Healing Rays of Righteousness

Read Mark 3:1-6

I believe this story can be appreciated and understood as being much more than simply another miracle event.  I believe Jesus saw in this particular situation, during his visit to the synagogue, an excellent teaching opportunity for his disciples, as well as challenging his religious critics.

In contrast to the man with leprosy who came to Jesus and “…begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean”(Mk. 1:40);  or blind Bartimaeus who shouted to Jesus as he walked by, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me” (Mk. 10:47);  this man, with his shriveled hand, was just there, in the synagogue, the place of worship.  He wasn’t there begging or shouting for healing.  He was there to learn of God and worship him.

This causes me to believe that the writer, Mark, would have us understand that Jesus saw and seized the opportunity not only to heal the man’s shriveled hand, but also to teach an important truth about the Christian lifestyle of appropriately caring for others, wherever they may be and on whatever day it may be.

The first level of teaching is very evident.  Jesus had the man to “stand up in front of everyone.”  It is “show and tell” time to discuss the question, when is it appropriate to respond to human need?  When is it the right time “to do good, … to save life?”  When is it “lawful” to serve others?

Jesus angrily looked around at his critics’ stubborn silence and responded with a dramatic teaching moment.  Deeply distressed, Jesus acted out the Kingdom lesson he wanted to teach.  He had the man stand up in front of everyone and stretch out his shriveled hand so that everyone could see it, then he miraculously and completely restored it.

The lesson we are to hear, is this;  – that God’s so amazing grace in loving us demands we respond in healing ways to human need whenever and wherever the need presents itself, – and that religion without love is a most ugly thing in the world.

Throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus taught and modeled this lifestyle of providing for the needs of others as a basic principle of daily Christian living, and the way of doing business.

The second level of teaching may not be as apparent, but I think it is also seen in this story.  The shriveled, withered hand was “completely restored” when the man obeyed Jesus’ command to “Stretch out your hand.”

Today we know that there is substantial non-biblical evidence from studies of human nature, that persons who keep their hands close to themselves, selfishly clutching their accumulated treasures and divinely endowed abilities and skills, soon experience a withering of their spirit and a shriveling of their lives in every way, spiritually, socially, and physically.  They soon become fearful, unhappy, handicapped and useless in society.

Furthermore, I believe these same studies would confirm the biblical story of complete healing and restoration happens whenever we obey Jesus’ command to:

• love one another as I have loved you.
• love your neighbor as yourself.
• be a servant in serving the needs of others.
• do good deeds to all, even your enemies.

The cure for a shriveled life remains the same today as in Jesus’ day, “Stretch out your hand” in helping others toward wholeness.  For when we do, we also find healing for ourselves.

The truth is that we don’t have to obey Jesus’ command to “Stretch out your hand.”  We don’t have to love our neighbor; we don’t have to share what God has given us; we don’t have to feed the hungry, care for the sick and feeble, and be a friend to the lonely and dying.  We don’t have to be kind, compassionate, and considerate of the needs of others.

We don’t have to do any of these things, but we get to do them as a privilege to love and serve God by responding to the needs of others.  Our love for God because of what he has done for us, transforms our life from selfish grabbing to generous giving, and our work from dutiful labor to joyous privilege.

My Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition has always included an ethos of service to people in need and suffering, of stretching out our hands in helping others.  And my prayer is that the life energy of every church and community would flow from that same healing fountain of Christian compassion and concern for others, in spite of the challenges and difficulties we may encounter in doing so.  Shalom!

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 3, 2018

Romans 5:1-5

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

In both church and non-church conversations I hear a lot of despair and hopelessness.  The daily news is bad and the future looks increasingly violent and dangerous.  For many there seems to be very little hope for any possibility of good changes happening.  To speak of “hope” seems to these people to be just a lot of wishful thinking.

However, I am convinced that hope is a critical necessity for living, and that we cannot survive without it.  Take away hope and we will soon weaken and die spiritually, emotionally, and physically, and most likely in that order.  I believe hope is that divine gift which energizes us and enables us to envision possibility, “a way through” that shapes our responses in any and every difficult, threatening circumstance or situation.

I must remind you that there are different levels or meanings to our contemporary use of this word “hope.”  The “hope” that we hear being expressed by the biblical writers is something different than wishful thinking as in “I hope it doesn’t rain on our picnic.”  This is the most popular use of the word “hope.”

It is also different than reasonable expectation as when the doctor says to the family “We have every reason to hope for full recovery” after his medical/surgical treatment to the patient. The doctor’s past experience with similar cases makes it possible for him/her to offer hope of recovery.

The “hope” we hear expressed by the biblical writers is a dynamic word of confident assurance.  It is the confident assurance of a promised future of personally sharing in the glory of God.  That is, we will share/participate in God’s triumph over sin and death.  This is the strong, sure hope that God has given us in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Furthermore, this hope is rooted in the confident assurance that there is purposeful movement in human history towards a future filled with meaning.  We believe that our God is the God of Hope – the God who said; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

The writer of the book of Hebrews says that “hope” is closely related to our “faith” in chapter 11, verse 1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

As Christian believers we claim this “hope and future” as belonging to us, with the confident assurance that regardless of what is happening around us or to us, we can rejoice – not because of our present troubles, but because of being sure of our future glory.

Even though we do admit that In the midst of difficult experiences, hope may seem very distant and dim, we are reminded by the biblical writers that this is where hope has its beginning and growth.  Story after story throughout the Bible affirms the truth that the Christian’s confident assurance (hope) is rooted in and springs up from the soil of suffering and loss.

The reality is that without suffering and/or loss, we would have no need or reason to hope for something better.  We also know that our pain and suffering is transformed when we choose to invest it with some meaningful purpose and value.  And according to Apostle Paul, our “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” thus having eternal value in making us better children of God.

He also tells us that this hope is fully reliable because it rests on and is dependent on God alone. This hope will never disappoint us because of God’s Holy Spirit within us certifies it.  “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

The Holy Spirit does not guarantee that we shall never make mistakes or experience suffering in life.  But instead, the Holy Spirit uses the difficulties and hardships we experience to shape and transform us into new and better persons.

As children of God’s family, we have been given God’s gift of hope – an unmerited, unique opportunity to share in God’s triumphant glory and eternal life.  What an amazing gift of love!  What a reason to rejoice!

Paul concludes his theological letter to the Romans with this benediction in 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 26, 2018

Violence and greed, disrespect and racism, political and religious animosity have escalated to a fever pitch during the past year, causing many of us to become anxious, uncertain and fearful. God’s message of hope, peace, joy and love is in danger of being silenced and forgotten by the loud, clanging noises of economic crisis, criminal violence, terrorist attack, war, racism, divisive national politics with its unstable and unpredictable leadership.

So how should you and I, who claim to have faith in God, respond to these threatening situations?  One of the truths that I have learned over the years by personal experiences and Bible study is this – God is not our protector against trouble, but he is our refuge and strength – our very present help in trouble. 

I understand this to mean that I should not expect God to prevent tragedies and pain, nor should I blame Him if they happen, but I can expect God to strengthen and sustain me in and through every difficult and threatening situation of life.

Read Psalm 46

Psalm 46 is a statement of faith declaring God to be in charge of history, and that he is more than adequate for every difficult and threatening event of life, so therefore we do not need to be afraid.  This psalm encourages us to trust God at all times and in every circumstance, and particularly when our life becomes difficult.

We may be facing an uncertain and frightening tomorrow or experiencing a very painful situation today; the earth and mountains may be shaking with storms and earthquakes of all kinds, and yet the psalmist assuredly declares that God is mighty and able to sustain and see us through the threatening darkness of evil.

The writer of this psalm reckoned with the possibility that God may allow the worst to happen in our world and life.  But in the midst of the crisis, he renounces fear and reaffirms faith with three great affirmations of faith that can keep us from being robbed of the hope, peace, joy and love that Jesus brings to us in his promise never to leave us nor forsake us.

The first affirmation is regarding God’s POWER in verse 1-3; “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”  No matter what storm rages, the almighty God is present in the midst of the trouble to help us.  God’s strength will surround our weakness and protect us.  “Therefore we will not fear” even if the worst is happening.

The second affirmation is regarding God’s PRESENCE in verses 4-7; “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  …The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  The powerful, loving presence of God gives us confidence, no matter the tumult swirling around us and threatening to destroy us. Therefore, we will not faint, nor fall.

Writing to the Romans, Paul put it this way: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rm. 8:38-39).

The third affirmation is regarding God’s PEACE in verse 10; “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  When in the midst of desolations as described in this psalm, we look up and seeing God’s sovereignty, we rest in confidence of God’s exalted power and presence.  When we believe with certainty that God is present, powerful, and provides all the resources we need in the situation, God’s gift of peace settles upon us and calms our hearts.  Therefore, we will not fret.

Yes, we may be facing an uncertain and frightening tomorrow or experiencing a very painful situation today – the earth and mountains may be shaking with storms and earthquakes of all kinds – yet the psalmist assuredly declares that God is able to protect, provide, and lead us through the threatening event or situation. Because we know and trust the Lord to always keep his promises to us, we can say:

“I will not fear – I have a fortress, a place of refuge and protection. 

I will not faint – I have a river of refreshing resources from God. 

 I will not fret – I see the rainbow of God’s sovereignty and majestic glory over all the earth. 

Are we worthy of such help?  Of course not.  But God does not help us because we are worthy.  He helps us because He loves us and is gracious toward us.

It was when Martin Luther was going through a personal storm he meditated on Psalm 46 and was inspired to write, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”  If we can grasp the message of this hymn, and trust the God that this hymn exalts, I believe we also will discover the secret of living with calm confidence in the midst of fear-filled uncertainty.

“The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  Amen.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 19, 2018

Read Colossians 1:15-23a, 25-27

Paul soars to his highest thoughts in his effort to describe the person and work of Jesus Christ. I am almost breathless as I read this passage regarding the supremacy of Christ, exalted above all “thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities.”  I become even more breathless when I realize that this superior, boundless Jesus Christ is also very personal in reconciling me to God.

The heart-core of the New Testament gospel and the whole of Christian experience, is that Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, by whom and through whom all things were created; this Jesus who is before all things and in whom all things hold together; this Jesus, in whom God was pleased for all His fullness to dwell, and through whom to reconcile to himself all things by making peace through Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross;  this Jesus, lives in me and you by the Holy Spirit.  Wow!

For the apostle Paul, the word “reconcile” is key to his thought about what Christ has done for us.  He uses the same image when writing to God’s people in Rome, “while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son,” (Rm. 5:10).  Paul is fully convinced that through Christ’s death and resurrection, the broken relationship between us and God is forgiven and restored.

However, in verses 25-27 we discover that there is much more to this reconciliation theme which Paul elaborates on in the balance of his letter.  Paul says that “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations” has now been revealed to us by God.  He says the glorious richness of this mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Our reconciliation is by the death of Jesus Christ, but our complete redemption, our salvation, our being presented “perfect in Christ” (v.28) is by the life of the risen Christ living in power within us.

Again, we hear this truth expressed in the verse I partly referenced earlier from Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10).

Paul’s most vivid description of his own life in Christ was written to the Galatians:  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

In one of the boldest prayers ever prayed, Paul interceded for God’s people in Ephesus, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  …that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17, 19).

Paul believed that in all his dealings with humanity God had been working on a deep plan, with a secret purpose that can only be discovered by the illumination of the Spirit. Throughout his epistles he lays emphasis on the deeper understanding of the gospel – this mysterious secret which has been hidden for ages, which men have sought to probe and decipher, and has now been revealed.  It is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

We talk about becoming Christian in ways like:  accepting Christ, inviting Christ into our lives, receiving Christ as Savior, surrendering our lives to Christ, giving our lives to Christ, being born again by allowing Christ to be born in us.

But whatever the language, our faith and experience is that as we confess and repent of our sins, we are forgiven and accepted by God and ushered into a new relationship with Him.  Being forgiven and reconciled by God’s grace, he then lives in us by the transforming power of his Spirit as the indwelling Christ.

What feelings does this truth of “Christ in you” awaken in your soul?  For me, it’s feelings of thankful praise and worship, singing “Amazing love, how can it be, That thou, my God, should’st die for me?”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 12, 2018

Read Luke 14:1-14

Labor Day weekend is a good time to ponder “for what do I labor?”  Is it for self-status or for service to God?  Is it to receive praises from mankind or praises from God?  Do I labor for things temporal or for things eternal?

Picture a man in his fifties, distinguished and properly attired.  He is a faithful husband and strict father.  He is a respected businessman and, above all else, a deeply religious man.  In a word, he is a Pharisee.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were not bad people.  They were highly respected merchants with a heart for God.  In fact, it was with the Pharisees, as opposed to the Sadducees, that Jesus was most readily identified.

And it was in the home of one of these highly respected Pharisees that Jesus sat down to eat.  The table is magnificent, the servants attentive, the centerpiece impressive, and the wine chilled.  All the “right people” are there – bankers, doctors, lawyers, synagogue leaders.  Jesus is invited not because he is considered an equal but because he is a curiosity who has been in the news.

Attention was given to the proper prayers and ritual cleansings.  Everything had to be just so, and it was.  The esteemed guests are watching closely to see how Jesus fits in.  The table talk is polite, as expected – until Jesus began to speak.

At the dinner, Jesus noticed how the guests made their way to the places of honor at the table.  They were good people, and they simply wanted to be recognized as such.  But Jesus saw it differently.  He severely rebuked them for seeking out the places of honor and striving for status.  In essence he said that if you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on you face – “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus tells them that humility is more important than being esteemed.  This was contrary to the Pharisees’ way of thinking, and their puffed-up egos.  They considered themselves good, religious people and thought the community should esteem them as such.  But Jesus says that they should see themselves more as servants than rulers and that the table of fellowship is open to all.

What Jesus is saying about God’s Kingdom and entrance into it is unacceptable to the Pharisees.  And even Jesus’ own disciples struggled with this new Kingdom thinking.  Remember the story of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, asking Jesus for the honor of being seated on his right and left in his glory.  And on another occasion the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them.

For what do I labor – for self and status, or for service to God in serving others?

When Jesus finished rebuking the guests, he turns to the host and criticized the host’s dinner guests list.  In effect, he said, “Why do you invite only the beautiful people?  What about the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind?  Why not invite them?”

I can imagine the host thinking this was a silly question.  Good religious people know that there are standards to be upheld, reputations to consider.  Besides, this was a Sabbath dinner, not simply a common meal.

That is Jesus’ point exactly.  The Sabbath is an institution of God, who loves and invites all to his table of fellowship.  A Sabbath dinner is the perfect time and place to welcome all of God’s children.  So Jesus instructed him to “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.”  And Jesus assured the host that if he adopts this practice he “will be blessed.  Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Jesus promises that if we live our lives under the banner of lifting up those in need and affirm their eternal worth in the sight of God, we will be blessed.  The blessing will not be from other people, but from God.  He is ultimately the only One who can bless us, or whose praise matters.

This reminds me of the words Jesus spoke as recorded by Matthew in 25:31ff:  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. …  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’   Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, …or thirsty, …a stranger, …or needing clothes, …sick or in prison?  The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

For what do I labor – for self and status, or for service to God in serving others?

(September 5, 2018)

Read Ephesians 4:11-16

This chapter begins with the Apostle Paul saying to the Ephesian Christians, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (v.1).  Then in verses 12-13 he says that Christ has given us, the church, grace gifts of leadership for the purpose of equipping “his people for works of service,” so that all of us will grow in our understanding of Jesus and “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  And again in verse 15, “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

From these and other scriptures we learn that God intends for us to grow toward perfection in becoming fully human.  The Greek word “teleios” is translated as “perfect” or “mature” and means “complete, fully developed, or all that God intends.”  To speak of perfection in becoming fully human is the equivalent to the next phrase, “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus said that we are to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).  He also told the rich young ruler who asked what he must do to get eternal life, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me” (Mt. 19:21).

And in Colossians 1:28, the Apostle Paul writes, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”

I think the teachings of Jesus and the apostles both confirm “perfection” to be a valid goal in our understanding of becoming fully human as maturing in Christ, and becoming like Christ.  I believe this is God’s creative intention for us, and to the extent that we live in harmony with that intention, we can be “perfect ” as God so much desires us to be, and as Paul says, “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

In verse 14, Paul jolts us into an awareness of the dangers experienced by those remaining in spiritual infancy.  Christian “infants” are gullible and vulnerable to false and deceitful teachings and easily victimized.  Spiritual toddlers tend to believe everything they are told, and like rudderless boats, tend to go wherever the wind takes them.

And so, Paul urges us toward growth and maturity, perfection, in Jesus Christ.  Jesus and the apostles both teach that spiritual growth, both inward and outward, is to be a dynamic movement toward perfection in becoming like Christ in all of our human life.

Ephesians 4:22-24 – “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”   In other words, “to be made new” is about becoming perfect as a human.

But this raises the question – Why be a Christian rather than a humanist?  Many who call themselves agnostic or atheist are, largely indistinguishable from Christians in their moral sensitivity, their commitment to responsible community action, and their passion for justice.

And, sadly, over the years I have encountered more than a few people identifying themselves as “Christian” with whom I would rather be disassociated from.  The way they live and treat others, what they believe and say, and the things they think are important, cause me great disappointment, concern, and embarrassment to say the least.

Nevertheless, I choose to be a Christian and be identified with the Christian community.  Why?  Because it answers better than any other religion or philosophy the fundamental question – “What does it mean to be human – to be perfect, mature?”

At the center of Christianity is a living, dynamic model of what it is like for a person to be fully human, fully mature, perfect.  That model is the person, Jesus Christ.  For me, he is the only genuine and reliable model, and by which we are called to pattern our own lives.  I see in Jesus the perfect human being that I was created to be.

That’s why I choose to be a Christian, even with its many embarrassing associates.  For at the center of Christianity is One who both shows me the way and, more importantly, who by his indwelling Spirit enables me to “… become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” 

And, in reference to perfection, I say with the apostle Paul, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  …I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 3:12,14).

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1b-2).

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – August 29, 2018

I once heard about a minister who was attending a conference and decided to take a bus to the beach on a free afternoon.  Soon a strange-looking lady boarded the bus and sat next to him, cooing, “Cross my hand with a dollar, and I’ll tell you your past, present, and future.”  He eyed her for a moment and then he cooed in response, “That won’t be necessary.  I have a little book in my pocket that tells me my past, present, and future.” 

“You have it in a book?” she replied, not really believing him.  “Yes, and it is absolutely infallible.  Let me read it to you.”  Then he read Ephesians 2:1-10.  The lady quickly got up from her seat and ran down the aisle of the bus shouting, “I picked the wrong man!”

For many people, knowing about their physical and material future is so needful that they spend thousands of hours and dollars on reading horoscopes and listening to fortune tellers.

For me, this anxiety about my future is answered in reviewing and remembering my spiritual journey with God.  One way to really appreciate what has happened to us spiritually, is to look back to what we were, and in doing so, we begin to understand what God has called us out of and what future is ours in Jesus Christ.

Read Ephesians 2:1-10

The opening words of this chapter tell us that we were dead in transgressions and sins.  We did what we thought was right, but found it was constantly getting us into difficulty and destroying us – and we never knew why.  We were victimized by the desires of the body and the mind, and, as Paul says, “were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (v.3).

From God’s perspective, we were spiritually dead in our past life because of our willful disobedience to his commandments that was evidenced in our thoughts, conversations, and deeds.  God doesn’t say sick or asleep, he says dead, in need of life.  Dead means to be powerless and rotting.  In God’s sight, we were powerless to change our behavior and rotting in sin.  As a result, we could expect nothing from God but His wrath.

There is a paradox here:  We were spiritually dead, yet alive and active against God.  We served the world, the devil, and our fleshly desires.  Because we didn’t live to please God, we set ourselves up for God’s wrath.  “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

That was our past life of sinful separation from God, but “hear ye, hear ye” the good news of our present life in Christ.  “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” (Vv.4-5). 

Oh, what wonderful and amazing words these are.  We were “made alive” – resurrected to a new life of eternal relationship with God. This is our present life as a Christian.  We could not work for it.  We did not deserve it.  We have not earned it.  And yet, God gifted eternal salvation to us who believe, because Jesus willingly and lovingly paid for it on the cross.  And now we share in his glorious and wonderful resurrection life.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!”  But what exactly is grace?  According to Paul, it is God’s unmerited love acting on our behalf through Jesus Christ to rescue us from eternal death.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Rom. 6:23).

The exclusive agent of grace is Jesus Christ.  Behind God’s grace is Calvary’s cross and Easter’s empty tomb.  Jesus came to earth and took our sin upon himself, suffered and died as a condemned criminal in our place, so that we could be made eternally alive and new.  Why?  Because he loved us!

We have been re-created, born again, made alive and new in Jesus Christ to serve God. We, who were dead are now alive, not by good works but for good works.  God’s intention is to restore us to our original purpose as doers of good.   We are God’s workmanship, God’s masterpiece in this present world of sin and death.  This is our present reality and mission in life.

But there is more.  Both our present reality and continuing future is pictured in the good news that God “made us alive with Christ – … And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Vv.5-7).

Please read that paragraph again, slowly and thoughtfully, letting the awesome truth of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ penetrate deeply into your mind, heart and soul.

We have been raised and seated with Christ “in the heavenly realms” and even now share in a measure of Christ’s authority.  From this position of closeness and glory we are called to imitate God in seeing those near us who are enslaved by the powers of evil, and to love them as God has loved us, thereby participating with Christ in God’s process of salvation.

Thank you, Jesus!

Read Ephesians 3:14-21

Even though Paul was sitting in a prison, he is filled with deep concern for the spiritual welfare of “God’s holy people in Ephesus” and prays for them.

In the first 14 verses of chapter 1, Paul reminds the Ephesians believers that God had blessed them “with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  Then in verses 15-23, he prays that they might experience spiritual enlightenment and wisdom.  In chapter 2 and continuing through to 3:13, he says that all of God’s resources are available because Jesus Christ died to make God’s blessings accessible to all, both Jew and Gentile.

It is one thing to know that God made his resources available through Jesus, but it is quite another thing to act upon that knowledge – to tap into those resources – to be filled with the fullness of God.  It was Paul’s earnest desire that his Christian friends fully enjoy the life-shaping experience that was available in their relationship with God, and that is why he prays this prayer beginning in verse 14 of chapter 3.

Paul’s prayer consists of three related requests, each introduced by the word “that” as it appears in the NIV translation.  And so he prays:                                                                                 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, (praying)”                                                                          1)  “That out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (16-17a).

God has given us, his children, the Holy Spirit as an inner resource.  I believe that to live in this world as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ it is imperative for us to have our inner being continually renewed and strengthened by Christ’s indwelling Spirit.

Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed to the Father for his disciples and us, saying,    “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (Jn. 17:26).

Jesus’ one and foremost desire is to lead us into an ever-deepening knowledge and experience of God’s love.  His concern is not merely that we know more about God, but that we know more and more experientially about how deeply we are cherished and loved by God.

To be all that God desires us to be and to accomplish all that He desires us to accomplish, Jesus Christ must be eagerly welcomed into our love and life.  He will not come uninvited.  And his enabling strength does not come to those who resist his presence.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, (praying)”                                                                           2)  “That you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”  (17b-19a).

Paul saw the cross as the supreme revelation of love, and this is the love he wanted his readers to experience – amazing, boundless love.  The outstretched arms of Christ on the cross embracing all humankind with forgiving love.  The marvel of it is overwhelming – that the sinless Son of God would willingly endure the shame and agony of crucifixion for us sinners.

This love of God is so amazing, so glorious that it defies description, for it goes beyond our ability to fully comprehend.  In fact, Paul says, it takes the combined experiences of “all the saints” to even begin to grasp its amazing greatness.  He is saying that this love of Christ is far beyond the rational limits of intellect or theory.  It is experiential knowing – the knowing that comes from experiencing Christ’s amazing love in our everyday living.

I once read of a farmer who had a weather vane on his barn, on which was written GOD IS LOVE.   When friends asked why, the farmer said, “This is to remind me that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love.”

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, (praying)”                                                                           3)  “That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (v.9b)

Although we cannot contain God’s fullness, we can receive it to the full measure of our capacity and to the degree of our being yielded.  The truth is that whatever fills you controls you.

That’s why it is so important to be Spirit-filled – to have a relationship with God that is so yielded to him that his Spirit fills us and dwells with us in intimacy and power, so that we can experience the abundant life that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would do for believers.

Imagine the possibilities that are yours with Christ dwelling in your heart.  Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Imagine your life being abundant and overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  (Gal. 5:22-23).

This, my friend, is my sincere prayer for you and me.

Read Ephesians 1:3-14

Sitting in prison, the apostle Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by reminding them that God deserves their praise because God “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  We often speak casually about God’s blessings, but the song writer reminds us to “Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

There is a simple chorus that I like to sing that says, “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, he’s so good to me.”  Yes, he is!  Let’s review three of those blessings with Paul.

We are Chosen by God – “For he chose us in him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.” (v.4-5a).

In Christ we have been chosen by God to be his beloved children.  Our relationship with God is not based simply on our acceptance of Jesus Christ.  It is first based on God’s amazing love and acceptance of us.  Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been graciously adopted as children in God’s eternal, glorious family.

Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God.  It was always the opposite – God had chosen him.  This was also Jesus’ word to his disciples; “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – ” (John 15:16).

There isn’t any feeling quite like the feeling that comes when we are accepted/chosen to be a member of, to participate in, or to receive an award.  Such experiences empower us with desire to do our best.

What an inspiration it is to know that we have been chosen and loved by God.  To know this truth of God’s amazing love is to be freed from all our insecurities, neurotic fears, strivings for acceptance, and self-depreciation.  “God is so good!”

We are Forgiven and Redeemed by Jesus – “In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” (v.7-8a).

The essence of this redemption is forgiveness.  Paul does not try to explain how this is so, he just rejoices in the reality of being redeemed.  Nothing is more important to Paul than Calvary.  He saw Christ’s crucifixion as God’s supreme outpouring of his love for us sinful persons.

The marvel of this was overwhelming for Paul.  Even he, a spiritual giant, cannot fully fathom the depth and breadth of divine love that willingly endures the shame and agony of the cross in order to reconcile us into relationship with him as his adopted children.  We can only stand in worshipful awe as we gaze upon this love and grace that has been “lavished on us.”

(A story) – When Richard married, he anticipated a long life of love and joy but soon discovered his wife’s unfaithfulness.  Rather than abandon her in his shame and anger, he sought to restore their marriage.  She would have none of it, but instead ran off to prostitute herself.

Years passed.  While visiting a distant city, he was told that his long-lost wife was being held in the mental ward of a public hospital, diseased and despondent.  He went to her, paid her bills, and brought her home to nurse her to health and to rekindle her love for him.  She had been redeemed, “bought back.”  She had been his wife; now she was also his devoted love.

That’s exactly what Jesus did for you and me.   The apostle Paul declares this in his letter to the Roman Christians, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5:8). “God is so good!”

We are Sealed by the Spirit of God – “When you believed, you were marked in him (Christ)  with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (v.13b-14).

That seal is like branding, a mark of ownership.  The Holy Spirit in us is God’s mark of ownership.  The Holy Spirit in us is the seal of authenticity, that we belong; the seal of assurance, that God will not change his mind about us; and the seal of God’s pledge, that his eternal promises to us are true and will not fail.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit daily reveals God to us and makes effective in our lives the forgiving, cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice.  The Holy Spirit continually functions in our life, giving us power and guidance to “work out our salvation” in perfecting our love for God and for others. “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, he’s so good to me.”

No wonder Paul says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  We belong to God – he chose us, redeemed us, and sealed us as his children.  What does that mean for you today?

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  (Psalm 118:1).

Read John 9:1-41

In the biblical story of John 9, Jesus brings healing to a man who had been “blind from birth” and who has never seen the face of his parents or his friends.  Neither has he ever seen the dazzling colors of a sunrise or sunset, the beauty of flowering bushes, flying birds, flowing streams, or a starlit sky.

As Jesus is walking along, he sees this man and stops to heal him.  Yes, for Jesus, no one is ever lost in the crowd.  He knows each one of us, where we are, and what our need is.  He knows the cause of our blindness and he wants to heal us, if we let him.  This truth is our daily strength and hope.

And so, after answering his disciples question regarding whose sin caused this man’s blindness, Jesus healed the man’s eyes.  Mixing his own saliva with some soil, making a mudpack, he plasters the man’s eyes.  Then he tells the man to “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.”

The blind man believed, went, and washed – just as Jesus commanded – and he “came home seeing.”  Can you feel the emotions erupting within him?  Can you imagine the joy, the amazement that filled him as he walked home “seeing” everything and everybody around him?  Here was a man who could not venture into new territory without being led, but now he “came home seeing.” 

Here was a stunning miracle – a man blind since birth suddenly given eyesight, but no one is celebrating with him. His neighbors are doubtful and his parents are worried about the religious and legal ramifications, while the Pharisees find the whole episode threatening and foreboding.

In spite of the Pharisees attack, the healed man, without anyone coming to his defense, not even his own parents, refuses to give in to the charges they make concerning his healer, Jesus.  He simply speaks the truth as he has experienced it.  He admits he does not know a lot about this Jesus, but “One thing I do know,” – and this he clings to without wavering – “I was blind but now I see!”

The man’s life was changed physically and spiritually.  He was no longer blind, but now “seeing” and experiencing a new life of relationship with God.  And when Jesus heard that he had been thrown out of the synagogue, Jesus went and introduced himself as the “Son of Man.”  Hearing this, the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and then worshiped Jesus.

This story gives us the opportunity to consider the possibility of our own blindness.  This story also tells us that spiritual blindness is worse than physical blindness.  Physical blindness can be healed, but willful spiritual blindness resists healing.

The Pharisees were blinded by their dogmatic belief in their tradition and the Law of Moses and could neither see nor understand the healing miracle.  If they believed in what Jesus had done, then their law would be wrong.  And because they believed that to be impossible, they concluded that Jesus was not from God since he “does not keep the Sabbath.”

Tradition is a good and healthy thing – it gives us roots that connect us with our heritage, and helps us judge our thoughts and actions by the standards of those who have gone before us.  But tradition is not God – and we must always be aware that tradition can become an idol that blinds us to what God is saying and doing among us today.

The parents and neighbors are blinded by their worry and fear of the Jewish leaders and so are hesitant to give witness that Jesus, God’s messiah, was in their midst.  Yes, fear kept them from “seeing” Jesus, and fear can blind us as well.

I consider fear to be the most destructive weapon in the devil’s arsenal to keep us from “seeing” God’s hand in our lives and in our world.  We may fear loss – health, accident, death – or friends, job, home.  We may fear offending others who question or ridicule our faith and biblical understandings.  We may even fear the possibility that God may give us something that will be new, overwhelming and different than what we had in mind.  All of these various fears are capable of blinding us to the reality of Jesus’ healing, teaching presence in our midst.

And yes, I think we all need to admit that there are also times when we really don’t want to see truth, but prefer to live by our desires, our prejudices and be affirmed in what we know to be safe and familiar.   And so, we refuse to open our eyes to the possibility of seeing Jesus alive and doing kingdom work in our life and community.

The good news of this story is that the man born blind does not remain blind – and neither do we need to remain blind.  Jesus offers the man the chance not only to see the light, but to be light.  And Jesus offers the same to each of us.  What is it that keeps us from being able to “see” Jesus today?