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In a Strait Betwixt Two

Struggling with the ghosts and monsters that glorify death at this time of year, many Christians focus on the delights of the Fall season instead.  Rather, we have an opportunity with those who still fear death (or believe that’s the scariest thing in this life) to teach them that Jesus has conquered death (Philippians 1:19-24).

I.  Hebrews 2:14-15.  Though Paul was suffering in prison, he states that by his life or by his death, Christ would be glorified in his body.  While we often place our comfort over our character, Paul had adopted God’s perspective on death, knowing, as the Hebrew writer says, that Jesus had destroyed the one who had the power of death and freed us from the slavery of the fear of death.  Sadly, many love the world still (1 John 2:15-17) and live in their bondage to this fear.

II.  Philippians 3:8-11.  Paul knew that this temporary world could not offer what was ‘far better’ with Christ.  Often, though, we assign eternal status to the temporary and work to live forever in this world that is passing away, becoming a friend to this world and an enemy to God (James 4:1-4).  Looking to avoid the sufferings that Jesus endured while in this life, we exchange that which is ‘far better’ for worldly pleasures and so forfeit the resurrection.

III.  1 Corinthians 15:42-58.  Unlike many today who have grown comfortable in this life, Christians should view, as Paul did, that our time here is for a purpose to have an impact on those around us.  And, just as those who served others didn’t recognize that they were doing these things for Jesus when they did them for others (Matthew 25:37-40), we too must realize that time here is “necessary on [another’s] account” and abound in our work for the Lord.

So, how do you feel when someone dies in the Lord or think about your own eventual death?  Do you fear death or are you joyful that you used the time that God has given you to live faithfully and play a role in getting others through the gates of heaven?

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What You, O Lord, Don’t Do for Me

So much you do, O Lord, for me,
So much you give — new life and hope;
On me so many blessings you heap!
Above them all, your presence in three.

But you do not make my decision;
Free will you gave to me instead.
I choose your will, your glory, your aid —
This too in its own way is blessing.

To will to do, for strength I ask,
To never heed the tempter’s voice;
In me confirm the eternal choice,
The Kingdom first I’d daily seek.

Let Jesus be example and guide,
In every thought and word and deed;
On his transforming word I’d feed.
With you, O Lord, let me abide.

The above prayer led to this chart.

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Lord, Blow Your Trumpet

Lord, blow your trumpet
in the songs we sing,
in the gifts we bring,
in the prayers we pray,
in the roles we play,
in the lives we live,
in the alms we give,
in the love we show,
in the seed we sow,
in the thanks we express,
in the souls we bless,
in the Word we speak,
in the bread we break.
Make all the earth hear your sound!
Amen.

I posted a form of this prayer poem last night on an alternative social media account, inspired by a short prayer on commonprayer.net.

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What is Truth?

Truth is to be sought after above all other things in this world (Proverbs 23:23), yet in a world that denies the existence of truth, we who insist on proclaiming it are hated (Amos 5:10).  Pilate was a product of the world that believed that whatever power or advantage a person could gather for himself was the only truth, relative as it may be, that existed.  Yet, Jesus declared to him that His purpose in coming into the world was to bear witness to absolute truth (John 18:33-40).  This is the purpose of His followers today.

I.  Acts 5:27-40.  Believing Jesus a liar, Pilate asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?”  Word of this itinerant preacher from Galilee must have surely reached Pilate before his own people turned him over to be condemned.  He sure didn’t look the part, but if he was “the King of the Jews,” why were his own people, who hated the occupiers, so willing to involve Rome?  He must have done something else?  In the same way today the world tries to either shut truth-tellers up or get us to dilute our message.

II.  John 15:18-25.  Thinking Jesus a lunatic, Pilate asked, “So you are a king?”  If not lying, Jesus must be crazy, yet he was speaking not like one condemned but factually about his spiritual kingdom.  He has no fear in the face of the worldly power I wield buts speaks to me as a head of state, like he’s the one in control, not me.  I can see that he’s done nothing deserving death, but it’s out of envy that they turned him in.  For the same reason, Jesus’ followers are hated today as we are citizens of His kingdom.

III.  Acts 17:16-21.  Considering Jesus to be LORD, Pilate asked, “What is truth?”  Why would someone willingly go through this, even die if truly a king?  Jesus answers by stating that it’s his purpose for coming into this world in order to bear witness to the truth.  In my position, I only ever hear what I want to hear from those around me or lies to spare prisoners’ lives.  But, here is one in power as well and innocent.  Because truth is relative in our world today, truth-tellers are considered narrow-minded and are cancelled (Acts 19:23-41).

Pilate gave in to the crowd to keep peace.  That’s what worldly power does.  But, he would put an inscription on the cross stating that Jesus was King of the Jews.  Meanwhile, God’s people are urged to love truth and peace (Zechariah 8:16-19).  Do you–even in the face of a world that is against you?

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Refining

Proverbs 17.3

Dear God, a man may refine metal to remove its impurities and get the best use from it, but only you can prove the heart and purify a man for your divine purpose.

I want to be that man. Into your hands I deliver my soul. Purify me that I might be useful to the Kingdom. The pain is not pleasant, O Father; I shrink from suffering, but like my Lord Jesus, I desire your will to be done in my life.

Thank you for your benevolent purpose to produce good in me and through me. May many praise you. I glorify your name. I pray as a follower of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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The Only God

You, O Lord, are one, the only God,
Living and true, and holy above creation.
Eternal are you, forever without end,
Without beginning, he who is and was
And ever will be, who holds all wisdom and power.

You entered the world of sin, in human form,
And never erred, but freely gave yourself
To save mankind, the perfect Lamb of God,
In death and pain and suffering that was ours —
Forgiveness undeserved to be received.

You came in power, from Heaven sent by Christ,
The Wind of God, to blow as he sees fit,
To bring to sinners life and lasting hope,
The promise of love. Here, O God, are heart
And body and soul — Fill me with your fullness.

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My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

When you see a house falling down, chances are there’s a foundation issue.  If it’s a life that’s collapsing, you need to repent or jack that house up and pour a new foundation.  Only a life built on the Rock will stand firm (Matthew 7:24-27).  We’ve sing a few songs that remind us of this:

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

and …

The wise man built his house upon the rock. (x3)  The rains came down and the floods came up. (x3)  And the house on the rock stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand. (x3)  The rains came down and the floods came up. (x3)  And the house on the sand went smash.

and …

Jesus, You’re My Firm Foundation, I Know I Can Stand Secure; Jesus, You’re My Firm Foundation, I Put My Hope In Your Holy Word, I Put My Hope In Your Holy Word.

I. Hebrews 6:17-20.  God tells us that it’s not if but when the storms of life come.  If we are resting on His unchanging grace, then we are able to hold onto the hope that God offers us, this hope that is an anchor for the soul, where Jesus has gone before us beyond the veil into heaven itself.  Or as this song says:

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In ev’ry high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.

II. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.  Since the wise build their lives on the Rock, how should we build?  Walking with Christ, we avoid the building materials that the world offers and begin our new life by being baptized (Colossians 2:6-12).  Then, taking care how we build, our lives are tested with a refiner’s fire, and we sing:

His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

III. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.  We stand firm when our lives found in Him.  We must let Christ replace the perishable with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality.  Because He conquered death, we, baptized into Him can be clothed with His righteousness and stand blameless before the throne, singing …

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found, Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.

If we are truly being wise and not foolish builders of our lives upon Jesus, we can sing these choruses:

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

and …

So, build your life on the Lord, Jesus Christ. (x3) And the blessings come tumbling down.  The blessings come down as the prayers go up. (x3) When you build your life on the Lord, Jesus Christ.

and …

I Have A Living Hope,
(I Have A Living Hope, )
I Have A Future;
(I Have A Future;)
God Has A Plan For Me,
(God Has A Plan For Me,)
Of This I’m Sure,
(Of This I’m Sure.)

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For in You I Trust

Where do we go when our lives are handfuls of broken pieces?  Like Charlie Brown once again running towards Lucy to kick the football, the world yanks what we need away and we regret that once again we have put our trust in it.  Why do we not trust God more?  David answers this in Psalm 143.

I.  Psalm 1:1-3.  Because his enemy is pursuing his soul and crushing his life within him, David prays for mercy, appealing to God’s great faithfulness, righteousness, and steadfast love to grant it.  But, David is conscious of how he is living before God as well when he asks Him not to enter into judgment with him and then spends much time recalling what God has already done for him while yearning for a closer relationship with God.

II.  Romans 8:13-14.  If God does not answer him quickly, David knows that his spirit, already fainting within him, will fail.  Because it is only in God that he trusts, longing to hear of God’s steadfast love as He answers David’s prayer and gives guidance by morning, David has to be patient.  Often we find it harder to trust God when the world offers a quicker or easier “fix.” Perhaps we fear rejection by the world or hope it will leave us alone if we blend in with it?

III.  Romans 8:3-8.  David appeals to the relationship that he has with God for his life to be preserved.  As God’s servant, he submits to God’s will and trusts fully in Him and Him alone, choosing to be led by His Spirit.  Therefore, since he belongs to God, he asks God to guide and save him “for [God;s] name’s sake.”  There’s certainty in David’s trust of God.  Because of his close relationship with Him, David knows his enemies will be destroyed.

The Japanese art of kinsugi mends pottery with gold and lacquer and brings more value to a piece than before it was broken.  Only God can take our brokenness and turn it into a beautiful-mess.  Trust Him.

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We do so many things wrong

Our Father who is in Heaven,

We know so little. Our hands are weak. Our eyes see only what is near. Come help us. Be present in our midst.

Thank you for another day to enjoy. We decide to live with your peace in our hearts. Help us to act today with kindness and contentment.

We decide to do your will. We want what you want. Help us to say only words that you approve. Give us strength to act like Jesus. Continue reading “We do so many things wrong”