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We are reminded about worship and service through the story of Mary pouring out an obscenely expensive bottle of nard (perfume) onto Jesus' feet. This is worship because Mary gave this perfume, equal to one year's wages, to Jesus. This was everything that she had. It was service because she cleaned Jesus feet with it and her hair. She was demonstrating for all to see what sacrifice for Jesus looks like!
When the church worships and serves in this way, people notice. There was a literal fragrance left by Mary. However, there was also a metaphorical fragrance as well. When we worship and serve Christ, people notice. You leave this fragrance of Christ behind!
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This is a powerful reminder of the power of temptation in our life. It is our choice if we get on the long black train and head to hell or we choose to follow the way of Jesus and avoid temptation!
It is easy to praise God on the top of a mountain. Of course, a mountain is a metaphor for the good times in our life. But, we have to learn how to praise God in the valleys of our life...those tough times in our life.
When I hear about people who have a problem believing in a god or struggle with God, one common issue I hear is what to do with evil. After all, we teach the "Reap and Sow" principle. That is whatever you plant (sow), then you will harvest (reap) the same. If you go around doing good, then good things will happen to you. So, as Christians, how do we deal with adversity. Dr Stanley points out some key points when understanding adversity:
And I would add a couple more things to consider:
So, when adversity strikes and the dust settles, take a fresh look on the situation and examine how you are different having gone through it. The adversity in my life has ended up being the most significant growth! I will start my blog back up again over the next couple of weeks. I will expand my thoughts in regards to the sermon I most recently preached.
In my introduction last Sunday, I used the illustration of the Lone Ranger. I always found it funny that he was called the LONE Ranger, when he had Tonto. Technically, he was the only badged ranger between the two of the them. However, the Lone Ranger was NOT alone. Tonto had his back! Tonto was the one who rescued him and saved his life in the first episode and at times he had to come to the Lone Ranger's side. We are reminded as Christians that we don't have to go at it alone. Ministry is expected to be done in groups. We share the load and we encourage one another in the ministry. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us to do just that! Saul was a king that the people wanted. They wanted a king like the other nations had. He was tall and manly. God's people wanted a king that would ride out in front of them in battle. They chose Saul.
Fast forward to the story of David and Goliath...Goliath was standing there shouting insults to Yahweh. It didn't offend Saul. It didn't offend David's brothers. They were ready for battle, however the king that should have been riding out in front was remaining in the camp. That is some king! Who was it that was offended? David. The boy. He was so offended by Goliath's insult of God that he took matters into his own hands. He killed Goliath. Notice, the king was supposed to go out in front in battle. The true and eventual king did that day. David demonstrated what a king should have done. David was the king that had his heart in line with God's. It was through his lineage that the ONE TRUE KING would arrive on earth. Just like David, Jesus led us into battle over sin. He went out ahead to the cross...suffered and died...then triumphed over Satan and sin so that we may live with him forever in heaven. In 1 Samuel we learn about Hannah & Peninnah. We read about Eli and Samuel. In each case, their response to grace is contrasted. Hannah had every right to be upset with God and refuse his grace. But, instead she embraced God and her suffering. In the end, God blessed her with a son, Samuel, and eventually more children. Peninnah should have been basking in God's grace. But, instead, she turned it into jealousy, hatred, and bitterness. Her response made her children nothing but a footnote in Scripture!
Eli was a priest and had a family with two sons. His response to grace was not good. Instead of correcting his two boys of perversion, he let them run wild and desecrate the temple and God. Eli's physical blindness was a indication of his spiritual blindness. Samuel heard God's voice and became a faithful servant. Samuel listened when God spoke. His response to God's grace was admirable and faithful to the very end. What is your response to grace? Will you respond like Peninnah & Eli or like Eli & Samuel? In case you haven't discovered, Ruth is an awesome book in the Bible. I especially like it because the major thread that weaves in through this book is that God built a systematic way to take care of the poor into their society:
Inalienable Land Law - (Leviticus 25): This law protects the family land and ensures that it will stay in their lineage. The nearest kinsman has the right to purchase it back in the year of jubilee. Gleaning laws - This allows the poor people to follow the harvesters and "glean" food rations from what had fallen on the ground. This has the poor working to get their food, yet is constant source. Levirate law - (Deut 25): When a man's brother died before having a son, it became the living brother's responsibility to marry the widow and father a child in his brother's name. Kinsman Redeemer - In the case that the widow's brother-in-law won't redeem her, the next closest kin has the option to purchase the dead brother's land and have a son with the widow that would carry the dead man's name and be the heir to the land! Think about this. The kinsman redeemer purchases land with HIS own money only to give it to the dead man's child (that was actually his). This puts his own lineage and finances in jeopardy. This may all sound a bit strange. It is in our culture. But, it was God's way of caring for the widow, orphan, and poor. It is actually quite beautiful if you stop and think about it. When you read Ruth, you see her cleaving to her mother-in-law when she had every right to go back to her father. Instead, she utilized all these God ordained laws for survival! God blessed her faithfulness! The book of Judges records a five step cycle that happened in that time period: people fall into sin; God disciplines them with foreign oppression; the people cry out in repentance; God raises up a deliverer [a judge]; and then peace is restored. This happened seven times during the recorded time in Judges.
We can look back in history and see cycles a lot easier than when we are in the midst of our culture and our life. However, each one of us are guilty of a similar cycle: we sin; our sin produces a by-product that we don't like [the wages of sin are death]; we ask repentance; and God restores us. We must remember that with Christ, we are striving for that power over our sin. We must continue to resist temptation and break the cycle. Then knowing how hard that truly is...assist others to do the same. One thing that I love about God is the people he chooses to use for his glory. Joshua sent out spies to check out Jericho. The spies hide out at Rahab the Harolt's house. Questions arise to why they were at a harlot's house in the first place. The original Hebrew makes it clear that they were probably mixing business with pleasure. But, it is possible that God led them there with her house being part of Jericho's wall.
Rahab enters the redemptive story simply by hiding the spies and telling them when and where to go. The most profound part of this story is when she told the spies all about Yahweh and that when Israel came to take their land like Yahweh promised, they should spare her. They agreed making a binding covenant between Israel and Rahab. I say that Rahab had more faith than the spies and even Joshua. If Joshua had faith, he wouldn't have sent the spies! But, Rahab knew what God would deliver through on his promise. God used Rahab the Harlot to further the Upper and Lower Story! Rahab is important in our faith because she demonstrated enough faith, despite being of ill-repute, that God chose her to to be in the lineage of David and eventually Jesus. As a leader, the time Israel spend wandering in the desert really bothers me. Here, these people saw miracle after miracle and they still wined and complained! Moses has his leadership moxy tested to the max! Here are some lessons from their time that leaders can extrapolate:
Lesson One:: Focus on mercy. People get set in their ways even if it is detrimental to them or to the church. As leaders we must not get exasperated with the people that refuse change. Instead, employ mercy and trust that God will lead them past. Lesson Two:: Bloom where you are planted. God may want you to lead from somewhere you don't feel comfortable. Aaron and Miriam with all their flaws were called to back Moses up and lead. We may not feel comfortable with it, but know that God will provide you with the wisdom. Lesson Three:: Employ humility and let God do the defending. When we are humble while leading, our message is more receptive. Remember humility is not being a doormat or meek. It is understanding that there is a lot you DO NOT know and leaning on God's understanding. God can defend himself! Lesson Four:: Sometimes, God wants us to go against the norm. 10 out of 12 of the spies (leaders) did not want to disrupt the norm by entering the Promised Land. Despite the Promised Land being plush, beautiful, and sustainable! We may have to cut a new path. Lesson Five:: Do not take your leadership role lightly! God expected a lot out of Moses. He expects a lot out of us! We must be dilegent, prepared, and obedient! Lesson Six:: Succession planning! Moses (with God's help) decided to pick a successor. Could you have imagined Israel if he hadn't done that? Upon his death, it would have been scrambling and chaos. I was part of a similar plan when I came to Living Hope! It was Pastor Dave and the leaders' insight! |
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