Living on the edge means different things to different people. For some, living on the edge describes a person who does dangerous stunts, like a daredevil. To others, living on the edge describes their existence—from paycheck to paycheck. There are others still, who think of living on the edge as a lifestyle. While these are all different definitions of what it means to be living on the edge, they have one thing in common. Living on the edge pictures a person or people on the brink of disaster.
One of the messages that I get from Scripture is that a life without God is living on the edge. The Bible describes a person’s life as a “mist” and that “tomorrow” is not guaranteed (James 4:13-16). In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus told a parable about a rich man that illustrates this very point and concluded the parable with, “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself, but is not rich toward God.” The Hebrew writer put it bluntly, “…man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (9:27).
Our fears and anxieties are well founded if we live life without God. He is the only one that can comfort us (II Corinthians 1:3-4) and give us rest (Matthew 11:28-30). If we are seeking Him, we can live confidently in uncertain times (Psalms 23:4). If we are not on the lookout for Him, He will come like a thief in the night (I Thessalonians 5:1-6). And that’s living on the edge.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
God's Will
I’ve heard about and watched many Christians wrestle with the question, “What’s God’s will for me?” However, I think that knowing God’s will and knowing the mind (or heart) of God is not as difficult as we sometimes make it out to be. In fact, there is an abundance of Scripture that speak of God’s will or desires.
First and foremost, God desires that all men be saved (I Timothy 2:3, II Peter 3:9, Matthew 18:14, John 6:40). Once we are saved, or born again, it is God’s will, or God’s desire, that we imitate or grow up into Jesus. The Scripture references for these are numerous, but Paul says it this way in Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” In Ephesians 2:10, Paul adds, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” After Scripture tells us that “doing good” is God’s will, Scripture goes on to define what doing good means. Some of the Scriptures are, I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18, I Peter 2:15, Titus 3:8, and Ephesians 3:10.
When I think about God’s will, or what God expects and desires, I cringe because what I want and what God wants are on a collision course with each other. My friend Dave pointed out that the heart of this conflict is usually selfishness.
Jesus wrestled with the Father’s will as well. In the Garden our LORD cried out, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36, Matthew 26:39). However, I don’t think Jesus wrestled with selfishness. On the contrary, I think that Jesus wrestled with righteousness, justice, and mercy. I think that it would have been well within Jesus’ rights to walk away from the cross.
I know my conflict is different than Jesus’ struggle, because I would have ended my monologue with God after the first two sentences. Yet, if it is God’s will that Jesus be our example (I Peter 2:21, 15), I would ultimately have to surrender and confess Jesus’ words, “Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
I am also coming to understand that if this is the big picture, and if it is also at the heart of God’s will, I should be learning not to micromanage God. Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and don’t sweat the small stuff” (Matthew 6:33, paraphrased). Paraphrasing Jesus again, He said, “If you find yourself overwhelmed by the small stuff, come to Me and I’ll comfort you” (Matthew 11:28-30). This is such a paradox. If trusting in the LORD is God’s will (Romans 1:17, Hebrews 10:38, 11:6), why is it so difficult to do?
First and foremost, God desires that all men be saved (I Timothy 2:3, II Peter 3:9, Matthew 18:14, John 6:40). Once we are saved, or born again, it is God’s will, or God’s desire, that we imitate or grow up into Jesus. The Scripture references for these are numerous, but Paul says it this way in Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” In Ephesians 2:10, Paul adds, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” After Scripture tells us that “doing good” is God’s will, Scripture goes on to define what doing good means. Some of the Scriptures are, I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18, I Peter 2:15, Titus 3:8, and Ephesians 3:10.
When I think about God’s will, or what God expects and desires, I cringe because what I want and what God wants are on a collision course with each other. My friend Dave pointed out that the heart of this conflict is usually selfishness.
Jesus wrestled with the Father’s will as well. In the Garden our LORD cried out, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36, Matthew 26:39). However, I don’t think Jesus wrestled with selfishness. On the contrary, I think that Jesus wrestled with righteousness, justice, and mercy. I think that it would have been well within Jesus’ rights to walk away from the cross.
I know my conflict is different than Jesus’ struggle, because I would have ended my monologue with God after the first two sentences. Yet, if it is God’s will that Jesus be our example (I Peter 2:21, 15), I would ultimately have to surrender and confess Jesus’ words, “Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
I am also coming to understand that if this is the big picture, and if it is also at the heart of God’s will, I should be learning not to micromanage God. Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and don’t sweat the small stuff” (Matthew 6:33, paraphrased). Paraphrasing Jesus again, He said, “If you find yourself overwhelmed by the small stuff, come to Me and I’ll comfort you” (Matthew 11:28-30). This is such a paradox. If trusting in the LORD is God’s will (Romans 1:17, Hebrews 10:38, 11:6), why is it so difficult to do?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Humility
I must have read John 8:1-11 a hundred times, but no matter how many times I’ve read it, I still marvel at the way our LORD handles this situation.
The Scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. They asked Him, “What should we do with this woman?” Had Jesus answered, “Let her go!” He would have been accused of breaking the Law of Moses. If He said, “Stone her!” He would have been in trouble with the Roman government. When Jesus did not answer them, He seemed to be in a pickle. However, when the Scribes and Pharisees persisted, Jesus answered, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Touché, Jesus! A reply worthy of God! I can imagine the astonishment on the faces of the Scribes and Pharisees! I would have loved to have been there to see them come to Jesus as roaring lions, to watch their smug expressions turn different shades of purple and red, and then to turn and slowly tiptoe out of His presence.
If I were in Jesus’ shoes, I would have folded my arms, would have tried to make eye contact, and I would have victoriously basked in the moment. But Jesus doesn’t do that. Jesus does not smirk or sneer like I would have done. There is not even a hint of smugness from Jesus.
As much as I am captured by the genius of Jesus, I am even more fascinated by His humility. Jesus did not have the, “I guess I told you!” look on His face. Instead, the Scriptures inform us that He “stooped down and wrote on the ground.”
Like the woman adulteress, the Scribes and Pharisees were also, “caught in the very act.” One minute they were reveling in their fleshly lusts, the next moment they found themselves being disrobed and standing “naked” before the crowd awaiting conviction. One glance from the piercing “All Knowing” eyes of Jesus would have shattered any dignity that the Scribes and Pharisees had left. But love and humility does not respond that way (I Cor. 13:4-7) and neither did Jesus.
I strongly suspect that Jesus did not want to see the embarrassment on their faces or the humiliation that was in their eyes. It’s the same love and humility that we see in Jesus as He turns His eyes away from the jeering crowd to look to His Father and cry, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
What an amazing plea. What an astonishing heart. What a marvelous Savior. Praise God!
The Scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. They asked Him, “What should we do with this woman?” Had Jesus answered, “Let her go!” He would have been accused of breaking the Law of Moses. If He said, “Stone her!” He would have been in trouble with the Roman government. When Jesus did not answer them, He seemed to be in a pickle. However, when the Scribes and Pharisees persisted, Jesus answered, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Touché, Jesus! A reply worthy of God! I can imagine the astonishment on the faces of the Scribes and Pharisees! I would have loved to have been there to see them come to Jesus as roaring lions, to watch their smug expressions turn different shades of purple and red, and then to turn and slowly tiptoe out of His presence.
If I were in Jesus’ shoes, I would have folded my arms, would have tried to make eye contact, and I would have victoriously basked in the moment. But Jesus doesn’t do that. Jesus does not smirk or sneer like I would have done. There is not even a hint of smugness from Jesus.
As much as I am captured by the genius of Jesus, I am even more fascinated by His humility. Jesus did not have the, “I guess I told you!” look on His face. Instead, the Scriptures inform us that He “stooped down and wrote on the ground.”
Like the woman adulteress, the Scribes and Pharisees were also, “caught in the very act.” One minute they were reveling in their fleshly lusts, the next moment they found themselves being disrobed and standing “naked” before the crowd awaiting conviction. One glance from the piercing “All Knowing” eyes of Jesus would have shattered any dignity that the Scribes and Pharisees had left. But love and humility does not respond that way (I Cor. 13:4-7) and neither did Jesus.
I strongly suspect that Jesus did not want to see the embarrassment on their faces or the humiliation that was in their eyes. It’s the same love and humility that we see in Jesus as He turns His eyes away from the jeering crowd to look to His Father and cry, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
What an amazing plea. What an astonishing heart. What a marvelous Savior. Praise God!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
