This speaks volumes.

Reblogged from: desiringgod.org -

 What is my identity?

That's a good question.

Having entered into pastoral ministry myself, I definitely feel that Mr. Paul Tripp's discussion hits the nail on the head.

Obviously, it is a case of pride in my heart that allows me to feel as if I must, like Tripp, be an expert on everything (that has to do with spiritual matters, the Bible and the Church). There seems to linger a personal vindication in one's heart when the average church member recognizes that there is something valuable the church leader brings, but does that something really stand above the experiences of others in God's body
have had of God's working salvation?

My identity is in Christ alone and I have been deliberate lately in placing myself under this realization. So, I have been telling God that I want Him to take the reins. I want Him to lead me in the direction I should go. Having only been in formal ministry for (hold on...) 6 months, and taking note of my own pride to stand out as a "learned Bible scholar with a college degree" and the expertise that is attached, I recognize that this will be a recurring challenge I must face. But if I want to give glory to God (and not myself) I must recognize my true identity

But if I'm honest, then I will continue to confess that I am a broken saint. I am a screw up. I need the Lord Jesus Christ in my life everyday. I desperately need what I profess others need, I mustn't forget. However, as broken as I am, I am still a saint. This not on my own credit, but because God has chosen to call me loved and holy, and through His son has made it possible.

Take a look at the link. It's true about me too. This speaks volumes.

Thanks, Ben!

This article from Huffington Post was shared by my dear friend and pastor, Ben Klassen. You can follow his thoughts on blogger as well.

Back to the article though. Shane Windmeyer, a prominent voice for the LGBT population, shares how prominent conservative Christian Dan Cathy invested time to enter dialogue and relationship with him. Take time to read it and see a love example of biblical proportions. This is the call of the Christian - to love, without condition.

God bless Mr. Cathy. May his example spread like wildfire.

I AM the worst ever...and I AM saved.

The Apostle Paul wrote to his apprentice Timothy, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst" (1Ti. 1:15). Paul reminded the young church leader of this apparent early teaching just after recollecting with him the life he lived before being encountered by Christ Jesus. The change that Christ made in his life was an imperative piece to Paul's missionary journeys and his letters throughout the New Testament.

The teaching Paul shared with his young apprentice is something I think often grows dim in my own life, yet as he put it, it is a "saying that deserves full acceptance" (emphasis added). That's something isn't it? Fully accepted by whom? Paul? Afterward, he would by today's standard by considered an accomplace to the murder of Stephen (Acts 7:54-58), not only that he had a vengeful and depraved zeal to do away with the earlier followers of Christ before his own conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). So, obviously on his part he was right to fully accept this saying for himself. But he applied the teaching to Timothy as well to consider it to full acceptance.

In the general sense, this one-liner applies to all who consider themselves Christians but we so often claim this "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" and then cut off the rest, at least in the "scripture" of our hearts. So we justify ourselves in our evangelistic efforts by telling ourselves that we are doing the work of God by bringing his message to sinners. And quite often we feel we have the right to define or interpret the word "sinners" on our own esteem. By doing so, we (at least I) wind up separating ourselves from that category altogether. But then there's the end of the one-liner, "of whom I am the worst" (extreme emphasis added here). And this is the teaching we are told to regard to full acceptance. Almost sounds depressing.

Sheesh, one can feel very low about themselves when considering this time and again, right? Exactly, but we need to feel low about ourselves in the right way.

Obviously we are not to make a habit of self-defamation, we are just to realize who we are without Christ. We are sinners. Compared to anyone else I am still a sinner, no matter how much Bible I know, no matter how many church functions I am a part of, no matter how righteous I act, no matter how unrighteous the other guy is or seems to be. The moment I think higher than anyone else I am already the biggest sinner in the room (Lev. 19:17-18).

So, I AM the worst sinner around. You read it that right.

Since I acknowledge this, I can now love all those around me, because they're all better than me, no matter what they do that looks worse than the things that I do. I am still worse than they are. I'm glad to know it. This is the perspective I must take, because it keeps me humble. God looks for humble people.

What would the church today look like if we fully accepted the saying Paul shared with Timothy? What would our world look like?

God works through the worst of people, just like if I allow Him He works through me. You know, there's more to what Paul wrote to Timothy,

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life (1Ti. 1:15-16 NIV).
 

Christ came to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. I may be pretty rotten, but Christ had in mind to save me. What an amazing God I have. What an amazing grace the world has as an offering to fully accept.

How I could imagine what my conversion would be like had I realized that by my receiving God's grace, my identity as sinner receiving forgiveness could bring others to know the same grace that has been given me, despite my crimes against God.

Let's wear the cloak of humility. Let's call ourselves what we are: sinners who have received grace. Isn't that what the world is looking for?

I AM teh worst ever...and I AM saved. Let the testimony ring.

Making Jesus the Good Shepherd

It's interesting to think back and consider how we associate certain things that we are familiar with. Songs. Images. Smells. For each person it's different, but certain memories or associations are triggered when we are reminded of certian things or are reintroduced to something we've experienced before. In this particular case, I am thinking of Psalm 23.

 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not

be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk

through the valley of he shadow of

death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

 

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will

follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 



I grew up associating this psalm with funerals. How many times do we see this psalm at a memorial of someone we knew? I suppose it's an appropriate psalm for funerals because it speaks about God leading us beside quiet waters, about fear being comforted and having a table prepared for me in the presence of my enemies. It speaks about dwelling the house of the LORD forever, which obviously sounds like Heaven.

 

But is this absolutely what David was speaking about? Did he really think that much about the afterlife while penning these words? Couldn't he be speaking about his life as he knew it at that moment?

 

I honestly think so.

 

For me, I see that Psalm 23 is a declaration we should all make as Christians. "The Lord is my shepherd...he makes me lie down...he leads me...he restores my soul...he guides me." Isn't that something to consider?

 

Although, to be honest it seems as though we Christians are many times just mouthpieces. I know that I am. (I have the reputation as a "motor mouth" to back me up). We spout out what unbelievers call Christianese: the language of Christians. We use words like sin, salvation etc. all the time and we quote Scripture throughout our lives, but I have a feeling (not just because I'm guilty of this) that Christians easily make a habit of using empty words as we do so.

 

How often do we consider what the Lord's position as our shepherd actually means for us? The psalm could basically be taken two ways when considering the first line. "The LORD is my shepherd" -- meaning that that is simply who the LORD is because that is who the LORD is. Just because. OR "the LORD is my shepherd"-- meaning that I have put myself under his guidance. These interpretations are connected. Yes, the LORD is my shepherd because that's His rightful place as God, but I must recognize this and place myself under His authority.

 

And I don't think we do this very well all the time. I'm not confident that I do this even at a part time level, but I aspire to meet that and more. I aspire to meet this full time in my life.

 

If we consider the whole psalm we see then that we shouldn't be in want, meaning we come to God to provide for us. We should recognize that he restores us which means we should rely on the Spirit of God for healing first. We should recognize that we no longer need to fear evil, so why stress, why worry? God is our comfort, right? On and on it goes during the whole psalm.

 

Part of coming under God's guidance is letting go of our own ways. And we often think that we have the right to have our say-so on pretty much all matters of life. Part of this isn't necessarily our fault as this is how our culture is set up. But, we need to recognize that we are without God like sheep without a shepherd (Isa. 13:14; Mt. 9:36; Mk. 6:34). Having our say-so in life only puts us in the trials that we try to run away from or get out of or fix ourselves (which doesn't have a great success rate).

 

Recognizing Jesus as our Good Shepherd (Jn. 10) means that we let Him speak into our lives concerning what we ought to do. He won't ask for our opinions. He never did in the New Testament. I guess that means we have to get used to giving up control in order to hear His voice.

 

How many of us belong to His flock? How many of us will recognize His voice?

Working to be Christ, inside out

This morning I read from John 15. Here Jesus speaks to His disciples telling them that He is the true vine and we are branches that shoot off from Him. Our Lord's challenge is for us to bear fruit. He mentions several times how we must bear fruit or we will be cut off from Him.

Vs. 8 spoke clearly to me this morning. "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

What a sobering thing to consider as Christians. How many times then do I look from the outside to be Christ's disciple?

In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus is recorded to have said,

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks" (NIV).
 

 I highlighted a very important piece of what Christ has told us. "Each tree is recognized by its own fruit." Wow! So what about me? What do people see when they interact with me? How will they regard Christ, whom I say I follow, when they consider my actions and my words?

...What about you? Are you the outward representation of Jesus Christ?

The world is our greatest judge. People call things as they see them and we as Christians are the most scrutinized people on the face of the earth. Why? Because the world hated Christ, even though He was good. (John 15:18-21) The world will hate us depending on what we do--truthfully they will hate us if we reflect the truth of Christ--not on what we say we believe.

Does the world love me, or hate me? What do I want the world to think of me when they see me? Do I want them to know right away that I'm a Christian, which only really means that I am an imitator of Christ? How will they know that I'm an imitator of Christ?

Mahatma Gandhi put it once very well,

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
 

 But here's something else to consider from the words of Christ. He said, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart." That must mean that our outer behaviour reflects the inner change of our hearts once we allow Christ in.

That I guess begs the question, "Have I let Christ in?" Can I be transformed without Christ?

I am like the Apostle Paul. I consider myself a wretched man without Christ (Romans 7:23-25).

I continually need to ask the Lord to change my heart so it becomes like His. The good that will be stored up in my heart will then bear fruit that is acceptable to God. This is such a thing to look forward to.

Psalm 51: 10,

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within
me."
 

 

Still afraid of the dark

This is an original Facebook note post of mine from three years ago:

Remember when you were a kid and it was normal to sleep with a small light or lamp on? Or maybe your parents kept a hallway light on and your door open just a crack, as to allow the light to illuminate your room just enough so monsters wouldn't come out of the closet or from underneath your bed? I certainly remember as a young boy, I had a vivid imagination and so at night the shadows I saw silhouetted on the walls could be terrifying; especially if I kept in mind the scary things I heard from other kids or adults, usually pertaining to demonic forces. These kept me up at times during nights when my thoughts were overloaded with thoughts that I know now opposed the vindicating power of Jesus. Interesting enough though, the Scriptures often depict darkness as an enemy to the Children of God. Consider a few verses.
-Isaiah 9:2: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
-Psalm 143:3: "The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead."
-Romans 13:12: "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

I find it interesting that as we grow older, we learn that we shouldn't be afraid of the dark based on the rational reason that there is nothing there that isn't there in the light. As for the physical world this is true, and I think it is appropriate to emphasize this to children at a young age, when darkness is a certain fear. However, children have it right I believe to fear the darkness. The proverb writer puts it this way, "But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble," (Prov. 4:19). According to these words darkness is the realm of the wicked. This suggests that darkness is associated to be evil or has an evil presence within it. I suppose that's what's scary about darkness, even for grown-ups. Take for example a city street at night. If you walk along a sidewalk illuminated by street lights, you are able to see your surroundings. You will be able to see for yourself if the path you are walking is a safe one or not. However, what if you stumble across a dark corner or alley in the city. You have no way of knowing what dangers, if any, are lurking. And, as the proverb suggests, if you happen to stumble across danger, due to the lack of light, you have no idea what the danger is if, for example, vision was the only sense. Because vision is dependant on light, even what brings you security of knowing what danger there is becomes of no use to you.

So I suppose I am still afraid of the dark.

John 3:19-20 says, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." So, according to this darkness is an appropriate thing to fear, due to the dangers lurking. If one lives in the darkness, that person is unaware of the dangers that are around them. In our gospel message, those dangers are what make up sin, and sin is anything that separates us from God, who is Light. Jesus is light and He exposes that which is darkness, sin in each person's life. So, am I afraid of the dark? Yes. I am afraid of the dark in me, the things that are unexposed, the sins that keep me from living a fuller life in Christ who saves me. I am afraid of the dark, because I know that the light that has dawned is the Light of eternal hope. My prayer is that the Light that shines in the darkness burns brightly in me, exposing the evil in me so that I can be transformed ever more into the likeness of my Lord, Jesus, God of all.

Take 2

I have this run-on habit in thinking that God hasn't and doesn't speak to me. I suppose this could be part and parcel of the feeling I mentioned last week about my not feeling redeemable and acceptable. I suppose that makes sense. If God doesn't find me acceptable why would He think it necessary to reach out to me in a personal way?

I have always had a skeptical mind. Is it a blessing? Is it a curse? I'm not sure entirely. With my skepticism has always come the disbelief or the lack of trust that God would in fact speak to me when I asked Him to. I suppose one has to maintain trust that He exists first of all to carry out hope that He not only hears us, but responds to us as well (see Hebrews 11:6).

So, you can imagine how it could feel like grasping at straws in a whirlwind when you have a hard time accepting God and His acceptance, while having a very juvenile understanding of how He decides to interact with each individual, because, I am told, He interacts with some differently than others sometimes.

 

But if I am to be honest with myself and take time to remember, I should feel obliged to recall that God has in fact interacted with me in a very personal, very real way. Let me list off the vivid ways He has done so.



Jesus put His arm through the loop,
and waiting for my hand to grab His.

I once had the priviledge to practice what's called listening prayer. During this time, the person leading us in prayer asked us to imagine ourselves suspended over the edge of a cliff, holding onto a rope. We were instructed to ask God what our ropes represented in our lives. Mine was courage (and I didn't like that). During this practice we were also instructed to picture Christ somewhere. Jesus was behind me. In my mind's eye, I turned to face Jesus with my rope in hand (I was back on the ground at this point). I then knelt down before Jesus and gave him my rope, which ended up having shrunk in size to the length of my forearm. Our leader asked us to wait to see what Jesus would do with the rope in our imagination. What Jesus did with it was awesome and sobering. He fashioned it into a loop and then put His arm through it to anticipate me placing my hand into His. Amazing.

 

Two other times I can recall God speaking to me through pictures in my mind. Each time was during a time of personal prayer and probably of confession over some bit of regret. The first image God gave me was I was seeing myself in the third person on a mountain top with my arms extended upward. All of a sudden I saw myself dressed in a white robe. The second image happened an extended time afterward. In this image I was watching again from the third person perspective. I saw a crowd of small children walking ahead in the distance. I was only able to see their backs, because they were ascending a path. During this image I saw a little boy, no older than a toddler. This boy was off the path, but was being directed by Christ Himself. Jesus had His palm on the boy's shoulder, encouraging Him on to join the larger group of children to continue down the same path. I believe that little boy was me.


He led me to join His other children.

These images speak to me. If I am wise I will also continue to consider these images from God and nowhere else. These affirm what the Bible says as well about God's acceptance of us. John 1:12 tells us that Jesus has given believers the right to be children of God. The right to be children of God. Just like I was led into the group of other children in the image. Jesus has told me that that is my rightful place, no matter what I think of myself or what anyone else thinks either.

See, I have a way to get down on myself. Recently I have been having a hard time with self-defamation. I have been allowing myself to believe that I can not leave my old self behind, but instead that my old self is my real self. My thought is that if my real self is the one that is sinful, dirty and unacceptable to God, any efforts to live in the New Life (from the New Testament) are faked or put on. But I have to remember that the New Life isn't something conjured up by hard working Christians, it is received by Christians and given by God (Ro. 6:4; 2 Co. 5:17).

Hopefully this song will lift you up, as it does me.