Free to Explore
Introduction: Last week, Paul tells us the story of how he resisted efforts by people in Jerusalem to limit Titus’ freedom and re-define his God-given ministry. Now, he tells us another story, not only about his freedom to resist Peter in person, but also calls our attention to the positive side of this encounter – our freedom to explore (Galatians 2: 11-21). We are free to explore – the grace of God, new territories, new skills, and new opportunities. The life of faith is an exploration of God’s wonderland of grace.
Men and women who were free to explore: The bible is filled with accounts of men and women, who having put their trust in God, were willing to step out on a limb, so to speak, to explore new ‘territories’ with God. Think of Noah building his ark and entering in with his whole family; Abraham leaving his native land, business and relatives to go to a strange far away land; or picture the children of Israel leaving the familiar land of Egypt to the distant land of Canaan. The Christian faith is filled with such examples. Hebrews 11 is filled with such examples. History is also filled with accounts of men and women who left the familiar territories of life, and decided to live each day trusting God and anticipating what next He has in store: Mary Slessor dared to leave the comforts of Scotland to go live in Calabar, Nigeria until her death in 1915, for example.
Stopped by fear: Peter started to explore a new dimension of grace, and stepped out of the comforts of his Jewish traditions to interact with Gentile believers. In his heart, he knew it was the right thing to do, after all, God had taught him a big lesson earlier regarding gentiles ( Acts 10:9-22). But the fear of “the other” stopped Peter from going all the way in this way of living and loving. Other Jews from James had come to visit, and so fearing what these “other” would say or do, Peter balked. It seems like fear is the greatest enemy to a life of faith, to the explorative spirit. It may be fear of “the other”, fear of failure, fear of an uncertain outcome, fear of what others may say or think (Proverbs 29: 25, Hebrews 2: 14-16).
Crucified with Christ: Paul seems to suggest in Galatians 2: 20 that the antidote to fear is to know that we were already dead anyway, crucified with Christ. After all, a dead man doesn’t have to worry about what others think of him. But on the other hand, we are now free to live for God, to trust Him, to explore, to step out on a limb in response to his revelation. “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” He loved me enough to give Himself for me. So I now trust Him enough to go wherever He says go. I am free to explore with Him, because He loves me. He has my back. I may not know what the new land holds in store for me, but I know that He loves me; so I can step out to explore the land. He may not tell me all about what tomorrow may bring, but I know that I can face tomorrow victoriously anyway; because He is with me (Psalm 23:4).
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Free to Resist
Introduction: Last week, we noted that every Christian story is a story of freedom, and in particular, the freedom to change. Paul told us his own story of God’s wonderful change in his own life in Galatians 1. Today, we look at another freedom that we all have – the freedom to resist (Galatians 2:1-10). Some of the insights here are inspired by Travelling Light, a book by Eugene H. Peterson
Freedom defined: As Myles Munroe noted in his book, The Burden of Freedom, freedom is a two-part word, free-dominion (Genesis 1:26) – which means the liberty or ability to exercise dominion over the earth through one’s unique gifts and talents according to God’s purpose. In other words, freedom is the liberty to fulfill God’s will in serving others with the gifts and talents He gave you, without restricting or controlling others as they also seek to fulfill God’s purpose. It also means then that no one is allowed to control or restrict you as you pursue God’s will for your life. But all too often, we know that there is the tendency to control, or even allow ourselves to be controlled by, others as we run the race of life.
Paul, an example in resisting: It is for the above reason that Paul again tells us his story of resisting man’s controlling and restricting influence on his life and ministry. He tells his story first to the Galatians, and then to us, that we may all learn to resist. We are Free to Resist. Today, we are called to be vigilant about the faith and freedom we have received in Christ. But what exactly are we to resist as we seek to maintain our freedom?
Titus and Circumcision: We are called to resist everything that restricts or controls the freedom and grace we have received in Christ. Titus met Christ just as he was, a Greek. And Christ accepted him, loved him, and changed him. But now, he was among the Jews who, over several years of religious preconditioning, have their own rigid ideas about what you must do in order to be accepted by Christ. Or for that matter, what you must do in order to remain accepted by Christ – Circumcision. Fortunately, Paul was a free man who understood that we are saved by grace alone (Ephesians 2: 8-10). So, he resisted this attempt to enslave Titus again. We are free to resist (Galatians 5: 1-4). Sometimes it may not be circumcision – it may be a denomination’s stifling man-made rules that control and restrict the true grace of Christ, societal or peer pressure, a pastor’s domineering and controlling spirit, or it may be national or ethnic preconditions and superstitions that seek to return us to fear and bondage to elements, holidays or rituals – but whatever it is, we are called to resist if it seeks to rob us of the freedom we have in Christ.
Peter and Paul, a divergence in ministry: Paul’s ministry was so different from Peter’s that it encountered opposition. He never met Christ in person, never saw him heal but Paul was God’s choice to the Gentiles; not in addition to reaching Jews first (as Acts 1: 8, Romans 2: 10 suggest) but in devotion to the Gentiles. So, it was easy to see why the elders of faith questioned the validity of Paul’s ministry. But the same God who called Peter and other apostles to the Jews is the same God that called Paul to the Gentiles. God doesn’t have to take permission from the religious institution or explain Himself. Paul knew the God who has commissioned him, so he resisted the attempt to invalidate his calling. He refused to surrender God’s calling to their cynicism and mockery. Finally, Peter, James and John recognized God’s divine hand and so offered him their own hand of fellowship. We are free to resist all attempts to invalidate or discredit our own ministry. We are Free to Resist (Galatians 5:1).
Don’t Forget the Poor: We are free to resist, but there is one thing we must be sure not to overlook or resist, namely, the opportunity to help the poor (James 1; 23). Ministry to the poor is a common tread of all God-given ministry, whether to the Jews or to the Gentiles. Any person or group that neglects it is showing sign of losing their freedom.
Introduction: Last week, we noted that every Christian story is a story of freedom, and in particular, the freedom to change. Paul told us his own story of God’s wonderful change in his own life in Galatians 1. Today, we look at another freedom that we all have – the freedom to resist (Galatians 2:1-10). Some of the insights here are inspired by Travelling Light, a book by Eugene H. Peterson
Freedom defined: As Myles Munroe noted in his book, The Burden of Freedom, freedom is a two-part word, free-dominion (Genesis 1:26) – which means the liberty or ability to exercise dominion over the earth through one’s unique gifts and talents according to God’s purpose. In other words, freedom is the liberty to fulfill God’s will in serving others with the gifts and talents He gave you, without restricting or controlling others as they also seek to fulfill God’s purpose. It also means then that no one is allowed to control or restrict you as you pursue God’s will for your life. But all too often, we know that there is the tendency to control, or even allow ourselves to be controlled by, others as we run the race of life.
Paul, an example in resisting: It is for the above reason that Paul again tells us his story of resisting man’s controlling and restricting influence on his life and ministry. He tells his story first to the Galatians, and then to us, that we may all learn to resist. We are Free to Resist. Today, we are called to be vigilant about the faith and freedom we have received in Christ. But what exactly are we to resist as we seek to maintain our freedom?
Titus and Circumcision: We are called to resist everything that restricts or controls the freedom and grace we have received in Christ. Titus met Christ just as he was, a Greek. And Christ accepted him, loved him, and changed him. But now, he was among the Jews who, over several years of religious preconditioning, have their own rigid ideas about what you must do in order to be accepted by Christ. Or for that matter, what you must do in order to remain accepted by Christ – Circumcision. Fortunately, Paul was a free man who understood that we are saved by grace alone (Ephesians 2: 8-10). So, he resisted this attempt to enslave Titus again. We are free to resist (Galatians 5: 1-4). Sometimes it may not be circumcision – it may be a denomination’s stifling man-made rules that control and restrict the true grace of Christ, societal or peer pressure, a pastor’s domineering and controlling spirit, or it may be national or ethnic preconditions and superstitions that seek to return us to fear and bondage to elements, holidays or rituals – but whatever it is, we are called to resist if it seeks to rob us of the freedom we have in Christ.
Peter and Paul, a divergence in ministry: Paul’s ministry was so different from Peter’s that it encountered opposition. He never met Christ in person, never saw him heal but Paul was God’s choice to the Gentiles; not in addition to reaching Jews first (as Acts 1: 8, Romans 2: 10 suggest) but in devotion to the Gentiles. So, it was easy to see why the elders of faith questioned the validity of Paul’s ministry. But the same God who called Peter and other apostles to the Jews is the same God that called Paul to the Gentiles. God doesn’t have to take permission from the religious institution or explain Himself. Paul knew the God who has commissioned him, so he resisted the attempt to invalidate his calling. He refused to surrender God’s calling to their cynicism and mockery. Finally, Peter, James and John recognized God’s divine hand and so offered him their own hand of fellowship. We are free to resist all attempts to invalidate or discredit our own ministry. We are Free to Resist (Galatians 5:1).
Don’t Forget the Poor: We are free to resist, but there is one thing we must be sure not to overlook or resist, namely, the opportunity to help the poor (James 1; 23). Ministry to the poor is a common tread of all God-given ministry, whether to the Jews or to the Gentiles. Any person or group that neglects it is showing sign of losing their freedom.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
The day the Lord has made…
The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the LORD has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118: 22-24, NTL)
The stone the builders rejected: In the olden days, building a house requires cutting the stones carefully. Sometimes, as in the old rabbinic parable, the masons may come across a stone that does not seem to fit into any place and so is cast away. Sometimes though it turns out that the stone the builders rejected may become a pillar stone. David was rejected a king by most of Israel, but eventually become one-of-a-kind king in Israel. The Lord Jesus was rejected by the House of Israel, but one day will come back as the Reigning King of Israel. In the same way, we are ‘stones’ being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-6). Sometimes, there are things that happen to us we will rather not talk about. There are ‘stones’ in the house of life that we will rather throw away and reject permanently. But if we allow the Lord to have His way, those ‘rejected stones’ may become corner stone experiences in our lives to shape us into the persons God wants us to become.
The Lord’s doing: Only God can take up a rejected stone and make it into a cornerstone. God is at work. And what God does is marvelous in our eyes. It is beautiful to behold, when God takes up our weakness and turns it into a divine strength. It is wonderful to behold Paul being used by God although it was said of him, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” (2 Corinthians 10: 10-11, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Or to behold the Rahab changed from being a harlot into becoming the great grand mother of the Messiah (Matthew 1:5). It is wonderful to behold the crucified Jesus become the Lord and Savior of all. This in deed is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the Day the Lord has made: This is the era in which the carpenter’s son, rejected by Jewish ‘builders’, has become the Lord and Savior of all. This is the day in which God is turning our mourning into dancing, our weakness into strength (2 Corinthians 6: 1-2, Isaiah 61:1-4). Today is the day the Lord has made. Today is in God’s hand. It means that 1): I can live fully and freely today. “We will rejoice and be glad in it.” We can rejoice and be glad in today – it is the day the Lord has made. 2): It means that I am given today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is but a promise. Today is a gift to us. So, we are called to live each day at a time. To maximize today’s grace (Ephesians 5:15-17). Finally, it means that I can plan for tomorrow while living worry-free today (Matthew 6: 25-34). Because He lives and does wonderful things, we can face tomorrow confidently and rejoice exceedingly in today’s blessings. This verse from Cristy Lane’s song, One day at a time, is fitting:
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.
The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the LORD has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118: 22-24, NTL)
The stone the builders rejected: In the olden days, building a house requires cutting the stones carefully. Sometimes, as in the old rabbinic parable, the masons may come across a stone that does not seem to fit into any place and so is cast away. Sometimes though it turns out that the stone the builders rejected may become a pillar stone. David was rejected a king by most of Israel, but eventually become one-of-a-kind king in Israel. The Lord Jesus was rejected by the House of Israel, but one day will come back as the Reigning King of Israel. In the same way, we are ‘stones’ being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-6). Sometimes, there are things that happen to us we will rather not talk about. There are ‘stones’ in the house of life that we will rather throw away and reject permanently. But if we allow the Lord to have His way, those ‘rejected stones’ may become corner stone experiences in our lives to shape us into the persons God wants us to become.
The Lord’s doing: Only God can take up a rejected stone and make it into a cornerstone. God is at work. And what God does is marvelous in our eyes. It is beautiful to behold, when God takes up our weakness and turns it into a divine strength. It is wonderful to behold Paul being used by God although it was said of him, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!” (2 Corinthians 10: 10-11, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Or to behold the Rahab changed from being a harlot into becoming the great grand mother of the Messiah (Matthew 1:5). It is wonderful to behold the crucified Jesus become the Lord and Savior of all. This in deed is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the Day the Lord has made: This is the era in which the carpenter’s son, rejected by Jewish ‘builders’, has become the Lord and Savior of all. This is the day in which God is turning our mourning into dancing, our weakness into strength (2 Corinthians 6: 1-2, Isaiah 61:1-4). Today is the day the Lord has made. Today is in God’s hand. It means that 1): I can live fully and freely today. “We will rejoice and be glad in it.” We can rejoice and be glad in today – it is the day the Lord has made. 2): It means that I am given today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is but a promise. Today is a gift to us. So, we are called to live each day at a time. To maximize today’s grace (Ephesians 5:15-17). Finally, it means that I can plan for tomorrow while living worry-free today (Matthew 6: 25-34). Because He lives and does wonderful things, we can face tomorrow confidently and rejoice exceedingly in today’s blessings. This verse from Cristy Lane’s song, One day at a time, is fitting:
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Unforced Rhythms of Grace
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30, Message)
Tired and Worn Out? Well, sometimes life’s battles can and do leave us bruised, tired and worn out. Yes, we can also get burned out doing the right things – job, marriage, raising kids, school, and church work. Isaiah 40:28-31 tells us that even the youths can faint, but our God never faints nor grows weary.
Come to me: Ah, what a wonderful invitation. Jesus invites us to get away with Him. Spending time with Him in the quietness of our soul is key to recovery. Isaiah 40:31 sums it up very well, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” John 7:37.
Walk with me: We hardly ever ‘walk with’ the Lord. We are either trotting ahead of Him or lagging well behind him. But Jesus invites us to walk and work with Him. We are to watch how He does it, and take each step as we watch Him take His. Jesus lived on earth by walking with and depending on the Father (John 12:49-50) – that’s how we are to live and work on earth too. That, according to the Lord, is how to take a real rest.
Rhythms of grace: Life’s best comes by grace. We are saved by grace. Grace has its own rhythms, its timing, and its ways and means. But there are other rhythms in life too. There is the worldly rhythm of survival of the fittest. There is the rhythm of ‘all you have is all you worked for.’ There is the rhythm of worry, anxiety, strenuous exertion of strength and will power. But we choose to dance to the rhythm of grace – letting God be God, and receiving all that He is giving us here and now.
Unforced rhythms of grace: We can’t force the hands of grace. Sure, we may pray, fast and believe. But our prayer must not be panicky, stubbornly insistent demands of an unreasonable child. We must learn to be at peace as we wait for the rhythms of grace. We must learn to flow with the tide, and not against it. Insisting on having things our way and in our time doesn’t always work out God’s marvelous grace. No wonder God tells us, "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything." (Psalm 46: 10, Message). We need to consciously step out of the traffic long enough to see God in His majesty and rest on Him fully.
Keep company with me: That is the sum totality of our calling, to keep company with Christ all through life’s journey. He enables us to live freely and lightly as we keep company with Him. He won’t lay any heavy or ill-fitting burden on us. What a way to go through life’s journey – unburdened, free, graceful, gracious, and dancing to the unforced rhythms of God’s wonderful grace.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30, Message)
Tired and Worn Out? Well, sometimes life’s battles can and do leave us bruised, tired and worn out. Yes, we can also get burned out doing the right things – job, marriage, raising kids, school, and church work. Isaiah 40:28-31 tells us that even the youths can faint, but our God never faints nor grows weary.
Come to me: Ah, what a wonderful invitation. Jesus invites us to get away with Him. Spending time with Him in the quietness of our soul is key to recovery. Isaiah 40:31 sums it up very well, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” John 7:37.
Walk with me: We hardly ever ‘walk with’ the Lord. We are either trotting ahead of Him or lagging well behind him. But Jesus invites us to walk and work with Him. We are to watch how He does it, and take each step as we watch Him take His. Jesus lived on earth by walking with and depending on the Father (John 12:49-50) – that’s how we are to live and work on earth too. That, according to the Lord, is how to take a real rest.
Rhythms of grace: Life’s best comes by grace. We are saved by grace. Grace has its own rhythms, its timing, and its ways and means. But there are other rhythms in life too. There is the worldly rhythm of survival of the fittest. There is the rhythm of ‘all you have is all you worked for.’ There is the rhythm of worry, anxiety, strenuous exertion of strength and will power. But we choose to dance to the rhythm of grace – letting God be God, and receiving all that He is giving us here and now.
Unforced rhythms of grace: We can’t force the hands of grace. Sure, we may pray, fast and believe. But our prayer must not be panicky, stubbornly insistent demands of an unreasonable child. We must learn to be at peace as we wait for the rhythms of grace. We must learn to flow with the tide, and not against it. Insisting on having things our way and in our time doesn’t always work out God’s marvelous grace. No wonder God tells us, "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything." (Psalm 46: 10, Message). We need to consciously step out of the traffic long enough to see God in His majesty and rest on Him fully.
Keep company with me: That is the sum totality of our calling, to keep company with Christ all through life’s journey. He enables us to live freely and lightly as we keep company with Him. He won’t lay any heavy or ill-fitting burden on us. What a way to go through life’s journey – unburdened, free, graceful, gracious, and dancing to the unforced rhythms of God’s wonderful grace.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
What happened to your big dreams, Joseph?
Text: Genesis 40: 14-15.
Just imagine Joseph in prison: It had been about 11 years now since he had those wonderful dreams of his. Yet, things hadn’t gotten any better. Just when he thought things were improving, he hit rock bottom, was finally thrown in Jail. Sitting there in prison, Joseph must have wondered to himself, “What happened to you, Joe? What happened to all your big dreams? What had become of your big plans?” But two years later, he was a ruler in Egypt, the greatest kingdom at that time. The mid-way point in a journey can seem tiring, confusing and unending – the excitement of the initial take-off has waned, and the joy of arrival is yet far off. But Joseph’s life should encourage us that dreams do come to pass.
Dreams do come to pass, just not when we may expect: Joseph was thirty years old when his dream came to pass (Genesis 41:46), thirteen long years after those wonderful dreams. This is one fact that is always hard for us humans to accept - God’s time is different from ours. The one who knows tomorrows knows when best to bring our dreams to pass.
The way God fulfills our dreams sometimes blows our natural mind: Who would have thought that hatred from brothers, being sold to slavery, being lied on, and ending in maximum security prison could ultimately lead to the fulfillment of a pre-ordained purpose? Yet, that’s precisely what happened in Joseph’s case. Every moment of trial or betrayal actually led him closer to the fulfillment of the dream. Who would have thought? In the middle of the journey (with no end yet in sight), Joseph lamented his plight (Genesis 40:14-15). Who wouldn’t? But at the ‘end’ of the journey, through the benefit of hindsight, Joseph can declare to his brothers, “what you meant for evil, God turned around for good” (Genesis 50: 19-21). Oh, the wonderful and mysterious ways of God. Who can fully understand all His ways? Isaiah 55: 8-13, Romans 11:33-36.
So, whenever we find ourselves in the middle of the journey, we can take solace in the fact that He who began a good work in us is able to complete it to the end (Philippians 1:6, I Thessalonians 5:24).
Text: Genesis 40: 14-15.
Just imagine Joseph in prison: It had been about 11 years now since he had those wonderful dreams of his. Yet, things hadn’t gotten any better. Just when he thought things were improving, he hit rock bottom, was finally thrown in Jail. Sitting there in prison, Joseph must have wondered to himself, “What happened to you, Joe? What happened to all your big dreams? What had become of your big plans?” But two years later, he was a ruler in Egypt, the greatest kingdom at that time. The mid-way point in a journey can seem tiring, confusing and unending – the excitement of the initial take-off has waned, and the joy of arrival is yet far off. But Joseph’s life should encourage us that dreams do come to pass.
Dreams do come to pass, just not when we may expect: Joseph was thirty years old when his dream came to pass (Genesis 41:46), thirteen long years after those wonderful dreams. This is one fact that is always hard for us humans to accept - God’s time is different from ours. The one who knows tomorrows knows when best to bring our dreams to pass.
The way God fulfills our dreams sometimes blows our natural mind: Who would have thought that hatred from brothers, being sold to slavery, being lied on, and ending in maximum security prison could ultimately lead to the fulfillment of a pre-ordained purpose? Yet, that’s precisely what happened in Joseph’s case. Every moment of trial or betrayal actually led him closer to the fulfillment of the dream. Who would have thought? In the middle of the journey (with no end yet in sight), Joseph lamented his plight (Genesis 40:14-15). Who wouldn’t? But at the ‘end’ of the journey, through the benefit of hindsight, Joseph can declare to his brothers, “what you meant for evil, God turned around for good” (Genesis 50: 19-21). Oh, the wonderful and mysterious ways of God. Who can fully understand all His ways? Isaiah 55: 8-13, Romans 11:33-36.
So, whenever we find ourselves in the middle of the journey, we can take solace in the fact that He who began a good work in us is able to complete it to the end (Philippians 1:6, I Thessalonians 5:24).
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