To Have It All

I got a call from a young friend the other day. He was drunk and cussing out God because his girlfriend had just broken up with him. It reminded me of some times in my own life when I've been mad at God, exasperated that he didn't come through on something that was very important to me. Been there?

Just think--you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you. . . . God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. (1 Cor. 1:7-9 Message)

It seems to me that there is an ironic paradox built into life. As long as we pursue God simply as a means to an end (getting what we want out of life), the abundant life in Jesus alludes us. We feel disappointed by God. It's like putting your coins in the machine, pushing the right button, but nothing comes out. Frustrating! But what kind of God would he be if he functioned like a vending machine, anyway?

Only when we discover that God himself is the only thing that is really worth pursuing--seeking him just to know him, just to be close to him, just to be more like him--do we find the content satisfaction of discovering that in God we really do have all things.

Disappointed with God? Try pursuing God instead of God's blessings. You'll find more blessing than you can imagine.

Lord, I have you, and that is truly enough. Amen.

We're baaaack

We've been out of town for most of a week at a church planting assessment lab. It was good to get a strong affirmation of our calling from this group of qualified people. God is good!

Cross Comparison

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. . . . When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." (Jn. 21:20-22)

Comparisons--we love to make them. When I buy something, I always compare to make sure I'm getting the best deal. And I do the same thing with my life. I can relate to Peter, who seems to have been feeling a little envious of John's relationship with Jesus. Perhaps he felt that John was getting special favor. He wanted to know if John's path of ministry was going to be as rough as the one Jesus was plotting for him.

Funny how when I compare myself to others, I most often look at those who seem to be better off than me and come away feeling deprived. Rarely do I look at the guy who has it much harder than I do and think about how blessed I am. I have often wondered why some ministers seem to have the golden touch. "Why can't I lead a church like that?" I wonder. "Why didn't God give me those kinds of opportunities?" I'm not spending much time looking at the guy who has been preaching to the little rural church of less than 50 people for 50 years and thinking, "Wow! I sure have had it good compared to him."

Okay, this passage chides me a bit. Jesus has the right to do what he wants with what is his. I am just to follow him wherever it takes me. How quickly I forget that Jesus' path led to a brutal cross. Lord, when I feel jealous of others, remind me that you chose the way of suffering for me. Amen.

Faith Lost & Found

Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands . . . and put my hand in his side, I will not believe it." (Jn. 20:25)

If you've ever taken a leap of faith toward God and then had the bottom fall out of your hopes, you can relate to Thomas. Maybe you lay it on the line for God, and then your ministry fails, you get fired, or crisis strikes. It feels like you trustingly fell backwards, expecting God to catch you, and he didn't. Whack! You hit the ground and the breath of faith is knocked right out of you.

That's what happened to Thomas. After that kind of experience, the next time someone tries to talk to you about what God can do, you don't want to hear it--not because you're a stubborn skeptic, but because you've been burned and you're skiddish about reapproaching the fire. What if you get burned again? You're afraid of the pain of further disappointment.

The best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to where if Jesus shows up, you'll not miss it. Thomas wasn't with the disciples that Sunday after the crucifixion, but he showed up again the next week, doubts and all. You have to open yourself up to the possibility of faith again. You have to want to believe. That is the difference between Thomas and the many religious leaders who saw Jesus do indisputable miracles and yet still refused to believe.

Thomas' desire to believe again, despite his doubts and fears, was rewarded. Even more "blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed." (v. 29)

Jesus, my faith in you will not be conditioned on you fulfilling all of my expectations. Amen.

And here's food for thought--how was Thomas better as a result of God letting him fall and then helping him get back up?

Looking for Someone?

Early Sunday morning at the empty tomb . . . Mary Magdalene weeps in confusion and anger.

"Woman," Jesus said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (Jn. 20:15)

Why the question? He already knew. Was he toying with a grieving friend? More likely, the question is for the rest of us. It jumps off the pages of John's manuscript.

Why is life looking so hopeless? why the despair? Why do we feel so lost and confused? Does it, perhaps, relate to the fact that we're looking for someone we haven't found yet that alone can turn our world around?

We may think that person is a new wife or a husband, or a child, but we find they aren't the final answer. When we hear him call our name, we will realize that it is Jesus that we're really looking for. And he loves to let us find him.

Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out, "...Teacher!" (v. 16)

Jesus, you are the one I have been looking for. Please reveal yourself to me. Amen.

Can you relate? When did you figure out it was Jesus you were looking for?

Dump the Clothes

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares. . . . This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled which said: "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." (Jn. 19:23,24)

Have you ever thought about the sad irony of that? Fighting over Jesus' clothes, when he was offering them forgiveness and life that is truly life! The God of heaven and earth is there before them in human form and all they are focused on is who gets to wear his suit. Somebody walked off wearing Jesus' outfit. But the clothes didn't give him the life that their original owner possessed, and while the clothes wore out, the life he would have given them is forever.

Is it just me, or do a lot of people today continue to "fight over Jesus' clothing" and miss the essence of his life and mission? All they seem to care about is the externals, the trappings, the way things look. They love to dress up "Christian," and their eyes never really turn upward to take in the Man himself. Why do you suppose that is? I used to be one of them. For me it was just a whole lot easier to argue over the clothing than to be confronted by the real heart of Jesus and what he was asking of me.

Jesus, clothe me in your deep, inner goodness and your grace, your compassion and your reckless love. Amen.

Your Witness

"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. . . . You are right in saying I am a King. In fact, for this reason I was born . . . to testify to the truth." (Jn. 18:23, 37)

John emphasizes the importance of testifying to the truth of who Jesus is. the power of the spoken word to sway the opinion of others is indisputable. Talk shows make their living doing it. Jesus goes on to say, "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Speaking up for Jesus is part of being his follower. It often feels like my beliefs about Jesus are unwelcome, and that my testimony is unwanted and has no impact. But it's not my job to be Jesus' attorney; it's my job to be his witness. I don't have to convince the jury, I only need to tell what i have read, seen and experienced. Truth-seekers will be impacted. I may not get to see the final result, but my words get them thinking.

Jesus, I will be your witness. Just teach me to do like you did, and first ask what the other person's perspective of you is, to gain the right to be heard. Amen.