by RobertCummins | Jul 11, 2013 | 28. Between
This is actually a continuation of the thoughts I expressed on Tuesday related to Matthew 14:22-33.
I mentioned recently that I wanted to talk more about being “between” from the vantage point of a “Father-filtered” heart.
Something different was going on in Peter than in the other 11 disciples who remained in the boat. It’s tempting to think that Peter’s brief experience of walking on water was just a fluky thing born out of his brash and compulsive nature. I don’t think so. I believe for a brief period of time Peter’s life was defying natural laws because in that space between the boat and the Lord, he was exercising an innocent “take-Jesus-at-His- word”, childlike faith that presumed that all things were truly possible with Him. I want that – don’t you?
Won’t it be a shock to discover some day, that from heaven’s perspective, that there for a brief moment on that lake, we were being given a glimpse of “normal” – an event we had just written off as an isolated one-off miracle that really had no bearing on us today. I don’t want that shock. I would guess you do not either.
After having found some lies lodged there I have come to think of my heart like a kind of filter – a “Father filter”. To care for my heart as I must and keep it clear for the Spirit to move in, it is essential that God remains in clear focus as my Father. I am not talking about a firm religious conviction that God is like a Father. I am talking about relating continually and presumptuously toward Him as my Father. I have discovered if I can live from this place, where His tone of voice is encouraging, not condemning; where I see His smile as opposed to a frown, I am more likely to hear His invitation to get out of the boat. And…. I am more inclined to responding positively.
Our perception of God is the most important thing about us. It determines more than anything how the issues of our lives will play out. (Prov 4:23). It also has a lot to do with what we see ourselves “between”. If we see Him as harsh, frustrated or angry we will likely see ourselves sinking down and overwhelmed by our circumstances – always between a rock and a hard place. If we see Him smiling saying, “Come now little one, you can do this.”, we will see ourselves between opportunities to know Him more intimately and we will find ourselves being transformed from glory to glory.
Father, may you clean out the filters of our hearts so that nothing would prohibit Your Spirit from accurately conveying to us Your tone of voice. May we, like Peter, join you in whatever the new “normal” might look like in Your ever expanding kingdom. When You bid us, “Come”, sustain us with that innocent childlike faith that Peter knew as He walked on water. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jul 10, 2013 | 28. Between
Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
Cease striving (find rest) and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Both of these verses are spoken in the context of God’s right and willingness to use His power and authority to bring desolation to the earth and to nations (even His chosen one) for their rebellious and unholy lives. I mentioned earlier this week that there has always seemed to be, at least for me, a tension between the God of the Old Testament and that of the New. The OT God was a Holy King and a Righteous Judge wielding discipline aplenty. The NT God was Holy also but was far more approachable and could even become a Father and a Friend who seemed reluctant to judge.
It seems that in the Old Testament God was revealing the holiness of His nature and the impossible gulf between that aspect of Himself and fallen humanity. The Old Testament was an incomplete yet essential part of what we had to know about God. The Old Testament also exposed the human heart as incapable (and/or unwilling) to live in compliance to His ways.
The reason Jesus’ coming was gospel (good news) is because He was the full and complete revelation of God to mankind. “He (Jesus) is the radiance of His (God’s) glory and the exact representation of His nature…” This NT God is approachable. He says, “Let the little children come to me“. I also asked earlier this week if God had changed between Malachi and Matthew. My answer is “no”. However, how much of Himself He was permitting man to to see of Him did change between the Old and the New Testament. It is worthy of a continual heart celebration that Jesus came as a mediator (1 Tim 2:5,6) bridging the impossible gulf between His holiness and our disqualifying lack of it.
In my meditation regarding “becoming” and looking into the concepts of ancient paths (from Jeremiah 6:6) that I should walk in for the sake of my soul’s rest, I am drawn back to the original thought that launched the Blue Book experiment which was the idea that much could be regained for our weary and busy souls in learning how to “wait on God” in our personal experience.
So, I am not drawn by today’s reflections back to the Old Covenant as the ancient path I should follow to find peace and rest with God. However I am drawn to the command to “wait on God” as an older, more established pathway to “rest“. Waiting and resting are keynote themes of the Blue Book. Hearing back from many of you, I was encouraged to learn that the BB was serving you to this end. So, even if our “waiting” is still, at this moment, just a “pause”, take courage; we are moving on a pathway toward rest. Try “pressing on to know the Lord” by taking even more steps of “waiting” toward Him. This very approachable God who is inviting us to draw near by simply recognizing the heart-to-heart reconnection He has established, is always saying, “Come to me little ones, no one is prohibiting you”.
So, how do I know if I am fully availing myself of the costly gift that Christ is offering me? My suggestion is that we should ask ourselves if there is a continual heart celebration within us over the good news of our reestablished union with God through Jesus. Can you say with Jude (24) that you are enjoying standing blamelessly in the presence of His glory with great joy?
Father, in your great patience and kindness, open our hearts to the marvelous opportunity you have given us to know You. Let us discover the “rest” you have provided. Let us each discover how inviting, how forgiving, how joyful and passionate You are. Let us become the people who convey to the world just how secure children are, who are, like us, well cared for and well loved. May our grace-filled hearts serve as a living appeal to this world of Your goodness. Without disregard to Your holiness, may our lives, in their joy and freedom, convey how approachable You are – dispelling any residual, OT, incomplete, wrath-filled wrong impressions we have of You. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jul 10, 2013 | 28. Between
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:1-8
Few things are more precious than words born of love. They are usually the distillation of much thought and consideration. They are often saved up to be spoken at just the right time and place. The conveyor yearns to impart whatever they might have stored up in their heart in order to bring as much blessing as they can into the life of their beloved. That is the flavor of this ultra-personal letter from Paul to Timothy, his beloved and cherished spiritual son.
The yearning in this letter is accentuated by the fact that its author is awaiting execution. Paul’s circumstances no doubt brought all his considerable intellect and heart into razor sharp focus for what he needed to say; “I solemnly charge you (by practically everything that Paul deemed holy) to preach the word.” Note; To Paul, preaching included; reproofs, rebukes, exhortations and instruction, all done with great patience in both scheduled and impromptu situations.
Spiritual father’s have been further down the trail than their sons. Paul has seen diabolical, Satanic efforts to dilute the words and teachings of Jesus, through things as innocent looking as myths and traditions; those aberrations of the fallen imagination that become lodged in individuals and cultures, influencing the discernment of truth and reality. These “imaginations” which we are told must be “cast down”, lure people off the narrow trail on which Christ would lead them. All of these offshoots from the main path lead people to bad endings in their lives. Paul has seen this and has set his heart on finishing well. And, as a father, he is jealous that Timothy finish his race as well in full stride.
In this race that we are running, what is it that separates winners and losers; runners and plodders; passionate ones from indifferent ones? I believe Paul’s words allow us to peek into his heart for our answer. Paul was focused on the prize; a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to him on that day. Paul was motivated to endure hardship and await his death crossing the finish line) because he was focused on a reward he felt far outweighed the modest costs he had incurred. Is this crown that is to be awarded by God Himself, serving as motivation to you to run wholeheartedly toward the finish?
It strikes me that the scriptures themselves are much like Paul’s letter to Timothy. They are God’s letter to us, His beloved. They represent the distillation of thoughts that He had stored up and voiced at just the right time and place for our thorough redemption. God’s great heart and considerable intellect were brought into razor sharp focus in His Word so that we too will stay in the race and cross our finish lines.
Father, we invite your Spirit to awaken us to see where we are in our race. We ask that You would alert us to any cultural myths we have bought into that may account for our indifference. And may You also awaken us to your solemn charge to share Your words in living, loving and natural ways to those around us; to those we are being charged to love and encourage. Help us to find our stride. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jul 10, 2013 | 28. Between
Psalm 84:1-12
Longing, yearning and singing are overflowing from the heart of this psalmist. This is “exclamation-point” worship; How lovely! How blessed! Oh Lord hear! Is this the tone of our worship? Do you believe this passage of scriptures was intended to convey the historical account of an exceptional worshipper or rather to convey the opportunity that we can all be exceptional worshippers?
This psalmist is consumed with the beauty of God’s dwelling place – the Temple; a place with courts that abut the dwelling place of God – the inner sanctuary – the Holy of Holies, where only specially appointed priests entered after having undergone prescribed rites of purification. “A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of my God...” This worshipper was delighted to just linger near the entrance to God’s holy dwelling place.
Recently, a friend commented that I seemed to have a preference to the New Testament over the Old. I had to be honest; I do and and this psalm reminds me why. Old Covenant worshippers were only permitted to come as far as the threshold. We are now permitted to enter with boldness into the Holy of Holies. (Check out Hebrews 4:16, 7:1-9:28)
This idea of going into the most holy dwelling place of God was unthinkable in this psalmist’s day. Unregenerate man would have perished immediately in God’s Holy presence. Scripture tells us that saints of old, their prophets and even angels were longing to understand this covenant that would some day come. And here we are, partakers. If the Old Covenant produced exclamation points, what type of worship should the New Covenant produce in us?
Verse 24 of Jude says it well. ” Now to Him, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, …”
Father, may there be sufficient joyful exclamations points in our hearts as we learn to abide in You; and in the glories of this newer covenant that permits us as children to presume continually upon Your steadfast love and enjoy Your Presence. O Lord, let us be a people who have crossed over the threshold with hearts filled with boldness and joy. And, as Moses face was alight with Your life, may we too live brightly consuming the shadows of our dark surroundings. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jul 9, 2013 | 28. Between
The following are thoughts provoked by Lamentations 3:19-33. If you will take the time to read this beautiful yet mysterious passage, you will have a better appreciation for this post. Jeremiah’s words brought Psalm 139 to mind which, after meeting Christ, contained the first renewing realities that penetrated my heart about who God was. Some of the major themes are His vast knowledge verses my very limited knowledge and His intimate awareness of me throughout all my days. Verse 5 and 6 capture much of the psalmist’s revelation.
“Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”
This passage in Lamentations highlights just how thin the air is at the altitude where God resides. Not too long ago I attempted to climb my first 14,000 ft mountain. The elevation change from Oklahoma to this Colorado summit was approximately two miles. As I approached this peak I was so dizzy I could not maintain my balance. It was too much for me. I had to abandon my ascent. To regain my equilibrium I had to descend to lower altitude. It was humbling and sad.
The experience caused me to think; I wonder how many of us head back down to lower elevations when we encounter the knowledge of God in the scriptures (or the ways of God in life) that are beyond our comfort zones in an attempt to maintain our rational equilibrium. The idea that God says and does things that do not make sense is unacceptable to us, so we retreat back to lower elevations where we can nurse our illusions that God is a reasonable being (much like us but more so) where our ideas about Him are more logical and useful to us in sustaining the manageable lives we have worked out for ourselves.
This passage highlights an aspect of God that can make us dizzy; that God causes grief and He offers compassion. Our minds spin as we wrestle with this apparent inconsistency. To restore our equilibrium we simply set aside half of the paradox and form our beliefs, embracing what is to us, the more intellectually agreeable aspects of His nature. Probably none of us are exempt in this error, particularly in western culture where knowledge is our king and logic and reason are our servants.
I mentioned yesterday the value of having a Father-filtered heart. This has helped me so much in dealing with the paradoxes about God. For example, as I read this passage, I acknowledge the apparent inconsistency of God; that He causes both grief and offers compassion. But today, as I refer ideas to God, my Father, I do not hear an emphasis on causing grief. I hear, “I do not afflict or grieve willingly but even if I do, I will offer abundant lovingkindness. Out of My faithfulness, I will have a fresh supply for you each day when you awake.”
As the Father has cleansed my heart, I have had to open a new file that I have labeled “Mysteries”. This is where I can store away my questions and entrust matters to Him where my revelation is not exhaustive; only sufficient. This file is essential and it is growing since it is not really rational that fallen men should have systematic and exhaustive knowledge of an eternal and holy Being. My “Mystery” file is helping me to let God be God. Do to …..
….the depths of the riches both of His wisdom and His knowledge I must acknowledge that His judgements and His ways are unfathomable.
So now when I encounter a miracle (or the prospect of one) which defies the odds or offends my reasoning, I can gratefully return to my Psalm 139 foundation and say, “OK, Father, I don’t get it.” I may not even like it. But…I am enclosed (even in my ignorance) in my loving, capable Father’s trustworthy hands.
Father, I don’t have all the answers but I am inclined to dream and to pray that we will abandon our insistence on fitting You into our many rational boxes. And, rather than remaining at this altitude where we are so divided in our understanding, I pray that we might ascend together to that place where we are unified, not in our knowledge, but rather in our faith. Let us not stumble or descend when it first appears that Your Word and Your ways seem too impossible. Help us to be steady of heart remembering that “You are good to those who wait for You and seek You. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jul 9, 2013 | 28. Between
And when they (Peter and Jesus) got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son”. (Matthew 14:32-33)
The men who had stayed in the boat, who had just watched this spectacle of two men walking on the surface of the waves were powerfully moved to the point of worshipping Jesus as God’s Son. Apparently the verdict had still been out for them on this issue of Jesus’ identity even after He had just fed 5,000 men and their families with 5 loaves and 2 fish that very afternoon.
I wonder how Peter felt during this impromptu time of worship. While dripping wet and cold, Jesus had just said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”. Let me ask you, “How do you imagine the Lord’s face and His tone of voice as He said this to Peter?
In my past I have imagined Jesus as downcast and a bit stern as he delivered another well-deserved reproof to Peter. Today, I do not hear God’s words with that tone of exasperation, born of dealing with Peter’s (or my) perpetual incompetence and unbelief. Today, I process His voice and His Word through my “Father-filter” and I hear a different tone. I will come back to the idea of a “Father-filter.”
Isn’t it just as possible that Jesus (the Son of Man) had joy in His heart and a smile on His face, excited that one of His cherished ones had finally trusted Him enough and stepped out of their boat and attempted what no human (son of man) had ever attempted? As Jesus, who was the first born of a new race of men said, “Come,” isn’t it possible that He (and others) were thrilling at Peter’s obedient response? I really believe the “great cloud of witnesses” cheered as they saw a member of this new race working out the fulness of their salvation – living out of a heavenly reality, instead of from the more familiar, time-and-space-bound reality – truly trusting that what Jesus had said – “that with Him all things are possible”, is in fact a rock solid premise.
So, when I envision this scene, I see Jesus saying, “Oh Peter, you of little faith, why did you doubt?”, with a big “you-nearly-made-it” smile, because He was seeing something birthed on earth that He had waited eons to see. Perhaps Jesus, instead of mourning over Peter’s latest failure, was thankful that He was seeing “Thy will being done on earth as it was in heaven”. Even though he was wet and cold, I suspect Jesus’ words were warming and encouraging to Peter’s heart. I could even imagine the other disciples wishing that they too had followed Peter’s lead.
Another question; For you, Is God predominantly in a bad mood or a good mood? I believe how we answer this question dramatically effects everything in our lives with Christ from how (or even if) we hear His voice to how we motivate to follow Him. I will continue tomorrow on the theme of living between the promise and the fulfillment from the vantage of a “Father-filtered” heart.
Father, help us to see You in the midst of our journey as we feel the contrary winds and the waves battering our storm tossed hearts and lives. Even though our view of You is often obscured in our darkness, as “children of light”, permit our eyes to see You and encounter You in these moments when we feel we may be drowning or even those moments after we have been pulled back into the boat. We thank You that Your arm is always outstretched to take hold of us. Help us to discern the “authentic” tone” of Your loving Voice. Amen.
