"How long will you keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly," so questioned some Jews during Hanukkah as Jesus strolled through the temple in the Portico of Solomon (John 10:22). Sounds simple enough. Just tell us plainly and we’ll get it; we’ll catch on.
Jesus knew better. Jesus knows our hearts, and our words do not deter or impress Him. So, as was His custom, He got to the heart of the matter. Their problem, He said, had nothing to do with Him speaking “plainly” or keeping them in “suspense.” Their problem had to do with the fact that their hearts were not one with His. “You are not of My sheep,” Jesus told them (John 10:26). He could have spoken plainly all day but if their hearts were not of His heart, it would have been an exercise in futility.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me," Jesus told the folks (John 10:27). Something was going on that had nothing to do with explanations or intellectual clarity. God was among us, giving eternal life to those who heard His voice (John 10:28).
Some heard and forever their lives were changed. Some would not hear, and they missed the very presence of God as Jesus mingled among them sharing the word, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
Is it really possible to miss the very presence of God in our midst? Indeed, it is. It is not necessary, but it is possible. Can you hear His voice? Does His heart resonate in you? Look at Jesus and watch Him for a while. What do you see? Who do you see? Could it be that the Father is drawing you to Himself? Could Jesus be the greatest gift any of us could ever receive?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Walking with God through His Son, Jesus, and filled daily by the empowering presence of His Holy Spirit is surely grace at its highest possible level of expression. This is truly amazing when compared with the fact that the Bible says we've all sinned against God and fallen short of his glory (Rom. 3:23).
Why would an offended God respond to the offenders in grace and love, when the natural response to them is an "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise" (Exodus 21:24). At least on the human level this seems to be a natural response. Revenge. Retaliation. Vengeance. Retribution. Reprisal. These seem to be the natural, unrehearsed response of persons to persons. Legal systems are set up to see to it that these are not the context in which judgment is handed down, yet, they still seem to be the spirit and attitude of so many people around the world.
But God does not come in revenge. Retaliation is far from Him. Vengeance is not the issue with God. Retribution is not a part of His way of doing things. Reprisal is unthinkable to Him. The way of God is the way of grace, so much so that the Bible reveals this amazing thought: "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).
God is about life. God is about love. God is about hope. God is about renewal and new beginnings. Jesus said it was "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" [and how acquainted with his ways we are] but He also said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). That is grace --- Life to the full when your sins say you deserve death.
What is grace? It is God including us in when He could have written us off.
Why would an offended God respond to the offenders in grace and love, when the natural response to them is an "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise" (Exodus 21:24). At least on the human level this seems to be a natural response. Revenge. Retaliation. Vengeance. Retribution. Reprisal. These seem to be the natural, unrehearsed response of persons to persons. Legal systems are set up to see to it that these are not the context in which judgment is handed down, yet, they still seem to be the spirit and attitude of so many people around the world.
But God does not come in revenge. Retaliation is far from Him. Vengeance is not the issue with God. Retribution is not a part of His way of doing things. Reprisal is unthinkable to Him. The way of God is the way of grace, so much so that the Bible reveals this amazing thought: "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).
God is about life. God is about love. God is about hope. God is about renewal and new beginnings. Jesus said it was "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" [and how acquainted with his ways we are] but He also said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). That is grace --- Life to the full when your sins say you deserve death.
What is grace? It is God including us in when He could have written us off.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
EASTER REFLECTION
We Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is central to all we believe and it stands as the defining event in all history. We live in a world where Jesus has been raised from the dead. The world has a Redeemer, a Savior, a Friend. You have a Redeemer, a Savior, a Friend. None of us can say, “Nobody cares.” In fact, Somebody does care, and gave His life as an expression of the depth of His concern.
In the living Christ God brings His life into our lives and fills us with what it means for God to be God ~ Love, Forgiveness, Truth, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, just to name a few realities of His life in us.
Jesus takes out of us things like “anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, greed, falsehood, bitterness.” He fills us with the capacity to “be kind to one another,” to be “tenderhearted,” and to be able to “forgive each other, just as,” Paul says, “God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
In the living Christ, our lives are made whole; that’s the pragmatic issue before us. In Jesus God lavishes His grace on people. He does not force Himself on people but to those who come to Christ and who believe in Him, they are lavished with His grace, awestruck by His kindness, and awed by His goodness.
Because Jesus lives, we live free and forgiven and whole. We live within the embrace of God whose very life pulsates through our lives.
He is risen! He is risen, indeed.
We Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is central to all we believe and it stands as the defining event in all history. We live in a world where Jesus has been raised from the dead. The world has a Redeemer, a Savior, a Friend. You have a Redeemer, a Savior, a Friend. None of us can say, “Nobody cares.” In fact, Somebody does care, and gave His life as an expression of the depth of His concern.
In the living Christ God brings His life into our lives and fills us with what it means for God to be God ~ Love, Forgiveness, Truth, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, just to name a few realities of His life in us.
Jesus takes out of us things like “anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, greed, falsehood, bitterness.” He fills us with the capacity to “be kind to one another,” to be “tenderhearted,” and to be able to “forgive each other, just as,” Paul says, “God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
In the living Christ, our lives are made whole; that’s the pragmatic issue before us. In Jesus God lavishes His grace on people. He does not force Himself on people but to those who come to Christ and who believe in Him, they are lavished with His grace, awestruck by His kindness, and awed by His goodness.
Because Jesus lives, we live free and forgiven and whole. We live within the embrace of God whose very life pulsates through our lives.
He is risen! He is risen, indeed.
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