LizG – Page 25 – Pressing On In His Footsteps

On Disreputable Characters

Matthew 9:9-13 MSG Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him.

^10-11Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and misfits?”

^12-13Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”

Matthew 23:13-14 Phillips “But alas for you, you scribes and Pharisees, play-actors that you are! You lock the door of the kingdom of Heaven in men’s faces; you will not go in yourselves neither will you allow those at the door to go inside.

Observation

Tax collectors, especially Jewish ones, were anathema and traitors to the Jews because they served the Romans by agreeing to extract (and profit from) exorbitant taxes imposed on their fellows. Anyone who associated with a tax collector would be a “disreputable character” in the sight of both Pharisees and fishermen. Jesus regularly engaged in this kind of shock therapy with His disciples to break down their strongholds of prejudice and judgment created by tradition and teaching of the religious leaders.

Jesus also purposely challenged the man-made rules of the Pharisees, but never broke Mosaic Law. Jesus accused the Pharisees of being so obsessed with duty and form that they missed the heart of God – grace, mercy and redemption. He accused them of misinterpreting God’s intended relationship with His creation. In Matthew 23 Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites who played the role of true spiritual men but were really only playacting rather than serving God with a pure heart. Above He accused them of foolishly and jealously (and unnecessarily) guarding the door of Heaven to keep out disreputable characters and missing the blessing of entering in themselves. Jesus came to throw the doors open wide.

Impact on Me

So, I have to ask myself – who do I consider disreputable characters, traitors, unworthy of heaven? Who do I mark as unredeemable, untouchable, crooks and misfits? Where am I playing the role of a spiritual woman to look good when my actions don’t represent what is in my heart? Where are the places in me that I don’t want Jesus to challenge and the Holy Spirit to touch? Hard questions that must be answered if I want to avoid playing a role and start living a holy life.

When I was first saved, my husband and I had a charter sportfishing boat. We spent many hours a day at the docks. The docks harbor many people who lead a rough and raw life – most of us would label them disreputable characters. On our way home one day I was thinking about (and judging negatively) a man on the docks who was coarse, hedonistic and disrespectful to women. In that Pharisee moment, I saw him as filthy and unredeemable. The Holy Spirit in His grace and mercy hit me with the baseball bat of His insight and I heard, “Yes, that is what your soul looked like before you received Jesus.” I wept because I realized that I had so easily forgotten the undeserved and overwhelming grace and mercy I received from the God Who gave His only Son for me and for Whom all is possible. This is why I need to ask myself again and again the questions above, allowing Jesus to examine my heart and the Holy Spirit to change me for the better.

Prayer

O Lord, God of the Impossible, Father of Mercy and Grace, how quickly I tend to judge other’s worth when I need to be judging my response to the grace and mercy I have received. I want to be a Pharisee in diligence, in studying Your Word, but keep me from falling into the trap of thinking that You are performance-based and give more worth by my achievements. Keep my heart soft toward the disreputable characters, the crooks and misfits that I might be an instrument of redemption in Your Hand. May I be one hugging and welcoming those who enter Your gates. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On That Beautiful Thing

Mark 14:3-9 Phillips Jesus himself was now in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. As he was sitting at table, a woman approached him with an alabaster flask of very costly spikenard perfume. She broke the neck of the flask and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head. Some of those present were highly indignant and muttered, “What is the point of such wicked waste of perfume? It could have been sold for over thirty pounds and the money could have been given to the poor.” And there was a murmur of resentment against her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone, why must you make her feel uncomfortable? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You have the poor with you always and you can do good to them whenever you like, but you will not always have me. She has done all she could—for she has anointed my body in preparation for burial. I assure you that wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the whole world, this deed of hers will also be recounted, as her memorial to me.”

Observation

We are just a few days before the crucifixion. The religious leaders are actively plotting to murder Jesus because He is breaking the rules. He is not breaking the Law of Moses, but He is challenging the mountain of man-made rules that have created an insurmountable barrier to Heaven for the poor and afflicted. Jesus’ teaching threatens both the status pedestal of the Pharisees and the Temple profits of the Sadducees. He must go!

So, we find Jesus at a friend’s house sitting at table. All of a sudden, a woman (never identified) comes up to anoint Him with some very expensive perfumed oil. It is interesting to me that this caused such indignation and resentment. The perfume was hers to give and use as she wished. Because of Jesus’ response – “She has done a beautiful thing for me.” – He recognized the act as worth the cost. Was Jesus pointing the finger back at the accusers to have them examine how much they spent on luxury rather than the poor? Was He again making a point about seeking God’s perspective rather than jumping to criticism or conclusions (trying to prepare them for the shock of the Cross)? Was He again trying to express that following Him could be costly?

Impact on Me

He is in the home of Simon “the leper” (presumably healed by Jesus or no one would come to his home). We don’t know who else is there, but can assume that at least His disciples are present. However, I note that neither the woman nor the accusers are identified by name. In doing so, the Gospel writer leaves it open to be any one of his time or ours. Would I be the woman pouring out my very best to worship Him or be one who is jealous or critical of someone else’s worship?

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven” [Matthew 5:16]. Because she is nameless, she allows all the glory, all the praise, all the credit, to go to God – where it belongs. As a vessel or instrument, I can provide an invaluable and irreplaceable contribution, but I am neither responsible for the plan or the results nor will I always understand how my simple obedience may fulfill His will and purpose. A guitar does not write the music but allows for it to be heard. It is the fingers and skill of the musician that makes the notes sing. I want to be an instrument in the Redeemer’s hand.

Prayer

Lord God, My Redeemer, The Lamb of God, I humbly submit to follow You even when I am confused and confounded. I want to do that “beautiful thing.” Lord, let Your light so shine that only You are remembered when the testimonies are shared. I want Jesus to be what is remembered when people think of me. I want my memorial to be not a list of accomplishments but rather that Jesus was evident in all I did. I want others to know that Jesus is in my hugs. I want them to remember that Jesus met them and forget who spoke or what was done by me. When someone is lost in the dark, they don’t care whether the light comes as a lantern or a candle or a searchlight. They are just grateful for the rescue. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

Philippians 1:18b-26 JB Phillips Yes, and I shall go on being very happy, for I know that what is happening will be for the good of my own soul, thanks to your prayers and the resources of the spirit of Jesus Christ. It all accords with my own earnest wishes and hopes, which are that I should never be in any way ashamed, but that now, as always, I should honour Christ with the utmost boldness by the way I live, whether that means I am to face death or to go on living. For living to me means simply “Christ”, and if I die I should merely gain more of him. I realise, of course, that the work which I have started may make it necessary for me to go on living in this world, I should find it very hard to make a choice. I am torn in two directions—on the one hand I long to leave this world and live with Christ, and that is obviously the best thing for me. Yet, on the other hand, it is probably more necessary for you that I should stay here on earth. That is why I feel pretty well convinced that I shall not leave this world yet, but shall be able to stand by you, to help you forward in Christian living and to find increasing joy in your faith. So you can look forward to making much of me as your minister in Christ when I come to see you again!

Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Observation

Paul really trusted God with his life and knew that God’s plans weren’t always going to lead him into what we might consider desirable places. Paul had a different perspective about life and death. No matter where Paul found himself – abased or abounding, living or dying for the Gospel – he knew that he could be used to fulfill God’s plan, His will and purpose to redeem mankind. Paul was willing to allow God to put the price tag on Paul’s contribution.

Being human, Paul did pray that his courage would not fail as the costs escalated. I often wondered what happened to revolutionize the lives of the 11 who actually walked with Jesus. How were they transformed from fear to this same faith, from hiding out to becoming martyrs of the faith? When the rubber hit the road, they abandoned Him in the Garden, denied knowing Him, stood far off at His crucifixion and even went back to fishing – until they saw Jesus alive and were filled with the Holy Spirit. We have access to this same courageous way of living as we allow Jesus to be that author and finisher of our faith, the Holy Spirit to lead, renew and empower us.

Impact on Me

As a young person, I read the Lives of the Saints and marveled at the faith of the many martyrs. Then, I was sure that I would have been as cowardly as the Apostles who ran away from the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested rather than risk imprisonment and whatever other consequences might arise. I might have been Peter denying Him or His followers who watched His death on the Cross from far off, not even willing to stand by when He was dying. Then, I would recognize that most of these eventually died as martyrs for the faith. What had changed? It was the presence of the Risen Christ Jesus and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit vibrating with life within them so that, like Paul, Heaven and its agenda was more real and desirable than this life.

So these questions remain for me. Am I willing to allow God to write the price tag for me? Am I willing to be spent for the sake of the Gospel and those God has counted worth my cost? Am I willing to be broken and spilled out as an act of worship because I eagerly expect and hope that my efforts will bring glory to God? Can I grow in faith to respond to difficulties, conflict and painful circumstances in the same way as Paul did? When I pray for that same courage, will I be sincere and allow it to flow in and through me to exalt Christ regardless of the cost to me? Can I really be committed to Heaven’s agenda over all else?

Prayer

Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are worthy of praise, honor and glory. I struggle with what the cost might be to fully represent You and pray with Paul for the courage to fearlessly declare the truth that will change the location of eternity for those who do not yet know what it is to be surrendered and embraced by You. I do not want to stand politely and quietly by as those who are deceived by this world and the devil tread the pathway to Hell. May I always share the Gospel in love, not condemning or shaming others but rather allowing Your love, grace and peace to break through and draw them to You as I was drawn. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On Need to Know Only

Luke 2:25-40 JB Phillips In Jerusalem was a man by the name of Simeon. He was an upright man, devoted to the service of God, living in expectation of the “salvation of Israel”. His heart was open to the Holy Spirit, and it had been revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Lord’s Christ. He had been led by the Spirit to go into the Temple, and when Jesus’ parents brought the child in to have done to him what the Law required, he took him up in his arms, blessed God, and said—“At last, Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised! For with my own eyes I have seen your salvation which you have made ready for every people—a light to show truth to the Gentiles and bring glory to your people Israel.”

^33-35The child’s father and mother were still amazed at what was said about him, when Simeon gave them his blessing. He said to Mary, the child’s mother, “This child is destined to make many fall and many rise in Israel and to set up a standard which many will attack—for he will expose the secret thoughts of many hearts. And for you … your very soul will be pierced by a sword.”

^36-38There was also present, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, who was a prophetess. She was a very old woman, having had seven years’ married life and was now a widow of eighty-four. She spent her whole life in the Temple and worshipped God night and day with fastings and prayers. She came up at this very moment, praised God and spoke about Jesus to all those in Jerusalem who were expecting redemption.

^39-40When they had completed all the requirements of the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew up and became strong and full of wisdom. And God’s blessing was upon him.

Observation

So, Christmas has come and gone. We had shepherds “stricken with terror” as armies of angels lit up the sky and announced Jesus’ birth. The baby has been dedicated. Simeon declares, “For with my own eyes I have seen your salvation which you have made ready for every people—a light to show truth to the Gentiles and bring glory to your people Israel.” Anna “spoke about Jesus to all those in Jerusalem who were expecting redemption.” And then, barring one story when Jesus was 12, nothing.

“The child grew up and became strong and full of wisdom. And God’s blessing was upon him.” With such an impressive entrance, you would expect a little more detail over the next several decades. He seemed to disappear from public view. Did the people think Anna was crazy talking about some baby named Jesus who would bring redemption? When? Were there momentary glimpses in His youth of the miracles to come? If not, how did Mary know to expect one from Him at the wedding in Cana? We are left with so many questions like this including why His growing up is not recounted in the Gospels. Apparently, that is not part of the story that we need to hear.

Impact on Me

It occurs to me that God is not moved to act rashly in light of existing circumstances. He made a plan before the foundation of the earth and stayed its course. He has no Plan B. Also, God is eternal, without beginning or end, and so not tied to time as we humans are. There have been many times in prayer that I felt He was delaying too long because, in my estimation, the need was urgent and pressing. I have learned over time that my perception is not always in line with God’s plan, purposes and will.

Did Jesus need to come as a baby and experience childhood out of the public eye to prepare Him to be our Advocate – one for every age from baby to adult? Was this an equally difficult sacrifice? What about the frustration of teaching disciples who at times seemed so dull and unable to grasp the point? If it were me, I would have had grave concerns over leaving the message of redemption in their hands. But, this, too, was God’s plan all set out in His perfect timing. I have learned that true understanding lies in faith not in knowing all the answers.

Prayer

Father God, All-Knowing and never changing, I won’t be making a list of questions to ask You when I get to Heaven because what I don’t know doesn’t really matter as long as I do know Jesus, My Redeemer, and Your will and purpose for me now. May I trust in Your plan rather than insisting You explain the why and the timing before I buy in. May I be content to walk step by step as long as Jesus walks beside me. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On Immanuel

John 1:14-18 JB Phillips So the word of God became a human being and lived among us. We saw his splendour (the splendour as of a father’s only son), full of grace and truth. And it was about him that John stood up and testified, exclaiming: “Here is the one I was speaking about when I said that although he would come after me he would always be in front of me; for he existed before I was born!” Indeed, every one of us has shared in his riches—there is a grace in our lives because of his grace. For while the Law was given by Moses, love and truth came through Jesus Christ. It is true that no one has ever seen God at any time. Yet the divine and only Son, who lives in the closest intimacy with the Father, has made him known.

Observation

“So the word of God became a human being and lived among us.” This is what Christmas is about. The Creator of all chose to become a man, His creation, so He could redeem humanity which had become corrupted by paying a price only He could pay. Only He could do this and, ultimately, He set the requirements for redemption. Have you ever asked yourself questions about the how and why? I have.

Why be born as a baby under a shadow of questionable parentage? Why be born in a manger? Why in a backwater like Bethlehem rather than Jerusalem? Why the Cross? Jesus came quietly as Immanuel; oh, except for the loudly rejoicing angels who were apparently only seen and heard by the shepherds out in the fields! All of these questions can be answered by prophecies made long before regarding Messiah, but why ordain this difficult way?

Impact on Me

I have long ago given up lamenting about how and why God leads me and others on the pathways in our lives. I have come to know that Jesus, Messiah, Immanuel, came to bring eternal Truth not the harmony of compromise, shalom peace not the complacency of not rocking the boat, God’s grace rather than forgiveness in word only, His life not just human existence, relationship not religion, and faith in Him rather than depending on what we can accomplish in our own strength. He came to challenge the culture the devil sells as desirable, pleasurable and inevitable for mankind. This caused controversy and still does.

I am determined to live by Heaven’s culture. Coming to this place has happened through holding on to Him as we walked together through physical, emotional and spiritual challenges. Have I lamented as to why this path – yes! Have I wondered if He left my side – yes! Have I cried out asking if He forgot me – yes! But, He is always there and always leading me on in hope and giving me the strength to make better choices and hold on to the end – most of the time with no explanation necessary as I look back over the road and assess what I have gained by walking in faith with Him through it.

Romans 15:13 JB Phillips May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.

Prayer

Lord God, Creator, Redeemer, Immanuel, I am so grateful. Jesus’ birth was the beginning of the sacrifice to redeem us, the desire to make a way for us to live in You and You in us, for us to be representatives of Heaven’s culture here on earth. As I celebrate Christmas, all the questions are moot when I remember the purpose of that birth with awe and wonder. May I let my laments be less for my condition and, instead, reflect and join with Your heart as it aches over the condition of the world. Remind me always that it is Jesus in me that will change the world. As I sing those familiar carols, may I listen to the words and rejoice for Immanuel – God with us! Make it so, in Jesus’ name.