Burdened…

Last night I toured the Mormon Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  It was an amazing place.  I walked away burdened, not only for the salvation of my Mormon friends, but for the state of which the Big-C church, particularly in America, is.

Why isn’t Christ making a difference in people’s lives in the nonMormon church?  Why is the divorce rate just as high in the church as it is among the unchurched?  Why isn’t the Church as a whole full of the same devotion and fervor as the Mormon church?  Why doesn’t the American church-goer really try to live the commandments of Christ?  Jesus himself commanded twice “Go and sin no more.” (John 5:14, 8:11)  He wouldn’t give a command that wasn’t “keepable”.  So why do we keep on intentionally sinning?  Because we either do not know God, or we do not fear God.

I can’t help but play Matt 7:21-23 over and over in my head.  (By the way relek95, I thought you were going to do the 10 scariest passages in the Bible… to my count, this was the first and only one you did… I’m looking forward to the other nine…)

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

So who are those that know Him?    That word “know” is an expression of intimacy. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (Jn 10:27-28).

I am burdened that the American church-goer abuses the grace and mercy of our Father because we – as the American church – have no idea how much our sin hurts Him and how it is so disgusting and offensive to Him.  I wonder how many people in the American church really “fear’ Him, I mean, really, really, fear him.  We’ve so preached the goodness, mercy and grace of Father, that it’s almost like we’ve stripped Him of the awe-factor and honor and respect and fear that He is due.

I, for one, am choosing to live Christ’s commands, but not out of a “settling the scoresheet”, or “I owe Him so much”, or “I’m working for a higher position in eternity” mentality, but out of the knowledge that I cannot ever repay Him for the Grace and Mercy He’s shown me.  I am incapable of any works worthy.  “My righteousness is as a filthy rag” (Is. 64:6).  I choose to live his commands because I love him and intimately know him and hear His voice.  I do it out of relationship, not out of religion.  I do it out of gratefulness, not out of paying my debt, because He paid my debt for me. (Jn 3:16)

1 Samuel 22

David runs away and this is when he starts his cave dwelling time.  All his family come to him and many others begin to search him out in the caves until he has over 400 men at his disposal.  David sets his parents up in a town for protection.  A prophet tells David to go on down to Judah.  Saul hears of this and threatens everyone.  Saul brings the priests in that helped David in the previous chapter and questions why he helped David.  The priests tell the truth but Saul doesn’t want to hear it no one will kill these men except for that cat that saw David the chapter before in Gath.  He kills everyone and their families and their cattle, anything he could slaughter he did.  One son of a priest gets away and goes to David and David tells this kid he will protect him with his own life.

The grace and mercy of God is unbelievable.  David just got done lying to everyone and yet when he goes into the caves the anointing of God stays on his life, which is evident in the fact that an enemy camp will protect his parents and he is the leader of a whole lot of down and out people.  Saul is really screwed up here.  How blind he is to truth when confronted with it and when he goes against the counsel of many.  I think what I have learned in this chapter is that when we are confronted with truth and everyone else agrees with it we ought to take a look at it.  The whole point in being blind is that you are blind you cant see where you are wrong or where you need help.  Maybe the problem isn’t everyone else maybe I am just blind to something.

Saved By Who?

Duetoronomy 33:29- “Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD ? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.”

Please don’t think I made this post up just to have something to say. I was listening to some worship music courtesy of Shane and Shane, they have a song called “Saved by Grace.” That just sat heavy on me. I think I have convinced myself that I had something to do with being a “good Christian boy.” It’s like I’ve forgotten the most basic principle, I’m nothing and contributed nothing. I don’t know who is praising Israel in that verse but it expressed well how I am feeling. “Who is like you? A people saved by the Lord?” Saved by the Lord, and His grace. I am not worthy to contribute, nor am I capable of contributing to my salvation or my walk…at least nothing good.

Papa, I confess my pride and arrogance. I confess a lack of faith and trust in You, that I somehow got here on my own merits. Papa, please forgive me. Where there used to be pride and other filth in my life, please, please come and inhabit that place. I desperately need You, I’m not capable of making it on my own. Thank You for showing me this Father, please continue to open my eyes to these blind spots and places in my life that aren’t completely of You.

Grateful…

Romans 11:7 (NLT) “7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.”

Only one greek lesson today: The NLT translates this word into “chosen.”

ekloge /ek·log·ay/ 1 the act of picking out, choosing. 1a of the act of God’s free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons. 1b the decree made from choice by which he determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone. 2 a thing or person chosen. 2a of persons: God’s elect.

If I understand this verse, God has chosen those who have found Him and His favor. The inverse of that is that there are those whom God has not allowed to find him, regardless of their earnestness, diligence and passion. This is something I can’t wrap my head around, but I am grateful. I’m grateful that God, in His mercy, chose me to be one of those people who “gets” to find Him and His favor.

The more I have pondered this the more freeing I realize it is, once we really grasp the reality of it.  I don’t get it.  I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!  Were it not for God choosing me, it wouldn’t even matter, because no matter how I searched, I could not find Him. Man, that rocks my world!

Papa, I am so thankful and grateful for your grace and love. Why you’ve chosen me to be one of your own I have no idea, because I certainly don’t deserve the grace and mercy you show me daily. Thank you. My prayer is that I never take advantage of your love, grace, and mercy and the fact that I have been chosen to find you. I pray that I never forget that I am only yours because You chose me. Bless your name.

A Kind Father

Romans 2:4

It didn’t take long for Dad to hit me between the eyes today (metaphorically speaking of course – especially since this blog is about the kindness of God!)

Romans 2:4 (ESV) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Lots of words in this verse.  I had to look up “forbearance” and it means “a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due.“

The NIV translates “presume” as “show contempt” while NKJV translates it as “despise.”  When I abuse his kindness, I basically spit in his face.

All of that to say this… while God has every right to punish, reprimand, destroy and wipe me from the face of the earth – because I deserve it – He chooses to use kindness, leniency, patience, mercy and grace to get me to repent – which in simplest terms means to change my mind.  For that, I am so grateful and thankful.

The application for me is: How do I mirror that, represent that, to my earthly children?  When they read this passage as an adult, will they have a hard time visualizing, understanding, or accepting the truth of it because of my actions as their father?  Will my parenting today, make it easier or more difficult for them to see Papa as their Heavenly Father?

Do I model grace to my children?  Do I show mercy to my children?  A more difficult question is will I impede their ability to accept Papa’s love, grace, and mercy as they mature in the Lord?  A sobering thought.

All that I am…

Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT) – you should really read this.  It’s good.

I am renewed thinking and meditating on all the Lord has done for me.  “Let all that I am praise the Lord…” is a repeated phrase all throughout the 103rd Psalm.  I’ve been thinking of this passage since I read it this morning.  It’s been gnawing at me… penetrating beneath the exterior and seeping into the depths of my heart.

v2 “… may I never forget the good things he does for me.”  I am a very forgetful person.  How difficult it is to remember all that He has done.  Why does it seem so easy to remember the bad stuff or the stuff He doesn’t do?  He has been good to me… very good.  Why he has, I’ll never fully understand.

What does it mean to praise him with “all that I am”?  I fear if I try to answer this now, it will only be a surface, “Christian” answer.  There is so much more meat on this bone.  This is going to take some time to digest….