Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • Counselor

    —

    Dana

    Just outside the gates of Jerusalem, my friend, Harm, told me to park the rental van while he ran into the old city to get my family. If you think Atlanta traffic is bad, you ought to drive in Jerusalem! I tried to back into the only open place I saw and of all things… I hit a car! Just remembering that moment makes me break out into a cold sweat. The driver of the car was an Arab man, who spoke no English. Of course, I was an American man who spoke no Arabic. Thinking back on it, our efforts to communicate were quite comical, but I did not laugh at the time. My only thought was, “Where is Harm?” Since he lived there, he knew the laws of Jerusalem. Harm also spoke both languages. Harm could intercede for me. How I needed my friend!

    Since I am here and not in a Jerusalem prison, you know the Lord delivered me from my poor driving, but I gained a fresh understanding of the need for an advocate. I have a friend from another country who is in great need of a lawyer. He can’t defend himself. He needs someone who understands our court system and the laws of our land. He needs someone to argue his case and bring out the truth before a fair judge. He really needs a friend.

    One of the words Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit is a Greek word that carries the meaning of “coming along side” in the same way an attorney helps his client in a court of law. In some versions of the Bible this word is translated “Counselor”. Jesus promised a perfect Counselor to be with those who put their trust in Him. This Counselor is the Spirit of Truth who will constantly remind us of the things Jesus says. He knows us perfectly; He also knows the Judge. Jesus promised this Helper will be with us forever. Whether we are sick, or imprisoned, or jobless, or in an accident in Jerusalem, we need not fear… a Friend is there.

    “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you… All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:15-27

  • surrender

    —

    Dana

    What prohibited the rich young ruler from obeying Jesus? He was man with high morals who recognized something special about the Teacher from Nazareth. “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” The young man may have expected the answer he received as Jesus listed several of the Ten Commandments. He replied, “All these things I have kept from my youth up: what do I still lack?”

    Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.”

    Jesus puts His finger on the one thing in our lives that can prevent us from receiving true life. For some it may be material possessions, for others it may be knowledge, for others it may be family or friends. Jesus sees eternal truth when he looks at us; the world does not. Some might have argued that this rich young man would have been an important member of the early church. “Look what he could have done with his money!” But Jesus knows the things we often see as blessings are really the chains that bind us. Only one thing leads to eternal life, “Come and follow Me.”

    Perhaps we all will be offended as we get close to the Lord… especially if we have much wealth, much education, or much status in society. “Do you trust that I see things as they really are? Are you willing to surrender all that has been most precious to you to follow Me? Don’t you realize I am the only Way? I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

    “How can a man be born again when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You can hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:3-8

  • obedience

    —

    Dana

    Jesus made the relationship between love for Him and obedience very clear. “If you love Me, you will do what I say.” We sometimes would rather there be other criteria. On the great day, many will try to defend themselves. “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” “I never knew you,” will be His stunning reply. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.”

    The great news for all of us who often find our love lacking is the promise Jesus gives His disciples. He knows we’re not much different than Peter. There is no doubt Peter disobeyed as he denied Jesus three times. Later, he was upset that Jesus kept asking if he loved Him. Peter loved Him with a friend’s love, but God is after more. Jesus’ greatest command is troubling to all who take the time to think about it. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Who can obey this call?

    Only the Holy Spirit makes such love possible. As Jesus tells the truth about those that love Him, notice the promise He makes to help us obey. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

    “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him… If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 14:15-24

  • old friends

    —

    Dana

    He was the preacher’s kid; I was the principal’s son. He got me in a lot of trouble growing up; he’d say it was the other way around. He was better at English and Speech; I was better at Math. We went on mission trips together, we played ball together, and we were constantly in one another’s home. When he was in the tenth grade, his dad took a job to preach in a church in Alabama. It seemed like the parting of David and Jonathon, but we both survived. I got to be in his wedding a few years later, and soon we both had families of our own.

    Last week, my dad and I went to visit Gary. On December 8, he had a stroke. After thirty-eight days in the hospital, he is now recovering at his parents’ house. We talked about old times, we shared recent struggles, and we laughed a bit at our health conditions… though our parents didn’t. One of them commented, “Who would have thought you boys would be in the physical shape you’re in at your ages?”

    Gary’s 44 years old; I’m 43. Who would have thought? But here lies a message we can proclaim. We’ve both had successes; we’ve both had failures. But what matters? What can we say to our children that holds true wisdom? “Run, play, study, learn, work, marry… but above all know the Lord! Without Him, it is all meaningless.” “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”

    Maybe Gary and I are to speak boldly to everyone we meet: “There’s only one thing that matters! Where will you be standing when the storm hits? Jesus is the only Rock. He is the only Refuge that is secure. Do you know Him? If you do, you’ll make it through any trial. If He’s not your everything, though you may think you’re on top of the world, you are in great danger. Why not go to Jesus and find what is most important?” Two old friends know.

    “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

  • circumcision

    —

    Dana

    “Lord, you want me and my men to do what?” God explained His desire for His people to be set apart. “Are you sure this is the best way? People won’t even be able to tell what we’ve done!” God wanted a covenant in the flesh of a man’s hidden parts, and Abraham obeyed.

    Today, God is after something even more personal. Physical circumcision has always pointed toward a more important operation. Jeremiah spoke the Word of the Lord, “Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among the thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts.” Paul points us to Christ, knowing the One with the pure heart is the One who knows what to cut away. “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ…”

    It has always been the strategy of the enemy to depict the men of God as weak and passionless. Who would call Abraham weak and passionless? His obedience did not make him less of a man… quite the opposite! We are to have this same type of faith that trusts a God who knows how to make a man more of a man and a woman more of a woman. “Pure in heart” does not equate with weakness. “You want me to do what? Yes, Lord, I will obey. You know what is best. Give me courage, Lord, to stand. Cut away anything that keeps me from being the man you have created me to be. Make me a true man, Jesus. Make me like You.”

    When Jesus has His way in a man or a woman, courage springs forth. We know this because Jesus is the epitome of courage. “Father, are you sure you want me to do this? Is there no other way? Yes Lord, I will obey. You know what is best and I have come to do your will. Give me courage, Father, to carry this cross.”

    “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” I Peter 2:21

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