Die so you can live

I want to continue to explore this commission we've been given to be imitators of God. He has been using the passage, 2 Cor. 5:14-21, to challenge me in this area. As we saw in Eph. 5:1, God calls us to imitate Him and "walk in love, just as Christ also loved you,". This passage in 2 Cor. starts out with, "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." Two things stand out to me in these verses. Namely, that being an imitator of God involves how we die and how we live. Is it just me, or do these two words seem to be opposites? Yet God puts them together often in connection with each other.

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul had explained to them the importance of love, going so far as to say that if love is not a motivating factor in the things we do, they end up having no value at all. Here again he uses love as a measurement. If I am going to accurately represent God, I will need Christ's love to control me. His love motivated Him to die. This death took a few different forms. Phil. 2 tells us that He died to what was rightfully His, that is, the glory of equality with God. He also became obedient rather than being obeyed. This obedience brought Him to the point of physical pain, suffering, and death. His death also involved spiritual separation from the Father; "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?"

So too, if we are going to be imitators of God who are controlled by the love of Christ, we are going to experience death. What is God asking me to die to? Perhaps my rights, my desire to control? Maybe this death will involve pain and suffering? But unlike Jesus, this death takes a different path in the spiritual realm. Prior to hanging on the cross, Jesus had never experienced any separation from the Father. He was sinless and perfect and well pleasing to God. We come from the other side. We were born in sin, separated from God, strangers to His covenants. But by dying, we are able to enter into fellowship with the Father.

And this is where life comes into play. He died that we might live. However, verse 15 tells us that we are not living for ourselves anymore, but rather for Him. Imitators of God live like Jesus lived. He gave Himself up for us; He came not to be served but to serve; He lived His life for the glory of the Father. What will I give up today? Who will I serve? How will God's glory be shown through my actions and words?

This is the commission I've been given, to die so I can truly live.

loving the aliens

Alien...what's your first thought when you hear that word? Strange people from outer space, someone from another country, a person you aren't getting along with, an opportunity to love? Wait a minute, how did that last one get on the list? As I think about the commission God has given me, and as I wrote about being an imitator yesterday, I remember clearly the way God used some verses in Deut. 10 to give me a new perspective on aliens almost 6 years ago now. "For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt."v. 17-19 Here is a place to start. Those who are aliens--appearing to be strangers, and often feeling like strangers--are the very ones God loves. How does He demonstrate that love? He gives them food and clothing.

If you've been reading my past posts, you've had the opportunity to see that physical needs like food and clothing aren't the only things God takes an interest in. Therefore, while He does care about that side, He does not limit Himself to responding only to the physical needs. The largest group of aliens are those who are separated from God, strangers to the covenant of promise as Ephesians 3 puts it, and for these God provides food in the form of Jesus who is the Bread of Life and clothes them with His righteousness.

To those of us who have been rescued and brought into relationship with the great and awesome God, He extends this invitation: "So show your love for the alien,". How do we do this? I believe it has to start with a recognition of need. Who do you know that is in this position of alienation? Let's look at the physical aspect first. Maybe someone who just relocated, or who lost a close friend or family member, or is experiencing job loss. It could be a person from another country who is having a hard time learning the ins and outs of your culture. What can you do to demonstrate love to them? Maybe a meal or some clothes are in order. Maybe there's some other kind of food or clothing needed. Perhaps you could feed them encouragement or clothe them with words of kindness. Don't limit yourself to the usual definition of food and clothing.

And then there's the spiritual aspect. I think a key to our response here is found in the second half of this verse: "for you were aliens in the land of Egypt." But I was never in Egypt, you might say. That may be true, but do you remember when you were separated from God, when you were His enemy, dead in your trespasses and sins? If I am going to show true love, it is essential for me to remember what it was like being an alien. This will help to condition my responses to meet the need rather than causing further alienation for the one I am trying to help.

Am I ready to take the plunge? Are you? This is our commission: Be imitators; show love as I have shown love to you!

imitators

Ever noticed how the things God asks us to do aren't random at all? Over and over in Scripture we are told something like, "do this because it is what I do." God doesn't give us instruction without providing an example of what it should look like. In Eph. 5, we are told in verse 1: "Therefore be imitators of God,". That's the bottom line for our lives as followers of Jesus. God desires to conform us to the image of His Son. 2 Cor. 3:18 puts it this way, "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

I'm reminded of the moon. I saw it setting the other morning; a huge orange ball. Beautiful doesn't do it justice. But the moon is just a dark mass of dirt. Its beauty is in its ability to reflect the sun. You and I are like that. We are told that God formed humans from the dust of the ground. Ps. 103:14 says that God, "is mindful that we are but dust." Our beauty comes from the transforming work of God's Spirit making us capable of reflecting His glory. I've been praying lately that my life would be beautiful because God is seen in me. Would you join me? Let's allow His light to shine on us and be reflectors of that light.

food that satisfies

"In the meanwhile the disciples were requesting Him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat.' But He said to them, 'I have food to eat that you do not know about.' The disciples therefore were saying to one another, 'No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?' Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work."

You are what you eat! Ever heard that? I've heard it a few times, and usually, the picture that comes to mind is not a pleasant one! How would you like to become a brussel sprout, or a chicken leg? Seriously though, as I look at Jesus' words to His disciples, I get a very different picture. The disciples were concerning themselves with some pieces of bread and maybe some fish, and wanted Jesus, who said of Himself that He was the bread of life, to be on that same level with them. But He wants them to understand hunger in a different light. Jesus was helping them to see His purpose in coming to this world. More than satisfying physical needs, His real purpose centered around bringing people into right relationship with the Father. This reconciliation process was/is the only true source of satisfaction. Because of His relationship with God the Father, He acted in obedience to His will. This brings a satisfaction no physical food ever could. The result of eating that food will be that I become more like Jesus. Now that's a picture I don't cringe at.

What am I hungry for? As I conclude this study of Jesus in Samaria, I'm coming to a point of understanding that Jesus had to come to this earth. Oh yes, He could have stayed in heaven and continued to enjoy the glories associated with that position, but God had a divine plan and He willingly participated in it. He came to bring life and light to a world that was dying. And now we have been given the commission of making the message of reconciliation known. Will we make that our food today? If so, we will know true satisfaction!

Next I will be looking more at this commission.

A lie about worship

"The woman said to Him, 'Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet." Give her a few points for perceptiveness! I guess any one of us would come to that conclusion after hearing Jesus' last words. It seems that her next statement is an attempt to get the focus off of her. " 'Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.' " But I do believe that the question is genuine. Where should we worship? That question is still being raised today. There are many who I often hear say something very similar "I can worship God anywhere, I don't know why people tell me I have to go to a church." Let's look at Jesus' response. I believe it will help us to understand how we at times are being deceived. "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." What is Jesus saying here? What is it that God wants us to understand about Himself, us, and our relationship to Him? A few things are obvious. God is spirit, He seeks people who will worship Him, and He has some requirements regarding our worship. We are limited in our understanding, we are not all true worshipers, and we have a choice to make in worship. Regarding our relationship with God, in our worship we need to recognize that He makes the rules and we must follow His guidelines.

One of the lies I believe we have succumbed to is the perception that we can worship God anyway we want. The danger in this is that we fail to recognize God for who He is. I begin to try to fit God into my circle of understanding. The problem is my understanding is so limited that trying to do this diminishes God rather than exalting Him. I was just rereading the account of David moving the ark of God this morning. They placed it on a cart and were celebrating, Uzzah even tried to keep it from falling. Was God pleased? Was this worship acceptable to Him. No, we are told that "God struck him down there for his irreverence;" God had given instructions on the proper worship of Him in handling the ark. They were not optional, and they carried with them severe consequences for disobedience. I'm convinced that the same holds true today. Am I a true worshiper? Am I submitting myself to Him who deserves all honor and praise?

It seems that very easily we get hung up on the trappings of worship, where it happens, what kind of music, what emotions it evokes, etc. If these are the things we are focused on, we are being deceived. What God desires is that we stand in awe of who He is, that we acknowledge Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that we submit to Him as true worshipers. I want to be careful. I want to grow in my understanding of God and true worship of Him. This is my prayer for each of you that read this post, that you would be true worshipers. That is what God is seeking in us.

a lie about thirst

What am I thirsty for? Do I even know the answer to that question? This is what is plaguing me and burdening my heart not only for myself, but also for my brothers and sisters in Christ and for those outside of God's family. This is probably one of the most unrecognized deceptions we fall prey to. As we move forward in the conversation between Jesus and the woman from Sychar, this deception surfaces. Jesus has offered her a drink of living water, and her response is, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw." She is still unaware of her true thirst. The next statement by Jesus, at first glance, seems disconnected. But I would propose that Jesus very intentionally is opening the curtain on her true thirst. "He said to her, 'Go, call your husband, and come here.' The woman answered and said, 'I have no husband.' Jesus said to her, 'You have well said, "I have no husband"; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband;" The woman asks for water to satisfy her physical thirst, but Jesus offers so much more than that. I'm convinced that I/we often fall into this same deception. We think God wants to merely satisfy some physical longing. Jesus opens the door of invitation when He tells her to call her husband. He knows that her lifestyle has been one of striving to satisfy her thirst outside of relationship with God. She was unaware that her thirst would never be satisfied until she recognized that what she really needed was that relationship.

This brings me to another lie about thirst I'm becoming aware of. Ps. 63:1 says, "My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." The Psalmist understood that apart from God, he was living in a desert. And we all in some form are living in a desert. Do I recognize the desert I'm in? Too often, like the Samaritan woman, I'm preoccupied with my own ideas of thirst, and I fail to see that those things I am pursuing will not and cannot satisfy. Only God can quench the thirsting of my soul. Even those yearnings of the flesh can only be satisfied by God.

Am I willing to examine my life? Will I let Jesus draw back the curtain and expose my thirst and the activities or people I'm using to try and satisfy what only He can? This calls for courage and vulnerability. Would you join me?

a lie about greatness

"You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You..." John 4:12. What a question this woman throws on the table at this point in the conversation. But it is a question many of us ask. A question based on deception. What do we believe about greatness? What marks greatness in an individual, a situation, or a thing? One of the most overused words in our culture today is "awesome." I hear everything from people to cars to athletic moves to animals being described as awesome. Scripture tells us that God is awesome--He causes us to be in awe of who He is and what He does. Whenever people in the bible encountered God, there was a sense of reverential fear. But this woman expresses what appears to be disdain for Jesus. She seems to be saying, "Our father Jacob was great, but who are You?" And I wonder if we have some of that same disdain in our approach to God.

John the baptizer had quite a few people following him, and many felt he was a great person. In fact, when others began to follow Jesus, they were offended. They failed to see what John saw. He recognized greatness. He had told them Jesus was coming, and that he wasn't even worthy to tie Jesus shoes! And when questioned about those following Jesus, his response is one we would do well to echo. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John knew that Jesus was Lord of all, that there was nothing that would stand in His way. And he rejoiced in those who also recognized Jesus as Lord and followed Him.

Where do I stand? Am I with the Samaritan woman, questioning God's greatness? You are not greater than _______________(fill in the blank--sickness, emotional pain, job loss, etc.) are You? Have I been deceived to the point of believing there is anything bigger than/too difficult for God? Or am I on the side of John, who understood how great God is, and encouraged others to know Him in that same way? I pray that I would grow in my understanding of God's greatness, and truly be in awe of Him alone.

Let me not be deceived by the lie that anything is greater than You, O Lord. Let me be a proclaimer of Your power and majesty. To You belong all honor and praise. Amen

a lie about ability

"She said to Him, 'Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?' " John 4:11. Today I'm looking at a common deception we all at times fall prey to. We underestimate God's ability and overestimate our own. Jesus makes an offer in verse 10, which we will look at later, but the woman's response calls into question His ability to produce. In effect, what she says to Jesus is, "Look, I'm the one with the pot here. You don't even have anything to hold water in. Let me help you." As though she had some ability to help Him. How often do I have a similar response? God's word is true. I can completely trust Him to do what He says. And yet there are times when I don't respond with faith, and by that lack of trust, I believe the lie that He cannot or will not do what He says. On the other side of the coin, it is not uncommon for me, like the woman, to come to God offering my assistance. How brash is that? "Here God, let me help You with this, since You seem to be lacking the resources. I've got what it takes." Oh, I would never be so bold as to actually say that to God, but by my actions I may be sending that message. I put confidence in my own ability to handle a situation rather than showing a willingness to trust Him and wait for His timing in the accomplishment.

Who do I trust more? That's what God's been asking me. "John, do you need me? Or are you good enough, able to do what needs to be done without my help?" How I long to reach that place of utter dependence on God. I want to live in the reality of Jesus words, "apart from Me you can do nothing."