DAY 21 – COUNTING TO ASCENSION

Our first song for Softer Sunday Service tomorrow is "In My Heart There Rings a Melody." Because of something painful that happened in my world this week I wondered how I could stand in front of our congregation and lead this song, and the Holy Spirit reminded me through something I wrote several years ago. After reading it I decided to post part of it as encouragement to others who may be feeling over-challenged by the circumstances of life.  

When Jesus came to earth He came into a world that was hurting and broken – and He comes into our personal worlds, into our hurt and brokenness – and offers us comfort and joy….

Happiness is elusive, but JOY is because of what Jesus did on our behalf.  Joy is not determined by our emotions, but by our attitude. 

Your enemy, the devil, goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour.   He wants to destroy every one of us.  And he wants to destroy relationships.

If you are a Christian you are a threat to Satan’s temporary kingdom on earth, so expect trouble.  His attacks are tailor-made just for you, and he seeks to destroy you through the things that mean the most to you.  However, we get to choose whether or not to let him succeed.  We have a choice of whether or not to let him win the battle.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but I have overcome the world.”   

He also said, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” 

So if you’re feeling battered, learn what you can from your situation, then dust off your armor from Ephesians 6:10-18, put it on, and stand firm, knowing He who is in you is much greater than he who is in the world. 

Jesus had a servant's heart.  I need to emulate that.  And, when necessary, like this week, I need an attitude adjustment for that to happen.  

Forgive, forget and forge ahead. 

Journey to the Cross 2017, Day 36

Tuesday, Day 36:  The Final Week  

Countdown – 5 days

Reading for today:
Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
Matthew 21:20-22
Mark 11:20-26

Jesus final day of public teaching; teaching in the temple; authority challenged
Matthew 21:23-27; 21:28 - 23:39
Mark 11:27-33; 12:1-44
Luke 20:1-8; 20:9-21:4

Olivet Discourse
Matthew 24, 25
Luke 21:5-36

Jesus’ final message on this specific Tuesday
Matthew 25:31-46

Today is Tuesday, Nisan 12.  Nisan 12 was on March 31 in 2010, and is today – April 11 – in 2017.  I like paying attention to equivalent time. 

I discussed Jesus’ teaching given on the Mt of Olives earlier – but this is actually when it occurred. There was just too much to cover on this one day – and even so, I am overwhelmed with all He covered in his final communication to the then-adoring masses and the increasingly-angry spiritual leaders of His fellow Jewish people.

“If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer . . .” yet we are also taught that is contingent on praying in God’s will, getting our direction first from Him – then praying in faith with the conviction of assurance of what He desires.

Mark 11:25 adds something Matthew does not – telling us that when we stand praying, if we hold anything against anyone, forgive – so that our Father in heaven may forgive us our sins.... Verse 26 is a footnote instead of being in the text of the NIV – and it states, ...if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your sins. It is a clear Biblical teaching – even included in the Lord’s Prayer...‘forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors’. I originally learned it as ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’ but I prefer the image of debtor. In either version of the prayer, the point is obvious. Want forgiveness? Grant forgiveness. And the lesson is repeated here with the same terms.

At this point in the journey toward the cross – and Resurrection – I am extremely grateful that I covered some of this territory in earlier blogs. At this juncture the masses are clueless about what will occur in just 3 days – as are the disciples. Jesus warned them well in advance – repeatedly – but their ears have heard the adulation of the crowds and that adulation crowds out any concerns that may try to surface. Still, with the focus of the Passover feast, they have committed time to be with Jesus, and he leaves them with repeated messages that will replay over and over in days soon to come...too soon....

Jesus is walking toward the cross and our salvation with singular purpose and focused intention. But all the while what impresses me so completely is that He keeps on keeping on – just as He compels and encourages us to do.

On Tuesday He taught in the temple...and later His time of instruction was on the Mount of Olives with just 4 of his disciples.

He silenced the religious leaders for the moment by asking them a question about John the Baptist in response to their question about his authority. It was a good tactic. I know that I don’t have to enter every debate or attend every argument I am invited to – that there is a difference between responding to sincere searching versus defiant defenses – one being constructive, and one not. Jesus had already made His claims clear. Their hearts were not receptive and He knew it. In fact, their only purpose in asking the question was to add one more arrow to their quiver with which to pierce Him. They were out for blood.

In yesterday’s reading Jesus cursed a fig tree. Today he uses it as an object lesson for receiving answers to our prayers. I need time to grapple with this – to pray over it, and see what the Holy Spirit might reveal....  It wasn’t even the season for figs, yet He cursed the tree for not having any....

................

Postscript for 2017:

Seven years after first writing this, I still do not have an answer for why he would curse a tree for not having figs when it wasn't in season....  But I do know that we will be held accountable for the gifts – the fruit if you will –  that he gives us.  Just as God did with Moses he asks all of us “What is that in your hand?” 

Postscript on April 12 – the day after I wrote the prior postscript:

Oh my goodness!  I was just granted the insight to understand this thanks to the Holy Spirit’s revelation in response to my query. (Thank you, Lord!)

Jesus, as Creator, knew the trees – just as he knows us – and he would have known that this particular tree didn’t produce any figs in the prior season.  He cursed the tree for not producing any fruit – and it hadn’t been! 

I am reminded that sometimes there are those who profess to be Christians but who aren’t producing any fruit.

That is the proof for Christian faith.  And if the tree is not producing – or in our case, the vine, then it is pruned…. 

Lord, help me be fruitful!

The Journey to the Cross 2017, Day 5

If it looks like we skipped a day by not numbering yesterday, this is a reminder that the Sundays leading up to Resurrection Sunday do not count in the 40-day countdown of Lent.

Monday, Day 5: Matthew 5                            

There is so much in Matthew Chapter 5.  ‘Do not resist an evil person’ leaps out to me – as does ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’  The reality is I do pray for those who misrepresent, malign and misunderstand me – but I am not truly persecuted, though sometimes I feel like it.  Sunday’s message at church talked  about the persecuted church – the truly persecuted – and in the light of that comparison, this is hard teaching . . . . Our Christian faith teaches forgiveness. Letting stuff go.

This chapter includes the Beatitudes, and a healthy ‘be’ attitude is the best kind . . . . We cannot always affect our circumstances, but we can affect our attitude.

Lord, when I need an attitude adjustment, nudge me to praise. You inhabit the praises of your people.

Chapter 5 ends with an impossible directive: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” I know I can’t actually do it - but by His grace, I can press toward the mark – and I’ll get a lot further intentionally pressing forward than I will if I don’t try.

Lord, help me be an intentional Christian today. I’m so grateful you impute righteousness to us, and that you see us through the filter of your Son!

Humor for today:
A young woman who was having no luck finding employment through all of the normal avenues decided to go door-to-door in a posh neighborhood and seek odd jobs. She bravely walked up to the door of the first home, knocked and asked the man who answered the door if there were any chores she could do to earn money.

The man replied, “Can you paint?”

“I sure can.” She replied confidently.

“Well, then, you can paint my porch if we can agree on a price.”

“How about $50 dollars,” she replied, “Is that O K?”

“That’ll be just fine. You’ll find the paint in the garage.”

He, of course, was ecstatic. He had been avoiding the project for a long time, and was getting tired of his wife bugging him about it. Now he had this drop dead gorgeous blond willing to do it for a mere $50.! He closed the door, feeling quite smug.

About an hour later, there was another knock on the door. It was the blond. “I’m all done,” she reported, “I had lots of paint so I gave it two coats - and, by the way,” she continued, “It’s a Ferrari, not a porch.”

HEAD’S UP:
We are frequently warned about scams.  

I received a call from a young man claiming to be my grandson. I asked him for his name, and he said scoldingly, “Grandma, you know my name . . . .” I said, “Well, I still want to know your name.” And he hung up. The reality is, I was forewarned about that one. I know someone who fell victim to it a year earlier. The young man who called her said, “Hi Grandma” and she responded with “Brian, is that you?” Then he had her hooked . . . .told her his tall tale of trouble, and that he was going to be jailed in Canada if he didn’t pay the fine immediately . . . and she went straight to Western Union and sent the requested money - - a couple thousand dollars, as I recall . . . . She truly thought she was helping her grandson.

Another scam happened to my Cambodian friends who helped someone because the person claimed to be a Christian – but the reality is there was a hefty pay-off for helping that was promised.  All they had to do was give the person the money needed up front, and as soon as the immediate problem was resolved, they were to be handsomely rewarded.  BEWARE!  Anything too good to be true is! (Except Salvation through Jesus Christ).   They lost their money and a nice Rolex watch in the process of trying to help. 

Just this morning I got an email telling me I had won a brand new BMW.  I get email scams fairly often.  Some even seem legit  – but I check them out . . . . I got an e-mail once that said my account at a certain bank had been compromised and they needed me to fill out the online form to get it cleared up. I went straight to the bank, and they were already aware of the scam . . . an effort to get my I D.

Another one that is fairly recent is calling people acting like they are the Court system  – telling you that you are going to be arrested for failing to show up for your jury duty . . .  and in the process of your being flustered they get your personal info from you and steal your identity, drain your accounts and leave you wondering how it happened.

We are told we are to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves . . . .hopefully a word to the wise is sufficient.

COLOSSIANS 3

In my chronological reading of Paul's letters to various churches in his day, today's chapter is Colossians 3. Paul is in Rome in prison, and the letter was actually written for him by Timothy, his faithful sidekick.

This chapter reminds me of The Karate Kid - and wax on/ wax off. Paul lists what we should put on and what we should put off. The lists are great reminders for Christian living.

First he lists what we are to put to death (all that is earthly in us):
sexual immorality
impurity
passion
evil desire
covetousness (which is idolatry).

Then he lists what we are to put off:
anger
wrath
malice
slander
obscene talk
lying

And, finally, what we are to put on:
compassionate hearts
kindness
humility
meekness
patience (aka forbearance, bearing with one another)
forgiving one another, as the Lord has forgiven
love (above all) which binds everything together in perfect harmony
peace of Christ
thankfulness

And, whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The original letter didn't have chapters, so the flow of writing segues to specific attention to some specific admonitions, then in verses 23 & 24 states, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive your inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Paul was being that faithful witness. Incarcerated in a prison in Rome, in chains for his faith, his concern was for others. Knowing where he was when he wrote Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians, which were written during that period of incarceration, makes me pay closer attention to what was important to him to share.

Postscript:
It is interesting timing that Amanda Knox was just released from a prison in Rome yesterday. As I write she is on her way home to Seattle. She has proclaimed her innocence throughout the proceedings and the time imprisoned. Finally the majority vote of a jury has set her free. I pray that the truth will be found out. The victim's family and Amanda and her family deserve that. I also pray she pursues inner peace by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ, for there is no true peace without Him! She has a lot to forgive, and I pray the Holy Spirit will help her do that....