When God made His covenant with Abraham, He said that Abraham would be a blessing to ALL the families of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3). Then God reaffirms this to Isaac and says, "...and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. And I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands. and by your descendants ALL the nations of the earth shall be blessed."
The Hebrew text actually says "be a blessing" and not "and you shall be a blessing." It was a command that God gave Abraham and not a prediction. Of course, Abraham would be a blessing to the nations as he sought to fulfill the command God had given him.
Abraham and Isaac both understood "descendants" to be their physical seed. But we also know from Galatians 3:29 that this seed is expanded to a spiritual seed who are all those who have placed their faith in what Christ accomplished on the cross.
Now consider for a moment what the Great Commission says. Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of ALL the nations." Mark 16:15 "Go into ALL the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Luke 24:47 "...and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to ALL the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
It follows that we, the spiritual seed of Abraham, are commanded to be a blessing to ALL nations. How are we to be a blessing? Through word and deed. It is the Great Commission coupled with the Great Commandment.
In Luke 9:2 we see that Jesus sent the twelve out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. What is the kingdom of God we are to proclaim. It is the acting rule and presence of God in His people (those who have trusted in His son's death for the forgiveness of their sins). This is the good news. We were once separated in our sins from the presence of God, but now we have been reconciled and not only have the privilege of being in His presence, but His presence is now in us.
It is His presence now in us that gives us the energy (if you will) to be a blessing to others. To heal them. To serve them. To speak life into them. To honor them. To respect them. To yield to them. To seek their benefit. To seek their gain. To bring wholeness to them.
In my own life I find myself getting frustrated with people very easily. You know those who get in my way. Those who thwart me from reaching my goals. Those who get in my space. Those who just don't get it. Those who don't live up to expectations. The temptation then becomes to deal with these people accordingly - and many times (unfortunately) I give into temptation.
God hit me square between the eyes today when I was reading in Luke 9:55-56, "But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." This statement from Jesus comes right after He entered a village of the Samaritans who refused to make a place for Jesus because he was heading to Jerusalem. (Jews and Samaritans had a long standing dislike for one another - birthed out of a racism type disdain.) This rejection by the Samaritans angered the disciples and like a good band of brothers they quickly asked the Lord if He wanted them to fire down on them and burn them all.
Oh, trust me there are times when I want to call fire down on people (all too often). But that does not come from the right spirit within me. You see the Spirit within me gives me the power not only to respond differently but to desire something different for my adversary all together. To be a blessing. To be able to pause and be driven to compassion for those who thwart my ways, or much worse the ways of God. When I am walking by the Spirit I am empowered to walk the Way of being a blessing to ALL people everywhere. This is God's grand Way of overcoming evil with good. It is the great Divine Conspiracy! And why? That God might be glorified through the redemption of hurting, broken, lost, sinful humanity - every man, woman and child. In the familiar words of an old friend in Texas (Frank Lehti), "Be a blessing, walk with the King!"
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Sin's Desire is for You
Today Kendall and I went on a bike ride. yesterday the whole family went and had such a good time that kendall wanted to go again today. After getting all situated we headed out for Dunkin Donuts to grab a donut as our reward for going so far. It was the makings of a glorious day between father and daughter - an adventure every man and girl dream of. But then...
Before I tell you what happened, I need to let you know that yesterday I watched Kendall purposefully ride her bike under a few tree and bush branches letting the leaves brush over her. I thought it was kind of cool and even followed her lead (almost busting my butt mind you). I never really considered the risks.
Back to today. We made it around the corner of our street and headed down the sidewalk. Kendall was leading and before I knew it she was up to her same ole antics. She headed straight for a grassy bush to brush by it, but behind the bush was a solid hedge. Next thing you know she is going down on her bike - a total body and bike plant on the concrete. I was follwoing closely behind and was not able to stop. I heard three "OW, OW, OW!" as my bike ran over Kendall and her bike. It was horrible - all in slow motion and trying to do everything I could to keep from crushing my little girl.
Thankfully, God protected both Kendall and me. She came out of the wreckage with merely a flesh woud (a couple of scrapes on her knee and ankle). It could have been worse. She could have ended up with a chain ring implanted in her forehead. The bummer of it all was that we missed out on the bike ride and the journey to Dunkin Donuts.
This afternoon I read Genesis 4:7 where God is chastising Cain for being displeased with Him. It reads, "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you and you must master it."
I started to think back to the "incident/accident" this morning. I thought about sin and temptation and all that happened. Why did Kendall choose the path through the bushes? She chose it because it seemed adventurous. It was dangerous. It looked like it might be fun, after all she had done it the day before and it was great.
It is that way with sin though isn't it? It seems to offer great adventure. Its dangerous allure is exciting and thrilling. And, how many times have we gotten away with sin unscathed?
Think about what Kendall traded though? She traded a long peaceful ride to Dunkin Donuts and the delicious tasty morsels that awaited us there for a short painful trip flat on her face. That is where sin usually leaves us - broken, bruised, scraped up and flat on our face wondering what just happened. Sure she got to enjoy the immediate comfort of her father's embrace and care, but she missed out on so much more. (Now I am not saying that Kendall was sinning by riding into the bushes, I am just letting you in on the picture that God gave me today.)
Sin is crouching at the door! It is lurking around waiting for us. God's word says its desire is for us! That is scary. When we choose to open the door to temptation, we are in danger of the power and consequences of our sin (crouching and desiring us) that can leave us laid out. Yet what we learn from Cain is that if we will simply seek to please God by doing what is right, all will go well. However, if we do not we are in danger of being overcome like a lion overcomes his prey. But...
God says, "...but you must have mastery over it." Apparently, we can have victory in this life. I am reminded of Galatians 5:16 which says, "Walk by the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the desires of your flesh." Too often we have chosen to gain victory over sin by trying to manage the flesh (sin nature), the world and the devil's influence. Victory over sin is not equated with sin management.
Victory over sin comes by being completely consumed with your relationship with God. To walk by the spirit means to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in your life. How do you know where the Spirit is leading? You must read the "sword of the Spirit" God's word in order to know. (Note the sword is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God in Ephesians 6.) To fight sin you must know God's word. Read His word, know His word, meditate on His word and memorize His word. It means when I am dealing with a specific sin struggle in my life, I should look to find what God might have to say about it and let His words penetrate my heart leading to a changed and victorious life!
Walking by the Spirit also necessitates seeing things from God's perspective. Zooming out and taking a look from on High helps me get in line with Him.
To follow the Way means we must know the Way. John 17:3 says, "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent." All of life is really about going deeper with Christ. Oneness!
The cool thing about God is that he will always mount up with us again and take us on more advetures. We cannot out-sin God's grace. He will always ride with us again! He will always let us have a second shot at going to Dunkin Donuts. And when Kendall is ready, we will take that adventure to DD together.
My prayer is that I would know the Way so intimately that I never want to stray from the Way because of apparently "more exciting adventures."
Before I tell you what happened, I need to let you know that yesterday I watched Kendall purposefully ride her bike under a few tree and bush branches letting the leaves brush over her. I thought it was kind of cool and even followed her lead (almost busting my butt mind you). I never really considered the risks.
Back to today. We made it around the corner of our street and headed down the sidewalk. Kendall was leading and before I knew it she was up to her same ole antics. She headed straight for a grassy bush to brush by it, but behind the bush was a solid hedge. Next thing you know she is going down on her bike - a total body and bike plant on the concrete. I was follwoing closely behind and was not able to stop. I heard three "OW, OW, OW!" as my bike ran over Kendall and her bike. It was horrible - all in slow motion and trying to do everything I could to keep from crushing my little girl.
Thankfully, God protected both Kendall and me. She came out of the wreckage with merely a flesh woud (a couple of scrapes on her knee and ankle). It could have been worse. She could have ended up with a chain ring implanted in her forehead. The bummer of it all was that we missed out on the bike ride and the journey to Dunkin Donuts.
This afternoon I read Genesis 4:7 where God is chastising Cain for being displeased with Him. It reads, "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you and you must master it."
I started to think back to the "incident/accident" this morning. I thought about sin and temptation and all that happened. Why did Kendall choose the path through the bushes? She chose it because it seemed adventurous. It was dangerous. It looked like it might be fun, after all she had done it the day before and it was great.
It is that way with sin though isn't it? It seems to offer great adventure. Its dangerous allure is exciting and thrilling. And, how many times have we gotten away with sin unscathed?
Think about what Kendall traded though? She traded a long peaceful ride to Dunkin Donuts and the delicious tasty morsels that awaited us there for a short painful trip flat on her face. That is where sin usually leaves us - broken, bruised, scraped up and flat on our face wondering what just happened. Sure she got to enjoy the immediate comfort of her father's embrace and care, but she missed out on so much more. (Now I am not saying that Kendall was sinning by riding into the bushes, I am just letting you in on the picture that God gave me today.)
Sin is crouching at the door! It is lurking around waiting for us. God's word says its desire is for us! That is scary. When we choose to open the door to temptation, we are in danger of the power and consequences of our sin (crouching and desiring us) that can leave us laid out. Yet what we learn from Cain is that if we will simply seek to please God by doing what is right, all will go well. However, if we do not we are in danger of being overcome like a lion overcomes his prey. But...
God says, "...but you must have mastery over it." Apparently, we can have victory in this life. I am reminded of Galatians 5:16 which says, "Walk by the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the desires of your flesh." Too often we have chosen to gain victory over sin by trying to manage the flesh (sin nature), the world and the devil's influence. Victory over sin is not equated with sin management.
Victory over sin comes by being completely consumed with your relationship with God. To walk by the spirit means to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in your life. How do you know where the Spirit is leading? You must read the "sword of the Spirit" God's word in order to know. (Note the sword is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God in Ephesians 6.) To fight sin you must know God's word. Read His word, know His word, meditate on His word and memorize His word. It means when I am dealing with a specific sin struggle in my life, I should look to find what God might have to say about it and let His words penetrate my heart leading to a changed and victorious life!
Walking by the Spirit also necessitates seeing things from God's perspective. Zooming out and taking a look from on High helps me get in line with Him.
To follow the Way means we must know the Way. John 17:3 says, "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent." All of life is really about going deeper with Christ. Oneness!
The cool thing about God is that he will always mount up with us again and take us on more advetures. We cannot out-sin God's grace. He will always ride with us again! He will always let us have a second shot at going to Dunkin Donuts. And when Kendall is ready, we will take that adventure to DD together.
My prayer is that I would know the Way so intimately that I never want to stray from the Way because of apparently "more exciting adventures."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
אֶחָד echad
אֶחָד (ʾě∙ḥāḏ) - This Hebrew word in its simplest forms means ONE. Its most famous usage is found in the Hebrew Shema confession of faith found in three different passages: Num. 15:37-41, Deut. 6:4-9, Deut. 11:13-21. This was the Hebrew's declaration of loyalty to his God.
Deut. 6:4, "Hear O Israel! The Lord your God is our God, the Lord is one!" The Hebrews lived in a very polytheistic culture, and this was their declaration that there is only one God and (v.5), "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
This is the chief aim of my life. I live my life in complete loyalty to God (even though I fail at times) and seek to love Him with all that I am. There is one God and one chief aim of my life. There is something unique about this word "one" that resonates deeply within my soul.
The use of the word echad demonstrates compound unity of oneness. The parts coming together to make the whole.
"In the famous Shema of Deut 6:4, “Hear, O Israel … the Lord is one,” the question of diversity within unity has theological implications. Some scholars have felt that, though “one” is singular, the usage of the word allows for the doctrine of the Trinity. While it is true that this doctrine is foreshadowed in the ot, the verse concentrates on the fact that there is one God and that Israel owes its exclusive loyalty to him (Deut 5:9; 6:5)."
Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999, c1980). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (030). Chicago: Moody Press.
While I do not propose that the Hebrews had a developed theology of the trinity when these words were penned, it is easy to see God's providential usage of the Hebrew word over other options (i.e. יָחִיד yachid).
So for me this word has major implications for my life. It is about a compound unity of existence. God exists in trinitarian community first and foremost. Being that we are all created in the image of God, we too were meant to live in community.
First, community with God. Until we are reconciled to the one true God, we are not whole people. My "being" is about my oneness with my Creator! Seeking to know Him fully and apply His truth to my life.
Second, community with others. Gen. 2:24 says I am to be echad with my wife. I believe this oneness with her transcends simply physical oneness. It includes the spiritual, emotional and mental aspects of our being. Not that we are to be identical but to live as one. Echad represents the fusion of diverse elements into a harmonious whole.
Beyond my relationship with Kelly, I am called to live in community with others. In Jesus' High Priestly Prayer of John 17, Jesus prays for the oneness of believers everywhere that they may be "complete" in unity and that the world would know Christ was sent by the Father to show His love. In other words, God has called His church to be "one" in order to advance the gospel and proclaim His love.
Why echad? Because this is the way God intended it to be - one with Him and one with others!
Deut. 6:4, "Hear O Israel! The Lord your God is our God, the Lord is one!" The Hebrews lived in a very polytheistic culture, and this was their declaration that there is only one God and (v.5), "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
This is the chief aim of my life. I live my life in complete loyalty to God (even though I fail at times) and seek to love Him with all that I am. There is one God and one chief aim of my life. There is something unique about this word "one" that resonates deeply within my soul.
The use of the word echad demonstrates compound unity of oneness. The parts coming together to make the whole.
"In the famous Shema of Deut 6:4, “Hear, O Israel … the Lord is one,” the question of diversity within unity has theological implications. Some scholars have felt that, though “one” is singular, the usage of the word allows for the doctrine of the Trinity. While it is true that this doctrine is foreshadowed in the ot, the verse concentrates on the fact that there is one God and that Israel owes its exclusive loyalty to him (Deut 5:9; 6:5)."
Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999, c1980). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (030). Chicago: Moody Press.
While I do not propose that the Hebrews had a developed theology of the trinity when these words were penned, it is easy to see God's providential usage of the Hebrew word over other options (i.e. יָחִיד yachid).
So for me this word has major implications for my life. It is about a compound unity of existence. God exists in trinitarian community first and foremost. Being that we are all created in the image of God, we too were meant to live in community.
First, community with God. Until we are reconciled to the one true God, we are not whole people. My "being" is about my oneness with my Creator! Seeking to know Him fully and apply His truth to my life.
Second, community with others. Gen. 2:24 says I am to be echad with my wife. I believe this oneness with her transcends simply physical oneness. It includes the spiritual, emotional and mental aspects of our being. Not that we are to be identical but to live as one. Echad represents the fusion of diverse elements into a harmonious whole.
Beyond my relationship with Kelly, I am called to live in community with others. In Jesus' High Priestly Prayer of John 17, Jesus prays for the oneness of believers everywhere that they may be "complete" in unity and that the world would know Christ was sent by the Father to show His love. In other words, God has called His church to be "one" in order to advance the gospel and proclaim His love.
Why echad? Because this is the way God intended it to be - one with Him and one with others!
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