An Uncommon Communion

    It is ironic how the one thing that matters the most in our life is the one thing that our time is devoted to the least.  We are graced with the privilege of communing with a living God.  "We are His and He is ours..." (Heb. 8: 10).  Notice the sense of ownership in these words.  He is ours!  We are His!  Never again should our identity flee our understanding of who we truly are.  " For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!..."  (Rom. 8: 15).  The effects of the Gospel in our lives should undoubtedly be a closer and intimate communion with the Father. 

    Does this make sense?  Jesus did NOT come so that we might just utter a prayer and live our lives still separated from the Father.  The whole purpose for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was that our deserved wrath could be transferred into Jesus' account, while we then can finally enter into the presence of God boldly and confidently.  Jesus died so that we can KNOW the Father.  This truth can only mean that our heartless prayers are not acceptable in the sight of God.  Our one-two, Sunday-school responses are not intimate enough.  Jesus died for our hearts to be set free.  Our response should be that of the Psalmist in Psalm 73: 25, "Whom have I in heaven but you, and Earth has nothing I desire besides You..."  We are literally told that everything on Earth will pass away.  Though we know this, we live our lives glued to the things of this world. 

    I am convinced that the one thing nobody can take away from us is our hope in Christ, and the precious love of God.  Paul says, " I count all things as garbage compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..." (Phil. 3: 8).  He proclaims, " I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor heights, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Rom. 8: 38-39).  It's quite encouraging to know that even in his chains Paul preached the love of God joyfully. 

    This isn't the newest and latest christian pop trend.  Jesus did this.  He modeled and demonstrated for us HOW to seek the Father.  I like the way Fil Anderson puts it...

          "For the first time I realized how single-minded and centered He was.  It was obvious that Jesus lived an extremely busy life.  All I had to do was pay attention to His preaching, teaching, healing and interacting with opponents and friends to see how hard it was for Him to remain focused on the 'one necessary thing.'  However, and this is crucial, His busyness never threatened the one thing that mattered most.  Although busy, Jesus wasn't trying to reach some selfish goal He had set or allowed others to impose.  To the contrary, He was concerned with only one thing:  DOING THE WILL OF GOD!  We see this from His first recorded words from the temple, ("Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" [Luke 2: 49]) to His last words on the cross ("Father, into your hands I commit My spirit" [Luke 23: 46])."
                                                                                      Running on Empty
                                                                                      By: Fil Anderson

    How are your quiet times?  Do you see them as a cultural norm that you are simply doing to get by?  Or can you cry out "Abba!  Father!" and pursue a real authentic communion with the living God that declares you His and allows you to declare Him yours!  Is your joy and countenance radically effected by this relationship?  Is there fruit or evidence of this relationship?  God is waiting, knocking at the very core of your being asking to be let in (Rev. 3: 20).  What is your response?     
 

True Leadership

      We all want leadership.  We all desire to be at the top, recognized, and in the know.  It is a constant inward battle for an outward expression that will be recognized by many.  Jesus Christ came and modeled something far different.  He fled from the scenes of the masses when they were going to crown Him King.  He rebuked the enemy at the pinnacle of temptation.  Jesus spoke about being last.  He challenged people to die to themselves, to walk with someone for two miles instead of one.
      The God of the Universe came to us with a towel.  He asked for His disciple's feet, washing them, loving them.  His call?  Well it is to "Follow Him..."  Who will go?  Who will be last?  We all desire greatness and fame, but Christ is worth far more.  Lead!  But Serve!  

My 1st. Blog

There is something inside me that screams, “Ray, this needs to be the best blog ever!”  I find that this fallacy of thought is quite common amongst people.  There is something inside everyone that seeks perfection.  Along with that goal comes a subtle compulsion of energy and a miraculous ability to achieve.    

On our first day of classes every semester, I see faces illuminated with ambition, as their thoughts are unquestionably the same: “ This is going to be a Good semester,” they utterly repeat to themselves.  After every two weeks of the New Year, lies someone defeated, as they could not accomplish their perfect year through the discipline of meeting a resolution.  Perhaps the beginnings of a new job, one’s work ethic is highly motivated and inspired, but when month three approaches, there becomes a sense of weariness. 

There is a momentum that often takes place in our lives.  This is the time in which we are encouraged and ready to tackle the world.  There is no stopping us!  Like anything else however, what comes up must come down.  We were not meant to bounce around on a series of cloud nine’s.  I would be remised if I assumed that a mountain top experience every ten minutes is what I deserve. 

If you surf through the history of the Israelites, you will discover an incredible amount of high’s and low’s.  The God of the universe intervened on behalf of His people and lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  Can you imagine the cheers and worship that God received from His people as they were walking across the read sea on dry land?  Only to become louder as the sea swallowed their enemies before their very eyes.  Despite this memorable occasion of God’s power, the momentum of the Israelites soon died.  Catch this, because when our gaze is away from Jesus, our sustainer, all that is seen is our present circumstances.  Those circumstances that were once perceived as “nothing” somehow transform into giant waves (Mat. 14:22-36) or in the Israelite’s case, miles upon miles of sand and little food.  We shift so easily, one moment we stand victoriously along side God and His power, the other we’re crushed and immobilized taking on everything ourselves.  The situation never changes, but our perspective is what tends to shift. 

            Throughout scripture we hear a consistent cry.  This plead is from our founding leaders such as Paul and Peter, who beg us to persevere!  It’s not going to be easy they say, our momentum is going to fade, our hope is going to be tested.  The author of Hebrews states:  

 “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

 

 ‘FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
         HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.

    BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
         AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.’

 

 ‘But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

                                                                                                Hebrews 10: 35-39

            Paul proclaims:

“ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the Glory of God.  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

                                                                                                Romans 5: 1-5

            There is peace between God and us.  The conflict is appeased.  Therefore, let us not get rid of our hope.  Let our hope carry us to the end.  As we persevere, as we finish, let us do so through a perspective that is locked on Jesus Christ, experiencing the Father’s powerful love, which concludes in a more effective hope.  A hope that will compel and drive us forward to face anything.  “Our past has been redeemed, our future is secure, therefore our present makes sense.” 

My goal is to not write the best blog ever.  That leaves me taking on more weight then I need too.  That would leave me in utter failure, as this would not be the best blog ever.  However, I am called to finish and finish well, seeing as how my grade depends on it. We are called to keep our gaze on Jesus, persevere to the end trying the best we can.