Luke 14
In Chapter 14, Luke recounts 4 stories from Jesus' travels. Jesus would mix in parables, stories with meaning behind the obvious, as he taught those around him He would use parables get something through the thick skulls of those who he was teaching.
He starts with his fourth teaching about the importance of people over the Sabbath - the holy day for the Jews, where they were to do no work at all. He then tells two stories about meals, or banquets. In the first story, Jesus is actually at a meal, while the second is a parable about a great banquet. The point is clear in both stories, Jesus holds a special place in his heart for those who are misfits that have been humbled in their lives. The ones who fight their way to the place of honor have no place in this new kingdom he is inviting us into. The fourth story is a story of commitment - the story itself contains Jesus' use of two parables. A man building a house, first counts the cost of the house, or he will not be able to finish it and people will laugh at him. The same goes for king going into battle, he will first count the cost of the battle before going to war. Our commitment to the Father, our following Jesus, is not something that we lightly venture into. We cannot flippantly enter into this life because the life is bigger than just an accoutrement to our own version of our lives. Following Jesus is a holistic life-change that requires our total attention and total devotion.
What do these stories say about this man, Jesus, whom we are following? What things do we see are important to him, and therefore should be important to us? Remember, we are not simply following a system of beliefs, but a person. First century Christians were not called Christians, but were referred to as "people of the way." If we are to follow Jesus, we will be known as people who have adopted a certain way of living that is counter-cultural to our me-centered world we live in today. We follow Someone who valued helping people over observing religious ritual. Someone who valued humility over prestige or accomplishment. Someone who cherished the poor over the prominent. Someone who valued the mission more than the material. Someone who wants his house full and will stop at nothing to see that happen, even if he has to amend his guest list. Someone who values giving without getting. Someone who understands the value of careful consideration, rather than flippant following of others. Are you listening to this? Really listening? (34)
We follow Someone.
Showing posts with label commitment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commitment. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Acts 26 :: Paul and Jack Bauer
Acts 26 in The Message and TNIV translations
WARNING:: If you are a 24 fan, but have not watched the series finale, the post below could reveal information that could spoil your TIVO experience, so proceed with caution.
Last night was the night I've been anticipating for about 20 weeks. That's right, the series finale of 24. While some people may dismiss this show as violent non-sense, I choose to not. In the past three years, I have covered all 8 days and I am sad to see the show end, but glad to see the writing come to a stop. If you've never gotten into it but want to, go back to when David Palmer was the president. Anyway, I digress.
My post today is not an endorsement of the show, but more like a confession of a vice. When I started watching the series finale last night, I was not planning to compare Jack Bauer to our apostle Paul, but after it was over, I could not help it. In 8 seasons, Jack has fought for those who cannot fight themselves. He has worked to restore justice in his country...no matter who goes down in reputation or blood. In tonight's episode, Jack records himself saying good-bye to his daughter and weakly trying to explain the things he did today. It was his defense of himself.
In our chapter today, Paul is laying out his defense for his actions, both past and present. He is more eloquent and more powerful than any speech from Jack Bauer. His final defense is his most detailed account of his conversion experience. He lays out who he was and why he did the things he did to Christians prior to meeting Christ. He explains how he met Christ on the road to Damascus. He then explains that he was given a calling to introduce others to an incredible life of love and grace found in the redemptive work of Jesus. It is this calling that fuels his mission. His calling gives meaning to everything he says and does.
As I read this I thought about everyone has a story of their life before Christ. Some people have a story of how they met Christ. Few people can layout their calling from Christ. Even fewer people take their calling seriously enough for it to mandate everything else they do with their lives. We cannot and we must not settle for just meeting Christ. We must know our calling. We must let our calling drive our mission. Paul understood this. He was called to take the message of life to those without life. This calling pushed him to the people who were not considered worthy of a relationship with God - non-Jews. He stopped at nothing to ensure their hearing of this Good News. He may not have used satellite surveillance and heavy artillery, but his weapons were no less powerful, in fact probably more. The power of the Holy Spirit propelled him to courage, clarity and commitment to that which he had been called - to get the Message to us!
I'll never know if Paul could tote a gun as well as Jack Bauer. I may never know what Paul could have done with Chloe behind the scenes helping him. What I do know is that Paul's story is real. There were real lives lost, real lives saved and thanks to his die-hard commitment to the Message, I have a relationship with God through his Son Jesus today.
00:00:03...00:00:02...00:00:01...00:00.00
WARNING:: If you are a 24 fan, but have not watched the series finale, the post below could reveal information that could spoil your TIVO experience, so proceed with caution.
Last night was the night I've been anticipating for about 20 weeks. That's right, the series finale of 24. While some people may dismiss this show as violent non-sense, I choose to not. In the past three years, I have covered all 8 days and I am sad to see the show end, but glad to see the writing come to a stop. If you've never gotten into it but want to, go back to when David Palmer was the president. Anyway, I digress.
My post today is not an endorsement of the show, but more like a confession of a vice. When I started watching the series finale last night, I was not planning to compare Jack Bauer to our apostle Paul, but after it was over, I could not help it. In 8 seasons, Jack has fought for those who cannot fight themselves. He has worked to restore justice in his country...no matter who goes down in reputation or blood. In tonight's episode, Jack records himself saying good-bye to his daughter and weakly trying to explain the things he did today. It was his defense of himself.
In our chapter today, Paul is laying out his defense for his actions, both past and present. He is more eloquent and more powerful than any speech from Jack Bauer. His final defense is his most detailed account of his conversion experience. He lays out who he was and why he did the things he did to Christians prior to meeting Christ. He explains how he met Christ on the road to Damascus. He then explains that he was given a calling to introduce others to an incredible life of love and grace found in the redemptive work of Jesus. It is this calling that fuels his mission. His calling gives meaning to everything he says and does.
As I read this I thought about everyone has a story of their life before Christ. Some people have a story of how they met Christ. Few people can layout their calling from Christ. Even fewer people take their calling seriously enough for it to mandate everything else they do with their lives. We cannot and we must not settle for just meeting Christ. We must know our calling. We must let our calling drive our mission. Paul understood this. He was called to take the message of life to those without life. This calling pushed him to the people who were not considered worthy of a relationship with God - non-Jews. He stopped at nothing to ensure their hearing of this Good News. He may not have used satellite surveillance and heavy artillery, but his weapons were no less powerful, in fact probably more. The power of the Holy Spirit propelled him to courage, clarity and commitment to that which he had been called - to get the Message to us!
I'll never know if Paul could tote a gun as well as Jack Bauer. I may never know what Paul could have done with Chloe behind the scenes helping him. What I do know is that Paul's story is real. There were real lives lost, real lives saved and thanks to his die-hard commitment to the Message, I have a relationship with God through his Son Jesus today.
00:00:03...00:00:02...00:00:01...00:00.00
Friday, May 14, 2010
Acts 20 :: the Message and the Life
Acts 20 in the Message and TNIV translations
In chapter 20 we get a picture of Paul's amazing passion for people and for Christ. I read Luke's account of Eutychus falling out of the window as a kind of comic relief story, his way of making fun of Paul for being so long-winded. But beneath that is an immense respect for Paul's devotion. I suspect a lot of people made comments about Paul talking all night, but nobody had to wonder whether he cared about them or whether he was the real deal. People will put up with your shortcomings when they know your heart. I hope that can be said about me.
Verse 20, "I have taught you publicly and from house to house." Paul's investments were in two places: in the community and in the houses of the believers. It's such a far cry from our perception that the gospel is proclaimed mainly in Christian houses of worship, literally and physically separated from the community. As Christians, it's often lost on us that people who aren't inside our buildings on Sunday (which is most people) don't have a clue what happens in there. Or if that does sink in, we think our main goal is to get them in the building. In the first century, Christianity was being proclaimed and lived out in public and in the neighborhood. God is helping us recapture that at the Springs.
They stayed up all night together. Prayed together. Hugged and kissed and shed tears for each other. The city of Ephesus didn't just hear a guy preach Christianity, they watched a community live it. People respond to the message so much more when they see the life.
In chapter 20 we get a picture of Paul's amazing passion for people and for Christ. I read Luke's account of Eutychus falling out of the window as a kind of comic relief story, his way of making fun of Paul for being so long-winded. But beneath that is an immense respect for Paul's devotion. I suspect a lot of people made comments about Paul talking all night, but nobody had to wonder whether he cared about them or whether he was the real deal. People will put up with your shortcomings when they know your heart. I hope that can be said about me.
Verse 20, "I have taught you publicly and from house to house." Paul's investments were in two places: in the community and in the houses of the believers. It's such a far cry from our perception that the gospel is proclaimed mainly in Christian houses of worship, literally and physically separated from the community. As Christians, it's often lost on us that people who aren't inside our buildings on Sunday (which is most people) don't have a clue what happens in there. Or if that does sink in, we think our main goal is to get them in the building. In the first century, Christianity was being proclaimed and lived out in public and in the neighborhood. God is helping us recapture that at the Springs.
They stayed up all night together. Prayed together. Hugged and kissed and shed tears for each other. The city of Ephesus didn't just hear a guy preach Christianity, they watched a community live it. People respond to the message so much more when they see the life.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Acts 12 :: Showdown
Acts 12 in the Message and TNIV translations
Why do the nations rage
Back in Acts 4, the church prayed these words from Psalm 2 as they celebrated the release of Peter and John. You could see the showdown coming. Finally, in chapter 12, Herod went too far, and God demonstrated that you don't want to get into a duel with him.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
Back in Acts 4, the church prayed these words from Psalm 2 as they celebrated the release of Peter and John. You could see the showdown coming. Finally, in chapter 12, Herod went too far, and God demonstrated that you don't want to get into a duel with him.
This chapter paints some vivid word pictures. Peter's secret-agent angel who makes chains fall off and locked doors open by themselves, and walks Peter right past the guards without them noticing -- the original Jedi mind trick! Rhoda the servant who, in her excitement, leaves Peter standing outside the door. Even in the midst of life-and-death situations, there is some comic relief! Then comes the dark comedy: Herod, sitting on his throne, wearing his royal garb and basking in his own glory, struck down by God for accepting praise reserved for God alone (ironically, the very thing for which Jesus was crucified). I'm just speculating here, but maybe he had worms and that was the physical cause of death. It's poetic justice, and Eugene Peterson does a great job of drawing it out in the Message translation of the text: "Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died." As his heart and soul became increasingly corrupt, his physical body was literally being eaten out from the inside, and in God's timing he falls apart. No purple robe or king's throne would ultimately hide the truth. He tried to save his "life"--his power, his influence and affluence--and he lost it all.
True Christianity has never been a political movement. Jesus himself was emphatic about this despite a lot of pressure to the contrary and the persistent misconceptions of his own disciples. However, Christianity by its very nature is a threat to rulers and authorities who want to hold God's place in the hearts and lives of people. They have always attacked Christ and Christians, even to this day, and they have always lost. Christianity brought down Herod, then the Roman Empire, then a whole list of tyrants and governments over 2,000 years of human history--not militarily or politically, but by capturing the hearts and souls of men and women. Christianity still advances today in countries where it is illegal to be a follower of Christ, maybe even punishable by death.
I had to pause today and pray for brothers and sisters around the world who are paying a heavy price for their faith. And I pray that I have even a fraction of the courage and conviction they have. Always remember who wins the showdown.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
The rest of the story...maybe.
Yesterday, Cameron posted a great story on his blog about community life. I heard the story from Pete this morning at breakfast and I wanted to share some observations. We were discussing the priority of our Tables in the lives of those of us at The Springs. For some, Table is not an option right now. For others, it's a nice thing that they do sometimes. But for some, it's the thing that is written in their calendars in permanent ink. Everything else takes a back seat to their Table. Yes there really are people like this!
On the way to Table, Blake's catalytic converter almost fell off. My understanding is that this is a big deal and that his muffler and some other stuff was dragging the ground. At that point Blake and Andi had two options. They could have stopped and gone straight to a shop to try to get it fixed, or even turned around and gone home. They would have then taken there van in and spent about $75 for someone to put a $10 part on and it would have been done.
But they didn't choose that option. Because Table has a priority in their life, they weren't going to let a little thing like a catalytic converter dragging the asphalt keep them away. As a result, they were able to make it to their Table and discover that the other guys in the group could fix it for a mere trip to the parts store and about $10. But that's not all...
Blake and Andi would have missed the service provided them by their community. Pete wouldn't have gotten to help a friend with the knowledge he had, Cameron wouldn't have gotten to use the tools in his garage. They all would have missed the camaraderie that comes when guys fix cars. That is the Tangible Kingdom of God...that is a study of Jesus' commitment to priority and service. That is what it's all about.
Consistency is where this kind of community is built. What kinds of things will you say "no" to because that's the night your Table meets? By refusing to say "no" you just might be saying "no" to a lot more than you think.
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