Category: devotional

Drink Up!

water-running from-hand

Now on the final and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 

John 7:37,   Amplified

The strangeness of this metaphor has never really been resolved in my thinking.  There is one other which strikes me as incredibly odd; it is when Jesus declares that He is “the Bread of life” whom we must eat.  With both of these I’m content right now to think that I am reaching through a cultural airlock, and things will resolve.  It isn’t doubt, I’m just content to wait for it to be sorted out.  I’m certain it shall be.

hands_of_jesus_pouring_waterBut I cannot minimize these declarations, and their significance.  “I am the Water for this parched world.  Come with your buckets and cups.”  If we but think about this, there is an implied exclusivity.  He has everything we need.  And there is no one else.  Also reading the text over again, I’m struck by the setting for this announcement.

They were standing in the Temple.  Jesus had been unveiling His ministry to be messianic, and His presence to be divine.  And the Temple and the feasts created the atmosphere for this dramatic revelation.  And the best part was this, “everyone, anyone who understands having a thirst, can come to me, and drink me.”

I lived for three years in the deserts of Baja, Mexico.  I learned about heat, and the exquisite value of water, and savoring it to the last mouthful.  I saw spring rains soak the desolate terrain, and saw the awesome results of a blooming desert.  And it was all about the water.

The world has been confronted by the real spiritual, and most don’t even understand this.  But yet we all know there exists a powerful thirst.  And thirst,  is perhaps the best word to use.  We walk through life parched and dried out, and nothing we’ve tried to drink has helped.  There has been a joint effort by many brilliant minds, but it has completely and definitely failed.

     “Is anyone thirsty?
      Come and drink—
      even if you have no money!
      Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
      it’s all free!”    -Isa. 55:1

Isaiah the prophet used the imagery of thirst.  He has shown us that thereis somewhere (or more precisely “someone”) who has the fantastical ability of meeting our needs.  I can’t say a lot about the “wine”, (but I’m sure it’s something good.)  And the milk? Well growing up in rural Wisconsin, I drank lots and lots of wholesome raw milk, straight from the cow. With the cream four inches thick in our gallon jar. It was grand, I loved it!

When we follow Jesus, He provides what we need.  When I come, as one of His flawed ones, He pays extra attention to me (at least that is what it feels like).  Satan’s lies fall away, and my understanding grows as I drink Jesus.

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ybic, Bryan

kyrie eleison.

A Teflon Faith

 

teflon-frying-pan
The reality called “teflon.’

“That I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ “

Genesis 14:23

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”

Daniel 1:8

There is something that certain men and women face when their faith is flourishing.  It is an authentic commitment to walk exclusively in the will of God, no matter where it takes us.  But both Abraham and Daniel had considered the ‘pros and cons’ of having a faith that would bend.  They chose however not to become this flexible.

As people who call themselves ‘believers’.  We need to figure out exactly how we are to emulate Abraham and Daniel.  How bold are we to become?  That question reverberates through us, and demands that we seriously deal with this issue.  Exactly when will we compromise, where is the line?

The Bible gives us the distinct impression that our compromise will lead us into a period of confusion and doubt.  Compromise is presented as a deadly choice, a decision that will irrevocably bring us to a death–of sorts.  For believers who consider themselves as flexible, there may lift to us some immediate consequences, but the end result is brutal.

We cannot trade to get a temporary peace and comfort to enable ourselves to walk in the place of harmony and successfulness.  If we try we will discover ourselves to be unfaithful and negligent to the Lord’s purposes and will.  This is a place of shame, and comes incredibly close to outright denial.  In this present ‘day and age’ perhaps our faithfulness might matter more then our ‘results’.

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ybic, Bryan

The Wonder of Abigail

She is known for her wisdom
She is known for her wisdom
Narrative from 1 Samuel 25
 

If she were a man, she would have been a prophet. She is wise, and very beautiful. That’s quite a combination. Her husband, Nabal, is a crude and rude, nasty dude. He cheats most he has dealings with. He is also a wealthy man, and he has had previous contact with David’s men. It seems that David provided protection for Nabal’s sheep and shepherds. Definitely a good thing to have in the wild and woolly Judean wilderness.

David sends a delegation of 10 men to ask for some special provisions. This would be a small  recognition of the service rendered by David’s men. Please note: Their simple request was not burdensome or excessive. They were not asking for wages, they just wanted a nice diversion– a party was anticipated. It was sheep shearing day.

Nabal essentially mocks this delegation. He laughs at them, calling them bandits who are in rebellion from King Saul. (Nabal, I suppose may have been trying to appeal to Saul.) Nabal sends the delegation away, with nothing to show for their efforts.

David is beside himself in anger, his men have been denied– and he has been publicly mocked. He quickly puts together a small army and moves directly against Nabal. His force  is enough to destroy everyone. His heart is full of vengeance. He moves to destroy Nabal. And then Abigail shows up.

Abigail is magnificent. She has been warned of Nabal’s insult that has triggered this potential massacre. She takes the initiative and launches out to meet David. She carries the deep scent of grace and humility with her. And she brought the provisions he had initially requested.

At the first sight of David, she throws herself down. She pleads for her people, and begs for mercy. It is interesting that she focuses on David himself. She appeals to David’s reputation, and seems more concerned about it than he does. But her intercession is more effective. In humility she speaks to David with a visible brokenness. She reminds David of his true identity. She declares to him, who he really is, and how he should behave, as a result. And David desperately needed to hear her voice.

lynnie1
Lynnie, my Abigail

Abigail deserves any focus we can place on her. Many years ago, a man placed his hands on my shoulders and prophesied. All I remember is this, “Your wife is an Abigail to you, she will be a source of wisdom and understanding to you. Listen, for she will be your wisdom,” This is the most significant word anyone has ever said to me. It has really shaped our marriage of 24 years.

Understand dear reader, my wife Lynn is my Abigail. She consistently brings me back to my true calling and purpose. She will not let me shake off my holy summons. Her words press me, and guide me into a place where I finally see His direction and purpose for me. She is God’s gift to me. I desperately need her to speak into my life. She is truly my wise Abigail. I am sure that her eternal crown will exceed mine.

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ybic, Bryan

Cheryl Meakins Horizontal 300x200I recently have been introduced to Cheryl Meakens. She has a wonderful blog at http://www.meakinsspeak.com/.

I encourage you to visit her site. I believe she has something good for you.

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Something Beyond Us

kindness-of-God
He is kindness focused

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Psalm 107:1, ESV

From all eternity, O Jesus Christ, you have been our Lord and our God: so did the Father will it. Yet in this, the last of all periods of time, you also had your birth; you were born of a virgin, of one who had no knowledge of any man. To redeem us from the Law, you submitted to the Law. Your purpose was to free us from the slavery to which our corruption had reduced us and to confer upon us the rank of sons.

Deliver us, now, Lord, from all that is vain; fulfill your promise and free us from sin and shame; fill our hearts with your Holy Spirit and enable us to say: “Abba, Father.”

A Syriac Liturgy (adapted)

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