Moths

One of the most dangerous consequences of a life of deliberate disobedience is the loss of spiritual discernment. What makes it even more devastating is that, as the prophets warn us, it happens so subtly, so slowly. It's like a moth in a closet slowly eating away at a garment. You don't even notice that His omniscient, loving wisdom has been usurped by your own finite, arrogant, self-serving wisdom. Talk about a tragedy waiting to happen. If you are God's child, you're about to walk off a very high cliff that you don't even know is there. And the people you love are going to be following you right off that cliff.

I am in trouble when I forget that the number one person the Lord needs to deliver me from is myself.

Seeing as God Sees

To see the world as God sees it, one cannot help but be a "man of sorrows" and a friend of grief. Yet, to see the world as God sees it is to embrace that sorrow as the gift the Spirit uses to fill a man with compassion for others, with a heart that longs to comfort the sorrowful, and with a heart that readily sees the needs of others as greater than his own.
To see the world as God sees it is to find joy in the midst of trials, to find strength to bear the cross of each day, to find contentment in little or much, to find hope when things are out of one's control, to find the ability to love others deeply in the midst of the apathy and even in the midst of the hatred of others. To see the world as God sees it is to be unafraid of the loneliness you fear the most because in the midst of it, He is always there.
To see the world as God sees is to develop a desire for times of aloneness with Him. To desperately long for times of quiet in His presence with His thoughts resting in your lap opening your soul for times of meditation, contemplation, and confession. Yet, to see the world as God sees it is to long for times of refreshing, acceptance, love, and praise in the presence of the congregation, in the unity of the body.
To see the world as God sees it is to deeply, impatiently long for His return to set things right on the earth. Yet to see the world as God sees it is to realize that man given a perfect kingdom where righteousness reigns, where there is only peace and no war, where social justice is supreme is not enough to bring man contentment and happiness. At the first opportunity, he--the heart of man is desperately wicked--will try to overthrow that kingdom and free himself from the rule of God. To see the world as God sees it is to realize that God on the throne of earth is not enough to defeat the selfish desires of man's heart. The only thing that can do that is God on the throne of a man's heart.
To see the world as God sees it is to rest in the truth that now--today--I can have abiding, ruling, in my heart faith, hope, and love. And that the greatest of these is love.

"Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou has for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready my God, Thy will to see; open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!"

Shepherds

The difference between a good shepherd and a false shepherd is fairly obvious. The good shepherd is motivated by self-sacrifice and the false shepherd is motivated by self-preservation. (And it is never more obvious than in the crisis moment.) To minister is to serve not to be served. And in the place where He has called you, you are not to build a kingdom for your glory but to be the "least in the kingdom" for His glory. Any other attitude puts the well-being of the sheep in your care in grave jeopardy. I wonder how many of us that have been called to minister to the needs of others--both spiritual and physical--more closely resemble the hireling rather than the Chief Shepherd, perhaps, without even knowing it? May God remind me every day that I am the least important person in my classroom. With the greatest responsibility to touch the life of each student with the love of the Shepherd.

And by the way: we are all called to minister to the needs of others--both physical and spiritual. Both physical and spiritual--not either/or.

Blindness

There is a phrase in Phillips "The New Testament in Modern English" that most clearly--in my opinion--sums up humanity apart from Christ: "They live blindfolded in a world of illusion." I've quoted that phrase at times in my writings. Some ideas that I've encountered in the last couple weeks--but certainly not for the first time--have reinforced that description for me. One of those ideas is the statement that professed atheists keep making about their not believing in God but at the same time being spiritual people. If someone doesn't believe in God, surely they also believe that man is just a complex piece of matter without a soul or a spirit. How can a physical "being" without a soul or spirit be spiritual? "They live blindfolded in a world of illusion."
The other idea that keeps cropping up in my readings the last few weeks is the idea that humanists are placing their faith in humanity to make a better world. How can anyone look at human history from the distant past to this morning's paper and have the slightest faith that man will build a better world? To me, that is undeniably naive "blind faith." "They live blindfolded in a world of illusion."
The danger that I face when reflecting on those thoughts is pride. Except for God's Spirit taking off my blindfold and showing me my Savior, my thought processes would be just as illusionary. How I must respond is to first in all humility thank my God for His working in my life, and then, on my knees, humbly pray earnestly that He will do the same for those wandering in such a deep darkness--"proclaiming themselves to be wise and proving themselves to be foolish." Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He has by His grace saved me. And as the Light of the World, He calls out to humanity to follow Him, to see Him as He is, the Savior of mankind. Their Savior.

"The Light of the World is Jesus." And He can--and desires--to still cause the blind to see. "He who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." May I plead with Him each day to use me as His light in a dark world.

In the Midst

Sometimes in the midst of disappointment or in the midst of sorrow as I look around at the circumstances in which I find myself, I have the tendency to want to lash out at God and ask Him what in the world He's up to--can't He--shouldn't He be doing more (Of course, more for me and those I love is what I mean). And then the Spirit quietly whispers to my heart and soul, "Your Savior willingly left Heaven to come to earth and die a horrible death in order that you might through My wooing spend eternity in His presence free from all sin and disappointment and sorrow. Free from all. Forever. And then He promises you that all things will work to the good of those who love Him. All things. Will--not might. And then He promises you that nothing at all can separate you from such amazing love--nothing; for all of eternity. What is this "more" that you're asking for?" And then on my knees and in my heart I must cry out, "Yes, Lord. You are all I need."

Good Manners Matter

I Corinthians 13:5 says of love, "Love is not rude." Or as Phillips puts it "Love has good manners and does not seek selfish advantage." That, sadly, hits everyone of us "right where we live," as they say. The love of Christ constrains us to be gentlemen and ladies. That puts love in the practical world, doesn't it? Holding the door open for a young lady, guys, is an act of Christ-like love. Good table manners are an act of love. God gives us some remarkably simple ways to demonstrate His love to others. Being polite and courteous is an act of love toward God. If we really love as we ought, we prefer others over ourselves and doing things for them--and doing things in a way that will not offend them--becomes natural for us. Or should I say naturally supernatural for us?
Do you think you could get someone to fall in love with you if you slammed the door in his or her face, ate like a slob on dinner dates, never bathed or brushed your teeth or combed your hair, wore dirty, unkempt clothes, left their house a mess every time you visited, never said "thank you" or showed them any respect and admiration, always interrupted or talked out loud when they were trying to listen to someone else? That would be stupid you say--and you're right. That would be stupid! But neither will we attract a lost world to Christ if we act that way in their presence. Neither will the love of Christ dominate our Christian circles if we act that way toward each other.
The simplest service performed by a heart of love never goes unnoticed by God or men. Do not doubt for a moment that when you hold the door for someone, or say "thank you," or commend someone that has done well, or even clean up your mess at McDonald's, that it is not for your Savior that you offer those simple demonstrations of love. And do not doubt that the world notices the distinction as well between you and most other people.
Have you slipped in your "maturity" lately? It is not carelessness nor is it insignificant. It is not "no big deal." It is a sign of a selfish lack of love and concern for those around you. And a disregard for the love that God expects His children to display. God's love active and alive in our hearts motivates us to be the ladies and gentlemen that we ought to be.
God says that the love that His Spirit puts in our hearts "is not rude." Can that be said of your love?

Mary Magdalen

I've been imagining again.  Sorry . . .

One story that's been on my heart--it's on my heart a lot--is the incident with our Savior and Mary Magdalen in the garden after the resurrection. You don't really believe that she was the only one with tears in her eyes, do you? He is moved with our struggles as only Infinite Love can be moved. He weeps with those who weep. Been sitting alone somewhere lately crying tears of disappointment or discouragement? Please don't believe that you shed one tear alone.
And she was right to mistake Him for the gardener. Is He not the Gardener of the beauty of the earth? I rejoice at His gardening skill all spring and summer. And aren't you thankful that even though The Fall brought weeds into our life, it didn't take away the flowers? Grace we call that. Infinite grace. I've experienced a few thorny situations in my life, but when I stopped to meditate on the Gardener, I've found myself inundated with the beautiful "flowers" of His gracious love. Haven't you?
And I'm convinced He was into hugs. I mean, what did He tell Mary right after He whispered her name--yes, He whispered it? "Wait, wait a minute Mary. No hugs--yet" (Itenese translation). Our situation, of course, is the exact opposite. Hug them while you can! You never know when they might go Home to see our Father. I can easily think of a lot of folks I wish I could hug one more time. You? Well, then . . . hugs all around.
And I can see Mary rolling her eyes when she told the disciples that she had seen Him, and they doubted her testimony. "Men." But I'll bet her eyes didn't stop sparkling and weeping and dancing--to keep up with her feet, even though she may have been "walking on air." When you've encountered His presence in your life, don't let the doubters keep your heart from the dance of faith and joy. "Men."