You know that moment when you really get something - that moment of clarity on something that is really deep.. really important? Wow!! It's like being on a mountain, a cool, crisp breeze blowing in your face... and a Truth hits you like a phone call that says you just won the lottery! We all have Epiphanies once in a while, and we all yearn for them, whether we know it or not. And then, there is theEvery Day.
The Every Day is the entering into the sameness of yesterday. We can trudge along through it and lose our sense of awe and amazement, mostly because we do not see anything to be in awe of or be amazed at. Oh, an Epiphany.. my kingdom for an epiphany!!
Hey, I am not knocking those moments of wonder. I am just saying sometimes we are so busy trying to understand the deep, that we forget the obvious. In less poetic terms: we skip the basics.
Anyone following Jesus Christ, or trying to follow Jesus Christ (much better said) prays. We pray for ourselves, we pray for others. We pray for wisdom and understanding. We pray for direction... "God, should I turn left, or right?" "Father, should I go to school or ministry?" This is good and right. But sometimes we are so busy seeking direction for the future we fail to hear the present call of a follower of Christ - "Be holy, as I am holy." "Do not be angry." "Do not be drunk with wine." "Be gentle and humble." Need I continue????
Here is the Epiphany of the day: Don't forget the basics. The basic call of holiness is what gets us before the Throne of God in the first place. If we ignore the basic commands of God, why should He help us with the deeper things? Do we honestly thing God ignores our "little sins"? Brothers and sisters, I must declare without any reservation: We are called to be holy. Holy means to be set apart for "special" purposes. In the context of faith, set apart to do God's will. That isn't just the big, wonderful things that get written about in a book. It means the mundane, the ordinary, the Every Day. Like the guy who finds the wallet filled with cash and returns it to its owner. The woman who sees the cashier forgot to charge for something and goes back and pays for it. The drivers who do NOT wave the one-fingered salute to someone who cut them off. (Yes, I just said that...)
I am convicted about the Every Day. I love the Epiphany, that's for sure... I am just like you. And I struggle today, and will likely struggle tomorrow. But I have a God who owns the Every Day as much as He owns the Epiphany. His grace and mercy pour over me and wash me clean. His Spirit fills me and gives me eyes to see not only my own sin, but the needs of others, and the will of God.
God is good. All the time. His plan and purposes are good. Seek Hard.
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Do you love Me more than These?
Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these?". I guess I had always thought that Jesus was referring to the other followers there on the beach that day. (John 21:15) I have read commentaries with that view several times. But, in a recent message preached by Pastor Sean Azzaro at River City Community Church in San Antonio, Texas, it was pointed out that the "these" may have been the fishing gear, boat, and the fishing trade that Peter had gone back to. You see, it is easy to think that Peter was just going out for a fishing trip, but harder to think that maybe this one time fisherman, follower of Jesus, was now returning to his old trade - that maybe he had given up, even after seeing everything that he had seen. After all the miracles, teachings, and even scoldings, he still wanted to return to the familiar. It's hard to see it that way, but it is possible that it is true.
So, if that is true, then Jesus was asking a very pointed question: "Do you love me more than all this stuff that makes you comfortable?" And what's worse, I think He is asking me that same question.
This morning in my Coffee with God time, and really over the last few days, I have been thinking about my "these". I have a lot of "these's". From a worldly standpoint, I should be proud. I have worked hard and accomplished much. But, when I really let myself look at this from the perspective of a follower of Jesus, I think I just have stuff that is making me comfortable... and I am not so sure anymore that I am supposed to be comfortable.
Even as I type these words, I am feeling this fear of exposing myself as an impostor. Sure, I lead a Life Group, play guitar and sing at church, read my Bible, and really try to love others... but do I love Jesus more than my "these"? I want to say I do, but it is possible the evidence points the other way. I have a lot of "STUFF". Have I allowed the things of this world to cloud my view of who I am in Jesus? The conflict raging in my heart right now says that it is possible. I know I must act. I must.
Peter was grieved when Jesus asked for the third time, "Do you love Me?" I think I am feeling that grief. Maybe Peter was thinking, "Yes, Jesus, I did sort of run back to the things I knew that I was good at... the things that are comfortable in my life, didn't I?" It grieved him to look into his own heart and see that his lack of faith showed up again. I am acutely aware of that grief, and I do not like it. Not one bit.
That leaves me with a question that has to be answered by action. What are my "these's" and will I let them go. If I am going to love Jesus more, I think I have to take a full inventory of my "stuff", my life, and see if anything is getting in the way. I have to look at my house, my cars, my job, my guitars, my tools, my everything. Not that I think any of these things are evil in and of themselves. But if they somehow are getting in the way of me giving my all to Jesus, then for me, they are evil. I will admit, I am feeling some serious conflicts in my heart, and that is telling me that I need to make some changes... I need to make some choices.
Even more embarrassing now is that I wondering what others will think of me... I believe that is called "pride". But my hope is that all of this is coming from a God who loves me more than anything, and He has my best interests in His heart. If I want to truly follow Him, then I really have to follow. Here at a local church here in San Antonio my first Pastor, Phillip Walton, would always say, "If you are following someone, then you will be walking behind them... following." In other words, you go where He goes, you do what He does... there is evidence to the following.
We are called to take up the cross, and leave our "these". If we have placed our trust in the One True and Holy God, we are called to follow Him, to Trust Him, and to love Him more than anything else. And when we do, it looks like it... there is evidence of the following, the trusting, the loving.
I am sharing this with the hope that writing it down will make it a point in history where I have declared that I want to follow in truth. And as I struggle through this "cleansing" for lack of a better word, I hope this challenges you to consider what your "these's" are. If you are anything like me, you will feel fear. You might be embarrassed, and you may want to avoid the question. Maybe that is why Jesus asked three times: "Do you love me more than these?" Maybe it took three times to sink into the heart of a conflicted man on the beach in Judea. Maybe it takes at least three times to break through the heart and mind of a man in San Antonio.
I guess we will see.
So, if that is true, then Jesus was asking a very pointed question: "Do you love me more than all this stuff that makes you comfortable?" And what's worse, I think He is asking me that same question.
This morning in my Coffee with God time, and really over the last few days, I have been thinking about my "these". I have a lot of "these's". From a worldly standpoint, I should be proud. I have worked hard and accomplished much. But, when I really let myself look at this from the perspective of a follower of Jesus, I think I just have stuff that is making me comfortable... and I am not so sure anymore that I am supposed to be comfortable.
Even as I type these words, I am feeling this fear of exposing myself as an impostor. Sure, I lead a Life Group, play guitar and sing at church, read my Bible, and really try to love others... but do I love Jesus more than my "these"? I want to say I do, but it is possible the evidence points the other way. I have a lot of "STUFF". Have I allowed the things of this world to cloud my view of who I am in Jesus? The conflict raging in my heart right now says that it is possible. I know I must act. I must.
Peter was grieved when Jesus asked for the third time, "Do you love Me?" I think I am feeling that grief. Maybe Peter was thinking, "Yes, Jesus, I did sort of run back to the things I knew that I was good at... the things that are comfortable in my life, didn't I?" It grieved him to look into his own heart and see that his lack of faith showed up again. I am acutely aware of that grief, and I do not like it. Not one bit.
That leaves me with a question that has to be answered by action. What are my "these's" and will I let them go. If I am going to love Jesus more, I think I have to take a full inventory of my "stuff", my life, and see if anything is getting in the way. I have to look at my house, my cars, my job, my guitars, my tools, my everything. Not that I think any of these things are evil in and of themselves. But if they somehow are getting in the way of me giving my all to Jesus, then for me, they are evil. I will admit, I am feeling some serious conflicts in my heart, and that is telling me that I need to make some changes... I need to make some choices.
Even more embarrassing now is that I wondering what others will think of me... I believe that is called "pride". But my hope is that all of this is coming from a God who loves me more than anything, and He has my best interests in His heart. If I want to truly follow Him, then I really have to follow. Here at a local church here in San Antonio my first Pastor, Phillip Walton, would always say, "If you are following someone, then you will be walking behind them... following." In other words, you go where He goes, you do what He does... there is evidence to the following.
We are called to take up the cross, and leave our "these". If we have placed our trust in the One True and Holy God, we are called to follow Him, to Trust Him, and to love Him more than anything else. And when we do, it looks like it... there is evidence of the following, the trusting, the loving.
I am sharing this with the hope that writing it down will make it a point in history where I have declared that I want to follow in truth. And as I struggle through this "cleansing" for lack of a better word, I hope this challenges you to consider what your "these's" are. If you are anything like me, you will feel fear. You might be embarrassed, and you may want to avoid the question. Maybe that is why Jesus asked three times: "Do you love me more than these?" Maybe it took three times to sink into the heart of a conflicted man on the beach in Judea. Maybe it takes at least three times to break through the heart and mind of a man in San Antonio.
I guess we will see.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Everything
"May every word that I speak, every thought that I think, and every thing that I do, bring glory to You."
Somewhere in the conversation a few mornings ago, I said this to God. And, I am actually sure that I meant it. And even more incredible than that, for the very first time, I really believed it was possible. What I mean, is that it is really possible for this finite, foolish, messed-up dude to be able to bring glory to God all day long. Every word, every thought, and every thing...
At first glance, it sounds like one of those prayers you get on a bookmark... great sentiment. (For all I know, there is a bookmark out there with this prayer... as posted earlier, I am not sure that I ever had an original thought :-) But you know what I mean... it sounds really pie-in-the-sky; unreachable, yet really fun to "wish" for. The funny thing is, though, I really did believe it. And I still do.
Now you are thinking there must have been something else in my coffee besides caffeine. I swear, I don't do drugs...any more :-). I am serious: I really can bring glory to God all day long - every word, every thought, every thing. Romans 8:28 says: " For we know all things work together for good, for those who love God, for those who are called, according to His purpose." God did say all things. I used to repeat this verse over and over and over, as I trudged through th emuck of my life... kind of a montra to take away the pain of the mystery of why so many things in my life are screwed up. But something new has entered into my mind. And I think I like it: I potentially can become the man that God has created me to be! Yes!! (spoken fiercely, fist clutched, elbow drawn quickly back to my waste...)
Follow me here: God says that even as messed up as I am, He is going to conform me into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). Well, Jesus brought glory to God all day long... right? True, Jesus is God, but He was also 100% man as He lived for us on earth. Scriptures says He came down here to be with us so He really knows how it feels to be human. If He had some special "something" that in truth made Him not really man, something that we could not attain, then we would be in trouble. I believe the truth is that we really can give glory to God all day long, every day. Granted, it is a tall order, and the probability is remote, but it is still something to aspire to. Ever Peter reminded us that God said, "Be holy as I am holy." While I am sure the pessimistic phrase, "Nobody's perfect." is a true statement as it applies to all humans other than Jesus, I really do not think that is what bringing glory to God means. Not that we are perfect, but that we are intimate with God. Really, really intimate.
So, what I am saying is that if we could just get up in the morning, and start thinking for the glory of God - pure thoughts, thoughts of how we can participate in what God is doing in our lives that day, and speak truth and grace into the lives of those we encounter that day, and obey God as He nudges us along... I really think that is what giving Him glory looks like. Not me, walking around holding up one hand with two fingers up and two fingers gently folded, like the statues I saw growing up in the Catholic church... but me loving others... putting them first... listening with empathy and compassion...remembering that everyone I encounter is a miracle, and they are loved by God. I think that's what "perfection" looks like. It's real life. Filled with Joy, Hope, and Grace. And that's what I hope for today.. for you... for me.
Have a great day!
Somewhere in the conversation a few mornings ago, I said this to God. And, I am actually sure that I meant it. And even more incredible than that, for the very first time, I really believed it was possible. What I mean, is that it is really possible for this finite, foolish, messed-up dude to be able to bring glory to God all day long. Every word, every thought, and every thing...
At first glance, it sounds like one of those prayers you get on a bookmark... great sentiment. (For all I know, there is a bookmark out there with this prayer... as posted earlier, I am not sure that I ever had an original thought :-) But you know what I mean... it sounds really pie-in-the-sky; unreachable, yet really fun to "wish" for. The funny thing is, though, I really did believe it. And I still do.
Now you are thinking there must have been something else in my coffee besides caffeine. I swear, I don't do drugs...any more :-). I am serious: I really can bring glory to God all day long - every word, every thought, every thing. Romans 8:28 says: " For we know all things work together for good, for those who love God, for those who are called, according to His purpose." God did say all things. I used to repeat this verse over and over and over, as I trudged through th emuck of my life... kind of a montra to take away the pain of the mystery of why so many things in my life are screwed up. But something new has entered into my mind. And I think I like it: I potentially can become the man that God has created me to be! Yes!! (spoken fiercely, fist clutched, elbow drawn quickly back to my waste...)
Follow me here: God says that even as messed up as I am, He is going to conform me into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). Well, Jesus brought glory to God all day long... right? True, Jesus is God, but He was also 100% man as He lived for us on earth. Scriptures says He came down here to be with us so He really knows how it feels to be human. If He had some special "something" that in truth made Him not really man, something that we could not attain, then we would be in trouble. I believe the truth is that we really can give glory to God all day long, every day. Granted, it is a tall order, and the probability is remote, but it is still something to aspire to. Ever Peter reminded us that God said, "Be holy as I am holy." While I am sure the pessimistic phrase, "Nobody's perfect." is a true statement as it applies to all humans other than Jesus, I really do not think that is what bringing glory to God means. Not that we are perfect, but that we are intimate with God. Really, really intimate.
So, what I am saying is that if we could just get up in the morning, and start thinking for the glory of God - pure thoughts, thoughts of how we can participate in what God is doing in our lives that day, and speak truth and grace into the lives of those we encounter that day, and obey God as He nudges us along... I really think that is what giving Him glory looks like. Not me, walking around holding up one hand with two fingers up and two fingers gently folded, like the statues I saw growing up in the Catholic church... but me loving others... putting them first... listening with empathy and compassion...remembering that everyone I encounter is a miracle, and they are loved by God. I think that's what "perfection" looks like. It's real life. Filled with Joy, Hope, and Grace. And that's what I hope for today.. for you... for me.
Have a great day!
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