hearts set on pilgrimage
Friday, March 04, 2005
 
Mark 11
Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, "Go jump in the lake'--no shuffling or shilly-shallying--and it's as good as done. That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you'll get God's everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive--only then will your heavenly Father be included to also wipe your slate clean of sins." (The Message)

"Embrace this God-life"-- wow! Just wow! I'm swept away by the awesome, wide-open life that Jesus offers us.

I'm currently looking at a job opportunity that could be really amazing: exciting work, great salary, adventure, "really wild things" and new challenges for myself and my family. We're giddy with the possibility (caveat: this is not an offer yet). We're in a mood of heady anticipation as a family, and I read this passage today. This mood makes me realize how much more He is offering us, if we would embrace it. I can see it better now.

What would it be like to really love people, from the heart, and be able to bless them, make a difference, make them happy, really happy? What would you pay for this? But wait, you also get power, heavenly power to change circumstances, to blow the possibilities wide open so that people will be freed from addictions and the ravages of sin in their lives, so that evil cannot stand against you, so that circumstances will not constrain you. Now what would you pay? But wait, you also get an intimate friend and partner who will never leave you, never forsake you, who only wants your life to get richer and richer and who can lead you to work and challenges that excite, refresh, fill you with wonder, fill you with peace, fill you with love and joy and hope. And He will lead you to a group of people overflowing with love, joy and powerful vision, who are on the same journey of faith, hope and love.

You can't buy this, but if your hands are too full of lesser things you can't embrace it.

What trashy little things are you holding on to that keep you from embracing "this God-life"? What bitterness, what judgements, what offenses, what sins, what entitlements? What do I need to forgive? What could possibly compare to the magnificent God-life that Jesus is holding out to us?

"Just think: a life conceived by God himself!" (1 Pet 1:23)

++Oh my dear God, I worship at your feet. You are so amazing. Help me embrace all the life you have for me. All of it, all of it, all of it.++
Thursday, March 03, 2005
 
Mark 10
That set the disciples back on their heels, "Then who has any chance at all?" they asked.

Jesus was blunt, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it." (The Message)

Every once in a while I consider that maybe I'm not following Jesus, maybe I'm just following the traditions that have been handed down to me--or that are the current "commonsense" about being a Christian, being saved, being a good person.

I try to make a objective assessment. But every time I come up against Jesus parable of the sheep and goats. (Matt 7:22ff) "Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? "You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'

I can be very hard on myself, criticize myself, question my motives, tear down my accomplishments. So its really easy to see myself in the spot where Jesus is saying, "You just used me. You're out of here."

This is one place I find the end of myself, where I can't make it happen. I'm helpless. Like step 1 of the 12 steps: I am powerless, and my (eternal) life has become unmanageble.

And this is where I go back to Mark 10. Thank God! He knows I can't pull it off by myself. I must trust--believe, depend on, rely upon, be wholly dependent on, utterly need--God to save me. If I've got it all handled, I don't need a savior. If I've filed all the right celestial forms, performed all the right spiritual duties, then I've got it handled. And that's exactly what Jesus is saying doesn't work.

So like a child, I just look up to my Father in Heaven, and trust that He'll take care of me. By His Grace, because of who He is: my Daddy in Heaven.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
 
Supplemental

Yes, we're all fine now. No more Santa Clara flu at our house. Yesterday was the first day that I felt like I could think clearly again. Thank you, God!
 
Numbers 31 God spoke to Moses: "Avenge the People of Israel on the Midianites."
The Message

God told Moses to send out an Israelite army to “smite Midian”, because the Midianite women had seduced the Israelite men into participating in their sex-and-religion cult. It had resulted in a plague on Israel. (I see the culpability of the Israelite men and the potential double-standard here, but I'm not going to go into that. I'm assuming that God is just.)

I can relate to what the Israelite army experiences at this point. They totally beat the Midianites and plundered them. (OK, so that’s not part of my everyday life). Then when they get back to camp, Moses lays into them, “What! You have to complete the task and kill the boys and mothers too. (Again, not part of my everyday life). Then you need to purify the plunder, share half with the rest of Israel, and give a portion to the Levites and priests. (Sharing my provision with others I am familiar with.)

How I can relate: getting a direction from God, going out and succeeding at what I thought was the hard part (overcoming the Midianite army), then getting a bit distracted in the success, and losing the purpose (getting rid of Midan as a threat to Israel's holiness). I become really pleased with my success and start to enjoy the benefits of that success (again, losing sight of God’s purpose). Then I get into a breakdown which gets my attention back on God's purpose. Rinse and repeat.

Yesterday I read in Mark 8 about how Jesus didn’t want the disciples to tell people that He was the Messiah. My interpretation was that He didn’t want to get caught up in fulfilling what the crowds wanted the Messiah to be. He was doing the job God sent Him to do, and He wasn’t getting distracted.

It points me back to God to get the meaning, the purpose. It’s not enough to get the marching orders. And Jesus promises, “I tell you everything the Father told me.” We are friends not servants because God is telling us what He is doing, and not just ordering us around.

This is great news! I can press in to get the answers to my questions about “What are you doing, God?” And if I press in for that, then I don’t need to get slapped to get my attention back on His purpose. Yay!

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