“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.”
This day– this wonderfully good day, has been a flood of kindness for my soul. Sitting on my deck soaking up the Alaskan sun, I’m jolted by a considerable awe at the created world that swirls around me.
I haven’t though these thoughts for a long time. But now they visit me, and I think it may be time to entertain them.
If creation is wonderful, the Creator is more so. He is responsible for everything I see. And living in Alaska gives me ample things to see and ponder.
I sat and mulled over a very persistent question. “Why is there ‘something’ instead of nothing?” There is nature that we see and touch. We take pictures of it. Our artists and writers and poets work out of this wonder that surrounds us all.
I was stunned when I first saw this picture of this wren. He is so wonderfully blue– a masterpiece meticulously ‘manufactured’ by Someone. I am left with an authentic awe and reverence that is left behind like when the tide goes out.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, NLT
“Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!” Isaiah 65:18
“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.” Romans 8:19
“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” Colossians 1:17
What we see and touch is full evidence of God the Creator. He reveals himself– what he is like. His character is seen all around us. We describe His faithfulness which is like the mountains. His love is like the ocean, and He also finds time to feed every sparrow that He has made. His fingerprints are on everything.
We enter a classroom, when we step outside our house. My problem is my “drone-ability.” (I just invented a new word.) I move through the creation blind, without really perceiving it. I can be completely impervious to the glory of God swirling around me. And I really don’t want to be this way. I want to live in wonder.
“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.”
Luke 9:1-3, NLT
The first step these men took is to come to Jesus. His closeness is essential and critical. The very next step involves our relationship with 12 others. We never work alone, but with others who have also come to Jesus.
Jesus intends to impart vast power to His disciples. He might of sold this “power” and funded His ministry. (That is certainly what I would have done in His place.) But Jesus has no intentions of setting up ‘franchises.’ He has come to make disciples.
The terrible enemies are in control, both demons and diseases. They have inflicted the human race with strange forms of darkness for centuries. The seriousness of what is at stake can be understood by Jesus’ response of giving out, “complete” power. I believe that this is what it is going to take.
This disciples are not just messengers, but healers. They fully intend to intervene into the lives of those who are not healthy. They transmit Jesus’ touch to heal everyone who is needy. The implications are clear; Jesus is touching, even if His disciples are the ones’ reaching out.
He reaches us in our weakness
There are specific instructions which Jesus commands, and we see in subsequent verses, that there is a basic structure to the disciples life. We do things that must align to a standard that Jesus established. We must do it, before we can make it.
The idea of taking with us money or food isn’t permitted. Leave your comfortable clothes at home in your closet. This seems to be time for us to “strip” our minds, and desires from those things that might snag us. The athlete of ancient Greece would strip himself of clothing, to run an exceptional race, with no hindrances and nothing to trip him up.
At Brokenbelievers, I would like to think that we are hungry for Him. Remember that He who feeds us has drawn really close is to us. There are many readers of this blog who are well educated and competent to succeed on whatever level they choose. But they must first and foremost be disciples of the Lord Jesus. That means we are those who chose to be under His direction.
You know how unsuitable I am. Were it not for your guidance I would have brought everything to destruction. I wish to give my heart and mouth to your service. I desire to teach your people, and long to be taught your work.
Use me as your workman, dear Lord. Do not forsake me; for if I am alone I shall bring all to nought. Amen.
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A written prayer by Martin Luther, (b. November 10, 1483 – d. February 18, 1546) Catholic Monk, Reformer, Theologian, Writer.
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Some General Quotes by Luther:
“Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.”
“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!”
“Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want.”
“In our sad condition our only consolation is the expectancy of another life.”
