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Jesus was amazed!

He was amazed at disciple Nathanael’s surprise at what Jesus knew, “‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.’” . . . “Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.’” (John 1:48-50)

He was amazed at the faith of the Gentile centurion, who reminded Jesus that all it took was a word to get obedience from soldiers, therefore he trusted Him to declare his servant well. “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’” (Luke 7:9) 

He was amazed at the response of a Greek woman to comparing her to a scavenging dog, “ . . . a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’” (Mark 7:25-29) 

He was amazed to find the disciples sleeping when he was personally in need, and when he was about to experience the most critical time of his career – his crucifixion – demonstrating God’s Redemptive plan of History! (Luke 22:46)

All of these things point to the fact that it took a while for Jesus in his perfect humanity to catch on to His father’s heart in his calling, and perfectly human state – but when he did – He died for it, which was God’s will for you and I! He learned obedience by the things He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)

Is this not any true parent’s love for a child?

“But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls (your normal securities) are ever before me.’” (Isaiah 49:14-16) 

The heart of Jesus relates to the best parent there has ever been! A grandparent loves to watch the development of a grandchild, particularly if there are interests that are somewhat similar. Therefore, quite often they are the most qualified to help in situations that are bigger than the parents have been given the grace to handle!

For example, I knew my grandparents prayed, but I was amazed when my paternal grandfather prayed for us while missionaries in South Africa, and sent a letter that he had done so. “I have prayed clear through for you”. It was very important to me, for it came at a very difficult time in our experience as missionaries.

This is written all over the pages of scripture!

The disciples had observed Christ at prayer – and were amazed at the fruit of the disciplines of his prayer life. Lepers healed; Blind people seeing; Difficult encounters resolved. On it goes.

Since Jesus had understood their needs at the Father’s hand, they soon found their own hearts desperately longing, crying out to know the secret/s of prayer demonstrated in Jesus. Eventually they put a handle on it, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1)

Jesus then spoke the words most of us have memorized, “Lord’s Prayer”, thus teaching them the essence of prayer.

Thus an outline is all we need, to go along with the vision of Christ we have experienced. He knows us much more than we know! This is what the apostle Paul wanted to happen most in his life. (Philippians 3:10)

1. Prayer is directed to the Father of All – who is in Heaven;
2. Prayer is directed to call attention to God’s Name, Reputation or Fame;
3. Prayer is directed to the need for His Kingdom to increase;
4. Prayer is directed to wanting His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven;
5. Prayer is directed to asking Him for basic needs such as daily provision;
6. Prayer, to the outworking of our salvation, and is now directed to asking Him to do what we need to be doing anyway – with what is obvious around us; When we forgive, we are then qualified to worthily receive His forgiveness in situations, as we “flesh out” His will on earth; (1 Corinthians 8:3) with (Genesis 6:8) God “chose Noah”! Amazing, indeed! He saw that he did more than “put up” with the evil around him prior to the flood, he was willing to learn at the hand of God, and saved his family and animals from the flood!
7. Prayer, is directed to the danger of this journey to the heart of God, which will allow testing for authenticity of the intimate experience with God;
8. Prayer, is directed to the most important of all deliverances – from the evil one;
9. Prayer, is experiencing His Kingdom, Power, and Glory in our lives.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom Come; Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen. (Quotations from New International Version)a Blog this'

Have you ever had darkness argue with the light when it was turned on? It seems incredulous!

Why is it then, when it comes to experiencing insight, or an “aha” moment, (which is related to light), we don’t seem to have a problem with casting it aside. Of course, not every thought that comes our way qualifies as an “insight”. To make my point, when a blind man walks across a busy intersection with a white cane, but dutifully stops at a red light, we are amazed, but that is not really insightful. We know that that once the light of his eyes had been taken away, he still had the power of insight, which came from reflection on other sources of reflection on the movement of traffic and the voices of people.

I think this fascinating.

Yes, an insight can also cause problems – but most of us would agree that sometimes that is the very thing that works!

I asked a friend in the electrical business to explain how light impacts darkness, and he had a very simple reply: “View darkness as the absence of light, as you would cold, which is basically the absence of heat.”

My mind clicked – if that is true, and we choose to stay in the dark, we cannot help but receive light, even if we are choosing to reject it. Why? The very decision to reject it proves light of some kind or another – and this time that light is in us. But someone also said, if the light that we have within becomes darkness there is a major problem! It is like salt without savor, as Jesus points out.

I heard someone say it this way – “It really is ok to talk, and even to talk with yourself – even answer yourself, but something is wrong if you have to ask, ‘huh’ in reply!”

Have you ever shopped in an area of the store where lights were burned out? Why would that irritate you and I? We like to have light on something that we perceive will cost us in a way that we will perceive (there it is again) in some way. (Less money in our pocket, or less value for amount spent.)

To expand the horizons of my thinking, I am beginning to read the Book of Genesis in the Bible out loud. There I read that “darkness was on the face of the deep”, until God said, “Let there be light.” I also know that God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. I have also read John with new interest.

All He has to do is show up – and light has impacted darkness.

Ultimately, then, if darkness is powerless, anything that happens can be traced to light in some way . . . even if it is misperceived, and we get more darkness to deal with.

I find it intriguing that Jesus, Himself, said He was the Light of the World. Why does the Bible say this about both God and Jesus? Are they related in some way?

When Jesus came to our world, the world did not comprehend him. At least this is what the Bible says in the beginning of St. John.

We are drawn to light by nature . . . whether it is natural light, the light of insight, or the effect of light – enlightenment.

Light is still the ultimate Cause. Just for fun, why not read Genesis 1 and John 1, and reflect on the word “light” as you find it there. Draw your own conclusions, giving proper place to light and its effect.

Did you happen to think of anything else in the process? Why? Is that also related to the impact of light?

Why not assess a problem in this manner – considering that light is behind the problem in some way?
Just thinking . . .

No, Its a SUITCASE!

My wife and I have been privileged to attend a Wesleyan Church event in Orlando, Florida called the "Gathering".

This opportunity came completely by surprise. I have also encountered other surprises on this trip!

I had been praying about a difficult situation, and the Lord surprised me by showing a new meaning behind a well-known slogan, "Safety is no accident". Now, I know all too well, that, contrary to popular opinion, you cannot always operate safely. However, the slogan itself is no accident either! If you act wisely, according to standards that have been put there because of the experience of countless others, the statement embodies a great truth.

It was around about that time that I encountered a young family in the hallway of the hotel where we were staying. A mother was pushing a baby buggy with a brand new baby. I congratulated her, and then saw that her husband and a little boy were following behind. The little boy was wheeling a huge suitcase for a little boy, and I said, "Wow, what a heavy load for a little boy!" Both parents smiled, but the little boy had a different response.

Correcting me very quickly and firmly, he said, "No, it is a SUITCASE!"

I had to sit up and take notice - how often life appears to be a disaster everywhere we look, and we think, "I cannot operate safely in this kind of an environment", until a child corrects us!

"No, it is a SUITCASE!"

Looking at me intently, the little boy continued . . . "The only trouble is, it keeps falling down!"

Oh my, another insight on top of the first one!

Then the Holy Spirit said, "Remember, Paul, every burden is a suitcase that tells us we are headed for a world beyond today!"

It was shortly after that that the hotel music system played, "Beyond the Sunset". How do massive hotel chains think of a Christian who needs a reminder of God's providence? Oh, I know that it may have been just the melody, not a Christian song.

But it is still something to think about. I am sure a lot of people will have explanations . . . but don't we often see His great providence in little things if we have the heart for it!

NEW CAR, CHEAP SHOES & A BENT BUMPER

Even though I have been in ministry for many years, there are still some passages that I have not really “seen” and “comprehended”. God sometimes assigns someone else to introduce me to them. One such passage I read of in Mark Batterson’s book, “In a pit with a lion on a snowy day”.

 

The man’s name was Benaiah, who had the honor of being David’s personal body-guard. 2 Samuel 23 describes him as being “the son of a valiant man, . . . who had done many acts, including the slaughter of two lionlike men, and slaying a lion in a pit on a snowy day. He challenged a “good” Egyptian, (apparently one who trusted more in his spear than the Lord), overpowered him with a staff, then killed him with his own spear.

 

Mark Batterson quotes Antoinede Saint-Exupéry before the first chapter, “You are responsible forever for what you have tamed.”

 

This seems to imply that if we have been given special abilities to be “of value” for our own sakes, it means we are then responsible to God to learn and discover God’s ways to conquer future giants for His glory! (Proverbs 30:22) This is especially true if we have accepted the provision of God’s love for salvation. (1 John 1:9)

 

Unfortunately this is impossible if we do not comprehend and follow after God’s own heart, who gave His own son on our behalf. The “heart” is the key to life, but if we do not comprehend “God’s heart”, we can easily miss vital lessons.

 

Unfortunately I speak best from my own experience in things like this. I was reminded of it when I picked up my diary, written in South Africa in the early 1970’s, where we pastored a church in Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa.

 

More interested in the vehicle, than in wisdom at that time in my life, I decided to offer to take my wife and boys from Brakpan to the “The Bunny Park” in Benoni for a picnic, giving them a chance to see and pet the animals. I was wearing a brand new pair of cheap shoes that I had bought on a “blue-light” special for $1.77 before leaving the U.S.

 

Since I was getting used to the car, plus not being familiar with the spongy feel of the shoes, I ran the new vehicle into a tree! There was much more damage to my prideful heart than to the vehicle, so I had to swallow my pride, and acknowledge that I had to live with it! We drove it for nearly four years like that.

 

Jesus described this kind of problem as “straining at a gnat, while swallowing a camel!” By implication I personalized Proverbs 23:5 like this, “Will you set your eyes upon that which is really nothing? Apparent wealth tends to sprout wings that will enable it to fly as an eagle toward heaven.” Apparently this is the reason Jesus did not involve himself in legal cases. See Luke 12:15.

 

All power comes from God. A crisis with our own power, or ability to cope, gives us the opportunity to call upon God, through the provision of His great love! But, he may expect more honor from us than using a cheap pair of shoes to brag about it! No, cheap shoes weren’t the problem, but rather a cheap attitude towards a trust!

Finding Forgiveness in an Unforgiving World

It is 11^o F, and it is mid-November in Detroit, Michigan! My body isn’t ready for this yet! Ready or not, the cold is coming!

It is the same way with relating to others. They are either “cold or hot”. Like it or not, we cannot chose all our relationships. This means we will need to deal with the matter of forgiveness sooner or later. It was designed that way by God. Perhaps this is a significant part of relating to our Lord in a “hot or cold” way. 

This morning someone asked me, (after a disappointing experience), “How does a person have proof they have forgiven someone?” 

In answering I was reminded of the Lord's Prayer, (Luke 17:1-6), given in response to a similar question, verbalizing a need to pray more effectively, like John the Baptist's disciples had been experiencing. John the Baptist had challenged them to be authentic with their lives.

I simply quoted the Lord's Prayer, emphasizing the phrase, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, (or the evil one.)” 

We can tell if we have really forgiven another, by observing where our Heavenly Father leads after we have declared forgiveness with our mouths. He does not tempt, but may lead us into areas that are tempting. 

The prodigal, (Luke 15:17), started the road to forgiveness when he found himself coveting the material wealth his father had accumulated, rather than his father, himself. 

Unfortunately, he did it in covetousness! He eventually forgave completely when he realized that he was operating out of the vacuum and desperation of his own heart, rather than Who had made his father wealthy. When he “came to himself”, and went back home . . he found his father had changed (had he really?), and his brother needed to change as well. (Would he be willing?)

I find it fascinating to realize that the one in the more desperate situation, spiritually, is the very one who is allowed to “get by” with the unheard of, until someone more devoted is challenged with something far less significant.

Spiritual poverty is found among those closest to the Lord - that the rest of the world might believe! (These often include those who are rich in faith. This treasure of Grace is found in old clay pots, 2 Corinthians 4:7!) If Peter had not seen his own failure in the midst of his strategies, and observed Jesus healing the ear of an obedient servant of the High Priest, he would have missed another amazing proof of Who Jesus really was!

I WANT A HOLE ON TOP

He stood tall and addressed the barber with a straight face, “I want a haircut just like my dad’s!” Dad wasn’t there, so he replied, “And what kind of haircut does your dad have?” Without hesitation he said, “He has a hole on top!”

We laugh – but it is not new. Jesus’ comment to leaders who were doing as little as possible in matters of justice, mercy and faith said, “You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” Matthew 23:24 (ESV)

Their spiritual lives had a "Hole on Top".

Its just another way of describing laziness of heart and spirit.
 

Jesus addressed the question of our life-span in much the same way, perhaps spreading his little finger and thumb to demonstrate a cubit – which was about eighteen inches, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” Luke 12:25-26 (ESV). The writer to the Proverbs said the same thing in a different way, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1 (ESV)
 

Thus a lazy person works harder to keep out of work, than to actually do it. It is surprising how little it takes to turn the tide. Someone, when asked about the concept, said, “Work fascinates me, I can stand and watch it for hours!” “A lazy person says, ‘There’s a lion outside! I’ll be murdered in the streets!’” Proverbs 22:17. (ESV) “In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven men who can answer sensibly. Proverbs 26:16 (HCSB)
 

But, today I want to dig a little deeper, to share my amazement at the simplicity of what Jesus said, “So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 12:31-34, ESV) “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
 

Hear this, “It is your Father’s good pleasure!” He loves this! He longs to make giving people out of us; He says to sell what we have in order to be sure that we have the medium of exchange in our hands – also described as alms – in order to turn these “things” into expressions of heartfelt provision. It can be either the actual thing or its worth.
 

Look at what God gives in exchange for this gesture, (which is also demonstrated in James 1:27): Moneybags that don’t get old; treasure in heaven that does not fail; a place where thieves do not approach, and where moths do not eat.
 

James 5 indicates that if the children of God do not treat possessions in this way, they take the witness stand against us. Funny how idols mock us like this! They “burn the flesh with fire”, which God wants to turn into the peace of His provision, by providing the needs of the heart! (James 4:3)
 

Note in particular, the next statement, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Verse 34) The whole point of the passage is that we turn what we have for a short time, into what will last a life-time, and eternity. This takes thinking, praying, and loving – giving it our hearts.

 

Here is one way that it can work – We sell something with the heart purpose of love – keeping only what such an “exchange” will bring in “buying power” for the gift of love. If circumstances control the price – you will be amazed what a small amount will buy on the recipient’s behalf - since it is all about the heart, and love.
 

Doing it in a spirit like this, causes an admiration and appreciation that cannot be matched anywhere!
 

When covetousness is our focus, it shouldn’t surprise us that the heavens take on the image of an idol to be enslaved to. But when God who created life and “all things for us to enjoy”, becomes our model and opportunity to foster faith in others, it is amazing what we will experience in our own daily lives!
 

“The heavens declare the Glory of God, the firmament, (expanse, covering, somewhat like the silver covering of an idol), shows His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1) As we, too, declare the Glory of God, the expanse shows His handiwork in our lives!
 

Heart change equals vision change. But, it is obviously more than that – Love begins to shine through as we change to this focus. Ironically I will need to “catch up to love”, but “love will also catch up with me!”
 

How much better to complete the work started in us by faith, thus covering our heads with Christ's "Helmet of Salvation", by having a heart of love. (Ephesians 6:17)

EACH NEW MORNING HAS NO CLOUD

“I’m going to stay at this until I’m done”, I promised myself, “. . . even if it takes me until 2 tomorrow morning!” True to my own heart, I did get it done! However, in the morning, I reviewed the completed project only to find two or three glaring mistakes! I groaned, “If I didn’t have the energy to complete the task, why was I given the energy to destroy it!” I knew better than complain to God, but didn’t know how to deal with my own failure, thus it ended up in a complaint anyway! Moses had this problem when he was called to set God’s people free from Egyptian bondage. (Exodus 4:10-11)

He had a “night” of forty years after the murder of an Egyptian. When morning came, it was filled with the clouds of doubt!

Quoting Lucy Maud Montgomery in “Anne of Avonlea”, the second story in the ever-popular “Anne of Green Gables” series, Russ Lawson of Daily Encourager writes, “Every day is brand new, with no mistakes.” ¹

The book begins, “Anne is . . . ready to begin a new life teaching in her old school. She’s as feisty as ever and is fiercely determined to inspire young hearts with her own ambitions. But some of her pupils are as boisterous and high-spirited as Anne, and so life in her Avonlea classroom becomes a lesson in discovery and adventure.”

Insights like this in life lurk in surprising places!

I have repeatedly been delighted and surprised that such “conventional wisdom” was actually hidden in the Bible long before this inspirational statement. Delighting in God’s Word brings such things to my heart.

Here are some places I have seen it,

1. God’s compassions are “ . . . new every morning: great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:23 NKJV)
2. His answer is heard in the morning . . . “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.” (Psalms 5:3 NLT)
3. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalms 5:3 NLT)
4. “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:7 NLT)
5. He is the One that provides seed, increases resources, then brings the harvest. “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” (2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT)
6. The morning is the product or fruit of the night before . . . the reason we are warned not to go to sleep with an angry heart. The morning represents the fruit of the previous night’s heart exercise. (Psalm 4:4) (Ephesians 4:26) Countless people have advised, “Why don’t you sleep on it?”
7. The activities of a given day have an affect on the next. Whether we like it or not, the heart of any given day is the material God uses to create the new one. The created order itself is always perfect, even though it is dealing with “less than perfect” investments. I find it dismaying at times that the brand new cells of my body carry only the tendencies of the old. Many years ago I learned to say, “I have 220 lbs of new cells, but they all think that they’ve got to be fat like their predecessors!”
8. The very name of the morning, is “Day”, (Genesis 1:5) This is repeated for each created day, It starts with the “heart” for the coming “day”, calling it “Evening”. The “fruit” of one’s heart is a special gift to use for each new day! (A concept God caused me to reap many years ago in what today is known as “IBLP.org”)
9. Descriptive names are given to both sad and joyful experiences. Sad experiences are those that express disappointments, and Joyful experiences are those that express God’s blessing.

You may be saying, “But you have said nothing about a morning’s ‘lack of clouds’ . . . new days ‘do’ have clouds! In fact I’ve just experienced the worst possible morning ever!” The answer is rather basic: “God’s Created Order leaves us with an aching heart. But given the understanding of the Great Redemption Story it will equal ‘no clouds’ in each new day”.

Begin the day in the evening. Let your empty heart repeat the effective medicine of scripture that you keep thinking of as you go to sleep. Cry for God’s heart to be revealed to you in the morning. Frustration at night will only cloud the morning.

Embrace the day in the morning, thanking God for what appears to be a cloud! It is God who creates and sustains us. He knows we will fail. His laws are changeless. He wants to show us that clouds do not destroy the sun. The clouds caused by determination alone, mercifully protect us from ourselves until we are ready for the sun in all its glory, or we wouldn't even try! (Psalm 19:5) (2 Corinthians 12:7)

1 http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Avonlea-Lucy-Maud-Montgomery-ebook/dp/B00BSS8WUS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389033675&sr=8-2&keywords=anne+of+avonlea