Today we climb! Well, actually, we will hike uphill. Nevertheless, as part of a group from our church consisting of teenagers and chaperones, I will make my way upward toward Lost Lake.
The body of water earns its moniker.
A number of years ago my wife (whom I regularly thank for her willingness to seek adventure) and I stood atop the highest point along Lost Lake Trail and took in the panoramic view . . . of fog. If I doubted the trustworthiness of maps and the truthfulness of my friends who tell me of a lake not lost, I would wonder if the suggested hike to find the lake was akin to the invitations we received as Boy Scouts years ago to journey into the woods in search of snipes.
The scribe of the New Testament letter to the Hebrews opened his best known section of text with words addressing an action for which "the ancients were commended."
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith. For their action of faith, the ancients (the women and men of Old Testament and New Testament fame) received commendation. Faith, according to the true and trustworthy teaching of Hebrews, is confidence and assurance - confidence in hope and assurance in things unseen.
Hope
The lyrics of a modern song of praise declare a "thank you" of sorts to God - "but You have never failed me yet." All is well lyrically (and theologically) for six words. The seventh misses the mark. Biblical hope removes the "yet." Faith recognizes that the unfailing God never fails and, therefore, never will fail.
Joshua 21:45 (NIV)
Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
God is love and love never fails.
Things Unseen
Hebrews 11:39 is perhaps the most honest (brutally, perhaps) verse in the Bible.
Hebrews 11:39 (NIV)
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,
Those words speak directly to us as we consider our expectations.
- Yes, Noah completed the ark;
yet the world drifted again into sin.
- Yes, Abraham experienced a miracle as Sarah gave birth;
yet the family feuds were aplenty.
- Yes, Moses crossed the sea;
yet his feet never landed in the Promise Land.
- Yes, Rahab was spared;
yet her whole city (her hometown) fell.
- Yes, you experience the grace of God;
yet you still have cancer.
- Yes, you know that God will come through;
yet you wonder when.
Our expectations should be based on things unseen rather than seen.
Hebrews 11:16 (NIV)
Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Years (many of them) after my final unsuccessful snipe hunt, I discovered that snipe actually exist. Not the ones of folklore, but rather of ponds and swamp lands. I guess the joke is on those who invited me and my fellow pillowcase-toting searchers on the hunt - a hunt that was based in fiction; yet while still elusive, pointed to the real thing.
Leave the pillowcase-hunting quests behind. Join the real adventure of Faith.
#ordinarylives
Depending on how the past nearly two months have gone, parents eagerly anticipate or sadly contemplate that, within less than a month, Anchorage schools will resume classes. Ruled paper, #2 pencils, crayons, and thumb drives fill Amazon virtual and Big Box Store actual carts. New shoes (in which one can jump much higher and run extremely faster) sit at the ready. Hair appointments are written (again - virtually or actually) on calendars.
Depending on their level of love for school, students either happily plan or grudgingly accept that the first bell will soon ring.
In regard to academic calendars and life in general, our readiness determines our attitude. In the Psalms, Psalm 139 specifically, David wrote . . .
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Verses 7-8 (NIV)
Surely, depending on the day (at times), David found comfort in that assurance; while at other times he hoped that his omnipresent and omniscient God could be less present and knew a bit less.
Jesus, while teaching, most often chose to instruct through the use of parables. To the subject of the fruition of the Kingdom of God (specifically, His return), He dedicated many a parable. Readiness was the theme. We learn from His parables that, like school, some will be rejoicing when He returns while others will be unprepared. Jesus, leaving little room for misunderstanding, explained . . .
Matthew 24:36 (NIV)
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
No one is privy to God's timetable. What then should we do? We must be ready. When we choose readiness, we (in confidence) believe that when Jesus returns, we will be found with carts full of faith, grace, and fruit. To be ready includes an eager anticipation of hearing Jesus declare, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Are you ready?
Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
#ordinarylives
To their initial dismay, my wife and I encouraged (made is actually more accurate) our sons to take time this summer to learn to type. They - like me, to be honest - were quite content to "hunt and peck." Now, however, they know and use "Basic Position." All who know how to type in such a manner enjoy the advantage of the ability of keeping their eyes on their monitor rather than their fingers. Typists develop muscle memory, memory that enhances and speeds their keyboarding skills.
Muscle memory proves to be valuable in everything from typing letters to gracing the ivories and from shooting threes to launching Titleists off tees. So, too, in spiritual growth.
While muscle may not play a significant role in spiritual growth, memory does. Perhaps most famously, Richard Foster devoted a whole work to spiritual growth memory in his, now classic, Celebration of Discipline.
In order to grow spiritually, one must commit to developing habits that become such through repetition.
Who do you think gains the most from the Bible?
Those who read it regularly.
Who do you think develops a positive prayer life?
Those who pray often. (Paul did without ceasing!)
Who do you think feels the power of worship?
Those who participate in church community.
Who do you think receives answers from God?
Those who ask questions of God.
Do you desire a closer relationship with God? If so, start today developing the habits that will, through repetition, strengthen your faith and enrich your relationship with your Father. You can do this within your Ordinary Life. In the words of Foster . . .
We must not be led to believe that the Disciplines are only for spiritual giants and hence beyond our reach, or only for contemplatives who devote all their time to prayer and meditation. Far from it. God intends the Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who wash dishes and mow lawns. In fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our relationships with our husband or wife, our brothers and sisters, our friends and neighbors. (page 1) . . .
The primary requirement is a longing after God. (page 2)
In your relationship with God, settle not for "hunt and peck;" learn to keep your eyes on the Maker.
#ordinarylives
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Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline. San Francisco: Harper, 1998.
This coming Sunday I will begin a series of sermons teaching from the New Testament letter Galatians. Paul started his letter with words of blessing. Then he expressed astonishment.
Galatians 1:6-10 (NIV)
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Perhaps you have heard a person articulate their purpose in life with the motto of "to know Christ and to make Him known." While Paul did not use those words he would have seconded them with a hearty "Amen!"
Here in Galatians Paul voices the centrality of the gospel. He instructs that the gospel is the true motto for Christians. To his astonishment and horror, he discovered that, in his own words . . .
Galatians 1:6 (NIV)
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
Before we address the "different gospel," we do well to cement the true gospel. What, after all, is the gospel? The gospel is this . . .
God so loved the world that He sent His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life; and all who believe in Him are saved and receive the gift of eternal life.
Paul made it a life goal to clearly present the true gospel and he refused to stand by and allow anyone to add to or subtract from the Good News. Those who presented anything other than the truth caused his blood to boil.
Paul loved the gospel and those with whom he shared it. His love for both motivated him to assume the role of protector of the truth. Because truth was so important to him he sought to remove any doubt with his hearers that any of it was a creation of any vivid imagination or for personal gain.
The gospel is central to the Christian faith. As you continue in your journey of faith, stay true to the gospel.
#ordinarylives
At just shy of sixty years of age George Fox, the founder of the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) wrote to Christian friends living in Holland.
In a couple of days Americans nationwide will celebrate Independence Day - truly a day worthy of celebration.
We love independence. That love, however, can lead to unhealthy obsession. Believers in Jesus need to recognize (and embrace) their dependence. To this point, Fox's words speak . . .
Dear friends in the peaceable truth, -- The glory of God all mind, in all your lives and conversations, and that the heavenly fruits of the holy spirit of God you may all bring forth to his praise, living in righteousness, godliness, and meekness, lowliness, and humility, learning of Christ Jesus your saviour, who is meek. For the humble God doth teach, and they grow up in his grace and favour.
God teaches the humble, for the humble open their minds to learning. A learner depends on his teacher.
Fox, having issued the call to humility, added words as to the times Friends gathered.
And in the Lord's light, power, and spirit meet together, and keep your meetings in the name of Jesus Christ who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him, that you may feel his living and divine presence among you, and in his pure, gentle, and heavenly love and wisdom, you may be valiant for the name of Jesus, and his truth upon the earth, and not to be ashamed of Christ your teacher and prophet, that God hath raised up in his new covenant and testament, who you are to hear.
Their founder urged them to meet in the name of their Lord. He knew the power of the Name and the Person. Fox also knew that meetings (specifically, gatherings for worship) found their substance and power in Jesus Christ. To attempt to gather without first welcoming Christ to reside would be foolish. What is true for meetings (worship, church, etc.) is true for Ordinary Lives.
Romans 12:1 (MSG)
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
Bringing one's life as an offering is an act of dependence. One offers in order to honor and in hope of receiving. In offering our lives to God we seek to honor Him and hope that we will receive His guidance for our everyday lives.
On Thursday wave the Stars and Stripes, light some fireworks, eat a hot dog, and thank God for independence. All the while, depend on God to lead your way. Ask Him to teach you. Promise Him that you will open your mind to learning. Through faith depend on Him and trust Him.
Quoting Fox once again . . .
So in him let your faith stand, who is the author and finisher of it. So with my love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is your sanctuary, in whom you all have life, peace, rest, and salvation, who is the Amen.
Have a great Day of Dependence!
#ordinarylives
