I Once Was Lost

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

~ Luke 19:1-10 ~

I love the passage from Luke. It is such a small story, but it has a great meaning. This is a story that should relate to all of us. In this story, we are first Zacchaeus and often the townspeople. But let’s start with Zacchaeus’ story and see what it means for us.

Zacchaeus does not start out a believer. He is an outsider to all. He is unliked, unloved, unwanted, and probably mostly avoided. He lies and steals, he is a cheat. He is a sinner. But when he hears about Jesus, he becomes something else. He is a seeker. Something, or Someone, starts to pull at his heart and prick his mind. So he goes out to see what this thing is. He doesn’t seem to have any real intentions about it, he just goes to have a look.

But Jesus sees him. He really sees this lost man. Jesus knows him and recognizes him for what he is. A lost and condemned sinner. And He loves him. So what does He do? He just tells him, “I am coming to YOU!”

Immediately, Zacchaeus responds, and he does so joyfully. Once Jesus has come to him, he is a changed man. He desires to makes amends on what he has done in the past, for he has been forgiven and loved. He acknowledges his guilt and repents, changing his life because his life has been changed. How amazing is this!

Friends, this is us. Whether we were baptized into Christ as little babies or as adults, we are Zacchaeus. We were alone, unloved, and unwanted. We were filthy sinners. But the Holy Spirit inspired faith and Christ sought us and found us and saved us. He said to us, “I am coming to YOU!” And immediately, our lives were changed. We did not go to Him, but He sought and saved us out of His mercy and grace. What an amazing gift!

And now that this has happened, we are changed people. We can love, can be kind, can serve God and His people. And yet, our sinful nature tries so hard to have mastery over us. And that is where we become like the townspeople.

The townspeople see themselves differently. Where Zacchaeus knows his status among the people, an unloved outsider, the people forget they are in the same boat. They are held in low esteem at the temple. Moreover, they also are sinners. They hold this self-righteous attitude when they are in just as much need of a savior as Zacchaeus!

How arrogant of them to scornfully say, “That thing is a sinner.” yet they forget the lowly state they themselves are in.

But how does Jesus respond? He reminds them that this man too is a child of Abraham. They are all in this together! And Jesus came to seek and save them all. Salvation came to that house, that person, because of Jesus’s grace and love. Salvation has come to us for the same reason.

This is what makes grace amazing. We were wretched, outcasts, lost, and dead. But now we are clean, welcomed, found, and also be in Christ! We were lost, but now we have been found by the one who pulled us out of darkness and into glorious light! This is amazing, this is grace. This is not of ourselves, but a gift of God.

So when you read of the story of Zacchaeus or think of the little song, remember that we were that little man that Jesus saw and saved. Remember this also when we want to be like the townspeople and think too highly of ourselves rather than the needs of others, for there are so many out there that we should be seeking and serving. God wants all men to be saved, and we are all His creation. Let us rejoice in this new life given to us and share this joy with others like the changed people we are!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Morning thoughts on “Learning in Wartime”

You would be surprised if you knew how soon one begins to feel the shortness of the tether, of how many things, even in middle life, we have to say ‘“No time for that,” “Too late now,” and “Not for me”… A more Christian attitude, which can be attained at any age, is that of leaving futurity in God’s hands. We may as well, for God will certainly retain it whether we leave it to Him or not. Never, in peace or war, commit your virtue of your happiness to the future. Happy work is best done by the man who takes his long-term plans somewhat lightly and works from moment to moment “as to the Lord.” It is our daily bread that we are encouraged to ask for. The present is the only time in which any duty can be done or any grace received.

C. S. Lewis “Learning in Wartime

I was not expecting what I found in this little essay, and I was pleasantly surprised. In “Learning in Wartime”, Lewis addresses the concerns of people in his day (and in any age) about the wisdom of learning, growing, loving, doing when we were all going to die anyway. That is not exactly how they phrased it nor how we phrase it today and to ourselves. But that is what we mean at the heart of it, and Lewis explains why this is wrong.

Lewis is writing with the Great War and the one that followed in mind. We refer to many people from that generation as the Lost Generation because they largely lost themselves to the nihilism that followed those wars. While we got many a great poet, artist, and author from that generation (and I will admit, I enjoy much though not all of the art from this time), the people who created and did these things lost their sense of purpose and their foundation of all that they held to be true and good, namely God.

Thus, for those listening, nihilism prevailed, and instead of saying let’s live for tomorrow we die, they focused just on the death and did until they died without really accomplishing anything. To what purpose do we live? There is always something to do, places to be, and never any time for making, enjoying, and wondering at what sort of existence God has planned for you.

Perhaps it seems like a stretch, but all too often we find any excuse we can to not do something. I don’t mean that we avoid work, but that we avoid the good. As Lewis writes, “we shall be waiting for some distraction or other to end” and then, we tell ourselves, we’ll get to the good stuff.

But the Lord has created within us a desire to know, to love, to enjoy, to see the good and beautiful and glorify Him in it. Lewis acknowledges the seemingly apparent problem in fooling with seemingly trivial things such as learning and history and art when there’s a war going on! Indeed, as he also admits, it seems odd that we would spend our time doing anything but warn of hell when we may at any moment be faced with judgement. And that last one is a sobering thought, so we should pray and encourage and preach the gospel as our short days are evil.

Yet we were made for more than this. God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love and power and sound mind. This is obviously in relation to the Gospel, but did God give us our senses for nothing? Did He give us talents and gifts to squander them from day in to day out? Does He not call us to do His work wherever and and in whatever that calling may be? Vocation is our word for it, but calling often works just as well.

I love to read, if that has not been made obvious. I also love to write, even if I don’t get to it as often as I’d like. I also paint, draw, sew, crochet, sing, teach, learn. I do all these things and more. I cook and clean and care for those God has given me. But all of them can be, should be, are done to the glory of something, and that something is God. Though, I will admit that I often fail at that last one. Too often the glory of self happens, so this calls for humility. I will be doing something, and I should not waste it worrying about tomorrow or doing the things I was not called to, but instead should serve God in whatever I am doing, be that painting or cooking or loving.

God has given each of us gifts to serve Him, and He doesn’t expect for us to squander them as the man with one talent. As Paul writes and Lewis quotes, “We are members of one body, but differentiated members, each with his own vocation.” Our learning will be done whether we like it or not. Our doing will be done as well. But to whom shall we live? Shall we live to the uncertain future and dilly dally our life away in fear of what may or may not come next? As James writes, our life is a breath, a mist, a fleeting vapor. But God calls us to live and to do “everything as if serving the Lord.” We seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added as well. Wars will come, death will meet us, and the drudge of the day will seem to overwhelm. But our life is more than this. God has blessed us with more than this. Let us seek Him in our talents and vocation. We should be doing that anyway. We are new creations, but we are still us as God has made us. He didn’t give us our gifts and desire for leaning for naught. He wants us to learn more about Him and to make Him known. Yes, life is short, but eternity is long. Let us live lives worthy of the calling to which we profess. Let us ask the Lord for our daily bread and work for Him. Let us enjoy the beauty He has made, let us love and build and learn and grow and glorify Him in all that we say and do.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Morning thoughts on “The Weight of Glory”

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

C. S. Lewis The Weight of Glory

I began reading Lewis’ book a couple of days ago. It is difficult to get the full picture of what he is talking about when you read the works in chunks as I have had to do between taking care of a baby, a dog, and the house. If you read this book, try to read it a chapter at a time and read it straight through. But, here are a few short thoughts on this great work.

The first essay (actually, a sermon) called “The Weight of Glory” was quite moving. What struck me about this chapter was how Lewis gets to the heart of man. We think we own the world, and yet we have settled for dust. We read the poets and philosophers for truth, yet ignore the Book of Truth. We attain earthly power, yet shun the glory God has in store for us. Truly as Lewis says, we are too easily pleased.

Man is a fickle thing. Yes, Shakespeare was right to say that he is a giddy thing, but too often we deny ourselves true happiness, no, joy in life when we settle for the things of this world rather than for the simple pleasure and goodness of knowing we are His. God has given us everything. This is not to say we should debauch ourselves in sin and and take advantage of this freedom we have in Christ, but as we learn in the Ten Commandments and in Paul’s letters, all things are permissible to us. We were given a couple, simple things not to do. This is not to keep us from enjoyment, but they were given so that we might have life and have it abundantly. We have freedom. But we always want things we shouldn’t have and settle for the least of what is promised us. How pitiful we make our existence when we don’t accept the joys and promises and gifts the Lord has offered to us.

But another point I appreciated about this work was how Lewis notes that the poets, philosophers, teachers, and other ancient writers and contemporaries have gotten so close to the truth, even when they are attempting to sever themselves from God, yet miss the mark so entirely. We desire another world, another life, godliness, purity, love, glory, freedom, beauty, and so many other magnanimous and wonderful things and think we can attain them by our own designs. We know none of these things truly can be found here on earth, so we imagine or create the place we think they are. We get close to these things, play with the ideas in our writings, yet so cleverly miss the mark. God has so much more in store for us than our minds can imagine, and that is why, as Lewis says, the poets know that this world is not our home.

There is so much more to this work than what I wrote here. This is merely what stands out to me as I sit this morning watching the rain fall and listening to the cars drive past. There was no splendid sunrise this morning, but the simplicity of quiet and the beauty of peace was lovely, and for that I am thankful. I encourage you to also find a quiet place to read this work. Lewis paints his books so beautifully, and he truly makes you think about how you view life and love.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Recent Read – Keller’s “The Reason for God”

I recently finished the book The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. Overall, I really enjoyed it as a piece of literature. It was engaging, thought-provoking, and convicting. I think to fully digest everything he said and have it ready for recall I will need to read it again. Most often I was tending to my daughter or feeding her while I was reading, so I probably could have done better to focus on the text. But hey, we do what we can, right?

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. Though I have a couple of issues with one particular chapter, I do recommend it. Though it tackles some deep issues, The Reason for God is a fairly light read for a book that deals strongly with theology and philosophy. I would say it is accessible from the highschool age up while still engaging for adults.

My full review is over at The Lutheran Column, which you can read here. I hope you enjoy what I have to say about the book and I hope you will pick up a copy of Keller’s book. I think it will be well worth your time.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

A New Creation

A friend of mine posted on Facebook how reading ones old writings from the past, say in high school, and remembering who you used to be can be cringey. You remember the nasty things you said, the ignorant things you felt, and how sometimes you were just plain dumb. I also thought of how sad it can be so look back and realize some of the innocence that was lost before that time or the current one and how distressing that feels. As my friend said, you no longer recognize yourself, neither the person you were nor the person you have become.

Some of the changes we experience in life are for good. We all need to grow up, and many of us are glad we aren’t the people we were in high school! Other changes are not good, and thinking on them make us wish that we could go back and reclaim that person.

But we are here now, and we can cling to another change and a new hope as we consider the promises we have in Christ since we are now a new creation in Him:

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

~ 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 ~

I’m Christ, we have been made new. We no longer think of ourselves in terms of the world and its views, either “good” or bad. We no longer dwell on the past put press on towards what Christ has called us: eternal life. We no longer follow our sinful nature, but work the fruits the Spirit works in us.

We may look on how we were in the former days, and they may cause us brief moments of pain, regret, and “cringeyness”. But we should not dwell on these former things. The Lord has planned for us great things both now and forevermore. We have been made new. We are not what we were but have been transformed by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and adopted into the Lord’s family. So let us recognize in ourselves the Lord’s transforming love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness that we may live our new lives for Him. We are not who we once were, and it is for all the better.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Somebody’s gotta pay!

My first thought when I hear the above title is of a scene from the movie Night at the Museum. The plot is a little long, but in short the night guard gets caught and is tied down to the train tracks. He asks the characters, “Why are you doing this?” The character Jedediah says, “Somebody’s gotta pay!” So the night guard asks, ” Pay for what?!” And Jed responds, ” I don’t know! Just pay!” The night guard hadn’t actually done anything to these characters, and the characters didn’t know him. But they had been wronged, and that wrong needed to be made right. Justice needed to be served, and somebody had to pay the price.

This sort of justice is what most of us understand. There is a sort of balance to it. We could look at it positively in a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” kind of way, or we can look at it in a revenge type of way. “You hurt me so I’m going to hurt you back.” Whatever the case, we see the necessity for people to get their justice, whether good or bad. One could say this is part of natural law. But there is a certain balance of justice and mercy that I think most people overlook in their lives until about this time of year, until Lent.

“‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life. Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death. You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.’”

~ Leviticus 24:17-22 ~

“But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.

“Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.

~ Genesis 9:4-6 ~

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

To the woman he said,

“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

~ Genesis 3:14-21 ~

In all of these passages, there was a reckoning to be had. Some wrong was done, and a punishment worthy of the crime had to be met. There was justice to be served on both the victim and the perpetrator. But how about the last one? Who all is involved? For the last, we go back to the beginning, to Adam and Eve. From one man sin entered the world and through that sin came death (Rom. 5:12, Jas. 1:15). But this punishment, the consequence of wrongdoing and rebellion, was not limited to only our first parents. We all as children of Adam have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23, 5:14, Hos. 6:7, 1 Cor. 15:22, 15:45). Because of our parents’ rebellion, sin entered the world. And because of our sin, we were unable to be a part of God’s glory.

The punishment for sin is death. That is why the above verses connect the two so frequently. This is justice. We all deserved the same fate, and that is death and separation from God. In fact, before Christ came, we were dead spiritually even before our flesh finally caught up. We were undeserving of God’s mercy and love, though He showed it to us regularly. We either openly or secretly rebelled against Him. We did not know that we needed to be saved, as a dead person wouldn’t. We were heading toward our justice, whether we knew it or not.

But God in His mercy sent the one person who could redeem us from this just punishment: His Son (Jhn. 3:16). God did not want the world to remain condemned before Him. That is not why He created us. Instead, He wanted us to be in fellowship with Him. God wants His children to live with Him. But, as dead people, we were unable to do anything to right our wrongdoing (Rom. 5:6-8). Despite this conundrum, somebody had to pay. There had to be a reckoning for sin. A price had to be paid in order for there to be redemption. After all, you redeem something by gaining or giving. God’s wrath had to be poured out on someone (Rom. 5:9, Ex. 12:21-27Rom. 5:9, Ex. 12:21-27). And what was the punishment for sin? Death and separation from God. This is what happened on the cross (Matt. 27:46, Mar. 15:34, Psa. 22:1).

Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

~ Isaiah 53:4-7 ~

Christ died for us so that we would not be separated from God, which would be our just punishment. Atonement had to be made. And what is atonement? It is satisfaction, reparation, reconciliation, making right a wrong. The Israelites did this through the blood of animals, because blood was needed to atone for sins (Heb. 9:22). But Christ redeemed us and set us free by the shedding of His innocent blood, the only way for sins to be truly forgiven (Rom. 3:25-26, 1 Pet. 1:18-20, Heb. 10:1-7, 13:11-12). He did not have to do it in the sense that he did not owe us anything. Ours was the transgression, but out of His mercy and grace, Christ paid the penalty because He loves us.

During this time of Lent we are reminded that We did not get what we deserved. Justice was served, but it was not met out on us. A punishment had to be given for our sins, but we did not have to receive it. Somebody had to pay. But God loved us so much that He sent someone else to do it, for we never would have been able to (Jhn. 3:16, Eph. 2:1-9). The price paid for our redemption was the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7, 2:13-16). In Him we have forgiveness and mercy. This is what we remember during this season of Lent. And like our baptism, we should remember the sacrifice of Christ daily and be thankful that we have been made righteous in His sight (1 Cor. 11:23-26, Isa. 53:10-12).

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

 

Peace in the Lord’s Sovereignty

I was talking with someone the other day and the topic of extended periods of time between contact was brought up. It had been a while since this group had chatted together. So I said, “Well, life is one exciting event after another.” And this is pretty true.

Sometimes these exciting events are actually somewhat terrifying. Like a financial situation not panning out the way anticipated or planned. Suddenly what seemed secure is now uncertain, and the end is not quite in sight.

Sometimes these exciting events are joy filled, even if the lead up was somewhat trepidatious. Just a week ago, I had my beautiful baby girl. This is my first child. There were many moments I was afraid. I didn’t know what being a mom would mean. But now that she’s here, I can’t imagine having any other calling.

But that’s not to say that there are no uncertainties or worries. I’m not quite getting enough sleep. I worry about sickness. I wonder what I’ll be able to do today or tomorrow. How is my family handling this new addition? What if I can’t handle something? What then?

During my nighttime wakings, I’ve been reading through the Psalms. A couple nights ago, I came across this verse:

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

~ Psalm 11:4 ~

This verse reminded me of the song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and the verses that song is based on. Despite my worries, the uncertainties of life, the chaos in the world, the wonder for the future or past, God is on His throne. He is still sovereign; He is still in control.

This verse made me pause and think, “You know, one thing is certain: God still reigns, still loves, still preserves. He holds me.” Knowing that the Lord is still God despite an ever changing life, full of one exciting event after another, is a comfort to me.

This morning I read a similar Psalm, and I leave it as a prayer for you:

My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,

~ Psalm 17:5-8 ~

Blessings to you and yours,

~ Rose

Fishing for the Sick

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

~ Luke 5:30-32~

There is a growing trend among those both in and outside of the Church to avoid going to church because of those inside. To say it another way, there are people who feel that they are unwelcome in church because they are different or sinners. Perhaps they have been told they are sinners, or feel confronted about their sin. Hearing the truth is often uncomfortable, even for the saved. No person likes to be told they are bad or do wrong things, despite the fact that we know we do those things.

But this is not my point. There are bad things, and they are worthy of condemnation. But in light of all this, what are we to preach to all nations? The Gospel! The Gospel brings light and life where there was death and darkness. But instead of preaching the Gospel and new life in Christ that we have – sharing the hope within us – many Christians are quick to point out the sin. Because of this, many leave or stay away out of fear of condemnation from other Christians.

No one wants that. No one wants to be constantly reminded that they are bad and in sin and sin leads to death. These are all true things. But dear friends, let us remember who we are called to reach. The people outside of the Church, like we once were, are unaware of the wrong things that they do, or why they are wrong, or even the idea of sin! Yet they do know they are without hope, they do know they are different – they know that there are people casting glances at them for their dress and activities and words. They know these things, but fear keeps them from Love. A lot of that fear stems from the actions of those int he Church, both past and present. This is not the love we Christians are called to show. This is not the love, grace, and forgiveness first shown to us.

We have been pushing people out of the Church possibly because we have beguiled ourselves into thinking that Christians should look a certain way. This is not to say that we should not preach the truth, but that we should do it in love. We get the Gospel-Law-Gospel sandwich all the time. This is good. But those outside need the Gospel. They already have the Law. People are not perfect when they come to a knowledge of the truth, but they do know that something is wrong. Why not tell them of Him who made things right, Who is making us holy?

And what about ourselves? What did we need most to hear when we first heard of Christ?

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

~ Luke 5:8 ~

This event happened just prior in the same chapter as the first passage. Peter says these words in response to the miraculous catch of fish. But what is His response? Here is Peter, who has already been standing in the presence of God, finally coming to the realization of who he is in relation to the Man standing before him. He is in awe, shock, and fear. For what is Peter? He is a sinful man, a lowly creation, and knows he does not deserve to be in the presence of Jesus. How is Jesus mindful of us?

What are we? We are sinners. Filthy, rotten, debase, rebellious sinners. Yet Jesus came down and took on our form, died for us, and took away that sin so that we could stand in the presence of God! He fulfilled the Law and put on Himself the penalty for our sin. This is not to say that we won’t sin or that we do not need daily repentance. But Jesus chose to come down to sinful man and save us because it was sinful men that needed saving, and by a perfect Savior. Because of Jesus, we are no longer worthless but worth everything, being made co-heirs with Christ and sharing in all the blessings that God richly gives! We are loved. Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and I think it would be good to remember Paul’s words: “of whom I am the worst.”

We are in the process of sanctification. We still sin and must ask for repentance daily and drown our old Adam as we are now washed in baptism. But we in the Church are not the only ones called or loved by God. We are not the only ones who need to hear the truth. There are others out there who need to hear the love of Christ and not the words of another person pointing out their sin. Sure, they have sin. So do we. That is why we need the Gospel-Law-Gospel sandwich so often. That is why we repent and ask for forgiveness. And thanks be to God that He gives generously! Thank God for His grace! I am certainly glad that I was not subject to the thoughts of others when Christ saved me. They would have condemned me long ago.

Who are we supposed to be fishing for? Jesus says at the end of this section that He would make the apostles fishers of men. To whom are we to go? To all the world and all mankind. Let us remember it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. The world and its people need a savior because we are helpless and in need of saving. The sick need a doctor; sinners need a savior, and that is what we are.  But now we have this hope, and this hope is for all mankind. So are we going to reject the sick, or are we going to go out and fish? God’s love is not limited to us. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

I know the plans I have for you…

One year since we moved to a new state.

One year since our waiting ended and we moved for the fourth time since we were married and the second to last time before we were settled.

Tomorrow, we will have been married for 2 years.

In two months, our puppy will be a year old.

In 70 days, we will be welcoming our first child into the world.

Someday soon, Lord willing, I’ll finally publish the book I have been working on for over three years.

Time comes and goes. There is a time for everything, Ecclesiastes tells us. In this time, there has been mourning and joy, peace and worry, love and fear, loss and blessings. Two years ago, I couldn’t have told you what I thought our lives would look like now. I don’t think this is the painting I would have painted. Perhaps there would have been a job acquired sooner, the debts paid off quicker, a move made smoother (or fewer). Perhaps we would have stayed in the same state, or moved farther across the country. Perhaps our first child would still be coming.

Perhaps a great many things may have happened. I don’t know what would have happened otherwise now that this is our present. I know that my trust was not always strong and my fear and despair often overwhelmed me. Even now, six months into carrying a child, I recognize how small I am, how powerless, how full of fear I have become. I have felt more than alone. I have been isolated from nearly everyone and everything I have ever known.

These last couple of years, with the changes and moves and separations, have brought much worry into my life. We couldn’t help but ask, “What is going to happen next? When is it going to happen? How??”

It seemed like every month was a period of recovery from the month before, confusion at the present, and hope for what might but probably wouldn’t happen next month.

I don’t know a lot of things. Would I change things now? Looking back, would I wish things had happened the way we had planned for them to go? Can I really say that our plan was disregarded entirely?

I don’t know the answers to a lot of these things, and perhaps I never will. Yet in this I have hope and on this my faith rests:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

~ Jeremiah 29:11 ~

It’s true: This passage was written to Judah before they went into exile in Babylon. They were afraid, for they we’re going to a place they had never been and perhaps some would not return from. But God promises them this: I will come back for you. Despite their sin, their lack of trust, their fear, their rebellion, God promises to hold onto them. They were His.

Through all of our travels and struggles, fears and concerns, the Lord was always with me as He promised to be. A lot has happened in the last few years, but the Lord holds me in His righteous right hand. My body and my soul rests secure in Him. In Him, I was never alone. He held me in His righteous hand. He has known the paths that brought me here and was never unfaithful. Great is His faithfulness, even when I doubt! Furthermore, He knows the plans He has for me. Yes, we have plans, and we walk in active dependence, but it is God who directs our steps. He is the one who holds our hand when we cry to Him that we are slipping. He is the one that leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He is the one who cares for us even more than He cares for the littlest sparrows of His creation.

I know what our plans are for us, and I know that God is sovereign. Two years ago, I didn’t know this is where we would be, but I know He is faithful and will continue to be with us and guide us. He holds the plans for our future, and they are to bring us closer to Him. It is on that promise that I rest secure and to His salvation that I cling. I need to rely on all the promises He has made to me. He already covers my sin and has saved me, and He has promised to never leave or forsake me. I don’t know what the future holds other than that Christ is sovereign over all, including my life, and that is a comfort for the future.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

The Word, the Beginning, and Christmas Eve 1968

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched–this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make ourfn joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

~ 1 John 1:1-5 ~

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

~ John 1:1-5 ~

Blessings to you and yours this Christmas,

~Rose

Live at Peace

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

~ Romans 12:18 ~

Christmas is a time of peace. It is a time of coming together, of unity, of fellowship. Christmas is a time that we celebrate together in joy, love, and most of all, peace. Yet do we see peace in this world? It certainly does not seem like it. And sadly, there is often much strife in the Church. Dear Christians, are we living a life that Christ called us to? Are we building each other up and encouraging one another? (1 Thes. 5:11, Heb. 3:13) Or are we tearing each other apart over the little, nit-picky things that display discord and hatred to those looking at the Church?

Recently, when I have been on social media, I have seen a lot more of the later than the former. Even towards other Christians, Christians are belittling, shunning, maligning, and causing dissension, and in front of the world! It is not that we are perfect, nor that there isn’t a time to rebuke; we are being made holy and have been justified freely by God’s grace. But where is the grace shown to the brother in Christ? Where are those going to their brother privately to correct and rebuke? Where is forgiveness and love?

There is little wonder why we are looked at with disdain and distance by the world. We are called to be a holy people, yet we often act in more awful ways than the world, and this when we know what is right. This is to our shame. No, we are not looking for the love of the world, but how are we to love them if we are indistinguishable? How are we to love them when they see no love in us towards our brethren?

Our love for one another must be sincere (Rom. 12:9-18). How can we count it good to suffer the mockery of the world if we are rightly being mocked? (1 Pet. 2:19-21) Our example is supposed to be Christ. It is only by following His teachings and showing others His love that our deeds might show the light of Christ and bring other to praise God (Matt. 5:16). Let us learn to be patient with one another and show kindness to the family of believers, showing that we are united body of Christ, united in His love, showing forgiveness, mercy, and peace to all around us (Eph. 4:1-6). Let us strive to build each other up and show each other the same grace that God first showed us (1 Jhn. 4:19). This doesn’t mean that everything is going to always be fine, or that we will always agree, or that anything goes. There is a time and a place for correction.  But we are called to love and share the Gospel, the good news. Christians need to hear that same word of encouragement as do those who are not Christians. We are united in Christ. Let us live at peace with all men.

Peace be with you all,

~Rose

 

 

 

Speaking the Truth in Love

When Peter begins his message to the people gathered on Pentecost, he gives them a history lesson (Acts 2:1-41). These people were Jewish and knew their history, or at least they should have. The only reason they were in Jerusalem at that time is because of a feast. But Peter reviews it with them so that they can understand how the prophets foretold of the coming Messiah and how that Man was Jesus. They knew their Scripture. In fact, some may have known where some of those passages Peter quotes came from. They  were the “insiders”. Though Peter gives them history, he also gives them the Law. He reminds them that this is the Christ “whom you crucified”. Ouch. He is shouting at them their sin and the penalty for it. Though he does bring it back to the Gospel at the end, he basically begins with a lot of Law.

Now take Paul (Acts 17:16-34). Years after the Day of Pentecost, Paul is in Athens among the Greeks. He is not in a synagogue but rather among pagan temples, shrines, and idols. Here the background is in mythology, philosophy, and dialogue. Paul, of course, is a Jew, trained by the high priests. But Paul is also a Roman citizen and knowledgeable in many languages and histories. In this instance, he approaches the men of the Areopagus t in a different manner than Peter did with the Jews.

Instead of telling them the words of the prophets or the history of the Jews, Paul addresses what they know: idol worship and Greek philosophy. He begins by saying, “I have come here and before I spoke, learned about who you are. I saw there was something you did not know. Let me tell you what it is!” The Greeks were very fond of new ideas and adding to their knowledge, perhaps to a fault. But Paul comes from a place of empathy. He continues with the truth: that God made the world. This is something that the Greeks would understand, as they also saw a god as making the world. Paul gives them world history, mankind’s origins, knowledge. In fact he goes so far as to quote one of their own poets! He is basically saying, “Look, I know you, I understand you.”

Paul then appeals to their logic and says that if we are made in the image of God, if we are actually His offspring, as you yourselves claim, then why worship stone, metal, and wood? People are none of these things! And neither is God. Though Paul loses some of the people listening when he speaks of the Resurrection, there were some whose interest was piqued and the message reached their hearts and souls.

What is the difference between these two messages? Both spoke about Christ. Both ended with Christ. Both had the goal of reaching the listener. Both came from Christians. But here is the difference: One message was to outsiders, one to insiders. Where Peter was addressing those who should have known, Paul was reaching those who could not have known. This is the difference between the world and the church. In a church building, the preacher is teaching and correcting Christians. These are people who have the gospel. Not that they, we, do not need the Gospel still – we are still saved by grace! – but we also need correction.

The Law tells us how awful we are. Yet we are not left in despair. For as we first were given the Gospel, so too are we left with the Good News of Christ’s salvation of our souls! This is why we have this joy. The Gospel allows us to serve God. It frees us from sin and death. The Holy Spirit moves us and does good works through us. Christ and the Gospel tears down the insurmountable wall of the Law.

But what about those outside of the Church? They already have the Law, whether they know it or not. They are already mired in sin and without hope. They were as we were before Christ. They have not come to the knowledge of the truth.

If this is so, then why is it that we, as Christians in God’s love, come at them with the Law? Why do we not bring them the Gospel? Is that not what Christ commanded us? (Matt. 28:19-20) Those who are not Christians need the Gospel. If the Law is the only message others hear from Christians, there is little wonder why so many run from the message of God. They have never really heard it! They only hear fear and separation. They do not hear joy, new life, forgiveness, love, peace, hope. These are the message we need to share!

We already have this hope. Though our works are like filthy rags, the Potter is shaping us into something new. This is why we have hope. This is why when someone asks us for this hope, we can speak the truth in love, and with meekness and fear (1 Pet. 3:15-16).

There is a difference in how we should speak the message of God to those around us. Though our words should always been full of grace, we do often use the Word to teach, correct, rebuke, and train in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). But this is for believers in the Church. How does Paul address the Athenians? He learns about them, he loves them, he tries to understand them. Paul comes to them from their perspective, from a place of empathy. He wants them to know he is not attacking them.

It is not like there was nothing Paul could have criticized them about. But Paul chose to show them the love that Christ had first shown to him. I mean, were talking about Paul here. Even Paul calls himself the chief of sinners. How could we show any less mercy and grace to those who are near to us? God shows the same grace to us as to the person we hate the most. And thanks be to God for that! How terrible it would be if I were put on a scale with other’s sins. Thanks be to God for His gift of salvation and His bountiful grace!

Therefore, dear friends, let us look on others with that same love that Christ first showed to us (1Jhn. 4:19). Remember: We were dead in our sins when Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6-11). He died for others, too (Jhn. 3:16). Let us not approach the lost with the Law that condemns. Let us instead approach them those in the world – our neighbors, friends, co-workers, baggers, family, clerks, etc. – with the Gospel that frees. Let us love them, empathize with them, learn about them. Then maybe, after leading a life of love, they will see our actions and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

This Little Light

“If this Jesus thing is so important to Christians, why aren’t they obsessed with it?”

“You shouldn’t talk so much about the Bible and religious stuff. If I wanted to hear it, I would go to church!”

I was listening to an old podcast this morning during which the host mentioned a couple of emails he received, two of which are paraphrased above. While he often received letters from atheists telling him to stop talking so much about God, he was somewhat shocked to receive one from a man professing to be a christian. Why would a christian say something like that? The comment from the atheist was also eye-opening. If Jesus, life eternal, following His commands, and everything that goes with it means so much, why doesn’t it consume every part of Christian’s lives, or at least appear to do so?

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is not longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

~Matthew 5:14-16 ~

What happens if you put a lamp under a bowl? Not only will the light be useless to everyone who needs it, the light will go out. Yet this is exactly what we Christians have done with Christianity. We go to church, hopefully, and then go out into the world with a cap over that flame as if it didn’t exist. Where has our fire gone? Where has our love and passion for the Gospel gone? The letter from the listener really convicted me. Why is this joy not always on my face, the praise for my Creator and Savior not on my lips? Why is prayer mostly relegated to mornings and evenings? Why does anger fill my heart at times? Why do I respond to accusations and discomfort with hate? Is this light inside of me shining for others to glorify God?

A lot of important subjects have been relegated to the back seats of our lives. After all, what are the things you are “never supposed to talk about”? Sex, money, politics, religion. What are the things we most need to talk about? Those very things. They are important as they have an enormous impact on our day-to-day life. For one in particular, the impact is also on the life to come. Yet we have decided that God, Jesus, and religion is just for church! You don’t need to talk about it with friends, family, on podcasts! In a way, as this podcaster mentioned, our churches have become secular and our lives atheistic.

Scripture says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” But how do people recognize us today?  Do we care for the people around us regardless of who they are? Do we show the love of Christ and His effect on our lives? Where is Christ evident in our lives?  In all honestly, I struggle to see a difference in the lives of many Christians from those of the world. We are to be in the world, of course; how else are we to minister to those who need to Gospel and God’s love? But we are not to be of the world. Somewhere along the way, we have confused our mission on this earth. We are letting our flesh win.

Think of what the early church was like. The world around them saw Christians as being starkly different. Some called them cannibals, or baby-thieves, or anti-government, or heathens who didn’t worship any gods, or as just plain confusing for the love they demonstrated. They didn’t understand who would willingly die instead of simply bowing down to Caesar or an idol. They were so different that the world didn’t really know what to do with or make of them. But they came to know one thing for sure: Christians were followers of Christ.

I know more about the political beliefs, and sometimes even the sex-lives, of my friends and family. Those around are not shy to speak their opinions. In some ways, this is good. People should be open about what they believe, what their values are, and why they believe what they do. I am not saying we should not talk about these other things. Yet we are still missing our core. There will always be one thing or another to be outraged about, another crisis to plunder, another candidate to disappoint, another opinion to state. But do the people around us Christians know about their Creator who loves them? In fact, the Creator who loves them so much that He died for them? Do they know that they can lay their burdens at the foot of the cross? Do they know that they are forgiven? Do they know that hope and peace can be found?

I don’t think they do. I think they see us for the hypocrites that we are. We hide the light of Christ while professing to be one of His followers and live our lives like the rest of the world: unloving, ungodly, uncompassionate, hateful, blaspheming, slandering, unwelcoming. We display what the world does instead of what we were called to be. How can they know that there is a Savior who loves and cares for them if we do not love and care for them? Not shove the Bible down their throats or tell them that they are wrong, but to really, truly care for them. We don’t shine like stars in the darkness of this world. This is not to say we are perfect. Not by any means! But we are being sanctified and are called to live godly lives in holiness and reverence to God. Is Christ evident in our lives? Do we preach the Word in all seasons? Do we live like redeemed children of the Lord Almighty? He will reward each person according to what he has done. Are we going to be like one escaping through the flames? Or are we going to ask for forgiveness are start living our lives as if this Jesus thing really matters?

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

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Works Referenced 

Matt Walsh Show – Ep. 66

Have Mercy on Me, O God

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out all my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

~ Psalm 51:1-2 ~

Have mercy on me. The phrase “have mercy on” is repeated a couple dozen times in Scripture, from Exodus to Romans. Most often, I think it is associated with the Psalms and Gospels. In these places, the speaker is asking for mercy from God, that God might not abandon them, or destroy them, or even asking for God’s sustaining power and healing. But the first place that I could find where this phrase is mentioned says, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion in whom I will have compassion.” (Ex. 33:19) How humbling it is to remember that we are at the mercy of our God.

Whether we wake or sleep, whether we eat or drink, whether we breathe or die, everything we do is at the mercy of God. But why here does David ask for mercy from God? In this particular instance, he asks for mercy after committing adultery with Bathsheba and then for committing murder after killing her husband, Uriah. But David does not stop there. He asks for forgiveness for all his transgressions. He knows that his guilt is always before the Lord (v. 3) and that it was only against the Lord that he sinned, not Bathsheba, Uriah, Nathan, or anyone else (v. 4). God is the lawmaker and the judge, so He is right when He lays down justice; we deserve it (v. 4). From the time Adam and Eve rebelled in the Garden to when you sinned perhaps this moment, our guilt is laid before God only and openly. He has had every right to condemn us where we stand.

David furthers this confession when he speaks about how long he has been sinful (v. 5) and how he even sins despite the fact that the Lord has taught him the way of righteousness (v. 6). David pleads with the Lord that he might be made clean; not that he would be rejected by the Lord, but that he would be restored the joy of salvation and given a “willing spirit” to do what has been commanded of him (v. 7-13). And this is what God requires of us: not a sacrifice of things but in a sacrifice of heart (v.16). David could have done that and been done with his guilt. But this is not what God truly wants from his people, and this is a point of this psalm.

God wants a broken and contrite heart from us. He wants a humble heart that does not put ourselves first but rather puts God and His commands first in our hearts, minds, and lives. God wants for us to come before Him humbled and asking for His mercy, and we know that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (Jas. 5:16). God shows mercy on whom He will have mercy. And what does God want? He wants a broken and contrite heart that knows it needs mercy. This is our sacrifice to God. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins (Jhn. 3:16). If we did not sin, then why would He have to die? But He did die and rise again because we did sin, because  we needed saving. So when we do sin, why should we flaunt God’s sacrifice as if we did not need it? We do need it, therefore we ask God for mercy on us in our helpless state that He might forgive us (Matt. 6:12, Rom. 5:1-11).

David opens this psalm by immediately asking for mercy. And he does not ask it according to what David has done. It is not according to David’s righteousness that he asks for, or even tries to say that he deserves mercy. No, he says “according to your unfailing love”, according to God’s love, that his transgressions and sins be blotted out. Thanks be to God and His grace that we are saved! This is the final point of this psalm: that we cannot save ourselves. And how wonderful it is that our salvation does not depend on us and what we can do! How inadequate our actions would be! But God instead showers His love on us and sees us as blameless in His Son (Eph. 2:1-10, 1 Pet. 1:3-6, 2:10). He knows we fall short and that we are justified freely by His grace. Therefore we ask God for mercy and praise Him for His grace, everlasting kindness, and that He chose to have mercy on us – even us!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

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