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Day 95: Deuteronomy 32:48-Joshua 1:18; Luke 4:31-5:11 — On the road

Monday, April 5th, 2010

on the roadToday’s readings detail an august, hallowed ending and bright, powerful, robust beginnings.

Moses blesses Israel by tribe, describing their futures and God’s work with them. He then ascends mount Nebo from which he sees that land to which he has brought Israel but into which he himself cannot enter; Moses had failed to revere God as holy before Israel, Numbers 20:8-13. His eye was not dim nor his vigor abated. He just passes from this life to the next. The Creator, YHWH Himself, buries Moses in an undisclosed location. Such a life, such a wonder of courage, intimate relationship between God and man; no prophet like him arose in Israel after him. Moses had laid hands on Joshua and he received the Spirit of God for the work ahead. Now Joshua will take them into that land, “Be strong and courageous,” Joshua 1:6-9. A new leader, a new land, new challenges. A work to be done, evil to be conquered, promises to receive, a kingdom to build.

Jesus, prophet and priest and king, comes to Israel; new wonders to herald a new age. Those denizens of the darker spirit world know Him, but He commands them to be silent, it is not theirs to reveal the Messiah. The works declare Him, the people begin to adore Him, to need Him. The fishermen enter rather abruptly into that procession by a boat load of fish. Peter falls and declares himself unclean. They leave all and follow Jesus, the Glorious Leader to take then to a new land, to face new challenges. A work to be done, evil to be conquered, promises to receive, a kingdom to build.

When the church comes together we see such a mix of lives, of people, like a living stream swirling and flowing. We smile as new parents scramble to “do something” about crying babies. We see ourselves in the aged…perhaps that IS “us”! The aged sing the songs of a faith that is now more exciting and full of hope for them than the day they first believed. New Christians and old soldiers of the cross share in worship and the bread and the cup. We travel with a great host, many entering ahead of us, many after us, moving on the road of life to a new land of promise. A work to be done, evil to be conquered, promises to receive, a kingdom of priests, a kingdom to receive. Jesus truly is that Way, that path for godly living now and the life to come, John 14:1-6, 1 Tim. 4:8.

Question: On what path and with what people do you travel?

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Posted in faith, Lord's Supper, Moses, Obedience, Salvation, Worship | 1 Comment »

Day 64: Numbers 8:5-22 — Salvation

Friday, March 5th, 2010

waterI have a preacher friend from another tradition that likes to tease me. When he sees me, he will say something like, “Hey Randy, you still baptizing people or have you learned about grace?” I will answer back something like, “Yes, grace has taught me to baptize.” I don’t think we will ever come to terms with this but when I read our text from Numbers 8:5-22, it makes me think about why cleansing is so important to God. I mean God has already shown His grace to the people by saving them from the Egyptians. He brought them out of Egypt and saved them from Pharaoh at the crossing of the Red Sea. Well then after He shows them His grace, why does He give them the Ten Commandments, expect them to build a tabernacle, and then in our reading tell the people to cleanse themselves for purification of sins? In this long list of things to do, never do the people question God’s grace nor his commandments.

Next time, I see my friend, I am going to yell, “you still telling people to call on the name of Jesus to be saved or have you learned of grace?” I mean if grace saves us why do we need faith, or to call on the name of Jesus, or confess, or repent, or be baptized, or to give money, or to live morally? It seems to me if we understand grace then we understand judgment. The just thing for God to do is to annihilate us from the face of the earth. I mean we have all sinned. We are all guilty. Yet, Jesus died for our sins and saved us from our sins. Jesus is so much greater than the sacrifice and purification in the Old Testament in our reading. I think His call for us to obey His Word today is even greater.

I believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). I confess Him (Romans 10:9-10) and call upon His name (Romans 10:13), I repent of my sins (Acts 2:38), and I submit my body to be immersed (buried in water – Colossians 2:12) into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). I believe that coming up out of that grave of water, that I am born again (John 3:3-5). I am forgiven of past sins (Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16). I am saved (1Peter 3:21 and Mark 16:16). I am added to the church which Jesus built (Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:41, and Acts 2:47). I have received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a seal of my salvation (Acts 5:32, Ephesians 1:13-14, and Romans 8:9-11). I am called to live a life worthy of Christ everyday (Ephesians 4:1-6).

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Posted in Baptism, Cross, Discipleship, faith, Forgiveness, God, Grace, Numbers, Repentance, Salvation, Sin | Comments Off

Day 54: Mark 1:14-39 — The Disappointment of Jesus

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

I hope the title of this post brings a few questioning eyebrows. I hope it makes you think and question your view of Jesus. It seems in a general sense that we see Jesus as a healer. We like the exorcism stories because we read them in the context of our illnesses and those we love. I have heard the question on many occasions. Jesus healed others, so, why doesn’t He heal me or my loved one? If you read Mark 1:14, you find that Jesus came to proclaim the gospel of God — the good news of what God is doing. It is clear that Jesus’ primary mission was to preach (Mark 1:38). He accomplishes that mission. In addition He teaches and heals. He sends his disciples out to preach and teach.

Our disappointment may be that Jesus’ primary mission was not to heal and exorcise all of our demons. So, why does Jesus heal and exorcise demons? He did it because He had compassion (Mark 1:41). It was a sign of His authority (Mark 1:27). We may be disappointed because Mark tells us that healing and exorcisms distracted Jesus from His primary purpose (e.g., Mark 1:45; Mark 3:7-12; Mark 7:24-30, etc.). Of course, He used healings and miracles as teaching tools (Mark 2:5-12; Mark 3:1-6; Mark 8:22-26; Mark 11:12-25). Yet, He would avoid the healing-hungry crowds (Mark 3:9-10; Mark 4:1; Mark 4:35-36; Mark 6:31-32; Mark 7:24).

Would we not be disappointed today, if Jesus avoided us and our need? Jesus was focused on the salvation of all souls and not just the temporary healing of a few physical bodies. Please don’t get me wrong, Jesus cares for us when we are ill or dying. But He cares more for our souls and His preaching and teaching was a cure for our greatest disease: the disease called sin that separates us forever from His Father.

We spend a lot of time in our churches doing “good works.” Are these “good works” the work of Jesus? We may be disappointed if they are not accompanied by the preaching of the Word because Jesus came to preach and teach and His mission for us is to do the same. Jesus cares about our sufferings but He is too good of a doctor and savior not to triage past a minor injury to treat the more severe condition that plagues mankind. He is a Savior of souls.

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Posted in Forgiveness, Jesus, Mark, Salvation, Sin | 1 Comment »

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