Meditation
John 5:15—The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
When a starved person chooses rocks over bread, there is a deeper disorder than hunger. A man was sick for 38 years. Jesus saw him and knew his situation. He asked him if he would like to get well. Instead of answering “Yes!”, the man shared a pool of woes. You can read about it in John 5:1-7.
Jesus was not interested in what didn’t work. He told the man the best eight words he had heard in almost four decades. “Get up! Pick up your bedroll and walk!” Instantly he was healed. Predictably, the religious leaders missed the awesomeness of his healing and zeroed in on why he broke Sabbath law by carrying his mat. The man explained what Jesus told him to do but he had no clue of Jesus’ identity. Later the Lord found him and said, “See you are well. Do not sin any more, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” Jesus, knowing all things, gave the man a warning. Why? What did He see in the man’s heart?
Why an immobilized man set free would need to curry the favor of the religious leaders who were helpless to help him for 38 years should tell us much about human nature. Evidently, what cured his illness did not touch his spirit. Instead of protecting the identity of his benefactor, the man reported Jesus to the authorities. This caused the Lord direct persecution by the Jews. It was also an eerie foreshadowing. When orchestrated by jealous religious leaders, the Jews blessed by Jesus’ miracles and teaching, eagerly yelled, “Crucify Him!”
Welcome to a mysterious pool called Bethesda. Here we discover a disease worse and more widespread than blindness, lameness or paralysis. It is atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Its victims would rather cooperate with those in control than to have faith. The miracle worker is expendable. The power of grace is blocked by the fear of disgrace. It is not the multitude that is cured when the pool is stirred it is the one who makes it first to the water.
The Bible tells us of days when children rise against their parents and vice versa. People will do what is in their self-interest in order to further their own preservation. If the authorities declare faith in Christ to be a crime, don’t be surprised when the neighbor you helped reports you. Veins too clogged for faith whisper betrayal. It happened to Jesus and He really was special. If after a spectacular healing the Master has to say, “See you are well, do not sin any more . . .” something is radically wrong!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Explanation
When I was in Junior High School, Billy Graham came to Seoul, Korea. I was able to sit on a platform not far from where the speakers stood and take pictures. At the time (early 1970’s), it was the largest Billy Graham Crusade ever. Looking behind the platform there on Yoido Island there was an immense sea of people. Dr. Graham explained to this spiritually hungry audience the meaning of the gospel. He quoted John 3:16, read other Bible passages, and outlined in simple terms God’s plan of salvation. Hundreds of thousands of Koreans stood and moved forward when he gave an invitation. Countless faces were wet with tears of repentance. Perhaps heaven’s citizens stood and cheered as they watched this grand spectacle.
Meditation
Nehemiah 8:7,8—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. They read the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.
Around 457 B.C., the Jews were spiritually impoverished. Their ancestors stopped venerating God to worship idols. They disobeyed what Moses taught to run after their own pleasures. They lost their homeland to disease, famine, and Assyrians and Babylonians who led them as captives into exile. They experienced every disaster God warned they would suffer for disobeying Him.
On the first day of the seventh month (Tishrei) in the Hebrew calendar, Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform facing about 5000 people he led back to Israel. Along with thirteen Levites, he read from the Torah from daybreak until noon. When he opened up the Scripture, all the people stood and remained standing for hours.
The Hebrew-written Torah was unfamiliar to the Aramaic-speaking people. Furthermore, they did not own their own copies of the law so Moses’ writing was unfamiliar to them. Consequently, it was necessary to translate and explain the law. As the people listened and comprehended, they wept. The crowd was so convicted by God’s Words that Ezra and the Levites had to quiet them from grieving.
Most of America’s first leaders feared God. They established a framework for governance meant to honor Biblical principles and protect a young nation so that it might thrive. Over 200 years later, there is no shortage of Bibles, radio stations, or television channels that offer God’s teachings. It is easy to find a building designated for worship. But if a wooden platform were erected, and godly leaders were to read Scripture for half the day, how many people would show up, stand the entire time listening intently, and then weep by conviction for their ignorance and sin? How much disease, disaster, and spilling of blood does it take to get a nation’s attention? Until there is hunger for righteous explanation, there will always be an evil-ingested bloating.
Inspiration
For a good confession three things are necessary: an examination of conscience, sorrow, and a determination to avoid sin.—St. Alphonsus Luguori in “A Good Confession”
Meditation
Nehemiah 8:7,8—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. They read the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.
Around 457 B.C., the Jews were spiritually impoverished. Their ancestors stopped venerating God to worship idols. They disobeyed what Moses taught to run after their own pleasures. They lost their homeland to disease, famine, and Assyrians and Babylonians who led them as captives into exile. They experienced every disaster God warned they would suffer for disobeying Him.
On the first day of the seventh month (Tishrei) in the Hebrew calendar, Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform facing about 5000 people he led back to Israel. Along with thirteen Levites, he read from the Torah from daybreak until noon. When he opened up the Scripture, all the people stood and remained standing for hours.
The Hebrew-written Torah was unfamiliar to the Aramaic-speaking people. Furthermore, they did not own their own copies of the law so Moses’ writing was unfamiliar to them. Consequently, it was necessary to translate and explain the law. As the people listened and comprehended, they wept. The crowd was so convicted by God’s Words that Ezra and the Levites had to quiet them from grieving.
Most of America’s first leaders feared God. They established a framework for governance meant to honor Biblical principles and protect a young nation so that it might thrive. Over 200 years later, there is no shortage of Bibles, radio stations, or television channels that offer God’s teachings. It is easy to find a building designated for worship. But if a wooden platform were erected, and godly leaders were to read Scripture for half the day, how many people would show up, stand the entire time listening intently, and then weep by conviction for their ignorance and sin? How much disease, disaster, and spilling of blood does it take to get a nation’s attention? Until there is hunger for righteous explanation, there will always be an evil-ingested bloating.
Inspiration
For a good confession three things are necessary: an examination of conscience, sorrow, and a determination to avoid sin.—St. Alphonsus Luguori in “A Good Confession”
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Compassion II
Sandy sits on the iron bench bolted to the sidewalk by Prink Avenue and finishes her cell phone conversation. The yellow Walk light has not yet flashed but she doesn’t care, she is an important person and she knows the drivers will wait. Unhesitatingly, she stands and moves into the crosswalk practically daring the cars to stop. Her spiritual life is much the same. Sandy approaches God and expects that He will listen to her because she is a good person and her list of accomplishments warrants in her mind, His favor.
Meditation
Daniel 9:18—Listen, my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion.
At a time in history of national shame, the Jews desperately needed God’s kindness. Daniel understood how to appeal to his Father. He knew that petitions backed by moral accomplishments could never repair the damage done by centuries of blatant spiritual rebellion. If cedar tabernacles filled with chanted psalms could undue sin, God would not have resorted to a crude cross. Daniel based his request for help on divine compassion—the Hebrew script bearing witness to its abundance.
Is God’s action dependent on our good works? Desolation is not removed by demonstration. Biblical characters like David appealed to God’s mercy based on personal righteousness. But do we ever read God replying “You are right, I owe you favor because you have been so good.” Instead, He reveals His grandeur and in the process human puniness and insufficiency lead the appealer to understand it is mercy and compassion that lead to salvation.
God’s compassion is the sweetest nectar known to man. It calms the anxious mind. It mends sin with a stitchery of golden thread that cannot be broken. It soothes the soul of sorrow with notes of grace. It clears the clotted heart with the redeeming blood of the holiest Lamb. At least seventy-seven times Scripture specifically mentions God’s compassion to His people. It is not about us it is all about Him! Hallelujah!
Inspiration
O Lord, remove this bondage of thought, and bring peace and purity and power. Fill me this day with Thy tenderness and compassion and grace.—Oswald Chambers
Meditation
Daniel 9:18—Listen, my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion.
At a time in history of national shame, the Jews desperately needed God’s kindness. Daniel understood how to appeal to his Father. He knew that petitions backed by moral accomplishments could never repair the damage done by centuries of blatant spiritual rebellion. If cedar tabernacles filled with chanted psalms could undue sin, God would not have resorted to a crude cross. Daniel based his request for help on divine compassion—the Hebrew script bearing witness to its abundance.
Is God’s action dependent on our good works? Desolation is not removed by demonstration. Biblical characters like David appealed to God’s mercy based on personal righteousness. But do we ever read God replying “You are right, I owe you favor because you have been so good.” Instead, He reveals His grandeur and in the process human puniness and insufficiency lead the appealer to understand it is mercy and compassion that lead to salvation.
God’s compassion is the sweetest nectar known to man. It calms the anxious mind. It mends sin with a stitchery of golden thread that cannot be broken. It soothes the soul of sorrow with notes of grace. It clears the clotted heart with the redeeming blood of the holiest Lamb. At least seventy-seven times Scripture specifically mentions God’s compassion to His people. It is not about us it is all about Him! Hallelujah!
Inspiration
O Lord, remove this bondage of thought, and bring peace and purity and power. Fill me this day with Thy tenderness and compassion and grace.—Oswald Chambers
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Prove Yourself!
Sergeant Major Cedric Moore shared with me his story as we sat in his car at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Raised in a black community in Huntsville, Alabama, he often attended church and had uncles who were pastors. But what these men preached was not what they lived. Watching “spiritual” men engage in adultery, robbery, lying and other sinful behavior caused Cedric to conclude that God must not be real.
While attending college in Birmingham, Cedric was exposed to Black Muslims who gave him literature and tapes in order to recruit him. At first he was interested but the more he investigated them the more he realized that they were just as racist as the KKK. Two years into his education but out of money, he had to drop out. But he didn’t want his mother to have to go to work to pay for his education so he joined the Army. On his dog tags he listed, “No Religious Preference.”
Stationed at Fort Bragg, several people asked Cedric to go with them to church. Most often he brushed them off wanting nothing to do with Christians. One day, frustrated and wondering what even gave people the desire to live, he said, “God if you are real You have to prove yourself to me.” Later that day, a white stranger invited him to church. Cedric told him he would not go to church with him. But then convicted by his rudeness, he called after the man, “If you have a service tonight I will go with you.” To his surprise, the man turned, smiled and said, “Great, we have a service at 7:30 and I’ll pick you up at 7:00.” Because he was a man of his word, Cedric went to church.
That night for the first time Cedric experienced interracial worship. He watched a white preacher whose face reddened as he spoke with intensity. As he listened, the pastor said, “Some of you here tonight have told God that to believe in Him He must prove Himself real to you. But if you want to know God, you must prove yourself real to Him!” Stunned by the words he knew were from heaven, he walked down the aisle and gave his life to Christ.
Meditation
Mark 15:39—When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "This man really was God's Son!"
A Roman centurion experienced an earthquake and saw inexplicable things associated with Jesus’ crucifixion. He watched the way Jesus died and concluded the Son of Man really was the Son of God. He had to come to his own conclusion. God gave him all the evidence He needed.
God is real! If we base His authenticity and therefore our willingness to believe in Him on what people do or do not do, we immediately err. God’s reality is neither verified nor falsified by people’s activity. God is real because of what He does and who He is. Cedric met Him when he quit demanding He appear. The centurion found Him when His Son quit breathing. The paradox of faith is that we have to believe stripped of our reason; make a human decision untied to humans to follow a Creator who gives us the evidence to see Him yet who remains invisible! Something to think about . . . in reveration!
While attending college in Birmingham, Cedric was exposed to Black Muslims who gave him literature and tapes in order to recruit him. At first he was interested but the more he investigated them the more he realized that they were just as racist as the KKK. Two years into his education but out of money, he had to drop out. But he didn’t want his mother to have to go to work to pay for his education so he joined the Army. On his dog tags he listed, “No Religious Preference.”
Stationed at Fort Bragg, several people asked Cedric to go with them to church. Most often he brushed them off wanting nothing to do with Christians. One day, frustrated and wondering what even gave people the desire to live, he said, “God if you are real You have to prove yourself to me.” Later that day, a white stranger invited him to church. Cedric told him he would not go to church with him. But then convicted by his rudeness, he called after the man, “If you have a service tonight I will go with you.” To his surprise, the man turned, smiled and said, “Great, we have a service at 7:30 and I’ll pick you up at 7:00.” Because he was a man of his word, Cedric went to church.
That night for the first time Cedric experienced interracial worship. He watched a white preacher whose face reddened as he spoke with intensity. As he listened, the pastor said, “Some of you here tonight have told God that to believe in Him He must prove Himself real to you. But if you want to know God, you must prove yourself real to Him!” Stunned by the words he knew were from heaven, he walked down the aisle and gave his life to Christ.
Meditation
Mark 15:39—When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "This man really was God's Son!"
A Roman centurion experienced an earthquake and saw inexplicable things associated with Jesus’ crucifixion. He watched the way Jesus died and concluded the Son of Man really was the Son of God. He had to come to his own conclusion. God gave him all the evidence He needed.
God is real! If we base His authenticity and therefore our willingness to believe in Him on what people do or do not do, we immediately err. God’s reality is neither verified nor falsified by people’s activity. God is real because of what He does and who He is. Cedric met Him when he quit demanding He appear. The centurion found Him when His Son quit breathing. The paradox of faith is that we have to believe stripped of our reason; make a human decision untied to humans to follow a Creator who gives us the evidence to see Him yet who remains invisible! Something to think about . . . in reveration!
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