Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Impressionable!

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God . . .”

I get a “charge” out of watching people respond to something I have said with a raise of the eyebrow, or having them respond with a “huh?”

Maybe it’s because I am out to just to impress people! Well, that would prove that I am also impressionable, right? (In case you think I am going in circles, I am!)

Well, if that’s the case, people in general can be impressionable at times – even the natural world is impressionable at times – so I’m not alone! (See earlier blog "Hand Organizer"!) Even as I write, this particular winter seems to be making a statement – one of the worst in years!

But, I have discovered a most interesting thing in my study of scripture – that this was Jesus’ strategy in communication, and we know that He wasn’t out just to impress folk! Of course that doesn’t give me any excuse to go around merely impressing people – that would backfire very quickly, and people would quickly have a name for it – like sensationalism, or some other impressive word!

Jesus was out to communicate biblical truth clearly and lovingly. He was out to see change in spiritual perspective, and bring powerful challenge towards transformed living. With that in mind, and with due caution that a teacher always gets checked out first, His strategy can be studied and followed.

In Mark 4:30-41 Jesus takes on an area that he is sure His followers don’t really understand yet – and that is the subject of the “kingdom of God”.

He points out that the “kingdom of God” is like a tiny mustard seed. When it is sown in the ground, it grows up to be a large garden plant, providing large branches so that birds can build their nests in its shade.

Later, in the evening, he has a chance to prove his point! He suggests going on a boat trip. (I think that He has a good idea of what was going to happen, don’t you think?) The scripture tells us that there were several boats.

As they sail, they encounter high winds and stormy weather! The waves were spilling into the boat! Guess what, Jesus is sound asleep on a pillow in the stern of the boat. He is about to illustrate the transferable concept he had just spoken of – “the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that grows into a tree.” It is as if he views the storm as an unruly child, “Peace, be still!” Everything grew completely still.

Mystified and fearful, they were ripe for his chiding about their lack of faith. They still hadn’t put two and two together – they were more impressed with his power, than they were what he had just taught and illustrated concerning the mustard seed and the kingdom of God. Little ideas can have amazing impact!

They had not visualized the kingdom of God and its nature. But Jesus had demonstrated it so that it could become a transferable concept when they needed it.

Now here is the irony of all this. I have found that the Lord Jesus is still doing it! If you indeed have received the Lord Jesus as both Savior and Lord, He will also enable you to see scripture in a new light that you had not considered before, if you spend time in it with Him. In fact, you may encounter a storm on your little “lake”.

Those who don't know Jesus may see it as just a storm.

Unfortunately, you may just pass it up, and say, “Humph, that’s interesting, I had never seen it that way before.” You go your merry way. (Acts 17:32; 26:25)

A short while later, some kind of event occurs that makes you feel you have been treated unfairly. Then, you cry out, “Lord, aren’t you going to help?” He does, and then chides for lack of faith.

Even as I write this, I saw Jesus calm a storm that had come just as suddenly as that windstorm on Galilee, when Jesus stilled it. I was shocked how quickly the storm listened to him!

I guess I’m impressed! How about you?

Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Gas Can

MAINTAINING A FAITH-FOCUS in life is not a problem – at least most of the time! When you know something is right, prepare well, and wholeheartedly begin, you expect to meet your goal. Sometimes, however, the unexpected occurs. Be sure to keep heart!

Some years ago, I was walking for exercise nearby to our house early in the morning. I was praying for folks by name as I walked. Suddenly a man’s voice interrupted, asking if I could spare a couple of dollars for someone who had run out of gas! It startled me! There he stood, expectantly, with a small gas can. He must have sensed my surprise, for He apologized for running out at this time of the morning, then courteously asked what time it was. It was 4:51 a.m. I hesitated briefly, but gave it to him, (reflecting later that I really shouldn’t carry much cash with me at that hour of the morning. An ID and a dollar or two is plenty!)

Eternity alone will reveal what was actually in his heart that morning, but I am now more aware of what was in my own. Caught totally by surprise while I was exercising and praying, I didn’t know what to say, or how to respond, so I had to depend on the Lord. Other times I have not given, because I felt it unwise.

When Jesus went to Tyre, (Mark 7:24-30), he was also living for His Father “in secret”. He also was surprised when a Greek woman of Syrophonecian origin asked for a special favor. He promptly told her of His priorities to meet the needs of the “children” first.

“And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.” (verse 28) She was ready for him! He then answered her request.

I think this illustrates the reward of faith. God rewards secret devotion openly – perhaps the need for gas was authentic? Perhaps that is why I was protected. (I like to think so.)

On the other hand, for all I know he may have had other ideas in mind. He may have been frustrated that he couldn’t pull them off.

Have you ever been caught doing good, but did not recognize it until you saw its product? During the Lenten season, we see Peter’s devotion, but also his failure to see its product when he denied the Lord three times!

This Lenten season, let us not deny the Lord by our lack of faith.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

THE TICKET



IT WAS A WET AND RAINY FRIDAY EVENING, in December, and I had just stopped work for the day. I was looking forward to eating at a new restaurant along with my wife, which was offering a “buy one, get one free” evening meal.

I usually enjoy bargains, but this evening was different. Tonight I was passionate about wanting to pay a proper price for what I was about to eat! Christ, my teacher, through the Holy Spirit, was about to teach me a new lesson from an old scripture in Psalm 23: “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

I had carefully noted directions, wanting to be sure that I got there at the same time as my wife!

As I exited the freeway, this passion lingered, and was getting harder to control. I came to a stop in the right hand lane, carefully planning my right turn and merge into traffic. Due to road conditions, I was also preoccupied with my personal safety, not particularly the safety of others!

A thought then crossed my mind, “If a policeman is watching me, I am just a little over the line into the pedestrian right-of-way, I don’t think I would be stopped for that.” The Spirit of God, who is “greater than our heart”, reminded me, “You tend to do that kind of thing too much anyway!”

As the traffic cleared, I merged right, and proceeded to pick up speed. Out of the corner of my eye, I detected a long, sleek sedan pulling in behind me. Soon this car lit up with red, white and blue lights like a Christmas tree! Realizing it was a policeman, I picked a secondary road and pulled in.

The policeman walked up to the car and said very courteously, “You probably wondered why I stopped you. Well, you turned right on a red signal. It is posted not to do that. Accidents frequently happen at this corner, and it is a very wet evening.”

After showing him my registration and driver’s license, I was told to wait a few moments. He soon returned, with a ticket for $110, saying, “You can either pay the fine or appeal it within 21 days”.

God occasionally takes us on a journey to understand our heart. We need to remember that God, our Heavenly Father decided this. He calls us to remember that we are still being loved and being forgiven throughout the process.

I had just recently been praying that our city residents would be more conscious of their responsibility to God! That is a huge prayer request, and far more involved than a quick “fix-it” scheme! Even the ancient Jewish, Levitical priests, knew better than to barge into the “Holy of Holies” without a rope attached to their ankles, in case they were struck down dead for presuming upon God.

After all, the “Lord’s Prayer” even starts out, “Hallowed be thy name!”

I had also been focusing my study on Romans 13 concerning God’s ministers, some of whom are the police. I now had fresh material – in my own experience! I had “proof” that God was answering that prayer. He was starting on me!

I also had a new spirit of love towards those who felt sorry for me, since I had not initially seen the sign. They felt I could contest the charge. But I now realize that the Lord wants us all to be lovingly passionate for the cause of Christ, and now knew there was only one way.

God will care about your “cause” when you care about His!

We . . . are delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest (2 Corinthians 4:11)