“If You can?” (Mark 9:23,NIV)
(Mark 9:1-13) 3 disciples just witnessed the future resurrection as they saw Jesus transfigured before their very eyes. They did not understand the significance of the moment as they watched Moses and Elijah (the embodiment of the Law and the Prophets) talk with Jesus. We too loose sight of the future resurrection that awaits all those who have placed their confidence in Jesus.
But as they were coming down from this “mountain top” experience they were faced with the hardness of hearts again. Jesus had earlier chosen His disciples for three reasons: to be with Him, to preach the good news, and to cast out demons. Now if Jesus tells us to do something, we should be sure that not only are we suppose to do it but He will give us the strength, power, wisdom and faith to accomplish His task. But somehow the disciples lost sight of this and it was causing others to loose faith in the Savior too.
Case in point. The disciples could not cast out a stubborn demon in a young man. The father of the young man brought the case to the disciples, but the disciples were unable to complete what the Lord set them out to do.
Now the man is standing before Jesus saying something that you and I will only find in this case. The man says to Jesus – “…if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
“If you can do anything?” What is this odd statement in our almighty and all knowing Savior’s ears? “If you can do anything?” What does He do with this? Many have come to Him with their “impossible situations” and seen Him do way beyond what they could have imagined. Over and over again in the scripture it is not “If You can”, but more often, “If You will.” Now that is more like the question someone should ask.
“If you can” is questioning His authority and His power. “If you will”, gives Him the rightful authority and power to do whatever He so desires to do. “If you can” sounds similar to the words of our Lord’s adversary, Satan, who came and said, “If you are the Son of God…” “If you can”, sounds like the Pharisees and the mockers, “show us something, if you can or if you are the Son of God.”
Now this man was not mocking or even acting as an adversary. But the hardness of the disciples’ heart weighed in on this man’s impression of the Lord Jesus to the point, that he was still running to the Lord Jesus, (which was the only right thing to do), but with doubts about what the Savior could really do.
How are you running to the Lord today? Is it a matter of “if You can” or “If You will”. “If You can” is stretching you to the point of wanting your will to be done. “If You will” is demonstrating your submission to His will with all confidence that He will do what is best.
O Lord Jesus, today is another day in which we get to see Your mighty hand at work in this world. May we point everyone that we come in contact today to You, the One who can do all things and will do only that which is according to the Father’s will. Thank you for saving us and for causing us to run to You about anything and everything. Your will be done in all these things. We love You and look to You, the Author and Finisher of faith. Amen
PS. The man in Mark 9 saw Jesus drive the demon out of his son. Even though he came to Jesus with doubts, he came to Jesus. Run to Jesus.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Saturated in Trusting God
Romans 4:19 … he did not consider his own body…
I love this small passage from Romans 4 – let me give the contexts: Paul was teaching the Roman Church about the righteousness that comes about through faith and he was using an earthly illustration to demonstrate what that looks like. He was basically saying that Abraham was picture of someone who pleased God (just think about that for minute – pleasing God) by simple faith.
“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory (honor) to God, being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
This is how the Lord wants us to live life daily. “Take no thought of your life, what you will eat; nor about your body, what you will put on …. And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Luke 12:23, 25) A life saturated in trusting God is so fun to live because all the work is His and we get to enjoy watching Him do that which only He can do.
We are tempted at times to take our faith filled eyes off of Jesus (who is the author and completer of our faith) and to place them on our circumstances or on our abilities or even inabilities. In times of waiting (as Abraham waited 25 years) we are tested and the faith that He has placed in our hearts becomes more and more grounded. It is not anymore, “can He do something”, but more of “when He will do something.”
I have a dear friend (another brother, David) who has been given great faith from our Lord. He has been waiting, “not considering his own body”, for almost a year with a broken toe that has kept him from work. He has confidence in the Lord’s time, things will work out – “But it is His time and waiting on Him is worth it.” I love the picture of faith that David paints for me as I watch him from a distance (he is on the other side of the United States). The Lord has not given me that kind of faith yet. I had cancer and now I don’t. David has had a broken toe and he still has a broken toe. His faith continues to be fortified as He waits on the Lord.
Thank you David for teaching me to wait on the Lord. Thank you for teaching me not to be concerned about myself with my situation. You are living example, my brother, of an individual saturated in trusting God.
I love this small passage from Romans 4 – let me give the contexts: Paul was teaching the Roman Church about the righteousness that comes about through faith and he was using an earthly illustration to demonstrate what that looks like. He was basically saying that Abraham was picture of someone who pleased God (just think about that for minute – pleasing God) by simple faith.
“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory (honor) to God, being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
This is how the Lord wants us to live life daily. “Take no thought of your life, what you will eat; nor about your body, what you will put on …. And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Luke 12:23, 25) A life saturated in trusting God is so fun to live because all the work is His and we get to enjoy watching Him do that which only He can do.
We are tempted at times to take our faith filled eyes off of Jesus (who is the author and completer of our faith) and to place them on our circumstances or on our abilities or even inabilities. In times of waiting (as Abraham waited 25 years) we are tested and the faith that He has placed in our hearts becomes more and more grounded. It is not anymore, “can He do something”, but more of “when He will do something.”
I have a dear friend (another brother, David) who has been given great faith from our Lord. He has been waiting, “not considering his own body”, for almost a year with a broken toe that has kept him from work. He has confidence in the Lord’s time, things will work out – “But it is His time and waiting on Him is worth it.” I love the picture of faith that David paints for me as I watch him from a distance (he is on the other side of the United States). The Lord has not given me that kind of faith yet. I had cancer and now I don’t. David has had a broken toe and he still has a broken toe. His faith continues to be fortified as He waits on the Lord.
Thank you David for teaching me to wait on the Lord. Thank you for teaching me not to be concerned about myself with my situation. You are living example, my brother, of an individual saturated in trusting God.
Thankful (Post 3 Month Check up)
Romans 1:21…they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him…. (ESV)
Paul was explaining to the church at Rome that the world goes about their affairs – without ever bringing honor to God (even though they are aware He exists) and they certainly do not pause to thank Him even when He sends showers of blessings upon the them (Mat. 5:45).
As we were making our way back to NYC last week, we did not want to reflect our sinful human nature nor the world around us. We love the Lord Jesus and are very aware that He is with us in the course of whatever we go through and that He has reasons for doing what He does, and we do not need to know His reasons. We trust Him and will continue to trust Him.
We had asked the Lord to tune our hearts to honor Him through all that we do and give Him thanks for all that He causes to happen to us. This past Friday, the Doctor reported that the cancer has not returned and it was not necessary for me to have another test concerning cancer until 6 months from now. Our Lord Jesus is honored and we responded with gratitude as we saw that He has taken away the cancer.
Lynda and I are grateful for the body of Christ, the Church, you who have called on the Lord for us. We know the Lord’s will is being accomplished in our lives as you pray and as He does what only He can do. Please continue to pray for us as we share the love Jesus with people we come in contact with and use the past experience with cancer as an opportunity to call others to recognize His mighty hand at work and to thank Him. Please pray that we would speak boldly and with wisdom, saying what He would only want us to say.
We love you all and will let you know how the Lord continues to work out all things for His honor and glory and for our good.
Paul was explaining to the church at Rome that the world goes about their affairs – without ever bringing honor to God (even though they are aware He exists) and they certainly do not pause to thank Him even when He sends showers of blessings upon the them (Mat. 5:45).
As we were making our way back to NYC last week, we did not want to reflect our sinful human nature nor the world around us. We love the Lord Jesus and are very aware that He is with us in the course of whatever we go through and that He has reasons for doing what He does, and we do not need to know His reasons. We trust Him and will continue to trust Him.
We had asked the Lord to tune our hearts to honor Him through all that we do and give Him thanks for all that He causes to happen to us. This past Friday, the Doctor reported that the cancer has not returned and it was not necessary for me to have another test concerning cancer until 6 months from now. Our Lord Jesus is honored and we responded with gratitude as we saw that He has taken away the cancer.
Lynda and I are grateful for the body of Christ, the Church, you who have called on the Lord for us. We know the Lord’s will is being accomplished in our lives as you pray and as He does what only He can do. Please continue to pray for us as we share the love Jesus with people we come in contact with and use the past experience with cancer as an opportunity to call others to recognize His mighty hand at work and to thank Him. Please pray that we would speak boldly and with wisdom, saying what He would only want us to say.
We love you all and will let you know how the Lord continues to work out all things for His honor and glory and for our good.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Beguiling My Heart
Act 23:5 … You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.
(Paul used this OT verse when he was told that he had reviled a God’s high priest – Ananias. He had said something that offended Ananias and Ananias commanded the guard beside Paul to strike him on the mouth. Paul spoke out not knowing that he was in the presence of the high priest and then apologized with saying; “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”)
How many of us savor a good “clean” joke about our President? You know the one that shows up from a Christian brother or sister in your email box. “This is the best one yet!” Not knowing what good news is in store in that email, but trusting that person, you open the email and it a blistering joke or slanderous cut on President Obama.
This past week, in the Jr. High Bible class, we read from Mark 7:9-13 - 9 And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (NIV)
I posed this question to the class; “How does your generation go about circumventing God’s will and command to honor your parents.” They gave some fascinating answers.
“When mom tells me to do the dishes, I say, ‘I have homework to do’, thus beguiling my own heart. I have just placed doing homework above honoring my parents.”
“When my parents say be home by 9pm and my friends say there is a great movie showing but it gets over at 9:15pm. I show up late at home because I wanted to see the end of the movie. I just beguiled my heart in placing the value of seeing the end of a movie over honoring my parents.”
“Dad says for me to stop talking on the phone (meaning turn off the phone) for it is time to go to bed. I go into my bedroom, start texting my friend that I was talking to and may even email, when my dad requested me to go to bed. I have beguiled my heart in thinking communicating with my friend is more important than honoring my dad.”
The illustrations continued to pop like popcorn, convicting all of our hearts more and more as we contemplated on how we have deceived our hearts into thinking something is more important than honoring those in authority.
Then the Lord brought what I read yesterday for devotions (Acts 23) together with what we were talking about in class. (These students preach Jesus so loud to his hard hearted teacher.) And I thought about the jokes I would pass around in my younger day about President Clinton. How when I found a good one, I passed it on. And I beguiled my heart in thinking that it was more important to slander (in a joking way) our president than to honor him, as the Lord would want. I confessed my sin and many other ways that I have beguiled my heart to thinking something was more important than honoring those in authority.
What has beguiled your heart today when it comes to authority? Here is a parallel truth – “If someone says I love God and hate his brother, he is a liar.” (I John 4:20) So it is, if someone says I honor God but dishonor those in authority, he is a liar.
Take a fresh breath of honoring those in authority today and in so doing, honor God also.
O Lord, the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked…. I have beguiled my heart in so many ways placing what I think is important over that which you declared important way before I ever took my first breath. Please have mercy on my hard heart and may I honor those who are in authority as Jesus. Lord Jesus, You honored the Father in every way. I want to be like You Jesus, and honoring those in authority around me, may I bring much honor to You.
I love you Jesus and honor You. To You be glory.
(Paul used this OT verse when he was told that he had reviled a God’s high priest – Ananias. He had said something that offended Ananias and Ananias commanded the guard beside Paul to strike him on the mouth. Paul spoke out not knowing that he was in the presence of the high priest and then apologized with saying; “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”)
How many of us savor a good “clean” joke about our President? You know the one that shows up from a Christian brother or sister in your email box. “This is the best one yet!” Not knowing what good news is in store in that email, but trusting that person, you open the email and it a blistering joke or slanderous cut on President Obama.
This past week, in the Jr. High Bible class, we read from Mark 7:9-13 - 9 And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (NIV)
I posed this question to the class; “How does your generation go about circumventing God’s will and command to honor your parents.” They gave some fascinating answers.
“When mom tells me to do the dishes, I say, ‘I have homework to do’, thus beguiling my own heart. I have just placed doing homework above honoring my parents.”
“When my parents say be home by 9pm and my friends say there is a great movie showing but it gets over at 9:15pm. I show up late at home because I wanted to see the end of the movie. I just beguiled my heart in placing the value of seeing the end of a movie over honoring my parents.”
“Dad says for me to stop talking on the phone (meaning turn off the phone) for it is time to go to bed. I go into my bedroom, start texting my friend that I was talking to and may even email, when my dad requested me to go to bed. I have beguiled my heart in thinking communicating with my friend is more important than honoring my dad.”
The illustrations continued to pop like popcorn, convicting all of our hearts more and more as we contemplated on how we have deceived our hearts into thinking something is more important than honoring those in authority.
Then the Lord brought what I read yesterday for devotions (Acts 23) together with what we were talking about in class. (These students preach Jesus so loud to his hard hearted teacher.) And I thought about the jokes I would pass around in my younger day about President Clinton. How when I found a good one, I passed it on. And I beguiled my heart in thinking that it was more important to slander (in a joking way) our president than to honor him, as the Lord would want. I confessed my sin and many other ways that I have beguiled my heart to thinking something was more important than honoring those in authority.
What has beguiled your heart today when it comes to authority? Here is a parallel truth – “If someone says I love God and hate his brother, he is a liar.” (I John 4:20) So it is, if someone says I honor God but dishonor those in authority, he is a liar.
Take a fresh breath of honoring those in authority today and in so doing, honor God also.
O Lord, the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked…. I have beguiled my heart in so many ways placing what I think is important over that which you declared important way before I ever took my first breath. Please have mercy on my hard heart and may I honor those who are in authority as Jesus. Lord Jesus, You honored the Father in every way. I want to be like You Jesus, and honoring those in authority around me, may I bring much honor to You.
I love you Jesus and honor You. To You be glory.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
What Moves You?
What moves you?
As I was reading this morning, something caught my attention that Paul said to the elders of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20).
“… I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulation await me. But none of these things move me: nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (NKJV)
Paul’s life, physically speaking, did not matter. He did not count his life dear to himself. He desired to finish the race that the Lord set before him with joy and to make sure the good news of God’s grace was proclaimed where ever he went. He knew the “race” was from the Lord Jesus as well as the “ministry”. He was fixed on Jesus Christ and nothing else mattered.
As Lynda and I travel to NYC to hear if the cancer returned or not, this has become our heart beat – “let none of these things move us.” Why? It is our joy to take the gospel to these dear people. If He says, “no cancer” this time, then we have an open door to come back to Phoenix right away to continue our work in dispensing the good news of Jesus here in the valley. If He says, “cancer” this time, then we have an open door to stay in NYC longer to dispense the good news of Jesus there. Our desire, our joy is to carry about in our bodies the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing else moves us.
What has been moving you lately? What have you counted so dear to your life? Compare that which moves you; that which you count so dear to the desire of getting the good news to those the Lord has placed in your life. When we look at the joyous opportunity that the Lord gives to us to bear His name, let nothing underneath this ministry, this calling, this charge move us.
As I was reading this morning, something caught my attention that Paul said to the elders of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20).
“… I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulation await me. But none of these things move me: nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (NKJV)
Paul’s life, physically speaking, did not matter. He did not count his life dear to himself. He desired to finish the race that the Lord set before him with joy and to make sure the good news of God’s grace was proclaimed where ever he went. He knew the “race” was from the Lord Jesus as well as the “ministry”. He was fixed on Jesus Christ and nothing else mattered.
As Lynda and I travel to NYC to hear if the cancer returned or not, this has become our heart beat – “let none of these things move us.” Why? It is our joy to take the gospel to these dear people. If He says, “no cancer” this time, then we have an open door to come back to Phoenix right away to continue our work in dispensing the good news of Jesus here in the valley. If He says, “cancer” this time, then we have an open door to stay in NYC longer to dispense the good news of Jesus there. Our desire, our joy is to carry about in our bodies the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing else moves us.
What has been moving you lately? What have you counted so dear to your life? Compare that which moves you; that which you count so dear to the desire of getting the good news to those the Lord has placed in your life. When we look at the joyous opportunity that the Lord gives to us to bear His name, let nothing underneath this ministry, this calling, this charge move us.
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