Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

April 14, 2010

A Unifying Christ
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God - Romans 15:6,7

A couple years ago, I spent two weeks with missionary friends in France. Over the course of those days, I learned a bit about buying baguettes, European clothing sales and measurements, and where to watch for pickpockets. I picked up a couple helpful phrases, (often falling back on the always-applicable "pardon" and "bonjour"), took the RER train system, and frequented the French version of Walmart (it's called Auchan). I got used to hearing a language that made little sense to me in the streets. But two weeks did not instill a sense of belonging. I loved the experience, but the language barrier was too great to tempt me into staying.

The most nerve-wracking moments - for us unilingual Americans - came the day our hosts had other commitments. We were left to attempt a trip into Paris on our own, without our erstwhile friend/guide/translator. In reality, the abundance of English-speaking Frenchmen should have made us easy, but we still felt painfully and distinctly not French. It was intimidating to jump on the RER with its quiet passengers, who knew the route better than we did and would immediately identify us if we opened our mouths. We stuck with "pardon" for the train ride, though we later chickened out and ask the restaurant's waiter if he spoke English. He said, "Yeah, sure."

Perhaps the most rewarding evening of the trip was a birthday celebration at our hosts' home, when several of their French friends came for dinner. The language barrier still existed, but its unease lifted during that evening. We all made linguistic blunders - some of which were funnier than others. But for all of us, we were united in our mutual friendship of the hosts, and our implicit trust that, well, if he's friends with them, they must be wonderful people. The unspoken bond carried even further in some cases, when we knew we shared a common faith as well as friend.

Our Parisian adventure eventually ended back in Dulles International airport—not the most exciting or warm place in the U.S. But did we ever fell at home! We felt so welcomed and at home. Everything was written in our own language! We could understand the passing comments of strangers! We could joke in line at Starbucks! We could speak without translating in our heads! We could revel in our Americanness because we were home. Our language unified us with total strangers after the immersion of two weeks in France.

Being back in our home culture with our native language made me feel like old friends with total strangers, who probably gave me an odd look at the time. But the unity of our common understanding was wildly apparent to me, and I couldn't help feeling joyful at the strangeness of hearing my own language again.

Compare this to the miracle of Pentecost, when a chaotic world market suddenly burst with understanding. Those standing the cosmopolitan heard a unifying call where they least expected it. They said,

"How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" (Acts 2:8-11)

After Peter's presentation of the Gospel, three thousand people were convinced of the truth of Christ and believed in Jesus. How does something like that happen?

Intersecting Faith & Life: We so easily forget the uniting power of Christ - in our homes, relationships, churches, etc. Faith transcends any cultural and language barrier on earth when we focus on this shared hope. What I experienced in France was such a small taste of what is possible. The message of the Gospel has reconciled our hearts to Christ, and it has power to reconcile us with each other. Let's speak to each other the language of the Gospel that we may build a culture of grace.

 

[Judy Harder]

April 15, 2010

This Devotional Has a Happy Ending
by John UpChurch, Editor, Jesus.org

Because of the loudness of my groaning
My bones cling to my flesh. (Psalm 102:5, NASB)

I hate sad endings. If I know a book or movie will turn out badly for the hero, you won't find it on my shelf. Thought-provoking, melancholy-but-hopeful, those endings I can do, but conclusions that resonate with increasing desperation or despair set my mind reeling for days. And I dislike the tumult.

I'd claim this is all because of some deep pathos I have, that the emotion gets to me. But the truth is much less glamorous: I just want things to turn out well. I'm an irrepressible optimist with a penchant for knowing how plots should be wrapped up. This is the reason you'll usually find me skimming the last chapter of a book first or waiting till others see a movie before I watch it. If I'm going to invest my time, I want the payoff to be satisfactory.

The Bible has some parts that cause a similar reaction—and even those I'd rather skip. For example, David wrote Psalm after Psalm detailing his suffering, his sinfulness, his anguish. Each one overflows with descriptions of his bones melting, his heart withering, or other bodily descriptions that could have come from Night of the Living Dead. Job must use potsherds to scratch his puss-filled sores after his children are crushed and ripped to pieces. Jeremiah gives us graphic descriptions of what became of Israel and spends an entire book lamenting his lost life, world, friends, you name it. Paul dedicates his life to ministry and ends up beaten, pummeled with stones, shipwrecked, wracked with pain, and ultimately killed. And then there's Jonah: a book that ends with a man despairing his own life because God didn't wipe out a city.

Instead of pushing through all that, I'd rather read about the joy of the Lord, the teachings of Christ, the capturing of the Holy Land, and the happy Psalms. After all, the bad stuff in the Bible reminds me of the bad stuff in the present world. Perhaps I think that if I don't read it, it won't happen to me.

But, truthfully, no book of the Bible is without its thorns. The gospels (the "good news") include Christ's brutal death. The happier Psalms often point to the not-so-happy ones. The breakthrough of the Exodus comes with the sorrow of those who suffer for later disobedience.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Buried in each of those sad parts, however, are important lessons from the miry clay—lessons that wouldn't fit the happier times. If Jerusalem hadn't been destroyed, Jeremiah could never have written with such real understanding about the faithfulness of God in the worst of circumstances. David's intense pain produced a fertile ground for joy.

Despite my wishful thoughts to the contrary, not reading such accounts doesn't keep me from needing those lessons myself. The real happy ending is in knowing that I can count on the same God that David, Job, and Paul did—even when my own bones feel like they're melting.

Further Reading

Psalm 102

Lamentations 4-5

[Judy Harder]

April 16, 2010

Prepare to Be Shot
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:14-15

If you're old enough to read this, then you've probably heard someone say "Don't shoot the messenger" before.

This caveat has always sounded good in theory. But it doesn't always work, does it? How many times have you had to deliver some news that you knew would not be received with open arms? It might have been bad or controversial or news that could hurt feelings, and you knew going in that you could be caught in retaliatory crossfire.

But then, you also knew that the message you were carrying was of such great importance that it didn't matter to you. You knew in your heart that you were doing the right thing and that the recipient would ultimately be better off hearing whatever news you had.

Perhaps this is how you've felt when you've shared the Gospel with someone before. You were compelled. You were convicted. And as the messenger, you knew you might get "shot" if someone was hostile toward anything to do with Christianity. But still, you shared the Good News no matter what bullets might hit you in return.

It's what Jesus must have felt like when he came to earth. He was the messenger by which the message of the Good News was delivered. And you either loved him or hated him (Isaiah 53:3). He already knew what his outcome was going to be, but he was obedient—even to death.

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near," Jesus preached (Matthew 4:17). Those who really understand our condition and how much we need a Savior to save us from our sin, know that this is unbelievably good news (Romans 8:1-3a). It's a lifesaving gift that only requires our belief for acceptance (John 3:16).

Jesus not only carried the Good News, he was the Good News. He embodied his message, and the glory of the Father was revealed through the Son. Those of us who have chosen to love Jesus and give our lives to him are challenged to become messengers, too. "To go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation," (Mark 16:15-16).

Earlier this month, as we celebrated a risen Lord and victory over death, I challenged myself to step up my messenger game and be willing to be "shot" when it comes to delivering this Good News with others.

As I remember the message Christ delivered for me, may I be bold and do whatever is necessary to share the Gospel with others, so that the Father might say of me, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" 

Intersecting Faith & Life:  How long has it been since you've shared the plan of salvation with someone else? Whether through words or through actions, ask God to equip you and display himself in your life today so that you will reflect his glory to others. You are the messenger. And your message can save lives!

Further Reading

Matthew 5:16

2 Corinthians 3:18


 

[Judy Harder]

April 19, 2010

Suffering in Your Calling
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." John 21: 18 - 19.


We often think of Easter as the end of the story. Jesus rose! He conquered death! Through his grace, we will too! Rejoice!

Jesus' resurrection certainly warrants jubilant celebration, but the day the stone was rolled back on the tomb was not the last page of the story. In these opening scriptures, the resurrected Christ is wrapping up a conversation with Peter. He has just commissioned Peter to lead and feed his sheep. foreshadowing Christ's ascension, when the care and nurturing of Christ's followers would be left to the Spirit-led Church. Peter is told here he would die a martyr's death. In fact, it's traditionally believed that all of the twelve died martyr's deaths except John, the youngest.

Peter's suffering is not decades in the future, either. In the fifth chapter of Acts we see Peter and the apostles enduring beatings for teaching in Jesus' name.

What's going on here? Where are all the happy Spring picnics filled with daffodils and chocolate?

First, after the resurrection we read of a very purposeful Jesus. We see him giving his followers glimpses into what it really means to be "called" by him. He is preparing them to receive the Holy Spirit and to embrace whatever unique plan God has for their lives. This is an exciting time of new life - new life in Christ as well as the soon-to-come birth of the infant Church at Pentecost.

Second, as Jesus begins to shed light on his apostles' long-term missions, we see clearly that Jesus' followers not only partake in his resurrection but also his cross. In other words, becoming a follower of the risen Christ isn't just about the empty tomb but the cross that led up to it.

In this second point, I think we can take away much for our personal lives. As members baptized into his Body, the Church, each one of us has a calling from God. I think it's accurate to say that God intends for our callings to match our gifts, talents, and interests. Most of us rightly anticipate a certain level of fulfillment to accompany our life in Christ.

But "calling" also seems synonymous with suffering. And Jesus doesn't cover that up. He says "Follow me" directly after he tells Peter he will die after being crucified upside down. As tempting as it is to brush this off as a hardship of being an apostle in the first century, I don't think we get off that easy. The New Testament is filled with proof that our unique callings will also bring sufferings unique to us.

Another point we can take away from this: So often we interpret suffering as a sign we didn't follow God's will. But here we see that sometimes suffering means you are following God's will.

Third, we see later in Acts that after the apostles were beaten, they rejoice that "they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus]." We read similar reactions from Paul in his letters when he suffers. Scripture doesn't reveal much surprise in Jesus' apostles here (which surprises me!). They seem to "get" that crosses are part of the plan for them and are joyful at the opportuntiy to imitate the Savior they love.

I have to say, as a 21st century American I'm not too comfortable reading these scriptures - even the parts about rejoicing (how on earth do they do that?). I very much want to see the Easter story wrapped up, neat and tidy. I want to see the apostles live happily ever after. I want to thank Christ for suffering and thank my lucky stars I won't have to.

But that's not really how being Christian works. New life in Christ is deeper and more profound than getting a free lunch. Thankfully, we can see here that our lives will not lack joy even when things get messy if we continually tap into Christ's love for us. It's those without Christ's love who find no joy or purpose in life's sufferings.

I personally also find some comfort in reading about the days following Christ's resurrection. Jesus is very consistent here; he did not make wild promises of a perfect life to his apostles only to let them down. No, he candidly and realistically spelled out his plans.

If I'm really honest, that's the kind of God I want to follow. A God of truth. A God I can trust. A God loving enough to give me joy even when life hurts.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Think back on all the trials in your life. Has any good come of them? Make a list of all the blessings that have flowed as a result of suffering.

Further Reading

Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
Psalm 30:2, 4-6; 11-13
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

[Judy Harder]

April 20, 2010

Remembering the Source of Authentic Joy
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."
Psalm 51:12

Edith Schaeffer wrote of her husband in the book, L'Abri, that Dr. Francis Schaeffer was a man who deeply wanted his life and work to be "a living demonstration of the existence of God." In retrospect, his was a life that may have been far from perfect (admittedly so), but he was—warts and all, by God's grace—an authentic, Christian man. Prior to the time of his most fruitful ministry years teaching in a rustic, Swiss chalet in post WW II Europe, Dr. Schaeffer went through a long period of severe crisis in which he felt he had to honestly address the lack of genuine joy in his life. What came out of that crisis is the content of his book, True Spirituality.

Assuming that you share Dr. Schaeffer's desire to live a life of joy and not plastic smiles, ponder with me some of the foundational lessons he relates in True Spirituality.   

1)       We were created for fellowship with God, but there is a barrier: God has a character. He is a holy God.

2)       We are sinners by nature and by choice.

3)       We cannot breeze past these facts. Before we can become Christ followers, we must acknowledge our alienation from God and that we have real guilt deserving death and hell, not just guilty feelings that seem to require a therapeutic faith solution.

4)       Only the finished work of Christ upon the cross as the Lamb of God—in history, space and time—is enough to remove our true moral guilt so that we can be brought into fellowship with God.

5)       We must not attempt to add anything on our part to the finished work of Christ in His death and resurrection.

6)       The only way that the finished work of Christ can be personally applied to a sinner is by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone, according to Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

a.       Faith is not a leap in the dark—trying to believe in something that you doubt is true.

b.       Rather, faith is...

·         believing the specific promises of God,

·         no longer turning your back on them,

·         no longer calling God a liar by suppressing the testimony of Scripture, attested by history

·         but raising the empty hands of faith

·         and accepting that finished work of Christ as it was fulfilled in history. 

Schaeffer's recap of the gospel provides that which is absolutely essential not only to the initial discovery of joy, but the ongoing recovery of it every day. The gospel is utterly foundational to authentic Christian living and it must be personally rehearsed again and again. At the same time, we must remember that it is not the system of truth itself that removes our guilt and restores joy. Christ does that by His Spirit in the souls of those who trust Him. Yes, He is unseen, but there are many unseen things that we believe in everyday.

One Scripture-soaked, gospel resource that I've been reading recently is a book called A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent. It is amazingly helpful for reviewing the deep truths of the gospel every day. Take this, for example, from pages 47-48:

The gospel reminds me first that what I actually deserve from God is a full cup churning with the torments of His wrath (Rev. 14:10). This cup would be mine to drink if I were given what I deserve each day (Psalm 75:. With this understanding in mind, I see that to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were merely the tiniest drop of blessing contained in that otherwise empty cup, I should be blown away by the unbelievable kindness of God toward me.

That God has, in fact, given me a cup (Psalm 23:5) that is full of "every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Eph. 1:3), and this without the slightest admixture of wrath leaves me truly dumbfounded with inexpressible joy... Life's blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop of the wrath I deserve.

Intersecting Faith & Life: 

How blown away are you by the blessings of God in your life?
Is the joy meter of your life on empty? What are you wanting?
How central to your life is the habit of daily rehearsing the gospel?

Further Reading
Ephesians 2
Romans 5:1
John 6:68

[Judy Harder]

April 21, 2010

Reversing Babel
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 15:5,6

Coca-Cola created a cultural meme of epic proportions with a TV spot in 1971. You've probably heard it. The brand jingle "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" met such popular appeal that it merited a full song minus the Coke references. The New Seekers took their happy song high on the Billboard Hot 100 that same year, as people sang along with the hilltop melody. In case you've forgotten the original jingle, a few sample verses:

I'd like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony.
I'd like to buy the world a Coke,
and keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
all standing hand in hand.
And hear them echo through the hills
for peace throughout the land.

It's the real thing
what the world wants today,
That's the way it'll stay
with the real thing.

This utopia of happy people might've been a little exaggerated (the song originated as a marketing campaign, after all), but the underlying ideal of unity clearly resonated with people. If Coke happened to be the original vehicle for such peace, love, and happiness, okay then. It's a delightful ditty that manages to communicate our need for unity and connection. But is unity alone enough?

Coke's marketing was clever, but not original. At its heart, the commercial and subsequent song celebrated a humanism that was also secular. Its message was for the people, by the people -- and by their creations. From that point of view, the message was the same as the message of Babel. In that instance, men united to sing praises from another hilltop. The praises were their own - praises of a unified people so in sync and powerful that they could rival the gods.

You know what happened next.

Matthew Henry's commentary observed of Babel that "unity is a policy but it is not the infallible mark of a true church." Babel was partially constructed before God decided to deal with their pride and disobedience, and looked plenty successful for a time. Call it a common grace that we have the ability to build relationships that work even in a fallen world. Even Babel - and Coca-Cola - can do that. Our attempts, however, may only work for so long.

Babel failed when its people "forgot their place" and sought their success, reputation, and a good life elsewhere than where God had commanded them. Their unity was founded on something temporal. As such, it was no matter for God to drive a wedge between the people and send them away from each other. That was his original command. He had told them to fill the earth, not stay in one place and build a single city for all humanity. Apart from his purposes, they had no real unity... only a secular humanism to temporarily stick them together.

While God can drive apart, he also has the power to bring people together for his purposes. As I talked about last week, the miracle of the Gospel doesn't just bring us back to God - it brings us back to each other. Matthew Henry's commentary says this:

As the confounding of tongues divided the children of men and scattered them abroad, so the gift of tongues, bestowed upon the apostles (Acts 2), contributed greatly to the gathering together of the children of God, who were scattered abroad, and the uniting of them in Christ, that with one mind and one mouth they might glorify God.

The Gospel brings us back to our right place. Observing our need of grace orients - and unites! - us towards Christ with other believers. Then, something crazy can happen. Babel reverses itself.

Babel happened when people took a superficial unity to the extreme, and ended up judged by God for their disobedience. Pentecost, with its universal call to repentance in Christ, forged a permanent unity between people who had little in common.

Intersecting Faith & Life: What holds our relationships together? Are we building our unity around a happy song that might ultimately disintegrate? That only works so long as we, so to speak, agree to sing exactly the same tune, words, and song. But when our focus is on living life to glorify God, we get something far more encompassing. That's enough to hold us together through the smaller disagreements here on earth. Babel's day is over - the miracle of Christian unity has taken over.

[Judy Harder]

April 22, 2010

Rejoicing with Bloodied Lips
by John UpChurch, Editor, Jesus.org

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.  (1 Peter 4:12-13, NASB)


I never wanted to be in one of those comedies where everything seems to go wrong for the main characters. You may know the kind I mean. A couple buys a dream home only to find that the beauty hides a horrible interior. Some new coach of a down-on-their-luck baseball team must overcome painfully bad skills to capture the tournament. Those plots always seem hilarious—until you live through something like that.

Recently, my family did the unthinkable. We left our comfort zone, crammed everything into boxes and a huge truck, and moved eight hours away from home. Being planners, we tried to do everything the "right" way: making a budget, scouting a place to live, and organizing our schedule. The UpChurch moving plan had everything in order and seemed logistically sound.

Reality bloodied our lips.

We arrived for our meeting with the leasing agent of our new apartment home and waited—and waited. Several hours and phone messages later, we realized he wasn't coming. On the other hand, our moving truck was. We had no keys and no place to unload our stuff. Amazing how a perfect plan falls apart when only one detail doesn't work.

After a mad scramble—which everyone says will be funny someday—we delayed our movers, considered alternatives, and finally made contact with the leasing agent. The good news? We had an apartment. The you've-got-to-be-kidding me news? It was not the one we wanted. (Read: It was about the size of one of the closets of the apartment we had been promised).

The movers came, laughed, and delivered. When they left, boxes towered precariously over our heads. The pathway from one end of the apartment to the other involved turning sideways to squeeze through the clutter like some narrow passage in a cave. When my wife and I cleared a space to sit down that night, we were regaled with perfectly audible conversations from overhead between a mother and son.

Somewhere between lying down on our mattress that barely fit in the bedroom and drifting off to sleep to the symphony of booms overhead, I thought of 1 Peter 4:12. Peter wrote to a church under pressure, a church faced with real fiery trials that often threatened the life of its members. He didn't try to lessen the blow for them and, in fact, told them not to be surprised when problems arose.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Compared to first-century Christians, our struggles are fairly tame. No one's threatening us with death for heresy or jail time for disrupting the Roman religious order. Still, in the midst of trials, it's not easy to remember Peter's admonition. But according to him, all the broken promises, much-too-small spaces, and cabinet doors falling off the hinges remind us to rejoice in God always because He knows what He's doing and because our problems mean so little compared to what He's got planned.

Further Reading

1 Peter 4
James 1:12-17

[Judy Harder]

April 23, 2010

First, Read the Instructions
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

Okay, be honest.  Do you read the instructions or do you just crumble them up, toss them to the side and try to figure something out on your own?

In my case, it depends.  I always, always read the accompanying instructions for hair color, medicine or any type of electronic device that I am trying to set up in my home.

But for other things?  Not so much.  Why not?  Perhaps I place more value or importance on hair color, medicine and electronics or I just realize the gravity of what could happen should I not first read the instructions. 

Sadly, I wish I was as vigilant with life instructions as I was with those on a box of hair color.  You know, the ones found in God's Word.  Instead, whenever I am trying to figure out something in my day-to-day doings, I tend to go to friends or family first.

Now this isn't all bad, as they're all people of faith and the ones who really know me best and those with whom I have the tightest relationships.  We have laughed together.  We have cried together.  We have studied the Word together.  And I know they will not pour salt into my wounds nor pepper me with trite platitudes.

These bonds didn't form overnight either.  No, they were forged through a great deal of time spent together, through years of fellowship, through times of heartache and of joy.  These are the people who speak Truth (in love!) into my life.  The ones who hold me accountable.  The ones who ask me questions and have chipped away at the walls in order to get to know me better and help me see myself as I truly am.

But ... they are still not the ones I should be checking with first.  In Romans 15:4, Paul was reminding the Roman church (and us today!) that what has been recorded in Scripture (at that time, just the Old Testament ... but for us today, all of Scripture) is specifically written on purpose for us and for our benefit.  Parables, principles, promises, prophecies ... you name it.  It's all in there for the children of God to take in and apply to our lives.

So when we read the instructions (first) found in God's Word, we know that it is here to ...

Teach us ... If we seek him, we will know him.  If we have eyes to see and as the Holy Spirit works in us, we will find what God is trying to tell us in the pages of his Word.  Then, we can apply his guidelines for interacting, for worshipping, for serving, for everything that is needed in our lives as we purpose to live for him.

Give endurance ... When you are weary, when you are ready to give up and are just about done trying to live out your faith, when you are ready to quit whatever it is God is asking you to do, when you have no idea how much longer you can undergo a trial or tribulation, be strengthened by his unfailing, unchanging Word.

Provide encouragement ... How easy is it to feel blah about life?  To wonder what your purpose is?  To feel like you don't matter? As a prolific friend said recently, our life on earth is not meant to be a "vacation" but a "mission."  God can give us the inspiration, through his Word, to buoy our hearts and keep the fire burning within.

Offer hope ... "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me."  What wonderful words from the classic hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."  Because God sent his son to die in our place, because he has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, because he is preparing a place for those who trust in him (heaven), because of our identity in him as sons and daughters and members of a royal priesthood, we do have bright hope for tomorrow.


Intersecting Faith & Life:  If it's been a while since you've read your Bible, let me challenge you to take the "Proverbs 31-Day Challenge" starting today.  It's really simple.  There are only 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs.  So take a month and read one chapter a day.  Chew thoroughly on each one.  Think about how you can apply the principles to your life.  And then see, after one month's time, if you haven't been taught, given endurance and encouraged.  You only have hope to gain and nothing to lose!

Further Reading:

Thy Word
Music & Lyrics:  Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith


Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid,
And think I've lost my way.
Still, You're there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as You are near;
Please be near me to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus by my guide,
And hold me to Your side,
And I will love you to the end.

Nothing will I fear
As long as You are near;
Please be near me to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You're the light unto my path.

[Judy Harder]

April 26, 2010

Unhappiness: A Tempting Choice?
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

"And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 13: 52, NIV

"Always be happy. I see you out there with your solemn faces and hands folded like this, and perhaps you think this is holiness. This sad, solemn-ness is not really holiness. Always be happy wherever you go; God is good."

These are words spoken by a priest from India at a recent retreat. No doubt, this priest is well-versed in the theology of redemptive suffering, so his words gave me pause. What does he mean by this? Is it even possible to be happy like this?

Later, in a discussion with my father, he mentioned that family counselors like my stepmother often encounter challenging clients who are married to their unhappiness. In other words, these individuals are so comfortable with their misery and dysfunction (born out of very real hurts, no doubt) they don't even want to be happy anymore.

Pondering all this has rearranged some of my thinking on faith and happiness.

Perhaps you've heard this common saying in Christian circles: "God doesn't promise us happiness here on earth." From what I've encountered in my studies of the Bible and theology, the statement is factual.

I used to interpret this fact as an indication that God just doesn't have happiness in his plans for some people (and I was likely one of those people, right?). But as I am reflecting on Fr. Andrew's words and my stepmother's clients, it hits me. Perhaps God doesn't promise happiness because it's not his place to give it. In other words, perhaps happiness is part of God's plan, but it's something we must choose on our end.

Think about it. Have you ever met that person who "has everything" but isn't happy?  I knew a person like that. He possessed uncommon intelligence. He had a loving family, wealth, and opportunity. But he seemed gifted at finding the dark side to everything. And I mean everything. He suffered from incredible cynicism and depression. Let's put the possibility of a chemical imbalance aside for a second and ponder this truth: God has the power to bless us, but it's up to us to be happy about it.

I don't say these things to cause pain or make anyone feel guilty for not feeling happy. Trust me, I've had plenty of dark periods where happiness seemed like a joke. I firmly believe it's okay to feel unhappy sometimes. Jesus didn't always feel good either, and it's safe to say there was nothing wrong with him.

Still, it's important to remember that there is a danger in wallowing in darkness for too long. There is a great temptation to become attached to our sadness, our victim-hood. Our cross, instead of drawing us closer to life in Christ, ends up bringing us closer to spiritual death when we do this.

In his book The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis explores this idea that we can become too attached to our brokenness. He sets up a fictional scenario where souls in hell get a second chance at heaven. But they ultimately do not choose heaven - they can't even enjoy heaven - due to their excessive attachment to hell.

This seems downright crazy, but it's not any different than the clients my stepmom sees every week. And it's a very real trap we fall into every time we hold too tightly to our hurts and sorrows instead of releasing them to God.

Lewis warns, "If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell."

But then what do we do with all the bad things in life? Certainly, we will feel sorrow and loss - we should feel sorrow and loss when bad things happen. How then do we avoid getting trapped by tragedy? How do we let go of the comforts, the "intimate souvenirs," of life's little hells? Lewis has more to say about that, and I will end here to ponder these words:


"'Son,' he said, 'ye cannot in your present state understand eternity... That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say 'Let me have but this and I'll take the consequences': little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of the sin. Both processes begin even before death. The good man's past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven: the bad man's past already conforms to his badness and is filled only with dreariness. And that is why... the Blessed will say 'We have never lived anywhere except in Heaven,': and the Lost, 'We were always in Hell.' And both will speak truly."
Intersecting Faith & Life:  Have you held on to unhappiness for too long? Is your sadness, guilt, anger, or bitterness tempting you to sin or obscuring your faith? Ask God to help you let go of destructive thoughts or behaviors.

Further Reading

1 Peter 1: 8

[Judy Harder]

April 27, 2010

What Do We Do Now, Exactly?
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world..."
1 John 5:3 NASB

We continue to build upon Francis Schaeffer's earlier instruction about the reality of the biblical God (though He is unseen) and of the bankruptcy of atheism and all other perspectives that exclude the God of the Bible.

Instead of being cowed by unbelievers, we march forward today with the clear-eyed viewpoint expressed by the writer of this recent article on Christianity.com...

It is not Christianity that is a crutch, but atheism. Believing that when you die, you're just dead is far more comforting than believing that after death that we will be summoned to answer to a just and holy God for the good or evil we have done in this life.

Having ceased calling God a liar and having come to embrace Christ alone by faith alone, we now are justified—declared righteous by God... our status of moral guilt is reversed. Scripture says: "...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

But "salvation is not just justification and then a blank until death," writes Schaeffer (True Sprirituality, chap. 6). Therefore, we must become increasingly conscious of is the perpetual relevance of Christ's work now in our lives. As Romans 1:17 says, "the just shall live by faith."

Quoting Schaeffer again: "The how of the Christian life is the power of the crucified and risen Lord, through the agency of the indwelling Holy Spirit, by faith moment by moment."

The effect of such a moment-by-moment life of faith in loving relationship with Christ is expressed in First John (1 John 5:3). "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome."

With refreshing honesty, Schaeffer recounts that for many years he did find the commandments grievous and burdensome:

"For many years as a pastor, preaching the gospel, I never preached on this verse for the simple reason that I did not understand it. I could hardly bear them (the commandments of God). And then one day, as I was wrestling with this topic, I saw that all one had to do was to look at the immediate context: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."

"On the basis of the finished work of Christ, a moment-by-moment life of faith is "the victory"—not our victory, but Christ's victory, purchased for us on Calvary's cross, laid hold of moment by moment in faith. Now, let me be absolutely clear about it, the basis is not your faith; it is the finished work of Christ. Faith is the instrument to receive this thing from God that Christ has purchased for us. If we try to live the Christian life in our own strength, we will have sorrow; but if we live in this way, we will not only serve the Lord, but in place of sorrow He will be our song."

Intersecting Faith & Life: 
Are the commandments grievous to you? Are they burdensome? Whose strength and wisdom are you depending on to bring about victory? Rest today in the power of the crucified and risen Lord, through the agency of the indwelling Holy Spirit, by faith moment by moment.

For Further Study & Prayer:
Romans 15:13

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."