Seeking Christ

 June 26, 2023

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” —Matthew 6:33

What does seeking God look like? Am I doing it? It’s easy to go through the motions; to read and pray so I can check it off my daily to-do list. But am I coming to meet God, or to get it done?

Luke 7:36-50 tells the story of a Pharisee named Simon who invited Jesus to dinner. At some point in the festivities, a “sinner” woman—probably a prostitute—crashed the party and did something scandalous. She poured perfume on Jesus’ feet, took down her hair, and weeping the whole time, spread the perfume over his feet with her hair. She offered this perhaps as a sign of her repentance, but Simon apparently saw it as a flagrant sexual overture.

Two people are physically in the presence of Jesus. Simon the Pharisee, who knew all the right things to say and do, and the woman who knew neither. Simon was the host. Perhaps it looked good on his résumé, had all the markings of piety and sincere searching, but it was just a show, a sham.

The woman, who remains unnamed, was breaking all the boundaries of propriety in order to get to Jesus, but she was used to breaking the rules. She didn’t have the right words, didn’t know the right protocol; she just came with what she had, washed and wept, and was forgiven. She alone truly met Jesus. In contrast to Simon, she remains unnamed, perhaps because it’s Jesus’ name that is important, not hers. Maybe Simon was all too willing to have his name be known.

What was Simon seeking that evening? To impress Jesus, or his other guests? To satisfy his curiosity? There was a show, a facade of seeking Jesus, but the evidence of his failure is clear: Simon saw only the woman’s sin. Jesus saw the woman herself.

Worry

 June 25, 2023

This morning I rode my motorcycle to Findley Lake where I filled in for their vacationing pastor. It was a good morning, a great day for a ride. On the way home, I got to thinking about Nate’s baccalaureate talk with the Panama seniors Tuesday night, where he contrasted worry with seeking God.

Had I given that talk, I would have contrasted worry with faith, but I think Nate did better than I. “Faith” can be pretty abstract, but seeking God is concrete, something you can sink your teeth into. He actually read Matthew’s words more accurately than I. Here’s what Jesus said:

““I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?… Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

—Matthew 6:25, 31-33 

Jesus was talking about worry, and he didn’t tell his listeners to have more faith; he told them to seek God. Whenever I am scheduled to preach, I worry. I worry that I won’t have the right words for what the listeners need at that moment, that I won’t be clear about the Gospel, that I’ll end up giving good advice instead of the Good News, that I won’t be precise enough in giving an invitation to discipleship and faith in Christ.

Did you read that carefully? How many times did the word “I” appear? That’s the whole problem. As long as I am focused on my situation or on how I feel, I can talk about faith all I want, but I’m not seeking God, and if I’m not seeking God, the only alternative is worry. Worry focuses on me; seeking God narrows my field of vision to God himself—he is the focus of my attention, and when that happens, worry vanishes.

Mysteries

 June 24, 2023

There’s just something about a good mystery. Linda and I have enjoyed watching various mysteries over the years. Back in the 70’s and 80’s it was Columbo, Murder She Wrote, Hart to Hart, etc. We see them in reruns on YouTube and wonder how we ever stomached such drivel. We moved on to British fare with Poirot and Miss Marple, and have recently been watching Miss Fisher, Brokenwood, Death in Paradise, and such. She likes Blue Bloods and NCIS; I prefer to pass. Current favorite is Murdoch, set in turn of the century Toronto. 

Trying to pick up on the clues, figure out the red herrings, and match wits with the detective is a welcome diversion. I think the fun is in the teasing of the clues and the exhilaration if we can figure it out before the protagonist.

I wonder if that isn’t part of the attraction of Jesus’ words in Luke 8. Jesus explains his use of parables in his preaching, saying that they are designed to shield the truth from those unwilling to heed it: “So seeing, they may not see, and hearing, they may not understand” (v.10). But immediately after these words, he tells his disciples who are privy to the inside story that “no one lights a lamp and covers it up…Nothing is hidden that will not be known.” The challenge of the mystery and the thrill of discovery; Jesus knows what he is doing.

On the surface, it seems contradictory, but earlier in chapter 2, there is a hint of what is going on. The aged Simeon, holding the infant Jesus, tells his mother Mary, “This child is set for the rising and fall of many.” Before Jesus, outward religion sufficed in the eyes of many, but this Child was destined for a Cross where all human systems and efforts would be exposed and judged insufficient. Prior to the Cross, the message was hidden, impossible to fully understand; the Cross came and shined its light on us, revealing our hearts. And now we upon whom the Light has shined, have the responsibility of being lights in the world. The mystery that God would redeem all creation has been revealed. What was hidden is now open, and salvation is not limited to the nation of Israel, but is available to all who believe.

Like Jesus

 June 23, 2023

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” —Luke 6:46

In the 45 verses preceding these words, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, do good and speak blessings to those who hurt and curse you. One of life’s hardest lessons is learning to see everything—even the bad things—as a gift from God designed to make us more like Christ, who is the express image of God himself. 

Sin has so distorted that image that restoring it only comes through much difficulties and trials. When people mistreat us, the natural response is defensiveness at the least, and retaliation at the most. We want to strike back, to even the playing field, to protect ourselves. But God is the Great Sacrificer, the Great Giver, the Great Blesser, if you will, and none of his gracious gifts to us has come without great cost to himself. If it costs him, it will cost us, too.

New Wine

 June 22, 2023

Doug Comer is a name I’m still able to pluck from years ago. We were freshmen in college, not particularly close, but friends. Doug decided one day to mix up a batch of root beer. This was Houghton College, a conservative Wesleyan college in a dry Wesleyan town. I guess since it was ROOT beer, Doug figured it wouldn’t be violating any of the college rules against alcohol. He followed the directions, mixed it all together—you know—yeast, water, sugar, and root beer extract. He scrounged around and found an old bottle capping device, a couple dozen bottles, and he was in business.

The instructions called for letting it “work” in a cool, dark place. What could be cooler and darker than his dorm closet? Two cases of virgin root beer in amongst his clothes and shoes, working away in the dark. But not so cool. After about a week, one of the bottles burst; then another and another. Doug didn’t dare go into his closet for fear he would be met with shards of glass from the exploding bottles. He just sat there, counting the explosions till it was all over except for the mess. 

I think of Doug whenever I read Jesus’ story about putting new wine in new wineskins, and I wonder how much of God’s amazing work we miss because he chooses to work in ways we aren’t willing or able to accept. 

It was fairly early in Jesus’ ministry, but already the lines were being drawn. He forgave a man’s sins, received tax collectors (that could ruin any man’s reputation) and sinners, and wasn’t abiding by the religious rituals that had been sacrosanct since anyone could remember. As we pick up the story, he is having a rather heated discussion with the religious leaders who have been watching him, tracking his every movement, and were looking for ways to ensnare him.

The presenting issue was his disciples’ failure to observe regular times of fasting. “Why?” they wanted to know. It was then that Jesus uttered one of his more famous sayings.

““And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”” —Luke 5:37-39 

Jesus isn’t saying that his new wine isn’t better, but that most of the time, we prefer the old. We are reluctant to try new ways, and often when we do, we prefer the old, familiar patterns. Old wine is stable and predictable; the new is bursting with energy, and requires us to be flexible and pliant. I like old cars, old music, old religion. I don’t like old bones and old thinking, but I am often tempted to stick with what I know instead of taking a risk on something new and untested. But if we are to be faithful to Jesus Christ who makes all things new (1 Cor. 5:17), we must allow God to keep churning and bubbling within us like new wine. 

Keep my mind and heart flexible, O Lord; yielding to the working of your Holy Spirit within me so your work doesn’t merely make a mess.

The King’s Domain

June 21, 2023

Tonight I am grateful that God doesn’t stop teaching us new things just because we’re old. Last night at our granddaughter’s Baccalaureate, her father gave the Baccalaureate speech to the kids. Actually, he just talked to them, told them funny stories about giving blood and how he hates needles, and how many of them he has had in the last year. He was telling them that we worry about the future because of things that have happened in our past that we anticipate will reoccur, and that the antidote to worry is seeking God. He told of how his brain tumors have changed his thinking about life, that he made the decision a year ago today that whatever the scans said, good or bad, he would trust God. 

He had them download the Bible App on their phones and showed them how to use it. He hadn’t anticipated it, but when he opened the reading for the day, it was the text he was using that night. “God knew,” he said. Indeed, he did. The Scripture was Matthew 6:33.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.”

Nate then clarified a concept that has long puzzled me: “the kingdom of God.” I’ve listened to preachers and professors talk about how important it is, how it is present and also “not yet,” but I’ve never heard anyone tell me unequivocally what it is. Until last night. Nate did for the kids what I used to do with our kids at our dinner table; he simply pointed out the history of the word. “Kingdom” comes from “the king’s domain,” ie. where whatever the king says, goes. THAT makes sense to me! The kingdom of God about which Jesus spoke so frequently and that was so central to his thinking is nothing more or less than wherever the King has dominion, wherever the King’s wishes are carried out. It’s so much simpler than those professors made it out to be! 

Seeking, actively pursuing whatever the King of kings and Lord of lords desires is God’s plan for our blessing. The King’s domain—that’s the goal. Keeping it the goal brings the blessing, so keep pursuing it. Even better, seek the King himself. Find him, and it’ll be a no-brainer to seek his rule in your heart and life. 

Make Way!

 June 20, 2023

John the Baptist took his calling from the prophet Isaiah:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 

‘Prepare the way of the Lord; 

Make His paths straight. 

Every valley shall be filled 

And every mountain and hill brought low; 

The crooked places shall be made straight 

And the rough ways smooth; 

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ””

—Luke 3:4-6 

It’s all very poetic, but how does it actually come to pass? People are hindered from coming to God by mountains of habits and history that blocks their way, by valleys of sin and despair they get stuck in, by the crooked paths of religion, politics, philosophy, and secularism that wind and wander all over the landscape of life, by roads so rocky with rules and regulations they can hardly be navigated.

How do we fix all this—actually level the mountains, fill the valleys, straighten the crooked paths—so people can come to God? Verses 8-14 give us a few hints:  

1. Live humbly (V.8). Don’t imagine your heritage makes you better than others.“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.”—Luke 3:8 
2. Give generously (v.11). Don’t ignore the needy. “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”        —Luke 3:11 
3. Live with integrity (v.13). In business and life, treat people fairly. “Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”                —Luke 3:12-13
4. Be compassionate (v.14). When in a position of power or authority, don’t take advantage of those who have neither power nor authority. ““What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”                                                               —Luke 3:14 

All these deal with our actions, not our feelings. Our feelings can inspire action, but can never replace it.

Interruptions

 June 19, 2023

It’s odd how different the Christmas story in Luke 2 feels when read in June instead of December. All the atmosphere that swirls through the air along with the Christmas carols, TV specials, and store displays has long since dissipated in the cold nights of winter and burgeoning days of spring. It stands alone, stark and almost naked in its description of those long-ago events.

It strikes me how the shepherds were set upon by God. They were simply minding their own business, doing what shepherds do, when suddenly they were accosted by this messenger who so startled them that they stood trembling in fear. And when an entire army of these beings burst from the darkness in a glorious display of splendor and light, they were completely undone. Coming under surprise attack by a superior display of power is enough to unsettle the most stalwart of souls, which is what these shepherds were.

The messengers’ leader, named Gabriel had already turned up in the same manner, not unlike a magician who suddenly materializes in a puff of smoke. Twice he appeared, once to Zechariah, and old man, and once to Mary, a young woman.

None of these people expected what happened to them. I’m sure they had plans of their own, perhaps schedules that needed to be kept, tasks that had to be done; but all of that went down the drain when accosted by God. “Let’s go see this which the Lord has made known to us,” the shepherds intoned to one another, in the same frame of mind that Mary had when she said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Be it to me according to your word.” 

Twice we are told that Mary pondered, “keeping all these things in her heart.” I wonder if we would often be better served if instead of all our planning and preparing of schedules, to do lists, and timelines, we simply prepared our hearts to receive whatever surprises God wants to send our way.

Fatherhood

June 18, 2023

Scrolling through Facebook, it doesn’t take too many swipes of the finger to see that everyone is extolling the virtues of the father in their lives. Every one of them is the best dad ever, and to the writer, it’s true. If it weren’t, they wouldn’t be writing. It’s tempting to add my scratchings to the pile, but it wouldn’t add much to the mountains of adulation being heaped up today.

There is much for which I could praise my father; he was a loyal, faithful, and hardworking man of integrity who taught me more by example than word. But what I want to do tonight is the more serious and pertinent business of thinking about the father I have been and the father I want to be. They are not identical; one is reality, the other aspiration.

I watch my own sons as fathers, and have often said to myself, “I wish I had thought of that.” They have built relationships with their children filled with conversations, confidence, and wisdom. They are the kind of fathers their children not only want to be around, but have their friends around as well. I think we built that kind of relationship with our children, but I must confess that Linda was the chief relationship builder. She’s the better listener, and better able to relate to kids. I was more like the Great Oz, behind the scenes, giving whatever wisdom I could to Linda who would pass it along to the kids.

I made my share of mistakes, have often wished I could go back and have a “do-over,” but since that isn’t possible, I’ll settle for the alternative. I want to be a father (and grandfather) who listens carefully before speaking, who is available for everything from small errands to major projects. While I don’t think my kids particularly need my wisdom at this stage in their lives, I want to remain an example of faith and faithfulness. Too often, fathers have gone off the rails later in life, and it is as devastating as when it happens early on—perhaps more, because if what has been secure for years suddenly comes unglued, it’s a major seismic event, much like a volcano; the longer it has been dormant, the greater the devastation when it finally erupts.

I’ve never been an exciting sort of man; there were times I wish I had been so, but no longer. I’m content to be ordinarily steady as long as I can be extraordinarily adventurous for Jesus. When this life is at its earthly end, I want my family to be able to say I showed them Christ. And at my funeral, I would like someone to be able to look at me lying there and say, “Look! He’s alive!”

 

Slave or Son?

June 17, 2023

Onesimus was an escaped slave, a man with a price on his head, a man always looking over his shoulder until apparently, he was caught and jailed. Things weren’t looking good for him, but while in prison, he met an extraordinary man, a fellow prisoner who was different from the others, someone who saw him as a human being instead of an object to be used up and thrown away. 

Paul befriended this slave, something that just didn’t happen to a man of his station. That friendship, coupled with Paul’s witness to the power of the risen Christ to transform one’s life, became the catalyst for Onesimus’ conversion. The slave who served out of obligation began to serve his fellow prisoner out of a grateful heart, but there was something that needed to be done, and it wouldn’t be easy.

Paul convinced Onesimus to return to his master, a man by the name of Philemon who was an old friend of Paul’s. To this end, Paul wrote an introductory letter for Onesimus to give to Philemon. It’s an intensely personal letter which by God’s grace, made its way into the Canon of Scripture.

Paul, a keen observer of human nature and of the grace of God, tells Philemon,

 “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me…For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” —Philemon 1:10-11, 15-16 

“No longer a slave…but a brother.” The difference is stark in its contrast and significance. A slave is valued for what he can do. A brother is valued for who he is. In the Church, we often emphasize servanthood to the detriment of brotherhood. We are “servants of Jesus,” but Jesus himself said, “I no longer call you servants, but friends” (John 15:15). Elsewhere, he says of those gathered around him, “these are my mother and brother and sister.”

Seeing oneself only as a servant eventually leads to a performance based life which easily morphs into blatant legalism, supplanting our Sonship in Christ. It also affects our relationships with others; we see them as servants, too—people who can and should do things for us. When we see people in that manner, we have elected ourselves as God.

Brotherhood on the other hand, is all about intrinsic worth irrespective of performance. Both perspectives are needed, but I think this world could use more brotherhood and less servanthood. “Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ is a Son over his house” (Hebrews 3:5-6). Who we are matters more to God than what we accomplish. It should matter more to us, too.

 

Battle Prayers

 June 15, 2023

In Colossians 2:1, Paul says something that hints at how he thought and worked: “For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you…” What is he conflicted about, and how did that conflict manifest itself? His choice of words makes little sense unless he is speaking of the spiritual conflict in which he engaged when he prayed for them. Verses 2 and 3 are typical Pauline language for how he prayed:

“that [your] hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

In 2:10, he uses the exact same terminology he used in his letter to the Ephesians to describe the spiritual entities with which he is in conflict: “and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” “Principality and Power”—these are the same spiritual beings he battles in prayer in Ephesians 6:12. Here, he tells us the heart of his prayers when he says, “in [him] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

Everything centers on Jesus Christ. Reading our Bibles, going to church, praying—all the things we do as Christians—aren’t the goal. Christ is the object of all we are and all we are commanded to do. 

Remember that in prayer we engage the “principalities and powers, the spiritual forces of darkness?” (Ephesians 6:12). That sounds pretty formidable until we realize that through Jesus’ death on the cross (Col. 2:15) those powers are disarmed and humiliated. Their power is broken except for their ability to bluff and deceive. When we say we are under attack from Satan, we are giving him authority and power he no longer possesses. He is disarmed, and it is the Church which is attacking him, not the other way around. Our job is to refuse to believe his lies.

Prayer remains hard work, because our Enemy knows its power. As a wise person once said, the devil knows he can’t keep God from answering prayer, so he does his best to keep us from praying. In Colossians, Paul reminds us that Jesus Christ is at the heart of our faith, and that the primary object of prayer is Jesus himself. Keeping that focus is the hardest part of prayer.

Stand

 June 15, 2023

This word “stand” has been on my mind for some time now. I don’t know why it hasn’t caught my attention before, but I’m seeing it everywhere in Scripture, and seeing things in a new light. 

Psalm 135:1-2 reads, 

“Praise the Lord! 

Praise the name of the Lord; 

Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! 

You who stand in the house of the Lord, 

In the courts of the house of our God,”

The only time I’ve ever had a servant is when I’ve gone to a fine restaurant for lunch or dinner. We are seated, but the servers are always standing, ready to do my bidding. If you’ve ever watched an English manor house mystery, you’ve seen servants standing just out of the way, ready to bring the next course or refill the wine goblets. Servants don’t sit in the presence of the lord of the manor.

When I think of standing in God’s presence, my first thought is that of worship, but the verb most associated with worship is “to bow down.” Whenever we read of God’s people worshipping, they are bowed, often with face to the ground. When they stand, it means worship has done its job of preparing us for service. In worship, we tune our hearts to God’s heart, learning his perspective and assimilating his values. Only when that has happened are we ready to stand and serve. Serving before worship too easily confuses our own will and priorities with God’s.

Having bowed in worship, we stand in praiseworthy service. So as Psalm 95:6 says, “Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” And when we rise, may it be to stand, ready to do his every bidding.

In or For?

 June 13, 2023

“Stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” —Philippians 4:1 

It often surprises me how a single word can change the meaning of something, especially when that word is a mere preposition. Without realizing it, for years I have read this verse as if it said, “Stand fast for the Lord,” in other words, “Don’t give up, even in the face of opposition.” This morning, I saw it differently.

I suppose it’s because the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19 has been on my mind lately. What has been called “the Elijah Cycle” begins in 1 Kings 17 with Elijah bursting on the scene with these words:

“And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”” —I Kings 17:1

Elijah stood before the Lord. Later, he stands before Ahab the king, and before 450 prophets of Baal. Before he could stand before (or against) the evil powers of this world, he had to stand before God. If you’ve ever wondered why you fall before the temptation to spit out words of anger, to harbor resentment, yield to lust or greed, or cowardice in standing up for Jesus, it may be that you’ve tried to stand up before you’ve stood in the presence of the Lord.

If we want to be able to stand fast FOR the Lord, we must learn what it means to stand fast IN the Lord. For me at least, it means being disciplined enough to not let myself get distracted from my regular time in the Word and prayer. What does it mean for you?