Blown away by the Gospel

What did Israel do to deserve to be God’s people? Worship other Gods, value money and possessions over the needs of others, basically they lives like the pagans around them. Yet…

Isaiah 44:1-5
1 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’s,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.”

What did I do to deserve to God’s grace? Chasing other priorities than God’s, seeking to accomplish my goals my way (Idols in my life), ignoring the needs of others – the poor and hurting, those that are desperate in life, but I just change the channel in my mind. Yet…

Ephesians 2:5
Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved.

It blows me away!

- Posted by Tony

Popularity: 20% [?]

Clean Feet

What is it like to wash someone’s feet? How about feet that have been walking on dirty dusty roads all day. Actually, today’s sweaty feet bundled in sweaty socks and shoes all day might be worse. Then there is the uncut toe nails, and of course the childhood gross out favorite of toe jam.

As unpleasant as this might seem in our culture, it wasn’t the grossness that made it unappealing to Jesus’ disciples. Washing someone’s feet was the job of lowly servants. Washing someone’s feet would be admitting inferiority to that person.

Yet Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Why? To show his disciples that if Jesus can wash their feet, they should wash each other’s. What’s this mean to me? Should my church have regular feet washing ceremonies rather than pot luck dinners?

If only I could get off that easy. The point is to serve others over myself. It’s not about me. It’s not about my time. It’s not about my money, It’s not about my family. It’s about my God that says if I am his, I should be serving others and not myself.

Jesus, give me a servants heart. Help me to not focus on my needs and my comforts. Help me to wash the feet of others in my life.

John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

- Posted by Tony

Popularity: 23% [?]

The price of worship

Jesus had just accomplished the most fantastic miracle. He had raised a dead man that had been dead and in a tomb for four days. He did this in front of tons of witnesses. The people thought they had found their Messiah. The Jewish leaders were more than ever determined to kill Jesus to keep their status quo. They were even determined that maybe Lazarus should die “again” in order to prevent the people from stirring up the political landscape after this fantastic and very public miracle.

In the middle of this great building to the climax of the Gospel message, we have a story about a woman anointing the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume. This story is so important to the Gospel message that it is told four times, each time from a slightly different perspective. So what is this message that is so important?

The best way to dig into this story is to combine the four different accounts and get the overall picture, and hopefully the complete message (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:37-50, John 12:1-8).

Jesus was invited to dinner from a man named Simon. Matthew and Mark, who often write from similar accounts, tell us that Simon was a leper. Since lepers were outcasts because of their unclean disease, it seems likely that Simon was an ex-leper. Was he healed by Jesus? Maybe. It would make sense that he hosted the party for Jesus if he had been healed by him.

Luke provides additional information and we learn that not only was Simon known for being a leper, but he was also a Pharisee. As we have already seen, the Pharisees wanted Jesus killed, yet Simon was willing to have Jesus in his home. Was Simon a believer? It sounds like from Luke that he was skeptical in his belief at best. If our guess about Simon being possibly healed by Jesus is true, it is a sad statement to say that even after being healed he was a skeptic. But is this far fetched? How many times have you experienced God intervening in your life, only to doubt him later?

In John we learn that the woman that anointed Jesus’ feet was Mary, the sister of Lazarus. In John we can see this as an act of worship by a woman grateful that she has her brother back. In Luke we find out more about Mary. She is referred to as a sinner. We are all sinners. However, in the New Testament, “sinners” referred to those that lived an evident sinful life to the rest of the community – i.e. in the case of a woman, probably a prostitute, or similar distasteful lifestyle.

Luke goes on to describe how Jesus read Simon’s disapproval of this woman, and then how Jesus used it has a teaching opportunity to talk about how those who know the extent of their sin are able to appreciate saving grace more than those that don’t. Do you sometimes forget the extent of your sin? I do.

In Matthew we find that Jesus’ disciples were not happy that expensive perfume was wasted. Mark was not as specific in calling out the disciples, while John was more specific and mentioned Judas by name. It seems that multiple people were taken back by this expensive perfume episode as it was about a year’s wages poured out.

Simon was focused on the fact that Mary was a sinner and Jesus let her even touch him. The disciples and others were indignant because of the perceived waste. A year’s wages could feed a lot of poor people. Judas acted concerned about the poor as well, but John tells us he was more upset because he was a thief and you can’t embezzle spilled perfume.

Jesus answered the disciples and others telling them that “you will always have the poor with you and that Mary’s act of love and worship was valuable as preparation for his burial. This is not always an easy message to understand. It does not sound that compassionate – don’t worry about the poor, you can’t end poverty. What does that mean for me? Should I burn my money at the alter rather than give it the poor?

The most important lessons of this four told message are, 1) We are sinners and should be thankful beyond measure for the saving grace of God 2) That saving grace required Jesus to die in our place – hence, the perfume being used to prepare for his burial 3) We cannot cure poverty, but Jesus can and did. Spiritual poverty was cured with his death and resurrection. Material poverty will no longer exists after his return 4) Let your worship show your love for Jesus, pour out all you have for him, whatever that might look like.

John 12:7-8 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

- Posted by Tony

Popularity: 29% [?]

God weeps

When one of my kids are upset or sad it breaks my heart. If there is anything I can do to lift their spirits I want to do it. However, sometimes I know their is either nothing I can do, or whatever has them upset is really for the best.

When they are sick, I want to make them well, but all I can do is make them as comfortable as possible. The medicine can be awful, but I have to make them take it. If they scrape their knee, I have to clean the wound, even if it makes them cry all the more. If a loved pet dies, I can try to console them, but I can’t make the sadness go away. I want to protect them from life’s physical and emotional pains, but I also know that life is hard and pain is part of growing up.

God has the same heartache when it comes to my pain. Sure he could alleviate whatever hurt I’m feeling in an instant. However, in his wisdom he knows my pain serves a bigger purpose. Whether it is part of my spiritual growth, or part of his greater workings in the world, sometimes life hurts.

When life’s pains are real, I tell myself that God has a greater purpose. However, I usually don’t consider that he shares any of my suffering. After all, he’s God. But God does feel my pain, and God does weep with me. He is the heavenly Father that know my pain will one day be no more, but feels it with me today. There is comfort in knowing that when I face life’s drama and pain, God weeps with me.

John 11:33-35 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.

- Posted by Tony

Popularity: 19% [?]

The American dream

One of the great promises of our country is that everyone has an opportunity to live out the American dream. Is this true? I guess in part it depends on what is meant by the American dream. If the American dream means everyone can have the life of your dreams by working hard then it’s a false promise. There are lots of good hard working people in our country that will never live out their dreams.

The truth is that no country can promise anyone the life of their dreams. We can provide freedoms and opportunities, which makes this an awesome country to live in. However, there are no promises. Bad things still happen to hard working good people and good things happen to lazy selfish people. America is great, but it will never be Utopia.

There is however, a promise for an abundant life. Jesus says that he came to give life to those that know him and give it abundantly. However, he said there are also those that come to destroy life. The reason we may not be experiencing the abundant life is because we look for it from impostors and thieves that really aim to destroy us. Jesus made it clear that he is the only way. Why it might seem un-American to say so, chasing the American dream is chasing an impostor.

Jesus, help me to seek only you and the abundant life you promise. Keep me from the thieves, and robbers that come to destroy, with their false promises of false dreams.

John 10:9-10 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

- Posted by Tony

Popularity: 28% [?]

Next Page »