SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:14
But Jesus intervened: "Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these."
STORY from C. S. Lewis:
There is a stage in a child's life at which it cannot separate the religious from the merely festal character of Christmas or Easter. I have been told of a very small and very devout boy who was heard murmuring to himself on Easter morning a poem of his own composition which began 'Chocolate eggs and Jesus risen.' This seems to me, for his age, both admirable poetry and admirable piety. But of course the time will soon come when such a child can no longer effortlessly and spontaneously enjoy that unity. He will become able to distinguish the spiritual from the ritual and festal aspect of Easter; chocolate eggs will no longer seem sacramental. And once he has distinguished he must put one or the other first. If he puts the spiritual first he can still taste something of Easter in the chocolate eggs; if he puts the eggs first they will soon be no more than any other sweetmeat. They will have taken on an independent, and therefore a soon withering, life.
OBSERVATION:
There is something special about Easter. There is something special about Children. When the two are combined … watch out because anything can happen. Metaphors get mixed up. Priorities are turned upside down. The “awe” factor takes over. But, somewhere in the mix, Easter still gets celebrated even with a little face smeared with the remnants of a chocolate egg hastily eaten before mommy could take it away.
Palm Sunday has arrived. We are preparing to hear the little children sing their hosannas and wave their palm branches. Many times I wish I could get inside of their little minds to discover what they are really thinking as they parade down the aisle of the church. Do they understand? Do they comprehend? Do they know what is really happening?
And then it dawns on me … Do any of us really understand, comprehend, or know what is happening?
Oh, we can retell the story. We know the facts. We can share the list of characters. But understand? Comprehend? Know?
It is a God event and at many levels, more than we will ever fully appreciate, it belongs to the children … and to the child in all of us. We should simply let the awe factor embrace us. Wonder with the best of them. Eyes wide open. Heads turning. Taking it all in. Marching down an aisle. Waving a palm branch. Shouting Hosanna.
God is in charge. It is his event ... and we, a participant. The wonder of it all over takes us. Are we looking for some chocolate in the shape of Palm Branches? Would that help?
PRAYER:
Help us, O God, not to get so caught up in the trappings of the pageantry that the child in us gets lost. We really do want more than just chocolate Easter eggs this year.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Dealing with status: Jesus became our slave and thus became our master with a story from the life of Lawrence of Arabia, an observation and a prayer.
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:6, 7
He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!
STORY:
Lawrence of Arabia, one of the most colorful characters in World War I, wrote of the Arabs: “No man could be their leader except he ate the ranks’ food and wore their clothes, lived on a level with them, and yet appeared better in himself.”
OBSERVATION:
An so it was with Jesus. He lived out the reality of Sir Lawrence’s words except in one aspect and that made all the difference … he never felt nor saw himself better than anyone else. His desire was be everyone’s servant … or even better, their slave. It was only in the role of slave that he could fully serve the needs of human beings.
We are rank and file type people. We base our thoughts and decisions on things that are seen only on the outside. What they wear, what they drive and where they live. We normally ask first, “What do you do?” and then develop our opinion and organize our relationship based on the answer. Doctors get better treatment than a garbage collector ... but status means nothing to Jesus. In his eyes everyone is seen as an equal with him. He considers himself to be the least of them all.
He is everyone’s slave or he is no ones slave. He is everyone’s savior or he saves no one. He became one of us so that he could elevate us to be one with him … joint heirs of the kingdom … God’s kingdom.
He who was unbreakable became breakable. He who was all powerful became powerless. He who owned the universe became one of poverty. He who was divine became limited in every aspect as we. He who was bigger than life became the smallest of all … so that we could become like him in every way.
I love this quote from the writings of C. S. Lewis on equality: “Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.”
He who would be the master must first be the slave. So said Jesus … so lived Jesus … he illustrated it with his own life and death ... and thus, sends forth a beacon for us to move onward to a greater good.
PRAYER:
Holy Father, your son, your only son Jesus became like one of us so that we could become like him. Sometimes we get it … sometimes we don’t. Forgive us when that happens and work with us until it is always true. For Christ’s sake!
He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!
STORY:
Lawrence of Arabia, one of the most colorful characters in World War I, wrote of the Arabs: “No man could be their leader except he ate the ranks’ food and wore their clothes, lived on a level with them, and yet appeared better in himself.”
OBSERVATION:
An so it was with Jesus. He lived out the reality of Sir Lawrence’s words except in one aspect and that made all the difference … he never felt nor saw himself better than anyone else. His desire was be everyone’s servant … or even better, their slave. It was only in the role of slave that he could fully serve the needs of human beings.
We are rank and file type people. We base our thoughts and decisions on things that are seen only on the outside. What they wear, what they drive and where they live. We normally ask first, “What do you do?” and then develop our opinion and organize our relationship based on the answer. Doctors get better treatment than a garbage collector ... but status means nothing to Jesus. In his eyes everyone is seen as an equal with him. He considers himself to be the least of them all.
He is everyone’s slave or he is no ones slave. He is everyone’s savior or he saves no one. He became one of us so that he could elevate us to be one with him … joint heirs of the kingdom … God’s kingdom.
He who was unbreakable became breakable. He who was all powerful became powerless. He who owned the universe became one of poverty. He who was divine became limited in every aspect as we. He who was bigger than life became the smallest of all … so that we could become like him in every way.
I love this quote from the writings of C. S. Lewis on equality: “Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.”
He who would be the master must first be the slave. So said Jesus … so lived Jesus … he illustrated it with his own life and death ... and thus, sends forth a beacon for us to move onward to a greater good.
PRAYER:
Holy Father, your son, your only son Jesus became like one of us so that we could become like him. Sometimes we get it … sometimes we don’t. Forgive us when that happens and work with us until it is always true. For Christ’s sake!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Jesus' life span is remembered because of the events of his last days, especially the third day!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46
Jesus cried out in a loud voice… “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?...” “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
QUOTE: Max Lucado
Final acts. Final hours. Final words. They reflect a life well-lived. So do the last words of our Master. When on the edge of death, Jesus, too, got his house in order: A question of suffering. A call of deliverance. (No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, page 20)
STORY: (This list was published in 1979)
Experts estimate that if a normal cassette tape is played about 100 times a year, sound quality will deteriorate somewhat after about 10 years. But the tape itself will play on.
A lightening bolt lasts 45 to 55 microseconds.
The average running shoe worn by the average runner on an average surface will last 350 to 500 miles.
A hard pencil can write up to 30,000 words or draw a line more than 30 miles long.
Most ball-point pens will draw a line 4,000 to 7,500 feet long.
Leather combat boots have a wartime life-span of six months, a peacetime life-span of eight months (The army walks during war and peace.)
The projected life-span of a baby born in the U.S. today is about 71 years, nearly double what it was at the end of the 18th century.
The longest authenticated life-span of a human being is 113 years, 214 days. Studies show married people live longer than those who remain single.
A group of subatomic particles known as unstable hadrons exists for only one one-hundred-sextillionth of a second (10 to the negative 23 second)--less time than it takes light to travel a single inch.
A 100-watt incandescent bulb will last about 750 hours; a 25-watt bulb, 2,500 hours.
The number of times a light bulb is turned on and off has little to do with its life-span.
A one-dollar bill lasts approximately 18 months in circulation.
Practice footballs used by professionals last two to three days--a playing life of perhaps five hours.
Home teams are required to provide 24 new balls each game and these last only about six minutes of playing time.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus’ life lasted just 30 years. We remember those 30 years because of the last few days of his life.
A triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the shouts of the people … the cleansing of the Temple … the trial before Pilate … the shouts of the people to kill him … the walk along a street carrying his cross … nails driven into flesh … two others killed with him … a place called Calvary … some words spoken … a borrowed tomb … grave cloths hastily improvised because of the late hour … a large stone rolled into place … guards posted … But all of these events would have been forgotten rather quickly if it wasn’t for the events of the third day.
“He breathed his last” would have been the last words about his life if it hadn’t been for the third day. He would have been just another Messiah figure if it hadn’t been for the third day. The follower’s hopes would have been crushed if it hadn’t been for the third day. And our world would have been a lot different if it hadn’t been for the third day.
Life spans leave different impressions on us. Some things, as listed above, come along, do what they are designed to do and exit rather quickly. 30-years is not a long life span, at least not the way we live our lives today. 3-days or 7-days out of 10,950 days of Jesus’ entire life span doesn’t seem like much, but the impact, oh the impact … all because of what transpired that third day.
Resurrection. Empty Tomb. Grave cloths left behind. Life returned to a dead Messiah. And the world took notice of his life span because of that third day! And people still take notice, even those who do not believe remember because of that third day!
PRAYER:
O God, how can we express our gratitude for the unbelievable life, death and resurrection of Jesus? How can we share this great news with others? Thank you for his life, but more than that thank you for our life because of his. Amen.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice… “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?...” “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
QUOTE: Max Lucado
Final acts. Final hours. Final words. They reflect a life well-lived. So do the last words of our Master. When on the edge of death, Jesus, too, got his house in order: A question of suffering. A call of deliverance. (No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, page 20)
STORY: (This list was published in 1979)
Experts estimate that if a normal cassette tape is played about 100 times a year, sound quality will deteriorate somewhat after about 10 years. But the tape itself will play on.
A lightening bolt lasts 45 to 55 microseconds.
The average running shoe worn by the average runner on an average surface will last 350 to 500 miles.
A hard pencil can write up to 30,000 words or draw a line more than 30 miles long.
Most ball-point pens will draw a line 4,000 to 7,500 feet long.
Leather combat boots have a wartime life-span of six months, a peacetime life-span of eight months (The army walks during war and peace.)
The projected life-span of a baby born in the U.S. today is about 71 years, nearly double what it was at the end of the 18th century.
The longest authenticated life-span of a human being is 113 years, 214 days. Studies show married people live longer than those who remain single.
A group of subatomic particles known as unstable hadrons exists for only one one-hundred-sextillionth of a second (10 to the negative 23 second)--less time than it takes light to travel a single inch.
A 100-watt incandescent bulb will last about 750 hours; a 25-watt bulb, 2,500 hours.
The number of times a light bulb is turned on and off has little to do with its life-span.
A one-dollar bill lasts approximately 18 months in circulation.
Practice footballs used by professionals last two to three days--a playing life of perhaps five hours.
Home teams are required to provide 24 new balls each game and these last only about six minutes of playing time.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus’ life lasted just 30 years. We remember those 30 years because of the last few days of his life.
A triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the shouts of the people … the cleansing of the Temple … the trial before Pilate … the shouts of the people to kill him … the walk along a street carrying his cross … nails driven into flesh … two others killed with him … a place called Calvary … some words spoken … a borrowed tomb … grave cloths hastily improvised because of the late hour … a large stone rolled into place … guards posted … But all of these events would have been forgotten rather quickly if it wasn’t for the events of the third day.
“He breathed his last” would have been the last words about his life if it hadn’t been for the third day. He would have been just another Messiah figure if it hadn’t been for the third day. The follower’s hopes would have been crushed if it hadn’t been for the third day. And our world would have been a lot different if it hadn’t been for the third day.
Life spans leave different impressions on us. Some things, as listed above, come along, do what they are designed to do and exit rather quickly. 30-years is not a long life span, at least not the way we live our lives today. 3-days or 7-days out of 10,950 days of Jesus’ entire life span doesn’t seem like much, but the impact, oh the impact … all because of what transpired that third day.
Resurrection. Empty Tomb. Grave cloths left behind. Life returned to a dead Messiah. And the world took notice of his life span because of that third day! And people still take notice, even those who do not believe remember because of that third day!
PRAYER:
O God, how can we express our gratitude for the unbelievable life, death and resurrection of Jesus? How can we share this great news with others? Thank you for his life, but more than that thank you for our life because of his. Amen.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Finishing our journey with our torch still lit - John 19:28, 30 with a story from the Greek's Olympic games, an observation and a prayer.
SCRIPTURE: John 19:28, 30
Jesus said, “I am thirsty….” When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
STORY:
The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him.
OBSERVATION:
This little statement about the Greeks unique race got me thinking …
First, were the words from Max Lucado: “Final acts. Final hours. Final words. They reflect a life well-lived. So do the last words of our Master. When the edge of death, Jesus, too, got his house in order. A confession of humanity. A cry of completion.” (No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, page 20).
Second … Help me to live as long as I am alive and then help me to die as someone who is ready to live.
Third, I believe it was Mark Twain who said something like this … I’ve met people who died at the age of 40, but who just hung around to until they were 70.
Keeping the torch lit can be difficult, a little challenging.
The question that keeps popping up in my mind is “am I coasting or living?” It is easy to slip into a mind set of taking the path of least resistance, to coast, to do the minimum, to just get by, to cut corners, to take the easy way … but boy, it sure causes the light of our torch to flicker and threaten to go out.
I’m reminded of a statement of a secretary who said, while handing me her letter of resignation, “This is too much like work!” … and she was dead serious.
Life is like work in that we each of a task to do. God has us here on assignment and as long as that assignment hasn’t been completed we should continue to work so that, like Jesus on the cross, we can declare, at the end of our journey, “It is finished” and know that it is!
PRAYER:
Lord, help us to keep our torch lit as long as we are running this race so that when we come to the end of our days we can say with confidence, “It is finished.”
Jesus said, “I am thirsty….” When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
STORY:
The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him.
OBSERVATION:
This little statement about the Greeks unique race got me thinking …
First, were the words from Max Lucado: “Final acts. Final hours. Final words. They reflect a life well-lived. So do the last words of our Master. When the edge of death, Jesus, too, got his house in order. A confession of humanity. A cry of completion.” (No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, page 20).
Second … Help me to live as long as I am alive and then help me to die as someone who is ready to live.
Third, I believe it was Mark Twain who said something like this … I’ve met people who died at the age of 40, but who just hung around to until they were 70.
Keeping the torch lit can be difficult, a little challenging.
The question that keeps popping up in my mind is “am I coasting or living?” It is easy to slip into a mind set of taking the path of least resistance, to coast, to do the minimum, to just get by, to cut corners, to take the easy way … but boy, it sure causes the light of our torch to flicker and threaten to go out.
I’m reminded of a statement of a secretary who said, while handing me her letter of resignation, “This is too much like work!” … and she was dead serious.
Life is like work in that we each of a task to do. God has us here on assignment and as long as that assignment hasn’t been completed we should continue to work so that, like Jesus on the cross, we can declare, at the end of our journey, “It is finished” and know that it is!
PRAYER:
Lord, help us to keep our torch lit as long as we are running this race so that when we come to the end of our days we can say with confidence, “It is finished.”
Friday, March 23, 2012
An example of extravagant love - Mary's towards Jesus and Jesus' toward her - Mark 14:3 with a story, an observation and a prayer
SCRIPTURE: Mark 14:3 (TM)
Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head.
STORY:
William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath. Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, "Momma, kiss me!" Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord. Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost. The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."
OBSERVATION:
Mary didn’t count the cost. She couldn’t do enough for Jesus. What was the cost of the perfume in comparison to what he had done for her? Jesus had loved her unlike any man that she had ever allowed to enter her life. His love was free and non-judgmental. His love lifted her up and made her whole. His love was extravagant and so now was hers toward him.
Too many of us go through life feeling that we are unlovable. Maybe we haven’t measured up to others expectations. Maybe they have judged us without knowing all the facts. Maybe they have pushed us aside thinking little of their actions. Maybe they expressed a strong opinion with little regard for our feelings. Just little things, but over time they have mounted up and we end up seeing ourselves a little less than God sees us. It is at these times that we should remember Mary and what Jesus did for her simply by loving her for herself … not for what she could do for him, but simply because she was deserving of genuine love.
Mary poured the expensive perfume … over his head … over his shoulder … down his back … the fragrance filled the room. Whatever was laid out on the table for the meal that evening was soon forgotten. Such love, such extravagant love. The people looked on in wonder. Didn’t he know the type of woman who was touching him … washing his feet with her hair … kneeling in his presence? Oh, he knew her. He knew her heart. He felt her rejection. He experienced her pain. He knew her heart … and that is all he needed to know. His love for this precious creation of his father was extravagant.
And it is the very same love that he shows to the likes of you and me!
PRAYER:
Thank you for your extravagant love shown towards us, eternal Lord. We are not worthy, but that is the point of extravagant love and we are healed of our inner turmoil. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head.
STORY:
William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath. Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, "Momma, kiss me!" Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord. Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost. The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."
OBSERVATION:
Mary didn’t count the cost. She couldn’t do enough for Jesus. What was the cost of the perfume in comparison to what he had done for her? Jesus had loved her unlike any man that she had ever allowed to enter her life. His love was free and non-judgmental. His love lifted her up and made her whole. His love was extravagant and so now was hers toward him.
Too many of us go through life feeling that we are unlovable. Maybe we haven’t measured up to others expectations. Maybe they have judged us without knowing all the facts. Maybe they have pushed us aside thinking little of their actions. Maybe they expressed a strong opinion with little regard for our feelings. Just little things, but over time they have mounted up and we end up seeing ourselves a little less than God sees us. It is at these times that we should remember Mary and what Jesus did for her simply by loving her for herself … not for what she could do for him, but simply because she was deserving of genuine love.
Mary poured the expensive perfume … over his head … over his shoulder … down his back … the fragrance filled the room. Whatever was laid out on the table for the meal that evening was soon forgotten. Such love, such extravagant love. The people looked on in wonder. Didn’t he know the type of woman who was touching him … washing his feet with her hair … kneeling in his presence? Oh, he knew her. He knew her heart. He felt her rejection. He experienced her pain. He knew her heart … and that is all he needed to know. His love for this precious creation of his father was extravagant.
And it is the very same love that he shows to the likes of you and me!
PRAYER:
Thank you for your extravagant love shown towards us, eternal Lord. We are not worthy, but that is the point of extravagant love and we are healed of our inner turmoil. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Jesus' life, death, burial and resurrection was all according to scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3,4 - A reflection with a story of a Russian Jew who held unto scripture against great odds.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3,4
What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
STORY:
Anatoli Shcharansky, a dissident Soviet Jew, kissed his wife goodbye as she left Russia for freedom in Israel. His parting words to her were, "I'll see you soon in Jerusalem." But Anatoli was detained and finally imprisoned. Their reunion in Jerusalem would not only be postponed, it might never occur. During long years in Russian prisons and work camps Anatoli was stripped of his personal belongings. His only possession was a miniature copy of the Psalms. Once during his imprisonment, his refusal to release the book to the authorities cost him 130 days in solitary confinement. Finally, twelve years after parting with his wife, he was offered freedom. In February 1986, as the world watched, Shcharansky was allowed to walk away from Russian guards toward those who would take him to Jerusalem. But in the final moments of captivity, the guards tried again to confiscate the Psalms book. Anatoli threw himself face down in the snow and refused to walk on to freedom without it. Those words had kept him alive during imprisonment. He would not go on to freedom without them.
OBSERVATION:
“According to the Scriptures” lingers in the spirit of any believer. The story of Mr. Shcharansky illustrates the power that scripture can have on a person. For in the pages of Scripture is all that is necessary for living and salvation. We need not words or deeds, although God would like to see some deeds to along with what we say we believe, as long as we have the scriptures … the faith of which they speak.
I’m just wondering if faced with the same situation as Mr. Shcharansky if we would have acted in a similar fashion. If it came down between holding on to the scriptures, please note that he only had the Psalms, or freedom and a return to a loved one would we hold on to the scriptures, refusing to move forward without them. I’m just wondering.
PRAYER:
You have given us a holy word. May we cherish it mightily. Hold on to it dearly. Live by it daily. Read it often. Carry it in our hearts always. Share it whenever possible. Thank you for the revelation found in those holy words.
Quote by Max Lucado from "No Wonder They Call Him The Savior" page 115:
Spices. Linen. Tomb. Fear. Waiting. Despair. Stone. Mary. Running. Maybe? Peter. John. Belief. Enlightenment. Truth. Mankind. Alive. Alive. Alive!
What I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
STORY:
Anatoli Shcharansky, a dissident Soviet Jew, kissed his wife goodbye as she left Russia for freedom in Israel. His parting words to her were, "I'll see you soon in Jerusalem." But Anatoli was detained and finally imprisoned. Their reunion in Jerusalem would not only be postponed, it might never occur. During long years in Russian prisons and work camps Anatoli was stripped of his personal belongings. His only possession was a miniature copy of the Psalms. Once during his imprisonment, his refusal to release the book to the authorities cost him 130 days in solitary confinement. Finally, twelve years after parting with his wife, he was offered freedom. In February 1986, as the world watched, Shcharansky was allowed to walk away from Russian guards toward those who would take him to Jerusalem. But in the final moments of captivity, the guards tried again to confiscate the Psalms book. Anatoli threw himself face down in the snow and refused to walk on to freedom without it. Those words had kept him alive during imprisonment. He would not go on to freedom without them.
OBSERVATION:
“According to the Scriptures” lingers in the spirit of any believer. The story of Mr. Shcharansky illustrates the power that scripture can have on a person. For in the pages of Scripture is all that is necessary for living and salvation. We need not words or deeds, although God would like to see some deeds to along with what we say we believe, as long as we have the scriptures … the faith of which they speak.
I’m just wondering if faced with the same situation as Mr. Shcharansky if we would have acted in a similar fashion. If it came down between holding on to the scriptures, please note that he only had the Psalms, or freedom and a return to a loved one would we hold on to the scriptures, refusing to move forward without them. I’m just wondering.
PRAYER:
You have given us a holy word. May we cherish it mightily. Hold on to it dearly. Live by it daily. Read it often. Carry it in our hearts always. Share it whenever possible. Thank you for the revelation found in those holy words.
Quote by Max Lucado from "No Wonder They Call Him The Savior" page 115:
Spices. Linen. Tomb. Fear. Waiting. Despair. Stone. Mary. Running. Maybe? Peter. John. Belief. Enlightenment. Truth. Mankind. Alive. Alive. Alive!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
A real passion and obsession for righteousness - a reflection on 1 Peter 2:24 with a story from Sir Ernest Shackleton's attempt to travel to the South Pole, an observation and a prayer.
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
STORY:
In the Antarctic summer of 1908-9, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished.
Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food -- elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said,
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS." We can understand Shackleton's obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness.
OBSERVATION:
And our Lenten journey continues … this dying to sin and living for righteousness is a lot easier to state than it is to realize. Combined with this living for righteousness comes the promise that we are healed.
Heal means for me – to be made whole. When our bodies hurt and we are less than originally created to be. When disease takes hold and we have difficulty seeing tomorrow. When the seams of our existence are coming unraveled. When our desires cannot matchup with reality. We begin to pray for healing … never realizing that just possibly what we are praying for is directly linked to righteousness. We want the cake without the calories.
It is also helpful, at least for this old preacher, to realize that healing, when it comes, arrives in various and a wide range of packages. Sometimes it is physical, but sometimes it is spiritual, emotional or relational. All healing is not physical. God brings healing in the way that truly benefits us the most … if we would but open ourselves to what God is offering instead of trying to limit him to just one particular area of our lives.
And so the question for our Lenten journey is do we desire righteousness with the same passion that we think of food? Therein lies the power of healing … at least that is how I see it.
PRAYER:
Create in us a desire for righteousness. May it consume us. May it possess us. May it be our only goal on our journey.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
STORY:
In the Antarctic summer of 1908-9, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished.
Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food -- elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said,
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS." We can understand Shackleton's obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness.
OBSERVATION:
And our Lenten journey continues … this dying to sin and living for righteousness is a lot easier to state than it is to realize. Combined with this living for righteousness comes the promise that we are healed.
Heal means for me – to be made whole. When our bodies hurt and we are less than originally created to be. When disease takes hold and we have difficulty seeing tomorrow. When the seams of our existence are coming unraveled. When our desires cannot matchup with reality. We begin to pray for healing … never realizing that just possibly what we are praying for is directly linked to righteousness. We want the cake without the calories.
It is also helpful, at least for this old preacher, to realize that healing, when it comes, arrives in various and a wide range of packages. Sometimes it is physical, but sometimes it is spiritual, emotional or relational. All healing is not physical. God brings healing in the way that truly benefits us the most … if we would but open ourselves to what God is offering instead of trying to limit him to just one particular area of our lives.
And so the question for our Lenten journey is do we desire righteousness with the same passion that we think of food? Therein lies the power of healing … at least that is how I see it.
PRAYER:
Create in us a desire for righteousness. May it consume us. May it possess us. May it be our only goal on our journey.
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