Whatever You Do

I still remember standing before the dining hall at Scioto Hills before meal time.  Campers would congregate on the verandah conversing and laughing before breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Then, one of the camp directors would gather the attention of the crowd; and we would quiet to, collectively, take part in a wonderful ritual. 

It was a time to stop and remember what life is meant to be about--God's glory. 

Together, hundreds of kids would recite Scripture together:

“1 Corinthians 10:31.  Whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”

I still remember that mealtime verse fondly. 

Really, it’s a verse for all the time and everyday.

So, friends…

Whether you eat or drink…

Whether you are talking to your roommate, your spouse, your child, your student, your grocery bagger, or a telemarketer…

Whether you are behind the slow person on the highway, the one who is obeying the traffic laws, or the one who cuts you off…

Whether you are talking with someone who shares your opinion or someone who seems like they have come from a foreign planet…

Whether you are making dinner, cleaning toilets, or figuring something out with a person at your corporate headquarters or on the phone in Costa Rica…

…whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we seek to live each moment bringing glory to Jesus.

Jessica :)

A Special Way

I am not sure when the weekend became a time to unplug from the digital world for me, but it has. 

On the weekend, I don’t check the blogs I follow.  I don’t check my email.  I don’t get on Facebook. 

(Okay, occasionally I will get on the computer to check an address for the dinner we’re headed to, or to double check the time I said I would meet someone.  But this is the exception, and other than that, I am unplugged.)

I don't remember when I began this habit, but I do remember why I decreased my use of technology on the weekend.  I wanted a break from the feeling that a minute had become an hour. 

I wanted to create space in my life for important things—like real conversation, exploring the fun events going on in the world around me, invest in my relationship with Jason, and slow down to take notice of all the good things that God has given me. 

I wanted to find rest in Him.

For me the practice of disconnecting has led to real Sabbath. 

I leave behind the crazy pace of the online world and slow to the pace of the one I live in. 

This practice is one that I use to “honor” the Sabbath.

One of the four words that is used about the Sabbath in Scripture is kevod.  It means to honor or to set something apart as special.

It is found in the Isaiah passage I mentioned last week, when talking about the word delight.

“If you  keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

     and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

     and the LORD’s day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

     and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the Lord.”    Isaiah 58:13-14 NIV

My Judaism professor talked about how there is joy in things that are reserved for a special occasion.

When he said this, it brought to mind pulling out the “You are loved” plate for birthdays and special occasions in my family.  I always looked forward to those moments of finding this special plate set on the table in my place or pulling it out to set before my family members.  I was so excited when a friend gave one of these plates to me at a wedding shower.  It meant I could continue to honor loved ones in my home the way we did when I was growing up.

For me unplugging is a little bit like this—a special ritual I practice on the Sabbath.

As I revisit this particular Sabbath maxim, it makes me wish I had other special ways of celebrating Sabbath rest.  I think of what I learned about the Jewish Shabbat—the way they welcome the Sabbath with lit candles and blessings over one another.  I think these special ways of the Sabbath are beautiful.

I want to share with you a little taste of this through “Sabbath Prayer” from Fiddler on the Roof.

Notice the way the families welcome the Sabbath in such a special way.  Drink in the blessings of the song.  And this weekend when you begin your Sabbath rest, perhaps you will remember and begin by celebrating in a special way.

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we seek to honor God, the maker and giver of rest.  May we find special ways to mark the occasion and find joy in celebrating this special gift.

Jessica :)

Adversary or Lord?

On Thursdays I have been sharing a little bit about what I have been learning as I read through 1 John.

We have been reading about a paragraph at a time and began a new section last week.  It continues:

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.  I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.  Who is the liar?  It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.  Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.  No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”  1 John 2:20-23 NIV

These verses are a continuation of the paragraph from last week.  This is clear from the opening words “but you.”  If you recall, John was writing to distinguish the believers he is writing to from others who “went out from us.”  He tells the believers that if they had belonged “they would have remained.”  The implication here is that these people were not united with the body through Christ.  Here we begin to get a better picture of who these people were and how they are different from the believers who are reading John’s words. 

There are a number of allusions being made that will help us begin to understand what John is communicating.  Let’s take a look verse by verse.

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One and all of you know the truth” (v.20). 

Who is the Holy One?  And what is this anointing?

To answer this first question let’s take a look at a passage in  John’s telling of the gospel.

“Simon Peter answered [Jesus], “Lord to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).

The Holy One is Jesus.  So what is the anointing they have received from him?

The NLT translates verse 20 this way: “for the Holy One has given you his Spirit.”

The believers have been anointed with the Holy Spirit, by Jesus.  Besides finding a slightly different translation, there is another key word that confirms that this anointing is indeed the Spirit.  The phrase is “the truth.”

Jesus tells his disciples:

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. […]  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine.  That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 14:16-17 and 16:13-15).

 

The word truth in Greek in John and in 1 John is alētheia.  It means “the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter” (VINES Expository Dictionary). 

John reminds these believers that they know the truth.  They know it because the Spirit is in them and “guides them into all truth.”  He reminds them that “no lie comes from the truth” (v.21).

Then, John tells them how to spot the liar.
 

“Who is the liar?  It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ” (v.22).

The liar does not recognize that Jesus is Lord.  In fact, he denies it. 

This is the central claim of the gospel—that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises to Israel; that he came in the flesh teaching us how to live; that he died for our sins; and that he defeated death in his resurrection proving he is the worthy judge and king--Jesus is Lord. 

John says the failure to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus shows a person to be antichrist.

“Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son” (v.22).

In his commentary, John Stott writes that “the early commentators understood the word [antichrist] to signify an ‘adversary’ of Christ” (p.104).  An adversary is one who contends with, opposes or resists.  Thus, antichrist contends with, opposes or resists Christ.

I either recognize Jesus is Lord or I am an adversary—contending with, opposed or resistant to Christ. 

This makes sense to me; and if I think about it honestly, it really makes me consider how I am acting in any given moment.  Am I yielded to Christ in what he is calling me to right now?  Or am I contentious, resistant, and opposed to what He is calling me to right now?  Sometimes I am so very aware of the battle within me.  Sometimes I follow as a believer should.  Yet, if I’m honest, there are times where I find that I am antichrist—more of a friend of the world than of God.

I should note that I believe John is talking a little more generally about the character of one's beliefs and actions to distingush the believer from the Gnostic, who does not in any way acknowledge that Christ is Lord.*  Still, I think it is important to consider--am I living the obedience that follows when one really believes in the Lordship of Christ?

John continues, “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (v.23).

In these words I am reminded of a passage from the gospel of John.

“Thomas said to him, “Lord we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord show us the Father and it will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me?  The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves” (John 14:5-11 NIV).

Here we see the unity that comes in Christ.  When we recognize that Jesus is Lord we have relationship with the Father because of the Son.  John says this in his letter too.

I like the way the Voice translates it “The one affirming the Son enjoys an intimate relationship with the Father as well” (v. 23).  In it, I think I begin to see this beautiful dance of Father, Son and Spirit that includes the one who trusts in Christ.  In Christ, we come to right relationship and unity with God. 

Perhaps this is why the next few verses in John 14 say this, “Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it” (John 14:12-14 TNIV).

It is when we trust in Christ and are yielded to him as Lord, unified with him and with our fellow believers that we will accomplish much.  We need not be afraid to ask Jesus for anything, because when we are aligned with the will of God, He is eager to see His kingdom come on earth.  This comes when we recognize Christ is Lord and honor Him as such.  This comes when we are yielded and connected and seeking God’s will.

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we choose to say Christ is Lord today.  May we find the contention, opposition, and resistance subsides when we realize that we have two choices—to be a disciple or to be antichrist.  May we find submission is made so much more simple and may we discover our hearts are becoming more aligned with God’s will.  May we pray fervently for His kingdom to come through us and be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading as He guides us into all truth.

Jessica :)

*One thing I would like to acknowledge is that John is confronting a specific Gnostic belief as he talks about "Jesus is the Christ."  This statement would have carried with it the truth of the humanity of Jesus.  The Gnostics denied Christ’s humanity in two ways “(1) Some said that Christ only seemed to have a body, a view called Docetism, from the Greek dokeo (“to seem”), and (2) others said that the divine Christ joined the man Jesus at baptism and left him before he died, a view called Cerinthianism, after its most prominent spokesman Cerinthus.  This view is the background of much of 1 John.”  (from Jason’s NASB Study Bible by Zondervan). 

This is precisely addressed in 1 John 2:22 which we looked at today.  Yet, I find it so fascinating that even in the midst of words addressing such a particular heresy, I find John’s contrasts still very applicable today in my own life.  I hope you have discovered the same.  Blessings.

The Servant I Uphold

We begin the late morning session of the Leadership Summit with the introduction of a speaker, by the president of International Justice Mission, Gary Haugen.  He talks of one of his heroines—Pranitha Timothy—the leader of IJM aftercare in Chennai, India.

 

As his video fades, Pranitha stands on stage, slight and pretty, and begins to talk.  She tells of her life in India as the child of missionaries.  When she was sent to school she wanted nothing to do with God.  Instead, she describes herself as her classmates did—cold and calculating.  It’s amazing, really.  This woman on the stage couldn’t possibly have been that, could she?  She tells of the emptiness and desperation she felt and of a moment when she found herself broken before God and ready to respond to Jesus.

She reads to us a passage of Scripture.

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

   my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

   and he will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or cry out,

   or raise his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

    he will not falter or be discouraged

till he establishes justice on earth.

    In his teaching the islands will put their hope."

This is what God the LORD says—

the creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,

     who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,

     who gives breath to its people

     and life to those who walk on it:

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;

      I will take hold of your hand.

I will keep you and will make you

     to be a covenant for the people

     and a light for the Gentiles,

to open eyes that are blind,

to free captives from prison

and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

     Isaiah 42:1-7 NIV

 

Pranitha tells of how God spoke to her, saying that she would be His servant; and He would do all this through her.   Now she tells of how He has done this through her.  She talks of losing her voice.  When it came back she says it was as we hear it, “feeble.”  Her voice is a bit scratchy, but if I had to describe it I would say she speaks gently. 

As she continues, she talks of brothels and work camps and rescue.  She tells of rescues that go as planned and others that don’t go as expected.  She describes a situation in which IJM goes to rescue workers from a camp.  When the team arrives the captives have been moved.  They discover the truck and the authorities make them return to the camp for evidence of some sort.  The prisoners try to describe that it is a trap and it will be dangerous, to no avail.  When they arrive at the work camp, the captors are waiting, armed and angry.  They begin to pray and a strange thing happens.  The criminals become confused and begin fighting amongst themselves.   Everyone is able to escape safely.

Perhaps I shouldn’t be amazed, but I am.  All this in a woman who is slight and gentle and lovely.  I think she must have the leadership of Deborah and the faith of Rahab.  Her miraculous story sounds like something straight out of the Bible to me—where battles are confused and prison doors are opened.  These kinds of miracles happen today.  I know this, but it is so out of my realm of experience. 

Is this what Jesus talked about when he said, “I tell you the truth anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12 NLT)? 

I wonder why don’t I experience things like this?  Is it a lack of faith or trust?  Am I just not in situations that require me to believe because my survival depends on it? 

What is it about this woman who leads as God’s servant?

Pranitha tells all who listen that she is not a hero. 

She says, “We are [all] called to serve by a God who is already at work.” 

In the midst of this, she talks about how important it is to believe that our lives are not our own.  When we believe this, we trust that our lives are safer in God’s hands than our own—even in the midst of a band of angry criminals.  We don’t have to be afraid to obey.

She also reminds us that God is good.  She says that even when what we see and experience in the world is hard when we trust that God is good it gives us hope. 

I reflect on this. 

I am called to serve, by a God who is already at work.  He invites me to join Him—to trust, follow and obey.  

In doing this, I may not experience the visible miracles that Pranitha has.  Yet, what if there are heart miracles going on around me all the time as I trust God—in the midst of a conversation with my neighbor or with the cashier at the grocery store.  Is it possible that when I trust in these small moments, I can be confident when other more acute situations arise, I will find that God meets me there too?

I wonder; and as I think about how these situations require me to trust, I think I understand why Pranitha said she wasn’t a hero.  I think it is because she realizes the real hero has upheld her in the midst of the most dangerous situations.  She is the servant.  She must trust God—the hero—to save.

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we embrace our role as servants.  As we trust him, by following in obedience, may we find that he provides for every need—the expected and the unexpected.  May we find that he works in us by doing the same things that Christ did and even greater ones—whether conversations or miracles—through the Holy Spirit.  May it bring us to joy and greater trust in our hero—Jesus Christ.

Jessica :)

An Iron Year

This weekend, Jason and I celebrated our sixth anniversary.

Over the last year, I have become more aware of how God has used marriage to shape me.  It is like a spiritual discipline—slowly shaping me into more of who God wants me to be.  It is practiced one interaction, one choice, and one word at a time. 

In his book, Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas writes, “The real transforming work of marriage is the twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week commitment.  This is the crucible that grinds and shapes us into the character of Jesus Christ.  Marriage calls us to an entirely new and selfless life.  […] Any situation that calls me to confront my selfishness has enormous spiritual value, and I slowly began to understand that the real purpose of my marriage may not be happiness as much as it is holiness.”

It is really fitting that I have been more aware of this shaping this year.  It is the iron year.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” 

This is the way of marriage.  It shapes and it transforms.

I am so thankful that it does.

I handle conflict differently now.  I have good and authentic friendships now.  I choose to tackle the things that I am afraid of now.  I am writing this blog now.  These are all fruits of Jason gently encouraging me, speaking the truth in love to me, holding me accountable, and making me do the things I tried to avoid. 

I am thankful for the way God uses our relationship to shape me.  I tell Jason this, over dinner. 

I am delighted when he tells me our marriage is shaping him too.  I see it.

I marvel that all this has happened in six years of trusting God together.  They seem like short years.  I wonder.  What might possibly happen when we submit ourselves out of reverence for Christ for the whole of our marriage?

I think we just may be wrought into something beautiful by the hand of God.

***

Grace and peace be ours in abundance as we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  May we discover that as our love for Christ is central to our love for one another God shapes us, transforms us and makes us holy.

Jessica :)