Jesus

The heart seeks life.

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2“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

3“You must not have any other god but me.

4“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind…

Exodus 20:2-4

The heart of humanity is on a search for life. When the affections of our heart are not shaped by the Presence and worth of God, they will latch onto something else as a source of life, meaning, hope, and happiness. Our heart has been called an idol factory. So true!

The testimony of Scripture shows humanity over and over intensely preoccupied with constructing idols out of people, ourselves, and the stuff of earth. The Scripture show us that even in the pursuit of “god” we are capable of constructing whole systems of belief that obscure the Truth and abandon grace.

God reveals Himself. God rescues. God liberates. He is the Lord our God. In these Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) God casts a vision of what knowing Him creates in the heart of those who cherish Him. Knowing Him creates a will to pursue Him and to forsake idols. I rejoice in Jesus Christ. For He has come from the Father full of grace and truth. He says,

24“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

25“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son.  John 5:24-26

The Great Defection and Its Infection

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Background

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12

The narrative of Scripture from the Cross of Jesus shows humanity infected with sin — this impulse to act independent of God and His Word. Adam’s defection from the communion of God radically altered the innocence, honour, and trust humanity had enjoyed. The consequence is death — a brokenness permeating everyone and all our relationships: with God, with self, with people, and with the stuff of earth.

Living disconnected from the communion of God has brought death. I hate it. This viral death has spread among us and it takes ugly forms in its rage and its apathy, its blindness and its rebellion, its strange delight in evil and its self-righteousness.

Everyone sinned.

The narrative of the Cross tells us the truth about our brokenness and it tells us of God’s hope and healing for humanity:

15But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:15-19 NLT

We give regard to the Cross because of the One who died there for all.

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He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a  cross. Philippians 2:8 (NLT)

The cross was a feared execution stake. It was a place of shame, guilt, and fear. And it meant those very burdens were being bourn in the person nailed there. But Jesus, died a criminal’s death that was not His own. The testimony of Scripture is that Jesus was “without sin” but “became sin” for us. (1 Corinthians 5:21) The cross is the location of that transfer. God was up to something extraordinary there for us! But first it most be considered that Jesus took up the cross in regard to His communion with the Heavenly Father. Jesus is a willful participant in your salvation.

Let’s reflect on Jesus and His Cross. from the context of this from Philippians 2:5-10 —

5… Christ Jesus…

6Though he was God,

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Scandalized by the Cross –Saved through Christ.

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21Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

24But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:21-24 (NLT)

The cross is the central symbol of Christianity. And its really a bit of scandal! We preach that Christ was crucified. We proclaim that God has done something extraordinary for humanity and it involved the most despicable and cursed of objects. It involved the most beloved One, Jesus Christ, coming from the communion of God and passing through a womb and entering the halls of humanity’s history, so we could see for a moment what is our true destiny.

Now we see Christ crucified, God on a cross accomplishing the love and justice of God so we can know and enjoy Him forever.

What wisdom is there in the cross? Wouldn’t faith be better served with a sign from heaven? Wouldn’t faith be better served with a something less weak and scandalous?

“But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Refreshing, mind-blowing, heart-lifting service always does this! Authentic Ministry, Part 3

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12When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16Truly, truly, I say to you, a servantis not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:12-17

There’s nothing like the frustration and exasperation that fills the soul when you know you are living in a customer service nightmare. I hate it when I know I have become just one more beast in the line-up. The company refuses to meet me.

But you and I can do the same thing to people we actually love. Everyday we are tasked with the regular and mundane events of serving people in our homes, schools, and workplaces. How can that moment become something refreshing? How can those regular moments be turned into something Jesus would call a blessing?

Meet the person. Don’t just fill the need. Meet the person. We are in danger of creating our own dignity stripping hell when we just meet the need. Don’t meet needs. Meet the person.

Foot washing is personal. Feet are sensitive. Jesus has given us an example in which we can take the usual tasks of our day and humbly look up to a person and meet them as a precious treasure. In those moments we are positioning them as fantastic people worthy of Jesus’ very life and our interest.

No matter what you do next, refreshing, mind-blowing, heart-lifting service always begins by meeting the person.