My Morning Meal

Let’s face it . . . for some, the university they graduated from is a pretty big deal. To be able to throw out phrases like “Harvard grad” or “Yale grad” as part of a resume is worn as a badge of honor for some. And it’s not just the Ivy League schools . . . around here, being a Cougar or a Husky can be a pretty important identifier for some. And, I’m guessing it’s not just about the education, but about the school’s reputation . . . whether that reputation is attached to a sports team, or some distinctive academic prestige, you find a fair number of folks well past “college age” still talking about “their school.” So did Paul . . .

“I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know–only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to Paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.” (2Corinthians 12:2-4 NLT).

Paul did his graduate studies at GRSP, Gamaliel’s Rabbinical School of Phariseeism (Acts 22:3). There he learned the in’s and out’s of the law and the traditions of the religious elite. But his post-graduate studies . . . they occurred in a school that is out of this world . . . literally! Recruited by Jesus Himself, Paul was sent on a crash course concerning the mysteries of Messiah, and the grandeur of grace. He was welcomed into the faculty by Jesus Himself as he trekked down a self-determined road of persecution . . . and from the get go, the schooling started happening . . . “Who are You, Lord?” . . . “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” . . . lesson one complete (Acts 9:5) . . . let’s move on . . . or should I say, let’s move up!

After being saved, instead of sending him to the apostles for instruction, the Lord instead sent Paul to Arabia . . . apparently for some “alone time” and some One-on-one tutoring . . . it would be three years before Paul went to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles (Gal. 1:16-18) . . . mmm . . . three years with Jesus . . . sounds familiar . . .

And at some point during those three years, Paul’s “studies” took him to Paradise U located on a beautiful campus just past the Milky Way at the corner of Third Heaven and Eternity. So what was that like? We really don’t know . . . cause, Paul says, it was inexpressible. It was so un-earthly that Paul wasn’t sure whether or not he was there “in body” or whether it was an “out of body” experience. The words he heard . . . the teachings he experienced . . . couldn’t be conveyed in the languages of earth . . . the sort of “close encounter” that was better “felt than tell’t”. But whatever the curriculum . . . however the course material was presented . . . whoever or whatever comprised the teaching faculty . . . this alum of Paradise U was never the same again.

I don’t have much post-secondary education, but I’ve been accepted into Paradise U as well. A seat has been reserved, my name’s written in the Book. And what never ceases to amaze me, is that I never even applied . . . actually, didn’t really know the place even existed . . . instead, I was recruited. Where am I staying? In residence . . . a place that Jesus says He’s gone to prepare for me (John 14:3). Tuition? Paid in full . . . and now, I’m laying up treasures that I’ll be able to draw on when I’m there . . . and that’s in addition to the inheritance reserved for me by my Benefactor, an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away (1Peter 1:4). And when I’m there, I too will hear and learn things which are unspeakable . . . mysteries revealed as I receive my “higher education.”

But as much as the thought of being at Paradise U excites me and fills me with wonder, what I’m looking forward to more than anything else is to meeting the Headmaster and His Father. I can only imagine what it will be like to hear His words and to learn from Him directly. I know I’ll be distracted from time to time by the scars on His hands and feed . . . and I’ll probably interrupt class from time to time as I join the Third Heaven choral ensemble spontaneously declaring the praises of the Lamb . . . but I’m sure He’ll understand. Cant’ wait for classes to start . . . amen?

Paul was in a battle . . . not so much a battle for himself, but a battle for the hearts of those who were being drawn away from the things of Christ. The enemy were a group of fake apostles . . . those who came as messengers of God, but who corrupted the gospel of God as they preached “another Jesus.” Their battlefield was the mind of the Corinthian believers . . . their goal, secure their hearts and their following . . . their tactic, discredit Paul. All this sets up 2Corinthians to be less “theological” and more emotional. As Paul contends for their faithfulness to Christ, he is forced to talk about himself . . . laying open his heart . . . his motivations . . . his compassion for these precious believers . . . his pleading for their fidelity to the way of the gospel.

One of Paul’s “vulnerabilities”, apparently, is that, although his letters were bold, when he was present with the Corinthians he was “lowly among you” (2Cor. 10:1). He was timid, literally he was “truly not rising far from the ground.” The fake apostles on the other hand, were bold and confident and boastful. They were charismatic, their very presence commanding a respect, their arrogant speech demanding others follow them. In some ways, they were the Goliaths and Paul was David. In fact, Paul sounds somewhat like David when he declares, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (10:4).

And what grabs me deeply this morning is the fact that Paul’s lowliness wasn’t a “character fault” . . . it wasn’t some “natural trait” that he had to combat to overcome . . . it wasn’t some “genetic thing” that he needed to compensate for by attending assertiveness training. No, in fact, if you think about it, Paul was very much naturally wired to kick some keester. This is Paul who was once Saul . . . Pharisee of the Pharisees . . . the one aggressively defended Judaism and it’s religious tenets and practices . . . defend it to the point of hunting down those of “the Way” and throwing them in prison and consenting to their execution. No, I think Paul’s lowliness was the result of sanctification . . . it was the fruit of being conformed to the image of Christ . . . it was the servant reflecting the Master . . . the disciple taking on the character of the Teacher. Check out Paul’s plea to the Corinthians . . .

“Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ . . . ” (2Corinthians 10:1)

That’s the phrase that recaptured my heart this morning, “the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” That’s my Savior . . . that’s my experience with Him . . . that’s the heart He has revealed to me. I read these words and immediately the prophet Isaiah’s words come to mind, “Behold my Servant, whom I uphold,my Chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” (Isa. 43:1-3 ESV).

That’s my Savior . . . meek and gentle . . . tearing down strongholds not with legions of angels, but with His death on the cross . . . proclaiming victory not with a voice from heaven but with a cry upon a tree, “It is finished!” Knees bowing to Him in worship and service not because He commands it and has forced it upon others, but because He has gently wooed souls to Himself . . . with meekness and patience drawing men’s hearts toward the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Oh, that I might more and more take on the “vulnerabilities” of the Master. That I might be like Him . . . emulating divine meekness and gentleness . . . truly not rising far from the ground . . . and that, in the hands of the mighty Spirit of God, I might be used in some manner and measure to further His kingdom . . . for His glory . . . amen.

I really don’t think there’s anyway around it . . . if anybody should be generous, it should be Christians. If there’s anyone who should give freely, it should those who have received freely. If there’s anyone who should be willing to go the extra mile to meet a need, it should be that person who knows how far God went to meet their greatest need.

A few months back I listened to a podcast by Mark Driscoll . . . and he had, on occasion, gone into restaurants his congregation has visited after a Sunday morning and asked how much they had tipped their waiters or waitresses. If they had been cheap, he said that he’d make up the difference. His point . . . literally putting his money where his mouth is . . . Christians should be generous.

You read 2Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 and you can’t escape that conclusion. Just as we have been graced . . . we are to grace others. “But as you abound in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love of us–see that you abound in this grace also . . . For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2Cor. 8:7,9)

We are to be givers because of what has been given to us. I’m not talking about counting out our 10 percent, or whatever, on Sunday mornings and putting it in the offering. I’m talking about doing life as a giver. And it’s not about how much . . . but about where from . . . “For if there is a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2Cor. 8:12). There’s a mindset . . . a fundamental life perspective that says, “I’ve been graced so much, how can I not grace in return?” And it’s not about going broke . . . not about going in debt . . . not about giving what you can’t afford . . . God’s not impressed with amount . . . but, it’s all about the spirit behind the gift . . . the attitude driving the deed. What really captured me this morning was Paul saying that is should be “a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation” (2Cor. 9:5b).

There it is . . . the two ends of the spectrum . . . the two places where giving can come from . . . from generosity or from grudging obligation. And as I probed a bit deeper at these two sides of the giving coin I was a somewhat surprised . . . and somewhat impacted . . . by the original language behind this English translation . . .

It is to be a matter of eulogia and not a matter of pleonexia . . . a matter of praise or blessing and not a matter of covetousness.

Kind of makes sense, huh? Generosity is rooted in blessing another . . . in the believer’s case, it’s an act of double blessing or double praise as we bless the one who receives our gift and we bless the One who has first graced us as we give in His name. And it’s not really even about whether or not the recipient “deserves” the gift . . . it’s about recognizing the “exceeding grace of God in you” and operating from a place of thanksgiving towards the Lord for “His indescribable gift” (2Cor. 9:14-15). We grace others because we have been graced . . . our generosity stems from wanting to bless others . . . no strings attached . . . just because we have been blessed.

To not be generous, to give out of “grudging obligation”, is really about being covetous . . . about wanting more . . . holding on to that which we have ’cause it’s ours. I usually think about coveting as wanting what someone else has . . . but here, it’s coveting what is already in my pocket . . . greedy for what I already posses. But what do I have that God didn’t give me? Paul also says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2Cor. 9:8).

His grace is shown to me . . . He cares for me making sure I have what I need . . . and that includes abundance of every good work . . . the means to bless in His name. Not about how much I give . . . but about how freely I give — even if it’s just a little. It’s about how much the blessing I’ve received is manifest in the desire to bless others. It’s about gracing for God because I’ve been so grace by God . . . it’s about leaving a big tip . . . amen?

Clean house . . . that’s what we do at some point on most Sunday afternoons. Why? Because our bible study group meets at our place early Sunday evenings. Yeah, but that doesn’t really answer the question . . . all we really need to do to host the bible study group is to open the door when they arrive . . . so why tidy up before they get there? I’m guessing at least a couple of things are at play . . . first, there’s something about putting forward your best foot — not about being fake, not about trying to impress, but about presenting in the manner in which you want to be seen. But, I also think there’s is something about wanting our guests to know that we’re honored to host them . . . that we want them to know that we have anticipated their coming and made a bit of preparation for them. In one way, it’s a means of saying, “Welcome. We’ve been expecting you. We’re glad you’re here.” So why am I thinking about cleaning house? It’s something I read this morning in 2Corinthians:

“For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. . . . I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” — 2Cor. 6:16-7:1

Paul reminds these believers that they are God’s sanctuary . . . His Holy Place . . . His Holy of Holies . . . that earthly residence in which He desires to dwell. God, through His Holy Spirit, has moved in . . . determining to house His glory in the temple of people . . . those bought with the blood of Christ. His desire and His promise is that He will dwell in us . . . that He will walk among us . . . that He will be to us a Father . . . that He will adopt us as sons and daughters. These are the great and precious promises of God. And so, says Paul, in light of these great truths, be sure to clean house.

We need to “tidy up” every so often. Assuming we are not living in open rebellion and pre-meditated disobedience . . . assuming that we wake up every morning wanting to walk in a manner worthy of our calling . . . I think we still need to look around the old place every once in awhile with a sanctified eye and do a bit of clean up. For me, at least, it can be kind of easy to get used to living with the clutter . . . to kick some of the dust under the carpet and forget about it . . . to hide stuff behind other stuff so that it’s “outta’ sight outta’ mind.”

But really, it’s not my house . . . it is the Residence of God . . . the place He desires to dwell . . . the venue where He seeks to make known His presence. And there’s something about clutter . . . and junk . . . and filth . . . that impedes His ability to feel welcome . . . the sends a wrong message about how honored I am to have been chosen to be part of His special people . . . that welcomes Him to “my home”.

It’s not that I’m trying to self-manufacture holiness . . . not that I’m trying to merit His presence by how clean I can make things . . . no, it’s only by the blood of Christ and through faith in His Son’s work on the cross that this house which was “condemned” has been given an “occupancy permit” for the God of Grace. So while it’s not about tidying up so that I merit His presence . . . it is about making the effort, as much as lies within me, to do my part in cleaning house. He transforms the house . . . mine is to keep the dirt out . . . to throw out the junk . . . to seek to present His dwelling place to Him without clutter . . . in a state that says, “I care that You want to live here. I want to welcome You with Your grace enabled holiness. I want You to know that Your Presence is desired and honored and I will do what I am able to, in order to convey my heart’s longing for You to be here.”

Cleaning house . . . driven by a desire for the presence of God . . . enabled by the grace of God . . . undertaken for the glory of God . . . amen!

Men’s retreat starts tomorrow night. About 30 of us will head to a house at Ocean Shores and cram into it for some “close fellowship” . . . a bit of fun . . . and too much food. I’ll have the privilege of leading the Friday night session . . . not really preaching or teaching . . . but leading. Anticipating an extended time of walking through Psalm 22 together and ending up breaking bread in remembrance of Him . . . a bit of a throw back to my spiritual heritage and my days in a “Plymouth Brethren” assembly. I’m looking forward to it. So, I’ve been going over Psalm 22 a few times over the past couple of weeks and I think that’s at least part of why 2Corinthians 5:21 jumped off the page this morning . . .

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2Cor. 5:21

That is the Great Exchange! That is the heart of reconciliation.

God who is holy, holy, holy . . . so loved me, who is not . . . that He determined to satisfy the demands of a just God through the exchange of His Son. Sin demands payment . . . the wages of sin is death . . . atonement is required . . . and I was bankrupt. I had run up the debt of sin . . . but I had nothing to pay it with. Enter the Great Exchange.

God determined to provide a means of reconciliation . . . to bring together two parties separated by a vast expanse. His initiative . . . and at His cost. He made His Son to be sin who knew no sin. Amazing! Jesus the Christ . . . the image of the invisible God . . . God with us . . . God in flesh . . . the Creator and Sustainer of all things . . . who Himself was holy, holy, holy . . . without spot or blemish . . . sinless . . . became sin for me. What was that?!? How can I enter into all that means? What was at the depths of His cry on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” What did it mean for Him to be made sin? Beyond the physical death, what spiritual transaction took place such that the just judgment of God was satisfied for all men’s sins for all time? Questions beyond my full comprehension . . . but this I know . . . He who knew no sin, was made to be sin for me.

This too I know, I have become the righteousness of God in Christ. The payment fully paid at Calvary, I have been declared righteous before God. The Great Exchange was His life for my sin resulting in my righteousness in Him. I am “in Christ” . . . oh, glorious thought . . . oh, glorious position. Though so aware of my failings and frailties, I sit here this morning in complete assurance and confidence that through His sacrifice, and in Him, I am “a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (5:17). And this confidence is not in anything I have done . . . or am currently doing . . . or hope to do in the future . . . it rests solely on the fact that, concerning my salvation, “all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ” (5:18).

Perhaps not particularly new or original thoughts . . . but tell me again the old, old, story. It is the gospel, the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). Not new thoughts, but what amazing truth . . . that He who knew no sin would become sin for us . . . that by His grace and through our feeble faith — even that is a gift from God — we have been given the righteousness of God in His Son.

Praise God for the Great Exchange! Looking forward to tomorrow night . . .

Sometimes you need a place to go to put life into perspective. You need something to act as an anchor when the “storms of life” seem to be tossing the ship uncontrollably. A reminder of how things really are that sheds some context on how things appear to be. 2Corinthians 4 is such a place . . . such an anchor . . . such a reminder.

This part of God’s word presents a number contrasts . . . those who are blinded by the god of this age vs. the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ shining on them (4:4) . . . glorious treasure that is packed into earthen vessels or jars of clay (4:7) . . . harsh earthly pressures vs. a sustaining heavenly presence . . . being “hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (4:8-9) . . . delivered over to death of Jesus’ sake so the the life of Jesus might be manifest in their mortal flesh (4:11) . . . the outward man perishing vs. the inward man being renewed day by day (4:16).

Paul was no stranger to hardship . . . he knew his share of trial and testing and suffering . . . and yet, he could declare, “We do not lose heart” (4:1, 16). “We keep on keeping on . . . we don’t throw in the towel . . . we press forward . . . we keep seeking the kingdom . . . we keep trusting in God . . . we hold fast to that which we know to be true . . . we do not lose heart. And at the heart of not losing heart is this perspective, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (4:17). Chew on that for a bit . . . more contrasts . . . some trial-sustaining perspective.

Paul steels himself with the reminder that his trials are but “for a moment” compared to the eternal life which is before him . . . that’s perspective. And then he also considers being hard pressed and being perplexed and being persecuted and being struck down as all being “light afflictions”. Not that they weren’t significant . . . not that he would just as soon not have to endure them . . . not that they weren’t painful and discouraging . . . this wasn’t the sting of a mosquito but the wounds of a sword . . . but they were “light afflictions” compared to the “exceeding and eternal weight of glory” that would be to come . . . more perspective.

The phrase “weight of glory” caught my eye . . . kind of an unusual phrase, it seems. So I looked up “weight” . . . and sure enough, it literally means “heaviness or weight” . . . and the word is only used 6 times in the New Testament. But what I find interesting is that, except for here, the word is translated “burden”. Jesus uses it in the his teaching referring to those who “have borne the burden of the day” (Matt. 20:12) . . . it’s the word used when we’re told to “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2) or, help carry each other’s load or heaviness or weight. So it’s got me thinking about bearing this eternal “burden of glory”.

That’s what awaits us . . . a burden of glory . . . a heavenly, God-measured, glorious burden of glory. And, unlike these “light afflictions” that suck it all out of us, the anticipation of this “burden” is what keeps us from being crushed . . . prevents us from diving into despair . . . reminds us that we are not forsaken . . . assures us that we will not be destroyed . . . therefore, we do not lose heart. Instead we look to being loaded up with a weight of glory . . . celebrating our “jars-of-clay-ness” now, knowing that through it the power of God is evident and the treasure of the glory of Christ is shining through the cracks of our beat up earthen vessels.

And so “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen” (4:18a) . . . we endure the “light afflictions” but we are not consumed with them because we focus on the burden of glory that will be ours . . . that “burden” that even now renews the inner man. “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (4:18b) . . . the “light afflictions” are but for a moment . . . the “burden of glory” is eternal . . . the trials are for a season, a night time, but joy comes in the morning and lasts as long as God and I shall be!

Oh, that God would grace upon His people such perspective . . . therefore, we do not lose heart . . . bring on the burden of glory . . . for your glory . . . amen.