Live now

 

LEAD KINDLY LIGHT/BLESSED JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

 

The Israelites had something special as they started their journey towards home – they had the presence of God and were led by Him across the desert.

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. – Exodus 13:21  ESV

Our prayers as followers of God has had these requests for God to continue to lead us with His light and His truth. We know in them we will have eternal life.

Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling! – Psalm 43:3  ESV

Jesus kept the call alive by illustrating that He in fact was that light and whoever follows Him will have eternal life.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12  ESV

I am challenged by Jesus as to what it means to be a disciple. First of all, He is my light and I follow. I will conduct my life as if I am in the kingdom of God now and not of this world. Because of that decision, I will no longer live in my past, my darkness, but rather will leave behind my ignorance, guilt and sin. I live now for Jesus.

Then Jesus gives me His Spirit to so that I can bear witness to the fact that I am indeed a child of God. With His light comes life.

Phineas Fletcher – speaking of the conversion of a soul to God, he says: –

“New Light new Love, new Love new Life hath bred;

A Life that lives by Love, and loves by Light:

A Love to him, to whom all Loves are wed;

A Light, to whom the sun is darkest night:

Eye’s Light, heart’s Love, soul’s only Life he is:

Life, soul, love, heart, Light, eye, and all are his:

He eye, Light, heart, Love, soul; He all my joy and bliss.”

Purple Island, Can. I. v. 7.

When Jesus says – I am the light of the world – it’s as if that one short sentence gathers all of His work and nature in one thought. It actually is shorter than that for – I am – is where it all lands. All of my experiences, as fragmented as they may seem, all draw together and come together with a sense of bringing me into the presence of Jesus. Hearing it, I am filled with strength and purpose and in it I find all my future experiences getting their meaning from it.

This life I live now continues. So I live now, in the action and presence of God with His people.

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Joy

 

Kirk Franklin – Joy (Feat. Dorothy Anderson)

 

Joy has been for me a sense of pervasive well-being my whole life. For the past little while I had lost that joy for the first time because I felt that God was trying to get a message through to me and somehow I could not hear Him. Then I read this verse I knew that all along I made the choice to be a person of joy, it was not because of what I had done, but who Jesus was. Somehow I carried the yoke and when I gave it to Jesus, He gave me His joy in return. Quite freeing.

We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. – 2 Corinthians 6:8-10  ESV

Joy is consistent with terrible circumstances. It is consistent with sorrow because it is the realization of what is really going on in the world is under God – and that is joy. In fact, it is a joyous God who fills the universe.

 

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The Lord reigns

 

Gateway Worship – The Lord Reigns

 

I loved the opportunity this morning to engage in the second journey of the ark to Jerusalem. What a celebration! I cannot imagine the decibel levels that might have been reached. It is a picture for me of what my celebration will be like when I see Jesus. So with the time I have to practice, I might as well dance with all my might and plunge myself in the bottomless sea of ineffable bliss.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”                 1 Chronicles 16:31  ESV

Okay, both feet are back on the ground again, reality hits home when I engage with the Corinthian church. They were so bad at so many levels even though I know they enjoyed some wild moments in their relationship with God. They were so bad that even Paul had to tell them to be good to Timothy who he was sending to them. I am reminded again to make sure that my heavenly expressions matter and change me in my earthly ministry.

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.                 1 Corinthians 16:10  ESV

I cannot be taking my cues from the secular society around me. I cannot be pitting one Christian against another. Apollos did not want to come to Corinth. That is pretty bad.

So tough talk is just as important as being in worship and celebration.

If I am going to be a follower of Jesus, and I do, I need to be watching, to stand firm in my faith, to be courageous and to be strong. But mostly, and above all else, I need to love. The bottom line is love – not wealth, sophistication, competing ideas.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love. – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14  ESV

I found Paul Tillich’s concept of faith being our ultimate concern fascinating. It speaks into this idea a bit. Here is snippet of a summary I found.

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Tillich believes the essence of religious attitudes is what he calls “ultimate concern”. Separate from all profane and ordinary realities, the object of the concern is understood as sacred, numinous or holy. The perception of its reality is felt as so overwhelming and valuable that all else seems insignificant, and for this reason requires total surrender.[38] In 1957, Tillich defined his conception of faith more explicitly in his work, Dynamics of Faith.

Man, like every living being, is concerned about many things, above all about those which condition his very existence … If [a situation or concern] claims ultimacy it demands the total surrender of him who accepts this claim … it demands that all other concerns … be sacrificed.[39]

Tillich further refined his conception of faith by stating that, “Faith as ultimate concern is an act of the total personality. It is the most centered act of the human mind … it participates in the dynamics of personal life.”[40]

An arguably central component of Tillich’s concept of faith is his notion that faith is “ecstatic”. That is to say:

It transcends both the drives of the nonrational unconsciousness and the structures of the rational conscious … the ecstatic character of faith does not exclude its rational character although it is not identical with it, and it includes nonrational strivings without being identical with them. ‘Ecstasy’ means ‘standing outside of oneself’ – without ceasing to be oneself – with all the elements which are united in the personal center.[41]

In short, for Tillich, faith does not stand opposed to rational or nonrational elements (reason and emotion respectively), as some philosophers would maintain. Rather, it transcends them in an ecstatic passion for the ultimate.[42]

It should also be noted that Tillich does not exclude atheists in his exposition of faith. Everyone has an ultimate concern, and this concern can be in an act of faith, “even if the act of faith includes the denial of God. Where there is ultimate concern, God can be denied only in the name of God”[43]

What is my bottom line, what is my highest value? I know this, as much as I enjoy singing, it will only be genuine and celebratory if I act in courage to be a disciple of Jesus and align all that I am and have with the ministry of love. It does take courage to make my love of God, my neighbour and my enemy my bottom line.

 

 

 

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Passion to learn and love

 

I believe there is only one denomination left where women are not allowed to be part of teaching the word of God. Most have used this verse to validate such a ruling.

As in all the churches of the saints,  the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.  If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.                     1 Corinthians 14:34-35  ESV

Those denominations who have done away with their previous mandates against women in teaching roles have come to a place where they understand that this instruction and the need for this instruction is consistent with the cultural status of women at the time.

Here is what  I like about the verse.

Can you imagine, a woman shut out of any spiritual training of any kind other than some court specifically assigned to them in the temple area, getting excited about what she is hearing being preached. She has so many questions, she wants to connect the dots, she cannot wait to get home to ask her husband, she needs to know now. But alas, she is with a body of people, and instead of disturbing the peace, she knows she will have to wait.

I found this incredible quote from Matthew Henry on what love looks like and felt you needed to read the whole thing. There is a passion to learn, which I believe comes from a passion to love God. This quote combines the two together.

Wisdom may dwell with love, and charity be cautious. But it is apt to believe well of all, to entertain a good opinion of them when there is no appearance to the contrary; nay, to believe well when there may be some dark appearances, if the evidence of ill be not clear. All charity is full of candour, apt to make the best of every thing, and put on it the best face and appearance? it will judge well, and believe well, as far as it can with any reason, and will rather stretch its faith beyond appearances for the support of a kind opinion; but it will go into a bad one with the upmost reluctance, and fence against it as much as it fairly and honestly can. And when, in spite of inclination, it cannot believe well of others, it will yet hope well, and continue to hope as long as there is any ground for it. It will not presently conclude a case desperate, but wishes the amendment of the worst of men, and is very apt to hope for what it wishes. How well-natured and amiable a thing is Christian charity? How lovely a mind is that which is tinctured throughout with such benevolence, and has it diffused over its whole frame! Happy the man who has this heavenly fire glowing in his heart, flowing out of his mouth, and diffusing its warmth over all with whom he has to do! How lovely a thing would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more actuated and animated by this divine principle, and paid a due regard to a command on which its blessed author laid a chief stress! A new commandment give I to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that youalso love one another, Jn. 13:34 . By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, v. 35. Blessed Jesus! how few of thy professed disciples are to be distinguished and marked out by this characteristic! – Matthew Henry

Then I found another quote – this one again talking about the passion of God’s love and it comes calling me to take my passion and my love and offer it right back to God so that He can continue to work in my life.

It is God’s love, from the face of Jesus shining into my dark heart, that makes my heart open to him, and delight to be his dwelling-place. The eyes of the just Avenger I cannot endure to be in this place of sin; but the eye of the compassionate Physician I shall gladly admit into this place of disease; for he comes from heaven to earth that he may heal such sin sick souls as mine. When a disciple desires to be searched by the living God, he does not thereby intimate that there are no sins in him to be discovered: he intimates rather that his foes are so many and so lively, that nothing can subdue them except the presence and power of God. – William Arnott

Psalm 139 is a powerful expression of both passion to learn and to love. May God always find in me a willing heart to yield to Him. For my passion and love for Him is my expression as I serve Him in this world.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!       Psalm 139:23  ESV

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Lessons

 

Here are some of my lessons learned, especially after going through David’s first reign as king.

Patience: This is the same lesson I had from Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Jesus – Samuel anoints David as king when he was 15. He does not become king until he is 30 and that is only over Judah. At 37 he becomes king over all of Israel. I have to be patient as God works out His will in His time.

Waiting is a part of the divine design of things. Waiting is no accident, it is purposed. It is in waiting times that many I know have failed in their faith and obedience. In some way, waiting is a form of adversity, maybe even a test of our faith and endurance. Examples such as the events of the golden calf, and King Saul’s failure to wait for Samuel to arrive come to mind. The disciples were in a hurry to usher in the new kingdom of God. The eleven apostles were in a hurry to replace Judas when they should have already started to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. It is a wonder why Jesus taught them so much on what they should be doing while they were waiting.

Diplomacy:  Sometimes I go too simple when I think of God’s will. Then again, sometimes I am pretty intense like “a bull in a china shop.” David worked hard at bringing together a united kingdom. I look at myself to be characterized by grace, wisdom and love so that I am paving the way to work with people and groups as agents of God’s Kingdom. Knowing God’s will is not enough – I have to facilitate it too.

Seeking God: David inquires from God three times. If I know it all and stop seeking God, I am going to find myself in a lot of trouble.

Self-interest: What happens when I or someone on my team becomes a bit too interested in their own agenda? The kind of mindset that can actually delay or even derail an initiative. I have to surrender my own priorities if I am to serve the King.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh.  In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince[c] over Israel.’”  So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. – 2 Samuel 5:1-3  ESV

Can’t imagine how David felt being king after so many years of being rejected by Saul.  If he had not been surrounded by people who loved him, and followed him, I am not too sure he would have made it.

 

 

 

 

 

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