Webster’s defines Forerunner as; one that precedes and indicates the approach of another. Luke 1:16-17 states; “and he (John the Baptist) will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘To turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”
So let’s look at John’s forerunning and then at Jesus’ forerunning…did you know Jesus was a forerunner too? John’s forerunning “job” was going to, in the power of God; turn back the hearts of the people and make ready a people prepared….prepared for what? John was the one who was going to plow up the hard ground of Israel’s heart to open up the ground and make it ready for the WORD of the Lord- the Word, in the flesh, Jesus. He was to make ready and go before the Lord, so that the good seed of the Word itself might be planted and grow up!
John was the one who preceded and indicated the approach of another namely Jesus BUT Jesus was also a forerunner and an even better one. John tilled up the ground and then Jesus planted the Seed, Himself…and that Seed had to die (Check out John 12:24-25, 27-33!) so that it could bring life to many. In doing all of this, Jesus became our forerunner in the True Temple, in heaven itself…in the very presence of God. Hebrews 6:19-20 states, “This hope (the hope of the Gospel) we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizekek.”
Jesus preceded us into the presence of God to present His own blood….God approved of the payment and Jesus rose from the dead! But Christ forerunning role also indicated that there would be the approach of others…through His sacrifice, the believers can now approah. Christ accomplished an invitation to draw near through His blood, right into the presence of God, in Christ Jesus! John tilled the ground of a nation to make the way for Jesus to till and change the heart in the person. Forerunning….
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Advent Musings....The Holy Spirit!
In reading Luke 1:1-17, these verses are talking about the birth of John the Baptist, verse 15 says “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.” The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead and has been a real Person from all eternity, yet in the Old Testament there was no permanent residency of the Spirit within any human. The Holy Spirit would “come upon” people for a certain time or task…and then leave, but the housing or indwelling of the Spirit was not available under the Old Covenant, because every person (even the really good ones) was still under the condemnation of sin.
In the case of John the Baptist this is very strange and odd that he would be filled while still in his mother’s womb. Interesting….very interesting. John’s task (as forerunner of the Messiah) is very unique and I believe it marks the beginning of a complete and total change that is about to take place. A New Covenant is going to be established through Christ where the presence of the Living God, by the INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit will be in the life of every believer in Christ. John is the last Old Testament prophet and his “job” is going to be the most important one of the entire Old Covenant time. As he decreases and Jesus increases, it’s a picture of the Old Covenant times coming to an end and a New Covenant being ushered in by Christ.
Now, why do I find it so interesting that he is filled with the Spirit while still in his mother’s womb?! Who cares, right? Except it seems to me that it says something about what Power source is going to be needed to accomplish this task of “preparing the way” of the ending one Covenantal time and a New one beginning. Everything is going to change. Everything.
Years later, while John was imprisoned, Jesus would say of him in Matthew 11:11-13, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesies until John. “ John “prepared the way” and prophesied and then Jesus came, the One who is the fulfiller of the Law and Old Covenant - Jesus the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world- Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith- Jesus the Light of the world….the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus.
John the Baptist was awesome and his “job” was one of a kind and huge….but anyone of us in this New Covenant who has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with 100% complete access to the Living God at all times and a relationship that beckons draw near is greater- not greater in value but in availability and access to God. The Luke account of breaking the silence to old barren people with news of a filled forerunner of the Messiah is Kingdom altering and life altering for you and me. Wow.
In the case of John the Baptist this is very strange and odd that he would be filled while still in his mother’s womb. Interesting….very interesting. John’s task (as forerunner of the Messiah) is very unique and I believe it marks the beginning of a complete and total change that is about to take place. A New Covenant is going to be established through Christ where the presence of the Living God, by the INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit will be in the life of every believer in Christ. John is the last Old Testament prophet and his “job” is going to be the most important one of the entire Old Covenant time. As he decreases and Jesus increases, it’s a picture of the Old Covenant times coming to an end and a New Covenant being ushered in by Christ.
Now, why do I find it so interesting that he is filled with the Spirit while still in his mother’s womb?! Who cares, right? Except it seems to me that it says something about what Power source is going to be needed to accomplish this task of “preparing the way” of the ending one Covenantal time and a New one beginning. Everything is going to change. Everything.
Years later, while John was imprisoned, Jesus would say of him in Matthew 11:11-13, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesies until John. “ John “prepared the way” and prophesied and then Jesus came, the One who is the fulfiller of the Law and Old Covenant - Jesus the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world- Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith- Jesus the Light of the world….the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus.
John the Baptist was awesome and his “job” was one of a kind and huge….but anyone of us in this New Covenant who has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with 100% complete access to the Living God at all times and a relationship that beckons draw near is greater- not greater in value but in availability and access to God. The Luke account of breaking the silence to old barren people with news of a filled forerunner of the Messiah is Kingdom altering and life altering for you and me. Wow.
Old and Barren...Luke 1:7
Zacharias and Elizabeth were both old and she was barren. In other words, time marches on and they got no babies. God had been silent for 400 years to the entire nation of Israel and that included silence to them. I’m sure they had given up any hope of ever having a child. Old-ness and barren-ness are really big problems and there was nothing that either of them could do about it.
There is always more going on than we can see with our eyes ( even when it come to something as sweet as babies) and as I have been thinking about being old and barren, I’ve been thinking about the spiritual climate of the nation of Israel at that time and yes…even the world. It was old and barren. The nation of Israel (as a covenant people) was at least 1500ish years old and as spiritually barren as you can imagine, but so was the rest of the world. The entire world because of sin was old, dying, barren and without any hope of bearing life at all-ever.
How interesting that God breaks the silence with news of a new life the little baby John, a forerunner (more on that soon) who will make the way ready for Life itself, to an old and barren couple. It paints a much bigger story of what is to come…God alone was going to get the glory for all the work…and He alone would do all the work in the most impossible situations.
If it’s impossible to make old barren ground of a womb fruitful and life-giving, how much more impossible to make dead barren hearts alive and life-giving? Impossible to us, but possible to Him, He excels in the impossible. Old and barren might sound really depressing, but seeing what He can do in the midst of it? Astounding.
There is always more going on than we can see with our eyes ( even when it come to something as sweet as babies) and as I have been thinking about being old and barren, I’ve been thinking about the spiritual climate of the nation of Israel at that time and yes…even the world. It was old and barren. The nation of Israel (as a covenant people) was at least 1500ish years old and as spiritually barren as you can imagine, but so was the rest of the world. The entire world because of sin was old, dying, barren and without any hope of bearing life at all-ever.
How interesting that God breaks the silence with news of a new life the little baby John, a forerunner (more on that soon) who will make the way ready for Life itself, to an old and barren couple. It paints a much bigger story of what is to come…God alone was going to get the glory for all the work…and He alone would do all the work in the most impossible situations.
If it’s impossible to make old barren ground of a womb fruitful and life-giving, how much more impossible to make dead barren hearts alive and life-giving? Impossible to us, but possible to Him, He excels in the impossible. Old and barren might sound really depressing, but seeing what He can do in the midst of it? Astounding.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Advent Musings….Silence Broken, Luke 1:1-13
400ish B.C. (you know I love the ish!) The Old Testament historical and prophetic accounts come to an end with Nehemiah and Malachi – with the wall completed around Jerusalem, the rebuilt temple and a lone prophet speaking - then all goes silent. Obviously God is still at work and in control but He does not speak to the children of Israel for 400ish years. 400 years is a long time with no formal declarations, words, encouragements, correction, prophets or spokesmen on the scene….simply silence.
Silence can be deafening….especially as oppression is getting louder. Many things change over the 400 years, Israel is both hurting and hardened…waiting and trudging forward. The noose around their necks is getting tighter from all angles. Life was volatile. What they didn’t understand (and frankly I don’t think a lot of people understand) is; the real oppression is within.
At the right time, at the fullness of time the silence is broken and God is about to speak. The 400 year silence is broken to an old priest who is serving in the temple of the LORD by burning incense before the LORD. Gabriel’s first words to Zacharias, by the order of God Most High, were “Do not be afraid”. Silence broken, God is speaking and will continue to do so.
I wonder how much fear ruled the people of Israel in those 400 years of silence. I wonder if any feared that God had abandoned them or if their covenant God had simply forgotten them? He had not. Of course Zacharias was terrified and needed the word, “Do not be afraid” but that is not all that Gabriel said… God was ready to speak in a way that had never been spoken before….God was going to become flesh. Silence Broken and never again would God be silent. Think on that. He has now spoken to us through His Son and He is still speaking.
Silence can be deafening….especially as oppression is getting louder. Many things change over the 400 years, Israel is both hurting and hardened…waiting and trudging forward. The noose around their necks is getting tighter from all angles. Life was volatile. What they didn’t understand (and frankly I don’t think a lot of people understand) is; the real oppression is within.
At the right time, at the fullness of time the silence is broken and God is about to speak. The 400 year silence is broken to an old priest who is serving in the temple of the LORD by burning incense before the LORD. Gabriel’s first words to Zacharias, by the order of God Most High, were “Do not be afraid”. Silence broken, God is speaking and will continue to do so.
I wonder how much fear ruled the people of Israel in those 400 years of silence. I wonder if any feared that God had abandoned them or if their covenant God had simply forgotten them? He had not. Of course Zacharias was terrified and needed the word, “Do not be afraid” but that is not all that Gabriel said… God was ready to speak in a way that had never been spoken before….God was going to become flesh. Silence Broken and never again would God be silent. Think on that. He has now spoken to us through His Son and He is still speaking.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Ode to Expectations...
I get myself into trouble every holiday with my expectations….expectations of myself and others. Whether it’s trying to have a Martha Stewart look, Norman Rockwell setting or Leave it to Beaver image….if I’m not careful, very careful I can get myself in a lot of trouble. It might be an unfinished side-dish, dry turkey… a sideways look from a cranky Aunt or a snarky comment round the table. You name it, it can be big or small but simply put; life is not Norman Rockwell or Christian Leave it to Beaver.
As I have been preparing for Thanksgiving I’ve been thinking a lot about my “expectations issue” and seeing how connected it is with my perceived value and finding approval- When even part of my worth and approval is based on my performance and the performance of others AND/OR their reaction to my performance . Uggg. No wonder I get myself into trouble!
SO, as I’ve been praying about this, the Lord has landed me in Romans Chapter 8….in a vital truth for the believer in Christ, an expectation that is FULLY met in Christ. Nothing (not even holiday mental meltdowns) can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. These are the verses I’m writing down on my 3x5 card for Thanksgiving, verses that I desperately need to be convinced of. Here are my added thoughts…
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life (including not having dinner done on time for all the waiting guests),nor angels, nor principalities, (including that crabby person who has issues) nor things present, nor things to come, (including past hurts that surface, unfinished family drama or even any present drama) nor powers, nor height, nor depth, (including the really great times and the really hard times, emotional highs and lows…and other people, especially others!), nor any other created thing (including all the holiday traditions that go well and go south and all the in-between stuff. Including being lonely in a crowded room or isolated from a conversation…all of it) NOTHING, not one thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
That is something to be truly thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving….may He give us eyes to see where our true expectation is met, in Him!!
As I have been preparing for Thanksgiving I’ve been thinking a lot about my “expectations issue” and seeing how connected it is with my perceived value and finding approval- When even part of my worth and approval is based on my performance and the performance of others AND/OR their reaction to my performance . Uggg. No wonder I get myself into trouble!
SO, as I’ve been praying about this, the Lord has landed me in Romans Chapter 8….in a vital truth for the believer in Christ, an expectation that is FULLY met in Christ. Nothing (not even holiday mental meltdowns) can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. These are the verses I’m writing down on my 3x5 card for Thanksgiving, verses that I desperately need to be convinced of. Here are my added thoughts…
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life (including not having dinner done on time for all the waiting guests),nor angels, nor principalities, (including that crabby person who has issues) nor things present, nor things to come, (including past hurts that surface, unfinished family drama or even any present drama) nor powers, nor height, nor depth, (including the really great times and the really hard times, emotional highs and lows…and other people, especially others!), nor any other created thing (including all the holiday traditions that go well and go south and all the in-between stuff. Including being lonely in a crowded room or isolated from a conversation…all of it) NOTHING, not one thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
That is something to be truly thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving….may He give us eyes to see where our true expectation is met, in Him!!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
R.I.P.
Rest in Peace….a very common phase when people die. Our hope is that they rest in peace in the afterlife. I’ve been thinking a lot about this phrase because there has been a lot of death this week but I suppose there is a lot of death every week. It’s sad and it’s hard.
In thinking about this phrase and mulling it over- I think it is a better statement for the living. Rest in Peace. The reality is only if we REST IN PEACE here and now can we have the security of resting in peace after death because Hebrews 9:27 says, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Resting in peace after death is completely contingent on resting in His offer of peace while living.
Jesus Christ is our Peace. Ephesians 2:13-14, “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Paul is talking about the Body of Christ being both Jew and Gentile, but one of his main points is; we all needed peace and Jesus provided it! Every one of us is born at war with God, enemies by our position of being born in sin. Sin is not what we do, it is the state in which we are born in and need rescue from. In other words, we need peace and we need it now!
Jesus came for that reason…to give peace. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ came to make peace…by walking out a life under God’s law of perfection and walking it perfectly, then willingly laying down His life and taking on the wrath of the war, the judgment of sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He (the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus died, was buried and He rose again on the morning of the third day….for peace, with peace, in peace and now….offering peace!
Now we must rest. Oh my sister….when Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, take My Yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This is rest from the war…rest from the lack of peace with God and rest from working to be at peace, because we can never work enough. This rest is what is offered by His finished work on the Cross….Resting in Peace. Resting and Trusting go hand in hand. When we trust we rest. So today….are you Resting in Peace? Have you seen your need for peace in the first place? If you have are you continuing to rest? Rest in Peace- a wonderful and very true statement for the living. Jesus Christ is our Peace-Rest in Peace today.
In thinking about this phrase and mulling it over- I think it is a better statement for the living. Rest in Peace. The reality is only if we REST IN PEACE here and now can we have the security of resting in peace after death because Hebrews 9:27 says, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Resting in peace after death is completely contingent on resting in His offer of peace while living.
Jesus Christ is our Peace. Ephesians 2:13-14, “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Paul is talking about the Body of Christ being both Jew and Gentile, but one of his main points is; we all needed peace and Jesus provided it! Every one of us is born at war with God, enemies by our position of being born in sin. Sin is not what we do, it is the state in which we are born in and need rescue from. In other words, we need peace and we need it now!
Jesus came for that reason…to give peace. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ came to make peace…by walking out a life under God’s law of perfection and walking it perfectly, then willingly laying down His life and taking on the wrath of the war, the judgment of sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He (the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus died, was buried and He rose again on the morning of the third day….for peace, with peace, in peace and now….offering peace!
Now we must rest. Oh my sister….when Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, take My Yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This is rest from the war…rest from the lack of peace with God and rest from working to be at peace, because we can never work enough. This rest is what is offered by His finished work on the Cross….Resting in Peace. Resting and Trusting go hand in hand. When we trust we rest. So today….are you Resting in Peace? Have you seen your need for peace in the first place? If you have are you continuing to rest? Rest in Peace- a wonderful and very true statement for the living. Jesus Christ is our Peace-Rest in Peace today.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Fabric...Ephesians 2:1-10
What are your thoughts filled with? Doubts? Fears? Plain old life? Are they fill with the knowledge that you are part of God’s Workmanship… His masterpiece. His fabric.
How do you think He feels about His work? Do you think God is just half-heartedly or haphazardly throwing your life together? WE, all believers in Christ, are part of His workmanship… what does that thinking do for your sense of value? What should it do?
So, let’s think for a minute, believers are all part of this fabric, which is a masterpiece. Have you ever cut fabric? Have you seen how it is woven closely together and then you see the threads? You and I are the “threads” of the fabric masterpiece… a masterpiece that spans history, age, ethnic groups and so on… just a thread. Now before you think your thread doesn’t matter, how difficult is it to keep the fabric all together if the threads won’t stay together? When it starts to fray...
God is creating a HUGE masterpiece that each and every believer is part of… and by the way, every believer has a role to play too! Your thread matters. You matter. It’s not all about you but it is also not ,not about you. Get it?
You are part of His masterpiece, His workmanship, His fabric… by grace and by faith. Oh my sisters, you have such value, such purpose, you are so loved and cherished… you are priceless and He is absolutely positive He can make His masterpiece, using you. He is absolutely sure He can restore you… you were dead, an enemy, lost and now you have been found, redeemed, remade, and infused with value and purpose by His Grace and faith… His workmanship, His masterpiece… walk in that grace and walk in faith, He has work and a walk for you-be Filled with that kind of intention and purpose! Filled with His purpose.
How do you think He feels about His work? Do you think God is just half-heartedly or haphazardly throwing your life together? WE, all believers in Christ, are part of His workmanship… what does that thinking do for your sense of value? What should it do?
So, let’s think for a minute, believers are all part of this fabric, which is a masterpiece. Have you ever cut fabric? Have you seen how it is woven closely together and then you see the threads? You and I are the “threads” of the fabric masterpiece… a masterpiece that spans history, age, ethnic groups and so on… just a thread. Now before you think your thread doesn’t matter, how difficult is it to keep the fabric all together if the threads won’t stay together? When it starts to fray...
God is creating a HUGE masterpiece that each and every believer is part of… and by the way, every believer has a role to play too! Your thread matters. You matter. It’s not all about you but it is also not ,not about you. Get it?
You are part of His masterpiece, His workmanship, His fabric… by grace and by faith. Oh my sisters, you have such value, such purpose, you are so loved and cherished… you are priceless and He is absolutely positive He can make His masterpiece, using you. He is absolutely sure He can restore you… you were dead, an enemy, lost and now you have been found, redeemed, remade, and infused with value and purpose by His Grace and faith… His workmanship, His masterpiece… walk in that grace and walk in faith, He has work and a walk for you-be Filled with that kind of intention and purpose! Filled with His purpose.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
"I'm done!"...for today
I’m DONE! For today…
One of my “girls” is famous for declaring…”I’m done!” meaning…done with the drama, done with the situation, and more than likely done with a person. I must admit, that phrase has rung true for me more times than I can count on any given day. “I’m done!” The real questionfor me is…done with what?!
A status hit me this evening….from Wes/Laura Spain (thanks again guys!) “Frustration sets in when we focus on sin.” Hmmmm…..yes, it does and that is when I’m most likely to say (in my inside my head voice, of course!), “I’m done!” So what do I need to be done with? It certainly can be the drama…or the situation but people? I don’t think so, if I want to live biblically.
Do I get to just wash my hands of difficult people and be done? I wish…at least sometimes I wish! Do I need boundaries? Of course. Do I need to re-evaluate the situation and the people in the situation? Absolutely, but in a way that is not screaming, “I’m done!” Yep. Easier said than done? Yep again.
So, what do I need to be done with for tonight? Well, for me, I need to be done with me and my need to be heard, understood and right and I need to be done with my focus on the sin and instead focus on the finished work of Jesus and the freedom found only in Christ. He has never said to me or of me, “I’m done!” Praise His Name…His grace is enough.
One of my “girls” is famous for declaring…”I’m done!” meaning…done with the drama, done with the situation, and more than likely done with a person. I must admit, that phrase has rung true for me more times than I can count on any given day. “I’m done!” The real questionfor me is…done with what?!
A status hit me this evening….from Wes/Laura Spain (thanks again guys!) “Frustration sets in when we focus on sin.” Hmmmm…..yes, it does and that is when I’m most likely to say (in my inside my head voice, of course!), “I’m done!” So what do I need to be done with? It certainly can be the drama…or the situation but people? I don’t think so, if I want to live biblically.
Do I get to just wash my hands of difficult people and be done? I wish…at least sometimes I wish! Do I need boundaries? Of course. Do I need to re-evaluate the situation and the people in the situation? Absolutely, but in a way that is not screaming, “I’m done!” Yep. Easier said than done? Yep again.
So, what do I need to be done with for tonight? Well, for me, I need to be done with me and my need to be heard, understood and right and I need to be done with my focus on the sin and instead focus on the finished work of Jesus and the freedom found only in Christ. He has never said to me or of me, “I’m done!” Praise His Name…His grace is enough.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Warning, Same Issues...New Versions....
I don't use big words often but as I have been thinking a big word has come to my mind- syncretism. Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile contrary beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought...
"Aaron took the gold rings from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.' Now when he saw this, he built an altar BEFORE IT; and made a proclamation saying, 'Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.' So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play..." Exodus 32:4-6
In the midst of their questioning...wondering....fearing why Moses wasn't coming back. They sat down to eat a feast to the LORD and rose up to play the harlot in celebration with the calf god....trying to reconcile contrary opposite beliefs. It doesn't work but we try to make it work all the time...in small seemingly insignificant ways. How many "other gods" do we fashion? Good things, moral things....things we end up worshipping, just a little as we wait for the Lord Jesus to return? The questioning...the wondering....the fearing sets in and this is ripe ground for any and every kind of idolatry. Theological idolatry, pleasure idolatry, relationship idolatry, personal idolatry...you name it.
Paul wrote, "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. THEREFORE, my beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:11-14
As I look over my life and the Church culture of today, I am very sobered. ANYONE can fall into this trap...anyone, including you and me. Paul uses the golden calf example and several others for a reason. Syncretism, the blending all kinds of beliefs and things together to try to make our faith work is idolatry. My sister, several things really hit me.
1. We need to be aware of the temptation towards this! Please read the text above...the minute we think it could never happen to us, we are RIPE to fall right into it!
2. We need to remember that God is faithful. This truth is NOT supposed to bind us in fear but draw us in faith to the One who holds us in His Hand not only this but also, draw us in faith towards His divine system, the Body of Christ. We NEED each other...we ALL have blind spots and we ALL are at risk of falling into idolatry at any time, it is common. My sister, are you walking with other believers? Are you seeing your need of the Body but also the Body's need of you?
3. FLEE from idolatry. Are we, am I...looking, aware, actively considering anything (even good things) that shift my worship, devotion, and love to anything other than Christ? Quite honestly, not as much as I need too. Instead it seems I can tend to try to meld the worship/love together and add Christ to the mix...that is called syncretism and that is a problem. Beloved, flee from idolatry.
Praise the name of Jesus, He has run this race before us perfectly and He has finished...may we keep fixing our eyes on HIM and Him alone! Amen.
.
"Aaron took the gold rings from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.' Now when he saw this, he built an altar BEFORE IT; and made a proclamation saying, 'Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.' So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play..." Exodus 32:4-6
In the midst of their questioning...wondering....fearing why Moses wasn't coming back. They sat down to eat a feast to the LORD and rose up to play the harlot in celebration with the calf god....trying to reconcile contrary opposite beliefs. It doesn't work but we try to make it work all the time...in small seemingly insignificant ways. How many "other gods" do we fashion? Good things, moral things....things we end up worshipping, just a little as we wait for the Lord Jesus to return? The questioning...the wondering....the fearing sets in and this is ripe ground for any and every kind of idolatry. Theological idolatry, pleasure idolatry, relationship idolatry, personal idolatry...you name it.
Paul wrote, "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. THEREFORE, my beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:11-14
As I look over my life and the Church culture of today, I am very sobered. ANYONE can fall into this trap...anyone, including you and me. Paul uses the golden calf example and several others for a reason. Syncretism, the blending all kinds of beliefs and things together to try to make our faith work is idolatry. My sister, several things really hit me.
1. We need to be aware of the temptation towards this! Please read the text above...the minute we think it could never happen to us, we are RIPE to fall right into it!
2. We need to remember that God is faithful. This truth is NOT supposed to bind us in fear but draw us in faith to the One who holds us in His Hand not only this but also, draw us in faith towards His divine system, the Body of Christ. We NEED each other...we ALL have blind spots and we ALL are at risk of falling into idolatry at any time, it is common. My sister, are you walking with other believers? Are you seeing your need of the Body but also the Body's need of you?
3. FLEE from idolatry. Are we, am I...looking, aware, actively considering anything (even good things) that shift my worship, devotion, and love to anything other than Christ? Quite honestly, not as much as I need too. Instead it seems I can tend to try to meld the worship/love together and add Christ to the mix...that is called syncretism and that is a problem. Beloved, flee from idolatry.
Praise the name of Jesus, He has run this race before us perfectly and He has finished...may we keep fixing our eyes on HIM and Him alone! Amen.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)