Broken Mirrors

 

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

2 Corinthians 5: 16 NKJV

I used to own a old car that had its rear view mirror cracked and broken.  Naturally, it was pretty difficult to see anything behind me, thus I adjusted my driving skills accordingly.  Being too cheap to replace the mirror, I lived with having my view compromised.  Like that old car, many of us have endured a life of having our views compromised.  How is that?  Well, while listening to a radio sermon this week I was reminded of how rarely it is that we see God in those around us.  I know what you're saying, what do you mean seeing God in people around us?  I mean exactly that.  Why is it that we fail to see the Lord where He is most likely to be?  Many Christians will search all over for a sign of God, when all the while the evidence of God is right next to them.  I'm thinking that for others to understand this thinking that I need to clarify the meaning of my observation.  See, many people live a Christian life believing that they are separated from the Lord.  That after His ascension into heaven Jesus resided there side by side with the Father.  We're told this in scripture {Acts 1:9, John 3:13}.  So, this is the view many of us have of Jesus.  This was the view I had of Jesus until I discovered the words of the apostle Paul.  It is Paul who introduces us to truth of Christ Jesus.  Paul reminds us that Jesus is not forever bound to heaven as we have been taught for so long.  No, we can find the Jesus of today in...ourselves {Galatians 2:20}.  I mention this with the caveat that Jesus has always been in us.  Remember, it is Jesus who has never changed {Hebrews 7:3}.  So, if Jesus lives in us, as Paul realized, then He has always been there.  Now, the realization of Christ in us is not common Christian doctrine, so it may have yet to be revealed to more than a few believers.  However, this in no way makes it a wrong teaching.  So, given that it is Jesus who lives in us, why is it that we fail to see Jesus where He is?  Why is it that in place of Jesus we continue to see the old, sinful man in others?  Oh, yeah, Jesus did away with our old identity as well {Romans 6:6}.  So, all which remains is Christ who is in us. 

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 NKJV 

Tell me something.  When was the last time you were cut off in traffic and you shouted out in anger, "Jesus why did you do that to me?"  When was the last time someone was rude to you and you said, "Jesus, is that what you really think of me?"  I'll tell you why, because we have never associated Jesus with bad behaviors.  We have never associated Jesus with wrong behaviors.  In our Christian teachings, Jesus is pure and just and right.  I will agree that He is indeed all of these things.  However, I will also agree that it is much easier to see Christ in us than it is to see Him in others.  Especially in others who engage in bad behavior.  How is it that I can say with a straight face that Christ is in me...but not in the guy who insults me?  Jesus has never picked and chosen who He will be a part of.  That is favoritism, and God isn't about that {James 2:5}.  The love and acceptance of Jesus is all inclusive.  In fact, anyone that tells you that Jesus could never love you is a bald faced liar.  Do we fail to associate Jesus with wrong behaviors even though our own behaviors are, at times, questionable?  How can I say that Jesus could never reside within a bad behaving person while I myself exhibit bad behaviors every so often?  Sounds kind of hypocritical doesn't it?  How about this, how about we see everyone around us in truth.  That is, having Jesus in them.  Can someone have Jesus in them and not even realize it?  Of course!  I submit that most people we encounter have never even heard the concept of Christ in them suggested.  All too often, when I explain my view of the living Christ, I get a few blank stares.  Christ Jesus has yet to be revealed in them.  Our prayer is that He would be revealed in them.  If you think it's hard looking into your own mirror...try looking into someone else's instead.  

~Scott~ 

The Adversarial Life

 

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8: 31 NKJV 

People deal with adversity and disappointment in many different ways.  There are those who will allow the disappointments of life to rule over how they live.  I'm not that guy.  There are those who will see setbacks in life as an excuse to give up trying.  Again, that's not my style.  I'm that guy who, when faced with the unfairness of life, will try that much harder.  I'm the guy who, when wronged by another person, will forget that person and keep doing what I do.  Not everyone can live this life I live.  As I said, people deal with adversity in many different ways.  This is simply the way I've chosen to deal with my disappointments.  There is a story around NBA circles of a chance meeting in a restaurant between Michael Jordan and Seattle coach George Karl before the 1996 NBA finals.  It seems that Jordan stood up to greet coach Karl, but the old man simply ignored him and walked away.  Was Jordan angry about being snubbed?  Perhaps, but he also used it as motivation to defeat the Sonics in the finals that year.  The first time I heard this story I knew that it was a page out of my book.  You can ignore me, anger me or insult me, but if you're looking for a reaction from me you're not going to get it.  I won't give you that satisfaction.  I've heard a few comments at the local gym about the shape I'm in.  Now, I could get down on myself and feel abandoned, or I could use this as motivation to improve myself.  The funny thing is, one of the people who made a negative comment to me some time ago is the same guy who congratulated me on hitting my 250# bench press goal.  I'm guessing he knows by now that his negative comments produced some positive results on my end.  This isn't some "when life gives you lemons make lemonade" motivational speech.  In fact, I'm not at all sure if too many people can live the adversarial life.  All I know is that I live my life with the confidence of knowing that I can.

"That's all I needed - for him to do that - and it became personal with me"

~Michael Jordan on being snubbed by George Karl~

So, where is the Christian perspective of this adversarial life I live?  Well, one of the keys to the way I do things is, obviously, confidence.  Confidence in who I am.  Confidence in knowing the truth of Christ Jesus.  Many people view Christians as meek and weak, so more than a few are taken back by the way I do things.  How many people can say with confidence that they live as Jesus?  Not too many.  In fact, many would see this as some sort of heresy against the church.  The Jewish authorities plotted to kill Jesus for His proclamation that he was the Son of God {John 5:18}.  Jesus also tells us that if we have seen Him we have also seen the Father {John 14:10}.  But being confident to live as Jesus?  Who does that?  I'll tell you who, the apostle Paul.  It is Paul who speaks to Christ Jesus living in us in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  I do not speak heresy when I claim to live my life with the confidence of  Christ Jesus who is in me.  I only speak to the truth of who Jesus truly is.  Jesus is not the far off savior who died on that cross then spent the rest of eternity in heaven.  No, Jesus died on the cross so that he COULD dwell in us.  Jesus died on that cross in order that the body of sin, our body of sin, might be done away with {Romans 6:6}.  Once He dealt with that sin issue, God could once again live among His children.  I would say that this adversarial life I live is not so adversarial at all.  I would call it more of a life lived in the confidence of Christ.

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we also believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

The Price Of Admission

 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5: 12 NKJV 

Growing up I felt as if heaven was some far off place which I couldn't possibly reach without a whole lot of effort.  This was the way I was taught, be good, please God and I would be rewarded with eternal life and heaven.  I'm sure too many Christians out there have heard the same thing right?  Well, here was the issue for me, besides being a Christian, I was told on a constant basis that I was a sinner as well.  Yes, Jesus had died on the cross to cleanse me of my sin, but I still needed to do good and confess my sin if I was to ever have a chance of seeing heaven.  That, it seems, was the price of admission.  Now tell me, which one of us growing up was a perfect child without ever behaving badly?  This was my struggle as I fought to be considered good enough by God to enter His kingdom.  I was told that God can never be in the presence of sin, and if I was indeed a sinner then I had a problem.  How could God love me?  How could God ever accept someone as imperfect as me?  To me, it seemed that the price of admission to heaven was too high.  Well, it took me awhile to come to the realization, but I finally realized that the price had been artificially set long ago.  See, long ago some church founders made up their minds that they needed a narrative to sell to Christians around the world.  We needed guidelines by which we would worship the Father, live our lives and enter His kingdom.  Of course, when I see it this way I do not feel that God would ever deny anyone who comes to Him.  However, when we frame it that we are only doing what the Lord desires, the marching orders become more believable.  This is exactly what the early church leaders did.  Suddenly, instead of the one true God who loved all of us, we had a God who judged us by a competition.  Yes, we could get to heaven, if we behave and continually confess our sins.  And so I ask, what sin is there which Jesus did not cover at the cross?  

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2: 8 - 9 NKJV 

The first time I questioned what I had been taught was one of the first times I read the apostle Paul's definition of being saved that we find in Ephesians.  Wait, Paul, are you telling me that this entire salvation thing isn't a competition after all?  Yes, it turns out that I am not in control of my own salvation.  It is God who saves, and God who gives the free gift of salvation.  That's right, I said free gift.  You have never needed to toil away in the requirements of Christian living in order be deemed "good enough" for Gods acceptance.  I have had the opportunity a few times to point others in the right direction when it comes to salvation.  What do I tell them?  Do you know Jesus?  If the answer is no, I introduce them to the Jesus I've come to know.  If they say that they know Jesus, I ask if they REALLY know Him.  Because I see a difference in the Jesus we have been taught all of these years and Jesus how He truly is.  Who is Jesus?  I am.  Now, before you dismiss my claim, consider what Paul considered to be his one true identity.  Paul did not consider himself a sinner despite having brutally persecuted the church.  No, Paul realized that his old identity was gone, replaced by Christ who lived in him {Galatians 2:20}.  This is the very same Jesus who lives in me.  This is the man that I am.  There is no competition for me to be considered good enough in Gods eyes.  For when God looks upon me...He sees Jesus.  It is the same Jesus which God sees when He looks upon any of us.  Whether you have had the realization or not...your identity is now in Christ Jesus. 

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Singularity

 

But I want you to be without care.  He who is unmarried cares for things of the Lord - how he may please the Lord.  But he who is married cares about things of the world - how he may please his wife. 

1 Corinthians 7: 32 - 33 NKJV 

I heard a radio pastor this week speak to the fact that the apostle Paul had at one point been married.  To illustrate his point he pointed to the fact that a man in Saul's position in the teachings of Judaism would not have advanced as far as he had were he not married.  That is how important marriage was in his religion.  However, I definitely see some conflicts in Paul's writings on marriage which we find in his letter to the church in Corinth.  First off, it is obvious that Paul never knew what a "honey do" list is.  Either that, or our own views of marriage relationships has gone by the wayside.  For Paul lays out clear differences between married and unmarried men and women.  As Paul tells it, the unmarried (myself included) care for things of the Lord and how he might please Him.  However, the married man cares about the things of the world, and how he might please his own wife.  While I can see some validity to Paul's statements here, I also believe that they are not entirely true at least in the modern marriage relationship.  I have dear Christian friends who love their spouses dearly who also love and revere the Lord.  Are they going against Paul's advice?  Perhaps, but I think that it is also important that we view marriage in the context of which Paul was speaking that we might better understand his words.  I'm not at all sure that too many people today could survive a marriage relationship that was prevalent during the time Paul spoke to Corinthians.  See, in the world Paul knew, the husband was the be all end all in any marriage relationship.  The wife submitted to the husband.  Yes, Paul also speaks to the fact that husbands and wife are to honor each other, but the husband clearly was the head of the relationship in the Jewish society.  These, of course, were different times.  Fast forward to the present day and we see a totally different view of marriage than what Paul once described.  Not only has marriage become disposable, but it is no longer just a union between a man and a woman.  So, has God changed, or have we changed what God created?  I think the answer is obvious.

And the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.  The the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.  And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man."

Genesis 2: 21 - 23 NKJV 

I can't think of a more physical bond than to a person whom God has created FROM me.  This was the creation of Eve...from Adam.  This was done for a purpose, to solidify the relationship between a man and a woman.  Many of our modern wedding vows are taken from this part of scripture.  Well, as I recall, Adam and Eve were not married in the sense that we understand it.  God simply brought Eve to Adam.  Of course, God recognized Adams need for a partner {Genesis 2:18}.  But how does this relate to those of us today who are single?  Has God deemed us unworthy of that relationship?  No.  Even Paul, for all of his writings on marriage, recognized that there would be those who would not marry.  Paul speaks that for those who cannot maintain self control, it is good not to marry { 1 Corinthians 7:9}.  Now, most people are not single because they cannot maintain self control, but if you are single as I am, it isn't because God has somehow deemed us unworthy.  First of all, nobody knows the full intentions of God or why it is that he allows certain events.  It may be His desire that you grow in your understanding of who He is before you enter into a marriage relationship.  Despite being single, I do not entertain the thought that I'm not good enough for a marriage relationship.  That is something the Lord determines.  Can we make our requests known to God that we desire to be married?  Of course, I've done that many times in my life.  But remember, it isn't about me or you, but Gods desire for us.  If there is one I know about the desires of the Lord, they are always in our best interests. 

The God Thing

 

The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."  So he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"  Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing."  And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"  Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

John 20: 25 - 29 NKJV 

I was listening to the comments of a few well known Christian pastors recently when the topic turned to the upcoming elections.  Now, I guess I should have known better and turned the channel, but I was genuinely curious of how they saw this event.  One pulpit pounder in particular expressed the comment that if he were not a Christian he would question the existence of a God who would allow such a man as Donald Trump.  Really?  I suppose that you would question a God who would allow a tyrant such as Hitler as well?  The issue I take with this line of thinking is that when we enter into it we are dwelling in something which is out of our pay grade.  How are we to know what Gods ultimate purpose is?  Indeed, we could certainly ask Him, but more on that in a bit.  The point is, there have been countless events, leaders and circumstances which I have witnessed in my lifetime which defy our human realization.  These are circumstances I can look upon and simply admit...yes...that's God.  There was a saying among Christians not so long ago when we were confronted with such situations.  Whenever we were confronted with something we couldn't explain...we'd call it a "God thing."  I recall a conversation with a coworker years ago as he explained what he saw as a miracle of his sons recovery from a serious illness.  As he described it, it was a total "God thing."  I guess my first question to him should have been...why did you doubt?  That was the question Jesus asked of Peter when He rescued His disciple from the waves.  After all, Peter was the one who asked Jesus to prove Himself by having him walk to Him across the water.  Nice move Pete.  To his own amazement, Peter walked on the waves as Jesus was.  Then doubt crept in.  Peter, seeing the waves crashing around him, lost focus and began to sink.  I would have asked the same question...Peter, dude, why did you doubt?  Why do we doubt?  

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Matthew 14: 30 - 31 NKJV 

It's a question that has been asked for centuries.  Why did you doubt?  We know why Peter doubted his ability to walk on the sea, scripture tells us that he became suddenly afraid of all that was going on around him.  Did Jesus doubt that Peter could do it?  No.  Jesus was the one who called to Peter to come to him.  Not only did Peter doubt the existence of his Lord, but the ability of Jesus to have him walk on the sea.  Not a good day for Peter.  I will say that I've been there in Peters shoes more than a few times.  When the chaos of everyday life has caused me to doubt whether I will experience a "God thing" in my life.  Yes, in my own heart I know that God is able to do all things, but somehow there come moments where I somehow think that God is somehow limited by what I see around me.  I'll call these "Peter moments."  In my defense, these moments were more common in my baby Christian days than they are today.  It's not that I've matured all that much, but that I've come to realize more of who Jesus is.  I don't look upon Jesus as the fulfiller of needs and desires, but as a intimate part of who I am.  The apostle Paul spoke to our identity in Christ in Galatians.  It is Christ who now lives in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Imagine that, all that we do, think and feel, we share as Jesus.  So, in answer to my previous point, how is it that we can know the thoughts of God?  Well, we can ask Him.  For if we share our life and experiences with Christ Jesus who lives in us, then we also share a intimate connection with God...who also lives in us.  We all will eventually come across those moments where we fail to understand life.  However, we can always speak with our heavenly Father for answers to our questions.  If we believe and do not doubt.

~Scott~ 

All In All

 "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter, you must feel the force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes.  Even between the land and the ship."

~Yoda~ 

Did you see God this morning?  I did.  One of the first things I did today was look in the mirror to see the Jesus who I am {Galatians 2:20}.  I know that it can be difficult to do at times, but a huge part of our Christian faith is our belief in that God is all in all {1 Corinthians 15:28}.  That is, no matter where we look, we will ultimately see evidence of our heavenly Father all around us.  This is the part of God that we seldom notice.  While on a hike with a good friend who still chooses to remain nameless a few years ago, we got into a discussion of where we could see God in our own surroundings.  Well, obviously I could see the Lord in myself and him...was there another way of seeing God?  It turns out there is, which was the lesson he was showing me that day.  My own eyes were not opened to seeing God in the trees, the river and even the air around us.  How can we walk through a day in our lives and not see the imprints of all which God has done?  Believe me, if we dwelled on such things, we would never feel distant from the Lord for very long.  Yet, there are times when that is the place we find ourselves for whatever reason.  More than a few times, while facing one crisis or another, I've wondered the same thing.  Where are you, God?  Well, He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us {Deuteronomy 3:16}.  In the New Testament, Jesus tells us that He will be with us until the end of the age {Matthew 28:20}.  So, how is it that we come up with the idea that God can be anything but with His children whom He created?  Well, a good part of it originated with the lie of Satan in the garden {Genesis 3:4-5}.  For when the deceiver told Eve that if she were to eat of the forbidden fruit that she would "be like God," he was lying.  It turns out that Adam and Eve were already like God.  It was God who had instilled Himself in them upon creation.  God breathed into Adam the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  From the very beginning, God has been a intimate part of our lives.  

Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

1 Corinthians 15: 28 NKJV 

I've often wondered if Yoda was a Christian.  Many of his teachings seem to fall in line with that of traditional Christianity.  Perhaps George Lucas intended this as he created the series?  The lesson Yoda gives young Luke about the physical reality of the force could also be said of our heavenly Father.  God...is everywhere.  I would dare to say that if we are to look at our worst, fear filled moments that we would see Him there with us.  Nowhere, even in the midst of our darkest hour, is God apart from us.  For if we understand and believe that God is all in all, then we must understand that despite our situations He is as close as our next breath.  I don't mean to make light of this explanation, but isn't God in everything?  When we are crying, isn't the Lords imprints all over that tissue?  Oh, here's a good one.  When we're angry, isn't God also in the person we're angry with?  They might not realize it...but He's there.  Hate politics?  Isn't it God who has allowed for our leaders to be in positions of power?  See where I'm going here?  God is all in all.  Personally, I find quite a bit of comfort in knowing that nothing will ever happen that God is not in some way connected to.  There will never be anything that does not escape His notice.  This news should make each and every Christian happy.  Yet, there are still those believers who every day search for this God they've heard so much about.  If you're someone who's looking for God, stop and take a look around you.  Not only is He in you...but He surrounds you as well. 

~Scott~ 

Come And See

 

The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "what do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are you staying?"  He said to them, "come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  

John 1: 37 - 39 NKJV 

I was thinking this week of a few of the effective ways of ministry.  It is common knowledge among Christians that one of the last commands given by Jesus before His ascension into heaven was to, "Go and make disciples of all the nations" {Matthew 28:19}.  If we look closely, that word disciple can be translated to mean "follower."  Therefore, we as believers are to make followers of Christ Jesus of all the nations of the earth.   How do we go about doing that?  How do we go about making followers of Jesus in a world that has become increasingly anti Christian?  Everywhere we look, we see people vilifying the Christian religion as either a cult or a danger to society as we know it.  This past week, much of the nations attention has been caught up in the confirmation hearings of supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barret.  Not surprisingly, those on the democrat side of the aisle have attempted to use her catholic faith against her.  To hear them tell it, the confirmation of judge Barret would bring about the end of all that is good in our country.  A few years ago, California senator Diane Feinstein referred to judge Barret's faith as "That dogma that lives in you."  Now, I happen to like judge Barret, and I think that she would be a good choice for our nations highest court.  I abhor the activist judges of the left and long for justices who will base their decisions by the rule of law as it was written.  Amy Coney Barret strikes me as just such a judge.  So, what possibly could these conformation hearings of a catholic judge have to do with making followers of Jesus?  Simple, the faith of judge Barret has been on full display since she arrived on the scene.  What the American public has seen is a woman who is strong, caring and family oriented.  What they have not seen in a woman who is wicked and hateful.  Perhaps this is why her recent approval ratings rose to nearly 56%.  This tells me that not only do they approve of her as a person, but that they look favorably on her beliefs and values as well.  This is encouraging in a nation which has become, in recent years, hostile to Christianity.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more then these?"  He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love You."  He said to him, "Feed my lambs."  He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"  He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."  He said to him, "Tend My sheep."  He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?"  Peter was grieved because He said to him a third time, "Do you love Me?"  And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."  Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep." 

John 21: 15 - 17 NKJV 

What was the response of Jesus when He asked of the two disciples of John why they were following Him?  Well, in His response we can see a most effective ministry.  Come and see for yourselves what you have heard about.  Come and see He whom John spoke of.  How would I introduce someone to the Jesus I know (which, is different in some ways from the Jesus you may have heard of and been taught)?  Well, one thing I wouldn't do is toss a whole lot of scripture at them and give them a reading assignment.  That isn't who Jesus is.  Yes, the scripture is valuable in telling us a lot about Jesus, but how do we come to know Him?  Come and see.  In my introduction to Jesus I would include but one verse of scripture, which by the way is often a verse many find difficult to comprehend.  This verse comes from the apostle Paul and is the perfect description of who Jesus truly is.  Jesus is not simply a belief.  He is also not so far removed from Gods children that He is not a intimate part of our own identity.  As Paul tells us, it is Christ Jesus who lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  It is Jesus who is very much a part of who we are.  In fact, if you want to get down to brass tacks, we ARE Jesus.  If Christ lives in us, how can we not be Him?  But, this might be a bit too much for baby Christians to comprehend.  So, we'll just stick with Galatians 2:20 for now.  My good friend, as he introduced me to the truth of Christ in me, did not lecture me with scripture as he explained this new Jesus to me.  He simply invited me...come and see.  What I saw was not the Jesus I had been taught.  This Jesus was real.  This Jesus is...like me.  Are you at all curious about who Jesus is?  Have you ever wondered of the Man about whom so much is written?  Well, do what I did.  Come and see. 

~Scott~ 

Seeing Jesus

 Beloved, now we know we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3: 2 NKJV 

I've been asked a few times how it is that I came to know Jesus as I have.  There is no simple answer because I don't know the exact date and time where I came to know Him as He is.  Sure, I've known ABOUT Jesus for many years.  Most Christians have a good understanding of what Jesus is...but they stumble when it comes to knowing who He is.  What is Jesus?  Well, Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  Jesus is our all in all.  Jesus is the promised Messiah.  This is what we're told Jesus is to us.  When we hear the name Jesus, this is what we think of.  Well, that seems kind of impersonal doesn't it?  Do we know Jesus simply by how we define Him, or do we truly know Him?  Did Jesus only want to be known by His reputation?  I doubt it.  I turn to the example of the apostle Paul.  Paul was a ultra religious man before he came to know Jesus.  In fact, it was Saul who was responsible for much of the persecution of the early church before and after the death of Jesus.  The man Saul knew OF Jesus, but he had never seen Jesus for who He was.  As far as Saul was concerned, Jesus was just a blasphemer who needed to be silenced.  Saul and the Jewish authorities had no patience for this man who spoke of His close relationship between Himself and father God.  The Pharisees chaffed at Jesus' claims of His own identity.  How He proclaimed Himself as Gods one and only Son, of being one with the Father and basically making Himself equal to God {John 14:9}.  However, what Saul did not understand at the time was that Jesus was giving crystal clear indications of His true identity.  Yes, Saul knew all about Jesus, but he did not know Jesus.  All of that changed on the road to Damascus.  It was here where Saul was confronted by a man he didn't know.  It was here where Jesus chose to reveal Himself to Saul.  From this point forward, Paul would know come to see Jesus as He is.  

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'show us the Father?'

John 14: 8 - 9 NKJV 

The Jesus that was introduced to Saul is the same Jesus who I was introduced to not so long ago.  As Jesus was revealed to Paul, so He was to me as well {Galatians 1:15-16}.  I now see Jesus as He is.  So, who is Jesus?  Well, for lack of a better explanation, I am.  That's right, the Christ I now see is He that resides in me.  Jesus is interwoven with my own identity.  This is not blasphemy, but the words of Paul himself when he described the Jesus whom God revealed in him.  Paul came to realize that the man Saul was dead to him, and what remained was Christ who lived in him {Galatians 2:20}.  What a lot of people get stuck on is looking at the experience of Paul as a transformation.  How God transformed the wicked man Saul into Paul.  However, I believe that Paul did not experience a transformation, but a revelation of Jesus in him.  Why is this important?  Well, a transformation suggests that Saul never had the Spirit of Christ in him until He was revealed to him.  However, I suggest that on that road to Damascus that the Jesus who had always been there was finally revealed to Saul.  We see this in Paul's own words in Galatians 1:16.  It had been Gods purpose for, as Paul puts it, "To reveal His Son in me."  It's my own belief that Jesus had always been there, but that Saul just did not realize this.  So, how is this important to how we ourselves see Jesus?  First off, we can know all about Jesus, as Saul surely did, and yet not know Jesus for who He is.  Who is this Jesus?  Jesus is our identity.  He is who we are.  It is through Christ that we are now one with the Father {John 17:21}.  You might be frustrated by the thought that you could never have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, but this is simply misguided church doctrine.  The truth is that God is waiting to reveal His Son in you as He has in me. 

~Scott~ 

The Finest Measure

 

Now here you are with your faith

And your Peter Pan advice

You have no scars on your face

And you cannot handle the pressure

~Pressure - Billy Joel~ 

This past week I found myself watching the replays of game four of the NBA finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat.  I've never been much of a fan, but with the political slant of the league lately, I gave up watching all together.  Well, in this game, with the Lakers down late but still not out of it I saw yet another example of why I quit watching the NBA.  Lakers star and political commentator Lebron James, seeing his team was down late in the game, simply walked off the court instead of finishing the game.  Now, I've always been a pretty big believer in how you can tell a lot about a person by how they handle themselves in stressful situations, and this only solidified my view of Lebron James.  When the chips are down, when the enemy is at the door...he's not the guy I want on my team.  Granted, this is not the true measure of a man, but it goes a long way to deciding if I will trust him or not.  That brought me into another line of thinking, how is it that I, that we, handle stressful situations?  Most of the time when those times come, many of us don't have the option which Lebron James chose to simply walk away.  Well, you could, but the situation you're running from won't go away.  Believe me, I've had many times in my own life where I have fallen victim to bad reactions to stress.  My friends will attest to that I'm sure.  In the past, my usual first reaction was to immediately try to fix what was happening.  Well, that's not always possible.  So, what do we do when we're faced with those tough situations where there seems to be no way out?  How strong is the person who avoids any and all stressful situations?  I would say that if you do not carry those battle scars of life, then you haven't lived.  In these situations, I've come to look upon Jesus and how it is that He Himself handled tough situations.  Now, there can be no tougher situation that the persecution and death which He endured, but Jesus definitely went through His own share of trials.  A child born out of wedlock.  A young boy growing up in a bad area {John 1:46}.  How is it that Jesus handled the stress in His own life?  All around Him people were trying to meet with Him, trap Him and kill Him.  If anyone were to be driven mad from stress it would seem that Jesus would.  Yet that was never the case at all.  Jesus handled the stress in His life seemingly peacefully and quietly.  At least that is how we see Him in scripture.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."

John 1: 45 - 46 NKJV 

We definitely can learn a lot from the way Jesus lived His own life.  Through His example we can learn to deal with the joys, problems and difficulties we all face.  Perhaps there is something to that tired old phrase...what would Jesus do?  For once we began to ponder how Jesus would handle certain situations, we began to see how it is that we can not simply be "like" Jesus...but be Jesus.  One of the areas where I have began to look at Jesus is not how He dealt with life...but in how He deals with life through me.  See, Jesus isn't simply some dead guy who's been brought back to life to live in heaven.  There is a reality to the Jesus of today.  The apostle Paul shared this with us in Galatians.  We need not talk of Jesus in the past tense...but in the present.  He is the Son of the living God {Matthew 16:16}.  More than that, it is Jesus who lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  It is Jesus who we live our lives as.  So, when we go through those stress ridden situations, we encounter them as Jesus.  This revelation has gone a long way to how I handle stress in my own life.  I no longer see these situations as make it or break it...but as another chance for Christ to reveal Himself through me.  After all, if I live as Jesus, He will definitely take each and every opportunity to reveal Himself.  Perhaps Jesus desires to reveal Himself in Lebron James as well?

~Scott~ 

Another Failed Liberal Idea

 

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4: 10 - 11 NKJV 

It has frustrated me a lot over the years to have to explain why it is that I am against liberal policies and the damage they have done.  Now, notice that I did not say that I am against liberals in general, just what they believe in.  Indeed, I will defend all day long their right to speak to and believe what it is they they think is right.  You won't find me protesting somewhere, breaking things and vandalizing property simply because I don't agree with a policy.  Believe me, after eight years of the destruction of Barack Obama I never protested once.  One liberal policy which irks me, and should be seen by all Christians as unattainable is the notion that everyone be treated fairly and equally.  What?  When was the last time that happened?  I understand their desire, that we all are humans and rightly deserve to be treated the same way...nobody's different.  That's where liberals drop the ball on this issue...we are different.  Every one of us, whether you're Donald Trump or some homeless guy digging through a trash can, are different.  The idea that we can attach a common standard of behavior to people who are different is ludicrous.  I can say that we are different, but others may not understand.  Am I the same person as you?  More than likely not.  Indeed, we were all created in the Lords image {Genesis 1:27}.  For those of you Christians who interpret things literally, this does not mean that you resemble God in regards to your earthly vessel of a body.  In this way we are all different.  However, when God breathed into us the breath of life, we became one with Him {Genesis 2:7}.  The resemblance, the connection we have with God comes from the fact that we share in His identity in spirit form.  Yes, for the longest time I believed that I looked like God physically.  While my body does not resemble Him in appearance, my spirit does.  So, what does this mean in the way of everyone being treated fairly and equally?  Well, nothings changed in that respect.  

For there is no partiality with God 

Romans 2: 11 NKJV

Let us understand, that is is not by any heavenly commandment or edict that we show favoritism to those around us.  Indeed, we are instructed in scripture to treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated {Luke 6:31}.  For it is God Himself who shows no partiality {Romans 2:11}.  If we were all the same, why would we need to be reminded to treat others as we would like to be treated?  Why?  Because God knows us intimately.  He knows that by our flesh we dabble in things like favoritism and racism.  Now, if we really knew who we truly are would we act in such a way?  That's hard to tell because many people still remain clueless as to their one true identity.  That identity is in Christ Jesus.  I mentioned that it is our earthly vessels that differentiate us from each other.  Well, a vessel is merely a container.  Our containers hold something inside of us deeper than our internal organs.  The apostle Paul spoke to the contents of this container in Galatians.  Paul realized that living in Him was his true identity in Jesus {Galatians 2:20}.  So, Christian, would you ever show partiality to Jesus?  Well, when we treat others as less than ourselves we are doing just that.  One of the key thoughts of our realization of Christ in us is that those around us share in this with us.  We are not exclusive to this club.  What about that mean guy down the block, is Jesus in him?  Whether he realizes it or not...yes.  Why is it that Jesus made the statement in Mathew 25, "as you did it to the least of these, you did it to Me?"  I believe that Jesus was giving a preview in that moment as to how things were going to be.  We may be the most despicable person alive and not know the gift of He that lives in us.  We could be the most righteous of righteous and still not realize that it is Christ who lives through us.  My advice to liberals would be to not expect that we are all to be treated fairly and equally...but as Jesus Himself.  

"For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."  "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me."

Matthew 25: 35 - 40 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Who Will You Vote For?

 

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10: 31 NKJV 

I realized this past week, after watching the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, that we are indeed in the midst of one of the most contentious election seasons in our nations history.  Indeed, there are different platforms and ideas for our nation which each man represents going forward.  Will we choose the economic growth which has been displayed under president Trump?  Or, will we revert to the tried and true democrat principles of tax and spend economics?  Personally, for me, the choice is quite clear.  However, we still have a good portion of our population for whom the choice is not so evident.  One thing that this election brings is abundantly clear...choices.  In fact, it is in elections where we see not only the positive results of our choices, but the negative as well.  In recent years, a phrase that has so often been tossed around the political arena is that elections have consequences.  I agree.  I also agree that the choices we make have consequences as well.  I have talked to far too many Christians who agonize every day over the choices they have made in life.  There are choices I myself have made that I'm definitely not proud of.  This, I believe, goes hand in hand with being human.  As Gods creation, we are unique in that we were created with that ability to choose for ourselves.  Why is that?  Well, I believe that the Lord desired free will for us.  I don't believe that it was Gods desire that we would blindly follow Him without question.  No, I believe that it is Gods intent that we ourselves desire to be with Him.  Yes, there will be those of His children who will never allow their free will to choose life with Him, but whose fault is that?  As they say, God does not want robots who will follow Him without question.  I believe that a key part of realizing that we have the freedom to choose is how we received that freedom.  Our freedom of choice was not granted to us in some dusty hall of congress.  No, for as our constitution states, we were "endowed by our creator."  The founding Fathers got it.  They knew that God needed to be a part of the union they were forming.  After all, it is God who we are born of {Genesis 2:7}.  

We do not have government of the majority.  We have government of the the majority who participate.

~Thomas Jefferson~

Before I started writing this I looked at those areas of our lives where the choices we make directly impact out daily life.  Strangely enough, politics is a wonderful example of such things.  You can complain all day long about the decisions made by one politician or another.  However, our complaints are balanced by one key factor...did you vote?  Did you exercise your free will to choose?  Is there any doubt that our founding fathers, having been created with the ability to choose, would create something where the choices of the people would ultimately affect who will lead them?  Make no mistake, we did not come across our ability to choose through maturity or chance.  It is by the grace of God that we are created in His very image {Genesis 1:27}.  Indeed, all which we are is a result of what God desires for us.  I asked a friend this week his opinion of the Lord "molding" us into vessels He can use for the greater good.  His answer?  We're already there!  Why would we waste time with thoughts of are we good enough when God has ensured that we indeed are?  In spite of the choices we make, God has ensured that through Christ Jesus we remain in Him.  How good is that?  Right now, I am created by the Lord as His vessel.  Think about that for a minute...Gods vessel.  What is a vessel?  Yes, a vessel is a container...it contains something.  What do our vessels contain?  Jesus.  The apostle Paul speaks to this in Galatians.  For it is Jesus who lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  But wait, is it Jesus who at times makes the wrong choices?  Absolutely!  Is it Jesus who makes wrong decisions?  Yes!  This is neither heresy nor blasphemy, but the realization that if indeed we live as Christ Jesus, that Jesus shares in all we do...good and bad.  No matter the mistakes we make, Jesus will always be there.  So, who will you vote for?

"That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17: 21 NKJV 

~Scott~