in Christ

The following words are reassuring to someone like me, who often over-analyzes the things that I have done and will do. I set my goals often on meeting other people's standards and doing things to make them happy. But there is hope here for me and anyone who seeks to serve God but does not find himself or herself worthy when looking in the mirror.

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward." -Mark 9:38-41

What a blessing it is to receive hope that God uses the poor ignorant me to do valuable work, and that he sees that work, done in his name, to be part of the life of his redeemed children.

As I read the disciples' words, I start to hear contemporary voices, tearing down other Christian denominations, and their members, "because they are not one of us."

It seems not so much that Jesus is telling them, "don't tell people to stop doing things," but that he is saying, "learn to recognize the difference." For there are many people serving God in Christ's name, regardless of their status as confirmed lutherans.

He first teaches them to see what qualifies people to serve. It is in Christ that they do if they do so validly. Then he teaches them:

"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' " -Mark 9:42-48

He shows them where the danger is. He says, it is good and right that things should be done in my name, but it is not on the grounds of being part of our earthly club that you measure error--it is on the grounds of sin, and passing it on.

Then, Lord I ask you to give me confidence to lead and act in your name. I ask that you help me see ways that I might cause others to stumble, before they ever happen. Even more, help me to see the value in the works of others done in your name. And if possible help me know where to draw a line in correcting so that no one might be millstone-worthy.

Baby Steps

The people escaped from the Egyptians. It is time for the next step in their life as his chosen people. I forget sometimes that the people at this point may not have really considered their status as the children of Israel a spiritual one at all. They may have considered it their bloodline or nationality.... But when I get frustrated with their disobedience, I need to be reminded that this time of the exodus is really their training. God is establishing an order for them, and teaching them to follow his lead.

² In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ³ The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

⁴ Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ⁵ On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, ⁷ and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" ⁸ Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD."

⁹ Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.' "

¹⁰ While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.

¹¹ The LORD said to Moses, ¹² "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' "

¹³ That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. ¹⁴ When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. ¹⁵ When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. ¹⁶ This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "

¹⁷ The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. ¹⁸ And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.

¹⁹ Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."

²⁰ However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

²¹ Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. ²² On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. ²³ He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' "

²⁴ So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. ²⁵ "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. ²⁶ Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

²⁷ Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. ²⁸ Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? ²⁹ Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." ³⁰ So the people rested on the seventh day.

³¹ The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. ³² Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' "

³³ So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come."

³⁴ As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept. ³⁵ The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. -Exodus 16

It is more enjoyable for me to watch them struggle, when I consider them as children. For that matter, the only way it is possible for God to watch any of us struggle because he thinks of us as children.

Sometimes I set up really, in my mind simple choices for Lucy. "Lucy, will you put on you jacket, so we can leave, or do you want a time-out?" "Lucy, you have to ask before you touch anything on the counter." Bill Cosby calls it brain damage; the church calls it original sin; but it is true that there are any number of times that children and adults repeat the sin of Adam and Eve.

Moses laid things out so clearly. God, You laid things out so clearly. When I look at their responses to your blessings and directions, I am sad that I too often look like this. Change my attitude by the truth of your love. Verses like "Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath," are really convicting for me, because I know that I act like my days are my days. I talk about what to do as if your instructions are confusing. But it is my foolishness and selfishness that confuses them.

As I pray today, I am inspired by your loving patience. I enjoy hearing about how you fed the Israelites in the desert for 40 years. I hear in those words that you continued to provide for their needs and lead them to the plans you have for them. I am sorry for the times I have been the one who you shook your head at, saying, my directions were so simple. Thank you for demonstrating your repeated forgiveness for your chosen people.

God or Gandalf?

When I read the words of Exodus 15, it sounds like our God just might be even greater than the white wizard. :-) It is fun for me to make the connection to the Lord of the Rings, because sometimes for me I am more easily able to imagine a scene from a book than I am to picture some of the true stories from THE Book.

Maybe imagine a blend of your Sunday School Mental Picture, but instead of thinking of the song as personifying God, simply consider Him actually doing these things. Pardon My geekiness for today, Lord, I hope you are considering my imagination a blessing from you today. I certainly am.

¹ Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD :
"I will sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea.

I'm going to commit all the way to this imagination. I am picturing The Angel of the Lord (Christ) as more similar to a jedi master here, picking up the horses with the riders still on their backs and force pushing them into the sea.

² The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.

³ The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.

Picturing Gandalf with his staff and his sword, running full speed at the Balrog. (Firey Demon above the chasm of Kaza-Dum)

⁴ Pharaoh's chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh's officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.

⁵ The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.

⁶ "Your right hand, O LORD,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, O LORD,
shattered the enemy.

Imagine the special effects as his hand simply shatters the enemy into shards and slivers.

⁷ In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.

⁸ By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood firm like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

I haven't ever seen a wizard use his nostrils to create dry land across a sea. For sure this was outside of Gandalf's power. Wouldn't that have been nice, if he could have just moved waters or mountains that were in the way of Frodo and Sam.

⁹ "The enemy boasted,
'I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.'

¹⁰ But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.

The idea of his power moving seas like we would blow out a candle is fun for me to picture.

¹¹ "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?

¹² You stretched out your right hand
and the earth swallowed them.

I know some of these clearly are just figurative, but this is a very easy for me to picture scene. the wizard raises his hand, and the ground opens up and swallows them.

¹³ "In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.

¹⁴ The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

¹⁵ The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;

¹⁶ terror and dread will fall upon them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, O LORD,
until the people you bought pass by.

(Turning people to stone.... or freezing them....)

¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.

¹⁸ The LORD will reign
for ever and ever."

¹⁹ When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. ²⁰ Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. ²¹ Miriam sang to them:

"Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea." -Exodus 15

Now, it is possible that someone may criticize my imagination for wandering.... But what I like is the fact that there is no part of me that finds it difficult to take the Bible's description of events literally. There are so many that seem to struggle with the truth of stories like this.

I don't struggle with his ultimate power. In fact, in this story, the part that I would think people in our culture would struggle with is the Loving Jesus hurling people into the sea. This is one reason that Tolkien's minions are mostly orcs, and trolls, and goblins.

But the truth is, the Bible takes such care to build up for chapters the fact that Pharaoh's heart had been hardened, and that God gave him, though Moses, every opportunity for repentance. In effect, Pharaoh is much more like the Witch-King of Angmar, the leader of the Ring-wraiths, the Nazgul Lord. He had been corrupted beyond redemption by his own greed and selfishness. Those that followed him, we have no trouble watching die.

The Israelites clearly have no trouble watching Pharaoh's soldiers die either. But I guess enslaving people and killing off their firstborn sons would tend to make people enemies.

Who are my enemies? Where has God won battles worth celebrating with a tambourine?

God please use me like Moses. Let me be the one who finds the directions in your Word to know what to say and when to say it. Help me overcome the fear that leads me to say, "Not me Lord."

Thanks for arguing with Moses, in spite of his concerns and excuses and finding a way to use him anyway. Thanks for these words you spoke to him: "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say," (Exodus 4:12). Let me hear and obey.


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Why does worship feel so good?

The is much said about how worship cannot be evaluated by how it makes us feel. I feel like I would have enough interest on the topic to write for days and days... Maybe I'll just start with one day.

Sometimes my arrogance leads me to overlook books in the old testament. I think books like Leviticus and probably exodus, deuteronomy, chronicles, and even some of the major and minor prophets, get ignored. It is as if there is probably something valueable there, but that it would be like panning for gold in the mississippi river. So I don't often look for support, encouragement, or wisdom there when I am in need.

But a few times I have followed a trail of Scripture to the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. It's fun to be led to what should be a familiar story, but because the path I traveled to get there wasn't the typical sunday school lesson, I find a more personal application.

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." -Exodus 14:9-14

I arrive at this section because of the worship that comes after. (I really enjoy the song of Miriam and Moses in Exodus 15) But in the context of the story, I find their worship more meaningful. It makes a big impact on me when i read words in the context of their story. Psalm 51 is what it is to me because of the context of its place in David's story. And here, the words may sound like simple, unadorned praise, but for the story.

This is a story that I identify with. The people had their back against the wall. They were looking around and not understanding their position, so they turned to their God in confusion and fear. And he in turn delivered them. He showed them a way out that they were incapable of seeing and certainly incapable of bringing about. And the worship that responded was I'm sure pretty emotional. God had set fortha a reason to celebrate his value and worth for generations to follow.

It is most often in the freedom and release from this back-against-the-wall feeling that I find myself singing of the worth and value of our God. It seems only right to me that it would feel good to be doing one of the things that is straight in line with his will. Lifting up his name, and putting it in a place of honor is one of the main things we can do as his redeemed children.

God help me to continue to rejoice in your grace, and proclaim the truth of your power and love.

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This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?

Today, I am finding that truth is hard. Complete honesty with yourself, and then finding a way to transparently communicate what is on your mind--that is a difficult task. When I was reading the Four Loves today, I was consitantly discovering selfishness in my love--or just in myself.

It is a sad realization when you'd like to lookd down at yourself and see something you are good at, and you realize you have to strain your eyes to see how far you have yet to go. Sadder still because most of the time I am not capable of that clarity of vision, and so I selfishly/vainly act like I am "doing pretty well."

We learn about the feeding of the five thousand in Sunday School, but I doubt that I've found in these words before such a a stark contrast between our human perspective and God's:

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but
raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" -John 6:35-60

This section comes after they have been given food , and then raced around the sea to recieve more from the bottomless baskets. When Jesus tries to tell them what he's really all about, they are unwilling to accept reality. They refuse to admit that he is who he says he is, (Is this not Jesus, whose mother and father we know? ) what he wants to do for them, (How can he give us his flesh to eat? ) and what he asks them to do (This is a hard teaching, Who can accept it? ).

This is not much different in my life. I want God to bless me the way I want him to. And I want my day to accomplish my goals, and i ask him for and thank him for the things that fit in my plan.

But as I study Scripture, there is so much that is his plan. There is so much of him telling us what he desires, and what his purposes are. There are so many times he shows us what his love looks like, and what his power can do. And then we somehow act like it's just a book. And that God has to fit into the corner of our life that we've set aside for him.

The people had their own wants and desires. Jesus wanted communion. He didn't ignore their desires, he simply had more to offer.

Spending time with him leaves me wanting his meal. Wanting his will, not mine. This is a hard teaching. Lord help me to accept it.

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Pefection in Weakness

I know this was just the topic of a teen retreat, but the idea still lingers in my head. I want to find a way to be confident, but my spirit constantly lingers on my weaknesses. When Paul wanted to eliminate his weakness, God replied to him this way:

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I want to rest in my weakness as I long for his strength to shine through it, but it seems like people around me have started to get a little tired of weakness in me. In all reality, I have started to get a little tired of it myself. I want to wake up and attack my days full of blessings that I don't deserve, and experience pure joy in moments of divine peace. But so often my powerful emotions are all tempered by the reality of sin, and the struggle against selfishness in me. And so, humility is present, but Paul seems to go further, when he says "made perfect in" and "delight in" weakness.

My prayer is that there are moments when I can, for Christ's sake, straight up delight in my weaknesses, instead of bowing my head with humility and considering my weaknesses. He can be better served some days by a confident servant, fresh from his Word, speaking or singing with his strength, communicating his power to overcome all trouble.

I am excited.


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Answer

I feel like I wandered into a difficult corner. I want to understand my actions in light of Scripture. There are many times when I do not do something that I know would be good for me, or I have to weigh priorities. My question from yesterday remains; is it unbelief, or disbelief.

In a Christian, I would expect, each act of sin could be called unbelief by some. Failure to trust the God who says, "Trust Me," looks like a lack of faith. But, as the Bible does not talk about people flitting about from faith to faithless. Maybe more specific definitions would be helpful, but today I'd simply like to hear how Jesus uses these words.

"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."I am comfortable letting this question rest with my voice crying out, "I do have faith. Help me overcome the weakness of that faith."

-Mark 9:19-24

The situation is hard to understand. The same words seem to be used to describe the people in opposites, multiple times. Unless we say that Jesus healed the son despite a lack of faith on the man's part, we have to assume the man's statement to be true that he believes, and has unbelief. For me to apply this section I did some research, and it seems that though almost the same word is used by the man for belief and unbelief, there is a difference. In English, he is basically saying emotionally, "I do believe in/on you, help me overcome my disbelief."


This is reassuring because it places the faith that I or anyone has in the power of God as it should be. It is a gift, and a treasured on at that. As a sinner and a saint, I can find myself in faith, believing in God as my Savior, knowing him and the love he shared through his sacrifice, and also I can find myself disbelieving the effects of the same faith. Acting like it is too good to be true.


A couple things are reassuring. One, that it would be by faith that the father in Mark 9 would recognize his unbelief, and that the disciples themselves had struggled with prayer in the episode. They were unable to remove this demon, because in Jesus' words, "this type can only be removed by prayer."

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Disbelief or Unbelief?

Prayer is powerful and effective. Do I believe it? Yes, I do. I know that the Creator of the world seeks to be in conversation with me, and each of us.

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." -James 5:13-18

The positive message here is a picture of the Christian in constant communion with God. The negative is that there are times when I don't act like sending up a prayer in faith really changes anything. Is this unbelief or simply disbelief?

The picture I see as I linger on this question is of the father who says, "Come to me whenever you need anything," and he backs it up with actions. He welcomes the child with a look that communicates welcome. His greeting is with open arms and his words ooze compassion.

But the child grows, and starts to feel that going to dad with every little thing might resemble dependence. And dependence is not something that is desired--dependence is the same as weakness--so the child more and more learns to deal with problems alone.

When the days arrive that the child is no longer able to handle things, the question arises, "Should I go to Father?" and the answer is often, "Well, not unless there is nothing left for me to do. Not unless I have utterly failed." And so the day of utter failure comes. The humble approach to the father looks like a scene from the prodigal son. And the child, expecting reproach, find comfort, and complete forgiveness. Even more, the child finds a closeness that had been lacking due to the wretched independence.

I am pleased to have that father, and to know that he is always waiting for me, regardless of my vain self-confidence.

So, I have lingered on this picture, but, the questions remains, is our lack of prayer disbelief or unbelief?

Sorry, I want to think about this a bit. It's important to let thinks soak sometimes before jumping to a conclusion.

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See the Future

I am amazed at how much of a blessing it is to dwell in God's Word. As I continue to look at small sections of Scripture, it is amazing how much meat is found in a few lines. I am hungry for this.

Today, it seems we get to dwell on a topic which I find makes people nod their heads in sincerity. As patience is considered it is so common for us to say that we want more, and make a mental list of the times our patience was lacking.

"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!"

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." -James 5:7-11

These words are not the same as the reminder of the Sunday school teacher, "Joel, you need to be more patient." They are words of instruction as to how we can learn this skill.

The pictures here give me hope. Not so much hope that I can simply be Job. Rather, God seems to be telling us how to slowly progress to that level of patience.

We can start by learning from the farmer who works in one season to reap benefits in a later season. As I consider the farmer day after day, rising to take care of his family's future needs, I think about all the times when my patience can only last minutes or seconds. And I begin to admire the farmer. (pardon the required reading, but this is similar to the way I think the Little Prince admires the lamplighter)

This seems to build as we consider the prophet who followed God's leadership and spoke his truth, especially when it was controversial and unpopular. They spent their days speaking what needed to be said even though it meant making enemies and losing friends, only because in the end, hundreds of years later, they would be able to say, "Look, I was following God's commands. See? God is using my words now, even though I am gone."

The truth is this patience can even pale when compared with the loss of Job. Not that we really need to compare. But I feel that the step of being patient when it is difficult or unpopular is a step on the way to being patient when dealing with real pain. Physical, psychological, spiritual pain. Job's "friends" are the salt in the wounds; they are true villains, whether by their ignorance or egoism.

Imagine the scene as you deal with a loss, you are told that the reason you are suffering is your own fault. We are trained to remove unnecessary guilt, and help people know that it takes time to heal....

It takes time. Just wait. Healing will happen slowly. It is hard to hear these things and then actually take steps towards the far off goals. We want something fast and easy, to change things. God is telling us in James that there are steps that are slow, and that these are the the things that actually make a difference.

He says: "Look at the people around you who have been doing this. Do not give up. See that waiting is an action too. Consider, How I might fulfill the desires of my heart and yous if you can simply hold on. Trust me. The Farmer does, and I bless him. The prophet has done this, and look how they laid the stones for Jesus to walk on. Job learned much and was even more my son after unbelievable torment. Don't you believe me when i say that I love you, and that I am full of compassion for you. This is simply the best way things can go forward now. Be patient dear one."

How great our God is that his patience with our impatience is such that it can continue perfectly.

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Blind Ears

There are two ways that I read the Bible. Sometimes I open specifically trying to find a truth that I have been searching for--digging in to understand something that i want to understand. But then there are other times that i am reading the Bible, or it is read to me, when I haven't selected the reading. It is in reading verse like these that i haven't chosen that I often find myself truly humbled, and gaining a more objective Scriptural perspective.

(Judging by the name of this blog, you will know that I am not claiming to have that perspective, but I definitely long after it.)

Today I am humbled by these words from James.

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." -James 5:1-5

The image I see is of a couple, sitting in their beautiful home looking around and considering what is missing. What is that one more thing that will make us truly happy, they wonder. Out the window, as the workers who grow their food are out in the field, so hungry that they would be incapable of understanding the couple's dilema.

I say that i am humbled because if i have to put myself in the shoes of one of the two, i find myself more like the man who thinks that there will be something--that one special new object that will make me content--that will fill my life with peace.

There is a solution to this horrible disconnect. I imagine the couple rolling up their sleeves, and preparing a wonderful dinner. I see them seated outside the house, along a long row of tables placed together. The sun sets to provide the workers some comfort after the warm summer day. The couple serves the food, and smiles as they watch the families enjoying the simple delight of a meal together. For a moment, the workers are cared for by the couple. And through the workers joy, the couple is given the contentment they have longed for.

After the meal someone stands and says a prayer. The kids ask to sing their favorite spiritual song and praises rise to the one who is the source of joy and the answer to the problem of pain. and for a moment no one is deaf or blind to the needs of their brothers or sisters.

It is in this love that I would seek to dwell. Thanks be to God for his Word; for his rebuke. for his willingness to forgive me in spite of my days of chasing riches.

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If I am a mist....

God so often asks me the question, "What are you doing today that is real?" What am I doing today that will have an eternal impact? Many times I let that question lead me to guilt about some things I have done, but I don't let the guilt finish it's work. If verses from the Bible like this one from James 4 lead me to guilt over silly selfish decisions, but don't lead me to the positive actions that he desires in his disciples, then I am not allowing his Word to finish its work.

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." -James 4:13-17

"Your will be done," is such a simple phrase. we utter it quickly at the end of prayers. But today I am excited about the picture of a life with that phrase behind it all. But even as i get excited about the simple joy of a life with his will as the goal, i am reminded of the intense suffering that accompanies Jesus' prayer, "Not my will but yours be done."

"'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." -Luke 22:42-44

How painful it truly is sometimes to beat back our sinful desires. We have to shine the truth on them. We must say, "If I give in to you, you will only give me seconds of peace, and then you will begin tormenting me again. You give no real peace or rest...."

The disciples were not far away, sleeping, rather than following the directions. Jesus had asked them simply to pray that they not fall into temptation. It again shows us how we falter, knowing full well the blessings God seeks to give us through sincere prayers.

Let us pray today not to fall into temptation. Let us today pray not my will but yours Lord. Let us today be moved by Christ's choice to suffer. Let us choose the blessings that come at the end of suffering, rather than surviving off of the table scraps that fall to the floor when we are content in our selfishness.

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What I need to hear and What I need to say.

There is simply a time and a place that must be set aside for conversation with God. There is something so obvious about that truth. Another obvious truth is that one of the main battles that Satan wages is to cut us off from the source of everything powerful and fulfilling in our days.

Today cannot be a day in which he wins. I want to be able to say of the future that I will not have slacker days, where the devil appears to have more of a hold over my heart than my Creator. I cannot say that. What I can say is that Scripture clearly speaks the Truth from God that he is defeated, even when he seems to have won.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” –James 4:7-10

In Scripture, there are many examples of people giving up and finding themselves in their arrogance, in their idolatry, in their laziness, a person of this world—a servant of the evil one. But there are so many more passages where it is clear that there is never a point where the devil triumphs over God.

The words of James tell me that there is an action to take. I have something to do today. I have the opportunity to submit my day to Christ, and humble myself. God gives me double hope in this scripture by telling me that the devil will flee from me, and that there is hope for cleansing—purification for my double-mind.

I will start by submitting to hearing his Word, to spending time in prayer. To being the person who remembers that my God, who sees what is done in secret, is by my side today. That he comes near to me is a comfort, not a cause for guilt. It may lead me to mourn the times that I act out of my other mind, but as we enter the season of Lent, what better plan than to spend some time in humble grief over the suffering Christ endured for my forgiveness.