Psalm 27:4 Thoughts

On Saturday during a men's bible study I was brought back to look at a passage that I have quoted and read a so many times in my walk with God, but was able to see it freshly and with some more insight.  The Word of God is amazing in how it speaks to us and we can see such new things when we read it.  I know it is alive from personal experience (Heb. 4:12) and was reminded of that on Saturday.  Well here is the verse: "One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4).  What stood out to me were all of the different verbs that are contained in the verse.  I will list them and make a few comments.  Let's see if our lives can be described with these verbs.  

• Ask - One thing he wanted from God, only one, and it became the very thing that brought him rest as his head hit the pillow, it was the reason he woke up, and what guided him throughout the day.  One pursuit can shape us to be who God has made us to be and we are to use our voice toward God in asking him for his presence.
• Seek - This word carries with it the idea of movement, of pursuit.  David spent his lifetime (mostly), in pursuit of the one thing he wanted of God, which was God's active presence in his life.   We can go after lots of things but only one destination will give us what we really need - that is the place where we find him.
• Dwell - this word describes a place to stay, a place where life is done, a place of quiet, a place to live, a place to contemplate, and a place where we might be with others who also are seekers of God's presence.  The desire to be here is to be made up of all our days.
• Gaze - Having a vision of God's beauty and living with it can make all the difference on the days that are ugly and filled with disillusionment or heartache.  This was really David's ultimate aim.  He wanted more than anything to see God and have a vision of him.
• Inquire - This one I find very interesting and can seem to be something he has already said that he desired.  There is more to it though.  He has already "asked" God something, so why inquire?  Inquire here, means that he wants more and more of God.  He wants to know more, experience more, find more and get lost more into the depths of who God is.

Do these words describe our pursuit of God?  They should.

Following Close or From the Outside

I noticed something interesting on Sunday as I read in Mark 2.  Here are the verses, "15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" vs. 15-16.

The worst men in the region came from all around the region and Jesus placed himself right in the middle of all of them, and they placed themselves right in the middle of his presence. They were close enough to see his sunburn, facial expressions, and rub shoulders with Him.  Isn't it interesting that they did not find Jesus strange, but found him so interesting that they invited him into their social circle and make him be the center of attention of their gathering.

The most religious men of the region watched Jesus that day from a distance.  They could not see his facial expressions, what he was eating, or whether he looked tired from his day. All they could see and know about Jesus was from a safe and judgmental distance.  Those who claimed to know God and how to authentically worship him, stayed away.  That is not worship, as worship is about the presence and nearness of God.  The religious leaders found Jesus scandalous, not intriguing, and that is why they kept him at a distance and eventually killed him. 

Both responses have to do with who we think Christ is and what he is really like. If he is all about following rules, then we will find grace scandalous because it includes those who do not look, act, or live how we think they should.  If we find him fascinating, then we will draw near and enjoy the celebration of his grace.  You see, Legalism runs into Grace and Grace is like a brick wall that Legalism cannot penetrate or knock down.  It is here where Grace is so frustrating to Legalists.  Grace actually will swallow up Legalism in our lives when we truly understand the heart of God.

So, who are we more like in the two verses.  Are we judging from a distance or are we sharing a meal with the Savior?  I prefer to be near and see the color of his eyes and hear him personally speak to me.

  

Steps to Accomplishing Something for God

One of the greatest stories found in the Old Testament is that of Nehemiah. What was accomplished during his days was amazing. I want to look at how the task was finished, not in the plan, but in what were the underlying realities. In them, we really see what it takes to do something bigger than ourselves. I will highlight these underlying things below.

The beginning point of Nehemiah's task started when his heart was broken over the condition of his city. To accomplish something great, our heart has to be affected to the point where it moves us to action. Immediately, he then turns to the only one who can do something about his passion for Jerusalem - he turns to the right source. He prays and asks God to intervene and lead him to see Jerusalem restored. After he gets permission from the king to go to Jerusalem, he examines the walls at night and it is here that we see just what God had put into his heart. We must get something of God into our heart that is much bigger than we are, something that only comes from Him. For if we don't, we will never live for something bigger than ourselves. Are we open to letting him put something there?

He then gathers the various communities together and lets them know what God has put into his heart and they each say, "let us rise up and build" and they strengthened their hands for the good work (2:18). In other words, it takes a community to a fulfill the call of God upon our lives, not just the leader. Everyone did their part, where they lived and worked to restore the walls in their neighborhood. The result - the entire wall was around Jerusalem was fixed in 52 days - 52 days.

Obviously there were specific plans that lead them to finishing the wall, but underlying passion is what really accomplished the task. It is that way with ministry today. It is not our great strategies that are the key, but it is living for the honor of his name that leads us to live for something larger than ourselves. Are we ready for God to put something in our hearts?

God's Logic

Once again in my life, I have come to a place where we are examining God's will us and asking the question that we have all asked at one time: What is God's will? Which decision should I make? Should I go or should I stay? etc. Of course, just like all of the people who have gone before me, God's will does not always make sense to our human minds, but we sure want it to. In the last 5 years, we have had several people wonder if we are following God's will as at times it has not seemed so logical, but we have no doubt that we have been right in the middle of God's will.

While we look for the logical way to confirm what we should do in our lives, God often runs us through a path that does not always seem logical. Why? Because his ultimate aim for us is to take us to greater Faith and see that we conform to the likeness of his Son (Romans 8:29). What we want or the path we want to take does not always lead us to the goal that God has for us. He wants more for us than we want for us. He wants us to live a life of faith and risk and we want to live a life of logic and security. Not that there is anything wrong with security, obviously God gives that to us, but a lifetime of security does not cause us to wrestle with the questions that stretch our faith and lead us deeper into his character.

Here are some examples from scripture:

1. Joseph - as a 17 yr. old God tells him that he will see his entire family and the world bow before him in a dream. The path to that place was betrayal by his brothers, life of slavery, a rape accusation, and time in prison. It was only after all of these things that he got to the place God wanted him - 27 years later.

2. David - The champion is slain by the youngest, smallest and least likely person in Israel.

3. Gideon - God takes Gideon's army from 10,000 to 300 and he sees victory with the smaller number.

4. Hosea - he is told to marry a prostitute and as she continues to commit adultery against his love, God tells him to go find her and bring her home.

5. Paul - on his way to finishing the race, he experienced these things according to 2 Corinthians 11 - countless beatings, imprisonments, 40 lashes, shipwrecked 3 times and adrift at se and many other things. He ultimately wrote that he finished the race and that was his path to the finish line.

None of those are logical and a path that that would be chosen by us and that is why God needs to lead us into our future. Obviously we seek God passionately for decisions and we weigh pros and cons but we must be careful that we don't simply choose those things that make sense to us, for it always won't. This is what Isaiah says about this in 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts".

We have to decide what we truly want for our lives - our plan and process or he who is above the heavens and who thinks, sees, and acts in ways that we cannot even imagine. His ways are different in the way they sound and look and the seeking Him shapes us so much more into who he has designed us to be. The problem we face, is that it is honestly hard to tell what we are to do at times and we are left with no choice but to take a step from the Lions Head just like Indiana Jones. Yeah, not so easy, but at times it is our only choice.

Though the days ahead are not completely clear and there are still some unknowns, it is good to walk with a Father who knows best and does things perfectly. That is why I trust him.

Going Global

Acts 1-7 gives us the picture of the 1^st Church as it is establishing itself in Israel.  The church is thriving, but it is still local, not global.  This is not what they were told to do.  Remember these words of Jesus:

Matthew 28: 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

and these:

Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

                  It is clear that the plan of Jesus was that the church was to move out of Jerusalem and to go forward into the world, to the nations.  As we come to Acts 8:1, the church is still for the most part in Jerusalem and it takes God allowing persecution and martyrdom to force them outward.  For whatever reason, they have not gone out into the world with the gospel, and here is what the persecution did: Acts 8: 1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.  They are forced here to finally leave and to go out.  Why would God allow this in a thriving church? Here is the answer…Because the church is to be missional in nature, not institutional.                                                                                  

One of the results of this scattering was a church start in Antioch (See Acts 13).  This church sends out the first foreign missionaries, not the Jerusalem church.  The first mission trip was around 48AD, about 15 years after the birth of the 1^st church.  There are some characteristics of the very first missional/global church.  What we see of them, we can translate into our setting today.                                                                                                                                                  

Here are the characteristics of this missional church in Acts 13.  1.  Worshipping church (13:2) 2.  Prayer and Fasting church (13:2)  *It is in the midst of these two passions where the Holy Spirit spoke to set apart workers for the harvest to which he has called them.  When the Holy Spirit speaks he does so for this purpose: to set apart believers to go and join him in testifying about Christ in the world (John 15:26-27).                                                                                                                                                                                        

I am convinced that a worshipping and praying church of passion will also be a church that attracts those who want to go, raises up people to go, and personally participates in the going.  Are you apart of a church like Antioch? You and I should be.

Hidden Food Gem

If you have never driven through the Texas Panhandle or have never lived there, then you have missed out on one of the greatest hidden food gems in the world.  What is it?  It is called the "Allsup's Burritio".  On our drive to McKinney today I stopped in the big city of Memphis, Tx and bought myself a an Allsup's Burrito.  It goes best with two pack's of Hot Sauce and of course, a cold Dr. Pepper.  Words cannot truly describe the taste as it is just one of those things that you have to personally experience.  As I drove down the road today, I experienced a bit of heaven on earth.  (Hey, I never  said I was completely normal).  Guten Appetit!!!

Summary of a Man's Life

One of my favorite Old Testament characters is King Josiah and we find his story in 2 Chronicles 34.  I want to focus today on the summary of his life that is found in verse 2.  As the chapter begins the writer sets forth the truth about the 31 year reign of Josiah.  I have now been in part time or full time ministry for 23 years, just 8 years short of Josiah’s reign.  Here is the Bible:

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 31 years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” 2 Chronicles 34:1-2

                        There are 3 Statements here that give this summary and I have wondered if they can be said of me after 23 years.  Here is the scriptural perspective of his life and that is truly the only view of our lives that actually matters.

• He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord
• He walked in the ways of his Father David
• He did not turn from the right or the left

                        Josiah was driven to make sure that what he did pleased God and not man.  This is a great danger that we all face in ministry.  What will we do when people want things from us or for the church that we know are not in line with what God wants.  Do we seek to keep our job, peace, or make sure they are pleased and happy?  Or…do we continue to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord?

                        Next, we see that Josiah walked in the ways of David.  When we look at the description of all the Kings in the Bible they are either described as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord or walking in the way of David.  Josiah walked in the ways of David, which means that Josiah was a man after God’s heart.  He longed for the things that God longs for.  Do I long for that?

                        The last description of Josiah is that he did not turn from the right or the left.  What God called him to do, Josiah went after it without taking any detours along the way.  Living this way allows us to find a depth of passion in Him that only comes from walking in obedience.  Going in a straight line with God gets us deeper and further in him that straying to the right or left cannot never bring. 

                        Something will be said of our lives and the choices we make will determine the outcome of the name we make for ourselves.  The summary of our life is put together  by the things we both add of him and subtract that have nothing to do with him.  That is why Josiah’s Summary is as it is.

 

 

Missional in Nature

In the heart of who Jesus was while he was on earth, it is clear that he was deeply missional in nature.  The activity of his life was missional in the way it was expressed when he came into contact with people or as they placed themselves in his path intentionally.  Missional living is not something we turn on and off but it is to be our life – it simply is who we are.

Here is what it looked like for Jesus:  being missional meant he taught, ministered to prostitutes, called tax collectors to be intimate disciples, touched lepers, went through Samaria and spent time there (extra time), spent all night praying before a leadership decision, ministered to foreigners, discipled leaders, valued women and children, confronted religious hypocrisy, faced demons, ministered and healed the sick, lame, blind, and deaf.  It meant he observed, laughed, cried, entered people’s homes for meals and went to a wedding, and most importantly – he died for the sins of mankind.

Being missional in nature is not how we program, but it is who we are.  Here is how it worked with Jesus.

John 5: 17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

He saw the Father working wherever he went and did exactly what he saw the Father do.  The four gospels are this evidence.  Jesus lived in complete obedience to the Father and it is the pattern for our lives as well. We can learn this missional life in our intimacy with Jesus and embracing the depth of the truth of scripture, for it is where we see him at work while he was here physically. 

It is my prayer for me and you that we would see the encounters we have each day, both the ones we seek out and the ones others seek out with us, as the activity of the Father in our lives.  If we would, then we might have much more impact daily in these encounters for we would see them with his eyes.  Maybe we would not have to program spiritual activity as it would be much more natural and effective.  

 Let’s have fun encountering!!