Recently, I've been reading through the book of Ezekiel. As a prophet who lived during the exile of Judah and the destruction of Israel, Ezekiel saw a lot of tragedy and death. Most of us would have broken down and quit if we had witnessed the sorts of things this man of God went through daily. But even with the difficult, and sometimes laughable things he was called to do, Ezekiel remained faithful.
His message was simple: the nation of Israel had sold herself out to the surrounding nations for protection, rather than trusting in her God. She began to live like them, fight like them, and even worship their gods, all in the name of safety. In response to this, God was going to allow the great nation of Babylon (present day Iraq) to destroy and enslave her. The other surrounding nations would have a part in this punishment as well.
About three-quarters of the way through this book, Ezekiel's message from the Lord shifts. It goes from being about the wrath and punishment of God to his grace and desire for his people to repent and receive life again. In Ez. 37, we find the breathtaking image of the army of dead bones being raised to life. But for the neighboring nations, the future is not so bright. Tyre, Sidon and even Egypt will all be destroyed by the wrath of God. So what's the difference? Why restoration for Israel, but destruction for the others?
Hebrews 12: 4-7 tells us that suffering and trial serve as discipline for those who the Lord loves and has called. Israel had to suffer and be deported if they were ever going to see what they had been missing and how drastic their sin was. It was God's way of refining and disciplining his people. In the end, if they called out to him in repentence, the end result was going to be restoration and healing. But for the surrounding nations who never would worship the only true King of the universe, their suffering was judgment and wrath for their wickedness. God calls both sides wicked at times. The difference is that one of them was going to receive a heart of flesh and a new spirit, while the others would stay calloused and evil in their ways. Discipline vs. Wrath.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad things happen at all? How could a loving God allow such events and situations to happen when people apparently don't deserve it? This has become clear to me... The question isn't whether or not you and I will suffer, or even why we will suffer the ways we do. The question, rather, is what side will we be on when we do? If wrath, then the punishment is truly our fault in the first place. But God is still loving, because he wouldn't punish if he didn't care. If discipline, then God is clearly loving because he is using the suffering to change us and mold us into the men and women he's called us to be. The final question: will we love him through the trials or blame him and turn away? In the end, that is up to us.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Relevancy vs. Reality
In Acts 2:42-47 we are told of the lifestyle of the early Church. These people were radical, devoted, and sold out for the Gospel of Jesus. The truth of Peter's sermon earlier in chapter 2 had sunk in and changed thousands of lives. Thousands of people became so convicted and passionate about Christ that they literally sold everything they owned and gave to every one who had need. We are told that they devoted themselves daily to the apostles' teaching and worship. This wasn't just a new hobby or interest. Jesus hadn't just changed their morality, beliefs, or behavior. He had changed their reality.
What I find interesting is that these men and women of the early Church were not interested in being relevant. Their message certainly transcended cultures and language barriers. They met people where they were just as their Lord had done during his time here. But what brought the Church both the favor of God and men was not how fancy their show was. It was not how "modern and relevant" their worship was. Instead, what caught the attention of the people was how real the Holy Spirit was in their lives. This reality was what the people needed. This concept remains the same today.
Beyond our fancy worship, our big lights, and our "relevancy", people ultimately want reality. If they wanted a great concert, they'd go see Lady Gaga. If they wanted comfort, they'd go to Starbucks. The world needs Christ, and him alone. How we share Him to the world will change from culture to culture, but Jesus doesn't need our relevancy to change the world. He needs our obedience and our adoration, constantly. Are we daily taking up our crosses to follow him? Are our lives daily marked by the fruit of the Spirit? The Savior of the universe does not just want to be something to busy our lives. He wants to consume our lives. He wants to transform us into his likeness. It isn't about how good the show or the technology is. The world has enough of that. Instead, the world needs to see the power in a Holy Spirit-transformed reality. Let us live that reality to the fullest to the glory of God.
What I find interesting is that these men and women of the early Church were not interested in being relevant. Their message certainly transcended cultures and language barriers. They met people where they were just as their Lord had done during his time here. But what brought the Church both the favor of God and men was not how fancy their show was. It was not how "modern and relevant" their worship was. Instead, what caught the attention of the people was how real the Holy Spirit was in their lives. This reality was what the people needed. This concept remains the same today.
Beyond our fancy worship, our big lights, and our "relevancy", people ultimately want reality. If they wanted a great concert, they'd go see Lady Gaga. If they wanted comfort, they'd go to Starbucks. The world needs Christ, and him alone. How we share Him to the world will change from culture to culture, but Jesus doesn't need our relevancy to change the world. He needs our obedience and our adoration, constantly. Are we daily taking up our crosses to follow him? Are our lives daily marked by the fruit of the Spirit? The Savior of the universe does not just want to be something to busy our lives. He wants to consume our lives. He wants to transform us into his likeness. It isn't about how good the show or the technology is. The world has enough of that. Instead, the world needs to see the power in a Holy Spirit-transformed reality. Let us live that reality to the fullest to the glory of God.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Purpose-Killing Pit Stops
Gen. 11:31- 12:1
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."
We all want to know God's plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 stands out as one of the most quoted passages in the Bible because it seems to imply that the Lord knows the plans he has for us, plans which many of us seem to really like! But can we become derailed? Is it possible that we are so willing to take the easy way, that we actually miss God's way?
Lately, I have really been identifying with the story of Abram. The Lord calls him to leave his family, his former way of life, and head to a land that was completely foreign and unknown. What makes this even better is that the final destination is really unknown to Abram. But he trusted God and finally landed in Canaan where his descendants would grow up into the nation of Israel that we know today.
But what about his father, Terah? Before the Lord calls Abram away, we are told that Terah was already heading to Canann with his family. But somewhere along the way, Haran seemed more appealing. Something about that pit-stop was too comfortable for Terah and his family. It wasn't until Abram answered the call of God that this family ended up where it was suppose to. By leaving the land of his father, Abram left behind the doubts, the distractions, and the disobedience that had plagued the previous generation. As Gen. 15:6 tells us, Abram's faith in the Lord was credited to him as righteous.
There are things that come up in our lives that seem comfortable or easy. Or they seem to be the plan God has for us when they might not be. These purpose-killing pit stops can take away valuable time from what He really intends to be our calling. We will learn things while in these pit stops, but we should not follow in the footsteps of Terah who's life ended while at one such stop. Move on to the Canaan that God intends for you, and leave the land of doubts, distractions, and disobedience that may have been the mark of your life of the lives of others around you!
Live for the Kingdom,
Troy
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."
We all want to know God's plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 stands out as one of the most quoted passages in the Bible because it seems to imply that the Lord knows the plans he has for us, plans which many of us seem to really like! But can we become derailed? Is it possible that we are so willing to take the easy way, that we actually miss God's way?
Lately, I have really been identifying with the story of Abram. The Lord calls him to leave his family, his former way of life, and head to a land that was completely foreign and unknown. What makes this even better is that the final destination is really unknown to Abram. But he trusted God and finally landed in Canaan where his descendants would grow up into the nation of Israel that we know today.
But what about his father, Terah? Before the Lord calls Abram away, we are told that Terah was already heading to Canann with his family. But somewhere along the way, Haran seemed more appealing. Something about that pit-stop was too comfortable for Terah and his family. It wasn't until Abram answered the call of God that this family ended up where it was suppose to. By leaving the land of his father, Abram left behind the doubts, the distractions, and the disobedience that had plagued the previous generation. As Gen. 15:6 tells us, Abram's faith in the Lord was credited to him as righteous.
There are things that come up in our lives that seem comfortable or easy. Or they seem to be the plan God has for us when they might not be. These purpose-killing pit stops can take away valuable time from what He really intends to be our calling. We will learn things while in these pit stops, but we should not follow in the footsteps of Terah who's life ended while at one such stop. Move on to the Canaan that God intends for you, and leave the land of doubts, distractions, and disobedience that may have been the mark of your life of the lives of others around you!
Live for the Kingdom,
Troy
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