Tag: Jesus sacrifice

Before renewal

Before we can undergo a renewal, a few things have to happen. If you want to improve an old home you can add new flooring and give it a fresh coat of paint. But have you actually improved the building or have you just “put lipstick on a pig,” as the saying goes.

If you want to improve an old house you have to inspect it and find the flaws. Maybe there is a lack of insulation (our old home would have been warmer through this cold snap if we had better insulation. Maybe it’s a crack in the foundation. The builder must inspect and find the defects. These problems should be fixed. Then, when the new paint goes on it represents the improved state of the home.

In the Old Testament, Malachi refers to the ‘refiner’s fire’ in this way; “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.” (Malachi 3:3) The idea of burning off the impurities and extracting the best parts of the metal.

Hard times suck. Plain and simple. But we need to have difficulties and trials, we need to have our sins and defects burned off and allow the glory of Jesus to emerge. It’s like the old hymn that starts, “All of self and none of thee.” And through the verses it progresses to the final verse saying, “None of self and all of thee.”

The aim of renewal isn’t to emerge from the ashes as a better and stronger version of ourselves. But rather to emerge from our struggles and trials as a stronger reflection of Jesus. His glory is the aim not our own. The old saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” should actually be “What doesn’t kill you makes Jesus more visible in your life.” It is not as catchy for sure, but to me that is the ideal.

I do fall short! I know. But this is the aim.

Ephesians 4: 22 – 24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Open to inputs

I could not move my dog last night. He was sleeping by my feet and was on the sheet and blankets in such a way that I couldn’t cover my body. I tried to move him. He resisted. He used his substantial weight (ahem!) to resist my nudges.

This reminded me of my kiddos when they were little. As a parent I always respected a bit of a stubborn streak in my kids. Thinking that a bit of firmness of character is a good thing, and it is. But there were those times when my kids were unreasonably committed to the cause of that moment. If you are a parent you understand what I’m describing. The times when a child takes a stand. A firm unmovable stand. Not because the issue is so serious or because they would normally feel this way, but because they are hungry or overtired, or just feeling out of sorts. An unreasonable, unwilling to listen to logic, unflinching stand.

While I do believe we need to stand on our principles, we first need to work out what our principles are. We need to be willing to examine information and test it against the scripture. We need to make sure the hill we die on is worth doing so. Children have not yet learned the art of picking their battles, or self examination. We need to do this to be mature. We need to review our beliefs and question what we accept as correct. This way we know when to be steadfast and when we need to adjust and grow.

It made me wonder if when Christ was on the cross he looked at the mob in front of him and saw them the way a parent sees a petulant child. The weight of His understand and his love is truly overwhelming when you consider it.

Luke 23:  33-34 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there,
along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

How to do it

I am a practical person. Whenever I seek advice or help, I always ask, ‘What does that look like?’ or ‘How exactly do I do that?’

In life I have been asked, on more than one occasion, to step out in faith and trust that God will look after my future. Sometimes the path forward has been clearer than others.

Recently we have been in a situation where we took a big step off the cliff and believed that God will answer our prayers. At this point it looks like He has a different answer in mind. It can make me feel like he isn’t willing to catch us this time. That he isn’t answering our prayers.

Regardless of my feelings about it I know he is sovereign. How do I maintain my faith and belief in God’s goodness when things seem to be going off the rails. I don’t mean what encouragement do I gather, or how do I intellectually process it, but rather how do I do it?

It came to me late last night. God gave us an example of what to do. He provided a model.

Matthew 26: 36-39 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 

His sheep

I heard an analogy this weekend that was thought-provoking. I was watching a program about people who have left the Amish faith. This particular family did so as they studied the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. They came to the conclusion that the principals of Jesus were more important than the rules of their faith.

A friend came to her and explained that the rules were there as a fence to keep the sheep safe within the confines of the pasture. The fence protected them from the dangerous world. This woman’s response was so beautiful. She said, “If you are with the Shepard and following where he leads, then no harm can befall you.” Or something of that nature – it’s a rough paraphrase.

The hardest thing to do is live by principles. We favour rules and laws. They give us security. We feel less afraid when we have a physical barrier or fence. The problem is that we are limiting our influence. We are limiting our experiences and our knowledge. As scary as it may be to leave the safety of the pasture, if we are following Jesus, then we can do so with confidence.

Read about Jesus. Know about Jesus. Give your life to Jesus and see where he leads.

Fear has no place in our hearts. Is it there? YES. We are human. But we must fight fear. Jesus overcame evil. The biggest battle the world has ever known has already been fought and won. We may struggle and suffer, but Jesus has already paid the price for our sin.

Our Shepard will not lead us astray. He has gone before and fought the fight. We must keep our eyes on him.

1 Peter 2: 21 – 25 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd
and Overseer of your souls.

Grace is sufficient

Many of the ideas in the Bible are counter-cultural and even counter-intuitive. They go against what is instinctive for humans. The best example of this is the Sermon on the Mount. I don’t pretend to fully understand these ideas. They are a struggle – my humanness gets in the way of my understanding.

Lately, Paul’s phrase ‘my grace is sufficient,’ has been running through my head. How do we feel this in the face of personal loss? How do we understand this when our life is stuck in neutral? How do we share this when we see others facing serious trials? And yet, this is the most important idea for a Christian. Grace. Pure simple grace is enough. It is sufficient.

Wrapped up in this is the hope for a better tomorrow. The hope of reunion with loved ones. The hope of a dwelling with God. The hope of resurrection. Grace. The one complete act.

It is my job not to be distracted by the failings of life, by sin and the earthy trials. Grace! It is my obligation to not let my heart be drawn into the pleasures of earth. Grace! It is my responsibility to not be seeking affirmation from the world. Grace!

What other prize and trophy or reward could compare with grace?

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

By grace alone

The little girl sat with her grandfather on the front porch of the old faded house. He rocked in the rocking chair while she sat on the step kicking at the dirt path that led to the house.

Why don’t we have what other people have Grandpa?” she asked. The young girl lived with her Grandparents and had since she was very young.

“Oh, what do you mean by that?” he asked as he rocked back and forth.

“The homes I pass when I walk to school, they are so large and have such beautiful lawns and cars,” she explained.

“Oh, I see,” he said rocking. “Well, when I was a boy I had to use that old outhouse behind the house. God saw fit that we have modern plumbing.”

“I don’t mean that, why does God give them big shiny things, and we just have the ordinary things?” she asked somewhat exasperated.

The old man was silent a long time. The young girl waited her face cast down as she waited for his answer. “I guess that is just the way life is.” She smirked downward not satisfied with the answer.

“Can you see through the door to where your Grandma is working in the kitchen?”‘ the old man asked.

“Yes.”

“What is on the wall behind your Grandma?”

“That old carving your father made,” she answered. “You told me he made it for you as a wedding present.

“Yes,” the old man smiled. “Such a touching gift. It’s my favourite thing in the world, beside you and your Grandma, of course,” chuckled the old man.

“What did my father so carefully carve for me?” he asked.

“Jesus on the cross,” she said.

“Ahhh,” said the old man. “Do you know why that old wooden cross is my greatest possession?”

“Cause your dad gave it to you and he’s dead now,” said the little girl.

“Yes, of course, but more than that.” The old man stopped rocking and put his head back and closed his eyes. “When my father gave it to me, he told me to remember that no matter what gifts and blessings I could gain on earth none of it will compare to the gift Jesus gave us.”

The little girl looked a bit puzzled.

“I may not have treasures here, but I have what I need. God has looked after us, look he brought us you, such a joy for your Grandma and me. But, he has saved the best gift of all. I believe Jesus died for me and all the glories of heaven will be mine one day.”

The little girl nodded. Not able to fully understand, but aware that somehow they were richer here in their little home than many of the people in their enormous mansions were.

The old man smiled as a tear rolled down his face.

James 1: 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.

Unanswered prayers

I was listening to an essay by CS Lewis while preparing supper. The essay was about prayer, “petitionary prayers,” as he calls them. (I think, forgive me I can’t find it again, but I thought it was called “The Efficacy of Prayer”). I have thought a lot about prayer over the last year and a half. Why it seemed some of our prayers were answered, while others were not. Why God seemed to be helping us in some ways, but yet not in others. It’s a topic I find interesting on a personal level.

The narrator then read something that I had never considered before. Once I heard it, I was shocked I had never thought of the idea. It seemed so dreadfully obvious. In fact, it struck me so hard that I asked my husband if he had ever considered the idea before either. He had not.

CS Lewis posits that even Jesus did not have his prayer answered in Gethsemane. Wow! There. That is it. I had never considered that before. I focused more on the “Thy will be done” than the “Let this cup pass from me.” God couldn’t answer Christ’s prayer the way he wanted, the fate of mankind hung on the plan. But Christ asked it. Not only did he ask it, but he then upon the cross said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27: 46)

How I could have gone this far in my life without really thinking about this? Last summer, when my fervent prayers were not answered, and I was angry and bitter I felt forsaken, unloved. Christ felt that too.

This realization helped put everything into perspective for me. Unanswered prayers are not a sign of God not approving of me, or not loving me. After all, you can not claim that God did not love Christ or approve of Him. If God can refuse to answer the prayer of His own beloved son, then my more insignificant prayers may go unanswered also.

Christ’s prayers of finding another way forward, were denied in order bridge the gap between mankind and God. You can’t claim that about my prayers. They do not carry the same significance. But like Christ there may be more going on than what I see.

Unlike Christ, I am not privy to the plan. He knew what His role in salvation was, and He knew the stakes. I can’t know the mind of God or the greater plan for my own life and the lives of those around me.

This was a sobering realization. Certainly a new way of framing my frustrations with unanswered prayers.

Matthew 26: 38-39 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with
sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Take courage in His love

Some days I feel down in the mouth. I feel upset and nothing goes my way. The little problems are mountains. What should I do when I feel this way?

I can replace my own negative and myopic self talk with scriptures. I can fill my head with the glory of God. Doing this doesn’t make me less pathetic or sinful, it just ensures I remember that I am loved.

Sometimes we all need to remember this. The worst of humans have access to God’s grace. Even when we are sure of our failures and certain of our hopelessness God can reach us. Because our place in his kingdom is not a product of our goodness but His holiness. God loves me not because I am lovable but because He is love.

When your inner voice tells you that you are unworthy say back, “Yes, but God is worthy.”

When your inner voice says you are a failure reply, “Yes, but God is not.”

When your inner voice reminds you how unlovable you are answer, “So true, but God IS love.”

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Great King

Jesus rode into Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna. The triumphant return of the King. If this was a story written by human hands this is where the story would end. The return of the king and goodness to the land.

But this is not where the story of Jesus ends. The great king is killed. Taken down by evil and plotting forces. The great hope for humanity is squelched by evil. All hope is lost.

Until… he returns. This time not only conquering evil but death itself.

Only a great and worthy king could do this. No human could. He lives on. His story lives on. It never ends, replaying every day in the lives of all who follow him.

Hosanna – YouTube

Power of story

I have been thinking of the “Easter” story and how it has affected my life. I’m not sure I have organized my thoughts yet. I’m not sure it’s possible to organize my thoughts about something so enormous.

This one moment in history changed everything; this moment of Christ on the cross. But not in the way that human events change history! For example a world leader makes this choice and now it sets off a chain reaction and events unfold. These are the world changing events of which history is full.

But… Jesus on the cross is different. It changed the trajectory of the world – yes. It changed how events unfolded and the course of our societies – yes again. But it also changes the direction and course of my life now, of the lives of everyone who interacts with him. His act of sacrifice was not a world changing event, it’s a continuous and on-going world changing event.

God and his work are alive in our world. Seeing his hand and his presence in our own story should be the quest of all who seek him.

I listened to this video this morning and found it incredibly moving.

Andrew Peterson: He Gave Us Stories – YouTube