Gospel

Jesus has a problem

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24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”  Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus has a problem: People like to listen and then… not do anything with what they’ve heard. But they feel good about themselves for having heard something. It’s the same problem a friend of mine has with his consultation business. So he says, “No more free advice.” Free advice = we won’t do what you say or even think about it after we get out of the room.

And here’s our problem: Jesus doesn’t give advice.

So He paints a picture for us.

The wise man builds his house upon the rock!

So while we are reading the Gospels during the 50 Day Gospel Challenge, I’m reading to not only get to know Jesus, but also to find out what He would like me to do… today.

Read to obey since we have been given the grace of knowing Him!

 

(50 Day Gospel Challenge: Matthew 6-8)

 

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!

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

 

In the grip of shame or the grip of God?

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1But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1

When you are in the grip of shame, you feel disowned.

When you are in the grip of shame, you believe you are unlovable.

Shame keeps you attached to sin.

But here is our assurance through Christ:

He redeems us; has gone to great lengths, all the way to the cross

to cover our shame.

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.  Titus 2:11 – 14

When you are in the grip of God, you arrived there because He called you by name.

When you are in the grip of God, you know you are His.

God frees you from the grip of sin.

 

God Put On Our Shoes

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14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.  John 1:14-18

Jesus is God entering into our human relationships. Literally. In the flesh Jesus is God entering in to our relationships and therefor our experiences. He comes revealing God the Father. He comes full of grace and truth. He came to walk in our shoes.

A Cherokee proverb says, “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” But Jesus didn’t “walk in those shoes” in order to judge us. He walked in those shoes to rescue us. His journey in those shoes brings us God’s grace. In fact Jesus went the extra mile for us… straight to the Cross.