Hope and Change

A good friend of mine started a blog today which reminded me that I haven't spent much time here in quite a few weeks. I've been very busy, but I couldn't tell you with what. I recall hearing about all of the new technologies that we would see in the new millennium and how the average American would be swimming in free time. I seem to have misplaced mine. I think I left it on the roof of my car and drove away from Duncan Doughnuts. If you find my free time, please e-mail it back to me as an attachment.

I spent quite a bit of time the past few weeks keeping up on the election campaigns. (Until I couldn't take it any more.) I even had the opportunity to take place in one of the telephone polls. When it was all said and done, I was glad that I learned more about the issues, the people who are leading our country and I was especially glad to learn that our nation is collectively looking in the right direction.

I don't mean that in a political sense. I will spare you my thoughts on where I feel our government has gone and how I think it got there. That's a blog for another day. What I am talking about are the two words that are etched in our minds through all of the advertising, news stories and banners. I feel that they won the election for Barack Obama.

Hope and Change.

I find it interesting that our nation has turned in it's time of need to a man that has promised hope and change. It has proved to me that the people are hungry for something that they do not have today; thirsty for something that can quench a need deep inside them. More and more each day people are not happy with their lives. They are living with regrets and looking for a way to find "Hope and Change".

I don't know if Obama will be able to effect the change on this nation that he has promised. To be honest, I'm not really sure what that change is. But even if he is able to get everything done in the next four years, people will still be hurting and looking for something that they can hope for. They will still be looking for a change in their lives that can bring them beyond themselves.

The true hope of the nations is Jesus. I believe that the people of this land have identified accurately what they need, I just think that they have missed the mark on where to find it. As Christians, we need to be ready to share the true message of Hope and Change as the reality of the world is realized by all who have placed their trust in our government to heal our hurts.


Lord, I boldly pray for a revival in this land. I pray that you will use the realization in peoples lives that they do need hope and change to turn them to your Son. I humbly pray that you will use us to be Jesus to those who are hurting and searching for that which will fill their cup.

Diamond Cutting

While it was my full intention to continue with my study on Grace, I must indulge myself and spend a bit of time exploring the diamond that I wrote about earlier. For some reason this beautiful gem has captured my thoughts this week so I did some further study.

Although the process in which diamonds are formed is intriguing, what captured my attention is the diamond cutting itself. It is in the cut that the brilliance of the stone is brought out for the eye to see.


As I learned about the art of diamond cutting, I couldn't help but find a picture of God's grace in our lives weaved through the process. I have often pictured myself as the clay in the potters hand, but I have never considered myself as a diamond on the cutters wheel.

Unlike clay, a brilliantly cut diamond starts it's life buried within the larger stone. By holding it in his hand, the artist knows the way it was formed and just how to cut it so that it can reflect the light for all to see. We are the same way in our Father's hand. Only He knows how and where to cut to shape us into what he has designed us to be. A reflection of His light to the world.

Another point that isn't lost on me is the fact that a diamond is very hard. Only one with the proper tools can remove the rough edges. This isn't easy on the diamond, but the end result is worth it.

As pointed out in the video above, this is commonly done by using another diamond so they can shape each other. I think this is a great picture of Christ's church. The creator using diamonds to shape diamonds to form the light catching beauty he has seen buried beneath the surface. This is why we should move when God prompts us. Get up and go where He leads. As a church, we have received the gift of each other. It may be an honest word, a helping hand or consoling embrace. What ever it may be, we must be willing to both deliver and receive as the shaping of the stone happens on each end.

Father I thank you for knowing my final shape. Please help me to remember this when the cutting of my rough edges becomes difficult. I also pray that you will give me a willing heart to move among your people, polishing us into the glimmering likeness of your Son.

Black Velvet

I recall (many years ago) going into the jeweler and looking at diamonds for my wifes engagement ring. I've since seen this same scene played out many times as I walk past jewelers in the mall. Before the jeweler gets out the precious stones, they all do the same thing. They lay down a piece of simple black velvet. The velvet is soft, without form or anything to draw your eye to. Why do they do this? So the glimmering diamond will have your complete attention. If the precious stone were to be laid down on the glass display case, you would not notice the way it catches the light, or the intricacy of the cut. You may even be tempted to look through the glass at something else that catches your eye.

In thinking of God's grace, there is a black velvet. We don't see it, but God does. Once we have accepted the gift of his son, we are washed and cleaned to sparkle like the diamond on the jewelers counter. He sees us with the full righteousness of Jesus. But even more interesting is what he doesn't see. He doesn't see our sorted past, or get distracted by things that his eyes are drawn to. He looks at us on a clean black velvet. Admiring how we shine and the intricacy of what he has created.

Through his grace all of the sins of the past are washed away, and we are graced with the power to live that way. Why then do we constantly peek under the velvet? Sometimes being obsessed with what things are laying under there. I often consider my past when I should be focusing on the things right in front of me. It's like a groom standing at the counter thinking that there may be a nice watch, or a bracelet to look at.

I didn't become distracted when I picked out an engagement ring for my wife. I was focused on one thing. My new bride. I was focused on my love for her and wanting to give her something to show her my love would last forever. So it is also with Jesus. We are his bride and he wants to focus on us.

Father, help me to live freely today as one walking on black velvet. Help me to resist those things of the past as Satan points them out to me, knowing that they are all under the veil that you have placed there so that I can catch the light of the Son and shine it out to the world.

The Grand Canyon

I've never been to the Grand Canyon. I've seen it on many movies and read about many aspects of it. I even planned a trip that included a pack mule trip to the bottom of the canyon and a few days at a camp by the river. (Then life happened...so the trip didn't.) If you have never been to the Grand Canyon, it seems almost impossible to imagine it. The canyon is, on average, nine miles accros. I grew up in a small town in Michigan and the next towns to the East and West were both nine miles away. As Mid-Michigan is absolutely flat, I have a good reference point for nine miles by car. But it is hard to imagine seeing it all at the same time.

Jerry Bridges uses a powerful word picture for God's grace using the Grand Canyon in his illustration. A common perception of God's grace, (and one that I have considered from time to time) is what he adds to us to achieve his standard. We can go so far toward living sin free, and he makes up the difference. If we are trying to travel 100 miles and run out of gas at 90, he will give us ten miles worth of gas to travel the rest of the distance. If, however, we can only travel 60 miles on our tank he will provide the difference of 40 miles worth of gas.

But God's grace doesn't work this way. If we consider what Paul writes in the book of Romans:

As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”
-Romans 3:10-12

No one is righteous. Not even one. Even if we think we are seeking God, we aren't doing it by his perfect standard. Even if we think we are looking him in his face, when compaired to Jesus we have turned away. No one does good.....not a single one.

This means we have sugar water in our gas tank. We are trying to pay with worthless currency. We think we can go a long way toward God, but really we are paralyzed and can't move.

Getting back to the Grand Canyon analagy, if I can jump six feet from where I am standing I would need God to build a bridge 47,514 feet for me to reach him on the other side. My six foot jump may be impressive in a track meet, but it is totally useless when leaping the Grand canyon. Even if I set a world record and jumped 29.36 feet (set by Mike Powell in 1991), it would be worthless to me if trying to span the nine miles needed to reach the other side.

This is what Paul was talking about in the verse above. God doesn't build us a bridge 47,514 miles. His bridge has nothing to do with how far I can jump. He builds it from one side of the canyon to the other. He built it out of two simple pieces of wood about 2,000 years ago upon his son's back. That bridge still stands today for each of us. But we can't jump across it. We can only be carried across by Jesus, which is the Grace of God.

Thank you Lord for knowing that I had fallen short in all that I had done to reach you, and loving me anyway. I came to you once broken, but now I come to you strong in your Son. As I survey the cavern that I have crossed, help me to know that it is indeed just that. Crossed. Finished. And now I rest in you.

Methibosheth

In 2 Samuel 9 we encounter the son of Johnathon named Methibosheth. It is one of those quick passing chapters in the old testament, but I realize this morning that Methibosheth and I have a lot in common. Three times in the chapter the writer tells us that he his crippled in both feet, but what the chapter doesn't tell us here is that it was common for a new king to kill all of the previous ruling family when coming into power. This all adds to the picture of grace that David shows to Methibosheth.

"Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." -2 Samuel 9:7

David invites Methibosheth to live as one of his sons. Taking an inheritance as part of his family. I love Methibosheth's reaction to this in the next verse:

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?" -2 Samuel 9:9

I believe this story is included in scripture as a picture of Christ's coming and how we will be invited to the table as part of God's family. But notice that David did more than allowing him to live without fear of death. He gave him great gifts while he was still living. He showed him grace for each day of his life. He even commanded Ziba and his whole family to become servants to Methibosheth.

We are told that Methibosheth "always" ate at the kings table from that day after. Interestingly, each time it is restated that Methibosheth is crippled in both feet. He never got over his crippled state to make it on his own...and neither do we. It is only by his grace that we are be blessed each day.

God, thank you for inviting me to eat at your table. Even a dead dog like me you invite to become part of your family. Thank you for giving us your word to help us understand the grace that you offer us. You help me to walk even in my crippled state not as one living in fear, but as one who has been set free to live in your kingdom.

Footnotes

I sometimes think that when God authored my life, he included footnotes along the way referring me back to various pieces of information from my past or new references to things that will give me more information. His word is an ever growing list of powerful foot notes that are added to my understanding of my journey.

At the point in time when I gave my life to the Lord, each of these foot notes were listed to give guidance on future events. These footnotes give the reader of my book clarification of the end goal (Christ likeness) and how I will get there. As my salvation is "worked out" with God, I believe these footnotes are peppered on the pages of my daily walk.

The day that it became clear to me that my actions are in response to the Lords grace, not a means to earn it, there is a footnote referencing Romans 11:6:

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. -Romans 11:6

Likewise, throughout my life I am sure there are constant references to Paul's words in Philippians each time the reader finds another example of a change in my heart leading me to be a more Christlike example.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. -Philippians 1:6

And each time I forget about the power of God's grace and try to add my efforts to it, the all popular question from Paul appears again (and again......and again......)

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? -Galatians 3:3

As music is such an important piece of my life, I think there are also many footnotes that refer to hymns and songs. I can't think of a song writer that would be credited more times in my book than John Newton with his weekly mention for various thoughts in his "Amazing Grace" composition. As I think this morning of how God continues to perfect us I'm sure there is a note that says, "See John Newton, Amazing Grace. Second half of third verse:

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

How about you? If you could read from God's book of life, where would the footnotes from your chapter lead you? If you are a believer, I'm sure these footnotes will be full of grace. Not only for your salvation, but grace for today.

Father, I thank you for your everlasting grace. I thank you for pointing out through your word, and my life where you are working and for the confidence that it is indeed your work. Your promise that you will not give up on me until you are finished. I so look forward to standing before you as your creation. Molded and shaped to be the final work that pleases you.

Guilt free

Considering again the analogy of bankruptcy, there is still a problem even if I assume that I have filed chapter 7. In the business world, chapter 7 bankruptcy doesn't totally settle the score. It doesn't pay the price of your debt, instead it cancels it. It frees the debtor from his responsibilities, but it does not free him from the guilt of knowing the lenders only received a portion of what was due to them. It also leaves the business man at square one to start over. To try to perform better the next time, full of guilt and either a resolve to try harder next time or depression that they have failed.

In the Christian life however, our debt has been paid in full. God sees us in the full righteousness of Jesus Christ. And not only the debt of the past, but any debt that we may incur in the future. We can live a life of peace with God, free of guilt knowing that our score is settled.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. -Romans 5:1

I know I have a tendency to find some level of confidence in my Christian life based upon how I am "doing" in my spiritual life. I know when I don't spend time in the word, pray or go to church I get down on myself and assume that God is looking down at me too. While it is true that there are natural consequences for my actions, it is also true that he will lead me back to him. When I consider the times of my life when I have experienced the greatest growth, they are associated with these periods of my walk when God leads me home.

I have experienced his gentle nudge back in his direction many times. I have also experienced his forceful hand on my back. In either case, it was because of His grace that I came home. Not because of my spiritual discipline, lack of sin or good Christian habits.

The writer of Hebrews talks about this new life of guilt free living this way:

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 (emphasis mine)

Jerry Bridges describes it this way, "We are brought into God's Kingdom by grace, we are sanctified by grace; we receive both temporal and spiritual blessings by grace; we are motivated to obedience by grace' we are called to serve and enabled to serve by grace; we receive strength to endure trials by grace; and finally, we are glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God's grace."

God, thank you for giving me grace for today. Not only your promise of an eternity spent with you, but a life lived with you. Thank you for pursuing me daily, changing me through both my good and bad decisions. Thank you for being the God of my circumstances, using them for the good of your kingdom and my sanctification. In short, thank you for your grace.

Sanctification by Grace

The total Christian experience is often described in three distinct phases.

Justification - Being declaired rightous before God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Sanctification - Our growth in Christlikeness.

Glorification - Occurs at the time we depart from this life to be with Christ.

It is easy to think of Justification as being Grace based.

For it is by grace you were saved, through faith. -Ephesians 2:8

It is also easy to think of Glorification as a graceful gift from God. This will ultimately happen upon the return of Christ when:

the spirits of rightous men will be made perfect. -Hebrews 12:23

But this piece in the middle is a bit more trouble to deal with when considering Grace. Our walk here on God's great earth is where we are molded, shaped to be more like Christ. I tend to view this time between justification and glorification as a time when my works are mixed with God's grace to produce the goal of becoming more Christlike. I think this is reinforced by the Christian culture that we live in.

But ultimately there is nothing we can add to the work that Christ has already done. All we are and can be is in response to who He is and what He has done. Our works are in response to His grace. Here is a visual difference Jerry Bridges uses in his Transforming Grace book.

He proposes that the sanctification process is based solely upon God's grace and the works that Jesus Christ has completed. Our decisions to respond to that grace are similar to the decision we had to make in responding to the grace offered for our salvation. By holding this view of God's grace, it puts a new perspective on my daily walk. The legalism that I hold on to goes away and I can now freely respond to God's grace. It gives me something firm to stand on knowing that God is truly in control. Not just to comfort me (which he does), but by his grace he is moving me in the direction of becoming more like Christ. Preparing me for the day that I will be in His presence.

Lord, help me to respond to your grace today. Prepare in me a new heart. Help me to respond to your grace, rather than trying to do good to earn it.

How precious...today

See, we have left everything to follow you! What then will we have? -Matthew 19:27

Recently I was in a period of what I call, wilderness walking. It was a time of frustration not knowing what direction I should head or where I was even traveling. Even though I was convinced that God launched me on that journey, I longed to be back in the place from which I had come. I don't do well in the wilderness. I complain. I turn to the side. Even sin that has been dead in me for a long time again shows it's ugly face. But the Lord blesses me and moves me to the land that he was leading me anyway. He proved faithful this week by leading me home again.

I find myself on this roller coaster quite often. We are taught in books and in church that we should spend time in prayer, read the bible, tithe, go to church... In my naturally legalistic mind, I assume that when I do these things I will receive God's blessing. And conversely, when I am not doing these things God will withhold some blessing that he had intended. I answer Peter's question above for myself all the time. "What then will I have?" In times when I am doing well I expect great blessing. In times that I have fallen away I expect to have my prayers go unanswered. But that isn't the way God works.

So why did God move me through the wilderness walk I was taking into the promised land at the end of the journey right when I was at my spiritually worst moment? It didn't make sense why he would bless me when I was wallowing in my self pity. Is it because I obediently left where I was happy in the first place? It certainly wasn't because of my willing nature along the way.

The answer is because his blessing is a product of His grace, not my action. I ran across this quote in my reading this morning which explains it better than I ever could.

One of the best kept secrets among Christians today is this; Jesus paid it all. I mean all. He not only purchased your forgiveness of sins and your ticket to Heaven, He purchased every blessing and every answer to prayer you will ever receive. Every one of them - no exceptions. -Jerry Bridges: Transforming Grace

If my prayers have already been answered, and the blessings of God have already been paid for by Jesus, what am I supposed to do? It was so easy for me to accept his gift of salvation as I know I was dead in my sin. But it is another thing to understand for the first time that His grace does not stop there. He has forgiven all of my sin and given me all of his blessing.

I realize now that when I sing, "How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed" , it is a reminder that I haven't been appreciating the fullness of God's grace. When I consider that his full blessing is for today, this very moment, it is grace that is constantly added to my salvation. Not because I do well, not withheld if I do not. Jesus paid it all and I can not add to that. I realize that His grace is precious not only when I first believed, but this very moment.

Thank you Lord for your blessings. For the grace that you have rained upon me. Even when I turned back on the path you were leading me, you chose to guide me back in your direction. Thank you for teaching me that your grace goes much further than my salvation. It is for today, here, now. Open My Eyes Lord to see your grace in my life today. For when I see your grace in my life, I see Jesus walking beside me.

7 or 11?

There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. -Romans 3:10-12

At the moment that I came to Christ I declared spiritual bankruptcy. Totally broke and unable to pay my way. But what kind of bankruptcy was it? Chapter 7 or Chapter 11? When you file for chapter 11 bankruptcy you are forgiven of your "current debt" and allowed to reorganize your finances in hope that you can do better in the future, one day able to stand on your own successfully. Chapter 7 however requires you to admit that your business venture was a complete failure and you must permanently close your doors. Never to open again.

As I understand salvation, I would say that I have filed chapter 7 bankruptcy as I know that:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. -Ephesians 2: 8,9

But do I really believe that? When I fall back into a sin of the past, or fail to move in an area that I know God wants me to, am I confident in my faith. Confident to share the gospel. Full of the joy of my god? Able to worship in spirit and in truth? I don't think I am living my life with that Blessed Assurance that I have permanently filed bankruptcy now and forever solely depending upon God's grace for my every breath, thought and action.

I propose instead that I have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy where Christ has forgiven my debt, but as a Christian I am going to reorganize my life and "try harder" the next time to be successful. God has pointed out my mistakes, shouldn't I be able to learn from them?

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all of our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment -Isaiah 65:4

Yes, by his grace we should learn, but without his grace we will never succeed. We can never step away from the power of his grace. This is when we stumble.


Lord I pray that you show me your grace today. Give me a sure path and help me not to stumble. Give me your clear direction and the power to move. Most of all Lord, raise me up and move me. Reign in me today.

In His time

God was amazing today. After months of being "stuck" where God wants me, I realized that his intention was to answer each of my prayers. I wonder why we search for the things that He has already delivered? I pray that I can move beyond my frustrations to find myself in His joy.

Tomorrow I will begin my re-consideration of His grace. I hope some of the thoughts passed to me may touch someone else. I will be studying from "Transforming Grace; living confidently in God's unfailing love" written by Jerry Bridges.