Becoming

Going, Going, Gone

2007-01-04T22:44:00.000-06:00

"Becoming" has moved to a new location--right here. This site will remain as an archive to all the old stuff since Wordpress cannot import from the New Blogger. Please update your bookmarks. See you there. (Or, right here.)

The Valley of the Shadow of Death

2007-01-04T08:27:00.000-06:00

Matthew 4:12-17

Have you ever had a near death experience? Have you ever been surrounded by the valley of death as a loved one slipped through to the next life? The shadow of death is an awful place to be. It is lonely. It is painful. It is nerve-racking. It is sad and angering at the same time--some are broken in the valley while others shake their fists in defiance.

We run from the valley. We live our lives in such a way as to avoid it at all costs. It usually sneaks up on us despite all our actions to fight it off--the right diets, the right make-up, the right clothes, the right plastic surgery, the right partner, etc. Make no mistake about...we reject the valley of the shadow. We do not want to be there.

The fact of the matter is this: we are surrounded by the shadow everyday. People all around us everywhere we go are living in the valley's darkness. Don't let them fool you by all the gimmicks designed to stave off the darkness (diets, make-up, clothes, plastic surgery, sex, etc.)--they dwell right there in the darkness.

In one sense they are privy to the valley because their lives are given to covering it up. In another sense, however, they are blind to exactly what it is they are trying to cover up. Darkness means there is no light. Without light, there is no exposure to the source of the problem. The source of the problem and the answer to the problem must be exact opposites.

The answer to the problem...the answer to the darkness...is the presence of Jesus ("on them a light has dawned"); the source of the problem is the lack of the presence of Jesus ("those dwelling in darkness").

The application is two-fold:

For we on whom the light has shined (who enjoy the presence of Jesus)--this truth changes the way we face our valley of death. Those trials and struggles and pains and losses we experience are lived out under the light of Christ. We can and we must (if we claim Christ) face those dark times under the realization that they are all exposed by Christ. He is our Great Shepherd in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23)!
For those around us who do not enjoy the presence of Jesus--this truth changes the way we look at the lost. We must not look down our pious, judgmental noses! We must become broken-hearted for those living in the valley. We must realize the answer to their darkness has dawned; the light of life has come. And just as Jesus began (in the above passage) to preach the Kingdom at hand AND call fishers of men to His service, we must see our place in Jesus' light coming to shine upon and expose the valley of the shadow of death for those around us.

The answer to the problem and the problem itself are polar opposites. The answer is 'Jesus'. The problem is 'no Jesus'. If the problem is 'no Jesus', then how can we do anything but point them to the answer? Without Jesus, they will just remain lost in the valley of the shadow of death!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

2007-01-03T06:07:00.000-06:00

Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17

Do you realize that every human being on the face of the planet lives under the grace of Almighty God? Every day, as morning breaks and each person yawns at the edge of their bed, we all enjoy a dose of God's grace--from the highest eschalons of rulership to the tiniest baby in the most remote and archaic tribe. Every rainbow is a reminder of it. In fact, every human being--whose heart's intention is evil from his youth--deserves the judgment of God right now. Paul's letter to the Romans even tells us that God has made Himself known in Creation in such a way that all men (who do not turn to Him) are without excuse. But the rainbow is a reminder of God's universal grace (note: not universal salvation).

Although judgment is deserved, God promised that He would never again curse the ground because of man. That's interesting, because my Bible says that a day of judgment is coming; that a day is soon coming in which the whole earth will be burned up with fire; that every man will give an account to God; that all those whose faith is not in Jesus Christ will face an eternal judgment flood. The rainbow reminds us of God's heart toward man...the flood reminds us of God's heart toward sin.

How can we not recite John 3:16 here--"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

The rainbow tells the whole world of God's love. Christians tell the whole world about Christ. The world has an obligation to trust in the Creator rather than creation (Romans 1:18-25). Jesus has an obligation to vindicate his death. The flood was God's curse against the ground because of man. The soon to come separation of sheep and goats, earth consuming fire, and Great White Throne of Judgment is because of the glory of Jesus Christ. He who was made low for our sake will be gloriously exalted for every eye to see.

"What are you talking about?" We Christians tend to think that all that lies ahead is judgment. We fault ourselves in this to the point that we spend more time behind four walls sitting in pews casting judgment upon the lost. "Oh, they'll get theirs...unless, of course, they become like us." We paint the picture that all God is is a God of judgment; that God is out to get everyone that isn't like us. But, Genesis 8:21 clearly tells us that never again will God curse the ground because of man. As a matter of fact, today's history is all about God desiring everyone to turn to Him through Jesus. That is God's heart toward man. The judgment to come is not because of God's mean spirited judgment (which is the way we have led most people to think about God). The judgment to come is not to curse the ground because of man. The judgment to come is for the vindication of Jesus' glory for all the world to see. Every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord. It's not because of man, but Jesus.

"What about it?" Isn't it interesting that the sun rises on both the Godly and the ungodly? The rainbow covers both the Godly and the ungodly? God loves the world. Our job, as Christ followers, is not to cast judgment but to share God's love with the world and to warn them of Christ's vindication (his return and his eternal home). Somewhere, over the rainbow, we must learn that it's not because of man (not about us) but it's all about Jesus!

Must Read

2007-01-02T16:07:00.000-06:00

To get a taste of current Southern Baptist life, read this by my friend Marty Duren.

Happy New Year

2007-01-02T08:13:00.000-06:00

Genesis 1:1-2

Well, an old year is gone and a new one has officially begun. What does 2007 hold for you? Better yet, what plans of old has God now set in motion to be fulfilled in your life this year?

It didn't start out so well for the Sooners. What a mess they found themselves in last night. We were all so excited about having Adrian Peterson back...even though we played better with him on the injured list. "We, we, we." You'd think I (or we) were also wearing shoulder pads last night in Scottsdale.

At least for the Sooners, yesterday was the END of a season. There will be no looking back. The seniors will graduate. The recruiting team will be hard at work to get the cream of the high school crop signed. The coaches will be doodling in their playbooks. There will be a brand new season coming fast. No looking back to last season--only a fresh start with every other team at 0 wins and 0 losses.

As I start another year by beginning again to read the Bible through, I'm struck with the glory and beauty and majesty of Creation. I haven't preached many sermons on Creation because I just can't wrap my mind around it. Genesis 1 makes it sound so simple--6 days and poof, it's all done. As simple as Creation was for our endless God, to meditate upon the stars in the skies and Grand Canyon and the tiny molecules that hold all things in place--it is much more than just impressive. Creation is incomprehensible. And yet in the midst of such glory, we find a Creator that is very much personal with the apex of Creation--man. They talk. They walk. God even senses a need for man to have a companion--and poof!

Without much pontification or Creation exposition--such is beyond the scope of my comprehension--I must simply meditate on the glory of God's Creative power and the beauty of God's personal love for man. A season has gone--2006--with all of it's baggage (good and bad). A new season is here. I have no ability to create a beautiful scene in the next 12 months--but God can. And with the heart of love for His people, God--as I surrender my life to Him--can and will create a beautiful scene with my life in 2007.

I pray you join me in committing 2007 to the canvas of God's personal and creative agenda for our lives.

Is Christmas here yet?

2006-12-13T15:25:00.000-06:00

We'll get this thing going again soon. Things are always crazy for all of us through December. In the mean time, check out the latest article about Grandad that Baptist Press has released. You can find it here.

Amen

2006-11-21T16:48:00.000-06:00

R evelation 4:6b-11

Monday morning, at about 1 a.m., my grandad passed to the next life. It was my night to spend with him, so, when the nurses notified me that things were coming to an end I had the opportunity of a few moments by myself with him.

By the time the rest of my family arrived he was no longer responding. But, for just a few minutes, weeping alone by his side, we had a sweet time together as he responded to my words with simple whispers.

I told him I loved him and that he was the greatest grandad who ever lived. He whispered that he loved me. I told him that it was ok for him to go and that I would make sure my grandmother was well taken care of. He whispered "yes." Then I just talked about heaven. I talked about Jesus, our only hope and salvation. I told him that he was going to be with Jesus in just a moment; that I was jealous but that I would join him very, very soon. He said, "Amen."

And that was it. For the next 25 minutes or so, as the rest of my family surrounded his bedside and cried, the pneumonia he contracted on Saturday filled his lungs and he stopped breathing. We joined hands around him as my dad led us in a Thanksgiving prayer that will not be outdone at any gathering any where this Thursday.

It's fitting that grandad's last word was "Amen." I'll never forget his voice hollerin' out "Amen." It always sounded to me like he was saying "aaaMAN"--but there was never any doubting what he meant. He meant "let it be." He meant "that's right." He meant "preach it, brother."

Today he is saying "aaaMAN" to the four living creatures and twenty-four elders who continually cry out the greatness and glory of Him who is on the Throne.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come.

Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to recieve glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.

Today, as I think about the life of my grandad--all the sermons he preached, all the souls he witnessed to, all the lives he touched--all I can say is "amen." As I realize that I do not mourn like others do who have no hope, all I can say is "amen." As I mourn my loss and celebrate grandad's gain, all I can say is "amen." As I celebrate Thanksgiving minus one who has always been a big part of it, all I can say is "amen." As I think about the day that will come when I will join grandad around the throne of God, all I can say is "aaaMAN."

More New (and less old) Every Day

2006-11-17T10:19:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:18-4:1

About as soon as Paul seemingly covers all the things we should and shouldn't do, he then begins to meddle in the intricate details of our lives. Verse 17, which at first glance strikes us as merely a simple summary statement, is taken to levels which prove that none of us have yet to encounter true discipleship because none of us have mastered the truth that "Christ is all" in every area of life. For example...

In the marriage relationship: Has Christ been all at every moment of this week as you have related to your spouse. Submission? Harshness? Absolute Christ-like pursuit of our wives and Church-like service to our husbands?

In the parental relationship: Have we perfectly honored our parents? Have we been pastors to our children? Has there been complete obedience and encouragement in everything?

In the work relationship: Have we sincerely and fearfully worked heartily or did we play even one round of solitaire on our computers while on the clock? Good and bad masters will get what they deserve--but so will good and bad employees! Employers, have you treated your employees with absolute fairness?

I have to believe that these were just three examples Paul was giving to prove the point that we cannot limit our righteousness to a list--true discipleship encompasses all of life. These three examples are, probably, three main examples...but there are many more (i.e. student/teacher; neighbor/neighbor; buyer/seller; etc.). We would do well to be perfect in these three areas, but to limit ourselves to these three is not enough. Our life consists of the constant battle between the old self and the new. The believer is evidenced by a life where the new is winning more and more everyday. That is the life in which Christ is all.

How can we pursue such living? Well, again, we can't form a list of legalistic do's and don'ts. If we do, the heart will eventually be left on the side of the road and our pursuit will become mere duty--the very thing we are fighting against right now. But, Paul gives us an idea of how we can continue a fresh encounter of the beauty of Christ; such that will keep us moving toward a life where Christ is all. We'll get there next week.

2006-11-16T12:29:00.001-06:00

A good word on Community from Rick Thompson. Read it here.

Christ's Sufficiency to be Our All

2006-11-16T09:22:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:12-17

There has literally not been an opportunity to continue our search for the beauty of Christ since the last post. I finally, at least for the moment, have a bit of solitude in the office to record some thoughts. I pray that you, too, have continued at least to think about the beauty of Christ that flows from a captured heart and not from legalistic duty. Christ is all.

When Christ is all--when Jesus has our hearts--everything changes. The evidence that Christ is all is every crevice of our lives being affected. The earthly things die (vs. 5) and the heavenly things radiate. Humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, thankfulness, mutual submission, mutual accountability--just to name a few. And those things are not done begrundingly--they are automatic when Christ has our heart. They are not things to work on and try harder at; they are the evidence that Christ is all.

Lately, I have found myself thinking about my responses and reactions. Don't get me wrong--I fail very much; more than I'll ever admit to you--but, I would like to think that God is really teaching me to relinquish everything to Him so that He is all. I really want Christ to be my all. The way I react to (or yell at) my kids. The way I touch (or take for granted) my wife. The way I listen to and dialogue with (or dictate to) my congregation. The true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy things (or ugly, disgusting, impure, unjust things) I think on. Is Christ all or not?

You see, I can keep my little list of do's and don'ts and put on a pretty good show for those around me. I can fool them into thinking that I am quite righteous. But that's not what God looks at. God looks at the heart. Is Christ all or not?

The beauty of Christ is that He is more than sufficient enough to be our all. It's not like we're choosing between some small choice against some other small choice. We are choosing between finding satisfaction in something that is not fully satisfying, and finding satisfaction in something that is fully satisfying--the beauty of Christ. He is fully able to be our all--in every area of our life. And that is the abundant, Kingdom life; that is the opposite of the legalistic, religious life.

Tomorrow, Paul will start meddling and helping us see that everything must be affected--taken over--by Christ. But, it ought to be enough for him to simply say: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christ Is All

2006-11-09T08:22:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:5-11

What will you cling to on your death bed? The pride of good works? The record of church attendance? The number of people you witnessed to? I think, in studying the Bible, that when it comes right down to it we, people of faith--in Christ alone--can only cling to Christ alone. I think, the hope of glory rests on our testimony of "Christ is all."

All of us, so Paul says, were bent on sin--sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness--prior to Christ. Those things are what our "old nature" consisted of. Those things are deep seated in the darkness of fallen hearts and all of us became guilty of such selfish sinfulness at birth. "But now," Paul writes, "you must put them all away..."

So, we make our lists.

No pre-marital sex.
No consumption of alcohol.
No cheating on taxes.

But what about our hearts? We can uphold these three rules and still be guilty before God because of the lust, desire, and discontent in our hearts. At least, that's what Jesus taught us. And so, along with putting on the new self, Paul continues, is a constant "renewal in knowledge after the image of its creator." Christ wants our hearts--not our ability to keep external rules/religiosity.

I referred, perhaps distastefully, to Ted Haggard in the previous post. In one of the articles I read he spoke of this part of his life "that is so repulsive and dark" that he's been "warring against it" all his adult life. That's right. That's right for all of us in some way, is it not? If we are all, in Christ, being constantly in a state of renewal after the image of our creator, it should be that we are all warring against our old nature.

Here's the thing. I don't know if it's fair to put this on Haggard, but I will--along with all of us. If we have reduced our Christian life to the things we do or don't do, we have inevitably missed something, because Christ wants it all. But, in our minds--consciously, subconsciously, unconsciously, whatever--we have become legalistic and we do this: "Alright, I've kept 9 of the 10 rules this week. What a Christian I am!" Something always gets left out. Something Christ died to redeem. Something God wants to renew. But our spirituality is reduced to our own regulations (3:20-23) leaving some "repulsive and dark" part of our hearts out and the little Ted Haggard in all of us still lives. (Not "repulsive and dark" like with Haggard, necessarily; but "repulsive and dark" because it is of the old nature--perfect love, perfect forgiveness, a bit of anger, discontent, impure thoughts, being Christ to our wives, being pastors to our children, being perfect employers and not playing solitaire on the clock, etc.)

But Christ died that you and I might have life. Real life. Abundant life. Kingdom life now. Not a life of internal darkness and repulsivity (I don't think that's a word, but I like it.).

What is the key to faith? What is the key to faith on the death bed? What is the key to the life of faith? What is the key to real, abundant, Kingdom-at-hand, faith? It is to live out, in every crevice of our souls, the declaration "Christ is all."

Your Life

2006-11-07T08:31:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:1-4

As we continue through Colossians, seeking the beauty of Christ, we must slow down to smell all the roses of chapter 3. I hope, in joining in this search of the beauty of Christ, that you will spend several days meditating with me on this most excellent of chapters contained in Holy Writ.

I think Paul is making the case that "do's and don'ts" kind of Christianity is not what following Christ is about. Christ exchanged His life for ours that we might live the Kingdom life--hearts that are transformed in every single way. That's why we "put to death" certain things (3:5ff). It's not to check them off our list, but because Christ--"who is your life"--lives through you; we are Kingdom people who live focused on things above and therefore our minds and hearts are transformed and renewed (we're new people--Kingdom people). Some list of do's and don'ts is not where it ends; the Kingdom life affects EVERYTHING, which is why starting in 3:12 and going all the way to the closing of the book Paul starts meddling not just with a list of do's (3:12-16) but says "whatever you do, do in the name of the Lord Jesus"--wives, husbands, employers, employees, etc. More on that later.

Today, let's focus on 3:1-4.

"If then you have been raised with Christ..." Literally, co-resurrected. That's right. When we come to Christ in faith we have died and been born-again. We are new creatures. We are Kingdom creatures--transformed and renewed.

"...seek the things above...set your mind on things above...for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God..." Our life, having come to Christ in faith, is now bound up in Christ. We are Christians. We are Kingdom people. We're not church attenders. We're not pro-lifers. We're not a voting block. We're not anti-this or that. We are of Christ. We live on the earth now, but belong to the Kingdom, nonetheless, because are lives are hidden with Christ in God.

"When Christ who is your life..." Is your life bound up in Christ? Do you define your "Christianity" by the things you do or don't do, or is your life bound up in Christ? Do you see the difference? There may seem to be just a subtle difference to you, but I believe this to be a huge difference. This is where we have missed the boat in modern Amercian evangelicalism--in all of our comfort seeking, legalistic imposing, self-righteous judgmentalism, pious asceticism...--all while within us remains our own little Ted Haggard. Jesus did not die for a voting block. Jesus did not die for a denomination. Jesus did not die for a picket line. Jesus died that we might have life. Abundant life. Christ is life. Christ is our life. If our lives are bound up in Christ, everything is changed. Our lives are not dictated by our lists but by Christ.

The beauty of Christ is seen in this: Coming to Him in faith, my life was slain at the altar. Killed off. Sounds bad, doesn't it? But Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, laid His own life at the altar, also. At the altar an exchange took place--His life for mine. Now, Christ is my life. Christ stands in my stead in the face of sin's judgment. His righteousness has become mine. My sin has become His. His righteousness imputed to me means there is now no condemnation for me. My sin, placed upon Christ, has been vanquished because Christ had power over the curse of sin--death. And, so, now my resurrected Christ is alive. His life is my life because He is my Living Savior. What is earthly in me dies. What is heavenly in me lives. This changes everything. And in that context, Paul writes in verse 17: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." My life is not dictated by do's and don'ts--but by Christ who is my life. What say you?

Set Your Minds on the Beauty of Christ

2006-11-06T08:35:00.000-06:00

Colossians 2:16-23

What makes a Christian? Can a Christian only be described by the rules he keeps or the events he attends? How could others prove that you are a follower of Christ?

"He doesn't drink, smoke, chew, or hang out with girls that do."

"These things," Paul says, "have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body."

"Well, he attends church at least 75% of the Sundays in a year."

Paul wrote, "These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."

What makes a Christian--what ought to be the proof that you are a follower of Christ--is that we "hold fast to the Head"--Christ. With Christ, you and I died to the curse of the law. To make Christianity a check-list of do's and don'ts is to forget the heart that holds fast to Christ. Such things have an appearance of wisdom, "but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

The only way for our sinful natures to be curbed is to hold all the more tightly to Christ--not to the checklists of self-righteousness. We can get so focused on doing this and not doing that that we forget Christ who freed us from such slavery. Only the satisfaction found in the beauty of Christ will stop our sinful hearts from seeking satisfaction in the things of this world.

The substance of those things belongs to Christ. Those things are only of worth insomuch as they direct us to pursue Christ all the more. He is the beautiful treasure. Rather than seeking such legalistic, outward religiosity, Paul says (in chapter 3) to seek the beauty of Christ--"the things that are above, where Christ is seated...For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ." We live a certain way and act a certain way and think a certain way and do certain things and don't do certain things, not because of self-imposed religiosity, but because the beauty of Christ exudes from us--"let Christ dwell in you richly" (3:16).

Christ Internally, Not Religion Externally

2006-11-03T08:24:00.000-06:00

Colossians 2:6-15

It is so easy for us, in the name of Christ, to walk in the rules and regulations we create for ourselves. In our own culturally unique way we have created a list of do's and don'ts that, if we'll only follow them, then we can be pleasing to God. Don't get me wrong, those do's and don'ts are not bad things. Most of them are quite commendable actions that should be expected of Christ followers. But they are not the only things. When we make our list, we inevitably leave something out. Our list, therefore, becomes an incomplete, personally biased tool we use to judge ourselves and others concerning spiritual maturity.

All the things we think must be done for good standing can all be done without the right heart motivation--which is what the Lord looks at anyway. And it's not just the kind of heart that leads us to good worship attendance. The Lord looks at the heart when your wife burned the bread or when your husband left the seat up or when your kid got marker on her wall or when your co-worker recieved your promotion. Our life of discipleship cannot be measured by our church schedule--discipleship encompasses all of life.

Paul is writing to dispel false teaching at Colossae. Many externalities, very simply put, were being leveled at the Colossians and packaged as "this + this + this = Godliness". These things, however, left out the heart changed by the beauty of Christ.

So, Paul writes, "as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him"--not by works but by faith. Be rooted in Him, established in the faith, abounding in thanksgiving--not meaningless external activity separate from a contrite heart.

Christ is God--in Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily--and you are filled in him. He is the head of all rule and authority. He has circumcised you spiritually; don't rely on that external stuff anymore because He has made you new by circumcising your hearts.

The beauty of Christ is this: he has nailed all that external stuff--the law, rules, regulations, legalism--to the cross. He triumphed over those who would impose such religiosity on you when He rose from the death they gave Him. Don't fall for that stuff anymore.

I guess the question for us is this: is our "Christian life" defined by our checklist of religious activity or by a heart and life changed in every aspect by the beauty of Christ? As you go through your day, ask yourself, "Is this [action, word, thought, etc.] a display of the beauty of Christ or of my own selfish desires?" The answer will tell you whether you have compartmentalized your "Christian life" or if the beauty of Christ has changed your whole heart and life. That is real discipleship--when our whole heart and life is an effort to display the beauty of Christ.

Christ In You

2006-11-02T08:43:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:24-2:5

I wonder if when people look at our church they see the beauty of Christ?

Christ endured affliction for the sake of His body, the Church; He bore the entire judgment of sin in Himself. For the first time the Holy God of all things--who cannot look upon sin--turned His back on His Son who had become sin for us on the cross. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" There must be something special about the Church, the Body of Christ.

Somehow, as His body, the Church is to display the beauty of Christ. For many generations, this mystery of atonement was hidden; but now it is revealed. "Christ in you" (lit. 'among you') is the testimony of the riches of His glorious atonement. The beauty of Christ is seen not only in His sacrifice for sins, but in His people assembled as His body. Paul's struggle was that the body of Christ would realize this; that they would be knit together in love and reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery--Christ. The goal is that the body of Christ would display the beauty and glory of Christ to a world without Christ.

"...Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the repository of all that is needed today. In Him is found pleasures forevermore. In Him is found perfect peace. In Him is found eternal life. In Him is found the Kingdom at hand. In Him is found better husbands and wives, better parents and children, better employers and employees, better teachers and students, etc.

Jesus is beautiful. The Church is Christ incarnate. The beauty of Jesus is made known by the Church. "Christ in you, the hope of glory." May we be saturated with the beauty of Christ and display that beauty to all the world that they might come to obtain the hope of glory.

To The Ends of the Earth

2006-10-31T23:08:00.000-06:00

Here are some pics from tonight's commissioning service. Please pray for my sister and her family as they prepare to move to Tanzania. They are Scott, Jennifer, Luke, and Brennan Ward.

Beauty in Becoming

2006-10-31T08:53:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:15-23

What a morning this has been to concentrate on the beauty of Christ. We arrived in Cape Girardeau last night in order to attend tonight's IMB commissioning service where my sister and brother-in-law will be appointed to full-time service in Tanzania. The service is in conjunction with the Missouri Baptist Convention, and so the Cape is full of folks. There is no room in the inn. We have had several rooms reserved for quite sometime, but, since we were the last to check-in, they had given all but one of our rooms to others. (What is, by the way, the definition of reservation? And why, may I ask, would someone overbook a hotel, and then give away reserved rooms even when the reservee has called in our late arrival time?) Anyway, the night was eventful as me, Rachelle, Hannah, and Isaac--along with my mom, dad, and 2 nephews--had a little slumber party in the same room. Needless to say it was a short night. I got up at 5 for my study time--along with everyone else. So, a quiet time I have not had.

However, I did get a few minutes with our passage this morning--which, by the way, is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. THE description of Christ. I hope you'll take a moment to meditate on it, and then comment on your own observation of Christ's beauty. A few thoughts...

Jesus is the pre-eminent Creator who created all things for Himself. He sovereignly holds all things together as His Kingdom--the church over which He is Head--is developed. He is God come to man and THE vessel through which all things are reconciled. The horror of the cross is also the good news of peace to all.

That really is good news for us. That really is, this morning, a wonderful reminder of the beauty of Christ. Lest we forget, verse 21-22 reminds us that we, too, desperately needed that peace of the cross. Only by and through His death are we reconciled. And that reconciliation is for one reason: that you and I might be presented holy and blameless and above reproach before Him--that is, before the Creator who created us for Himself.

There is one qualification: verse 23 says, "if indeed you continue in the faith" standing firm in the single hope of the gospel--the Kingdom of Heaven at hand.

There is beauty. The reason for the reconciliation is that we become holy, blameless, and above reproach. The qualification is that we are always continuing toward this end. The beauty is in the process. King Jesus is pleased with the process. We are always "Becoming" for the glory of Christ. He who died for our reconciliation doesn't sit on His throne waiting for us to become holy and perfect, but is with us through the process, molding us and developing us into His bride by His Holy Spirit (Remember Abraham's servant going and seeking a bride for his son and the journey they embarked upon before she was presented to Isaac?).

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21

May we find peace in the cross as we continue to become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession.

Jesus Is Beautiful

2006-10-30T05:56:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:1-14

On Wednesday, my mom had a memorable experience at Grandad's bedside. At a moment of great pain and deep confusion, the conversation is worth repeating...

"Daddy, what do you see?"

"Heaven."

"What does it look like?"

"It's beautiful."

"Daddy, can you see Jesus?"

"Yes."

"What does He look like?"

"Oh, He's beautiful."

I want to see all of Jesus' beauty. My devotional times (and therefore this blog) for the next little while will be devoted to that task. I ask you to join me in prayer and contemplation toward seeking this end. I'm convinced more and more that it requires all of us in community to discover such beauty; that learning about Jesus is not something that can happen merely by sitting in a sermon or lesson--it's in the community of believers where Christ moves and works and teaches and shows off His beauty.

Which leads me to another point entirely. This trek after the beauty of Christ which we embark upon today will begin by walking through Colossians. In reading part of Colossians this morning, I was reminded of the beauty of Christ in His community of people. And I must say, I am so grateful for the Immanuel community. This month has been "pastor appreciation month," and our congregation has blown me away with something special each Sunday in October. I am so grateful for all of you and believe God has brought us together for a special time. He is showing us His beauty juxtaposed against the lostness of Sequoyah County; and somehow, in some way, He is leading us in new directions that we and the other churches of Sallisaw might impact the 92% of our county that is unchurched (some 36,000 of 39,000). Let me tell you, there is no one I would rather be on mission with than Immanuel Baptist Church. I'm so grateful for you. Let me end by echoing the words that Paul wrote to the church at Colossae:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I love you all.

No Hope

2006-10-24T09:57:00.000-05:00

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

It's been a difficult 10 days since my grandad went into the hospital. From fine to comatose twice each has been a hard thing to watch. Right now, with a hematoma on his brain from the fall he took 12 days ago, he is basically in an induced coma. The doctors had us call the family in on Sunday night, making us think that was it. But grandad is still hanging on. It's like we're just all sitting around his bed waiting for him to die.

After being unresponsive for two days, I decided to go home to sleep last night. Before I left his room I got right in his face and hollered at him. "Grandad, are you ready for some football?" Grandad and I are football fans and have spent many hours together yelling and screaming for the Sooners. He actually tried to respond for the first time. He grunted and rustled a bit. "We're all right here with you!" He tried to say something else. "I love you Grandad!" And then he mumbled "I love you."

I have never lost a loved one as close as my grandad. I've never before found myself next to a deathbed searching the Scriptures for comfort. I know to die is gain and to want grandad to stay here is selfish, but it's hard. I've read 1 Thessalonians 4 at literally hundreds of funerals. I've quoted it many, many times to church members as they said goodbye to loved ones. But never before in such a personal way has the Lord soothed me with His life-giving words.

The one short moment I had alone with grandad yesterday I told him, "I'll see you soon." What a welcome grandad will have when Jesus tells him, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master." That is the hope we have as Christians. That is the finish we must set our eyes upon. That is what we live for.

How can anyone face death without that hope? We need not grieve like those without it, for our hope is in the eternal glory of Christ. He will see us all the way to Beulah.

Good 'ol Gramps

2006-10-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

I've been out of pocket for several days as my grandad has been quite ill. I'll get back on track sometime on Thursday, but here's some reading material about my grandad--Garth Pybas. Read this Baptist Press article from a few years ago.

You?

2006-10-13T07:54:00.000-05:00

Acts 4:7

Jesus had promised power for witnessing by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had come at Pentecost in power and many were saved. Now, that power by the Holy Spirit--through faith in the name of Jesus--had healed a man, and many more believed. This caused problems for the religious leaders, and they arrested Peter and John.

There was something about Peter and John. The common folk looked to them as somehow powerful in their own right (3:12). But these high-brow elitists knew that such lower class, uneducated lay-folk as Peter and John could not have such ability. You can sense their tone in our passage...By what power or by what name did YOU do this?

They had to admit that something mighty had happened. Verse 16 says they could not dispute the fact that a notable sign had taken place. Sign in this sense meant some visibly awesome display that points to something else...evidence that something big was going on. There was no way that these lowly Galileans could conjur up anything of spiritual significance (vs. 13). By what name did YOU do this?

Of course, Peter and John would never have taken credit for what had happened. They knew they had nothing of worth. They were quick to stand in front of the same folks that had crucified Jesus and simply say that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well.

In our attempt to act like we've got it all together, let us remember that we are nothing more than servants of the King. Our role is not to play the spiritual authority, but merely to proclaim the Spirit's presence through Jesus! Oh for the day when we each might stand before the critical how in the world can YOU do such and such? By what power and name do YOU live by, because we know YOU could never accomplish such heavenly things, and in such a moment, whether at work or school or play, proclaim that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Jehovah-Sabaoth

2006-10-12T07:16:00.000-05:00

1 Samuel 17:41-47

I was asked last week about the significance of the Lord of Hosts. While this name of God is not one we will have the time to study in LIFEgroups, it is a significant name regarding the power of our Creator and the confidence we can have in Him. The revelation of this name comes at a peculiar time in the history of Israel.

Most of the names we have looked at so far have been revealed through the patriarchs. This Sunday's name, Jehovah-Rapha, is found at the Exodus event. Jehovah-Sabaoth, Lord of Hosts, is found further into Israel's history--1 Samuel to be exact. Elkanah and Hannah, Samuel's parents, invoke the name of the Lord of Hosts when they go to pray at Shiloh. In each instance, Eli's sons--Hophni and Phineas--are also mentioned. What we see here is what the other appearances of this name convey (Jehovah-Sabaoth appears mostly in the prophets...80 times in Jeremiah): Jehovah-Sabaoth is revealed not through the Patriarchs, not in their 400+ year sabbatical in Egypt, not in their 40 year wilderness wandering, not in their conquest. Jehovah-Sabaoth appears at the time when Israel begins to put their trust in man's power rather than God's. Hophni and Phineas, Eli's evil yet priestly sons, play a big part in moving people's minds toward desiring an earthly king so that they could compete with their surrounding neighbors. They wanted to feel powerful by having a physical king. I can't get into it here, but the name Jehovah-Sabaoth is invoked mostly during the time of the divided kingdom--both in relation to Israel's discipline (the Lord of Hosts casts His heavy hand upon His disobedient people who fail to trust in Him) and in Israel's deliverance (the Lord of Hosts teaches His people through their discipline and they again rely upon the Lord of Hosts to deliver them from exile).

Our passage (1 Samuel 17:41-47) gives us a perfect example. The "hosts" refers to something more than just the heavenly host. I think there is a ring to it that includes, somehow, all of God's army--heavenly and otherwise. David, here, is speaking of the army of Israel in addition to the heavenly army. The army had no faith, but David did. He saw no intimidating enemy--just an uncircumcised Philistine who was no match for God and His hosts.

You know what, it doesn't matter the battle you face; it doesn't matter the size of your enemy. God plus nothing is always greater! When in faith and obedience you line up with Jehovah-Sabaoth...Goliath's will fall all day long!

That sounds great, doesn't it? The fact of the matter is, however, that it's way too easy for us to focus on our physical allies and lose our faith in the Lord of Hosts. Sometimes we prefer to draw lines and count how many are on our side...and if our side is fewer than the other side, we panic. David won a victory against Goliath, but soon changed his tune from faith in Jehovah-Sabaoth to faith in David-Sabaoth. 1 Chronicles 21 is a powerful chapter which concerns the Lord of Hosts working for His people in a strange way. Sometimes the "hosts" includes, along with the heavenly army, NOT Israel's army BUT Israel's enemy's army. (Think about the exiles. God used His host against Israel to teach them that He alone is Jehovah-Sabaoth that they would again turn to Him and trust in Jehovah-Sabaoth.)

The Lord of Hosts reminds us that all the world--every king, every army, every government are merely pawns in the hand of a sovereign King. To put your faith in Him alone and in nothing of our own devise is to slay Goliath. To stand in the midst of a terrible storm, crying out for an answer as to why we must go through such a struggle, is to be schooled by the King that we might learn not to put our faith in our own strength or in any other earthly thing but to truly look to Jehovah-Sabaoth.

All the names of God are fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. I don't know how we could end this discussion without reading Revelation 19:11-21 (especially verse 14).

In Jesus' Name

2006-10-11T07:21:00.000-05:00

Acts 3:16

What's in a name? We are studying the names of God in our LIFEgroups on Sunday nights, and have learned that God revealed Himself to us by many different names in order to teach how He wants to relate to us through His multi-faceted character. God has always become for man whatever His greatest need required.

"The name of Jesus" speaks less to social identification and more to character identification. It refers to His authority, ability, truth. Faith in His name is recognizing that Jesus is who He always described Himself to be: Christ, Lord, Immanuel, Son of God...

Naming the name of Jesus isn't what healed this lame man, but faith in his name. In other words, this man exericised faith in all that Peter proclaimed to the crowd...Jesus is Messiah, you rejected Him and traded Him for a murderer; God selected Him and exalted Him (He is Christ and Lord) and this man's faith in that fact brought about this healing. The real miracle was faith in who Jesus was. He exericised faith and became a living illustration of Peter's sermonic point: Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

What does Jesus' name describe for you? What does Jesus' name mean to you? What refreshment do you find when you operate your life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

In this passage there are four different descriptions, or names, of Jesus: 1) His servant Jesus (i.e. suffering servant); 2) Holy and Righteous One; 3) Author of life; 4) prophet like Moses. If you get a minute or two, I'd like to host a discussion on what these names mean to you and what heavenly refreshment we might find from them.

Check This Out!

2006-10-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

My friend Rick Thompson has once again put into words what I continue to ponder. This is what I want to say but fail to articulate. I pray you hear what he is really saying in this article right here. Tell me what you think.

Fearless or Fearful?

2006-10-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

Acts 4:1-4

We tend to have such a great fear in living our faith out loud. There are obviously several reasons: fear of rejection, fear of confrontation, fear of knowledge, fear of embarassment, etc. Those fears are human nature. But Paul, in 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3, lays out the differences between human nature and spiritual nature. It seems, as the beginning of Acts is teaching us, that we who are filled with the Spirit are filled so that there might be a powerful witness to Jesus as Christ and Lord. These post-pentecostal followers can't help but talk about Jesus (Acts 4:20).

They had much to fear; these to whom they were witnessing had very recently crucified the Christ--why should they fare any better? But the Holy Spirit in them changed their outlook and they witnessed nonetheless. Acts 4 speaks of their very first confrontation from the anti-christs who rejected their message and arrested them. But, many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Our witnessing fears are all wrapped up in, I think, the fear of defeat. We don't want to mess it up. We don't want to fail in the results. What if everyone says no? I don't want to be a subpar witness.

Here's the plain facts: we will be rejected, we will be embarrassed, we will be defeated; our fears are valid...BUT, the Spirit will move and work and breathe life into dead places through our obedience to witness anyway. Yes, obedience. If we long to be obedient we must be a witness to Jesus as Christ and Lord. We cannot be obedient without attesting to Jesus as Christ and Lord. And we cannot base whether we will witness on whether we think there will be results. You and I will never have results because we are merely messengers; the Soveriegn God of the universe does His own perfect work in hearts. Somehow, for some reason, He has chosen to use us in the process of planting faith in people's hearts. We must not fear defeat for God's work of salvation cannot be defeated.

What opportunities do you have today to proclaim your faith in Jesus as Christ and Lord?