The Wounds of Love

   Henri Nouwen wrote that  “in love’s army, only wounded soldiers can serve.” That statement is jammed with truth. We are called in this world to love as does our Savior. That means we risk all the wounds of love, as did our Savior.

   It is not a question of “if” we will be wounded but of “when” and “how often.” And when we are wounded to the heart we will be tempted to leave the way of costly loving. But as we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can’t do it. We must come out of hiding and keep loving.

   Sometimes, gloriously, thank God, love wins. Sometimes, sadly, it loses. With our wounds there may come a sense of shame… fear…questions. We wonder why? We can’t think it was worth it. But, graciously, days come when we meet another of love’s wounded soldiers…and in our communion we discover the likeness of His wounds to ours. It’s then we feel the pleasure of the Lord prospering in us, even amidst the pain and far outweighing it. We participate in being His Body, bearing His wounds, walking His way and helping others find their way to Him. The wounds of love are actually gifts, aren’t they? ”To us it has been granted not only to believe on Him but also to suffer in His behalf.” (Philippians 1:29)

   Do you have time…do you have heart…to share with us regarding your wounds? God bless you.

Severe Mercy

   During WWII, powerful bombs fell in the center of London. Buildings and roads were destroyed. After the cleanup there were large patches of earth in the middle of London that had previously been paved over. They say there were flowers that sprang up in the shell holes. Botanists had thought these flowers to have been extinct for over a hundred years. In reality their seeds had simply lain dormant under the town. Flowers came back that men thought would never be seen again.

   This story inspires me. It makes me think about hope. It reminds me of what God has done for this world so bombed out by sin and trouble. God is able to restore the years that the locusts have eaten. He is able to see to it that those who sow in tears reap in joy. He is able to make a woman forget her agony in labor for the joy that her child is born. He is able to cause chords that have long been silent to vibrate in our hearts once again. He is able to cause those who sit in darkness to see a great light. He is able to create Jerusalem anew and a rejoicing. He is able to inspire new songs in forlorn people. He is able to bring health to souls. He is able to set free sin’s captives…heal sin’s afflicted…give sight to sin’s blinded…and hope to sin’s defeated. He is able to give drink to those with no money. He is able to clothe those who are naked. He is able to give purpose to the aimless. He is able to raise the dead. He is able to bring divided people together. He is able to re-unite fractured families. He is able to purify sinners. He is able to beautify the ugly. He is able to bring us all through this vale of tears and trials and home to glory. And whatever the method He uses to get our attention…whether bombs or illness or heartache…surely we will one day thank Him from our hearts that He is able even through severe mercy to bring back flowers that we long thought extinct.

   Please, Father God, open the eyes of our understanding so that even if we can’t grasp reasons, we will hear the beat of your Father-heart nearer to us than breathing and that we will trust ourselves to You no matter what.

Just Waiting For You

As I recall the story went something like this…there was a man in Chicago who, just before the great depression of 1933, had worked hard and saved a fair amount of cash. Now I’m told the few folks who actually fared well financially during and after the depression were those who happened to have cash on hand. By wise use of the money he had, he became very wealthy. But his labors worked against his health. He saw his doctor who suggested he get away to the country for sustained rest and recuperation. He went to the blue grass state of Kentucky…he fished the clear streams and walked in beautiful meadows and, by and by, his health improved. While he was living there he met a beautiful Kentucky girl and, in time,  they fell in love and were married. Business ventures called, so he took his bride to Chicago. And they were very happy and very much in love. Sickness came to the lady of the house…she contracted a fever. The fever spiked dangerously one night. The doctor was called, but it was too late. She had been affected mentally. The nights were the worst. Her screams late at night began to bother the neighbors. The police were called because of the disturbance. The doctor was consulted. He told the husband that he would have to commit her to an institution. But he replied, “No! My love…our love…will overcome even this!” They sold their house and moved further from the city. She was not improved. The city grew out to them. Once again the screams in the night affected the neighbors…the police…the doctor…“Commit her”…but the loving husband said, “No! My love…our love…will overcome even this!” There were times along the way when the husband’s hopes would well up…something she would say or do would make him think “Maybe she is getting  better.  But it would only be temporary. Again the screams…the complaints…and the rest. Finally the doctor suggested taking her back home to Kentucky. “Let her wade the streams she waded in childhood. Let her feel and smell the country breezes. Walk with her through the beautiful meadows. Maybe that will do her some good.” The husband did just that. He took her to her childhood home. There they walked the beautiful meadows and waded the cool streams. But day after day passed and she didn’t seem any better. One night he lay by her bedside and watched her fall into a different sort of sleep. He noticed that she seemed more relaxed and peaceful as she lay sleeping. He sat in the chair, keeping watch over her, all through the night. In the morning as the sun’s rays fell upon her beautiful face and danced upon her hair, she awoke, yawned and stretched herself. He could see by the look on her face that she had returned to him. Then she caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye. She said to her beloved, “I feel like I’ve been on a long, long journey, honey. Where have you been?” And he, with a heart that only love’s wounded can fully understand, replied, “Just waiting for you to come home, dear. Just waiting for you to come home.”

Can you hear the voice of your beloved Savior say to you… “I don’t care where you’ve been before. Nothing you’ve ever said, thought, or done can alter My love which overcomes all. I have just been waiting for you to come home, dear one. Come then, beloved.”

May your heart find rest, peace, hope and love in Jesus Christ Who loves us far more than we love our sin.

Your Father Sees In Secret

   One of the many abilities of Almighty God is His night vision. The sweet singer of Israel spoke of this Divine quality in these words,  “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You.” (Psalm 139:11f)

   Now, let me ask you…how does that truth affect you? Does it strike terror in your heart when you think about it? Or does it provide you with comfort? If you are like me your response would probably be, “Well…it depends on what I am doing in the dark, in secret, at the time, doesn’t it?” Fair enough. If we are bent upon evil…if our hearts are set upon it…if we are not interested in resisting it…then we like to weave that web of darkness. We want to go about shielded by the cover of darkness. We are like the poor alcoholic who waits until no one is watching and the liquor store is empty…goes inside, places his order, gets it in a brown paper bag…then he leaves, looking about to see if anyone is paying attention…finds a deserted alley…goes around the dark corner and turns the bottle up, still in the brown bag…and drinks it down in the face of God. Such are our paltry efforts to hide our sin from God.

   But when David speaks of God’s ability to see in the dark, he isn’t trying to scare anyone. Jesus says this, “…pray to your Father Who is in secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6b) Listen to the Lord now…the fact that God sees in secret is meant to comfort and inspire all citizens of the heavenly Kingdom. Of course God knows all about our sin. He also knows that our sin doesn’t completely define us, because of His grace, Christ’s blood and our faith. Think about the following words… “You are those who have stayed with Me in My trials” (Luke 22:28). Do you remember who Jesus was talking to then? He was addressing that rag tag group of disciples who so often misunderstood Him…so often acted presumptuously…so often proceeded upon terrible motives…in other words, they were sinners all. In fact, in Luke 22, just before Jesus gives them this high, high praise, they had been arguing over which of them was the greatest. But though there was all this badness in them, Jesus knew that was not all there was to them. He knew there was within them a heart for what He was offering them. He knew that at their core they wanted truth…wanted to be better…wanted to do better…wanted to be there for Him…to serve Him…to glorify Him. No! Sin was not all there was to them. Their sin was not the central truth about them. Jesus knew all their secrets…knew their sinful tendencies. But they were still there with Him, weren’t they? That counted for something. His complete knowledge of them didn’t cause them to feel they must run away to the shadows to escape His searching, critical gaze. They trusted His seeing of them. They knew that He would not only see the dark things of their lives, but His knowledge of them would include taking note of the fact that they were not at peace with their sin. They had some level of desire for better. There was good in them too…maybe it was only a germ…and it’s true that Jesus put it there…but there it was. The Lord could work with that and with them. And He can work with you and me too. Yes, your Father and mine, sees in secret. Don’t be afraid to meet Him there.

Why We Do The Things We Do

     So here’s the question, “Why would anyone want to leave home (home meaning the safety and security of a right relationship with Father God)?” The very question implies that there might exist a rational set of circumstances or reasons (or even a single reason), that would move toward explaining the answer to it. I wonder…even if we could find a fully satisfying explanation for our sin, would it make a difference? How often I have heard Christians remark about another’s sin (or sins), how could they do that, in the face of all their privileges and against all they knew of the Lord’s will? And I wondered the same thing (even, if not out loud). Then I thought, “Well, why do I do the things I do that I know are against God?” There’s a huge list of the usual suspects…greed, selfishness, pleasure seeking, lust, impatience, pride, doubt, presumption, ignorance, apathy, stubbornness and etc. I sometimes think that sin is like “temporary spiritual insanity.” Only I don’t believe for a moment that we can cop this plea as an excuse. Paul aptly describes the horrible quicksand of sin in Romans 7 as he highlights how we seem inexorably drawn to sin, in spite of telling ourselves we won’t go there or do that…and how we seem never to arrive in time, place or spirit at the good we pledged. The more we intend to do the good and avoid the evil…the more we fail in both. I used to be overcome with fear as a boy when I watched those old Tarzan episodes and saw someone trapped in quicksand. The more they struggled the quicker they sank. They couldn’t get out. Over and over again my mind re-played the final scene of that single hand extended beyond the surface clinched in the final protest against death which, of course, had the last word.

     As a young Christian I believed that Jesus’ death gave me a second chance at life (the first was when I was born)…that His sacrifice paid for all the sins of my past. But I also had the impression that after my baptism, it was like I was again on my own against sin. Now it was up to me to prove myself deserving of this second chance. And I fully intended to do just that. The devil must have been howling in laughter. Failure came fast, furious and often. My Christian life was mostly consumed by miserable failure and self-disgust with a few high and heavenly experiences scattered sparsely in between. I knew most of the don’ts…and I scrupulously avoided most of them. But some of them…I seemed powerless against. I fell to certain temptations so easily, without even a real struggle at all, that I began to wonder if I was at all serious about following Christ. Who was I kidding anyway? Not Him! Others? Yes. Myself? Sometimes! But I felt myself to be a phony.

     Then…one glorious day…He spoke tenderly to my heart by means of His Word in the mouth of one of His caring servants who had walked the same path I was on. And I learned that He had always been loving me even though I had all these weaknesses. I learned that all along He had been keeping me protected by the blood of the Cross. I learned that even though I couldn’t figure out the “why” of my sins (which were many), He was still accepting me…keeping me forgiven…keeping me alive. I learned that I was not the only one caught in the terrible trap. I learned that when I sinned, Jesus didn’t run away and leave me…no…He actually ran to me, even closer, defending, protecting and helping me. And I learned that He would forever be doing this, if only I let Him…if only I wouldn’t quit on Him, no matter what.

     Dear reader, I am a sinner, hounded by shame, guilt, regret, and failure. I am sickeningly weak even after all these years of knowing Him. I disappoint Him so regularly that I can only be embarrassed. Sins that I feel I should have long since conquered in His Name, still throw me to the ground too often and leave me feeling that I should stay there and wallow in the cold, dark mud of it all. BUT…I AM NOT QUITTING HIM! I refuse to add this sin to all the others of my life…the sin of leaving Him. And I like to believe…love to think…that this resolve for Him that He has built into me over the years…honors Him somehow. That hope, sometimes only a faint glimmer, keeps me going. How about you?

Never Alone

   In all His vast creation there was only one thing that God said was not good. It was not good for a human to be alone. So God created woman and instituted marriage. But loneliness returned to both humans when they gave themselves over to sin. Now there was a new and horrible darkness that came between them. It was a loneliness they were powerless to fix in one another. And it not only isolated them from one another, it separated them from their God as well. God went right to work to protect the humans…to bring them back to Himself and to each other.  It was not a cheap fix, for here in Genesis, chapter three we have the gracious but ominous prophecy of the ages long battle of evil and good, which climaxes in the ”temporary” death of a special descendant of Eve and in the utter destruction of the serpent’s seed. 

   In Psalm 68:6, the Bible says that God puts the lonely in families. Family is a beautiful concept that speaks of so many wonderful things. However, we come to places and times in our lives where even our beloved cannot come. And loneliness returns to haunt us again.

   When God unfolded His scheme of redemption, it involved saving people and placing them in the church. The New Testament is filled with  instruction about how we ought to treat each other as family. Again, this is a beautiful concept. But, in spite of the best intentions, loneliness breaks through. In the final analysis, though human companionship is wonderful and is a creation of God, we must have a higher Presence in our lives. We must have our Father.

   When the Apostle Paul was on trial for his life, he noted that all humans had forsaken him. But he was not alone. The Lord stood by him and strengthened him. God’s people never have to be alone. Joseph was not alone in Egypt. He realized later that though he was betrayed by his own brothers, he had actually been on a mission for and with God. When David went out by himself to meet the giant, he didn’t go by himself. When Abraham left his father’s house for parts unknown, his heavenly Father went with him. And when Moses went up Mt. Nebo to die, there was only God to hold the funeral. And that was enough. Moses died alone, but he didn’t die alone. You and I don’t have to be alone either. Even if everyone else should forsake us, there is God. When we have been overcome with sin, God doesn’t take a hike. He takes a run right to us (I John 2:11). When no one else understands, God does. When no else can be there or will be there, God will. When you wake up in the middle of the night and feel utterly alone, realize that you are not alone. Jesus knew that He was not alone. He sought God out in quiet times of togetherness. We should do the same. We never have to be alone.

   A friend (thank you, Carolyn) sent me this link a while back to a beautiful song which is entitled “You’re Not Alone.” Give it a listen if you have the time.

 http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ebebbc3ad98e25305abb&sp=1

    Now then, I was thinking…even though God has so very often helped me through His wonderful servants…and even though I am grateful beyond words for such help so often given…there have been those times when all other props were knocked out and it was only God Who could get me through. And, bless His Name, He did! Are you able to share with us such a time in your life? It just might encourage us all to give more attention to our relationship with our Father God…that intimate relationship which, above all others, we can count on to know that we are never alone.

What’s In Your Heart?

 King David wanted to build a temple for the Holy Name. David had the kind of faith that couldn’t keep itself from wanting to give to…wanting to do for…God. And God is aware that this holy purpose lives in David’s heart, but God has His reasons for not permitting David to build it. But He does give David praise as He tells him that it was good that he had such a desire in his heart.

  That wonderful episode reveals a lot about why David was a “man after God’s own heart.” David liked to think about what he could do to honor God. David’s devotion to God began in his heart. David didn’t have to be commanded to love or serve God. It was in his heart to do so. Nobody forced David to worship or to pray. He actively sought the presence of God.

  The credit card company advertisement wants to know “What’s in our wallets?”  But maybe we should think about what’s in our hearts for God? David believed in his heart that God was Holy and that His cause was just. He believed that God’s cause deserved his greatest effort and sacrifice. David’s heartfelt belief caused him to be faithful in the daily round of life…faithful as a son…as a brother…as a shepherd…as a friend…as a soldier…as a king. His faithfulness in the commonplace prepared him for faithfulness in the great matters. Because it was in his heart to honor God, he became a blessing to those around him. We may not be able to accomplish all that we plan to do for God. David didn’t. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan anything. 

 When a true heart plans some goodness for its beloved…that in itself is goodness. 

 I was wondering…if you were to dream something for God…if it were in your power to do it…what would it be?

Is The Gift Really Free?

Haven’t we all had gift-givers in our lives whose gifts we would have preferred to return unopened? And why was that? Not primarily because we didn’t like the gift itself…it was the strings attached. We had learned that a simple “thank- you” wasn’t going to be nearly enough. The acceptance of the gift meant that we were under obligation to the giver. And I’m not talking about proper obligation…to truly be grateful and to take good care of the gift, etc. I’m speaking rather of those persons who sought some sort of control over our lives by means of their gift. As soon as it became clear to us that some sort of manipulation was afoot, we wanted nothing to do with it. And those that held their gift, or the possibility of a gift, over our heads in order to exact their desired response from us were teaching us the opposite of what gift-giving is really about.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8). Perhaps we can understand how it is for many people reading or hearing of this “gift” of God that it doesn’t bring them the joy it should. They roll their eyes and begin looking for the hook. Maybe this is because of their background, or, maybe this is because of us religious folk who have an ability to attach our own agendas to salvation. This results in the twisting and perverting of the priceless and free gift of salvation from God into a complex system of works and control which drains the life right out of people. And they end up thinking that not only have they failed in life, but now God has failed them too. Tragic!

But with all of that said, true gifts nevertheless do (and are supposed to) evoke a response from the receiver don’t they? And it’s not legalistic manipulation at all! Wonderful and precious gifts obligate us. A baby is an amazing gift to a new mom and dad. But my…how life changes after the infant’s arrival. Sleepless nights. Exhausting days. Unanticipated concerns. Doctors. Diapers. Feedings. Washings. Reviewing insurance policies. Continued child-proofing of the home. And, etc., etc.! But all of these, though they bring real pressures, are the obligations of love willingly accepted, graciously fulfilled and left uncounted.

God’s amazing, priceless gift of salvation in Jesus Christ is absolutely free to us! The offer of it to us is entirely by the wondrous grace of God. But it is impossible to estimate the cost and the value of this gift! When we receive it in penitence and humility…with ever-increasing love and deepening gratitude…we are never the same again.

And I was just wondering…as I am here in Ohio on a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day…would you please tell me something His love got out of you that you would have never dreamed possible? And as you share you will be helping us who read to appreciate even more the magnitude of His priceless free gift of salvation which we are glad of heart to admit has place us under a most wonderful loving obligation.

Not Just At The Door…But At Your Door!

When our Lord addresses the last of the seven churches of Asia in the book of Revelation (3:14ff), He sadly, but lovingly points out how the Christians at Laodicea had allowed their devotion to  Him to moderate to room temperature…to lukewarmness. He encourages them not to settle for that anymore. He points them to the way back to love and then invites them to take it. But, did you notice where Jesus is located with respect to His church at Laodicea? What is He doing in verse twenty? He is knocking on the door. When you knock on a door, is it from the inside or the outside? Yes…astonishingly…Jesus is on the wrong side of the door of His own church! He stands outside knocking…waiting…longing for the door to be opened to Him.

Listen now…if a church isn’t open to Jesus Christ, what chance do sinners have there? How many people are going to be led to the grace of God in such a group? What are they doing even taking up space in the world? They are totally cut off from any real purpose. But the loving, patient, Lord stands knocking…inviting them to let Him in again.

Notice…how does a church open itself up to Jesus? It’s one soul at a time isn’t it? For Jesus said, “If anyone hears My Voice and opens the door…” The only way back for the church is for individual Christians to listen to Him again…to open up to Him again…as they had at the beginning. Whatever crowded Christ out of the life of that church, crowded Him out of the lives of individual members. They had become so self-sufficient…so arrogant… they didn’t think they needed Jesus Christ any more. They couldn’t have been more wrong!

But…and this is the most amazing fact of all to me…still Jesus stood knocking at the door…Why? To get in! Yes…but why? Well…so He could eat with them! Yes…BUT…WHY? Were there not many others who had opened their hearts to Christ and who wanted Him in their lives and gave Him the daily welcome? Yes! So why does He knock on the door of the church that turned Him out. Why does He knock on the door of the individual…the human heart…that no longer had a place for Him? BECAUSE…WONDER OF WONDERS…HE MISSES WHAT THEY HAD ONCE SHARED! Does Jesus get something out of our time spent with Him? Does it really mean anything to Him? Does He find something enjoyable about our fellowship…something for which He longs…something that He misses when we withdraw it? Yes. Unbelievably…YES! He knocks on our hearts…He invites us to supper…He wants us with Him… us…unworthy sinners that we are!

Dear Friend…the Lord of all…the Lord of heaven and earth…the risen Messiah Who reigns in glory at the right Hand of the Majesty on High…that One above all others…stands knocking not just on any old door, but on your door. Let all your protests of unworthiness be silenced and just listen. Be still and listen. Do you hear Him knocking? It’s not just anyone that He wants. It’s not just everyone that He wants. It’s you. It’s for you He knocks. It’s for you to open that He stands on the outside waiting. The banquet with Him that awaits you is more than worth whatever it takes for you to throw wide open the door to Him. Please…don’t keep Him waiting. Christian, don’t leave Him out of your life. What does it mean to you that He has prepared a dinner for two…for Him and for you? Don’t miss it!

Wanted, Called, Saved, Enlisted: Ordinary People

A friend of mine has been a missionary to Africa. When he came to report to our church family I introduced him as a “hero.” My intention was to give our people a challenge…to see missionaries, not as burdens (always needing dollars for their work), but as blessings (helping us to fulfill the commission God has given us). However, my friend kindly rejected the idea that he was a hero. Instead, he preferred that the church see him as just another member, like any of them. He felt that it might prevent others from accepting mission challenges in their own life, if they thought they had to be somebody special. I think, perhaps, he was right.

In Acts 4, two of Jesus’ disciples get themselves into some trouble with the religious authorities. In Jesus’ Name, Peter and John had healed a lame man. This put the authorities in a bad light, for they had only recently seen to the death of Jesus. The two apostles handled themselves so well that the rulers noted that they had obviously spent time with Jesus. What was it about Peter and John that caused the rulers to note they had been with Jesus? The rulers could see they were ordinary, unschooled men. They were right about that. But these ordinary men had a courage and power that didn’t originate with them.

 When Paul wrote to the Corinthians (1st Corinthians 1:20ff), he asked, “Where is the wise man, the scholar, the philosopher?” They weren’t in the Corinthian church. Paul said God chose the foolish, weak, lowly, despised, nothings to accomplish His purposes. Sisters and brothers, I will never make anyone’s Who’s Who list but Paul’s list is one I can measure up (or down) to. How about you? We don’t have to be supermen or superwomen. We don’t have to be heroes. God uses ordinary men and women. God gets glory for Himself by using plain instruments to create His beautiful work.

 In James (5:17), we learn that “Elijah was a man just like us.” Yet God did extraordinary things thru him. You see…God is the Hero! So that job is filled. All of us are qualified to be involved in His work by virtue of being ordinary people who are willing to take God at His word. Is your self-esteem flagging? Let God show you how much He values you and what He can do thru a mere human being…an ordinary person…just like you. To God, even if to no one else, you are vital! You are important! Don’t allow feelings of either superiority or inferiority keep you from your proper place with God. Are you just a guy? Just a gal? Good! God has always used people just like you. Come on in. Welcome to the real church for ordinary people who want to belong to God and help with His work in the world.

If you have time, honor us here with just a bit about an ordinary Christian you know that God is using in wonderful ways.