In John 9, Jesus heals a blind man which served to infuriate the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day. Jn 9:25, the healed man is speaking, He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know, one thing I do know. I was blind but now I see.
Jesus is known throughout the world. He lived 2000 years ago and has world renown. Some call him savior, some teacher, some lunatic. What we call Jesus doesn't matter. What we think of him doesn't change who he is. Our human words can't label him, quantify him, or contain him.
The blind see. We can attempt to convince ourselves and the world that Jesus isn't who he claims to be, some devote their lives to it. The simple truth remains, the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead live. Jesus is God.
Jn 9:34 tells us that when presented not only with the facts, but also with the evidence, the Pharisees threw the former blind man out. Isolating ourselves from facts and evidence makes us blind. Who would choose blindness over sight? Sadly many do.
If you were once blind, but now can see, tell it, tell it to the world.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
God's Economy
God ask us to trust Him, to step out in faith and rely on Him and not ourselves. That is really what should be at the core of all we do trust in Him alone. God is constantly at work in and around our lives, when we trust Him he reveals Himself to us in many different ways.
Re-thinking Christmas. It’s the series we are in right now and a topic of discussion in my home. The idea is to purchase a few less gifts and take the money saved, and donate it. We have placed our re-thinking envelope on the center of our tree, you can’t look at the tree without seeing it. It’s front and center on our tree and in our minds. We’ve been thinking about it, praying about it and talking about it for a few weeks. We’re trusting God on this one.
We have decided in addition to supporting the clean water, church plant, and the bread of life mission, that RiverGlen is backing, we are also going to give financially to a missionary this Christmas. Yesterday morning Kelly and I decided how much we would give. Three hours after making that decision I received very unexpectedly, and much to my surprise, an amount of money that will not only cover the amount we committed to, but will also leave a little left over.
Some will say it’s a coincidence. They can say that. I say, I serve a God that tells me to take him at his word. John 10:10 says I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. God provided more than we decided to give, he gave to us abundantly, we were blessed for our obedience.
I'm thinking I need to do some more re-thinking.
Re-thinking Christmas. It’s the series we are in right now and a topic of discussion in my home. The idea is to purchase a few less gifts and take the money saved, and donate it. We have placed our re-thinking envelope on the center of our tree, you can’t look at the tree without seeing it. It’s front and center on our tree and in our minds. We’ve been thinking about it, praying about it and talking about it for a few weeks. We’re trusting God on this one.
We have decided in addition to supporting the clean water, church plant, and the bread of life mission, that RiverGlen is backing, we are also going to give financially to a missionary this Christmas. Yesterday morning Kelly and I decided how much we would give. Three hours after making that decision I received very unexpectedly, and much to my surprise, an amount of money that will not only cover the amount we committed to, but will also leave a little left over.
Some will say it’s a coincidence. They can say that. I say, I serve a God that tells me to take him at his word. John 10:10 says I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. God provided more than we decided to give, he gave to us abundantly, we were blessed for our obedience.
I'm thinking I need to do some more re-thinking.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Connect
I hope you were in church this weekend to hear Ben speak on the importance of being connected in a small group or class with others. This truth resonates in our souls, we are created to exist in community with others. We instinctively crave connections with others. Without community we suffer physically, mentally, and spiritually. Over the weekend I read The Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller. In it he writes:
Christians commonly say they want a relationship with Jesus; they want to “get to know Jesus better.” You will never be able to do that by yourself. You must be deeply involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love and accountability. Only if you are a part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness.
I think this is an excellent summary of what we know to be true. As group leaders you are making it possible for others to get to know Jesus and to grow in his likeness.
I had two interesting conversations this weekend with “mature” Christians. Two men, both who love and serve the Lord, and neither one of them are currently plugged into a group. What surprised me is that I assumed they were both in groups, they have been in the past and know that’s where growth and real life transformation takes place. The lesson for me was simple. Be proactive, ask and invite, encourage everyone to be in a group, especially the ones we think already are.
Thanks for your time and effort to make this semester’s Group Life launch successful.
Christians commonly say they want a relationship with Jesus; they want to “get to know Jesus better.” You will never be able to do that by yourself. You must be deeply involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love and accountability. Only if you are a part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness.
I think this is an excellent summary of what we know to be true. As group leaders you are making it possible for others to get to know Jesus and to grow in his likeness.
I had two interesting conversations this weekend with “mature” Christians. Two men, both who love and serve the Lord, and neither one of them are currently plugged into a group. What surprised me is that I assumed they were both in groups, they have been in the past and know that’s where growth and real life transformation takes place. The lesson for me was simple. Be proactive, ask and invite, encourage everyone to be in a group, especially the ones we think already are.
Thanks for your time and effort to make this semester’s Group Life launch successful.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Enlist
Rev 19:14
The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
I've come to realize, that although I have never registered to serve in our nations military, I am enlisted in the army. The armies of heaven... When we choose to follow Christ with our lives we become part of his heavenly army. Substitute your name for the word armies.
(Your name here) of heaven was following him, riding on a white horse and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. As a Christ follower we are in his army. Our uniform is the finest linen, of the brightest white. A battle has been fought on our behalf and we have been made clean and bright.
I've never been in the military but I do understand marching orders.
You will be my witnesses.
Go and make disciples.
Take care of widows and orphans and do not become corrupted by the world.
The you is plural, it includes all followers of Christ. We have our orders, time to march.
The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
I've come to realize, that although I have never registered to serve in our nations military, I am enlisted in the army. The armies of heaven... When we choose to follow Christ with our lives we become part of his heavenly army. Substitute your name for the word armies.
(Your name here) of heaven was following him, riding on a white horse and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. As a Christ follower we are in his army. Our uniform is the finest linen, of the brightest white. A battle has been fought on our behalf and we have been made clean and bright.
I've never been in the military but I do understand marching orders.
You will be my witnesses.
Go and make disciples.
Take care of widows and orphans and do not become corrupted by the world.
The you is plural, it includes all followers of Christ. We have our orders, time to march.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Purge
For many the Old Testament is merely a collection of stories and wise sayings. They find no 21st century application in those writings. Yet, if they would look a little closer they would awaken to the truth, wisdom, and guidance found in those pages.
Josiah became king at the tender age of eight. 2Chron 34:2 "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."
Josiah's father and grandfather were wicked in the eyes of the LORD. He did not have a role model or a father figure to follow. He simply looked at the kingdom and knew that something was wrong, and he knew he was going to change that. Josiah began to destroy an desecrate all the temples and high places used for idol worship. He went through out the land removing the vile practices. He did all of this without knowing the law.
God's law had been hidden in the temple. His father nor grandfather heeded the law, they had no need for it. It lay hidden in plain view, out of sight and out of mind. When the book of law was found and read Josiah greatly grieved, he realized how far the nation of Israel had strayed from God.
Do we too hide the law in the temples of our homes? Is the LORD's will and word hidden in plain view on the shelf we keep our bibles? Isn't an unused bible hidden? Josiah didn't have the law, yet he knew something was terribly wrong and he purged the land.
Where are the altars and temples in our lives that need purging and destruction? Can we see those blindspots apart from God? God reveals his will to us in his word. May his decrees never be hidden in a temple of our own making, may we never hide his word in plain view, may we never hide God's word in a temple of our own making.
Josiah became king at the tender age of eight. 2Chron 34:2 "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."
Josiah's father and grandfather were wicked in the eyes of the LORD. He did not have a role model or a father figure to follow. He simply looked at the kingdom and knew that something was wrong, and he knew he was going to change that. Josiah began to destroy an desecrate all the temples and high places used for idol worship. He went through out the land removing the vile practices. He did all of this without knowing the law.
God's law had been hidden in the temple. His father nor grandfather heeded the law, they had no need for it. It lay hidden in plain view, out of sight and out of mind. When the book of law was found and read Josiah greatly grieved, he realized how far the nation of Israel had strayed from God.
Do we too hide the law in the temples of our homes? Is the LORD's will and word hidden in plain view on the shelf we keep our bibles? Isn't an unused bible hidden? Josiah didn't have the law, yet he knew something was terribly wrong and he purged the land.
Where are the altars and temples in our lives that need purging and destruction? Can we see those blindspots apart from God? God reveals his will to us in his word. May his decrees never be hidden in a temple of our own making, may we never hide his word in plain view, may we never hide God's word in a temple of our own making.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Hatred and Enemies
James 4:4 reads: You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Tough words, tough times, tough world, because so many only focus on the here and now. Valuing the things the world esteems is hatred towards God. All the world has to offer adds up to nothing, it won't last. Those things will fade and rust away long before forever. The world's offerings and finest goods come with expiration dates, built in obsolescence. What can't last forever won't
Befriending the world, allying with the world is a declaration of war on God. We become his enemy. We go to war without ever sizing up the opposition.
While we were still sinners, that is to say enemies of God, Christ died for us. We fail to size up God because we cannot fathom the unfathomable. We cannot comprehend the mind of God. Us, enemies with him, at war with Him, and yet while we wage war, He died for us. The world will never offer that, yet God has.
Tough words, tough times, tough world, because so many only focus on the here and now. Valuing the things the world esteems is hatred towards God. All the world has to offer adds up to nothing, it won't last. Those things will fade and rust away long before forever. The world's offerings and finest goods come with expiration dates, built in obsolescence. What can't last forever won't
Befriending the world, allying with the world is a declaration of war on God. We become his enemy. We go to war without ever sizing up the opposition.
While we were still sinners, that is to say enemies of God, Christ died for us. We fail to size up God because we cannot fathom the unfathomable. We cannot comprehend the mind of God. Us, enemies with him, at war with Him, and yet while we wage war, He died for us. The world will never offer that, yet God has.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Two Wisdoms
The world contains wisdom. The wisdom of the world clings to us like the strands of a spider web accidentally wandered into. It's like the odor of smoke, it permeates the fabric of our lives. We are surrounded and immersed in a wisdom that says, "Me first", "If it feels good it can't be that bad", "If it feels good do it."
The wisdom of the world can only carry us so far or so long. That wisdom last about 75 years. The same wisdom tells us the bible is a compilation of stories and essays that make a good read, and that's all.
Heaven's wisdom is far different. It is pure, just as God is pure. There is no stain or odor on the fabric of heaven's wisdom. Wisdom from heaven loves peace. It's not quarrelsome or argumentative, it doesn't have to have the last word. The wisdom from heaven is simply the word. Wisdom from heaven is considerate-it's not the hammer and we're the nail. It's considerate of all our short comings; it knows our desires. Heaven's wisdom is submissive to God's will, as we are when we submit to wisdom.
Heaven's wisdom is full of mercy. Overflowing mercy, saturating, permeating, mercy that penetrates the fabric of our lives. Heaven's wisdom produces good fruit. It promotes and encourages placing others first, wisdom from heaven eases suffering. Heaven's wisdom is impartial, no favorites or favoritism allowed. Heaven's wisdom is is sincere, it's from the heart, God's heart. This wisdom last without end. This wisdom is given in love and is love, God's love for all.
The wisdom of the world can only carry us so far or so long. That wisdom last about 75 years. The same wisdom tells us the bible is a compilation of stories and essays that make a good read, and that's all.
Heaven's wisdom is far different. It is pure, just as God is pure. There is no stain or odor on the fabric of heaven's wisdom. Wisdom from heaven loves peace. It's not quarrelsome or argumentative, it doesn't have to have the last word. The wisdom from heaven is simply the word. Wisdom from heaven is considerate-it's not the hammer and we're the nail. It's considerate of all our short comings; it knows our desires. Heaven's wisdom is submissive to God's will, as we are when we submit to wisdom.
Heaven's wisdom is full of mercy. Overflowing mercy, saturating, permeating, mercy that penetrates the fabric of our lives. Heaven's wisdom produces good fruit. It promotes and encourages placing others first, wisdom from heaven eases suffering. Heaven's wisdom is impartial, no favorites or favoritism allowed. Heaven's wisdom is is sincere, it's from the heart, God's heart. This wisdom last without end. This wisdom is given in love and is love, God's love for all.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Sliding
Psalm 73, 2-3
(2)But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
What happens when we take our eyes off the goal of eternity Christ? The psalmist says we loose our footing, we trip up, we slip, we loose our foothold. When our focus switches from God to the world, we envy. We envy the prosperity of the wicked. We become discontent with who we are, with where we are, with who we are with, with what we have. We give up God's standards for man's standards. We give up the eternal for the temporary.
Power, beauty, fame, and fortune, these are the things the world values. We stumble over the prosperity of the wicked. Power weakens, beauty fades, fame flees, fortunes dwindle. Distracted we become discontented, discontented we become self centered. Suffering follows.
Who will feed the hungry? Who comforts the uncomforted? Who will defend the defenseless? The one who has heard "love others as yourself." In disobedience we envy. In obedience, we give the things the world values a passing glance. In obedience alone, are grace and mercy found. When we find them, we can give them. When we give them, God's ways are our ways.
(2)But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
What happens when we take our eyes off the goal of eternity Christ? The psalmist says we loose our footing, we trip up, we slip, we loose our foothold. When our focus switches from God to the world, we envy. We envy the prosperity of the wicked. We become discontent with who we are, with where we are, with who we are with, with what we have. We give up God's standards for man's standards. We give up the eternal for the temporary.
Power, beauty, fame, and fortune, these are the things the world values. We stumble over the prosperity of the wicked. Power weakens, beauty fades, fame flees, fortunes dwindle. Distracted we become discontented, discontented we become self centered. Suffering follows.
Who will feed the hungry? Who comforts the uncomforted? Who will defend the defenseless? The one who has heard "love others as yourself." In disobedience we envy. In obedience, we give the things the world values a passing glance. In obedience alone, are grace and mercy found. When we find them, we can give them. When we give them, God's ways are our ways.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Knowing Jesus
To know Jesus is to sit under his teaching.
To know Jesus is to follow his teachings.
To know Jesus is to be Jesus to others.
To know Jesus is to serve others.
To know Jesus is to rise up others.
To know Jesus is to lose self importance.
To know Jesus is to live.
To know Jesus is to know God.
The great mystery in knowing God is found in knowing Jesus. Knowing Jesus begins with a step in faith.
To know Jesus is to follow his teachings.
To know Jesus is to be Jesus to others.
To know Jesus is to serve others.
To know Jesus is to rise up others.
To know Jesus is to lose self importance.
To know Jesus is to live.
To know Jesus is to know God.
The great mystery in knowing God is found in knowing Jesus. Knowing Jesus begins with a step in faith.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
With Us
2 Chronicles 15:26b
The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
God is with us when we are with Him. When are we with God? We are with God when we gather together for worship. We are with God when we study His word alone and in private in order to hear His voice and will. We are with God when we act upon the things He has taught us in those moments. We are with God when we love Him as we should. We are with God when we love others through serving them and meeting their needs. We are with God when we take care of widows and orphans and don't allow ourselves to be corrupted by the world. We are with God when we pursue Him and His will, when we act upon His will we are with Him. God avails Himself to us when we seek Him, and when we seek Him we will find Him.
The opposite is also true, if we choose not to seek him, if we choose not to follow His ways, we will be rewarded with that pursuit also. Our reward will be our own folly. God won't abandon us or forsake us until we abandon Him first. Scripture tells us of His love for us. He loved us so much that he came seeking us. He made Himself available to us, that whoever, anyone, who believes in Him will not perish. He came seeking us first.
God is with us. We have to individually decide if we are going to be with Him. The choice to follow Him is an easy one, yet it seems so hard for many. Avail ourselves to Him, and in his grace and mercy we will be found.
When we seek Him we will find Him.
The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
God is with us when we are with Him. When are we with God? We are with God when we gather together for worship. We are with God when we study His word alone and in private in order to hear His voice and will. We are with God when we act upon the things He has taught us in those moments. We are with God when we love Him as we should. We are with God when we love others through serving them and meeting their needs. We are with God when we take care of widows and orphans and don't allow ourselves to be corrupted by the world. We are with God when we pursue Him and His will, when we act upon His will we are with Him. God avails Himself to us when we seek Him, and when we seek Him we will find Him.
The opposite is also true, if we choose not to seek him, if we choose not to follow His ways, we will be rewarded with that pursuit also. Our reward will be our own folly. God won't abandon us or forsake us until we abandon Him first. Scripture tells us of His love for us. He loved us so much that he came seeking us. He made Himself available to us, that whoever, anyone, who believes in Him will not perish. He came seeking us first.
God is with us. We have to individually decide if we are going to be with Him. The choice to follow Him is an easy one, yet it seems so hard for many. Avail ourselves to Him, and in his grace and mercy we will be found.
When we seek Him we will find Him.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Obstacles
In Romans 14, Paul tells us to make up our minds to not put any stumbling blocks or obstacles in our brothers way. Interesting choice of words. Make up your mind to not do something, means we are naturally inclined to do the very thing we don't want to do. We must make a conscious choice to do the right thing.
Anything we do deliberately that causes someone to unjustly feel pain, or suffer, or to otherwise negatively impact them is a stumbling block or obstacle. Here's an application of what we should do.
When it is in our power to encourage, we encourage.
When it is in our power to do good, do good.
When it is in our power to help, help.
When we do these things, we use our lives to point others to Christ. We become stumbling block and obstacle removers.
Anything we do deliberately that causes someone to unjustly feel pain, or suffer, or to otherwise negatively impact them is a stumbling block or obstacle. Here's an application of what we should do.
When it is in our power to encourage, we encourage.
When it is in our power to do good, do good.
When it is in our power to help, help.
When we do these things, we use our lives to point others to Christ. We become stumbling block and obstacle removers.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Theory and Reality
Proverbs 2
If you accept my words...
If you call out for insight...
If you look for it...
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD...
Then you will understand what is right and just...
Then you will walk in the ways of good men...
Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Wisdom is there for the taking. Solomon laid out the path and the steps we need to take. Accept the words of God, live the teachings of Jesus and we will have wisdom. Call out for insight. Seek wisdom as a treasure hunter would pursue a long lost fortune, go on a quest for wisdom.
Look beyond self, look past personal importance, seek the greater gift to be shared. Then and only then will wisdom be found.
Remember, times and seasons of life come when we won't do the things we know we should do. We will hate what we do, and when that happens:
Accept His words...
Call out...
Search for it...
The we will:
Understand the fear of the LORD
Understand righteousness and justice
Walk with God and good men
When we forget, keep searching, we will find.
If you accept my words...
If you call out for insight...
If you look for it...
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD...
Then you will understand what is right and just...
Then you will walk in the ways of good men...
Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Wisdom is there for the taking. Solomon laid out the path and the steps we need to take. Accept the words of God, live the teachings of Jesus and we will have wisdom. Call out for insight. Seek wisdom as a treasure hunter would pursue a long lost fortune, go on a quest for wisdom.
Look beyond self, look past personal importance, seek the greater gift to be shared. Then and only then will wisdom be found.
Remember, times and seasons of life come when we won't do the things we know we should do. We will hate what we do, and when that happens:
Accept His words...
Call out...
Search for it...
The we will:
Understand the fear of the LORD
Understand righteousness and justice
Walk with God and good men
When we forget, keep searching, we will find.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Three Things
Your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope. Faith produces works, love results in labor, and hope leads to endurance. These three, faith, hope, and love all come to us through Christ. When we obey, these three flow through us.
Faith in Jesus produces good works in us. Love from Jesus and for him prompts holy and righteous labor. Hope in Jesus results gives us the endurance to continue on.
As a Christ follower, the goal for me is to learn all I can and to grow all I can so that I may be available for the work God has prepared for me in advance. I don't grow for the sake of growing, I grow so that I may be useful in pointing others to Christ. Being a Christ follower means to do as he did.
He came, he healed, he taught, he died, he rose. He did that all out of love. He was and is the chosen one, the messiah. Never once did he deviate from his divine mission. He gave love because he is love. He gave hope because he is hope. He is faithful, and because of that we have faith. When we love God and love others we are love, hope, and faith to the world.
Faith in him leads to faith in others, love from him leads to loving others, hope in him brings hope to the world. Faith, hope, and love, three reasons we grow.
Faith in Jesus produces good works in us. Love from Jesus and for him prompts holy and righteous labor. Hope in Jesus results gives us the endurance to continue on.
As a Christ follower, the goal for me is to learn all I can and to grow all I can so that I may be available for the work God has prepared for me in advance. I don't grow for the sake of growing, I grow so that I may be useful in pointing others to Christ. Being a Christ follower means to do as he did.
He came, he healed, he taught, he died, he rose. He did that all out of love. He was and is the chosen one, the messiah. Never once did he deviate from his divine mission. He gave love because he is love. He gave hope because he is hope. He is faithful, and because of that we have faith. When we love God and love others we are love, hope, and faith to the world.
Faith in him leads to faith in others, love from him leads to loving others, hope in him brings hope to the world. Faith, hope, and love, three reasons we grow.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Trust
What is it that I and others trust in? Do we trust in the power of money? Do we trust in the power that we think money will provide us with? Do we desire the power we think money will provide? Recent economic circumstances have reduced fortunes great and small to shadows of their former glory. The answer is clear, wealth alone does not last and cannot be relied upon or trusted in.
Do we trust in our government and elected officials? This too seems to be folly, our leaders are no different from us. Vanity and ego's get in the way of potential, theirs and mine. We are more like than unlike, that makes trust tough. What then, is left to trust in? For me it's not what is left to trust in, it is who is left to trust in.
God is who he says he is. "I am who am." God does what he says he will do. God calls us to him. Do we listen for his voice, can we recognize his voice?
The Pharisees and Sadducee's were amazed by Jesus. They marvelled at his teachings and miracles. After they marvelled, scriptures tell us they left him and went away. (Mt 22:22) It's possible to marvel at Christ without following him. It's also possible to marvel and follow after him, trust this truth.
Do we trust in our government and elected officials? This too seems to be folly, our leaders are no different from us. Vanity and ego's get in the way of potential, theirs and mine. We are more like than unlike, that makes trust tough. What then, is left to trust in? For me it's not what is left to trust in, it is who is left to trust in.
God is who he says he is. "I am who am." God does what he says he will do. God calls us to him. Do we listen for his voice, can we recognize his voice?
The Pharisees and Sadducee's were amazed by Jesus. They marvelled at his teachings and miracles. After they marvelled, scriptures tell us they left him and went away. (Mt 22:22) It's possible to marvel at Christ without following him. It's also possible to marvel and follow after him, trust this truth.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Prayer
Prayer is an implicit part of the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. There are powerful mighty prayers in the text. Solomon dedicates the temple in prayer and celebration. His prayer goes on for 29 verses it is a prayer written and delivered by the wisest man who ever lived.
Examine the gospels, make a note on how many times Jesus went off to pray. He does it frequently, often, and with out end. His dying words were a prayer. "Forgive them Father." The disciples implored him to teach them to pray. Paul says to pray without ceasing.
Why then is it so hard to pray? The Pharisees would pray often, yet it seems the only benefit to their prayers were people thought them holy. They had daily prayers one which was something like this: Thank God I am not woman, slave, or gentile (non-Jew/sinner). That doesn't seem like much of a prayer.
Is it possible prayer is confused with a shopping list for God we say in desperation? Please God, don't let him/her/my parents find out what I've done. Please don't let me be pregnant, please don't let the drugs show up on the test, please hide my failings without consequences. Almost as if we want God to hide our misdeeds from those they will hurt so we will not be forced to deal with the damage the truth will cause.
Prayer is difficult. It confronts us with a Just and Holy God, whom we have nothing in common. He is perfect we are flawed. He is righteous we are unrighteous. He is just and we are unjust. Prayer brings us into a holiness we do not deserve to enter into. In prayer we pray for patience, we don't get it though. Instead God gives us situations to be patient in so that we mature. We ask God to change someone, he says no, you're the one who needs to change. We say yeah but look at them, they need to change. God says let me take care of them.
Prayer causes flaws to be illuminated. We are allowed in His presence by grace, that grace is given freely. His presence is where prayer takes us. In his presence we are confronted with two truths. We see the truth about us, more importantly we see the truth of Him. If we are truly listening all prayers are always answered, sometimes we don't like the answers, yet they are answered.
Prayer allows growth.
Examine the gospels, make a note on how many times Jesus went off to pray. He does it frequently, often, and with out end. His dying words were a prayer. "Forgive them Father." The disciples implored him to teach them to pray. Paul says to pray without ceasing.
Why then is it so hard to pray? The Pharisees would pray often, yet it seems the only benefit to their prayers were people thought them holy. They had daily prayers one which was something like this: Thank God I am not woman, slave, or gentile (non-Jew/sinner). That doesn't seem like much of a prayer.
Is it possible prayer is confused with a shopping list for God we say in desperation? Please God, don't let him/her/my parents find out what I've done. Please don't let me be pregnant, please don't let the drugs show up on the test, please hide my failings without consequences. Almost as if we want God to hide our misdeeds from those they will hurt so we will not be forced to deal with the damage the truth will cause.
Prayer is difficult. It confronts us with a Just and Holy God, whom we have nothing in common. He is perfect we are flawed. He is righteous we are unrighteous. He is just and we are unjust. Prayer brings us into a holiness we do not deserve to enter into. In prayer we pray for patience, we don't get it though. Instead God gives us situations to be patient in so that we mature. We ask God to change someone, he says no, you're the one who needs to change. We say yeah but look at them, they need to change. God says let me take care of them.
Prayer causes flaws to be illuminated. We are allowed in His presence by grace, that grace is given freely. His presence is where prayer takes us. In his presence we are confronted with two truths. We see the truth about us, more importantly we see the truth of Him. If we are truly listening all prayers are always answered, sometimes we don't like the answers, yet they are answered.
Prayer allows growth.
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