old friends

Posted on February 5, 2003 by 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

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circumcision

Posted on January 29, 2003 by 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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purity

Posted on January 23, 2003 by Dana

Some have proposed that the Beatitudes speak to a progression in the Christian life. If this is the case, perhaps there is a path to purity.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy…”

Humility is the starting place with Jesus. Can the proud ever have a pure heart in God’s sight? Perhaps this is why Peter had to go through failure after he boasted of the things he would do for Jesus. What mourning comes when we see ourselves as we really are! But Jesus taught that such mourning would lead to blessing. It did for Peter. He was not only comforted, but he became meek. A transformed Peter called all disciples to walk in the meekness of Christ. He wrote, “Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

The pure in heart have learned to hunger and thirst for righteousness. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”, Jesus said. But who can attain righteousness? “There is no one righteous, not even one!” How we need mercy! “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “I am unrighteous, my heart is impure… have mercy on me!” “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

As is righteousness, a pure heart is found in only one place. Jesus alone is righteous, and He gives the gift of righteousness to all who put their faith in Him. Jesus alone has a pure heart, but He can make our hearts pure as we follow Him. And what a promise belongs to those that do.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8

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sight

Posted on January 16, 2003 by Dana

The Scripture says, “We live by faith, not by sight.” The first years Peter followed Jesus, he saw Him day after day. “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty,” he wrote. But after Jesus ascended, Peter had to follow his Master with a different type of sight. This is what we must do today. Peter’s words encourage us, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Though we may envy those who actually saw Jesus, the Lord shared with His disciples that it was better that He leave. “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” It is this promise that gives us great hope. Though we do not see the physical Jesus, we can see with spiritual eyes. In fact, only those who put their trust in Jesus are able to escape the darkness. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Listen to these incredible words from the Light of the world:

“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.” John 14:15-21

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follow

Posted on January 9, 2003 by Dana

“Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” This is what Peter said to Jesus when the disciples were told they could not follow where He was going. Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (read John 13:33-38)

How painful for God to bluntly say, “You’re not as strong as you think you are.” But when the truth is revealed, and we realize how weak we really are, God has the power to lift us up and make us stronger than we ever imagined we could be.

Jesus said, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will later.” And they did… but not before they had failed, not before they were broken, and not before they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Susan and I visited friends in New Jersey over the holidays. On Sunday, we met a young minister who shined the light of Christ. He did not have all the answers. In fact, he would probably say he understood less now than ever. In March, his beautiful wife of three years died of cancer. But on the last Sunday of a painful year, he encouraged the children of God to trust the One who is with us in good times and bad. The Spirit of God communicated deep truths through an humble man.

If we’re going to follow Jesus, we must come to the end of ourselves. No will power, no determination, no heroic effort will take us to the place Jesus went. Only God’s Spirit gives the power to pick up our cross and follow the Master. I may shout, “Lord, I’m ready!” But Jesus may say, “You’re not quite ready… but I can make you. Will you trust Me?”

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22)

“I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:18-19)

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