Life Together

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:4-6

Many of my greatest family memories involve a meal. There is an extraordinary joy that comes when we sit around a table and eat, laugh and share life. In Ephesians, Paul describes God’s family table. The emphasis on “togetherness” with Christ in this passage is hard to miss. In Christ, we are alive together, raised up together and made to sit together with Christ. Because of God’s mercy and grace we enjoy communion with Christ. It’s unmistakable that we share this relationship because God loved us “even when we were dead in our sins”. His love draws us home.

Other than an occasional rendition of “Happy Birthday”, I don’t recall doing a lot of singing at family gatherings. But, I do think God enjoys music. In his classic work, “Life Together”, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reveals some insight on God’s playlist, “God has prepared for Himself one great song of praise throughout eternity, and those who enter the community of God join in this song.” After all, we are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. As God gives us life, a song emerges. The prophet Isaiah identified the source of the song that resides in our hearts. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:4)

Finish this year with a song in your heart. Begin the next year anchored in your trust in God.

Unto you

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

Every Christmas Eve, I remember our son’s birth. I reminisce over some particular details about his arrival. His name is Nicholas Landon Metler. He is 21 inches long. He weighs 7 pounds and 11 ounces. That’s some of the facts and figures you would expect in a birth announcement.  Whether the announcement is in print or you share it in person, these are usually the first details that are shared.

Luke, the Gospel writer shares a birth announcement for Jesus. It’s a special announcement made by an angel to shepherds. I love the fact that God chose a group of “ordinary” shepherds to receive such an extraordinary proclamation. When the angel shared that the Son of God had arrived on earth, there are a couple of words that speak volumes to me. Jesus was born for others. When the angel told the shepherds that the Savior was born, he revealed a deep truth. The Savior is born “to you”.

The fact that Jesus was born for others may seem obvious now. After the fact, we understand that the Savior came because of God’s great love. Perhaps you memorized John 3:16 as a child.  The fact that the birth of Jesus was an extravagant expression of a Father’s love toward the world has become just another part of the story of Christ. But, I enjoy re-visiting the moment. It reminds me that Jesus came for others then and now. He remains the Savior who seeks and saves the lost. Whether shepherd or king, His love finds us where we are. Jesus is the Savior, Christ the Lord.  

Which way to Bethlehem?

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:12

Occasionally, I catch some grief over my inability to find things. Whether I am driving or just searching for something at home, the struggle is the same. I have heard the words, “it’s right in front of you” more than once in my life. So, I have to ask myself. If I was a shepherd outside of Bethlehem, would I have found Jesus? Have you ever tried to fill in the blanks between Luke 2:15 and Luke 2:16. I am referring to the journey of the shepherds. Somewhere between their departure from the fields and their arrival at the manger, there was a journey. Ultimately, we are told that they found the Savior.

Without a smart phone, Garmin or any other satellite assisted device, the shepherds listened to the description given them by the angel of the Lord and made their way to the city of David. God understood that they would need help to find and recognize the Savior. So, He gave them a sign. The angel was both a herald and a guide. As I have studied a few “Christmas” messages in Galatians the past week, I thought about the familiar description of the “fruit of the Spirit” in a different light. Earlier in Galatians, Paul reminded the church of the gift of the Spirit of Christ (Galatians 4:6). Then, in Galatians 5:22-23, Paul describes the “fruit” that the Spirit produces. Just as the description of a baby lying in a manger aided the shepherds in recognizing the arrival and presence of the Savior in Bethlehem, the fruit of the Spirit helps others recognize the presence of Jesus in my life. How will someone recognize Jesus in me? The sign of His arrival and presence in my life is the evidence of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. Ultimately, I believe God cares just as much today about helping people recognize the Savior as He did the night Jesus was born. The Holy Spirit enables us to be heralds and guides. When you sing “Joy to the world” this season, think about how the Spirit of Christ produces “joy” in you as an announcement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Adopted by God

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:4-7

Aside from the birth narratives of Jesus that are contained in the Gospels, it is my favorite description of the arrival of the Messiah. In this letter to believers in Galatia, the Apostle Paul makes a statement about God’s perfect timing. When the time was right, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The Savior was and is the gift above all gifts. The birth of a child is the fulfillment of a season of expectation. According to Peter, the birth of the Lamb of God was anticipated before the foundation of the world.

However, Paul does not end his description of God’s gift with the birth of Jesus. He continues with a similar declaration about God’s gift of the Spirit of His Son. Jesus came to redeem us. The Spirit of Christ came to affirm the reality of our redemption. Jesus came as “Immanuel, God with us” and because He came, the Spirit of Christ has come into my heart. The result of His entry into my heart is magnificent. Jesus purchased my adoption with His gift of life securing a change in my identity. I am a child of my heavenly Father. But my new identity is so more than a name change. I have been granted entry into a new relationship. The Holy Spirit wells up within my heart and I cry out to my heavenly Father. He hears and recognizes my voice as the voice of His child. Thank you Father.

Understanding Weakness and Strength

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

The New Testament provides many descriptions of the Christian life. Some are easier to embrace than others. I am “salt”. I am “light”. I am a “fisherman”. Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth is filled with a different kind of imagery. I am a “vessel of clay”.

Sounds a bit fragile doesn’t it? But, I must confess, it also brings to mind a certain beauty. The beauty of a clay vessel is a reflection of the skilled hands of the artist, the Creator. Every metaphor has some limitations. There are obvious differences between a person and an actual clay vessel. One is living and the other is not. I have ability to think. Sadly, I have the capacity to imagine that my beauty is my own and not the result of my Creator. I can be tempted to take credit for the glory that belongs to God and God alone. Paul warned the Corinthians that the excellence of the pottery is the gift of the Creator. For Paul, our weakness exposes God’s strength.

In his commentary on 2 Corinthians, French Arrington describes Paul’s testimony about how weakness reveals Christ, “At any time vessels of clay can be broken…His purpose for experiencing the dying Jesus in his body was to reveal the life of Jesus to others.” Take advantage of every opportunity this week to reaffirm your purpose in life. The purpose in life is to reveal Christ. Sometimes it is in the midst of our greatest struggles in life that the grace and glory of Christ shines brightest.

Why be thankful?

In a few days I will hit the half century mark. There are at least a couple of ways to approach such a birthday. (1) The "I can't believe I'm this old" Approach. This approach doesn't work well for me. It's a hard sell for me to say, "I can't believe I'm 50" while my joints ache, my bifocals are resting on my nose and my bald head is shining. So I go with Approach #2. It's the " I can't believe I'm 50" approach. Sounds the same as #1, but you miss the tone of my statement with this e-communication. It is a statement of amazement rather than questioning. I am amazed that God has given me life. Not only has God given me life, but He has chosen to bless me with 50 years of life. From my earliest memory, I have known Him. From my earliest memory, I have heard about His love. From my childhood, He has given me a love of His Truth and a desire to serve Him. Why? The God of the universe loves me? Yes, when I consider God's gift of life, there is no question. God loves me. My "Thanksgiving" begins here. But, it doesn't end here. It cannot end here. If I am truly grateful, then my gratitude must spill over into all my days and ways. Thanksgiving is powerful. Gratitude is a catalyst for love. It is a precursor for giving. It is a vaccination against selfishness. It destroys pride. It transforms us into a living story where God is the main character. It will illuminate every valley and dark place without fail because when we are giving thanks to God we are speaking to God and when we are speaking to God we are reminded that God is with us. Thank you God. 

Grace before Thanksgiving

 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:15

No doubt, thoughts about thanksgiving will abound this week. But, will thanksgiving “abound to the glory of God”? In large part, I think it depends on whether I choose to acknowledge God’s grace. This particular verse, in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians serves as a good reminder to dwell upon the grace of God this week. Thanksgiving springs from God’s grace and finds purpose in glorifying God. It’s not surprising that the true source and goal of thanksgiving can become so easily crowded out of our lives. Preserving the sacred purpose of thanksgiving involves more than perspective. It requires discipline.

If God’s grace is the precursor for thanksgiving, then pride is the primary hindrance. Any hope of preserving a proper perspective on thanksgiving rests upon a conscious effort to turn toward the One who is full of grace. John Owen directs, “See to it that all thoughts concerning Christ and His glory are accompanied with admiration, adoration and thanksgiving.” In the midst of a flood of distractions this week, choose to look toward Christ. Experience and appreciate the grace of God and let His grace feed your heart. Let is produce abundant thanksgiving to the glory of God.

True Love

Let all that you do be done with love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

After spending some time reading and studying the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians this week, I have a fresh appreciation for its importance. Often this beautiful passage is referred to as the “love chapter” because of the repeated emphasis on what love “is” and what love “does” and “does not do”. I’ve read it at weddings and sermonized on these powerful words for years. My study this week brought an unexpected awareness of the depth of these words.

A quick reading of 1 Corinthians 13 reveals that there is no explicit mention of God. Yet, I am drawn to God from the beginning. Perhaps it is because I recognize the character of Christ in the description of love. Maybe it’s because I acknowledge that I do not have the capacity to love apart from God’s help. Nonetheless, the chapter is about God.

It doesn’t require theological genius to look around and discern how easily love can become distorted in our culture today. We cheapen love. We water it down. We make it into something selfish and manufactured. But, it’s not true love. Max Lucado writes, “God offers authentic love. His devotion is the real deal. But he won’t give you the genuine until you surrender the imitations.” When Paul closes out 1 Corinthians with some pastoral directives, he includes the words, “Let all you do be done with love.” If that sounds impossible, it is – apart from God’s help. Real love is possible when we let God’s love permeate our lives.

Veterans Day: The Message of the Cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

It sounds ridiculous. But, sometimes I believe it’s easy to confuse wisdom and foolishness. What appears to be wise is sometimes foolish. What appears to be foolish is sometimes wise. To make matters worse, I (along with a vast amount of humanity past, present and future) am tempted to underestimate the gap between my understanding and God’s infinite wisdom.

Consider the cross of Christ. By definition, a “paradox” is a statement that, despite sound reasoning may seem senseless or logically unacceptable. Jesus took paradox to a new level. To live, I must die. The first shall be last. If I desire to be great, I must become a servant. The cross is the greatest paradox of all. The Son of God went to the cross. The Messiah died a sacrificial death. The Lord took on my shame and guilt and died for me. How is that wisdom? When Paul the Apostle wrote a letter to the Corinthians, he highlighted the struggle with the cross. Some in the first century found it difficult to embrace the power of the Gospel because it seemed foolish to them. Paul provided great clarity. The message of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross is the power of God to salvation. Three hundred years later St. Ambrose echoed the message of Paul, “The Lord’s Cross, then, is my wisdom; the Lord’s Death my redemption; for we are redeemed with His precious blood”.

As I grow older I learn more and more that Jesus desires to change everything. He changes my heart. He changes my perspective. He changes my attitude. Thankfully, I am a work in progress. Today is Veterans Day. It’s a great day to reflect on the words of Jesus and the example of Jesus as we remember men and women who have devoted their lives for the benefit of others. According to Jesus, discipleship is defined by self-denial, self-sacrifice and humbly following Him. Meditate on His words today: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

The heat is on

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Lately, in preschool chapel, I have been teaching the children about the fruit of the Spirit. In order to help them understand what it means to “bear fruit” I usually have them stretch their little arms up in the air and pretend they are growing up to be big trees for God. Jeremiah 17 provides a great word picture of the kind of tree that I want to be. Here’s what I’m thinking this morning.

First, the tree in Jeremiah is planted by the waters. I want my life to be planted by God where He wants me and always in close proximity to His provision. Second, I want to be a tree that spreads out its roots. Roots seek the things that lead to health and growth. I desire to be a lifelong learner. Finally, it matters to me how I respond when the “heat comes”. Summer brings heat every year. But, that’s not the kind of heat that Jeremiah is talking about. The trials of life are not always as predictable as summer. All of us can expect to endure some heat in life. It’s not a matter of “if” it’s a matter of “when”. If you continue reading in Jeremiah 17, you will discover that the tree does not merely survive the heat, but it continues to thrive. I want to continue to have “green leaves” in spite of the heat that comes my way.

Jeremiah makes it clear that such a life is built on “trust” in the Lord and “hope” in the Lord. It is a “blessed” life. Notice that the “blessings” of God do not guarantee that I will not endure heat. Rather, this healthy tree is able to combat the fear that so often comes when the heat is on. It’s probably worth the journey back into Jeremiah 17 to note the contrast in the previous verses between the blessed “tree” and the cursed “shrub”. The “shrub” in the desert is the one who trusts in self rather than God. Now, what do I want to be today… a shrub in the desert or a tree by the river?

Grace: giving and receiving

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ

Romans 1:5-6

Have you ever attended a large event, got in your car and recognized the need for grace? You know what I’m talking about. You’re trying to get out of your parking place and traffic is lined up for a mile. You need grace. You need someone who is willing to allow you to get out of your spot. It’s not a law; it’s not required of anyone. It’s grace and it feels so good when you get the friendly wave and pull out.

When the Apostle Paul began his letter to believers in Rome, he began by pointing toward the gift of God’s grace. It’s undeserved and Paul cherishes God’s blessing. In Paul’s view, grace is a gift that comes with certain responsibilities. Namely, Paul talks about “obedience to the faith”. It reminds me of a great question that Philip Yancey asks in his book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” Yancey questions, “How should a ‘graced’ person act as a husband or wife, as a church member, as a citizen”?

After reading through Romans, the importance of God’s gift of grace is hard to miss. The mention of grace really stirs up my sense of gratitude for God’s willingness to give us an extravagant and undeserved gift. As important as it is for me to express my thanks to God, I believe it is imperative to do something with this gift. Two things come to my mind this morning. First, I should live it. God’s grace has provided me the freedom to live an obedient life. Paul is not shy about the scope of the mission of grace. He mentions his calling to share his faith with “all nations”. Second, I should share it. The Apostle Peter reinforces my responsibility to share when he refers to recipients of God’s grace as “stewards” of grace. In other words, I have a choice today of whether I will extend the grace that I have freely received from God toward others. I hear that little voice whispering in my ear. “Don’t be that person who receives grace in the parking lot and then refuses to let the next person out.”

The love of God

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:5

The Apostle Paul prayed that the early Christians would be able to comprehend how wide, long, deep and high the love of Christ is toward us (Ephesians 3:18). It’s a big prayer. In fact, Paul admits that it surpasses knowledge. Yet, I believe it is God’s love for me that inspires and enables me to live for God and to love others as God commands.

Recently, as I was studying the fifth chapter of Romans, I discovered two extraordinary reminders of God’s love for us. First, Paul states the fundamental truth of the Gospel: Jesus died for the ungodly as a demonstration of God’s love for us (Romans 5:8). This is the essence of the Gospel. I pray that my gratitude toward God for His extravagant sacrifice of love never grows stale. Second, Paul aptly describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a gift of love. Carefully, read Romans 5:5. My heart is the target of God’s torrent of love. God’s love is neither abstract nor impersonal. Just as Christ came to earth “in person” to live, die, be buried and resurrect from the dead, the Holy Spirit has come to visit our hearts. The abundant love of God that is aimed at my heart is personal. The presence of the Holy Spirit is a personal reminder of the love of God. I pray that the knowledge that God is with you will refresh you and remind you of His great love today.   

Set Apart for God's Purpose

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)

Following this dramatic commissioning by the Holy Spirit, Saul and Barnabas went to the island of Cyprus. As a result of their journey, the Roman proconsul at Paphos believed. It’s a fascinating journey that grows even more interesting when you take in the details of Acts 13. I am intrigued by the idea that they were “separated” for the work of God. Sometimes it’s easier to think in terms of physical separation. In the case of Acts 13, Saul and Barnabas departed from Antioch and journeyed to Cyprus. The physical separation from the church in Antioch was obvious. Less obvious is the deeper separation that takes place on the inside. Saul and Barnabas were set apart for God’s purpose. That is a separation that requires me to be willing to sacrifice my will in favor of God’s will. Christian writers have often referred to this as “the way of the cross”.

Kyle Stobel points out that “Paul (Saul) did not see the cross of Christ as merely an event in history or an aspect of his theology that he had to admit happened; the cross represented a revolutionary way of life.” This revolutionary way of life compels me to be set apart for God’s work. I may never be led to go to the island of Cyprus, but the way of the cross is a death march for my selfishness and pride and a gateway to the rule and reign of my Lord. Finally, the way of the cross allows others to see Jesus in me. When Barnabas and Saul left Cyprus, they left behind a Roman proconsul who had encountered the Gospel and believed. That is my mission in life.

How big is the Neighborhood?

Jesus said,

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Perspective. It’s sometimes defined as a “point of view” or “frame of reference”. It has to do with how we see. Sometimes it has to do with how far we see. As I read the New Testament, I am impressed by a recurring theme. God wants me to see beyond myself. God wants me to lift up my eyes and enlarge my vision.

Remember how Jesus redefined neighborhood boundaries. When asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told a story about a “good neighbor” who was a Samaritan. That must have been an unexpected detail to those who were listening. Just prior to His ascension to heaven Jesus instructed His disciples to engage in the global mission of God. First, Jesus promised his followers that the Holy Spirit would provide power. After the promise of power, Jesus clarified the purpose. The mission has not changed. Neither has our dependence upon the Holy Spirit to empower us to be credible witnesses for Jesus diminished. Finally, when Jesus presented the scope of the mission, it’s a reminder that God’s view is limitless. God sees the end of the earth more easily than I can see the end of my nose. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives compels us to see differently and prevents us from exempting anyone from the reach of the Gospel.

Glorious Transformation

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3)

In my study this week I will be preparing for a couple of messages from the book of Acts. How is it possible to describe the dynamic work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers who lived in the wake of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus? In Acts, Luke continues his account of the power of the Gospel in the early church. Men and women began to live out the “Great Commission”. The book of Acts inspires and challenges me. The book of Acts helps me understand what it means to live for Christ no matter the cost and no matter the challenges. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Claude Payne and Hamilton Beazley released a book entitled “Reclaiming the Great Commission”. Their words summarize my thoughts today:

“In a world beset by trials and tribulations, the promise of personal transformation, which will enable one to surmount and even embrace such difficulties, is much to be desired. Glorious transformation puts the individual in touch with eternal spiritual values that satisfy rather than with temporal and materialistic values that disappoint. Spiritual growth and centering and a release from the traps of false idols are all aspects of the glorious transformation that a life in Christ provides.”

Is “glorious transformation” the main theme of my life? Is it the central message of my life story?

Wedding Vows

Thus says the Lord: “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.  (Jeremiah 2:2)

On Saturday, I stood before my niece and her husband-to-be and led them in prayer and the exchange of their vows as they entered into a marriage covenant. It was a beautiful night and I must confess that I conducted the entire ceremony with a bit of a lump in my throat. There’s nothing like a wedding. It’s no wonder that God illustrates His love for His people throughout the Bible as a marriage covenant.

As I reflected on the wedding, I thought of the words of Jeremiah. The prophet refers to the love of God’s people with marriage terminology.  Our love for God is described in terms of devotion, faithfulness and pursuit. One of the phrases included in the marriage ceremony I conducted Saturday night remains pressed in my memory. I asked both the bride and groom to affirm their willingness to “forsake all others and remain true to him/her as long as you both shall live”. These words provide a pattern for our relationship with God. The Scriptures make it clear that any time we elevate anything or anyone else to the place only God deserves, it is idolatry. This week, turn your eyes toward our faithful God and renew your vow to remain true to Him as long as you live.

The Way

I am the way, the truth and the life.

Jesus

Thomas a´ Kempis shared the message of Jesus this way:

“Follow thou me. I am the way and the truth and the life. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth with thou must believe; the life for which thou must hope. I am the inviolable way; the infallible truth; the never-ending life. I am the straightest way, the sovereign truth; life true, life blessed, life uncreated.”

I like to think of life as a journey. My journey has a beginning and an end. It has a path that leads to a destination. In my mind, I equate the “way” to the path that is cobbled together with choices, decisions and life-experiences. The way is before me and evident in my rear view mirror as well. But Jesus adds a completely different dimension to my thinking. Jesus is more than a traveling companion. He is more than a divine guide. It’s not as though He merely points and says, “Go this way.” Jesus boldly declares, “I am the way.” Kempis emphasizes our utter dependence on Jesus. We need Jesus because “without the way there is no going.” Whether I am thinking about my entire life or just today, Jesus is the way.

Gratitude

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17: 17-18

Michael Zigarelli has researched and written extensively about developing Christian character. In an article entitled “Gratitude: Pathway to Permanent Change”, Zigarelli provides the following perspective:

“Of all the possible explanations for why some Christians look more like Jesus than others, one explanation, one characteristic clearly stood out above the rest: gratitude…Centuries ago, the philosopher Cicero argued that among virtues, gratitude is ‘the parent of all the others,’ a virtue that begets other virtues. Want more inner peace? Work on gratitude. Want more patience? Work on gratitude. Want to be more compassionate? You get the idea.”

When I read about how Jesus healed ten lepers as recorded in Luke 17, I notice a number of messages about the importance of gratitude. Luke’s account of the miracle makes a distinction between the Samaritan (a foreigner) who returned to give thanks to Jesus and the nine who did not. It’s a surprising end to a beautiful story of compassion and healing.

The question that Jesus asked is troubling. Jesus asked, “Where are the nine?” If I listen carefully to Jesus I can hear him ask me, “Where are you?” “Hey Paul, are you grateful 10 percent of the time? Do you possess an overwhelming attitude of thankfulness 10 percent of the time? It’s easy to chastise the nine lepers for their negligence until I look in the mirror.

Perhaps my description is a little too dramatic. After all, do I really need to have an “overwhelming attitude of gratitude”?  According to Luke 17, the Samaritan leper who was healed “returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” His actions portray a mixture of humility, unbridled joy and thanksgiving. I can only speak for myself. Jesus deserves this and so much more from me.

Orange Tree

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Today, I was talking to the preschoolers about the "fruit of the Spirit". For the past couple of weeks I have been asking them to tell me their favorite fruits. One little boy has been adamant that his favorite fruit is an orange. He will not waiver. It's orange. I'm kinda on the fence myself. Some days it's an apple. Some days I lean toward blueberries. So, I guess I don't have a true favorite.

Today, as I began to talk to the children about the fruit of the Spirit, I started with the first in the list: "Love". I would say that it is the favorite "fruit" in this list. It's not a surprise that most people think it's good to "grow love" in life. What is a little puzzling is that most people have a least favorite fruit. No doubt about it - I don't hear many people say how much they crave "longsuffering". How about you? Yet, it is listed right alongside of love, joy peace and the others. By the way, self-control is probably toward the bottom of the list as well. A quick survey in my life would not diminish my appreciation of the value of "love". But, if I'm honest, it will also require me to appreciate how the Spirit of God has helped me to develop a patient trust. My love of patience is a little like my love of broccoli. The older I get, the more I appreciate it. Now, communicating these lessons to preschoolers over the next few weeks will test my creativity...and my patience! Thank you Lord.

Digging Deep

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

Luke 6:48

Life is like a man building a house. So begins the teaching of Jesus. What’s the difference between those who hear the words of Jesus and “do them” and those who hear and “did nothing”? One is like a man who builds a house with a rock solid foundation and the other skips a step and builds a house without a foundation. It’s not difficult to predict what will happen when a storm gathers. Jesus confirms what you might expect. One house stands, the other falls.

The message of Jesus is hard to miss. If I want to build a life that is strong enough to withstand the storms of life, then I must listen and obey. However, I believe there are a number of subtle messages that are easily missed. Jesus began by saying that the man “dug deep” and laid the foundation. It’s a reminder that much of the work required to build strong character takes place beneath the surface. After a house is built, the foundation doesn’t show, much less the effort and investment required to prepare for the foundation. Few of us would argue against the fact that we live in a world that where veneer competes with substance. Far too often, charisma trumps character. The words of Jesus remind us that Christ-like character grows beneath the surface and then yields a fruitful life. “A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good fruit” (Luke 6:45). 

 So how do I respond to the pressure to build my house without digging deep? The Bible is filled with practical instruction about building strong character. Psalm 1:2 is one of my favorites. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” It’s a great place to start. Meditation takes place beneath the surface of my life. No audience. It is the process of “digging deep” and treasuring long-term investment while living in an instant gratification world. “Delight” in God’s word is a cultivated delight. And, yes, some days the digging is more difficult than others. But, my love for God’s word has grown as I have spent more time meditating on God’s word.

Learning from a child

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

Mark 10:15

Teachable moments in my life have a certain unexpected quality. Suddenly, a lesson sneaks around the corner and grabs my heart. Some of those moments in my life have left a lasting imprint in my character. I wonder if that was the case on that day. It was a day when a group of parents brought their children to Jesus for a blessing. The disciples scolded the parents. I’m sure they thought that it was good to protect Jesus from the intrusion. But, they were wrong. To Jesus, it was not an intrusion. It was an opportunity to provide perspective. After rebuking the disciples, He lifted a child and proceeded to embrace the little one like a shepherd would gather a small lamb with His arms (Isaiah 40:3). And then it happened. It was a teachable moment that echoes into my life today. Jesus said, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it”.

I’m so tempted to reach into my pocket and provide my ticket for entry into God’s kingdom. You know the ticket. It’s a ticket that is intended to impress God. It’s my list of stuff that I have assembled to impress God. It’s sounds absurd to me as I describe it – imagine how absurd it is to God when we pull the ticket out. The message of Jesus would be more difficult for me to grasp were it not for the picture I have in my mind. It’s time to exchange the ticket for a lesson from a child. It’s time to trade my list for an embrace and blessing from my Savior.

In the 17^th century, Fenelon wrote a number of spiritual letters. In one of his letters he cautioned that absolute trust is the shortest road to God. He went on to write, “Abandon yourself as absolutely possible to God, and continue to do so to your latest breath, and He will never depart you.” In my mind’s eye, I see a child folded up in the arms of the Savior held closely enough to be comforted by the beat of His heart. For the child, there is no desire to leave. There is no longing to be anywhere else. There is no searching for a ticket. Love has made a way.  Absolute trust is natural. Distance from the heart of the Savior is unthinkable. The kingdom of God is the ultimate place of belonging.

Thirsty for Friendship

How do you define friendship? I asked the preschoolers in chapel this morning to help me out with a definition. As usual, I received some great answers. They described some things that friends do. They share. They play together. They have fun. That's what friends do.

I thought it would be interesting to tell them about a time when Jesus was a friend. I told them about how He talked to a woman at a well in Samaria. There are a number of aspects in the story that fascinate me. For example, Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to a Samaritan woman. But, before His self-revelation, Jesus took the first step. He surprised the woman with His first words. The fact that He initiated a conversation captures my attention.  If you know anything about the story (John 4) you know the conversation moved from the surface issues of physical thirst to a revelation about how spiritual thirst can be quenched. When's the last time you had a conversation like that? My preschool scholars offered some clues as to why it doesn't happen as often as it should. Being a friend means we have to be willing to "share". Sounds simple doesn't it. Second requirement? The kids said that friendship is a "together" thing. Friends are "present". As adults, we have all kinds of issues with being truly "present"in the God-given special momentary opportunities. Finally, friends have fun. OK it's a little naive to think that being a friend is always fun. But, Jesus modeled friendship that is incredibly rewarding. We need only to open our eyes to see people who may be thirsty for friendship. BTW, making a well out of Play Doh is not easy!

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”

Jesus

I had a good discussion this week about what it means to be “poor in spirit”. Why are the poor in spirit blessed? I found some help from one of my favorite authors. Philip Yancey has a gift when it comes to articulating the gospel. When reading through the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Yancey reached the following conclusions:

“The Beatitudes express quite plainly that God views the world through a different set of lenses. The poor are blessed because with nowhere to else to turn, the desperate just may turn to Jesus, the only One who can offer the deliverance they long for. Jesus really believed that a person who is poor in spirit, or mourning, or persecuted, or hungry and thirsty for righteousness has a peculiar advantage over the rest. Maybe, the desperate person will cry out to God for help. If so, that person is truly blessed” (Yancey in The Jesus I Never Knew)

Yancey goes on to point out that the poor in spirit recognize not only their dependence on God, but also their interdependence on others. This points us toward a deeper understanding of the “blessedness” of the poor in spirit. In His sermon, Jesus attaches the blessedness of the poor in spirit with a particular reward. Their reward is “the kingdom of heaven”. It strikes me that the kingdom of heaven is not a lonely kingdom of independence and isolation from God and others. It is an eternal-relational kingdom. Poverty in spirit can yield an openness and longing for that kind of kingdom and the blessings enjoyed by those who belong there.

New Wineskins

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” 

Mark 2:22

When I read the Gospels I marvel at the way Jesus could deliver an eternal truth with the aid of a familiar object. How would you describe barriers to radical transformation to a group of 1^st century people hanging around asking questions? Google “self help books” or “personal change” and check back with me at the end of your life when you finish pouring over a billion or two responses. There are a lot of ideas about what is required in order to change. Some of the ideas are good and helpful. But, if Jesus was to write a book about change today it might be pretty short. The title could be: “New wine must be put into new wineskins”. Jesus addressed some pretty big change issues in His day. He was a bridge between the Law and the Gospel. He was confronted with self-righteous attempts to preserve a legalistic framework in the wake of His arrival. In the text of Mark 2 His words were few yet profound in implication. They held both a global and individual application. I’m leaving the global interpretation for another day. I am focusing on what it means in my life. Maybe you can benefit from my struggle.

Will I put new wine in old wineskins? Today, I may be tempted to add a little bit of Jesus into my life to make it better while stopping short of the type of transformation that takes place when I give Him my all. I may want to enjoy the new wine of His presence while still holding on to aspects of my self-righteous identity. I may want to maintain my old habitual ways of seeing things and treating people. I may pray the “Lord’s Prayer” this morning and then live as if I want to see how much of my will can survive while praying “Your will be done”. My “old wineskin” is like a comfortable pair of old shoes. Without thinking, I slip them on each morning. I walk around in them without thinking about the desperate need for renewal. Then Jesus speaks. If I want to preserve the precious nature of His presence I need to embrace Him in totality. I need Him to build my life according to His design. I need a new wineskin.

The Engine

Today in Preschool Chapel I asked the children to talk to me about the letter "A". Quickly, a child told me that "apple" begins with "A". Next, a child shouted out "airplane". So, I proceeded to make an airplane out of Play Doh. I thought I was finished, when a little girl informed me that my airplane needed engines. Pretty impressive for a preschooler. If my green (their suggestion) Play Doh airplane is going to fly it must have engines. What was I thinking? Quickly, I added two engines and all was well.

After a few songs with them, I began to tell them about one of Jesus' messages when He told His followers to be like two things: salt and light. Christianity minus the qualities that Jesus described is much like an airplane without an engine. It just doesn't fly. So, if we take seriously the words of Jesus, we need to know what is required. "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). How do we maintain our luminescence? Dallas Willard simplifies the process in his description of discipleship. I am with Him to learn from Him how to be like Him. (Divine Conspiracy, p. 276). His words remind me that I shouldn't try to be "salt and light" without learning from my Savior.