Attitudes

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.  (Jn 13:3-4, NASB)

This came about at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  He had said everything he needed to say, and done all He needed to do, except die.  We find Him here spending the last evening with His disciples and desiring a way to impart strength, understanding, and direction to them.

He didn’t cry out “Wash my feet for I am the Messiah.”  Nor did He say “Bow down to me, I am soon to be exalted.”  Nor did He say “Prepare Me to be an offering.“ No, He said nothing at this point.

He took off his outer garments, put a towel around his waist, filled a basin with water, and began to wash his disciples feet. When He got done He said:

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

(John 13:15, NIV)

Jesus knew who He was, where He had come from, and where He was going.  Jesus stayed true to His mission.  He came as a servant.  He left as a servant.  He neither demanded nor expected His “rights”. 

Paul encourages us in Philippians 2:5-7, NASB:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  (Php 2:5-7, NASB)

It is an attitude that says “it is not about me.”  It is an attitude that says “I am here to serve.”  It is an attitude that says “the mission will be accomplished.”

As we finish off here, let us ask ourselves, does the mission continue in me?  Am I continuing the example set forth by Jesus?  Do I have an attitude that enables me to serve others, or do I just have an attitude?

America The Beautiful

From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and bleeding wounds; they have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil. (Isaiah 1:6, NRSV)

I read Isaiah Chapter 1 this morning, and yes, I do know that it was written to the nation of Israel during a certain time frame in the past. However,  if that is the only nation it can apply to and that was the only time period in which it was relevant, then why can it still speak to us today? It is because the Bible is not a history book, it is God's revelation of Himself and His purpose to humanity. I was quite taken this morning with how applicable it is to today's time period, to the nations, to humanity, to America, to the Church, and to individuals.

My words this morning are addressed to all these groups, no matter which group I seem to be addressing.

How can a nation survive or prosper, when it severs its ties with its roots? When it says "I will no longer be identified with that which gave me identity and purpose."

How can a nation survive when it makes convenents with its enemies?

How can a nation survive when it does not recognize its soundness has been compromised?

How can a nation survive when it is full of bruises and sores and bleeding wounds?

How can a nation survive when it acts as if it is not wounded and yet  has wounds that have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil?

How can a nation survive when it chooses to walk in delusion rather than revelation?

How can a nation survive that wants to disarm its people and arm its enemies?

How can a nation survive which justifies the genocide of its unborn and approves of its application, our nations wombs into tombs.

How can a nation survive which calls upon God's name for protection while its very actions decry His presence?

How can a nation survive which quotes God's word to justify its own actions and purposes while minimizing God's purposes?

America the Beautiful, it was not the landscape that made you beautiful...it was the very presence of God. May God grant us mercy and repentance. May He pour the oil of His Holy Spirit upon us that our proud hardened hearts be softened, may he bind up and heal our bleeding wounds and wombs, may he drain the poison and infection out of our thinking and actions, may He heal our bruises, may He shed his grace upon us...

Lovesick

(From Song of Solomon 5:2-6, 8 NASB)

² “I was asleep but my heart was awake.
A voice! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is drenched with dew,
My locks with the damp of the night.’
³ “I have taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I have washed my feet,
How can I dirty them again?
⁴ “My beloved extended his hand through the opening,
And my feelings were aroused for him.
⁵ “I arose to open to my beloved;
And my hands dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with liquid myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.
⁶ “I opened to my beloved,
But my beloved had turned away and had gone!
My heart went out to him as he spoke.
I searched for him but I did not find him;
I called him but he did not answer me...
⁸ “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you will tell him:
For I am lovesick.”

God does not always come to us at a convenient time. He does not always call to us when the time is opportune. Sometimes He comes when it is inconvenient for us. And just when we are not expecting Him to show up, there He is.

As in the case of the Shulammite, she had gone to bed and was settled in.  It wasn’t that she had no desire, or that her heart wasn’t towards her beloved.  It just wasn’t a convenient time. She had put on her bed clothes and washed her feet - all of which she would have to do over again.

But at the revelation of His glory, she can no longer resist, and quickly runs to the door, grasping the handle still dripping with His glory and anointing. She swings open the door, but alas, there is only the residue of His anointing left, nothing but departing glory.

How can it be that our hearts are so hungry for God, that our spirits yearn so for Him, and yet we let those precious moments slip away? I don’t know, but lets not stop at just experiencing the residue of His glory that is left over after he has departed. Let's not be satisfied with His left over anointing, but cry out all the more for Him, for His presence. 

Maybe that moment will not find Him, but let’s not stop short! Let's not settle for less than Him. Let's rouse ourselves and assure all that we are lovesick for Him.

We are constantly gripped by desire and longing for only Him.  He will surely come again.  When our purified desire is met by the glory of His revelation, we shall be satisfied.

Words That Stick To Your Ribs

“ … and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”  (Proverbs 16:6)
 

I got off work one day and decided to visit a friend at his office before going home.  As I walked in, he looked at me intently and asked “Did you live in the fear of God today?”

Don’t you hate conversations that start out that way?  I mean like the conversation is not going to get better for you at this point, it is only going to get progressively worse!      I know...right?

I very wisely said nothing for a few minutes.  I thought about the question and about my activities and responses of the day.  I finally said, “Based upon some of my responses today, I would have to say no.”

My friend, who is still watching me, then says, “Proverbs 16:6 says the fear of the Lord will keep you from evil.”

Isn’t it funny how a simple conversation can stick with you over the years?  This was a profound truth for my life.  The Amplified Bible puts it like this:

“and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.”

Living in the fear of God will help us get out of and even avoid becoming entangled in sin.  If we find ourselves responding in an ungodly manner, or drawn into a sin, then we can know that we are not living in the fear of God.  Living in the fear of God has to do with our view of God Himself and our relation to Him.  It has to do with obedience out of love, humility, submission, and believing that God’s way is always the best way.

I am not talking about the terror of the Lord.  That has to do with judgment.  I am talking about the fear of the Lord which has to do with love, respect, and the recognition of true wisdom.

When we truly believe that God wants what is best for us, then we will realize that His Word is what is really best for us also.

The Ultimate Rescuer

“who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father“  (Gal 1:4, NIV) (emphasis mine)

I love the theme of rescue woven into scripture. When I came into God’s family, it wasn’t some polite little ceremony. I had been taken captive by the devil to do his bidding. I was a wretched mess and I had to be rescued.  Jesus came riding in on a white stallion! His eyes were blazing like fire and on His head were many crowns! He was dressed in a blood dipped robe and a sharp sword came out of His mouth! There were thunderings and lightnings, demons were shouting and screaming and there was blood everywhere! Then there was sudden silence as the Blood covered me. I was no longer sitting in the cave of sulphur and fire, but had in an instant been snatched from its miry clay, and set upon a Rock.

There is a passage in the Old Testament Book of Exodus that I really like.  It is found in Chapter 3, verses 7-8 as follows:

The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from … “  (Emphasis mine)

In these scriptures the Lord is saying:

Ÿ  I see

 

Ÿ  I hear

 

Ÿ  I care

Ÿ  I rescue

How I needed to hear that message! To know that God could see me, and hear me, and He cared about me and was ABLE and WILLING to do something about my predicament. And how many there are today who desperately need to hear it also. My friends, our God is a warrior, He is strong and mighty, and able to rescue to the end those who are called according to His purpose. Let us not hold back in sharing the gospel freedom. As we have opportunity to share, let's do so for it is the power of God unto salvation.  Our God is the ultimate RESCUER!

 

If today you find yourself bound by something, call upon our God. He sees what you are going through, He hears your cries, He cares about what is happening to you, and He has come to rescue you from ___________.

(You fill in the blank.)