Misfit

Moses. Where did  he fit? Born: Hebrew. Adopted: Egyptian.
 
Against the command of Pharaoh, Moses' mother hid Moses. By "accident", Pharaoh's daughter found Moses, was taken by his helpless cries and made him her own son.

This certainly didn't go unnoticed by the Hebrew nation trapped in brutal slavery. Mothers and fathers who had put their own sons to death out of fear of the Egyptian edict looked on this situation with both disgust and jealousy. It wasn't fair, yet  how could one let one's own flesh and blood be raised and molded by the oppressor and enemy.

Moses lived the life as the princess' own son. He had the highest socioeconomic opportunities. Educated alongside the future pharaoh and the next military brass. From all appearances, he was Egyptian.  At some point, however, Moses became aware that he was not the same and I suspect that those Egyptians, at some point, also became aware that underneath his appearance, Moses was not the same. He was "the same" but was not a true fit.  He was an Egyptian misfit.

During these years, in the land of Goshen, I expect that they kept track of Moses. He looked so Egyptian. He was moving on in his schooling...Did you see him the other day with his "mother" when they were out and about? He carries himself so proudly. Doesn't he know where he came from? Doesn't he know what is happening to his real family? How could he live like that knowing what is going on here? It doesn't matter. He is one of them. He will never be one of us.  He was a Hebrew misfit.

There comes a point in every ones life when "Who am I?" becomes a question that burns deep within. Moses was no exception. He knew what he had become: educated, strong, proud, privileged. He needed to see where he had come from. He determined to visit "his people." Why did he call them that? Deep inside he felt like a misfit among the Egyptians and he knew that the Hebrew people were his roots. Any adopted person longs to know their roots.

The visit to "his people" did  not go so well.  He didn't like what he saw. Why had he been privileged to grow up away from such misery?  It was wrong. He must do something about it. He did, and he failed. Killing an Egyptian for beating one of "his people" only brought out the disgust that "his people" felt towards him because of his palatial upbringing and precipitated a death threat from Pharaoh because he had turned on his undeserved life of privilege.

Moses. Egyptian but not Egyptian. Hebrew but  not Hebrew. Who was he? Where did he belong? Misfit.

Nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. He fled to the wilderness...That's where God met him.

Sometimes that's what it takes. After the bottom drops out and I'm in the wilderness...that's where God meets me.

No 2nd Fiddle

Acts 12 contains a sobering story.  Herod Agrippa gave a speech after which the people stood and shouted, "It's the voice of a god, not a man."  He accepted this adoration from the people instead of giving the glory to God.  He was instantly struck with sickness by an angel of the Lord and he died.

Praise from man does happen.  How the heart accepts it...that is crucial.  Does is boost pride?  Does it raise to a pedal stool? The Bible tells us that God loves a humble heart.  It tells us that all that we are and all that we have is a gift from God. It also tells us that God alone is God and he is second to none!

Lord, check my heart.  All glory is to You alone.

Eternal Hope

When we begin thinking seriously about the reality of death we may become uneasy about it because we start questioning if what we thought was good about ourselves is really good enough to get us to heaven.  This uncertainty then causes fear. We know that heaven is good and only good can be there.  Yet, we know that in and of ourselves we are not good; that is what the Bible calls sin.

·         Romans 3:23 says this also: “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.”

Thankfully we don’t have to be stuck in that “fallen” and fearful state.

·         2Corinthians 5:21 says that “Jesus Christ didn’t have any sin, but he became sin for us so that we can be made right with God.” That happened at his death on the cross. When he rose from the dead, sin and death were conquered.

We can choose to continue to rely on our own goodness but Romans 6:23 says “the wages of our sin is death.” That leaves us no hope for heaven.

OR, we can choose to rely on Jesus “payment” for our sin by his death and resurrection and face death with the hope and confidence of eternal life in heaven with God.

·         Acts 10:43 says that “He (Jesus) is the one all the prophets spoke about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.

·         Someone asked Jesus followers, “What must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  Acts 16:30,31

·         I John 5:11,12 says, “Here is God testimony; He has given us eternal life.  This life is found in his Son (Jesus). Those who belong to the Son have eternal life. Those who do not belong to the Son of God do not have eternal life.

We can face death with confidence of eternal life when we have admitted our sin of relying on our own goodness and instead repent of that and accept Jesus payment for our sin. It is then that “there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” Acts 10:36

How?

·         Talk to God,

·         Admit your sinfulness, that you fall short of His glory. 

·         Accept what Jesus did for you. You could not do it for yourself.

·         Thank Him for his forgiveness

·         Thank Him for his promise of eternal life

Live and die with confidence that you are forgiven through Jesus and that eternal life is yours. 

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.