The title of this entry is the title of song written by Gerald Crabb and sung most famously by his son, Jason. Please listen to it here or at least look up the lyrics.
This is a song I find myself singing a lot, and as I lay on my bed tonight, a million things going through my mind, I came to a realization: this is the appropriate reaction!
Imagine with me for a minute a woman walking down the street with her husband. It is a warm, sunny, early autumn day. The leaves are just beginning to change colors. The scenery is positively gorgeous, but the woman cannot enjoy it. She cannot bask in the warmth of the sun. She cannot even enjoy the time with her husband, for, at the end of the street they are walking down, comes a man with whom she had an affair. She is gripped with panic and shame. She hopes and prays that the man turns around, but he sees her and walks towards them. Her heart begins to stammer and she begins to sweat, though she is frozen. Here she is faced with both her husband and her lover. Her husband addresses the man with disgust and hate, for he knows that this the one she had an affair with, though the woman said nothing about it. This woman now has two choices as they turn to her. She could stay with her husband, whom she loves, or she could leave with her lover, whom she also loves.
Now imagine: The stress becomes too much, and she breaks down on the sidewalk. She cries and grabs for her husband. "Please, forgive me!" she cries. "You are all I have! It is your decision to make, but, please, forgive me!"
Does this sound far-fetched? Does this sound like an impossible scenario? You may ask, "How did the husband know?" I tell you, this is a scenario that happens all too often. We face it.
For we are Christ's bride and when we give in to sin, we betray our love for Him and seek what we want more, like the woman did. So, when we, who claim to love God, are brought face to face with our sin, God is right there with us. This is when we show who we love most: ourselves or God. We can either continue to live in our sin, or we can fall to our knees and cry out, "Please forgive me! I need your grace to make it through! All I have is you, I'm at your mercy!"
It is through God's power that he gives to us (grace) that we can make it through each day. And it is His mercy that we, who are sinful, are allowed to live. When we cannot sleep because our sin weighs on our minds, or when our hearts have no joy, how can we not fall to our knees and cry out to Him?
Yes, this song is powerful. And it is, truly, the appropriate response to God in the face of our sin. And remember, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
It's like taking a death sentence away from a murderer...
This started with my pastor using a couple of verses from chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians and grew into a thought-provoking study and examination of previously read words. As I look through my Bible, I find that I have spent much time in 2 Corinthians, yet I feel as though I don't know this book. I have underlined important verses, yet I don't remember why. I have studied Paul's reasonings for writing this letter, and, luckily, still remember that much. However, as I continued on in 2 Corinthians 5 during the sermon (sorry Pastor), I began to remember some of what I figured out the last time I read this letter.
For my reader's sakes, I will abridge the first four chapters (seeing as these are HIGHLY important to the context of chapter 5), and begin with quoting in chapter 4:16 after.
In this letter, Paul begins a defense of his and Timothy's ministry. The church at Corinth accuses them of stealing, lying, and being in it for themselves (among other things). They boast, in clean conscience, of living in God's grace alone despite the circumstances they faced during imprisonment. They defend and defend and defend. They begin to tell of how, through themselves, God is moving and how more and more people receive God's message of grace. And, so, because God's grace is being shown to more and more people, even through their suffering, they write:
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, out inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light 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. For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we makie it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together for Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 4:16-6:2.
So, what does this say? I hope you are still with me, cuz this is excellent stuff. Let's start at the top.
Paul is saying that because God's grace is reaching more and more people, they don't lose heart when faced with trials or imprisonment. Instead, they understand that while they are alive, God's grace is preached, but when they die, they are home with Him. It is a struggle for Paul, as he mentions it many other times in his letters, but one that he is ok with having.
I absolutely love verse 13 of chapter 5 "For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you." What Paul says here is this: "When we appear crazy, we are crazy for God's glory, and when we appear sane, it is for you to know God." How incredible is that!? I just listened to an interview/discussion with Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan, and Joshua Harris. In it, Harris and Driscoll seemed dumbfounded at Francis' decision to leave Simi Valley and give away his money, spend time with the needy and homeless, and, possibly, move to a third world country. This idea seemed preposterous, especially to Driscoll judging from his questions. However, Francis always brought it back to Scripture and said, "This is what I understand is to be done from the New Testament." He is motivated by love for people and for God, as Paul and Timothy were, and wants to see God move.
Following that are the great words: "For the love of Christ controls us..." We are to be CONTROLLED by Christ's love. Not just His love for us, but His love for other people. Check it out. "We have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore, all have died." So, we can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch. We must be active. We must be living for Him because His love for us and for everyone else He died for controls us and compels to act. Paul then preaches the gospel in short form. He tells of the wonderous gift of grace and being regarded according to Christ and not the flesh (works). Oh, how beautiful! We are new, if we are in Christ. Christ is calling us back to Himself, and using those who have come back to Him to bring others back. That is what Paul means by "All this is from God, who through Christ...gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
The RA's verse is next. "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ." We represent Him. We fly His flag, so to speak, just as our ambassador in another country flies the American flag. When people see Christians, they see Christ. That makes me scared of what people think of Christ when they see my life. This is a call to mission and holiness. Ambassadors are active, always working for the good of the country/person they represent. If they didn't, they wouldn't be a good ambassador.
Then, the most beautiful thing ever is said: "For our sake, He (God) made Him (Christ) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Christ) we might be the righteousness of God." WOW! I know I've heard it before, but it never gets old to me. Christ became my sin so that I could have perfect standing in God's eyes. That is humbling! It's like saying that someone walks into the courtroom on the day of sentencing for the man who is given a death sentence and says, "I'll take on his punishment so that this man can go free." Yeah. That's true insanity. That's true love. Love is insane. Love makes no sense.
And God did this for us all. Please, listen to the words that Paul wrote in chapter 6: "we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain...Behold, now is the day of salvation."
I pray this opens your eyes to God's goodness and Christ's love. I pray that His love controls you. I pray that one person who needs to hear this, does so, and understands just exactly what Christ did for him/her.
For my reader's sakes, I will abridge the first four chapters (seeing as these are HIGHLY important to the context of chapter 5), and begin with quoting in chapter 4:16 after.
In this letter, Paul begins a defense of his and Timothy's ministry. The church at Corinth accuses them of stealing, lying, and being in it for themselves (among other things). They boast, in clean conscience, of living in God's grace alone despite the circumstances they faced during imprisonment. They defend and defend and defend. They begin to tell of how, through themselves, God is moving and how more and more people receive God's message of grace. And, so, because God's grace is being shown to more and more people, even through their suffering, they write:
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, out inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light 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. For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we makie it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together for Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 4:16-6:2.
So, what does this say? I hope you are still with me, cuz this is excellent stuff. Let's start at the top.
Paul is saying that because God's grace is reaching more and more people, they don't lose heart when faced with trials or imprisonment. Instead, they understand that while they are alive, God's grace is preached, but when they die, they are home with Him. It is a struggle for Paul, as he mentions it many other times in his letters, but one that he is ok with having.
I absolutely love verse 13 of chapter 5 "For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you." What Paul says here is this: "When we appear crazy, we are crazy for God's glory, and when we appear sane, it is for you to know God." How incredible is that!? I just listened to an interview/discussion with Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan, and Joshua Harris. In it, Harris and Driscoll seemed dumbfounded at Francis' decision to leave Simi Valley and give away his money, spend time with the needy and homeless, and, possibly, move to a third world country. This idea seemed preposterous, especially to Driscoll judging from his questions. However, Francis always brought it back to Scripture and said, "This is what I understand is to be done from the New Testament." He is motivated by love for people and for God, as Paul and Timothy were, and wants to see God move.
Following that are the great words: "For the love of Christ controls us..." We are to be CONTROLLED by Christ's love. Not just His love for us, but His love for other people. Check it out. "We have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore, all have died." So, we can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch. We must be active. We must be living for Him because His love for us and for everyone else He died for controls us and compels to act. Paul then preaches the gospel in short form. He tells of the wonderous gift of grace and being regarded according to Christ and not the flesh (works). Oh, how beautiful! We are new, if we are in Christ. Christ is calling us back to Himself, and using those who have come back to Him to bring others back. That is what Paul means by "All this is from God, who through Christ...gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
The RA's verse is next. "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ." We represent Him. We fly His flag, so to speak, just as our ambassador in another country flies the American flag. When people see Christians, they see Christ. That makes me scared of what people think of Christ when they see my life. This is a call to mission and holiness. Ambassadors are active, always working for the good of the country/person they represent. If they didn't, they wouldn't be a good ambassador.
Then, the most beautiful thing ever is said: "For our sake, He (God) made Him (Christ) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Christ) we might be the righteousness of God." WOW! I know I've heard it before, but it never gets old to me. Christ became my sin so that I could have perfect standing in God's eyes. That is humbling! It's like saying that someone walks into the courtroom on the day of sentencing for the man who is given a death sentence and says, "I'll take on his punishment so that this man can go free." Yeah. That's true insanity. That's true love. Love is insane. Love makes no sense.
And God did this for us all. Please, listen to the words that Paul wrote in chapter 6: "we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain...Behold, now is the day of salvation."
I pray this opens your eyes to God's goodness and Christ's love. I pray that His love controls you. I pray that one person who needs to hear this, does so, and understands just exactly what Christ did for him/her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
