War inside…

20130613-162024.jpgWhat causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us ? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:1-7 ESV)

There is a war we fight every day. We fight a war with ourselves, about who we are, what we want, what we need, if we are where we want to be…

James is telling us that all of our quarreling comes from our own inner turmoil. We desire things and because we do not have them and others around us do, we do what we have to to get it.

But do you not realize that God will give you everything you need if you will only hand your life over to Him? Submit yourself to God and every good thing He has for you will be yours. Resist the evil that leads us to give into our inner desire for fame and glory, and the Devil will flee from you.

Do not submit to the war inside, but turn to God and allow Him to have control, so your life will be what He has planned for you.

What will faith do…

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said,“Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:42-48, ESV)

Have you ever known that if you did this one thing that everything in your life would be taken care of?

We all have the ability to have our problems handled and the ability to have the life we have coming…

The catch is that our problems are not gone, we have the one who gave us life to walk with us. You see that is what happened here. Jesus and the disciples are on their way from one miracle to another and someone touches Jesus. He asks who touched Him and Peter is like “for real, dude! Have you seen all these people around us and you want to know who touched you? More like who didn’t touch you.”

But she knew and because she had the faith that Jesus gave her she came out and told Him that she touched Him. And because of that the issue she had for 12 years that no one else could cure was cured. She was cured by the faith that Jesus gave her and the belief she had in the promises.

Do you have that kind of belief in the promises? Even when it looks dark and the world is coming in on you, can you crawl and touch the hem of His robe?

What can your faith do?

Be a straight shooter…

20130611-120810.jpgBut when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? (Galatians 2:11-14 ESV)

Peter was opposed by Paul for being two faced…

How many of us have ever acted one way with a certain crowd, and another way for another?

How many of us dress and act one way Sunday morning, but a totally different dress and way of acting on Saturday night?

As followers of the way we need to be straight shooters, meaning we hold no punches and we tell it like it is. We are always are self, while maintaining being all things for all people. That means we stay ourselves and do not change for others, but we are able to accept everyone where they are and to be what Christ needs us to be for them.

We should not be wearing masks, or afraid to invite our church friends out with us on a Saturday night. Be a straight shooter for God and throw your mask away!

Binding…

 
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:1-14 NRSV)

Wow. I remember talking a lot about this story in seminary. We all wanted to call it the sacrifice of Isaac. That is what we have heard it called in Sunday school. We learned it that way so that has to be the right answer…

But was Isaac sacrificed? If he wasn’t sacrificed how can it be the sacrifice of Isaac? Our professor in seminary said we should call it the binding of Isaac, because while Isaac was not sacrificed, Abraham had bound him and was ready to sacrifice him.

Can you imagine what must have been going through Abraham’s mind? He just told Isaac that God would provide a lamb for the offering, knowing what God had asked him to do. I can not imagine doing this to any of my children (even on their worst behavior days). The gift given by God, how can He possibly ask for me to give it back, and not only give it back but play a part in the demise?

Abraham shows a vast and profound faith that many of us do posses we just don’t want to lay claim to it. When we step out and do something because we know that it is what God has called us to do we are stepping out in faith. We may never be asked to do something like sacrificing our children, but He will ask us to sacrifice our lives. You see God knew that Isaac was Abraham’s most prized possession, and for that reason Abraham was asked to sacrifice him.

What is your most prized possession? Is it taking God’s place in your life? Can you sacrifice it so that God has His proper place in your life?

Bind your life to Him and God will always provide what you need.

Forest for the trees…

 
Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. (Luke 7:11-17 NRSV)

If you are a part of a tribe that follows the Revised Common Lectionary you have read and heard this story before. Jesus raised a young man from the dead. It’s a miracle!

You see Jesus and the disciples are headed for Nain and they come across a funeral procession. Jesus tells the guys to stop, He goes over the the dead man and says get up. The man rises up and the crowd goes wild! That is the whole story right?

If you said yes, you missed the forest for the trees. You see, unlike other gospel stories where the motivation of Jesus is not revealed here we have a clear indication of what made Him do this.

You see the man was the woman’s only son. Yes there is a woman in the story. And not only is the dead man her only son but she is also a widow. She now has no means to provide for herself. She is fully dependent on the men in her life and since her son is dead she has no men in her life. Jesus sees this and is moved BH compassion to heal her son. Luke wants us to get this that in verse 13 be uses the 3rd person feminine pronoun 3 times!

Jesus is moved by the injustice of the system that will now leave this woman destitute. He has to do something. Yes He is moved to allow the man to live but the motivation is for the mother not the son.

What else do we miss because we focus on the big thing and miss the wonderful details that paint the full picture?

cheerful…

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-12, ESV)

Have you ever had someone talk to you about giving money?

We have all had those calls from the Police, the Fire department, the children’s hospital, United Way, schools we have attended, the list goes on and on…

Then there is the church! How many of us have heard that we need to give more at church? It seems we are always hearing about something at church that will need our money. How do we do this?

We can easily get to the point where we feel like we are being coerced into giving, and we have to give and if we don’t then we aren’t good enough and our faith is not good enough.

That is not what Paul is saying. He is saying we need to give. So if you are a follower of Christ and you are not giving, that is a flag to look at your situation. Giving does not mean all financial either. Do you give time, and talents (as in gifts God has given you?) that is giving. If you are not think about that and pray. Work that out with God.

What Paul is telling us is to be cheerful in our giving, not to give out of coercion, or because we feel we have to, but because we have decided in out hearts this is what God is calling us to do. Giving is something we should be moved to do and do generously as we have been given, and not something that we look upon as something we have to do. We get to give, as God gave to us!

So have a heartfelt discussion with God and figure out what you need to give, and do it. And remember it is ok to say no to something if you have decided to give to something else. Do not feel like you have to give to everything, but give cheerfully, and joyfully, as God gave to you.

And God gave to each of us lavishly!

Hebrew story our story

So Agrippa said to Paul, You have permission to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. (Acts 26:1-11 ESV)

Here is Paul giving a defense of himself to Agrippa. He does not talk about who is now only. He starts with who he was, being out on trial by the Jews he has a place he came from that they know about. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees. Paul was a persecutor of the way and followers of Christ. But instead of speaking about himself in Christ alone, he links his past to his present and future. We are all called and a part of the whole story. How does Abraham feed your life?

We are all a part of the whole story. How do you fit in?