the Heart

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THE BODY OF CHRIST

I would like to offer this morning that we are created not to contend with each other but to complement each other.    Can you imagine a society built on the idea of coming along side of one another?  Each person would be working toward a common goal, not trying to overcome but supporting others.  This is certainly contrary to our societal norms of “beat the competition”, “climb the corporate ladder”, and “don’t let others get ahead of you”.  Yet wouldn’t it be great if we could put aside our self-indulgent ways and be the body of Christ?

In Romans chapter 12 the Apostle Paul encourages Christians, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God –this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  How do we get our minds renewed?

As a member of the Body of Christ, I find in myself a desire to put aside contending with my fellow members.  I believe this desire is rooted in the love God has put in my heart.  Of course, this love wars against my sinful nature which often causes me to be contentious.  Romans 12:9-10 gives me guidance by stating, “Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.”  Love is perhaps the key to being transformed.

I believe the ability to complement rather than contend with our brothers and sisters first requires a full understanding of God’s love for us.  We, the members of the Body of Christ, are loved in the deepest sense.  No one is a junior member.  We have all been given full rights as sons and daughters.  God will love us eternally.  When we understand that he loves us, we are transformed from who we were in the world into children of the living God.  Our mind is renewed; we view things differently.  The love that God has poured out on us naturally flows through us and joins us to one another.  Don’t let the lie that you’re not loved make you a contentious member of the Body of Christ.

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Hopelessly Flawed?

I am hopelessly flawed.  I want to be good and have good motives, but I find my heart to be full of selfish motives, unloving and unkind.  I try not to act on these ugly inner thoughts, for I want to be good.  I try to put on the good.  People think of me as good.  Alas, I am not.  I am hopelessly flawed.  I sometimes get depressed over this lack of good in me.  I want to be nice to people.  I want to treat them like a good Christian should.  I want God to like me.

Do you identify with this inner conflict?  Paul did.  In Romans chapter 7 he expresses this same inner conflict.

21. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  22. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23. But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.  24. What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?  25. Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Thank you Father for your word, and thank you Paul for expressing this inner conflict so I know that I’m not alone.  Once again I am reminded that it is my FAITH that pleases God, not my puny attempts to make myself good.  In Jesus he fixed the problem that I can’t fix.  Yes, I am indeed flawed, but not hopelessly as I sometimes get lured into thinking.  There is hope not in what I can do, but in what he has done.  So, I take comfort in these words: “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Amen!

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Relating to God

When thinking of how to relate to God, I believe he has shown us through his Son.  Jesus in teaching about prayer gave us what is known as the Lord’s Prayer (see Matthew 6:9-13).   The prayer begins with “Our Father in heaven”.  I believe that in this expression God makes it clear that he wants us to know him as Father.  Throughout the words of Jesus he refers to God as his father and our father.  There are many telling expressions that Jesus shared giving us insight into the nature of the relationship God offers us as our Father, but the one I like and personally understand the most is the parable of the lost son.

In the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32) Jesus tells the story of a son who takes his share of his father’s wealth,  leaves home, and goes to squander his money in wild living.  When the money is all gone, he finds himself destitute and working as a servant feeding pigs.  Obviously his predicament is the result of his own choices.  He chose this path against the wishes and wisdom of his father.  Not only did he go against his father’s wishes, but what he did, according to Hebrew society of the time, was to bring shame to his father.  Yet, when the son recognizes what he has done he decides to return and put himself at the mercy of his father.  I guess we can all imagine the reception he might receive from a human father.  But, the father in this story represents the heart of our Heavenly Father, and I believe it gives us an example of what to expect when relating to God as our father.

In Jesus’ parable the son is received with open arms, and the father puts on a big party to welcome him home.  This is forgiveness in its truest sense.  John reminds us in his first letter     (1 John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  I love this parable because it describes the reception I received when I returned to God.  He didn’t condemn me, but he welcomed me back with complete forgiveness.  He is a loving and forgiving father.

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FLAWS AND MISTAKES

As a wood worker, I have trained my eyes to see flaws.  When I write, I look for mistakes.  The need to look for flaws and mistakes seems inherent.  However, when I apply this need to my fellow man it can easily lead to judgement.  Judgement then becomes that sinful, self-centered method I use to make others less than me. This hinders my ability to love.  How can I love my brother as myself if I judge him less than me?

Sunday during a time of worship, I found myself praying, “Lord, don’t let the flaws I see in people hinder my ability to love them.”  As these words moved through my thoughts, I knew I was onto something.  I realized I was asking God to make me like him.  God loves me and all the people around me.  Since we are all sinners that fall short of the glory of God, he loves flawed mistaken people.

Today when I walk out into a world full of flawed people who make mistakes, I’ll try to remember that they are simply a reflection of my own flawed and mistaken self.  May the love God has shown to me ever flow from me to others.  I know God will answer my prayer.  The only hindrance will be my flawed and mistaken ability to receive his answer.

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WHY PRAY?

Have you ever thought why pray?  God’s going to do his plan.  He’s not going to alter it for me.  It’s a place of frustration.  I’ve been there.  In relationships we sometimes give the other the silent treatment when we’re angry or frustrated with them.  God is patient; he waits for us.  When we break the silence it is often with an expression of that anger and frustration.  God created humans.  He’s not going to be surprised by this.  However our communication with God is unlike our communication with our fellow humans because it is spiritual.  

When I speak with others I use motions and expressions as do they.  My communication is much more than verbal.  I recently taught a lady from China how to drive in America.  She spoke almost no English, and I speak no Mandarin Chinese.  We were successful.  She now has her license.  Communication happened even without the verbal aspect.

The communication dynamic is much different with God.  First, he already knows what we’re going to say, and he knows the motivation of our hearts that is behind what we’re going to say.  This leaves us with no opportunity for sly manipulation of the conversation.  We can’t read him as we speak, therefore no guile can be involved.  The conversation is straight forward.  His answer comes in his time from an all knowing perspective.  This causes us to learn patience and humility.

So why pray?  Communication is required in every relationship.  The most important relationship we have is with our creator.  We communicate with him through prayer.  We have his word to help us grow in our communications.  He wrote a whole book to help us.  So even though I don’t always understand God, and I’d like answers now and according to my will, I know he knows best.  I have learned to trust him.

One of the most beautiful pictures of our prayers is from Revelations 5:8. 

“And when he had taken it (the scroll), the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.  Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” 

If you are going through one of those times where you wonder “why pray”, I hope this has been helpful.  Just remember, your prayers are incense in the throne room of heaven.

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THE VALUE OF SUFFERING

I have been wondering about what value might be in my current suffering.  My body is suffering through the aging process, and the trials and difficulties of life seem somewhat greater than in the past.  I am a little overwhelmed.  During prayer the other day, I felt encouraged to look in the book of 1 Peter.  This is what I found.

In 1 Peter chapter 4, Peter reminds us that Jesus suffered in his body.  Here are the first two verses of chapter 4 as they read in The Message:

Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him.  Think of your sufferings as a weaning from the old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way.  Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.

I deduce from these words that my sufferings are helping me to get over myself, so to speak.  They are setting me free from the blinders of self pursuit and opening my eyes to the broader purpose of what God wants.  This passage is telling me the value of suffering.  I find it comforting to know that suffering has value.  It’s still suffering, nothing great about that, but there is an outcome that is valuable.

As I examine this idea of value in suffering, I comprehend the growth.  I now see the hand of God in my provision more readily than I have before.  My dependency on him has become more obvious.  My eyes are more directed toward him.  I am gaining from my suffering!  Now I am encouraged.   Walking through the current difficulties now seems a little easier.  I will focus on God, and relax in his strength.

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THE SOURCE OF LOVE

On Sunday we celebrated Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love.  The word love stimulates a flurry of images, but what is love?  When I first encountered love, I was willing to put aside all other things and become single focused.  Love was about receiving.  Now I know that love is giving as well as receiving.  I have learned that love is caring for and giving to someone else.  Love inspired me to step beyond self-concern and focus on the needs of another.  Love is about relationship.  Yet I wonder how love got into my heart.  Where did it come from?

This whole topic has been stirred by reading 1 John chapter 4, and I think it provides answers for the above questions.  The apostle John first tells us that Love comes from God (verse 7).  In verses 8 and 16 he states that God is love.  I conclude that the reason I have love in my heart is that God put it there.  In verse 19 John says, “We love because he first loved us.”  When I love someone, it is because God loves me.  I am, though imperfectly, a reflection of his love.

The Apostle Paul clarifies for us what love is in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, “Love is patient, Love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”  Since God is love, these verses highlight his character.  God loves us with these attributes.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  God made the eternal declaration of his love for us via the cross.  The Bible tells us of his love, but on the cross he demonstrated his love.  The great source of love has given his love to us in an irrefutable act.  God loved us in this sacrificial way in order to restore our relationship with him.  His command to us, love one another.  May his great act of love grow and flourish in our hearts.

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In His Presence

This message is reposted from an earlier post.  I needed to take a few weeks off.  A new message is coming next week.  God bless!

In the beginning, Adam and Eve had no hindrance to being in the presence of the Lord.  After their disobedience, they entered a whole new perception.  They had gained self-awareness.  With self-awareness comes concern for self.  How do I look?  What are they thinking of me?  What should I do?  Concern for self hinders our ability to enter the presence of the Lord.

An internal battle commences each time I want to spend time with the Lord. There is always one more thing to do before I can start.  Everything I forgot to do somehow miraculously comes to mind.  (I should make a list.)  When I finally do get situated, my mind scatters to a thousand thoughts.  As I strive to get my mind settled, I realize I haven’t tuned my guitar in a while.  The guitar turns out to be in pretty good tune, but it’s always good to check.  Then it’s, what song to begin with, and what key is that in? 

Finally I begin to sing.  Boy, my voice is getting old.  That note used to be so clear.  Wow, this is a great worship song.  If I ever lead worship again, I’ll have to include this song.  Then I realize I’ve sung through the entire song without a conscious thought about who I’m singing to.  I cried out, “Help me Lord.”  I sang the song through a few more times trying to focus my mind.  Then the Lord spoke to me, “Write about this struggle.”

All along he knew what I was there for.  I wanted to hear from him about what to write this week.  In his humble way, he answered the question I didn’t ask.  A rush of gratefulness entered my heart.   My self-concern was put aside.  I then enter into his presence and worshipped.  God had made a way!

 

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REFLECTIONS ON 2015

With just a few hours of 2015 remaining, I am reflecting upon the hours of this year that have passed so quickly.  I am wondering by what standard I should measure these hours spent.  Work, leisure, parties, major events, and quiet moments have all traveled across my mind as I ride this train of memories looking to form a valuation of the year nearly gone.  I have chosen to ask myself this question. What did I give to this year, and what did I receive?  As I contemplated the answer to this question, one word seemed to surface on the lake of my considerations.

This word has surely defined the most notable increase of the year’s activities.  The time I spent with family and friends, on the job, and even my encounters with strangers was affected by this word.  Perhaps the greatest place this increase occurred was in my interactions with God my Father.  I am delighted to find this word so prominent, but I put forth no claim of accomplishment on my own.

The word, as you may have guessed, is love.  I have experienced a greater ability to give and receive love.  Surprisingly, with this greater ability has come peacefulness.  There is indeed a deeper peace in my heart.  I haven’t yet asked those around me if they’ve noticed this.  I may be self-deceived.  I know the peace is there, and I know I feel the love.  I hope it has shown.

This love and peace came about because I asked Jesus.  Looking over the year, I realize he answered my prayer.  I didn’t do anything different.  He worked it in my heart in his gentle, subtle way.  I continued to seek him, and he provided the difference.  I think that recognizing his love for me helped soften my heart.  This provided the larger capacity necessary for the increase.

Well, I certainly haven’t reached the pinnacle.  There is plenty of mountain left to climb, but I now know how it’s done.  Please join me this year in a quest for greater ability to love.  It will greatly please our Heavenly Father, and oh yes, we’ll have deeper peace in our hearts.

I pray God’s blessing for you and yours in 2016.

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UNDEFEATABLE POWER

There is an undefeatable power in the universe.  In fact he created the universe.  His power is wrought of love and is so far above man’s power that he can send his son as a helpless infant to the earth, and accomplish his plan.  Man and the demonic forces of evil could not stop him.  An earthly king could not kill him.  It goes like this, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  The Christmas Story is a story of the greatest love and the greatest power.  The baby in a manger, so gentle and mild, was a display of God’s wisdom and power that transcends our understanding.

If I was in charge of bringing Jesus to earth, I might amass a great army.  I’d post a 24 hour guard and develop a secure safe house with all the latest technology.  This is hilarious in comparison to the open manger.  God didn’t need my help.  He is all powerful.  He didn’t have to come with all guns blazing.  He came in love and tenderness.

The underlining truth is that God’s plan, for your life and mine, will be accomplished, and nothing can defeat his will.  Sometimes I feel as vulnerable as a babe in a manger, but I’m really as safe as the infant Jesus was.  I can trust God with everything.  The Christmas story fills me with great confidence.  It is a story of power displayed in love.  I worship God because he is higher than me, and his ways are higher than my ways.  I trust in his power; I trust in his love.  I pray that the love and power of the Christmas Story will bring you peace and comfort this season.