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?

Gather around

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.  But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19-20 (NASB)

There's a lot of things to beat us down on any given day. Criticisms from without, worries from within. Some days the failures seem to overwhelm any victories, and the frailties of body and soul seem to sabotage any of our best intentions. We find that our fallen nature has ambushed us once again and we lie wounded in a pool of disappointment.

It is at those times when we can keenly understand the reason God made us to live in community. We need others who can pick us up, brush us off, and set us back on the path.  "It is not good for man to live alone," declared the Creator-God. "Two are better than one," explained the wise teacher in Ecclesiastes.

In the Book of Acts we see Paul, beaten to the point of death. "But while the disciples stood around him, he got up ..." and continued on his mission. I need those disciples to stand beside me when my heart is bruised, my thinking jumbled, my body weary.  I need them to gather around to pray, to speak truth, to love, to help.

And as a disciple myself,  I need to be available to others when they need the same.

It's a gift

"I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."  John 14:27 (NLT) 

What do you do when offered a gift? In my upbringing, you accept it with profuse appreciation. Then you might tuck it away in the closet to later put into the 'goodwill' bin, or re-gift it to someone who might actually want it or make better use of it. In a few instances you might actually like it and use it. It is at those times that you actually receive the gift.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus tells us of many things God will give or has given those who follow Him: rest (Matthew 11:28); authority (Matthew 10:1); instructions (Matthew 11:1);  the life of Jesus as a ransom (Mark 10:45); the right to become children of God (John 1:12);  the Holy Spirit (John 14:16), and many more.

In John 14:27, Jesus offers his followers the gift of peace of mind and heart. What have I done with that gift? Put it away for a time when I really need it? Dismissed it as something I don't really want? Rejected it for the costly and impotent substitute the world offers?

Or have I received the peace of Christ (that passes understanding-that is not like what the world gives), so my troubled soul is calmed and my fearful heart is comforted?