Think out Laud
Chris Kelly's journal---a blog for to publish his feeble attempts to praise Jesus Christ, bare his soul, and think out loud about these Interesting Times.
Deuteronomy 30
God has offered blessing and curses. What he expects of us is a choice. V.19 says, "Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Is it this simple? Is it just a choice? Yes, it is. For our choice determines our lifestyle and actions, by which we are ultimately judged.
It is not a difficult choice, way up in heaven or beyond our reach. [11] It is very near us. It is in our own mouth and heart. [14] So we just have a choice to love the Lord and walk in his ways, keep his commands, or not. This was Adam and Eve's choice. This was Moses' choice. This is the choice that separates all men and women into two distinct groups. It is the choice by which we are judged ultimately, and by which we also make all other decisions in life. Will I serve the Lord or no? Will I submit to Him or no? Will I accept his lordship and sovereignty, or be my own man?
Depending on this choice of our own will, we will know God or not, we will choose Jesus or reject him, we will love others or love only ourselves. Depending on this choice, we obey or reject God's laws. Depending on this choice, we value the things of God or the things of men. [Mk 8:33]
Father, help me to choose life, not death. You have chosen me. Lord, now help me to also choose you and love you with all my heart, to wear Jesus on my shirt sleeves, and live for His glory and kingdom. IJNA
Psalm 32
David had a life that is "as good as it gets", from the point of view of any people in any age. But he was not blessed when his sins were unforgiven. He was miserable. All his sins were weights, like a ball and chain, that made him a prisoner, despite his wealth and power and glory.
It is truly hard to imagine that people today, such as the young urban professional or the carefree suburban teenager, are unhappy. It seems they have life at its best. But without the forgiveness of sin, their bones are wasting away, they are inwardly groaning all day long, sapped of strength as in the heat of summer. I have been in this position. I know.
Now we can try all kinds of games, parties, adventures, etc., or escape into books and movies and TV, or even drugs, to feel blessed and happy. People search for knowledge, esp. the "knowledge of good and evil", which they have been told will make them "like God", wise and all-powerful. But knowledge of good and evil only makes people fearful. They try to find blessedness in music, and listen to music 24x7, looking for life. I heard about a guy who went jogging naked every day, saying that it made him feel "truly alive". When he was arrested, he truly felt like dying or that the world doesn't want him to feel alive. Streaking is undoubtedly exhilarating, but it does NOT make one "truly alive".
Rather, it is the love relationship we have with God that makes us truly blessed. According to King David, acknowledging our sin and confessing to God is the source of "truly alive". God's unfailing love surrounds those who trust in him. This is "truly alive". This was why Adam and Eve had Paradise, and were so truly alive that they didn't even know what clothes were!
David was right. There is nothing more blessed than knowing I am right with God and my sins are forgiven. It is paradise restored. But God's hand is heavy upon those who are holding out on Him. Surrender is the only real solution. This is scary. But God is not out to get us. He wants us to surrender to Him so that he may bless and fulfill our lives, not make us prisoners.
Father, help me to surrender to you, confess and receive from you the blessedness of being forgiven and made right, not by my righteousness, but by yours.
Luke 19:41-48
People all want peace and yet they reject the Savior who offers it, especially the leaders. Is it any wonder the more government expands the worse it is. But when people govern themselves before God, democracy and all the ideals of Western culture blossom and bear fruit.
Jesus entered Jerusalem to shouts of acclaim. But when he saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes." He was not impressed by the skyscrapers and glittering city; he was broken-hearted because the leaders were corrupt and rejected Him, and because the people hung on his words, but didn't take them to heart.
I didn't realize how true this is now till I thought about what people are doing in our times. They are just watching game shows or crime shows on TV, or visiting questionable Internet sites, or playing with their phone-music-gadget-toys, or buying things to make their own little paradise on earth. So much of what we do is just like a cow walking along a path, back and forth with no meaning or hope, destined for destruction.
Jesus continued, "The days will come upon you when your enemies will build and embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." This prophecy was specific to Jerusalem, because they rejected Jesus and would soon be destroyed. Why should God protect them if they rejected Him?
But everyone thinks they deserve God's protection. They do not. They are sinners who all deserve wrath. Yet God doesn't destroy them, he simply lets other wicked people go around and destroy others.
I'm convinced this is prophetic warning applies to God's people now as well. The Old Testament "church" was divided and destroyed, and the New Testament "Church" (as in the societal institution of The Church) will also be destroyed if they continually reject Him as Lord (if they refuse to obey Him). We must restore a devout and holy life, and give our minds to the study of His word and expanding his Kingdom to the whole world.
Lord, grant us the Holy Spirit to move us from complacency. Be it ever so painful, Lord, discipline us as your sons, and separate us from the sins that constantly tempt and ruin our lives and our minds. Help me to devote heart, soul, mind and strength to love your Son Jesus today. Amen
Luke 19:11-27
The Lord Jesus seems to encourage the spiritual entrepreneur here. Go and make a profit. The kingdom of God isn't already established on earth, as it is in heaven. That is the work Jesus sent us to do. It is like investing money, or putting money to work, until He comes back.
To hear, "Well done, my good servant!" is what we are working for. How can we make a profit spiritually? If he has given us money, we should use it for his kingdom; if talent, to advance his message; if influence, to turn people to God; if wisdom, to teach His word. This is the true profit motive: that we may produce much with the abilities, talents and riches He has entrusted us with.
So what will I do? Just keep surviving in a job? plodding along like a beast of burden? Should I quit and try something really big for His Name's sake? I think so. I think building a church is for God's glory, or writing and producing a smash musical. Especially, teaching his word to college students and making disciples among them is the hope and calling I have been given.
Father, help me today to reach people, anyone, who needs you, and to make no small plans, but attempt great things for you and expect great things from you. IJNA
Jesus was passing through Jericho. When the tax collector Zacchaeus heard Jesus had come to town, he really wanted to see Jesus. So he climbed a tree so he would not miss Jesus, for he was a short man and the crowd that had gathered was large. Zacchaeus was probably not a well-liked man. I would have avoided a crowd too.
Climbing a tree, though, for a grown man, made him particularly conspicuous. When Jesus saw him, he invited him to come down and then invited himself over to Zacchaeus' house for dinner. "I must stay at your house today." This is odd. We don't normally invite ourselves to other people's house. Even a pastor or important public figure would not presume to be welcome at a stranger's house, not so much that he would invite himself to stay the night.
But Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus' house for several reasons. Surely it was apparent that Zacc wanted to get to know Jesus. There would be no better way than a visit to his house. And I think was apparent that Zacc had some kind of faith, though he was probably not very religious. In fact, the people muttered that Jesus had "gone to be the guest of a sinner." So it was automatically scandalous for Jesus to hang around with this man.
So I think the most apparent thing, then, is that Jesus loved Zacc. This moved Zacchaeus to stand up and say, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." He was moved to give by Jesus' friendship.
How can I make friends like Jesus? I need boldness to invite myself over, to reach out to people who are wounded and sinful and make friends with them, even if they don't seem likely to be the kinds of friends I should keep. And I need to love them genuinely, enough to trust them even to stay in their homes. Americans really lack this kind of familiarity and fellowship. We guard our homes and our reputations entirely too much. May God help me to learn the outreach of Jesus and associate with those whom Christians would normally avoid---the tax collectors of our age, such as Democrats and other liberals, Anarchists, skateboarders, homeless people, party animals, even gays. I'd rather not. But Jesus made friends with everyone. May God give me the courage and outreach to make friends boldly.
Jesus didn't push himself on folks who weren't interested in him. But when he saw someone especially interested, enough to get out on a limb just to see him, he didn't ignore them. He reached out and drew them nearer. --Father, I'm too selfish and too much a loner to do this. But help me to change and reach out boldly in faith to others around me. Help me here and now to give myself to them, and whatever I have as well. Lord Jesus, open my heart, as you opened Zacchaeus' heart. IJNA
Luke 17:26-37
There are too many ways in which our times are like the times of Noah, or the days of Sodom, to get started naming them. But anyone who loves truth, anyone who loves God can see it.
So the goal of life is to let everything go and save our souls. "Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." I may sound like double-talk. But "life" and living are not the same. Eternal life has nothing to do with survival. People who want to survive will eat their own children. Those who have eternal life are ready to die, just as if death were the natural and proper end of life, as it is.
Well might the people of Noah's time expect that they deserved to get on his ark, or the people of Sodom be angry that God burned their city. Americans lament the tragedy of 9/11/01 and the destruction of New Orleans in '05. God does not owe anyone a long, prosperous life. For our sins, we deserve to die in misery and rot in Hell. We must remember that, "Where there is a dead body, the vultures will gather." Those who sin and live selfishly, trying to save their life, will lose it. Those who live like vultures will die like carrion.
We Christians long for the day of Jesus' coming. One will be taken and the other left behind. The judgment is both good news and bad news. May God help us to live like those who will be taken when he comes for us, not the angry survivors who are left behind to blame God and one another for the destruction that the "vultures" are bringing upon the earth.
Genesis 41:4
And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.d0703am.html
Spurgeon likens the fat and lean cows of Pharaoh's dream to the days of a Christian's life. What a fascinating analogy. We may prosper in our faith for a time. But when the famine comes, all our wealth of spiritual fervor and store of spiritual treasure may be consumed and gone in just a few years.
"Why should not every year be richer than the past, in love, and usefulness, and joy?—I am nearer the celestial hills, I have had more experience of my Lord, and should be more like Him." So should we, yet are not. America has richer, bigger churches, wealthy charities with directors who take out salaries of $100k or more. We say we are rich, but we are pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Should we imagine that we have plenty in store to last us many years, when our very lives may be snuffed out tonight?
No. But we must think of each DAY. Is it fed in the meadows of the Lord, fattened with prayer and fasting, or wallowing in the mire of worldly riches and luxury and laziness? In short, have I spent lean hours in prayer, or sowed generously? Have I a harvest of righteousness, or am I only skin and bones?
Spurgeon didn't think he was doing enough. He saw the lean cows consuming his spiritual stores. So I must struggle to pasture my days in the meadows of the Lord, laying up spiritual treasure, not treasure that moth and rust can destroy.
Father, I am too stupid to overcome the temptations of the world and give my heart to prayer every day, as I know I ought. Free me, Lord Jesus, from the constant hankering of lust and greed, and make me a man of devotion to you, who thinks to pray at every step and forgets to eat, who thinks to repent and forgets my justifications, who thinks of others and forgets my own dreams and desires, who puts in a full day's work, rather than squandering time in petty pursuits.
Luke 17:7-10
I'm told that the young generation today have a work ethic that is, ... uh, not the same as my generation. We knew we had to "pay our dues" before we could get ahead in the world. We didn't expect anyone to praise and serve us when we were just starting out. As we grew up, we got accustomed to being shushed and told to "be seen and not heard". So after we became adults, we had a bit of fear all the time that our boss would not like our work and fire us.
But kids today think they are special, and have been told so throughout school. Like rich kids who have servants, they think they should all be waited on and fawned over by their everyone, including their "superiors". In fact, they totally reject the whole concept of "ones superiors". They believe in equality, not in the sense of equal opportunity, but egalitarianism of the sort that makes people forcibly equal in every outward measure, regardless of their ability or performance.
Jesus shatters this false equality. He says that we should think, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty" after we have done everything we were told to do, NOT expect praise and a reward.
The problem with me (and the young generation) is that we don't think we have any duty. We think everyone owes us. Our parents OWE us our allowance. Society OWES us an education and a job. The government OWES everyone an easier, worry-free life. Someone (out there) owes us health care. And so forth. But if everyone owes ME something, who do I owe?
When I think of one young man, who everyone owes so much, I worry that we are raising a most helpless generation, who will sit by waiting for everyone who owes them to pay up, and wind up with nothing, nothing for themselves, nothing to give their children, nothing to leave to the next generation, and nothing to contribute to the country. They are only consumers. It's frightening. We can't go on if people don't, generally speaking, come to realize that they have a duty to contribute, that they are servants of God and of one another, and are duty-bound to do something for God and for others.
We are duty-bound to govern our nation. We are duty-bound to serve God, to be missionaries and shepherds and preachers. We are duty-bound to work hard and make a living, and study (as students) or go deeper (as teachers), etc., etc. We are duty-bound "be fruitful and multiply, increase in number and bear fruit." My God help us to do our duty, not for a reward, but for the sheer sense of being dutiful and reliable servants of God.