Romans 12 - Friday

Paul wrote:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

This section follows on from the last one. Again, it makes a list that helps be take inventory - in this case of my relationships.

I try hard to connect with people, but I often get self centered:

• Bless those who are against you - I rarely do this
• Rejoice with those who are happy - I get jelous and compare myself
• Be sad with those are grieving - I want to stay away (at least in the past)
• Cooperate - I want to do my own thing
• Spend time with people who have less than me - I'm usually looking to conenct with people in positions of authority 
• Don't think of myself as better than anyone - my post from a couple of days ago deals with this. I rarely don't think of myself as better.

God, help me do my best with others. Help me live up to this list.

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Fridays | My relationships are good, and God will build them up
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
- And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

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Romans 12 - Thursday

Paul Wrote:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

This section gives me a laundry list on how to keep my heart right. A good way to know if my "love is sincere" is to look at my life against these other things Paul lists out.

If I'm loving others, staying motivated to do what God asks, keeping my attitude right, and sharing my stuff, I think I can be assured in on the right track.

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Thursdays | My heart is hungry for good, and God will fill it
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
- Give us today our daily bread

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Romans 12 - Wednesday

Paul wrote:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

To summarize: Be diligent and do good with what God has given you.

God gives each of us some measure of power. We can make money, create things, influence others, figure things out.

I see this mysterious way God works (I think):
     - God gave me power and influence to use for good.
     - God planned out what good I might do - he creates the opportunity.
     - I get the choice of how I use it.
     - God's plan - the ultimate outcomes he is looking for - will succeed no matter how I choose.

So what's the point?

The point is simple in my mind: I love to work, to create, to influence. I was made for it. God offers me the chance to use it all for good, so I can be like him.

When the kids were little, I would mow the lawn. I bought Josh a toy lawn mower. His effort did not change the outcome - but his involvement was so valuable to me. I still remember the smile on his face as he mowed too. We both experienced happiness from it.

This is a simplistic way to see life, and I know there are many more aspects to consider. But for now, I will think about what Paul also wrote: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Wednesdays | My influence is in chaos, and God wants to set things right
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth
- Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

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Romans 12 - Tuesday

Paul wrote:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

The message is pretty straightforward: I need to have an honest view of myself, then I can can have an accurate view of others.

It's hard to stop thinking that others need to be more like me. I often fall into this subtle trap: I judge others on what I see, and I judge myself based on my intentions. In this skewed view, everyone comes up short.

I want to appreciate what others do for God.

I want to appreciate their differences from me.

I want to see the bigger picture of how we work as a whole, driven by God's spirit.

Jesus said: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

I want to love all the other believers in my life, as Jesus commanded.

King David wrote: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ...For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

God, help me to a good part of the body and care for all of it.

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Tuesdays | My relationships are in chaos, and God wants to change them
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted
- Your kingdom come

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Romans 12 - Monday

Paul wrote a really long letter to the Christians in Rome. I think his intent was to describe the entire Christian faith as a whole:

    - What is it?
    - How does it work?
    - What are the implications?

For me, chapter 12 is the turning point. Paul shifts from presenting concepts to explaining the implications of following Jesus.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Here is what I think he's saying:

   - God gave up his rights and chose to be merciful to me
   - In the same way I need to give up my rights and be like him - merciful to others
   - The world (the culture) doesn't support this - it will teach the opposite
   - Look to God, his word, his people for input
   - If I do this, I will be doing what God wants

God want's me to be more and more like him as time goes on. The antithesis of this is focusing on my self.

I was created to be fully focused on others.
I spend most of my time focusing on myself - "Incurvatus in se"

Jesus said: For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

I think he is saying, "Be what you were meant to be - look outwards and not inwards and really live."

On Memorial Day, what do I do? I think of those who gave themselves for me and for others. Even without all of this from the bible, I intuitively know that these people deserve my admiration. They are the best humanity has to offer.

Army 1st Lt. Erik. S. McCrae

25, of Portland, Oregon.
McCrae died in Baghdad, Iraq, when individuals using improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades attacked his convoy. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, Cottage Grove, Oregon. Died on June 4, 2004.

He worked for me before going to Iraq. He was a good man. I will see him in the next life.

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Mondays | My heart is in chaos, and God wants to change it
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God
- Our Father in heaven, your name is holy

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Base

I got to teach Sunday school this morning to a group of about 20 fourth and fifth grade girls. I was the emergency backup teacher, this isn't my normal thing (lucky for them).

I talked with them about what paradise / heaven might be like. Since I haven't been there, most of what I think about it is speculation. Paul wrote this: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived: the things God has prepared for those who love him.

I asked the kids if they thought heaven would be like church - and they are good kids, so they said "yes". I told them I hoped not. Church is really nice for a few hours each week, but not more than that. It's not much of an adventure. I told them I think we will be a giant family, and we will enjoy being with God and each other forever. We will have great things to accomplish and great stories to tell.

As one of the girls said, "we will socialize."

I told them it's sometimes hard to believe - that I struggle with doubt at times. Also there are those times where it's so real I can almost stick my finger out and touch it. The struggles of a sinful but saved man...

The kids know it's real. I draw strength from their faith.

Jesus said: I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

After we were done with the lesson, about a dozen of the kids wanted to play tag. I was getting ready to go talk with someone, and one of the girls said, "you are the base".

Base? 

So I sat on the steps of the stage for 20 minutes, and they had to have a hand on me to be safe and not get tagged. I'm good a being base - not much skill required.

A couple of the kids would stay at base quite a bit. Finally I said, "Go, run, have an adventure." Then they would run and scream and have a good time. 

While I was being base a girl came and sat by me and told me she was writing a story. I asked what it was about. She said it was about her dad, who is in Afghanistan until November. She misses him a lot. She said she wants to do it for him as a present. I bet in the view of God, this story will be far greater that most best-sellers - it will last for eternity.

It was pretty much all I could do not to cry for her - maybe I should have. I'm still not used to this emotional world I've had to enter.

For all the intentional conversations I want to have with the kids, sometimes just being base is a better way to go.

There are many times I wonder if the effort in teaching the kids isn't really worth much. I think most of us who are involved with them feel this way at some point. Then there are those days that bring so much value. God let's me see that it really does matter.

I'm going to think of myself as "base" at least for a while on Sunday mornings.

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Sundays | When I make peace, I partner with God
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God
- For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever

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The Bargain

This post is something I've wrestled with for the past few weeks. It's not theological - I'm not saying in any way that this is the way things are - it's personal. This about working through where my heart is at.

This started from a post I wrote a month ago, where I quoted Paul: For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people.

After a lot of thought, I have decided I would take this bargain: God guarantees the salvation of all my kids, if I'm willing to be cut off from Him for eternity in hell. It's worth it.

As Paul states, it's not the way God works - but it's an attitude I've decided to pursue. If I'm willing to give up the most important thing to me, then I'm willing to give anything and everything else for them. 

God, I hope that the rest of my life is filled with goodness and happiness. But if my own failure, sickness, a shortened life, disaster are part of the mechanism you choose to use to get my kids to connect with you - so be it. I'll willingly take the bargain. In any case, whatever your plan is, be merciful to them, forgive them and connect with them.

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Fridays | My relationships are good, and God will build them up
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
- And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

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Nature of Jesus - Friday

Webster's dictionary: Grace - unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification.

God has shown me grace and mercy.

John wrote: Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
God has established a relationship with me, even when I didn't deserve it. I think the verse is saying he piled grace on top of grace, mercy on top of mercy.

He gave me the rules to show me who I really am. Understanding.

He gave me grace and truth to show I'm accepted no matter what I am. Relationship.

Paul wrote: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

I think he's saying to me, "keep your relationships healthy. Don't argue or complain - be graceful and merciful towards others. Be like me."

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Fridays | My relationships are good, and God will build them up
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy
- And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

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Nature of Jesus - Thursday

As I'm writing this, I realize that the title "Nature of Jesus" is really in error. I don't know his true nature. I only know a small sliver of what I can understand from the bible and my experience. He created everything and holds it together. I'm only something he created.

Here is what I understand...

God created a people to be a light to the whole world, so that all might possibly connect with him. 

That people - the Jews - were abused by all the other powerful people on earth.

God promised to send a rescuer to them, to set them free. They called that rescuer "Messiah".

They waited and predicted and talked about the rescuer. They wanted things to be set right.

They were hungry for the Messiah - and he finally came.

John wrote: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus came in a way that was unexpected and with a message of acceptance, which many people didn't like. They wanted judgement, he offered forgiveness. They wanted revenge, he offered peace. Most rejected him.

To those who accepted him, Paul wrote: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

I think Paul is saying to be very careful not to get pulled into judgement, which is a very real possibility - at least it is for me. He is reminding them (and me) that God will fill them and use them for good in the way he works - with acceptance, forgiveness and peace.

God, you didn't come to judge people. I need your help to not do it myself.

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Thursdays | My heart is hungry for good, and God will fill it
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
- Give us today our daily bread

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Nature of Jesus - Wednesday

Why did Jesus go to all the trouble of leaving his place of ruling the universe, become human, be rejected, and end up being killed? 

Because it was worth it.

John wrote: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

He came so I - and everyone who is willing - could be part of his family.

Paul wrote to the Philippians: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is the head of the family, the owner of the universe. 

I want to be in that family, but I have nothing to bargain with. My only hope is to be rescued - I don't have the capability or resources to join on my own.

Following up on my reference yesterday to what Paul wrote to the Romans: What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So what does God require for me to gain eternity? The desire to be with him, and the belief he will accept me. 

God, I'm glad you have the ability to set things right - because I sure don't.

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Wednesdays | My influence is in chaos, and God wants to set things right
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth
- Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

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Nature of Jesus - Tuesday

As I said yesterday, Jesus gave up his status to be with mankind for a period of time. He came to the people he created, and for the most part, they rejected him.

John wrote: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 

Paul wrote to the Philippians: Jesus made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross!

Did Jesus know that people would reject him? Yes.

700 years earlier, Isaiah wrote on the same theme. This is what he predicted about God's servant who would come to us: He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

So God's kingdom came to earth in the form of a person who was misunderstood, rejected and ultimately killed.

What does this have to do with me? I'm a believer - I'm glad he came.

My relationship with God is often in chaos. I want to relate to God and be close - and I also want to get away from him and be in my own darkness.

There is part of me that wants him to go away, to leave me be. There are those moments where I don't care that he gave up everything to reach out to me, that he died for me, that he lives for me now.

As Paul wrote to the Romans: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

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Tuesdays | My relationships are in chaos, and God wants to change them
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted
- Your kingdom come

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