I've been rereading "The Practice of The Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence, and I can remember my first response to this little devotional book, many years ago. When I first read it, I was bothered by the notion of practicing my relationship with God. At first I had tried to rationalize that walking with God should require no work on our part. I thought Brother Lawrence was wrong - why should a pure walk take work? It should just be a filling!
But I was wrong. It's both. The filling is there, and many times God will come upon us in outpourings of His Spirit, as we see with the apostles in Acts. But the daily walk requires work, practice, discipline. It's not going to happen otherwise.
And it's not simply a quick, take five minutes out of your day activity. It takes a deep, concentrated, isolated time with Him. It may be like a desert time, but the moments will come out of these times.
I believe we try to take the path of least persistence when it comes to our walk with God. We want it all now, but will not wait upon Him and sink ourselves deeply into Him.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
I Want It All - And I Want It Now
Deuteronomy 7:22 "The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you."
Hebrews 10:14 ". . . because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
I love finding sister verses in the OT and the NT. They really help you understand what's going on in each case. In Hebrews 10 and Deuteronomy 7, there is a thought that I find very comforting and challenging: God has covered me, but within the covering He is hammering me into victory.
In Deuteronomy 7:22, God tells the Israelites (through Moses) that the land is theirs. The borders have been established and when they go in, they will inhabit the entire land in victory. But not right away - they will grow into the already accomplished victory little by little, because in their immature state they simply could not handle having this victory all at once.
He says the same thing in Hebrews 10:14. He has made us perfect, forever, yet though He sees us in this complete victory, with our borders already established, He will hammer away all the imperfections and unholiness. Our complete victory will be accomplished like the Israelites entering into the Promised Land - little by little. Enemies will be defeated, but in a process, because we simply could not handle "having it all."
This thought helps me with my frustration in this life. I want complete victory NOW. I pray and plead for it, but God, who already has established my borders, is causing me to grow into them. He is knocking out things in a steady process, and though it may be painful, it is the best possible way for me. It allows me to rest in Him on a daily basis, trusting in Him, feeding off of Him, relying on Him for everything.
I want it all, and I want it now. But God knows better and so while I sit under His covering of perfection, I allow Him to beat the unholiness out of me, little by little.
Hebrews 10:14 ". . . because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
I love finding sister verses in the OT and the NT. They really help you understand what's going on in each case. In Hebrews 10 and Deuteronomy 7, there is a thought that I find very comforting and challenging: God has covered me, but within the covering He is hammering me into victory.
In Deuteronomy 7:22, God tells the Israelites (through Moses) that the land is theirs. The borders have been established and when they go in, they will inhabit the entire land in victory. But not right away - they will grow into the already accomplished victory little by little, because in their immature state they simply could not handle having this victory all at once.
He says the same thing in Hebrews 10:14. He has made us perfect, forever, yet though He sees us in this complete victory, with our borders already established, He will hammer away all the imperfections and unholiness. Our complete victory will be accomplished like the Israelites entering into the Promised Land - little by little. Enemies will be defeated, but in a process, because we simply could not handle "having it all."
This thought helps me with my frustration in this life. I want complete victory NOW. I pray and plead for it, but God, who already has established my borders, is causing me to grow into them. He is knocking out things in a steady process, and though it may be painful, it is the best possible way for me. It allows me to rest in Him on a daily basis, trusting in Him, feeding off of Him, relying on Him for everything.
I want it all, and I want it now. But God knows better and so while I sit under His covering of perfection, I allow Him to beat the unholiness out of me, little by little.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Getting Personal
If you spend enough time with God, He has a funny way of stripping off the pretense and zeroing in on your heart.
Recently, I took a couple of weeks off from preaching and that allowed me extra time to read through the book of Micah, which I was planning on preaching through when I got back. The first week was good - I read through it as often as possible and took pages of notes on what I was getting out of it. It was page after page of thoughts of YOU - You and all the rest of the Christian culture. I could see my sermon shaping up, hard hits on the way the Christian church has morphed into a comfortable business that self-perpetuates itself so that the money and prestige and jobs can be maintained. We make disciples for the sole purpose of remaining in business. Injustice reigns and those by the wayside are kept there, unless of course they can bring something of value into the house. I was all set to give a good (and needed) slam upon 'The Church.' (Something we love to do as pastors.)
Then a strange and uncomfortable thing happened: I found myself with two more weeks to read it until I preached it. I don't like this as a preacher, I like to catch the wave of my understanding just right, riding it into the Sunday sermon. I was ready - but I had no choice but to continue reading Micah, and as I continued through it, it became less global and much more personal. God started ripping up my "Church" thoughts and shone the light of His Word right on me. It was hard, but it was good for me. I have a tendency, like most people, to hear a sermon or read a book and think: "Man, ________________ really needs to hear this."
But given enough time, God will make His Word very personal. The problem is, we never seem to give Him enough time. We haven't cultivated the devotional mentality that many of the old saints had, where they would find time to meditate on Scripture for extended periods of time. We read it once and think we've got it all down, and it's usually that means we point it at someone else.
Give His Word some time. Find a passage and read through it for a week. I guarantee you He'll strip away your global thoughts and telescope His Word right into the depths of your heart. But if you really love God, that's a good thing. Because as the Psalmist says, "Your Word have I hid in my heart - that I might not sin against You." And isn't that what we really want?
Recently, I took a couple of weeks off from preaching and that allowed me extra time to read through the book of Micah, which I was planning on preaching through when I got back. The first week was good - I read through it as often as possible and took pages of notes on what I was getting out of it. It was page after page of thoughts of YOU - You and all the rest of the Christian culture. I could see my sermon shaping up, hard hits on the way the Christian church has morphed into a comfortable business that self-perpetuates itself so that the money and prestige and jobs can be maintained. We make disciples for the sole purpose of remaining in business. Injustice reigns and those by the wayside are kept there, unless of course they can bring something of value into the house. I was all set to give a good (and needed) slam upon 'The Church.' (Something we love to do as pastors.)
Then a strange and uncomfortable thing happened: I found myself with two more weeks to read it until I preached it. I don't like this as a preacher, I like to catch the wave of my understanding just right, riding it into the Sunday sermon. I was ready - but I had no choice but to continue reading Micah, and as I continued through it, it became less global and much more personal. God started ripping up my "Church" thoughts and shone the light of His Word right on me. It was hard, but it was good for me. I have a tendency, like most people, to hear a sermon or read a book and think: "Man, ________________ really needs to hear this."
But given enough time, God will make His Word very personal. The problem is, we never seem to give Him enough time. We haven't cultivated the devotional mentality that many of the old saints had, where they would find time to meditate on Scripture for extended periods of time. We read it once and think we've got it all down, and it's usually that means we point it at someone else.
Give His Word some time. Find a passage and read through it for a week. I guarantee you He'll strip away your global thoughts and telescope His Word right into the depths of your heart. But if you really love God, that's a good thing. Because as the Psalmist says, "Your Word have I hid in my heart - that I might not sin against You." And isn't that what we really want?
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Imagination and Fantasy
The difference between imagination and fantasy is something that I've been thinking about for a long time. Imagination is letting your mind work through wonderful thoughts and allows you the ability to write poems, songs and stories. Fantasy is simply the inner role playing of your life, putting yourself in places that you think would bring you satisfaction.
I believe that the fantasy thought life kills our walk with God, our relationship with others, and our ability to move forward without discontentment. It is when we lie awake in bed and pretend we're a great athlete, musician or movie star. Who doesn't do that once in a while? Haven't we all pretended we were the Olympic champion? But it's when these thoughts begin to consume our mind that we have a problem.
Lust for example, is a huge issue. When we start the fantasy life in this area, it cripples our ability to develop a true relationship with our wife. It keeps us in a place of dissatisfaction and discontentment. That's why Christ was so hard on this in the Sermon on the Mount. He knew that inner lust would keep us immature, as the person living in the continual fantasy life is never able to move forward. It is a foolish place to dwell.
The imagination, however, is a wonderful place. It is when we can sit down and meditate on higher thoughts, the inner spirit can soar with the mind and compose songs and poems. When I'm in this place, the world opens up and sanctified stories begin to pour through my mind. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this mental process. It moves you forward, as opposed to the fantasy life, which paralyzes you and severs relationships with others, as you can never be satisfied with anyone or anything but your impossible fantasy life. You will live there for the rest of your life and wonder why you never got anything done.
How do you move from one to the other? I've found that it is an inner discipline. You have to train your mind to stay out of the fantasy. When you meditate on Scripture, God sanctifies your mind and your imagination and uses that to draw you into a deeper relationship with Him and moves you forward, accomplishing deep and wonderful things for Him.
I know this is a little rambling, and I haven't fully fleshed it out, but I just thought I'd throw it out there, because I have a feeling that if you are reading this, you know what I'm talking about.
I believe that the fantasy thought life kills our walk with God, our relationship with others, and our ability to move forward without discontentment. It is when we lie awake in bed and pretend we're a great athlete, musician or movie star. Who doesn't do that once in a while? Haven't we all pretended we were the Olympic champion? But it's when these thoughts begin to consume our mind that we have a problem.
Lust for example, is a huge issue. When we start the fantasy life in this area, it cripples our ability to develop a true relationship with our wife. It keeps us in a place of dissatisfaction and discontentment. That's why Christ was so hard on this in the Sermon on the Mount. He knew that inner lust would keep us immature, as the person living in the continual fantasy life is never able to move forward. It is a foolish place to dwell.
The imagination, however, is a wonderful place. It is when we can sit down and meditate on higher thoughts, the inner spirit can soar with the mind and compose songs and poems. When I'm in this place, the world opens up and sanctified stories begin to pour through my mind. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this mental process. It moves you forward, as opposed to the fantasy life, which paralyzes you and severs relationships with others, as you can never be satisfied with anyone or anything but your impossible fantasy life. You will live there for the rest of your life and wonder why you never got anything done.
How do you move from one to the other? I've found that it is an inner discipline. You have to train your mind to stay out of the fantasy. When you meditate on Scripture, God sanctifies your mind and your imagination and uses that to draw you into a deeper relationship with Him and moves you forward, accomplishing deep and wonderful things for Him.
I know this is a little rambling, and I haven't fully fleshed it out, but I just thought I'd throw it out there, because I have a feeling that if you are reading this, you know what I'm talking about.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Cost of Discipleship
"Go into all the nations and make disciples . . . "
I just finished reading an article about an old historic naval lightship from Nantucket that is being sold for $1.00 - but no one is interested because it will cost $150,000 to restore. The high cost of restoration is not worth the low cost of redemption. It got me thinking about the "Cost of Discipleship" and not the way we normally think of it. I mean the cost to the person doing the discipling. It's a long, hard, dirty road to restoration.
I think that many people are interested in 'doing church' for the aspects of it that are exciting and immediate. Salvations are obviously awesome experiences to witness and new ministries that take off are also thrilling to be involved in. However, I really believe that many also shy away from the true aspect of being a follower of Christ which involves the hard work of discipling. Who wouldn't want to be a pastor that only focused on teaching and writing? That would be a blast! But the road to restoration in a new believer is very hard and costly. It takes hours of listening, phone calls at 'inconvenient' times and dealing with the frustrations of their failures just when you think they've turned a corner.
This is one of the reasons I sometimes recoil at the concept of the super churches that have a feel of a weekly convention. Come in, sing, listen, have some coffee, and leave - and try not to get the place dirty while you're here because man this place shines!
If you really want to be in the ministry, you have to be the ministry and that may simply be one or two people that you're working with for a period of time - not thousands. It may be a small Bible study that meets once or twice a week. It means grabbing onto a dirty convert and holding them and getting dirty with them and staying with them through the long haul. Converts do not come clean - the prodigal son was covered in pig poop yet the father grabbed him and held him tight.
I'm impressed with some of the young adults I've been working with because they seem to understand this concept. They're going in to help with feeding some of the homeless, but they want it more than just packing a bag and handing it to them. They want to get to know them and actually spend some time with them. This is the 'restoration' process and it's costly. It's why many won't spend the $1.oo for redemption, because they don't want to deal with this restoration cost.
Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, not simply converts - and I think this is where the church is really dropping the ball. It requires laying down your life for your brother - and Jesus says that there is no greater love than that. We may claim that we would die for them - but I believe that 'laying down your life' for them means more than that. It means giving up your time and your energy and paying the cost of discipleship.
Think of how Christ is willing to do that with us. When He said He was laying down His life for us, I believe that He meant more than just His death - I believe that He meant for the rest of our lives He would be dealing with our failures, our doubts, our fears, our guilt, our defeats - yet He would continually be pulling us back and washing us off and holding us tight. It was more than the moment of crucifixion and redemption - He was also willing to lay down His life FOREVER and suffer the high cost of the restoration of our lives. Because face it - we don't come clean.
I just finished reading an article about an old historic naval lightship from Nantucket that is being sold for $1.00 - but no one is interested because it will cost $150,000 to restore. The high cost of restoration is not worth the low cost of redemption. It got me thinking about the "Cost of Discipleship" and not the way we normally think of it. I mean the cost to the person doing the discipling. It's a long, hard, dirty road to restoration.
I think that many people are interested in 'doing church' for the aspects of it that are exciting and immediate. Salvations are obviously awesome experiences to witness and new ministries that take off are also thrilling to be involved in. However, I really believe that many also shy away from the true aspect of being a follower of Christ which involves the hard work of discipling. Who wouldn't want to be a pastor that only focused on teaching and writing? That would be a blast! But the road to restoration in a new believer is very hard and costly. It takes hours of listening, phone calls at 'inconvenient' times and dealing with the frustrations of their failures just when you think they've turned a corner.
This is one of the reasons I sometimes recoil at the concept of the super churches that have a feel of a weekly convention. Come in, sing, listen, have some coffee, and leave - and try not to get the place dirty while you're here because man this place shines!
If you really want to be in the ministry, you have to be the ministry and that may simply be one or two people that you're working with for a period of time - not thousands. It may be a small Bible study that meets once or twice a week. It means grabbing onto a dirty convert and holding them and getting dirty with them and staying with them through the long haul. Converts do not come clean - the prodigal son was covered in pig poop yet the father grabbed him and held him tight.
I'm impressed with some of the young adults I've been working with because they seem to understand this concept. They're going in to help with feeding some of the homeless, but they want it more than just packing a bag and handing it to them. They want to get to know them and actually spend some time with them. This is the 'restoration' process and it's costly. It's why many won't spend the $1.oo for redemption, because they don't want to deal with this restoration cost.
Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, not simply converts - and I think this is where the church is really dropping the ball. It requires laying down your life for your brother - and Jesus says that there is no greater love than that. We may claim that we would die for them - but I believe that 'laying down your life' for them means more than that. It means giving up your time and your energy and paying the cost of discipleship.
Think of how Christ is willing to do that with us. When He said He was laying down His life for us, I believe that He meant more than just His death - I believe that He meant for the rest of our lives He would be dealing with our failures, our doubts, our fears, our guilt, our defeats - yet He would continually be pulling us back and washing us off and holding us tight. It was more than the moment of crucifixion and redemption - He was also willing to lay down His life FOREVER and suffer the high cost of the restoration of our lives. Because face it - we don't come clean.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Just Thinking Some More
As I head out to NH on vacation, I'll fling out a few thoughts:
I have a bunch of other thoughts rumbling through this brain but I'll wait until I get back - because these don't seem to be making sense anymore.
- We discuss giving up our 'rights' for our weaker brother - but just what is a 'right'? Is drinking a right? Celebrating church on a different day? What we watch? What we listen to or read?
- Really - church shouldn't be that hard.
- Why is it that when I shut off my car with my automatic door locker, I think I'm cool when I go behind-the-back?
- The Old Man is really hard to kill and his fruit seem to live on for a long time.
- The Minor Prophets seem awfully timely right about now.
- Someone once told me at church: "You know how much you love the Bible? Well, I feel the same way about the By-laws of the church." And he meant it sincerely.
- The original King James Version included the Apocrypha. Do KJV-onlys realize that?
- I told my son that he could have my IPod when I die. He was psyched! Should I be worried about that?
- The other day I went to Wal-Mart and when I passed a mother, she looked at me then she yelled loudly for her young child. Should I be worried about that? Seriously, how bad did I look?
- You know you're maturing as a Christian when you honestly want other Christians to do well. A problem I often struggle with.
- In Obadiah, we are told that simply by allowing injustice to take place on the children of God, we are participating - that's a very sobering thought. (Obadiah 11)
- I don't mind if someone wants to argue down my point-of-view. My only problem is when they have nothing to replace it with, nothing to say of their own.
- If we're "filled to the measure of the fullness of God" - the ISSUES have a way of taking care of themselves.
I have a bunch of other thoughts rumbling through this brain but I'll wait until I get back - because these don't seem to be making sense anymore.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Dispelling Bee
II Kings 6:15 - 17 "When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Sometimes you just need to know the truth.
A couple of weeks ago, a 'pool expert' came to my house to check the damages of a tree that hit our pool. He was kind of obnoxious and was telling me all these things about all the problems we had and how we may have to dismantle the pool. (I don't know much, but I did know that he was way off base.) As he was going on and on about his expertise, a bee flew up his shorts and stung him. He hopped up on one leg and screamed like a little girl. "I'm stung!!" The facade was gone, he was revealed as a girly-man, and he left, clutching his leg in tears. You've got to love the "dispelling bee."
I believe that the key to spiritual victory is to see the opposition for what it really is - a defeated entity, neutered at the cross. When his servant was troubled at the outward circumstances, Elisha simply prayed that he would see what was really going on. As he saw the hills surrounded by God's army, his fears were dispelled. Sometimes you just need to know the truth.
When the Israelites were preparing to enter into the Promised Land, God said that He would send 'the hornet' ahead of them to drive out the enemy. (Exodus 23:28, Deut.7:20, Joshua 24:12) There are many theories on what this 'hornet' is, but I believe that part of the message is that God will reveal the true strength of their enemies, he will dispel the bad report of the 10 spies, that they are an insurmountable enemy. He will show them that they can go in and drive them out because He is with them.
When we can see our enemy as he really is, when we remember that "greater is He that is within us," then we will boldly move forward in spiritual victory. Too often we are held back by perceived stumbling blocks. God wants us constantly moving forward, advancing the Kingdom, and we will only do this when we see what's really going on.
The enemy was defeated at the cross and now he's only running on fumes. Be wary, but don't let him paralyze you. Spiritual victory in this life is available now. Don't be crippled by fear, lust, bitterness, hatred, doubt - let God's spiritual hornet dispel the myth of their power, just as that little yellow jacket going up the shorts of Mr. Pool Expert revealed who he really was.
Sometimes you just need to know the truth.
A couple of weeks ago, a 'pool expert' came to my house to check the damages of a tree that hit our pool. He was kind of obnoxious and was telling me all these things about all the problems we had and how we may have to dismantle the pool. (I don't know much, but I did know that he was way off base.) As he was going on and on about his expertise, a bee flew up his shorts and stung him. He hopped up on one leg and screamed like a little girl. "I'm stung!!" The facade was gone, he was revealed as a girly-man, and he left, clutching his leg in tears. You've got to love the "dispelling bee."
I believe that the key to spiritual victory is to see the opposition for what it really is - a defeated entity, neutered at the cross. When his servant was troubled at the outward circumstances, Elisha simply prayed that he would see what was really going on. As he saw the hills surrounded by God's army, his fears were dispelled. Sometimes you just need to know the truth.
When the Israelites were preparing to enter into the Promised Land, God said that He would send 'the hornet' ahead of them to drive out the enemy. (Exodus 23:28, Deut.7:20, Joshua 24:12) There are many theories on what this 'hornet' is, but I believe that part of the message is that God will reveal the true strength of their enemies, he will dispel the bad report of the 10 spies, that they are an insurmountable enemy. He will show them that they can go in and drive them out because He is with them.
When we can see our enemy as he really is, when we remember that "greater is He that is within us," then we will boldly move forward in spiritual victory. Too often we are held back by perceived stumbling blocks. God wants us constantly moving forward, advancing the Kingdom, and we will only do this when we see what's really going on.
The enemy was defeated at the cross and now he's only running on fumes. Be wary, but don't let him paralyze you. Spiritual victory in this life is available now. Don't be crippled by fear, lust, bitterness, hatred, doubt - let God's spiritual hornet dispel the myth of their power, just as that little yellow jacket going up the shorts of Mr. Pool Expert revealed who he really was.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)