If you hear the term "unwilling leader," what do you think or imagine? I think first of those people who are thrust into a position of leadership without seeking it. I remember my days in veterinary science class in high school. Nearly everyone in the class looked to me for leadership during the lab dissections. I was considered smart, and I was able to make some educated guesses as to what our teacher was hoping we accomplished. I was shy and didn't want that kind of responsibility, but somehow people determined that I deserved it. I also think of the anointed Saul, hiding from his coronation before Israel. God chose Saul, but the man was still unsure of himself as a leader. He was called and needed to take that step of faith to claim the calling and live by faith in it.
There's a second way to think of unwilling leaders, and this also applies to Saul, though later in his life. Not everyone in a position of leadership is leading properly. The position doesn't make the man. King Saul became so involved in being king and taking advantage of the benefits of the duty that he lost sight of the type of leader that God desired. Unwilling leaders can be people in leadership roles who are unwilling to do just that - lead.
This problem is pervasive in so many parts of society because people enjoy the benefits of a position of power and authority but often do not want to be held responsible for the failures and losses that also come. We see ineffective managers all the time who yell at their employees for not fulfilling the managers' obligations to the company. They pass the blame to their workers even if it's not directly the workers' fault. We see public figures who are role models, being arrested for drugs or suspected of steroid abuse, who spend frivolously because they can, who have numerous marriages, who expect their every whim to be fulfilled because of the money and power that they wield. We see church pastors who don't actually lead their congregations in righteousness any longer. They have the position but are unwilling to lead. They are unwilling to risk what they have and stand firm. They waver with popular opinion. They bend to the wishes of the wealthy, lest they be cut off. They look for security from their own contrivances rather than from the Lord.
I was in Romania with an evangelical church group a few years ago, and this story has stuck with me. The denomination was relatively new in Romania, officially working as an outreach/aid organization. This evangelical church was attended mostly by young people. The denomination's missionary in the country considered it her duty to grow the church. The problem was that few men were taking leadership roles within the church. There was also a core group of members in the primary church of this denomination in Romania. Then they went to college and moved on with their lives afterward. That church has been dying. That missionary wanted the young men to stay in that town to be leaders of the church. She saw in them what she wanted to see and tried to make it work. It was her plan, not the Lord's plan.
There are churches throughout the world facing the problems of leadership. Not everyone is made to be a leader in the same way, but certainly there are times when we must act as leaders. We must each stand firm in the faith, to proclaim the good news throughout the world, to be obedient to our Lord and Savior. If others falter, that is still our calling. If that makes us leaders, then so be it. I saw four pastors at a medium size church this Christmas Eve; all of them were part of the worship service. But I saw none of them truly lead. I heard no preaching. No expounding the truth of the gospels about the need for Christ. Nothing of His salvation or resurrection. If nonbelievers happened to be at that service, that was a lost opportunity to share the Good News, the whole reason for celebrating Christmas - looking forward to the coming of Christ our King, whose life, death and resurrection have given us life and joy and peace. Much of the service I yearned to stand up and preach - not that I had any idea what I might say - but to share Christ, not some skits and a shortened version of our traditional Advent hymns that neatly fit into sixty minutes. Leaders, lead your people!
By being careful not to offend those who neither believe nor understand, those who do have not been fed and those who do not still cannot comprehend their lack. Our pearls have been cast before swine. Should we expect anything else than for them to turn next and maul us? Leaders, be bold and encouraged. Take heart, for the Messiah, God incarnate, is our Lord. In Him is our hope, our faith, and life everlasting.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
A Human for All Humanity?
I started reading another book recently, called Exiles. One of the points the author makes is that so much of pop Christian culture puts Christ on a pedestal. Instead of earnestly waiting on the Lord and seeing the humanity in the human (let us not forget that Christ is fully God AND fully human), we see an object of worship. The God of the universe, of Adam and Eve, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Peter, Paul and Mary - this same God is human. Would you know that from most of the Christian pop music? We sing that "God is bigger than the air I breathe," He's "my Glorious," "God of wonders beyond our galaxy." Such an immensely awesome and powerful God does not sound like a real being, much less like someone to whom I could intimately relate. But He is.
The writers of the New Testament wrote about a righteous, just, loving God who was incarnate - not like some hero of mythology - but who was fully human and fully God. He experienced joy and friendship, struggle and disappointment. He knew rejection; his best friends fled and denied knowing him when he was unjustly arrested. He performed miracles, and there were many people still alive when parts of the New Testament were written who experienced those very events that were recorded. Jesus Christ is a real person; he walked the earth like the rest of us. But that's not all He is.
Let's take a different perspective for a moment. Think of all the evil that humankind has committed. Numerous genocides, rape, war, beatings, murder, abortions, adultery and slavery are not only part of our collective history, they are all ongoing. What about stealing, lying, lusting, greed and pride? We build weapons for maximum destruction, maximum casualties. We release chemicals and germs to harm people to get our point across. We torture to get information to save lives. Every day millions of lives throughout the world are hurt by other humans. What would it take for a righteous and holy God to love such a broken humanity? What would it take to bring humanity back into a right relationship with its Creator? One man, even a perfect man, seems like a small offering for all that evil.
Jesus Christ did live a perfect life, was crucified, did die, was resurrected and lives forevermore. In Him is our hope for life, for salvation. He wasn't just a man, but He was fully human. Jesus knows temptation. He knows loneliness. He knows what it's like to feel lost and abandoned. He talked to other people, ate with them, laughed and cried with them. God isn't some idol, whether literal or figurative. He doesn't just want to be worshiped and obeyed. He wants a relationship with every person. He desires our faith, our belief, our resources and our energy. He wants to share with us as well. He wants the relationship. He wants access to your heart, to my heart. It's too easy to write off Jesus as being far beyond our comprehension. It's time to relate to the risen Christ, to learn from Him. Fully God, fully man - Jesus Christ came for all humanity.
The writers of the New Testament wrote about a righteous, just, loving God who was incarnate - not like some hero of mythology - but who was fully human and fully God. He experienced joy and friendship, struggle and disappointment. He knew rejection; his best friends fled and denied knowing him when he was unjustly arrested. He performed miracles, and there were many people still alive when parts of the New Testament were written who experienced those very events that were recorded. Jesus Christ is a real person; he walked the earth like the rest of us. But that's not all He is.
Let's take a different perspective for a moment. Think of all the evil that humankind has committed. Numerous genocides, rape, war, beatings, murder, abortions, adultery and slavery are not only part of our collective history, they are all ongoing. What about stealing, lying, lusting, greed and pride? We build weapons for maximum destruction, maximum casualties. We release chemicals and germs to harm people to get our point across. We torture to get information to save lives. Every day millions of lives throughout the world are hurt by other humans. What would it take for a righteous and holy God to love such a broken humanity? What would it take to bring humanity back into a right relationship with its Creator? One man, even a perfect man, seems like a small offering for all that evil.
Jesus Christ did live a perfect life, was crucified, did die, was resurrected and lives forevermore. In Him is our hope for life, for salvation. He wasn't just a man, but He was fully human. Jesus knows temptation. He knows loneliness. He knows what it's like to feel lost and abandoned. He talked to other people, ate with them, laughed and cried with them. God isn't some idol, whether literal or figurative. He doesn't just want to be worshiped and obeyed. He wants a relationship with every person. He desires our faith, our belief, our resources and our energy. He wants to share with us as well. He wants the relationship. He wants access to your heart, to my heart. It's too easy to write off Jesus as being far beyond our comprehension. It's time to relate to the risen Christ, to learn from Him. Fully God, fully man - Jesus Christ came for all humanity.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
An Epic Battle
Sometimes I am still surprised by the extent to which people become prey to heretical doctrines. Is it the information explosion that has left us with so much more to sift through - both orthodox and heretical - that we can hardly keep up? Is there simply a need for more discernment in the church? Is it the lack of righteous men and women to stand for Christ and His commands? Is it a matter of pride or greed? Is it the draw of our own sinfulness to pervert the truth given to us, that we would act as gods, thinking ourselves Sovereigns over the kingdoms of our lives?
Heresies take many forms, but ultimately I believe that it comes down to the same old fight - are we individually for Christ or against Him? Rarely are the lines drawn in such stark contrast to the circumstances. After all an effective lie isn't the one that looks like a lie; it's the one that's plausible, that sounds similar to the truth but is not the truth.
2 Peter 2:1-10 states, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
"4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority."
This same scenario has been played throughout history and continues today. There are many people who call themselves Christians today but who don't believe that the Bible is inerrant or that absolute truth is real or that Jesus is God or that faith in Christ is the only way to heaven or that hell really exists. And often we don't even realize that our brethren in Christ are believing such heresies until they are in a position to profess their beliefs to others. If the rest of us just keep our mouths sealed as these false teachings are happening, our silence is condoning these heresies.
James 5:19-20 gives us this encouragement and exhortation to one of the tasks laid upon us: "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." I pray that we take the stand for the sake of Christ and out of love for our brethren. There is a better way to live. Choose true life. May your eyes and ears be opened to see and hear the truth, and may your tongue be bound to proclaim it and nothing else.
Heresies take many forms, but ultimately I believe that it comes down to the same old fight - are we individually for Christ or against Him? Rarely are the lines drawn in such stark contrast to the circumstances. After all an effective lie isn't the one that looks like a lie; it's the one that's plausible, that sounds similar to the truth but is not the truth.
2 Peter 2:1-10 states, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
"4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority."
This same scenario has been played throughout history and continues today. There are many people who call themselves Christians today but who don't believe that the Bible is inerrant or that absolute truth is real or that Jesus is God or that faith in Christ is the only way to heaven or that hell really exists. And often we don't even realize that our brethren in Christ are believing such heresies until they are in a position to profess their beliefs to others. If the rest of us just keep our mouths sealed as these false teachings are happening, our silence is condoning these heresies.
James 5:19-20 gives us this encouragement and exhortation to one of the tasks laid upon us: "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." I pray that we take the stand for the sake of Christ and out of love for our brethren. There is a better way to live. Choose true life. May your eyes and ears be opened to see and hear the truth, and may your tongue be bound to proclaim it and nothing else.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Finding (or Creating) Meaning
I was reminded today of the hopelessness that we face when we try to understand life apart from God. As I searched the Scriptures for something to share with my family this morning, I turned to 2 Peter 1:20-21. For ease, the NIV puts it as so: "20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." By itself, you might say "So what?" Lately, however, I've been having a curiosity for prophetic Scripture. Do you see where the point is going to be yet?
A couple of times recently I opened to Ezekiel chapter 24. I assumed that the passage must somehow relate to me on a more personal level than as a prophecy spoken through Ezekiel to the remnant of Israel that was about to be destroyed as the Babylonians laid seige to Jerusalem. In my self-centeredness I assumed that the Spirit led me to this passage to explain a parallel in my life. So I started trying to draw connections and conclusions. Aha, with my problem-solving abilities given by the Lord, I figured it out -- I, like the prophet Ezekiel, was going to lose something precious to me. Like Ezekiel, it would be as a sign to the rebellious. Like Ezekiel, I was forbade to mourn. And it would be used to show that He alone is the Lord. How marvelous are the ways the Lord chooses to work!
I would like to think that I wasn't actually as prideful in my thoughts as I just portrayed. But that's basically the way that I interpreted the events in my life recently combined with that Scripture. Thankfully, then God gave me a little wakeup call with 2 Peter 1. Interpretation isn't by the will of man. I was looking for an interpretation, for a way to make sense of things. I found something that sounded good in my own mind. I was blind to see that it was the product of my own thinking and reasoning, however. And that happens far too often. We look for meaning; we look to understand the world and events around us. We assume that once we find a plausible answer, especially if it fits well with our belief system, that we found truth. Too often we assume that anything supernatural, if not overtly evil, must be divine. We only look for truth as far as it directly concerns us and as far as it can provide us with an answer that we are willing to accept.
What is the Lord telling us that we are choosing not to accept? Do we not see this as denying Christ, who, with the Father, is sovereign over all creation? What interpretation, what meaning, what answers are we assuming to be truth? What in our beliefs, in our lives, is vanity? What needs to be torn away and burned in the fire? To what are we clinging instead of Christ? It's time to allow every part of our lives to be threshed by the Lord. We, too, have been a part of the harvest. Now it's time to be purified, for the chaff to be removed from the grain.
A couple of times recently I opened to Ezekiel chapter 24. I assumed that the passage must somehow relate to me on a more personal level than as a prophecy spoken through Ezekiel to the remnant of Israel that was about to be destroyed as the Babylonians laid seige to Jerusalem. In my self-centeredness I assumed that the Spirit led me to this passage to explain a parallel in my life. So I started trying to draw connections and conclusions. Aha, with my problem-solving abilities given by the Lord, I figured it out -- I, like the prophet Ezekiel, was going to lose something precious to me. Like Ezekiel, it would be as a sign to the rebellious. Like Ezekiel, I was forbade to mourn. And it would be used to show that He alone is the Lord. How marvelous are the ways the Lord chooses to work!
I would like to think that I wasn't actually as prideful in my thoughts as I just portrayed. But that's basically the way that I interpreted the events in my life recently combined with that Scripture. Thankfully, then God gave me a little wakeup call with 2 Peter 1. Interpretation isn't by the will of man. I was looking for an interpretation, for a way to make sense of things. I found something that sounded good in my own mind. I was blind to see that it was the product of my own thinking and reasoning, however. And that happens far too often. We look for meaning; we look to understand the world and events around us. We assume that once we find a plausible answer, especially if it fits well with our belief system, that we found truth. Too often we assume that anything supernatural, if not overtly evil, must be divine. We only look for truth as far as it directly concerns us and as far as it can provide us with an answer that we are willing to accept.
What is the Lord telling us that we are choosing not to accept? Do we not see this as denying Christ, who, with the Father, is sovereign over all creation? What interpretation, what meaning, what answers are we assuming to be truth? What in our beliefs, in our lives, is vanity? What needs to be torn away and burned in the fire? To what are we clinging instead of Christ? It's time to allow every part of our lives to be threshed by the Lord. We, too, have been a part of the harvest. Now it's time to be purified, for the chaff to be removed from the grain.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Breaking
Brothers and sisters, taste and see that the Lord your God is good. Jesus Christ did suffer and die for our disobedience. And our hope should be in Him, for He also was raised from the dead. We don't worship a dead man but the living God. So easily we forget or deny what that means.
For too long we have lived, both us and our fathers before us, acting as though a loving and merciful God will not judge righteousness but will abound in mercy to all, even those who do not yet seek it. As a part of the church in the West, we have continually failed the body by not proclaiming truth. We have failed our neighbors by attempting to make the narrow and difficult path more easily traveled. We have failed our God by acting in disobedience to Him time after time, acting in unrighteous or impure motives, claiming the lie of subjectivism - what each person believes is good for them, being anything but the lights that we are supposed to be in this world.
In Revelation, the churches are told to either endure faithfully in the trials that face them or to repent from their sins. The majority of the churches are told to repent. What is it that we are doing any differently? We are broken, prideful, hardened, worldly people. We are called to wake up and repent - to be the changed people that Christ has allowed us to be. But we choose not to give the time to the Lord. We keep our talents, we withhold from the Lord what He has given to our care. But we refuse to even admit that, as a body, we need to come to true repentance! We need to be broken. We need to be laid bare. We need to be shaken from this comatose state of what we call Christianity, that we would turn and choose life abundantly, that we would repent and turn from our multitude of sins, that we would seek the Lord with all our hearts, that we would call out to Him, that we would be obedient before Him. Oh Lord, "Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" (Ps. 115:2).
There is a strongman who works tirelessly to tear down the stone foundation. His endurance appears inexhaustible. Stone by stone, he slowly demolishes the building. It is not illustrious, but it is effective. Who shall come upon him, who shall rise up to stop but a single man? Is there no one to call upon? There is no battle cry against this single strongman. There is none who takes note of him. Woe to those who choose inaction.
"For our struggle is not against enemies of the blood and flesh, buth against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. . . . Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints" (Eph. 6:12-13,18). Father, call us back to Yourself!
For too long we have lived, both us and our fathers before us, acting as though a loving and merciful God will not judge righteousness but will abound in mercy to all, even those who do not yet seek it. As a part of the church in the West, we have continually failed the body by not proclaiming truth. We have failed our neighbors by attempting to make the narrow and difficult path more easily traveled. We have failed our God by acting in disobedience to Him time after time, acting in unrighteous or impure motives, claiming the lie of subjectivism - what each person believes is good for them, being anything but the lights that we are supposed to be in this world.
In Revelation, the churches are told to either endure faithfully in the trials that face them or to repent from their sins. The majority of the churches are told to repent. What is it that we are doing any differently? We are broken, prideful, hardened, worldly people. We are called to wake up and repent - to be the changed people that Christ has allowed us to be. But we choose not to give the time to the Lord. We keep our talents, we withhold from the Lord what He has given to our care. But we refuse to even admit that, as a body, we need to come to true repentance! We need to be broken. We need to be laid bare. We need to be shaken from this comatose state of what we call Christianity, that we would turn and choose life abundantly, that we would repent and turn from our multitude of sins, that we would seek the Lord with all our hearts, that we would call out to Him, that we would be obedient before Him. Oh Lord, "Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" (Ps. 115:2).
There is a strongman who works tirelessly to tear down the stone foundation. His endurance appears inexhaustible. Stone by stone, he slowly demolishes the building. It is not illustrious, but it is effective. Who shall come upon him, who shall rise up to stop but a single man? Is there no one to call upon? There is no battle cry against this single strongman. There is none who takes note of him. Woe to those who choose inaction.
"For our struggle is not against enemies of the blood and flesh, buth against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. . . . Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints" (Eph. 6:12-13,18). Father, call us back to Yourself!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Standing Firm
What does it mean to stand firm? We are encouraged and exhorted to do so throughout the Bible. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 - So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 1 Corinthians 16:13 - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Philippians 1:27-30 - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Take a stand. Don't let people sway you. Don't give in to false teachings, to ease of lifestyle. Don't give in to sin, to temptation, to the works of the flesh. Stand your ground. Why should you not fight? Don't let yourself be trampled. You will be persecuted for Christ's sake if you are following Him. Don't give in. Don't give up. You learned truth through Christ. Don't brush it aside. Everything that should matter to you is from Christ. So take a stand for Him. Why should you give ground to the enemy when Christ, who is the Head of this side you claim to be on, is all-powerful? These are speaking personally. It is each believer's individual responsibility to stand firm. Whether we are obedient to that call does not dismiss the fact that all believers are called to stand firm. Don't give up! Don't lose heart! Act in truth and love. Follow Christ, none other! Lay yourself bare before the Lord. He will protect you and strengthen you. In your weakness, His power is perfect. When we are exhausted and want to give up, when there's nothing left of ourselves to give - STAND FIRM! Be obedient to the Lord your God. He will overcome, as He always has. Standing firm is not inaction; it is not "holding the course" for the sake of keeping the status quo. Standing firm is something that we must do every day of our lives, through the small skirmishes and through the devastating onslaughts - for we do face both - to be refined by the Father for His sake, for His glory.
Take a stand. Don't let people sway you. Don't give in to false teachings, to ease of lifestyle. Don't give in to sin, to temptation, to the works of the flesh. Stand your ground. Why should you not fight? Don't let yourself be trampled. You will be persecuted for Christ's sake if you are following Him. Don't give in. Don't give up. You learned truth through Christ. Don't brush it aside. Everything that should matter to you is from Christ. So take a stand for Him. Why should you give ground to the enemy when Christ, who is the Head of this side you claim to be on, is all-powerful? These are speaking personally. It is each believer's individual responsibility to stand firm. Whether we are obedient to that call does not dismiss the fact that all believers are called to stand firm. Don't give up! Don't lose heart! Act in truth and love. Follow Christ, none other! Lay yourself bare before the Lord. He will protect you and strengthen you. In your weakness, His power is perfect. When we are exhausted and want to give up, when there's nothing left of ourselves to give - STAND FIRM! Be obedient to the Lord your God. He will overcome, as He always has. Standing firm is not inaction; it is not "holding the course" for the sake of keeping the status quo. Standing firm is something that we must do every day of our lives, through the small skirmishes and through the devastating onslaughts - for we do face both - to be refined by the Father for His sake, for His glory.
Friday, October 17, 2008
a call to reality?
Some thoughts and writings from the past month or so - it's a bit of a mix.
You're so isolated, by your own choice. You're miserable. You're struggling to stay above water when what you really need to be allow yourself to plunge to the depths. I saved you! declares the Lord. I gave you a family, a hope, a future. I gave you people to depend on, so that you would truly and rightly depend on me to provide for all your needs. And you know the words that I have spoken, you have experienced My power. And still you don't get it! You're defensive when you feel weak - though I have told you that I am strong in your weakness. That's where I work so well, but you have the choice whether to let Me. You hide your pain and weakness, but they are still so apparent to Me. Come, let Me enter in. Provide for Me a place in your heart and I will enter. I want to show you how much more there can be. I want you to know the fullness of rightness with the Father. I want you to know the power of the Spirit alive and working within you and through you. I want you to be completely and wholly set free. I want you to get past the trappings of the material world. I want you to be free from the trappings and pain of sin. I want you to know life in abundance. Why do you turn away my servants and demand signs and wonders of me so that you would believe and be open to me? Don't you realize that your claims are escapist? Why do you still not believe?
Why are we busy theologizing when people are crying out for the practical? Asking "how can this work out in life" and getting "think of it like this" perspective. . . . Sometimes we just yearn to know what to do with what we know. Why aren't we applying it to every aspect of our lives? Why the separation between head and heart? . . . We need to be challenged, to be held accountable. We need people to tell us that we're not living what we've been taught and commanded. Sometimes we need to be shaken to our core in order that we might cling fully to God and to truly know that to which we cling. Lord, bring those events down upon us. Thresh us, oh Lord our Lord. May the chaff be blown back to the dust while You oh Lord come into every part of our lives, saturate every part of us, that we would not be the same ever again. Lord, may we have encounters with You, the Living God, that would leave us forever changed. Beat us upon the threshing floor, that we could not hold onto anything but You. Tear it from our lives in Your mercy. May we not be so close and yet completely miss the truth of Your salvation, Holy Lord.
Almighty Lord, break these bonds that continually ensnare us. Raise us up as Your servants. Lord, change our lives. Without You we suffer and die. May You in Your infinite mercy, oh Lord, help us to see and to comprehend. Lord, it is not Your desire for us to be of infantile faith. You desire us to be whole in You. You desire for us to be mature in You. You desire so much more for us than we desire for ourselves. Lord, help us to desire that which You desire! May Your kingdom be realized and Your glory professed. May You who are enthroned above the earth reach into our lives and forever change us, oh Lord and God.
You're so isolated, by your own choice. You're miserable. You're struggling to stay above water when what you really need to be allow yourself to plunge to the depths. I saved you! declares the Lord. I gave you a family, a hope, a future. I gave you people to depend on, so that you would truly and rightly depend on me to provide for all your needs. And you know the words that I have spoken, you have experienced My power. And still you don't get it! You're defensive when you feel weak - though I have told you that I am strong in your weakness. That's where I work so well, but you have the choice whether to let Me. You hide your pain and weakness, but they are still so apparent to Me. Come, let Me enter in. Provide for Me a place in your heart and I will enter. I want to show you how much more there can be. I want you to know the fullness of rightness with the Father. I want you to know the power of the Spirit alive and working within you and through you. I want you to be completely and wholly set free. I want you to get past the trappings of the material world. I want you to be free from the trappings and pain of sin. I want you to know life in abundance. Why do you turn away my servants and demand signs and wonders of me so that you would believe and be open to me? Don't you realize that your claims are escapist? Why do you still not believe?
Why are we busy theologizing when people are crying out for the practical? Asking "how can this work out in life" and getting "think of it like this" perspective. . . . Sometimes we just yearn to know what to do with what we know. Why aren't we applying it to every aspect of our lives? Why the separation between head and heart? . . . We need to be challenged, to be held accountable. We need people to tell us that we're not living what we've been taught and commanded. Sometimes we need to be shaken to our core in order that we might cling fully to God and to truly know that to which we cling. Lord, bring those events down upon us. Thresh us, oh Lord our Lord. May the chaff be blown back to the dust while You oh Lord come into every part of our lives, saturate every part of us, that we would not be the same ever again. Lord, may we have encounters with You, the Living God, that would leave us forever changed. Beat us upon the threshing floor, that we could not hold onto anything but You. Tear it from our lives in Your mercy. May we not be so close and yet completely miss the truth of Your salvation, Holy Lord.
Almighty Lord, break these bonds that continually ensnare us. Raise us up as Your servants. Lord, change our lives. Without You we suffer and die. May You in Your infinite mercy, oh Lord, help us to see and to comprehend. Lord, it is not Your desire for us to be of infantile faith. You desire us to be whole in You. You desire for us to be mature in You. You desire so much more for us than we desire for ourselves. Lord, help us to desire that which You desire! May Your kingdom be realized and Your glory professed. May You who are enthroned above the earth reach into our lives and forever change us, oh Lord and God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)