Daily Reflections on Heb. 2:5-18 (The Arrogance of Some People)

I've never claimed to be a genius. But the more I look at the relationship between God and Jesus the more confusing it seems to get. John says that in the beginning the Jesus was with God and was God. Okay that seems easy enough. He goes on to say that Jesus became flesh, a human being. Got that too. I don't know how all that is, but I can get my little mind around that part.

But the part that starts stretching my mind is this father/son thing. If Jesus is God, and He says Himself, "whoever has seen me has seen the father," why the father/son designation? Seems a little odd in light of the fact that Paul talks about the fact that equality with God was something Jesus could easily grasp. Now tell me that doesn't confuse you just a little. To further add to my confusion, how can Jesus call me a brother if He is God and I'm, well, plain ol' human, flawed me?

Throughout Jesus ministry, from the time we find Him in the temple at 12 years of age, He talks about doing His father's business or will. He defers to the father regarding various teachings and miracles. He prays to the father. And here in Hebrews 2, He puts His trust in Him. Why would someone equal with God, the father, creator of the universe, put His trust in the father? Does this strike anyone else as a little perplexing?

Yet there is a great lesson here. If Jesus, God in the flesh, equal to God, creator of the universe puts His trust in God and defers to Him, what does that say about me? Why wouldn't I do the same thing. Instead, I often times rely on my on wisdom, ability, ingenuity, resources, etc. to do things. If Jesus, who had the right to go off on His own agenda, submitted His daily agenda to God, why shouldn't I? Why is it I think I have the audacity to live however I want and give God only partial input into my life? Why is it that I think I can take God when I want Him and ignore Him the rest of the time? Why do I think that my time, my money, my resources, my gifts, my life is actually mine? Who do I think I am? And who do I think God really is?

God, I'm pretty arrogant concerning my own life. It seems that I just go about doing whatever I want whenever I want with little to no regard for you. Instead of seeking you daily, hourly, minute by minute of my life, I have a tendency to check in with you whenever I feel like. It's almost like I show up to visit you on occasion or when I'm in dire straights. Forgive my arrogance. I recognize you as Lord of my life. Here I am. I put my trust in you.

Daily Reflections on 2 Kings 5:1-14 (Baptism; an Act of Faith)

I hear it all the time. Do I have to be baptized to be saved? To be honest it's a weird question in light of what Jesus said in Mark 16:16 (NIV), "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." I figure Jesus ought to know what He's talking about. I never have really understood the argument of those who say baptism is not necessary. I guess I'm really simplistic. If Jesus says it, I accept it.

I also don't understand why people say that baptism is an act of obedience. Seems to me that salvation is act of faith, trusting in God to do something that we couldn't do ourselves. Maybe it's semantics, but it seems to me that baptism is an act of faith. I'm trusting God to do something in me to present me alive in Christ. I know that to follow Christ I must answer His call to surrender my life. But isn't that putting my life in His hands by faith?

I was reading this passage again from 2 Kings 5 about Naaman, an Aramean high commander who suffered from leprosy. The whole story is about faith in God. Naaman's wife had a Israeli servant girl who told Naaman that Elisha could heal him. So Naaman went to him to be healed. Elisha didn't even come out to meet him but sent his messenger to tell this important and powerful man to go dip seven times in the Jordan River to be healed.

Naaman was hacked off and even insulted. He wanted Elisha to come out and make some big deal, do some hocus-pocus on him. Naaman went home unhealed. But his servants came to Naaman and asked him if Elisha had asked him to do some great work wouldn't he have done it. So Naaman caved in an went in faith to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times. The moment Naaman dipped the seventh time, his leprosy was instantly healed. In order for the healing to occur, Naaman not only had to believe but he had to submit himself in faith to the dipping. His dipping was an act of faith. Sure he obeyed Elisha's command, but the dipping wasn't out of obedience. It was out of faith that through the dipping God would heal him.

I think the overlying principle is that for a lot of people, they want what God wants to give them, but they just don't want to follow what God asks them to do in faith. It's not just about baptism. It's about relationships, lifestyles, finances, etc. God says to trust Him by tithing, but we say no way. I've got these bills and I want my cable and on and on it goes. And then we wonder why God won't bless us and we struggle financially. Same with sex and marriage and virtually any other issue in our life.

To be honest, obeying God is an act of faith. We trust in faith that by following God's instruction we will come out ahead. Since Jesus says believe and be baptized and you'll be saved, I do what he says in faith. He says cast out into deeper water for a catch, then I'll cast into deeper water in faith expecting a catch.

God, living by faith is a strange place sometimes. Most of us, Lord, like to see where we're going or what's ahead of us. Living by faith feels a lot like driving a car with a blindfold on. Yet, I know that living by sight and trusting my own instincts are often times disastrous. Help me swallow my pride like Naaman and take the dip of faith, exactly how you ask me. I don't want to minimize your instructions/teachings by inserting my own interpretations or ideas.

Daily Reflections on Mt. 7:21-27 (Who's Going to Heaven?)

Who's getting into heaven? I'm generally amazed and amused by the discussion. In my years as a pastor I guess I've heard a zillion reasons for getting into heaven from "I'm a good person" to "I grew up in the church" to "My grandmother or grandfather was real religious" to "God is a good god so everybody will be saved." I've heard various theological opinions and rituals to perform. As I visit with families at the death of a loved one sometimes I hear a litany of reasons why grandpa or cousin Joe, who never had anything to do with Christ, never darkened the door of a church and the only time he used the name of God was in an expletive, was going to heaven.

Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he (or she) who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." That's pretty clear. Jesus goes on to say that prophesying in His name doesn't get you in. Driving out demons in His name doesn't get you in. Performing miracles doesn't automatically get you into heaven. Does that mean I could have perfect church attendance for 50 years and not get it? I could give large sums of money to the church and not get into heaven? Absolutely!

Church attendance, keeping rules and regulations, outward signs of religiosity or spirituality aren't what get you into heaven. My guess is the Apostle John missed a few Sundays while in exile on Patmos and Paul probably had to skip sometimes while he was in prison. What Jesus plainly said gets you into the kingdom of heaven is doing the will of God, the Father. How do I do that? Jesus said it's by surrendering your life and will completely to God. It boils down down to submission and obedience that stem from an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It's about building your life on and in Him.

God is always more interested in what's going on in your heart and mind. It's easy to put on a show. Many of us do that to impress our peers. God is interested in authentic surrender and submission to Him, that's played out in genuine obedience and behavior. Lip service is not enough. Our life and lifestyle counts for something.

God, look into my heart. See if there is any wicked way in me. Guide me in your paths by your Holy Spirit. Cleanse me, renew me, lead me each day. I'm not interesting in showing off or pretense. I simply want to be yours to do with as you see fit. I submit my will to you.