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)

Unheard Of

"Has anyone ever heard of anything as strange as this?  Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all?  Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay," says the Lord.  Jeremiah 2: 10,11

Why is it that we abandon the real thing for cheap, imitation substitutes?  Why do we grasp for what is really a false veneer over emptiness?  What makes it so difficult for us to hold onto, stay with and defend our glorious God?  We exchange truth for lies that pose as truth.

From the viewpoint of the heavenlies, it is so strange; it is shocking!  It is unfathomable.  Oh that we would grasp the heavenly viewpoint.  May we not exchange our glorious God for worthless idols, worthless substitutes...poser gods!  Don't be fooled into a trade.

For our God is God alone.  All glory, all honor and all power is His.

Proclamation

"For since the world began,
no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you,
who works for those who wait for Him."
   -Isaiah 64:4

The Road Back

God's relationship with us is pictured beautifully in His relationship with Israel.  He poignantly depicts Israel a prostitute because of her unfaithfulness to Him...trying to find love, acceptance and met needs in other lovers. Their chase after other gods has lead to rejection, shame and even despair.  He states that there is "no faithfulness, no kindness and no knowledge of God in the land."  The God strongly declares, "You are a prostitute through and through, and you do not know the Lord."  To make matters worse, Israel is arrogant about it.  The chasm between Israel and God is so wide that when they come to go through the motions of worship, "they will not find the Lord." (the book of Hosea)

Oh Lord, in your mercy, let me not try to find my love, acceptance or met needs in anyone or anything else than you.

In the last chapter of Hosea, God lays out the road back.  He calls Israel to confess and return.  This is done by asking for forgiveness, asking Him to graciously receive them back and then  returning to offering Him praises.

God's response...
"I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever."
"I will be like refreshing dew from heaven; you will bloom like a lily and send your roots deep like a cedar...you will flourish like grain...you will be fragrant as wine."

Oh the joy of restoration! 

Music

"While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha." 2 Kings 3:15

"...David would play the harp, then Saul would feel better and the tormenting spirit would go away."  1 Samuel 16:23

I was struck with the place of music in God's spiritual work in our lives.  It is not only a means by which we can express our worship to God, it also is an avenue  by which God's Spirit's presence and work touches and enters into our lives.  

Bring on the music! May it permeate pour hearts and minds as we wake in the morning, as we walk through our day and as we lay our heads on our pillows at night.  "O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing His power and His love."