Don't let go of what gives you value.
Matthew 5:13 13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
Mark 9:50 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
Luke 14:34-35 34 "Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
Salt, in the first century, was often made up of what we call salt and impurities. It was possible for the actual salt to leach out of the impurities and leave nothing but the impurities behind. What you would have left looked like salt, but wasn't. And it didn't have any of the properties of salt.
We can spend all our lives figuring out the right rules to keep and keeping them. We can spend all our lives figuring out the correct theology to believe and believing it. We can spend all our lives making a list of the right good works to do and doing them. We can look like salt and not be salt.
Salt represents what is at our core. Not what we do or don't do. Not what we believe or don't believe. But what goes on in our hearts - our relationship with God.
Be salty.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
The persecuted (Matt 5:10)
Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Wait... the last blessing (and the last post) talked about peacemaking. And then here in the very next sentence, Jesus is talking about persecution? How did we get from here to there? If we are out making peace, then aren't we pretty safe from persecution?
Right out of seminary, a church in North Carolina where generations of my family comes from invited me to come and be their pastor. It was a well funded - fairly large church - especially for a rural area where most people earned their living from farming. As part of the interview process, I spoke to the interim pastor. She said to me, there is something you need to know about this congregation... "everyone is involved in the tobacco industry in one respect or another." I thought about that for a minute. What was she telling me? My grandmother worked all of her life inspecting cigarettes in a factory. After using her money to care for her family, she put some away by buying stock in that same company. Over the years, that stock became worth quite a lot of money. Likewise, my father worked summers in the same factory rolling cigarettes to earn money for college. Yet, neither of them smoked which is probably why I had never considered this predicament before. But how do you pastor a congregation whose wealth is built upon a product that is known to bring harm to those who use it? Could this possibly be the way of Jesus?
I asked the interim just that question. She said that their previous pastor's first inclination had been to ignore it and keep the peace. But then after years of being their pastor, he realized that peacemakers following in the way of Jesus would be required to name the problem and offer solutions - not ignore it. So he did. Can you imagine the persecution that followed? This church had been built off of money from tobacco and now their pastor was suggesting to them that it was time to plant a new crop that brought wholeness to people and not harm. You can only imagine how that worked out for him - and it explained why they were currently without a pastor.
Peacemaking - working for wholeness (Shalom) for all people - is difficult business. It often means naming a wrong and leading others to a better way - a way that will bring wholeness and not harm. Peacemakers are more often persecuted than not. Jesus says to work for peace anyway.
Are you keeping the peace for your sake or for the kingdom's sake? Can you name the broken places out of love for others and offer a better way? Can you love those who are persecuting as much as those who are being persecuted? Are you willing to be persecuted for the sake of real shalom - wholeness - peace?
This is one of the uncomfortable places that Jesus often takes his followers.
Luke 6:22-23 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
Wait... the last blessing (and the last post) talked about peacemaking. And then here in the very next sentence, Jesus is talking about persecution? How did we get from here to there? If we are out making peace, then aren't we pretty safe from persecution?
Right out of seminary, a church in North Carolina where generations of my family comes from invited me to come and be their pastor. It was a well funded - fairly large church - especially for a rural area where most people earned their living from farming. As part of the interview process, I spoke to the interim pastor. She said to me, there is something you need to know about this congregation... "everyone is involved in the tobacco industry in one respect or another." I thought about that for a minute. What was she telling me? My grandmother worked all of her life inspecting cigarettes in a factory. After using her money to care for her family, she put some away by buying stock in that same company. Over the years, that stock became worth quite a lot of money. Likewise, my father worked summers in the same factory rolling cigarettes to earn money for college. Yet, neither of them smoked which is probably why I had never considered this predicament before. But how do you pastor a congregation whose wealth is built upon a product that is known to bring harm to those who use it? Could this possibly be the way of Jesus?
I asked the interim just that question. She said that their previous pastor's first inclination had been to ignore it and keep the peace. But then after years of being their pastor, he realized that peacemakers following in the way of Jesus would be required to name the problem and offer solutions - not ignore it. So he did. Can you imagine the persecution that followed? This church had been built off of money from tobacco and now their pastor was suggesting to them that it was time to plant a new crop that brought wholeness to people and not harm. You can only imagine how that worked out for him - and it explained why they were currently without a pastor.
Peacemaking - working for wholeness (Shalom) for all people - is difficult business. It often means naming a wrong and leading others to a better way - a way that will bring wholeness and not harm. Peacemakers are more often persecuted than not. Jesus says to work for peace anyway.
Are you keeping the peace for your sake or for the kingdom's sake? Can you name the broken places out of love for others and offer a better way? Can you love those who are persecuting as much as those who are being persecuted? Are you willing to be persecuted for the sake of real shalom - wholeness - peace?
This is one of the uncomfortable places that Jesus often takes his followers.
Luke 6:22-23 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
Friday, May 27, 2011
The peacemakers (Matt 5:9)
Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Don't confuse this blessing to say, "Blessed are the peaceful." Jesus is not talking about people who keep to themselves and avoid conflict. He is talking about those who take on the hard job of making peace. And Jesus is only doing and teaching what the Old Testament has already taught: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns" (Isaiah 52:7).
Peace making is working to enable the transformation of brokenness into Shalom - wholeness - peace. Peace making means replacing the living out of our brokenness with the good news and announcing salvation. It is not appeasement. It is not compromise. It is declaring that "God reigns!" It is working for the wholeness of all peoples.
Where can you make peace today? Where can you announce that there is a way to live where Jesus heals brokenness and makes all things new? Where can God reign today that he has never been invited to reign before? People who take this assignment on... who look for broken places to bring God's message... they will be called the children of God.
Don't confuse this blessing to say, "Blessed are the peaceful." Jesus is not talking about people who keep to themselves and avoid conflict. He is talking about those who take on the hard job of making peace. And Jesus is only doing and teaching what the Old Testament has already taught: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns" (Isaiah 52:7).
Peace making is working to enable the transformation of brokenness into Shalom - wholeness - peace. Peace making means replacing the living out of our brokenness with the good news and announcing salvation. It is not appeasement. It is not compromise. It is declaring that "God reigns!" It is working for the wholeness of all peoples.
Where can you make peace today? Where can you announce that there is a way to live where Jesus heals brokenness and makes all things new? Where can God reign today that he has never been invited to reign before? People who take this assignment on... who look for broken places to bring God's message... they will be called the children of God.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The pure in heart (Matt 5:8)
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
I have a girlfriend who is a pastor. She is very effective in her work... has built new churches, has pastored a congregation of thousands, has led presbytery committees that have made a significant difference in the world, etc. I started thinking about why she is so successful - and I have come to believe that it is because she has laser sharp focus on God's mission. She is focused on the mission of God and not any number of other things that could distract her. She doesn't worry about being liked (my big flaw) - or about pressures placed on her by others that have nothing to do with God's vision - or about the worrisome details of how impossible things are going to get accomplished. Instead she has a God given vision and she stays 100% focused on it. She has faith that God has both given her a vision and will give her the power to do his work - so she doesn't waste time worrying over it. In all the years I have known her, I have never seen her worried. When things don't go as planned, she doesn't see that as a problem, but as a opportunity to obtain the vision in a new way - a way previously unplanned. She stays focused on the goal no matter what. And equips her congregation to be focused on the goal.
This is purity in heart - focused on one goal - God's goal. What vision has God given you? How focused are you on that vision? What things distract you? Be pure of heart!
I have a girlfriend who is a pastor. She is very effective in her work... has built new churches, has pastored a congregation of thousands, has led presbytery committees that have made a significant difference in the world, etc. I started thinking about why she is so successful - and I have come to believe that it is because she has laser sharp focus on God's mission. She is focused on the mission of God and not any number of other things that could distract her. She doesn't worry about being liked (my big flaw) - or about pressures placed on her by others that have nothing to do with God's vision - or about the worrisome details of how impossible things are going to get accomplished. Instead she has a God given vision and she stays 100% focused on it. She has faith that God has both given her a vision and will give her the power to do his work - so she doesn't waste time worrying over it. In all the years I have known her, I have never seen her worried. When things don't go as planned, she doesn't see that as a problem, but as a opportunity to obtain the vision in a new way - a way previously unplanned. She stays focused on the goal no matter what. And equips her congregation to be focused on the goal.
This is purity in heart - focused on one goal - God's goal. What vision has God given you? How focused are you on that vision? What things distract you? Be pure of heart!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The merciful (Matthew 5:7)
Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."
Are you merciful? There are two parts to being merciful. On one hand, mercy means offering forgiveness to those who have wronged you. On the other hand, mercy means offering tangible compassion to those in need - whether they deserve it or not.
Who needs your forgiveness or compassion? Who needs to know about God's forgiveness and compassion? Offer mercy!
Are you merciful? There are two parts to being merciful. On one hand, mercy means offering forgiveness to those who have wronged you. On the other hand, mercy means offering tangible compassion to those in need - whether they deserve it or not.
Who needs your forgiveness or compassion? Who needs to know about God's forgiveness and compassion? Offer mercy!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Those who weep (Luke 6:21)
Luke 6:21 "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Once, when I was going through a difficult season, God positioned a special person in my life - someone I could lean on and trust. Then through the circumstances of life, we were separated. In the separation, there was great sorrow for me. It left such a hole in my life, that all I could think is that I wish there had been more time for laughter. Laughter had not come easy during this difficult time we had encountered together, but there had been enough laughter to know I wanted more! Lots more! In fact, I craved more. So it gives me hope to read that in Jesus' kingdom there will be laughter! I love that God values laughter! And I look forward to the day when I get to laugh with this special person again.
What Jesus is promising is that the norm in his kingdom is laughter. Laughter that is possible because he has made all the broken things right - fixed all the broken stuff that separates and spoils. Possible because we can let down our guard and expose our best selves - possible because good stuff fills us up and runs over.
But the promise of future laughter can be so hard to hear when sorrow overwhelms us. When we are really suffering, we often just want the present situation fixed - we aren't at a place where we can look ahead to a time when things are joyful. I think of Job mourning the death of his family members. At a time like that, being promised laughter some other time, might not cut it. I doubt it made a very big dent in his sorrow as he initially ached for the people he loved. But often as we begin to heal from grief, we discover the need and desire for laughter - it helps us let go of the sorrow. This kind of laughter means we have let go of our burdens if even only for a minute and felt joy. This kind of laughter shared with another is intimate - it means letting down our guard to reveal the best side of ourselves.
"Your kingdom come - your will be done" might be (loosely and simplistically) translated "bring on the laughter!" Celebrate the kingdom of God today by laughing!!
Once, when I was going through a difficult season, God positioned a special person in my life - someone I could lean on and trust. Then through the circumstances of life, we were separated. In the separation, there was great sorrow for me. It left such a hole in my life, that all I could think is that I wish there had been more time for laughter. Laughter had not come easy during this difficult time we had encountered together, but there had been enough laughter to know I wanted more! Lots more! In fact, I craved more. So it gives me hope to read that in Jesus' kingdom there will be laughter! I love that God values laughter! And I look forward to the day when I get to laugh with this special person again.
What Jesus is promising is that the norm in his kingdom is laughter. Laughter that is possible because he has made all the broken things right - fixed all the broken stuff that separates and spoils. Possible because we can let down our guard and expose our best selves - possible because good stuff fills us up and runs over.
But the promise of future laughter can be so hard to hear when sorrow overwhelms us. When we are really suffering, we often just want the present situation fixed - we aren't at a place where we can look ahead to a time when things are joyful. I think of Job mourning the death of his family members. At a time like that, being promised laughter some other time, might not cut it. I doubt it made a very big dent in his sorrow as he initially ached for the people he loved. But often as we begin to heal from grief, we discover the need and desire for laughter - it helps us let go of the sorrow. This kind of laughter means we have let go of our burdens if even only for a minute and felt joy. This kind of laughter shared with another is intimate - it means letting down our guard to reveal the best side of ourselves.
"Your kingdom come - your will be done" might be (loosely and simplistically) translated "bring on the laughter!" Celebrate the kingdom of God today by laughing!!
Monday, May 23, 2011
The hungry and thirsty (Matt 5:6)
Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Luke 6:21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
The desire to be righteous encompasses all kinds of things... the desire to for living in personal integrity, the desire for justice in the world, the desire to be in right relationships with God and others.
By looking at other things that Jesus said during his ministry, we get a glimpse of how this hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled in God's Kingdom. In John 6, Jesus described himself as food: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." In John 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life."
Who describes themselves as food and water? Strange! Yet, it is through Jesus - that the desire for righteousness is filled. Through his death and resurrection where we are forgiven and cleansed. And then given the power of the Holy Spirit to follow in his way.
So how does this affect our lives today? For one thing, we should crave being right with God and others! Therefore we should seek it. For another, while we may see glimpses of righteousness in this world, we also see a great void of righteousness. And yet, we have hope that through Jesus, in his kingdom, one day righteousness will be a reality.
So with courage and hope, we seek to live in right relationship with God and others.
Luke 6:21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
The desire to be righteous encompasses all kinds of things... the desire to for living in personal integrity, the desire for justice in the world, the desire to be in right relationships with God and others.
By looking at other things that Jesus said during his ministry, we get a glimpse of how this hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled in God's Kingdom. In John 6, Jesus described himself as food: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." In John 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life."
Who describes themselves as food and water? Strange! Yet, it is through Jesus - that the desire for righteousness is filled. Through his death and resurrection where we are forgiven and cleansed. And then given the power of the Holy Spirit to follow in his way.
So how does this affect our lives today? For one thing, we should crave being right with God and others! Therefore we should seek it. For another, while we may see glimpses of righteousness in this world, we also see a great void of righteousness. And yet, we have hope that through Jesus, in his kingdom, one day righteousness will be a reality.
So with courage and hope, we seek to live in right relationship with God and others.
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Strong Gentle People (Matt 5:5)
Matthew 5:5 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Many years ago, I saw a picture that had been taken in Norway of a big broad-shouldered man in his mid-forties holding his newborn child in his hands. The man's body overwhelmed the tiny helpless baby. His hands - like his arms - were muscular and strong - a force to be reckoned with. The man had the power to crush the child with no effort at all and yet, the look in his eyes left no doubt that the child was safer in this man's arms than anywhere else on earth. I don't know who this man was, but I instantly fell in love with him! And this man became the picture in my mind of someone who is meek: powerful, but gentle.
“Meek” is the Greek word "praus." It brings to mind the modern word "prowess" which we often used to describe a lion. It denotes the strength of a lion that has been brought under control. It was used in the first century to describe a wild horse tamed to the bridle. The Norwegian man in the picture - he was no less strong when he held his baby than when he led the teams of big burly firece men on the dangerous oil rigs he managed. His strength was gentle and under control.
On the other hand, one time I listened politely to a mother proudly describe her grown son as meek. But I knew the man. He was weak, not meek. I had watched him cower as his half-crazy wife pushed him around and created havoc in their lives and in the lives of others. He couldn't function if he didn't have a woman in his life telling him what to do. His wife had just taken over where his mother had left off. There is a huge difference between being weak and meek! Her son had no internal strength whatsoever. He was pushed here and there at his wife's whims. He and meek were worlds apart.
Jesus taught that the meek - those whose strength is under control - those with gentle strength will inherit the earth.
Is your strength gentle? Is your power - like the Norwegian man's - tender? Do your arms show muscles while your eyes show love?
The strong gentle people will inherit the earth. Be strong, but gentle.
Many years ago, I saw a picture that had been taken in Norway of a big broad-shouldered man in his mid-forties holding his newborn child in his hands. The man's body overwhelmed the tiny helpless baby. His hands - like his arms - were muscular and strong - a force to be reckoned with. The man had the power to crush the child with no effort at all and yet, the look in his eyes left no doubt that the child was safer in this man's arms than anywhere else on earth. I don't know who this man was, but I instantly fell in love with him! And this man became the picture in my mind of someone who is meek: powerful, but gentle.
“Meek” is the Greek word "praus." It brings to mind the modern word "prowess" which we often used to describe a lion. It denotes the strength of a lion that has been brought under control. It was used in the first century to describe a wild horse tamed to the bridle. The Norwegian man in the picture - he was no less strong when he held his baby than when he led the teams of big burly firece men on the dangerous oil rigs he managed. His strength was gentle and under control.
On the other hand, one time I listened politely to a mother proudly describe her grown son as meek. But I knew the man. He was weak, not meek. I had watched him cower as his half-crazy wife pushed him around and created havoc in their lives and in the lives of others. He couldn't function if he didn't have a woman in his life telling him what to do. His wife had just taken over where his mother had left off. There is a huge difference between being weak and meek! Her son had no internal strength whatsoever. He was pushed here and there at his wife's whims. He and meek were worlds apart.
Jesus taught that the meek - those whose strength is under control - those with gentle strength will inherit the earth.
Is your strength gentle? Is your power - like the Norwegian man's - tender? Do your arms show muscles while your eyes show love?
The strong gentle people will inherit the earth. Be strong, but gentle.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Those in mourning (Matt 5:4)
Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Right after remembering the poor, Jesus remembers those who are experiencing sorrow. He leaves it wide open as to what kind of sorrow... so we can assume that this statement encompasses every kind of grief imaginable. And one thing is clear, Jesus hurts when we hurt. Remember how he cried when he saw the sorrow on Mary's face after her brother Lazarus died?
There is another side to this coin too... when we follow Jesus, our hearts will break for the things that Jesus' heart breaks over. We will have sorrow simply because we follow Jesus into places where people need help. But in his kingdom, we will also find comfort. Peace that passes understanding. And even more so... we will comfort others.
Whenever God blesses us, he expects us to share that blessing with others. So if you have been comforted - and Jesus will send comfort to all of us if we let him - it is your responsibility to offer comfort to others - thus spreading the goodness of the kingdom of God. Who needs comfort today? Offer it.
My friend told me a story about his wife. His mother went out of her way to be abusive to his wife. This went on for ten or fifteen years when one day his father died. He said his wife put away all those years of hurt and comforted his mother. He said it was a profound moment when his wife stepped off the elevator at the hospital and hugged his mother. She didn't deserve it. But it didn't matter. His wife was being the hands and feet of Jesus offering comfort to someone who didn't deserve it. We are most like Christ when we offer his blessings to others who don't deserve it.
Be like Jesus today!
Right after remembering the poor, Jesus remembers those who are experiencing sorrow. He leaves it wide open as to what kind of sorrow... so we can assume that this statement encompasses every kind of grief imaginable. And one thing is clear, Jesus hurts when we hurt. Remember how he cried when he saw the sorrow on Mary's face after her brother Lazarus died?
There is another side to this coin too... when we follow Jesus, our hearts will break for the things that Jesus' heart breaks over. We will have sorrow simply because we follow Jesus into places where people need help. But in his kingdom, we will also find comfort. Peace that passes understanding. And even more so... we will comfort others.
Whenever God blesses us, he expects us to share that blessing with others. So if you have been comforted - and Jesus will send comfort to all of us if we let him - it is your responsibility to offer comfort to others - thus spreading the goodness of the kingdom of God. Who needs comfort today? Offer it.
My friend told me a story about his wife. His mother went out of her way to be abusive to his wife. This went on for ten or fifteen years when one day his father died. He said his wife put away all those years of hurt and comforted his mother. He said it was a profound moment when his wife stepped off the elevator at the hospital and hugged his mother. She didn't deserve it. But it didn't matter. His wife was being the hands and feet of Jesus offering comfort to someone who didn't deserve it. We are most like Christ when we offer his blessings to others who don't deserve it.
Be like Jesus today!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The poor (Matt 5:3)
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 6:20 "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes how his community of believers will live - what their attitudes and actions will be. He starts by raising the status of the poor - those poor in spirit (in Matthew) and those just plain poor (in Luke) - to members of his kingdom.
The poor were looked down on - still are today. We tend to believe that the reason they are poor is that they have done something wrong and God is punishing them. We see them as a burden to society. We leave them behind as we fend for our needs and luxuries. But Jesus says - they belong to his kingdom. They are full members. It is for them!
Followers of Jesus are called to live with this attitude. Not one that condemns or judges the spiritually or physically poor, but one that blesses the poor. We work for justice, offer compassion. We offer the good news that the way of Jesus overcomes all kinds of poverty. And we recognize that we are each poor in some way. We live in gratitude that Jesus offers us a new way of living - one where all kinds of poverty is overcome!
Do you recognize your own poverty? Do you recognize that Jesus overcomes it by teaching us to live in his abundance? Do you bless the poor by the way you live?
Luke 6:20 "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes how his community of believers will live - what their attitudes and actions will be. He starts by raising the status of the poor - those poor in spirit (in Matthew) and those just plain poor (in Luke) - to members of his kingdom.
The poor were looked down on - still are today. We tend to believe that the reason they are poor is that they have done something wrong and God is punishing them. We see them as a burden to society. We leave them behind as we fend for our needs and luxuries. But Jesus says - they belong to his kingdom. They are full members. It is for them!
Followers of Jesus are called to live with this attitude. Not one that condemns or judges the spiritually or physically poor, but one that blesses the poor. We work for justice, offer compassion. We offer the good news that the way of Jesus overcomes all kinds of poverty. And we recognize that we are each poor in some way. We live in gratitude that Jesus offers us a new way of living - one where all kinds of poverty is overcome!
Do you recognize your own poverty? Do you recognize that Jesus overcomes it by teaching us to live in his abundance? Do you bless the poor by the way you live?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Creating a space to talk (Luke 6:17-19)
In the scripture today, we are told what Jesus has been doing to prepare to preach his most famous sermon, "The Sermon on the Mount." He doesn't seem to have spent any time perfecting a manuscript. Instead he has spent time earning the trust of the people. He shows compassion, heals, and casts out demons. So when Jesus speaks, people are ready to hear what he has to say.
Our words are probably most effective when they are preceded by letting people get to know us. And that takes time.
Recently we were walking our Great Dane. A little boy - no more than 7 or 8 came running up to pet her. She is fiercely protective of me so she leaned against me and growled at him. My husband said, "I am sorry, she isn't friendly." The boy was stunned, but not the least bit afraid. He said, "What is going on with that?" It made me wonder if his parents were psychologists or something. Before I could say anything, he said, "Oh... you have to spend some time with her so she feels safe and then she will be your forever friend." Again, before I could say anything, he ran back to play with his sisters. Odd little kid, but he was right. Our Great Dane isn't going to trust you until she gets to know you.
Jesus knew this about us too and so he started his ministry with very little teaching and mostly demonstrating his love and power to heal and cast out demons. So... perhaps we need to be willing to spend a lot of time up front showing the world that we authentically love them before what we say has much meaning.
Luke 6:17-19 17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Matthew 4:24 - 5:2 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them...
Mark 3:7-13 7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8 hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9 He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10 for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. 13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.
Matthew 4:24 - 5:2 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them...
Mark 3:7-13 7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8 hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9 He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10 for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. 13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Purpose of Discipleship (Mark 3:14-15)
Matthew and Mark elaborate on what Jesus appointed his disciples to do:
Matthew 10:1 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.
Mark 3:14-15 14 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, 15 and to have authority to cast out demons.
The disciple's purpose was to:
• have authority over unclean spirits and cast them out
• to cure every disease and sickness
• to be with Jesus
• to proclaim Jesus' message
How is that for a job description? Sobering. How well would your performance evaltuaion go? Did you know we have this authority and directive too? What if we believed it and took it seriously?
Matthew 10:1 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.
Mark 3:14-15 14 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, 15 and to have authority to cast out demons.
The disciple's purpose was to:
• have authority over unclean spirits and cast them out
• to cure every disease and sickness
• to be with Jesus
• to proclaim Jesus' message
How is that for a job description? Sobering. How well would your performance evaltuaion go? Did you know we have this authority and directive too? What if we believed it and took it seriously?
Friday, May 6, 2011
Jesus is praying for us (Luke 6:12-16)
Dr. Luke is unique in his account of Jesus' appointing of the disciples in that he tells us what Jesus did in preparation:
Luke 6:12-13 12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them...
Jesus spends the night talking with the rest of the trinity before he makes this incredibly important announcement of who would be his closest students and helpers. And he is God. How many important decisions do we make without even speaking to God? But Jesus prays all night.
He knew that these men would be excited to take the job. They didn't understand where it would lead - the pain and suffering they would endure - or how they would be killed in action. He knew each one's weaknesses and the stuff they would have to overcome. He knew what they would be giving up at home to travel with him. I am sure his time was spent praying for each one of them and their particular struggles and needs. In fact, scripture (Hebrews 7:25) tells us that Jesus is praying for us today - just as he prayed for the disciples then. He sits next to God - asking God for the things we need to serve him and to be whole.
How is Jesus praying for you today?
Luke 6:12-13 12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them...
Jesus spends the night talking with the rest of the trinity before he makes this incredibly important announcement of who would be his closest students and helpers. And he is God. How many important decisions do we make without even speaking to God? But Jesus prays all night.
He knew that these men would be excited to take the job. They didn't understand where it would lead - the pain and suffering they would endure - or how they would be killed in action. He knew each one's weaknesses and the stuff they would have to overcome. He knew what they would be giving up at home to travel with him. I am sure his time was spent praying for each one of them and their particular struggles and needs. In fact, scripture (Hebrews 7:25) tells us that Jesus is praying for us today - just as he prayed for the disciples then. He sits next to God - asking God for the things we need to serve him and to be whole.
How is Jesus praying for you today?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Do you believe in demons? (Luke 6:17-19)
Luke 6:17-19 17 Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Luke was a medical doctor and the author of this gospel. And in these verses he differentiates between those with physical diseases and those with unclean spirits. He certainly believed in what was commonly called demons or unclean spirits. The companion passages in the other gospels tell a similar story:
Matthew 4:24-25 24 So Jesus' fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Mark 3:7-12 7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8 hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9 He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10 for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.
You know, in seminary they didn't teach us about demons. Or about how to cast them out. In fact, they didn't teach us how to heal either. When I was interning at children's hospital, I asked our chaplain-instructor why they were only teaching us how to comfort people rather than heal them? I don't think anyone had asked him that recently. He laughed for a second. Then said, "Hmm... how would you teach a class in healing?" I have no idea. Yet, it was a huge part of Jesus' ministry. And he said it would be part of our lives as his followers too.
Many have reasoned that unclean spirits were nothing more than mental illnesses. Yet, these demons talked to Jesus everywhere he encountered him. They knew who he was - called him by name. This isn't symptomatic of a mental illness - maybe mass hysteria - but the people he healed had often had the unclean spirit for years before Jesus was well known.
Do you believe in demons? I guess the good news is that whatever they are and were, Jesus has power over them. He gave his followers power over them too.
Luke was a medical doctor and the author of this gospel. And in these verses he differentiates between those with physical diseases and those with unclean spirits. He certainly believed in what was commonly called demons or unclean spirits. The companion passages in the other gospels tell a similar story:
Matthew 4:24-25 24 So Jesus' fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Mark 3:7-12 7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8 hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9 He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10 for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, "You are the Son of God!" 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.
You know, in seminary they didn't teach us about demons. Or about how to cast them out. In fact, they didn't teach us how to heal either. When I was interning at children's hospital, I asked our chaplain-instructor why they were only teaching us how to comfort people rather than heal them? I don't think anyone had asked him that recently. He laughed for a second. Then said, "Hmm... how would you teach a class in healing?" I have no idea. Yet, it was a huge part of Jesus' ministry. And he said it would be part of our lives as his followers too.
Many have reasoned that unclean spirits were nothing more than mental illnesses. Yet, these demons talked to Jesus everywhere he encountered him. They knew who he was - called him by name. This isn't symptomatic of a mental illness - maybe mass hysteria - but the people he healed had often had the unclean spirit for years before Jesus was well known.
Do you believe in demons? I guess the good news is that whatever they are and were, Jesus has power over them. He gave his followers power over them too.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Anger and grief (Mark 3:1-6)
Jesus is headed to the synagogue on the Sabbath and he is being set up. Walking right into a trap! It would appear that a man has been positioned there with a withered hand. The Pharisees hope Jesus will heal him by breaking the Sabbath laws so they can prosecute him. How easy it would have been for Jesus to ignore the man. The man doesn't come over to Jesus. He doesn't ask for healing. The man was likely in on the plot. He demonstrates no faith - no desire to be healed - no recognition of Jesus as Messiah. Nothing! Why doesn't Jesus just walk on by? Why doesn't he keep the peace?
But Jesus doesn't. He heals him. And yet, there is no mention of the man being grateful or thankful. He doesn't testify to Jesus' great power and compassion. He doesn't try to stop those who want to hurt Jesus. Instead those lying in wait for Jesus rush off to try to figure out a way to destroy Jesus' ministry.
At Warren Wilson College's graduation ceremony last year, the commencement speaker challenged the students to go change the world despite the fact that the world would be indifferent and even hostile to their efforts. The people in the synagogue that morning care little that Jesus is capable of transforming their world. If he isn't going to do it their way - by their rules - then forget him. He might as well be dead. So they set out to get rid of him.
Jesus responds to their actions with anger and grief. It hurts to love someone who doesn't understand the depth to which you care for them. Jesus loved the man with the withered hand. He love the Pharisees that demanded Jesus do things their way. And they felt nothing but hate toward Jesus because he was taking away the need for following their rules - their power over others. Do we make Jesus play by our rules or are we willing to let him love us the way he wants to love us? How would it change your life if you opened it to letting Jesus do things his way?
Mark 3:1-6 Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward." 4 Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
**** Other Gospels...
Luke 6:6-11 6 On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. 8 Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come and stand here." He got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 After looking around at all of them, he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Matthew 12:9-14 9 He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10 a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
But Jesus doesn't. He heals him. And yet, there is no mention of the man being grateful or thankful. He doesn't testify to Jesus' great power and compassion. He doesn't try to stop those who want to hurt Jesus. Instead those lying in wait for Jesus rush off to try to figure out a way to destroy Jesus' ministry.
At Warren Wilson College's graduation ceremony last year, the commencement speaker challenged the students to go change the world despite the fact that the world would be indifferent and even hostile to their efforts. The people in the synagogue that morning care little that Jesus is capable of transforming their world. If he isn't going to do it their way - by their rules - then forget him. He might as well be dead. So they set out to get rid of him.
Jesus responds to their actions with anger and grief. It hurts to love someone who doesn't understand the depth to which you care for them. Jesus loved the man with the withered hand. He love the Pharisees that demanded Jesus do things their way. And they felt nothing but hate toward Jesus because he was taking away the need for following their rules - their power over others. Do we make Jesus play by our rules or are we willing to let him love us the way he wants to love us? How would it change your life if you opened it to letting Jesus do things his way?
Mark 3:1-6 Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward." 4 Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
**** Other Gospels...
Luke 6:6-11 6 On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. 8 Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come and stand here." He got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 After looking around at all of them, he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Matthew 12:9-14 9 He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10 a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Lord Over Status Quo? (Mark 2:23-28)
Dr. Shirely Gutherie, who had been one of my professors, died while I was still in seminary. He was a renowned Presbyterian theologian and someone who I really respected. Afterwards, I heard the president of Columbia, Dr. Laura Mendenhall, tell of something that happened a day or so before Dr. Gutherie passed on. He had become bedridden in his very last days and during her visit that day, she sat next to him reading scripture to him. She wasn't sure he was aware of what was happening. But then he spoke out saying to her, "So many of the things I thought were important to God, weren't." This is a man who lived his life intentionally for Jesus - an good example to the rest of us. And yet, even he saw things that he had placed importance on that weren't important in the grand scheme of things.
Mark 2:23-28 23 And it came about that Jesus was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to Him, "See here, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 25 And He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and became hungry, he and his companions: 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he gave it also to those who were with him?" 27 And He was saying to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 "Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
The Pharisees had lost track of what is important to God. Human need is important to God. It takes a higher priority than rule keeping, tradition, law, personal preference, etc. When we put these trappings of religion ahead of human need, we aren't really being who God wants us to be.
What human need might we be overlooking in our striving to follow God? How can we look beyond the trappings of "being good Christian people" and see how God really wants us to act and behave? This isn't easy - sometimes it means bucking what we've learned and assumed was most important to God - and then taking on what is truly important.
Mark 2:23-28 23 And it came about that Jesus was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to Him, "See here, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" 25 And He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and became hungry, he and his companions: 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he gave it also to those who were with him?" 27 And He was saying to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 "Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
The Pharisees had lost track of what is important to God. Human need is important to God. It takes a higher priority than rule keeping, tradition, law, personal preference, etc. When we put these trappings of religion ahead of human need, we aren't really being who God wants us to be.
What human need might we be overlooking in our striving to follow God? How can we look beyond the trappings of "being good Christian people" and see how God really wants us to act and behave? This isn't easy - sometimes it means bucking what we've learned and assumed was most important to God - and then taking on what is truly important.
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