Finest

Each year I marvel at the Missions Auction that takes place in our Family Life Center.  I have learned that we can approach this event with different perspectives.  Some come to this kind of auction hoping to find that 'deal' that is a diamond in the rough.  I understand the attitude.  Things are costly, and every dollar means something.  But some come differently.  They come to see how we can help out with missional needs in our community and all over the world.  I am not writing to condemn one or praise the other.  I have just been challenged by the Wake Up Call devotionals I have read, and am especially convicted/convinced by today's episode about bringing the finest.

The attitude of bringing the finest to God can relate to our stuff.  I have a pastor friend who had a member knock on his door.  When he opened the door, the man stood on the front porch with an old TV.  The man said, "God told me to give this TV to the parsonage."  My friend (after seeing this attitude for many years of ministry) finally broke and said, "No He did not!"  "Let's see ... you are telling me that you have this old TV taking up space, and you want to get rid of it.  I suspect you probably have a newer/better TV at home.  So let's see ... you want to give this to the church, while you reserve the good stuff for your use?" The man left in a huff, and my friend figured he was about to be in trouble with the leadership of his church.  Later that day, he heard another knock on the door.  He opened the door, and there stood the man with a new TV.  The man simply said, "You were right."  He left the TV and walked off.

While this amusing story might give us the chance to scoff at this man and his attitude, I wouldn't be so fast to criticize.  Do we give God our finest?  Of our resources?  Of our talents?  Of our time?  Of our creativity?  I certainly fall short on this at times, and I am glad the Wake Up Call has reminded me that God called the Hebrews to bring the finest flour as a grain offering.  The offering was given to remember the covenant made at Mt. Sinai ... this is where God claimed the Hebrews as His people and they claimed Yahweh as their God.  This offering was both an act of worship and a way to provide for the priests who served God.  The grain offering was to be of the finest flour and was an act of worship and ongoing relationship with God and His people.

So, how do you come to the altar we are building?  For we come 1) entering God's place and presence (what an honor!), 2) rejoicing in our relationship with God, 3) excited that God has provided leadership that loves their people, 4) remembering God's kept promises, and 5) expectantly looking forward to God's work that is to come!  It is worth our finest!  So we bring our open hearts.  We bring our repentance!  We bring our humility!  We bring our children!  For we offer what is dear to us ... our finest!  Because God gave us the very best He had ... His name was/is Jesus!

Holy Is The Lord

There are 2 stories in Scripture that capture the nature of offering and the way we are supposed to offer freely and completely to God.  They are seemingly harsh stories, because the main characters in both stories are in deep personal strife as God comes to them.  The stories are both misused and misunderstood.

As I remember these 2 stories and the related Scriptures, I find myself thinking about how I offer to God.  The words partial, guarded, selfish, incomplete, insufficient and comfortable come to mind.  I wonder if giving the leftovers to God are the things that block God's desire to give us the blessings and abundance He offers freely?  And I wonder if what we venture/invest has a direct relationship to what we receive?  These are deep questions that make me squirm in the presence of God.  Here are a couple of stories of 2 people who have a very different attitude than me!

In 2 Samuel 24, David is under punishment by God for disobedience.  David is instructed by Gad (the prophet) to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  David speaks to Araunah and tells him he will buy the threshing floor.  Aranuah tells David to take it, at no cost.  But David insists on paying for the floor, saying, "I will not offer to God what costs me nothing!"  David understood, there is a reason the offering is called a sacrifice.

And now for that strange and misunderstood story about Abraham and Isaac. Abraham is living life with the improbable birth of Isaac, the long awaited son (Abraham was 100 years old).  In Genesis 22, Abraham is commanded to sacrifice the treasured son as a burnt offering on the mountain God leads him to.  The story says Abraham loaded up firewood and went "early the next morning."   As Abraham places the boy on the altar, God says, "do not lay a hand on the boy."  I expect in great relief, Abraham sees a ram caught in a thicket, and he sacrifices the ram as an act of devotion, thanksgiving and atonement.  He calls the place, "The Lord will provide."  God then speaks a blessing on Abraham and Isaac.

I will leave each of you to consider the words you will place on these stories.  The first reminds me of devotion to a Holy God that deserves my offering that is costly.  Not the last fruits, but the first fruits.  The second makes me ask, "do I trust God so much I would offer Him anything?"  Ponder these thoughts and see what God reveals to you as you allow God's word and Spirit to alter the way you serve, worship and love.  AMEN

Fire

The Bible has many references to fire as a manifestation of God's presence.  The burning bush (Exodus 3), the smoke and fire on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19) and the fire of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) all come to mind.  In our series about altars and being altered by the true and living God, we will talk a lot about God's presence and about intentionally opening a door of space in which God can indwell us. "Lord, prepare me, to be a Sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true."

It is interesting to watch our children every Sunday morning.  As they gather before the 2nd service, they all want the 'best' job ... to bring the fire.  The term, bring the fire, was invented by one of our little guys way back there, and it has stuck in our minds.  They are honored to be the one chosen to carry the candle lighters, and are especially intense when they are lighting the candles.  I enjoy watching their faces and wonder if our adults can ever be that focused and intense when they consider the magnitude and awe of God lighting that flame in us!  It is a beautiful perk of sitting near the altar each Sunday morning.

Let's focus on one instance of fire, altars and images this morning.  In Leviticus 6:8-9, God's Word says, "The Lord said to Moses: "Give Aaron and his sons this command: 'These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar."  This begs the question, "How do we keep the altar fire burning?"  Here are a few ideas:

  1. Choose following vs believing - Our society uses the word 'belief' a little too lightly.  In the Greek of the New Testament,  the idea of belief was being invested in what you believe in.  When Jesus said, "believe" Jesus meant that belief was being all in, including every sacrifice needed to "keep the fire alive."  In modern terminology, a better word would be "following."  Followers are not merely fans of Jesus (they like Him).  Followers put all their chips out there to say, "Jesus is not only the #1 option ... He is the only option."  The demons believed in Jesus.  Satan believes in Jesus.  We (Christians) follow Jesus wherever He goes (though we know "the son of man has no place to lay His head [Matthew 8:20]").  Following keeps the fire stoked!

  2.  Choose submitting vs controlling - The passage from Leviticus expresses the will of a God who actually cares about the fire.  Paul says not to "quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5)."  I quench God's Spirit when I have to be in control, orchestrating all things.  When we orchestrate, we get upset or disappointed when things don't happen our way.  When we "let go" we allow for the mystery and beauty of God's plan.  Let God bring you/me to the altar.  Let God make your heart and mind a place where His good plans come in like a welcome breath of cool air on a hot summer day.  Expect God to do things you can't even fathom!

  3.  Choose fire vs safety - Fire isn't safe.  When the fire of God's Spirit is moving and working, strange and beautiful things happen.  Fire consumes (Hebrews 12:29) ... be swept away by the fire of the Spirit.  Fire refines (Proverbs 17:3) ... allow God to purify your heart in His fire.  God invites us to the fire of His Holy Spirit so our old self and our old desires are burnt away, leaving the refinement of sanctification.

Following and submitting to fanning the flame of God's holy fire require work, effort and intention.  Aaron's sons needed to watch, work, feed and fan the fire of the Leviticus altar.  Are you feeding the fire or quenching it?  I hope to see you all on Sunday, where we will listen and be expectant for what God is doing!  

Alterations

In her introduction of the series Altar'd (the one we will spend Lent exploring), Susan Kent offers an image of God as a master tailor.  Most of us have experienced a time when our clothing needed to be altered.  All my life I have moved in and out of my "fighting" weight (more out than in) and have seen/felt my clothing either comfortably loose or uncomfortably tight.  Maybe you have too, but I think we get the picture!

Here is how my mind wraps around the image of God as a master tailor, clothing us for a righteous and holy life, in the image of Jesus.  First, we must ask, "how much we trust the tailor."  We live in a world of options and possibilities.  What kind of fabric?  Which colors do I wear?  What will either attract attention or blend in?  But, what if we asked the tailor, "What looks best and fits your design of me?"  "How can I dress for the plans you have for me (Jeremiah 29), and for the work you will have me do (Philippians 1:6)?"  Will we let the master tailor be in total charge of the design, the fabric, the color and the texture of our garment?

Second, how does the fitting happen?  When you go to a tailor to get fitted for clothing, what uncomfortable thing must you do?  You must stand in front of the tailor, allow the tailor to look at you, and be still while the tailor marks the fabric (Psalm 139:23-24).  These things are necessary if you want the finished garment to fit properly.  And, I admit, I am not very good at these things, especially that "being still" thing.  "Be still and know that I am God" ... Psalm 46:10 comes to mind.

Finally, we must remember that the making of the garment is a process.  "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14)."  If God is the master tailor, the master builder and our Lord, we accept "process" as part of the deal.  I remember singing, "God's still working on you!"

Every week I resemble an impatient, fickle and demanding customer of the master tailor.  I want the garment now.  I don't want to stand still.  I want to be in charge.  I question my wonderful creator, rather than kneeling at His altar and saying, "You are the potter and I am the clay (Isaiah 64:8)."  So I will leave this blog with a prayer ... "Lord, we are made for Your purpose and Your Kingdom.  Mark us so we can be clothed in Your righteousness.  Clothe us so that we will be dressed for battle, helping, healing and heaven ... whatever you choose.  You pick out the fabric, the design and the way You want the garment to look.  For You are the potter, and the clay isn't supposed to tell the potter what to do.  I trust You.  Help me with my doubts, encourage me when I fail, and thank You for loving me when I fail to be still enough to know You.  I give this day to Your plan and Your Kingdom. AMEN!"

The First Stone

Stones have a prominent place in Biblical teaching.  There is the "Let he who is sinless cast the first stone" in John 8:7, where we learn nobody qualified to stone a sinful woman.  There is   "You are like living stones (1 Peter 2:5) where we learn to become places/people that mark a place where God's work/goodness happens.  There is Jesus as "the stone that makes them stumble and the rock that makes them fall (1 Peter 2:8)" where we remember that failure to obey Jesus' teachings causes us to stumble and fall in our life of faith.  Then, there is the stone that builds an altar (found throughout Scripture).  Over the next couple of months we will be studying how to build and become an altar, built to worship, honor and point to God.

The title of the Bible Study (we will begin this subject on Ash Wednesday [February 14th] as we enter the Lenten season) for Lent, which we will share on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, is Altar'd.  The idea of this study is to 1) learn about Biblical altars, 2) get God's guidance on how we and our church can be an altar and, 3) how our devotion to Jesus can/should alter our lives.  I am really looking forward to where we will go with this time together!

As I begin to think about altars and stones, I remember (about four years ago) when I decided the planter areas at the house in Freeport needed more definition.  They didn't look good and they were not well-defined.  The plants, the mulch and the intrusive grass went pretty much where they wanted.  So I went to a stone place in Dothan and loaded my truck with a lot of pretty big river rocks.  I used the stones to outline and define the planter areas.  The stones kept my mulch and soil where it was supposed to be.  It also kept intrusive weeds and grass out of the planters.  The river rocks also looked attractive.  The end result made my yard look better and much easier to maintain.  The project was a success.

Building an altar has a similar effect on our life of faith.  Altars point to who we worship and they are built for the one we worship.  They are places of devotion, worship and sacrifice.  They frame the places we can grow best.  They hold in the fertile soil, and keep out the invasive weeds.  We go there to find nourishment, but we also go there for one very important thing.  The altar is where we (at least figuratively) enter the presence of God.  God's presence is the only thing that makes the altars in our church holy.

This week I want you to think of a word.  The word is Sanctuary.  Think about what this word means.  And, I want you to think out of the box a bit.  Think about what that word and that place might mean to God.  What is God's purpose in giving us this place?  How does this place further God's mission in the world He created?  Why did God (from the beginning) give humans a place to both worship and meet Him?  What does this say about God and His relationship with people?  See you Sunday!  Randy

Rejection or Rejoicing?

How do you react to Jesus?  Do you say, "My relationship with God is personal and private, so I keep all that stuff to myself."  Do you say, "That 'religious' stuff is a bunch of mumbo, jumbo ... so I just come on Sunday, maybe go to Sunday School and spend the other 166 hours (that is 1.2% of a week) doing my own thing.  Or, do you consider each hour and each moment a chance to witness, serve and "never tire of doing good (2 Thess. 3:13)."

I have an old Video study called, "They hate the Church, but they love Jesus."  At first I kind of liked this thought.  And then I started to think about what this says.  Can we hate the bride of Christ (the one He loves, died for and will return for) and say we love Him?  I don't think so.  That is not how we react to Jesus, or the Church.

In Luke 4, there is a story about reacting to Christ.  Jesus quotes Isaiah 61, proclaiming that God's Spirit is upon Him, that He has been sent to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.  I guess the crowd caught on to that last phrase, "the year of the Lord's favor," and they liked that idea, for they all thought they were God's favored (chosen) people.  But as Jesus continued to talk, He began explaining that He didn't necessarily come to lift up the chosen, affirm the religious authorities and endorse the status quo.  He really meant that stuff about the oppressed, the captives, the infirm and the poor.  The people looked around and remembered that they missed that particular list.  Then He really got them upset.  He reminded them that God heals who God chooses to heal, not basing His work on the pedigree or the position of the people.  The reaction?  The authorities and the people in the Synagogue got so mad, they wanted to kill Him!

Before you start pointing fingers, think about how Jesus is treated in this present darkness.  His bride is roundly opposed and ridiculed.  His teachings are ignored.  His word is dismissed as archaic, outdated and mistaken.  People say they love Jesus, but they tend to add a lot of corrections, modifications and misrepresentations.  That is how people react to Jesus, who brings good news, freedom and healing to those who follow and accept Him.

But, in the final analysis, all of the media, all of the culture and all of the naysayers really don't matter.  The question is, do you follow Jesus, or do you modify Jesus to create a God you can put in a box and carry around?  The question is, how do you react to His Lordship?

In verse 4:34, the impure spirit reacts ... "have you come to destroy us, the Holy one of God?"  In verse 4:35, that same spirit obeyed and left the person it was inhabiting.  In verse 4:42, the people tried to keep Jesus from leaving them.

So, is your reaction to drive Jesus away, because you don't like His message, or do you want Him to stay, because you know His word and His presence brings healing, wholeness and life?  Do you reject Him, or do you rejoice?

Let's unpack this on Sunday!    

What's the Point?

I wonder if our society/culture treats the issues of faith with a "what's the point?" attitude.  I ask this question because it seems clear that several things have happened to Christians over the years.  Those things can be summed-up with two words ... priority and community.

Schools (including Christian schools) once placed the local church and local congregations at the forefront of the planning process.  Now, schedules (Wednesday nights and even Sunday mornings) generally ignore the happenings in the local church.  Sporting events have long ignored even the presence of a faith community.  I could add the schedule pressures of recreation, pastimes, hobbies, family events to this list that has raised all of these things up above the work and worship of the one we call "our Lord."  One wonders about that Lordship thing.

I saw a post last week from a pastor I know.  It said, "I hope all of you are thinking about your attendance in church tomorrow!"  My thought was a quote from a retired Bishop who was asked about his plans for Sunday morning.  He responded, "I made those plans and those decisions when I became a Christian.  I said I would support my church and my Lord with my prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness."

As Paul (and his writing crew of Timothy and Silas in 51AD) writes to a confused, scattered and discouraged group of Christians in Thessalonica, Paul reminds the people of 2 things they/we must do when we get off-course in our understanding and application of faith.  Paul says 1) "remember what I told you when I was with you (2 Thess. 2:5)" and 2) "Hold fast to the teachings you received (2 Thess. 2:15)."  Good advice I think!

1. Remember - There is a beautiful thread that runs through Scripture and our faith.  It is this little word, remember. God tells the Hebrew people, remember what things were like in Egypt, remember I brought you out of Egypt, remember I gave you a land with cisterns you did not dig and vineyards you did not plant, remember the command to not follow the gods of the nations, do this (as often as you drink it) in remembrance of me.  This thread of remembrance is something we can count on when life gets dicey, and something we can reference when we need guidance out of a difficult place.  God's word is given to us to learn and remember.  I watch the little girls on our front row in the 2nd service as they all recite the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles Creed and "the word of God for the people of God."  I hope one day, when faced with choices about priorities, they will remember their foundation of faith and their solid-ground of beliefs that they learned while here in this place.

2. Hold Fast - Paul says hold fast to the teachings you received. God's word is our foundation.  God's word is truth ... and we can count on it.  God's word leads us into consistent, committed corporate gathering, worship and life.  We remember and hold to this when we are making our decisions on our priorities.  We remember and hold fast to God's promises as we structure our time, finances and family time.  "Nothing in my hands I bring, only to the cross I cling."

In the 1st service this week, we will sing a song called "Pass the Promise."  The words go, "Pass the promise to our sons and daughters, God most high, God our father, we bear witness."  So let me remind you of those last 3 words ... "We bear witness."  How we remember and hold fast as we express our faith in the corporate body of Christ, is how they will remember and hold fast.  It is our joy and our solemn responsibility.  We are telling our community that the life, death and resurrection of Christ is important, vital and the center of our life.  That's the point!  Randy