Healing Rays of Righteousness

LENT – Our 40-Day Journey with Jesus

Next Wednesday is “Ash Wednesday” which begins the annual 40 days of “Lent” during which we journey with Jesus as He walks toward His death and resurrection on “Easter Sunday.” 

This journey with Jesus is a time for us to listen and reflect more carefully to His teachings and to witness His sufferings and death in our behalf.  It is also a time for acknowledging our mistakes, repenting of our waywardness, and renewing our commitments of love and loyalty to God.

The days of “Lent” are marked on our calendars for the purpose of an intentional and sincere self-examination of our relationship with Jesus, who claims to be the Messiah, “God with us.”

Am I living and growing more in love with God?  Have my attitudes and behaviors become more like Jesus?  Have I always done my best toward being a Jesus-person in my world?   

Former President Jimmy Carter tells this story about himself.   As a young man, he graduated from the Naval Academy and served as an officer on a nuclear-powered submarine.  However, before he was able to assume that position, he had to have a personal interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, the man considered to be the father of the nuclear navy.

Carter was understandable nervous, knowing how much was at stake and that only the best, most disciplined officers were chosen to serve in this prestigious force.  As he stood before Admiral Rickover, it was soon obvious to Carter that the wise admiral knew more about every subject discussed than he did. 

Finally, Admiral Rickover came to the last question on his list –  “Where did you finish in your class, young man?”  Pleased with his accomplishments and thrilled to finally be presented a question he could easily and proudly answer, Carter informed the Admiral that he had finished 59th out of a student body numbering 820.  Then he waited for a commendation from the old sailor – but it never came.

Jimmy Carter recounts the incident this way.  The question that broke the uncomfortable silence between the two men was, “Did you always do your best?” 

Carter says that he thought a moment and then cleared his throat and hesitantly replied, “No sir, I did not.”  At that point, Admiral Rickover turned he chair around, signaling the interview was over, and asked, “Why not?”

That is a good question to ask ourselves during these 40 days of self-examination regarding our spiritual health.  Did I always do my best as a disciple-learner and follower of Jesus?          

A prayer hymn that I love to sing, because it expresses the deep desire of my heart and I hope of your heart as well, is “Lord, I Am Fondly, Earnestly Longing.” It was written by Elisha A. Hoffman and published in 1902.  I suggest you also choose it as your prayer for this journey with Jesus during these 40 days of “Lent.”

“Lord, I am fondly, earnestly longing / into thy holy likeness to grow, / thirsting for more and deeper communion, / yearning thy love more fully to know.”

            (Chorus) –  “Open the wells of grace and salvation, / pour the rich streams deep into my heart. / Cleanse and refine my thought and affection, / seal me and make me pure as thou art.”

“Dead to the world would I be, O Savior, / dead unto sin, alive unto thee. / Crucify all the earthly within me, / emptied of sin and self may I be.”

“I would be thine and serve thee forever, / filled with thy Spirit, lost in thy love. / Come to my heart, Lord,  come with anointing, showers of grace send down from above.

I think most of us deeply desire to do and be better persons.  And God offers that to each of us.  “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent. Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:19-20).

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 23, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Messiah Is Among You

Although the story is old, happening during the 18^th century, it illustrates a biblical truth the Christian church needs to hear during our current evil divisiveness in every gathering and with every issue.  The deadly viruses of stubborn selfishness and demonic lies are fueling this relational turbulence.  

The Truth is this. 

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion.  For I am coming, and I will live among you, declares the Lord.”  (Zechariah 2:10-11).  And “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can  be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21).

The Story is this.

A beautiful and famous monastery in central Europe had fallen on tough times.  In earlier days, its many buildings were filled with young priests and monks, and its big church resounded with the singing of the chant, but now the buildings and church were mostly deserted and silent.  Only a handful of monks shuffled through the buildings praying their prayers and praising their God with heavy hearts.

On the edge of the monastery grounds there were beautiful woods in which an old Jewish rabbi had built a little hut.  The rabbi would often come there to fast and pray.  No one ever spoke with him, but whenever he appeared, the word would be passed from monk to monk, “The Rabbi walks in the woods.”

One day the Abbot, who was the head of the monastery, decided to visit the Rabbi and open up his heart to him regarding the bad conditions at the monastery and seek his advice.

The Rabbi welcomed him into his little hut.  In the middle of the room was a wooden table with the Bible laying open upon it.  The two men sat down at the table and said nothing to each other.  They just sat there looking at the Bible.

Finally, the Rabbi lifted his eyes and said, “You have come to ask a teaching of me.  I will give you a teaching, but you can only repeat it once.  After that no one must ever say it aloud again.”  The Rabbi looked straight at the Abbott and said, “The Messiah, the Christ, is among you.” 

For a while there was silence, then the Rabbi said, “Now you must go.”  The Abbott left without saying another word or looking back, but his mind and spirit were filled with questioning wonder as he pondered the Rabbi’s teaching.

The Abbott returned to the monastery, and the next morning he called all his monks together.  He told them he had received a teaching from the rabbi “who walks in the woods.”  But the teaching is to be spoken only once and never again.  He looked at each of his fellow monks and said, “The rabbi told me that the Messiah, the Christ is among you.”

The monks were startled and puzzled by this saying.  “What can this mean?”  they asked themselves.  “Is Brother John the Messiah?  Or, Father Matthew, or Brother Thomas?  Am I the Messiah?  What can this mean?”  The monks continually pondered the rabbi’s teaching that the Messiah, the Christ, was among them as they lived, worshiped, and worked together. 

But as time went by a remarkably interesting thing began to happen among them.  They began to treat one another with an incredibly special reverence.  There was a gentle, caring quality about them now, which was hard to describe but easy to notice and feel.

It was not long until the big church again resounded with the singing of the chant.  People came from everywhere to be nourished by the prayer life of the monks.  Visitors were deeply moved by what they saw and heard.  A significant and visible change came over the monks when they believed the Messiah, the Christ, to be present among them.

My Plea is this.

Yes, the rabbi in the woods was and is correct. The Messiah is among us. He is in each and every one of us.  “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of  truth.  …I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  … On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”  (John 14:16,18,20).

And when we begin to fully understand this truth and its meaning for our relationship with others, it will significantly reshape our lifestyle and relationship with others.  This truth when lived out in our churches and communities, will cause the presence of God and His Kingdom to gloriously unfold in our midst. 

Then we will joyfully proclaim with the psalmist,  “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!  … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”  (Psalm 133:1,3b).

Jesus Prays this.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  (John 17:22-23).   May it be so with you and me!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 16, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Are We Building Bridges or Barriers

The title reminds me of the story from a previous generation, that tells of a young man who stopped at a farmhouse asking for work.  The farmer asked of his occupation, which was carpentry.  At first the farmer said he had no work.  Then, pointing across the road to the neighboring farm, he said, “That is where my brother lives and we have become bitter enemies.  He even took a bulldozer and cut a stream from the reservoir through the pasture between us.  I’ll hire you to take that lumber by the barn and build an eight-foot-high solid fence between us, so that I don’t need to be looking at him.”

The farmer went into town for a few days, and the young man went to work.  When the farmer returned home, instead of a fence, he saw a beautiful bridge across the stream, complete with handrails.  At first, he was angry, but then he saw his brother walking down the hill to the bridge with outstretched arms.  As he came nearer, his younger brother called out, “You are a special brother, and to think that you would build a bridge so that we can more easily get together!”

A short time later, as the carpenter began to walk away and toward the roadway, the farmer asked, “Hey, where are you going?”  The man answered, “I’m going on my way to build other bridges!”

Bridges are inviting as they open a pathway to the other side.  This is true in both nature and in relationships.  Bridges invite us to cross over toward strengthening relationships with others.  Whereas, barriers obstruct, wall shut, and close down any possible building or restoration of relationships with others.  Bridges lead to new vistas, adventures, and unlimited possibilities.  Whereas, barriers confine and protect a comfortable environment of non-disturbing, non-threatening sameness, and offering extremely limited possibilities. 

For these reasons, I cry out to my church, community, and nation, and to all who call themselves Christian; let us go into our personal worlds, committed to building bridges of loving forgiveness and healing, and restoring relationships with all people, even those we see as enemies.  Let us build bridges of respectful listening as we walk together toward seeking common ground and guidance in making a better world for all of us.

Some of the most profound teaching in the whole Bible is found in the 3^rd and 4^th  chapters of John’s first letter.  In verses 8 and 16, John tells us that “God is love.”  Those three little words get to the theological and practical understanding of God’s character of self-giving, caring love. 

In verse 9 and 10, John says we know this to be God’s character because “He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  

In other words, by sending Jesus “as an atoning sacrifice” God built a beautiful and sturdy bridge for us to cross over the deadly chasm of sin and into a relationship with Himself.

In verse 11, John makes it noticeably clear that God’s amazing love toward us makes a logical, common-sense demand upon us. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  And verse 21, “And he has given us this command:  Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”  There is no wiggle room here!

If we have experienced God’s atoning love through Christ, and if we continue to experience God’s love through the indwelling presence of the God’s Spirit, then naturally we will be human fountains of God’s love flowing through us and bathing a hurting and bleeding world.

I hear John saying in verse 20, that it is impossible to be a recipient of divine love and, at the same time, be motivated by hatred for others.  Love and hatred are like oil and water, for they do not mix.  If God’s love fills our life, there can be no room for hatred or bitterness.  “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

I encourage you to hear and heed this age-less admonition from Mother Teresa;  “Spread love everywhere you go; first of all, in your own home.  Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor.  … Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 9, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The One Thing Needed

In my Christian faith journey, I was well-taught from Sunday school thru seminary on how to prepare and do things for the Lord; how to serve God and others, how to be a biblically grounded preacher-minister, and how to be an effective pastor-chaplain.  But what I needed most was encouragement to desire, to seek after, to develop a passionate love for the person and presence of Jesus Christ. 

Wesley Duewel in his book, Ablaze for God, writes,  “It is not enough to be evangelical in faith and heart;  we must be utterly possessed by Christ, utterly impassioned by his love and grace.”  To this passionate love for relationship with God, I invite your attention.

One of the hazards of maturing in the Christian faith is that we tend to lose some of the wonder and awe that attracted us to Jesus Christ.  We begin to believe that we have arrived and that we have figured it all out.  The awesome mystery of our redemption gradually slips away and soon our enthusiastic and passionate love for Christ is diminished. 

Luke calls us back to that childlike wonder and love for Jesus as our Redeemer and sovereign Lord by telling us stories of persons who were busy doing things, rather than to just sit at Jesus’ feet.  In chapter 10, verses 38 to 42, he tells us the story of Martha and Mary’s differing relationship with Jesus.

As Jesus and his disciples were traveling through the village where Martha and Mary lived, Martha invited them into her home.  As the story unfolds, Jesus is conversing with his disciples and Martha gets busy preparing a meal for them.  While everyone else in the house is listening to Jesus, Martha is scurrying about to get food on the table. 

Distracted by all the meal preparation work, she becomes upset that her sister, Mary, is listening to Jesus rather than helping her.  Totally distressed and upset with her sister, Martha marches into the room where Jesus was.  I can imagine the look on Martha’s face as she gives Jesus a gentle rebuke:  “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  

We are attracted to this story because of the sympathy we feel for Martha.  We would argue that no matter what the attractions of the hour were, some routine tasks had to be done.  Someone had to prepare the meal.  And so, Martha’s irritation seems natural to us, and her outburst is understandable.

And I am certain that from Martha’s perspective, her complaint was entirely in order, and she fully expected Jesus to support her.

However, Jesus did not.  On the contrary, he used Martha’s complaint as an opportunity to help her better understand herself.  “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset (caring) about many things, but only one thing is needed.”

Jesus challenged Martha to make the better choice toward making him feel welcomed in her house.  The meal could wait.  But for now, the chance to be with Jesus, to learn from Him is the better choice.

Martha is so busy being gracious, polite, and a good host, serving the Lord, that she felt she had no time to be, like her sister, just sitting at His feet and listening to His teachings.  

In his book Experiencing God, Henry T. Blackaby writes, “God is far more interested in a love relationship with you then He is in what you can do for Him.”

There will always be many distractions to our sincere efforts to love and serve God, but “only one thing is needed.”  Like Martha, we will get pulled away from time with God by the urgent distractions within us and around us to serve God, but “only one thing is needed.”  We may say that all our time, life, and money is the Lord’s, but does He have our attention?  Or are we too busy doing good works?

The choices we make daily help shape the person we are, the person our friends and neighbors see.

Mary chose devotion to Jesus over distractions.   She chose intimacy with Jesus over the expectations of her culture and her family.  Mary had a passionate love for the Lord’s presence and that made all the difference in her life.

A regal lady of 19th century England, well known as a gracious host, was also a devout Christian.  She frequently spoke the name of the Lord Jesus in her conversations, to the dismay of some of her friends.  The story is told that on one occasion, a friend asked her who was the most distinguished guest she had ever entertained.  “Her majesty, Queen Victoria,”  she replied immediately.  “What about Jesus Christ?  You’re always talking about him,” chided her interrogator.  “Why didn’t you name him?”  “Oh, Christ is not a guest,” she said.  “He lives here!”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 2, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley