clinging to worthless idols

“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”  (Jonah 2:8) God keeps trying to give us grace, but we refuse to let go of our worthless idols—our own plans and agendas.  So, just like with Jonah, God has to take extreme measures to open us up to the grace he is trying to give us. 

Oftentimes, this comes through disruption.  He hurls us into the deep, a place of dependence and desperation, trying to pry open or tightly clenched fists from our own places of comfort and familiarity.  Sadly, even then we still try to cling to our worthless idols of strength and self-sufficiency, until finally we arrive at a place of total surrender. 

So maybe we should embrace the disruption instead of fighting it.  Maybe we should open our hands and our hearts and receive the grace God is trying to give us.  When we walk with Jesus, disruption is often an invitation.  In the words of Albert E. Day, “For into the vacuum created by the destruction of human pride and self-sufficiency, pours the fullness of God.”  How can we be full of God when we are so full of ourselves?

grave clothes

“Lazarus come out!" 

The dead man came out,

His hands and head

Wrapped with strips of linen,

And a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them,

“Take off the grave clothes

And let him go.”

It reads like a poem.  Because we know, all too well, exactly what he means.  He’s talking to us too.  The things that bind us and keep us from the life he desires for us must be removed and left behind.  Yes, he has raised us from death to life and brought us out of the tomb, which is glorious indeed, but still there is work to be done in order for us to live fully and freely.  Walking with God in newness of life means leaving the grave clothes behind.

a more beautiful song

We do not empty ourselves of fear and anxiety by not thinking about the bad things, you and I both know that doing that is impossible.  The more determined we become not to think about them, the more consuming and controlling they are.  Thus, our hearts and minds become victims to the very things we are trying so hard not to think about.

We empty ourselves of fear and anxiety by filling our hearts and minds with God—our pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and praiseworthy God. (Phil 4:6-9) We dwell in his house, we gaze upon his beauty, and we seek him in his temple. (Ps. 27:4) We don’t allow the noise and chaos of the world to determine our state of being, but instead, we fill our ears with the music of a more beautiful song (like Orpheus rather than Odysseus).  We allow the beauty of God’s song—the song of his unfailing love and unbridled affection—to capture us, captivate us, and compel us.  Then there will be no room for the voices of fear, insecurity, and evil to have their way with us anymore because our hearts will be guarded by the peace of God, which transcends all understanding.  And our God, the God of peace, will be with us. 

why did i doubt

Matthew 14:30-33

You turn ashes into beauty.

You turn sorrow into joy.

You turn mourning into dancing.

You turn struggle into growth.

You turn death into life.

You turn chaos into calm.

You turn desperation into salvation.

O me of little faith, why did I doubt?

Truly you are the Son of God.

faith over fear

Is it possible to live fear-free?  Is that what faith is really all about?  Or is faith the ability to live in trust despite our fears? 

If we were to eliminate fear altogether, where is the ongoing need for faith?  Where is our sense of dependence on God?  The constant tension and struggle between fear and faith seems to be necessary for growth. 

“When I’m afraid, I will trust in you,” say the words of the ancient prayer.  And the when seems to be a significant part of the picture.  We are going to be afraid.  The key is to not let fear consume and control us.  To not let it force us into creating worst case scenarios and spinning false narratives about ourselves, our loved ones, or others in our lives and world.  Fear can either drive us to control, manipulation, and dysfunction (among other things) or it can drive us to Jesus.   

thorns

2 cor. 12:7-10

the deeper the need

the bigger the grace

the deeper the weakness

the greater his power

the deeper the desperation

the more vibrant his life in you

the deeper the thorns cut

the sweeter the revelations become

i guess the thorns

aren't so bad after all

last

When we start to think we are more deserving of the attention, affection, recognition, or renumeration that others are getting, we need to pay careful attention.  Because we are falling into the trap of comparison, which never turns out well in terms of the kingdom.

On the one hand, we see people we don’t think we’re as good as, which makes us incredibly insecure.  And on the other hand, we see people that we think we’re better than (sadly) but who are getting more recognition, affection, or renumeration than we are, which makes us frustrated, envious, and jealous.  It’s a no-win game.

So, Jesus comes along and tells a story (Matthew 20:1-16) to show us what kingdom living is really all about.  And the point of the story is this: In the kingdom of God the first are last and the last are first.  Walking with God is not about jockeying and posturing, but about going to the back of the line.  It’s about lifting others above ourselves.  It’s about celebrating others, not competing or comparing.  At the back of the line is where we will find Jesus.

So, try reading Matthew 20:1-16 and see where you find yourself in this story.  Ask God what he wants to say to you about it.  It might surprise you like it did me.

Lord Jesus, help us to know the beauty and the joy of making ourselves last, less, and least.