Receiving the Light - Part 1

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12

Effective teachers do more than convey information.  They ask questions.

Jesus was famous for asking questions.  As a matter of fact, He made answering a question with a question somewhat of an art form.  That’s because Jesus understood an important principle: Asking a person the right question often has far greater benefits than simply handing him the right answer.  Questions require thinking and analysis.  They push people toward an answer – toward a decision.  And Jesus is all about decisions.

The eleventh chapter of Luke paints an interesting scene.  Beginning in verse fourteen, we see a crowd of people witnessing an exorcism.  Jesus is confronting a demon that has silenced a man’s ability to speak.  I imagine that was something to see.  But unlike some of Jesus’ other demonic encounters, we don’t get a lot of details on the exorcism itself.  Instead, Luke’s focus is on the varied reactions of those present.

Some questioned Jesus’ power and authority saying that they came from Satan himself.  Some people marveled – they were intrigued by what they saw.  While others wanted more of a show – they wanted Jesus to show them more miracles.  They were curious, but they wanted more proof.

People respond to Jesus in similar ways today – marveling, questioning, and even demonizing.  But according to Jesus it’s not enough to marvel at the miracles He performed.  Nor is it enough to like Jesus or to enjoy listening to His teachings.  Surprisingly, it’s not enough to publicly praise Jesus (Lk 11:27,28) or even to be freed from demonic possession (Lk 11:26).  Jesus pushes his hearers beyond all of these things.  Jesus pushes those who would listen towards one goal: the decision to receive Him.

In this passage, Jesus likens himself to a lamp that has been placed high on a stand for all the world to see.  He has come to enlighten the world to spiritual truths that cannot be perceived with the naked eye or understood with bare human intellect.  And one of these truths is the very real existence of two unseen, spiritual kingdoms:  One a kingdom of darkness, the other a kingdom of light. One the kingdom of Satan and the other the Kingdom of God. One the kingdom of Hell, the other the kingdom of Heaven.

In Luke 11:21-22 Jesus tells a short parable of a king and his kingdom. He describes this king as a strong man, fully armed guarding his own palace.  His army and his kingdom have been secure and at peace – that is until one stronger than he arrives and attacks his kingdom.  This stronger man overpowers the king, overthrows his kingdom and divides the spoils of battle.

In this parable, the “strong man” is Satan and the palace he was guarding is this world.  Jesus is the one who is stronger – the one who has attacked Satan’s kingdom and has overcome him.  Jesus’ miracle proves the point:  The man with the demon is evidence of the reality of Satan’s kingdom and the exorcism is proof that Jesus is “one stronger than he.”  Satan is overcome by Jesus and the kingdom of darkness is overcome by the light.  The kingdom of God has arrived and Jesus is the Commander in Chief.

Jesus has both the power and the authority to overthrow Satan’s kingdom but, as in any war, the people must choose sides.  Which kingdom and army will they support?

Jesus asks the question and then adds, “Whoever is not with me is against me.”  Whoever does not choose to side with Jesus remains on the side of the enemy.  There is no middle ground (Lk 11:23).

Too often, people want to sit on the fence.  They want to avoid making a commitment, making a decision to receive Christ.  But Jesus warns us that the unseen battle is real, though we cannot see it.  The lines between these two kingdoms have been drawn though we cannot always perceive them.

We must choose sides.  We must answer the question:  What are you going to do with Jesus?  What are you going to do with the light?  Will you join him?  Or will you be part of the resistance?  An insurgent for the kingdom of darkness?

The default setting on the human heart is darkness.  We all begin there for that is the kingdom we are born into.  The question is, “Where are you today?” The answer to that question makes a world of difference – the difference between heaven and hell. 

There is only one way to know: Have you received the light?  Have you chosen to receive Jesus and the redemption that He offers?  It is the only way out of the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of Hell. 

If you are not with Jesus, you are against Him (Lk 11:23).  But to all who do receive Him, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God – children of the kingdom (cf. John 1:12).  Receive Him today.

"I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.”  Acts 26:17-18 (The Message)

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”  1John 5:20

The Grammar School of Faith

“The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Romans 3:22

It is a strange thing indeed and might be an oxymoron were it not true. How knowing more about Jesus can lead to forgetting about Him. And how followers of Christ can often leave their leader behind. Neither makes sense. And both are owed to a conflict within us – the battle between the flesh and the spirit, the physical and the transcendent.

John Bradford, a sixteenth century English reformer and martyr, was well acquainted with this very human phenomenon. Bradford described what he called “Christless talkers.” Those who seemingly forget the elementary principles of faith and repentance. He was well acquainted with those who were full of “a bare head knowledge of sound words [that] availeth nothing.” Christless talkers. A moniker we would do well to avoid.

The constant challenge of the Christian life is to take a great journey of faith without forgetting the starting point. To walk a great distance with Jesus without ever getting far from the cross. For his cross is the source of his grace to us, and his grace is the source of our life in him.

This journey is not without its pitfalls. It is a journey with Jesus, but our flesh is always along for the ride. This flesh that would rather do than be. This flesh that would rather achieve than receive. The flesh that desperately wants a righteousness of its own rather than a righteousness that comes through faith.

And that is why a bare head knowledge of Jesus will never do. Because head knowledge often leaves the heart untouched. In this way it offers a sense of well-being, but fails to confront the pride-filled flesh. Paul noted a group of people in his second letter to Timothy whom he described as “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 3:7). Knowing about Jesus. But not knowing Jesus. Giving lipservice to him, but serving ourselves.

If we want to be more than “Christless talkers,” we must remember the lessons from return regularly to what Bradford calls “the grammar school of faith and repentance.” We must return frequently and remember where it all began for us – where it can begin for you today – with a Savior on a cross and a sinner on his knees. It began with a heart crying out and Jesus answering her pleas.

This vision of Savior and sinner, the Righteous and unrighteous, must be woven daily into the very fabric of our hearts, lest we forget our need for him.

I speak from experience, because my struggle is not in knowing that I have been saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). Neither is my struggle in knowing that justification is a free gift (Rom 3:24). I have been taught that many times and read it countless more.

No, my struggle is in convincing my pride-prone heart that I need Jesus as much today as I did the day I met Him. My struggle is in remembering that today – in my own flesh – there is nothing to commend me to God (Rom 7:18). My struggle is in remembering that it is only by grace that I have been saved. And that is not my own doing. That is the gift of God.

My best days are the days that I live with an awareness of this fact: I am still an empty sinner in need of grace.

I like the way Roy and Revel Hession frame this in their classic work, We Would See Jesus:

“Grace permits us to come (nay, demands that we come) as empty sinners to be blessed: empty of right feelings, good character and satisfactory record, with nothing to commend ourselves but our deep need, fully and frankly acknowledged… The struggle, of course, is to believe it and to be willing to be but empty sinners to the end of our days…”

Empty sinners. To the end of our days. Seeing ourselves as empty sinners will keep us closer to the cross. Closer to the place where Jesus can be found. And closer to the source of his grace.

As Roy and Revel put it, when “our deep need (is) fully and frankly acknowledged… Then grace, being what it is, is drawn by that need to satisfy it, just as water is drawn to depth (by gravity) that it might fill it.”

How long has it been since you have allowed the grace of God to plumb – and replenish – the depths of your heart? Taking some time for a clear picture of your Savior in light of your sin can do wonders for the soul. Return again and again to the cross, in both humility and gratitude, and drink your fill of His glorious grace.

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A bare head knowledge will lead us away from Jesus,
blind to our need for Him.
But a heart that is mindful of its own poverty will keep us returning to the cross and the source of his grace,
that we might be filled again and again with the person and character of Christ.

For the Spirit says,
“I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The Good of Good Friday

I don’t know about you, but I generally do my best to avoid pain and suffering. I don’t even like the way those two words go together so smoothly… pain and suffering. Pain. Suffering. They are seemingly effortless. And unavoidable. Distasteful realities of the human condition. Realities that most of us wouldn’t wish upon our enemies.

Someone may boast a “No pain, no gain” philosophy in reply, but that speaks not of true pain, neither of true suffering but rather of a mentality of meritorious hard work. True, it may involve some degree of physical pain and even a type of suffering, but always at a level that the individual can withstand and always with the ability to make it stop. Those who extol this philosophy would likely see their pride extinguished when presented with an opportunity to truly suffer – like chronic hunger and malnutrition for a lifetime, or the sudden loss of the person closest to them, or a debilitating disease that brings a slow and agonizing death. No one chooses these things. Rather they seem to choose us – with their limitless levels of pain and no “Off” switch in sight.

It is in our DNA to avoid true pain when at all possible. Even a newborn infant expresses her displeasure at the slightest pain with the most insistent cry she can muster. And those cries continue right through old age when aches and pains manage to dominate a person’s thoughts and talk about the weather gives way to discussion of the latest and greatest analgesics.

Fifth graders know something about avoiding pain too. I observed them closely this past Sunday as we discussed the arrest and trial of Jesus in Sunday School. A few winced at the abuse and humiliation Jesus endured at the hands of the Sanhedrin – as they mocked and beat him (Mk 14:64-65; Lk 22:63-65). More recoiled at the description of the scourging Jesus would have endured prior to his crucifixion (Mt 27:26; Mk 15:15). But all eyes opened wide as their teacher produced a thorn-laden branch like those in the crown of thorns that was pressed into Jesus’ head (Mt 27:29; John 19:2). The branch made its way around the room, being passed from student to student with the utmost care. The passing student steadied the branch while the receiving student carefully selected a hold among the menacing thorns. More than twenty students handled the branch. No piercings. No bleeding. Mission accomplished.

Yet Jesus defined success very differently. Before the foundation of the world, pain and suffering figured prominently in his purpose statement. From the very moment he left heaven, they had their sights set on him. And when the crown of thorns came his way, he neither summoned ten thousand angels nor sought to find a safe hold, but rather grabbed on with both hands. His suffering and our salvation were inexorably linked. He achieved one by means of the other, grasping the thorns and his cup of suffering with both hands as they nailed him to the cross. There would be no other way.

Pierced. Bleeding. Despised. Rejected. Stricken. Afflicted. Wounded. Crushed. Cut off. Oppression. Grief. Sorrow. Judgment. “It was the will of the LORD to crush him.” (Isa 53:10).

“For all we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned – every one – to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” [Isa 53:6]

Mission Accomplished.

It is in the picture of Jesus’ suffering that I am reminded of the ugliness of my own sins – all of them. Sometimes we trade in ugly sins for prettier ones. Unacceptable sins for acceptable ones. And blatant sins for veiled ones. But even the prettiest of sins is a thorn in his crown. A whip on his back. A nail in his wrist.

Why do we remember Good Friday and the suffering of Christ? What is the purpose of this graphic image of pain and suffering? Why grieve ourselves by remembering it? As the Apostle Paul wrote, “godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret.” [2Cor 7:10]

Salvation without regret. I don’t know about you, but I have enough regrets in my past – I don’t need any in my future. When I stand before Christ I long to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Master.” [Matt 25:21]

I pray that this Good Friday would be a reminder of the One who grabbed on with both hands because of the enormity of his love for us. It was for the joy set before him – bringing you and me back to himself – that he endured the cross (Heb 12:2). Oh, the wonders of the cross!

And I pray that we would be reminded of the ugliness of even our “pretty” sins. May the Holy Spirit unearth the sins we have quietly allowed back in. And may our sin grieve us for a godly grief that leads to repentance and salvation without regret.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...

...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated
at the right hand of the throne of God." [Heb. 12:1-2]

Grab on to Jesus today. With both hands.

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If music speaks to your heart, take a few minutes to meditate on the words of this song by Sidewalk Prophets.

Where's My Miracle?

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well;
go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:34

The Gospel of Mark.

A man with too many demons to count. Tormented day and night, he lives among the tombs. Written off. Alone. Yet at the feet of Jesus he is made whole again.

A woman plagued by bleeding for more than 12 years. She is drained – physically, emotionally and financially. With a touch of Jesus’ cloak, she is healed.

A ruler of the synagogue whose only daughter is at death’s door pleads with Jesus. Word comes of her death, but for Jesus death is no different than sleep. He “wakes” the girl and gives her back to her family.

These are wonderful accounts from the life and ministry of Jesus. The kind that make me wish I could spend just one day watching Jesus move mountains. The kind that make me stand in awe of the God of the universe. Faith. Healing. Resurrection. Great stuff!

Yet if we are honest, these accounts can leave a weird aftertaste. The kind of aftertaste that begs the question, “Where is my miracle?” or “Where was my miracle?”

Where was my miracle when my mother battled cancer for three and a half years? For that matter, where was her miracle?

Where is my brother’s miracle as he battles cancer today?

Where was my aunt’s miracle as her husband battled Leukemia?

Where are parents’ miracles as they watch their child slip away?

Where was your miracle? Where?

But caution is in order here. Miracles are part of the story, but they are far from the whole story. Is it possible that the miracles are there to show us who Jesus is – God in the flesh – but that the other details show us what He came to do?

Jesus’ day was no different than our own. It was often some kind of personal need that brought people to Jesus: One of life’s fearful storms. Relentless demons. A debilitating disease. A loved one on the brink. These were the things that drove many to seek Him out. Yet Jesus always addressed a deeper need – a spiritual one.

Let’s take a look at the woman in these verses. She has secretly touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and has been healed. The story could have ended there: Jesus keeps walking. She goes home. Great story.

But it’s not the end. Rather, Jesus turns a secret healing mission into a public confession of faith. He moves from something good to something great. He takes a temporary physical fix and leverages it for permanent and eternal significance.

Her mission may be finished, but His is not.

Jesus stops the whole procession and calls out, “Who touched me?” She tries to hide, but she knows He knows. And He knows she knows He knows. So He asks again, looking her way this time, “Who touched me?” The compassion and gentleness of Christ compel her. She can hear it in His voice and see it in His eyes. She squeezes through the crowd, falls before him and “tells him the whole truth.”

And what is the result? She is saved. For eternity. Jesus makes it explicit. Although it is often translated “your faith has made you well,” we could just as easily translate it “your faith has saved you.” In this case, it meant both.

She could feel the physical healing in her body (v. 29) and now Jesus brings spiritual healing to her soul. He pronounces “shalom” or “peace” to her, a term with fantastic significance for the people of Israel. It meant that all was right between her and God – wholeness, unity, a restored relationship. Shalom. He calls her “daughter” – a child of God (something her disease had convinced her she wasn’t).

As the text says, the woman told Jesus the “whole truth.” I imagine “this whole truth” was quite a story. We don’t know where her story began or how long it lasted, but we know where it ended – at the feet of Jesus Christ – testifying of her faith and His redeeming work.

Jesus offers that same shalom, that same salvation to us. And He offers it the same way. The Apostle Paul tells us that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

It’s a promise. And the miracles of Jesus are here to show us that He will make good on that promise.

"The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save." Zeph 3:17

The One That Didn't Get Away

"Go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
Jesus speaking in Matthew 17:27

We all tend to have favorite passages in the Bible. Whether they tug at our heartstrings or leave us a bit perplexed, they appeal to us for some reason. I can’t tell you why, but I have always liked the story of the fish with the coin in its mouth. Maybe it’s because it is unlike any other story of Jesus.

For those who may be unfamiliar with this passage, it is found at the end of Matthew 17. Jesus and his followers are returning to the town of Capernaum (their primary stomping grounds) when some tax collectors from the Temple approach Peter. Doesn’t sound good, does it? They want to know if Jesus is going to be paying the temple tax. Peter replies in the affirmative, but I get the sense he was a little unsettled about the whole situation. Maybe that’s because the next thing Peter does is go and find Jesus.

In typical Jesus style, he doesn’t wait for Peter to raise the issue, Jesus does it himself. Jesus explains that he will be submitting to the authorities by paying the tax, but it will come about by rather unusual means. This was one of those times where being a follower of Jesus was really going to pay off. Jesus tells Peter to grab a fishing pole and head down to the Sea of Galilee. The first fish he catches will have a coin in its mouth. Did you catch that (excuse the pun)? Wherever Peter decides to cast his line into the sea, he will pull out a fish with a coin in its mouth. And it’s not just any coin, but a coin capable of paying the tax for both Jesus and Peter.

Now Peter had seen some pretty amazing things during his time with Jesus. Loaves and fish multiplied to feed thousands of people. Jesus walking on water and calming stormy seas. People born blind receiving sight. Cripples walking. But I have to believe that this one kind of took the cake.

I can sense the anticipation in Peter’s mind. “I’ve been fishing for years and have caught a lot of fish in my day. Nets full of them as a matter of fact. And I’ve heard some pretty tall fishing tales, but nothing quite like this. No one is going to believe this one.” I wonder if he took any witnesses with him. One thing I’m guessing: he was a little short of breath by the time he reached the shoreline.

So what is this story all about anyway? Some of you are probably thinking, “That’s a nice fairytale for kids, but c’mon already.” I have to admit… I have wondered for quite some time what the point was. It just seems so strange to me. But I suppose that a God who created this universe with untold galaxies could get a little bored with the mundane of our day-to-day existence. So, Jesus decides to raise the challenge factor a little. Yet the point of the story remains a question…

Things started getting interesting when I looked into this tax Matthew talks about. It was originally put into place in Exodus 30 for the maintenance of the Israelites’ tent of meeting – their place of worship. This was a mere 1400 years before Peter’s talk with Jesus. If Peter was anything like me, he had no idea of the origin of this tax. I can’t keep track of all the different taxes I pay, not to mention remember what the original intent was. I sometimes wonder if anyone remembers the original intent of some of our taxes. Whether Peter understood or remembered I can’t say, but I promise you that Matthew understood it when he chose to include this passage in his Gospel.

You see, payment of this tax is described in Exodus as both a “ransom” and “atonement” for the life of an individual. The life of every adult in the nation of Israel was to be ransomed through payment of this tax. Jesus was communicating below the surface, but it was communication some were bound to understand. Jesus was telling Peter that he was willing to pay his ransom. He would provide not only for himself, but for Peter’s payment as well.

There are some conditions though, aren’t there? Peter’s life would be atoned for under two simple conditions: believing Jesus and putting his words into action – in this case going fishing.

This is the heart of the Gospel, is it not? Jesus has provided the payment for our ransom. He has made atonement for our lives. For our imperfections. For our offenses. All we have to do is follow Peter’s example: believe Jesus and act like he meant what he said.

I’m convinced that if Peter had lived in our day, he would have taken this fish to a taxidermist and proudly displayed it on his wall. What an excellent conversation piece to share the story of his redemption through Christ.

Like Peter, we all have a story. The story of discovering the ransom for our souls. So share your story and pass the wealth around this Christmas season.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Scoreboard...Scoreboard!!

Scoreboard!!

If you are a sports fan, you are probably familiar with some of the chants that fans get going at football and basketball games. Personally, I am a college sports fan. Whether it’s basketball, football or baseball, there just seems to be more passion in the college game – both for the athletes and the fans. Maybe this is why you hear more of these cheers and chants in the college arena than in the professional arena.

In any event, there are chants I enjoy, chants I despise, and chants I can’t figure out. One of the chants I can’t figure out is when a crowd starts in with “Over-rated! Over-rated!” This chant usually takes place when an underdog team beats a highly ranked team. But the whole chant seems counter intuitive. Wouldn’t it reflect better on your team to defeat a highly ranked team than a team that really isn’t as good as everyone thought? Isn’t it better to beat the best team in the nation than someone who should’ve been ranked number ten?

One of my favorite chants is “Scoreboard! Scoreboard!” While it’s not exactly a Christian virtue to rub defeat in someone’s face, I like the value this chant has in silencing an opponent. It is intended to remind the other team of their impending defeat – as evidenced by the numbers on the scoreboard. It says, “Cheer all you want, but your team is headed for defeat. End of story.” A slam dunk or touchdown by the losing team may bring temporary celebration, but the scoreboard serves as a reminder that their defeat is just a matter of time.

So what do sporting event chants like “Scoreboard!” have to do with the Bible? Good question. Believe it or not, they have much to do with the scene the Bible paints of the heavenly realm.

In one of the best-known portrayals of the spiritual realm, a conversation between God and Satan (the enemy of God) is recorded for us. This is found in the famous story of Job. Is it fair to say that God holds up Job as one of his MVP’s? Think about it, of all the people on the earth, God picks Job as an example of a blameless and upright man! That’s an MVP if I ever heard of one! But Satan doesn’t care about Job’s amazing performance. Satan argues that Job is a dedicated, hardworking player only because God has given him a full-ride scholarship. Satan says, “Take away his scholarship and perks around campus, and this guy will bad-mouth you faster than you can say‘first-round draft pick.’”

In the last book of the Bible, Satan, this enemy of God, is described as “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God.” In other words, Satan doesn’t just question Job’s dedication to God, he badmouths all followers of God. Satan says, “Look at these poor excuses for Christians. There he sits, preparing the lesson for the men’s bible study. But did you see him last night when he was arguing with his wife? He didn’t look much like Jesus then, did he?” “Or how about James over there. Sure, he’s never cheated on his wife – at least not in person. But how about all those women he fantasizes about on his computer screen? He seems more loyal to his sex drive than he is to your commandments. Some follower that is.” “Or how about Julia over there? She tells all of her church friends that you are going to provide a husband for her some day, but deep down we both know she doubts you. Any day now, she’s going to take matters into her own hands and settle for the first decent guy that comes along – Christian or non-Christian.”

Ahhh. But here’s the part where the chants come into play. A lot has happened since the days of Job, and the Bible fills in some important details. Following his resurrection, Jesus is given the privilege of being seated next to God. And he’s sitting victoriously at God’s right hand – symbolic of God’s power. Picture the new scene: Satan approaches God’s throne with a real ringer of an accusation against you, but he can’t help but notice Jesus sitting there next to God. And from the time he entered the throne room, he could hear the chanting of the angels ringing in his ears. They are chanting “Scoreboard! Scoreboard!” and they are pointing at something. It’s Jesus. He is God’s scoreboard! The presence of Jesus is a constant reminder that Satan’s defeat is already decided. The clock is running out and there is nothing Satan can do to overcome the victory of Christ. Before Satan even levels his accusations against you, he knows they will fall short of accomplishing anything meaningful. You belong to God. And then there is the fact that Jesus is described as our advocate who intercedes for us – he is our high-powered attorney. To every accusation of sin or disloyalty, he simply responds, “Paid for. Game over.”

So, the next time Satan goes on one of his condemnation streaks against you, remind him that you belong to Christ, then picture the heavenly scene pictured above. You might even describe it to him! And while you’re at it, you may as well chant “Overrated! Overrated!” because we give Satan way too much power and credit. As one author put it, Satan is a roaring lion, but he is a de-fanged roaring lion– he was defeated once and for all by Jesus Christ.

Can't Get Away from Love

“So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

As I look at the life and preaching of Jesus and consider its echoes in the rest of the New Testament, the prominence of LOVE is absolutely striking. You just can’t get away from it.

For Jesus, it is the way to fulfill all the Law and the Prophets (i.e. the entire Old Testament). By loving God and loving your neighbor, every other commandment just falls into line. It is the very core of living the way God desires!

John’s Gospel mentions love more than the other three Gospels combined. One of his relatively brief writings, a letter we refer to as First John, does too. (These two writings mention love 103 times combined)

Love plays a central theme in the writings of the Apostle Paul as well. The book of Romans – Paul’s magnum opus – mentions love sixteen times. The first ten chapters or so refer repeatedly to the love of God toward us, while the remaining chapters mention love even more. This time it is all about how those who love God are to love others – the way God loved them.

Many of Paul’s other mentions of love are familiar to us. The fruit of the Spirit is love (Gal 5:22). Jesus’ sacrificial love for us is the example of how a husband should love his wife (Eph 5:25). More than that, Christ is to be the example of every aspect of a Christ follower’s love (Eph 5:2).

As one of my professors put it recently, love is the apex of Paul’s writing in First Corinthians. Without it, we are just a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (1Cor 13). Let those images sink in for a moment. The passage is so familiar to many of us, that we tend to pass right over the images. A noisy gong. A clanging cymbal. These things are loud, right? But not just loud… violently loud – to the point of causing people to flee from their presence. At the very least, they cause anyone close by to want to cover their ears.

Do you hear what Paul is saying here? He is saying that all of our efforts to represent Christ and the Gospel will come off as a clanging cymbal if love is not the foundation. It will drive people away from us instead of towards Jesus. Because love is the foundation of Jesus. And if the love of Jesus isn’t our foundation, something else is. Pride. Rivalry. Empty glory. Self-interest. Self-righteousness. Self-something.

Let love be the hallmark and the very tone of all you do. Then and only then will you be a true Christ follower and not just a clanging cymbal.

In the words of Peter, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (1Pet 4:8)

"Failure is Not Fatal"

[This entry is Part Three of a three-part series entitled “Put to the Test”]

"To give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit..." Isaiah 61:3

What would you say has been your biggest failure in life? We all have them. For most of us, we’d have to pick from among several. However, my guess is that, for most of us, a particular incident, situation or relationship will take the cake so to speak. Perhaps it was a great job that you lost due to carelessness or poor decisions. Or maybe it was the time you refused to take the risk that would have put you and your company over the top. Maybe it was the time you bobbled the routine ground ball or Hail Mary pass that would have ensured victory and a championship for your team. Perhaps it was your failed marriage. Or maybe it was all three of them. Maybe you were young and dumb and you gave yourself away to the wrong person. Or maybe it was six of them.

Whatever your failures, chances are you’ve rehearsed over and over what you would do differently if only you had it to do over again. The clarity of 20/20 hindsight has revealed to you everything you need to know to get it right this time.

When I think about my biggest failure, I think of an incident that involved being betrayed by people that I considered to be friends. Of course, their betrayal of me wasn’t my failure. My reaction to their betrayal was. So many times, I have wished I could go back and NOT do the things that I did. So many times, I have wished that I would have simply turned the other cheek. But I didn’t. And I regret it to this day. What’s done is done; but what I wouldn’t give to go back and have another chance! Perhaps you feel the same way.

The good news, if you’ll allow for any, is that failure is not final, nor is it fatal – at least it doesn’t have to be. At this point, you may be saying, “You don’t understand. I didn’t just fail my family or my friends. I failed God. I betrayed God. I’ve given up on God.” If that’s you, all hope is not lost.

The story of Christianity – the story of Jesus Christ – is the story of God taking something that is broken and failing and turning it into something that is restored and thriving. God is in the business of rescuing those who have been crushed by this life and breathing new life into their fractured souls. In the words of Jesus himself, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” [Matthew 9:12]

Jesus came to restore a world full of people who had betrayed God and chosen to go a different way. These were people who had been told of God’s faithfulness to their parents and grandparents – delivering them from slavery, miraculously providing food from heaven and water from rocks, bringing them to a land flowing with milk and honey – yet they chose to go their own way. Jesus came to restore people like this.

But Jesus doesn’t stop at restoring only those who failed God before they knew him. You see, even Jesus’ closest followers had their colossal collapses. After all, it’s not as if knowing Jesus somehow makes you immune to your own human nature. One particular follower of Jesus – one who knew Jesus personally (we’re talking a guy who walked, talked and ate with him), one of those followers – let Jesus down big time. Even after Jesus warned this man that he would deny being one of his followers, he proceeded to deny Jesus not once, but three times. But failing Jesus wasn’t the end of this man’s story. It turned out to be just the beginning. After his crucifixion, Jesus made a point to personally restore him. This man’s name was Peter – one of Jesus’ twelve disciples and a man who went on to become one of the leading figures in the early church.

There are a couple of notable things about Jesus’ restoration of Peter. Jesus gives Peter one opportunity to profess his love for Jesus for each of the three times Peter denied him. Three denials, three opportunities to be restored. What’s more, Jesus caps Peter’s restoration with these words: “Follow me.” [John 21:19] Why is this significant, you ask? These are the words that Jesus used to call his disciples in the beginning. [cf John 1:43] Jesus is saying, “What’s done is done. It’s time to start anew. Are you ready to get back on track?"

Whatever the magnitude of your failures, whether in life in general or your relationship with God, failure is not final. Nor is it fatal to your relationship with God. God wants to take your shortcomings, mistakes and outright failures and exchange them for something that reflects his goodness and beauty.

We can’t go back and undo our failures. But God can take our 20/20 hindsight and turn it into 20/20 foresight. Do you think Peter's experience gave him a deeper appreciation of Jesus’ desire to restore people? [cf 1 Peter 5:10] How did Peter’s history affect his view of others who had similar failings and shortcomings? My guess is that he approached these people with abundant grace and an overwhelming degree of mercy, knowing that Jesus had extended the same to him. Peter would never be the same for it and those to whom he ministered would always be the better for it.

God wants to take your failed marriage and turn it into a heart for those in troubled unions. He wants to forgive having given yourself away, so that you can wholeheartedly give yourself to Him. Jesus wants to take the heartache from your abortion 15 years ago and turn it into a passion to save the unborn and minister to frightened adolescent girls. The Holy Spirit wants to break the bonds of your psychological fear and turmoil and give you a new spirit -- so that you might proclaim freedom to those who are similarly bound. The enemy of our souls succeeds when our failures continue to haunt us, but forgiveness and restoration can be ours in Christ - when we are willing to believe it and receive it.

What does God want to do with your biggest failures? Whose life could God's love transform because of what you’ve been through? This very moment, Jesus is saying, “So. Are you ready to get back on track? Then follow me.”

"Proving Grounds"

[This entry is Part Three of a three-part series entitled "Put to the Test"]

"We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself...but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1:8,9

I just have to smile when I find myself in a conversation with someone who has God all figured out. As if God fit neatly into some nice little box manufactured by human reason and logic. One of the coolest things about being in relationship with God is experiencing his unpredictability. Just when we think he is going to respond or move in one way, we find that he has done something totally unexpected.

Our move to Phoenix a few years ago falls within these lines. We assumed that God called us to move to Phoenix for reasons related to the Seminary and my training there. But as we look back, it has become apparent that God was seeking to move in my wife’s life in even more profound ways. Something we never could have guessed would happen was part of God’s plan from the beginning – and my wife will never be the same for it. When we moved, God moved, but in a way we didn’t expect.

The same can be true regarding our limited human view of the tests and trials that come about in our lives. We look at the situation we face and often reason that our faith in God would be strengthened most if God were to move in a miraculous way. We reason that deliverance out of the circumstances would be the optimum scenario for strengthening and confirming our relationship with God. This, however, is another scenario where God often operates outside of human logic.

What we find, not only in Scripture but also in the lives of seasoned Christians, is that the enduring of tests and trials allows us to experience God’s “proving grounds.” At this point you might be asking, “What are proving grounds?” The New Oxford American Dictionary defines proving grounds as “an environment that serves to demonstrate whether something, such as a theory or product, really works.”

In the automotive industry, proving grounds are designed to put vehicles through a battery of tests, often under extremely harsh conditions, to test their roadworthiness and durability. General Motors’ proving grounds contain over 130 miles of roads, giving engineers the opportunity to run cars through every conceivable driving situation – wet roads, bumpy roads, potholes, tight corners and steep descents. Throughout the process, the theories of design, as well as their implementation, are either proven or disproven. As results are observed, designs are refined and the final product continues in its advance toward the ultimate goal – perfection.

Experiencing tests and trials in our lives creates a sort of proving ground for God. Life on the open road is an opportunity to observe not only God’s faithfulness to us, but our faith in Him as well – in the midst of pain, in the midst of heartache, in the midst of loss, in the midst of disappointment.

In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, he describes a situation in which he and his companions despaired even of life itself (2 Cor 1:8-11). They were at the end of their rope. It was beyond what they could handle physically and emotionally. That’s a bad situation. Perhaps you have been there. But what was Paul’s view of the situation in hindsight? He says that this happened so that they would rely not on themselves but on God, who raises the dead (that’s a powerful God to trust in). Paul’s confidence in God is increased after he experiences God’s faithfulness in the midst of the trial. Paul says, “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

As, a good friend of mine once said, “Past faithfulness builds future confidence.” Paul’s confidence in the Lord was strengthened and his faith was fortified as a result of his dire circumstances. When we see that our faith has survived through the most dire of circumstances, we stand a little stronger – knowing that our faith can and will withstand the test.

Much like that car on the proving grounds, every time our faith is pushed to the limit, the Designer makes some slight modifications in His pursuit of our perfection. Our nature and character get pushed a little closer to that of our model – the faithful One, Jesus Christ.

So, the next time you find yourself in the proving grounds, look around. You’re bound to see God doing a work in you and you’ll also have an opportunity to experience his faithfulness – perhaps in a way you didn’t expect.

"The Right Foundation"

[This entry is Part Two of a three-part series entitled "Put to the Test"]

Figuring that the resource had not been tapped for all it was worth, I continued crock-potting on Jesus’ analogy regarding the wise man who builds his house on the rock and the foolish man who builds his house on the sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Like we talked about in the last blog entry, one of these men that Jesus describes built according to the plans of the Master Builder – according to the words of Jesus. The other did not put Jesus’ “life-construction guidelines” to work and so, we can suppose, relied upon something else for his design and construction plans. Whether he relied upon his own knowledge and reason or some kind of human philosophy we don’t know. What we do know is that he did not put Jesus’ words into action despite having heard them.

As I continued to ponder the men described by Jesus and the outcome of their lives, an important truth was revealed. According to this parable, the long-term sustainability of this construction was not really proven until the houses were exposed to the elements of this world over the course of time.

It is possible that the house built on the sand looked really promising for a time. As a matter of fact, it may have been the most beautiful home in town when construction was finished. But eventually the storms of life came along and tested that construction. Jesus’ description of the storm sounds quite similar to the hurricanes and tropical storms hitting the Caribbean and portions of the United States as I write this. Rain falling in sheets. Flood waters rising. Winds blowing and beating on every structure in sight.

This brings back memories of the widespread damage in the Midwest this past Summer as rivers paid no heed to their banks and brought powerful currents to bear against homes as well as entire towns. Thinking back to the news coverage of these floods, I was reminded of amazing video footage of two houses along the Wisconsin River. The power of the flooded river’s current had been pounding the earth supporting two particular homes for days. Eventually so much ground was washed away that both homes literally snapped in two and crashed into the river one after the other. We’re talking entire homes…snapping in two and being carried away by the river. Amazing.

Interestingly, even moments before their fall, these were two beautiful homes. But their long-term sustainability was intimately tied to the ground underneath. The future of these homes was inextricably linked to their foundations. Much like those who hear Jesus’ words but choose to go their own way, certainly these people had been warned of the inherent risks of construction in this area. It was obvious to anyone standing there. Despite the assurances they may have received from others around them, building here was a roll of the dice. It might be 100 years before a big enough flood came, but eventually it would come. They knew the risks and chose to take their chances. They decided that the potential pleasures outweighed the risks.



The same is true of those who build on a foundation other than Christ. This is described for us in Romans chapter 1. Here Paul tells us that what can be known about God is plain to everyone, because God’s nature is revealed to all people by the world around us – the world He created. But some, despite knowing that God exists and knowing what He desires, choose not to honor him as God or give thanks to him, but instead they choose to go their own way (Romans 1:19-21). They roll the dice.

Having a foundation built solidly on Christ – the Rock – has daily implications for a home’s sustainability as well as eternal ramifications. The worldview (and Godview) presented by Jesus gives us a healthy guideline for living whether we’re celebrating a sunny day at the beach, enduring a cloudy, humid Midwestern day or holding on in the midst of a Category 4 hurricane. This worldview and Godview help us to answer questions like: What really matters? What should be truly important to me? Where should I place my priorities and my energies? How should I view God, myself and others in light of the storms of life? How do I handle difficulties in my finances, family, and marriage? How do I make sense of the death of a loved one? Jesus has answers for all of these questions. Answers that give sustainability and solidarity to our daily lives.

But Jesus isn’t just concerned about today. He’s concerned about eternity. According to Jesus and other New Testament writers, many will hear the words of Christ and yet choose to construct their own worldview and trust in themselves rather than God. Unfortunately, this will only end in disappointment and separation from God and all that is good It is not a roll of the dice that anyone should take, yet, like the people who built on the banks of the Wisconsin River, many will pick up those dice and take their chances. And many houses will crumble.

If you’re still reading, there’s a chance you’re saying, “Gee, Troy. Thanks for the uplifting message today.” I’m with you, but while this all may sound like gloom and doom, there is a bright spot to the story: People can move! Just because you built a house on the banks of the Wisconsin River doesn’t mean you can’t put that house on the market and move to solid ground. It’s not too late to realize you’ve made a mistake and relocate.

When those two houses plunged into the river, they were unoccupied. The people who had at one time decided it was a good place to invest had abandoned that thinking and taken everything they could salvage. As soon as they realized the foundation was crumbling, they moved to higher ground. They were going to start rebuilding on a solid foundation.

If this is you… if you have been building a foundation and a home on your own building plans – your own wisdom, intelligence or perception of reality – it's not too late to abandon ship! Now is the time to move. The offices of the Master Builder are open 24/7 and your bad credit and flood insurance history are no problem. He is always interested in developing a new neighborhood to be part of his Master Planned Community (he calls it “The Kingdom” – sounds spectacular doesn’t it!?). A heart that is ready to follow him is just the location He is looking for. You'll never tire of the views (you can see for an eternity!) and likely begin to wish that you could stay forever. The Good News is that you can. His Son already has your mortgage taken care of. It’s a family business and you are now part of the family. Welcome to the neighborhood.