Monthly Archives: April 2014

Put on a cross for our sins

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Mark 14:22-40 (excerpts) 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. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see that each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

 

If you have seen Jesus of Nazareth or The Passion of the Christ you may have some inkling of what death by crucifixion means. And yet, even those graphics do not fully convey to me the extreme price that was paid for me and for you. Greater love has no one than this; to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

 

In your quiet time today, contemplate such a gift that was freely given to you and me. think on the sadness and devastation Jesus’ followers must have felt when they buried his body and must have thought for sure that this was the end. (It wasn’t.) Meditate on the prospect of being separated from God. Is He not worthy of such meditation? Is there anything else that should demand more of our attention, our time, our resources, our ambitions, than our loving God?

Was it me?

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Mark 14:17-21 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.  While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”  It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Who betrayed Jesus? Certainly Judas. While Jesus was sharing the last supper with His disciples, the chief priests and teachers of the law were preparing to secretly arrest Him and have Him killed. Certainly they betrayed Him too. and what about the Palm Sunday crowds who later demanded the release of the murderous Barabbas, while leaving Jesus to die? How about the Roman soldiers?

The painful truth is that it was OUR sin that put Him on the cross.  He paid the price for a sin He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. It was the love of God for a lost people, you and me, that brought this into being. God, who loved us while we were yet sinners.

Have you considered this endless love recently? Do you bring it to mind each day as you give thanks? Such mercy, such amazing grace.

Living the Parable

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Jesus taught many parables to help people understand the kingdom of God. Some people think that parables are just stories about good values. More than that they are stories about who we are meant to be and how to experience God’s best for you. One of the parables Jesus taught is that of the widow’s offering. A story about money, yes, but even more, it is a story about how much of US belongs to God.

Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Jesus would rather see us put OURSELVES in the offering plate than money. We sing, “All to Jesus, I surrender,” but it is easier to say than to do this, right?

If we want to get to better physical health we generally start with a Complete Physical Assessment. Steve Canfield shared with us recently that the road to better spiritual health often begins with a Complete Spiritual Assessment. Part of that process is considering our priorities. for example, number the following in relation to which gets the most of your TIME daily (1=most time, 6=least time):
___ Computer/internet
___ Television/Movies
___ Eating
___ Recreation
___ God’s Word (reading, memorizing, meditating)
___ Prayer

Now, in order, number the following in relation to which gets the most of your MONEY monthly (1=most money, 6=least money):
___ Car or pets
___ Sorts or hobbies
___ Dating/socializing
___ Habits
___ God’s work (church, missions, etc)
___ Music and videos (CDs, MP3s, etc)

If we are honest with ourselves these simple exercises will reveal how much (or little) of our time and money are invested in seeking God and His best for us, and how much is frittered away. I remember years ago when we were doing regular missions to storm ravaged New Orleans someone said to me, “I’d like to go, but I just don’t have the money.” and yet, they had fashionable clothes, a big TV, nice car, went out to eat often, etc.

It’s all about choices, isn’t it? As you search your heart, ask yourself, “What changes do I want to make in my daily schedule and monthly budget?” Our answer always depends on how much do we love and trust the One who made us.

Choose God’s best for you today. Give Him all of you. He gives you all of Him.

 

 

Faith in adversity

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The next morning, the disciples saw that the fig tree had withered as Jesus commanded. And Jesus tells them that they need not fear. It is faithfulness that he looks for. And with faith all things are possible, though perhaps not easy.

How would you describe your faith? When you honestly search the depths of your heart, the extent of your day planner and checkbook, and your life ambitions, what does your faith look like? Is it easily crushed like a house built on sand? Or is it like a house built on a firm foundation? Does your faith hold strong in the presence of fierce adversity?

Perhaps many things are important in life, but none so much as a faith that is real, and love that continues to grow deeper through the journey. Even as Jesus faced trials in court, he did not surrender his authority. He faith kept him strong. That same faith – and authority – is our inheritance should we claim it. It is built by believing God is willing and able. . . by trusting him in all things.

Mark 11:20-33 – In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Jesus encounters the fig tree

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Have you ever said, “I just wish I knew what God wanted from me!” We say we want a clear roadmap. And yet I wonder how we would respond if we actually saw our whole path, including the pain and sorrows. Would the Palm Sunday crowd even show up if they knew what the rest of the week would bring?

It isn’t just the path that is important. Immeasurably more important is our character on the path, the fruit of the Spirit found in us. “What does God want from me?” Fruit!

In John 15, we are given the parable of the vine and branches. Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. Branches only bear fruit when they remain in the vine.

So the day after the big procession with the palm branches, Jesus sees a fig tree and went to inspect its fruit. Seeing none, he curses the tree as an illustration for his disciples. You see, true followers of Jesus are expected to bear fruit by staying connected to him, the vine. As Charles Spurgeon put it in his sermon on the subject: “The first Adam came to the fig tree for leaves, but the Second Adam looks for figs. He searches our character through and through, to see whether there is any real faith, any true love, any living hope, any joy which is the fruit of the Spirit, any patience, any self-denial, any fervour in prayer, any walking with God, any indwelling of the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus alone has the right to expect to see fruit in us and fruit is the one thing he most desires in us. He is not impressed with empty church going, mindless prayers, countless devotional readings or good-deed doing. If these are separate from an abiding spirit they may be more leafage than fruit.
And if there is no fruit in our lives, we may well expect drastic measures to follow.

God is not looking for mere words or vows but our sincerity in trusting him, loving him, depending on him and on his Spirit to produce fruit in our lives in all seasons.

In the story that follows, Jesus is enraged at the desolation of the temple. Here we again see the desire of God’s desire for us to worship in pureness and in truth and with sincere heart. Let’s stay with Jesus through the journey. And if you’ve strayed from the path, one step brings you back.

Mark 11:12-14. – The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

Palm Sunday

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Palm Sunday. Everyone loves a parade, don’t they? And they should. After all, this is triumphant Jesus, the King of Kings riding into Jerusalem. So we wave our palm branches and shout our praise, “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Can you imagine the excitement?! Don’t you wish you could be there?!

Have you ever been a part of a colossal celebration, caught up in the momentous reverie? You probably would wish it could go on and on and last forever. You’d come back everyday, wouldn’t you. Wouldn’t you?

But this celebration of the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem was short-lived. The crowds soon dissipated. Before the evening was over Jesus would go into the temple courts and assess the conditions, knowing that He would come back to address that situation later. And the days that would follow begs the question of where did all the followers go? How about you? Will you stay up with Jesus during this week of trials, devastation, and then the supernatural event that would change the future forever? Will you follow Jesus this week and not turn back? And each day, no matter what circumstances surround your life proclaim, “And still I will praise you!”

Mark 11:1-11 – As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

When God carries you

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You are probably familiar with the famous “Footprints in the Sand” poem and illustration. A young man laments at how hard his path has been. He looks in the sand and sees that sometimes there are two sets of footprints, his and God’s; other times he sees only one set of footprints and bemoans why God abandoned him in the deepest trials of his life. God responds gently, “My son, where you see only one set of footprints is where I carried you.”

Such comfort is extended in that illustration. When we are unable to carry ourselves through difficult passages in life, God picks us up and carries us in his loving and faithful arms. But what about when we are reluctant to accept his help? This cartoon might illustrate an alternative view. God says, “Where there is one set of footprints, I carried you. Where there is a long groove, I dragged you for a while.” (Go to GoLightOurWorld.org/blog if you can’t view cartoon.) Of course, God doesn’t actually drag us along. Instead He gives us free will to choose His path or our own. Choosing our own may feel like we are being dragged along. But as James says, it is our own sinful desires that drag us away.

The choice is always ours. When it is too tough to walk, too hard to carry on, we can let God carry us with His sufficient grace. Or we can try to go it alone, trusting in our own sufficiency. We can focus on our problems or focus on Jesus.

What circumstances are making you ever so weary? Jesus invites you to bring them to Him. “Come to me all of you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The basis for confidence

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We make hundreds of decisions every day, some small and some significant. All either affirm or deny our faith. When we go our own way without consulting God, we deny the need for faith and convince ourselves we know best. Certainly, a life of faith builds character that is able to make good decisions. But we never outgrow our need for God’s direction in our lives, do we? We turn to Him for both simple and complex matters. Our confidence in His faithfulness, His goodness, His perfection and grace is our confidence in life. Without it, what confidence do we have?

I remember ‘rediscovering’ Joshua 3:4 years ago when pondering which direction I should take in my life. “Then you will know the way you should go because you have not been this way before.” God doesn’t expect us to have all the answers. How could we for there are so many circumstances we have never before experienced, so many new paths we have not yet traversed. When I was first in remission from cancer, I was immediately faced with the decision of whether or not to get a stem cell transplant which involved a more aggressive chemo, more pain, and more risk, but also more ‘assurance’ that the cancer would not return. There was no way I could make a conclusive analysis of matter. Would this procedure extend my life or take it sooner? After weighing the pros and cons, it was simply a matter to bring to God. I needed someone who had been down this path before.

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

What doubts and fears are you facing that make it difficult to choose a godly path? “The Lord who goes before you” delights in revealing the best path for you. Ask Him to lead you in big and small ways. Your confidence is not misplaced in Him.

Whose life are you living?

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I suppose if a biography were written about your life, you would be the main character in the story, right? I mean, according to most all biographies written before, that would make sense. After all, it is YOUR life, right? Or is it?

In one sense, yes. You are the one making the decisions in your life: what goals and ambitions to pursue, who to pay attention to, where to invest your time, energy and talents. You are the one who works hard and saves or spends money. Who else has a say in all this?

The bible has something to say about this matter:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“You are not your own” is not a popular truth in a society that devalues all life not deemed ‘convenient’ or ‘desired.’ But it is the truth none the less. We can’t pick and choose the scripture we like. It all stands together, whether it is convenient for us or not.

A life surrendered to God belongs to God, wholly and holy, separated to Him. We are called to love the lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. It doesn’t leave much left for doing just what we want, does it? We find ourselves choosing either one side of the fence or another. At some point we come to realize there is no riding the fence.

Jeremiah 10:23 puts it this way: “I know O lord that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.”

When we ask Jesus to be the Lord and master of our life, we are surrendering our allegiance to Him alone. When we ask the Holy Spirit to direct our steps, we surrender our will to His, so that our paths may be made straight. We all know what happens when we try to direct our own lives!

But oh how subtle is the way of the mind and flesh, to slyly take over the reigns of decision-making, to try to steer the Spirit into going our way instead of the other way around. “Lord, take away this pain and suffering because you know I can serve you better when I am well.” “Lord bless me so others will see your favor on your faithful servant.” “Lord give me the desire of my heart, not yours, so that I can see your hand in my life.” Or even more subtle yet is to simply forget God’s presence in our lives except for brief interludes of prayer and worship.

Fullness in life is found when Christ lives fully in us.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Let His Story be the history of your life, beginning with today.

New Orleans Gallery

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Through our several mission trips to this post Katrina city the idea for Go Light Our World (GLOW) was born. It was here that we realized we are not just sent to build up houses but to build up the house of God, that is the people of God. Long after the house repairs have outlived their purpose, the relationships that are created and fostered among people will continue to live on as the light of Jesus shines in their lives.

The ‘New Orleans’ mission is actually based in the ministry of New Hope Alliance Church in ‘West Bank’ Gretna. It was there we met Pastor Willy Neudahl and his lovely wife, Dawn. Their hearts for reaching others with the compassion of Jesus and helping them to discover God’s best for them inspired the inception of Go Light Our World international missions. Their heart for worship and discipleship continues to inspire us to partner with them in building up the family of God.