Unless

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin.  Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.  When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”  “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”  Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”  Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”  John 13:3-9

Peter’s refusal (at first) wasn’t a matter of control; it was just the opposite.  Peter knew himself to be unworthy to be served by Jesus.  Jesus was holy; Peter was a leather-faced fisherman who knew the fickleness within himself.  He couldn’t fit in anyone’s description of pure.  He wasn’t good enough.  And he was right.

Peter wasn’t just right about himself; he was right about all of us.  He knew what the prophet had said about all humans: 

We are all infected and impure with sin.  When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.  Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.  

Isaiah 64:6

Hence, Jesus’ answer…Simon, buddy…if you won’t take my washing, you won’t have anything from me.  This is the whole issue of salvation God offers.  There is nothing any human being can do to be cleansed from our sin:

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.  Romans 3:20

God specifically said no human being still practicing evil, or having refused Christ will be allowed entrance to the New Jerusalem, Heaven:

Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Revelation 21:27

The Lamb’s Book of Life is the account of everyone who accepts the cleansing from sin which Jesus offered by virtue of His death on the cross.  What Jesus taught his disciples in that upper room, particularly Peter, was a metaphor.  He washed their feet, and it represented the washing of their hearts that he would do the next day.  What looked like the greatest failure in history, a “would-be” Messiah, hanging naked, bloodied, beaten, and stone-cold-dead on a criminal’s cross, would be His offer of eternal, internal cleansing each of us needs to be right with our Creator.  Jesus told Peter (and He tells us) UNLESS I give you this cleansing, you’ll never be mine…you’ll NOT be in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

For You Today 

I have known many people who hesitated to accept Christ as Savior, because, like Peter, they knew how unworthy they were, uncertain they could live-into God’s ways.  And that is the very first step in the process of inking your name in His book.  You must repent of your sins. 

UNLESS you know how bad you are, you’ll never understand how marvelous grace is…and how much God wants to forgive you, and draw you close to Him.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,500 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper explore some of these:  So...Then... and  His Way    

Title Image:  Pixabay.com   Images without citation are in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

Residue From a Stream of Blue-Speak

 

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord.  He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.  Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings.  With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.  They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!  The whole earth is filled with his glory!”  Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.  Then I said, “It’s all over!  I am doomed, for I am a sinful man.  I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips.  Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”  Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.  He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips.  Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”  Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people?  Who will go for us?”  I said, “Here I am. Send me.”  Isaiah 6:1-8

Isaiah’s overwhelming fright at the realization that he was in the presence of the God of his ancestors, the one called Yahweh, the one, true, living God, was overwhelming.  His first thought was I’m doomed!  His second thought was:  It’s that stream of blue speak from my own lips, and the whole culture around me; we’re filthy, and standing naked before the God who sees and hears everything.

God’s first reaction to this honest, unfiltered confession was to have an angel cleanse the sinner, and then challenge the sinner to go forward with cleansed lips. Those lips would not turn the air blue with his words anymore, but fill the air with words of purity, white as the driven snow, cleansed with crimson, like the blood of a lamb.  It was similar to what Jesus said to the adulterous woman the Pharisees brought to him for judgment and punishment.  They wanted blood on the woman, and a stain on Jesus’ record.  But Jesus said to start throwing stones if they had no sin in them.  They left one-by-one, and, once alone with the woman, Jesus said:  There’s nobody left to accuse you…go…and remember to live like you’ve been forgiven…because you have.[1]

Isaiah first impeached himself about the “unclean lips” thing.  But he got down to the rest of us quickly.  He said he lived in the middle of the rest of humanity that was just as vile.  It wasn’t just some false humility, or an aw-shucks momentary blush to lessen his own guilt.  He wasn’t saying I’m no worse than all these other people.  He was saying just the opposite…I’m NOT O.K.…and NEITHER are YOU.   If Isaiah were preaching that today, he’d have a hard time getting a hearing.  It seems like turning the air blue has gone viral.  As a culture, we’re not even civil anymore, we’re polarized and hurling insult, curse, and blame across the divding line.  It seems Isaiah had it right about his view of all humanity…we’re doomed!

And then…enter the Christ into the throne room of Heaven just days after the cross and tomb, carrying the hot, cleansing coal of his own blood, forgiving the guilt of “blue-speak”.  It’s not just our words, all the hate-stuff, and speech-bombs – it’s the source of our words, driven-out of our lips by the corruptness of our inner sinfulness.  And that’s been working endlessly at separating us from God, our Creator.  Today’s culture is a reflection of that blue streak of vitriol and violence.  And without Jesus, we are truly doomed!

For You Today

As Paul reminds us in his letter to the Roman believers, we must not copy the customs (or blue-streak-lip-language) of this generation…disciples of Jesus Christ are rather to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.[2]                         

That is what is right and pleasing in God’s eyes (and ears)!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road with Jesus; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title image: Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] This is my interpretation of Jesus’ statements to the woman in John 8:10-11

[2] Romans 12:1-2

Trials Stink!

 

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

“For I am persuaded that neither life nor death, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39

Note:  our guest columnist today is our beautiful daughter, Jennifer.  She and husband Ken have three children, two grandchildren, and a lock on my heart.  As a vibrant Christian with more than a little experience facing life’s difficult side, she writes from walking with God during the trials that inhabit the Rocky Road.

Trials stink. 

It is so hard to change mindset when being hurt, or struggling financially or emotionally or relationally. 

But, trials can be a purifying fire and a cleansing water.  Although we don’t want to get burned or drown, we do want to be refined and renewed through the Lord.  God uses trials for His purpose. 

If you are struggling through all the turmoil in our country right now and the depressing nature of social media and mainstream media, be encouraged - God is with you through all these things!  He is always there in our midst, working through things. Carry it in prayer, but do not carry the burden!  Stay out of God’s way and let Him do the heavy work.  If you feel crushed, fearful, strain in your relationships, or been through any kind of personal disaster, invite the Holy Spirit into these circumstances because only God can transform them!  Our suffering will seem like nothing compared to the glory of God worked in us.  And know that nothing can separate you from the ENDURING LOVE of God![1]

For You Today

Thank you, Jen, for a great reminder that we are not designed to do it all.  God’s way is for us to join Him in the next great adventure; our job is to listen, be ready, and always give thanks. 

Even though trials do stink, some suffering in this life, even great suffering, is for a short time compared to an eternity with our Lord and His family. 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For other posts on Romans 8:38-39 see Afraid to Die? and The Confident Hope of All Saints      

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[1] Jennifer Brownworth Klim, Facebook.com post, January 15, 2021

 

To Un-Ring a Bell

Friday, February 28, 2020

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice.  Don’t keep looking at my sins.  Remove the stain of my guilt.  Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me.  Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.  Psalm 51:7-11[1]

According to some people (people who can think way beyond my capacity to understand…and thereby make my head hurt when I read and try to understand them), you can actually un-ring a bell.  It’s part of A-B theorem’s linear-versus-tenseless philosophy of time.  (I warned you it hurts to think like this).

Well, you cannot literally un-ring what’s been rung, but the thought is that whenever they figure out how to traverse the time-travel thing, you’ll be able to go back to before the bell was rung, and maybe not ring the thing.  Do I hear an amen from Outlander fans?

King David hated hearing the sound of the bell representing his sin with Bathsheba, and the ensuing coverup conspiracy resulting in the murder of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.  David wanted to un-ring the indelible stain that had blackened his soul and spirit.  David was known for his integrity, compassion, and fairness as ruler; now his integrity was gone, as was any memory of compassion and objective judgment as a king.  David was damaged goods, and the misery was eating him alive.  If only time-travel could let him go back and un-ring his lust!

You cannot undo the past.  Even under the tenseless Box theory of time, where all moments of existence co-exist simultaneously, to re-enter another moment (and not split the balance of metaphysics into a gazillion faceted dilemma), you cannot alter the future from the past.  That being said I shall return to a less head-hurting consideration:  God can!  As Creator/author of time, and space, and us, God can do whatever He wills with time and space.

And so, this is where the rubber of David’s stained soul meets the road of God’s ability to un-ring the bell of our sin; His forgiveness does the unforgiveable.  God doesn’t remove an event from our past, but when we confess our sins to him in total faith and repentance, He restores to us the joy of a soul cleansed of guilt and shame.  This is what David means when he prays for God’s Holy Spirit to not be taken from him.  The restoration for which David prays is the return of right relationship with God.

For You Today

Time travel is too low a target, frankly.  Especially when timeless travel is available to those who will pray, trusting in the God of the ages, bowing at the throne in Heaven…and finding forgiveness and the blessing of a cleansed soul. That’s no theory of time, or un-ringing of bells; it’s the timeless demonstration of love that conquers whatever evil bell has been rung.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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Title Image:  Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

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[1] For other posts on Psalm 51 see Repentance  and Lenten Walk - Part 21

Better Than Guilt

[1]

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Gimel

Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.  Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.  I am only a foreigner in the land.  Don’t hide your commands from me!  I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations.  You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from your commands are cursed.  Don’t let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws.  Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees.  Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.

Daleth

I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.  I told you my plans, and you answered.  Now teach me your decrees.  Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.  I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.  Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.  I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.  I cling to your laws.  Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!  I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding.  Psalm 119:17-32

I recognize this prayer.  I’m sorry – Help me understand and obey – Teach me – I’m hanging by a thread – I’ll be good!  Sometimes I prayed because I felt guilt, mostly my own; sometimes it was guilt someone laid at my feet.  I never memorized it, but I have prayed every bit of this prayer many times.  And yet, like Paul, an apostle with a thorn stuck in his side[2], the pain keeps coming back. 

Guilt is like that; it drives you, compels you to the altar day and night. 

King David knew all about guilt and what it does to you:

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.  Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.  My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.  Psalm 32:3-4

Perhaps you’ve seen a movie where guilt has eaten the insides of a murderer who seemingly got away with his crime; he turns himself in to the authorities after years.  Or if he didn’t have that courage, when justice uncovers his past the relief floods like a deluge.  Or worse, if the crime isn’t uncovered by someone else, the guilty one imposes the penalty himself, taking his life to end the pain. 

Guilt does what God hardwired it to do in us…drive us to a confrontation with our behavior.  There are things we do (all of us) that set off internal alarms which cannot be ignored; it’s like sticking your finger in a live 220-volt outlet…your insides get fried!  It’s like God is done whispering can you hear me…NOW?

As we look around at the angry behavior of our world there’s little doubt that underneath all that rage brews a storm of guilt, shame, and total frustration over the reality (conscious or just out of sight) that we offend God with our ways.  That offense is at the point of the greatest commandment, and its natural cousin, the second great commandment Jesus taught his disciples:

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40

Our disconnect with this – no matter the provocation or circumstance of life – is what causes our disconnect with Heaven…and the ensuing guilt that drives us to the point of choice:  we can either trust God at His Word, confess our sin and obey both commands, or we can suffer the guilt of a powerless life apart from the One who created us.  That was King David’s conundrum…it was continuing to live in his sin and pride or give it all up to discover real joy. 

Here’s what David chose:

Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!  Psalm 32:2

For You Today

David chose honesty before God and discovered that path led to God cleaning-up all the darkness of David’s inner life; so much better than living with guilt!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com        Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

[2] See 2 Corinthians 12:7

He Was Crushed...for us - Part 2

[i][ii]

Friday, April 12, 2019

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood.  For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.  Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.  We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.  Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.  Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.  Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.  Hebrews 2:14-18

In yesterday’s devotion I asked the question how it could be God’s good plan for His Son, Jesus to be “crushed”.  In this morning’s reading the answer is rolled-out so very plainly it shouts here I am; here’s the answer.  So, let’s dig in with the writer of Hebrews this morning and rest in Lent’s unchanging Good News for all humanity, that we’ve sinned, but there is a Savior!

Let’s explore three important facts about being crushed for us as a good plan:

1.   God is Eternal; He never dies

This is the most easily-accepted of the three; God’s eternality makes sense if you hold Scripture as true at all.  The creator of everything must have been there before everything else existed.  We see this naturally; God having placed it in our DNA that He is before all.  Even as children we understand this; we expect our parents will never die.  As God always existed, so he always exists!

2.   Humans, slaves to Sin can’t live

Again, faith in Scripture’s authenticity (and accuracy) opens this fact to us.  In the opening chapters of Genesis, as soon as humans are created they rebel.  Humans, therefore, introduce death to an otherwise perfect environment.  And, as we pass-along in our DNA characteristics of body, defects, hair and eye color, we also pass along Adam’s sin nature; we pass along the ungodlike ability to fear and die.

3.   God came to exchange our Death for His LIFE

As God in Heaven cannot die, the good plan of God to redeem his fallen, but beloved creation (us), is for God to enter humanity, to accept the ability to die.  In short, in the manger and the 33 years that followed, God incarnate took on, in every way possible, our death:

 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  Hebrews 4:15

But Jesus didn’t just passively take-on, or accept death, He defeated, and will ultimately destroy death.  Hear those familiar words you’ve heard at funerals so often…but hear them now as what began as a newborn in a borrowed birthing-suite rank with barnyard smells, and ultimately culminated in smashing the fear-filled chains of death that were trying to keep eternal God in a borrowed tomb.  This was the other half of God’s good plan – that which he accomplished (defeating death) He gives to all who turn to Him in faith:

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:  “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?”  For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:54-57

For You Today

Lent is a time for looking at the big picture – life, death, meaning; this is it, God’s good plan the best gift in the universe – life, eternal!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[i] Title Image:   Pixabay.com

[ii] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The New Living Translation©