An Eternal Weight of Glory

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Pete

So . . . most often when I think about heaven, I think in terms of lightening the load. The burden of dealing with this fallen world, and the fallen men who shake their fists at God, will be removed (well, actually I’ll be removed). I’ll be loosed of the on-going struggle with the old-man . . . and the battle with an aging body. Even gravity will give way to soaring. I think of heaven and I think light . . . as in, not heavy. But I came across a phrase this morning in 2Corinthians that has me re-thinking this a bit . . .

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.   (2Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

There it is . . . embedded within verse 17 . . . “an eternal weight of glory” . . . Chew on that.

If anyone knew the oppressive load of doing life “under the sun” it was Paul. In fact, that’s what he says . . . “afflicted, but not crushed . . . perplexed, but not in despair . . . persecuted, but not forsaken . . . struck down, but not destroyed” (4:4-9). But Paul could also say, “We do not lose heart.” By God’s grace, and the focusing ministry of the Spirit, Paul could look beyond “the transient” and to the “the eternal” . . . with the eye of faith his gaze transcended “the things that are seen” and instead, gazed upon “the things that are unseen.”

And when he looked beyond the “here and now” and to the “there and then” he saw a great weight . . . an eternal weight . . . a weight of glory that made the troubles of the day seem like “slight momentary afflictions”.

Hmmm . . . think about it. The trials and tribulations of this life are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison. Our losses here are being factored into great gain there. Whatever weight we feel we’re carrying today will pale in comparison to the massive amount of glory we’ll inherit in that day when faith gives way to sight and we’ll be in that place the Lord is even now preparing for us.

Not that the promised weight of glory changes the reality of our struggles today . . . but it does put them into context. The weight of glory that awaits us is beyond comparing with the weight of gutting out life that is in front of us. It’s a rout . . . no contest . . . not even on the same page. The measure, the excellence, the superiority of what awaits those who trust in the finished work of Christ is so far beyond the burden of the day.

And so, Paul says, we do not lose heart. We look beyond the temporal and peer into the eternal. Though the outer man is taking a beating and losing steam, the inner man is being renewed day by day . . . as we look toward THAT DAY . . . and an eternal weight of glory.

Oh, that by the grace of God and the mind-renewing work of the Spirit, I would not lose focus on the “heaviness” of heaven . . . that the weight of my day to day struggles would constantly be compared with the beyond measure load of glory that awaits me . . . that things that are unseen would constantly be on my radar . . . that I would not lose heart . . .

For His glory . . . amen.

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Love Hurts

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Pete

It was an open, honest conversation between a truth seeker and the Truth-Giver. The young man ran up to Jesus, anxious to hear from Him . . . knelt before Jesus, humbling showing his respect for Him . . . and asked Jesus a real, real good question . . . the kind of question that can be forever life changing . . . “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

You sense that when Jesus asked the rich young man to assess his performance against those commandments of Moses focused specifically on how to treat other people, that Jesus believed the young man’s sincere response, “Teacher, all these have I kept from my youth.” A church kid . . . who grew up knowing “the good book” and right from wrong . . . and had learned how important it was that you practiced what you preached. But Jesus, the Maker of men’s souls, knew that there was something missing . . . something really big missing . . .

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.   (Mark 10:21-22 ESV)

Mark alone records that Jesus loved the young man. And loving him, Jesus spoke words that He knew would discourage him. Jesus didn’t soften the truth . . . Jesus was straight up that there was something lacking. And, as I read this, I was reminded that sometimes love hurts . . . that to love someone means having to say or do something that, at least initially, is going to bring sorrow.

And, as if to confirm that was the thought the Lord was wanting to implant within me this morning, when I turned next to the 2Corinthians passage in my reading plan, I encountered this . . .

For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.    (2Corinthians 2:4 ESV)

You read Paul’s first letter to the church and Corinth and you know that he said some tough stuff . . . slammed them on a number of issues. You got to know that when they read that first letter it hurt. And Paul knew it too. Paul agonized over the pain he knew his previous letters and visits had caused these saints of God . . . but, he says, I wrote what I wrote, I said what I said, because of how much I love you. And, Jesus said what he said to the young man because of how much Jesus loved him.

So sometimes, love hurts. Sometimes it’s hard to speak the truth. But sometimes it’s the most loving thing we can do.

The young man, by the world’s standards, had it all . . . but he knew something was missing . . . he knew deep down that he had no confidence about his standing in eternity. And Jesus knew how important his success was to him . . . that the young man’s wealth was number one in the young man’s life . . . and so, because He loved him, Jesus was straight with him . . . “You lack one thing . . . release your grip on your earthly treasures . . . and you’ll have treasure in heaven.”

I like to think that, though initially disheartened, the young man eventually released his grip on the things of earth and took hold of the treasures of heaven. Don’t know . . . but I do know that apart from hearing the truth, he could not respond to the truth.

A bit of challenge to love people . . . and speak the truth . . . even when it might hurt . . . so that we might encourage each other to lay hold of the treasures of heaven . . .

And a bit of reminder of how much Jesus loves me . . . speaking the truth . . . revealing the truth . . . hurting, sometimes, with the truth . . . that the truth might set me free . . .

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Tremble Before Him!

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Pete

“Describe worship.” If I were to ask that of a varied group of Christians, I’m guessing I would get a varied assortment of answers. For many, we’d immediately go to singing . . . for some, a “be still and know that I am God” meditative action (or lack of action) might come to mind . . . and others might recall that offering our bodies as a living sacrifice is considered our spiritual act of worship. If I were to ask, “So, what does worship look like?” there too, a variety of responses might be expected. Sitting down . . . standing up . . . hands clasped . . . hands raised . . . heads bowed . . . faces turned toward heaven . . . on your knees . . . on your face. But there’s at least one physical manifestation that I wouldn’t have anticipated or expected . . .

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth!    (Psalm 96:7-9 ESV)

Check out the verbs, the “action words”, in these verses. Ascribe is repeated three times . . . the worshiper is to give to the Lord . . . to give to Him the recognition of who He is . . . to place before Him the confession of His glory and strength . . . to set before Him the acknowledgment of the glory dues His name. The worshiper is also to bring an offering . . . it’s not just singing, it’s a gift . . . it’s a tribute . . . it’s the fruit of our time, our efforts, our desires that is presented before Him who is worthy of any and all gifts we bring before Him.

And “bring it” is what we are supposed to do. We come into His courts . . . we can’t send someone else. By His grace we enter into His presence . . . carefully, thoughtfully, but boldly we approach the very throne of grace with our “ascribings” and our offerings. And then, we worship . . . literally we bow down . . . we humble ourselves as we become mindful of the One in Whose presence we find ourselves . . . our hearts are lowered as we become mindful of the splendor or His holiness.

But there’s one more verb here . . . an “action word” that I most often just pass over. But not this morning. While the psalmist calls the worshiper of God to ascribe to God the glory due His name . . . and to bring offerings and come into the very courts of the majestic King of glory . . . and to bow down before Him who is holy, holy, holy . . . the psalmist also instructs the worshiper to tremble . . . “tremble before Him, all the earth!”

Trembling . . . not the first thing . . . or even one of the first 10 things . . . that come to mind when I consider worship. But here it is.

I don’t know that I’d say that these actions are meant to be progressive . . . but they certainly could be. What starts with an acknowledgment and declaration of the attributes of our great God . . . can then become the bringing of an offering, if but the sacrifice of the fruit of our lips (Heb. 13:15) as we enter His presence . . . resulting in the compulsion to go to our knees, perhaps to our faces, if only in our hearts, as we start to grasp something of the splendor of His holy nature and dwelling . . . all this could very well, and perhaps, should more often, lead to a trembling as we become increasingly conscious of who God is . . . that we are in His very presence . . . and the awesome privilege that is ours to bring before Him anything at all.

If I was to truly discern the glory and power and holiness of Jehovah God, wouldn’t I shake? Wouldn’t I too be a Quaker? Not that I would “turn on” or manufacture a trembling before God . . . but that the awareness of God would so electrify my souls that it would send a shiver down my spine . . . that the glory of God would cause the hair to raise up on my neck . . . that I, along with His people, might know what it is, from time to time, to tremble in worship.

. . . tremble before Him, all the earth!

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Those Who Honor Me

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Pete

The two of them stand in such stark contrast. He’s a man . . . she’s a woman. He was a priest, an ordained servant of the Most High God . . . she was just a common worshiper of the God of her fathers. He had grown kids who, though in service to the Lord, knew not the Lord . . . she had a son later in life who started serving before the Lord as child (2:11) . . . who grew up in the presence of the Lord (2:21) . . . who increased in favor with the Lord (2:26) . . . who faithfully walked with the Lord throughout his life.

Started into 1Samuel this morning . . . what a contrast between two parents . . . their devotion to God . . . and the impact on their children.

On one hand, you have the barren Hannah who vows to the Lord that, if God will allow her to bear a son, then she will give him over to the LORD all the days of her son’s life (1:11). On the other hand, you have Eli the priest who was more motivated about “fattening” himself with “the choicest parts of every offering of My people Israel” (2:29) than he was about disciplining his sons who fed their appetites, both for food and for women, without restraint or regard for the office they held as priests (2:12-17,22).

And so, it’s not just about the long term effects of good or bad parenting . . . it is about a principle which transcends rearing of children . . . it is all about honoring God.

. . . for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.   (1Samuel 2:30b ESV)

God’s indictment of Eli was that he honored his sons more than he honored God (2:29). Hannah, on the other, honored God with her first fruits . . . literally!!! . . . the first fruits of her womb . . . freely releasing her prayed for son to serve in the temple of God when he was only about 3 years old . . . “for I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD” (1:24, 28).

Hannah honored God . . . trusted Him with her sorrow . . . pledged not to hold on to His blessing too tightly . . . vowed to give to God freely and liberally that He might be glorified in the answering of her prayer. Eli, however, was double minded . . . he looked the other way when his sons stole from the peoples’ sacrifices to God because he liked the food and was willing to make himself fat with the best of the offerings . . . and when his sons’ stealing led to their sexual immorality and defiling of the tabernacle he did nothing more than try and “reason with the boys” rather than vigorously defend God’s glory.

Eli honored his sons more than he honored God. Hannah honored God more than her only son.

Its about the heart and its determination to honor . . . to glorify . . . God. Hannah desired to worship God . . . with all her heart . . . and with the fruit of her womb. Eli played fast and loose with the worship of God . . . ready to feed himself first rather than allowing God to receive the sacrifice He was due.

And while I might be comfortable this morning thinking, “I’m no Eli” . . . I’m giving serious consideration as to how able I am to say, “I’m like Hannah.”

Oh, to honor God the way Hannah did. To hold nothing back. To be satisfied only with knowing the God of blessing . . . more than holding on to the blessing itself. To so esteem the LORD that I’m truly willing to lay everything at his feet . . . to consecrate all things for his service . . . to desire nothing more than to glorify Him, regardless of personal cost. Kind of a deep gut check this morning . . .

My desire is to be more like Hannah . . . to be among “those who honor Me” . . .

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

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Family Business

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Pete

According to one source, there’s over 23,000 verses in the Bible . . . almost 8,000 verses in the New Testament . . . 437 of those NT verses are in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians . . . and this guy is mentioned by name in three of those verses. Just three times is his name mentioned . . . but his legacy, and I’m thinking his impact, are eternal. He and his family were among the first to be saved in the region through Paul’s ministry (16:15) . . . he and his family were of the very few actually baptized in Corinth by the apostle himself (1:16) . . . he was one of three men who Paul says “refreshed my spirit” and of whom Paul commands, “Give recognition to such people” (16:18) . . . his name is Stephanas, literally “crowned” . . . and what grabs me about him this morning, is that he was in the family business.

Now I urge you, brothers — you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints . . .    (1Corinthians 16:15 ESV)

So often I can just blow past the closing verses of Paul’s letters . . . just gloss over what appear to be like “p.s.’s” . . . skim over what is also God-breathed and given for my teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness (2Tim. 3:16). But this morning, I didn’t . . . thank You, Holy Spirit . . . and Stephanas became more than a post-script . . . he became an inspiration.

Again, don’t know a lot about the guy . . . but what I do know is that he and his household had “devoted themselves to the service of the saints.” I love the old King James translation . . . “they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” They were hooked on serving God’s people. They were pre-disposed, appointed, determined, fixed on ministering to the sheep of Jesus’ fold . . . the pilgrims on the heavenly pathway . . . the priests in the King’s kingdom . . . the bride of Christ . . . God’s special treasure and possession. Stephanas and his family devoted themselves to serving the family of God. It was a family business focused on “Family” business.

And I can’t help but think that all God’s people need to be focused on family business. Each of us has been graced with a spiritual gift for the building up of the bride of the Lamb. Each of us, as a living stone, has been placed, as God has determined, within the structure of the living temple of God that we might support one another and, being joined together, might grow into a holy temple in the LORD, with each other to be a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Each of us has been a wired in as a member, a body part, within the body of Christ . . . given a specific function and role, so that when each part is working properly the body grows and builds itself up in love. This spiritual dynamic becomes a reality when God’s people are addicted to serving God’s people.

Sure the level of focus will differ according to God’s calling . . . the service toward the saints will have different flavors . . . but, to some degree, I’m wondering if the heart of Stephanas and his family isn’t needed more within our gatherings. Way too easy to book in on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. and then clock out at 12:15 p.m. (12:30 if I have an extra cookie) . . . thinking that somehow I’ve done my “body time” for the week. Rather, shouldn’t we come together on Sunday with a purpose in mind . . . something beyond getting, but about ministering to fellow saints . . . something above being built up in my faith, but also looking for opportunity to encourage a brother or sister in theirs? And shouldn’t I be about family business beyond Sunday mornings? Shouldn’t I be developing relationships . . . looking for opportunities to lend a hand . . . staying in touch with . . . getting together to encourage . . . serving the saints of God beyond the Sunday service and engaged as well in Monday through Saturday service?

Isn’t it a worthy ambition to be a bit more like Stephanas and his family . . . and to be more purposeful about engaging in family business?

I’m thinkin’ . . .

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Befitting

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Pete

Sue’s aunt came up in conversation yesterday. We were talking with some friends after the Sunday service and someone remarked on the necklace Sue was wearing . . . a piece of jewelry owned by her aunt. Auntie Barb went home to be with the Lord in February. Most of the ladies in the family were invited to claim a piece or two of Auntie Barb’s jewelry as keepsakes. Anyway, the conversation led to what a classy lady Auntie Barb was . . . and the fact that she always dressed as she thought a lady should dress . . . always wearing a dress . . . even gardening in a dress. That’s just how she did it . . . it was the appropriate Auntie Barb thing to do . . . it was what we had come to expect of her . . . it was befitting.

This morning in my reading in Psalm 93 I came across something else that is befitting . .

Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forevermore.   (Psalm 93:5 ESV)

The psalm’s five verses aren’t overly complex . . . the “big idea” is not hard to get . . . “The LORD reigns” (v.1). He is robed in majesty . . . His throne is established forever . . . He is mighty . . . His word is extremely trustworthy. As such, holiness befits His house.

The glory of God commands holiness to adorn His courts. The majesty of God invites the sacred . . . the set apart . . the consecrated. His throne, by nature, is a hallowed place. And so, it’s just right . . . it’s appropriate . . . it’s befitting . . . that holiness adorns the house of God.

And church, we be that house!

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.   (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)

The church is designed as a dwelling place for God . . . and the place where God dwells is a place meant to be arrayed in holiness.

We have been made to be holy (Eph. 1:4) . . . set apart for His purpose and His glory . . . invited into His presence . . . declared to be fit for His dwelling . . . solely because of the finished work on the cross and the sin-cleansing blood shed by the Lamb of God. But we have also been called to be holy . . . just as He is holy (1Peter 1:16) . . . to declare ourselves set apart to Him . . . to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1) to the One who redeemed our souls. Paul says it’s our spiritual act of worship . . . that it’s acceptable to God . . . that it’s befitting.

A modest dress, accompanied with a piece or two of modest jewelry, just seemed like the right way for Auntie Barb to be adorned. Similarly, holiness is what you would expect . . . and what our majestic LORD commands and deserves . . . to adorn the house of God. It’s just befitting.

Oh, that by His grace, and through the enabling power of the 24/7 Spirit of God, may I be . . . for His pleasure and for His glory alone . . . befitting. Amen?

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The Real Game Changer!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Pete

I woke up this morning with a certain excited anticipation of where my reading plan would be taking me in the Word today. In particular, I knew that I’d be starting into the book of Ruth today. Love the book of Ruth. So glad to move on from the downer of the vicious, dysfunctional cycle of the Judges. As I’m thinking about it in advance I think to myself, “Ruth is a game changer. It’s the oasis in the desert of the judges. It’s the beginning of a turnaround in Israel . . . and throughout history.” Her story seeds hope in a time of tremendous despair and bitterness. It presents the kinsman-redeemer and foreshadows the great Kinsman-Redeemer. It’s the prologue to the throne of David . . . and ultimately to the King of kings. And so, as I started in on my first reading of the morning, I enjoyed taking in again the opening chapter of Ruth . . . knowing how the story is going to end. But then my reading plan took me to 1Corinthians 15 . . . and that, my friends, is the real game changer!

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared . . .    (1Corinthians 15:3-5 ESV)

Shame on me if I ponder this great truth and this great passage only once a year at Easter. This is the game changer . . . Paul says it is “of first importance” . . . that “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain . . . if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (15:14, 17). Anticipate all you want the types of Ruth . . . the shadowy pictures of the Redeemer . . . the feel-good happy ending of her love story . . . but this is the meat . . . this is the real thing . . . this is clear as crystal . . . this is the foundation of our faith.

How excited should we get as we hover over these words, “Christ died for our sins . . . He was buried . . . He was raised . . . He appeared”? Pretty!!!

This is the gospel . . . it’s the good news . . . the stuff by which we are being saved (15:1-2). Though Paul wasn’t a follower of Jesus of Nazareth . . . though he wasn’t vested in that dreadful Friday . . . though he was clueless on that glorious Sunday . . . when Christ did appear to him, “as to one untimely born”, it was the first thing delivered to him . . . the first thing he got . . . as he was facedown on that road of Damascus he knew, absolutely knew, Jesus had risen . . . “in accordance with the Scripture” (15:3-9).

How amazing is the resurrection of Christ? God’s “amen” to the work of the cross. God’s “well done” to the faithful obedience of the Son. God’s “let’s do it” to the saving of souls for all eternity. A dead savior is no savior at all. A buried king is no king at all. A hidden god is a god which can not appear to those in need of a god.

But our Savior is a risen Savior . . . able to save indeed. Our King is the King who left the grave, who shed the tomb . . . able to reign indeed. And, our God is the God of appearances . . . first “to Cephas, then to the twelve . . . then He appeared to more than five hundred . . . then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles” . . . and then . . . as I own Paul’s words as my own . . . “He appeared also to me!”

You ask me how I know He lives? Because I have encountered Him . . . I have experienced His game changing reality . . . because He lives within my heart.

Not new truth for the believer. But may it never become old truth . . . nor worn out truth . . . nor truth that ceases to raise the head (and hands, if you’re so pre-disposed) and cause the redeemed to joyously declare “Hallelujah! He is risen! He is the Game Changer . . . and I know how the story ends!”

To Him be all glory and praise . . . amen!

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Do the Math

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Pete

Remember as a kid what a big deal it was to finally be able to count to a hundred? I can think back . . . show time!!! . . . Pete will now count to one hundred . . . all by himself . . . listen now! . . . Good job, Pete! Kind of makes you smile. But, it turns out, when all is said and done, it was probably more math than I really absolutely needed to know.

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. . . . So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.   (Psalm 90:10, 12 ESV)

We can think we’re so smart. We try and count everything . . . everything from how many species of animals in a region to how many stars in our galaxy . . . we count how many miles to the next city . . . and try and count how many light years to the next galaxy? You think about it, we count tons and tons of stuff. But Moses (yeah, Moses wrote this psalm . . . he was also a poet and songwriter . . . who knew?) asks the Lord not to teach him “the new math” but to help him do the math when it comes his number of days . . . for in doing that, says the man of God, we gain a heart of wisdom.

I read years ago that wisdom is “skillful living” . . . and at the core of skillful living is the ability . . . and willingness . . . to do the math. It’s the practical math . . . the math that can lead us to deep thought . . . the math that can be so helpful in focusing the priorities of our lives . . . the math that help us to “live wisely and well” (MSG).

And as I think about it a bit more, the value in doing the math is not so we can focus on the end . . . but so that we are always mindful of the beginning. It’s the math that can cause us to pause and consider the things of eternity. And in considering the life beyond the years here, we seek the way to be prepared . . . and we desire the things that lay up treasures in heaven . . . and we focus on things whereby we might here from the Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Because we do the math we can have life . . . and have it to the full . . . both now and forever.

Lord, teach me to do the math. Thank You for giving me all I need to learn to count my days. Not that I can count to one hundred . . . but that I have the Spirit in residence teaching me about home . . . preparing me for home . . . setting my heart on the place prepared for me. And in that, there is wisdom . . . skillful living . . . that I might know life to the max . . . and that I might hear again some day, this time from Your lips, “Good job, Pete!”

. . . and it will all be because of Your grace . . . and all for Your glory . . .

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How

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Pete

Is it too simplistic to say that God cares less about the “what” and more about the “how”? That while we can do tons of great stuff . . . get all of our “to do’s” done . . . work this . . . serve there . . . accomplish that . . . that, at the end of the day, it will be less about what we did for the kingdom and more about how we did what we did for the King? I’m thinkin’ . . .

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.   (1Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV)

You hover over these verses for just a few minutes and maybe you ask yourself, “Really?!? Talking like the angels . . . understanding the deep, deep things of God . . . faith beyond faith, even to the moving of mountains . . . tithing everything . . . putting my very body on the line . . . but, if I have not love, it’s empty noise . . . I gain nothing . . . nothing is accomplished? Really?

Is it really such an all or nothing proposition? Can so much good “what” count for so little if not done with the right “how” — with love?

I guess it comes down to whether or not we take God at His word and believe the Word. If I do, then to desire living in love as defined here has got to be one of my greatest pursuits. To want to “grow up” and put away childish understanding and childish motivations and childish thinking and other childish things needs to be a driving force in my life.

And I can’t help but think that the church is an important part of figuring out the “how”. That’s the context for this portion of Scripture — it’s about how we be the body of Christ. 1Corinthians 12 is about the gifting in the church and the relationship of body members to each other. 1Corinthians 14 is about the use of that gifting in the church to build up the body. And, smack dab in the middle of all this “what” is 1Corinthians 13 describing the “how”.

I learn to love in the body of Christ. My “training ground” for developing the “how” is with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

It’s there that I learn to be patient and kind . . . and where I practice putting down the natural man’s desire to be envious . . . or boastful . . . or arrogant . . . or rude. By God’s grace, and through the enabling of the Spirit, it is in the day-in-day-out rubbing of shoulders with other less-than-perfect trophies of grace that I learn not to insist on “my way or the highway” . . . and I work on saying no to irritability or resentfulness with others. It is with God’s called out special treasure that I am transformed from being attracted to wrongdoing and, instead, rejoicing in truth. It’s with the people of God where I learn to bear all things . . . believe all things . . . hope all things . . . endure all things. It’s through God shining in the face of brothers and sisters in Christ that I internalize that “love never ends.”

As part of the body of Christ I abide in faith, hope, love — but the greatest of these is love.

You gotta love the church! God does. And I think it’s in the church where we can learn to love . . . where we can learn the “how.”

Simplistic? Maybe. Truth? Definitely. All for God’s glory? Absolutely!

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Kinda Like Samson?

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Pete

So . . . I don’t normally (as in, have never) compare myself to Samson. In his prime, I imagine this guy to be quite the physical specimen . . . long flowing hair . . . rugged, set jaw . . . ripped, six pack abs. Me, on the other hand? . . . short graying hair . . . and carrying more of a keg. I don’t think anyone would get the two of confused in a line up. But there is a common element between this judge of old and this saint of today . . . a similar dynamic at work . . .

Four times this morning, as I read Judges 13 to 15, I noticed that Samson was a Spirit empowered man. That Samson was special is beyond argument . . . the angel of the LORD, Himself, visiting a barren couple of the Danite tribe to inform them that they would bear a son and that he was to be set apart for service to the LORD from birth (Judges 13). And, after his birth, the Word says that “and the young man grew, and the LORD blessed Him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him” (13:24-25).

And then I read of three encounters with danger where, in each case, “the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him.” First to fight off an attacking lion (14:6) . . . then to kill 30 men after they had threatened his bride to be (14:19) . . . and finally, to strike down 1,000 men, intent on taking his life (15:14). All this trouble between Samson and the Philistines was designed by God (14:4) as the means of delivering the Israelites from 40 years of Philistine oppression. And enabling it all . . . empowering it all . . . working behind the scenes . . . the Spirit of God.

And then my reading took me to 1Corinthians 12 where I hovered over the following . . .

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit . . . To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good . . . All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.   (1Corinthians 12:4, 7, 11 ESV)

Just as God had separated Samson to Himself, He has also separated to Himself a people to be His special treasure and a set apart people. Just as God had done a great work of deliverance through a less than perfect Samson, He too has determined to accomplish His work of redemption today through a less than perfect body of believers. And just as He empowered Samson for service through the “rushing” of the Spirit upon Him, today He “empowers” the body of Christ with a variety of “manifestations” of the Spirit, all for the “common good”.

And so, in that way, I’m kinda like Samson.

The same Spirit which mightily came upon this judge of old, has infused me with capability and energizes that ability when I seek to leverage it in service to the One who called me. The same Spirit who “rushed” upon Samson, will fill me as I learn to hear His voice and walk in His way. The same Spirit who wrought great victory through a less than great man, can also accomplish works beyond imagination through “jars of clay”, filled with His presence and power, willing to use whatever gifting they have as He presents opportunity.

The outcomes might not be as dramatic as they were in Samson’s days . . . but the power is the same . . .

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.   (1Corinthians 12:4-6 ESV)

Kinda like Samson . . . without the six pack . . . but for the glory of God!

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