Jan 11th,. 2010

Truth Unveiled

Mark 4:10-11And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables.”

A simple truth is presented in today’s readings from the Gospel of Mark. It is this: not everyone gets it. The problem is not that people don’t have opportunity or exposure; the problem is that a lot of people just don’t understand. They don’t get it. The teachings from Jesus on love, forgiveness, grace, hope, eternity, and faith are unimaginable to many which is a sad reality and a fearful truth.

My question: Why don’t people get it? I have for many years believed that Scripture interprets itself. That means that the truth of one part is revealed in the collective truth of the whole. When we look at this passage in light of the whole of scripture, a wonderful insight emerges.

In chapter 4 of Mark, the parables are about God’s mighty works of grace in the lives of people. Consider the parable of the sowing of seed. Good soil vs. bad soil. Some people get it because their lives have been prepared to receive; others lose it because they have hardened their hearts to receive or something else seemingly more important gets in the way.

The reality is that truth is difficult at times to understand. It is difficult to understand why a friend suffers or a child dies. It is difficult to understand why some prosper and others struggle and remain poor. Life’s not fair, but truth is. We may not like it, but truth is always fair.

So what’s the point of this message? God in His wisdom reveals truth to those who seek Him. This is true of all who are seekers, but to those who have rejected him, who have hardened their hearts, this life-changing and life-sustaining truth remains veiled until that day when all things become clear.

Rejoice, my friends, because to you truth has come. Amen.

Faithfulness

Matthew 24:45-46 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”

It’s not about success; it’s about faithfulness. If you have been in ministry for any length of time, you will know from practice the value of these words. Success is fleeting; faithfulness is a choice. Success is something that happens when all the right stuff comes together in order. It’s like being in the right place at the right time or having the right tools to finish the job. Faithfulness is choosing to act and live in such a way that the conclusion is to become more like Jesus.

Let me explain. Faithfulness is living life not based upon outcome or performance criteria. It is choosing to live each and every day in relationship, living life in context with the scriptures and expressing gratitude for everything that has been given to us through faith in Christ Jesus. Faithfulness is the success that pleases God.

There are two things in this passage that lead us down the path toward more faithfulness. The first is wisdom. Notice from the passage: “Who then is the faithful and wise servant?” Wisdom about life is a shared reality. We learn from past failures and mistakes and from the lives of others who have gone before us. If we fail to learn from our past, we have wasted an opportunity to learn. The more we learn the better we are at becoming faithful. We also learn in relationship, with God, and with others in community. Faithfulness is learned as we live.

Point two. Faithfulness is also practiced each and every day. Yes, even when I don’t feel like being faithful. It is the blueprint of my life. I choose to live faithfully in spite of outward experience or inward doubt that would cause me to think that things are not going as planned. It is too easy to get caught up in the success model of our world and think, that’s reality. While in fact, reality is actually the practice of everyday believing, everyday praying, everyday getting out of bed knowing that God, not I, is in control. God is the only one who is successful. He proved that in creation, and in this, He now calls us to be faithful.

So today, get up, get going, and be faithful! Amen.

Readings for today: Matthew chapters 22 – 24.

Jan. 7th. 2010

Comparisons

Matthew 20:11-16 “ And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last."

I must admit that sometimes my life is lived in comparison to what others have achieved or accomplished. I have lived in the shadow of greater, more gifted, better looking, more capable and more talented pastors than myself. It's a difficult journey to discover that God does not judge us in comparison to others; He creates us to be unique unto Himself.

I have discovered that I am the one who does the comparison stuff. We all do. It goes like this. Why does that person get all the best stuff? Why does she have the best clothes or complexion or best husband? Who put them in charge? Perhaps you have seen in yourself some of the same tendencies to compare your life in light of the success or failures of others. The problem with this type of thinking is that it usually ends up in discontent and discouragement. I have very seldom rejoiced in what little I have in light of how much others have. In fact, the other is usually the case. I rejoice that I have more than others. Shame on me!

The beauty of this passage of scripture is that God does not judge on how much or little we produce but upon our willingness and faithfulness to do the work He is calling us to. His reward is the same according to what He has promised to do for us. That’s the rub. We often think that because we are not blessed in the same way, or with more than others, there must be something wrong with us. Philippians 4:12-13 says it well.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The hardest thing to do in life and especially in ministry is live in the beauty of what we have been created to do. Not in comparison but in companionship with those who are also called to bring about the Kingdom of God to the world God loves. Who cares who gets the glory! It all belongs to God.

So, my friends, get busy doing what God has called you to do. Amen.

Readings for today: Matthew chapters 19-21.

Jan. 6th. 2010

No One Said It Was Easy

Matthew 18: 7 "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”

How often do we dwell on the wrong things? If you’re like me, the answer is OFTEN! It’s easy to get caught up in negative feelings, bad attitudes, hopeless situations and misguided thoughts. However, the same can be said for always looking for the success or blessings of life. It’s interesting to note that Jesus speaks more about suffering and trials and temptations than He does about success.

The reason for this is that during most of our lives we are going to be faced with negative stuff. We are not removed from the reality that our world is broken--just look around or read a newspaper. Things are not right in the world, and the reality is that for a lot of us, things are not right in us. How we react to the simple distractions in life is a barometer of the reality of these negative forces at work. Think for a moment of your morning drive to work today. Did another driver cut you off? How did you react?

In our readings today, we are faced with a series of happenings that stretch us to face this reality. In Matthew Chapter 16, we find teachings on those who seek signs, Peter’s confession, and Jesus’ challenge to take up the cross and follow. These are all difficult things to do and hear. In Chapter 17, the emphasis is on the Transfiguration. (Read that closely and see that Jesus says He will suffer.) We also see a demon procession and Jesus talking about His death and resurrection. It’s all about suffering and trials and difficulties and life!

But there is hope. Remember Jesus also said in this passage from Matthew 18: “For it is necessary that temptations come.” WHY? So that we can discover who we are in Him. The letter of James states it well in James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

So what are you struggling with today? Expect it, face it, and grow! Amen.

Readings for today Matthew Chapters 16 - 18

Jan 5th. 2010

Do You Get It?

Matthew 13:51-52 "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

Sometimes I read something and then look back and try to remember what it was that I just read. Have you ever done that? I think I know what I read and yet when pressed hard the memory of the information evades me. I would have loved to have been in that group of disciples when Jesus asked these words. “Do you understand this?” It is so easy to respond: “Oh, yes!” “Got it!” “Next!” However, every time I move ahead too fast, I miss the power of the moment and the promise provided in the teaching.

The foundation of this passage is simple. If you have been trained for the kingdom, i.e. studied, prayed, listened, followed Jesus, memorized scripture, allowed scripture to change your life, committed yourself to discipleship and given yourself to the teachings of scripture, THEN you are given a great calling to bring out, or make known, the treasure of what you have learned. By the way, if you are one of the trained for the kingdom of heaven, you are in a unique group of people, for this is not easily attained.

People need guides. Life needs a roadmap; uncertainty and calamity resides at every crossroad. Therefore, Jesus is calling His devoted followers, His friends, to the challenge. “Do you get it?” Jesus asks. If so, the proof is in the retelling of the things we have learned both of what is new and what is old. The power of the Scripture is that all of scripture is valuable. The entire message from God through Jesus is our guide.

Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Ok, friends, here’s the challenge. If we are keeping this good news for ourselves, what good is that? What was it that we just read? Oh yeah, got it…share it! Amen.

Jan 2, 2011

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit."

Welcome back to the journey. I know that for me these last two weeks have been times of family gatherings, celebrations of the season and reflections on the future. I think that is why as we begin this New Year with Jesus, these words really spoke to me. We as Christians are known by what we produce. That is a pretty simple and straightforward understanding of this passage; however, there is more to the journey than just being good fruit producers. There is the journey to becoming a good person, there is the process of maintaining a good person, and there is the issue of finishing well.

The journey to becoming a good person has its beginning in the realization that within ourselves we are not able to achieve goodness. Real goodness, goodness with purpose, is the result of acceptance of Jesus as our Savior. We call that salvation. It all begins here. Yes, a person can be good without Jesus, but what’s the purpose in that? So what, a life lived without Jesus is a life lived without hope, purpose, fulfillment, direction, and the promise of eternity with God. Goodness is not only about what we do; it is also about what we become. Scripture teaches that at salvation we are changed--life becomes different; the OLD natures are destroyed and behold all things become new. (ref. 2 Cor. 5:17). It is at that point we are set on a journey of goodness. We have become something different than what we were.

The second point is that now we are on a new journey toward that for which we are created--to bring Glory to God. Our journey is filled with trials and success, failures and joys, and new “goodness stuff” to become more of what God has created us to be. Goodness is not a product created on its own but that which is grafted into us. This gives us the promise that if we allow God to change us He will. God is the one who can make the tree good; therefore, God is the one who can produce good in us. What we need to do is trust Him to change us and allow Him to make us good.

Finally, goodness needs to finish well. That is the purpose of the Jesus walk. To keep us reading the word, praying, sharing with others and doing things which bring about good to others. I have discovered that if I don’t put into practice the things I learn, I soon forget them and then the good in me takes longer to produce.

So, my call to you today is to begin the journey to goodness. Let God change you and stay the course so that we finish well! See you on the journey.

Remembering the "Least of these" this Christmas Season.

I will be off these next two weeks. See you again after the first of the year.