Jesus Loved the Pharisees

*Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com

I've known for a while that I wanted to do a "Back to Basics" lesson on fellowship. But with time I realized that fellowship means so many things, especially in regards to with whom I fellowship. After much thought, I broke it down into these 3 categories.

Group A: The Christians I like to hang out with. These are my accountability partners, my very best friends. I can share with them my most intimate spiritual experiences and not feel like a wacko or have them think me boastful. I love these people, and if you don't have this group, I pray that God bring them into your life very soon. The devotional set will not be about this group, because they are easy to love, and fellowship with them comes naturally.

Group B: The Christians I don't like to hang out with. These are the people who, if I'm at a bigger church, I try to avoid speaking to. (I intend to be honest today). Group B subdivides into 2 sects: the proud and the lost. The proud are the Christian "fundamentalists," often comparable (I'm sorry to say) to the Muslim fundamentalists in that they are the ones who make all Christians look bad, the ones who the world points to and says, "Why would I even want to be like that?" They are close-minded and judgmental. Contemporary Pharisees. The lost are another sect who I avoid because I don't know how to not help them without judging. How can you experience God's love and claim Him to be your Savior and yet still participate in the most lewd and vulgar of habits and activities? They are the worldly Christians, those who feel like they are the coolest because they can pass judgment on the judgment-passing Pharisees, but inside they can be the most broken of all. I mostly avoid both sects of Group B for the same reason - I'm afraid I'll turn into them.

Group C: The non-Christians. They are broad and diverse and unique, and though I hate to generalize, I have the liberty to lump them together for this reason - they all have not come to the decision of accepting Christ. That means they're all in the same boat, heading in the same direction.

Today I will like to address the first sect of Group B. Pride is disgusting, particularly in the church. I often call it a cancer. A tumor seeks to perpetuate only cells of the same kind, continuously multiplying, absorbing the resources of the cells around it, spreading to other areas, killing off the cells in the new area which eventually destroys the body because each cell has different shape and different purpose. A body cannot survive on one type of cell. That's how I feel about this group. They use up the resources and talents in their church solely to build up their church only, mass-producing people of one mindset, confusing convictions for doctrines. They grow because no one wants to disagree, and their mentality spreads because of their growth (i.e., the "Well, they're a mega-church so they must be doing something right" idea), and other churches start become more legalistic like them. It spreads and spreads, and the body of Christ suffers because without variety we tailor to the needs of only a few, and we're left with a massive tumor. Single-minded, single-function churches that forget the call to the broken that Christians were made to answer. And yet, we are called to love the Pharisees.

I didn't want to write this devotional. I knew I should, but I have heard so many stories of pain and experienced a few myself, but one thing changed my mind. I thought of Matthew 5:46 - "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" I must love the very people who are the hardest to love, because to be Christian is to be like Christ, and Christ loved everyone. Even the Pharisees. People get confused, because when they think of Pharisees and Jesus, they think of Jesus turning over tables and calling them "white-washed sepulchers." [Matthew 23:37]. Jesus certainly chastised them, but He did not hate them. He warned them out His love for them, wanting desperately for them to change their ways and come to light of God's love, realizing grace and not works gets you into heaven. The Pharisees couldn't see, which justifiably upset Christ, but He never stopped loving them.

I have to love my enemies, because Christ said so. [Matthew 5:44]. And He lived it,as well; what else but love would cause a person to forgive the people who were murdering Him? [Luke 23:34] I really struggle to love this group. I want to hate them, to condemn them, to pass judgment on the judgment-passers. I want to never forgive them for the heartache they've caused me, caused my friends, for the hurt they inflict, for the way they keep anyone in the world from even approaching Christ by misrepresenting Him. I hate them ... because I am them. I pass judgment. I misrepresent Christ with my pride. I role my eyes at the flagrantly swearing God-basher, deeming them not worth my time and never thinking to initiate a conversation about Christ. I fear the bringing out of this side of me when I'm around the Pharisees, so I avoid them like the plague. But I'm suppose to forgive them as they drive nails into my hands and feet, spearing my side, stripping me naked and casting lots for my garment. They know not what they do.

So how do I address this group? Surely pure forgiveness perpetuates they wrongdoing. We cannot simply let them sin so that grace may abound [Romans 6:1, 2]. I'm not sure how to treat them. A part of me feels like they will be like the Pharisees, never understanding the power and importance of God's grace, never seeing Jesus as the only hope, the only true source of the power to change us from our sinful ways. That makes me think I should turn over some of their tables and leave them. But then I think of Paul, the Pharisee of all Pharisees. He changed when He encountered Christ. From that I gather that it is our duty to pray for these people, to pray that they will have a real encounter with Christ that will be life-changing. That way ,they are not living in ignorance; they will know what they do. The second thing is that once Paul converted, there was a Barnabas to encourage him. We all need to be Barnabas to someone who wants to change. We need to be ready to forgive them for persecuting us, to open our arms in embrace.

I've been thinking about how difficult it is to turn the other cheek. If I'm talking to someone and they slap me, my face turns to the side. But to turn the other cheek doesn't mean to look to the opposite side; it means to face them again, knowing that they could very well slap the other side. When they hurt me, I want to walk away, but I am instructed to look at them again. To not avoid them, but to look at them, talk to them, and try to bring them to the light of God. It is impossible without God's help, but that is what makes Christianity different. We do not live by our own strength, but His strength is made perfect in our weakness. [2 Corinthians 12:9]

For all you ladies who have been broken and are struggling to forgive, learn to rely on His strength. He is faithful to provide it.

God bless,
Alisha

Thanksgiving

How much of our lack of health is our own fault? In class this week, we explored the issue of personal responsibility. We tend to arrive at the conclusion that a large portion of our health is our own culpability. We say, "If you are willing, you can be made well." I feel like we apply the same principle when considering healing - if we are willing and have the faith, we will be made well.

Therein lies the problem. The Bible says, "If You are willing, Lord, You can make me well." [Luke 5:12]. Healing depends on God's willingness. I am certain that it requires faith on our part. But God's will has to be to restore us then and there. That is what makes it glorious. His favor in our lives is precious. Luke 7:11-15 tells the story of a widow who's son had passed away. Verse 13 says that Jesus had compassion on her and restored her son's life in front of not one, but two large crowds. This was totally not Jesus's modus operandi, but He was compelled by His compassion. Truly His intervention in our life is precious.

This is Back to Basics Lesson 4: Be Thankful. It is so important to offer our thanks whenever we can, acknowledging that it is really His grace that keeps us from a car accident, that we have a meal before, that we survive another day of school and/or work, that we have a school and/or job to attend. There are so many other things to be grateful for, but the important thing is to be grateful genuinely. Routine tends to diminish sincerity, so if we need to, we should change up how we offer our thanks, but do please be sincere.

Philippians 4 advises us to rejoice for what He's done for us in the past instead of focusing on the problems of the future. Recall Peter turning his eyes away from the miracle of water-walking to the waves, causing him to sink. [Matthew 14:25-32]. In thanks, we ought to offer up our supplications to God. Don't be afraid to try it. It makes it easier for us to believe when we ask for something while simultaneously thanking God for the last time He helped us. When spoken with thanks, God's peace will reign. We studied previously of God's sovereignty. His peace will reign through the problems, guarding our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. As Jesus's focus was constantly on His Father, offering up thanks will refocus us on the God of heaven, knowing that it is truly His will to shepherd us. [Psalm 79:13] Praise comes naturally when we remind ourselves of God's goodness. Take the time now to remember His provision and be blessed.

God bless,
Alisha

Confession: It's all in His Hands

*Scriptures provided by Biblegateway.com

There is a common saying that confession is good for soul. God has shown this to be so true in my own life. Often times, for me at least, it is the point of confession taht is hardest for me. I struggle with trusting that God will forgive me yet again when I put shame to the cross by stumbling over the same sin. It is at these times that I turn to 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." It is so reassuring to know that it is the faithfulness of God, and not my own faithfulness to Him, that ultimately matters. If my relationship was wholly based on myself ... well, I would fail from the very onset. But it doesn't, praise be to God! I'm like the wounded man on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus is my Good Samaritan who shows me kindness, bandaging my wounds, placing me on His donkey as he endures the treacherous road, and then places me at comfortable inn at His expense. He has done all the work on the cross. There is no more need for me to do anything else but to surrender.

And to surrender I must confess, because confession is the very gate transporting me from my place of sin to the place of forgiveness. There are other advantages in confession besides my own forgiveness. In confession, I realize my frailty and God's sovereignty; admitting to fault keeps me decreasing whilst He increases [John 3:30]. Thus, I gain perspective on our relationship to Him. I also, in acknowledging my fault, find it easier to forgive others, knowing that they, like I, are not perfect. And we know that if we forgive men their trespasses, so our heavenly Father will forgive our sins [Matthew 6:14]. Amazing, isn't it, how everything is intertwined?

Now, I must impress on you all the importance of confessing everything, even the "small sins." It is imperative because a total confession correlates to total surrender. I know that as I escalate in my relationship with Christ, I want to be increasing wholly (and no, this isn't a misspelling). I want to learn to be wholly His, trusting that He takes care of me and knowing that He set up this system of confession not to embarrass me with my shameful thoughts/actions, but to bring about the forgiveness that will strengthen me to do better tomorrow.

For me, this often means confessing that I don't know where God is leading me and am tempted to despair. But God has shown me a very useful analogy, and I hope it encourages you all. We learned as a child that God's "got the whole world in His hands." I mean, everything in the universe, physically and metaphysically speaking, is in His hands. That includes myself. Now there are certain things in my life that are in my hands - my study habits, my decisions, my choice of words, etc. But as I get older I find there are much bigger things that I try to control but I really just can't. They are too big to fit in my hands. Here I am, struggling to hold them but finding that they're so overwhelming. Confession is my letting go. And as I let go, I am reassured and find peace. Why? Because I, along with everything else, am in His hands. The problems and trials remain in His hands, even as they slip through my own.

I know for a fact that there are women of all different stages of life in this group. Many of us are older; some have children. And I'm sure some of those children, brothers, sisters, etc. are not where they should be in life. We hurt to see that that way. But I encourage you ladies to let go; it's in His hands. Some of us thing about our loans that are wracking up to the thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Let it go; it's in His hands. Some of us are facing the loss of our jobs, homes, cars ... let it go; it's in His hands. I don't know what each of you are facing, but I can tell you that you are not facing it alone. He is more than with you; He is holding you.

God bless,
Alisha

Supreme Law of the Land

*Scriptures provided by Biblegateway.com

Last week we celebrated July 4th, and I promise I thought of the title before the holiday hit. It comes from the U.S. Constitution, and essentially says that no matter what state laws may say, whatever is written in this document has to be followed. It has greater power because it holds greater authority. It is supreme.

That's how I've learned to view the Bible. Its authority is supreme, defying even physical principles at times. I'll put it this way - Back to Basics Lesson 2: God's Word is Sovereign. His Word carries the very weight of the King of kings, like a decree would carry the weight of the government official who declared it.

It's easy enough to put on paper, but what about in everyday life? How can this been seen as a fundamental Christian principle and not as a deep theological mystical property? We know God's Word serves a purpose, as shown in 2 Timothy 3:16. This verse tells of the disciplining power of the Bible, and we must be mindful that the law did not make us imperfect but rather revealed our state of imperfection. This law was fulfilled by Jesus (recall Reconcilation of the Law) and established a new covenant, or New Testament, with us. But the promises of old remain as well as some new ones: "I will never leave you," "I will never forsake you," "When you pass through the waters ... they will not overflow you." [Isaiah 43:2, Hebrews 13:2]

That's okay when all is well. It's easy to believe that God is with us when we have His favor. But remember that's just what it is - favor. An irregular, undeserved period of grace. And when it removed, it doesn't mean God has left. His "favor" may, but He does not. As Regina Spektor sings, we treat Him like a genie or Santa Claus who grants us wishes. The true Christian, the strong Christian woman who understands Lesson 2 must see that God's Word is still true during moments when His grace is less evident to us. It's there and still all-sufficient, but we have to look deeper to see it.

It's then that I have to contemplate God's character and recall Lesson 1 - He loves us. It makes me sigh with deep resignation. I quit fighting it anymore; I accept the fact that He loves. And, knowing this because I know Him, I agree with the song by Third Day, that "nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord." [Based on Philippians 3:8]. I am amazed by His love, the most fundamental truth of all, and, knowing Him and knowing His love for me, I can trust (yes trust) that all His promisses are yes and amen. [2 Corinthians 1:20].

Ladies, here I make an appeal to you. I know for a fact that all of you know someone is going through/has gone through some terrible things, things that are/were unfair and tempt/ed her to doubt God. (That girl may even be yourself). It has caused her to become a pessimist (or "realist" in her terms). I've experienced that. But I urge you to appeal to that woman. Tell her God's Word is still sovereign; His promises are still true. Romans 5:5 tells us that His love gives us the right and authority to hope. It's okay, I repeat, it's okay to hope. Hope comes from character which developed from pereservance built up during our tribulations [verses 3 and 4]. His grace will always enable us to stand thorugh the storm [verse 2] In this we can rejoice. In this we can rejoice. You are allowed to hope, my sister. You can trust in Him. [Psalm 34:8] He is good.

God bless,
Alisha

Vested Interest

*Scriptures provided by Biblegateway.com

There is a thought that seems to have gotten lost along the path that begins when I first became a Christian and continues on to heaven. Or maybe, because I've lost this notion, I'm not on the path anymore, but rather I've lost my way by meandering as I seasonally do. The thought is this: God loves me.

I knew it when I accepted Christ. Why else would He send His Son? Why else would He die? I knew He loved me to save me. But I got caught up in legalism in my strive to acquire "holiness," forgetting that true holiness is only found in Christ. I forgot that it is my love for God that should compel me to obey, not that I had to obey for Him to love me. I had it backwards. For that matter, I had it backwards from the beginning. He didn't have to love me to save me; He had to save me because He loved me. I mean, of course, it took nothing short of love to endure what He did, but that's only an angle, not the whole picture. Ultimately, He saved me because He loved me so much that He couldn't bear to see my life in ruins without Him.

Proof. In this divorce-ridden world, we want proof of love. Let us turn to His love letter. For brevity's sake, I'll list it:

1 John 3:1 - God shows His love by making us His children.
1 John 3:5 - Jesus manifested Himself to take away our sin.
1 John 3:16 - Because He laid down His life for us, we know love.
1 John 3:20 - If our hearts condemn us, God's love is greater than our heart.
1 John 4:9 - Jesus was sent into the world so that we may live through Him.
1 John 4:17, 18 - His love perfects us, and this perfect love casts out fear.
1 John 5:3 - His commandments unto us are not burdensome.

Notice all these promises come from just one book. Imagine in the entire Bible! Each of these points can serve as a devotional by themselves. I could go into excruciating detail of how much work goes into each of the afore-mentioned actions that God undertook for our sake. But I fear that in the narrowing of the topic, I'll have lost the purpose of this devotional series - Back to Basics. Trust me. God's love took work. He invested in you.

Hence the title. He has a vested interest in you. When an American sugar company hears news of insurgency in the land where its plantation lies, it doesn't scrap the whole thing, ignoring the problem because it's not in the United States. It convinces American government to talk to the plantation's government to solve things peaceably in order to protect their investment. God has invested His most precious treasure in you when He turned over His Son. The price He paid was just too great for Him to give up on you now.

So all you ladies who thnk God has shut heaven, don't worry. He's just having a metting with the Board of Directors. He cannot afford to let you go. So don't you let go of Him.

God bless,
Alisha

What Do You Believe?

A lot of us who grew up in church have heard hundreds, maybe thousands, of sermons, and in the process grown much in the Word. However, I worry that we have learned so much of the intricacies that we have forgotten the very basic truths.

Join me as I personally dive into the unshakeable truths of Christian belief. Should we waver in our faith, should we blur the lines for our own convenience, we place ourselves in a most precarious position, one that the enemy is sure to use to its advantage.

Don't worry. This is not an attempt to "dogmatize" anyone. I'm talking about addressing the points that Jesus Christ Himself always emphasized, the very points that drew all of us to Him - His love, His life, His purity, and His dedication to His Father's work.

I pray you will all be blessed.

Heart/Mind

I was debating whether or not this could be considered stewardship. After all, if we're responsible for our heart and mind, isn't it because this is really ours? Don't we "own" our heart, and are not just stewards of it?

My confirmation to write this devotional came when a minister reminded his audience that we are a spirit, and that we have a soul. A soul is what I mean by "heart/mind." The soul is source of our emotions and contemplative thoughts, and I suppose I can see how that can be confused with one's spirit. Realize this, though - the soul does not continue into eternity; it is the spirit that lives on. That is a somber reminder that we should endeavor to do more to feed and train our spirits than our souls.

Nevertheless, the soul is with us while we are here on earth, and thus we have the responsibility to take care of it. It reminds me of a story I read by Joshua Harris, called "The Room." With powerful and convicting imagery, he describes the depth of God's love for us, and the grotesque nature of the sin that somehow does not limit it in the slightest. After reading this story, I personally understood that my sins break the heart of my Father, and wanted to henceforth be a good steward of my soul. Soul stewardship can be remembered like this:

1. Watch what comes in.

"The lamp of the body is the eye." [Matthew 6:22, 23] Jesus warned us long ago to be careful what we see. Casting Crowns' song "Slow Fade" reminds us that it is just that, a slow fade that dissolves our relationship with Christ. I do believe that every person is given different levels of tolerance in different areas. Some people need to separate themselves from worldly music because the suggestive lyrics will run through their mind without their permission. Others choose to not watch movies with explicit scenes, knowing that the worst parts will be replayed late at night when no one can judge them. Still others separate themselves from individuals who have destructive, pessimistic thoughts that induce worries in all their peers. Some need all three. Sometimes, our sanity requires the our minds' sanctity. Sanctification is separation for a holy purpose. Separating ourselves from what we know will defile us can help serve as our defense for holiness. If you want to "love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind ..." [Mark 12:30], then you will make this small sacrifice. Remember that the liberty we find in Christ is greater than the slavery of sin.

2. Watch what stays in.

What if something is already in our hearts? Unforgiveness certainly falls into this category. I know so many stories of people who let past wrongs sit down and fester in their souls, allowing them to spiritually decay from the inside out. I understand that there are some emotional pains that make the most excruciating physical pain seem like a paper cut. My heart breaks for those who suffer, and I know unforgiveness is an impossibility. Fortunately, we serve a God of the impossible. He has sent a Helper to counsel us, enabling us to let go. Unforgiveness is one of the most deceiving sins. We think that we're hurting that person, but ultimately who we're really hurting are ourselves. We also hurt those we care about, because hatred sucks the love out of us like a black hole sucks out light. Only Jesus can make us whole again, and He desires that we forgive not just for the sake our relationship with that individual, but also for our relationship with Him. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." [Matthew 6:14, 15] Be careful what you let sit in your heart. Make sure there's always room for God's love.

3. Watch what comes out.

Have you ever had a "Freudian slip"? It's when what we say reveals something we unconsciously desire. It's a misnomer, however, because Freud did not invent this idea. Jesus said, "... Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." [Luke 6:45]. I use these slips of the tongue to monitor my heart. I'm grateful for them, because I think we can deceive ourselves into thinking a matter is settled when it is not. This often happens when we have head knowledge, and not heart knowledge on the matter. What I mean is that often times, for some more often than others, it takes a while for something we know in our minds to be acknowledged by our hearts. For example, when I really caught grasp of the meaning of grace, it still took a while before I would go to God to ask for forgiveness. Oswald Chambers tells of a God who waits arms-open at the back of the wall of the world, "and every man driven there is driven into the arms of God." Even though I knew God to be this loving Father, I still was reluctant, seeing instead a drill sergeant waiting to reprimand me. Over time, and with much prayer, my heart has slowly changed. Prayer is key. When we see a matter is not resolved, we should take it to the Lord in prayer. The song is right; it truly is a privilege of which we should take greater advantage.

The Bible warns us that "the heart is deceitful above all things." [Jeremiah 17:9] That's why it's imperative that we learn to not let our heart govern us, but rather to be strong enough to govern our hearts. Ultimately, we cannot do it in our own strength. Really, we require divine wisdom, for it is the Lord who searches the heart and tests the mind [Jeremiah 17:10]. Pray that God grants us the ability to know when our hearts and minds are leading us astray. Let the Word of God be our guiding light. As David prayed,

Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts. [Psalm 119:133, 134]

God bless,
Alisha