I'm impressed. After losing his family, his house, his business, his income, his status, his life savings, the respect of the community and also his wife, his health, and his friends Job still says that he is hanging onto his faithfulness and integrity before God. Wow. I get kicked around by a few life circumstances that don't compare in intensity to anything Job experienced and I'm a mess.
Here Job is sitting in an ash heap, covered from head to toe with nasty boils just trying to find relief from his physical misery and he is maintaining his passion for God. Me? I'd be throwing a temper tantrum at best. After all he'd been through and yet his so called friends are hammering Job telling him what a lowlife he really is and that he deserves his plight. I'm afraid I'd lose my integrity at that point. Somebody else would be feeling pain.
Job admits to the bitterness of his plight yet still believes that eventually God will bring him relief. He still trusts God and believes in His justness. He won't give up or give in to his circumstances even though he doesn't understand why he has to suffer so much before God intervenes. It's no wonder that God said to the Devil, "consider my servant Job," in the opening chapters of this book. Job is a standout guy with great love for God and great faith.
I wish I were Job. Not that I'm inviting calamity on or in my life. I don't seem to have to invite it. It just shows up on a regular basis. I wish I had Job's faith and steadfastness. I wish I could endure the hammering by friends and associates, church members and pagans, even family with the integrity of Job. I have God's Holy Spirit in me and I get depressed when someone questions my teaching or motives or actions.
How did Job do it? How did he hang in there through it all? Why didn't he just walk away? Why didn't he just tell everyone where to get off? I think it's because his faith in who God was was greater than his understanding of the circumstances he faced. He really trusted God to ultimately make things right, to rescue him, to redeem him, to restore him. Not just because he was a righteous person and innocent of all accusations being thrown at him. It was because he knew in his heart the character of God.
God, I can't say that I've ever experienced all the Job did in such a short order. I can say that I have experienced many of the things and emotions Job did over the last few years. It's painful and depressing and hard to keep going at times. I guess I need a shot of Job's endurance and faith. I get really tired at times and feel all alone. It's a rough place to be. I'm trusting you to rescue me and redeem me and restore me. Not because I deserve it or have earned it, but because you are a great God of grace and mercy. In fact, I could use a shot of assurance today because I'm sitting here in the ash heap scraping off a few personal, spiritual and emotional boils.
Showing posts with label experience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label experience. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Daily Reflections on 1 Cor. 14:18-25 (Understanding)
Recently in the news was the tragic story of the bus crash that killed several on its way to a Vietnamese religious celebration in Carthage, MO. Every year thousands of Vietnamese from across the country make the trek to the small Ozarks town of Carthage to celebrate Marian Days. Carthage is home to the largest Vietnamese Catholic Seminary in the US. The town of twelve thousand residents swells to a population of sixty to seventy thousand people for that first full week in August.
I pastored in Carthage for nearly thirteen years. The seminary was located directly across from our church. The roads leading to our church were always closed that week, including Sunday. Every year we took our girls and walked through the gathering. We would pick a food tent and experience the cuisine and the culture. The menus were in Vietnamese. The waiters and waitresses and crowd spoke Vietnamese. The music was Vietnamese. As Caucasian Americans, we were definitely a minority on the grounds. One of the first years we went, my oldest daughter remarked, "Dad, this doesn't feel like Carthage." It was always a surprise what we got to eat and drink.
In this passage in Corinthians, Paul gives some sound advice to the Corinthian church regarding speaking in tongues. Paul isn't anti speaking tongues, however he notes that if some unbeliever comes into their midst and everyone is speaking in tongues, they are going to be freaked out, thinking everyone is out of their minds. The likelihood of those people coming to Christ is going to be slim to none. He goes on to say, if there isn't any interpretation to the tongue being spoken, keep it to yourself.
On the other hand, Paul encourages prophesy. Prophesy in biblical terms isn't telling the future. It's sharing a message from God. Sometimes a prophesy comes with a warning, as often seen in the Old Testament. But the heart of prophesy is about speaking God's truth. Paul says that he would rather speak 5 intelligible words that teach people about God than 10,000 words in a tongue. Why? Because Paul is more concerned about people coming to Christ, learning about Christ, growing in Christ than about some personal experience.
It's amazing to me how many believers today want to experience something that makes them feel something special. They want some ecstatic experience or to be wowed or something that makes THEM feel alive in Christ. Although those experiences are great for us, what about those outside of Christ? What about those struggling in sin or confusion or loneliness or with direction for life? What about the people with real life questions?
People need to hear instruction to grow. They especially need to hear God's Good News if they are outside of Christ. The ecstatic experience only adds to the confusion of people seeking answers. It's like walking through a strange culture where you don't understand anyone and can't read the menus. The food or drink may not satisfy your need or nurture your soul.
God, as a believer it would be easy for me to just focus on soaking you in and experiencing more of you on a daily/weekly basis. Yet, God you called us to be your light, your messengers, your ambassadors to a world who needs to hear your message of hope and victory in Jesus. Help me, Lord, to speak your word clearly to those surrounding me, especially my neighbors, friends, acquaintances who need to hear your Good News.
I pastored in Carthage for nearly thirteen years. The seminary was located directly across from our church. The roads leading to our church were always closed that week, including Sunday. Every year we took our girls and walked through the gathering. We would pick a food tent and experience the cuisine and the culture. The menus were in Vietnamese. The waiters and waitresses and crowd spoke Vietnamese. The music was Vietnamese. As Caucasian Americans, we were definitely a minority on the grounds. One of the first years we went, my oldest daughter remarked, "Dad, this doesn't feel like Carthage." It was always a surprise what we got to eat and drink.
In this passage in Corinthians, Paul gives some sound advice to the Corinthian church regarding speaking in tongues. Paul isn't anti speaking tongues, however he notes that if some unbeliever comes into their midst and everyone is speaking in tongues, they are going to be freaked out, thinking everyone is out of their minds. The likelihood of those people coming to Christ is going to be slim to none. He goes on to say, if there isn't any interpretation to the tongue being spoken, keep it to yourself.
On the other hand, Paul encourages prophesy. Prophesy in biblical terms isn't telling the future. It's sharing a message from God. Sometimes a prophesy comes with a warning, as often seen in the Old Testament. But the heart of prophesy is about speaking God's truth. Paul says that he would rather speak 5 intelligible words that teach people about God than 10,000 words in a tongue. Why? Because Paul is more concerned about people coming to Christ, learning about Christ, growing in Christ than about some personal experience.
It's amazing to me how many believers today want to experience something that makes them feel something special. They want some ecstatic experience or to be wowed or something that makes THEM feel alive in Christ. Although those experiences are great for us, what about those outside of Christ? What about those struggling in sin or confusion or loneliness or with direction for life? What about the people with real life questions?
People need to hear instruction to grow. They especially need to hear God's Good News if they are outside of Christ. The ecstatic experience only adds to the confusion of people seeking answers. It's like walking through a strange culture where you don't understand anyone and can't read the menus. The food or drink may not satisfy your need or nurture your soul.
God, as a believer it would be easy for me to just focus on soaking you in and experiencing more of you on a daily/weekly basis. Yet, God you called us to be your light, your messengers, your ambassadors to a world who needs to hear your message of hope and victory in Jesus. Help me, Lord, to speak your word clearly to those surrounding me, especially my neighbors, friends, acquaintances who need to hear your Good News.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 5:1-11 (Amazed)
"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wondered how He could love me, a sinner declared 'unclean.'" Peter could have penned those lines as he fell to his knees before Jesus in this passage. Amazed and astonished by the power and presence of Jesus.
I'm sure Peter's heart was already stirred by Jesus' teaching, otherwise he wouldn't have gone fishing after having been out all night doing it with nothing to show for his efforts. We don't really know what Jesus taught, but at the end of His teaching on the Sermon on the Mount the people's response was amazement and that He taught as one having authority.
Apparently Jesus didn't do any fancy mumbo jumbo. He simply said, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch." They did and were overrun with no doubt the biggest catch of their lives. So big it almost sunk their boat. Now, that's a lot of fish. The sight, the experience, the presence of Jesus issued a humbled response from the rugged fisherman.
Without a hell, fire and brimstone message from Jesus, Peter came to a quick realization of his own character and nature. He confessed he was a sinner and not worthy to be in the presence of Jesus. But you don't see condemnation by Jesus. You see an invitation to be with Him. Not only just to hang around with Him, but actually be a part of a world changing team. No way! Way!
Peter, James, and John put their boats into shore, left their nets, their boats, their business, their fish, their homes, their families and followed Jesus on the spot. It doesn't say that they took their fish to market, washed up their nets, put their boats in dry dock and then followed Jesus. It doesn't even say that they packed an overnight bag. The text says they left everything and followed Jesus. They now had new careers and a new calling and a new life.
Have you ever really had an encounter with Jesus? I don't mean observed Him from a distance. I mean a personal, face to face experience with Jesus. If you did, you'd be singing the same tune. How marvelous! How wonderful is my savior's love for me.
God, you don't have to wow me with some miracle or fancy hocus pocus. You wow me simply by your presence. I'm overwhelmed by your love and grace and mercy and strength and nature alone. Your words stir my heart and mind and challenge my thoughts and actions. I'm drawn to you! I want to know you more.
I'm sure Peter's heart was already stirred by Jesus' teaching, otherwise he wouldn't have gone fishing after having been out all night doing it with nothing to show for his efforts. We don't really know what Jesus taught, but at the end of His teaching on the Sermon on the Mount the people's response was amazement and that He taught as one having authority.
Apparently Jesus didn't do any fancy mumbo jumbo. He simply said, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch." They did and were overrun with no doubt the biggest catch of their lives. So big it almost sunk their boat. Now, that's a lot of fish. The sight, the experience, the presence of Jesus issued a humbled response from the rugged fisherman.
Without a hell, fire and brimstone message from Jesus, Peter came to a quick realization of his own character and nature. He confessed he was a sinner and not worthy to be in the presence of Jesus. But you don't see condemnation by Jesus. You see an invitation to be with Him. Not only just to hang around with Him, but actually be a part of a world changing team. No way! Way!
Peter, James, and John put their boats into shore, left their nets, their boats, their business, their fish, their homes, their families and followed Jesus on the spot. It doesn't say that they took their fish to market, washed up their nets, put their boats in dry dock and then followed Jesus. It doesn't even say that they packed an overnight bag. The text says they left everything and followed Jesus. They now had new careers and a new calling and a new life.
Have you ever really had an encounter with Jesus? I don't mean observed Him from a distance. I mean a personal, face to face experience with Jesus. If you did, you'd be singing the same tune. How marvelous! How wonderful is my savior's love for me.
God, you don't have to wow me with some miracle or fancy hocus pocus. You wow me simply by your presence. I'm overwhelmed by your love and grace and mercy and strength and nature alone. Your words stir my heart and mind and challenge my thoughts and actions. I'm drawn to you! I want to know you more.
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