Remembering

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.  You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.  By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.  (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  God saved you by his grace when you believed.  And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:1-10

Particularly among Evangelicals, the last few verses of this text get the press.  Grace alone was the main thrust of Martin Luther’s reformation.  And, while there is no argument on my part that God’s grace deserves first seat in Christian doctrine and practice, I have a high place in my heart and mind for resurrection; both from the grave, and from the death of what used to be.

The gist of that to which I’m pointing is similar to the history my bride and I share.  We’ve been married a long time.  Occasionally we will just sit together with almost no conversation.  Inevitably, one of us will begin to marvel aloud at the history we have together, and how God has led us through so much.  The marvelous part of it is how we both understand we’d never be on this end of our journey, still together, and still wanting to be together, had it not been for the grace of God providing some pretty awesome strength for that journey; especially during the lean and difficult years.  Life can (and does) test any marriage up to, and beyond, the breaking point!

Grace enters this conversation Elizabeth and I have about our history because we both understand the power that has seen us through many dangers, toils, and snares, is the undeserved, but unreserved kindness and mercy of God in Christ Jesus.  It is that power which holds all things together; from the molecules he first created eons ago, and then re-formed from chaos into the wondrous order of all we see in the earth and universe, all the way to the forces, events, and even thoughts in our minds…it is prevenient, provident, and beneficent grace that God bestows upon us.  Our lives, even the next breath you take, are an impossibility, except for the hand of Jesus Christ.  I see that in the same way the apostle Paul wrote about it:

Everything was created through him and for him.  He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.          Colossians 1:16b-17

For You Today

Take it from a genetic introvert; while you’re stuck at home it’s a blessing you’ll not regret to look back and see how God has held you together through life.  Take a little time today to thank Him for where He’s got you right now!

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©

For other posts on Ephesians 2:  see Turn Back...and Live   and  Grace Alone – Part 1 and    Grace Alone – Part 2 and   James the Just – Part 6 The Upward Spiral of Metamorphosis  

Meeting With God

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Friday, June 2, 2017

We have three Scripture passages in today’s reading.  The first is when Moses and the rest of the freed Israelite slaves reached Mt Sinai after escaping Egypt.  They met with God at the base of the mountain:

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain.  There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.  Exodus 19:16^(NLT)

Next is from the Psalms; many years after the first meeting the people had transitioned from trembling at the sound of God’s thunder and lightning to rejoicing and trust:

We put our hope in the Lord.  He is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.  Psalm 33:20-22^(NLT)

The last Scripture helps us understand the transition from scared former slaves to rejoicing children of God:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.  Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”  For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.  And since we are his children, we are his heirs.  In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.  But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.  Romans 8:14-17^(NLT)

As new followers of this God with no name, the slaves, now-free, didn’t know what to expect when they met Him, up-close and personally-frightening!  After all, thunder and flashes of lightning?  Even my dog will run and hide under the bed when that happens!  The Exodus account was when they first came to understand…He’s a big God; there ought to be a little trembling when you have a meeting with Yahweh!

The Psalm reading came much later in Israel’s history, after much success (and failure) in trying to follow God.  They now had the understanding of what it means to be covenant people, God’s special chosen and loved ones.  They now prayed for all of Yahweh’s being to surround them and hold them close.  They now craved His presence and meeting with this thundering God now meant trusting and hope for the future.

And the fulfilment passage in Romans shows us the present and future for all who will desire to meet with God on God’s terms – we become children of His promises, heirs of the King, brothers and sisters of Jesus, and filled with His Holy Spirit.

We share in His glory; we also share in His sufferings.  But in meeting with Him in worship, fellowship, suffering or victory, the thunder no longer unnerves us, and the lightning is now our friend.  That is what it means to be led by the Spirit of God; we are no longer tossed and turned upside-down by anything. 

This is a process…new believers approach God fearful of what might happen.  Growing believers learn to trust and rejoice.  Mature believers learn to rest with “Abba” their Father.

For You Today

To be led by His Spirit is to trust in His goodness.  It is to rejoice no matter what happens today because you’re resting firmly in Abba’s embrace. 

So…ready for a day of rejoicing?

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

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NOTES

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 ^I Title image: By Axel Rouvin, via Wikimedia Commons