that God’s request was beyond your “ability”?
"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward..."
I’ve always been provoked to thought about this passage of Scripture. As I was reading it this morning, the phrase near the beginning “to each according to his ability” jumped out at me. I am so glad that God is a God of even handedness. I would hate to think that God is going to ask of me more than I am capable of doing. I sometimes wonder, though, what God knows about me that I don’t know about myself.
You see, every now and then, God asks me to do something that seems way beyond my ability. When that time comes, I am faced with a choice. I will either step out in faith and believe that if God is calling me, God will provide a way, or else I will simply say, “I can’t do it.” More often than not, I have stepped out in faith. There have been a few times, that I have not stepped out and later have come to regret my lack of faith.
What about you? Are their times when you felt that God’s request was beyond your “ability”?
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Foolish or Wise? You Decide.
Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
I like to think that I am smart. I remember a time in about the seventh grade when my teacher gave the class a “common sense test”. It consisted of a series of one line instructions. The first instruction was to read the entire test. Following this line of instruction were about 20 other lines of instruction that had you calling out words, figuring problems, etc. So you can imagine the uproar in the room. It was also a timed test. So everyone wanted to complete it within the allotted time frame. It was a mad dash to the finish. You knew where everyone was on the test as they called out words. When you got to the last instruction, it said “Now that you have read the test, simply sign your name and turn it in.”
I thought that I was wise—I was the first one to finish--but it turned out I was foolish. The first instruction said read the test. I did--One instruction at a time. However, I was supposed to read all the instructions first, which meant all I needed to do was sign my name to the paper and I would have been done.
In the Proverbs, you find proverb upon proverb about the fool. I think God is trying to tell us something. I would like to suggest that we all need to re-examine our relationship with God and make sure that we know who is the fool and who is the wise one in that relationship. Too often, we think that we are wise in the ways of God. From and earthly standpoint, in comparison with other Christians, we might indeed have more godly wisdom. However, our problem becomes that we fall into the trap of thinking that we are on the same plane of wisdom as God. That is when we fall. That is when we sin.
So, think for a minute or two about God and all the wisdom that God possesses. Think then for a moment about all your earthly knowledge and wisdom. Which is greater? Don’t forget what you have learned.
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
I like to think that I am smart. I remember a time in about the seventh grade when my teacher gave the class a “common sense test”. It consisted of a series of one line instructions. The first instruction was to read the entire test. Following this line of instruction were about 20 other lines of instruction that had you calling out words, figuring problems, etc. So you can imagine the uproar in the room. It was also a timed test. So everyone wanted to complete it within the allotted time frame. It was a mad dash to the finish. You knew where everyone was on the test as they called out words. When you got to the last instruction, it said “Now that you have read the test, simply sign your name and turn it in.”
I thought that I was wise—I was the first one to finish--but it turned out I was foolish. The first instruction said read the test. I did--One instruction at a time. However, I was supposed to read all the instructions first, which meant all I needed to do was sign my name to the paper and I would have been done.
In the Proverbs, you find proverb upon proverb about the fool. I think God is trying to tell us something. I would like to suggest that we all need to re-examine our relationship with God and make sure that we know who is the fool and who is the wise one in that relationship. Too often, we think that we are wise in the ways of God. From and earthly standpoint, in comparison with other Christians, we might indeed have more godly wisdom. However, our problem becomes that we fall into the trap of thinking that we are on the same plane of wisdom as God. That is when we fall. That is when we sin.
So, think for a minute or two about God and all the wisdom that God possesses. Think then for a moment about all your earthly knowledge and wisdom. Which is greater? Don’t forget what you have learned.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Laying it on Jesus' Shoulders
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, 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."
Luke 15:1-7
As I read this passage of scripture, the phrase: “…he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.” would not leave my mind. I began to reflect upon the image. When we think of shoulders, we often think of broad strong shoulders that are supportive. We use the phrase, “a shoulder to cry on” indicating that the person is able and willing to hear our heartfelt burdens and pains. We talk about putting our “shoulder to the plow” meaning that we get behind something and push or work hard. We refer to the sides of the road as shoulders. These shoulders help us to stay on the path, if we stray onto them; we know we are not going in the correct direction.
When we think of shoulders, we also must not forget the shoulders of Jesus Christ. I have seen the Mel Gibson film, The Passion of the Christ several times. I am always struck by the scenes in which Jesus is forced to put his cross upon his shoulders and drag it through the streets. I know that that burden was done not on his behalf, but for me. He carried the cross and he died on the cross for my sins and the sins of the entire world.
So, when I read this passage and the words “…he lays it on his shoulders…” jump out at me, they do so, because I envision Jesus picking my sins up and putting them on his shoulders as he walked the Via Dolorosa on the way to Calvary. Yet, my thoughts don’t stop with just that phrase. Look at the next two words, “…and rejoices.” He didn’t do it out of drudgery, he did it rejoicing knowing that his death would bring about forgiveness for me.
Have you put your burdens on the shoulders of Jesus? Have you let him carry away your sins?
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