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.

Daily Awe

Paul David Tripp, in his book, Dangerous Calling warns against the danger of “losing your awe” of God. Although Tripp aims his message toward pastoral ministry, I believe his words apply to all followers of Jesus. He issues a challenge. We are to cultivate our relationship with God every day. Without such cultivation we diminish our ministry to those God places in our path every day. Consider Tripp’s words:

“If you are feeding your soul every day on the grace and glory of God, if you are in worshipful awe of His wisdom and power, if you are spiritually stunned by His faithfulness and love, and if you are daily motivated by his presence and promises, then you want to do everything you can to capture and display that glory to the people God has placed in your care.” (p. 138)

Is “worshipful awe” foreign to me? How long since I have been “spiritually stunned” by God’s faithfulness and “daily motivated” by His presence?

Go?

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20

Brennan Manning asks the question, “Is the gospel alive and real to you right now? Or has it grown stale and predictable?” As I consider Manning’s question in light of the words of Jesus, I grapple with more questions. How does it happen? How could I allow the gospel to become stale? The gospel flows to me and through me from the heart of God. Therefore, it is His great love that captures me and motivates me to extend His love toward others. The “Great Commission” seems most daunting when we forget about God’s accompanying presence. Manning addresses our fears.

“It’s natural to feel fear and insecurity when confronted with the radical demands of the Christian commitment. But enveloped in the lived truth of God’s furious love, insecurity is swallowed up in the solidity of agape, and anguish and fear give way to hope and desire. The Christian becomes aware that God’s appeal for unlimited generosity from His people has been preceded from His side by a limitless love, a love so intent upon a response that He has empowered us to respond through the gift of His own Spirit.”

How soon we forget the provision of God. When it comes to obedience, God has not left me to fend for myself. Radical commitment to God is accompanied by the extravagant gift of His abiding presence. More than a Comforter, the Holy Spirit enables, empowers and encourages. 

Before the Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

Matthew 28:16-17

Normally, when I think about Matthew 28 the “Great Commission” captures my attention. It’s the hallmark “mission” passage of the New Testament. Because my mind gravitates toward the words of Jesus, it’s unusual for me to give much attention to the verses leading into the great “Go ye” imperative. But, recently I noticed a couple of details. First, the conspicuous number “eleven” in verse sixteen. The unspoken explanation is powerful. Earlier in Matthew, when Jesus commissioned His disciples, there were “twelve” who were named. Now, Judas the betrayer is no longer with them. The second detail is the mention of “doubt”. It’s a formidable word that seems out of place. After all, this doubt surfaces in the midst of a “post-resurrection” appearance of Jesus. It almost sounds matter of fact. When they saw Jesus some worshipped – some doubted.

So why pay attention to these two details? Perhaps it’s the location. Remember, these details are a prelude to the Great Commission. It seems to be a reminder of a struggle that stretches across the centuries. Prior to launching out in obedience; prior to the “disciple-making” adventure, Matthew 28 reminds us that some will go, some will not. Also, it’s a reminder that doubt is real. Should we be surprised that doubt can rise up in the midst of the stark reality of God’s presence? Matthew helps me see the struggle more clearly. Will I worship or will I doubt? Will I obey or will I walk away? By faith, I say, “yes” to Jesus.

Is God Capricious?

While I was on vacation, I took advantage of the opportunity to do some reading. That’s not unusual. I love to read. But, the fact that I was reading fiction is very unusual for me. I was on vacation so a break from the norm was in order. So why am I asking this strange question about God? In the midst of the book I was reading, two characters have a discussion about God. In particular, it was regarding a prayer that was answered and the timeliness of the answer. One of the primary characters in the book implies that God seems "capricious". Adjectives describing God are plentiful. But, capricious is one that seems to be growing in popularity. Most often it is characteristic offered by those searching for a reason to deny rather than describe God. For example, Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) refers to the “God of the Old Testament” as a “capriciously malevolent bully”.  Dawkins is not alone. Much is written today about whether God is or is not. More and more authors flex their intellectual muscles and make conditional statements about what kind of God merits belief and trust.

So, when I encountered the word “capricious” in the book it caused me to ponder. In the book I read the word "capricious" is thrown into the mix with a much friendlier tone. That’s what caught my attention. I’m not surprised when an anti-theist attempts to build a case against God and lobs accusations as support for his or her rejection. But, the musings of a believer or would be believer strike a different chord. I am curious as to whether we have come to expect God to meet our expectations. As a reminder, the definition of capricious is "given to sudden and unaccountable changes in mood or behavior".  After ruminating on the definition a bit, the question becomes more intriguing. Do we desire a God who is accountable for behavior - especially behavior that seems unexpected? Put another way, do I expect to be able to predict God's behavior?  What if, in my estimation, God misbehaves? Sounds absurd when put in such terms. Yet, it's a perspective that's fairly prevalent in our culture. Yes, I'm talking about the church culture.  It may be prevalent, but it’s not at all new. I read Job again recently. I highly recommend putting Job on your reading schedule on a regular basis. It stretches me immensely. After Job had his day in court, God responded. Job contains one of those verses that is rarely scribbled on a card as a "memory verse". We much prefer "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". So here's a different kind of memory verse. Go ahead and post this one on your fridge.
 
“Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?” (Job 40:2)
 
I’m sure I have never said to God, "You are capricious, don’t be so unpredictable!" But I have wrestled with God in prayer (and perhaps some pouting) and I have elevated my expectations higher than I should. I have prayed with the intent "not Your will, but mine be done". Yes, I have wrestled. Somehow, at the end of every wrestling match the scoreboard is the same. God is undefeated. But, is God capricious?