*Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com
Matthew 7:1-6
The wisest advice I've ever read not given directly from the Bible was in the book The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. In a priest warns the village idiot of lying to oneself. "The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself." (Book II, Chapter 2) The power of its veracity has never left me.
I find it difficult to think that Jesus would make use of the example of the man with the plank in his eye just so he could get us to laugh at the hypocrite's blunder. I think there is a much more serious message behind it. We all have sin in our lives, some "big" and some "small" (though all sin leads to the same result - separation from God). But there are those of us who go to church regularly, read the Bible, pray, and maybe even read this blog who are walking around with planks in our eyes. We have become desensitized to it, after awhile forgetting that it's not suppose to be there. These are our closet sins of which Jesus made mention in chapter 5. It is no coincidence that these are the sins that begin with "the eye." As they linger, they become a part of us, and we cannot see how they impair our vision of the things around us.
After all, is that not what judgment is - rightly discerning the things we see? We carry around these planks and think we're in a position to help others with their specks because we've acquired so many spiritual accolades. And the funny thing is that Jesus, in exclaiming "Hypocrite!", is not saying, "How dare you?!" Notice in verse 5, He does address the speck removal as that man's mission. But first, the plank has got to go.
My sisters in Christ, I come bearing this message, "The plank has got to go." The last devotional on grace-based obedience left a huge impact on myself, and from the multiple responses I received, I know it left one on you all as well. With the new year fastly approaching, I implore you to make obedience to God by following His Word the foremost resolution on your list. But confession must precede repentence. And for some of us to confess, it takes a change in furniture. We need to stop looking into the mirror that shows us as we see ourselves and start seeing things from God's perspective. We may have grown accustomed to the plank, but God knows it for what it is - an intrusion on His perfect creation.
That's right - we are His perfect creation. I believe with all my heart that He created us to perfectly fit His intended mission for each of us. But the plank gets in the way. It may be adultery, anger, or any of the other sins we've addressed. Particulary adultery - the "Jesus definition." How many ministers do we hear about whose ministries fall apart because of their sexual, financial, and fame lusting? It's hard to picture comparing ourselves to these large-scale ministries, but that is another lie we tell ourselves. Our work is just as crucial as theirs, and any impediment is just as destructive.
I know these are not easy addictions to let go of. A change in character takes time, and the road will be arduous at best. But, oh, if you could see the the plans He has for you - how the difficulties pale in comparison! Every time someone messages me about the devotionals, my heart rejoices - God is showing me another woman who is called to be a light unto this darkened world! Whatever our sins may be, let us lay it down today at the foot of the cross, and let Him equip us for unfathomable victories ahead.
God bless,
Alisha
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Grace-based Obedience
*Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com
Matthew 6:25-31
I'm studying for my finals, which of course entails an hourly walk to clear my mind. As I browse the books, one crosses my field of vision about South Africa, and I decide to take it off the shelf. I read the back cover and it talks about the current situation. I observe that the pages are stained yellow and wonder what exactly "current" means. I look at the date of publication - 1986, two years before I was born - and I have a startling revelation. I'm 20 years old.
I'm 20 years old. What have I accomplished in 2 decades of life? Jesus in three and a half years started a revolution, giving it a strong enough foundation that in 2,000 years it still stands. We are tempted (we here literally meaning you and I) to offer the excuse that I'm young. But it's important to realize that I have had a precedent to follow, having been born and raised in church, having at an early age developed a love for the Word of God and especially the radical ministry of Jesus. But Jesus was the Revolutionary. He was the Force of change that was so extreme the whole world thought it necessary to divide human history into pre-Him and His life + post-resurrection. That was my Jesus.
My Jesus studied the Word in depth in Hebrew school in a manner, I'm sure, that parallels my own Sunday School education. Yet, He not only fulfilled the Law, He was the Fulfillment of the Law. A pastor today so eloquently put it as, "Jesus not only preached the good news, He was the good news." And I? I falter in even sharing my faith. I falter in fulfilling the righteous acts of obedience of which Jeremy Camp's piercing eyes constantly remind me (see the "2-D God" devotional).
I get it- I'm not the Messiah. Thank God for that. But to say that I am not to hold myself up to the standard of Jesus's life is equivalent to going against the principle I constantly emphasize - to measure the world's "truth" against the standard of the Word of God. It is valid to extend this principle to our actions because Jesus demonstrated His fulfillment via His actions. So great was His work that four gospels were written about it. So intricate and well-developed was His work that it could be written about through four completely different lenses, better than any poem by T.S. Elliot.
Jesus astounds me. He blows me away. And He puts my daily actions to shame, but not to my disgrace. On the contrary, I am all the more aware of the grace that pervades my life, the grace that sneaks into every nook and cranny, even the areas of which I would shut Him out, but God knocks down the door instead of just simply knocking because He knows - He knows I need His grace even more in those places. The Bible says that where sin abound, grace abound further still [Romans 5:20]. I am covered, fully saturated in His grace and mercy. In 20 years of halfway living, I am saturated with grace. In this season of remembering the wonderful bundle of joy that came into the world 2000 years ago, I realize He came that I might have all-sufficient grace [2 Corinthians 12:9]. We can argue that with this economy we don't have money to buy gifts and can't decorate like last year. True, but we have grace.
Well, grace doesn't pay the bills. No, but obedience does. I promise you that. That's why we seek first the kingdom of God [verse 33]. Better to obey now than sacrifice later (Sound familiar? [1 Samuel 15:22]). Obey, today, my sister. Trust me in that you have grace enough for the future. Obey now.
God bless,
Alisha
Matthew 6:25-31
I'm studying for my finals, which of course entails an hourly walk to clear my mind. As I browse the books, one crosses my field of vision about South Africa, and I decide to take it off the shelf. I read the back cover and it talks about the current situation. I observe that the pages are stained yellow and wonder what exactly "current" means. I look at the date of publication - 1986, two years before I was born - and I have a startling revelation. I'm 20 years old.
I'm 20 years old. What have I accomplished in 2 decades of life? Jesus in three and a half years started a revolution, giving it a strong enough foundation that in 2,000 years it still stands. We are tempted (we here literally meaning you and I) to offer the excuse that I'm young. But it's important to realize that I have had a precedent to follow, having been born and raised in church, having at an early age developed a love for the Word of God and especially the radical ministry of Jesus. But Jesus was the Revolutionary. He was the Force of change that was so extreme the whole world thought it necessary to divide human history into pre-Him and His life + post-resurrection. That was my Jesus.
My Jesus studied the Word in depth in Hebrew school in a manner, I'm sure, that parallels my own Sunday School education. Yet, He not only fulfilled the Law, He was the Fulfillment of the Law. A pastor today so eloquently put it as, "Jesus not only preached the good news, He was the good news." And I? I falter in even sharing my faith. I falter in fulfilling the righteous acts of obedience of which Jeremy Camp's piercing eyes constantly remind me (see the "2-D God" devotional).
I get it- I'm not the Messiah. Thank God for that. But to say that I am not to hold myself up to the standard of Jesus's life is equivalent to going against the principle I constantly emphasize - to measure the world's "truth" against the standard of the Word of God. It is valid to extend this principle to our actions because Jesus demonstrated His fulfillment via His actions. So great was His work that four gospels were written about it. So intricate and well-developed was His work that it could be written about through four completely different lenses, better than any poem by T.S. Elliot.
Jesus astounds me. He blows me away. And He puts my daily actions to shame, but not to my disgrace. On the contrary, I am all the more aware of the grace that pervades my life, the grace that sneaks into every nook and cranny, even the areas of which I would shut Him out, but God knocks down the door instead of just simply knocking because He knows - He knows I need His grace even more in those places. The Bible says that where sin abound, grace abound further still [Romans 5:20]. I am covered, fully saturated in His grace and mercy. In 20 years of halfway living, I am saturated with grace. In this season of remembering the wonderful bundle of joy that came into the world 2000 years ago, I realize He came that I might have all-sufficient grace [2 Corinthians 12:9]. We can argue that with this economy we don't have money to buy gifts and can't decorate like last year. True, but we have grace.
Well, grace doesn't pay the bills. No, but obedience does. I promise you that. That's why we seek first the kingdom of God [verse 33]. Better to obey now than sacrifice later (Sound familiar? [1 Samuel 15:22]). Obey, today, my sister. Trust me in that you have grace enough for the future. Obey now.
God bless,
Alisha
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Absolutes
*Scriptures take from Biblegateway.com
Matthew 6:19-24
A lot of what Jesus speaks about in the sermon on the mount can make us feel uncomfortable. Nothing, for me personally at least, makes me feel as uncomfortable as being given only two options. I enjoy living in a nation where I don't have to be just a Democrat or Republican (I can be Independent), where I don't have to like just vanilla or chocolate (I can choose strawberry), where I can choose from the hundreds of channels available on the cable network my campus provides. I like having options. In these Scriptures passages, however, Jesus makes it blatantly clear that there is no gray area, only black and white.
Side One:
Here you can lay up treasures on earth. Store your money away so that you can buy that well-deserved vacation. Splurge a little bit more than you would normally on those shiny trinkets. Get clothes that are trendy, knowing full well that you're going to buy a new wardrobe next year so you won't be outdated. Watch a movie or television show that you know has images you'll struggle to get out of your mind. Serve both God and "mammon" (riches).
Side Two:
Here you can lay up treasures in heaven. Give, give, give until you feel what I like to call "the pinch." It's a idea that C. S. Lewis (my bff if he were alive) propagated, that you haven't given enough until it starts to hurt a little. Spend your overtime pay on sending an orphan a Christmas basket or feeding a missionary family in persecuting nation. Give a little extra in the offering basket this Sunday because of that touching sermon, even though you were saving that money for that dream bag that finally came on sale. Filter your field of vision to exclude shows/movies that make you depressed and bitter. Learn to love God first and let that love lead you to love in all its other forms (loving my neighbor as myself, for example).
I write to you plainly because here it is plainly presented. Darkness is the absence of light, so where there is light, darkness cannot also be. Where there is holiness and righteousness, there cannot also be sin. It's hard to accept in a world where we see a spectrum to everything, but daily I see reminders that the boundaries of the standards by which we must live are clearly delineated by Scripture. John's first epistle can be particularly convicting:
"... let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil ... Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him ..." [1 John 3:7-9]
Or what of Paul's epistle to the Romans:
"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. " [Romans 6:16-17]
Earlier he writes how "our old man was crucified with [Christ]" [verse 6] and that when Christ died, "He died to sin once for all" [verse 10]. When we choose to go back to our old ways, we are walking in old man and not the "new creation" [2 Corinthians 5:17] God made us to be, and we, essentially, put the cross to shame by denying its power to transform our lives. What examples then are we demonstrating to the world? Even more so, how can we possibly be say we are living the life of someone who is "saved from sin" if we return to that which enslaved us?
There is so much more I could write. But honestly, what more can I say? If this devotional is making you feel uncomfortable, then good. How much more do I feel uncomfortable by writing it? But it must be said. The summary is given by Jesus Himself in John 14:15 - "If you love Me, keep My commandments." Holiness is not a optional way of living Christianity; it is the only alternative to sin. The decision is ours.
God bless,
Alisha -/-
Matthew 6:19-24
A lot of what Jesus speaks about in the sermon on the mount can make us feel uncomfortable. Nothing, for me personally at least, makes me feel as uncomfortable as being given only two options. I enjoy living in a nation where I don't have to be just a Democrat or Republican (I can be Independent), where I don't have to like just vanilla or chocolate (I can choose strawberry), where I can choose from the hundreds of channels available on the cable network my campus provides. I like having options. In these Scriptures passages, however, Jesus makes it blatantly clear that there is no gray area, only black and white.
Side One:
Here you can lay up treasures on earth. Store your money away so that you can buy that well-deserved vacation. Splurge a little bit more than you would normally on those shiny trinkets. Get clothes that are trendy, knowing full well that you're going to buy a new wardrobe next year so you won't be outdated. Watch a movie or television show that you know has images you'll struggle to get out of your mind. Serve both God and "mammon" (riches).
Side Two:
Here you can lay up treasures in heaven. Give, give, give until you feel what I like to call "the pinch." It's a idea that C. S. Lewis (my bff if he were alive) propagated, that you haven't given enough until it starts to hurt a little. Spend your overtime pay on sending an orphan a Christmas basket or feeding a missionary family in persecuting nation. Give a little extra in the offering basket this Sunday because of that touching sermon, even though you were saving that money for that dream bag that finally came on sale. Filter your field of vision to exclude shows/movies that make you depressed and bitter. Learn to love God first and let that love lead you to love in all its other forms (loving my neighbor as myself, for example).
I write to you plainly because here it is plainly presented. Darkness is the absence of light, so where there is light, darkness cannot also be. Where there is holiness and righteousness, there cannot also be sin. It's hard to accept in a world where we see a spectrum to everything, but daily I see reminders that the boundaries of the standards by which we must live are clearly delineated by Scripture. John's first epistle can be particularly convicting:
"... let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil ... Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him ..." [1 John 3:7-9]
Or what of Paul's epistle to the Romans:
"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. " [Romans 6:16-17]
Earlier he writes how "our old man was crucified with [Christ]" [verse 6] and that when Christ died, "He died to sin once for all" [verse 10]. When we choose to go back to our old ways, we are walking in old man and not the "new creation" [2 Corinthians 5:17] God made us to be, and we, essentially, put the cross to shame by denying its power to transform our lives. What examples then are we demonstrating to the world? Even more so, how can we possibly be say we are living the life of someone who is "saved from sin" if we return to that which enslaved us?
There is so much more I could write. But honestly, what more can I say? If this devotional is making you feel uncomfortable, then good. How much more do I feel uncomfortable by writing it? But it must be said. The summary is given by Jesus Himself in John 14:15 - "If you love Me, keep My commandments." Holiness is not a optional way of living Christianity; it is the only alternative to sin. The decision is ours.
God bless,
Alisha -/-
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A Watching World Wonder Why
* Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com
Matthew 6:1-18
This is a rather large portion of the sermon on the mount to lump together, especially since there were studies in chapter 5 with as little as two verses. I opted to put these together because they share one common theme. We have the choice to announce our deeds, or to commit them in secret (where the Father sees) and allow Him to reward us openly.
As in all the other parts of the sermon on the mount that we have looked at, we can read Christ's message and instantly know what point He is trying to make. And as in all the other studies, I feel little need to add on to what He said; it really does not need much clarification. So I'd rather take a different angle on this familiar scripture:
Motivation. When I took an acting class, we would joke about the clichéd actor who would ask the director, "What is my motivation?" My professor would explain that, most times, the motivation for a character was his circumstances. Each motion and vocal inflection were a part of his struggle in ascertain a particular goal. I fear that if we were to look inside our hearts and be completely honest with ourselves, we would find that that is, in fact, our Christian walk. We're all actors manipulating circumstances to pursue a goal. This was the sin of the Pharisees. They would use any form of pomp and circumstance to announce their good works. They would pray an elongated dissertation to appear holier than others. They would literally paint their faces white to elicit sympathy and praise from their neighbors so they could "silently" announce their fasting. In this era, such traditions are absurd, but pride has since adorned a three-piece suit. We find more acceptable ways of showcasing our holiness. This devotional is not about condemning the praising and encouraging of one another for our good deeds. But we must ask the question, what is our motivation? Are we sharing our testimonies to inspire others to do likewise, or are we itching for a pat on the back?
If the answer is that you are not sure, then Jesus offers sound advice. Eliminate temptation from the start. Perform good works so covertly that your left hand doesn't know what your right hands is doing [verse 3]. Pray in your "prayer closet", after shutting the door at first [verse 6]. (This is sound advice - apart the humility factor - since in solitude we can be less hesitant to be honest in our confessions and more free to worship however the Spirit may lead.) Fast in a manner that shows you to be strong, not weak, in the flesh [verses 17, 18]. This is, after all, a key concept in fasting - to deny the physical in an effort to focus on edifying the spiritual. A distant relative of mine decided to fight cancer without medicinal therapy. She was a mother of two young children at the time, and it was easy for our church to pity her. But, ironically, as we sat with tears in our eyes, she stood firm, a pillar of strength in the midst of the darkest part of her life. That image of her is forever burned in my head.
Women of God, we are meant to stand firm and shine as lights to this world. How can we do so if we are seeking after the very thing everyone of the world seeks - the approval of others? Would it not be absolutely wonderful if one woman could seek the approval of God first? Would it not be all the more wonderful if a group of say three hundred plus women in a certain Facebook group decided to live up to the title of that very group? What would be the result?
The answer can be found in the lyrics of the Newsboys song Shine, which go:
... The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart start asking,
"What's my motivation?" ...
Shine
Make 'em wonder what you got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let 'em see good once again
Let 'em glorify the Lord
I love how this song says that when our hearts start asking, "What's my motivation?" then we can only reach the conclusion that we must "shine before all men" so that they can "see good" and "glorify the Lord." (Does this sound familiar? Matthew 5:16) The good they see can be manifested in quiet acts of service, and these actions can be the most powerful. Quiet acts do not mean we're ignoring the fact that mankind is watching. Rather, we shift our attention to where God alone sees, trusting that He is faithful to reward us openly. And, in the process, we cause the world to wonder why we do what we do the way we do it. We can "make 'em wish they were not on the outside," and wish, instead, to have our motivation.
God bless,
Alisha
Matthew 6:1-18
This is a rather large portion of the sermon on the mount to lump together, especially since there were studies in chapter 5 with as little as two verses. I opted to put these together because they share one common theme. We have the choice to announce our deeds, or to commit them in secret (where the Father sees) and allow Him to reward us openly.
As in all the other parts of the sermon on the mount that we have looked at, we can read Christ's message and instantly know what point He is trying to make. And as in all the other studies, I feel little need to add on to what He said; it really does not need much clarification. So I'd rather take a different angle on this familiar scripture:
Motivation. When I took an acting class, we would joke about the clichéd actor who would ask the director, "What is my motivation?" My professor would explain that, most times, the motivation for a character was his circumstances. Each motion and vocal inflection were a part of his struggle in ascertain a particular goal. I fear that if we were to look inside our hearts and be completely honest with ourselves, we would find that that is, in fact, our Christian walk. We're all actors manipulating circumstances to pursue a goal. This was the sin of the Pharisees. They would use any form of pomp and circumstance to announce their good works. They would pray an elongated dissertation to appear holier than others. They would literally paint their faces white to elicit sympathy and praise from their neighbors so they could "silently" announce their fasting. In this era, such traditions are absurd, but pride has since adorned a three-piece suit. We find more acceptable ways of showcasing our holiness. This devotional is not about condemning the praising and encouraging of one another for our good deeds. But we must ask the question, what is our motivation? Are we sharing our testimonies to inspire others to do likewise, or are we itching for a pat on the back?
If the answer is that you are not sure, then Jesus offers sound advice. Eliminate temptation from the start. Perform good works so covertly that your left hand doesn't know what your right hands is doing [verse 3]. Pray in your "prayer closet", after shutting the door at first [verse 6]. (This is sound advice - apart the humility factor - since in solitude we can be less hesitant to be honest in our confessions and more free to worship however the Spirit may lead.) Fast in a manner that shows you to be strong, not weak, in the flesh [verses 17, 18]. This is, after all, a key concept in fasting - to deny the physical in an effort to focus on edifying the spiritual. A distant relative of mine decided to fight cancer without medicinal therapy. She was a mother of two young children at the time, and it was easy for our church to pity her. But, ironically, as we sat with tears in our eyes, she stood firm, a pillar of strength in the midst of the darkest part of her life. That image of her is forever burned in my head.
Women of God, we are meant to stand firm and shine as lights to this world. How can we do so if we are seeking after the very thing everyone of the world seeks - the approval of others? Would it not be absolutely wonderful if one woman could seek the approval of God first? Would it not be all the more wonderful if a group of say three hundred plus women in a certain Facebook group decided to live up to the title of that very group? What would be the result?
The answer can be found in the lyrics of the Newsboys song Shine, which go:
... The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart start asking,
"What's my motivation?" ...
Shine
Make 'em wonder what you got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let 'em see good once again
Let 'em glorify the Lord
I love how this song says that when our hearts start asking, "What's my motivation?" then we can only reach the conclusion that we must "shine before all men" so that they can "see good" and "glorify the Lord." (Does this sound familiar? Matthew 5:16) The good they see can be manifested in quiet acts of service, and these actions can be the most powerful. Quiet acts do not mean we're ignoring the fact that mankind is watching. Rather, we shift our attention to where God alone sees, trusting that He is faithful to reward us openly. And, in the process, we cause the world to wonder why we do what we do the way we do it. We can "make 'em wish they were not on the outside," and wish, instead, to have our motivation.
God bless,
Alisha
Monday, October 27, 2008
Good Samaritan Principle
*Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com
Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 6:27-36
For those of you wondering if I forgot we were studying the sermon on the mount, do not be perplexed. There is a connection between the title of this devotional and the scripture given.
The hardest sayings in the sermon on the mount come from these two passages that are so interrelated that I felt compelled to put them together. Apparently, I am not the only one of this opinion - Jesus Himself says that if we follow these guidelines we will be perfect, just as our Father in heaven is perfect [Matthew 5:48]. The standard for perfection is, well, perfection. What makes us perfect? It is our actions stemming from a deep, profound, intense, divine love.
I feel that verses 38-42 make better sense after reading verses 43 onwards. After all, it was Jesus who in this very sermon taught us that all our sinful actions stem from sinful thoughts, raising the criteria for heavenly entrance from "doing good" to "thinking good." What can drive a person to commit these illogical, thoroughly unpragmatic acts? Love. Simply love.
I find it absolutely amazing at the stark contrast between what the world teaches as love and what Jesus teaches. The love of the world is selfish, always promoting our own gain, often at the expense of others. Even when we do "the right thing," how many times is the motivation still not based on ourselves? We are nice so others will be nice to us; we are polite so that they will like us, an altruistic friendship based more on a symbiotic relationship than on genuinely seeking the others betterment. No, the love of God calls us to something higher. His love, His agape love is defined by selflessness. If we do the same "right thing," our motivation is plainly to do the Father's will. He commands us to love and we do so. Sometimes, I admit I do it solely because I known it answers the question WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?), but I just as honestly confess that it leads to a transformation of character. When I say character, that includes, of course, my thinking as well. The more I seek out to follow these ridiculous guidelines, the more I see my selfishness become transparent and God's love shine through, driving me toward perfection.
These guidelines are indeed ridiculous, but these are the qualities that makes the world stop its busyness and wonder. Anomalies are among the best witnessing techniques, like a Truth commercial, only here we represent the Truth [John 14:6]. For instance, Jesus gave the example of the Good Samaritan, who was the least likely to help - certainly the least obliged by society - yet chose to assist the wounded man [Luke 10:25-37]. The backdrop to this story is that Samaritans were considered (and referred to as) dogs by the Jews. So abhorred were they that the Jews, when going from Galilee to Judea, would purposely take a much longer detour to avoid stepping into Samaritan territory. It was very likely that the Samaritan experienced the acts of discrimination described by Jesus in the Matthew passage - slapped, sued, forced to go where he did not desire. Yet, to this person who probably would not have taken his help unless he was incredibly desperate, the Samaritan was kind, gentle, and gracious enough to not only tend his wounds but pay for his room and board until his recovery.
This is real love. Giving to charity is wonderful, but how many of us would offer food to a starving general whose army wreaked havoc on our homes? For that matter, how many would wash the feet of those who would later deny ever knowing us? How many would die on a cross so that billions of people only two thousand years later would refuse to accept your sovereignty? How many would send their son to do so?
There is something divine about this agape love. Recall what Jesus said about the peacemakers. We cannot have peace without forgiveness, without civilly letting go of past wrongs and looking forward to a time of fellowship with our wrongdoers. Those who do this "will be called the sons of God." [Matthew 5:9] We established already that the world recognize this, but now we have a greater revelation. It is Jesus who beckons us to become sons of God. More than the fame of this world, we will be called as God's own by God's own. What greater motivation need we to shine the light of God's love?
God bless,
Alisha
Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 6:27-36
For those of you wondering if I forgot we were studying the sermon on the mount, do not be perplexed. There is a connection between the title of this devotional and the scripture given.
The hardest sayings in the sermon on the mount come from these two passages that are so interrelated that I felt compelled to put them together. Apparently, I am not the only one of this opinion - Jesus Himself says that if we follow these guidelines we will be perfect, just as our Father in heaven is perfect [Matthew 5:48]. The standard for perfection is, well, perfection. What makes us perfect? It is our actions stemming from a deep, profound, intense, divine love.
I feel that verses 38-42 make better sense after reading verses 43 onwards. After all, it was Jesus who in this very sermon taught us that all our sinful actions stem from sinful thoughts, raising the criteria for heavenly entrance from "doing good" to "thinking good." What can drive a person to commit these illogical, thoroughly unpragmatic acts? Love. Simply love.
I find it absolutely amazing at the stark contrast between what the world teaches as love and what Jesus teaches. The love of the world is selfish, always promoting our own gain, often at the expense of others. Even when we do "the right thing," how many times is the motivation still not based on ourselves? We are nice so others will be nice to us; we are polite so that they will like us, an altruistic friendship based more on a symbiotic relationship than on genuinely seeking the others betterment. No, the love of God calls us to something higher. His love, His agape love is defined by selflessness. If we do the same "right thing," our motivation is plainly to do the Father's will. He commands us to love and we do so. Sometimes, I admit I do it solely because I known it answers the question WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?), but I just as honestly confess that it leads to a transformation of character. When I say character, that includes, of course, my thinking as well. The more I seek out to follow these ridiculous guidelines, the more I see my selfishness become transparent and God's love shine through, driving me toward perfection.
These guidelines are indeed ridiculous, but these are the qualities that makes the world stop its busyness and wonder. Anomalies are among the best witnessing techniques, like a Truth commercial, only here we represent the Truth [John 14:6]. For instance, Jesus gave the example of the Good Samaritan, who was the least likely to help - certainly the least obliged by society - yet chose to assist the wounded man [Luke 10:25-37]. The backdrop to this story is that Samaritans were considered (and referred to as) dogs by the Jews. So abhorred were they that the Jews, when going from Galilee to Judea, would purposely take a much longer detour to avoid stepping into Samaritan territory. It was very likely that the Samaritan experienced the acts of discrimination described by Jesus in the Matthew passage - slapped, sued, forced to go where he did not desire. Yet, to this person who probably would not have taken his help unless he was incredibly desperate, the Samaritan was kind, gentle, and gracious enough to not only tend his wounds but pay for his room and board until his recovery.
This is real love. Giving to charity is wonderful, but how many of us would offer food to a starving general whose army wreaked havoc on our homes? For that matter, how many would wash the feet of those who would later deny ever knowing us? How many would die on a cross so that billions of people only two thousand years later would refuse to accept your sovereignty? How many would send their son to do so?
There is something divine about this agape love. Recall what Jesus said about the peacemakers. We cannot have peace without forgiveness, without civilly letting go of past wrongs and looking forward to a time of fellowship with our wrongdoers. Those who do this "will be called the sons of God." [Matthew 5:9] We established already that the world recognize this, but now we have a greater revelation. It is Jesus who beckons us to become sons of God. More than the fame of this world, we will be called as God's own by God's own. What greater motivation need we to shine the light of God's love?
God bless,
Alisha
Friday, October 10, 2008
Keeping Oaths
* Scriptures from Biblegateway.com
Matthew 5:33-37
I used to believe that this part of the Sermon stemmed from the former, that it had to do with the sanctity and sacredness of marriage as a covenant that needed to not be entered into lightly. I still do partially believe this, but I now extend it to many more promises - in fact all of them.
We all do it; we all break our promises. We intend to keep our word but often times something gets in the way and we are unable to do that which we swore to do. It may be over something small, and those who had trusted us may have forgiven us, but it is still a broken commitment.
We want to argue that it is not our fault:
"How was I suppose to control the weather?" Or ...
"Can I control the ants taking over my house?" Or ...
"I'm not the one who made the rules - blame the government/society!" Or ...
"Honestly, do you think I wanted to get sick?"
The heavens, the earth, government, even our own bodies. That is what Jesus was saying here. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is completely within our control. Control was partially deferred to us by the One who controls everything. Do not fool yourself. The car you drive was not a product of your sweat, blood, and persistence, although those may be the reasons why He allows you to enjoy it. Your body has thousands of dying cells, and you had no part in the complex arrangement of protons, neurons, and electrons that steadfastly work together to keep functioning cells ahead of the race. The more we decode the complexity of this natural world the more we realize the extent of its intricacy. And only One is able to keep it all together.
We are taught at a young age that He's got the whole world in His hands, but as we grow older we begin to put more faith in one nation, one company, one man. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses ..." [Psalm 20:7] Eventually we realize that we are placing our trust in someone who is just as fallible as we are, and by substitution, we feel we are able to handle much - just as much as we place into the hands of others. The effect of this is a people who flaunt accolades instead of being humbled by the honor, allowing their pride to take on more than they can handle, leading to imminent failure. The ironic response is disappointment and disillusionment - how could, no, how dare that person fail. "Does s/he realize how much I counted on them?"
That's just it. Why did we count on them that much? I need to pause here as assure you that I am in no way encouraging a pessimistic view of humanity as a failing bunch never to be trusted. But there is a need for our society to gain some perspective. Mankind will never be omnipotent. There is a reason we assign only God this supernatural quality. Our broken promises stem from a compulsion for power, to think that we are able to do all we need to do. In fact, the word for ability and the word for power is the same in Latin. Do we now see why whatever is more than a "yes" or "no" is from the evil one? [Matthew 5:37] The power to succeed in any given task comes not from something innate, but from the grace that God has imparted to us. His grace is sufficient for us. [2 Corinthians 12:9] It is His grace that provides, not anything of our own.
So what is the resolution? To never make a promise? Proverbs certainly advises something that appears that way. (See Proverbs 6:1-5) It would be extreme, however, to never assure someone that you will accomplish something. Instead, set your thoughts heavenward, realizing that you cannot accomplish it without God. The appropriate thought process should include some remembrance that you can do it "If the Lord wills..." [James 4:15]. This small reminder of humility will keep us from being ensnared by the trappings of the evil one. I encourage us all (yes that includes myself) to try it out, and see if our outlook is transformed.
God bless,
Alisha
Matthew 5:33-37
I used to believe that this part of the Sermon stemmed from the former, that it had to do with the sanctity and sacredness of marriage as a covenant that needed to not be entered into lightly. I still do partially believe this, but I now extend it to many more promises - in fact all of them.
We all do it; we all break our promises. We intend to keep our word but often times something gets in the way and we are unable to do that which we swore to do. It may be over something small, and those who had trusted us may have forgiven us, but it is still a broken commitment.
We want to argue that it is not our fault:
"How was I suppose to control the weather?" Or ...
"Can I control the ants taking over my house?" Or ...
"I'm not the one who made the rules - blame the government/society!" Or ...
"Honestly, do you think I wanted to get sick?"
The heavens, the earth, government, even our own bodies. That is what Jesus was saying here. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is completely within our control. Control was partially deferred to us by the One who controls everything. Do not fool yourself. The car you drive was not a product of your sweat, blood, and persistence, although those may be the reasons why He allows you to enjoy it. Your body has thousands of dying cells, and you had no part in the complex arrangement of protons, neurons, and electrons that steadfastly work together to keep functioning cells ahead of the race. The more we decode the complexity of this natural world the more we realize the extent of its intricacy. And only One is able to keep it all together.
We are taught at a young age that He's got the whole world in His hands, but as we grow older we begin to put more faith in one nation, one company, one man. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses ..." [Psalm 20:7] Eventually we realize that we are placing our trust in someone who is just as fallible as we are, and by substitution, we feel we are able to handle much - just as much as we place into the hands of others. The effect of this is a people who flaunt accolades instead of being humbled by the honor, allowing their pride to take on more than they can handle, leading to imminent failure. The ironic response is disappointment and disillusionment - how could, no, how dare that person fail. "Does s/he realize how much I counted on them?"
That's just it. Why did we count on them that much? I need to pause here as assure you that I am in no way encouraging a pessimistic view of humanity as a failing bunch never to be trusted. But there is a need for our society to gain some perspective. Mankind will never be omnipotent. There is a reason we assign only God this supernatural quality. Our broken promises stem from a compulsion for power, to think that we are able to do all we need to do. In fact, the word for ability and the word for power is the same in Latin. Do we now see why whatever is more than a "yes" or "no" is from the evil one? [Matthew 5:37] The power to succeed in any given task comes not from something innate, but from the grace that God has imparted to us. His grace is sufficient for us. [2 Corinthians 12:9] It is His grace that provides, not anything of our own.
So what is the resolution? To never make a promise? Proverbs certainly advises something that appears that way. (See Proverbs 6:1-5) It would be extreme, however, to never assure someone that you will accomplish something. Instead, set your thoughts heavenward, realizing that you cannot accomplish it without God. The appropriate thought process should include some remembrance that you can do it "If the Lord wills..." [James 4:15]. This small reminder of humility will keep us from being ensnared by the trappings of the evil one. I encourage us all (yes that includes myself) to try it out, and see if our outlook is transformed.
God bless,
Alisha
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Marriage
* Scriptures from Biblegateway.com
[Matthew 5:31,32]
If the last passage Jesus spoke was controversial, then this statement was certainly a slap in the face to the first century Jews, and, unfortunately, many in the church today. Even I was hesitant to approach the topic, not because of the words but because I am purely basing this on teaching, not being married myself. Today, however, I realized something critical: Jesus was not married either. That did not keep Him from speaking with authority (which we will see later). I am not an ordained minister, but I do come to you to share what God has shown me from those who have authority. Please read on with an open mind.
Notice that I titled this devotional "marriage," and not "divorce." This reflects what I feel was Jesus's purpose in saying what He did. He was not attacking divorce, but rather the act of giving up on one's marriage. It is easy to get caught up in a lot of red tape, so let us get to the root of the problem. Divorce is not a healthy decision that one wishes to make. Most understand that "'til death do us part" means the corporeal death, not the death of the love's flame. If they honestly do feel that way, they should reread Jesus's words here, that there is no legitimate cause for divorce except sexual immorality. Sexual immorality was addressed in the last devotional so we will not indulge in the subject except to mention this - it can be argued that if sex is not left as something for marriage, then it may encourage one to participate in it with a person other than their spouse. If it is not exclusive to marriage can be treated casually, then it should not be considered dishonorable to engage in a casual activity with another.
What was Jesus trying to say here then? To those of you who are married, the message is to be taken literally. He addresses the issue later in Matthew 10, when the Pharisees asked Him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. These are the words that Jesus spoke: "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?' So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" [Matthew 19:4-6] (emphasis added).
It is important to see marriage as something that God has joined together, and not something that man joins together. Marriage is a holy occasion. It is the blessed union of one man to one woman, two people who have chosen to follow after God's eternal purpose of creating a family, of "being fruitful and multiplying," of "filling the earth and subduing it" [Genesis 1:28]. It is not something to be taken lightly - and that is the message to those of us who are not yet married. There is a common saying among Christians that marriage takes three. It is true in every way, because marriage is more than an expression of love; it is the establishment of a family. Family is what God is all about. He loves it so much that He has three Persons within Himself. Being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from the alpha, He has the most experience out of all of us, and He knows what it takes to make a family stand - the secret is Himself. We all know that a life apart from God is futile. The same applies to relationships. God created us to worship Him, and even in our relationships we glorify the Father.
That is why marriage is such a serious matter. Again, it is not something to be entered into lightly. We must be careful to abstain from the "So What?" generation, from the attitude that makes apathy fashionable, deceiving us until we are vomited from the mouth of God (see Revelation 3:16). Some call it tolerance, but we are not to tolerate sin. We are to admonish one another, not to bring about shame, but repentance (see 2 Thessalonians 3:14,15). God is faithful to forgive; if He was not, then teaching would be pointless. But He does forgive, and when He lives in us we are His body, including His eyes. We are not to be blind to the sins around us, but to spot it and use our arms to extend God's love toward those who are lost, broken, alone, and most importantly confused. We can show the truth to those who are despondent, the truth that Jesus taught in Matthew 5 and 19. And our message to those who are saved from sin will be to them the very power of God [1 Corinthians 1:18]. Live your life as God has called you, that the world may be saved.
God bless,
Alisha
[Matthew 5:31,32]
If the last passage Jesus spoke was controversial, then this statement was certainly a slap in the face to the first century Jews, and, unfortunately, many in the church today. Even I was hesitant to approach the topic, not because of the words but because I am purely basing this on teaching, not being married myself. Today, however, I realized something critical: Jesus was not married either. That did not keep Him from speaking with authority (which we will see later). I am not an ordained minister, but I do come to you to share what God has shown me from those who have authority. Please read on with an open mind.
Notice that I titled this devotional "marriage," and not "divorce." This reflects what I feel was Jesus's purpose in saying what He did. He was not attacking divorce, but rather the act of giving up on one's marriage. It is easy to get caught up in a lot of red tape, so let us get to the root of the problem. Divorce is not a healthy decision that one wishes to make. Most understand that "'til death do us part" means the corporeal death, not the death of the love's flame. If they honestly do feel that way, they should reread Jesus's words here, that there is no legitimate cause for divorce except sexual immorality. Sexual immorality was addressed in the last devotional so we will not indulge in the subject except to mention this - it can be argued that if sex is not left as something for marriage, then it may encourage one to participate in it with a person other than their spouse. If it is not exclusive to marriage can be treated casually, then it should not be considered dishonorable to engage in a casual activity with another.
What was Jesus trying to say here then? To those of you who are married, the message is to be taken literally. He addresses the issue later in Matthew 10, when the Pharisees asked Him if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. These are the words that Jesus spoke: "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?' So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" [Matthew 19:4-6] (emphasis added).
It is important to see marriage as something that God has joined together, and not something that man joins together. Marriage is a holy occasion. It is the blessed union of one man to one woman, two people who have chosen to follow after God's eternal purpose of creating a family, of "being fruitful and multiplying," of "filling the earth and subduing it" [Genesis 1:28]. It is not something to be taken lightly - and that is the message to those of us who are not yet married. There is a common saying among Christians that marriage takes three. It is true in every way, because marriage is more than an expression of love; it is the establishment of a family. Family is what God is all about. He loves it so much that He has three Persons within Himself. Being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from the alpha, He has the most experience out of all of us, and He knows what it takes to make a family stand - the secret is Himself. We all know that a life apart from God is futile. The same applies to relationships. God created us to worship Him, and even in our relationships we glorify the Father.
That is why marriage is such a serious matter. Again, it is not something to be entered into lightly. We must be careful to abstain from the "So What?" generation, from the attitude that makes apathy fashionable, deceiving us until we are vomited from the mouth of God (see Revelation 3:16). Some call it tolerance, but we are not to tolerate sin. We are to admonish one another, not to bring about shame, but repentance (see 2 Thessalonians 3:14,15). God is faithful to forgive; if He was not, then teaching would be pointless. But He does forgive, and when He lives in us we are His body, including His eyes. We are not to be blind to the sins around us, but to spot it and use our arms to extend God's love toward those who are lost, broken, alone, and most importantly confused. We can show the truth to those who are despondent, the truth that Jesus taught in Matthew 5 and 19. And our message to those who are saved from sin will be to them the very power of God [1 Corinthians 1:18]. Live your life as God has called you, that the world may be saved.
God bless,
Alisha
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