Category: spiritual lessons

My Scapegoat

“And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.”

Leviticus 16:21

The ritual was profoundly simple. Every year two goats were brought into the Temple. Goat #1 was sacrificed for the sins of the high priest. Goat #2 was not killed, but became the “scapegoat.” The priest would lay his hands on its head, and the nation’s sins would be transmitted and then carried to the desert.

This ritual finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, for He absorbs our sin and carries it away.

Scripture is clear on this. Maybe this might help. Back in the 1970s I remember sponges printed with a politician’s advertising his platform/promises. At first the sponge was paper thin. But when you added water it expanded into a full-size sponge.

For some weird reason that communicates what happened at the cross. Jesus received my sin, darkness, and iniquity. He absorbed it all, and I’m free. He is my scapegoat. He carries all of my dark darkness.

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].”

Isaiah 53:4, Amplified

When Dreams Become Real

“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.””

– Luke 2:28-32

Simeon has lingered, he has waited for this a very long time.  He had nights that had brought him dreams, wonderful dreams.  People who dream are different; they tend to visualize what seems to be intangible.  But they also can’t always get a grip on it.  Or explain it.  But when dreams mix with faith they produce incredible things.

Simeon is in the perfect place, at the exact time he needed to be.  When he arrives, the baby Jesus is right there.  Bringing our crazy, mixed lives to that spot sometimes takes a lifetime.  The Holy Spirit however, has ‘superintending power’.  That means that He will directly intervene in us to make things happen.

There is a baby.  And I submit to you that He is the center of this whole narrative.  Through the gospels, this is always the case.  Jesus Christ is the pivot point of every healing, or teaching, in every parable spoken.  It is also great drama when the dreams of a very old man encounter their fulfillment in this baby.

It is interesting (and frightening) to see our society marginalize people.  It seems that those on the ‘ends’ of society are pretty much forgotten.  The weak– the old, and the babies are pushed back.  Not much room for them.  Those in their 20s and 30s are our focus.  I think we need old men and old women, and littles ones to teach us our theology, and discipleship.

Notice that Simeon addresses God in this encounter.  We very quickly find that he is a believer.  His words come out of a worshipper’s heart.  They are plain and direct.  He loves what the Lord has done already, and he is soaked in the beautiful promises of salvation.  But, it’s just him and the baby Jesus at that moment.  They stand and reach up to God, but just for a moment.

A word about the Gentiles.  I think Simeon latches unto what was an obscure teaching in his day.  That the Gentiles, ‘God’s unchosen people’ will be included with the Chosen.  The promises extend out into the darkness–and these promises are luminescent.  They light everything.  This light is headed for the thickest, most dense night–the Gentiles.

A final word about Simeon.  His work is done, he has no fear at all.  He sees these few minutes with the Child as the ultimate culmination of his entire life.  He is an example for us.  And his understanding about the things of God is astonishing.  Father, help me to be like your servant, and watch over me as I struggle to figure it out.  Amen.

 

Tightrope Living

The Balancing Act

Circus performers have my enthusiastic admiration– especially the tightrope walkers! They move with such grace and courage. Their work above the crowds must be perfect, or else. I don’t even want to consider their failure. (I hope they can bounce).

To be a mentally ill or disabled Christian is just as formidable. We must walk out our condition 24/7, 365 days a year. It is relentless. We struggle with a weakness that pits us against symptoms and gravity of a spiritual kind. We get little support from others– sometimes criticism. It often is a very solitary feeling. We are often overlooked or scorned.

My particular rope is bipolar depression. Everyday I mount up and walk out on to it, holding my breath. I still fall a lot, but have a good safety net, and the Holy Spirit is my strength. Losing my balance happens. I pick myself up and climb up the ladder for another go at it.

There is a stigma to having weakness or disabilities. Things are usually ‘slanted’ against us. We are not truly welcomed in many venues, even the Church, I grant you that. In 2 Cor. 12 we catch the higher perspective.

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

God’s program includes my weakness– it actually demands it! Sometimes we chose to seek a deliverance or a healing at the expense of the Kingdom. Scripture over and over tells us that the Lord uses weakness. That’s when it’s best.

“In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us.”

2 Corinthians 1:9-11, NLT

We must rely on God. It is His “job” to keep us, repeatedly. So day by day I “walk the line.” My meds are my balance pole, and I don’t need any special attention. I do whatever the day brings, and even that is from His hand.

ybic, Bryan

Related articles

Deep Waters

“The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him.”

     F.F. Bruce

I wrote a simple poem that I hope will bless:

Tears and sorrow overwhelmed me
day after day after week after year
No relief in sight as hopelessness
appeared to win and then

He drew me out of
deep waters

Each day presents a new challenge
or the same challenge never ending
And I feel like I’m drowning
in evasion and falsehood but

He draws me out of
deep waters

Tedium is like rising water
and I’m not that tall so
it’s sure to be over my head
eventually and yet

He draws me out of
deep waters

New loss reminds of past loss
and grief changes but never goes away
floods emotion unexpectedly
till I’m drowning and then

He draws me out of
deep waters

And in the end I soar above
the deep waters in faith
knowing He will always
draw me out

I love you so much, even though I’ve never met you.

Linda K.

My site can be found at AnotherFearlessYear.net