Luke 11:1-6
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, this is what you should say:
“’Father, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’”
“’Father, may your name be honored. validation - what makes life worth living.
May your kingdom come. motivation – what drives us to keep going.
Give us each day our daily bread. provision – what gives us the stamina to complete the task.
Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us. healing – what removes the obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’” growth – what increases our ability to honor the Father.
We’ve looked at validation, motivation, provision and now healing.
Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Once I understand that the Father makes life worth living and I have the motivation to get up and go advance the Kingdom, and I understand that I have been given everything I need to go and have Kingdom impact, what is it that keeps me from going? What is it that keeps me from being everything God created me to be? The answer is simple. Our sin keeps us from being everything God created us to be. I find Jesus’ words “forgive us our sins”, summed up in Matthew 7:1-2 “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For with the judgment you judge you will be judged. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.” (NLT) If I don’t forgive my brother who offends me, I stand as his judge. I judge him for the wrong he’s done (and in many cases, he doesn’t have to offend me and I still stand in judgment of the wrong I believe he’s done). If this scripture is true, how I measure him, I will be measured. I believe what Jesus is saying here is this. We do the same things we stand in judgment over people for. The old saying, we hate in others what we do ourselves, comes into play here. But I believe there is a spiritual law at work here. Even if I have never done what I judge my brother for, I bind to myself, by that judgment, to do it. So if I judge you as a dirty rotten stinking liar, I will become a dirty rotten stinking liar. With the same measurement I used, I will be measured and found to be the same.
The implications are huge here. Only God can see the beginning from the end and really know if someone really is a “dirty rotten stinking liar”. I don’t have enough information to make that judgment and my ability to judge is impaired by my own wounds and sins. So Jesus tells us to forgive those who sinned against us. Let Jesus do the judging. It’s His job, not ours. Healing happens in our lives when we let the Holy Spirit show us where we’ve hung on to our “right” to judge others. When I understand that I’m hanging on to this “right” for an offense done to me, I can truly say, “Jesus, forgive me, I’ve judged my brother, I’ve done him wrong”. It is then I can give to Jesus my right to see justice done. He’ll be the judge, not me. I can trust that He’ll work it out. He’ll make it right. This is how I can forgive my brother. Not ignoring the wrong done to me, but taking that wrong and giving it to Jesus to work out the right. Let Jesus bring judgment to it.
I’m convinced that it’s these particular offenses that often keep us bound to our sin. Our unwillingness to let Jesus be the judge and bring justice to our situations is the very thing that binds us to repeat the cycles and patterns of sin in our lives. Our unwillingness to let Jesus search our hearts and show us where we are hanging on to these, our own judgments, keeps us bound to our cycles of sin. Freedom comes when I first deal with my own sin, “Forgive us our sins” and let Jesus deal with those who’ve sinned against me “as we also forgive everyone who sins against us”.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
I'm at a loss.
I’m at a loss.
You demand I be safe for you. Can I demand you be safe for me? Who gets to define what safe is?
You accuse me of being closed. There was a time when I chose to trust you with my vulnerability. Did you forget? Who gets to define what being open is?
You say you’ve held me in higher esteem then you should have, is that why I always seemed to catch your anger?
You don’t desired to be judged by who you were because you’ve changed. Amen! Me too!
You say being in ‘real’ relationship with you means we need to get real and raw, does that mean I have to let you beat me up to be real?
You rehearse the deep wounds I’ve caused you. Is that getting real? Does that mean I’m supposed to rehearse the deep wounds you’ve caused me?
You see, I really feel like you want to be free to act any way you want. I feel that you expect that I will accept how ever you treat me. I’m supposed to, in love, understand where you are and accept that you’re trying to grow. So it’s supposed to be OK if you hurt me. Or you’re angry with me. Or you treat me in a way that later you’ll regret. Your free to dump on me. That's what friends do right?
But the rub is this, I’m not free to be angry at you. Or hurt you. Or do something to you that later I might regret. I'm not free to dump on you, even though I’m trying to grow.
I really feel like you want to be free to be who you are but you demand that I be your idea of what you need me to be. I’m supposed to be the person you set me up to be and when I’m not I’m the one who’s at fault.
So I can never live up to the expectations I never set them to begin with. And I can never walk through this morass with you to some understanding because I supposedly bear the greater burden in its creation.
You demand I be safe for you. Can I demand you be safe for me? Who gets to define what safe is?
You accuse me of being closed. There was a time when I chose to trust you with my vulnerability. Did you forget? Who gets to define what being open is?
You say you’ve held me in higher esteem then you should have, is that why I always seemed to catch your anger?
You don’t desired to be judged by who you were because you’ve changed. Amen! Me too!
You say being in ‘real’ relationship with you means we need to get real and raw, does that mean I have to let you beat me up to be real?
You rehearse the deep wounds I’ve caused you. Is that getting real? Does that mean I’m supposed to rehearse the deep wounds you’ve caused me?
You see, I really feel like you want to be free to act any way you want. I feel that you expect that I will accept how ever you treat me. I’m supposed to, in love, understand where you are and accept that you’re trying to grow. So it’s supposed to be OK if you hurt me. Or you’re angry with me. Or you treat me in a way that later you’ll regret. Your free to dump on me. That's what friends do right?
But the rub is this, I’m not free to be angry at you. Or hurt you. Or do something to you that later I might regret. I'm not free to dump on you, even though I’m trying to grow.
I really feel like you want to be free to be who you are but you demand that I be your idea of what you need me to be. I’m supposed to be the person you set me up to be and when I’m not I’m the one who’s at fault.
So I can never live up to the expectations I never set them to begin with. And I can never walk through this morass with you to some understanding because I supposedly bear the greater burden in its creation.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Have Mercy On Me
Jesus told a story to some people who were sure they were right with God. They looked down on everybody else. He said to them, "Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
"The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself. 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people,' he said. 'I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things. I am not like those who commit adultery. I am not even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. And I give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood not very far away. he would not even look up to heaven. He beat his chest and said, 'God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.'
"I tell you, the tax collector went home accepted by God. But not the Pharisee. Everyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And anyone who is brought down will be lifted up."
Whenever I read Jesus' words I'm quick to put myself in the right. I'm not like the Pharisee right? I'm not self righteous. I don't draw attention to myself. I always look at this Pharisee as an arrogant sort who wears his Sunday best and stands up with his arms raised to heaven in the middle of the congregation using his best voice to make sure that everyone could hear him, because what he had to say was important.
Then I began to reread the Pharisee's prayer:
"God." Well that's a good start, he really knows who he's talking too. He's taken a position of authority, talking directly to God. "I thank you that I'm not like other people." Wow. That is arrogant if you read it with an attitude of smugness. Now try reading it with an attitude of being genuinely thankful that you're not like other people. I've followed Jesus for 40 years. There have been times where I've looked at my life's stuff and looked at other's life's stuff and I've been genuinely grateful that I don't have to deal with the stuff they deal with. Why is that? "I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things." True. I have not robbed nor do I do evil things. I'm happy that I don't have that stuff on my conscience. There's not been a time in my life where I've "walked away" from God. I've followed the rules. "I am not like those who commit adultery." Funny how this version translates the language. "I am not like". Never inferring he had a stray thought, it's just that he has mastered his passions and isn't like the adulterer who can't seem to master his passions. I've been married for 20 years. I'm not part of the divorce statistics of our day. I'm thankful for that. Then looking around he sees the tax collector, the one whom everyone hated. "I am not even like this tax collector." I suppose it's not hard to feel good about yourself when you compare yourself to someone that everyone else hates. When I place myself next to what people consider the worst of society it's not hard to look good. "I fast twice a week. and I give a tenth of all I get." They guy had his religion down. He knew what to do and how to do it. After 40 years, I too, know what to do and how to do it.
So what happens if I read this prayer not with a smug attitude, but with a genuine attitude of relief that I'm really not the things I am praying about:
God, my soul is relieved that I'm not like other people. I'm relieved that my conscience is clear. I'm relieved that my marriage is pure. I'm relieved that society looks at me with approval and not disdain. I'm truly relieved and grateful that the way I conduct my worship is pleasing. I'm relieved and truly thankful that because of all these things I have value and You, God, can love me.
OK. Maybe I'm stretching things a little bit here, but boy, rewriting that prayer strikes a little too close to home. Perhaps I'm more of a Pharisee then I thought. And maybe, just maybe, I slowly became a Pharisee all in an effort to find value in the eyes of God. I've noticed that much of what motivates me is in an effort to find something in my life that has value. Something that is lovable. Something that I can look at and say, "Here God, see this. This has value, this is worth something, You can love this." And my desire to have value, to have worth, slowly turns me into a Pharisee, comparing myself to others of less value and counting on how I conduct my life to some how make me lovable.
"God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner." Nothing I offer God can be the basis for His love for me. Any value that I have comes from Jesus, not from me. He chose to give me value. I have value because Jesus does love me, not because I have something in me that is worth loving. It is no wonder that the only response I can have to this truth is, "have mercy on me."
So accepting Jesus' love for me is to understand and experience "have mercy on me". To understand that worth comes from Jesus is the point where I can fully embrace and experience love and worth and feel valuable.
God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.
"The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself. 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people,' he said. 'I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things. I am not like those who commit adultery. I am not even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. And I give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood not very far away. he would not even look up to heaven. He beat his chest and said, 'God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.'
"I tell you, the tax collector went home accepted by God. But not the Pharisee. Everyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And anyone who is brought down will be lifted up."
Whenever I read Jesus' words I'm quick to put myself in the right. I'm not like the Pharisee right? I'm not self righteous. I don't draw attention to myself. I always look at this Pharisee as an arrogant sort who wears his Sunday best and stands up with his arms raised to heaven in the middle of the congregation using his best voice to make sure that everyone could hear him, because what he had to say was important.
Then I began to reread the Pharisee's prayer:
"God." Well that's a good start, he really knows who he's talking too. He's taken a position of authority, talking directly to God. "I thank you that I'm not like other people." Wow. That is arrogant if you read it with an attitude of smugness. Now try reading it with an attitude of being genuinely thankful that you're not like other people. I've followed Jesus for 40 years. There have been times where I've looked at my life's stuff and looked at other's life's stuff and I've been genuinely grateful that I don't have to deal with the stuff they deal with. Why is that? "I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things." True. I have not robbed nor do I do evil things. I'm happy that I don't have that stuff on my conscience. There's not been a time in my life where I've "walked away" from God. I've followed the rules. "I am not like those who commit adultery." Funny how this version translates the language. "I am not like". Never inferring he had a stray thought, it's just that he has mastered his passions and isn't like the adulterer who can't seem to master his passions. I've been married for 20 years. I'm not part of the divorce statistics of our day. I'm thankful for that. Then looking around he sees the tax collector, the one whom everyone hated. "I am not even like this tax collector." I suppose it's not hard to feel good about yourself when you compare yourself to someone that everyone else hates. When I place myself next to what people consider the worst of society it's not hard to look good. "I fast twice a week. and I give a tenth of all I get." They guy had his religion down. He knew what to do and how to do it. After 40 years, I too, know what to do and how to do it.
So what happens if I read this prayer not with a smug attitude, but with a genuine attitude of relief that I'm really not the things I am praying about:
God, my soul is relieved that I'm not like other people. I'm relieved that my conscience is clear. I'm relieved that my marriage is pure. I'm relieved that society looks at me with approval and not disdain. I'm truly relieved and grateful that the way I conduct my worship is pleasing. I'm relieved and truly thankful that because of all these things I have value and You, God, can love me.
OK. Maybe I'm stretching things a little bit here, but boy, rewriting that prayer strikes a little too close to home. Perhaps I'm more of a Pharisee then I thought. And maybe, just maybe, I slowly became a Pharisee all in an effort to find value in the eyes of God. I've noticed that much of what motivates me is in an effort to find something in my life that has value. Something that is lovable. Something that I can look at and say, "Here God, see this. This has value, this is worth something, You can love this." And my desire to have value, to have worth, slowly turns me into a Pharisee, comparing myself to others of less value and counting on how I conduct my life to some how make me lovable.
"God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner." Nothing I offer God can be the basis for His love for me. Any value that I have comes from Jesus, not from me. He chose to give me value. I have value because Jesus does love me, not because I have something in me that is worth loving. It is no wonder that the only response I can have to this truth is, "have mercy on me."
So accepting Jesus' love for me is to understand and experience "have mercy on me". To understand that worth comes from Jesus is the point where I can fully embrace and experience love and worth and feel valuable.
God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Kingdom Of Heaven
Why do we name ourselves? Why is it when a group of people get together the first thing they want to do is come up with a name for the group? Those who follow Jesus seem to rush to do this. A group of Jesus followers begins to met together and the first thing we ask is, what do we call ourselves? How will we be identified? How will people recongnize us? I've begun to wonder why we do that. It's so easy to view people as "in" and "out" if we have a name to attach to it. Our names end up being the way people define who we are. What names we attach ourselves too, seem to be an attempt to protect ourselves from what ever might cause us harm. As soon as a group is named, they separate themselves from the very ones they are trying to reach. They become "in" and all others become "out". Doesn't that seem a bit counter productive?
Luke 17:20,21 - Once the Pharisees asked Jesus when God's kingdom would come. He replied, "The coming of God's kingdom is not something you can see just by watching for it carefully. People will not say, 'Here it is.' Or, 'There it is.' God's kingdom is among you."
If what Jesus says is true then God's kingdom in my neighborhood is not going to be as tangable as a group of people who have gathered around a name. God's kingdom first of all is. Period. I can't say, "Oh look, they're doing God's kingdom". Or "You know those people down at the First Street Church of God's Kingdom, really have this kingdom thing down." Yet isn't that just what we do? Don't we rally around a name and say, "Look, here is the kingdom, come see it!"
I think it's time we started looking at things differently. Let's stop looking at names and start looking at the reality of what the kingdom is. If God's kingdom really is among us, then when does it express itself? I'm thankful that Jesus answered that question for us. Matthew 18:20 (NLT) "I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine (in my name), I am there among them." Does not the presence of Jesus mean we're living in the kingdom? So anytime I sit for coffee with a brother or a sister I'm doing the kingdom. Anytime I share a meal with a brother or a sister, I'm doing the kingdom. Anytime I see a concert, talk about a book, share a ballgame, visit a park, play euchre, fish, ride motorcycles, watch kids play, with a brother or a sister, I'm doing the kingdom.
It seems to me that the kingdom of God is not about names or carefully constructed boundaries, theological or physical. Seems to me the kingdom of God is Jesus. If Jesus is here, then we are the kingdom of God. When I start from that point, it changes my whole perspective on how I do life.
Luke 17:20,21 - Once the Pharisees asked Jesus when God's kingdom would come. He replied, "The coming of God's kingdom is not something you can see just by watching for it carefully. People will not say, 'Here it is.' Or, 'There it is.' God's kingdom is among you."
If what Jesus says is true then God's kingdom in my neighborhood is not going to be as tangable as a group of people who have gathered around a name. God's kingdom first of all is. Period. I can't say, "Oh look, they're doing God's kingdom". Or "You know those people down at the First Street Church of God's Kingdom, really have this kingdom thing down." Yet isn't that just what we do? Don't we rally around a name and say, "Look, here is the kingdom, come see it!"
I think it's time we started looking at things differently. Let's stop looking at names and start looking at the reality of what the kingdom is. If God's kingdom really is among us, then when does it express itself? I'm thankful that Jesus answered that question for us. Matthew 18:20 (NLT) "I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine (in my name), I am there among them." Does not the presence of Jesus mean we're living in the kingdom? So anytime I sit for coffee with a brother or a sister I'm doing the kingdom. Anytime I share a meal with a brother or a sister, I'm doing the kingdom. Anytime I see a concert, talk about a book, share a ballgame, visit a park, play euchre, fish, ride motorcycles, watch kids play, with a brother or a sister, I'm doing the kingdom.
It seems to me that the kingdom of God is not about names or carefully constructed boundaries, theological or physical. Seems to me the kingdom of God is Jesus. If Jesus is here, then we are the kingdom of God. When I start from that point, it changes my whole perspective on how I do life.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"Right Ache"
Jesus told his disciples a story. He wanted to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said, "In a certain town there was a judge. He didn't have any respect for God or care about people. A widow lived in that town. She came to the judge again and again. She kept begging him, "Make things right for me. Someone is doing me wrong.'
"For some time the judge refused. But finally he said to himself, 'I don't have any respect for God. I don't care about people. But this widow keeps bothering me. So I will see that things are made right for her. If I don't, she will wear me out by coming again and again!'"
The Lord said, "Listen to what the unfair judge says.
"God's chosen people cry out to him day and night. Won't he make things right for them? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, God will see that things are made right for them. He will make sure it happens quickly.
"But when the son of Man comes, will he find people on earth who have faith?"
I have come to the conclusion that I just want things to be right. Things get so convoluted. If you take any conflict and when you look at it long enough, there is enough "wrong" to go around. Anybody who feels they are totally blameless just hasn't lived enough life to know that we're all stained. Each one of us lives the consequences of a life that doesn't measure up to "right".
I look at all of the conflict in the world. Globally. I look at what's happening in this nation, even in this time of hope, things are not right. I look locally, things are not right. I look at my own life. Things are not right. My heart aches for right.
I find it interesting that Jesus' comments come after talking about when the "last days" will come. In this context I believe He's opening up a part of who we are, that part that longs for what we lost in the garden. That part that demands justice but knows that true justice will only happen when Jesus is the one meting it out. It's the part of us that we know is incomplete, broken even, and we just ache for it to be 'right'.
Jesus said, "Listen to what the unfair judge says." So if this unfair judge will make things right, how much more will our heavenly Father make things right for those who are crying out to Him day and night?
So what have we been crying out to the Father for? Have we given up? Does He hear? Does He know my heart aches?
Jesus, make it right. Come make this world, our lives, come make me right.
"For some time the judge refused. But finally he said to himself, 'I don't have any respect for God. I don't care about people. But this widow keeps bothering me. So I will see that things are made right for her. If I don't, she will wear me out by coming again and again!'"
The Lord said, "Listen to what the unfair judge says.
"God's chosen people cry out to him day and night. Won't he make things right for them? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, God will see that things are made right for them. He will make sure it happens quickly.
"But when the son of Man comes, will he find people on earth who have faith?"
I have come to the conclusion that I just want things to be right. Things get so convoluted. If you take any conflict and when you look at it long enough, there is enough "wrong" to go around. Anybody who feels they are totally blameless just hasn't lived enough life to know that we're all stained. Each one of us lives the consequences of a life that doesn't measure up to "right".
I look at all of the conflict in the world. Globally. I look at what's happening in this nation, even in this time of hope, things are not right. I look locally, things are not right. I look at my own life. Things are not right. My heart aches for right.
I find it interesting that Jesus' comments come after talking about when the "last days" will come. In this context I believe He's opening up a part of who we are, that part that longs for what we lost in the garden. That part that demands justice but knows that true justice will only happen when Jesus is the one meting it out. It's the part of us that we know is incomplete, broken even, and we just ache for it to be 'right'.
Jesus said, "Listen to what the unfair judge says." So if this unfair judge will make things right, how much more will our heavenly Father make things right for those who are crying out to Him day and night?
So what have we been crying out to the Father for? Have we given up? Does He hear? Does He know my heart aches?
Jesus, make it right. Come make this world, our lives, come make me right.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Provision
Luke 11:1-6
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, this is what you should say:
“’Father, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’”
I find in this text a blue print for life. Each statement addresses a part of our lives that must be considered if we are to be “fully alive”. I find it very encouraging that Jesus would so succinctly package life’s meaning into the “teaching us how to pray” prayer. It tells me that prayer is vital. I must pray to be fully alive. If I neglect prayer, my life suffers accordingly. If I don’t talk to Jesus, I end up trying to do it on my own and I slowly lose the ability to fully engage in life.
Here is what I see in this passage as Jesus deals with the completeness of life.
Father, may your name be honored. validation - what makes life worth living.
May your kingdom come. motivation – what drives us to keep going.
Give us each day our daily bread. provision – what gives us the stamina to complete the task.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us. healing – what removes the obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. growth – what increases our ability to honor the Father.
We’ve looked at validation and motivation, how about provision.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Question time, how long would you have to go without a paycheck before you panicked? Do we really believe that Jesus will supply our every need? Really believe that? If you missed a paycheck, would Jesus supply your need? If you missed 2 paychecks? 3? Jesus taught us to pray, give us each day our daily bread. I’m struck by the fact that it’s not, supply our needs for the week. Or, show us how our budget is going to work out for the year. Walking with Jesus is a moment by moment proposition. Each day has its own challenges, financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically. Each day Jesus promises to supply what we need for that day. The moment I expect more then what is for today is the moment I’ve stepped outside of what God has asked. Wow. Let that sink in for minute. The moment I expect more then what is for today is the moment I’ve stepped outside of what God has asked.
Nothing is guaranteed. No job. No program. No bank. No government. No harvest. The only thing one who can back up His promises is Jesus. He is the only guarantee in this life and his guarantee is for what we need today. His provision is good to meet the challenges for today. Food, clothing, strength, character, stamina, wisdom, He has promised to give us what we need to face today. As I understand what makes life worth living and engage in the mission of Kingdom Near. Jesus provides what I need today to accomplish what He’s asked me to do today. Nothing more, nothing less. Daily bread.
In this time we’re walking through, I’m learning to get up in the morning and ask, “Am I taken care of today? Is my family taken care of today? Are those with whom I’ve engaged in life with taken care of today?” I then look for that provision, my Father’s emotional, physical, spiritual, financial daily bread prepared specifically for me. Am I taken care of today? And I have to answer every day so far, “yes.”
Give us each day our daily bread
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, this is what you should say:
“’Father, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’”
I find in this text a blue print for life. Each statement addresses a part of our lives that must be considered if we are to be “fully alive”. I find it very encouraging that Jesus would so succinctly package life’s meaning into the “teaching us how to pray” prayer. It tells me that prayer is vital. I must pray to be fully alive. If I neglect prayer, my life suffers accordingly. If I don’t talk to Jesus, I end up trying to do it on my own and I slowly lose the ability to fully engage in life.
Here is what I see in this passage as Jesus deals with the completeness of life.
Father, may your name be honored. validation - what makes life worth living.
May your kingdom come. motivation – what drives us to keep going.
Give us each day our daily bread. provision – what gives us the stamina to complete the task.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us. healing – what removes the obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. growth – what increases our ability to honor the Father.
We’ve looked at validation and motivation, how about provision.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Question time, how long would you have to go without a paycheck before you panicked? Do we really believe that Jesus will supply our every need? Really believe that? If you missed a paycheck, would Jesus supply your need? If you missed 2 paychecks? 3? Jesus taught us to pray, give us each day our daily bread. I’m struck by the fact that it’s not, supply our needs for the week. Or, show us how our budget is going to work out for the year. Walking with Jesus is a moment by moment proposition. Each day has its own challenges, financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically. Each day Jesus promises to supply what we need for that day. The moment I expect more then what is for today is the moment I’ve stepped outside of what God has asked. Wow. Let that sink in for minute. The moment I expect more then what is for today is the moment I’ve stepped outside of what God has asked.
Nothing is guaranteed. No job. No program. No bank. No government. No harvest. The only thing one who can back up His promises is Jesus. He is the only guarantee in this life and his guarantee is for what we need today. His provision is good to meet the challenges for today. Food, clothing, strength, character, stamina, wisdom, He has promised to give us what we need to face today. As I understand what makes life worth living and engage in the mission of Kingdom Near. Jesus provides what I need today to accomplish what He’s asked me to do today. Nothing more, nothing less. Daily bread.
In this time we’re walking through, I’m learning to get up in the morning and ask, “Am I taken care of today? Is my family taken care of today? Are those with whom I’ve engaged in life with taken care of today?” I then look for that provision, my Father’s emotional, physical, spiritual, financial daily bread prepared specifically for me. Am I taken care of today? And I have to answer every day so far, “yes.”
Give us each day our daily bread
Motivation
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, this is what you should say:
“’Father, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’”
Father, may your name be honored. validation - what makes life worth living.
May your kingdom come. motivation – what drives us to keep going.
Give us each day our daily bread. provision – what gives us the stamina to complete the task.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us. healing – what removes the obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. growth – what increases our ability to honor the Father.
So what get’s you out of bed in the morning? Why do you go to work everyday? Why do you engage in family life? Why do pursue the things you pursue? Why? I love asking the question why. If you ask it long enough, you’ll always find yourself confronted with Jesus. May your kingdom come. Jesus want’s us to understand that one of the primary motivations for a full life is engaging in the Kingdom. Did you wake up this morning and ask, “Jesus how can I help Your Kingdom come today?” If you’re like me you probably didn’t. But it should be one of our primary motives. I should understand as I walk with Jesus how my life helps advance the Kingdom. I should understand the more I get to know the Father, how my job helps advance the Kingdom. I should begin to understand how my marriage, how my parenting, how my dating life, how my friendships, all advance the Kingdom.
I find that I don’t very often think this way. I understand that my “church” relationships advance the kingdom, that’s the churches job right? But my marriage? How I parent? What I do in my leisure time? All of these things have Kingdom significance? They do if we understand that it’s Jesus desire that the Kingdom come. So let me challenge me, (and you) to begin to ask this question; Jesus, how do I advance Your Kingdom today? Listen for the answer, then do it.
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, this is what you should say:
“’Father, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’”
Father, may your name be honored. validation - what makes life worth living.
May your kingdom come. motivation – what drives us to keep going.
Give us each day our daily bread. provision – what gives us the stamina to complete the task.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us. healing – what removes the obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. growth – what increases our ability to honor the Father.
So what get’s you out of bed in the morning? Why do you go to work everyday? Why do you engage in family life? Why do pursue the things you pursue? Why? I love asking the question why. If you ask it long enough, you’ll always find yourself confronted with Jesus. May your kingdom come. Jesus want’s us to understand that one of the primary motivations for a full life is engaging in the Kingdom. Did you wake up this morning and ask, “Jesus how can I help Your Kingdom come today?” If you’re like me you probably didn’t. But it should be one of our primary motives. I should understand as I walk with Jesus how my life helps advance the Kingdom. I should understand the more I get to know the Father, how my job helps advance the Kingdom. I should begin to understand how my marriage, how my parenting, how my dating life, how my friendships, all advance the Kingdom.
I find that I don’t very often think this way. I understand that my “church” relationships advance the kingdom, that’s the churches job right? But my marriage? How I parent? What I do in my leisure time? All of these things have Kingdom significance? They do if we understand that it’s Jesus desire that the Kingdom come. So let me challenge me, (and you) to begin to ask this question; Jesus, how do I advance Your Kingdom today? Listen for the answer, then do it.
Validation
Luke 11:1-6
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, this is what you should say:
“’Father, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’”
I find in this text a blue print for life. Each statement addresses a part of our lives that must be considered if we are to be “fully alive”. I find it very encouraging that Jesus would so succinctly package life’s meaning into the “teaching us how to pray” prayer. It tells me that prayer is vital. I must pray to be fully alive. If I neglect prayer, my life suffers accordingly. If I don’t talk to Jesus, I end up trying to do it on my own and I slowly lose the ability to fully engage in life.
Here is what I see in this passage as Jesus deals with the completeness of life.
Father, may your name be honored. validation - what makes life worth living.
May your kingdom come. motivation – what drives us to keep going.
Give us each day our daily bread. provision – what gives us the stamina to complete the task.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us. healing – what removes the obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. growth – what increases our ability to honor the Father.
I think Jesus starts at the deepest drive and ends with real life. I love the patterns he follows. The deepest question I can ask myself is “why do I exist?” “Why am I here?” Jesus answers that question simple by saying, “Father, may your name be honored.” It’s His reminder of why we’re here. To honor the Father. This is what makes life worth living. This is one of our deepest longings. If we are wired with a desire to hear our earthly dads say, “Good job!” How much more are we wired to hear our heavenly Father say “well done”? How settling to our spirits when we know that someone is pleased with how we live? How freeing to know that how we act, or how we engage in life’s activity is validated by our Father? If God be for us, who can be against us? How much more willing am I to risk, to strike out on an adventure, to follow the Holy Spirit's prompting when I know my Father is pleased with me doing so? How much deeper will I engage in life when I know my Father is smiling in approval? Knowing that His name is honored by how I’m living my life.
Father, may your name be honored.
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, this is what you should say:
“’Father, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.’”
I find in this text a blue print for life. Each statement addresses a part of our lives that must be considered if we are to be “fully alive”. I find it very encouraging that Jesus would so succinctly package life’s meaning into the “teaching us how to pray” prayer. It tells me that prayer is vital. I must pray to be fully alive. If I neglect prayer, my life suffers accordingly. If I don’t talk to Jesus, I end up trying to do it on my own and I slowly lose the ability to fully engage in life.
Here is what I see in this passage as Jesus deals with the completeness of life.
Father, may your name be honored. validation - what makes life worth living.
May your kingdom come. motivation – what drives us to keep going.
Give us each day our daily bread. provision – what gives us the stamina to complete the task.
Forgive us our sins, As we also forgive everyone who sins against us. healing – what removes the obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. growth – what increases our ability to honor the Father.
I think Jesus starts at the deepest drive and ends with real life. I love the patterns he follows. The deepest question I can ask myself is “why do I exist?” “Why am I here?” Jesus answers that question simple by saying, “Father, may your name be honored.” It’s His reminder of why we’re here. To honor the Father. This is what makes life worth living. This is one of our deepest longings. If we are wired with a desire to hear our earthly dads say, “Good job!” How much more are we wired to hear our heavenly Father say “well done”? How settling to our spirits when we know that someone is pleased with how we live? How freeing to know that how we act, or how we engage in life’s activity is validated by our Father? If God be for us, who can be against us? How much more willing am I to risk, to strike out on an adventure, to follow the Holy Spirit's prompting when I know my Father is pleased with me doing so? How much deeper will I engage in life when I know my Father is smiling in approval? Knowing that His name is honored by how I’m living my life.
Father, may your name be honored.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Things you see on the back of a Harley
Three years ago I took a sabbatical. Jesus met me in ways I didn’t expect and I came back from that motorcycle trip to Denver seeing my world differently. What up until that time were just fleeting thoughts through the dark recesses of my mind began to seep into my daily routine.
Though Eileen and I love the people in our church family and couldn’t see ourselves doing anything else, I began to be bothered by the fact that the routine of ministry was turning into a grind. Every fall we would start another ministry season and hope that by spring we would see God do “amazing things.” We couldn’t always pinpoint what “amazing things” we wanted God to do, but surely we were “this close” to seeing God do them. We’d throw ourselves into each ministry season, working hard through the fall and winter and hope by spring we’d see the fruit of our labor. For the past several springs, it seemed to end where we had started. It became “wash, rinse, repeat.”
On the back of that Harley I realized that I couldn’t do the “wash, rinse, repeat” anymore. I began to pray. Okay, Jesus, show me what to do. How do we change this?
Things began to change for our church, but I could not have foreseen how. God used the ministry season of 2007/08 to tear down what I thought church should be, or what church was. I learned that a majority of our time, energy and resources went to furthering the organization instead of the Kingdom. Here’s what that looked like for me. I would spend several hours a week planning for a Sunday morning service. Using music, drama, video, multimedia and the spoken word, we spent a ton of time and effort to create an atmosphere where people could connect people to Jesus.
While many people remember the “cool” things we did, very few had their lives really changed by Jesus. It seemed the fruit of our labor was a “hip” expression of a Sunday morning service. Our desire was the fruit of a life deeply impacted by a relationship with Jesus. I fondly remember some of the creative ways we expressed the theme for a particular week, yet I looked at the life impact it had on those who were a part of it and it began to be very frustrating. There was a ton of effort being expended for what seemed to be a small handful of fruit. As a steward of the gifts God has given me, including time, resources and people, I began to wrestle with the uncomfortable question of is the fruit we’re seeing a good use of the resources we’ve been given?
During this time of frustration I began to meet with two men on Saturday morning from 7-9 to have coffee and talk about Jesus in our lives. What I began to realize was this. The 2 hours I spent with these guys had a deeper impact on our walk with Jesus then the 15 -20 hours a week I spent trying to program a Sunday morning service. My epiphany came when I realized that I could “preach” the same sermon on a Saturday morning talking with these guys and then preach on a Sunday morning to 175 people and have more of an eternal Kingdom impact on Saturday morning. So I continued to question, if I spent the time I used to spend on planning a service in one on one communication with people, would we bear more fruit? The conclusion I’ve come to is a resounding yes. I believe Jesus has called me to spend more time in relationship then planning services. To “preach” in the context of relationship. To plan and program in the context of relationship. To do life in relationship furthering growth through relationship and not through planning a program. I’m convinced that my life is better spent in connection then in programming. If Eileen and I can spend one or two hours a week with three or four or five people, crawling into their lives and find out where Jesus is what kind of Kingdom impact would there be?
Though Eileen and I love the people in our church family and couldn’t see ourselves doing anything else, I began to be bothered by the fact that the routine of ministry was turning into a grind. Every fall we would start another ministry season and hope that by spring we would see God do “amazing things.” We couldn’t always pinpoint what “amazing things” we wanted God to do, but surely we were “this close” to seeing God do them. We’d throw ourselves into each ministry season, working hard through the fall and winter and hope by spring we’d see the fruit of our labor. For the past several springs, it seemed to end where we had started. It became “wash, rinse, repeat.”
On the back of that Harley I realized that I couldn’t do the “wash, rinse, repeat” anymore. I began to pray. Okay, Jesus, show me what to do. How do we change this?
Things began to change for our church, but I could not have foreseen how. God used the ministry season of 2007/08 to tear down what I thought church should be, or what church was. I learned that a majority of our time, energy and resources went to furthering the organization instead of the Kingdom. Here’s what that looked like for me. I would spend several hours a week planning for a Sunday morning service. Using music, drama, video, multimedia and the spoken word, we spent a ton of time and effort to create an atmosphere where people could connect people to Jesus.
While many people remember the “cool” things we did, very few had their lives really changed by Jesus. It seemed the fruit of our labor was a “hip” expression of a Sunday morning service. Our desire was the fruit of a life deeply impacted by a relationship with Jesus. I fondly remember some of the creative ways we expressed the theme for a particular week, yet I looked at the life impact it had on those who were a part of it and it began to be very frustrating. There was a ton of effort being expended for what seemed to be a small handful of fruit. As a steward of the gifts God has given me, including time, resources and people, I began to wrestle with the uncomfortable question of is the fruit we’re seeing a good use of the resources we’ve been given?
During this time of frustration I began to meet with two men on Saturday morning from 7-9 to have coffee and talk about Jesus in our lives. What I began to realize was this. The 2 hours I spent with these guys had a deeper impact on our walk with Jesus then the 15 -20 hours a week I spent trying to program a Sunday morning service. My epiphany came when I realized that I could “preach” the same sermon on a Saturday morning talking with these guys and then preach on a Sunday morning to 175 people and have more of an eternal Kingdom impact on Saturday morning. So I continued to question, if I spent the time I used to spend on planning a service in one on one communication with people, would we bear more fruit? The conclusion I’ve come to is a resounding yes. I believe Jesus has called me to spend more time in relationship then planning services. To “preach” in the context of relationship. To plan and program in the context of relationship. To do life in relationship furthering growth through relationship and not through planning a program. I’m convinced that my life is better spent in connection then in programming. If Eileen and I can spend one or two hours a week with three or four or five people, crawling into their lives and find out where Jesus is what kind of Kingdom impact would there be?
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