Many Christians are refreshed to hear Paul's words in Romans 7:15-20 where he describes his inability to do the things he wants to do or keep from doing those sinful things he hates. Verse 18 summarizes this when he says, "For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it" (NRS). Paul is not, however, letting us off the hook or describing that it is impossible for us to overcome sin. In fact, his argument is just the opposite. What he is explaining is that in the flesh we have no capacity to conquer sin because we are under the law of sin. In Romans 8:9-10, Paul says, "But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you... But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness." He continues by insisting, "[F]or if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (8:13-14).
In the flesh we have an inability to truly submit to God, so we are held captive by the law of sin. In Christ, however, we are righteous because of Christ's work and the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set [us] free from the law of sin and death" (8:2). This is good news! In Christ, we have the capacity to "put to death" the flesh every day through our submission to the Spirit. Once again, this is all God's work in Christ through the Spirit, and our response is simply to surrender and empty ourselves before God on a daily basis. We do not have to be held captive to sin in our lives - in fact, we should not be held captive because we are free to live life in the Spirit.
I submit my life, my soul (mind, will, emotions), my body, my all to You today Lord Jesus and ask that by Your Spirit you lead me further into this free life. All glory to You, Almighty Father!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Kindness, Patience, and Leadership
In my previous post, I mentioned God's conviction within me about how kindness, patience, and selflessness characterize love (according to I Cor. 13) and that a life of perfect love is the mark of a follower of Jesus. I described how I am attempting to use the definition of love in I Cor. 13 and the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5 as a measure of movement to maturity toward this life of love that we are called to live (Eph. 5:1-2).
This conviction is strengthened by a closer look at how God leads us to change. Paul asks the following questions in Romans 2 verse 4: "Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (NRS). Paul seems to be indicating that God's primary mode of operation for bringing change in us that leads to repentance is not through judgment or anger but through kindness and patience. Our story consistently bears witness to this as we are reminded that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3).
If with God, leadership takes the form of kindness and patience, what form does our leadership often take? Since Paul defined love as patient and kind (I Cor. 13) and described God's leading us to change through kindness (Rom. 2:4), it is reasonable to equate leadership with love in God's interaction with us. Would you describe your leadership as primarily characterized by loving kindness and patience?
Too often our leadership more resembles control and when we desire others to change it is often characterized by frustration, manipulation, and impatience rather than kindness and patience. This is not God's way of leading through love.
To make this more personal, my own challenge is to lead with kindness and patience in my home. My greatest desire is for love to characterize my interactions with people and for that to be especially true at home. There are times, though, when I find myself frustrated and impatient as I attempt to lead my children. Please forgive me Lord and teach me by Your Spirit to love and lead through kindness and patience. I surrender and empty myself that You may do this in me by Your faithfulness and for Your glory!
This conviction is strengthened by a closer look at how God leads us to change. Paul asks the following questions in Romans 2 verse 4: "Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (NRS). Paul seems to be indicating that God's primary mode of operation for bringing change in us that leads to repentance is not through judgment or anger but through kindness and patience. Our story consistently bears witness to this as we are reminded that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love (Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3).
If with God, leadership takes the form of kindness and patience, what form does our leadership often take? Since Paul defined love as patient and kind (I Cor. 13) and described God's leading us to change through kindness (Rom. 2:4), it is reasonable to equate leadership with love in God's interaction with us. Would you describe your leadership as primarily characterized by loving kindness and patience?
Too often our leadership more resembles control and when we desire others to change it is often characterized by frustration, manipulation, and impatience rather than kindness and patience. This is not God's way of leading through love.
To make this more personal, my own challenge is to lead with kindness and patience in my home. My greatest desire is for love to characterize my interactions with people and for that to be especially true at home. There are times, though, when I find myself frustrated and impatient as I attempt to lead my children. Please forgive me Lord and teach me by Your Spirit to love and lead through kindness and patience. I surrender and empty myself that You may do this in me by Your faithfulness and for Your glory!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Love's Way or My Way?
I have been reflecting on all of life and the decisions we make in relationship with God and others. It seems to me that in every situation there are only two choices. It's either all about me or it is all about love.
Quoting the Old Testament (Shema), Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matt 22:37-40). Paul, Peter, and James follow Jesus' lead and also indicate that love is the sum of everything we are commanded. John insists that one cannot love God without first being loved by God, and he also describes that those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters (I John 4:19-21). Jesus also makes it clear that it is our love for one another that demonstrates to the world that we are His followers (John 13:34-35).
Having discussed the importance of unity amidst diverse gifts in the Body of Christ, the apostle Paul described "a still more excellent way" (I Cor. 12:31). This more excellent way is the way of love. Paul says that even if we have amazing faith and service, if it is done without love, we are nothing and we gain nothing (I Cor. 13:1-3). Paul continues by defining love:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (I Cor. 13:4-8a)
This passage is so familiar to many of us that it is easy to gloss over its power and miss what the Spirit can do through it. Have you ever taken time to compare your interactions with your spouse, your family, your neighbors, the stranger with this simple definition? This is what God has been challenging me to do. Can my interactions be described as "patient" and "kind"? If not, it isn't love. Am I irritable and easily angered? Then love is lacking.
What I notice in analyzing this passage is how love is set in contrast to a self-focused life. Envy, boasting, pride, dishonoring others, and self-seeking are the NOT of love. In fact, the impatience and lack of kindness described earlier even point to a self-focus. All of the sudden, this passage sounds less like a sweet wedding homily or a children's lesson and more like a convicting challenge that provides clarity to embodying Jesus' Great Commandment.
As if this wasn't all challenging enough, Paul goes on to show the SCOPE of love's influence. If love only protected, trusted, hoped, and persevered part of the time and seldom failed, then we might be qualified to live it. However, Paul uses these impossible words of ALWAYS and NEVER. Once again, this all sounds great, but how in the world can we possibly embody it? It is as if Paul is challenging us toward perfection. In fact, that is what he is doing. In the context of challenging us to love our enemies, Jesus commands us to "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). As Christ Jesus' followers, we are supposed to live this perfect love.
This is only possible if the Holy Spirit loves through us (after all, love is the fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22-23). We must first experience God's love in Christ (I John 4:19), and in response to God's love we must surrender/empty ourselves (kenosis) to God. This self-emptying ourselves includes laying down (surrendering) our impatience, anger, envy, boasting, pride, dishonoring others, and self-seeking. An empty cup, then, is fill-able by the Holy Spirit. It is an empty cup that the Holy Spirit fills and empowers to live a life of love (Eph. 5:1-2).
This is the challenge that God is bringing me now for it is love that I want to characterize my life. I also have to remember that I am to love others as I love myself, which points back to being confident in who I am in Christ (see previous Blog on Union preceding Kenosis). This self-emptying (kenosis) is not intended to be self-deprecating but simply removing the self-focus so that love can rule the day.
Holy God, thank You for Your extravagant love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. In response to Your great love and mercy, I deny myself today and ask that Your Holy Spirit will love through me today.
Quoting the Old Testament (Shema), Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matt 22:37-40). Paul, Peter, and James follow Jesus' lead and also indicate that love is the sum of everything we are commanded. John insists that one cannot love God without first being loved by God, and he also describes that those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters (I John 4:19-21). Jesus also makes it clear that it is our love for one another that demonstrates to the world that we are His followers (John 13:34-35).
Having discussed the importance of unity amidst diverse gifts in the Body of Christ, the apostle Paul described "a still more excellent way" (I Cor. 12:31). This more excellent way is the way of love. Paul says that even if we have amazing faith and service, if it is done without love, we are nothing and we gain nothing (I Cor. 13:1-3). Paul continues by defining love:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (I Cor. 13:4-8a)
This passage is so familiar to many of us that it is easy to gloss over its power and miss what the Spirit can do through it. Have you ever taken time to compare your interactions with your spouse, your family, your neighbors, the stranger with this simple definition? This is what God has been challenging me to do. Can my interactions be described as "patient" and "kind"? If not, it isn't love. Am I irritable and easily angered? Then love is lacking.
What I notice in analyzing this passage is how love is set in contrast to a self-focused life. Envy, boasting, pride, dishonoring others, and self-seeking are the NOT of love. In fact, the impatience and lack of kindness described earlier even point to a self-focus. All of the sudden, this passage sounds less like a sweet wedding homily or a children's lesson and more like a convicting challenge that provides clarity to embodying Jesus' Great Commandment.
As if this wasn't all challenging enough, Paul goes on to show the SCOPE of love's influence. If love only protected, trusted, hoped, and persevered part of the time and seldom failed, then we might be qualified to live it. However, Paul uses these impossible words of ALWAYS and NEVER. Once again, this all sounds great, but how in the world can we possibly embody it? It is as if Paul is challenging us toward perfection. In fact, that is what he is doing. In the context of challenging us to love our enemies, Jesus commands us to "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). As Christ Jesus' followers, we are supposed to live this perfect love.
This is only possible if the Holy Spirit loves through us (after all, love is the fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22-23). We must first experience God's love in Christ (I John 4:19), and in response to God's love we must surrender/empty ourselves (kenosis) to God. This self-emptying ourselves includes laying down (surrendering) our impatience, anger, envy, boasting, pride, dishonoring others, and self-seeking. An empty cup, then, is fill-able by the Holy Spirit. It is an empty cup that the Holy Spirit fills and empowers to live a life of love (Eph. 5:1-2).
This is the challenge that God is bringing me now for it is love that I want to characterize my life. I also have to remember that I am to love others as I love myself, which points back to being confident in who I am in Christ (see previous Blog on Union preceding Kenosis). This self-emptying (kenosis) is not intended to be self-deprecating but simply removing the self-focus so that love can rule the day.
Holy God, thank You for Your extravagant love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. In response to Your great love and mercy, I deny myself today and ask that Your Holy Spirit will love through me today.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Union Precedes Kenosis
One of the biggest struggles of living this Christ-centered, Christ-following life is to understand and embody the identity that we have in Christ Jesus. My own journey with this has been challenging and continues to cycle. In my late teens, I distinctly remember being confronted by three dear friends related to my pride and self-focus. My own struggle with pride did not manifest itself in arrogance or ego but instead in insecurity. My insecurity brought about a fear and anxiety about what others thought about me, which in turn resulted in my focus always being on myself. While perhaps a different form of pride than some are used to seeing, this insecurity was (is) indeed pride and can be just as damaging personally and in relationships with others.
I found myself serving in a church as a worship leader in my early twenties and feeling like a fraud most of the time. I deeply desired to be close to Christ and to lead others out of the overflow of that relationship but my pride (along with some other sin in my life) was keeping me from being me all that God had created me to be. In this season, I was invited into an accountability group of men (I was by far the youngest) who were genuinely living their faith and pursuing holy love in covenant relationships together. It was life changing for me. I was so challenged by watching these men, not only at church but in their everyday lives (had the privilege of living with 2 of those men during that year). One night, I knelt beside my bed in desperation feeling like God was a million miles away and that I was missing something fundamental.
In His grace and mercy, God took me to I Corinthians 5 and what happened that night would forever change my life. In this passage, Paul talks about it being Christ's love that compels us and that we are a new creation in Christ (old is gone not just made better). We have been given the same ministry of reconciliation as Christ has and thus serve as Christ's ambassadors to the world. This is all what I longed to experience. Verse 21 brought it all home to me that night. "God made him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
Everything changed that day because it was the first time I got a glimpse of myself the way God sees me: as a Child of God and a Person of Worth (COGPOW). My worth comes not from my service of God but simply because I am a child of God. I discovered I didn't have to earn love but simply had to live in it, enjoy it, and respond to it. As Paul said, "Christ love compels us." This is what Jesus is getting at in John 15 as we hear that our focus needs to be in Abiding in Christ. That is where the life comes from and is also where all the Spirit's fruit comes from. We are to abide in Christ's love just as Christ abides in the Father's love.
Theologians refers to this Abiding in Christ as Union, and Union must necessarily precede Kenosis. Have you ever tried to serve God in your own strength? Have you ever tried to produce the fruit of the Spirit without truly being connected to (Abiding in) Jesus Christ? This is the reality for way to many of us, including those who are supposedly leading others.
Our self-giving, self-emptied (kenosis) life of love for God and others comes only in relationship and response to Abiding in Jesus Himself. This is where we must begin every day. Help me Lord Jesus - be my center, my everything. You must increase, I must decrease!
I found myself serving in a church as a worship leader in my early twenties and feeling like a fraud most of the time. I deeply desired to be close to Christ and to lead others out of the overflow of that relationship but my pride (along with some other sin in my life) was keeping me from being me all that God had created me to be. In this season, I was invited into an accountability group of men (I was by far the youngest) who were genuinely living their faith and pursuing holy love in covenant relationships together. It was life changing for me. I was so challenged by watching these men, not only at church but in their everyday lives (had the privilege of living with 2 of those men during that year). One night, I knelt beside my bed in desperation feeling like God was a million miles away and that I was missing something fundamental.
In His grace and mercy, God took me to I Corinthians 5 and what happened that night would forever change my life. In this passage, Paul talks about it being Christ's love that compels us and that we are a new creation in Christ (old is gone not just made better). We have been given the same ministry of reconciliation as Christ has and thus serve as Christ's ambassadors to the world. This is all what I longed to experience. Verse 21 brought it all home to me that night. "God made him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
Everything changed that day because it was the first time I got a glimpse of myself the way God sees me: as a Child of God and a Person of Worth (COGPOW). My worth comes not from my service of God but simply because I am a child of God. I discovered I didn't have to earn love but simply had to live in it, enjoy it, and respond to it. As Paul said, "Christ love compels us." This is what Jesus is getting at in John 15 as we hear that our focus needs to be in Abiding in Christ. That is where the life comes from and is also where all the Spirit's fruit comes from. We are to abide in Christ's love just as Christ abides in the Father's love.
Theologians refers to this Abiding in Christ as Union, and Union must necessarily precede Kenosis. Have you ever tried to serve God in your own strength? Have you ever tried to produce the fruit of the Spirit without truly being connected to (Abiding in) Jesus Christ? This is the reality for way to many of us, including those who are supposedly leading others.
Our self-giving, self-emptied (kenosis) life of love for God and others comes only in relationship and response to Abiding in Jesus Himself. This is where we must begin every day. Help me Lord Jesus - be my center, my everything. You must increase, I must decrease!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Spiritual vs. Soulish Christian
I had the privilege this week of helping host a group of spiritual leadership coaches. It was a joy to learn together and go deeper in our devotion to Jesus. We invited my friend Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries to lead portions of our retreat, and he introduced us to this question as to whether we are more "spiritual" or "soulish" Christians. This was his primary text:
"May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this" (I Thess. 5:23-24, NRSV).
God is a God of peace (Shalom), which includes not only lack of anxiety but more particularly holiness and wholeness in relationship with God, others around us, and all of creation (including both salvation and justice). It is God alone who can sanctify us entirely and He is faithful and will do it. What is our part in this process of sanctification leading to complete holiness and wholeness in Christ by the Holy Spirit? We have to surrender (kenosis - empty) our souls before God.
Tommy pointed out that the human spirit (Gk: pneuma) is that deepest part of us that communes with God and helps us discern God's way when led by the Holy Spirit. The human soul (Gk: psyche) includes our mind, will, and emotions. The Christ follower is in right alignment when the body is submitted to the soul, the soul is submitted to the spirit, and the spirit is submitted to the Holy Spirit. Often, though, our human soul asserts itself and we become "soulish" Christians rather than "spiritual" Christians.
How often are we the ones attempting to be in control of our own lives rather than letting Jesus be Lord? This is always an assertion of our souls - either our mind, will, or emotions taking control. I began to reflect on ways that this has been true for me lately. For example, some of the struggle I have shared with allowing frustration or impatience to get the best of me at home is an example of when my emotions have arisen to take control in my life. I need the Holy Spirit's help in those moments to help me humble myself and submit/surrender/empty my soul. Similarly, in the moments my mind is tempted with lust, my soul is rising up. Also, I recognize that when I am asserting my own will, I am limiting the Spirit's ability to bring that sanctification in me that Paul is describing. Whether it be in my mind, my will, or my emotions, when I am attempting to assert control in my own life rather than allowing Jesus be Lord, it is my pride at work.
The key is that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). James goes on to say, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:7-8). Interestingly, the word in the Greek that we translate "double-minded" in English is actually "two-souled." It is truly as if a portion of our soul is following God while another part of our soul is following our own way. When this occurs, we must humble our souls, so that our human spirits can fully commune with the Holy Spirit that we may be sanctified.
It is important to point out that our mind, will, and emotions (our soul) are not evil but a God-given gift. The problem is when they are out of alignment (not submitted to the Spirit). When properly aligned, God has given us our minds, our will, and and our emotions to enjoy this world and to express love. After all, this notion of entire sanctification is synonymous with what it means to love God with our all and love our neighbor as ourselves (Great Commandment - Mt 22:37-40). Similarly, this is akin to what Christian maturity, discipleship, healing, spiritual leadership, a life of worship, and a life of prayer are all about.
I have recognized over the past several days some areas of my life where I am not experiencing the fullness of God in my life. It is clear to me that this is a direct result of my own pride and my soul asserting itself (mind, will, emotions) in those areas. For me to experience healing, wholeness, and holiness, I must empty myself (kenosis) and submit my soul to God. It is the Spirit's fruit that I want in these areas rather than the fruit of my own soul. These manifest as the Mind of Christ rather than merely my mind (I Cor 2:16), self-control given by the Spirit (Gal 5:22) and God's will rather than my own, and love, joy, peace, patience... rather than my unsanctified emotions (Gal 5:22-23).
Holy Spirit, I submit my soul to You today and as best I can I empty myself of all that is blocking Your grace. Fill and sanctify me Holy Spirit. Come and change me that I may grow to love You and others completely.
"May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this" (I Thess. 5:23-24, NRSV).
God is a God of peace (Shalom), which includes not only lack of anxiety but more particularly holiness and wholeness in relationship with God, others around us, and all of creation (including both salvation and justice). It is God alone who can sanctify us entirely and He is faithful and will do it. What is our part in this process of sanctification leading to complete holiness and wholeness in Christ by the Holy Spirit? We have to surrender (kenosis - empty) our souls before God.
Tommy pointed out that the human spirit (Gk: pneuma) is that deepest part of us that communes with God and helps us discern God's way when led by the Holy Spirit. The human soul (Gk: psyche) includes our mind, will, and emotions. The Christ follower is in right alignment when the body is submitted to the soul, the soul is submitted to the spirit, and the spirit is submitted to the Holy Spirit. Often, though, our human soul asserts itself and we become "soulish" Christians rather than "spiritual" Christians.
How often are we the ones attempting to be in control of our own lives rather than letting Jesus be Lord? This is always an assertion of our souls - either our mind, will, or emotions taking control. I began to reflect on ways that this has been true for me lately. For example, some of the struggle I have shared with allowing frustration or impatience to get the best of me at home is an example of when my emotions have arisen to take control in my life. I need the Holy Spirit's help in those moments to help me humble myself and submit/surrender/empty my soul. Similarly, in the moments my mind is tempted with lust, my soul is rising up. Also, I recognize that when I am asserting my own will, I am limiting the Spirit's ability to bring that sanctification in me that Paul is describing. Whether it be in my mind, my will, or my emotions, when I am attempting to assert control in my own life rather than allowing Jesus be Lord, it is my pride at work.
The key is that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). James goes on to say, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:7-8). Interestingly, the word in the Greek that we translate "double-minded" in English is actually "two-souled." It is truly as if a portion of our soul is following God while another part of our soul is following our own way. When this occurs, we must humble our souls, so that our human spirits can fully commune with the Holy Spirit that we may be sanctified.
It is important to point out that our mind, will, and emotions (our soul) are not evil but a God-given gift. The problem is when they are out of alignment (not submitted to the Spirit). When properly aligned, God has given us our minds, our will, and and our emotions to enjoy this world and to express love. After all, this notion of entire sanctification is synonymous with what it means to love God with our all and love our neighbor as ourselves (Great Commandment - Mt 22:37-40). Similarly, this is akin to what Christian maturity, discipleship, healing, spiritual leadership, a life of worship, and a life of prayer are all about.
I have recognized over the past several days some areas of my life where I am not experiencing the fullness of God in my life. It is clear to me that this is a direct result of my own pride and my soul asserting itself (mind, will, emotions) in those areas. For me to experience healing, wholeness, and holiness, I must empty myself (kenosis) and submit my soul to God. It is the Spirit's fruit that I want in these areas rather than the fruit of my own soul. These manifest as the Mind of Christ rather than merely my mind (I Cor 2:16), self-control given by the Spirit (Gal 5:22) and God's will rather than my own, and love, joy, peace, patience... rather than my unsanctified emotions (Gal 5:22-23).
Holy Spirit, I submit my soul to You today and as best I can I empty myself of all that is blocking Your grace. Fill and sanctify me Holy Spirit. Come and change me that I may grow to love You and others completely.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Catalyst & Risk-Taker - Kenotic Leadership
Barnabas (son of encouragement) seems to have been both a catalyst of transformation and a risk-taker for Jesus. He is first mentioned at the end of Acts 4 as the example Luke uses when describing how the early Church shared everything in common. Barnabas sold a field he owned and offered it to God. This gift (among others) was apparently what was used to care for the poor among the Church so that no one had need. In this, Barnabas demonstrated Christ-following kenosis (self-emptying) that dramatically impacted the lives of others around him.
We next connect with Barnabas in Acts 9 as the one follower of Jesus who was willing to take a risk on Saul (Paul). Having experienced his radical conversion, Paul had tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem after escaping from Damascus where Jews were conspiring to kill him. The disciples didn't trust Paul and were afraid to associate with him because of his pre-conversion persecution of the Church. Barnabas took the chance and reached out to Paul. He introduced Paul to the apostles and stood up for him and his witness. Because of Barnabas' trust in Paul, he was accepted by the others.
As the Gospel began to spread among the Greeks, it was Barnabas that the apostles sent to check out what was going on in Antioch (Acts 11). He confirmed that God was in their work and joined them in their witness. Luke described Barnabas this way regarding this: "He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master" (Acts 11:24, MSG). Then, Barnabas went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch. When famine hit Jerusalem, it was the Antioch believers who sent financial aid back to the Jerusalem believers, and it was Barnabas and Paul chosen to take the gift.
After returning from Jerusalem back to Antioch, the Holy Spirit told the Antioch believers to set apart Barnabas and Paul as missionaries. They sent them out and God used them in powerful ways throughout the world.
It is Paul who wrote much of the New Testament, but Barnabas seems to have been the risk-taker in the early Church. He served as a catalyst in the early Church through his self-emptying generosity and his willingness to stand beside Paul. What would be different in the book of Acts if it were not for Barnabas' kenotic leadership? I desire to demonstrate this same type of leadership in my home and in connection with other Jesus followers. Help me Holy Spirit!
We next connect with Barnabas in Acts 9 as the one follower of Jesus who was willing to take a risk on Saul (Paul). Having experienced his radical conversion, Paul had tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem after escaping from Damascus where Jews were conspiring to kill him. The disciples didn't trust Paul and were afraid to associate with him because of his pre-conversion persecution of the Church. Barnabas took the chance and reached out to Paul. He introduced Paul to the apostles and stood up for him and his witness. Because of Barnabas' trust in Paul, he was accepted by the others.
As the Gospel began to spread among the Greeks, it was Barnabas that the apostles sent to check out what was going on in Antioch (Acts 11). He confirmed that God was in their work and joined them in their witness. Luke described Barnabas this way regarding this: "He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master" (Acts 11:24, MSG). Then, Barnabas went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch. When famine hit Jerusalem, it was the Antioch believers who sent financial aid back to the Jerusalem believers, and it was Barnabas and Paul chosen to take the gift.
After returning from Jerusalem back to Antioch, the Holy Spirit told the Antioch believers to set apart Barnabas and Paul as missionaries. They sent them out and God used them in powerful ways throughout the world.
It is Paul who wrote much of the New Testament, but Barnabas seems to have been the risk-taker in the early Church. He served as a catalyst in the early Church through his self-emptying generosity and his willingness to stand beside Paul. What would be different in the book of Acts if it were not for Barnabas' kenotic leadership? I desire to demonstrate this same type of leadership in my home and in connection with other Jesus followers. Help me Holy Spirit!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
What If?
What if some of the lesser known characters in the book of Acts had walked away from what God was prompting them to do? What would the result have been? Would God have found a Plan B? Two particular heroes come to mind through this morning's study.
Philip was selected as a spiritual leader in the new Jesus community as the apostles were searching for servants (Acts 6). He turned out to have quite a global impact because of his willingness to follow Jesus. In Acts 8, we read that Philip took the gospel to Samaria (partial fulfillment of Acts 1:8), and the crowds responded to what the heard and saw (miracles). Clearly, Philip was walking in step with the Spirit, and people's lives were being changed through his witness.
Later in the same chapter, God tells Philip to go to a certain road (location), and it was on this road that he meets the Ethiopian eunuch. This Ethiopian was an important official in the Queen's court and a follower of God. Philip ran alongside the chariot and began asking questions. After being invited in, Philip explains to his new friend how Isaiah was speaking of Jesus. The result was a new follower of Jesus and baptism. Beyond this we don't hear of the Ethiopian again, but we can assume he took his new faith in Jesus with him to his home country (more fulfillment of Acts 1:8).
What if Philip had ignored God's voice? What if he had decided that the Ethiopian was too different from him and walked away? What we know is that Philip responded to God's voice in surrendered, obedient love.
Then there was Ananias in Acts 9. This chapter is famous because it describes Saul/Paul's radical conversion to Jesus. What often gets overlooked is that God used Ananias to lead Paul to become a follower of Jesus and to commission him for Jesus' mission. Ananias argued with God about this assignment, which was, after all, quite reasonable because of Saul's reputation for persecuting followers of Jesus. However, Ananias didn't let his fear get the best of him. In response to what Christ had done in him, Ananias surrendered himself in obedient love and became God's agent to bring transformation in the life of another.
It is beautiful to think about the fact that Paul wrote most of the New Testament as the apostle to the non-Jews. What if Ananias had told God "no"? What if he had let his fear get the best of him? Paul had already encountered Jesus, but he was blind and likely confused. God used Ananias to lead one of the most transformational leaders of all time to Jesus.
This thought causes me to reflect on how important the meetings we have are everyday and how life-changing our own responses to God can be in the lives of others. What about our children? What if God is planning to use one of my boys (or both) in history-making mission for the sake of Jesus' Kingdom? How should that affect my daily interactions with them? Help me Lord Jesus! Have Your way in me Holy Spirit! Teach me to hear Your voice more clearly Father! I am Yours.
Philip was selected as a spiritual leader in the new Jesus community as the apostles were searching for servants (Acts 6). He turned out to have quite a global impact because of his willingness to follow Jesus. In Acts 8, we read that Philip took the gospel to Samaria (partial fulfillment of Acts 1:8), and the crowds responded to what the heard and saw (miracles). Clearly, Philip was walking in step with the Spirit, and people's lives were being changed through his witness.
Later in the same chapter, God tells Philip to go to a certain road (location), and it was on this road that he meets the Ethiopian eunuch. This Ethiopian was an important official in the Queen's court and a follower of God. Philip ran alongside the chariot and began asking questions. After being invited in, Philip explains to his new friend how Isaiah was speaking of Jesus. The result was a new follower of Jesus and baptism. Beyond this we don't hear of the Ethiopian again, but we can assume he took his new faith in Jesus with him to his home country (more fulfillment of Acts 1:8).
What if Philip had ignored God's voice? What if he had decided that the Ethiopian was too different from him and walked away? What we know is that Philip responded to God's voice in surrendered, obedient love.
Then there was Ananias in Acts 9. This chapter is famous because it describes Saul/Paul's radical conversion to Jesus. What often gets overlooked is that God used Ananias to lead Paul to become a follower of Jesus and to commission him for Jesus' mission. Ananias argued with God about this assignment, which was, after all, quite reasonable because of Saul's reputation for persecuting followers of Jesus. However, Ananias didn't let his fear get the best of him. In response to what Christ had done in him, Ananias surrendered himself in obedient love and became God's agent to bring transformation in the life of another.
It is beautiful to think about the fact that Paul wrote most of the New Testament as the apostle to the non-Jews. What if Ananias had told God "no"? What if he had let his fear get the best of him? Paul had already encountered Jesus, but he was blind and likely confused. God used Ananias to lead one of the most transformational leaders of all time to Jesus.
This thought causes me to reflect on how important the meetings we have are everyday and how life-changing our own responses to God can be in the lives of others. What about our children? What if God is planning to use one of my boys (or both) in history-making mission for the sake of Jesus' Kingdom? How should that affect my daily interactions with them? Help me Lord Jesus! Have Your way in me Holy Spirit! Teach me to hear Your voice more clearly Father! I am Yours.
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