Lost

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.    Luke 19:10 (NLT) and Luke 15

In the parables that Jesus tells about lostness, he talks about sheep, coins, and sons.

The sheep lost its way.

The son lost his bearings.

But the coin just gets lost.

Some of people are separated not because of inattention, rebellion or ambition.
Sometimes they just get overlooked by others. But never by God.

Hopeless Hills

Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”  So they rolled the stone aside.   John 11:40-41a (NLT)

It is a grave in the side of a hill. The stone is large and heavy. Surely not to keep the dead in, but to keep the living out.  The grave cries out, "Over. Gone. Ended. Done."  On the inside is death and eternity. On the outside is fear and sorrow.  

But in the midst of this hopelessness, Jesus - the resurrection and the life - comes in, and Lazarus - the dead man - comes out. 

Behind the stone, in the solitude and sanctuary of the tomb, God was at work. In a place no one could see. In a way no one imagined. He brought life to the dead.

There are tombs in my heart. Places where I have buried my hopeless things and sealed them with hard and heavy stones. Habits I can't change. Relationships I've given up on. Plans I've abandoned. Outside of their graves I grieve their loss and quietly respect their finality. 

However, in the cemetery of these graves, could it be that there are some buried places where God is still at work? That behind the stone doors, where no one can see, he is breathing life into dead things? Am I watching in case Jesus comes to stand by one of my hopeless hills?  At his bidding, am I willing to move the stone? Do I have the faith that is able see God's glory there? 

Voice Recognition

“Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”  "Who are you, lord?" Saul asked. 

Acts 9:4b-5 (NLT)

In Philippians Chapter 3, Paul tells us a part of his testimony:

• Raised in the religious community: "I was circumcised when I was eight days old". 
• Part of the most elite and prestigious inner circles: "I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one!"
• Learned and educated in the things of God: "I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law."
• Serious about doing the right things: "I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault."

Yes, Paul had been a deeply religious person. And he knew it. And was proud of it.

But when God (through the person of Jesus) twice called out his name, Paul didn't recognize Him.

Perhaps that is because knowing ABOUT someone, isn't the same as KNOWING someone. I've read lots of biographies, but I would never know the sound of the person's voice until I had actually met them. In the same way, studying the words of God helps me know about God, but it is in knowing Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, that I really come to know God and am able to recognize His voice.

From the inside out

God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers,  revealing himself as its defender. Psalm 48:3


Despite what I know to be true, I often think of God as being out there somewhere. Although I know better, I tend to act as though God is watching over me "at a distance." This mindset is particularly evident when I am feeling vulnerable and afraid. I cry out to God as though he is on a far away planet and I need to implore him to make the trip to enter my world and protect me from the things that press in from nearby.

But God is here. "God himself is IN Jerusalem's towers." God himself (not his emissary or underling, but he, himself) is in the place where his people live. He doesn't come from somewhere else to be there for me. He is in here. Inside my world, inside my life, inside me. And it is from the inside out that he defends and protects me. 

Eighty-nine Nine

Psalm 89:9 (NASB) 

You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.

Psalm 89:9 (cpd*) 

When the waves of life mount up with madness and chaos...

    You, O God of heaven and earth, who created the waters with the greatness of Your voice,

    You, O God, who has power, dominion and authority over the swelling pride and boastful arrogance of all that pretends to be mighty; 

    You, O God, with Your loud voice of authority (as the conquerer who booms out a victory cry with a dreadful shout) demand the tumult to stop its churning and fury and bluster. 

...You alone, O God, cause the swirling currents to relax, to rest, to be at peace.

*my own paraphrase

Teach me

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray....” Luke 11:1 (NLT) 

I am not aware of other times recorded in the Gospels when the disciples actually asked Jesus to teach them something. They were obviously eager to learn. They followed Jesus, observed him in action, asked questions to understand better. But this time, as they watched him pray, they were moved to ask him to teach them.

Likewise, even as I follow Christ, as I watch his grace expressed around me, and as I study his word to know him better, I stay keenly aware that, "we do not know how to pray as we should" (Romans 8:26 NASB) and I find myself asking anew, "Lord, teach me to pray."

Auto-pilot world

Mark 4:35-41

We know the story. The disciples are in the boat, manning the sail. Jesus is in the boat, taking a nap. The disciples are seasoned fishermen, skilled in navigating the waters, the winds, the weather.  They are in their element, doing what they do best. Working within their strengths. Self-reliant. Self-assured. Self-sufficient.

And then, in the midst of their auto-pilot world, everything goes horribly wrong. All their experience isn't enough. All their knowledge isn't enough. All their self-confidence isn't enough. In the midst of what they have always done well, they need Jesus.

See also: A Lesson #5

Watchful Eye

The LORD watches over the foreigner… (Psalm 146:9)  See also Psalm 121.

When my children were young they would take little trips with my husband. They'd go to see grandma, or to an amusement park, or to the beach. When they were away I wouldn't worry about them. After all, they were under their father's loving care and watchful eye.

Recently, as my grown daughter moved to Africa I found myself fretting. About her safety. About her health. About her happiness. Gently and kindly, the Lord reminded me that just as I had not worried about her when she was away with her earthly father, so now, I could entrust her into the care of her Heavenly Father.  

Reminder

Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.  Deuteronomy 8:17-19

Recently I was given some new responsibilities that are broad and big. It was tempting to feel that something I had done had earned for me this new opportunity. Until I came upon these verses from Deuteronomy.  A fit reminder. These words don't just give me a new way to think, or a formula for humility. These words are truth. And a "solemn warning." I am where I am by God's choosing. I have what I have by His blessing. Nothing to claim as my own, to feel superior about. And if I forget that truth, if I turn to the gods of power, and ambition, and pride, then I can be sure the God who gives will also take away.

Get up and pray

 "'Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.'" (Luke 22:46)

In his final hours, in his last private words to his intimate followers, Jesus instructs his disciples to pray.
Twice he urges them. Once as he walked away to his own private prayer spot, and again after he himself had prayed awhile.

In both instances he told them why they needed to pray: "so that you will not give in to temptation."

Even in his agony, Jesus is still teaching his disciples to pray. Even as he was praying his own prayer of submission, he plead with his followers to pray their prayers of submission. "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine," the Son says to the Father.

Isn't that the core struggle when we face temptations?  Whose will will be done?  The will of my flesh? The will of the world? The will of the devil?  Or the will of God?

How well did the disciples do?  Not so good. They fell asleep (Luke 22:39-47). They could not even overcome the temptation to not pray.

This Holy Week and beyond, how can we better learn to practice the prayer of submission that strengthens us against temptations? How can we guard ourselves from the slumber of a distracted heart?