The Perfect Death There are all kinds of things happening all around us. There is the Corona Virus and we have watched the death toll mounting over the past months. This is Memorial Day. We take time today to think about those who laid down their life for the sake of our freedoms. We know that anything could happen at any time. Even if it is not from the things we fear right now, we are mortal. Our lives are limited. It is not a good answer to ignore the fact. Covering up by indulging the flesh leaves us unprepared. Chasing after everything in this world leads to us being surprised by our mortality and facing it with fear and panic. For centuries, for generations people have talked about what is a good death. We are blessed. As Christians, we have Jesus. He is the only one who came into the world for the expressed purpose of dying. It was His mission, to lay down His life and to take it up again. "This charge" He said, "I have received from My Father." (John 10:18) Jesus died the perfect death. Not just a good death; it was the perfect death. Yes there was fear and trembling. As He prayed in Gethsemane there certainly was fear of the Cross, the separation and forsakenness, and surrendering His soul into death. But Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of faith. He holds on to the words and promises of God. In fact, Jesus simply and stubbornly believes. If His Father has promised that after death there will be an Easter; then that just simply is how it will be. All of the terrible things that happen do not change the promise. And Jesus faced down every one of them just like out in the wilderness, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4) The promises were specific;
Jesus held to the promises of His Father believing and trusting, all the way to the cross, surrendering His life and soul into death. Jesus doing that is like the one professor in seminary said to us. "Remember, Jesus going to the cross was also an act of worship." Stephen, the first martyr followed Jesus. His prayers echo two of Jesus' prayers from the cross. "Lord, do not hold this sin against them", and "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:59-60) Stephen's death also was an act of worship. So for us. We have words and promises of God. They are given for us to believe and hold on to in the face of everything that happens. And the promises are clear:
Jesus knows that we need His promises. He gives the promises to bring us to faith and strengthen us in faith. After all He is the Author and Perfecter of faith. As our Shepherd Jesus leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. He has been there. He is able to guide and keep us, because He has faced death and He has won the victory. Lord Jesus, speak Your promises to me that I may grow in walking by faith. Remind me of Your promises that I may remember them in all my times of trouble. And hold my soul by Your promises when my dying day comes; that Your promises may guide me through dying and into living forever. Amen.
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The Praying God There are things Jesus does that no other god could do. One of those things is to pray. None of the "gods" that human beings have thought of and worshiped is involved in praying. Praying means to look to someone else as God; and then to humble yourself and ask someone who is almighty. For Jesus to pray means that He takes the humble place, stands with us, and kneels down as a genuine human being. Think about it. No other theory of what God might be like has God kneeling down in humility. And someone would ask, "If God prays, who does He pray to?" They would be right to ask that question. But Jesus does things that God is not "supposed to do." He refuses to stay where God is "supposed to belong." So there He is hanging around the poor, the diseased, the sinners; and there He is teaching things about God that the rabbis had no idea of; and there He is praying. Early in the morning (Mark 1:35); out in the wilderness for 40 days while being tempted (Luke 4:1); offering up the mealtime prayer for 5 loaves and 2 fish (Mark 6:41); rejoicing at the kingdom being open to little children (Matthew 11:25-26); after feeding the 5,000 when the crowd wanted to make Him king (John 6:15 & Mark 6:46); and before asking the disciples who He is (Mark 9:18); are just some of the places and patterns of Jesus' prayers. As odd as it sounds, Jesus is the praying God. This is a wonderful and absolutely amazing truth. Jesus does not dabble in prayer. He prays, deeply, from the heart, calling out, pleading for our salvation, agonizing in the struggle, and submitting when His Father said "No." In the upper room Jesus told Peter that Peter's salvation was in danger. "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail." (Luke 22:31) In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed with such agony that His sweat became like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:44) The Letter to the Hebrews describes it as, "Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears". (Hebrews 5:7) And after three times asking His Father to take away the cup of suffering, Jesus then went to arrest, trial and the cross. Jesus prays. To the full measure He prays, knowing the glorious answers and the prayer that seems to meet with silence. Jesus prayed -- as one of us with all that means. But even as Jesus humbled Himself in obedience "unto death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8); with the prayers that came from the cross, "Father forgive them ..." and "My God, ... why have You forsaken Me?" -- that does not change the fact that He is God. Jesus stilled the storm, healed the sick, sometimes with only a command, and raised Lazarus from the dead (after, by the way, having an intimate, deliberately overheard, conversation with His Father about what they were doing). (John11:41-42) The Athanasian Creed says, "Equal to the Father, according to His Godhead" Why then, in Jesus, do we find God doing such uncharacteristic things for God. The answer is wonderful. Jesus became one of us so He could know human life and do human things. Those human things still include: He prays and He worships. During His earthly ministry Jesus walked by faith. So we have an amazing privilege. As Christians we get to pray to the God who doesn't just listen to prayers; He prays like us and joins in praying with us. Who better to bring your prayers to; than The Praying God, the One True God who knows prayer from this side of it. It is an astonishing step, a thing never imagined in the whole history of human beings crafting and designing religion. But there it is. God has done the unimaginable. Jesus is the Praying God who hears prayers as only a praying God can. Lord Jesus, thank You for being one of us, for being my Brother even as You are my Savior; for hearing my prayer and joining Your prayer together with mine. Lead me in prayer and help me to grow in prayer, trusting Your promises and praying both for my neighbor in his need and for the simple joy of praying, hearing Your words, praying, praising and giving thanks. Amen. The Everything Man It is two days since we celebrated the Ascension, and we are celebrating that we have a brother, Jesus, who is at the throne of God and ruling heaven for our blessing. It is important -- Jesus the human rules. Jesus the God-man has been given all authority and power. It was Paul who said, "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win the Jews. to those under the law I became as one under the law ... . To those outside the law I became as one outside the law ... that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." (1 Corinthians 9:20-22) Where did he learn this? Answer: The same place he learned everything else about the Gospel. From Jesus. Jesus is the Everything Man. You begin to learn this as you watch Jesus calling four fishermen, one tax gatherer, a revolutionary zealot and others. As He begins His ministry you see Nicodemus, a scholar and teacher coming to Him and "tax gatherers and sinners all ... drawing near." (Luke 15:1) The pious sisters Mary & Martha follow, as well as Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus freed from demons. (Luke 8:2) And then the list expands. Lepers, a man born blind, a sinful woman, a rich young man, a teacher of the Law; Jesus moves through every part of society bringing words of comfort, redemption, spiritual life and peace with God. Children are comfortable with Him, and Jesus relates easily. He knows them, and they know there is the mercy and peace from God with Him. And we see in church that they still are comfortable where Jesus is. There is a saying, "What He did not become, He did not save." It is a quick summary of the Bible's teaching about Jesus, God in the flesh, God with us. Jesus rejoiced over those coming to faith, was angry with the money changers, loved His disciples (John 13), was frustrated with the stubbornness around Him, and wept outside Lazarus' tomb. In every situation I encounter He is the Friend who is able to empathize because He knows the problems and joys we experience. All other religions send prayers up to the heavens and hope to be heard. We have a Savior who walked among us and knows, personally. There are times in life when we long for, struggle to find, and are lonely without someone to share, where we can connect on a personal level. Jesus is the one who knows and sees and understands every part of the human experience -- and is able to "sympathize with our weaknesses" because He "has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Even to the uttermost -- Jesus knows what it is like to carry sin, to be separated, and to die with the sins of the world on Him. Because He carried the sins we get to come to a Savior who already knows, and wanted us to be set free and be with Him forever. This has been the experience of Christians through the centuries. With every part of our life there is Jesus who understands because He is one of us. In fact, in nation after nation and culture after culture Christians all around the world find the same truth. I have had opportunities to sit, talk, journey and share with Christians in South Africa and Botswana; and Christians from Ethiopia, Korea, and other places. We find that we share this same truth. Jesus understands. He knows the joys and troubles of our souls. He knows because He is one of us. It does not matter how different our lives or our cultures have been. Jesus is the same. He understands. He knows because He is one of us. And then, because He is one of us he hears our prayers in a different and very distinct way. This is different than any other religion. It is different than how it would happen if God were, like the song said, "just a God who didn't care, who lived a way up there". In every part of life I find that Jesus is close at hand and there is "grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) Jesus is indeed "The Everything Man." He is everything to me, and to countless Christians of every time and every place. Lord Jesus, thank You that I can come to You and find in You a Friend who understands; and have in You a God who hears my prayers with such knowledge of what it is like to pray. Thank You for walking this earth, knowing the days and hours, the joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears that I face. Walk with me, Lord. Lead on. Lead on through everything, and on to when I get to see You face to face. Be close by my side now that I may be with You forever. Amen. The Gap Between This is the first day after Ascension Day. The disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven. They heard the angels explain, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) Now what? They had heard Jesus tell them to wait. “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) Wait. Until what? We are heading into Memorial Day weekend; and there is an old saying, “War is long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.” All through life there are the in-between times and those times are full of waiting. Day 1 – of the wait in between Jesus’ Ascension and whatever was coming next, and they did not know what it was. How do you wait? How do you fill the in-between? Sometimes the in-between stretches on and on.
How did the disciples fill the in-between? Luke tells us they “were continually in the temple blessing God.” (Luke 24:53) That’s pretty good! Seeking out the will, words, and promises of God; spending time in prayer, praise and worship is exactly what they needed to do. They were in-between, and they did not know what direction God would send them, or what He had planned for them. The only way to prepare was to spend time with God. Do you realize there is a far more profound example? There was an in-between, between infancy and twelve years old, and another in-between, between twelve years old and about thirty years old. In that in-between Jesus “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) Growing up and searching the Scriptures was the pattern for Jesus Himself. And then the in-between continued. No matter how busy things became Jesus went out to take in-between time. The Gospels tell us how He went out early in the morning for prayer (Mark 1:35) , and after feeding the 5,000 went up on the mountain at the end of the day to pray (Matthew 14:22-23) . Isaiah describes how important the in-between time was for Jesus, “Morning by morning … He awakens My ear to hear as those who are taught.” (Isaiah 50:4) Taking in the Word of God, Jesus was prepared to do the will of His Father, the great works of salvation. Again, Isaiah prophesies, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.” (Isaiah 50:4) Out of the in-between time Jesus comforted, strengthened the weary, healed the sick, raised the dead, and finally carried the sins of the world to bring us salvation. Jesus taught His disciples, and by His teaching they spent their in-between time in worship, searching the Scriptures, and prayer. On the tenth day came the day of Pentecost and preaching the Gospel. And now a whole lot of us have in-between time. How are we doing? How is our waiting? How are we filling the in-between time? We do not know what is coming next. How are we preparing? Lord Jesus, guide my moment and my days. Lead me into Your word. Help me to be diligent, looking deeply into Your will, and Your promises. Guide me in repentance and faith that I may be focused on the things of life, eternity, and salvation. As You prepared day by day to strengthen the weak and comfort the distressed, send me also to speak Your words of mercy to hearts needing to hear Your comfort. Amen. Held in Trust It’s an interesting Psalm, partly because it does not seem to ring true; and when that happens in the Bible we might be on our way to an insight. Psalm 8 says, “what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:4-5) And now here comes the kicker, “You have given him dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.” (Psalm 8:6-8) You might say, “Well, that would be nice. All the beasts of the field? ‘Hey bear, leave that alone,’ and it does? ‘Hey deer, come on over here,’ and it does? ‘Hey fish, jump in the net, OK?’ But you know, I haven’t seen any of that lately.” You would be correct. That’s why so many interpretations of Psalm 8 say, “this is obviously about Jesus.” Yes, it is, and that is a good beginning. But we should not stop at the beginning. This is Ascension Day and this psalm has a lot to do with the Ascension of Jesus. Jesus is the Son of Man, and for a while He took a place lower than the heavenly beings. He was born and made Himself part of the flesh, blood, bone and skin collection of human beings – one of us. Paul says, “He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant …” (Philippians 2:5-11) But even as Jesus took on our lowly nature, the world of nature was coming back into harmony with Him. Mark tells about the temptations in the wilderness like this, “He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And He was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to Him.” (Mark 1:13) Jesus was restoring the original pattern of creation, standing in our place. In His person Jesus restored the proper relationship between mankind and nature. Jesus holds that in trust for us until the day of the resurrection when we are glorified. Jesus went further. “He became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) And as Jesus laid down His life, the natural world responded. Matthew reports, there was darkness for the tree hours, and “the earth shook and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:45, 51) But then there is the victory. "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2:9)The whole creation joins in praising Him. (Revelation 5:13) I haven’t even named the verses that talk about wind, waves, water, wine, bread, fish, and a fig tree. All of creation is subject to Jesus. In fact, the whole creation longs to be subject to Him. “… the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” (Romans 8:20-22) But once again this is Ascension Day. We are celebrating that Jesus (our brother) ascended (as our brother) into heaven. He rules all things and God has given Him the name above all names – and He is still our brother. When the Psalm says “son of man” (Psalm 8:4) it is calling Jesus your brother. When it says, “You have put all things under His feet …” (Psalm 8:6-8) it is calling you His brother or sister. You see, the victory He won; He won it for you. And Jesus has taken the place of glory, but the glory of Jesus is to make us glorious. There is a part of the letter to the Hebrews that meditates on Psalm 8. It says He “was made lower than the angels … that by the grace of God he might suffer death for everyone.” And then it talks about, “bringing many sons to glory” and says, “That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers …” (Hebrews 2:9-11) Jesus has dominion over the created world. But He does not hoard dominion for Himself alone. What Jesus holds He holds for you. He holds it in trust until the day when He can bring us all into glory and fully share the glories and blessings with us. The ascension and glory we celebrate today is actually a promise of our future. Like Paul says, we “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23) The apostle John joins in and says, “when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) Lord Jesus, fill my vision this day with the promises You have given, that one day I will see Your glory and share in the blessings of eternal life. One day You will bring me into the full glory You have prepared, and I will celebrate and sing, and then live forever. Right now, in the middle of following You, help me to live in hope, and trust You for each of the days that come along. Amen. “Is He Safe?” “Is he quite safe?” “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.” That is a part of a conversation C. S. Lewis wrote in his book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe . It is written to make a point about God. Tomorrow is the Day of the Ascension. We celebrate that Jesus ascended into heaven, to sit at the right hand of the throne of God; to take all power and rule all of creation; and to gather His kingdom until He comes to judge the living and the dead. Is He safe? Ask the disciples who left behind their lives of fishing, gathering taxes, and more, in order to be sent out, scattering all over the ancient world and all but John confirm their witness through a martyr’s death. Or Abraham who left his father’s house to go to a land God would show him. Or Paul, who was confronted by Jesus, who then sent him far away to the gentiles, to bring the Gospel and suffer for the name of Jesus. Is He safe? I imagine each one would join C. S. Lewis in saying, “Who said anything about safe? … But He’s good.” Jesus is the King. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is seen in Daniel’s vision of “one like a son of man … given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples nations, and languages should serve Him”. (Daniel 7:13-14) All other kingdoms are swept away and His kingdom is everlasting. As the King Jesus has the right to decide that my life will go the way He decides, and not the way I thought it would. Is He safe? Jesus calls us to follow. He tells us there is a cost. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) Is He safe? And Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Is He safe? Almost two thousand years later (still in our days) in so many places around the world Christians suffer for their faith; for the name of Jesus. And all around the world Christians say, “Who said anything about safe? But He’s good!” What did the disciples of John the Baptist hear from Jesus when they came and asked? “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them.” (Matthew 11:5) He’s good! Sinners had their sins forgiven. The thief on the cross had heaven opened. Mary Magdalene had her total despair taken away on Easter morning outside the tomb when when Jesus called her by name. He’s good! Lazarus got to be at the feast -- after Jesus interrupted his being dead. Thomas had his doubt and denial dispelled. Paul was turned from a persecutor to a Christian singing and praying and telling about Jesus even in the jail at Philippi. He’s good! So here we are in the middle of all kinds of things happening. There is a virus. There are problems with jobs and keeping businesses opened. There are controversies and disagreements all around us, among our friends, and conflicts in our own thoughts and feelings. We could be asking “Is it safe?” We have no idea what is coming in the next week, month or year. But remember what Paul wrote to his friend Timothy, from Rome while under arrest. “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) We know that Jesus our Redeemer is with us, “all the days”. (Matthew 28:20) His promises are all over in the Bible. Our sins are forgiven. We have been set free by Jesus. (John 8:31-36) And We have the righteousness of Christ as a free gift. (Romans 3:21-25) We know how everything will turn out. It's going to be glorious! I started saying years ago, “The most important thing in any journey is who you are traveling with; all the rest is just scenery.” (That’s what we sometimes called that endless detour that seemed to lead all over the place, and then it was getting late and when would we ever get there? And then I would say how I had a wonderful and beautiful traveling companion; and maybe my wife would smile -- for a while. [Don't tell her I wrote this.]) Well, boy do we have some "scenery" right now. And when are we going to get there? But I think back to how these meditations started. Jerod texted me, “Remember God is still in control, not corona virus.” He still is. And “Who said anything about safe? But He’s good!" Lord Jesus, in the middle of everything that is happening, and when I am unsure and beginning to worry, or even worse; help me. Remind me of Your constant presence. Remind me that You are Lord of Lords and King of kings, and that You are in control. Strengthen my faith as I struggle to trust. Calm my fears that I may be clear-headed. And help me to see the many daily provisions that come from You. So, dear Savior and Friend help me to grow in faith, in prayer and in the spiritual life. Amen. “... All the Days ...” I noticed this while writing a devotion (April 24) on what Jesus said at the end of Matthew. Usually we hear it like this, “And, behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) But when you look very close you find “extra promises” tucked in. Back then we talked about the word order, and how Jesus used the name of God, "I AM." He made the name of God part of the promise to be with us. In fact, in the Greek word order Jesus did something very interesting. He put the words "with you" in the middle of the words "I … Am." The verse actually reads, "I with you Am ..." The promise "with you" is embedded within the name of God. That’s who He is. He is the "with us" God. There is more. We usually read the word “always”. But it is actually three Greek words there, and they are much more specific. The Greek “pasas tas haymeras” (πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας) means “all the days”. (It's time for me to get excited all over again.) I love this! It is not simply some undefined “always.” "All the days" means every one of my days, each one of them, with all the variety of things that happen. It means the days that go wonderfully from beginning to end. It means the miserable days when we push through the dreariness and carry some heavy burdens. It means the days of unexpected surprises, and it means the days when we start out and nothing seems to go quite right or fit together, from getting up to sitting down at the end. "All the days" means a lot! And in the middle of all those days there is the name of God. “I AM” is with us and writes His name over our every moment and breath. Jesus puts His name into every morning and evening. And He says "with you" every noon and nighttime. Our Lord and Savior, the great Immanuel, gives Himself into everything we face "all the days" and His name is there in every blessing of "all the days." This is our God who writes and speaks His word and does not hesitate to get very specific. He is much more personal about it than to leave it with just "always." Psalm 46 says, “God will help her when morning dawns.” (Psalm 46:5) And Psalm 23 says "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." (Psalm 23:6) In one of my favorite psalms, David celebrates how God knows him and watches over him no matter where he might be. He saw my unformed substance and all my days were written in His book. And then he says, “When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139:18) It is tremendously important that Jesus entered into our time-bound existence. He doesn’t simply look down and see our hours and moments. He came to and share days and nights. And Jesus set aside specific days to do the work of salvation. Our salvation was marked out in the day of riding into Jerusalem. And then four days later the evening of the Passover in the upper room, the night of prayer, the morning of trial, and the afternoon of the cross. The victory over death is marked out as the third day. Luke says “on the first day of the seek, at early dawn”. (Luke 24:1) And there will be a specific day when we will rise; the day we stand before Jesus; the day He gathers the whole world together and says before the Father and all creation that we are His. Lord Jesus, until that day when I see You face to face, until the day when You raise my body and call me blessed, until the endless days of glory begin; thank You for Your promise for all the days of the journey. Thank You for the days of being with me, through days of blessing, days of burdens, and days of prayer. Thank You for the many times You called me Your own and reminded me that You put Your name on me. Amen. Self-Control Day It happened at a Youth Group activity; a bonfire event. I brought along my Bocce Ball set. That is a kind of “lawn bowling” game where you mark out an area, toss a small target ball and take turns rolling the larger balls to try to get the closest (with 2, 4, 6, or 8 players). Scores are tallied, added up and after a number of turns someone wins. We tried it out, played a game, and then … One of the young people challenged me. He said, “I have muscle memory that comes from playing basketball, so I think I am going to beat you.” He did. Badly! We admire the muscle control that our athletes show, watching their achievements and the self-control of amazingly precise movements and achievements. In fact, just this spring there was a 10 part special about Michael Jordan. I remember being amazed by the things he could do as he flew through the air, changing his shot several times as he went, avoiding one, and then another defender. It was astonishing self-control. But there are other areas; different parts of life where it is equally important to have self-control. In those areas it is over our emotions, thoughts, impulses, desires, and beliefs. This is how we were made. We were created in the image of God, with a rational soul. That means we are not to be guided, like the animals, by instinct and impulses. We are called to rule over our impulses, just as God counseled Cain, “sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7) Cain lost control and was controlled by his sinful urges. There are numerous urges, feelings, emotions, imaginings and more that rise up from inside, swirling around and mixing within us. It can be a confusing turmoil inside – and haven’t we all been there. Feeling our way through, figuring out for ourselves what is right and wrong can end us up being in an absolute mess. Jeremiah was right. The heart can be “deceitful above all things … who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) We need guideposts and landmarks. The guideposts begin with God and what He has done. That is why the 10 Commandments begin, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus began by pronouncing a set of blessings that He brings (Matthew 5:3-11)and then declared that He had come to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17) You see, God always begins with what He has done. With the Israelites He reminded them of how He set them free through the blood of the lamb; and with us how He has set us free through the blood of the True Lamb. When you read through the letters of Paul and others in the New Testament, it is fascinating just how much of the letters are simply telling about Jesus. "Self-Control" is a good ending, the last in the list of the “fruit of the Spirit.” Endings are important. Jesus ended the Sermon on the Mount, saying, “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) So He tells us to look back over everything He preached in Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7. "Self-Control" looks back over the rest of the list, and encourages us to seek the things of God as disciples of Jesus. It is very different from a list of don’ts. The fruit of the Spirit is what the Holy Spirit is working in us, forming within us, and guiding us into. We want these things to fill our life. In one of his last letters Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) This is also how Martin Luther ended each of his explanations of the commandments. What are those things of God that the Holy Spirit is calling us into. Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Spirit and with Your Word, that I may desire the things of God, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. You have paid the price to bring me into Your love, Your joy, and Your peace. Lead me as Your disciple that in learning of You I may grow in the all of the fruit of the Spirit. Guide me that I may pursue the things of God, and in learning them may learn of You, until that day when I see You face to face and celebrate all that You will have done in my soul. Amen. Today is Gentleness Day Gentleness is eighth in Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit. It is part of the image of God that the Holy Spirit is forming within us. Now it may be a surprise but gentleness has to do with power and might. Weakness is not gentleness and can never be gentleness. But when one who is strong enough to do damage, instead devotes their strength to care for the weak and helpless that is gentleness. It is power and might restrained and focused to do good to the weak and little. Think about the prophecy about Jesus, “a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out”. (Matthew 12:20; Isaiah 42:3) This is the gentleness of God. He could have poured out wrath, and was entitled to. Where our lives were damaged and filled with sin, He could have simply judged us. Where our spiritual life was almost gone and all we had was a faint memory of God giving some sort of promise, He could have turned away. But instead Jesus brought healing; and instead He brought the promises of God’s love and friendship back to us. And Jesus did this through setting aside His infinite power and bringing the gentleness of God to the cross. Even the soldiers in their arrogance and might swinging the hammer and driving the nails – they were in the hands of the almighty God who did an act of unimaginable gentleness, receiving their violence and praying for their salvation. The gentleness of God. Or think about the picture of the Shepherd, strong to defend his flock. Back to back the two parts of the image form as Isaiah prophesies, “Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him, behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. / He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:10-11) Jesus said “Come to Me all who are weary and burdened …. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle … and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) His might, coming to us in His gentleness breaks down our walls of unbelief and brings us into the kingdom of God. That is exactly the mystery Paul was talking about when he said “the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25) And now God sends His people out into the world. The disciples knew they had the power of God backing them up. But they were not sent out to demonstrate power, or stride through the world doing one miracle after another. ((“These are not the doings you are searching for.”)) They and we are sent out into a world filled with one after another massive shows of power. The world has enough demonstrations of power. They are easy to find. We are sent to bring something different;. It is a different kingdom, a different message from God, and a different kind of power. We are sent with words from God that have “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”. (Romans 1:16) It is a part of the work of the Spirit to form the “fruit of the Spirit” within us, and so form us into the image of God. Since it is part of the image of God, do not mistake gentleness for weakness or timidity. It is quite the opposite. It is strength that is focused; power that is held back; and might that is put to the purpose of saving, helping, caring for, and defending those that are weak. Think of the tough policeman rushing to the aid of a little baby, protecting and holding him close until he can give him back to his mother. Think of a fireman carrying a frail grandmother out of a burning building, using all of his strength to guard and protect her. These are examples of how the character of gentleness is exhibited in the world. There are many more. There are a lot of stories we have seen and heard, and we know there is an amazing goodness in them. Every one of them is an image of the almighty, gentle God and Savior we know. God Himself and every part of His character is what the world so desperately needs. So this day, think on gentleness. And look for the chance to be gentle. In being gentle you show something of the image and character of God. Lord Jesus, form me as Your disciple, remaking and fashioning who I am. By Your Holy Spirit work deeply in my heart and soul, that more and more I may show the love of God in my attitude and the power of God in acts of kindness and gentleness. I pray and I ask that my life, my words, and my acts may bring praise to You. Forgive me where I have failed. Restore me and lead me, my Savior and Friend. Amen. The "Fruit of the Spirit" Spiritual Exercise “This is ‘kindness day’ so you need to think about the kindness of God, and then look for a way to show kindness.” That was a part of a conversation this last week. After the conversation, I promised I would explain it more in today’s meditation. It began with an experience many years ago. I was with a missionary who was falsely accused, who had to leave the post they had put their heart into. In the middle of their deep sadness we talked. We talked for hours as we journeyed out of the country. What to do? What was God’s purpose? Where to turn and where to focus when everything they had devoted years of their life was taken away. How to find guidance in God’s Word. I shared a spiritual discipline built around the “the fruit of the Spirit” from Galatians 5:22-23. We start with one simple question: There is the outer life, everything happening around you in the world, good and bad. And there is the inner life, the life of the soul, and in that inner life there is you and God. Which of them is the more important? The most basic truth in life is that your connection with God is the most important thing in life. It is where everything else comes from. Second, no matter what is going on in the world all around you, God is still working within your soul. He is still forming and fashioning you, transforming you in His image and forming what the Bible calls “the mind of Christ” within you. That is a guarantee. It is not a maybe. And it is not a “hope so.” The other things will come, and they will happen in God’s good timing. But for right now God the Holy Spirit is forming within you the fruit of the Spirit. You can be sure of that. This is important for us when things around seem to be going off the rails. The work of the Spirit within you is a constant. It is something to turn to, to focus your inner self and do so in harmony with the Spirit of God. This is important when everything is going your way. It brings you back to those basic things that need to be down deep in the core of who we are. Since that conversation, I have turned to that spiritual discipline numerous times; sometimes in the middle of massive struggles; other times to keep focused on God’s blessings and the work of the Kingdom of God. I have counseled others using this. It helps in sorting out a lot of things in life. Here is the pattern of this discipline. Every day focus on one aspect of “the fruit of the Spirit”. They are: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”. (Galatians 5:22-23) When you focus on those things you know the Holy Spirit is working on and forming in your soul, you cannot miss. Paul said as much, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) This is how I have practiced it. Match each day of the month to an aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit: (1) love, (2) joy, (3) peace, (4) patience, (5) kindness, (6) goodness, (7) faithfulness, (8) gentleness, (9) self-control. Each month there are three full cycles and a few days left over: 1-9; 10-18; 19-27; and the remainder. Or, after the 9 th , add the digits (sometimes twice). So the conversation, “This is kindness day …” happened on the 14 th of the month (1+4=5). May 29 th will be “joy day” (2+9=11; 1+1=2). Here are some starter questions:
Today is faithfulness day, the 16 th . God has been faithful. He has remembered His promises. He has answered our prayers. He has sustained us through trials, and given His blessings every day of our life. Think of the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (LSB # 809). As the Holy spirit leads me how can I show faithfulness in my life? Tomorrow is “gentleness day.” Lord Jesus, work in my heart and soul. Form Your image within me. Help me learn from You the love, joy, peace, and patience. Form my attitudes and lead me in showing kindness, demonstrating goodness, living in faithfulness, and showing gentleness to those around me. By Your Spirit teach me self-control. Where I fall and fail, restore me and renew me in Your will and ways. Amen. |
Rev. Mark WilligPastor Willig is pastor emeritus of Friends in Christ Lutheran Church. Archives
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