Faith & Love

I have been studying Luke 7.1-17 where Jesus heals a centurion's slave and then raises a widow's son from the dead. The focus of Jesus healing the centurion's slave is on the centurion's faith. The centurion, a Roman military officer, often having authority over 100 men, sends some Jewish leaders to Jesus to request healing for his slave who is close to death. History indicates that to the wealthy, slaves were considered expendable. This centurion saw his slave from a different perspective. When Luke narrates concerning the young man he calls him a slave. When Luke quotes the centurion, however, the young man is called a child.
Basically, the centurion was making a prayer request on behalf of his servant. The soldier's faith in Jesus moved him to a simple act of kindness toward someone else (maybe a person who would be considered "one of the least of these"). My faith should regularly do the same.
When requested by the Jewish leaders to heal the centurion's slave, Jesus begins walking toward his house. As Jesus approached the house the centurion sent a messenger. The centurion's message was, "I do not consider myself worthy" of Jesus coming into his home. The soldier offered that Jesus could just heal the slave at a distance if that suited Him. Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith. I note that the faith of the centurion was based on his humble attitude of not considering himself worthy. I find this in contrast to the the 'one who would follow Jesus' in Luke 9.59 who declined by saying, "Permit me first to bury my father." The implication is that the would be follower wanted to wait for his father to die so as to gain his inheritance, and then he would follow Jesus. There is no indication that this heir's father was even sick. I also find that most of my prayers fit into the "permit me first" genre.
After healing the servant of the centurion Jesus moves on towards the village of Nain where He meets a funeral procession coming out. Jesus stops the procession and raises the widow's dead son. I believe the connection with the preceding narrative is found in the issue of Jesus' love. The text of Luke 7 states that Jesus was moved with compassion and therefore raised the dead man.
As I acknowledge that I do not have the centurion's faith, it may cause me to be discouraged except when I see the love of Jesus that does even greater than a healing for one who had no faith (you might say the widow's son had a dead faith). I understand that I should be moving toward a centurion-like faith, but even when I am far from it, Jesus will still act powerfully on my behalf based on His great love.

Finding the Will of God Christmas Style

When I look at the narrative of Joseph (and Mary) in the Christmas story an interesting means of discerning God's will emerges. Joseph becomes aware of his fiancee's pregnancy (and implied immorality) and "he decided to divorce her privately not wishing to cause her shame." I infer that Joseph was making a decision based on his being a "good man" (Matthew1). His decision was founded on grace. He didn't want to cause her shame (the NASB reads 'disgrace'). He was not deciding to divorce her due to vindictiveness or anger. In fact, clearly he based his decision on God's Word (the allowance that Moses made for people so that they could divorce). He seems to have logically interpreted the Scripture and was moving toward action based on that logic. In summary Joseph was about to make a difficult decision based on grace, common sense and Scripture. Wow! He had to be on the right track ( I wish I could more often make decisions based on grace, common sense and Scripture). Except he was about to go against God's will.
God did intervene and redirected Joseph's decision clearly, aligning it with the revelation that Mary had received and the revelation of an ancient prophet (Isaiah). So God's plan was consistent and in place from centuries before and He made it clear to those who were faithful.
Mary's example adds to my understanding. She hears the good news (that will mean a considerable amount of bad news in her life) and yet she welcomes the Word of God, saying, "Be it done to me according to all that you (the angel Gabriel) have said."
I conclude that although we should make decisions based on grace, common sense and Scripture that does not guarantee that we will always make the correct decision. It is still important to recognize human weakness within us and seek a clear directive (conviction?) from God, always welcoming the Word of God and its principles into our lives.

The Real Grinch of Christmas

In the time of Jesus there was a real 'grinch', his name was Herod the Great. The world still sees him as one of the greatest builders of all time. This is an amazing accomplishment when one thinks of all the great builders, like the builder of the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and other fabulous building ventures. Herod is probably best known for his building of the fortress of Masada, the port city of Caesarea and the Temple in Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, Herod may have been more prolific in murder than in building. It is known that he had a large number (in the hundreds) of rabbis killed. He killed among others two of his sons, his brother-in-law and his 'favorite' wife. Imagine the danger of being less than his favorite wife. After he murdered his sons, Caesar is said to have commented that it was safer to be one of Herod's dogs than one of his sons.
In approximately 4 BCE some Eastern astrologer/philosophers came into Herod's capital city of Jerusalem looking for a child "born to be king". Matthew 2 notes that, "Herod was troubled at this and all Jerusalem with him." According to Matthew it took two supernatural and very direct dreams to thwart Herod's attempt to kill the One born to be king. When Herod recognized that the baby Jesus had escaped, his anger boiled over. He ordered his soldiers to kill all the baby boys in the vicinity of Bethlehem that were two years old and younger. Undoubtedly, hundreds of baby boys were killed.
Thus Herod attempted to destroy Christmas before it got started. God thwarted Herod's evil attempts to kill Jesus before His time. And God would ultimately thwart 'the murder of the innocents' by sending Jesus to die on a cross so the world could overcome death.
So Herod is known as the builder of great buildings and the destroyer of lives, while the One he tried to kill never built a single building, yet He is the Savior of all our lives.

The Odd Couples of Christmas

Luke presents the Odd Couples of Christmas and the reality that their blessings from God go global. In Luke 1.5-25 a couple of old people, Zacharias & Elizabeth live in obedience and find that God makes an appointment for them in the midst of their greatest disappointment (the fact that they have no child). At appropriate and appointed times God provides blessings that begin in times of worship and ultimately go global. As followers of Jesus we can persistently worship in spite of disappointments, knowing that God will provide blessings that may ultimately go global. Keep the faith and share it widely!
In Luke 1.26-56 a couple of woman, Mary & Elizabeth, encourage each other's faith and meet together in fellowship and worship. Mary & Elizabeth share with each other their contact with God and His promises to them (the promise that nothing is impossible with God). Controlled by the Holy Spirit they expect their blessing will go global (verses 33,48, 50 and 53). As followers of Jesus we can share our contact with God (thru the Word and His Spirit) and encourage others to expect the impossible from Him. Keep the faith and share it widely!
In Luke 2.1-21 a couple of young people, Joseph & Mary find God's blessing in the midst of difficulty (homeless in their hometown!) and see it begin to go global (as angels share the good news with shepherds who share the good news widely). Joseph & Mary are complete unknowns in the world & unwanted in their hometown, but God's blessing blazes through the difficulty. As we see God make appointments with us in the midst of disappointment we can see God begin to take the Good News global. As followers of Jesus we can maintain our faith in difficulty and see God work in us and others (God uses exalted angels and impoverished shepherds to take His blessing global). Keep the faith and share it widely!
In Luke 2.21-38 a couple of prophets, Simeon & Anna, persist in faith and encourage others that God will take His blessing global. Simeon & Anna are outstanding examples of long term faithfulness that God rewards. As followers of Jesus we can commit to long term faithfulness and expect to see God's blessing. Further, we can share God's Word with others to warn and encourage them. Keep the faith and share it widely!!

Life Issue

I just read Barack Obama's pro partial-birth abortion statement (as he opposed a recent Supreme Court decision). I am not surprised, but am disappointed that none of the top three democratic presidential candidates will take a stand against partial-birth abortion. This procedure has been noted by the American Medical Association to never be necessary to protect the life of the mother. How in the world can these candidates who severely oppose war because of its cost in human lives justify killing a viable unborn child? Obama, I am sure in agreement with the other democrats, concentrated on only half the issue. He would not consider the baby's choice, the baby's rights over his or her body, or the baby's pain. In fact, he referred to the baby as an 'it'. With this commitment among democrats why is there so much surprise when mothers and fathers leave their young children to die in cars, or even abuse young children? I want to hear/see one person who favors partial-birth abortion argue their case in an open and honest way. That is, in a way that deals with more than the mother's half of the issue. How can anyone justify a selfish, violent and heinous procedure such as partial-birth abortion?

Thank God

In reading Psalm 100 I found listed four reasons that we should give God joyous thanks. In verse 3 we can thank God because He is God and we are not self-made people. Interesting.
In verse 5, we can thank God because He is good, He offers an eternal love and He is continuously faithful (loyal). That last reason is really the clincher. It reminds me of Jesus' parable of the unjust judge. This widow continuously pestered an unjust judge to provide her with legal help. Finally, the judge decided that the widow was wearing him out so even with no concern for justice he took care of her case. Jesus concludes that if the unjust judge would provide help, the Almighty Judge (who is just) will certainly take care of us. The question that Jesus leaves His followers with is, "Will the Son of Man find faithfulness on earth." On judgment day God IS going to be found faithful (loyal). We will have to agree with that. On judgment day am I going to be found faithful and loyal to Him? Sometimes I catch my thoughts in prayer being along the line of wondering if God will be faithful. Hopefully, I quickly realize that God's faithfulness is not the question.

Growing my purpose for Living

I like the old hymn, 'I know Whom I have Believed'. My problem was that I could not wrap my brain around what the verse (2 Timothy 1.12) quoted in the hymn meant. Peterson's 'The Message' paraphrase really helped, and so did some time put in studying the actual verse and the context. The Apostle's second letter to Timothy presents an urgent message for two reasons. The first, is that Paul senses that he will not be alive much longer. The second, is that Timothy is on the verge of quitting the ministry. Apparently, disappointment and persecution had pushed Timothy to the end of his spiritual rope. Paul, resoundingly, encourages the young pastor beginning in the first chapter.
Paul exhorts Timothy concerning the rewards, resources and repercussions of his faith in Christ. The rewards include the current gifts of God (vss. 6,7) and the unique calling of God (vs 9). The resources include the spiritual heritage he has from his mother and grandmother (vs 5), the companionship of the Apostle Paul (vs 8) and the purpose and grace of God Himself (vs 9). The repercussions are the various sufferings that must be overcome (vs 12 ff). The Apostle encourages Timothy to join him, even in suffering, unashamedly devoted to investing what he has received as a 'treasure'. Paul states in verse 12 that he has no regrets. He knows that his faith is founded solidly in the Almighty God of the universe. He is entirely convinced that God will guard and protect that 'treasure' forever, even as he and Timothy invest it in the world by making disciples of the nations.
2 Timothy 1.12 "Because of the work I have from God, I suffer. But, I have no regrets. For I know the ONE in whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard my treasure until the day Jesus returns."