Monthly Archive for July, 2010

The Face Of Acceptance

Published on July 25, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The Bible character Esau had good reason to be sorely angry with his brother Jacob.   After all, Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright, and then Jacob stole their father’s blessing which should have gone to Esau as the eldest son.  Fearing for his life, Jacob took off and went into hiding. 

 

Years later, the two met.  Rather than retaliate, however, Esau told Jacob that he was forgiven.  Overwhelmed with joy, Jacob uttered these words to his brother: “I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me.”

 

When God casts an eye toward His children, His expression is one of acceptance.  Likewise, those who love me, despite my faults and shortcomings, are the appearance of God in my life.

 

Scripture says that no one has ever seen God’s actual face, but from the story of Jacob and Esau, I certainly know what it looks like.  I, just like Jacob, am accepted.

 

The High Calling Of Waiting

Published on July 18, 2010 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

A famous verse of scripture, says: “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

 

I see a progression of spiritual growth in this verse that is rarely discussed.  It’s fly, run, walk, wait.  Interestingly, this is just the opposite of what most people would consider a progression, because it starts at the most active and ends at the most mundane… or so it seems. 

 

New Believers fly high.  They discover new heights and see from a different perspective than before.  They soar over difficulties.

 

Later, the journey enters a period of running.  Often, this takes place in the physical realm, as in running to meetings and opportunities to serve. Spirits are also running.  It seems that there is so much to learn and miles of spiritual ground to cover.

 

Next comes the discovery that the life of faith is a daily walk.  The realization is made that God works through the little things that are part of normal routines.  Loving others – spouses, neighbors, co-workers and strangers – takes on as much significance, and as great a challenge perhaps, as evangelizing whole continents.

 

A great privilege of the spiritual life, however, is when God entrusts His child with the need to wait.  At those times it can feel that nothing is going on, that heaven is silent, that the situation is dire, and that all that can be done is to sit and wait for God to intervene.  This is a very high calling in the life of a Believer.

 

Those who have faced (or are facing) a period of waiting are to be congratulated.  It means that they have made great progress as followers of God.

 

Peculiar People

Published on July 11, 2010 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

The first generation of Christians were a mish mosh of different nationalities, educational backgrounds, social upbringing, economic status and the like.  Humanly speaking, they had no reason to be together.  And yet Peter writes in scripture that this group was a nation as legitimate as any, even though they were dispersed across the entire empire.  Sound odd?  No doubt.  In fact, in one Bible translation, God’s followers are told, “you are a peculiar people.”

 

The situation is not much different today.  Once in awhile I find myself in a room with a handful of believers.  Our stories are diverse. They encompass living on the streets, straight A school years, battling addictions, acquiring wealth, demonstrating against the establishment, fighting for conservative politics, embracing social activism, and on and on.  The one who has been squeaky clean all his life sits beside the ex thug.

 

But a remarkable thing has happened.  The Spirit of God has given us love for one another and made us one nation.  We’ve learned (or we’re learning) to make allowances, to challenge ourselves instead of judging, and to see the expression of God in the many facets of His creation.

 

The members of God’s family have only one thing in common… the divine Life that beats within each of them.  And that is quite enough.

 

 

Interdependence Day

Published on July 4, 2010 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

The phrase “one another” shows up in the Bible many times.  We are told to bear with one another, encourage one another, forgive one another, and – of course – to love one another.  This all sounds simple until we admit that we hardly even know one another.

 

The ability to go it alone has become idolized.  This, however, is not what God intended for mankind.  In contrast, all of creation shows that each part relies on those around it. By ignoring this, humans have produced all types of problems for themselves.

 

Our loneliness is obvious.  But how many destructive bad decisions, how much loss and heartache, how many broken lives could have been avoided simply by a person being in an authentic relationship?  Take away mere religion and give me a friend or two with whom I can find God as we find one another.  I think I’ll be better for it.

 

How does this happen?  Certainly the first step is opening my eyes to the reality that the spiritual journey is an ecosystem, where we each of us must rely on one another.  I need you, and that’s my declaration of interdependence.

 

(And a personal P.S. – “Thank you” to those with whom I share life.  You are my heaven on Earth.)

 

 

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