Holy Week: Enabled to Love

The throngs of people overwhelmed me, as I neared the shores of the Ganges River in India for the first time at age 11. Men and women of all ages were stepping into the dirty waters that flowed past. As they emerged, a mark was painted on their forehead, to signify the "spiritual cleansing" they had just received. The noise of the unknown language was mingled with shouts of joy from thousands of people, and I could feel my head swimming. A man with a terrifying face painted blood-red approached my cousin from behind, and said he needed to tell him something. Women with bowls of paint kept running up, in an attempt to make the mark of cleansing on my forehead. Beggar children wove in and out of the crowds, offering to pray for anyone who would give them money.

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd."

-Mark 6:34

The ministry Jesus had on earth is marked by one main characteristic: Love. When He saw the throngs of people surrounding Him, He didn't just see a group of people... He saw individuals, whom He loved. He saw the lost, who could be found. He saw His Beloved, who had fallen under oppression. He stretched out His hands, and healed those who were sick. He spoke one word, and freed those who were possessed. He saw their need, and taught those who were thirsty. He didn't just see a crowd of people; He reached out, and healed individuals. He took time, in the midst of the crowd, to stop for one centurion, one leper, one bleeding woman. His heart was overwhelmed with love for each individual; it was not His father's will that even one should perish. He overlooked no one who came to Him.

I am so convicted when I look at my own life... how I fail to love even those closest to me, much less one stranger in a crowd. How quickly I forget that I was that stranger; that I was lost in the sea of faces; that I was unknown, and unloved. But in Christ, we are found, and loved beyond imagination. And we are empowered to love as He did.

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Worship Song: 

"You Don't Miss a Thing",
by Amanda Cook (Bethel Music)

Holy Week: Unlocking the Promise

On this side of the cross, we can walk in freedom. The enabling power of God is available, to conform us to His image, and free us from our chains. Jesus Himself gave us the key to unlocking this promise in our lives, in John 15:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."

(-John 15:9)

One thing that strikes me specifically about the life of Jesus was the way He routinely withdrew to a quiet place, alone, to spend time in the presence of His Father. Before Jesus walked on water, He had been alone on a mountain, communing with God. When the crowds overwhelmed Him, he withdrew to the place of intimacy. He was fully aware of His Father's love, and He chose to abide in it. The cross created a house marked by blood, and in that house, even the angel of death itself had to pass by. In Christ, no force of destruction that could get to Him can get to you. The door to the house is open; the love has been poured forth, and Jesus Himself has called you to come away with Him.

On this side of the cross, the veil is torn. That same intimacy Jesus experienced with His father has been extended to us. We are no longer slaves of sin, but sons of righteousness. We are enabled, through Him.

The God of the universe poured out His life for you; you ravish His heart with one glance of your eye. Everything you need for life and Godliness is hidden in His heart. Remain in His love. He has called you by name; come away with Him.

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Worship Song: 

"In the Secret",
by Chris Tomlin

Enabled: The Work of the Cross

Defeat. n. the state of being conquered. (Webster's Standard Dictionary, 2006)

How often have we seen this in our own lives?  Defeat has knocked on my door more times than I can even remember. I've lost debate rounds. I've failed to break. I've lost memory of my piece in piano competitions. I've experienced some defeat in every endeavor I've entered, in one way or another. But more importantly, I've been defeated in my spiritual life. I've failed to love well. I've failed to be the hands of Christ. I've failed to pray. I've failed to guard my heart. I've failed to fight sin. I've stood face to face with the Enemy, and allowed him into my heart. I have been conquered by what I have done, and what I have failed to do.

I don't think there is anyone, who truly feels the weight of sin, that doesn't want to be freed from it. I remember a couple months ago, I realized that I was capable of hurting people. I had always been aware of it, but there was something about that realization that made my heart skip a beat. I was capable of breaking someone to pieces. I was capable of tearing people down, even when I didn't realize I was doing it. No one was "safe" from me. I had hurt people, and I could never undo it. I can think of so many of you reading this right now, whom I have hurt, consciously or unconsciously. What scared me the most about that realization was the fact that I had hurt some people intentionally. At times, I had even enjoyed it in some way. I felt so broken... so conquered by what sin had been able to do through me. And in my own strength, there was nothing I could do.

How quickly we forget that we are living on this side of the cross. That we don't have to live in our own strength anymore. That the enabling power of the cross has freed us to live the life that Christ gave us. I think the main reason we forget is that we don't truly stop to think about what it cost to save us... what it meant to take the nails.

Jesus, throughout the gospels, is called the "Lamb of God". While this sounds like a friendly, soft term, the significance runs much more deeply... this man was born to die. His life's purpose was wrapped around the two beams of wood, to which his hands and feet would be nailed. He would have to take the full wrath of God upon Himself. I don't think any of us truly comprehends the fullness of God's wrath... I don't think we ever can. Throughout the Old Testament, we see glimpses of the Father's righteous anger, and the just punishment He has for His people, but even then, we can't see the complete picture. Jesus Christ was the only man to ever walk the earth, who truly understood the wrath of God, and the horror of what it meant, to whomever it was poured out upon. And He took the full blow upon Himself, for us. I can never begin to comprehend the horror of the cross, but Isaiah 52-53 gives a glimpse of what would happen to the suffering Messiah. "His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness." (Is. 52:14b)

And yet the physical suffering was incomparable to the spiritual agony He endured. It is astonishing, to look at the first lines of Psalm 22, and realize it is God's own son crying out: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  This is love, that the Father would turn His back on His son, so that He would never have to turn His back on us. This is love, that Jesus Christ would lay down His life for us.

The cross was not just for the forgiveness of sin. Its power extended to the very fabric of our lives, that if we, as Paul writes in Romans 6, would enter into Christ's death and be resurrected with Him, we would experience new life, and the enabling power to live it. Through the cross, we are enabled to live in the light of Jesus. We are enabled to have victory over sin, for no longer are we slaves to sin, but sons of righteousness. We are no longer bound by what once held us. We are no longer conquered by the Enemy. We are no longer in a state of defeat. We no longer are forced to fall back into those patterns of sin and destruction. We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus, and we have the supernatural ability to walk in freedom, through Christ.

Every moment we continue to live under the power of defeat, we are saying no to the sacrifice God made. Every day we continue to exist as slaves of sin, we are refusing the enabling power that has been given to us, and cheapening the cross. This final week of Lent, let it not be said of us that we refused the full measure of the work of the cross. On this side of the cross, the Holy Spirit has made our hearts His temple. We are stewards of the mysteries of God. We are the tabernacle, and the veil is torn; we have open access to the throne room of heaven.

We have been enabled to live beyond.

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Worship Song: 

"True Love"
by Phil Wickham

His Timing

I sat at my desk, scribbling on my week's planner. Pointe on Monday. Debate class on Friday. Iran's nuclear negotiation deadline on Tuesday. Before long, I got to the "Notes" section of the page. At the top, I saw the small list I had written out the day before: "Colleges to Research".

Several university names were penned below that heading. A shiver went down my back, as I realized that one of those could be my future home for four years of my life. The feeling was one of excitement, but uncertainty. Because I still don't know the plan for my life.

I know what I'm passionate about. I have ideas of how I might want to spend certain seasons of my life. But I still don't know the big picture of what God has in store for me. My guess is, most of us don't. And something about that terrifies us.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about God's time table. In Revelation, Jesus clearly says in His letters to the churches "I am coming soon." 2,000 years later, we are still in the waiting. But He has not lost control. There hasn't been a mistake. He wasn't delayed by an unforeseen circumstance. This is part of His perfect plan. His time table works differently than I think we would like it to. But in the end, as Ecclesiastes 3:11 promises: "He will make everything beautiful in its time."

Many times, I find myself wrestling with the uncertainty of my future. I wonder how long I'll have to wait, until I know "the plan" for my life. I wonder how I'll find out. But look at the life of Jesus. His ministry didn't start until he was around 30 years old. God's own son, who was perfect and sinless in every way, who was truly equipped for every good work, grew in wisdom and stature, and went through a season of preparation, that lasted most of his life. His actual ministry only lasted three years, but those three years changed the world, because they had been built in God's timing.

One of the biggest things I think I forget, though, is that the life I'm living right now can have an impact, too. Contrary to the theme of many Disney princess movies, you do not have to wait for your Prince Charming to sweep you off your feet, in order for your life to begin. We are in a unique stage of lives right now. We can reach out to people on a huge level, beyond what we realize. Even in the things that seem the most mundane, there is an opportunity to love and be the hands and feet of Christ.

Think back to the parable of the talents. Each servant was entrusted with a small amount, and given the opportunity to do something about it. One servant refused to use what he had been given. Maybe he thought he would waste it. Maybe he thought it wasn't important enough. Maybe he was holding out for something more. But the other two used what they had been given. The task probably seemed completely mundane at times. But they knew they were working for their King, and using what He had given them. And those who were entrusted with little and used it were given more; those who were faithful in the smallest things were the ones who were esteemed by their King.

It's so easy to think that these seasons of our life don't matter. It's so easy to waste them, and so many of us do. I know I have wasted some of mine. But don't underestimate the importance of the season of preparation. God can use a willing vessel in unbelievable ways, as He is shaping you into who He has created you to be. I used to think that this season didn't matter much, because I was only around Christians. At the time, I didn't even know any non-Christians, and I didn't feel like I had much of an opportunity to reach out to them, or do important work for the Kingdom. Everyone I knew already believed.

But Christians are not any less valuable to the Kingdom. Just because someone is saved doesn't mean they don't need strengthening. In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul writes about how he was comforted by a visit from Titus. I was struck, reading that passage a few months ago. Was Titus wrong to visit Paul?  Was he wrong to make a long trip to come encourage a body of believers, who had already been saved, instead of reaching uncharted waters with the Gospel?  No; he was right where God had placed him. God cares just as much about home schooled Christians as he does about unsaved souls on the other side of the world. Yes, there is a great rejoicing over the one lost sheep that was found, even though the ninety-nine had already been saved. But that doesn't mean the ninety-nine were any less valuable. I had always assumed the Christians around me were okay, and that I needed to be spending my life on "more important" things. But I've experienced some painful realizations and jarring conversations that have opened my eyes; Christians are not always as "okay" as they look. Time spent strengthening them is not a waste. Who knows?  Your love might change a life.

God's timing is perfect, and He does have incredible plans for you. But some of those plans are right here, right now, in the season of preparation. Don't be so busy looking ahead that you miss what He has for you in the here and now.

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Worship Song: 

"Save My Life",
by Sidewalk Prophets

(reflective, steady beat music)

My Resting Place

I love this time of year, when everything starts growing again. I love the feeling of waking up once morning to realize that the gray branches of the tree in our backyard have been sprinkled with tiny red buds of new life. I love the way the little plants around the neighborhood start poking their heads out of the ground. I love the sense of new life in the air. Because I know how desperately I need it. I am broken; living in light of the cross can be an uphill battle, and sometimes, it's so much easier not to fight. It's so much easier to entertain the distracting thoughts in my mind than to remove them. It's easier not to rest in Christ.

We're sure we can do it on our own, because we have in the past. We know we should be thinking about the cross, but convince ourselves that it's not worth the struggle, and it's okay to just think about it every once in awhile. We feel the need to reach out to others, but don't want to make them uncomfortable, so we assume they're fine.

I can say that because, so often, that is me. I know where my focus should be. But it's so easy to turn my eyes. And when I do, I can feel the Enemy's subtle lies penetrating my heart. But sometimes, I think they're inescapable, or even think that they're true. Other times, I'll find myself really enjoying the distractions he places in front of me. Often, those distractions are not even bad things, but when I don't guard my focus, good things can easily become ultimate things.

Most of you have probably heard me talk about the concept, from Ellerslie sermons, of being "In Christ". It's reflected in the Passover, when the Israelites painted the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, and the angel of death had to pass by. When Jesus paid the ultimate price on the cross, He created a resting place; a righteousness to cover his people; a house marked by the blood of the lamb. If we are in Him, we are in His righteousness.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."

-John 15:9

The cross did not just atone for our sin; it redeemed us forever from its power. On this side of the cross, we are no longer slaves to sin but sons of righteousness, and there is freedom to live as He lived. In Christ, there is freedom. In the house marked by blood, the second death and the power of the Enemy has no longer has to control you, because you are in His righteousness. We are redeemed, to live in victory, and walk a different path. Yes, it may sometimes be an uphill climb. Yes, we're broken, and we will fall. But our God is a God of redemption. Every year, right around this time, we can see reflections of new beginnings in the world as it begins to wake up from a long winter. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is willing to do the same in me.

He has made a house marked by blood. In the midst of whatever struggles we face, there is a resting place. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, all the promises of God are "Yes", in Christ. Since this is a shorter devotional, I would encourage you to take some time to reflect on some of the promises of the life lived in Christ. Eric Ludy, pastor at the church of Ellerslie, outlines 46 of these promises, on pages 3-6 of this document, and it is incredible to think about!!

There is a resting place. There is freedom. There is new life in Christ.

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Worship Song: 

"Redeemed",
by Big Daddy Weave

(slower, quiet music)

The Cross

His firm, passionate voice broke as he read the words. The entire room was quiet with a heavy weight upon it. Some slipped out of the room with their heads bowed. Others reached into their purses for tissues. I felt the tears spilling out of my eyes, but it seemed so wrong to wipe them away. I was thankful I had left my hair down... it gave me something to hide behind.

Not that anyone was watching; the room was too full of the presence of Christ to notice much else. Sometimes, I had to wonder if He still felt the pain of crucifixion. It seemed as though we could, in some small, almost meaningless way, as the classroom lights flicked off for the second time and clips from The Passion appeared again on the classroom screen.

Never had I felt so ridiculous, so small, and so unbelievably loved as I did in that moment, when the Holy Spirit answered my prayer to encounter the cross more fully. It seemed so ridiculous that I had ever tried to fit something else in next to that terrible, painful, beautiful cross. Did it really matter if we got a debate slot to nationals that year?  Was it important that maybe some people did not see me as one of their closest or coolest friends?  Did I really need human validation?

But the feeling went beyond what I had wrongly pursued... there was so much more I had failed to do. I hadn't loved unconditionally. I hadn't washed the feet of those around me. I hadn't made communion with Him my highest good, for every waking moment of every day. I had clasped a cross around my neck, without being willing to live in its shadow.

Tomorrow, most of us are headed into the biggest qualifier of the year, in Lincoln. It's going to be exciting. Someone said 90% of the region is going to be there, and, looking at the confirmation list, I'm guessing that's a pretty reasonable estimate.

I've talked to so many people over the past few weeks about the struggle of focus. I am so easily distracted, and focus is one of my biggest struggles. Tournaments provide the atmosphere for extra distractions, and opportunities to lose focus.

Some of us will face those distractions in Lincoln this week. Others, who will not be at the tournament, will still be tempted and distracted, no matter where we are. But through it all, the cross is stronger.

At the foot of the cross, there is no room for anything but love. And at the foot of the cross, in Christ, the Enemy has no power over you. You have been freed to love those around you. You have been freed to talk openly to Jesus, whenever you need to. You have been freed to have access to the throne room of heaven itself. You have been freed to live for more than just yourself.

This week, before the tournament, or before whatever challenges and distractions you may face, I would encourage you to sit down and reflect on the cross. If you're like me, writing it out might help as well. This isn't going to be a long devotional, because, to be perfectly honest, I have no words of wisdom. I have nothing I can give you. I can only point you back to the cross. Today, if you truly believe in the power of the cross, spend some time losing yourself in its shadow.

Here are a few thoughts to reflect on:

    He was marred beyond human visage; He was a worm and no man.

    He prayed for your heart, in Gethsemene.

    He was silent, when accused.

    He forgave.

Even in His weakest moments, He was serving and protecting those He loved.

    Isaiah 52:13-15

    Isaiah 53

    Psalm 22

    Matthew 26-27

    John 17-19

This was one of my meditations on the cross, that I hope will encourage you. That reflection was longer, but often, my reflections are only a simple, broken, helpless cry for rescue. What I love about Jesus is that He hears and He answers, no matter how short, long, beautiful, or broken, the cry is. It's the heart He cares about.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame."

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Worship Song: 

"Lead Me To the Cross",
by Hillsong

(slower, reflective worship)