Just sharing.

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“All things are possible to him that believeth.”

Mark 9:23

Many professed Christians are always doubting and fearing, and they forlornly think that this is the necessary state of believers. This is a mistake, for “all things are possible to him that believeth”; and it is possible for us to mount into a state in which a doubt or a fear shall be but as a bird of passage flitting across the soul, but never lingering there. When you read of the high and sweet communions enjoyed by favoured saints, you sigh and murmur in the chamber of your heart, “Alas! these are not for me.” O climber, if thou hast but faith, thou shalt yet stand upon the sunny pinnacle of the temple, for “all things are possible to him that believeth.”

You hear of exploits which holy men have done for Jesus; what they have enjoyed of him; how much they have been like him; how they have been able to endure great persecutions for his sake; and you say, “Ah! as for me, I am but a worm; I can never attain to this.” But there is nothing which one saint was, that you may not be. There is no elevation of grace, no attainment of spirituality, no clearness of assurance, no post of duty, which is not open to you if you have but the power to believe. Lay aside your sackcloth and ashes, and rise to the dignity of your true position; you are little in Israel because you will be so, not because there is any necessity for it.

It is not meet that thou shouldst grovel in the dust, O child of a King. Ascend! The golden throne of assurance is waiting for you! The crown of communion with Jesus is ready to bedeck your brow. Wrap yourself in scarlet and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day; for if thou believest, thou mayst eat the fat of kidneys of wheat; thy land shall flow with milk and honey, and thy soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. Gather golden sheaves of grace, for they await thee in the fields of faith. “All things are possible to him that believeth.”

 

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The “You” in the Christmas Story




Martin Luther famously observed that the words “for you” are the most important words in the Sacrament of the Altar. It isn’t just that the body and blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine, as crucial as that is. But “This is my body” and “This is my blood” would just be an interesting objective phenomenon if it weren’t for the next words “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” That this miracle is “for you” makes it the Gospel.

Similarly, the Swedish Lutheran bishop and novelist Bo Giertz points out that the Nativity accounts in the New Testament say that the events being described are “for you.” The birth of Christ is not just an important and mind-blowing historical event, though it certainly is that. But Christ’s birth is “for you.” That is, it is Gospel.
In the devotional collection of his sermons, A Year of Grace (translated by long-time reader and commenter at this blog, Bror Erickson), Bishop Giertz preaches on the angel’s words to the shepherds (my bolds):

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

Notice how many “you’s” are in this passage! Three in four sentences, plus a similarly all-inclusive “for all the people”!
Bishop Giertz sees this address to the shepherds in the larger context of the New Testament proclamation of the Gospel, as in Peter’s Pentecost sermon: “The promise is for you” (Acts 2:39). I would add, not just “you” the immediate hearers, but, to quote the rest of the verse, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” That is, those of us who will live in a “far off” time; including you and me.
Bishop Giertz says,

“The promise is for you.” When the gospel comes to us it does not come as just a story about something that has happened or about something that has the same unchangeable application in all times. No, it is a message that applies to us, and it applies right now. It is a greeting from God, an invitation. The promise is for you.
And this also means the Christmas gospel. It is not just a story about something that has happened and had important consequences for the world. There also lies in this story a greeting and a message for us, a greeting that gives understanding and a tiding that is full of meaning for those able to hear it.
We can listen to it word for word just as the angels on Christmas night carried it.

He then focuses on the specific words in the angel’s proclamation: “I bring you good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Bishop Giertz emphasizes that this personally-directed message is “news”:

It wasn’t an old, well-known truth to them. It was news. Something had happened. God sent a greeting to them. God cared about them. God wanted to help them. In the midst of the dark and the cold, during their hard and heavy work, in the midst of all the burdens life had put on them, God came so close to them, so nearly and did so much in order for them to understand it. It really was good news.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior” (Luke 2:11):

Unto you a Savior has been born. He is born to others, but they don’t mean anything here. Had you been the only one who needed help, then He still would have become man and descended to you. For your sake, He is born, for your sake He has lived, and for your sake He has died and been resurrected. It is He who is now the bond so that you may be children of God. All your sins count for nothing. They are atoned for by Him.

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12):

One might think that the hymns of angels and heavenly glory would have been a better sign. But no, instead, it was this newborn child that meant so much more than all the heavenly visions and glorious revelations. For here was God. In Him lived the fullness of God bodily, in this little body of a boy. This is the great mystery of God, His way of helping us. God became man. He entered our world. Here He lived, here He suffered. Here He remained, for here He established His church where He would always be with us. He is in these signs He has given us: the water of baptism, the word that is proclaimed, the bread and wine of Holy Communion. . . .

And this same “you” applies today to all those who want to find God, all those who are in distress of some sort and would like to believe that there is a Savior even for them. This shall be for you a sign. God is here, the same as then. He has descended to earth. god Himself slept that night on straw. The heaven’s blessing lay swaddled and in a crib. Thus has God taken His dwelling in the most insignificant of insignificants when He chose the means of grace through which the child Jesus and the crucified Savior would come to us today. There Christ hides in a word that can be read and heard–and mocked and scoffed and opposed if one wants to do so. Here He rests on the altar, mysteriously contained in the cup and the wafers. Here the sign has already touched you and was put upon your forehead when you were baptized. This is now the sign that can make a man certain. It is the means that creates faith.

So all the imagery of Christmas–the baby, the swaddling clothes, the manger–is a “sign for you.” Christmas itself is “for you.”
To all my readers, I wish you a blessed Christmas with all that it means!
As is the custom at this blog, next week we will take a look back at this exceedingly strange year, culminating on New Year’s Eve with our annual check of our predictions! If anyone predicted the coronavirus, he or she will not only win the contest, but we will name the contest after them in perpetuity! And then, on New Year’s Day, we will all make our predictions for the year to come, which, in turn, will be checked this time next year. So be thinking about what will be in store for 2021. The following week, building up to Epiphany, we will have some posts that will similarly look ahead. May your 2021 be better than your 2020!

 

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Victory over the evil one So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:14,15 NIV _______________ But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6,7 KJV _______________ Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31,32 NASB _______________ I would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil; then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:19,20 RSV _______________ God, Whose grace is all sufficient, be glorified! Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

Mark 16:9

Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil. She was possessed by not one devil only, but seven. These dreadful inmates caused much pain and pollution to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging. Hers was a hopeless, horrible case. She could not help herself, neither could any human succour avail. But Jesus passed that way, and unsought, and probably even resisted by the poor demoniac, he uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing power of Jesus. All the seven demons left her, left her never to return, forcibly ejected by the Lord of all.

What a blessed deliverance! What a happy change! From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from hell to heaven! Straightway she became a constant follower of Jesus, catching his every word, following his devious steps, sharing his toilsome life; and withal she became his generous helper, first among that band of healed and grateful women who ministered unto him of their substance. When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary remained the sharer of his shame: we find her first beholding from afar, and then drawing near to the foot of the cross. She could not die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as near it as she could, and when his blessed body was taken down, she watched to see how and where it was laid.

She was the faithful and watchful believer, last at the sepulchre where Jesus slept, first at the grave whence he arose. Her holy fidelity made her a favoured beholder of her beloved Rabboni, who deigned to call her by her name, and to make her his messenger of good news to the trembling disciples and Peter. Thus grace found her a maniac and made her a minister, cast out devils and gave her to behold angels, delivered her from Satan, and united her for ever to the Lord Jesus. May I also be such a miracle of grace!

 

[beensetfree]

A Weary, Weary World Rejoices



A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

Tonight, we are reminded that no pandemic, no economic crisis, no stressful #2020 craziness can ever change or compete with the breathtaking fact of Jesus.

Tonight, all over our weary world, people of every age, every color, every social status are coming before that baby in the manger. Perhaps looking for comfort, peace, answers, provision, healing or a better world in 2021 – or perhaps they are simply bowing in worship and thanksgiving. Maybe it is all of the above. But they are all coming before Him.
We are all coming before Him.

Just stop and really picture that for a moment in your mind’s eye. Set down your baking cookbook and your end-of-year financial logs and capture that image. Picture the fields and cottages of rural China. The penthouses of New York. The crowded apartments of Kiev. The factory towns of middle America. The multi-generational homes of Nigeria, Brazil, and Armenia. Even the private spaces of a starving, isolated, North Korea. And in all of them, the world is hushed, the surface things of life have fallen away, and all are bowing in reverence.
Some might wonder why. Why this devotion to a child born 2,000 years ago?
One word captures it all. Emmanuel. “God with us.”

Have any of us truly understood what that really means? It isn’t about a sky suddenly filled with the heavenly host – as thrilling as that image is! It isn’t about a star miraculously guiding wise men to a baby. It is about the fact that Jesus came from heaven to live as one of us, and thus be at risk of every single thing that saddens and stresses out each one of us. He intimately understands what it is to be at risk of sickness, hunger, temptation, poverty, betrayal. And yet unlike us, He made all the right choices and stayed in constant connection with the Father – even bowing His knee to a painful death so that those who accept His love will forever avoid death and separation.

That truth should always, constantly, permanently, shift us away from an earthly focus on our problems here and now, and onto an eternal perspective.
But it doesn’t. It is far too easy to get focused on those inevitable problems, irritations and heartaches. We need something to interrupt “real life” and remind us of what is actually Real Life.

Most of us, this year, are far more aware of our utter need for God than ever before. Like no other in living memory, the year 2020 has woken us up to the reality that our feeling of stability and control is an illusion.
So let us come before the baby in the manger, friends. Let us join with our brothers and sisters around the world in worship.
And then when “real life” tries to intrude, let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, and remind each other – and ourselves – that this Jesus points to the only Reality that really matters.

 

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Walk in the Light! The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:12-14 NIV _____________ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:24,25 KJV _____________ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8 NASB _____________ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.”

Matthew 9:6

Behold one of the great Physician's mightiest arts: he has power to forgive sin! While here he lived below, before the ransom had been paid, before the blood had been literally sprinkled on the mercy-seat, he had power to forgive sin. Hath he not power to do it now that he hath died? What power must dwell in him who to the utmost farthing has faithfully discharged the debts of his people! He has boundless power now that he has finished transgression and made an end of sin.

If ye doubt it, see him rising from the dead! behold him in ascending splendour raised to the right hand of God! Hear him pleading before the eternal Father, pointing to his wounds, urging the merit of his sacred passion! What power to forgive is here! “He hath ascended on high, and received gifts for men.” “He is exalted on high to give repentance and remission of sins.” The most crimson sins are removed by the crimson of his blood. At this moment, dear reader, whatever thy sinfulness, Christ has power to pardon, power to pardon thee, and millions such as thou art.

A word will speak it. He has nothing more to do to win thy pardon; all the atoning work is done. He can, in answer to thy tears, forgive thy sins today, and make thee know it. He can breathe into thy soul at this very moment a peace with God which passeth all understanding, which shall spring from perfect remission of thy manifold iniquities. Dost thou believe that? I trust thou believest it. Mayst thou experience now the power of Jesus to forgive sin! Waste no time in applying to the Physician of souls, but hasten to him with words like these:—

“Jesus! Master! hear my cry;
Save me, heal me with a word;
Fainting at thy feet I lie,
Thou my whisper'd plaint hast heard.”

 

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The Lord Has Already Richly Blessed Us All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. Psalm 25:10-14 NIV ____________ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. Ephesians 1:3,4,7,8 KJV ____________ Men Ought Always To Pray - Keep this in mind. We need revival. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 ____________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Everlasting consolation.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16

“Consolation.” There is music in the word: like David's harp, it charms away the evil spirit of melancholy. It was a distinguished honour to Barnabas to be called “the son of consolation”; nay, it is one of the illustrious names of a greater than Barnabas, for the Lord Jesus is “the consolation of Israel.” “Everlasting consolation” — here is the cream of all, for the eternity of comfort is the crown and glory of it.

What is this “everlasting consolation”? It includes a sense of pardoned sin. A Christian man has received in his heart the witness of the Spirit that his iniquities are put away like a cloud, and his transgressions like a thick cloud. If sin be pardoned, is not that an everlasting consolation? Next, the Lord gives his people an abiding sense of acceptance in Christ. The Christian knows that God looks upon him as standing in union with Jesus. Union to the risen Lord is a consolation of the most abiding order; it is, in fact, everlasting.

Let sickness prostrate us, have we not seen hundreds of believers as happy in the weakness of disease as they would have been in the strength of hale and blooming health? Let death's arrows pierce us to the heart, our comfort dies not, for have not our ears full often heard the songs of saints as they have rejoiced because the living love of God was shed abroad in their hearts in dying moments? Yes, a sense of acceptance in the Beloved is an everlasting consolation. Moreover, the Christian has a conviction of his security. God has promised to save those who trust in Christ: the Christian does trust in Christ, and he believes that God will be as good as his word, and will save him. He feels that he is safe by virtue of his being bound up with the person and work of Jesus.

 

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The Two Kinds of Malaise (And How to Handle Both)



Malaise is a common occurrence in the life of every human. That feeling of being tired or a little sad. Just not wanting to do anything. Bored. In some ways, a feeling of malaise is the most human thing in the world. We are creatures of pattern, destined for the mundane. Every new thing becomes familiar. The excitement of passion inevitably wanes over time. And we are left with something else. Or a couple different kinds of something else.


There are two sorts of malaise. The first is more like a depression, a deep and meaningful dissatisfaction. The second is more like boredom, a sort of apathy or monotony.
Both of these have similar symptoms. We talk about “being in a rut”, but which kind of malaise are we referencing when we say these things. The difference can seem small and is often hard to distinguish. But it is an important difference when it comes to how we respond.

The Strain
The first kind of malaise is a true and deep dissatisfaction. Our System One is being strained. We are not living out our values, not truly feeling alive. It is the kind of strain that leads to depression and mental illness. An out of control complacency. A loss of vision.

When we are faced with this kind of malaise, we need newness. We need intention. We need to name our vision and step into our values. This kind of malaise is a poison. It can destroy us if we don’t do something about it.


The Plain
The other kind of malaise is more complicated. It is a feeling of monotony. The consistency of discipline. And this is brought on by the harsh reality that life is predominantly spent on the plains. We seek the mountains (and even the valleys) because we “feel more alive” when things are extreme. But the plains, the ordinary is the place teeming with life. It is the place where our truest character develops.

On the plains, in the midst of this kind of malaise, we need grit and perseverance. We need a perspective of thankfulness, to see the value of where we are and the opportunity it affords us to live in accordance with our vision and values. We handle this malaise in quite the opposite way of the other: we press into it. We make the most of it and make our choices in the midst of it.

Discerning the Difference
So with two very different responses to two very similar-feeling types of malaise, the question becomes how do I discern the difference? While the feeling of normality can be terrifying, it can also be comforting. Which is right? Which kind of malaise am I feeling: the one that tells me I need a change or the one that tells me I’m on the right track?

This is why intentional vision is so important in our lives. We need a transcendent mission to devote our lives to. Otherwise, it is impossible to discern one malaise from the other. Each feels too similar to the other. Each is a reaction to circumstances, which change like the wind. What we need is something to tether us to the truth.
If your malaise aligns with your vision, you are on the right track. It might not feel particularly exciting. It might feel normal and familiar. That is the fruit of consistency, ironically.

If, however, you are living outside your vision, a malaise is the indicator you need to recalibrate your thinking and your behavior.
The difference-maker is vision. It is the lighthouse that directs us. It is the truth that serves as a compass. We cannot allow malaise to be our masters. Otherwise, we will let it leads us astray in both directions! We need malaise to be an alarm that lets us know we are so on track that living our vision is normalizing or we are so off track that our vision is fading in the distance. Either way, we must name our vision truly and honestly in order to discern the difference.

 

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How Changing My Mindset Changed My Marriage



What if you discovered you can change husband and your marriage.
This isn’t a trick.
The fastest way to change your husband and your marriage is to change the way you think about them.

I changed my mindset and changed my marriage.
I chose to see my husband and my marriage differently.
Thoughts are small, but they’re powerful. And they can control you. They can influence the way you respond to your husband and the way you view your marriage.
Actions stem from thoughts.

Change your mind; change your marriage.
It’s easy to criticize your husband. It’s easy to think about what he does wrong and complain about it. It’s easy to look at someone else’s marriage and wish yours was like theirs.
But what if you tried focusing on what he does right and on what’s good about your marriage?
When you focus on what he does right, you’ll change the way you treat him. When you focus on what’s good about your marriage, you’ll change the way you see it.
When you change the way you treat your husband, chances are he’ll change the way he responds to you.

Sounds simple, but it’s not easy
It won’t happen overnight, especially if you’re in the habit of thinking he’s the problem.
Negative thoughts haunted my marriage for years. I didn’t give my husband the benefit of the doubt. I thought he was 99 percent of the problem. I thought if he’d get with the program, we’d have an ideal marriage.
If he was late, I thought he was inconsiderate.

If he forgot something I asked him to do, I thought my needs and wants weren’t important to him. If he left a mess or didn’t take out the trash, I thought he didn’t appreciate me.
The thought of him irritated me. Would you want to be around someone you constantly irritated? Naturally he wanted to avoid me.
The more he avoided me, the more I thought he didn’t care.

Marriage is a self-fulfilling prophecy
If you think negative thoughts, you’ll see negative behaviors.
Fortunately, the opposite is true, too. If you think positive thoughts and give benefit of the doubt, you’ll see positive behaviors.
Think of how much less conflict and drama you’d have in marriage if you chose to:

• Be the one who is slow to take offense
• Be the one who’s slower to jump to conclusions
• Be the one who’s quicker to give the benefit of the doubt
• Not try to assume what he’s thinking

Change the way you think about your husband and your marriage and you’ll change them both.
Here are 8 thoughts that can change your marriage

1. Instead of assuming the worst, give him the benefit of the doubt.
2. Hear him out before taking offense.
3. Make mental notes of what he does well and acknowledge it.
4. Affirm him instead of criticize him.
5. Speak to him using a respectful tone instead of sounding irritated.
6. See his differences as necessary qualities you don’t have.
7. Think of him as your equal, not your child.
8. Assure him you’re proud of him and happy with who he is.

The way you think about him will change the way you treat him. When you treat him better, he’ll responds to you differently. He’ll feel better about himself when he thinks you’re happy with him.
Nothing will change your husband and your marriage faster than your thoughts.

 

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Grace, Mercy and Peace from God our Savior To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 1:4 NKJV ____________ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Romans 3:23,24 NASB ____________ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV ____________ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1,2 NIV ____________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“And I will remember my covenant.”

Genesis 9:15

Mark the form of the promise. God does not say, “And when ye shall look upon the bow, and ye shall remember my covenant, then I will not destroy the earth,” but it is gloriously put, not upon our memory, which is fickle and frail, but upon God's memory, which is infinite and immutable. “The bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant.” Oh! it is not my remembering God, it is God's remembering me which is the ground of my safety; it is not my laying hold of his covenant, but his covenant's laying hold on me.

Glory be to God! the whole of the bulwarks of salvation are secured by divine power, and even the minor towers, which we may imagine might have been left to man, are guarded by almighty strength. Even the remembrance of the covenant is not left to our memories, for we might forget, but our Lord cannot forget the saints whom he has graven on the palms of his hands. It is with us as with Israel in Egypt; the blood was upon the lintel and the two side-posts, but the Lord did not say, “When you see the blood I will pass over you,” but “When I see the blood I will pass over you.”

My looking to Jesus brings me joy and peace, but it is God's looking to Jesus which secures my salvation and that of all his elect, since it is impossible for our God to look at Christ, our bleeding Surety, and then to be angry with us for sins already punished in him. No, it is not left with us even to be saved by remembering the covenant. There is no linsey-wolsey here—not a single thread of the creature mars the fabric. It is not of man, neither by man, but of the Lord alone. We should remember the covenant, and we shall do it, through divine grace; but the hinge of our safety does not hang there—it is God's remembering us, not our remembering him; and hence the covenant is an everlasting covenant.

 

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Belonging is a Two-Way Street



We often talk about how much we want to belong. There is a clear desire in all of us to feel included, a part of things. It is a huge part of feeling purposeful in this communal world.
We enter institutions and relationships with a deep hope. We hope to find belonging. We hope the people and the places we find ourselves in will accept us and include us.
But belonging is a two-way street. And what we rarely think about is the part we have to play in cultivating belonging. We rarely consider how we might help others belong.


Victim Mentality
The reason for this is that we generally view ourselves as a victim of the world around us. We are the consumer and people either give or withhold what we desire. That is the narrative we choose.

In today’s world, we are cocked and ready to go off if we do not feel included. If belonging is withheld from us, we are ready with all kinds of sundry labels for those evil people who hold us at arm’s length.
Sometimes this is justified. But not as much as we use it. We adopt victim mentality in traffic and in lines at the store. At home with a loving spouse and at our workplace.
We hold people responsible for our belonging. Sometimes we even give them little tests to see if their approval of us is up to snuff.

Ownership and Responsibility
We try to make belonging a one-way street. You must accept me.


But there is another side to belonging. One that is equally (neither more or less) important.
If we truly want to experience belonging, we have to do our part in creating a culture of belonging. We can’t be bigoted toward others while ranting about their bigotry toward us. We can’t belittle others “in good fun” and then complain when we’re ousted by another group.
We hold others to a standard we are not willing to live up to ourselves. What’s worse, we don’t even think we need to live by a standard. We assume everything about us is good and justified.
Belonging is about community. It is not about personal affirmation. It is about unity and togetherness. It is not about promoting one’s self-esteem.

We run into this pandemic in all areas of our lives. We want to be loved but give no real thought to how we are loving others. We want to be celebrated but do the bare minimum to reward others (or even to consider them). Belonging only happens if we are working at it together. It is not something “they” give to ME. It is something the community pursues in truth and love. It is a culture thing. And if we demand it works for our benefit without any of our effort, we are foolish and shortsighted. Belonging is a two-way street.

 

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Pray... Pray... Pray! If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7,9 NIV ____________ Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 MSG ____________ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV ____________ Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Luke 18:1,27 NKJV ____________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“I know their sorrows.”

Exodus 3:7

The child is cheered as he sings, “This my father knows”; and shall not we be comforted as we discern that our dear Friend and tender soul-husband knows all about us?

1. He is the Physician, and if he knows all, there is no need that the patient should know. Hush, thou silly, fluttering heart, prying, peeping, and suspecting! What thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter, and meanwhile Jesus, the beloved Physician, knows thy soul in adversities. Why need the patient analyze all the medicine, or estimate all the symptoms? This is the Physician's work, not mine; it is my business to trust, and his to prescribe. If he shall write his prescription in uncouth characters which I cannot read, I will not be uneasy on that account, but rely upon his unfailing skill to make all plain in the result, however mysterious in the working.

2. He is the Master, and his knowledge is to serve us instead of our own; we are to obey, not to judge: “The servant knoweth not what his lord doeth.” Shall the architect explain his plans to every hodman on the works? If he knows his own intent, is it not enough? The vessel on the wheel cannot guess to what pattern it shall be conformed, but if the potter understands his art, what matters the ignorance of the clay? My Lord must not be cross-questioned any more by one so ignorant as I am.

3. He is the Head. All understanding centres there. What judgment has the arm? What comprehension has the foot? All the power to know lies in the head. Why should the member have a brain of its own when the head fulfils for it every intellectual office? Here, then, must the believer rest his comfort in sickness, not that he himself can see the end, but that Jesus knows all. Sweet Lord, be thou for ever eye, and soul, and head for us, and let us be content to know only what thou choosest to reveal.

 

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Be joyful always! Be joyful always; Pray continually; Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV ______________ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:4-6 NASB ______________ You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. Philippians 2:18 NASB ______________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“And I will give you an heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 36:26

A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a moment, is quite enough to make a heart of flesh grieve before the Lord. The heart of stone calls a great iniquity nothing, but not so the heart of flesh.

“If to the right or left I stray,
That moment, Lord, reprove;
And let me weep my life away,
For having grieved thy love”


The heart of flesh is tender of God's will. My Lord Will-be-will is a great blusterer, and it is hard to subject him to God's will; but when the heart of flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven, and bows like an osier in every breeze of God's Spirit. The natural will is cold, hard iron, which is not to be hammered into form, but the renewed will, like molten metal, is soon moulded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart there is a tenderness of the affections.

The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards him. The hard heart is selfish and coldly demands, “Why should I weep for sin? Why should I love the Lord?” But the heart of flesh says; “Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; help me to love thee more!” Many are the privileges of this renewed heart; “'Tis here the Spirit dwells, 'tis here that Jesus rests.” It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honour and praise of God, and therefore the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defence against sin, and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its watchtower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh?

 

[beensetfree]

Listening with Sympathy





The other day, I ran across a blog here at Patheos titled Illogic in the Garden of Eden Story. As I am currently preaching a series on Genesis 1-11, the creation story is fresh in my mind. Though the title promised a less than sympathetic reading of the text, my curiosity prevailed. Having read the post, I can report that the content basically met my expectations. On the one hand, I found the author’s reading of the text problematic. As I wrote in a recent post, I believe his criticism of the story goes awry in part because he doesn’t understand the full narrative of the Bible story.

On the other hand, the post had some value for me. While I don’t make it a frequent habit to read critics of the Bible, it can be useful at times. For myself, looking at scripture through their eyes stimulates my analytical impulses. In this instance, my thoughts were turned to the role that our attitude plays when we listen to a text. My impression is that the author did not approach the story with sympathy, but hostility. If I’m right, in addition to a lack of understanding of the Bible story, this disposition played a key role in his interpretation.
Today, I want to talk about how the choice to listen with sympathy or with hostility colors our interpretation of both texts and people. When we listen sympathetically, we allow God’s word, and when appropriate others, to be the wind that fills our sails and moves us in a positive direction.
Thinking with Humility

As a Bible scholar, NT professor, and preacher, I have the privilege of devoting the overwhelming majority of my waking hours to the study of the Bible. I am exceedingly grateful for this, because developing a robust understanding of the Bible is hard work and time consuming. I’ve been at this for decades now and yet my understanding of the Bible continues to go through refinement.

In order for this kind of refinement to take place, I have to be open to the fact that I might be wrong at times. Good interpretation requires an attitude of humility. There’s an old saying that you can’t get better until you admit you have a problem. Similarly, we can’t grow in our knowledge and understanding if we don’t accept that these may be incomplete or faulty.
Personally, I find this exciting. Every now and then I have to jettison a former position because I’ve learned something new, something that actually makes more sense of the grand sweep of the Bible’s story. I love these “a-ha” moments. Yet they could never happen if I weren’t open to the possibility that I just might be wrong at times.
Listening with Sympathy

Good interpretation and growth require more than humility, though. They also require an attitude of sympathy. When I’m confronted with new ideas, or even the barbs of critics, I have to consider the possibility that they just might be right. Thus, growth requires humility and sympathy to walk hand in hand.
Sometimes when I read critics, I have to concede that they have a point. Outside observers often have an advantage, in that they are able to see things that those of us on the inside have become blind to. If I listen with hostility, invariably I will adopt a defensive stance. I might go all Captain Kirk, “Shields up! Phasers on full!” In a defensive posture, nothing gets through. Defensiveness all too often shifts to attack. In this scenario, every effort is geared toward first protecting, then attacking.

For people, hostility and defensiveness are too often the default stance. In the absence of sympathy, nothing the text or the other person is trying to say gets through. By contrast, sympathetic listening allows for the possibility that one may be influenced by the other. Like a sailboat, it allows someone to be the wind that fills our sails and move us in a particular direction. While this is understandably a scary proposition, it is essential for leaning and growth. It’s the only way we can receive something useful, even from the critic.
Listening Sympathetically and Critically

Listening sympathetically, being willing to be influenced, doesn’t require one to automatically give ground. This is what I think most people fear. It’s why they resist listening sympathetically.
When we listen sympathetically, we are giving other people the opportunity to influence us. However, they still have to earn it. There’s a difference between scrutinizing an argument or position and simply attacking it. While the distinction can be a bit blurry at times, the difference is nevertheless real. Critical thinkers expect people to use evidence to support their arguments. They expect their interlocutors to verify the reliability of their evidence. They expect them to employ logic. Sympathetic listening simply gives others the opportunity to do just that.

Listening sympathetically also mean taking into account the other person’s story. It would be nice if we all adopted and held positions strictly based on logic and evidence. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. People’s beliefs are often grounded in their experiences and their emotional responses to those experiences. If we are quick to listen and slow to speak, if we listen sympathetically, a story may emerge that helps us to understand the other person’s position better than logic and evidence alone can. In turn, this can lead to far more fruitful dialogue for both parties.
Listening to the Bible with Sympathy

I would argue that sympathy is one of the primary factors that distinguish the student of the Bible from the critic. As a Christian, I approach the Bible as the word of God. I am sympathetically disposed towards God and the message of the Bible. I make it my goal to yield to the gentle breeze that is God’s word so that it alone will fill my sail, set my course and move me (I’m compelled to note that in both Hebrew and Greek, the word for “wind” and “spirit” are the same). Conversely, the critic often approaches the Bible with hostility. It is no surprise, then, that his or her reading is characterized by this disposition.
Whether listening to the Bible or listening to people, sympathy or hostility will play a key role in our interpretation of their meaning and intent. On the one hand, either approach can operate from false assumptions and result in false conclusions. On the other hand, only one is likely to result in something good and useful coming out of the interaction.

 

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Call upon me in the day of trouble God our Creator Hears and Answers Prayer Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15 NIV ______________ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 50:15,16 KJV ______________ He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. Psalm 145:19 KJV ______________ We proclaim Jesus, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29 NIV ______________ We need a Savior because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.