Philippians 1-2
Sounds odd that we have the privilege of suffering, but that is what Paul tells us... "For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him." What does it mean to have the privilege of suffering for Christ? How long is line? Are there lots of people waiting to exercise that privilege? Or, instead are Christians doing anything they can to avoid suffering?
From a personal perspective, I have to admit that suffering has always represented something that I wanted nothing of. Death wasn't something that I dreaded, but suffering, now that was different. I think that the loss of control associated with suffering is part of the stress. Suffering usually comes uninvited into our lives... out of our control... of course that is probably also why positive benefits are an outcome of suffering handled well.
When we are called to suffer for Christ, and step up to the privilege being offered, a new math comes into play. The outcome is not simply the sum of the parts, but rather Christ supplies a multiplier that makes it so worth it. The key to experiencing that success is exercising the trust on the front end of Paul's equation.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Are You Listening?
1 Kings 19-22
After defeating 450 prophets of Baal, Ezekiel becomes afraid for his life because Jezebel put her sights on him, so he runs away and asks God to take his life. Ezekiel is clearly not thinking straight. As he slept under a broom tree, an angel of the Lord brought him bread and water and told him to eat. Ezekiel then traveled 40 days and nights to Mt Sinai. Once there he heard God say "What are you doing here, Ezekiel?"
Surely a prophet of the stature of Ezekiel knew the voice of God, but I wonder if he was listening on that long trip to Mt Sinai, or whether he was so focused on getting of of Jezebel's reach that he was deaf even to the voice of God. I wonder if that is why God tested Ezekiel's hearing next... first came a great wind, but that wasn't God, then an earthquake, then a fire, but those weren't God either. Finally God came in a gentle whisper, and Ezekiel heard it. God had Ezekiel's attention again... and sent him on a mission.
Is that me? Am I listening? If God whispers to me, will I hear it? Or am I too focused on my issues?
After defeating 450 prophets of Baal, Ezekiel becomes afraid for his life because Jezebel put her sights on him, so he runs away and asks God to take his life. Ezekiel is clearly not thinking straight. As he slept under a broom tree, an angel of the Lord brought him bread and water and told him to eat. Ezekiel then traveled 40 days and nights to Mt Sinai. Once there he heard God say "What are you doing here, Ezekiel?"
Surely a prophet of the stature of Ezekiel knew the voice of God, but I wonder if he was listening on that long trip to Mt Sinai, or whether he was so focused on getting of of Jezebel's reach that he was deaf even to the voice of God. I wonder if that is why God tested Ezekiel's hearing next... first came a great wind, but that wasn't God, then an earthquake, then a fire, but those weren't God either. Finally God came in a gentle whisper, and Ezekiel heard it. God had Ezekiel's attention again... and sent him on a mission.
Is that me? Am I listening? If God whispers to me, will I hear it? Or am I too focused on my issues?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Leftovers
Leviticus 7-9
Amongst all of the various sacrifices that the ancient Israelites were to offer up to God... burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, etc., the peace offering has some extraordinary requirements. It was usually made in response to a positive change in circumstance or as a spontaneous response to treaties, etc., as such it was a holy meal and hence special requirements.
The meat did not have to be consumed that same day, but if not finished the first or second day, the leftovers needed to be burned up... none could be eaten on the third day. If anyone ate of the meat on the third day, then the person eating the meat sinned, and no credit was given to the original offerer. Any of the meat that touched anything ceremonially unclean was to be burned, or else the person who ate of it would be cut off from the community. When one seeks to please the creator of the heavens and the earth by offering a sacrifice, one should be careful to follow the rules laid out by that creator.
Amongst all of the various sacrifices that the ancient Israelites were to offer up to God... burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, etc., the peace offering has some extraordinary requirements. It was usually made in response to a positive change in circumstance or as a spontaneous response to treaties, etc., as such it was a holy meal and hence special requirements.
The meat did not have to be consumed that same day, but if not finished the first or second day, the leftovers needed to be burned up... none could be eaten on the third day. If anyone ate of the meat on the third day, then the person eating the meat sinned, and no credit was given to the original offerer. Any of the meat that touched anything ceremonially unclean was to be burned, or else the person who ate of it would be cut off from the community. When one seeks to please the creator of the heavens and the earth by offering a sacrifice, one should be careful to follow the rules laid out by that creator.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Hardest Parable
Luke 15-16
Every time I read through the parable of the shrewd manager I think maybe this time God will open my eyes to the true meaning, and every time I come away empty. If I read it online, I often try to Google the understanding, but none of the commentaries I've read ring true. I almost thought I found an answer today, but it didn't really speak to my soul. I'm sure there are other parables that I'm wrong about what message God is telling me, but in this parable, I have no such doubts. I am positive that I don't know.
I was reading a blog the other day about anosognosia... not knowing what you don't know. In this case, I'm not clueless about my lack of knowledge, I know very clearly that I don't know what it means, but it got me to thinking about those areas where I think I know what God is telling me, but I'm wrong. Spiritual arrogance is a dangerous thing... maybe Jesus threw the parable of the shrewd manager in there just so we wouldn't think we knew it all.
Every time I read through the parable of the shrewd manager I think maybe this time God will open my eyes to the true meaning, and every time I come away empty. If I read it online, I often try to Google the understanding, but none of the commentaries I've read ring true. I almost thought I found an answer today, but it didn't really speak to my soul. I'm sure there are other parables that I'm wrong about what message God is telling me, but in this parable, I have no such doubts. I am positive that I don't know.
I was reading a blog the other day about anosognosia... not knowing what you don't know. In this case, I'm not clueless about my lack of knowledge, I know very clearly that I don't know what it means, but it got me to thinking about those areas where I think I know what God is telling me, but I'm wrong. Spiritual arrogance is a dangerous thing... maybe Jesus threw the parable of the shrewd manager in there just so we wouldn't think we knew it all.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Nature Trembles
Psalms 75-77
When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. Seems nature may be brighter than some people. Throughout Biblical history, God has shown himself to be master over the wind and the waves, darkness and light, yet man still shakes a fist to heaven daring God to act. But let calamity fall upon them and see how fast they cry out for help. Father God, lead us and help us to follow that we may never stand up in defiance against you or your ways.
When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. Seems nature may be brighter than some people. Throughout Biblical history, God has shown himself to be master over the wind and the waves, darkness and light, yet man still shakes a fist to heaven daring God to act. But let calamity fall upon them and see how fast they cry out for help. Father God, lead us and help us to follow that we may never stand up in defiance against you or your ways.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Righteous Ones
Ezekiel 13-18
Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord calls out three men who were more righteous than others... Noah, Daniel, and Job. But Ezekiel had a somewhat different message for the Israelites. No matter the righteousness of these three, if the Lord were going to bring calamity down upon Israel and these three were there, their righteousness would not even save their own children, much less the nation of Israel, only themselves. God's message was that the sins of the fathers would not condemn the sons, nor would the sins of the son condemn the father, but the same would hold true for righteousness. Each would be judged based on their own righteousness. The choice of the three is also unexpected. Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel, but Job and Noah were more than 1000 years in the past. Some would have us believe that the Book of Job is fiction, but if that were so, why would God tell Ezekiel that he was righteous? Hmm...
Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord calls out three men who were more righteous than others... Noah, Daniel, and Job. But Ezekiel had a somewhat different message for the Israelites. No matter the righteousness of these three, if the Lord were going to bring calamity down upon Israel and these three were there, their righteousness would not even save their own children, much less the nation of Israel, only themselves. God's message was that the sins of the fathers would not condemn the sons, nor would the sins of the son condemn the father, but the same would hold true for righteousness. Each would be judged based on their own righteousness. The choice of the three is also unexpected. Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel, but Job and Noah were more than 1000 years in the past. Some would have us believe that the Book of Job is fiction, but if that were so, why would God tell Ezekiel that he was righteous? Hmm...
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Water Wells
Proverbs 5-6
Not only does God have a wonderful sense of humor, but he is also an incurable romantic... never giving up on the object of his love. In Proverbs 5, Solomon advises his sons in the ways of love, telling them to "drink water from your own well." Don't go off looking elsewhere for love, because that love will only disappoint, consume your wealth, and bring public disgrace. Something tells me that even though Solomon may have been "legal" with his 700 wives, he may have lost the essence of the distilled wisdom of Proverbs.
Not only does God have a wonderful sense of humor, but he is also an incurable romantic... never giving up on the object of his love. In Proverbs 5, Solomon advises his sons in the ways of love, telling them to "drink water from your own well." Don't go off looking elsewhere for love, because that love will only disappoint, consume your wealth, and bring public disgrace. Something tells me that even though Solomon may have been "legal" with his 700 wives, he may have lost the essence of the distilled wisdom of Proverbs.
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