Separation...

"....If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father..." (John 14:28)


In children we have labeled it 'separation anxiety'.  Children most often cry when their parents leave them.


Had I walked and talked with Jesus, I have no doubt I would have had separation anxiety too.  The disciples did not find it easy to hear when Jesus was preparing them for what was about to happen. But they needed to hear it, and He needed to say it.

The purpose of His life was not to just live it out.  His purpose was far greater.  In fact, the end of His life was the very reason He was born.

We are never anxious to be separated from those we love and rely on, yet the time comes when we are all separated from each other.  Death comes if nothing else...
Today, people I love are faced with coming separation.  I pray that God will remind each one who struggles with the anxiousness of the moment.....
"....you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." (John 15:19)
We may be apart from each other for some period of time... a very short time in the eternal scope of things....but we can be confident that we are never really separated.  Not when it is the very love of God that binds us together with Him. 
Hallelujah.   


  
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.: (Psalm 116:15)

Self....

Does self come first?  Last? Somewhere in the middle? Who decides?


Self will.
Self love.
Self contempt.
Self righteous.
Self defense.
Self abuse.
Self-admiration.
Self-confidence.
Self-conscience.
Self-sufficient.
Self-preservation.
Self-esteem.
Self-defense.
Selfish.


Me. Me. Me.

Seems quite natural to put self first. Logical really....

But like everything Jesus said and did, He turned all of it around and put self last. And He didn't just issue the order....He didn't just command it, He did it. What might be logical in a human mind matters very little when God is involved.  He acts outside of human wisdom.

He pulled off His deity and put on human flesh. He was First. And He put Himself last. 

 Last.....  After my needs, and yours.

.

Jesus has an uncanny way of cutting right to the heart of a matter.  The Jews had six hundred thirteen laws recorded in the Old Testament.  Jesus summed it all up..... 
" Jesus answered...'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;  
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'  "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)God is first.
Neighbor is next.


Following Jesus does not mean being a doormat. It doesn't mean that we become unimportant or of little value. In fact, it means we are of great value !

Following Jesus means HE is first. No need looking any further until we get a grasp of that truth.

Tutor....

Webster says "One who has the care of instructing another in various branches or in any branch of human learning."

 

When I was a student, I never had one.  I took a few piano and voice lessons, maybe that counts....

 

I paid a tutor once, an algebra tutor....(shudder....)   I certainly couldn't help our son with his algebra, so we paid someone to step in.

 

I've done some tutoring I guess....certainly not algebra!, but  I've taught the law of color to hairdressers, and the  principles of shape. 

 

 

  

 

As I read thru scripture and see Jesus' most intimate followers still not 'getting it', my first response is always one of impatience.  Why did they not get it?   How could they still misunderstand? How plain did it have to be?
 

"Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later. Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You."(John 13:36-37) 

 

"Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" (John 14:5)

 

"Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." (John 14:8)

 

"Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?" (John 14:11) 
 

It is easy to read the account recorded in scripture and be impatient with these people.  After all Jesus had taught, after all he had done....they still didn't get it.  It just didn't make sense, didn't match up to anything they were expecting.

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;...that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you"(John 14:16-18 emphasis mine)

 

"....the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you."(John 14:26)

 



This morning, I purpose to give them a break.
This morning, I praise Him for giving me a break.

Not until these intimate followers of Jesus had recieved the Holy Spirit did they really 'get it'.
Not until these disciples of our God in flesh were sent the Holy Tutor did they 'get it'.

And so it was with me. So it is with you. Jesus knew we would need tutoring just as those intimate few did. After that Holy Tutor came to them, they were forever changed. Scripture from Genesis forward totally clicked.  They 'got it'.  Beginning to end.

I continue to be amazed with each new thing that I 'get'. 

Day after day.

Page after page.

Life situation after life situation. 

I have a Tutor in it all.  And He is incredible.
 
 

 

Therefore...

 
Therefore....I heard it said once that when you see that word, to stop and ask what the word is there for. (....therefore, there for....get it? )  There are lots of therefores in scripture. This morning, my attention was drawn to the concept of joy. (thanks to a friend's post on Facebook that has me humming 'I've got the joy, joy joy, joy...down in my heart...')  Then, I go to my morning time in God's Word, and there's that concept of joy and that 'therefore' word.  (...isn't God a hoot? )  


"Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation." (Isa 12:3)

Now I ask myself, what is that 'therefore' there for?
Why the joy? (...or the absence of it...? )

It is such a simple reason, yet so profound, and so hidden from me for so long....

".......He has become my salvation..." (Isa. 12:2)
 He is the saving factor. Not me. Not what I do. Not what I do NOT do.

 


Our joy bubbles over like a spring bursts forth from the ground ONLY when we recognize the truth of God's incredible love for us, and the unreasonable grace He has extended to us....to do what we are absolutely incapable of achieving ourself. 

Therefore, :) ......when I see someone who seems to have no real joy, I have to consider that they might have no understanding of that love and grace.

I purpose today to...
"...joyously draw water From the springs of salvation...."
 and "'Make known His deeds among the peoples... Make them remember that His Name is exalted....He has done excellent things, Let this be known throughout the earth...." ( select verses from Isa. 12)  "Cry aloud and shout for joy...... in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." (vs.6)
 

Consecrate...

It's not a word we use much in our day.  Webster says it is to declare and appropriate to sacred use. The Hebrew word scholars translate as 'consecrate' meant 'to observe as holy and to keep as sacred'.


The Bible speaks of consecration a lot.  There were rituals. Deliberate acts. Ceremonies.  A lot of trouble maybe, but it seemed to draw the heart and mind to the purpose.  Or should have....

So I ask myself this morning, what about me is consecrated?  If I am consecrated, to what am I consecrated?  One thing, or several?  Am I consecrated to 'ME'? Am I completely consecrated, or just a portion?  Is it a process or an event? Can I do this thing called consecration?

Questions.........


"Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God."(Lev. 20:7)

The instruction is clear. I am to purpose myself, to 'set myself apart'.
I am to take some sort of action that creates a sacredness or holiness.
My heart and mind should be purposed in this thing of consecration, as well as my actions.



So, what can I do?  I know that I can not muster up perfect holiness.  I have the same sin problem all humans have. (Romans 3:23) Do I just throw up my hands and throw in the towel?

Questions...........




In the temple worship system, there were vessels that were used for various things.  These vessels were 'consecrated'.  The inside of the vessel was cleansed. 

And so was the outside.

The inside of me, my 'vessel', has been cleansed by the blood of The Perfect Lamb of God. He has done it.  "It is finished."  My vessel IS holy.  Not because of any action on my part, but simply because I accepted His cleansing OF it.

 The outside of my vessel must be clean as well. I must purpose to remove what contaminates.

 My will is forever mine.  If I choose to hang onto sinful behavior, God will not over-rule my choice. But I will suffer the consequences and answer to His justice. He IS holy. Perfect and holy in every way.

If I choose to remain in wrong behavior, behavior that contaminates and is counter productive to consecration, has there really been any real conviction and turning away from a wrong path?
Questions.....

I can't be 'set apart to keep sacred' and my vessel be used in the same wrong ways all at the same time can I?

Questions........


Amid the questions I find assurance and encouragement this morning ...

First, from the words of an old hymn...

---

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Again from the words of Jesus...amid the dilemma of my nature, I find assurance and encouragement....
 

"Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured..." (Matt.8:3)

He is willing to make me clean.


I have come to the personal conclusion that my consecration is a daily, moment by moment thing.
I choose. Not perfectly. Sometimes my choices are poor. And when they are, I purpose to WANT to choose better. I never want to be satisfied and comfortable in my sin. I want my will and His to be the same....

As I thank Him this morning for His grace manifested in my salvation, I purpose  to cooperate with Him, consecrating every aspect of my life........ to Him.

Pattern...

I've used one to make a dress and pants.
I've used one to do cross stitch.
I've used one to shape a cake into a bunny rabbit.

There are patterns for all those things. Examples to follow. Instructions.

Scripture gives us patterns.  Jesus Himself was and is the very Pattern of life.  He didn't draw it out or write it on paper.  He lived it.  We can never have the excuse that God doesn't know how difficult it is to follow the pattern of His holiness.  Jesus knows.  So God knows....

This morning, my attention is drawn to Isaiah 12.  There is a pattern there.  A pattern of praise.

We love to sing songs about heaven.
We sing songs that say "I'll fly away.....when I die..... I'll fly away."
We sing songs of encouragement to each other. "Hold to God's unchanging Hand...."
We sing about blessing, "count your blessings, name them one by one..."
We sing wishing to "...hear mother, pray again."

I do love to sing. And all those things are great things to sing about.  In fact, I am very particular about what I WILL sing.  I opt out of singing something if the lyrics go against what is true and right.

Isaiah 12 has a pattern. 

I am thankful for forgiveness. (vs.1)
I fear God, but I am not afraid of Him. He is trustworthy. (vs.2)
I ultimately have no strength, His is limitless and is mine for the asking. (vs.2)
I am free to take from Him what sustains and refreshes, and saves. (vs.3)
When I have experienced His love, I can not help but share it. I must help others remember. (vs. 4)
It is to my own benefit to acknowledge and appreciate the excellent things He has done. (vs.5)
The Holy One of Israel is still in our midst. (vs.6)

A pattern of praise....  
I am thankful for the blessings of His Hand...but is His Face I seek.
I purpose to praise HIM.
He is always and only...good.

Storms...

I've ridden out a few pretty scary ones.  I've put my kids under the bed and in the closet.  I've put other people's children in a bathtub and covered them with pillows.  I've ministered to people who left everything behind and were at other people's mercy for food, clothing, and shelter.

Tornados.  Hurricanes. 

We can know about these kinds of storms.  We can be warned and take steps to prepare. If we are wise....

There are other storms in life that come without warning. The doctor says 'it's cancer'. The officer says 'there's been an accident'.  A spouse says 'I'm leaving'. 

Nothing we can manage prepares for that kind of storm. But like all storms of life, they blow in, damaging everything in proximity. Ripping  shelter, dislodging foundation, taking what was 'ours'.

When the storm comes and goes, those who remain take stock of what is left behind. Decisions are made, pieces are picked up, broken pieces inspected and repaired or discarded.

We are wise to prepare for storms.  We are wise to have a strong relationship with The One Who is Master over every storm.

For THAT is the only real way to prepare for storms.....


"When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever."
(Prov. 10:25)