Where's the Sense of Awe? (Isa. 6:1-8; Acts 2:42-47)

It's the only time the word "holy" is used three consecutive times. We're talking about "holy" in reference to God. Holy is used numerous times in the Bible but, the only times you ever see "holy, holy, holy" is when it describes our Heavenly Father. Isaiah 6 draws me, entices me, challenges me, motivates me, thrills me, encourages me. In time of depression for Isaiah and the country, the death of King Uzziah, God speaks to Isaiah in a vision. It's a life changing vision that takes Isaiah on a prophetic journey; a journey that ultimately impacts the world with the promise of the coming Messiah.

The picture of God painted here reminds me a lot of vision the Apostle John depicts in Revelation; God seated high on a throne, being exalted by seraphs/angels who fly back and forth proclaiming His praise. Throughout the Old Testament and of course Revelation, the image of the glorious majesty of God is portrayed over and over again. People bow, tremble, shake, fall prostrate as they experienced the presence of God in their midst.

I wonder where that sense of awe has gone today. Rereading the second chapter of Acts recently stirred my heart. I noted that something was missing from today's corporate gatherings. I have long been associated with an ecclesiastical leaning that has prided itself on restoring New Testament Christianity to its practices. Acts 2:42 has been a staple of this movement. They (the first Christians) continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. We've have hammered those four elements as the key for a New Testament Church to employ.

What has always been a little bothersome to me and has struck me more deeply recently is why stop there. If restoring New Testament Christianity is the goal, what do we ignore verses 43-47?

Like Isaiah and many of the Old Testament encounters, the early Christians experienced a sense of awe and many signs and wonders were happening in their midst. My question is, "What happened to the sense of awe among today's believers?" I don't mean awe of the service or worship team or video composite or speaker. Where is the awe of God? Where are the truly changed lives? Where is the awe of the majesty and glory and GRACE of God.

There was a transformation that happened to Isaiah when he encountered God's Holy, Holy, Holiness. Isaiah was immediately aware of his sin, his inadequacy, his unrighteousness. But God in His holiness extended grace and cleansing and restoration to Isaiah, touching his unclean lips with a purging coal from His altar.

The awe for Isaiah dramatically soared.The majestic God just removed Isaiah's sin and guilt in one fell swoop. In response, Isaiah poured out his life to be used by God.

The same is true for the early Christians. Through the blood sacrifice of Christ and His resurrection, the early Christians were now freed from the bondage of sin and the guilt of not being able to keep the law. What? Jesus paid it all? Wow? I'm free? I'm cleansed from my unrighteousness? Amazing? Then all to Him I owe! And they sold their possession giving to anyone who had need. Lives were being changed, transformed by the power of God and His holiness.

And what's amazing is the early Christians became in the words of Elton Trueblood, an incendiary fellowship which drew thousands of more lives to the cross of Christ. Daily, Acts 2:47 says, changed lives were being added to their numbers.

God, why don't I experience awe of you when I gather with my fellow believers? Why is there so much focus on the order of service and what time we get out? Why do we skim through your teaching like we're perusing a self help book? Lord, I want to experience awe of you. I want to see lives truly changed by the power of your truth, your spirit, your grace. I want to be a part of people who are truly immersed in your spirit, your life, that make such a difference in their community that lives are changed and people are added daily to YOUR church, YOUR kingdom.

Daily Reflections on Lk. 12:54-59 (The Signs of the Times)

Weather forecasters drive me crazy. Living in the Ozarks the weather can change drastically, even in the course of one day. Tornadoes, wind, rain, thunderstorms, snow, ice, frigid temperatures, heat waves with triple digit temperatures, drought, sweltering humidity, floods are all typical throughout the year. In fact they can all occur in the course of a week, maybe a couple days. Whenever the forecasters say flurries, I worry we might have heavy snow. And when they tells us we could get 14 inches of snow, I relax.

Our weather men and women get it right eighty percent of the time AFTER it happens. Before it happens, that's a different story. Occasionally you will see in gift shops in our area an Ozarks Weather Rock to help one determine the weather. It's a small stone suspended from a stick structure that looks almost like a hangman's noose. On the base the interpretations go something like this: 1. If the rock is still, it's calm. 2. If the rock is moving, it's windy. 3. If the rock is wet, it's raining. 4. If the rock is dry and casts a shadow, it's sunny. 5. If the rock is cold, it's cold. 6. If the rock is hot, it's hot. Some think that this weather rock is more accurate than our weather people.

Jesus talks about interpreting the weather in Luke 12. He says the average person is smart enough to figure it out as they see it approaching. The problem comes with reading the signs of the times. We seem to be blind. We're worse than the weather forecasters. Like they, we have all the modern equipment and insights available to us, but we can't seem to see what's coming.

Jesus seems to be saying to take a good look around you, pay attention to what's happening in your life. Most of us often take off on paths in life and without a thought as to where they might lead us. We go along with crowd. We jump into things just because we think it looks like fun. We're often blind to the environment we're getting into. Either we simply ignore the warning signs or we're totally oblivious to them.

Maybe we need an Ozarks Weather Rock to carry around. Not to determine the weather, but to determine the signs of the time. Many of us can't see when it's time to move on in a relationship or career or when it's time to get out of the environment that's dragging us down. We're either blind or we ignore the signs. Many of us crash and burn for that reason. All the warning lights and alarms were going off, but it didn't stop us. Then we wonder how we got into the mess we're in.

Like the robot from the old TV series, "Lost in Space," God placed the Holy Spirit inside of us to cry out, "Warning, Warning, Danger, Will Robinson." He's given us His Word, the Bible to give us instruction on the right and wrong paths to take in life. He displays the direction on screen and gives us turn by turn navigation. He's given us eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to conceive, but still we can't read the signs. We can't read the signs of the times, because we're not listening to the interpreter.

Take a good look around. Where are you in life? What's really going on? If you continue on your path, where is it going to lead you? What's happening in your relationship with your spouse, your kids, your parents, your boyfriend or girlfriend, your peers? What's your relationship with God right now? What's going on in your heart and mind? Where are you going to spend eternity?

God, sometimes I get so caught up in the activities of my life and environment, that I stop paying attention to the warning signs. I need your Spirit to remind me, direct me, awaken me, renew me. Remove the blinders from eyes.

Daily Reflections for Mk. 8:11-21 (Are They All Morons)

Morons! If Jesus didn't say it, I'm sure He was thinking it. How do I know? Just look at today's passage. It's right there. It started with the religious leaders of the day. Jesus had been going throughout the regions of Judea, Samaria and Galilee teaching and doing miracles and the Pharisees come to Him asking for a "sign from heaven" that He was from God. "Uh, boys, have you had your head in the sand? Healing sick people, feeding thousands isn't enough for you? Did you forget the Spirit as a dove descending on me and voice of God saying, 'This is my Son,' when I was baptized by John? Morons!"

The text doesn't exactly say that, it says that Jesus sighed deeply. I picture Him rolling his eyes and shaking His head as He walks away. My guess is they may have been Missouri Pharisees because they were always asking, "Show Me." But Jesus told them in no uncertain terms that He was not a show pony to satisfy their curiosity. He didn't need to prove anything to them.

Right after His encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus climbs in the boat with His twelve trusty companions. These are the guys that have been with Him night and day for a couple of years. If anyone should know who and what Jesus is, it's these guys. They are the future of the ministry. They will be charged with advancing the message of the Christ throughout the world after He is gone back to heaven.

In the boat, Jesus warns them about the mentality of the Pharisees, but they don't get it. They're more worried about their stomachs. They've only got one loaf of bread to feed them all. Jesus talks about the yeast of the Pharisees and they think He's upset with them because nobody remembered to get more food. Hello, are you listening.

There, He says it again, "Morons." Didn't you see it? Well, not in those words, but it's there. Once again, He rolls His eyes, shakes His head and begins to speak to in a very slow cadence. "Was I talking about having no bread? Weren't you listening to what I just said. Were you totally oblivious to what just happen with the Pharisees? Dudes, food isn't a problem. Remember the loaves and fishes scenes where I feed 20,000 and 16,000 with leftovers? Duh! Idiots."

Jesus had grown to accept the behavior from the religious leader that He encountered. After all, He knew that they had an agenda. They weren't too keen about giving up their positions of leadership and power. No doubt Jesus grew tired of their combative behavior and attitude and pretension. He knew to walk away from them. But then to get into the boat with His hand chosen TWELVE and experience their boneheadedness must have gotten to Jesus.

It's really impossible to know the personal exasperation and facial expressions of Jesus at this moment. We only get a sense of it. But as I look at this scene, I can't help it's one that Jesus experiences on a regular basis with people, even His closest followers. I can't imagine how many times, Jesus has smacked Himself in the forehead and muttered, "Moron," over me. Times when I've ignored Him and/or His truths or times when I've not been paying attention and missed the whole point.

God, what a moron I am sometimes. Thanks for being patient with me.