Curiosity; a desire to learn or know. Miss Lashbaugh encouraged curiosity by rewarding me with trips to the library. Her tutelage developed in me a passion for reading, learning and writing. Jesus sparks curiosity by sending the Holy Spirit to teach all things about the Father. Biblical teachers are to equip disciples with curiosity. A tutor is provided to temper curiosity so we can excel in growing from grace to grace, strength to strength, glory to glory, faith to faith.
I become curious when my Teacher, the Holy Spirit, introduces a subject for study. I begin to ask questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? Recently He tickled my passion for learning with a lesson about faith to faith. As I began to ponder and study the teacher sent me to the library, in this case the book of Galatians. There a tutor, the Law, reminds me a learning process involves growing pains which requires letting go of old favored ideas and embracing new. With that in mind I seek out the tutor for the law of faith!
As the lesson progresses I learn that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. I'm taught by the Word that the righteousness of God is revealed faith to faith. So I've just learned the tutor for faith is righteousness. Christ redeemed me from the Law's curse so I know it's the blessing of the Law that will tutor. God promises the righteous man shall live by faith. What a relief! I'm more than willing to let righteousness tutor all it wants about faith. I know faith's curiosity will be satisfied because learning God's promised righteousness is a glory filled adventure.
Now rather than becoming anxious about a list of don'ts based on "The Law"; righteousness's promise will tutor me as I grow faith to faith with what I can do through Christ, which is all things. As a result I'm free to let old knowledge pass away and faith knowledge become new. I'm beginning to understand why there would even be the need to go from faith to faith. If I don't grow; I feel entitled; then I become subject to that faith's law, which quenches curiosity. I'm blessed Miss Lashbaugh was and the Holy Spirit is an excellent teacher in sparking curiosity. Thankfully I've been given the Law's tutor of righteousness to keep faith to faith's curiosity from getting out of hand. Because after all without a tutor; look at what curiosity did to the cat.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
His Compassion
I've often wondered why Jesus was moved to compassion when meeting the needs of the multitudes. The simple definition of compassion is loving concern. He personified love incarnate and yet had to be moved to love. Why? Perhaps because He knew they needed unconditional love; they are distressed and downcast because they do not have a shepherd and He is moved to compassion. The people received little, if any, compassion from their leaders. Jesus said; 'Do unto others AS you would have done unto you.' The religious leaders twisted that into; 'I will do for you but only after you do according to the conditions of the Law.' Jesus' response was to fulfill the law by loving His neighbor as Himself; the overflow of loving God with all His heart, mind, soul and strength.
He begins the Father's business by turning His neighbor's water into the best wine they'd ever had. He makes His way to the Temple at Passover, desiring to honor the memory of how his Father saved Israel from Egypt's death. Only to discover His Father's house has been turned into a marketplace. With passionate zeal He overturns tables and runs them off, so that the people could again know God's holiness in their place of worship. Then He encounters a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, and tells him what it means to be born again; that God loves the world so much He's giving His only begotten Son so that whoever BELIEVES, not just follow the conditional Law, would have eternal life. Next is a woman at a well and He asks her for a drink of water. She's surprised such a man would even speak to her. He proceeds to tell her all about herself and then reveals He is Messiah. I love how excited she was for she leaves her water pot at the well and dashes back to town announcing "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is the Messiah is it not?!" They believe her testimony and follow her back to Jesus.
Lepers are healed, blind are given sight, deaf begin to hear, demons are cast out and many are fed with nothing more than a few loaves and fishes. Upon seeing the multitudes He feels their pain, understands their heartache, finally He can love them as God's son. He is the wine that will quench their thirst. They can freely worship in the beauty of holiness; because He is the temple. Eternal life is possible simply by believing in Him. Excitement grows because people now know someone who loves them in spite of themselves, a powerful testimony to the masses. Humanity knows Jesus speaks with authority and manifests loving concern for them. His love was so great and yet He was moved to love all the more, even before He'd lovingly laid down His life. Amazing! Mankind still needs Jesus to be moved to compassion. The thing is it happens when WE love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbor as ourself. Why? Because WE are His compassion.
He begins the Father's business by turning His neighbor's water into the best wine they'd ever had. He makes His way to the Temple at Passover, desiring to honor the memory of how his Father saved Israel from Egypt's death. Only to discover His Father's house has been turned into a marketplace. With passionate zeal He overturns tables and runs them off, so that the people could again know God's holiness in their place of worship. Then He encounters a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, and tells him what it means to be born again; that God loves the world so much He's giving His only begotten Son so that whoever BELIEVES, not just follow the conditional Law, would have eternal life. Next is a woman at a well and He asks her for a drink of water. She's surprised such a man would even speak to her. He proceeds to tell her all about herself and then reveals He is Messiah. I love how excited she was for she leaves her water pot at the well and dashes back to town announcing "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is the Messiah is it not?!" They believe her testimony and follow her back to Jesus.
Lepers are healed, blind are given sight, deaf begin to hear, demons are cast out and many are fed with nothing more than a few loaves and fishes. Upon seeing the multitudes He feels their pain, understands their heartache, finally He can love them as God's son. He is the wine that will quench their thirst. They can freely worship in the beauty of holiness; because He is the temple. Eternal life is possible simply by believing in Him. Excitement grows because people now know someone who loves them in spite of themselves, a powerful testimony to the masses. Humanity knows Jesus speaks with authority and manifests loving concern for them. His love was so great and yet He was moved to love all the more, even before He'd lovingly laid down His life. Amazing! Mankind still needs Jesus to be moved to compassion. The thing is it happens when WE love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbor as ourself. Why? Because WE are His compassion.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Hands Handled
John began his first epistle with 'what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled concerning the Word of Life--' He writes this because the Gnostic's are telling people that Jesus was not flesh but only a spirit come in phantom form. John knew Jesus was the word made flesh and come to dwell among us. So rather than get into a great debate on the merits of Christs flesh, he writes about how he handled the flesh of Christ. John was the only disciple who remained at the foot of the cross. He heard when Jesus cried; Father why have you forsaken me, he saw them drop the body onto the ground watching as the blood seeped back into the earth from which it was formed; he beheld the storm filled heavens and the earth quake as Jesus surrendered his spirit. Finally, John's hands handled the lifeless body as Mary cleansed and lovingly wrapped her son in a burial shroud. The Word of Life was dead, the flesh no longer dwelled among them, but did that mean there was nothing left to handle?
As Jesus discipled He prepared John for when He'd be gone by teaching him to handle healing the sick, cast out demons, feed the poor and much more. In the years following the resurrection John comes to know the value of what he handled. He's writes about the Word made flesh and dwells among us, to quell the Gnostic's lie that Jesus had not come in the flesh. That's why it becomes so important for him to make sure we know the Word of life based on what we hear, see, behold and handle. So like John I want to write that I have heard "I will never leave nor forsake you", I have seen with my eyes, "good works that declare God's Glory"; I have beheld the wonder of creation in the laugh of a child and the brilliance of a sunrise; and my hands have handled the body of a broken and contrite soul sobbing out to God who was transformed into one singing joyfully unto the Lord; all because, amazingly, the Word of Life trusts my hands to handle what I see, hear and behold.
As Jesus discipled He prepared John for when He'd be gone by teaching him to handle healing the sick, cast out demons, feed the poor and much more. In the years following the resurrection John comes to know the value of what he handled. He's writes about the Word made flesh and dwells among us, to quell the Gnostic's lie that Jesus had not come in the flesh. That's why it becomes so important for him to make sure we know the Word of life based on what we hear, see, behold and handle. So like John I want to write that I have heard "I will never leave nor forsake you", I have seen with my eyes, "good works that declare God's Glory"; I have beheld the wonder of creation in the laugh of a child and the brilliance of a sunrise; and my hands have handled the body of a broken and contrite soul sobbing out to God who was transformed into one singing joyfully unto the Lord; all because, amazingly, the Word of Life trusts my hands to handle what I see, hear and behold.
Monday, March 19, 2012
His Testimony
I don't want to be as the rich young man who did not want to consider his ways and turn his feet to God's testimonies. What was he so afraid of that he couldn't bring himself to consider it? Give up all he owned and follow Christ; although that is a lot to ask of someone. And wasn't it quite presumptuous on God's part to ask Abraham to give up Isaac? Why in heaven's name would He do that! I think of the things I've given up because He asked, not always willingly either. I'd have to go to the garden of Gethsemane and pray with intense agony; Not my will but yours Lord. I'd wrestle with bitterness, that can defile many, as I struggle to let go of what I perceived to be a great sacrifice on my part. In the process I start comparing myself to others who weren't required to make such a sacrifice. Falsely comforting myself with how unfair it was, basically wallowing in self-pity, which does not satisfy a broken soul. Ultimately, I make the choice to be as Abraham knowing that obedience is better than the sacrifice. I begin to consider my ways, turn my feet to His testimonies (Ps 119:24). I exercise free will to not turn my feet towards my testimony. The rich young man turned and walked in the way he'd come to Christ, but not in the way of following Christ. Abraham became God's testimony through obedience and God supplied the needed sacrifice of the ram. Knowing that Jesus is the sacrifice, I consider all I must sell and turn my feet to follow Him. As a result I come to know what it means to be as a bird of the air and lily of the field that He so lovingly cares and supplies all needs according to riches in glory. I am the delight of His testimony, I have considered my ways!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Gentle Anger
A friend recently said it feels good to be angry; especially when defending oneself against true or false accusations. If it's true we get angry because we don't like that we were caught. If wronged we want to defend ourselves, set the record straight and put the accuser in their place. It feels good to achieve what we perceive to be justice; some go to great lengths to vindicate themselves, I know I have. Yet we're told not to vindicate ourselves, we can condemn an accusatory word or action but not vindicate. That action is reserved for God alone. So what and how am I to deal with anger?!
Anger is defined as indignant; wrath; enraged, sounds familiar to me. Paul quotes Psalms 4:4 to 'Be angry, and yet do not sin.' Easier said than done in my opinion, I'd rather not get angry. But it seems that whenever I tell my self not to do or say something the more I'm compelled to do so. Which could have been what Cain did before killing his brother Able. When Cain became angry God warned him that sin was crouching at his door, and its desire was for him, but that he must master it. Obviously he didn't but why? I wonder if he realized how dangerous and full of self-righteous lust his anger was. Lust is a fleshly desire that when governed by self defined right and wrong requires vindication, and can unleash wrath. The story of Cain and Able is an example of sin mastering anger's desire.
I don't want anger to master me! Sin is constantly crouching at my door waiting for an opportunity to entice my lusts of the flesh. So Lord what are some tools I can use to keep from falling into sinful anger? Let's see; Eccl 7:9 tells me "Do not be hasty/eager in my heart to be angry." I need to use caution and not be quick-tempered when my anger button is pushed. Okay that makes sense. James 1:19-20 warns me that if I'm quick to anger it's an indicator that some sort of "filthiness" remains in me. Ugh! 1 Jn reminds me if a lust has control then I haven't overcome loving doing things the worlds way. I must overcome by putting aside "anger, wrath, malice from my mouth" and "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and forbearance towards others." (Col 3:8-12) Really! That is so contrary to my nature when I'm angry! But it's not impossible for I'm told "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength," which leaves me with no excuses.
Psalms and Proverbs speaks of being slow to anger and I as read these verses I notice some sound advice for how I can accomplish this. I must rule my spirit by exercising free will through submitting to God and resisting sins desire. Overlooking a transgression and having discretion helps me to overcome feeling good about being angry. Remaining composed, which requires practice, practice, practice, enables me to condemn judgemental words without vindicating myself. Then I can pacify contention through slow anger instead of stirring up hot tempered strife. Whew! I can master sin rather than it master me, imagine that!
So where does that leave me? Ah, here I am; "But he who is slow to anger has great understanding" (Prv 14:29). My desire becomes grace that turns to righteousness; resulting in sanctification and eternal life (Rom 6:19). My understanding leads to "A gentle answer that turns away wrath, not a harsh word that stirs up anger" (Prv 15:1). Rather than becoming a Cain I can be as Abigail who diffused David's hot-tempered anger. I suspect she became angry at her husband Nabel's rejection of David's request for supplies. But rather than rant and rave she gathered what David needed and met him, asking forgiveness, reminding him his anger would only diminish his standing with the people. Her words and actions humbled and impressed David thereby saving herself and servants from death. I like Abigail's example of how to avoid sinful anger by using a soft tongue that can be persuasive and pacify through gentle anger.
Anger is defined as indignant; wrath; enraged, sounds familiar to me. Paul quotes Psalms 4:4 to 'Be angry, and yet do not sin.' Easier said than done in my opinion, I'd rather not get angry. But it seems that whenever I tell my self not to do or say something the more I'm compelled to do so. Which could have been what Cain did before killing his brother Able. When Cain became angry God warned him that sin was crouching at his door, and its desire was for him, but that he must master it. Obviously he didn't but why? I wonder if he realized how dangerous and full of self-righteous lust his anger was. Lust is a fleshly desire that when governed by self defined right and wrong requires vindication, and can unleash wrath. The story of Cain and Able is an example of sin mastering anger's desire.
I don't want anger to master me! Sin is constantly crouching at my door waiting for an opportunity to entice my lusts of the flesh. So Lord what are some tools I can use to keep from falling into sinful anger? Let's see; Eccl 7:9 tells me "Do not be hasty/eager in my heart to be angry." I need to use caution and not be quick-tempered when my anger button is pushed. Okay that makes sense. James 1:19-20 warns me that if I'm quick to anger it's an indicator that some sort of "filthiness" remains in me. Ugh! 1 Jn reminds me if a lust has control then I haven't overcome loving doing things the worlds way. I must overcome by putting aside "anger, wrath, malice from my mouth" and "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and forbearance towards others." (Col 3:8-12) Really! That is so contrary to my nature when I'm angry! But it's not impossible for I'm told "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength," which leaves me with no excuses.
Psalms and Proverbs speaks of being slow to anger and I as read these verses I notice some sound advice for how I can accomplish this. I must rule my spirit by exercising free will through submitting to God and resisting sins desire. Overlooking a transgression and having discretion helps me to overcome feeling good about being angry. Remaining composed, which requires practice, practice, practice, enables me to condemn judgemental words without vindicating myself. Then I can pacify contention through slow anger instead of stirring up hot tempered strife. Whew! I can master sin rather than it master me, imagine that!
So where does that leave me? Ah, here I am; "But he who is slow to anger has great understanding" (Prv 14:29). My desire becomes grace that turns to righteousness; resulting in sanctification and eternal life (Rom 6:19). My understanding leads to "A gentle answer that turns away wrath, not a harsh word that stirs up anger" (Prv 15:1). Rather than becoming a Cain I can be as Abigail who diffused David's hot-tempered anger. I suspect she became angry at her husband Nabel's rejection of David's request for supplies. But rather than rant and rave she gathered what David needed and met him, asking forgiveness, reminding him his anger would only diminish his standing with the people. Her words and actions humbled and impressed David thereby saving herself and servants from death. I like Abigail's example of how to avoid sinful anger by using a soft tongue that can be persuasive and pacify through gentle anger.
Friday, March 9, 2012
My Delight
Ahhh! I so enjoy a warm fuzzy! Sinking into a warm bath on a cold winter day. Biting into a sweet piece of chocolate. For some, it's wrapping fingers around a mug of fresh brewed coffee savoring the first sip. Then there's watching a sunrise bathe snow-capped mountains in pink or a glorious orange hued sunset. They delight the soul and make one feel better in the moment. I wonder if these count as the desires of my heart the Lord gives me because I have delighted in Him. Probably, yet there must be other things I know not of.
How about 'His testimonies are my delight, they are the men of my counsel. (Ps 119:16)' Wow, can it be that simple if I want godly counsel, delight in His testimonies!" As I take 'Great delight in my beloved's shade, his fruit is sweet to my taste. (Song 2:3)' Really, something sweeter than chocolate! He will make me ride on the heights on the earth as I delight in Him (Is 58:14). I could ride on a sunrise; besides I look good in pink. 'His consolations delight my soul when my anxious thoughts are many (Ps 94:19)' I would like to bathe my cold anxious thoughts in warm consolation!
I must ask myself "Have I given my heart to Him and let my eyes delight in His ways?" (Prv 23:26) "Is my delight the law of the Lord?" (Ps 1:2) Do I "call the sabbath a delight?" (Is 58:13) My answer is a resounding YES! As a result He "delights in (my) loyalty rather than sacrifice" and His greatest delight "is (our) unchanging love!" (Hos 6:6; Mic 7:18). This is the ultimate warm fuzzy to know that I know that I know the Lord that is the desire of my heart and my delight.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Happy! Happy! Happy!
God never promised we'd be happy. That's not to say we don't have moments of happiness, our first kiss, getting married, a child being born, etc. But happiness is fleeting, dependant upon external gratification and once the experience has passed we anxiously await the next thing that will make us happy. Besides who doesn't like feeling happy!? But like most feelings; happiness is short-lived and won't sustain in times of need. It's called the fruit of the Spirit not the feeling of the Spirit for a reason and happiness is not in that list.
A fruit seed is carefully chosen, patiently planted, lovingly tended, painstakingly cultivated and finally joyfully harvested. There's a process involved, knowing the season to plant and to harvest. And regardless of which fruit I'm growing it's not happiness that will sustain but contentment. As an added bonus it's godliness with contentment that is of great gain. Hm, who would have thought that throwing godliness into the mix would bring me into the realm of joy unspeakable and full of glory that trumps happiness.
Then I can say, as Paul did, "Not that I speak according to self-sufficiency; for I have learned to be content/satisfied in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." (Phil 4:11-12) I no longer have to depend on being happy, happy, happy and self-sufficient but can know the secret of godly satisfaction; what could be better than that!
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