Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'" (Matthew 15:1-9 NIV).
Tradition can be a very good thing. In fact, it often provides a sense of foundation in many families and individuals. We have several family traditions that have been very important through the years. One of them is our annual gathering for Christmas. Because of the geographic differences we now experience, it has proven best to gather at David and Becca’s home for the fellowship and exchanging of gifts. It is always a great time! It provides a foundation for the family. There are other traditions in our family that are equally important and beneficial.
I also have some personal traditions that have been good for me. One of those is the wearing of my wedding and college rings. You will rarely see me without them. I know that the wearing of the rings do not make me more of a husband or an Aggie, but they provide a foundation for who I desire to be.
There are others, but the real point of today’s Morning Devotional is found in our reading. Jesus indicates the danger of holding to some traditions. These are those practices that keep us from truly doing the will of God. The Pharisees and teachers of the law condemned the disciples because they didn’t ceremonially cleanse themselves before they ate their meal. Jesus answered them with a question concerning their own practices. You see, they had conveniently chosen some of the laws to strictly observe while ignoring or twisting others to their benefit. Thus Jesus says the nullify the word of God.
I find we often do the same thing in our relationships with others, both in the church and outside the church. We have chosen some “pet” sins to magnify while letting others go unmentioned. You can fill in the blanks of which those are in your church! My point is not to condemn, but to lift the importance of practicing grace among one another. Every sin hurts us, but our focus should not be on condemnation, shame, or guilt. Our focus ought to be on forgiveness, grace, and freedom. Don’t merely honor God with your lips. Honor Him with your heart!
Showing posts with label challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenge. Show all posts
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
"the Face of Favor" (Part 3)
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. (Mark 15:21-24 NIV).
J. Sidlow Baxter says that Simon was converted on the Day of Pentecost. We don’t know for sure when, but the “why” is apparent. The bearing of the cross of Jesus made an eternal impact on him. Simon must have left Golgotha and been troubled at the sight of what he had seen. Surely he couldn’t just shake those images. Over the next three days he must have spent a great deal of time pondering what he had experienced. It was certainly far different than he had imagined as he had dreamed of his pilgrimage in the years leading to that singular event in his life. It’s not hard to imagine that just fifty days later when he heard Peter preaching, he also felt the compulsion in his spirit that called him to faith and commitment. He went into very active and public service following that day. In fact, he is the Simon we later learn was a prominent leader at the church in Antioch.
I read a story about a monk who prayed night and day to receive the marks of the Lord upon his hands and feet. A vision was given to the monk where he was shown another mark on Jesus that most of the world had forgotten. It was the mark left on his shoulder from bearing the cross, falling under its weight three times. He was also told that if he truly desired the marks on his hands and feet, he must first have the mark on his shoulder!
There are two closing remarks in this little series about the face of favor and the difference it makes in our lives. First, regardless of what you have done, or not done, Jesus turns His face toward you in acceptance not rejection; forgiveness, not judgment. That’s the central message of the Cross. He died so that we might live. He suffered so that we might be set free. He paid our penalties in full! The second remark is that the cross we are called to bear can be heavy, perhaps even causing us to stumble and fall. Jesus intimately understands that! In fact, he has already prepared others to come along side us and help carry it! It’s strange that cross-bearing always precedes crown-bearing. However, it is the calling we all are asked to accept.
There is a verse of an old hymn that speaks to me: “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there is a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.” The original words of that verse are different. It went “Must Simon bear the cross alone, and other saints god free? Each saint of thine shall find his own, and there is one for me.” How about it? Have you taken up your cross? Come on, join me. It is a great journey. It is a path that leads to abundant life!
J. Sidlow Baxter says that Simon was converted on the Day of Pentecost. We don’t know for sure when, but the “why” is apparent. The bearing of the cross of Jesus made an eternal impact on him. Simon must have left Golgotha and been troubled at the sight of what he had seen. Surely he couldn’t just shake those images. Over the next three days he must have spent a great deal of time pondering what he had experienced. It was certainly far different than he had imagined as he had dreamed of his pilgrimage in the years leading to that singular event in his life. It’s not hard to imagine that just fifty days later when he heard Peter preaching, he also felt the compulsion in his spirit that called him to faith and commitment. He went into very active and public service following that day. In fact, he is the Simon we later learn was a prominent leader at the church in Antioch.
I read a story about a monk who prayed night and day to receive the marks of the Lord upon his hands and feet. A vision was given to the monk where he was shown another mark on Jesus that most of the world had forgotten. It was the mark left on his shoulder from bearing the cross, falling under its weight three times. He was also told that if he truly desired the marks on his hands and feet, he must first have the mark on his shoulder!
There are two closing remarks in this little series about the face of favor and the difference it makes in our lives. First, regardless of what you have done, or not done, Jesus turns His face toward you in acceptance not rejection; forgiveness, not judgment. That’s the central message of the Cross. He died so that we might live. He suffered so that we might be set free. He paid our penalties in full! The second remark is that the cross we are called to bear can be heavy, perhaps even causing us to stumble and fall. Jesus intimately understands that! In fact, he has already prepared others to come along side us and help carry it! It’s strange that cross-bearing always precedes crown-bearing. However, it is the calling we all are asked to accept.
There is a verse of an old hymn that speaks to me: “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there is a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.” The original words of that verse are different. It went “Must Simon bear the cross alone, and other saints god free? Each saint of thine shall find his own, and there is one for me.” How about it? Have you taken up your cross? Come on, join me. It is a great journey. It is a path that leads to abundant life!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
"Adapt to Change"
Heads up! The days are coming when I'll set up a new plan for dealing with Israel and Judah. I'll throw out the old plan I set up with their ancestors when I led them by the hand out of Egypt. They didn't keep their part of the bargain, so I looked away and let it go. This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; this time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I'll be their God, they'll be my people. They won't go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons. They'll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great. They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean. By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust. (Hebrews 8:6-13 The Message).
Today’s reading is from a version that I rarely use, though I do read sometimes for a different perspective. It speaks of the “new” plan of God to deal with the people of Israel. I think it has a very important truth for us as well. Somehow we get accustomed to doing things the same way in church and feel that anything different from that must not be good. It is difficult to adapt to change, especially in the church. However, even God understands the importance of change. Sometimes it means that the old plan simply is not best for that moment. At other times it means that the old plan just needs to “shelved” in favor of a better one.
Church music can be that way. Don’t get me wrong, just because it’s new does not make it better. I love the old hymns. They have a wonderful way of communicating theology in a way that choruses often don’t. But, I don’t want to chase that rabbit today. What I am addressing is the need to change when change is necessary. There are so many churches that fail to grow beyond the 300 barrier in membership simply because the structure they are using prevents their growth. The last verse of our reading in the Phillips paraphrase says: "When a thing grows weak and out of date, it is obviously soon going to disappear. That's true of churches, too. If a church cannot change, it will eventually die."
Certainly that’s a paraphrase, but it conveys the central truth well in reflecting Israel’s practices. They refused to let go of their beliefs about what the Messiah should do and be that they failed to recognize Him when He walked the earth! This same principle applies to many areas of life. No, we don't want to make changes where change is not to our advantage, but there are times when we do need to make changes. When it comes to communicating the gospel, while the message itself never changes, our way and means of communicating it have to change in order to communicate effectively to the particular group we are addressing. One size doesn't fit all! Whether it is in our professional or personal life, let's be open to and willing to change where change is both essential and necessary. We can adapt in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit!
Today’s reading is from a version that I rarely use, though I do read sometimes for a different perspective. It speaks of the “new” plan of God to deal with the people of Israel. I think it has a very important truth for us as well. Somehow we get accustomed to doing things the same way in church and feel that anything different from that must not be good. It is difficult to adapt to change, especially in the church. However, even God understands the importance of change. Sometimes it means that the old plan simply is not best for that moment. At other times it means that the old plan just needs to “shelved” in favor of a better one.
Church music can be that way. Don’t get me wrong, just because it’s new does not make it better. I love the old hymns. They have a wonderful way of communicating theology in a way that choruses often don’t. But, I don’t want to chase that rabbit today. What I am addressing is the need to change when change is necessary. There are so many churches that fail to grow beyond the 300 barrier in membership simply because the structure they are using prevents their growth. The last verse of our reading in the Phillips paraphrase says: "When a thing grows weak and out of date, it is obviously soon going to disappear. That's true of churches, too. If a church cannot change, it will eventually die."
Certainly that’s a paraphrase, but it conveys the central truth well in reflecting Israel’s practices. They refused to let go of their beliefs about what the Messiah should do and be that they failed to recognize Him when He walked the earth! This same principle applies to many areas of life. No, we don't want to make changes where change is not to our advantage, but there are times when we do need to make changes. When it comes to communicating the gospel, while the message itself never changes, our way and means of communicating it have to change in order to communicate effectively to the particular group we are addressing. One size doesn't fit all! Whether it is in our professional or personal life, let's be open to and willing to change where change is both essential and necessary. We can adapt in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
"The Thirsty Deer" (Part 3)
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. (Psalm 42:1-4 NIV).
Did you notice that I added two more verses to our reading from Psalm 42 as we continue the series of The Thirsty Deer? There are several things we may learn about the Psalmist here:
First, the Psalmist is enduring a trial of some kind. These are not tears of joy, these are tears of pain.
Second, the Psalmist has made the appeal to God before. This has been a recurring prayer request for the Psalmist.
Third, the activity of seeking the Lord and crying out to Him has been the primary activity of his life. His time has been occupied with seeking the Lord.
Finally, the Psalmist continues to cry out to God even when the world tells him he’s crazy to keep trying. The Psalmist doesn’t give up on God!
I’ve made a small reference to the challenges of this year for me. Some of them have been physical. I’ve had more testing this year than any other since they first discovered my hemachromatosis. All of those tests merely confirmed the fact that I do have the disease and yes, it is affecting some of the major organs, like my heart. I loved the last doctor I saw. He was very nice, but after all of the tests he merely said, “Actually your heart is in better shape than I thought it would be in given your disease.” That was very encouraging! Some of our challenges have been financial. Like so many people in our nation we were caught in the downturn and had it not been for the generosity of our family, we would have been in great trouble indeed. Of course, along with these kinds of challenges there is always the devil whispering in your ear, telling you how badly you have made past choices. Sometimes the only hope I have had in overcoming those past regrets has been my stubborn unwillingness to forget the marvelous way God has poured His grace out on me!
But, enough about me; let me ask you, what trial has been going on in your life? Maybe it’s been going for so long that you’ve almost resolved that it will never get any better. Is there something so very painful in your life and yet you just can’t seem to do anything about it? Does it almost seem strange at this point to be continuing to trust God to work out the situation for good? You may just be able to identify with the Psalmist. The Psalmist had been crying out a long time. If the psalmist were living today, I would encourage him to trust Him even more? Yes, trust Him even more! He IS trustworthy!
NOTE: Don’t miss tomorrow’s devotional… I’m going to share with you some of the heart of Grace Restoration Ministries and how that has been God’s answer for me this year. Perhaps it will be a part of your answer as you struggle through the challenges of your life!
Did you notice that I added two more verses to our reading from Psalm 42 as we continue the series of The Thirsty Deer? There are several things we may learn about the Psalmist here:
First, the Psalmist is enduring a trial of some kind. These are not tears of joy, these are tears of pain.
Second, the Psalmist has made the appeal to God before. This has been a recurring prayer request for the Psalmist.
Third, the activity of seeking the Lord and crying out to Him has been the primary activity of his life. His time has been occupied with seeking the Lord.
Finally, the Psalmist continues to cry out to God even when the world tells him he’s crazy to keep trying. The Psalmist doesn’t give up on God!
I’ve made a small reference to the challenges of this year for me. Some of them have been physical. I’ve had more testing this year than any other since they first discovered my hemachromatosis. All of those tests merely confirmed the fact that I do have the disease and yes, it is affecting some of the major organs, like my heart. I loved the last doctor I saw. He was very nice, but after all of the tests he merely said, “Actually your heart is in better shape than I thought it would be in given your disease.” That was very encouraging! Some of our challenges have been financial. Like so many people in our nation we were caught in the downturn and had it not been for the generosity of our family, we would have been in great trouble indeed. Of course, along with these kinds of challenges there is always the devil whispering in your ear, telling you how badly you have made past choices. Sometimes the only hope I have had in overcoming those past regrets has been my stubborn unwillingness to forget the marvelous way God has poured His grace out on me!
But, enough about me; let me ask you, what trial has been going on in your life? Maybe it’s been going for so long that you’ve almost resolved that it will never get any better. Is there something so very painful in your life and yet you just can’t seem to do anything about it? Does it almost seem strange at this point to be continuing to trust God to work out the situation for good? You may just be able to identify with the Psalmist. The Psalmist had been crying out a long time. If the psalmist were living today, I would encourage him to trust Him even more? Yes, trust Him even more! He IS trustworthy!
NOTE: Don’t miss tomorrow’s devotional… I’m going to share with you some of the heart of Grace Restoration Ministries and how that has been God’s answer for me this year. Perhaps it will be a part of your answer as you struggle through the challenges of your life!
"The Thirsty Deer" (Part 2)
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2 NIV).
We are nearly moved! Another few days of loading the truck with boxes and we’ll be able to settle into out new address! We won’t be done by any means, but at least we can start to put everything away make it our home. That being said, I hope this devotional “catches us up.”
I do appreciate all the response to the first in this series. One struck me as particularly common to all of the rest. One follower of Morning Devotionals wrote:
Oh, Don, I am that thirsty deer this morning, every morning! And, sometimes, in I dart around without first asking for the guidance that is there with me. Each morning your obedience nourishes my soul, reminds me of my role in my life (an obedient vessel for the Lord) and puts me back on track!
Please know that I write as the Lord speaks to me. Usually it’s a common experience for many. I hope that these short thought are practical and inspiration as you navigate through all the challenges of your life. Perhaps you can tell that the last year has been a real challenge for me, as many previous years have been. I must be honest and say that there have been times when they seemed overwhelming. I’ll share more about that as we continue in the series, however, let me say that I have often found myself praying something like this: “Oh, God, I know you are here, but please just let me know what you want me to do!” You know, He has always answered that prayer clearly. In fact, one of those prayers has a great deal to with the establishment of Grace Restoration Ministries in a way that will be fuller than ever before. I can also tell you that this is the “scariest” thing I have done in a long time! However, my prayers have led me to desperation for more of God and the accomplishment of his call and will in my life.
Have you ever been desperate for God? Have you ever passionately desired an audience with the living God? Has there ever been a time when you didn’t want to hear anyone’s opinion except God? Perhaps you are going through a time right now when you feel your only hope is God! Great! You’re in the perfect spot to hear a clear word from Him. I’m convinced that in your quietness before God you will see and experience the activity of God. God is working, often behind the scenes, to bring about a plan far better than anything you or I could have ever imagined. God is Sovereign. He does care. God does watch over His children; and God truly does work all things for good!
Don’t quit yet! Let’s continue to thirst for the Living God!
We are nearly moved! Another few days of loading the truck with boxes and we’ll be able to settle into out new address! We won’t be done by any means, but at least we can start to put everything away make it our home. That being said, I hope this devotional “catches us up.”
I do appreciate all the response to the first in this series. One struck me as particularly common to all of the rest. One follower of Morning Devotionals wrote:
Oh, Don, I am that thirsty deer this morning, every morning! And, sometimes, in I dart around without first asking for the guidance that is there with me. Each morning your obedience nourishes my soul, reminds me of my role in my life (an obedient vessel for the Lord) and puts me back on track!
Please know that I write as the Lord speaks to me. Usually it’s a common experience for many. I hope that these short thought are practical and inspiration as you navigate through all the challenges of your life. Perhaps you can tell that the last year has been a real challenge for me, as many previous years have been. I must be honest and say that there have been times when they seemed overwhelming. I’ll share more about that as we continue in the series, however, let me say that I have often found myself praying something like this: “Oh, God, I know you are here, but please just let me know what you want me to do!” You know, He has always answered that prayer clearly. In fact, one of those prayers has a great deal to with the establishment of Grace Restoration Ministries in a way that will be fuller than ever before. I can also tell you that this is the “scariest” thing I have done in a long time! However, my prayers have led me to desperation for more of God and the accomplishment of his call and will in my life.
Have you ever been desperate for God? Have you ever passionately desired an audience with the living God? Has there ever been a time when you didn’t want to hear anyone’s opinion except God? Perhaps you are going through a time right now when you feel your only hope is God! Great! You’re in the perfect spot to hear a clear word from Him. I’m convinced that in your quietness before God you will see and experience the activity of God. God is working, often behind the scenes, to bring about a plan far better than anything you or I could have ever imagined. God is Sovereign. He does care. God does watch over His children; and God truly does work all things for good!
Don’t quit yet! Let’s continue to thirst for the Living God!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
"Fold Me Closer"
Jesus said, “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'” (Matthew 25:23 NIV).
The title is not a typographical error. I really did mean to say, “fold” me closer. It comes from an old hymn that I ran across recently. It was written in 1900 by Leila N. Morris. The title of the hymn is Sweet Will of God. The song is a treasure trove of insight. I hope you will Google the lyrics and look at them. The chorus goes like this:
Sweet Will of God, Still fold me closer, 'till I am wholly lost in Thee.
Sweet Will of God, Still fold me closer, 'till I am wholly lost in Thee.
When I first read it, I thought the lyric must have been "still hold me closer". It would be one thought to be hidden in the hollow of God's hand, protected from the challenges and difficulties of this world. But the word is fold. And, this is a very different thought. It reminds me of Origami. If you've ever done or seen origami done, it is a very complex folding. A flat sheet of paper, in the hands of someone more skilled than I, is conformed to the shape of an elegant bird. There are places where the folds or the turning of the paper is not easy as though the paper would consciously fight against its reconfiguration. What Leila Morris is expressing is the desire to have God reshape her. Not her body, but the essence of who she is - her spirit. It is a complete reshaping as well… 'Till I am wholly lost in Thee. What an amazing expression of what is the ultimate goal of our faith, to be so completely conformed to God and His perfect will as to become invisible that we would perfectly reflect the Lord we serve.
It is not a simple journey, nor is it sporadic. It is a life long journey. There are awards given that mean more than others. Not to diminish any effort, but there are recognitions like the lifetime accomplishment awards that are given near the end of the Academy Awards. The people who are given these awards can only be considered after decades of work in the field of film making. This is an example of a very special moment in someone's life. To receive this kind of recognition must be both heartwarming and very humbling. If Jesus were to appear to us as we are today, I doubt any of us would be standing. We would be face down in the blinding light of His glory. But, with His patience and my slow surrender, my hope is to be conformed to His will. Even that will only be perfected when I shed this flesh and I see His face. And the life journey to understand the will of God will be complete. It is a journey of a thousand miles taken one step at a time. Our part is to keep walking toward home following the Shepherd's voice and trusting in His strength, grace and mercy. At the end of it all is not some golden statue. At the end of it all is the voice of the Master saying, “Well done!” Now that’s worth being folded!
The title is not a typographical error. I really did mean to say, “fold” me closer. It comes from an old hymn that I ran across recently. It was written in 1900 by Leila N. Morris. The title of the hymn is Sweet Will of God. The song is a treasure trove of insight. I hope you will Google the lyrics and look at them. The chorus goes like this:
Sweet Will of God, Still fold me closer, 'till I am wholly lost in Thee.
Sweet Will of God, Still fold me closer, 'till I am wholly lost in Thee.
When I first read it, I thought the lyric must have been "still hold me closer". It would be one thought to be hidden in the hollow of God's hand, protected from the challenges and difficulties of this world. But the word is fold. And, this is a very different thought. It reminds me of Origami. If you've ever done or seen origami done, it is a very complex folding. A flat sheet of paper, in the hands of someone more skilled than I, is conformed to the shape of an elegant bird. There are places where the folds or the turning of the paper is not easy as though the paper would consciously fight against its reconfiguration. What Leila Morris is expressing is the desire to have God reshape her. Not her body, but the essence of who she is - her spirit. It is a complete reshaping as well… 'Till I am wholly lost in Thee. What an amazing expression of what is the ultimate goal of our faith, to be so completely conformed to God and His perfect will as to become invisible that we would perfectly reflect the Lord we serve.
It is not a simple journey, nor is it sporadic. It is a life long journey. There are awards given that mean more than others. Not to diminish any effort, but there are recognitions like the lifetime accomplishment awards that are given near the end of the Academy Awards. The people who are given these awards can only be considered after decades of work in the field of film making. This is an example of a very special moment in someone's life. To receive this kind of recognition must be both heartwarming and very humbling. If Jesus were to appear to us as we are today, I doubt any of us would be standing. We would be face down in the blinding light of His glory. But, with His patience and my slow surrender, my hope is to be conformed to His will. Even that will only be perfected when I shed this flesh and I see His face. And the life journey to understand the will of God will be complete. It is a journey of a thousand miles taken one step at a time. Our part is to keep walking toward home following the Shepherd's voice and trusting in His strength, grace and mercy. At the end of it all is not some golden statue. At the end of it all is the voice of the Master saying, “Well done!” Now that’s worth being folded!
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