The angst and the lightning

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟰:𝟲 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀. 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁.

…

𝟮𝟰:𝟮𝟳 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻.

So much turmoil in Matthew 24! So much cataclysm and soul-wrenching upheaval. The life of a Jesus follower is to be marked by the animosity of the world and endangered by the reaction of sinful humanity towards the message of the cross and its living out. The war in the heavenlies will become war on earth.

In fear, there is a settling of conviction or an alignment with anyone and anything that seems to alleviate the threats. That is why Jesus said to not be alarmed. Far from just turning off the alarm switch, the peace that a believer can have is based upon faith that Jesus remains in control although it looks like the opposite. Believers will be put to death in an effort to stop the move of God’s Kingdom (some have tried, see Josef Stalin). Still the end is “not yet”.

It does little good to hand-wring and development of worry warts in advance of the end times. Even less good is the perverse glee who imagine the coming of Christ – verse 27 – without the unpleasant events leading up to it – verses 1-26. Even less useful than that is the false prophecy that portends to know the time of his arrival and makes survivalist preparations (absoLUTEly without scriptural instruction). This is to the shame of God’s people, for it is cultic, and driven by anything but love (which has grown cold).

There is a hopeful sobriety that awaits the second coming of the Lord, come what may. Trusting God with today’s events is always the way to live in Christ. His Word is a lamp, not a floodlight (Psalm 119:105). Because, when Jesus does return to planet earth, no one will be mistaken. No false messiahs or false refuges will compare to the true glory or speed of his descent.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Hope over human despair

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭𝟵:𝟮𝟱‭-‬𝟮𝟲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱?” 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.”

Jesus had astounded his followers by saying that only with great difficulty could the wealthy attain eternal salvation.  At the time, the religious authorities were all men of means, vaunting their wherewithal above those who were poorer.  Earthly wealth was, then, associated with heavenly destiny in the minds of the people.  Not so, said Jesus, quite the opposite.

Logically then, if the rich could not be saved, how much less those who had less?  “Who then can be saved?” was a question aimed at all humanity.  Jesus’ words had effectively disqualified everyone according to their understanding.  The disciples were expressing their despair.  It underscored how lost and hopeless was humankind.  But Jesus gazed at them when they asked it to focus his answer directly to their fear. 

Salvation was and is impossible with humanity’s reason and work.  We don’t earn heaven, God grants it.  All things being possible with God leaves no one out of redemption’s reach.  It is no statement of universal salvation but one or universal invitation and opportunity. 

Salvation is only one of many things people cannot do.  And certainly, people disqualify each other.  People even damn each other.  Not so with God, who desires that no one perish. 

Believing that all things are possible with God should change me as it should change anyone who believes it.  Is my prayer life in sync with this fact?  Do I develop faith that God will do what only God can do?  Do I persist in that faith? 

The draw of hopeless humanity is ever present and accusing, pulling down hope and the great expectations that God would engender.  The impossible riddle goes deep for it is exactly the hopeless ones that God wants to bring his Kingdom.  Yet, they rehearse and practice hopelessness and downward progression.  Let me be encouraged in my faith to counter with love.  In Jesus’ name.

The inner wash

Matthew 15:18-20 “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

The “traditions of the elders” and nothing in scripture or the Law compelled the Jewish leaders to wash before eating.  It’s certainly not a bad idea but the compulsion is overplayed.  It was a point of compliance forced on the people by those who “knew best”.  Except, they did NOT know best.

Jesus’ description of what comes out of the mouth – in words which turn into deeds – is a list of depraved output that brings people into their worst state.  They reveal something very broken inside and that brokenness dwarfs any hand-washing or external action to cleanse the skin or extremities.  A good adage is “you can’t wash your heart”, because only God can do that.

The call is to integrity – to be the same person outside as inside.  It means acknowledging the ugliness and filthy thoughts within and allowing God to heal and cleanse.  It means not trying to look good (or look bad) or compelling others to look good.  As the evil-doer, adulterer and murderer and then heart-broken King David said:

Psalm 51:6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

For it is not merely delusional to hide what’s inside, it’s deadly.  As David had ceased doing (though he knew better), let me let God do this:

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It is a sign of saving faith that I allow the light to shine even on my most shameful parts.

Filling the house

Matthew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Evil can be removed by deliverance or conquest, but unless it is replaced with virtue and righteousness, it will come back in greater proportions.  Jesus regularly cast out demons.  The behavior and effects those spirits caused was personally and socially destructive. 

The phenomenon of their returning to their former hosts is chilling and shows the need for a second spiritual act to be sure that the “house” is NOT empty.  That is, Jesus must fill the “house”.  The Holy Spirit, infinitely more powerful than any demon, will not cohabitate with any other spirit.  In God there is no darkness.

And Jesus did not leave the story with a single person re-possessed by the devil.  He concluded by saying this was also the tale of his evil generation.  In that sense, his ministry to that generation of people did accomplish the advent of the Kingdom of God, but if unbelief persisted, it was only temporary.   Believers went on in their liberty from the Evil One, for they obtained an infilling that left the “house” full and redeemed.

Salvation is not always readily noticed.  Sin can persist along with all the sickness and trials of the human condition.  (Guaranteed divine health is a proud travesty)  So if I look at the valleys of life and forget with whom I am filled, I may need reminding of the permanent state of my deliverance, ongoing salvation and destiny.  Though I may struggle, there is no “re-entry” of evil.  That battle is won.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Endangered place and nation

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟭:𝟰𝟳-𝟰𝟴 𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼? 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀. 𝗜𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”

Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, with many witnesses, including Pharisees who could not deny the miraculous work. Some of them began following Jesus at that point, but others returned to Jerusalem, concerned for what this meant to their standing and security. Their words above indicate a fear of lost prominence (“our place”) and the nation of Israel itself (“our nation”).

It was presumed, then, that Jesus was as they were, power-grubbing authority hounds who lorded what they knew and what they did over the people. And of course Jesus was after political control, inciting rebellion against the Roman occupiers. Jesus had never given any indication of those claims and projecting motives was just wrong.

It’s not that Jesus would ever uphold their leadership; they ran a corrupt system of perverse and diluted spirituality. That meant they were indeed in danger of losing their “place”. But that was happening in any case for in 70 AD the nation rebelled and their entire system was destroyed, temple and all. Towards the religious practice of Jews of Israel, Jesus could be seen as more of a reformer than rebel. Yet, the authorities would have none of it.

It is upon me to not defend my position or my nation or my church or my family from Jesus. Why would I do that? Because I am afraid of the change Jesus would bring. I might lose authority or influence. My country might become “weak” in its defenses or standing among nations. I might have to eat humble pie and admit and turn my sin and patterns of control and coercion.

I may never say I’d oppose Jesus and strongly state my allegiance to everything he says or does. But in fact the Holy Spirit is inexorable in revealing ways I still cling to my own ways, possessions and importance. Prestige is a subtle yet vicious idol.

God is good and grants all humanity with fulfillment, justice and truth. We have stuff and position and blessed trajectory in life all from God’s hand. None of that is retracted or relented. The temptation and worldly encouragement is to construct surroundings and systems that protect and accumulate those blessings in ways that benefit us above all else. That’s idolatry. That’s being afraid for “our place” and “our nation”.

Christ in us is better than that and

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟭𝟬:𝟮𝟮 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁.

that is, wealth of all kinds. Let me (and let us) rest in that.

Tenuous secrecy

Luke 12:2-3 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Jesus spoke to the human insistence on privacy.  His words were all inclusive, encompassing both action and words, but focusing more on words.  He promised public disclosure of all things hidden and kept secret.

What Jesus did NOT say was when or how this disclosure would take place.  There is an eternal implication and one that accompanies judgment at the end of this life.  Also, Jesus did NOT advocate betraying a trust or blabbing things told in (strict) confidence.  The proclamation is absolutely a warning for those who use secrecy to shroud ill intent or slander or plans of intrigue and rebellion.

There are, of course, many legitimate reasons to say and do things in private.  Giving counsel at any level requires confidence.  Public shame is avoided through private confession of sin.  And in this life, there is no implied invasion into the intimacy between people.

It is healthy and righteous before God to come clean of whatever hidden words or deeds I might have.  Indeed, a very good measure of wholeness in God is the ability to publicly admit my sin; it’s pure power for others caught in the same activity with a clear sight on forgiveness and healing.  Likewise, if I have something against someone, Jesus’ instructions here is the template for communication:

Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’    If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Note – private discussion with others IS absolutely part of it, but that follows direct conversation with the person against whom I have an issue.  The order matters.

The searching of the Holy Spirit convicts according to these measures; there is no prohibition against honest emotions and all human passion.  Yet, since humanity is a fallen race, the expression of those things is fraught with excess and sinful motives.  Words will not remain private, says Jesus, and since the worst speech comes from a sinful heart, learning to track my sinful words is a pathway to repentance.

Humility to see

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟵:𝟰𝟬-𝟰𝟭 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝗺, “𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼?” 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, “𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗻; 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝘆, ‘𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲.’ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀.”

John 9 is all about blindness. There was a man born blind, there were blind disciples of Jesus who claimed to see why he was born blind (“who sinned”) and there were blind Pharisees who witnessed a profound miracle yet could not receive the person (Jesus) through whom it happened. Their hateful hearts were laid bare in their attack on the healed man himself. They had indeed “seen” but remained hard in their self-preserving obstinance.

Jesus words, then, are describing a state of unbelief that is not merely doubt but darkly motivated. The Pharisees claimed to have understanding of God’s word and taught the people. So they claimed sight of heavenly and eternal things. Then they saw a man healed by heavenly forces yet denied it; sin remained.

It is then for me to acknowledge God at work even through someone with whom I disagree and find offensive. Woe to me if I adopt a posture of always being right to the exclusion of even a move of God. Let me “see” with spiritual eyes more powerful and piercing than my own. For God uses much, MUCH more than I could ever understand and he doesn’t need my orthodoxy or “right thinking” to work miracles and restore lives. Let me get off my high horse and love as he does. In the end that’s all that matters.

As Paul wrote

𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟯:𝟰 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿.

… the same Paul who rejoiced that the gospel was being preached by people who didn’t like him and wanted to cause him trouble.

My imperfections are profound and obvious. I’m a sinner saved purely by grace. May that make me both confident and deeply humble, for I was blind but now I see.

Ministry of preparation

Luke 1:76-79: And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Zechariah had been struck with being mute during his wife Elizabeth’s entire pregnancy.  For he had not believed the word spoken by the angel Gabriel in the Holy of Holies as he had performed his priestly duties.  He had regained his ability to speak when he confirmed the name of his newborn son, John (the Baptist).

The prophecy he then uttered could well be seen as pent-up words, stored deep within his spirit for months. It begins with a proclamation of God’s promises over his people Israel, for their redemption and salvation from their enemies.  In the first century, Israel’s “enemy” in that context was the occupying Roman army.  But Zechariah then finished his prophecy with a word for his newborn baby, John.  In these words, we have a precursor to the nature of the salvation which was to define John’s ministry and that of the Messiah, Jesus.

Work in preparing the way of the Lord echoed back to Isaiah 40.  There would be a reformation of repentance that John would be instrumental in performing.  National and personal sin would need to be reckoned with, turned away from in advance what was to happen.  It was not judgment but tender mercy that would motivate and accomplish the coming move of God, with its forgiveness and salvation in tow.

John’s ministry would be one of making known, revealing and getting ready.  That work was vital because thoughts and speech about salvation would necessarily imply the political/military kind and that was not to be the way God was going to move on the lives of people.  No, as Zechariah’s words concluded, this was a salvation from darkness to light and from war to peace.  It would require no military advance; indeed, it would penetrate military ranks with the commanders powerless to stop it.  And its fruit was to witness the very visit of heaven to earth.

On this side of all those events, I know well the nature of this salvation, of this Jesus.  Yet truthfully it is easy to fall prey to encroaching darkness even so.  Let me be found coming into the light continually, being cut to the quick and caught up short where I have devolved into former ways of thinking, speaking and acting.

Let me also know that there is a preparation ministry in my own heart to experience God’s deepest presence and re-establish his salvation in the present and with power.  It’s not that the Lord is unavailable without some prior spiritual push-ups; Hebrews 4:16 clearly says otherwise.  It’s that in my human existence, there is a spiritual place of fellowship with God that is only found by pushing through my flesh and intellect.  All the calls to prayer in the NT point there.

 

Invitation to the kingdom of joy

Scripture;

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Observation:

In the chronology of Matthew’s gospel, this one-verse account of the activity of Jesus cites a commencement. He began saying something and given the events that preceded – the trial in the desert when Satan himself and in vain tried to get Jesus off-topic and off-mission – this signifies a progression in his life on earth. The message he began proclaiming is one of urgency and calling. So often the “r” word – repent – is taken to mean a somber reflection of one’s shortcomings and sorrow-filled wallowing in deep regret. Such a state has very few positive outcomes and makes an even worse commandment if taken as a way of sentiment and conduct meant a life’s direction. No, repentance in the Greek means to change direction, of mind, perspective and yes, behavior. Jesus’ use of the word is best considered as an exhortation to something better than the listener/reader had before.

And for those who ask the often-arresting question “Why?” there is a definitive answer – “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. For those who have decided to be non-spiritual and to those whose spirituality is/was duty without apparent effect, the “kingdom of heaven” is an imminently available state of indwelling, a signature, ongoing experience of spiritual presence and one of keep joy to its possessors. This sounded (and sounds) especially spooky to those who have never opened personal spiritual doors, but Jesus’ “repent” speaks directly to the combination of fear and obstinacy and pride that keeps those doors shut, locked and barred.

Application:

Do I apprehend the present kingdom of heaven? Do I make it mine? Do I need to change my mind and perspective, to align it once again to all Jesus has for me? I confess that there is a dulling of spirituality that is the specialty of this world and its cares, and that I have let that direct me at times. But praise God for the reminders like this one!

Also, do I make the kingdom of heaven something that’s opposed to me? Not that I inherently walk in its direction and thus, need some adjustment, but that its intentions are at their base, out to humiliate and shame me, pull me down and expose me? If so, I must remember the cloak on the Prodigal Son, put across his shoulders by his father, and how much it covered up. I am by no means immune to sin or its progressive destruction in and around me. But the kingdom of heaven, by very nature, undoes its work and builds over what is torn down and destroyed. Let me see that vitality and embrace its work.

Do I take inventory of the good stuff? If so, I will end up with a jaundiced eye, jaded by all who would take credit – including myself – for the great things that happened and will in the future. Where does every good and perfect gift come from? Not from the impotent, faltering hand of people but from one far stronger and more benign than we could ever imagine. That is the kingdom of heaven in action and that must be what I notice and remain in thanksgiving for.

Prayer:

Short though it is, this verse both brings me back and sets me on course. Thank you for preaching about then enacting the very kingdom you spoke of. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The inward lamp

Scripture:

Luke 11:34-36  Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Observation:

A lamp shines outwardly. Yet the eye gives no light, but takes it in. So if the eye is a lamp, it is a lamp that shines inwardly. This is a statement of the importance of godly perspective. A sick eye, then, is one that darkens vision with an interpretation of deceit, negativity, suspicion and accusation. The unhealthy eye does not occur in isolation; others with such a view spread their infection through words and ill fellowship. Jesus says that when the eye goes bad, darkness fills the entire being. Such is the power and scope of faulty perception. Care must be taken to avoid that for it poisons the inner person. Eyes that see hope, employ faith and grant mercy are those brightening the body with their rays. And when that happens, just as darkness can pervade, so much more can light. It is the will of God that there be no darkness and that believer shine brightly from within.

Application:

I am cut to the quick by this word. I confess to not really understanding it before today. Or maybe I just didn’t want to. The downward spiral of hopelessness and dissipation surrounds me and if I let it, will drag me under. There is a good fight to engage in here – to find the good in things. It has been taught me but so has sarcastic resentment and the weighing down of the soul with cares that have artificial magnitude. Let me be found casting my anxieties on the Lord, confronting the stress inwardly and outwardly and sowing hope instead. This is not only a stance that things “aren’t that bad” – they are NEVER bad with God who works all things together for my good. I need to wake up to God’s work in and through me, cease giving ear to the disgruntled such that I too share their despairing view, let God heal my eyes so that light would pervade the darkness and give Him the glory for it all. There is always plenty to inspire a dim view but there is always plenty to expand that view as well. This takes the muscle of faith and its incumbent practice of faithfulness in prayer and worship. But if I want His light to shine out of me, it must first shine into me.

Prayer:

Father, I am Your project. Work in me Your will and grant me Your perspective; I want to see what You see. In Jesus’ name, amen.