There are many glorious things in the Christmas story. Many miracles and eye-popping angels and a quick escape to Egypt. But to only see the glory is to only see half the story.
Becoming Human: Amazing that anyone could do it! But to change from perfect spirit to a body filled with organisms and living nine months in fluid and having to go through birth and… being a teenager? No thank you.
Virgin Birth: An amazing miracle of God that a virgin can be pregnant by the Spirit, without any fleshly contact. However, that virgin then had to face the shame of dealing with neighbors and her fiancée wondering who the other man is.
Annunciation: An angel coming to announce the pregnancy is fantastic, but there is the simple human question of “how?” And this is insulting to the angel. Luckily, he just says that nothing is impossible for God.
Going to Elizabeth: Elizabeth and the pre-natal John the Baptist were rejoicing to hear about the virgin birth. But Mary recognizes her lowliness and poverty and desperation. But she recognizes that God is raising her to a different level—one of blessing.
Going to Bethlehem: Sure, having your baby born in the town of prophecy, the city of David is great, and fulfilling the prophecy is great. But it is not so great to be forced there by a Satanic, Roman power.
Shepherds and Angels: “Glory to God” and people worshipping is great. But shepherds? Shepherds are the lowest of the low, the rejected profession. Why did it have to be them?
Three Magi: It’s great to have aristocrats from afar to give you money, just like a king. But to have them accidently lead your great enemy to you—the local ruler— that’s not so good.
Escape to Egypt: Wonderful that God gave Joseph a dream to help him escape the persecution. But having other babies die for the sake of the one who escaped is awful.
Going to Nazareth: After all this adventure and excitement, finally it’s time to settle down in a small, hillbilly town, living a quiet, normal life. What was all this for, anyway?
Did you see the other half? For every glorious, wonderful, miraculous event, there is another aspect of shame and sadness and even terror.
The story of Jesus sometimes is seen as simply a story of glory—of miracles and successes and happiness. But the real story is God bringing glory out of a context of shame. The virgin birth is shameful. Mary had to face her family and friends and to be shamed by their stares, their whispers and outright lies about her. God did that through His miracle. God knew it would be done. And it was necessary.
To live in a world that sees God’s ways as something less than ideal means that to live for God is to live in shame. It means that people will look at a God-led lifestyle and say that you need to “get a life”. It means doing good and having people hate you for it. It means people doing wrong to you and you never doing wrong back to them.
Sometimes we can feel that our lives are lives of shame, of people hating us all the time, of them looking down on us. However, just because others look down on us doesn’t mean that God does. If we are doing our best to live for Him, and holding onto His word and helping others, not judging them—then we have nothing to be ashamed about. Our lives should not be about shame.
Instead of focusing on the shame in our lives, we should focus on God’s glory through us. We should see the miracles God is doing in our lives. We should recognize that if we are getting shame from others in living for God, then we are just like Mary. Just like Joseph. Just like Jesus.
And that’s nothing to be ashamed about.
Showing posts with label Jesus' life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus' life. Show all posts
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Why Work For God?
Okay, so God wants us to work. Buy why should we? I mean, God can do the work on his own, can’t he? And God is so powerful that he doesn’t really need us. So why don’t we just relax and bask in the knowledge that God’s got it all under control? Well, here’s some good reasons for us to work for God:
1. God and Jesus gave us an example to work
Jesus worked all the time—and the reason he gave for his hard work is because his Father is working (John 5:17). God is working all the time—creating, sustaining, healing, helping, providing for, and more and more. Jesus was also working on earth, recognizing that his time was short. Because of this, we should be like Jesus and do his work as much as we can. We are in the midst of the same workplace Jesus was—the world full of suffering, oppressed people. So we need to keep working (John 4:34, 38).
2. Jesus commanded us to work
When Jesus left the world, he didn’t tell his disciples to just sit around talking about him. Nor did he want them to just meditate on the word all the time. Rather, Jesus commanded his disciples to make more disciples—to do work with other people! (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus commanded the disciples to do work while they still could, because the time is growing short and there will be a time when the work cannot be done. (John 9:4).
3. If we work, the kingdom of God will be stronger
The work we are supposed to do is work for the kingdom of God. It isn’t just in a vacuum, but the work is among God’s people. If we do this work for people, as we are supposed to, then we will cause God’s kingdom to grow stronger. This is our goal for working. The kingdom of God will last forever, and if we build it up, we are a part of God’s eternal work. This is a good reason to work! (Ephesians 4:16)
4. If you do the work of God, you will be provided for
If you work, you get paid with what you need. To be honest, not every work provides you with what you need, but God’s work does! If you focus on God’s work, Jesus promises that you will be provided for and that you will have more than what you need—even if you don’t have a salary. (Matthew 10:10; Mark 10:29-30)
5. We are judged according to our work
The Scripture says many times in many contexts that everyone will be judged according to their work. It does not say that we will be judged according to our thoughts, our desires, our intentions or our faith. It says that our final state—reward or loss—is determined by our work. So what work we do is very important. If we do the wrong work, we will be judged according to that. But if we repent from dead works and do the work of God, then we will be rewarded. (Proverbs 24:11-12; Job 34:11; Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 25:14; Ezekiel 24:14; Lamentations 3:64; John 5:29;I Corinthians 3:12-15; II Corinthians 5:10; I Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:12-13; Ezekiel 18)
6. We are rewarded for our work
If we work well, then we will be rewarded. And the more we work, with the better gain, we will be rewarded more. Everyone who works will at least gain the kingdom of God. But those who work harder for Jesus will gain greater prestige and honor from Jesus on the last day. (Matthew 20:1-16; 25:14-23; I Corinthians 3:12-15)
7. If we do not work for God, we will be not allowed in the kingdom of God
However, with every good news comes bad news. Those who claim to be of Jesus and who have received blessing from Jesus, if they do nothing with that blessing or that glory, then they will receive nothing from God on the final day. They who do no work for God, gain nothing from God. Those who work a little receive at least the kingdom; but those who do not work at all receive nothing. They may think that it is all grace, but God expects us to respond to that grace and do his work as well. So if we do not work, then we will be rejected by God. (Matthew 25:14-30; Matthew 22:10-14)
8. The church will judge us if we do not work
Because the church wants to make sure all people, even their own people, enter into God’s kingdom, they will discipline those who do not work. If a person is not working for God at all, the church will begin a process of discipline, which may mean that they will have to not fellowship with us for a time. This is not because the church wants to cause us to submit, but because they care about us enough to even discipline us to do what God wants us to do. (II Thessalonians 3:10-15)
To do God’s work is to gain God’s kingdom
1. God and Jesus gave us an example to work
Jesus worked all the time—and the reason he gave for his hard work is because his Father is working (John 5:17). God is working all the time—creating, sustaining, healing, helping, providing for, and more and more. Jesus was also working on earth, recognizing that his time was short. Because of this, we should be like Jesus and do his work as much as we can. We are in the midst of the same workplace Jesus was—the world full of suffering, oppressed people. So we need to keep working (John 4:34, 38).
2. Jesus commanded us to work
When Jesus left the world, he didn’t tell his disciples to just sit around talking about him. Nor did he want them to just meditate on the word all the time. Rather, Jesus commanded his disciples to make more disciples—to do work with other people! (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus commanded the disciples to do work while they still could, because the time is growing short and there will be a time when the work cannot be done. (John 9:4).
3. If we work, the kingdom of God will be stronger
The work we are supposed to do is work for the kingdom of God. It isn’t just in a vacuum, but the work is among God’s people. If we do this work for people, as we are supposed to, then we will cause God’s kingdom to grow stronger. This is our goal for working. The kingdom of God will last forever, and if we build it up, we are a part of God’s eternal work. This is a good reason to work! (Ephesians 4:16)
4. If you do the work of God, you will be provided for
If you work, you get paid with what you need. To be honest, not every work provides you with what you need, but God’s work does! If you focus on God’s work, Jesus promises that you will be provided for and that you will have more than what you need—even if you don’t have a salary. (Matthew 10:10; Mark 10:29-30)
5. We are judged according to our work
The Scripture says many times in many contexts that everyone will be judged according to their work. It does not say that we will be judged according to our thoughts, our desires, our intentions or our faith. It says that our final state—reward or loss—is determined by our work. So what work we do is very important. If we do the wrong work, we will be judged according to that. But if we repent from dead works and do the work of God, then we will be rewarded. (Proverbs 24:11-12; Job 34:11; Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 25:14; Ezekiel 24:14; Lamentations 3:64; John 5:29;I Corinthians 3:12-15; II Corinthians 5:10; I Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:12-13; Ezekiel 18)
6. We are rewarded for our work
If we work well, then we will be rewarded. And the more we work, with the better gain, we will be rewarded more. Everyone who works will at least gain the kingdom of God. But those who work harder for Jesus will gain greater prestige and honor from Jesus on the last day. (Matthew 20:1-16; 25:14-23; I Corinthians 3:12-15)
7. If we do not work for God, we will be not allowed in the kingdom of God
However, with every good news comes bad news. Those who claim to be of Jesus and who have received blessing from Jesus, if they do nothing with that blessing or that glory, then they will receive nothing from God on the final day. They who do no work for God, gain nothing from God. Those who work a little receive at least the kingdom; but those who do not work at all receive nothing. They may think that it is all grace, but God expects us to respond to that grace and do his work as well. So if we do not work, then we will be rejected by God. (Matthew 25:14-30; Matthew 22:10-14)
8. The church will judge us if we do not work
Because the church wants to make sure all people, even their own people, enter into God’s kingdom, they will discipline those who do not work. If a person is not working for God at all, the church will begin a process of discipline, which may mean that they will have to not fellowship with us for a time. This is not because the church wants to cause us to submit, but because they care about us enough to even discipline us to do what God wants us to do. (II Thessalonians 3:10-15)
To do God’s work is to gain God’s kingdom
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
What Is The Cross We Should Take Up?
Mark 15:12-40
The shame of Jesus
Convicted, yet innocent
Condemned by a crowd
Considered worse than a murderer and robber
Mocked
Beaten
Unable to bear his own cross
Crucified—hung in shame as a criminal
Didn’t take wine with myrrh
Crucified with robbers
Publically mocked as a false prophet, a liar and a weakling
Publically insulted
Prayer ignored and misunderstood
None of his friends would stand with him
Mark 8:34-38
This shame is what we should carry.
Yet Jesus told us not to be ashamed of the shame he bore and the shame we are to bear for him
If we are ashamed of the shame of Jesus, we will be shamed.
I Corinthians 1:17-31
The gospel is foolishness, because it teaches that Jesus is crucified
What is foolish about it?
To be hung on a cross is the ultimate act of shame
To be shamed means that one is unfit to be a leader/authority of anyone
But Christians hold to a belief of the one who was most shamed is most exalted by God
Followers of Jesus not only believe in him, but follow in these shameful acts
It is opposed to any kind of worldly “wisdom”—it doesn’t make sense!
Martyrdom and humiliation as salvation—not self-defense, not creating justice, not delivering curses, not
The cross is Humility, death, suffering, persecution, sacrifice, love, the ultimate act of faith—all for the sake of Jesus
Yet the cross is salvation. Anyone who does not take up the cross does not have salvation in Christ.
The salvation of Christ is the salvation of the cross.
You can try salvation in other ways, but that is not the way of Jesus.
Salvation by religious practices is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by intellectual belief is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by being nice is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by prayer alone is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by good worship is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by bible study or doctrine is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by going to church is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by hoping things will be okay is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by saying “praise the Lord” a lot or honoring Jesus is not the way of Jesus.
Salvation by acting crazy alone is not the way of Jesus.
Jesus calls us to the cross.
He calls us to shame
He calls us to act crazy like he acted crazy.
He calls us to do what he did.
He calls us to hope in the promises of God.
He calls us to give up everything
He calls us to be stupid in the eyes of the world
He calls us to take up his cross.
The shame of Jesus
Convicted, yet innocent
Condemned by a crowd
Considered worse than a murderer and robber
Mocked
Beaten
Unable to bear his own cross
Crucified—hung in shame as a criminal
Didn’t take wine with myrrh
Crucified with robbers
Publically mocked as a false prophet, a liar and a weakling
Publically insulted
Prayer ignored and misunderstood
None of his friends would stand with him
Mark 8:34-38
This shame is what we should carry.
Yet Jesus told us not to be ashamed of the shame he bore and the shame we are to bear for him
If we are ashamed of the shame of Jesus, we will be shamed.
I Corinthians 1:17-31
The gospel is foolishness, because it teaches that Jesus is crucified
What is foolish about it?
To be hung on a cross is the ultimate act of shame
To be shamed means that one is unfit to be a leader/authority of anyone
But Christians hold to a belief of the one who was most shamed is most exalted by God
Followers of Jesus not only believe in him, but follow in these shameful acts
It is opposed to any kind of worldly “wisdom”—it doesn’t make sense!
Martyrdom and humiliation as salvation—not self-defense, not creating justice, not delivering curses, not
The cross is Humility, death, suffering, persecution, sacrifice, love, the ultimate act of faith—all for the sake of Jesus
Yet the cross is salvation. Anyone who does not take up the cross does not have salvation in Christ.
The salvation of Christ is the salvation of the cross.
You can try salvation in other ways, but that is not the way of Jesus.
Salvation by religious practices is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by intellectual belief is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by being nice is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by prayer alone is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by good worship is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by bible study or doctrine is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by going to church is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by hoping things will be okay is not the way of Jesus
Salvation by saying “praise the Lord” a lot or honoring Jesus is not the way of Jesus.
Salvation by acting crazy alone is not the way of Jesus.
Jesus calls us to the cross.
He calls us to shame
He calls us to act crazy like he acted crazy.
He calls us to do what he did.
He calls us to hope in the promises of God.
He calls us to give up everything
He calls us to be stupid in the eyes of the world
He calls us to take up his cross.
Jesus' Faith
This is not a list of faith IN Jesus, but the faith that Jesus himself displayed when on earth. It is a basic summary of Jesus' faith as found in the Synoptic gospels:
- Act in accordance with God’s desire even if outward circumstances encourage one to do the opposite
Being baptized by John, even if it doesn’t make sense
Taking on disciples without clear sustenance or household to provide for them
Blessing to the righteous sufferer
Rejoicing in persecution
- Faith—confidence that promises of God will be fulfilled and acting consistently with that confidence
- Following the Spirit and obeying his promptings
- Looking for the Scriptures to be fulfilled—commands obeyed and promises kept by God
Answers temptations with Scriptures that must be fulfilled
Annul commands—least
Everything in the law and prophets must be fulfilled
Avoiding evil at all cost
Fulfillment of law is to love others
- Focusing on eschatalogical promises to be fulfilled
- Looking for God to fulfill promises of salvation, not other powers
-Don’t depend on money, possessions for salvation
-Don’t depend on other men for salvation
- Fulfilling commands for God’s sake, not for the sake of other people
- Prayer is for the fulfilling of God’s promises
Pray that God would fulfill his eschatalogical promises
Pray persistently for the fulfillment of promises
Pray God would love his people enough to send out laborers
- Humility: Not fulfilling self-promoting promises oneself, but allowing God to do that.
Requesting silence when true authority is shown
- Putting oneself in the position of looking foolish if God doesn’t fulfill his promise
Commanding demons to go, rebuking sicknesses
- Confidence in authority given by God
Healings and exorcisms done by authority
Centurion confident that authority spoken from afar is enough
Passing authority on to disciples
- Looking to God to provide basic sustenance, if God’s kingdom and righteousness is top priority
-Not focusing on work and farming to provide for one
- Encouraging, teaching and demanding faith in others that they too might gain the salvation of God
-Encouraging confidence in God’s promises
-Encouraging boldness that leads to suffering
-Encouraging radical obedience to love, beyond the law
-Encouraging confidence in God’s promise about Jesus—that he is God’s son
-Calling on disciples to leave everything—one’s normal labor— and follow him
-Discouraging fear
-Encouraging trust in God’s judgment (not taking judgment in one’s own hands)
-Commanding to depend on God in ministry (depend for sustenance, for ability to minister)
Summary of Jesus' faith:
Confidence in the fulfillment of the promises of the Scriptures
Boldness to proclaim such fulfillment
Confidence in God's authority/power to give salvation to his people who are in desperate need of salvation
Confidence in God's salvation, even if one needs to face distress/testing
Enduring the objections and hatred of those who did not have confidence in the gospel
Prepared to sacrifice all for the sake of the coming salvation of God
Sacrifice for others who need the salvation of God
- Act in accordance with God’s desire even if outward circumstances encourage one to do the opposite
Being baptized by John, even if it doesn’t make sense
Taking on disciples without clear sustenance or household to provide for them
Blessing to the righteous sufferer
Rejoicing in persecution
- Faith—confidence that promises of God will be fulfilled and acting consistently with that confidence
- Following the Spirit and obeying his promptings
- Looking for the Scriptures to be fulfilled—commands obeyed and promises kept by God
Answers temptations with Scriptures that must be fulfilled
Annul commands—least
Everything in the law and prophets must be fulfilled
Avoiding evil at all cost
Fulfillment of law is to love others
- Focusing on eschatalogical promises to be fulfilled
- Looking for God to fulfill promises of salvation, not other powers
-Don’t depend on money, possessions for salvation
-Don’t depend on other men for salvation
- Fulfilling commands for God’s sake, not for the sake of other people
- Prayer is for the fulfilling of God’s promises
Pray that God would fulfill his eschatalogical promises
Pray persistently for the fulfillment of promises
Pray God would love his people enough to send out laborers
- Humility: Not fulfilling self-promoting promises oneself, but allowing God to do that.
Requesting silence when true authority is shown
- Putting oneself in the position of looking foolish if God doesn’t fulfill his promise
Commanding demons to go, rebuking sicknesses
- Confidence in authority given by God
Healings and exorcisms done by authority
Centurion confident that authority spoken from afar is enough
Passing authority on to disciples
- Looking to God to provide basic sustenance, if God’s kingdom and righteousness is top priority
-Not focusing on work and farming to provide for one
- Encouraging, teaching and demanding faith in others that they too might gain the salvation of God
-Encouraging confidence in God’s promises
-Encouraging boldness that leads to suffering
-Encouraging radical obedience to love, beyond the law
-Encouraging confidence in God’s promise about Jesus—that he is God’s son
-Calling on disciples to leave everything—one’s normal labor— and follow him
-Discouraging fear
-Encouraging trust in God’s judgment (not taking judgment in one’s own hands)
-Commanding to depend on God in ministry (depend for sustenance, for ability to minister)
Summary of Jesus' faith:
Confidence in the fulfillment of the promises of the Scriptures
Boldness to proclaim such fulfillment
Confidence in God's authority/power to give salvation to his people who are in desperate need of salvation
Confidence in God's salvation, even if one needs to face distress/testing
Enduring the objections and hatred of those who did not have confidence in the gospel
Prepared to sacrifice all for the sake of the coming salvation of God
Sacrifice for others who need the salvation of God
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