Low Places

He came to the most painful, unlikely place imaginable.

It's so easy this time of year to enjoy the beauty of the holiday season and our cute ceramic nativity sets so much that we forget how real the story of the manger was. We all know the story by heart; an angel came to Mary, she and Joseph made the trip to a little town called Bethlehem, and sweet baby Jesus was born and placed in a perfect manger with soft hay and smiling animals to guard him. It's a cute version of an incredibly raw phenomenon that only God could have created.

I love that version of the Nativity, in some ways. It's sweet, it doesn't distort the actual events that happened. But it simplifies and romanticizes them so much that we often miss one of the most key components to the story: pain.

I know a several of you have had the chance to actually watch the birth of a younger sibling. And while it's a beautiful thing to see a child come into the world, you know that what characterizes those hours of labor is the intense amount of pain it creates. The Bible draws this theme out several times, saying that all creation is groaning in the pains of labor awaiting redemption. More than that, the pain of childbirth is a direct result of original sin; it was part of the punishment in Genesis 3. The agony of childbirth was one of the first visible repercussions of the fall.

And it was through that venue that the uncreated, timeless God of the universe came to earth.

It was more than just the physical pain of labor; it was what it represented. The punishment of sin played a role in the coming of the Messiah.

This was not an ordinary birth, however. Jesus was born into apparent adultery. He lived his entire life as a seemingly illegitimate child, born to a woman who was shunned as an adulterer and cared for by a father who was not his own.

And the birth took place in a cave, barely fit for animals. Because out of all the places in the world He came to rescue, not one door would open to Him.

Jesus was the Living Water from God. Water is such an intriguing concept, from a Biblical standpoint. It quenches the insatiable desire of thirst. It gives life, and without it nothing can live. And it flows downward, to the lowest place.

It's amazing to think about how the Christmas story sets Christianity apart from any other religion. Nowhere else, in all the history of ancient or modern gods, will you find one who loves His people, enough to walk among them as a human, born into humiliation and pain, bearing the shame of the world on His shoulders, and ultimately laying down His life to save them. No other god took the lowest place in that way.

God understands pain, on a level more deeply than anyone. He entered into it, and felt it. And He did it, not through chariots and fireworks, but through the most humble situations imaginable. He created a plan to redeem the world not with armies, but with individuals. He chose a teenage girl and a doubting man to be the key vessels in His plan for redemption.

This is the God we follow. Thank you, Jesus!!!

How many kings stepped down from their thrones,

How many Lords have abandoned their homes,

How many greats would become the least of these?

How many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart

How many Fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only One did that for me.

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Worship Song: 

"How Many Kings",
by Downhere

Building Blocks of the Kingdom

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."

Pastor Andy Stanley recently used these famous words to illustrate an incredible truth about the life of Jesus. In western thinking, oppressing those weaker than you is unacceptable. Bullying is reprimanded, minimum wage ensures workers can't be taken advantage of, and shelters are available for the homeless. It seems normal to us in America, but that's not the way the world works. Human nature suppresses the weak, and seeks power at the expense of the powerless.

The reason our nation is so different is because it was set up on Biblical principles. I'm not saying it's perfect, at its founding or today. But look at the American value system, compared to the ancient Roman culture. People are no longer seen as a monetary measure, to be exchanged and owned. Rights are acknowledged, and violators are punished. The foundation of those values is the Christian worldview.

Jesus came to love individuals.

It's amazing, to look at what Jesus was trying to build, in the context of his culture. He was born into the oppressive Roman empire, which would stop at nothing to build their kingdom and expand their power. They sent anyone who might have threatened them to torturous deaths, commanded their armies to conquer neighboring lands, and turned their captives into currency, to build an even greater regime.

Jesus was on a mission to build a kingdom, too. But He did it by loving individuals; by seeing people as image-bearers of God, and caring for them. Not just the clean, organized, pure members of the religious community, but the harlots, the cheating tax collectors, the lowly fishermen, the convicted criminals. He came for the least of these and cherished them. His first sermon made it clear that it was the poor in spirit, the mournful, the meek, the hungry that would receive this Kingdom. It was not an empire built by human hands, and limited by human values. God's hands were not tied by power; He loved in the lowest places, and called individuals to Himself.

This is the Kingdom He has called us to build as well. How often do we overlook people, when we're distracted by the things the world has to offer?  I've been so convicted of how often I do that in my own life. I am so quick to ignore the fact that an image-bearer of God is standing right in front of me, when something shiny and new appears in my peripheral. So often, I turn away from those around me, and fail to see the value they have in God's eyes. I want to be able to look at people, and see the beauty that God sees; not their appearance, not their mistakes, not what they can do for me, but who they are to Him.

Do you know that people are not "safe"?  They're not neat, organized, tidy packages of perfection. Even the people who you subconsciously categorize as those you should spend time with have the ability to hurt you deeply. I guarantee you some of them have. For me, my first inclination is always, always to pull back; to remove trust, put up my walls, and avoid having to love them. And I'm definitely not saying that you should trust those who have proven they're not trustworthy. Love and trust are two different things; God doesn't call you to trust everyone, but He does call you to love them unconditionally. That's what the Kingdom is built on. Does it hurt?  Definitely. It hurt Jesus so much He bled over it on a Roman cross, and had to die. But He faced that death with confidence, for the joy that was set before Him.

That joy was a broken, messy, beautiful person like you.

He knows you; as one worship song by Amanda Cook put it, He has memorized you. He knows you, individually, better than anyone else on earth. If you haven't experienced that, ask Him in faith to reveal it to you; He delights in showing you His goodness.

He has called you by name. Are you willing to follow?

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Song: 

"Sea of Faces",
by Kutless

I Won Battles for You

The battle I was loosing, temptation took its toll,

I couldn't find the strength any more to hold.

Grasped by the enemy I had failed again,

Exhausted, I gave up, and was seized away from Him. 

Willingly I followed, in slavery to sin,

Never, I felt, could I gaze on him again. 

Yet, while I held the enemy,

While there was no good in me,

When I had failed Him again,

He won the battle for me;

He slew my enemies;

He lifted my face to His and said, 

"Even through rejection, I held you in my palm.

"Even when you felt alone, I was helping you along.

"Because I loved you fist, even when you stopped;

"Because I held you still, even when fires got hot;

"Because I am Alfa, omega, I Am Who I Am;

"Because I am Living Love, I will rescue you again."

"And because I'm more than you could ever dream,

"Let me lift you again; let's be more than a team."

Oh, what a proposal, so glorious it seems,

That you can speak this covenant, and hand me the ring!

I have failed so many times, I know I can't stop.

But your voice surrounds again, shattering those ugly thoughts. 

For while I held the enemy,

While there was no good in me,

When I had failed Him again,

He won the battle for me;

He slew my enemies;

He lifted my face to His and said, 

"Even through rejection, I held you in my palm.

"Even when you felt alone, I was helping you along.

"Because I loved you first, even when you stopped;

"Because I held you still, even when fires got hot;

"Because I am the Alfa, the omega, I Am Who I Am;

"Because I am living love, I will rescue you again."

"I'll fulfill your every need, when I hold you you'll be freed,

"I meet every desire, I can lift your spirits higher!

"You can cry on my shoulder; you can sit on my knee.

"You can love me like you have never loved before!

"I fill every crevice, and mend every hole,

"Let me inhabit you, I will bring life to your soul."

"Even when you slip to sin,

"And to the enemy again,

"Whether or not you fight through,

"I will win your battles for you,

"I will slay your enemies,

"Just, hold on to me again!"

I can't resist you any more, too you I will open up this door.

Take me with you, Lord, I plead. Consume me with joy, abundantly!

Jesus, Jesus, make me whole, play my life's leading role.

Lord, fill every crevice, mend my every hole.

Be my guide, surround me, inhabit my soul.

The Beauty of the Human Soul

I think it's interesting how much Jesus had to say about taxes. If we think taxes today are bad, it's hard to imagine how they must have been during His time. Tax collectors were hated, as Jews who had abandoned their families and communities, and become Roman workers. Taxes were often collected unfairly, for extra profits, and those who couldn't pay were given no mercy. One of my favorite stories about Jesus is when the Pharisees posed a question to him about this process, asking whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. I love His response: whose image is on the coin?

The coin was distinctive in its build; thick, heavy metal, with an unmistakable imprint on its face.

"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's."

At first, this may seem like a clever lesson on the Biblical model for paying government dues. But look at the pattern Jesus sets, through His words; image defines belonging. Caesar's coins belonged to Him, because they had his image set upon them.

Humanity belongs to God, because He has set His image on us. 

Awhile ago, I was journaling and thinking about the value of the human soul. We had just talked about the question of when a life scientifically begins, in our psychology class, and it made me wonder... what is it that makes it matter at all?  Why does a human have value, regardless of age, or any other characteristic?

One of the strongest reasons, from the Christian worldview, is that God has made man in His image. God has placed His very heart into mankind; Paul writes that even non-believers have a sense of right and wrong, because God has placed His moral code on their hearts. Humans are image-bearers of the living God. I know we've heard that so many times... but have you stopped to think about what that actually means, in your life and the lives of those around you?

Each one of you will see at least one person this week. (I think I can count on that fact, even if you're a home schooler :))  Just think about what that means; you are interacting with a vessel formed in the image of the uncreated God of the universe. And look at yourself... that description holds true for your life, too. You are an image-bearer of God Himself.

That is your identity. You are His. It's something you've heard a thousand times, but how often does it register into reality, when it comes to your day to day life?  It's so easy to define yourself by the standards of the world. If that's where you find yourself, I would encourage you to sit down and make a list. Write down everything by which you're measuring your worth, and test it against what God has said about you. He calls you His beloved, His Lily among Thorns, His Rose of Sharon, His promised one, the one who ravishes His heart with one glance of your eyes, the one He was willing to shed His blood for. You are not your dress size, your grades, your hairstyle, your number of "likes" on social media. You are not what people think of you, say to you, or treat you as. You are His image-bearer.

And so is every person you interact with. Each human has the image of God on their hearts, and they are beautiful beyond imagination. I believe with all my heart that there is not a single person on earth who doesn't have some kind of depth to them. Maybe you haven't seen it, and maybe you never will. But God sees it. He sees everything about that person that you can't. There is an unspeakable, ravishing beauty inside each human soul, not because of anything they've done, but because of what has been done for them.

I love reading about how Mother Teresa approached this idea. Many people who talked with her later wrote that, when she was in a conversation with you, it seemed like there was not another human in the world, in her eyes. She was fully invested in and listening to you. She wrote that "Every person is Christ to me".

Think of the people you're going to see this week. Are you willing to see them through that lens?  Are you willing to see yourself that way?  You belong to Him; in the end, that is all that matters.

So give to God what is God's.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Song: 

"Give Me Your Eyes",
by Brandon Heath

The Adventure of the In Between

"What do you want to do with your life?"

It's a pretty common question to hear your senior year. People have asked me this more times than I can count, and I appreciate the interest they have in my plans. So I tell them I'm going to college next year, and I eventually want to be a pediatrician.

Lately, I've been giving that question a little more thought. I realized that other people weren't the only ones interested in my future; I was beyond excited for it. I couldn't wait to study abroad, volunteer in refugee hospitals, and go on medical missions trips. I had wanted to do those kinds of things for so long, but now they were becoming tangible realities, only months away from happening.

We tend to have so many thoughts and dreams for our future. Whether it's vocational, relational, or anything in between, there is so much room in the future to dream about and look forward to. I love that feeling of anticipation that sends thrills through my being, as I think ahead, in the months, years, and decades to come.

But, over the past month, I've been realizing that, as I look ahead, sometimes I forget to look around me. I'm not in the future yet; I'm still in the "in between". Life is exciting right now, too; I have outside classes every day, and I love my professors and classmates. School keeps things moving at a good pace. Still, when things are in such a continuous routine, it's easy to for them to seem mundane.

I think most of us are probably in an in-between season of some kind right now. There's something that we expect or hope for in our future, and we're still in the waiting season. Sometimes, the waiting is enjoyable; classes, activities, and friends can keep us busy. Other times, it can seem painfully slow and monotonous.

Wherever you find yourself, don't waste your in between season. Sometimes, the future looks so exciting that it's easy to miss the adventure of each day, in the here and now.

That's where I found myself last week. As I was reading a devotional email about praying for Muslims, I stumbled across an organization dedicated to reaching Syrian refugees. It turned out they had a base just twenty minutes from my future university!  I was so excited at the thought of being part of that, and getting to show the love of Jesus to "real Middle Eastern people".

I still can't wait for that opportunity. But, this week, I found myself on my knees before God in thankfulness that He didn't let me miss the adventure in between then and where I was. Last week, a friend had sent me some information about the International Club at the community college where I'm taking some classes this semester. She had been involved when she was a student there, and said it was a great place for experiencing other cultures and reaching out to students who had no connections in the states. So this Wednesday, I invited one of my closest friends to come with me to check it out. Although it sounded interesting, I had to admit to myself that I didn't want to go. I had work to do at home, and there would be enough international-related adventures next year. Besides, it was a small community college, and there couldn't be that many international students who needed to plug in.

As it turns out, though, there were. I loved meeting so many new people, and seeing different cultures interact. We had some great conversations with some incredible people. But the one that stood out in my mind was with a young man with heritage in Iran. I had been looking forward to the future, and working with Middle Eastern refugees. But right here in front of me was a "real Middle Eastern person" who was willing to engage in conversation with me. He talked about his culture, his trips to Iran, and was open to talking about his faith, and even what he believed about Jesus, when I brought it up. I don't think I'll forget that conversation; it was amazing, to think that God had plans not just for my future, but for my here and now.

My favorite quote from Jim Elliot put it best: "Wherever you are, be all there!"

You are living on a mission field. Maybe God has placed you on a college campus to spread His love. Maybe He's given you a place to reach out in your city. Maybe He's just put you in your own home with a few outside classes. But wherever He has placed you, He has a plan for it. Don't miss the adventure of every new morning in His presence; be all there, wherever it is.

God isn't just in your future; He is in your in between season with you. And He is all there.... are you?

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Song: 

"The Voyage",
by Amanda Cook (Bethel Music)

Reflections: Fear

Questions for Thought: 

• What do you fear most?

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• Who has God revealed Himself to be?

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• What is His heart toward you?

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• Do you trust God to hold your fears?  How would your life practically change, if that idea of trust became a reality in your life?

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Scriptures:

"You did not choose Me but I chose you." -John 15:16

"Do not fear...I have called you by name." -Isaiah 43:1

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." -Matthew 28:20

‘You are my servant’;

    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 

So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  -Isaiah 41:9b-10

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Playlist: 

Music by Misty Edwards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Utbr9dCLVA

"Go"

It was 1996, when Francis and Amy landed in the hostile nation of Afghanistan. Their mission, with a bag full of Bibles in tow, was as simple as it was dangerous; spread the love of Jesus, and learn more, through interviews, about this Sharia-controlled land. Through an incredible series of events, the two of them passed through a dozen gunned checkpoints, and were allowed to interview the Taliban Minister of Education himself. After an academic interview, Francis handed the leader a Bible. The man's eyes widened, as he stared at the gift. "I know exactly what this book is. I've been praying to God for years that I could read the Bible. Thank you for coming this far to give me my own."

This story is unbelievable, in so many ways. It's incredible, to think that the Bibles passed through the checkpoints. It seems unthinkable, that a member of the Taliban would have prayed for a Bible to be brought to him. But the detail that touched me the most in this story was about Francis and Amy themselves; they were only 19 years old, when this story unfolded.

These two young adults were less than two years older than me. And they were fighting in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, to see God's love come forth in that darkness. It's so easy to think that I don't have the opportunities to do something like that. But the question I have to ask myself is, would I be willing to go to that kind of place, if God sent me there?

I used to think that question was a no-brainer. Of course I would!  I was passionate about the Middle East, and I wasn't afraid to die. I wanted to live a full life, poured out before Jesus, holding nothing back. I wanted to walk, in alignment with the phrase I had taped to my desk: "To do any less is to cheapen His sacrifice."  I wanted to pour myself out; to give Him my all, as He had given His all for me.

At least... I thought that was my mindset, until this week. This past Friday, I had agreed to volunteer with an after-school ministry at a local elementary school. Originally, it was going to be with my family. But on Friday, as fate would have it, I was the only one who would be able to go. Instantly, I looked for every excuse to stay home. I had never been to this place, or met the director!  I didn't know what door to use, when entering the school!  And I wasn't teaching the lesson, so it wouldn't be that important if I skipped a week!  Eventually, I tried to ease my conscience with a more spiritual argument. God knew I had important things to do at home. I had to research the Yazidi Iraqi minority, for my comp paper, so I could learn more about them and have a more effective prayer life!  I had to have time to read this really important book about surrendering my love story, so I wouldn't accidentally take it back into my own hands!  I had to finish my calculus homework, so I didn't un-glorify God by not getting all my problems right!  SURELY He could let me off the hook!

I can just imagine God laughing down at me, as I grudgingly drove down the road to the elementary school that afternoon. He knew exactly what He was doing; that little group of first graders were so full of joy, and it was a beautiful thing to be somebody they could love, and to hold them when their feelings were hurt. I lost myself for the first time in longer than I can remember; I forgot all the other things on my mind, as I saw the heart of Jesus in the faces of His kiddos.

There are places in the world that are openly, visibly filled with darkness. But there are also areas in which that depression is hidden. You can't see it immediately, but it's there. It's in the eyes of the tiny little six year old, looking down at her shoes as she told me her friends said she was fat. It's buried within the clenched first of a psychology classmate, whose anger was visible when our class talked about the scientific evidence for life at conception. It's veiled behind the closed life of the Christian down the street, who won't ask for help.

I don't think God has a favorite part of the world. He may call you to the deepest, most dangerous spiritual abysses of the world. Or He may call you just down the road, to be His light. But would you be willing to go, wherever it was He sent you... even to the seemingly unimportant places?

The One who calls you is faithful, however dangerous or however meaningless the work may seem. Whether it's treks into the darkness of Afghanistan, or a quick drive to an elementary school, God is in control, and you are in His hands.

The question is, are you willing to go?

~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~     ~ 

Worship Song: 

"You Make Me Brave",
by Amanda Cook (Bethel Music)