Mark 1:44, “See that you [the guy I just cured of leprosy], don’t tell this to anyone.”
Jesus asks me to do strange things sometimes. Sometimes it’s to cast my net on the other side of the boat (I mean, those guys were professionals, right? They knew how to fish – duh). And in this case, I would think Jesus wanted his message to get out. But he told this guy to go to the priests and then to shut up, ‘don’t tell a soul what I’ve done for you.’
Jesus had a reason. Once this guy ran off at his mouth, “Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.” (v45). Now, he didn’t do this exclusively because in chapter 2, he’d gone back home to Capernaum. Nonetheless, it changed Jesus’ strategy. It wasn’t a minor strategy change either, in verse 38 and 39, ““Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”” (Emphasis mine).
Of course, still Jesus mission on earth was accomplished, but I wonder how many people lost direct contact with Jesus because this guy though he knew best. Sure they could have gone out to see him in the wilderness or punch a hole through his roof (Mark 2:4) but Jesus still had to conduct himself differently.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Totally Submitted
2 Kings 5:2, “Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." “
Aram was basically at war with Israel and Naaman was the commander of their army. Naaman (or his wife) might have been a very nice person but this Israeli girl was a slave. Add to that, we never learn her name, it is lost in history.
She wasn’t born into slavery – she was captured. Capture in that day was not pretty. How many of her friends and or family were killed when she was captured. How had this captive been mistreated?
Whatever the case, she was a foreign household slave. She wasn’t likely doing the fun housework. Suffice it to say – she had it worse than I’ve ever had it. But what does she do when her owner gets an incurable disease? (personally, I’d leap up and down inside) She LAMENTS! She says, “If only my master would see the prophet…”
At some level, this girl was giving her heart and soul into service. She must have known God was GOD and He was with her. She knew who she was and did not need to rejoice in the suffering of others. She wanted to see her master healed.
This is a girl (woman) who found her healing and identity in God. I know it’s a great speculation to assume her life and her circumstances but in captivity, how good could it have been? She was perfectly submitted and perfectly aligned with the place God had placed (or allowed her to be).
How much more in a working environment would God want me to be submitted and in service to the people I work for?
Aram was basically at war with Israel and Naaman was the commander of their army. Naaman (or his wife) might have been a very nice person but this Israeli girl was a slave. Add to that, we never learn her name, it is lost in history.
She wasn’t born into slavery – she was captured. Capture in that day was not pretty. How many of her friends and or family were killed when she was captured. How had this captive been mistreated?
Whatever the case, she was a foreign household slave. She wasn’t likely doing the fun housework. Suffice it to say – she had it worse than I’ve ever had it. But what does she do when her owner gets an incurable disease? (personally, I’d leap up and down inside) She LAMENTS! She says, “If only my master would see the prophet…”
At some level, this girl was giving her heart and soul into service. She must have known God was GOD and He was with her. She knew who she was and did not need to rejoice in the suffering of others. She wanted to see her master healed.
This is a girl (woman) who found her healing and identity in God. I know it’s a great speculation to assume her life and her circumstances but in captivity, how good could it have been? She was perfectly submitted and perfectly aligned with the place God had placed (or allowed her to be).
How much more in a working environment would God want me to be submitted and in service to the people I work for?
Friday, June 15, 2007
Take some good advice
1 Kings 12:11, “My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.' "
I’ve been thinking about Rehoboam all week. After he said these words, he lost 4/5 of his country, they rebelled against him. Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon and grandson of King David. No doubt, Rehoboam even knew David. Solomon was the wisest man in all the earth. David was “a man after God’s own heart”. How did Rehoboam turn out like this?
The answer lies three verses back in vs 8, “But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.”
He rejected the wisdom of his fathers. Good advice is of no use to the proud. I don’t think I can count the number of times I have heard good advice, or even Godly direction and due to the pride of my life, and rejected it. I did my own thing, to my detriment.
One of satan’s (not capitalized on purpose) greatest weapons is to get me to believe God’s laws are only there to make me unhappy.
I think of it like this: Suppose I buy a car and the guy at the dealership tells me, “Change the oil every 3000 miles.” Well after 3000 miles, I don’t feel like changing the oil – it’s expensive, I don’t have the time and off I go. I keep driving. I get out to 5000 miles, 6000 miles, nothing bad has happened? I get to 10,000 miles. Other people tell me, “you really need to change your oil.” What? Why do I need to take YOUR advice? Nothing bad has happened at all, “all you want to do is make me unhappy!”
I might even get to 20,000 miles. One day, however, I will have to pay the piper. One day, my engine will seize up. The cost of the repair will be well more than the five oil changes I missed. It will be half the price of the car. It will be too expensive to pay.
Lord, help me to trust your Laws are for my benefit. Help me to be humble enough to take your advice.
I’ve been thinking about Rehoboam all week. After he said these words, he lost 4/5 of his country, they rebelled against him. Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon and grandson of King David. No doubt, Rehoboam even knew David. Solomon was the wisest man in all the earth. David was “a man after God’s own heart”. How did Rehoboam turn out like this?
The answer lies three verses back in vs 8, “But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.”
He rejected the wisdom of his fathers. Good advice is of no use to the proud. I don’t think I can count the number of times I have heard good advice, or even Godly direction and due to the pride of my life, and rejected it. I did my own thing, to my detriment.
One of satan’s (not capitalized on purpose) greatest weapons is to get me to believe God’s laws are only there to make me unhappy.
I think of it like this: Suppose I buy a car and the guy at the dealership tells me, “Change the oil every 3000 miles.” Well after 3000 miles, I don’t feel like changing the oil – it’s expensive, I don’t have the time and off I go. I keep driving. I get out to 5000 miles, 6000 miles, nothing bad has happened? I get to 10,000 miles. Other people tell me, “you really need to change your oil.” What? Why do I need to take YOUR advice? Nothing bad has happened at all, “all you want to do is make me unhappy!”
I might even get to 20,000 miles. One day, however, I will have to pay the piper. One day, my engine will seize up. The cost of the repair will be well more than the five oil changes I missed. It will be half the price of the car. It will be too expensive to pay.
Lord, help me to trust your Laws are for my benefit. Help me to be humble enough to take your advice.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Whom do you Trust
The question of the day is: Do I trust me or do I trust Him? The answer should be obvious. But to me, it isn’t always perfectly clear. God wants me to trust HIM, to trust HIS heart, to trust He will do what He wants to do. He wants me to be okay with His methods, His timing, His patience, His gifts, or His judgment. God does not prefer me to get an idea in my head and then run with it.
Sometimes, my ideas do “come from God”. By that I mean, even though they are smeared with my own prejudices, God initiated them. Example: God led me to my wife. God initiated it, but just because He set it up, doesn’t mean that I will treat her perfectly or she will do likewise.
This is where I stumble often: The attitude of trying to accomplish things (no matter how godly or great) in my own strength just because I think God is leading me to do it.
I have realized I have an over-emphasis in MY ability to follow God rather than on God’s ability to lead me. He’s the Good Shepherd. That means, NOT ONLY is he a loving, caring shepherd, but that Jesus is very GOOD at leading.
When a sheep is lost, it’s LOST. That means it cannot find it’s way back. That is the time the sheep needs a good shepherd to find it. The humble heart sees itself in this light. Most of the time I am lost in one way or another and I am dependent on God to reach me and get me back to His will and His ways.
See, one attitude says, “I’m going to follow God and do right.” And the other says, “I’m lost without Him, I’m going to trust that He can find a way to lead me and get me to his will.” Both want to do God’s best but the second is not confused about the source of that ability.
Sometimes, my ideas do “come from God”. By that I mean, even though they are smeared with my own prejudices, God initiated them. Example: God led me to my wife. God initiated it, but just because He set it up, doesn’t mean that I will treat her perfectly or she will do likewise.
This is where I stumble often: The attitude of trying to accomplish things (no matter how godly or great) in my own strength just because I think God is leading me to do it.
I have realized I have an over-emphasis in MY ability to follow God rather than on God’s ability to lead me. He’s the Good Shepherd. That means, NOT ONLY is he a loving, caring shepherd, but that Jesus is very GOOD at leading.
When a sheep is lost, it’s LOST. That means it cannot find it’s way back. That is the time the sheep needs a good shepherd to find it. The humble heart sees itself in this light. Most of the time I am lost in one way or another and I am dependent on God to reach me and get me back to His will and His ways.
See, one attitude says, “I’m going to follow God and do right.” And the other says, “I’m lost without Him, I’m going to trust that He can find a way to lead me and get me to his will.” Both want to do God’s best but the second is not confused about the source of that ability.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Putting Myself on the Altar
Romans 12.1 , “ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your reasonable act of worship.”
There are a lot of things I do which I would consider “not sin” or “no big deal” but they are things I like to do. What if some of those things I do are actually separating me from God and His best for me? Again, these are not sinful things, just things I fill up my time with (God give us all things for our enjoyment, right?)
My own personal example is the XBOX.
What if all my playing of XBOX (or eating out at dinner, or this certain hobby, or reading the sports page) was taking me away from God? I think this is where the “Living Sacrifice” thing comes in. I’m not going to earn more of God’s love if I give up more things but I ask myself again: Am doing God’s best thing right now? This is a difficult discipline to maintain.
As a Living Sacrifice, I put myself on that Altar.
I’m not one of these people who things that to please God you have to be on a street corner preaching. Indeed this may be the worst thing depending on the circumstances, in my opinion. We go where we are led.
The question I am driving towards is this: Am I open to not doing the things I want to do, so I can do the things He wants me to do?
I might also aks: Am I open to not NUMBING myself (on all the good things of life) so I can feel a little of God’s pain for this world?
Lord help me to stop and listen. Help me to not just do the “next thing”. Help me to be open to your interruptions.
There are a lot of things I do which I would consider “not sin” or “no big deal” but they are things I like to do. What if some of those things I do are actually separating me from God and His best for me? Again, these are not sinful things, just things I fill up my time with (God give us all things for our enjoyment, right?)
My own personal example is the XBOX.
What if all my playing of XBOX (or eating out at dinner, or this certain hobby, or reading the sports page) was taking me away from God? I think this is where the “Living Sacrifice” thing comes in. I’m not going to earn more of God’s love if I give up more things but I ask myself again: Am doing God’s best thing right now? This is a difficult discipline to maintain.
As a Living Sacrifice, I put myself on that Altar.
I’m not one of these people who things that to please God you have to be on a street corner preaching. Indeed this may be the worst thing depending on the circumstances, in my opinion. We go where we are led.
The question I am driving towards is this: Am I open to not doing the things I want to do, so I can do the things He wants me to do?
I might also aks: Am I open to not NUMBING myself (on all the good things of life) so I can feel a little of God’s pain for this world?
Lord help me to stop and listen. Help me to not just do the “next thing”. Help me to be open to your interruptions.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Taken to Captivity
2 Chronicles 6:36-38 "When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent … and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity … hear their prayer …And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.
Sin is captivity, plain and simple. Sin separates me from God. When I sin, I am carried off to captivity. I get to stay there until I turn my heart around (literally: repent). While I am there, I get to suffer in my sin, separated (in a way) from God. This is where Satan eats your lunch. The point of being taken to captivity is to get me to realize I don’t want to be away from God. If I repent, God will bring me back to the good land, to his presence.
There is nothing like living in the Presence of God. He is my strength, He is my hope.
Sin is captivity, plain and simple. Sin separates me from God. When I sin, I am carried off to captivity. I get to stay there until I turn my heart around (literally: repent). While I am there, I get to suffer in my sin, separated (in a way) from God. This is where Satan eats your lunch. The point of being taken to captivity is to get me to realize I don’t want to be away from God. If I repent, God will bring me back to the good land, to his presence.
There is nothing like living in the Presence of God. He is my strength, He is my hope.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Authority
1 Samuel 26:17, Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king."
I don’t know of anyone who has more disrespected than David was disrespected by King Saul. (I saw this because these days it is very popular to disrespect your leadership: President, managers, Senators…) King Saul was hunting David day and night. David had already spared his life once (Saul had promised to cut off the pursuit) and now Saul was hunting him again.
After all this, not only would David not kill him, he wouldn’t even disrespect him, referring to Saul as “my lord the king.”
David saw the king’s title and position came from God. David knew he wasn’t going to change that. David had amazing and total faith in God to the point that he said, “if it was the Lord who incited you against me, then may he accept [my sparing your life as] an offering.”
David knew no matter the circumstances God could be trusted and could do no wrong even if it was God HIMSELF who was causing Saul to hunt him.
I’m sure David did not like being hunted but he knew God was the one who was in control and whatever He chose was best. He didn’t need to dishonor a wicked king when that would actually dishonor the authority God had set up. I certainly would be very tempted to at least talk a little smack. (which David DID do, but only to the kings guard and not the king; See verse 16)
This is the example for me. Last month my Senator voted for something that complete drove me nuts, so I wrote her a letter. I told her what I thought but never disrespected her position. I’m certain because of this she will send me a box of candy. Well, more to the point, everything I do is before the Lord and I desire to honor Him first.
I don’t know of anyone who has more disrespected than David was disrespected by King Saul. (I saw this because these days it is very popular to disrespect your leadership: President, managers, Senators…) King Saul was hunting David day and night. David had already spared his life once (Saul had promised to cut off the pursuit) and now Saul was hunting him again.
After all this, not only would David not kill him, he wouldn’t even disrespect him, referring to Saul as “my lord the king.”
David saw the king’s title and position came from God. David knew he wasn’t going to change that. David had amazing and total faith in God to the point that he said, “if it was the Lord who incited you against me, then may he accept [my sparing your life as] an offering.”
David knew no matter the circumstances God could be trusted and could do no wrong even if it was God HIMSELF who was causing Saul to hunt him.
I’m sure David did not like being hunted but he knew God was the one who was in control and whatever He chose was best. He didn’t need to dishonor a wicked king when that would actually dishonor the authority God had set up. I certainly would be very tempted to at least talk a little smack. (which David DID do, but only to the kings guard and not the king; See verse 16)
This is the example for me. Last month my Senator voted for something that complete drove me nuts, so I wrote her a letter. I told her what I thought but never disrespected her position. I’m certain because of this she will send me a box of candy. Well, more to the point, everything I do is before the Lord and I desire to honor Him first.
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