Beware "How-To" Religion

"Lord, teach us to pray...."  (Luke 11:1b)

I have to confess that my "prayer life" is not something you could sell in book form.  So many people who talk of their "time with the Lord," or, "quiet time," sound like they are saying something they are supposed to say.  Many are repeating what others have told them their "devotional life" should be like.  Personally I like, "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide."    

When the disciples said, "Lord, teach us to pray...," Jesus responded with what we call "The Lord's Prayer."  It reveals worship, asking for the Kingdom to come, asking for His will, daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance from, "the evil one."  You have probably heard or read teaching of the Lord's Prayer as a pattern.  This does not, however, mean that we should all pray the same way, the same time of day, saying the exact same words in the exact same order.  The Bible tells us that we are the Body of Jesus Christ, "and individually members of it," unique, not so much as to assert our "rugged individualism," which is just another form of pride, but important and loved as a Child of God.  I wonder if it is something like what I used to do just before I would go on missions when the children were young.  I would take each one out to dinner, individually, just the two of us.

Well, didn't mean to go so long.  My purpose is to encourage you in your relationship in the Living Triune God.  You don't have to copy another's "walk."  The widow of Nain, Blind Bartimaeus, Zaccheus all reveal just how important each individual is to our Lord Jesus Christ.  He did not use "canned" phrases for everyone.  There are "differences" in our walks in Jesus, because Jesus sees each Follower as an individual, not a robot handed some pamphlet.  People should stop any cliche-quoting of others.  God did not create man as look-act-alike mannequins, but as, "the Household of Faith," His Family, each child unique, very important, and, very loved.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to not be out of line in this, but also to not just "follow the herd."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The Missing 4

"'I'm going out to fish,' Simon Peter told them, and they said, 'We'll go with you....But that night they caught nothing....Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me...?'"  (John 21, NIV)

Two "words" to me today in John 21:  1. Where were the other 4?  2. The Biblical definition of love. 

1. There was the Cross, the Death, and the Resurrection, but the eleven were having difficulty "processing" it.  We read that 7 of the original 12 decided to go fishing.  One had killed himself, and who knows where the other 4 were at this time.  In some ways, it was a "sorry lot."  This is a picture of confusion, perhaps bewilderment, a sort of, "What do we do now?"  This can happen to us all at any time, and this is a reason we all need Pentecost. 

2. After Jesus appeared to them by the sea, He then asked Peter 3 times, "Do you love Me?"  Of course Peter's reply was in the affirmative, and, each time Peter said that he loved Jesus, our Lord said, in effect, "Then do something about it."  Again, love is not a feeling; it is action.

How many people have said, "I love you," to others, then abandoned them, whether spouse, children, friends, etc.?  The love of  God is not, "....so loved..," but a, "loved...this way..," Love.  There is no "so much" to God's love; it is Eternal Love, Everlasting Love, not "amount"-love.  O, how I pray the Church especially gets this. 

The Love of Jesus is demonstrated, not just spoken.  I can say, "I love you," all day long, but if my words are not accompanied by, "God loved the world this way," then it is not love.  Find another word for it.  We love our families, our friends, fellow Followers of Jesus.  What I am so impressed with today is that every time I say those "three little words" they should be accompanied by "three little actions."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that I might demonstrate more than reiterate.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....Sit With Me In My Throne...."

"Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"  (Luke 24:26)

This was a rebuke/reminder to some very sad, dejected disciples, to people who hadn't listened to His teaching, did not prioritize, "Moses and all the Prophets."  In essence, "Remember I told you that this was supposed to happen?"  Dejection comes when our expectations are not subservient to His Words. 

I finished Luke's version of Passion Week this morning, viz., the Olivet Discourse, Gethsemane, the Betrayal, Pilate, Herod, Pilate, the via dolorosa, the Cross, the Resurrection, Emmaus Road, Ascension------ just 33 years after the announcement to the shepherds.  Of Jesus "work" at 33 He could shout from the Cross, "It is finished!"

I find it interesting this time that Jesus did not live to be 40 or 60 or 80.  When the Living Triune God is at work, time is not the issue; it's what is "accomplished" in the years we have.  The world today puts such a premium on "long life," but not, "Eternal Life."  We have by-pass surgery, replacement surgery, and have made drug companies and the health care industry in general a very, very lucrative industry, and for what?  Just to gain a few more years of living in these decaying bodies.

What is your "value system" today?  Yes, we are created to "make the most" of the years in these mortal bodies which our Lord Jesus has given us.  But  whether a person has 5, 30, or 90 years in this life, no matter.  The best is [indeed] yet to come.  "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne....and they (that includes you and me) shall reign for ever and ever."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for us to have Your perspective of our lives.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Simeon-- What a Guy!

"And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ."  (Luke 2: 26)

We don't know when Simeon first had the revelation of our text, but we know that ever since he received it he had been looking forward to the appearing of, "the Coming One."  There is no doubt, moreover, that along with, "....had been revealed to him," He knew Biblical prophecies, because the previous verse tells us that he, "was just and devout."  Can we say that Simeon had received the Logos and the Rhema? 

I wonder what his days were like.  I'm sure there were days of routine, his work, family, regular times in synagogue/Temple gatherings, yet in it all there was the looking, wondering, "Is this the One?"  One thing for sure: He did not quit on his looking for and longing for, "the Coming One."  

Now the question comes to you and me.  Are we still in a "looking" and "longing" mode?  Or, have we given up," looking for this blessed hope"?  The last Word of Jesus' Olivet Discourse is, "Watch!"  In this One Word is a warning and the encouragement of expectation, the warning given in the three parables of Matthew 25, and the expectation of the great culmination Event of this present age, our Lord Jesus' Second Appearing.

Go about your daily "stuff" the rest of this day------- the rest of your life.  But I so encourage you to join me in participating, as did Simeon, in the daily, "Watch!"  The One Who appeared to Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna is the One Who will appear the second time; only it will be a different appearing.  No, "feeding trough," this time, no, "How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given."  This Second Appearing of the Babe of Bethlehem will be, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray in the Holy Spirit that You keep me and my friend as Simeon who ever was on, "Watch!"  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Do Not Be Alarmed"

"But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed.  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He is risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they placed Him.'"  (Mark 16:6)

I just finished Mark this morning.  The Bible tells us that Jesus was first placed in a, "feeding trough," then, "placed in a tomb."  These are places of poverty and death.

Yet the Scripture says of us who follow Jesus, "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."  This Corinthian passage tells us something of Jesus Christ, the King and Savior of mankind, as well His Church throughout the centuries.  Most have known the, "feeding trough," and many, "placed in a tomb."

Because of Jesus' journey from, "feeding trough," to, "a tomb," however, some day the world will hear the same declaration concerning you and me, "[They are] risen!  [They are] not here."  No matter what you may be going through this Christmas season never forget for a moment that the Eternal Reality concerning you and me in Jesus Christ, "He is risen!  He is not here."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You, "became flesh and dwelt among us," and in us------- and still do.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2