Every person has some basis for the things he or she believes. We have a background in our lives that shapes our thoughts, and even when we see new things, we filter them through what we have learned or experienced before.
I think of that as I read the verses in today's Scripture where Jesus talks about being the Bread of Life, in John 6.
Two thoughts come into my mind as I read:
Jesus tells everyone that He is the bread of Life and that no one can receive eternal life unless he eat of this bread. The one that believes on Jesus as the Son of God is the one that feeds on this true Bread. What Jesus is saying is that there is no other way, that He is the only Door to heaven.
The other thought that I get from this passage is the role of the Spirit in the whole process. The Father uses the Spirit to draw men and women to Jesus. Drawing seems to be a gentle process, and it can be a time consuming one. Can the actual belief come quickly? Sure, but there is some background from which that belief springs from. Who can fathom the many and varied ways the Spirit of God uses to bring a person to belief?
Using the words of Jesus Himself would lead us away from any thought of universalism, and the idea that all men in all time will be together in heaven. Jesus said in Matthew's gospel that there are many that are called and few that make that choice. He also says that belief in Him would be the only door of entry. We seem to tread on dangerous ground when we don't take the words recorded in the Bible as authentic. Why else claim that this book is God's Word? God wants us to use our minds to study and to think, but we have to beware when we substitute our worldly wisdom for what He has said. When we say the Bible is a book worthy of our reverence, but pick and choose what in it we want to believe, we put ourselves on the throne and not God.
Using caution in who we believe and what we believe is the key. Two words jump out at me from this passage, even if they are not actually in the text, Be Careful.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Special and Specialer...
Yesterday should have been one of those high water marks in my Christian life. After all, it was a confirmation that God was working here, and that He had put his seal of approval on past and on future works. The fact that the church had asked me to be an elder had led to the ordination to this office at the end of both services, but at the end of the day, the thing that gnawed at me was the fact that I had not been able, or did not choose, to take the time to really sit at the feet of Jesus and hear what He had to say. I gave lip service to the idea, even looked spiritual and humble about the whole affair, but only basked in the light of earthly honor, not the real Light.
I tasted of the bread of human affirmation, but neglected Jesus calling to me and saying that He was the Bread of Life. Not that I had not done what I felt called to, because all through this process, even when I doubted that He wanted me to fulfill this role, God continued to lead me to it. So I accepted that the call to leadership in this, His church, and the laying on of hands signified that the church, and its leaders, had put its stamp of approval on a person.
But at the end of that eventful day, my thoughts turned to the fact that I had not taken enough time to even sit down and reflect on the Scripture for that day. I had been busy and some of the things were "spiritual", but they had not given me the true satisfaction that comes from personal contact with Jesus. Was I feeling a hunger for the real thing or just a guilt because I had fallen down on my plan to sit, pray, meditate and write that day, of all days?
And then this morning, I woke up pretty early with the house dark and quiet and the first thought that entered my head was that Jesus was inviting me to come and sit and taste the real Bread of life.
Yesterday was a special day , but today was "specialer".
My prayer as I end this time:
Dear God, thank You for this morning and the affirmation that I am on the right track. Thank You for the Scripture that talked of the Bread of Life. Thank You for tapping me on the shoulder early and inviting me to the table. Thank You for letting me recognize that call, and help me to live it today. Don't let me make it just another time to hang my hat and look back on, but one that will change my life for today, and for all days.
My two favorite prayers, "Thank You" and "Help".
I tasted of the bread of human affirmation, but neglected Jesus calling to me and saying that He was the Bread of Life. Not that I had not done what I felt called to, because all through this process, even when I doubted that He wanted me to fulfill this role, God continued to lead me to it. So I accepted that the call to leadership in this, His church, and the laying on of hands signified that the church, and its leaders, had put its stamp of approval on a person.
But at the end of that eventful day, my thoughts turned to the fact that I had not taken enough time to even sit down and reflect on the Scripture for that day. I had been busy and some of the things were "spiritual", but they had not given me the true satisfaction that comes from personal contact with Jesus. Was I feeling a hunger for the real thing or just a guilt because I had fallen down on my plan to sit, pray, meditate and write that day, of all days?
And then this morning, I woke up pretty early with the house dark and quiet and the first thought that entered my head was that Jesus was inviting me to come and sit and taste the real Bread of life.
Yesterday was a special day , but today was "specialer".
My prayer as I end this time:
Dear God, thank You for this morning and the affirmation that I am on the right track. Thank You for the Scripture that talked of the Bread of Life. Thank You for tapping me on the shoulder early and inviting me to the table. Thank You for letting me recognize that call, and help me to live it today. Don't let me make it just another time to hang my hat and look back on, but one that will change my life for today, and for all days.
My two favorite prayers, "Thank You" and "Help".
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Mind Working in Strange Ways
The people who had been with Jesus when He had fed them, continued in the same place, maybe hoping that He would do it again or possibly more. Now, if Jesus had fed 5,000 men and possibly several times that, in total, they would have not been able to get into boats and go across the Sea of Galilee to look for Him again. Maybe just a hard core of those stayed close by to be fed by Him again.
Regardless, a group of those bread-filled people went looking for Him when they realized that He and His disciples were gone. Jesus had gotten away form them, as He knew they would try to make Him some sort of a leader (or King) over them. The people must have felt that this was too good a deal to let slip away.
So the question comes to me, Why do I get up early to do this exercise in Scripture reading and journaling? Jesus has shown up in the past, and I look for Him again. I know my day will be better if I start out this way. I do not want it to be just an exercise, a talisman that I can do something to make my day more meaningful. I want to see Jesus, to hear Him, to feel His presence and to really know Him.
Sometimes, like this morning, it is a struggle. I know what I want, but, for some reason, Jesus does not come, as I think He should. I sit, I read, I try to pray, but nothing happens. Is my heart right? Am I selfishly seeking? Am I just like the people in the Gospel story, looking to be filled again so I can leave this time and feel satisfied? Satisfied that I can say that I have done this time here, and can now go about my day?
Perhaps this beginning is just to keep me thinking as I drive to Hoboken this morning for the Kairos meeting. I hope so, I really do hope so.
After breakfast, I drove on up the road to the meeting. On the way, I kept the radio off, just to be able to think about why I was doing certain things. Were my motives pure or was it all for self?
My thoughts came around to the next Kairos in prison and all the ones that had preceded it. I thought about all the inmates who had come on those weekends, and what my feelings were and should be concerning them. Each man that comes is an individual, with his own hurts, problems, hopes and fears. We meet them on their home ground and have a God-given responsibility to treat them as Jesus would. True, they are inmates in a prison, but they are not just a number in a system. They deserve our notice, our respect for the man and not the crime they committed. They need to know that they are worth something in God's eyes, and we will treat them that way. We know they are lonely, sometimes treated like cattle, sometimes shunned by family and friends on the outside, a voice crying in the wilderness with no one hearing.
The Kairos motto is Listen, Listen, Love Love. Really listen and really love. Nothing shows God's love for men as much as really listening to them as they speak. If they can see that we mean what we say , that we care about them as men, then they are more open to listening to God also.
Matthew 25:36 says that "I was in prison and you visited me". The people asked "when were you in prison and we visited you?", and Jesus answered, "when you have done this to the least of these, you have done it unto me".
It is not whether I say I care or not, it is whether they realize by my actions that I do.
Now, can I draw a line from the feeding of the 5,000 to an encounter in prison? It may not be a straight line, but it is there if I look hard enough. The mind is strange in its ways, sometimes.
Regardless, a group of those bread-filled people went looking for Him when they realized that He and His disciples were gone. Jesus had gotten away form them, as He knew they would try to make Him some sort of a leader (or King) over them. The people must have felt that this was too good a deal to let slip away.
So the question comes to me, Why do I get up early to do this exercise in Scripture reading and journaling? Jesus has shown up in the past, and I look for Him again. I know my day will be better if I start out this way. I do not want it to be just an exercise, a talisman that I can do something to make my day more meaningful. I want to see Jesus, to hear Him, to feel His presence and to really know Him.
Sometimes, like this morning, it is a struggle. I know what I want, but, for some reason, Jesus does not come, as I think He should. I sit, I read, I try to pray, but nothing happens. Is my heart right? Am I selfishly seeking? Am I just like the people in the Gospel story, looking to be filled again so I can leave this time and feel satisfied? Satisfied that I can say that I have done this time here, and can now go about my day?
Perhaps this beginning is just to keep me thinking as I drive to Hoboken this morning for the Kairos meeting. I hope so, I really do hope so.
After breakfast, I drove on up the road to the meeting. On the way, I kept the radio off, just to be able to think about why I was doing certain things. Were my motives pure or was it all for self?
My thoughts came around to the next Kairos in prison and all the ones that had preceded it. I thought about all the inmates who had come on those weekends, and what my feelings were and should be concerning them. Each man that comes is an individual, with his own hurts, problems, hopes and fears. We meet them on their home ground and have a God-given responsibility to treat them as Jesus would. True, they are inmates in a prison, but they are not just a number in a system. They deserve our notice, our respect for the man and not the crime they committed. They need to know that they are worth something in God's eyes, and we will treat them that way. We know they are lonely, sometimes treated like cattle, sometimes shunned by family and friends on the outside, a voice crying in the wilderness with no one hearing.
The Kairos motto is Listen, Listen, Love Love. Really listen and really love. Nothing shows God's love for men as much as really listening to them as they speak. If they can see that we mean what we say , that we care about them as men, then they are more open to listening to God also.
Matthew 25:36 says that "I was in prison and you visited me". The people asked "when were you in prison and we visited you?", and Jesus answered, "when you have done this to the least of these, you have done it unto me".
It is not whether I say I care or not, it is whether they realize by my actions that I do.
Now, can I draw a line from the feeding of the 5,000 to an encounter in prison? It may not be a straight line, but it is there if I look hard enough. The mind is strange in its ways, sometimes.
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Plan
Jesus' story picks up again in the 6th Chapter of John's Gospel. He has been healing the sick all around, and the crowds continue to follow Him, some to see what He would do next, some to know where He was going so they could bring others to Him to be healed, some because it was just the place to be right then.
Next comes the feeding of the 5,000 (only men were listed, but undoubtedly, with women and children included, there were considerably more than this). Jesus knew what He was going to do with the 5 barley loves and 2 fish, and He also knew that once the people had full bellies, they would talk about making this man their king. After all, sickness would be gone and they would be fed without doing any work. What better king could they have?
He might even be able to rid the land of the pagan Romans.
Jesus also knew that with every healing, especially those on the Sabbath, with every feeding and with every other sign and miracle, His fame would spread. As His fame spread over the land, so would the opposition gather steam, so that the religious leaders would someday have to take Him out. They could not chance losing their power over the people, and they could not invite the Romans to clamp down on what freedoms this occupying power had allowed in Israel.
Jesus had stated before that He only did what the Father told Him to do. All the healings, all the miracles, and all the signs would lead to the Cross and to the Resurrection. There was a plan in place, and, while it is fun to speculate on the meaning of individual actions on His part, He walked straight down that one road to Calvary and beyond.
I can also speculate on what individual happenings mean in the great scheme of things in my life. I cannot see how each thing fits into the overall plan of God. The only thing that I can do is to walk one step at a time, looking ahead only as far as the road is illuminated, listening to God and trusting in His goodness and His plan for me and those I love.
God help me to live that way.
Next comes the feeding of the 5,000 (only men were listed, but undoubtedly, with women and children included, there were considerably more than this). Jesus knew what He was going to do with the 5 barley loves and 2 fish, and He also knew that once the people had full bellies, they would talk about making this man their king. After all, sickness would be gone and they would be fed without doing any work. What better king could they have?
He might even be able to rid the land of the pagan Romans.
Jesus also knew that with every healing, especially those on the Sabbath, with every feeding and with every other sign and miracle, His fame would spread. As His fame spread over the land, so would the opposition gather steam, so that the religious leaders would someday have to take Him out. They could not chance losing their power over the people, and they could not invite the Romans to clamp down on what freedoms this occupying power had allowed in Israel.
Jesus had stated before that He only did what the Father told Him to do. All the healings, all the miracles, and all the signs would lead to the Cross and to the Resurrection. There was a plan in place, and, while it is fun to speculate on the meaning of individual actions on His part, He walked straight down that one road to Calvary and beyond.
I can also speculate on what individual happenings mean in the great scheme of things in my life. I cannot see how each thing fits into the overall plan of God. The only thing that I can do is to walk one step at a time, looking ahead only as far as the road is illuminated, listening to God and trusting in His goodness and His plan for me and those I love.
God help me to live that way.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Not Even Close..
The Scripture for today is John 5:30-47.
Jesus, in this passage from John, confronts the religious leaders in Israel with some facts about their unbelief in who He was and claimed to be. He tells them, that because they only seek glory from those that matter to them, from each other, they are condemned because they do not seek it from God, even though they say that they serve Him.
I have touched on this before..glory from men, because that has always been a real sticking point for me. When people around me begin saying such good things about me and putting me in places of leadership that I don't feel worthy of, or even called to assume, I get worried. When folks say, "look how God is using you", I get scared. I know my tendency to react to this last phrase is with the emphasis on me and not on God.
So I get a call last evening telling me that the ordination for new elders is to be this coming Sunday at the end of each service. My reaction to that action is to say, good, now I can begin to do what I feel God has called me to. Not because of any special merit on my part, but because God has worked through other men in the church to place this position in my keeping for now. He has also confirmed this in my prayers, so, that even as I accept the role, I do so with a sense of real humility, and a feeling of expectancy for what He will do.
The first key is God; His will, His testimony, His glory, His Kingdom.
The second is the knowledge that I am not He.... not even close.
Jesus, in this passage from John, confronts the religious leaders in Israel with some facts about their unbelief in who He was and claimed to be. He tells them, that because they only seek glory from those that matter to them, from each other, they are condemned because they do not seek it from God, even though they say that they serve Him.
I have touched on this before..glory from men, because that has always been a real sticking point for me. When people around me begin saying such good things about me and putting me in places of leadership that I don't feel worthy of, or even called to assume, I get worried. When folks say, "look how God is using you", I get scared. I know my tendency to react to this last phrase is with the emphasis on me and not on God.
So I get a call last evening telling me that the ordination for new elders is to be this coming Sunday at the end of each service. My reaction to that action is to say, good, now I can begin to do what I feel God has called me to. Not because of any special merit on my part, but because God has worked through other men in the church to place this position in my keeping for now. He has also confirmed this in my prayers, so, that even as I accept the role, I do so with a sense of real humility, and a feeling of expectancy for what He will do.
The first key is God; His will, His testimony, His glory, His Kingdom.
The second is the knowledge that I am not He.... not even close.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
It Is Late
After two days of traveling, I sit down to write this on Wednesday night. Blogging is not easy when you are on the road, and serious blogging (or blogging on serious subjects) is nigh on impossible for me. It just takes me too long to read the material, in this case a passage from the Gospels, meditate and pray on it, see how it speaks to me and then write about it. That is pretty hard to do after 10 or 12 hours in the car.
One of the main things I realize when I have a couple of days like this, is the fact that I really miss doing it. Not just the writing, but the other part that makes the writing possible.
Now I could fill up the blog with grand children pictures and funny sayings, and they would both be cute things, because the two over in Arkansas that we just visited are both photogenic and smart. But that is not my purpose here, so I will not do it but occasionally when it fits the subject, plus I do not want to make other grand parents jealous.
So, tomorrow morning, I will do my best to forge ahead, or, at least, walk a new path, one that differs from the past two days.
One of the main things I realize when I have a couple of days like this, is the fact that I really miss doing it. Not just the writing, but the other part that makes the writing possible.
Now I could fill up the blog with grand children pictures and funny sayings, and they would both be cute things, because the two over in Arkansas that we just visited are both photogenic and smart. But that is not my purpose here, so I will not do it but occasionally when it fits the subject, plus I do not want to make other grand parents jealous.
So, tomorrow morning, I will do my best to forge ahead, or, at least, walk a new path, one that differs from the past two days.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Believe and Go!
The Scripture today is from John 4 and follows the narrative of the woman at the well in Samaria. A certain official in Capernaum, having exhausted all sources of healing for his son, went to Cana to see Jesus.
Jesus knew the man as he was coming to see him about his son. He knew the situation with the illness and what the boy's family had done for him to try to make him better. Jesus also knew why the boy was sick and the reason for the story as it played out.
The man did not know the whole thing. He only knew his son was sick and was not getting better. The fever had hung on for a long time and it looked like his life would be taken from him. He had tried everything he knew, but he had heard that there was a man, now in Cana, who had healed people and performed other signs. Perhaps He could and would help his son. The man asked Jesus to come home with him and see his son, but Jesus just told him to go on home, his son would live, and the man believed Jesus.
Was there a resignation in his voice which said, "OK, you won't come, so I guess this is the best I can do. I'll go on home and just see if you are right"? He did not plead with Jesus and beg, "Please come". He just believed and went toward home. And the boy lived.
What does that story say to me this morning? I wrote down my prayer as I began this time of study and, looking back on it from this perspective, it said that although I am not worthy to sit at your feet today, please give me Your word.
Jesus says to me today, as He did to the official in the narrative, "If you believe in me, and you are willing to be led by Me, you are worthy of the position I put you in, and what I will do for you."
On my own I am not worthy of anything, but because of what Christ has done for me, and my belief in Him, in God's eyes I am. Humbly I accept that while still acknowledging my human nature, but I know that it is a struggle every day to live and act in that knowledge.
A man came up to me the other day and said he had a word that God had given him so he could give it to me. That word was worthy, and, of course, in my 'proud to be humble' way, I told him to go back and listen again. It is hard for me to accept when something like that happens.
But the man in the Scripture passage did not come to Jesus and say, "look at me, I am an official and I want you to come". No, he just believed and went home.
My prayer for today is: Jesus, I am thankful for what You did for me, and continue to do for me each day. In You I am worthy to do the things You call me to. Help me to accept this, but realize that it is by Your strength that I can do them correctly. Help me not to shirk away, and say I cannot do it, but trust that You can, and will, be there for me during everything.
Help me to walk that fine line between man's praise and Yours.
Believe and go!
Jesus knew the man as he was coming to see him about his son. He knew the situation with the illness and what the boy's family had done for him to try to make him better. Jesus also knew why the boy was sick and the reason for the story as it played out.
The man did not know the whole thing. He only knew his son was sick and was not getting better. The fever had hung on for a long time and it looked like his life would be taken from him. He had tried everything he knew, but he had heard that there was a man, now in Cana, who had healed people and performed other signs. Perhaps He could and would help his son. The man asked Jesus to come home with him and see his son, but Jesus just told him to go on home, his son would live, and the man believed Jesus.
Was there a resignation in his voice which said, "OK, you won't come, so I guess this is the best I can do. I'll go on home and just see if you are right"? He did not plead with Jesus and beg, "Please come". He just believed and went toward home. And the boy lived.
What does that story say to me this morning? I wrote down my prayer as I began this time of study and, looking back on it from this perspective, it said that although I am not worthy to sit at your feet today, please give me Your word.
Jesus says to me today, as He did to the official in the narrative, "If you believe in me, and you are willing to be led by Me, you are worthy of the position I put you in, and what I will do for you."
On my own I am not worthy of anything, but because of what Christ has done for me, and my belief in Him, in God's eyes I am. Humbly I accept that while still acknowledging my human nature, but I know that it is a struggle every day to live and act in that knowledge.
A man came up to me the other day and said he had a word that God had given him so he could give it to me. That word was worthy, and, of course, in my 'proud to be humble' way, I told him to go back and listen again. It is hard for me to accept when something like that happens.
But the man in the Scripture passage did not come to Jesus and say, "look at me, I am an official and I want you to come". No, he just believed and went home.
My prayer for today is: Jesus, I am thankful for what You did for me, and continue to do for me each day. In You I am worthy to do the things You call me to. Help me to accept this, but realize that it is by Your strength that I can do them correctly. Help me not to shirk away, and say I cannot do it, but trust that You can, and will, be there for me during everything.
Help me to walk that fine line between man's praise and Yours.
Believe and go!
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