Worry is like hunger. It comes, and it goes. And it occurs just about as often.
How will I get through this meeting?
What if this is more than just a cold?
What if that's not heartburn?
Did I leave the iron on?
Did I leave the faucet dripping?
Do we have enough gasoline to make it?
This is about 20 minutes worth of worry for me. I don't even consider myself a worrier. Mostly, I tend to keep an even keel. But still, some of these things are important. Even if I'm not worried about 'me', I do have a family and I worry about 'them'. There is no end. Really.
Except that I have this huge desire to be like Jesus, and Jesus never worried. Isn't that something to think about?
Jesus never worried. Not about Lazarus. Not about Judas. Not about the cross. Not about if his precious mom would survive the entire experience. This is unbelievable. But true.
Worry is a sin, and Jesus had no sin. So what IN THE WORLD is the key?
1Jn 4:18 HNV
(18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
This verse reads in this way: If I really loved - perfectly - I wouldn't fear, and therefore wouldn't worry. I think this is an improper translation.
How about this: if we knew Him as we should - because He IS perfect love - then we would have no fear. In your worst time, imagine that Jesus Himself was sitting right next to you. He could answer all questions in your mind, and you could read His expressions. During the diagnosis when most people would crumple in terror, you could look over at Jesus and He could shrug as if to say, "That's nothing. They think they know, but I have the final say." No fear.
Yeah, that would be nice, but....
But, I haven't read my bible in 2 years. I haven't been to church since Easter. I haven't prayed since I was a kid. Understandable.
Okay, well how about this: I pray every night and every morning, but 'this' morning... I missed because I got up late. Or, I've read the bible through 15 times but I'm taking a little break this week because I've been sick. Understandable.
In both cases, we deprive ourselves from our source of strength. Our lifeline. If I haven't sat in silent meditation and prayer enough to hear His voice, then I may not have enough Love to cast out all my fears. That's just the way it is.
Showing posts with label 1 John. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 John. Show all posts
Monday, February 01, 2010
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Sticks and Stones
Exo 17:5-6 MKJV
(5) And Jehovah said to Moses, Go on in front of the people, and take with you the elders of Israel. And take your rod with which you struck the river, in your hand, and go.
(6) Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb. And you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Looking at our Salvation story through events in the Old Testament can be so exciting. Israel represented fallen man, hopelessly enslaved in Egypt. God used Moses to bring them out, through the Red Sea. They were free from Egypt, but only physically free. Mentally they were still enslaved to bitter, selfish souls. They were in the desert.
Notice what God says: take your rod with which you struck the river. The river? The river... which river was that, Lord... because... since we've seen the Nile we've WALKED THROUGH THE RED SEA. Why has God referenced a seemingly small event of the past instead of referencing the HUGE event of walking to freedom through a sea? Here is the verse:
Exo 14:16 MKJV
(16) But lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. And the sons of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
But no. God is reminding Moses to take the rod he used when he struck the Nile River, which probably seemed eons ago. Moses had struck the Nile in Exodus 7:20 and it turned to blood.
God usually allows mankind to obtain what he pursues, doesn't he? Pharaoh was out for blood. He had decreed the destruction of all the male Hebrew babies by what means? Throwing them in the Nile... But it was the Nile that floated their salvation: Moses. Now God was giving Pharaoh what he wanted - blood.
Back to God's reference. He said, even as you took the rod and struck the river, take the rod and strike the rock.
From here, we can take what we know and apply it. The rod is the cross that struck our Rock, Jesus Christ. From Him came water to nourish us and save us in the desert we were in. Understand, too, that rods have NO CHANCE against rocks. You'd no more set out to break a rock with a stick than you would digging a tunnel with a plastic spoon. Forget it. But the Rock split and water issued forth...
The cross... the Romans... the Jews... had NO CHANCE of killing Jesus unless He laid His life down for us. That He did.
1Jn 3:16 MKJV
(16) By this we have known the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
But the river... what about it? This same cross that was used to bring us water in the desert was also used to destroy the enemy - ultimately bringing him exactly what he wanted. Blood. The cross brings life, but the cross brings death to those who reject it.
(5) And Jehovah said to Moses, Go on in front of the people, and take with you the elders of Israel. And take your rod with which you struck the river, in your hand, and go.
(6) Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb. And you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, so that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Looking at our Salvation story through events in the Old Testament can be so exciting. Israel represented fallen man, hopelessly enslaved in Egypt. God used Moses to bring them out, through the Red Sea. They were free from Egypt, but only physically free. Mentally they were still enslaved to bitter, selfish souls. They were in the desert.
Notice what God says: take your rod with which you struck the river. The river? The river... which river was that, Lord... because... since we've seen the Nile we've WALKED THROUGH THE RED SEA. Why has God referenced a seemingly small event of the past instead of referencing the HUGE event of walking to freedom through a sea? Here is the verse:
Exo 14:16 MKJV
(16) But lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. And the sons of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
But no. God is reminding Moses to take the rod he used when he struck the Nile River, which probably seemed eons ago. Moses had struck the Nile in Exodus 7:20 and it turned to blood.
God usually allows mankind to obtain what he pursues, doesn't he? Pharaoh was out for blood. He had decreed the destruction of all the male Hebrew babies by what means? Throwing them in the Nile... But it was the Nile that floated their salvation: Moses. Now God was giving Pharaoh what he wanted - blood.
Back to God's reference. He said, even as you took the rod and struck the river, take the rod and strike the rock.
From here, we can take what we know and apply it. The rod is the cross that struck our Rock, Jesus Christ. From Him came water to nourish us and save us in the desert we were in. Understand, too, that rods have NO CHANCE against rocks. You'd no more set out to break a rock with a stick than you would digging a tunnel with a plastic spoon. Forget it. But the Rock split and water issued forth...
The cross... the Romans... the Jews... had NO CHANCE of killing Jesus unless He laid His life down for us. That He did.
1Jn 3:16 MKJV
(16) By this we have known the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
But the river... what about it? This same cross that was used to bring us water in the desert was also used to destroy the enemy - ultimately bringing him exactly what he wanted. Blood. The cross brings life, but the cross brings death to those who reject it.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Casting Crowns
1Jn 2:28 Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
A common misconception, I think, is that when Jesus returns for those who belong to Him, they will all be zapped away to Heaven where all shortcomings will be forgotten and everything will be hunky-dory, so to speak.
Truthfully, scripture does not indicate this. John reminds us that those of us who ignore our calling and our lineage in order to partake of the world and its offerings will stand before Jesus - ashamed. Saved as of by fire, another scripture says.
Pastor illustrated very clearly for us last weekend that we can most certainly forfeit our inheritance, just as the prodigal son did. Was he still accepted? Yes - but he was quite ashamed.
Remember that there will come a day when the single most important thing to us will be whether or not we have a crown to throw at the feet of Jesus. Let's not trade our crowns away for junk.
A common misconception, I think, is that when Jesus returns for those who belong to Him, they will all be zapped away to Heaven where all shortcomings will be forgotten and everything will be hunky-dory, so to speak.
Truthfully, scripture does not indicate this. John reminds us that those of us who ignore our calling and our lineage in order to partake of the world and its offerings will stand before Jesus - ashamed. Saved as of by fire, another scripture says.
Pastor illustrated very clearly for us last weekend that we can most certainly forfeit our inheritance, just as the prodigal son did. Was he still accepted? Yes - but he was quite ashamed.
Remember that there will come a day when the single most important thing to us will be whether or not we have a crown to throw at the feet of Jesus. Let's not trade our crowns away for junk.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Backing Up
I've not been writing much lately. It's not that I've been dry, but the word in my head has been so strong that I really didn't want to see it written. It sometimes even offends my own spirit.
With going full bore into Kingdom stuff for a while, it's easy to get pulled into the immense scope and responsibility of walking as Jesus walked. But there are some fundamentals that require attention.
The Kingdom is about giving what you have. "Silver and gold have I not, but what I have I give..." If you have no peace, you cannot impart peace. If you have no hope, then all you can impart is hopelessness.
Love is the fire that fuels the Kingdom and all Kingdom work. Without love, we are what? Perhaps the reason many have nothing to give is that they do not realize what they have been given. Not only do you have to have the gift, you must realize you have the gift.
It's like having a checking account and a bunch of checks. It's difficult to write checks to people if you do not know how much money you have in the bank.
As Christians, we've been shown much love. Scripture says:
1Jn 4:19 HNV(19) We love Him, because he first loved us.
I can write checks, because dad first wrote me one.
God has deposited something in our checking accounts and therefore we can write MANY checks. It's about giving away what we have. We tend to wander aimlessly, giving nothing, because we lose sight of what we have been given.
Does this tie in to forgiveness? I can't forgive because I've lost sight of what God has forgiven me?
Jesus said this of the harlot:Luk 7:47 HNV(47) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
Those who have need of little (a fallacy) receive little, and therefore give little away. This is 'not' Kingdom living.
With going full bore into Kingdom stuff for a while, it's easy to get pulled into the immense scope and responsibility of walking as Jesus walked. But there are some fundamentals that require attention.
The Kingdom is about giving what you have. "Silver and gold have I not, but what I have I give..." If you have no peace, you cannot impart peace. If you have no hope, then all you can impart is hopelessness.
Love is the fire that fuels the Kingdom and all Kingdom work. Without love, we are what? Perhaps the reason many have nothing to give is that they do not realize what they have been given. Not only do you have to have the gift, you must realize you have the gift.
It's like having a checking account and a bunch of checks. It's difficult to write checks to people if you do not know how much money you have in the bank.
As Christians, we've been shown much love. Scripture says:
1Jn 4:19 HNV(19) We love Him, because he first loved us.
I can write checks, because dad first wrote me one.
God has deposited something in our checking accounts and therefore we can write MANY checks. It's about giving away what we have. We tend to wander aimlessly, giving nothing, because we lose sight of what we have been given.
Does this tie in to forgiveness? I can't forgive because I've lost sight of what God has forgiven me?
Jesus said this of the harlot:Luk 7:47 HNV(47) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
Those who have need of little (a fallacy) receive little, and therefore give little away. This is 'not' Kingdom living.
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