Friday, 23 March 2012
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
The Jesus Diet
Monday, 12 March 2012
Safe or Saved? John 5:1-15
What kind of life are we leading as professed christians: a safe life or a saved life?
Let's take a look at the story of the lame man healed at the pool of Bethesda. At first glance the story appears to be about an lame man who has not been able to move to get healed by the pool that moved only once a year. Sad isn’t it? But taking a second and third look we noted that the lame man has been lame for 38 years. 38 years! What has he been up to? After that much time one would think that everyone would know him and he could make deals that would make him the next to be healed.
Enter Jesus. They are walking on the Sabbath day near the synagogue when Jesus notices the afflicted man. He walks over and asks him a simple question. Do you want to be healed? (John 5:6). Now the obvious answer in my mind would be YES, please heal me its been a very long and trying 38 years. But surprising that is not the response we get. What we get is a list of excuses of why he has not been healed. That's funny, he didn’t answer the question! Why did he not answer the question that Jesus asked?
For many of us we do the same thing the invalid man did, provide excuses as to why certain things are the way they are and why we can’t seem to do fix the problem. Even when there is a solution handed to us we still seem to cling on. So safe or saved? The lame man at the pool was leading a "safe" life. He was near enough to the possibility of being made whole, close enough to the feeling of being made whole, yet not actually committed to it. After listening to the excuses from the lame man, Jesus’ next words are not one of pity or consoling. He commanded the man to ”...Get up, take your bed and walk.” (John 5:8,9).
For many of us we do the same thing the invalid man did, provide excuses as to why certain things are the way they are and why we can’t seem to do fix the problem. Even when there is a solution handed to us we still seem to cling on. So safe or saved? The lame man at the pool was leading a "safe" life. He was near enough to the possibility of being made whole, close enough to the feeling of being made whole, yet not actually committed to it. After listening to the excuses from the lame man, Jesus’ next words are not one of pity or consoling. He commanded the man to ”...Get up, take your bed and walk.” (John 5:8,9).
The problem of the lame man was that he was living a "safe" life. For a man that was lame for 38 years a lot could have been done (even wiggling to the pool!) yet he decided to stay where he was and never take a risk to better himself. What Jesus did was transform him to live a life that was "saved".
What does transformation mean to the lame man - and of course us? When we live a "safe" life we are saying that we do not trust God - period. We may believe in the idea of God and even the greatness of God but we do not accept him personally. We are, in fact, not converted.
When we finally allow God to enter into our lives we begin to feel change; we begin to take risks for God (which in fact are not risks when God is involved). We begin to see life differently and approach everything with new eyes. We actually allow God to move us to where He wants us to be moved. We become active participants in the Kingdom. The sky is no longer the limit but rather the beginning when we enter into a saved life.
We see similar choices of living a safe or saved life in many stories in the bible including: when a young boy chooses to share his lunch (John 6:1-15); when Peter chooses to walk on water (John 6:15- 21); and when the rich young ruler chooses to lose his soul (Matt 19:16-30).
What does transformation mean to the lame man - and of course us? When we live a "safe" life we are saying that we do not trust God - period. We may believe in the idea of God and even the greatness of God but we do not accept him personally. We are, in fact, not converted.
When we finally allow God to enter into our lives we begin to feel change; we begin to take risks for God (which in fact are not risks when God is involved). We begin to see life differently and approach everything with new eyes. We actually allow God to move us to where He wants us to be moved. We become active participants in the Kingdom. The sky is no longer the limit but rather the beginning when we enter into a saved life.
We see similar choices of living a safe or saved life in many stories in the bible including: when a young boy chooses to share his lunch (John 6:1-15); when Peter chooses to walk on water (John 6:15- 21); and when the rich young ruler chooses to lose his soul (Matt 19:16-30).
The real risk, honestly, in living a safe life is losing our salvation. If we do not truly accept the gift that God is offering we are in fact saying that we do not want God’s help; we like the way things are, close to the pool but not having to get in and get wet. The benefits of living a saved life is that we can move freely, fearlessly forward knowing that what we do is for the glory of God.
Think big and go big.
What more do you want?
You decide, a safe life or saved one. SC
Think big and go big.
What more do you want?
You decide, a safe life or saved one. SC
Saturday, 3 March 2012
RECAP: Your Predicament is NOT your Problem!
Based on 2 Kings 6: 8 - 23
When Elisha's servant woke up that morning - he panicked. All around him, as far as the human eye could see, the Syrian army surrounded the city with horses and chariots. They were in a predicament - a "no win" situation - and he had no idea how they would get out of it. When he spoke to Elisha, he expressed his anxiety and concerns: "What do we do now?"
Elisha was not deluded. Yes, they were in a predicament. It was real and it was serious and it was dangerous. But before dealing with the obvious predicament, he addresses the more pressing problem - his servant's lack of faith - which usually leads to fear. "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed and said. "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see."
Lack of faith is the primary problem worth praying about first because it distorts our perspective on our predicaments. While our predicament may be real, serious and even dangerous, eyes that are opened through faith will magnify the promises of God - promises like -
"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me." Psalms 23:6
"The Lord will work out His plans for my life." Psalms 138:8
"For He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
"All things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28
"For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalms 91:11
So as you face life predicaments try not to turn them into problems. Claim some divine promises and pray for God to open your eyes of faith! KL
When Elisha's servant woke up that morning - he panicked. All around him, as far as the human eye could see, the Syrian army surrounded the city with horses and chariots. They were in a predicament - a "no win" situation - and he had no idea how they would get out of it. When he spoke to Elisha, he expressed his anxiety and concerns: "What do we do now?"
Elisha was not deluded. Yes, they were in a predicament. It was real and it was serious and it was dangerous. But before dealing with the obvious predicament, he addresses the more pressing problem - his servant's lack of faith - which usually leads to fear. "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed and said. "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see."
Lack of faith is the primary problem worth praying about first because it distorts our perspective on our predicaments. While our predicament may be real, serious and even dangerous, eyes that are opened through faith will magnify the promises of God - promises like -
"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me." Psalms 23:6
"The Lord will work out His plans for my life." Psalms 138:8
"For He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
"All things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28
"For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalms 91:11
So as you face life predicaments try not to turn them into problems. Claim some divine promises and pray for God to open your eyes of faith! KL
