by RobertCummins | Dec 26, 2013 | 52. Down
Mark 8:31-38
I am regularly impressed at how frequently Jesus relates to His audience as investors – using the language of business to make His points.
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”
I think of Jesus as the E. F. Hutton of spiritual investment advise. Those of us who were around in the 70’s remember this name because it was branded into our consciousness by Madison Avenue. The investment firm’s commercials used scenes with a room full of engaged professionals inadvertently overhearing conversations about investing. When the actor delivered his line; “Well…my broker, E.F. Hutton says that……” a hush ensued. No one dare move and fail to hear what Mr. Hutton had said. Then the narrater interjects the famous line, “When E.F. Hutton speaks people listen.”
Oh that we might be still enough to hear the words of Jesus, the best-ever adviser for long term investing. I actually think Jesus words and questions, like Mr.Hutton’s, were designed to stop us dead in our tracks and arrest our attention. Jesus asks us,
“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world?”
Jesus’ question is rhetorical. The answer is of course that gaining the whole world, as nice of a return as that might be, would still be temporal and would essentially amount to nothing in light of the eternal opportunuty presented in Christ. We will eventually discover that gaining the world would actually be an investment in eternal misery. Jesus goes on to say…..
“For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Jesus is advising that even if you owned all the gold in the world and you got in at a $5 an ounce you would not have a sufficient return to ransom your soul. Souls have infinite worth.
Jesus is warning about a day when there is going to be a radical and sudden adjustment in the spiritual marketplace. On that day, the markets will not be open. There will be no buyers for our gold. Another form of currency will be in use.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with His holy angels.”
The whole point of the incarnation was to come and put things right; to crush the kingdom of darkness; expose its lies which encourage only short term investments which ultimately cost men there souls. That works out to be a perpetual and abundant negative return.
I don’t mean to be trite. Eternity in heaven or Hell is the most sobering of all subjects. Even so, I will leave the fire- breathing sermons and cajoling alter calls to those who think they are called to scare the hell out of people. I believe that fear of hell, in and of itself, is an inadequate motivation to follow Jesus. From O Holy Night…..
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth”
I suspect that Hell is a real place created for the devil and those who have, in their unbelief, brought condemnation upon themselves. However, I believe Jesus’ life message was anything but condemnation. His incarnation reveals the value and worth God places upon our souls. Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for our sin said all we need to know about our worth.
Many people have heard Jesus’ words but there are a couple of problems. One is that many would-be investors have not seen the promised return on this investment. Many are aware of the profound impact Christianity had on the culture in the first few centuries. They are even familiar with the transformational claims of the Christian religion. The problem is that these onlookers cannot make the association with this and anything that might resemble the Light of the World shining brightly from any hilltop. While it is infinitely more, God’s enemy uses the media to insure that would-be investors only see Christianity as a demographic – a narrow thinking faction of the voting block who have taken stands on homosexuality, abortion and limited government. I pray that the Church, through her Christ-like love and good deeds will, hopefully soon, be known for her love and unity even more so than her political advocacy.
The second problem is the apparent high cost of investing long-term with Jesus Christ; i.e. becoming His follower. If you listen to Him, it is as though He discourages investors. Listen to the pitch from the best long-term investment advisor that has ever lived;
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it.”
As an ambassador for Christ which, by the way we all are, whether we have acknowledged that or not, I want to say something about the apparent hard tone to this statement and its apparent impossible nature. This investor-qualification statement was made by the same man who invited children up onto His lap at the same time the disciples were shooing them away. My point? His heart is very, very tender. And, as to it’s level of difficulty, the Christian life truly is impossible. It becomes possible only because Christ Himself lives in us becoming our life. The rediscovery of this great mystery, Christ in us, is the only thing that has or ever will enable us to live as the light of this world. Christ in us truly is THE only hope of glory, which is the ultimate objective of all investments – His glory.
His arms are wide open to those who are hungry; aware or suspicious that their portfolios are unbalanced toward the short-term. All those who have taken Jesus’ advise and placed all their talents into a long-term kingdom account, know that the apparent cost, as impossible as it seems, is inconsequential in light of the abundant return in both this life and the next. (Phil 3:7-9)
Perhaps its time to consider a review of our portfolio. Knowing God and His commitment to us, I suspect there is a kingdom investment advisor somewhere near you. Look for the right one. They will be more than just moral and religious. In fact, if all they have is strong convictions don’t even stop and listen. The right one will be honest, joyful, humble and free. Hint; Some of the best ones are usually great question askers and listeners. They will also want to tell you about the eternal dividends that the Father has already paid out to them. Blessings to you and may the Lord prosper you body, soul and spirit.
Father, Have mercy on us and this earth that so desperately needs You. May You raise up the prophetic voices that will expose the lies the enemy has sown into our minds and into our culture that encourage our investments into the seemingly unlimited options of short-term-no-profit deals. In Jesus name. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Dec 25, 2013 | 52. Down
John 21:15-19
In God’s economy where the mystery of predestination is in play, He works out all things after the counsel of His will, one might wonder then, just what is the point of anything we say or do. It would seem that whatever our motivation might be, good or evil, it is really of no account, because it is ultimately trumped by God’s will which we must assume is entirely good. Wouldn’t this undermine any personal motivation, knowing that our contribution has no essential bearing on any outcome?
Another puzzle of sorts has to do with why God, being omniscient, would ever ask us a question. In fact, as Psalm 139 has informed us, even the content of our thoughts which have not even been expressed are known to Him. No. God is not deficient in knowledge. Yet, He asks Peter;
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
Most of us probably know that Jesus asked this same question 3 times, with an increasingly grieved Peter always responding, “Yes Lord“. He finally said, correctly, “Lord, you know all things!” Peter had to be wondering what the point of this exchange was. And we note; Jesus didn’t say the expected thing, “Yes, Peter, and I love you too.” Instead, three times, He simply repeated the simple and straight forward instruction, “Then, shepherd My flock.”
One thing we could project happening from Peter’s final conversation with Jesus is that, unless Peter was actually engaged in caring for His followers, his conscience, unless it grew very hard, could ever entertain the notion that his love for Christ was authentic. I think there was also something else going on in this exchange that might be less obvious.
Just as there was affirmation of calling in triplicate, so had there been denial. Just as Jesus had foretold, Peter had denied Him three times. I don’t think Jesus wanted to leave the earth with Peter’s words of denial being the last words he heard himself say – ringing on in his ears and resounding in his heart. This may shed some light on why God asks us questions when He already knows the answers. Our answers help us hear what’s in our own hearts; things we must take ownership of.
As our heart motivations are somehow converted into thoughts and then into words that are eventually expressed publicly there is a powerful spiritual dynamic. Questions draw us out. They invite us to make ourselves known to ourselves and to each other. Peter was no doubt horrified with himself at failing three times to openly associate with his increasingly unpopular friend. He did not really know himself. He had previously thought of himself in an heroic light, as one prepared to suffer and even die with Jesus. To continue as a follower of Christ, it was essential for Peter to take ownership of the reality of what was in his heart. From Peter’s denial to his affirmation of love, the Lord provided sufficient time for him to reflect, mourn and repent.
It was fortunate that the Good Shepherd tended to Peter, his wounded young lamb, providing him, and others, an opportunity to hear him say, “I love you Jesus.” Jesus’ questions drew Peter out so that he could discover and take ownership of something more real within himself than the self image of a coward and a traitor. Peter’s destiny was that of a lover of God. His public statement to this effect reinforced his identity as a beloved lamb of God. So, what is the application for us?
Our public profession and association with Jesus is a very big deal! I invite you to read Matt. 10:32,33 and then, the larger context of those verses Matt 10:24-42.
I want to try and wrap up by saying that Peter’s words, “I love You,” are, I believe, the words God longs to hear from us. I know He loves our sacrifices of praise; “We worship you Oh Lord” and, “We praise You.” How appropriate for us to regularly sing to a Being so glorious and powerful, the great omniscient and omnipotent Alpha and Omega and King of Kings. Yet, utterly astounding, He is also, Abba Father, which invites another level of response – something that should be by no means a sacrifice; a heart felt, “Oh Lord how I love You Lord. I aspire only to love You more!” In light of who God is and what He has done, “What is it really in our worship that we are sacrificing?”
The Spirit He has given to those who are trusting in Him exclusively as their savior is a Spirit of adoption by which they cry out, “Abba! Father!” Just based on the way I read scripture and have processed my own experience as a Father, I believe that our “I love you’s“, especially our regular and privately expressed ones, are the consummation of worship. These all-inclusive words of adoration that cover the gamut of other expressions of praise. Coming from our hearts, which have been refined as Peter’s was, these words are the Father’s reward of His suffering. Hearing your child say, “I love you Dad and I am utterly content in You.”, pretty much says it all.
Where the line is, defining the conflict between God’s sovereignty and man’s, is a mystery. The problem for us westerners, allergic to mystery as we are, is that we want to fit God into the rational grid of our logic where He just will not fit. Our natural constructs are far too fragile and minuscul to contain God’s Life. Our reason and logic tend to provide only either/or explanations when the reality within God’s eternal economy is that the God/man-sovereignty conflict is only an apparent one to us who remain, at this time, partially sight-impaired. In His vast domain, it is really a both/and reality, regardless of how it offends our almighty-rigid wine skins of western reason.
As there is scholarship making cases for both sides, I have decided to start a new file for my wineskin, ( i.e. my vision). I have labeled it “Mystery”. In this file, like David, I try and place the things of scripture and of life experience that I cannot currently attain to; things too high and too wonderful for me. Before I place it in that file though, I try and make sure it is stamped, God Is Good.
I had previously had a file labeled, Is God Really Good? It was huge and growing as I accumulated more and more observations that questioned this apparent contradiction between His sovereignty and His goodness which inevitably undermined the notion of His goodness. My spirit was being crushed by the weight of the unanswered questions that I had filed away. In this season, the only praise that escaped my lips was indeed a sacrifice and sadly, it was often no more than lip service. There were certainly no heart felt, “I love you’s” flowing from my heart. Those were overshadowed by my, “You’ve got to be kidding me’s!”.
I don’t understand cancer, tragic accidents, abuse or poverty and perversion or the hundreds of other evils that are crouching at our door prepared to waylay us. I do not believe they came from heaven. I don’t believe they are God’s will. We are caught up into a cosmic battle and these things are to me a mystery. Before the creation of this “Mystery” file, the either/or options my reason haunted me. Something was amiss.
Since I have more fully embraced “mystery”, I have noticed that the Lord is answering an important prayer of mine; to restore my heart to innocence and simplicity in devotion. I have noticed that two sentences more frequently escape my lips these days. The first is; “I don’t know.” I don’t know why everything happens but I will not credit God with evil, regardless of how theologically sound it may be to some. Many would call this denial; others error. I call it mystery. I just don’t know. My prayer is that the content of this file would continue to break my heart and lead me into prayer. I just do not want to pull it out regularly and subject its content to the “why’s” of my human scrutiny.
The other sentence is “I love You.” From my heart, without shame or guilt, with boldness and joy, I am learning to come before Him and simply and innocently say, “I love you, Father“. This is where my journey with Christ started and it is the sweetest spot I have found as a sojourner traveling with Him. Therefore, I aspire, wherever I can, to tell my story and make public profession in regards to Jesus. I have discovered that our individual stories are high protein spiritual nourishment to each other. We can each tend the flock and feed quite a lot of lambs with this food. So……
Father, make us to lie down in green pastures where we can listen to the questions you are posing to us; lead us beside quiet waters, where our hearts can frame our answers. Create safe spaces for us, like this, where real authentic conversations can take place. Restore our souls so that we can reciprocate the love with which You have loved us. Help each of us in
Your family learn to live in Your holy presence with simplicity of devotion so that You hear a rising tide of “I love you’s” coming from Your vast family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Dec 25, 2013 | 52. Down
Jonah 1:1-2:10
“So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped raging….And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.”
This story begins with a man attempting to flee from God’s presence whose rebellion had put others near to him in crisis. Their response was to cry out to their various gods and take desperate measures to survive. They were all clueless that they had simply been caught up into a lopsided battle between Jonah and His God – the Lord of Circumstance.
Jonah begins this story with a heart that was opposing God’s will, suffering in the deception that one could oppose and successfully flee from Him. I really think Jonah knew better. From his exposure to the Psalms he probably knew;
“Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn……..(Psalm 139)
I think this Psalm came back to Him as his circumstances were growing more severe…..and he recalled the next verse;
“...If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me.”
Then Jonah instructed the ships’s crew, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea.” He probably didn’t know just how God’s right hand would lay hold of him, but he may have calculated that this was at least the best odds for this this crew. In Jonah’s case the hand of God took the form of the open jaws of an even more threatening circumstance – a monstrous fish. As Jonah moved from the mouth, through the gullet into the stomach, eventually finding himself wrapped in seaweed, immersed in bile and gasping for breath, he is being progressively delivered from his delusion. In his tight quarters, he is being transported to Nineveh by submarine rather than sailing vessel. It may have been here, over his 3 day journey, that the Lord reminded him of another part of his Psalm for the day,
“Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.”
Entangled, engulfed by the the great deep, encompassed by water and near death, he was concerned that he had been expelled from God’s sight. His heart was softening though (with God’s mild encouragement) such that he finally prays, “Thou has cast me into the deep.” He then engages his will and deliberately proclaims with his own heart….
“Nevertheless (in spite of my feelings and my circumstances), I will look again to Thy holy temple.”
As he has become more intentional, his confidence is returning and the deception is lifting from his heart. Truth is gaining traction now in his innermost being. Even as he is stewing in the fishes’ juices, he finds the strength to further proclaims;
“While I was feinting away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to Thee, into Thy holy temple.”
Perhaps it was early morning as the beast surfaced in the shallows, blowing air out it’s blow hole. Suddenly there was a change of pressure in Jonah’s birth, awakening him to a tiny dot of light at the cabin door. Seconds later, he heard something going on with the plumbing and he was suddenly belched up as a bleached out wad onto the Nineveh shoreline, God’s original destination. Perhaps it was then Jonah concluded with this proclamation;
“Thou hast brought up my life from the pit, Oh Lord my God.”
And…hopefully, there on the beach, he was able to complete his reflections on Psalm 139;
“Even there (in the remotest part of the deep), Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me. If I say (or think), ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,’ Even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee….Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.”
I think Paul had come to a similar conclusion after his dramatic encounter with Jesus. Yes, Paul had experience with the same Travel Agent. While he was going one way in his deception on the Damascus Road he was intercepted and laid hold of by the same capable, strong set of hands that had laid hold of Jonah. They proved to be so strong there was hardly a point in even squirming or complaining. I believe Paul and Jonah arrived at a similar conclusion about their God by way of the same means; the severe yet tender mercies of the Father. God was obviously in charge…. therefore;
“there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb 4:13)
This orientation to God became part and parcel to who Paul was. Listen to this man’s heart;
“I press on in order that I may lay hold of “that” for which I had been laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”
Paul perceived that “that” was; “the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I pray that the applications are obvious. All of us are entangled in circumstances of one kind or another. (even if its just an aging body) But simultaneously, we are also caught up into a lop-sided contest, which is ultimately between God and His enemy . Aren’t we are all wrapped up in seaweed of one type or another? Regardless of our circumstances, whether we were thrown into the sea or under the bus; whether we are merely reaping what we have sown or whether we even know the source of our plague, no one ever has any recourse other than God Himself, just as He, the Lord of Circumstance would have it. Always, it is with Him, Who is good, with whom we have to do.
So, in spite of our feelings or our circumstances, we will look to You Father. If You are endeavoring to deliver us this day from the evil of some deception, permit our hardened hearts to soften and learn wisdom from the the inherent disciplines of life. If, on the other hand, You are endeavoring to deliver us from the evil of some circumstance, grant us the discernement, the boldness, the courage and faith to reclaim that which he has stolen, and send Satan back from where he came – which is Your original intinerary for him in this lopsided battle. May we all acknowledge that we have arrived today at our destinations just as Jonah had with our stories of Your goodness, faithfulness and deliverence. And may You open up to us new doors to be the ambassadors of reconciliatiuon You have called us to be. And in doing so, strengthen us to press on in our destinies to reach the goal and the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Dec 24, 2013 | 52. Down
Philippians 2:1-11
Paul is on his knees again doing everything within his power to convey the revelation of who Christ is and the implications of that on our orientation toward each other. He is working hard to get the Philippians to say “yes” with his rhetorical questions; Is there any consolation of love?
Is there any fellowship in the Spirit? Is there and affection and compassion? Well….if the answer is “yes”, please, “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” So…what is that same thing we are to be so intentional about?
A summary of verses 3 and 4 is the answer and it is essentially that we are to intentionally give each other preference above ourselves. Why should we do this? Because, this attitude was in Christ, our example. Paul’s commentary is met by some of us with this response;
“There is just one small problem here Lord, You are God and I am not. Your ways are higher than the heavens are above the earth. Is it really fair to ask me to “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit” when it is my very nature to do everything from this vantage point? Is it possible for me to turn a switch and be humble when my flesh is inherently prideful? And…by the way, why did you allow evil? Let the records show that I didn’t get to vote on this old nature that You are now so opposed to! God may listen to our protests. He’s probably not even angry with us. But He isn’t buying it either. Our protest won’t exempt us from the obedience of faith.
How far down did God come from heaven to earth? Was it a million light years? Maybe it was so far down that it cannot be measured. Perhaps His domain is so large it swallows all of time and space. And, how much of a change was it for the Creator of all realms to take on the form of a human being? This question may not wow us too much if we are our own standard of measure and reference point. Jesus however was wowed. His intimate awareness of the answers to these questions led Him, as God’s own Son, to conclude that any comparison to God, even for Himself, was a thing that could not be grasped. He has not asked us to bow quite as far. He just wants us to defer to others who happen to jointly share our current humble estate, and to;
“…..let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also the interests of others.”
Having tried to make many of these arguments to God, I know He is not sympathetic. He just reminds me that He has been tempted in all the same ways that I have; that He would not ask me to do anything that He has not equipped me for; that my experience of selfish behavior does not somehow confirm my fate as a victim to some fundamental and superior “sin-charged” nature. Just because we have a low opinion of ourselves does not mean that He shares our view.
God looks down and sees Christ in us, the hope of glory. We look down introspectively into our selves and see depravity, the guarantor of futility. I have lived a big portion of my Christian life with Solomon’s perspective; that “all is futility and striving after the wind” with my own stumbling life as the obvious proof of His wisdom. I have recently shifted my focus, by faith, to a wisdom that is higher than Solomon’s that says; the deepest Truth about me is not that I am a monster-of-iniquity, rather I am a new-creation with a new nature in-Christ.
Those who are still arguing with God over the unfairness of their lot, and that of mankind’s, will want absolute proof of this new life before they budge an inch. God will probably not accommodate them. He will probably offer them the same deal He gives all of His sons; the opportunity to entrust ourselves to a faithful Creator in the midst of our low opinions of Him and ourselves. Is it possible that the futility we encounter with our flesh is an inevitability born of our fundamental assumptions about our depravity? Could our view of ourselves as sinners be disconnecting us from our truest selves and the power that is inherent to Christ in us? Could our false identity be in the way of true destiny?
When Jesus says that we must take up our cross and follow Him, that may mean different things to different people at different times. For me, “my cross” has involved a surrender of certain opinions and beliefs I have held. The pain of this death, or cross, was necessary because these beliefs were my reality (my wineskin). They were foundational in how I explained to myself how the world works and how I interfaced with it. When God shakes you at this level, you may feel as though you are loosing control and the flesh will protest with everything it has. This inner war is especially interesting when you believed that your wineskin was doctrinally and biblically adequate (if not perfect). Oh dear, I am having flashbacks.
May I be so bold as to suggest that God is saying, “Quit your mournful introspections. They do not produce any righteousness, peace or joy. Look up! Embrace My kingdom! It has come and it is within you! Discover who you really are! The dirge has been out of style since My resurrection!”
“If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory.”
It is an irony to me that I found myself as an elder in a church, having complied with the the minimal standards of leadership; having one wife and being free from drunkenness. The irony is that I was in compliance to all the biblical standards I was aware of with the exception of “joy” – which is integral to life in the kingdom. It is the very tone of Paul’s fatherly words to the Philippians.
The irony was that I had to repent of many of my views of scripture which were formed from my vantage point as a man who viewed himself as a victim of a selfish, lustful, prideful, greedy nature. I promise you, you can come up with some hard views toward yourself and others by seeing life through this lens. I also promise you, the battle with the world, our flesh and the devil is much harder when your basic assumption about your identity is that it is depraved. Note; Life is like a self-fulfilling prophecy. You become what you behold. Obsess with our own sin nature; we empower sin. Obsess with Christ and we live and think in harmony with our new nature and are transformed from glory to glory.
So; Indeed we are fallen; but indeed we have been raised with Christ. Our depravity is a little “t” truth. Our new nature is a big “T” Truth! We will be far more righteous, peaceful and joyful when we begin living out of the reality of Christ in us – our very Life, as the deeper Truth anchoring our identities. Then we shall fulfill our destinies as “lights in this world”, blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation“.
Because we will have lived our lives honoring Him (in our new identities) as the One who has earned, (through His “surrender of obedience), the title King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we will stand in joyful company on that day when;
“at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in heaven and earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Father, may you grant that Your Bride adorn herself with raiments of festive color as she discovers the reality of who she really is in-Christ. May her countenance be lifted up as she beholds You, Her Bridegroom, calling to her; telling her to get ready, that today is the day of salvation. May our personal and our collective discovery of our “kingdom” identities constitute a reformation for our present day. May its impact be proportional to You, who desire to do exceedingly above and beyond our expectations. To You Lord, to whom all things are possible. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Wow. did I ever stray. Sorry. The application I suppose is to just try and love our neighbor as ourselves not just because its the right thing to do; but because its who we are.
