I approached the cage very slowly, keeping an eye on its tail, and speaking in a very soft, reassuring voice, “No one is going to hurt you.” Even though the skunk was in the trap and I was outside, we knew who was in control. After opening the door to the cage, the skunk decided he might take a nap in the cage. I decided to not argue with him. I knew who wielded the power.
This reminded me of the time Jesus stood before Pilate and when Jesus did not answer Pilate’s questions, Pilate said to Jesus, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Then Jesus said, “Ya think? Ya think you have the power?” Actually, what Jesus said was, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:7-11).
Isn’t this scene a marvelous revelation of God? Jesus reveals that God is sovereign. It doesn’t matter what the circumstance looks like, God is in control. The good news is that this is a message that is echoed throughout Scripture.
When the soldiers of Israel shook in their armors when Goliath shouted his challenge to them, young David asked, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26). When the Jews faced genocide, Mordecai came to Esther and said, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). When his brothers were afraid that Joseph would avenge himself because of what they did to him, Joseph reassured them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
I began to wonder how many times I have surrendered to people and circumstances versus how many times I have stood on the promises of God. So far, I don’t I like the score.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A Bad Day
Friday did not started off as a good day. I took a day off from work to catch up with some chores that I had neglected to do this summer. It’s not that I had been lazy, it’s just that this summer has been very wet and it has rained a lot on the weekends when I was able to do these jobs. After prophesying that it was going to be another wet weekend, the prophets changed their mind and said that it would be a cool, but a nice weekend. I thought I’d start my weekend early and I started making my “To do list” on Thursday. Then it happened. Robin told me that she also had plans on Friday and I graciously told her that I would donate an hour or perhaps two hours of my time to her on Friday. I figured that I could still get a few things accomplished.
I got up on Friday morning with the intentions of having some quiet time with the Lord, but I was distracted because I wanted to print something from my computer first. To my dismay, the printer didn’t work. After struggling with it a while, I discovered it was the copier that didn’t work. I decided right then and there that I wasn’t going to waste my time trying to solve this problem. Ninety minutes later while I was still groaning, uttering a few things in my head, and tinkering in the unknown, the printer miraculously started working. I then looked out my window and saw a possum sitting in the trap that I had set. This meant that before I did anything on my list, I would have to bring this critter somewhere where he’d never be able to come back. It was beginning to become abundantly clear to me that my “Friday’s To do list” might have to be renamed, “Saturday’s…” I could tell that this was going to be a bad day.
When Jesus heard that John the Baptist was beheaded, Jesus set out for a solitary place (Matthew 14:13-23). When the crowds heard about this, they followed Him. When they came to Him, Jesus had compassion on them, fed them, and healed their sick. After Jesus had ministered to them, He sent them away and the Scriptures tell us that Jesus went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.
I am really glad that Jesus did not sigh deeply and say, “Where did all these people come from?” “I don’t have time for this!” or “I’ve got more important things to do!” (Like someone I know, but I won’t mention any names, would have done.) Instead, in these short verses, the Scriptures reveal that Jesus never lost His focus. In spite of the distractions, Jesus accomplished what He set out to do, and that is to be alone with His Father. The other amazing thing that Scripture reveal to me is that people were not distractions to Jesus. They were part of His agenda. Isn’t that what we see in the cross?
On the cross, Jesus was in great pain and agony and no one could have faulted Him if this was the only thing on His mind. Yet not only was He aware of His Father, but He was also aware of our great need. Listen to His prayer again, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). It was a bad day for Jesus, but it was a great day for us.
I got up on Friday morning with the intentions of having some quiet time with the Lord, but I was distracted because I wanted to print something from my computer first. To my dismay, the printer didn’t work. After struggling with it a while, I discovered it was the copier that didn’t work. I decided right then and there that I wasn’t going to waste my time trying to solve this problem. Ninety minutes later while I was still groaning, uttering a few things in my head, and tinkering in the unknown, the printer miraculously started working. I then looked out my window and saw a possum sitting in the trap that I had set. This meant that before I did anything on my list, I would have to bring this critter somewhere where he’d never be able to come back. It was beginning to become abundantly clear to me that my “Friday’s To do list” might have to be renamed, “Saturday’s…” I could tell that this was going to be a bad day.
When Jesus heard that John the Baptist was beheaded, Jesus set out for a solitary place (Matthew 14:13-23). When the crowds heard about this, they followed Him. When they came to Him, Jesus had compassion on them, fed them, and healed their sick. After Jesus had ministered to them, He sent them away and the Scriptures tell us that Jesus went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.
I am really glad that Jesus did not sigh deeply and say, “Where did all these people come from?” “I don’t have time for this!” or “I’ve got more important things to do!” (Like someone I know, but I won’t mention any names, would have done.) Instead, in these short verses, the Scriptures reveal that Jesus never lost His focus. In spite of the distractions, Jesus accomplished what He set out to do, and that is to be alone with His Father. The other amazing thing that Scripture reveal to me is that people were not distractions to Jesus. They were part of His agenda. Isn’t that what we see in the cross?
On the cross, Jesus was in great pain and agony and no one could have faulted Him if this was the only thing on His mind. Yet not only was He aware of His Father, but He was also aware of our great need. Listen to His prayer again, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). It was a bad day for Jesus, but it was a great day for us.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Rest
When she was moving, I took Sarah to the storage facility to get some of her stuff to take with her to South Carolina. While we were collecting her things, I uttered, “Lord can I go to bed early tonight, please?” I didn’t realize I said this out loud and I would have not even noticed it except that Sarah heard it and thought it was very funny. When we got back to the house she told the rest of my family and in the weeks that followed, I kept hearing, “Lord, puhleeze can I go to bed early?” in very mocking voices.
The prayer I spoke that day was not an uncommon prayer. It is a perpetual prayer in my life. My dream is rolling into bed at nine every night, but I was just not aware that I was praying it until it was brought to my attention.
All of us have different visions of Heaven. For me, I envision Heaven as a place of rest—no, not with a giant Serta mattress as the commercials suggests. Neither do I think of myself in Heaven reclining in a beach chair with sunglasses and a glass of lemonade in hand.
When I think of resting in Heaven, I think of a place where there is no more wrestling. No more pursuing. Nor more achieving. No more anxieties. I imagine Heaven as finding refuge, comfort, and rest. Not in a place, but in the arms of the One who has nail scarred hands. The One who says, “Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest . . .” (Matthew 11:28-30). Safe in the arms of Jesus, this is our final resting place
The prayer I spoke that day was not an uncommon prayer. It is a perpetual prayer in my life. My dream is rolling into bed at nine every night, but I was just not aware that I was praying it until it was brought to my attention.
All of us have different visions of Heaven. For me, I envision Heaven as a place of rest—no, not with a giant Serta mattress as the commercials suggests. Neither do I think of myself in Heaven reclining in a beach chair with sunglasses and a glass of lemonade in hand.
When I think of resting in Heaven, I think of a place where there is no more wrestling. No more pursuing. Nor more achieving. No more anxieties. I imagine Heaven as finding refuge, comfort, and rest. Not in a place, but in the arms of the One who has nail scarred hands. The One who says, “Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest . . .” (Matthew 11:28-30). Safe in the arms of Jesus, this is our final resting place
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Final Word
I hate debates. I hate the volleying of claims or accusations between two or more parties, but this is what I hear all the time. I hear it from politicians, sports and talk shows, religious people, and even among people who call themselves Christians. Maybe the reason why it irritates me is because my kids used to do it all the time while they were growing up. I think I used to end the arguments by just telling them to shut up. But I can’t do this with other people.
One of the reasons why Jesus is so attractive to me is that with Jesus, there are no long drawn out arguments. When people engaged Jesus in a “dialogue,” Jesus had a way of ending a conversation quickly and superbly. For many years I have studied Jesus because I wanted to learn this technique. After many years of searching and attempts, I have come to the conclusion that this is not possible. It’s not possible because every time I’ve come up with a zinger—every time I’ve come up with a smart answer, there was an answer that came back—sometimes not as good as mine, but an answer, never the less. This is where I quit because I can see how this “dialogue” could go on and on and on.
I began to wonder, how Jesus would fare in our time? We live in a society that is fueled by debates. Everyone has an opinion, everyone thinks they’re right, and everyone has a lot of ammunition to back up their ideas. Then it dawned on me—Jesus would fare the same as He did back then. This is yet another proof that Jesus is God. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) I get it! Unless I recognize and acknowledge Jesus in every situation, I will never be successful in my endeavors because God will always have the final word.
Lord, Help me to “trust in [You] with all [my] heart and lean not on [my] own understanding; in all [my] ways [let me] acknowledge [You], and [You] will direct [my] paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6).
One of the reasons why Jesus is so attractive to me is that with Jesus, there are no long drawn out arguments. When people engaged Jesus in a “dialogue,” Jesus had a way of ending a conversation quickly and superbly. For many years I have studied Jesus because I wanted to learn this technique. After many years of searching and attempts, I have come to the conclusion that this is not possible. It’s not possible because every time I’ve come up with a zinger—every time I’ve come up with a smart answer, there was an answer that came back—sometimes not as good as mine, but an answer, never the less. This is where I quit because I can see how this “dialogue” could go on and on and on.
I began to wonder, how Jesus would fare in our time? We live in a society that is fueled by debates. Everyone has an opinion, everyone thinks they’re right, and everyone has a lot of ammunition to back up their ideas. Then it dawned on me—Jesus would fare the same as He did back then. This is yet another proof that Jesus is God. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) I get it! Unless I recognize and acknowledge Jesus in every situation, I will never be successful in my endeavors because God will always have the final word.
Lord, Help me to “trust in [You] with all [my] heart and lean not on [my] own understanding; in all [my] ways [let me] acknowledge [You], and [You] will direct [my] paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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