The Jesus We Expect

Reading Mark 6 today,

"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?  Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith." Mark 6:1-6(NIV)

I have to admit I have never seen myself in this story.  It was more of an account that informed me of something that happened in Jesus' life.

But then one verse kept jumping out at me, "He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith."

That made me stop...  Does a lack of faith in my own life prevent Jesus from doing a work? 

Have I come to see life a certain way, and expect less and less from the Lord?  Do I think I know so well what Jesus would and would not do in my life, that I no longer expect great things from him?

The town's people grew up with a Jesus that didn't do miracles.  And now they were not open to seeing him for who he really is.  And because of this lack of faith, he could not do anything in the lives of all but a few of them. 

In fact, it would seem a Jesus with the power to change circumstances or bring healing was actually offensive to them.

Have we become complacent, thinking, "this is all there is how it will always be in our lives, Jesus hasn't done anything before now, why should I believe he ever will?"

Could it be, the reason Jesus hasn't moved in certain areas of our lives is because we simply don't believe he will?

Psalm 34 - 2

Ok back to Psalm 34.

A parent is a child's first real contact with the "outside world".  Obviously, this can be good or bad, based on the parent.  If a parent is harsh or abusive, the child will learn to be guarded, expecting life to be harsh as they grow.

LIkewise, if a parent is loving and nurturing, a child learns to love and trust, often seeing the good in people.

Our parent/child relationship shapes our view of reality.

After David talks about how he prayed and the Lord listened and heard him, he makes several statements about the Lord.  Almost as if he knows we need to be re-educated he begins by encouraging us to, "taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." vv8

9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

    for those who fear him lack nothing.

 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

    he delivers them from all their troubles.

 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 19 The righteous person may have many troubles,

    but the Lord delivers him from them all;

 22 The Lord will rescue his servants;

    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.  (NIV)

Perception, the way we see life, affects what we believe to be true.  Take a moment to pray about these few verses.  Is this what you believe a life with the Lord looks like?  If not, then ask yourself, why?

Either the Word of God is wrong, or our perception is.   If there is a contradiction, both cannot be true.

Smart money's on the Word of God.

Remebering

What is your lion?  What is your bear?

Many of us are familiar with the story of David, how when he was just a shepherd he went up against a giant named Goliath.  He slew the Philistine warrior with a simple sling and stone, and the power of the the Lord!

But did David always have the faith that caused him to not just fight Goliath, but to volunteer and run to the fight while trained soldiers would not?

Why would he do that?  What would make him believe he could succeed? 

Saul wondered the same thing when he told David, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth." 1 Sam 17:33 (NIV)

Yet David had confidence, he replied to Saul remembering his own history of walking with the Lord

"But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,  I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Sam 17:34 -37 (NIV)

David had a history with the Lord, and he knew he could face the giant because he was ready to. 

Take a moment, think about some victories the Lord has given you; write them down, post them so you can see them and remember.  Because we do face problems in our lives, like giants.  Remembering what God has already brought us through can help us to defeat them.

Remember your lion and your bear.

Psalm 34 - 1

Reading Psalm 34 today.

I will praise the Lord at all times.

    I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the Lord;

    let all who are helpless take heart.

Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness;

    let us exalt his name together.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

    He freed me from all my fears.

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;

    he saved me from all my troubles.

For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

    he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Psalm 34:1-7 (NLT)

Sometimes it is helpful to spend some time with just a few verses.  Looking at the first seven of this psalm, we have a unique glimpse into some of the elements of David's prayer life.

David said,  

I will praise the Lord at all times.

I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the Lord;

I prayed to the Lord

In my desperation I prayed

David's part in this example seems to be to praise God, to boast only in him and then pray!

Let's look at God's part,

He answered me.

He freed me from all my fears.

The Lord listened;

He saved me from all my troubles.

We are so used to being self-sufficient, aren't we?  We try to do everything ourselves, often carrying burdens we were not meant to carry.  Yet in this example it's clear; the child is going to the father, who is greater (worthy of the praise).  The child asks, the father answers.  The child comes in desperation, the father frees from fears. 

Anxiety often comes when we forget our place.  No matter how old we get, we are forever children of God.  And when we turn to him, he lifts our burdens, he hears us.  David explains this is not just unique to him.

"For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

    he surrounds and defends all who fear him."

We'll dig a little bit more into this psalm tomorrow.

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"Let no one come to you without feeling better and happier when they leave"
Mother Teresa

Quitting

Have you ever quit on something?

One winter day, about year ago, I decided that I wanted to build a model of a viking ship.  I went online, found one, bought glue, paints, paintbrushes, the whole kit!

I had not built a model in years.  But now I was more mature, I could take my time and really do a good job.  It would be relaxing, I assured myself.

Well, I got about halfway through and realized it was far too much work.  Especially when it came to the little strings I needed to loop all around for sails and such.  I started putting off the progress, days became weeks, became months...

A year later, it still sits on a shelf, unfinished.

I gave up on it.  I simply did not have the passion to finish what I started. 

Yesterday Preacher Mike quoted this scripture, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6 (NIV)

Remember that day you told the Lord your life was his? Remember when you surrendered it all to him? 

At times we may feel like that ship, sitting on a shelf unfinished.  But God never stops working, God remembers when we gave him our lives.  He has been working, nonstop, from that day forward.

"God is not human, that he should lie,

    not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

    Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19

Sometimes we may feel like God is finished with us, but the simple truth is, he is just getting started.

--

"Let no one come to you without feeling better and happier when they leave"
Mother Teresa

Who Are You Thankful For?

I'm always amazed that no matter how many times we read the Word, even if we know a verse by heart, something new can jump out at us.

Reading Galatians today,

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy." Gal 1:3-4 (NIV)

This is such a simple example of love and relationship.  Paul is thinking about his friends in Galatia, and as he writes his letter, he tells them how he feels about them.  He is not only thankful to God for them, but he let's them know he is.

Take a moment today, in fact, take two or three!  Think about the people in your life you are truly thankful for.  Perhaps even follow Paul's example here and tell them so.

--

"Let no one come to you without feeling better and happier when they leave"
Mother Teresa

Happy New Year!

And the new year is here!

What will it bring, only the Lord knows!

But I thought it fitting to start this new year with a Psalm,

Psalm 96

1 Sing to the Lord a new song;

    sing to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;

    proclaim his salvation day after day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,

    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

    he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,

    but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him;

    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,

    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

    bring an offering and come into his courts.

9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;

    tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns."

    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;

    he will judge the peoples with equity.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,

    he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

    and the peoples in his faithfulness.  (NIV)

May the Lord bless you and keep you in this new year, may his face shine upon you and give you peace!

--

"Let no one come to you without feeling better and happier when they leave"
Mother Teresa