James 4:7
I have been thinking about it a lot lately. This word submission. I'm about to do it. Until death do us part. That's a really. long. time.
This word gets a bad rap. We think of it as a dog who is lead around by a master, who cowers at every jerk of the chain. But that's not the real picture here. What we really need to picture is a sweet (even a little spoiled) puppy that is adored by it's master. That's submission.
It means to be modestly covered by someone. It has the feel of a chilly spring day and a cozy quilt. It's a relationship word, meaning that the person who is submitted to wants the best for those who submit to him. He's there to love and protect, to have and to hold from this day forward.
When we see this idea of submitting to God, we need to walk into the day without a bitter resentment - but an open heart of anticipation. Cover me God. I'm all Yours.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
More
James 4:6
Think of the biggest bubble you've ever blown - the one that popped and got stuck in your hair. No - think of one of those balloons with a rubber band on it that you bounced against your hand for days. Ummm... that won't do either. Think of one of those balloons from Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Nope. Still not big enough. A hot air balloon. The Hindenburg Blimp. What about all of the air in our atmosphere.
Bigger. Louder. Fuller. Stronger. Mightier. More - more - more! Not just a spoon-full more - but a mountain more. And not stopping there. But more. And more. And more again.
God gives us more grace.
More grace than we deserve - which is why it's called grace. And he gives it again and again, snowballing- growing our love for Him, growing our understanding of who He is. And in the process we are maturing.
Think of the biggest bubble you've ever blown - the one that popped and got stuck in your hair. No - think of one of those balloons with a rubber band on it that you bounced against your hand for days. Ummm... that won't do either. Think of one of those balloons from Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Nope. Still not big enough. A hot air balloon. The Hindenburg Blimp. What about all of the air in our atmosphere.
Bigger. Louder. Fuller. Stronger. Mightier. More - more - more! Not just a spoon-full more - but a mountain more. And not stopping there. But more. And more. And more again.
God gives us more grace.
More grace than we deserve - which is why it's called grace. And he gives it again and again, snowballing- growing our love for Him, growing our understanding of who He is. And in the process we are maturing.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A Jealous Longing that Changes Me
James 4:5
Even really really smart people get a little boggle minded on how this verse is to be translated - so I won't dare touch that. Grammar and vocabulary and gender based words make it all confusing. But no matter how you translate it into English there is something so relational about this verse. There's a deep longing, a passionate yearning. Have you ever held on to something so tight - a suitcase handle, a railing, a rope, a person - that when you finally let go there's physical evidence? The handle is worn, there is a red line across your hand, blisters, or the marks of finger nails in your skin? That's the longing that's talked about in this verse - a deep, deep desire that influences and changes the structure of something. That's the longing God has for us. When I am resiting His discipline, His cultivation, His refining fire, I am resisting His love.
Even really really smart people get a little boggle minded on how this verse is to be translated - so I won't dare touch that. Grammar and vocabulary and gender based words make it all confusing. But no matter how you translate it into English there is something so relational about this verse. There's a deep longing, a passionate yearning. Have you ever held on to something so tight - a suitcase handle, a railing, a rope, a person - that when you finally let go there's physical evidence? The handle is worn, there is a red line across your hand, blisters, or the marks of finger nails in your skin? That's the longing that's talked about in this verse - a deep, deep desire that influences and changes the structure of something. That's the longing God has for us. When I am resiting His discipline, His cultivation, His refining fire, I am resisting His love.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tell Me Whose Side Are You Leaning On
James 4:4
A little Greek:
friendship - Think "Philadephia" - brotherly love and all that.
the world - Think cosmos.
Diving deeper into those Greek works we find that philos means that you are really fond of something. You like it. You hold it close to you because it is dear to you. But it doesn't stop at a feeling - it's acting upon that feeling - living it out. Moving toward it.
And kosmos - well, we think of the Big cosmos... but look at the cosmos of your kitchen - or the ambiance of it - how things are placed and arranged to give a certain feeling. You have the sleek kitchen that gives the feeling of cleanliness and order. You have the country kitchen that gives the feeling of homeyness and warmth. At it's core, "kosmos" is the decorations.
Being a friend of the world means liking the way the world is decorated and chasing after those decorations.
Eyeyeyeeee... Here we get to a sore subject for me. I love decorations. I love pretty things. One of my favorite things to do is to decorate - to make something pretty. A room. A table. Anything. But, in the end - the decorations just go so far. A burnt dinner on a beautiful table is still a burnt dinner. A lovely living room is useless for a family that never sits in it together. At the core, trash is still trash even with a pretty bow on it.
So, we get enamored with the world's bows. They hypnotize us and pull us in. And God calls this adultery. He calls it idol worship.
Sometimes it's things like money, yes... but sometimes it's security. Or love. Or just not being lonely. Or a thriving ministry. Sometimes the world's bows are printed with little crosses so that we think they are "Christian". And in leaning in towards those things - instead of leaning into our Perfect God - we become his enemies. You can't lean in two directions at once. Whose side are you leaning on?
A little Greek:
friendship - Think "Philadephia" - brotherly love and all that.
the world - Think cosmos.
Diving deeper into those Greek works we find that philos means that you are really fond of something. You like it. You hold it close to you because it is dear to you. But it doesn't stop at a feeling - it's acting upon that feeling - living it out. Moving toward it.
And kosmos - well, we think of the Big cosmos... but look at the cosmos of your kitchen - or the ambiance of it - how things are placed and arranged to give a certain feeling. You have the sleek kitchen that gives the feeling of cleanliness and order. You have the country kitchen that gives the feeling of homeyness and warmth. At it's core, "kosmos" is the decorations.
Being a friend of the world means liking the way the world is decorated and chasing after those decorations.
Eyeyeyeeee... Here we get to a sore subject for me. I love decorations. I love pretty things. One of my favorite things to do is to decorate - to make something pretty. A room. A table. Anything. But, in the end - the decorations just go so far. A burnt dinner on a beautiful table is still a burnt dinner. A lovely living room is useless for a family that never sits in it together. At the core, trash is still trash even with a pretty bow on it.
So, we get enamored with the world's bows. They hypnotize us and pull us in. And God calls this adultery. He calls it idol worship.
Sometimes it's things like money, yes... but sometimes it's security. Or love. Or just not being lonely. Or a thriving ministry. Sometimes the world's bows are printed with little crosses so that we think they are "Christian". And in leaning in towards those things - instead of leaning into our Perfect God - we become his enemies. You can't lean in two directions at once. Whose side are you leaning on?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Beauty from Ashes
James 4:2-3
So sometimes God says No. We thought we were going to do good with it. We thought we were being unselfish. We thought God had given us the desire. But sometimes our desire takes over our desire for God Himself. Somehow this really really good thing has become a sub-conscience idol. And so our cry of repentance, our prayer of reconciliation becomes that of Joel.
Joel 2
So sometimes God says No. We thought we were going to do good with it. We thought we were being unselfish. We thought God had given us the desire. But sometimes our desire takes over our desire for God Himself. Somehow this really really good thing has become a sub-conscience idol. And so our cry of repentance, our prayer of reconciliation becomes that of Joel.
Joel 2
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him...
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him...
And maybe that "blessing" won't be whatever we really wanted. Maybe it will be better. Maybe it will surprise us. And maybe - just maybe it will be God Himself.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Bad Mood Checklist
James 4:1-2
Let's look at three words from these two verses in the NIV: desire, desire, covet.
1. The first desire is hēdonē (hay-don-ay').
It means a sensual delight, a lust or pleasure. OK - In your head you hear that and you think of sex. But, what gives you sensual delight? My list includes a soft, soft cake with lots of frosting, a warm bath with a good book, a good time with girl-friends sharing our hearts in laughter and tears, walking on a path where the trees on either side meet together above my head. Sounds nice? Sounds really nice. It comes from the word that means "to please". And in those things, yes - I am pleased. Yet, the fights and quarrels come because these sweet things aren't so sweet when they become gods... when I want my own hēdonēs even if it means you don't get yours. Or when I eat a whole soft, soft cake with lots of frosting in one day. And when I take a hot bath instead of working. And when I'm jealous of someone because she has a closer relationship to another friend. Or when I feel like I can only worship God when I'm under the leaves.
2. Now we get to the second desire, epithumeō (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o).
This is when you set your heart upon something, longing for something with all your heart. It also can mean when you would do something gladly as in "My pleasure!" I am longing for my wedding day (5 months and 2 days away). No problem. Me walking around miserably for the next 5 months and 2 days - that's making it an idol. Or thinking that my value as a person is going to be finally made official on that day... That's when people start killing. Things like having a successful business or a large house or an over-flowing Bible study or having a group of friends who love us... those aren't bad things in themselves. If my heart is worshiping them, then we have a problem.
3. And now we get to the word covet, zēloō (dzay-lo'-o).
You know when something "moves" you? Stirs you up - makes you light up a little? Gives you a warm feeling? Well - that's literally this word: having a warm feeling. And it goes both ways - the good way or the bad way. But it doesn't just stop at the feeling - it's a motivating factor. So, when you see something you like but then your heart wants to reach for it (even if your hands don't) - thats your zēloōing... wanting something to make you happy. My soft, fluffy bed. The recognition from someone that I'm doing a good job. Proving myself a the one who was Right in an argument. Hearing false-teaching that justifies my sins. Come on, ring my bells!
I might be disappointed when the Sunday School lesson didn't go as planned. I might be disappointed that I didn't get the house cleaned because my child was sick. I might be disappointed that I didn't get applauded for all the work I did on the banquet. So... here's our test: So often my "bad mood" is not just a bad mood... but sin. It's when I take a hēdonē and grow it into a epithumeō and then zēloō. When my bad mood strikes - I have three questions to ask myself.
It's hard. It's really hard. But, here's the good news: our hope doesn't have to be in things like a good Sunday School lesson... or having the dishes done... or in man's praises. We have a higher hope.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God... (Palm 43:5)
Let's look at three words from these two verses in the NIV: desire, desire, covet.
1. The first desire is hēdonē (hay-don-ay').
It means a sensual delight, a lust or pleasure. OK - In your head you hear that and you think of sex. But, what gives you sensual delight? My list includes a soft, soft cake with lots of frosting, a warm bath with a good book, a good time with girl-friends sharing our hearts in laughter and tears, walking on a path where the trees on either side meet together above my head. Sounds nice? Sounds really nice. It comes from the word that means "to please". And in those things, yes - I am pleased. Yet, the fights and quarrels come because these sweet things aren't so sweet when they become gods... when I want my own hēdonēs even if it means you don't get yours. Or when I eat a whole soft, soft cake with lots of frosting in one day. And when I take a hot bath instead of working. And when I'm jealous of someone because she has a closer relationship to another friend. Or when I feel like I can only worship God when I'm under the leaves.
2. Now we get to the second desire, epithumeō (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o).
This is when you set your heart upon something, longing for something with all your heart. It also can mean when you would do something gladly as in "My pleasure!" I am longing for my wedding day (5 months and 2 days away). No problem. Me walking around miserably for the next 5 months and 2 days - that's making it an idol. Or thinking that my value as a person is going to be finally made official on that day... That's when people start killing. Things like having a successful business or a large house or an over-flowing Bible study or having a group of friends who love us... those aren't bad things in themselves. If my heart is worshiping them, then we have a problem.
3. And now we get to the word covet, zēloō (dzay-lo'-o).
You know when something "moves" you? Stirs you up - makes you light up a little? Gives you a warm feeling? Well - that's literally this word: having a warm feeling. And it goes both ways - the good way or the bad way. But it doesn't just stop at the feeling - it's a motivating factor. So, when you see something you like but then your heart wants to reach for it (even if your hands don't) - thats your zēloōing... wanting something to make you happy. My soft, fluffy bed. The recognition from someone that I'm doing a good job. Proving myself a the one who was Right in an argument. Hearing false-teaching that justifies my sins. Come on, ring my bells!
I might be disappointed when the Sunday School lesson didn't go as planned. I might be disappointed that I didn't get the house cleaned because my child was sick. I might be disappointed that I didn't get applauded for all the work I did on the banquet. So... here's our test: So often my "bad mood" is not just a bad mood... but sin. It's when I take a hēdonē and grow it into a epithumeō and then zēloō. When my bad mood strikes - I have three questions to ask myself.
*Is there something really good that I didn't get?
*Was my heart finding value in that?
*Did I think it would make me happy?
It's hard. It's really hard. But, here's the good news: our hope doesn't have to be in things like a good Sunday School lesson... or having the dishes done... or in man's praises. We have a higher hope.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God... (Palm 43:5)
Friday, November 5, 2010
My One Thing
James 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LGfAd8mfHE&feature=related
"Everybody I know says they need just one thing
And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more
And everybody seems to think they've got it coming
Well I know that I don't deserve You
Still I want to love and serve You more and more
You're my one thing
Save me from those things that might distract me
Please take them away and purify my heart
I don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing
'Cause what will I have when the world is gone
If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with
My one thing
You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
You're my one thing
You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth
I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find
Every night and every day
You hold on tight
Or you drift away
And you're left to live
With the choices you make
Oh Lord please give me the strength
To watch and work and love and sing and pray
'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth
Well I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find
You're my one thing"
-Rich Mullins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LGfAd8mfHE&feature=related
"Everybody I know says they need just one thing
And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more
And everybody seems to think they've got it coming
Well I know that I don't deserve You
Still I want to love and serve You more and more
You're my one thing
Save me from those things that might distract me
Please take them away and purify my heart
I don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing
'Cause what will I have when the world is gone
If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with
My one thing
You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
You're my one thing
You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth
I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find
Every night and every day
You hold on tight
Or you drift away
And you're left to live
With the choices you make
Oh Lord please give me the strength
To watch and work and love and sing and pray
'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth
Well I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find
You're my one thing"
-Rich Mullins
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)