Every once in a while, it seems that God gives us all reminders to be thankful for the gift of life. It gets so easy for us to take this gift for granted. We wake up tired and weary, not looking forward to the day that lies ahead. Or we feel like we're on the ferris wheel of life, around and around, with not much ever changing.
But then, we get those reminders that life truly is something precious, and that each day is a gift from God by His grace. Over the past week, I have been reminded of that. A local Christian family was put in touch with me following the death of a loved one. She had battled disease in her life, and it seemed, had triumphed, only to have a treatable illness strike her and take her life.
As this family was connected with me to share God's Word of comfort with them during their time of grieving, it served as a reminder to me. Life really is precious. It gets really easy to wake up feeling tired, or wondering if things are going to be the same this week as they were last week. We find ourselves fighting the same battles, enduring the same things, and that preciousness seems to slowly slip away.
And then, something like death or illness intrudes. While never pleasant, quite often these are God's reminders to us to be thankful for this gift of life. Today I'm reminded of just how beautiful this gift is from God. I truly hope that God's gift to you is a day filled with reminders of love, of joy, and of happiness. Above all, my hope is that you truly do appreciate your life as a gift from God.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Reflection on God's Word
This week, I have been focusing on an approach to learning, understanding, and growing in the discipline of studying God's Word. Prayer for the Spirit's guidance, reflection on God's Word, and then paying attention to how we struggle with living out what God says are the three "rules" outlined by Martin Luther in his approach to the Scriptures.
Some may wonder why to follow such an approach to God's Word. After all, most people don't aspire to develop the kind of knowledge and understanding of the Bible as, say, a pastor would. So why take this kind of approach to studying the Bible? What would a "regular" person strive to get from this?
One thing that God emphasizes in the Bible is that His Holy Spirit works in specific ways in this world. True, places such as John 3 show us that we cannot confine God to a specific manner of revealing Himself, but God always wants us to have certainty about how His Spirit comes to us. The way that He tells us we can count on God's Spirit working is through God's Word, both spoken and read.
But what does that do for us? What do we get from this kind of study? Well, those questions are not easily answered. But one thing that our study of God's Word does is show us what God's disposition is toward us. We hear about the actions that He has taken on behalf of His people throughout time, and yet, how He sees the bigger picture that is not always obvious to us. We start to see our place in the world, in time, and in God's grand scheme of things, among many other things.
But, perhaps most important, God shows us how we can deal with a life that is less than perfect. He shows us what He has done for us in our pain. He shows how He cares for us, especially when we are joined with others who share that same belief. And to think, He does this through our times of engaging His Word.
Some may wonder why to follow such an approach to God's Word. After all, most people don't aspire to develop the kind of knowledge and understanding of the Bible as, say, a pastor would. So why take this kind of approach to studying the Bible? What would a "regular" person strive to get from this?
One thing that God emphasizes in the Bible is that His Holy Spirit works in specific ways in this world. True, places such as John 3 show us that we cannot confine God to a specific manner of revealing Himself, but God always wants us to have certainty about how His Spirit comes to us. The way that He tells us we can count on God's Spirit working is through God's Word, both spoken and read.
But what does that do for us? What do we get from this kind of study? Well, those questions are not easily answered. But one thing that our study of God's Word does is show us what God's disposition is toward us. We hear about the actions that He has taken on behalf of His people throughout time, and yet, how He sees the bigger picture that is not always obvious to us. We start to see our place in the world, in time, and in God's grand scheme of things, among many other things.
But, perhaps most important, God shows us how we can deal with a life that is less than perfect. He shows us what He has done for us in our pain. He shows how He cares for us, especially when we are joined with others who share that same belief. And to think, He does this through our times of engaging His Word.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Community and Meditation
This week's focus has been on Luther's suggested "rules" for meditating upon the Scriptures and growing in understanding of them and God's work. These three rules are prayer, which asks God to show His intention and meaning, meditation, in which we read and reflect upon what the word or section of Scripture means, and then the struggle, when we discover that we don't do what God says, don't like it, or are tempted to downplay, thinking that God cannot really be that serious. This is when we truly begin to discover how different God is and thinks as opposed to us.
Today, I simply want to present two thoughts. The first is how important it is that we don't confine ourselves to this practice all by ourselves. God created people to be in community with one another. He even works by His Spirit to give insights into His Word that may not occur to us on our own. For this reason, God's people gather together to share in what God says and how they see that working out in their lives.
Next, I want to challenge you to practice this on a small part of God's Word. I have been practicing these three rules on the words of Psalm 4. I suggest that you choose a similarly short text, and simply follow these three rules. It may only take a few minutes a day, but practice it for a week. See where God's Spirit guides your thinking. See what thoughts and struggles come to mind. If you would like, feel free to share them through the blog here.
Today, I simply want to present two thoughts. The first is how important it is that we don't confine ourselves to this practice all by ourselves. God created people to be in community with one another. He even works by His Spirit to give insights into His Word that may not occur to us on our own. For this reason, God's people gather together to share in what God says and how they see that working out in their lives.
Next, I want to challenge you to practice this on a small part of God's Word. I have been practicing these three rules on the words of Psalm 4. I suggest that you choose a similarly short text, and simply follow these three rules. It may only take a few minutes a day, but practice it for a week. See where God's Spirit guides your thinking. See what thoughts and struggles come to mind. If you would like, feel free to share them through the blog here.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Struggle with Scripture
"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate....For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." Romans 7:15, 18b-19
So far, we have seen Martin Luther's approach to learning and growing in God's Word. We start with prayer, asking for God's Spirit to instruct us in our understanding. Then, we meditate and reflect on God's Word, engaging it frequently, and even speaking it aloud to gain understanding. This, then, brings us to the third part, or "rule", of growing in God's Word.
Inevitably, the Bible will tell us something that we either do not want to hear or that we find ourselves incapable of. This is the struggle we see in Paul's words above. For example, Jesus says that we are to seek God's kingdom first, with the full trust that God will then provide all that we need. And yet, when we look at our lives, we find that we don't do this very well.
This is the struggle which Luther calls the third "rule". It is where the devil takes God's Word and tries to convince us that we can't do that. He wants us to give up on growing to be more like Christ. Or, he tries to convince us that God didn't really mean what He said to the full extent which the Bible says. For example, when Jesus says that it is better to lose an eye or a hand than for that member to keep us from faith in God's kingdom, we want to believe that Jesus isn't being literal or serious. Surely God cannot be that strict, we tell ourselves.
This is the struggle which actually forms much of our lives in Jesus. Paul says it well. We want to do what God says, but we don't want to. It's too demanding. We want to follow God, but we aren't convinced that God will "have our back", so to speak. And it is at this point where Luther suggests that our true understanding of God begins.
Will we give in to the easy way, or will we take the hard and narrow road in following Jesus? Paul's answer is that we will do the easy thing. And yet, God's Spirit works in us, constantly battling against that life of ease that we may think we deserve as God's people. His Spirit challenges us to take up the hard task and to walk the narrow road.
But we don't do this alone, or without hope. Paul's conclusion at the end of this section of Romans asks who will save him from this wretched state. The answer: Jesus alone, by God's grace. In the end, it isn't about our struggle, but about God's struggle and triumph in Jesus' death and resurrection. It is God's gift which has made us His own, and which then challenges us to grow in Him, even as we face the struggle. But in the end, we have the victory, through Jesus. Thanks be to God!
So far, we have seen Martin Luther's approach to learning and growing in God's Word. We start with prayer, asking for God's Spirit to instruct us in our understanding. Then, we meditate and reflect on God's Word, engaging it frequently, and even speaking it aloud to gain understanding. This, then, brings us to the third part, or "rule", of growing in God's Word.
Inevitably, the Bible will tell us something that we either do not want to hear or that we find ourselves incapable of. This is the struggle we see in Paul's words above. For example, Jesus says that we are to seek God's kingdom first, with the full trust that God will then provide all that we need. And yet, when we look at our lives, we find that we don't do this very well.
This is the struggle which Luther calls the third "rule". It is where the devil takes God's Word and tries to convince us that we can't do that. He wants us to give up on growing to be more like Christ. Or, he tries to convince us that God didn't really mean what He said to the full extent which the Bible says. For example, when Jesus says that it is better to lose an eye or a hand than for that member to keep us from faith in God's kingdom, we want to believe that Jesus isn't being literal or serious. Surely God cannot be that strict, we tell ourselves.
This is the struggle which actually forms much of our lives in Jesus. Paul says it well. We want to do what God says, but we don't want to. It's too demanding. We want to follow God, but we aren't convinced that God will "have our back", so to speak. And it is at this point where Luther suggests that our true understanding of God begins.
Will we give in to the easy way, or will we take the hard and narrow road in following Jesus? Paul's answer is that we will do the easy thing. And yet, God's Spirit works in us, constantly battling against that life of ease that we may think we deserve as God's people. His Spirit challenges us to take up the hard task and to walk the narrow road.
But we don't do this alone, or without hope. Paul's conclusion at the end of this section of Romans asks who will save him from this wretched state. The answer: Jesus alone, by God's grace. In the end, it isn't about our struggle, but about God's struggle and triumph in Jesus' death and resurrection. It is God's gift which has made us His own, and which then challenges us to grow in Him, even as we face the struggle. But in the end, we have the victory, through Jesus. Thanks be to God!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Meditation and God's Word
"My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise." Psalm 119:148
What comes to mind when you hear the word "meditate"? I dare say that, for many, some sort of mystical image comes to mind. A person sitting on the floor, legs crossed, arms on the knees, and some kind of "mm, mmmm" sound being made by the person meditating.
If that is the image that many have of meditation, then what does Christian meditation "look like"? Does it involve emptying the mind, focusing on some image, or making strange sounds while sitting in a strange position?
The second of Martin Luther's "rules" for growing in God's Word is to meditate upon that word. Frequently, Psalm 119 makes use of the word meditate, with David emphasizing how he took time to meditate upon God's laws, statutes, commands, etc, just like we see in the verse above.
Christian meditation involves hearing God's Word, and then intentionally thinking about what God is saying in that word. Luther would even say that speaking that word out loud, hearing it again and again, is what meditating consists of. Reflecting not merely on the meaning of the words, but upon what God seeks to convey through those words is what Christian meditation is about.
Why not try that for a few moments today? Pick out a short Psalm, maybe one in the 120s or 130s. Pray for God to guide and instruct you, as yesterday's post discussed. Then, reflect and meditate upon that Psalm. Speak it out loud a couple of times. Ask what God is trying to say to His people through that Psalm. As you do this, you are actually engaging in Christian meditation.
What comes to mind when you hear the word "meditate"? I dare say that, for many, some sort of mystical image comes to mind. A person sitting on the floor, legs crossed, arms on the knees, and some kind of "mm, mmmm" sound being made by the person meditating.
If that is the image that many have of meditation, then what does Christian meditation "look like"? Does it involve emptying the mind, focusing on some image, or making strange sounds while sitting in a strange position?
The second of Martin Luther's "rules" for growing in God's Word is to meditate upon that word. Frequently, Psalm 119 makes use of the word meditate, with David emphasizing how he took time to meditate upon God's laws, statutes, commands, etc, just like we see in the verse above.
Christian meditation involves hearing God's Word, and then intentionally thinking about what God is saying in that word. Luther would even say that speaking that word out loud, hearing it again and again, is what meditating consists of. Reflecting not merely on the meaning of the words, but upon what God seeks to convey through those words is what Christian meditation is about.
Why not try that for a few moments today? Pick out a short Psalm, maybe one in the 120s or 130s. Pray for God to guide and instruct you, as yesterday's post discussed. Then, reflect and meditate upon that Psalm. Speak it out loud a couple of times. Ask what God is trying to say to His people through that Psalm. As you do this, you are actually engaging in Christian meditation.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Prayer and God's Word
What does prayer have to do with learning from the Bible? After all, can't anyone who can read understand what the Bible says? Well, yes. We can all use the common definitions of words and understand grammar and sentence structure. From that perspective, we can all understand what the Bible says in its most basic of meanings.
But there is a deeper level. Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 2:14: "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." In other words, there is the basic meaning, and then, there is the meaning that God's Spirit guides us to understand.
That is why Martin Luther, in the preface to the compilation of all his books in German, wrote this about how we read the Bible: "But kneel down in your little room and pray to God with real humility and earnestness, that he through his dear Son may give you his Holy Spirit, who will enlighten you, lead you, and give you understanding."
In other words, both Paul and Luther emphasize the need of God's Spirit to truly understand what the Bible teaches us about God. This is why Luther sees prayer as vital to understanding God's Word. The Christian prays for God's Spirit to help him or her understand what God intends through what is written.
So next time you prepare for any study of God's Word, it may be good to ask God to give you His Spirit, to guide you in understanding what God is saying through what you are reading.
But there is a deeper level. Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 2:14: "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." In other words, there is the basic meaning, and then, there is the meaning that God's Spirit guides us to understand.
That is why Martin Luther, in the preface to the compilation of all his books in German, wrote this about how we read the Bible: "But kneel down in your little room and pray to God with real humility and earnestness, that he through his dear Son may give you his Holy Spirit, who will enlighten you, lead you, and give you understanding."
In other words, both Paul and Luther emphasize the need of God's Spirit to truly understand what the Bible teaches us about God. This is why Luther sees prayer as vital to understanding God's Word. The Christian prays for God's Spirit to help him or her understand what God intends through what is written.
So next time you prepare for any study of God's Word, it may be good to ask God to give you His Spirit, to guide you in understanding what God is saying through what you are reading.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Spirituality and Meditation
"I'm spiritual, but not religious." "I believe in Jesus, but not in the church." Perhaps you have heard these expressions before, or even thought them yourself. In the current day and age, many seem to perceive that being spiritual and being part of a Christian church simply are not compatible.
I have recently began to take a great interest in what it means to be spiritual and to be a Christian. As a Lutheran Christian, I am looking at these from that particular perspective. Thus, part of my "research" has been in looking at what Martin Luther had to say about being spiritual and a Christian.
Essentially, Luther summed up the development of the Christian's spiritual life by centering it on God's Word. He specifically looked at texts such as Psalm 1:2, "...his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." From such meditation, and from looking in-depth at Psalm 119, Luther came up with three primary "rules": prayer, meditation/reflection, and then the struggle with the Word and the world.
We'll spend time this week looking at each of these, and considering how they play a part in the spiritual life of a Christian. I welcome your thoughts on what it means to be spiritual and a Christian.
I have recently began to take a great interest in what it means to be spiritual and to be a Christian. As a Lutheran Christian, I am looking at these from that particular perspective. Thus, part of my "research" has been in looking at what Martin Luther had to say about being spiritual and a Christian.
Essentially, Luther summed up the development of the Christian's spiritual life by centering it on God's Word. He specifically looked at texts such as Psalm 1:2, "...his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." From such meditation, and from looking in-depth at Psalm 119, Luther came up with three primary "rules": prayer, meditation/reflection, and then the struggle with the Word and the world.
We'll spend time this week looking at each of these, and considering how they play a part in the spiritual life of a Christian. I welcome your thoughts on what it means to be spiritual and a Christian.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Grace and God
Do we as Christians truly believe that God is a God of grace? There are times when we may need to ask ourselves that difficult question.
We believe that God created the whole world and universe. That means that God created everything that exists in this world. We would have absolutely nothing if God had not already given it to us. And what's more, God created it and gave it to us because He loves us beyond reason or doubt.
That takes the discussion of grace to a whole new level. We are completely dependent upon God for everything. We wouldn't have house, home, food, land, animals, spouse, if it weren't for God's grace in providing such things. So how could we ever start thinking that God owes us something, or that we have done something to deserve God's goodness toward us?
Many want to say that proper teachings and doctrine, proper worship, proper "Christian" action makes us pleasing to God. The truth of the Bible is that even those things come as a gift from God. Living out our faith in God is something that is even a gift from God, by His grace.
How is God's grace flowing into your life today? The answers are likely beyond number.
We believe that God created the whole world and universe. That means that God created everything that exists in this world. We would have absolutely nothing if God had not already given it to us. And what's more, God created it and gave it to us because He loves us beyond reason or doubt.
That takes the discussion of grace to a whole new level. We are completely dependent upon God for everything. We wouldn't have house, home, food, land, animals, spouse, if it weren't for God's grace in providing such things. So how could we ever start thinking that God owes us something, or that we have done something to deserve God's goodness toward us?
Many want to say that proper teachings and doctrine, proper worship, proper "Christian" action makes us pleasing to God. The truth of the Bible is that even those things come as a gift from God. Living out our faith in God is something that is even a gift from God, by His grace.
How is God's grace flowing into your life today? The answers are likely beyond number.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Of Grace and Justice
Grace and justice are two things that really don't seem like they go together. After all, if justice is served, consequences are administered. But grace, at least the modern day thinking on grace, seems to be the opposite. Grace is letting the person off with no consequences. So it may seem that grace and justice simply cannot coexist.
However, this has to be false. After all, God is a God of both justice and grace. In fact, both justice and grace find their perfect being in God. The problem for us is that we cannot seem to ever get the right "mix". We've all pushed for justice and consequences when grace was really what was needed, and vice versa.
It seems that part of this reason is because we're talking about two things that have different sources of their being. Justice tends to be a more "real", or perhaps, physical, thing. We see consequences. We see when someone is punished for their wrong. In other words, justice seems to have to do with life in this world.
Grace, on the other hand, seems to be a more spiritual thing. Grace can be shown even while justice is administered. A person can love the person, completely forgive them, and yet, see through to justice and consequences. And perhaps that is the key for us as we think about these two and see how they can coexist together.
What do you think? Are grace and justice compatible or not? Why?
However, this has to be false. After all, God is a God of both justice and grace. In fact, both justice and grace find their perfect being in God. The problem for us is that we cannot seem to ever get the right "mix". We've all pushed for justice and consequences when grace was really what was needed, and vice versa.
It seems that part of this reason is because we're talking about two things that have different sources of their being. Justice tends to be a more "real", or perhaps, physical, thing. We see consequences. We see when someone is punished for their wrong. In other words, justice seems to have to do with life in this world.
Grace, on the other hand, seems to be a more spiritual thing. Grace can be shown even while justice is administered. A person can love the person, completely forgive them, and yet, see through to justice and consequences. And perhaps that is the key for us as we think about these two and see how they can coexist together.
What do you think? Are grace and justice compatible or not? Why?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Beginning a Book
Those of you who know me well know that I like to read (okay, maybe obsess about reading, but that's another story!). I've had the book "The Shack" sitting on my shelf for a while, and last night, decided to start reading it. I've heard both good and bad things about it, from many of my Christian acquaintances.
That got me to thinking. How do we, as Christians, approach fictional literature that seems to have a biblical basis? I was even in a Christian bookstore recently, and noticed that there were quite a few "Christian Fiction" books available. I can honestly say that I don't have a really good answer to that question.
So what are your thoughts on Christian fiction? Good? Bad? Unnecessary?
That got me to thinking. How do we, as Christians, approach fictional literature that seems to have a biblical basis? I was even in a Christian bookstore recently, and noticed that there were quite a few "Christian Fiction" books available. I can honestly say that I don't have a really good answer to that question.
So what are your thoughts on Christian fiction? Good? Bad? Unnecessary?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Grace-Oriented Life
I was reading through Matthew 5:38-48 today. Jesus lays out some hard things in those words. Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. Give more than what is being demanded. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. All I can say is, "How?"
At least, that's my answer until God shows His grace to me. Paul writes "For if, while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10) The hard reality is, not a single one of us can do what Jesus says. Only Jesus can.
Jesus shows us what a grace-oriented life looks like. He turned His cheek to take what we deserved. When God's justice demanded our death, Jesus stepped in and took our place. When we were enemies of God, Jesus prayed for us, and then laid down His life for His enemies, that they would be reconciled.
That's the grace-orientation that God's Spirit works to create in God's people. It's not that we don't seek out justice, but that, in all situations, we look for ways to go above and beyond in showing God's love, in whatever situation we find ourselves.
What does that look like in your life?
At least, that's my answer until God shows His grace to me. Paul writes "For if, while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10) The hard reality is, not a single one of us can do what Jesus says. Only Jesus can.
Jesus shows us what a grace-oriented life looks like. He turned His cheek to take what we deserved. When God's justice demanded our death, Jesus stepped in and took our place. When we were enemies of God, Jesus prayed for us, and then laid down His life for His enemies, that they would be reconciled.
That's the grace-orientation that God's Spirit works to create in God's people. It's not that we don't seek out justice, but that, in all situations, we look for ways to go above and beyond in showing God's love, in whatever situation we find ourselves.
What does that look like in your life?
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