Work It Out

"So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13 AMP

     A question I have had on my heart lately is this:  What am I producing?  In my home, in my role as Mom & wife, in church, in serving, in relationships… What is it my thoughts, words and actions are producing?  What are they stemming from?  Do they produce love?  Hope?  Joy?  Peace?  It would be great if they always did!  Do they flow at times out of a jealous heart?  Or selfishness?  Or bitterness?  Or fear?  Probably sometimes, which means I need to reevaluate things.  It may not be fun to think on such things, but as a believer I want to glorify God.  I don't want to cause another to turn away from church or my home or the Message due to hypocrisy on my part.  

     I am imperfect.  There's a shocker.  There are so many times my mouth says something I wish it didn't.  There are so many sighs of disapproval I wish I didn't let slip.  There are so many anger-prone moments when I unleash my rage against a particular offense.  I wish I could say when I was saved, these things stopped.  But they didn't.  Everyday is a choice - a chance.  Be my new self or old self.  Many times I revert to the old me and it isn't pretty.  (Jimmy Fallon's "Ew!" comes to mind.) 

"So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.  Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness." 1 Peter 2:1-3

     If we are not bothered by unkind speech or deceit or the like, we may have a problem.  Because the Lord desires so much more for us.  He offers so much more.  He created us for so much more.  Where is our awe-inspired fear and trembling?  Where is the working out our salvation?  Our active pursuit for spiritual maturity?  Are we crying out for His nourishment?  We don't invite Jesus in our hearts and stop there.  It is a continual renewal of the mind and heart.  It is a continual pursuit of holiness and pursuit of God.  It flows from thanksgiving and a grateful heart for what He's done for us.  A reverence for the fact that our life is through His.  We were lost, but now we're found.  We were dead but now we live.

     Perhaps the full experience of salvation is not just accepting Jesus as Savior.  Perhaps there's so much more.  Perhaps there's deliverance and healing that comes along in that beautifully-wrapped package.  He didn't just come to rescue us from hell but to give us LIFE ABUNDANT.  His death and resurrection is so much more than we fathom.  It holds the power to overcome!

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8 

Response to Mercy

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.  Luke 18:35-43

     The man in this passage of scripture cried out for mercy from Jesus.  And boy did he receive it!  He was blind but now could see.  He encountered the sweetest mercy he could have ever hoped for or imagined.  And the response of his heart was immediate praise.  He offered himself and followed Jesus.  And it multiplied from there.  When the onlookers saw what happened, they too began praising God.

     Lord we ask for an encounter with Your mercy.  Let it cause us to praise Your name and live in surrender to You.  This is where we thrive!  In following You. It is where we find peace…hope…joy… purpose.  God, teach us to be merciful.  And let every act of mercy explode into praise.  Cause each act of mercy and burst of praise to be multiplied, like a chain reaction.  Let the joyful noise rise before Your throne.  You are so worthy!  

Responding to Mercy

The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! Romans 1:2-7

     I simply read the passage above and become a student, teachable and eager to learn. I can simply share my desire to step into all that this merciful, generous God has for me, all He created me to be. To step into the calling He has placed on all of us, as believers, to share His good news of salvation. When we do, we are doing the will of God. We are displaying a part of His glory (by His grace) that the world should see and long for themselves. A lamp made aglow and put on a lamp stand.

The more we get what we now call ‘ourselves’ out of the way and let Him take us over, the more truly ourselves we become. The more I resist Him and try to live on my own, the more I become dominated by my own heredity and upbringing and surroundings and natural desires. It is when I turn to Christ, when I give myself up to His Personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own. - CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

     My sister shared the CS Lewis quote above with me this morning. I couldn't help but add it in. It fits with Romans 1 where it states, "You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus". Because I have received His mercy, my heart cannot help but respond in praise. To be obedient to Him. The mercy He displays creates a desire in me to get to know Him and His will. To connect to Him and learn from Him. To love Him. Serve Him. Honor Him. Not just with my words, but with my very life.

     A worship leader I used to have the privilege of listening to on Sunday mornings - Harvest - sings a song called God Demonstrates. Click here and take a listen: https://youtu.be/phI80wPUuSU. You'll be glad you did.

God, You are everything I need. My heart longs to be near You and be rooted in Your love. Your presence becomes a refuge and a delight to my soul. Continue to show us Your mercy. Continue to bless us with it. Let it wash over us and fill us with a fresh awe. Let it cause our hearts to respond to You. Respond with our lives. To You be all honor and glory and praise forever. Amen!

   

Celebrating Mercy Part 2

The Story of the Lost Son

Then he said, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’ “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any. “That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father. “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’ “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time. “All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’ “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’”  Luke 15:11-32

       Once upon a time, I was a prodigal daughter.  I was lost.  I wasn't living for God or even thinking of Him.  I truly didn't really even know Him.  I was living for myself.  I was wasting the life that I was given on frivolous, temporal things.  When I did finally run into God, I didn't really think I could be forgiven or accepted, but I was so wrong!  

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness [who did not seek salvation and a right relationship with God, nevertheless] obtained righteousness, that is, the righteousness which is produced by faith; whereas Israel, [though always] pursuing the law of righteousness, did not succeed in fulfilling the law.  And why not? Because it was not by faith [that they pursued it], but as though it were by works [relying on the merit of their works instead of their faith]. They stumbled over the stumbling Stone [Jesus Christ].  As it is written and forever remains written, “Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense; And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed.” Romans 9:30-33

Through the gift of Jesus, I was and am forgiven and have been brought into that embrace we see in the parable! He was running to me, ready to wrap me in His arms and hold me to His heart.  And I am still wrapped up in Him.  I still have tears that stream down my face when I think of how He loved me that much, forgave me that completely.  Mercy.  Love.  And those tears that fall are part of my testimony.  I once was lost, but now I’m found.  I once was blind but now I see. I see His heart for me.

     Sometimes I consider the other son in the story - the one that stayed and went about his work.  The one that turned bitter that the prodigal would be accepted after such shenanigans and worthy of a celebration upon his return.  I’m not sure I completely understand.  Perhaps he was bent towards self-righteousness - ‘if I just do my job and don’t get into trouble I will earn my way...’  Perhaps he just felt entitled to more because he stayed and served.  Maybe He was just being judgmental and unforgiving.  Maybe all of the above.  But salvation is a free gift.  We don’t work for it.  We don’t create it ourselves.  God came up with it, and He sees everything through.

     All I can say is I don’t want to become bitter.  I pray I don’t stand in judgement of whether someone should or shouldn’t be forgiven.  Should or shouldn’t be accepted.  Deserves salvation or not.  I want my heart to align so closely with the Father’s, that I simply trust His judgement and His will.  I want to rejoice in the kindness and mercy of our God.  

     I've been a beneficiary of that mercy and kindness when I haven't remotely deserved it.  I have received His forgiveness.  So who am I to ever withhold forgiveness?  Who am I to say whether another person is worthy or not.  I wasn't worthy.  And yet He extended to me His robe and called for a feast, embracing me as His child.  That is a good, good Father.   

Father, you are so kind and good.  Your acts of mercy display the great depth and height and width of Your unconditional love.  Help us to forgive and show mercy just as You have done for us.  Fill us with Your Spirit so that we grow together as a family and embrace one another.  Thank You for the Gift of our precious Savior.  Thank You for running to meet us and for offering Your whole heart to us. 

Celebrating Mercy

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:21-24

     My life changed when God opened my eyes to see His heart.   I can remember sitting in a church hearing Louie Giglio teach on the story of the Prodigal Son.  And I remember being blown away at the depth of mercy and love in the father’s heart in that story, and finally made the connection that it was Father God’s heart for me...for all.

     No matter what I thought about Him before - for whatever reasons - I realized a foundational truth listening to the message of that parable.  He is a merciful, loving Father.  He longs to embrace us and offer us all He has.  There is mercy for the worst sinner.  There is mercy and grace that reaches deep, deep down into our pits of despair to pull us up and out into freedom.  

     There is a Savior, Jesus, Who took our sins to the cross with Him and rid us of them forever.  What should have been our punishment, became His.  What should have been our demise, He converted to triumph instead.  He took our place and died for us so that we would be restored to a relationship with the Father.  

     It says in Romans 3, “He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be.”  Since the beginning, in the garden, He has desired relationship with us.  He has longed to be a Father to us.  While we have run far and wide, making poor choices, wasting our gifts, starving for a life worth living, and making a scandalous name for ourselves, Father God has been planning our return to His family.  He has been preparing the celebration made possible by the gift of His salvation in Jesus.  This precious gift.  This precious, pure, heart-gift.  How much mercy is reflected in the gift of Jesus!  How much love in the Father’s eyes!  

Thank You, God, for setting things right.  Thank You for the mercy You bestow on us.  You didn't have to show us mercy.  You could have chosen to leave us, as our sins and our unholiness earned.  No, You chose to send a Savior.  You chose mercy.  You are so beautiful, Lord.  My words will always fail to describe what my heart feels.  Deep, deep wonder and a love like I've never known stirs within...

Celebrating Mercy as Family

O Spirit of the living God, 

thou light and fire divine, 

descend upon thy church once more, 

and make it truly thine. 

Fill it with love and joy and power, 

with righteousness and peace; 

till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, 

and sin and sorrow cease. 

Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow 

until our minds are free 

from mists of error, clouds of doubt, 

which blind our eyes to thee. 

Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips 

with flaming love and zeal, 

to preach to all thy great good news, 

God's glorious commonweal. 

Teach us to utter living words 

of truth which all may hear, 

the language all may understand 

when love speaks loud and clear; 

till every age and race and clime 

shall blend their creeds in one, 

and earth shall form one family 

by whom thy will is done. 

So shall we know the power of Christ 

who came this world to save; 

so shall we rise with him to life 

which soars beyond the grave; 

and earth shall win true holiness, 

which makes thy children whole; 

till, perfected by thee, we reach 

creation's glorious goal! 

-Henry Tweedy

     These lyrics were written in the 1930’s by a man named Henry Tweedy.  Music always has a way of getting to the heart and soul.  When I hit shuffle on my ITunes today, a version of this song, recorded by Audrey Assad, played.  It brought to mind the many revivalists out there that are hungry to see God pour out His Spirit on the masses.  It reminds me of those who are hungry to see all people turn to God and live according to His Word and will.  It reminds me of how so many of us long to see the Church be the church and people love one another as Jesus taught us to.  

     These lyrics, written so long ago, still carry such a current message.  There’s a longing in the words to see transformation of hearts by the indwelling of Christ.  A longing to see the Spirit heal our minds of the lies and doubts and fears that plague us.  A longing to see the people of God give witness to the One who saves...for the people of God to live out the commission to share the good news of the gospel and praise the name of the Lord.  

     I’m struck by the third verse as it speaks to a unity of the body of Christ and the idea of how we are one family under God.

God—the one who made all things and for whose glory all things exist—wanted many people to be his children and share his glory. So he did what he needed to do. He made perfect the one who leads those people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through his suffering.  Jesus, the one who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. He says, “God, I will tell my brothers and sisters about you.  Before all your people I will sing your praises.” (Hebrews 2:10-12) 

It’s easy to look around and see the division in the world.  Race, politics, etc.  But I long for the day when God’s people stand united under His reign and stand in the knowledge of our true identity.  I long for the day when we speak “living words of truth which all may hear, the language all may understand, when love speaks loud and clear”. (Tweed)  The language taught to us by God through His Son and now through His Holy Spirit.  I yearn for Him to impart wisdom and understanding so that we realize our place in His family and stop striving to make a name for ourselves and trying to create our own identity apart from Him.  

     The struggles to be someone apart from Him will only lead to more division and despair.   It’s been this way for generations.  We can read through the scriptures and see that it doesn’t work.  God gives life and light to the world and sent His Son to save, heal and deliver His family.  And those who believe and are saved and filled with His Spirit have a role to play.  Jesus called us the salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).  He was the example, and now we are called to step into that role with confidence and with joy.  

     God, we ask for wisdom and revelation as to what it means to be in Your family.  We ask You to speak to our hearts in the deepest places about who we are.  We ask You to heal our hearts that have been broken and longing for this familial connection with You.  Fill the voids within us that are only filled by relationship with You.  You are our Father - our Perfect Father - Who never leaves.  Thank You, God, for calling us Your own.  For making a Way for us to be grafted into Your family.  For providing a place for us, now and forever.

Community Building

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 1 John 4:19-21 MSG

In today's world, it seems people live rather isolated lives.  Social media becomes our avenue for communication and what used to be a "live" phone call with someone has now become a quick text or email.  We use emoticons to reveal the temperature behind the words.  I'm not saying it's wrong - it's actually quite efficient.  But I wonder if we are letting go of some priceless gifts.

God created us to be in community.  Out of community comes protection, provision, encouragement, growth, and countless other treasures.  In community, we find ourselves stretched to new heights.  We learn from one another and witness the unique qualities God created in each individual.  We discover things about God in one another - His glory, His creativity, His power, His beauty.

Being in community releases the Holy Spirit in us.  The fruit being produced in each of us is released for the benefit of those around us.  Non-believers are introduced to our God.  Believers are encouraged to keep running their race.  We are astounded by the work of the Spirit within us, as He matures and stretches us.  We become intoxicated by the joy that fills us as we live and serve Him in our communities.

Don't you feel good when you help someone?  Don't you feel like you made a difference in the world?  Not because you "performed a task" but because you practiced love.  He wants us to practice His love with those around us. Practicing love is not always easy or comfortable, but it's essential to our faith and life-giving to our souls.  It builds authentic community.  It builds a community of believers that can chase after God together and grow deep roots together.  It builds a community that releases Kingdom qualities - things like joy, peace and love.

I have been deeply encouraged by God showing me the value of community lately, and I want my children to know the value of it as well.  I want them to build community with classmates and youth groups and neighbors.  I want them to see the beauty in it.  I want them to reap the benefits of it.  I want them to learn through their relationships with those that are lovely and those not so lovely.  Each encounter shapes our character.  Each moment we practice love we are transformed into His likeness.  Not always easy - especially when we are rejected or made fun of or the like - but necessary nonetheless.

Our kids look to our example.  They want to see love in action so they know how to practice it themselves.  They want to see what works and what doesn't.  They want to offer their whole hearts.   They want to love and be loved.  I think we are created that way.  When that changes and we become isolated, it might be time to ask what happened to trigger that isolation.  What lie did we begin to believe or what event caused us to shrink back from others?  Often, forgiveness is the key to unlock our hearts once again and release us back into relationship - both with God and with others.

Father, please help us to live intentionally towards others.  Help us not grow weary of trying to build community, but find joy and goodness in practicing love in community instead.  We ask you to impart to us the wisdom for reaching out and staying faithful to our communities and to You.  We look to You as our example of relationship and love.  We ask You to show us when we shrink back and ask You to speak courage to our timid hearts and to help us forgive when we've been hurt.  We ask that You equip us for every good work You've prepared for us to do.  We remember that You loved us first so that we could love.  Thank You, Father.  Thank You, Jesus.  You are everything good!