Glory Given

Just before Jesus was betrayed by one of his friends to those who took his life, he bared his heart before his heavenly Father.  He made a powerful statement claim: "I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." (John 17:4)

This is a claim that I want to be able to say when I face my heavenly Father.  It encompasses what I think, what I say and what I do in my home, to my family, to my friends, to my students and colleagues, to the youth I interact with, in the store, on social media, walking down the road, to my neighbors, to my church family and so on.  This isn't something I can be consistent enough simply on my own to be able to say the I was a "completer."  It has to come out a living relationship with the one I strive to bring glory to.  For, as I grow in knowing him, I will grow to be more like him and, in turn, know what indeed brings him glory.  It really isn't a complicated thing. However, "love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." (When I Survey The Wondrous Cross)

A Powerful Statement

Just before Jesus was betrayed he was praying.  He said to his heavenly Father, "I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."  (John 17:4)

That is bold and that is powerful.  He sheds light on what that mission was two verses later, "I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world."  A little further in his prayer he adds, "I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth."

Do we not have the same mission?  Are we not to reveal our heavenly Father to those he has placed us among in this world? Are we not to live a life of sacrifice to God and towards others so that others may be spurred towards holiness as they witness God's truth in our lives.  Yes, just as Jesus and the Father are one, we are one in Jesus (Jn 14:20).  We share in His mission.

Wow, that's a powerful mission, yet it is not a mission impossible. Jesus sent his Spirit.  He leads us into truth. He is our comforter. He is our encourager. He is our power.

The time will come when my journey here is done.  I want to be able to say, "I brought glory to you, heavenly Father, her on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."  

Wrestling With What's Ahead

Jesus wrestled with what was ahead when he considered the impending crucifixion.  "My soul is deeply troubled.  Should I pray, 'Father, save me from this hour'? But this is the very reason I came!  Father, bring glory to your name."

Wrestling is real. Wrestling is OK.  Wrestling indicates that we are feeling the weight of something. Wrestling indicates that we are grasping all that is involved in something.  Wrestling shows that something is hard.  Wrestling means that there is a lot at stake; there might be or is risk involved.

Jesus settles his troubled heart with two truths:  his purpose and God's glory.

When I'm wrestling...Lord, remind me of my purpose as your child and may all that happens be for your glory alone.Oh that I may trust that your purposes for me will bring glory to you.

What Do I Have To Do?

We like to DO.  It leaves evidence.  It's measurable.  We have something to point back to and say, "See, there's proof."

It is precisely these motivations that prompt someone to ask Jesus, "What good thing do I need to do so that I can go to heaven?"

Jesus' answer is two-fold. (Matthew 19) First, he says that we need to keep the commandments. Jesus singles out the ones that make for good inter-personal relationships: don't murder, don't lie, respect your parents, and love your neighbor as yourself.  Those all seem pretty reasonable.  I can DO all of those "good" things and still hold on to those things most important to me  Loving my neighbor as myself is probably the harder one, but I can be comfortable with that... most of the time.

Secondly, Jesus ups the ante. He does this just because doing what's comfortable isn't enough.  He is consistent with himself, and, back in the Old Testament, he requires "all our heart, all our soul and all our mind."  That is still the requirement today.  Remember how he says that where our treasure is, that is where our heart is?  He addresses that as the second requirement for eternal life: putting aside our treasure.  Whatever it is that holds our heart is our treasure. Jesus says that we have to let go.  "Impossible!" you say. "I can't DO that." Yep, he beat you to that. He says, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." (v. 26).

Putting aside our treasure, the things that hold our hearts, is an inside job.  It's not measurable, data driven, evidence based.  That is why we much prefer to default to the "doing" that allows us to say, "See, I'm doing good things for God. Certainly I will have eternal life."

What are the things that hold our hearts?  Relationships, things, goals, hobbies?  They are not bad in and of themselves.  The problem is when these things have our heart, soul and mind all wrapped up in them.  They need to be held with open hands rather than in a white knuckle grasp.  A heart that is acceptable to God is a heart that is wholly his. There really is nothing to loose in light of eternity.  There is only eternity to gain.

Lord, help me to keep my hands open.  This is only possible with your help.

Family Ties

I've been thinking a lot about the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus.  First of all, they were cousins. That is huge, really.  Remember that Mary went to stay with Elizabeth, her cousin.  I believe that Jesus and John, these cousins that were only 6 months apart, were pals as kids.  It started when Mary first arrived at Elizabeth's and John lept within her womb.  They were bonded.  I think that they romped the country side together, wrestled (they were boys!) and shared their hearts, for God the Father had imparted weighty tasks upon each of them.  I bet that they were together in Jerusalem when they were both 12. Remember... the time that Jesus stayed behind discussing the Scriptures at the temple. I bet John "rolled his eyes" when he heard that Jesus wasn't with the group on the return trip.  Yep, Jesus, his cousin, had a seriousness and responsibility about him that was different than the other guys.  John grew up knowing that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, the Savior of the world.

God's call on John's life led him to be that voice calling out,  "The Messiah is coming, get ready."  He was convinced of what he proclaimed.  Jesus was his cousin and John knew his true identity.

It is not surprising to read John's response when Jesus come to the river where John was baptizing those who were getting ready for the Messiah by confessing their sins.  Jesus asked John baptize him and John looked at him with a face of, "You are kidding me, right?"

Then he responded, "What are you thinking?  I can't baptize you.  First of all, these people are confessing their sins.  You don't have any sins.  You know that; I know that!  Second of all, they are preparing for the coming of the Messiah.  You are the Messiah.  You know that; I know that.  If anything, YOU should be baptizing me!"

It is interesting that just a little while later, John wrestled with his own doubts.  His outspokenness for righteousness got him in trouble and he was put in prison.  While sitting in prison, discouragement began to set in, leading to doubt.  He sent his friends to ask Jesus, "Are you really who you claim to be and who I have always believed you to be? You know, it is because I've embraced this with you that I am sitting here in prison."  Maybe John thought they would rise to power together. After all, they were cousins.  Instead, John was wasting away in prison.  Had he gotten on the wrong bandwagon?

I've been there.  I am convinced that Jesus is the Savior of the world.  I'm in!  I believe that He can, does and will do mighty things in my life, the lives around me and in the world beyond.  I have seen it and been a part of it.  I know!

However, like John, day to day life breeds discouragement.  Embracing the Messiah's way of life is against the grain these days.  It can result in rejection, judgment and in some places even imprisonment and death. Sometimes I am like John as I think, "Are you really who you claim to be and who I have believed you to be?"

Jesus response is simply this,  "Look again on what you know and have heard.  I heal and make whole.  My heart is for the poor.  You are and will be blessed if you don't turn away from me even though it has or may result in difficulties."

I must look again.
 "What ever is true, honorable and right...let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

Display of Power: Man's Way vs. God's Way

Following the news these days is unsettling.  Actually, it isn't anything different than the past 4000+ years.  Man seeks to display his power over other man by means of subduing him.  Today it is nuclear threats from N. Korea.  Man shows and gets power by destruction.  The pattern hasn't changed.

This morning I was struck by Jesus display of power. He was not here to destroy, but to seek and to save those that are lost.

A man is brought to Jesus who is paralyzed. It is interesting, first, that Jesus doesn't deal with the outward obvious.  Instead, Jesus tells the man to be encouraged because his sins are forgiven.  The religious leaders have a problem with this because man doesn't have that kind of power.  They know who does.  That is why they say, "Who does he think he is anyway, God?"

Jesus, in His usual pointed way, let's them know that it wasn't just words.  Then to show the power behind the words, rather than destroy those doubting his power, He simply looks at the paralyzed man and tells him to get up, pick up his mat and go home.  Boom! That's it!  The man jumps up, picks up his mat and goes home!  (Matthew 9: 1-7)

Power.  Everyone recognized it that day.  The immediate result:  they praised God for sending a man with such power.

Am I basking in that power displayed to me in His great love, compassion, patience and forgiveness towards me?  Am I displaying His power through love, compassion, patience and forgiveness towards others?  Are there other ways that He would show His power through me?  Lord, I let me be your conduit.

The Picture of the Power of the Laws

The laws of nature: 365 1/4 days in one year, the moon reflects the light of the sun, ocean tides, the water cycle, photosynthesis, caterpillars turning to butterflies, a dead seed sprouting to life, an echo across a canyon, the formation of a rainbow, the firing synapses in the brain...the list is endless.

God set this all in motion and He alone keeps it all in motion.

It is this God who also set our lives in motion.  When it seems like things are spinning our of control, we sometimes wonder if He has forgotten about us.  Sometimes, if things are really bad, we wonder if he hasn't just rejected us.  Maybe we finally did the "final straw that broke the camels back" and He is just plain done with us.  That is a despairing thought.

Instead, God tells us, "I am as likely to reject my people...as I am to abolish the laws of nature."  He has never abolished any of His laws of nature.

Yes, we can really do a number on our relationship with God as our hearts wander from this to that instead of being ALL for Him alone.  Sometimes we just plain turn our attention away all together.  That is a tragic place to be!

God continues to tell us, "...just as the foundations of the earth can not be explored, so I will not consider casting my people away for the evil they have done.  I, the Lord, have spoken."

We surely might experience some tough times from our thoughts, pursuits and actions, but, God says, "I will find joy in doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly restore them..."

Oh that we might respond with "one heart and one purpose to worship Him forever."

(God's words from Jeremiah 31:36,37; 32:39-41)