Author: Craig

Gospel Training

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6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 2 Timothy 4:6-10

I have some friends who train. And they work hard to train their bodies. They are dedicated. They create a plan. They create a schedule. They create goals. They have a vision for which they strive. Lifting. Running. Insanity. Cross-fit.

I admire them!

Some of these friends also strive with Jesus for godliness.

What would it be like to bring the same energy, vision, dedication, planning, optimism, attitude, drive to the pursuit of godliness? Godliness is a response to the Gospel of Jesus. We are not striving in order to get God to like us. He loves us and has brought us into the family of Jesus. Godliness has a quality of doing something that trains our soul to respond to Jesus. Its a reality generated by the Spirit of God as we bring our all for loving God and loving people.

Bring it!  Whoooo, we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savour of all!

In Relief

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12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Philippians 2:12-16

Shine like stars.

Darkness is not necessary for us to enjoy light. That’s how it is with Jesus. There is no darkness in Him. However, we are different story. The light of the stars is most obvious in the backdrop of darkness. In relief we see what the darkness cannot hide. So it will be with those of us who are being transformed by the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. “In the midst of a crooked and twisted generation” we are to shine “as lights in the world” as we hold the “word of life.”

Messing with Artistic Detail and Reliefs 

I have reflected for days now on this art on the Chem building at UBC. Reliefs are easily muddied. And that’s what concerned the Apostle Paul. Going about our lives grumbling and disputing rather than leading into the challenges of this world with Jesus and from God’s perspective will easily cover up God’s glory in us. Grumbling has its sources: legalism, ignoring problems, unforgiveness, unbelief, bitterness, and rage. All loosen our grip on the Gospel and all cloud the glory of Jesus in and through our lives.

Hold fast to Jesus and work it out with Him!

Jesus didn’t write a book.

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17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.  Matthew 4:17-22

Jesus didn’t write a discipleship book. Instead He invited people to put their faith in Him. Instead He called disciples to be with Him. And in the process, the Scripture He inspired speaks to us today. We can truly say, Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) For He is the subject of our faith and He is the one who animates our faith for His glory.

But it starts with the invitation to be with Him. Discipleship is in relationship. All the reflective processes are engaged and the Spirit of God brings change. Discipleship is not just about knowledge. Its about the adjustment of obedience generated by Jesus in our lives.

Jesus called disciples into relationship:  Follow me.

Jesus promised to change them: I will make you…

And Jesus promised to engage them in His Kingdom mission: I will make you fishers of men.

So, when we read His book, the Bible, our ambition is to get to know The Author… the author and perfecter of our faith.

 

To Be a King

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1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. Proverbs 21:1-4

The folly of kings is to believe they are above judgment. Their position gives the illusion of independent movement and the illusion of being untouchable.

But God… can move them.

But God… weighs the heart.

But God… values righteousness and justice.

But God… considers pride and contempt as sin.

Careful… we all want to live like kings. And their folly is too easily mine.

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords full of truth and grace. If He can move the hearts of kings, He can move my heart too.

No Grazing

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No Grazing

“You shall not steal.”  Exodus 20:15 

My local Fruitcana on Fraser street has posted a sign at their bins: no grazing. They could have said, “You shall not steal.” 

But we might not see sampling the product as stealing. Just grazing.

I’m afraid we do that to many of God’s Commandments too. We opt out and can’t see the truth about ourselves until the Spirit of God takes the Law and leads us to the cross. Then we are back to the relationship and we see again or for the first time how far we are from God’s vision of life together with Him. 

Can you imagine what it would be like to be so responsive to God’s grace in Christ Jesus that we don’t steal. Instead we respect boundaries, we give credit where credit is due, we build up patience and character in our children by having them delay gratification of their own impulse to graze, we pay for music, we accept our failings and those of others without condemnation and lean in to learn rather than cheat, we honour our commitments, we build trust through just compensation. 

Not you, not me? Not a grazer? 

Lord have mercy!

1Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or 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?  Romans 2:1-4