The Temptation to Give Them What They Want  
                                                                         October 8, 2012

The tried and true “wisdom” of the ages has been “just given them what they want and they’ll follow you”.   At least it works for a while.  Karl Marx said that “religion is the opiate of the people”.   Give them heaven and they’ll put up with whatever we do to them now.  FDR and Lyndon Johnson brought  us social reform which sounds good to those who get it (and there are a lot of us!  Including me who  got federal student loan help).  Rack up enough social programs, give enough people what they want  and you’ve “bought” future elections!  Works for a while at least.  But only for a while. The piper needs paid.       

Jesus refused to manipulate an outcome.  He knew miracles lasted only so long.  So, instead of "bringing down ten thousand angels” to rescue him from the cross, he lived only “by every word that comes from the mouth of God”.  He knew his Father’s will for him and he accepted it.  He made no bargains with the devil.  Instead he resisted.  It cost him his life, yet it gained him his life.        

Every day, as above,  there are buttons you can push that promise to get you what you want quickly and easily. If you just put your trust in some lying idol.

There’s no way around it.  In order to gain our lives we must lose them.   We must lose whatever the devil, the “angel of light” who looks so good at first, offers.  We grieve at the loss, but we rejoice at the reward of the life lived in the hands of God.        

Which buttons are you tempted to push today?  What magic can you pull off to get what you want?   Will you refuse the shortcut?  Will you give in to the white lies, the corner cutting and manipulations which promise more than they can deliver?

One more thing   Notice that the Holy Spirit “drove”  (see Mark 1) Jesus to where he was tempted.  You can expect the same.  And:  Jesus was tired and weak.  When you’re tired and weak, make sure you’re “prayed up” strong enough to resist the devil.   If you’re strong enough to persevere in resisting him, then he will flee. 

 

"Lord, deliver me from the need to please others in order to win whatever it is I want to win.  Lord, help me to live to please you.   Although it may cost me in the short run, it will benefit not only me, but also those around me in the long run. Amen”

Jesus' Defining Moment and Ours
October 5, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was
opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him."
Matthew 3:16 (NIV)

Jesus’ cousin, John “the baptizer”, son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, was challenging anyone who listened to repent, get baptized by immersion as sign of their cleansing and decision to live a new life. Somehow he knew that his job was to get people ready for the arrival of the Messiah whom John knew (at least to some degree) was Jesus. John didn’t want to do it, but since Jesus insisted, he submerged Jesus in the Jordan and as Jesus re-emerged from the water something extraordinary happened. Jesus experienced the unequivocal and immersing love of his Father in Heaven. It was a  baptism not of water, but of the Holy Spirit. This baptism, the filling of a person with God’s spirit is a reality for those who have chosen to believe and entrust their lives to the Leadership of Jesus.
   
There is not believer who has not been given and empowered with all of the Holy Spirit.

If this was necessary for Jesus, how much more necessary must it be for us? If Jesus needed the Spirit in order to do the Father’s will, how much more we?

This “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is sometimes an ecstatic experience, sometimes accompanied by praying “in tongues”. For others there is no physical or emotional experience whatsoever, nor need there be. Yes, the Holy Spirit is comforter, guide, the one who comes alongside, but more than that, much more than that, the Holy Spirit is given to us to empower us to obey the Lord and to carry out the mission on earth for which we have been created. The believer’s mission on earth is not to seek more of the Holy Spirit. Every believer has all of the Holy Spirit there is to have. Instead the believer’s mission is to help Jesus usher in the Kingdom of God in the power of the Spirit.

But this one thing must not be missed. The foundation of it all is the Father’s love. The Father says to you (while you are yet an unrepentant sinner Rom. 5:6-10), “you are my child, in you I am well pleased”. The Father’s love and the empowerment of the Spirit are inextricable.

Do you believe the Father loves you unconditionally, regardless of how good you are? Believing this one thing sets you up for a life of freedom, power in the Spirit and for a life of purpose. Disbelieving  this one thing is crippling. More than anything else, Jesus said, “believe”.

“Lord, it is almost impossible to imagine you saying to me 'you are my daughter/son. In you I am well pleased'. Yet you do. Unbelievable. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Amen”

John's Sobering Confrontation with Pretenders
October 3, 2012

“When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John
exploded:

"Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a  little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? ⁸ It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. ⁹ What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."

The crowd asked him, "Then what are we supposed to do?" ¹¹ "If you have two coats, give one away," he said. "Do the same with your food." ¹² Tax men also came to be baptized and said, "Teacher, what should we do?" ¹³ He told them, "No more extortion—collect only what is required by law." ¹⁴ Soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "No shakedowns, no blackmail—and be content with your rations." Luke 3:7-14 (MSG)

Unfortunately it is possible to make yourself look better than you really are. It’s especially possible to look and act religious, even spiritual while at the same to just go through the motions.

This Sunday Communion will be served. In Chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians Paul pulls a “John the Baptist” and tells the Corinthians that if they are taking the things of God lightly, that they are taking God for granted and simply ignoring the holy life for which Christ died and to which they are called. Paul “calls them out”, implies they are pretenders and tells them if they don’t change that taking communion with that kind of dismissive attitude toward God can even kill them.

Before John baptizes Jesus he gives some examples of what repentance looks like. . . take what you don’t need and give it someone who does. Don’t cheat or manipulate your world to get what you want. Stop living for yourself.

It strikes me that these words apply to every single one of us. We are the richest of the rich in the world. It’s not my religious ritual the counts, rather it is the life of the Spirit within me that motivates my faith practices out of which a life that honors God emerges.

“Lord, It’s awful and sickening feeling to wonder if I could be counted among Johns “brood of  snakes”. Yet, at least I am aware enough of You and your word that I’m wondering. Thank you for John’s wake up call. Thank you for your generous and extravagant love. I ask you to give me the  same heart for others that you have for me. Amen”

Preparation Required

October 1, 2012

 

“John. . . . preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins . . . 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God's salvation."            Luke 3:3-6 NIV      

       

John was baptizing those who repented from their sins which means that those coming to him were changing their minds about how they were living and were now choosing to live God’s way.    The Greek word for baptism means to immerse, which symbolizes being cleansed.           

Take note of the words, “make straight paths for him”.  Our change of heart opens ourselves to God.   It is then that God enters and does the work of salvation which he had begun on the cross.          

John is making it clear that neither repentance, nor the act of baptism, “saves” anyone.   Your confession of sin and decision to live differently  do not “convince” God to accept and save you, rather they open the door of your life so that God can enter and begin his saving work within you.           

 

Therefore repentance is not a one-time saving event, rather it is a practice Christians do well to engage in each day.    When I review my day, get honest about how I lived it or am about to live it, admit my failures and sins, ask forgiveness, then ask God’s help in living now in a godly way, I am then opening myself once again to God’s entering me and going to work to change me into his image.  

       

Do you practice a daily review of your life before God?  Hard soil doesn’t receive the rain, prepared soil receives the rain, lets it do it’s nourishing work which leads to a bountiful harvest.  

       

Prayer

 

Lord, thank you for the practice of confession and repentance.  It’s beautiful to be able to get right with you and others quickly.   It’s even more beautiful that you never give up on me.   Thank you for your grace and forgiveness.      Amen”

Jesus' Parents Finally Find Him

“His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”  

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant. 
 

Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart."                                           Luke 2:48-51  
   

Reflect        

Was Jesus being disrespectful to his parents?   Perhaps in his immaturity he, like many 12 year olds, simply lost track of his responsibility to his family and, when challenged, his response to his mother was less than polite.   Is this an instance of a 12 year learning how to grow up relative to how to treat people?   In any case Luke notes with clarity that Jesus negotiated his remaining adolescence with respectful obedience to his parents.  

And it is so wonderful how Luke notes (for a second time) how Mary treasured her memories of her son
. 

Prayer  

“Lord, even Jesus’ family had their challenges.   Thank you for this insight into the real and human life that You came to live on earth among us.   Amen”

My 12 Year Old is Missing!

“Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him. . . ."               Luke 2:41-45 
    

Reflect

Joseph and Mary had no 911 to call.   Jesus was simply missing for days.   His parents must have been panicked.  Jesus was entering his teen years and, like all teens, was beginning to feel an inborn need to pursue a life beyond the confines of his parents’ boundaries.    

I don’t see any sin here, however we may be seeing  a fully human Jesus being careless about his parents feelings.   Yet the calling he felt on his life was not just a direction, it was a passion that needed to be balanced with respect for those to whom he was accountable.    

Perhaps there’s a lesson there for each of us.

Prayer  

“Lord, please grow within me the kind of passion for You which others sense through my genuine attentiveness to and respect for them. Amen”

Jesus' Teen Years

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."    Luke 2:52 (NIV)     

Reflect

Do you notice the differences between this summary statement of Jesus’ teen years and Luke’s summary statement of Jesus’ preteen years (yesterday Luke 2:40)

Luke now uses the word “stature” and writes of Jesus growing in favor not only with God but also with other people.

Stature includes the element of respect.   He was respected by other teens and adults.  He had a certain “stature” of character and virtue in his community.  Is this not a worthy goal toward which any parent would want to parent his or her teen?

He was also liked by other people.  It’s one thing to be respected.   It’s another to be liked.  Of course, no one is liked by everyone, but being likeable is a really good place to start, especially when you know that your life path is going make waves.

Prayer

“Lord, today I seek to live in such a way that my life will communicate to others a deep respect for You.   At the same time I will seek to be accessible to others, not first to be likable, rather to be the kind of person who easily likes others.  Amen”