Visions & Verses

Pearls of Wisdom

  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5 New International Version (NIV)

In my close circle of friends, the youngest of our children recently turned 18, making us all parents of adult children now. It's quite an adjustment. You know you have to let them go and make their own decisions, but it's hard to sit by and watch. And we find ourselves discussing our children, our hopes and fears for them, and their choices A LOT. Some kids need counseling on slowing down, others need to be pushed forward, all of them need our support and love.

What kids need most of all is wisdom. College and the internet can provide knowledge and data and facts, but it is wisdom that scrutinizes those data and facts and puts the knowledge into action in a way that will be useful. And our world has a very different idea of what is wise compared to Biblical principles. Our society tends to define your worth as person by financial success. What school you attended, what profession you pursue, the type of car you drive or handbag you carry often seem to matter more than personal integrity and character. Hedonistic pursuits of new cuisines, craft beer, wine tastings and the latest fashion and hairstyles often fill up popular social media sites like Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Meanwhile, it is a challenge to find photos or stories of people donating their time, possessions or money to charitable organizations or church functions. People know their rights and demand them, with very little acknowledgement that those individual freedoms have always been tempered by the overall rights of the community. We were designed to be in fellowship and community with others, but as a whole we seem much more focused on ourselves and individuals than on 'society', 'the state' or our neighborhoods.

So as I learn to let go of my children and let God work in their lives and their decisions, I pray constantly for them to be granted God's wisdom. Wisdom to make right choices, wisdom to be Godly people and not worldly people, wisdom to not be satisfied with what is 'good enough' but to strive for whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—anything excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Most of all I pray for them to have the wisdom to choose God -- to ask themselves in any situation or conversation, 'what would Jesus do?' In our highly individualized society, it's good to remind ourselves and our kids that our daily prayer should be to be less like us and more like Jesus. Because, truly, only the sacrificial, intimate love of Jesus can bring love, peace and inner contentment to our current world.

The Desires of Your Heart

But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.

-Galatians 5:22-23 Good News Translation (GNT)

We're needy. We really are. Food, shelter, clothes, hygiene, a job, a family, a sense of belonging, a sense of self-worth, love, acceptance, value, skills...we need all of that. But that's how it's supposed to be. Just like babies are dependent on their parents for every single thing, Lord God wants us to be dependent on Him for our every need. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 that  God feeds the birds and makes flowers beautiful, and He loves us so much more than them. "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Our Heavenly Father desires to give us good gifts that will make us happy and enrich our lives. 

Hmmm, there must be a 'catch' you think. Well, perhaps. Parents give good things to their children to encourage them to grow into good, accomplished, grateful, respectful adults. And God gives us good things to grow us into good, godly, humble, patient, loving and self-disciplined people. So the 'catch' is gradually changing the desires of our hearts to be more in line with His desires for us. If the desire of your heart is a new Porsche, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it to arrive. God isn't Santa Claus or a spiritual ATM. He gives you things that will develop you into the best person you can be. A young Pastor leading two small churches miles apart might be granted a new car, maybe, but a Porsche? Probably not. And if it's a Porsche you truly desire, don't be surprised to find God starting work on your generosity, pride and vanity. Perhaps a family in your neighborhood will lose their home to fire. God will be watching to see if He can trust you to share what you have with those less fortunate. Pretty soon, the desire of your heart will be to bless others in generous ways. You'll find yourself praying for others and denying your 'wants' in favor of your 'needs'. And that is when God can truly start blessing you. Imagine a stack of presents filled with Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith, Humility and Self-Control! When you wear those into the office or to a family gathering, people will NOTICE. They'll want what you have. Those desires of your heart will point people to God...and to the greatest of all His wonderful gifts: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our eternal salvation! And this same sacrifice is what allows us to go straight to God, our 'Daddy,' just like little children, full of love and wonder, sitting at His feet, listening to His stories, desiring to be the person He already thinks we are, in an intimate bond of love. That relationship might be the best gift of all.

But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's children.  To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.

-Galatians 4:4-7 Good News Translation (GNT)

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He Lives!

 

 He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!

~Isaiah 53:3-4 New Living Translation 

There are many mysteries in the Bible, many things that puzzle and confuse which we are left to accept by faith. However, for me, the most troubling mystery is the depth of sin the human soul is capable of. When I watch reports of ISIS's actions, school shootings, mail bombs or fire doors locked to leave hundreds to die, I have a difficult time accepting that people could make willful decisions to do such unspeakable acts. 

And then there's Jesus. Clearly he was a man without malice. He could have rebelled against Roman rule, rejected the legitimacy of Herod as king, or the authority of the Sanhedrin and High Priest, but he didn't. Instead he made sure to obey and encourage the obedience of his followers. He had plenty to say about how the priests administered God's law, but he never violated the scriptures. He could have scoffed and turned his nose up at depraved sinners such as adulteresses, tax collectors, centurions and thieves, but he didn't. Instead he offered them repentance and forgiveness. He could have avoided the lame, the sick, the blind and others who were 'unclean', but instead he offered healing and salvation. He could have separated himself from the gentile Romans, or the despised Samaritans, but he didn't. Rather, he offered them the same healing and grace and forgiveness that had previously only been offered to the Jews. His ministry and miracles were not for his own benefit, in fact it is clear that he wore himself out in his teaching tours and healing missions. He truly was a good man, in every sense of the word.

So how is it that his very own disciple accepted payment to betray him? That his own religious leaders conspired, not just to condemn or punish him as the law commanded, but to put him to death which was not their law? How is it that his King was willing to accept the execution of a religious Jew at Passover? How is it that the Romans, knowing he was not guilty of a crime worthy of death, were willing to crucify him at a time when the city was filled with Jews on their religious pilgrimage? How could those Roman guards find so much enjoyment in torture, and mock a man who was clearly suffering in great pain?  I can't answer that. I look in my heart and I can't find enough hatred, anger, greed, or fear to be moved to condemn an innocent man. It is a heavy thing to carry blood on your hands. I suppose in some global way we all bear responsibility for systems that have been unjust or oppressive and led to the suffering of those we don't even know.  But in Jesus' case, even when given the opportunity to show mercy and release him, they cried 'Crucify him!' all the louder. 

The mystery of man's inhumanity to man makes the case to me that we are all in need of a savior. We have all fallen short of the perfect love that God intended us to show. We have all been selfish and self-righteous and substituted our will and desires for those of God. And for that reason, Jesus had to die. Not because of the will of some hard-hearted leaders, but because of the will of God -- God's desire to grant us forgiveness and bring us into relationship with Himself for eternity. Jesus' resurrection was God overturning the decision of sinful men, and replacing it with His perfect grace!

Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.

~2 Corinthians 13:4 New Living Translation

 

Aloha is not Goodbye

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” ~Luke 23:43

 

I don't like goodbyes. My best friend of 40 years is moving to Hawaii. I've been trying not to focus on all the ways life will be different without her: holidays, birthdays, date nights, all our annual get-togethers which will now have 2 empty chairs... Change is hard. Even temporary loss feels like loss. I'm happy for them, excited to hear of their adventures in Paradise, but still a part of me is grieving.

 

It occurs to me that those feelings are exactly what Jesus was addressing when He spoke the words of Luke 23:43. We love this life, even with all its sorrows, hurts and frustrations. Facing its end we feel loss and sadness and grief. But Jesus has promised that we will be spending our next moments in Paradise. We'll be reunited with friends and family who went on before. And we'll join together in a big Luau wedding feast with Jesus himself!

 

My friend will be returning in 3 years (God willing) and even as I plan and look forward to her homecoming feast, I'll remember the better feast that is waiting for us all in a place that is even better than the lush, fragrant beauty of Hawaii. Aloha, my friend!

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. ~2 Corinthians 13:11