Monday, June 20, 2011

Hidden Things

    I was reading in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 where it says, "but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom that none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."  I noticed that Paul talked about a "hidden" wisdom that he speaks with with those who are mature believers and I thought about what it means by "hidden".

    In the 3rd century, there was a belief system called "gnosticism".  The gnostics believed that they had a secret wisdom that others did not have.  Among other things, they believe that the flesh or material things were bad and that the spirit was good.  Since the two could not mix, they developed a hierarchy of angels or spirits that help mediate between God and man.  A lot of people think that the apostle John was refuting the gnostic system of beliefs when he said, "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.'  John 1:14

   I don't think that Paul was referring to a gnostic type of "secret wisdom" when he wrote these words.  Rather, he is talking about something hidden from those whom are popular or wise according to the world's standards. He says this earlier in chapter 1 when Paul says, "the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify that things that are that no man should boast before God." 1 Corinthians 1:28-29  It is hidden from those who are self-sufficient or self-righteous and open to those who are humble and seeking Him.

   This is why the self-righteous Pharisees, who thought they knew everything did not see that Jesus was the Son of God.  This is despite the fact that he raised the dead right in front of them.  In fact, they hated him so much that by the time poor Lazarus came out of the grave, not only did they want to kill Jesus, but they wanted to kill Lazarus too.  The nerve of him, rising from the grave!  It goes to show you how closed minded people can be in the face of the miracles of God.

   Paul says, in fact, that the natural man is not able to understand the things of God.  To the natural man the words of God are foolishness.  The natural man is in a state of hostility towards God.  First, must come repentance and surrender then God can begin to show his truth to those who are open to it.  (1 Corinthians 2:14).  God can then renew our minds and transform them and begin to teach us his truth.  Romans 12:2

   I don't want to be that kind of person who has closed off his mind to the truth of God.  I don't want to walk around in ignorance to the truth that God has for me.  Unfortunately, today many walk in ignorance to the truths of God.  They don't give a thought to what God wants for them or how much God loves them.  This is sad because many people are seeking the kind of love that only God can truly give. 

A Poem "Hidden In My Heart"
http://www.heavensinspirations.com/hidden-in-heart.html


 

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

A Time for Everything

    In the book of Ecclesiastes, the prophet wrote these words, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven- A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up."  Prov 3:1-3

   I've seen that in my own life and work.  Things seem to move in patterns.  We go through a season of growth, then pruning, then testing, then waiting, then watering, then rebirth.  When I left Philippi, I told the church that God calls people to places and he calls them away.  He moves by his own times and seasons, not ours.

   The important thing is to see that each season has its purpose.  When I wait, it tests my faith, so that I am ready for the next step that I must take.  When I am pruned, it is for the purpose of more growth.  When things die or move on, then it makes room for other things.  Each season has its own joys, its own heartaches and its own trials.  They build on each other sometimes.

   When I was a chaplain at WakeMed, I can recall being afraid at first when I was on call.  Being on call at a hospital with 550 beds by yourself is a terrifying thing, at least it was to me.  I can recall one Sunday doing a worship service and having a trauma call right in the middle of the service.  I had to pray and end the service and run to the other end of the hospital.  You just never knew who you would meet or what they would be going through, could be a car accident, or a knife wound or a stillborn baby or something else.  Most of the circumstances were sad and difficult, a valley to be walked through.

   But, even the valleys have a purpose.  Though God does not cause them.  He can bring something good out of them.  That is the meaning of Romans 8:28.  In Romans 5:3-5 it says "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; andhope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."   The apostles never promised a trouble free life.  Most of them were actually martyred for their faith.  They promised that it wasn't in vain.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Good Shepherd

       When I first started work as a chaplain, the ministry that I worked for was a non-denominational ministry started by a guy named David Peterson called "The Shepherd's Staff".  I remember it very well because it had a picture on the logo of Jesus carrying a staff and also a lamb that he was carrying.  The image is taken from John 10 where Jesus calls himself the good shepherd.  I have been thinking about these verses and what it means that Jesus would call himself that.

        Jesus often used images found in daily life in the New Testament to teach.  He pointed to water, light and a door.  Jesus would use parables to get people's attention and was a master storyteller.  Jesus tells us in John 10 that he is not a shepherd who is a hireling.  In other words, the sheep are his and he puts himself at risk to protect them and watch over them.  In fact he says, "even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." John 10:15

    Jesus would go on to say that his sheep understand and know his voice.  They aren't fooled by imposters who seek to lead the sheep astray or steal them.  He says they won't follow a stranger.  This is something every person living in those days would know, that the shepherd and sheep have a very close bond.  The sheep could be led by simple voice commands.   Jesus said, "When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him becasue they know his voice." John 10:4.  This goes back to the practice of shepherd mixing they're sheep at night and then calling them out by name in the morning to go out to pasture.

   Then the thought occurs to me, that the Shepherd leads best when he is in front.  The sheep don't tell the shepherd where to go.  In fact, they may very well walk right off a cliff if allowed to.  The shepherd and his staff are there to protect from danger and to guide.  I've gotten into trouble a few times when I wanted to be out front.  It must amuse God that I want to lead when I don't know the way.  It is just as dangerous though as being too far behind.  Our goal is to stay close to the Lord.  That is how we hear his voice.

    I think it is pride and maybe some anxiety that causes people to act first and then listen for God's voice.  The first king of Israel had that problem in the person of Saul.  The story is located in 1 Samuel 13:8-24 where Saul grows impatient with waiting on Samuel to come.  There is a delay for some reasont that we are never told and Saul becomes fearful, so he acts in haste.  It is for this reason, that the kingdom is taken from Saul and given to the next king, a man named David.

  "But now your kingdom shall not endure.  The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."  1 Samuel 13:14

   So, how do we respond when there are seemingly delays in answers to prayer?  Do we realize that sometimes waiting is in order to build up our faith?  For us to show that even if we think God is silent it doesn't mean he is not at work?  Most great theologians and giants of church history have always talked about when God appears silent.  Early years, there is great bursts of insight and growth and it seems God is writing his will in neon colors.  Later, the neon sign is taken away because we don't need it anymore.  The feelings may be gone because God doesn't call us to walk by feelings, but by faith. 

Psalm 32:5-7 God is Ready and Eager to Forgive

  Psalm 32:3-7 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me...