So That All May Know

One of the joys of following Jesus is the sense of adventure that each day brings.  All conversations present opportunities to share the love of Christ. 

All interactions give us the chance to point others to Jesus.  Our lives are "on mission" for the glory of God!  

As I was reading through Psalm 145 recently, I was struck by a phrase that occurs near the middle of the psalm: so that all people may know (v.12).  The context of this phrase is praise.  We praise and worship God because He alone is worthy of our praise, but as a byproduct of our worship (offering our bodies and lives to Christ as "living sacrifices") other people get to hear and see how great our God is.

There is an evangelism component to our worship.  King David put it this way: 

Your faithful people extol you.  They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.  (Psalm 145:10-12)     

I believe Psalm 145 offers us three "check-up" questions we can ask ourselves on a regular basis in order to help us live out the mission "so that all may know."  These questions will help us keep our focus on praising the Lord and living out His mission in the world.

Question #1: What is my daily plan to worship God and spend time alone in His presence? 

Do you have an intentional plan to spend time daily in God's Word and hear from Him?  

Psalm 145:2 says, "Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever."  

Notice that David had established a daily rhythm in his worship life.  He was disciplined in cultivating a heart for God.  When we neglect God's Word, we experience a powerless spiritual life and a decreased passion for God.  Without the Word, we lose our witness. 

Just as football players have been going through strict training to prepare for the upcoming season, so disciples of Jesus should be daily trained in God's game plan by meditating on scripture.  

Question #2: How am I commending God's works to another generation?   

Psalm 145:3-4 says, "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts."  We need to be intentional about training the younger generation in the ways of the Lord.  In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were instructed to "impress" God's commandments on the hearts of their children.  They were to "talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (see Deut. 6:4-7).  

Parents, are we living in such a way that our children can see our love for the Lord?  Are we taking advantage of the time we have with them by repeatedly talking to them about the greatness of Jesus and the privilege of serving him?  Grandparents, are you making intentional spiritual investments in the lives of your grandchildren?  

Question #3: What aspect of God's character do I especially need to trust in TODAY"so that all may know"?      

Psalm 145 lists many aspects of God's character.  Take a look at this list!

The Lord is....

gracious

compassionate

slow to anger

rich in love

good to all

mighty

provider

always "on time"

righteous in all His ways

near to those who call on Him

attentive to our cries

Savior

Judge

holy

Maybe you are going through a time in your life that is making it difficult for you to see one of these aspects of God's character.  Perhaps you are beginning to doubt that God will truly provide for the needs of your family.  Or, maybe you don't feel like the Lord has been attentive to your cries.  Let me encourage you to take a few minutes to read Psalm 145 in its entirety and then offer up this simple prayer: 

"Lord, help me to trust that You are ___________________" 

(fill in the aspect of God's character you are having the most difficulty trusting)

As your trust in God's complete character is increased and strengthened, you will be able to confidently proclaim the greatness of God to those around you....so that all may know! 

The Depths

Sometimes we go through difficult situations in life to the extent that we feel as if we are drowning; the circumstances seem overwhelming, like powerful waves taking us under the water.  What are we to do in such moments?  

The Psalmist writes, "Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord hear my voice" (Psalm 130:1).  Although we may experience "the depths" in life in relation to physical sickness or emotional struggles, the context of Psalm 130 is acknowledgement of the depths of our sinful condition.  As the people of Israel were making their pilgrimage to worship at the temple, they were anticipating the sacrifices that would be made for their sins.  The thought of worshiping a holy God in Jerusalem brought about an intense awareness on the part of the pilgrims, a recognition that, because of sin and rebellion, they were unworthy to be in the presence of the Lord.  

Yet, there is good news.  The Psalmist goes on to write, "But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you" (v. 4).  The Gospel is centered on the truth of God's loving nature as demonstrated in the way Christ died for us while we were still sinners (see Romans 5:8).  When we cry out to God from the depths of our being, we are truly heard; God's ears welcome cries for mercy.      

Ernest Hemingway started one of his short stories entitled "The Capital of the World" with the following lines:

Madrid is full of boys named Paco, which is diminutive of the name Francisco, and there is a Madrid joke about a father who came to Madrid and inserted an advertisement in the personal columns of El Liberal which said: 

PACO, MEET ME AT HOTEL MONTANA NOON TUESDAY.  

ALL IS FORGIVEN.  

~PAPA

and how a squadron of Guardia Civil had to be called out to disperse the eight hundred young men who answered the advertisement.  

While Hemingway's humor is geared toward the popularity of the name "Paco" in Spain, the story also illustrates the desire people have to be forgiven.  Our God is the God of "prodigal Pacos," children who have been on the run but desperately desire reconciliation.  Our heavenly Father longs for us to experience His forgiveness and mercy and He has advertised the extent of his love through the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the "once and for all" sacrifice for our sins, thus providing the means of redemption.  

If you feel like a prodigal Paco today, take heart.  There is always hope with Christ.  The Psalmist ended Psalm 130 with a message of hope as well:

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.  He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.  (vv. 7-8)

In order to reinforce the truth of God's forgiveness, read these verses again but insert your name in place of Israel.  For example, in my case....

Mark, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.  He himself will redeem Mark from all his sins.

Pretty powerful, isn't it?  Good news for prodigal Pacos! 

Mighty Fortress

Ten years ago the residents of Central Florida were in the thick of a hyperactive hurricane season.  The storms were lined up one after the other and presented a merciless onslaught of wind and rain.  During one of the storms, I huddled with the rest of my family in one of our bedroom closets.  While we listened to the intense wind battering the house, we also prayed and sang some worship songs to the Lord--the One who has the power to still the most treacherous storms and provide protection in the midst of danger. 

When Martin Luther penned his well-known hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, he eloquently captured the Biblical truth that because God is more powerful than any storm or evil force, He can be completely trusted.  God alone is a fortress and refuge that will never fail.  While my house remained standing during the hurricanes, it did sustain some minor roof damage and, if the hurricanes would have taken a slightly different path, the outcome would have probably been much worse.  The force of the storms could have easily overwhelmed my house.  What a joy to know the fortress-like character of God!  The opening line of Luther's hymn says, "A Mighty Fortress is our God.  A bulwark never failing."   A bulwark is a wall built to provide strong defense, a protective barrier against danger.  Luther wrote what the Bible teaches: God, our fortress, refuge, and defender, never fails.

Psalm 91 is a powerful testimony to God's ability to protect His people at all times.  The Psalmist begins by writing:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  (vv. 1-2)  

Then, a few verses later, the Psalmist reveals an important outcome of trusting in God's protection: The removal of fear.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.  (vv. 5-6)

We are often tempted to fear the most at night, especially when the lights are turned off and we start to think that every little sound in the house is a dangerous intruder.  One night, I was abruptly awakened from my sleep by a noise in the kitchen.  I immediately jumped out of bed (with my heart beating a hundred times a minute!) and ran to the kitchen only to discover that the "intruder" was the ice maker on the refrigerator.  

What are the fears that fill your mind in the night?  

What keeps you awake?  

What terrors keep you rolling and tossing?  

Remember, your God is a mighty fortress.  By placing your trust in Him you will experience an amazing peace in your life, even at night.

The Presence of the Lord

Pastor and author, A.W. Tozer, wrote, "It is God's great pleasure for us to fully rest in His presence, moment by moment....Nothing in or of this world measures up to the simple pleasure of experiencing the presence of God."  

Psalm 84 is a passionate prayer that captures the essence of Tozer's quote and communicates the great expectancy with which the people of Israel made their journey to worship at the temple, a place where God's presence was enjoyed:

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (Ps. 84:1-2) 

For the Psalmist, worship was not a casual, routinized practice.  Rather, it was an experience that was highly anticipated and valued, encompassing every aspect of life (soul, heart, flesh).  Knowing and experiencing the presence of the Lord was the psalmist's consuming passion in life: Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked (v. 10).  

In the presence of the Lord there is tremendous blessing.  Three times in Psalm 84 the word "blessed" is used, a repetition intended to reinforce the truth that God desires to shower his people with blessings:

Blessed are those who dwell in your house...(v. 4)

Blessed are those whose strength is in you...(v. 5)

Blessed is the one who trusts in you...(v. 12)

When we dwell in God's presence, God strengthens us, even if we are walking through incredibly difficult times in our lives.  In the middle of Psalm 84, there is a reference to worshippers walking through the Valley of Baka on their way to the temple.  Most likely, Baka means "tears;" in other words, it was a location of great sorrow due to the hot temperature and dry climate.  It was a desert place.  Yet, in the middle of this tearful valley of suffering, the psalmist writes that the people "go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion."  When the worshippers were unsure whether they had the stamina to keep walking through the desolate valley, it was God who strengthened them.

The presence of the Lord sustained them and enabled them to take the next step...and then the next step...and then the next, until they arrived in Jerusalem.  

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity of experiencing God's presence each moment of each day through the indwelling presence of God's Spirit.  Instead of traveling to a temple to experience God, we are able to experience God wherever we are.  

In addition, we are able to experience the empowering strength and grace of God in our desert experiences and, with the Apostle Paul, we are able to hear the reassuring words of Christ as we walk through the Valley of Baka: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9).  Strength to strength, grace to grace...all possible through the presence of a risen Savior--our God who has promised to never withdraw His presence from our surrendered lives.       

The Repentant Heart

In the early 80's, Chicago, the popular rock band, hit the charts with a song titled, It's Hard To Say I'm Sorry. Confessing wrongdoing isn't just challenging for certain people, it's truly a universal quality of fallen humanity.  We all have the tendency to live in denial of our sin and regularly think that other people are the problem. Many of our relational conflicts are due to the sin of pride and not getting our way. We are quick to point the accusing finger at others, but not nearly as quick to honestly evaluate what sinful attitudes, behaviors, and words we have contributed to the situation.  And, if we actually do recognize the sins we have brought to the table, we often don't verbalize a genuine, heart-felt confession to God or to those we have wronged and, consequently, we remain in the bondage of a hard, unrepentant heart.   

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door at Wittenburg, an act intended to draw attention to some of the teachings of the Catholic church that were not in line with the teaching of Scripture.  Luther's first thesis stated: When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said "Repent," he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.  Instead of viewing repentance as a one time event (as we are often tempted to believe), Luther reminds us that our Christian lives are to be marked by an ongoing humility of heart, repentance of sin, and brokenness before a holy God.  

Psalm 51 is one of the great repentance passages in the Bible.  The author of the psalm is King David, the great ruler of Israel who had used his power and privilege in government to take advantage of a married woman, Bathsheba, and commit adultery.  Instead of repenting, David chose to try and cover up his sin by having Bathsheba's husband killed on the dangerous, front lines of battle.  David's attempted cover up operation was doomed to failure from the beginning because nothing is hidden from the eyes of God.  Through the convicting words of the prophet Nathan, God brought David to the place of repentance: "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Sam. 12:13).

Sin is the great destroyer of relationships.  David realized that his sin was primarily an offense against a holy, righteous God ("Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" ~Psalm 51:4) and thus created a wedge between him and the Almighty. The grave nature of David's sin is emphasized by his use of three words to describe his fallen condition (see Psalm 51:1-2): transgressions (literally, rebellion), iniquity (meaningcrooked or perverse), and sin (meaning to miss the mark/target).  However, as great as his sin was, David's repentant heart was reminded of the even greater power of God's mercy, unfailing love, and compassion:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  

The cleansing flow of God's grace is greater than any of our sin.  Through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, God has opened a way for us to know and experience the righteousness of God through faith.  In his book, The Sickness Unto Death, Kierkegaard wrote, "The opposite of sin is not virtue but faith."  Faith is trusting in God's power to cleanse us; faith also implies a daily recognition that we cannot cleanse ourselves, a daily brokenness over our propensity to wander, rebel, and miss the mark.  A daily, moment by moment repentance.

A broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.  (Psalm 51:17)   

The Lord Is My Shepherd...

In Psalm 23, when David uses the metaphor of shepherd to describe the Lord, he is using an image that occurs more than 500 times in the Bible to describe the nature of God; the image also helps us understand how God relates to us, His children.  

*The Lord (our shepherd) is personal.  In the opening phrase of the psalm, David writes, "The Lord is my shepherd."  This personal, individual language used by David in regard to God as shepherd was unique because the people of Israel normally associated the Lord's shepherding activity with His leadership over Israel as a whole community.  David held on to the Lord as hisshepherd just as the shepherd was holding on to him.  David had a deep, intimate, personal relationship with a personal God.  An image conjured up from this psalm's opening verse is a shepherd drawing a little lamb close to his chest, offering the lamb comfort and safety.

  

*The Lord (our shepherd) is the King.  Even though we have the opportunity to be in close relationship with the Lord, we also need to keep in mind that He is a shepherd who is the King of all kings.  The prophet Micah foretold the rulership of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, with these words:

 

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.  (Micah 5:4)  

          

God's unmatched authority as shepherd is highlighted in this passage.  We must never forget that the shepherd who draws us close to himself by his grace is also the shepherd who has all power and authority.  Intimacy with the Good Shepherd must be held together with reverence and awe in the presence of the Shepherd. 
 

*The Lord (our shepherd) is the provider.  Psalm 23 gives us many examples of God's provision from David's personal experience:

"I lack nothing..." (v. 1)
"He leads..." (v. 2)
"He refreshes..." (v. 3)
"He guides..." (v. 3)
"You prepare..." (v. 5)
"You anoint.." (v. 5)

David knew the sufficiency of God in his life.  He had learned to trust in the faithfulness of the Shepherd to the extent that he could say: "When I have the Lord, I have everything!" 
 

*The Lord (our shepherd) is the protector.  Some of the most powerful words in scripture appear in Psalm 23:4...

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..."

We have all walked through dark seasons in life, times when we have been in a deep valley.  What a comfort to know God's abiding presence in such challenging situations!  The intimate relationship that David had cultivated with God sustained him during the valley days of life.  

As we continue to journey through these summer days together as a church, let's remember to spend personal time with the Good Shepherd, bow in reverence in His holy presence, and radically trust in His miraculous provision and protection.  With Him we lack nothing!

Community

When I was attending the University of Illinois way back in the late 80's, I lived in a Christian fraternity house on campus called Koinonia, which happens to be the Greek word for fellowship.  Let me tell you, thirty college guys living under the same roof was a unique (and sometimes downright frightening) experience.  

However, looking back on some of the experiences I had in the "Koin" house has made me appreciate the significance of biblical community.  

Deep, authentic relationships based in the power of God's Spirit have a tremendous, lasting impact on our lives.  In fact, just yesterday I had a lengthy phone conversation with one of my roommates from the "Koin" house, a longtime friend and best man at my wedding who is now serving as the pastor of a Presbyterian church in Southern Illinois.  As we reminisced about the Koinonia days and some of the crazy things that happened in the house, our memories were also drawn to the times we gathered together for Bible study and prayer.  We would often spend time talking and dreaming about what God could do with our lives.  The relationship I established with this friend years ago at the U of I is still impacting me to this day and it is a joy to know that we are partners in the gospel, even if we are living many miles apart.  

In Acts 2:42-47, Luke writes about the early church community:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.      

As I reflect on these verses, I am moved by the thought of more and more people being saved every day as they observe the unified, loving, and generous community of believers called the church.  The early church was expanding in a spontaneous, supernatural way.  In his book, The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church, author Roland Allen defines the dynamic phrase captured in the book's title:

This then is what I mean by spontaneous expansion.  I mean the expansion which follows the unexhorted and unorganized activity of individual members of the Church explaining to others the Gospel which they have found for themselves; I mean the expansion which follows the irresistible attraction of the Christian Church for men who see its ordered life, and are drawn to it by desire to discover the secret of a life which they instinctively desire to share...

In a world where people are more "connected" than ever before through social media, there is also the feeling that people are more disconnected than ever before from meaningful, transformative relationships.  The connectedness that many people are experiencing in the virtual world is not facilitating an Acts 2 biblical community.  In reality, the more "high tech" the world becomes, the greater the opportunity for the church to provide "high touch" relationships.

Are you committed to koinonia?  Do you value face-to-face interactions more than Facebook communication?  When is the last time you met someone for lunch or invited someone into your home for a meal?  One of the greatest ways the church can move forward in mission in the world is by modeling relationships that are based in the radical love, grace, and hospitality of God.  

Here's an assignment for you: Grab lunch with someone!  Have some FaceLook time.  It's Biblical...and fun!   

Timing

One of the important aspects of following Jesus is learning to trust his timing in our lives.  Our rapid pace of living, along with incredible advancements in technology, make it difficult for us to wait for anything.  We have been conditioned to expect the immediate.  

 

It is no trivial matter that some of Jesus' final words delivered to the apostles prior to his ascension revolved around the topic of waiting.  Luke, the gospel writer, tells us:

 

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you heard me speak about."  (Acts 1:4) 

 

Final words are important.  Research tells us that when a person is trying to remember a list of words, the easiest ones to recall from memory are the first and last words recorded in the list.  Just imagine the disciples walking back to Jerusalem after seeing Jesus disappear in a cloud right before their eyes on the Mount of Olives.  Think about their conversations with each other as they recalled some of the parting words of Jesus...Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait. I suspect the questions in the apostles' minds outweighed the answers as they trudged along the dusty road back to Jerusalem:

  

Wait?  For how long?  For "the gift" promised by the Father?  What will the coming of the Spirit be like?  How will we know the Holy Spirit's arrival?  

Perhaps you feel as if God has placed you in a season of waiting right now.Maybe you're waiting to hear back regarding a job interview.  Maybe you're trying to be patient as you wait for some important medical test results.  You might even be waiting for "Mr. or Mrs. Right" to come along and deliver you from singleness.  

Whatever the issue, we have all prayed the "How long, O Lord?" prayer before.  

And yet, in the middle of our questioning prayers, we are called to trust in God's timing, believing that He not only knows what is best for us, but that He is also working things so He is most glorified.  

By reading Acts, we can infer that the apostles had to wait approximately 10 days for the Holy Spirit to come at the Feast of Pentecost.  The Greek word pentekostemeans 50th, indicating the 50th day after Passover.  During the Passover (also referred to as the Feast of Weeks), Jews came from all over to celebrate God's provision and faithfulness in the wheat harvest.  While the Jews in Jerusalem at that time thought they were there to celebrate the wheat harvest, God had a bigger plan.  There was going to be a tremendous harvesting of souls when "about three thousand were added to their number that day" (Acts 2:41).  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost enabled people from every nation under heaven to hear the gospel presented in their languages when the Spirit filled the apostles and empowered them to speak in other tongues.  

It is interesting that Pentecost was a one day feast.  The population of Jerusalem was vastly inflated on Pentecost due to the worshipers traveling from a large geographical area.  The sending of the Spirit on Pentecost maximized God's glory because when the worshipers heard the wonders of God being declared in their own languages and when they repented of their sins and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the newly saved returned to their homelands and served as missionaries to spread the gospel message.  God's timing in sending the Spirit was perfect.  

In his letter to the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul uses Pentecost language when he writes, "...God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (see Rom. 5:5).  The pouring out of God's love in this passage is reminiscent of the pouring out of the Spirit on Pentecost.  

And, in the next verse, Paul mentions the importance of timing:   

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  (Romans 5:6)

The crucifixion of Christ happened at the perfect time--when we were hopeless and powerless in our sin--so that God would receive maximum glory by demonstrating a most radical, saving love.  

If you are waiting on God for something today, take some time and thank Him for sending His Son--at just the right time--to deliver you from sin.  Thank Him for sending His Spirit--at just the right time--so that you have the opportunity of being born again.  God's timing has been faithful and perfect in the past.  His timing will continue to be perfect in the future; perfect to maximize His glory!

When Life Seems To Be Falling Apart

We all have days when it feels as if life is falling apart.  At times, struggles and disappointments appear to feed off each other and bad news seems to grow at an exponential pace.  For some, there are sicknesses that linger for a long period of time or turn chronic in nature, transforming each day into a challenge to simply keep moving forward.  For others, there is a job search that never seems to end.  All potential leads and interviews continue to produce no fruit.  There are other people who wake up each morning to the harsh reality of family pain: a marriage falling apart, prodigal children on the run, or elderly parents struggling with loss of mobility and diminished mental capacity.  

When the disciples saw Jesus crucified on the cross, it felt like their world was falling apart.  It was probably hard for many of them to get out of bed on the Saturday following Good Friday.  Depression and disappointment produced a confusing cloud over their lives because Jesus, the One they had followed for about three years--the One they believed was the Messiah, was dead and buried in the side of a hill.   A huge stone--a vivid reminder of the finality of death--had been rolled in front of the tomb entrance.  

On resurrection Sunday, two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a town located about seven miles from Jerusalem.  The exact location of Emmaus is not known today, possibly indicating the small, insignificant nature of the town in the first century.  Perhaps the disciples were trying to get out of Jerusalem to help clear their minds and try to make sense of a crucified Messiah.  But, regardless of their reasoning for heading to Emmaus, the risen Jesus encountered the two disciples right in the middle of their disappointment and confusion.  

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other,  Jesus himself came up and walked with them... (Luke 24:14-15)

In one of his amazing resurrection appearances, Jesus miraculously appears to these two disciples in their pain.  Jesus is present to them when it appears their hopes in life have all been destroyed.  Of all the places Jesus could have been at that moment, he chose to walk with two people who were trying to cope with incredible disappointment and unrealized expectations.  Jesus, full of compassion, desired to make himself known to two bewildered and battered souls on the way to nowhere.

In one of the most moving passages of Scripture, the Psalmist writes:

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways...

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast... (Psalm 139:1-3,7-10)         

These powerful verses remind us of God's omniscience (He knows everything about us, including our location and our mental condition) and His omnipresence (His presence is everywhere, even on the road to Emmaus).  

If some of your greatest hopes have been dashed recently...

If you are struggling to understand God's plan because none of your plans have become reality...

If you are feeling alone and abandoned...

Take your eyes off the dusty, rock-strewn road to Emmaus and look into the eyes of the Savior who is walking with you.  He comes to those who are feeling lost and provides a Way; He appears to those with tears of frustration and provides comfort; He walks with those who feel weary and don't know how they will have the strength to take another step; He comes to us.

The Transforming Word

For nearly the past two years, Crossroads has been journeying through the Gospel of Luke on Sunday mornings.  Our study together has revealed powerful truth about the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus.  While this has been the longest teaching series I have ever prepared (some may be hoping all future teachings will be much shorter!), I believe the discipline of working through a book of the Bible has its rich rewards.  Here are a few of the benefits that come to mind:

1)   Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible allows us to interpret Scripture in context.  I have stated many times, "If you take a text out of context, you are left with acon."  If you really want to understand the Bible more thoroughly, read lengthy passages instead of just picking a verse here and there.  

2) Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible helps us recognize important theological themes that will fuel spiritual growth.  For example, in our journey through the Gospel of Luke, we encountered many important themes, including: the connection between prayer, the Holy Spirit and empowerment for mission work; the topic of God's Kingdom in the preaching of Jesus; God's heart for the poor and oppressed; and, the theme of discipleship (what it really means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus).

3) Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible helps cultivate the spiritual discipline of daily study of God's Word.  Reading the Bible each day is an important ingredient of ongoing personal spiritual growth and maturity.  Consistent Bible reading is easier with some type of reading plan, and systematically reading though entire books of the Bible is a good way to stay on track and alleviate the "What shall I read today?" question. 

4) Reading/studying an entire book of the Bible helps us focus and fight against distraction.  Let's face it, there is no shortage of Bible study books, devotionals, and Christian books to help people grow in the faith.  However, there is no substitute for God's Word.  With the myriad of reading choices available, we need some way to focus in on the most important book--God's Word-- and establish solid priorities for our limited amount of daily reading time. Here are a few suggestions to help you along the way:

1) Make a commitment to read the Bible before you read any other book each day.

2) Select a book of the Bible and then prayerfully ask God to give you wisdom as you read through the passages.

3) As you read longer passages, stop on a word, phrase, or concept that seems to "jump off the page" and speak directly to your heart.  Meditate for a few minutes on the truth that is being communicated to you.  

*Remember, daily personal time in the Lord's presence through the reading of the Bible is more about transformation than information.  Sure, gathering new information from Scripture is a good thing, but this information should not just be considered simply for intellectual purposes.  Reading, meditation, and prayer combine together to bring about life transformation:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  (Psalm 119:9-11)   


If you need a suggestion for a book of the Bible to begin reading, try Acts.  We will be starting 2014 with a teaching series through Luke's other New Testament writing and if you start reading now, you'll have a head start when we begin the series Acts: Seeing the Spirit at Work in January.

Remember to Focus

The word "remember" occurs 166 times in the New International Version of the Bible, a figure that reminds us of our propensity to forget things (perhaps you are reading this email because you had to take a break from searching for your car keys or wallet that you misplaced!).  Brain researchers tell us that multi-tasking adversely affects our short-term memory.  In other words, the more plates we're spinning in our lives, the less likely we will be able to adequately remember certain things.  I have found this to be true in my life.  Usually, when I find myself asking, "How did I forget that?", it is during a season of life that contains a to do list that is quite extensive, a season in which I'm trying to do too much.

 

One of the powerful aspects of Jesus' earthly ministry was his ability to hone and focus, even when the needs around him were practically infinite.  He always remembered to cultivate his relationship with his Father and he refused to let others set an alternative agenda for him that would have taken him away from the cross.  Jesus lived with a deep sense of purpose and mission.  Even the teaching of Jesus was incredibly focused so people could remember the truth he communicated:

 

One day a teacher of the law tested Jesus with a question, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?  Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:37-39)

 

Jesus boiled down the 613 laws of the Old Testament into 2!  Love God and love others.  Jesus has given us only 2 theological plates to spin and he wants us to daily remember that our lives can be incredibly focused if we love Him and allow His love to flow through us into the lives of others.  Yet, even though Jesus has condensed the Law and Prophets into two commands, we still find ourselves forgetting the true focus of our lives.  We get distracted.  We get tired.  We get lazy.  We lose our sense of priorities.  We get mired in sin.  We need constant reminders to focus: love God, love others.

 

In January we will be starting a new teaching series called Acts: Seeing the Spirit at Work.  As I have been doing some preliminary study for this new series, I noticed something powerful about the early church that Luke (the writer of Acts) records in Acts 2.  When the Spirit comes at Pentecost, the newly birthed church is marked by an incredible focus.  Luke writes:

 

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...all the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

(Acts 2:42-47)

 

Notice how the believers were focused on loving God (devoted to the teaching of the apostles and to prayer) and loving others (fellowship, sharing resources, sharing meals, etc.).  The result of their focus was more and more people transformed by the power of Christ.  I believe a mark of the Spirit moving in the church is an intense focus on loving God and loving others.

Let's be encouraged to remember that we have been called to live focused lives for God's kingdom.  If you're spinning 613 plates in your life right now, remember there are only 2 that Jesus has given you!