“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.”
“The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught.”
Mark 6:30, New Century Version
We need to become accountable to Him for the things we say, and the things we do. A liberated discipleship is one that can’t be trusted–there is no supervision, and no direction. And we need to be accountable. It is not a question of freedom– but of slavery, and duty (kind of a “neutral” word.) Within our culture, we are dancing on a knife’s edge, and we become intensely counter-cultural when we live authentically as His disciples.
The text has noted, “They gathered unto Him.” That dear one, is the real essence of your walk. He is the absolute center, that fact will never change. Without Him we will drift in and out, unfocused and confused. But these wonderful disciples know absolutely that Jesus Christ is their common focus, no matter what their own personal proclivities.
A simple word about all the plurality and variety among Christians. We are intensely different. Some of us are Pentecostals, and some are Roman Catholics. Some Orthodox, Lutherans and Quakers. We are Mennonites, Baptists and Methodists. There is so much variety in the Church. But I think that all of us are coming to Jesus–He is our center!
I no longer doubt or fear the amazing variety that is in the Church. We are dealing with a God who can’t even make snowflakes alike! We make Styrofoam cups that are exactly alike, and He does snowflakes. He insists on creativity and being unique. Shouldn’t our churches reflect this?
The verse tells us that the disciples had the freedom to come to Jesus and report. There wasn’t a need to embellish or exaggerate their work. They are not in competition with each other. They have a broad confidence, an easiness and sureness about Him. Jesus is the easiest master to work for. Bob Dylan told us, “You gotta serve somebody.”
And serving Him is kind of demanding, but it is also a great and wonderful joy. Only those caught in the middle are miserable. They can’t make the choice. They’re in a tough place. We must pray for them.
“Done and taught.” The disciples have been active on their journey. They have travelled different directions. They work, and then they teach. And really that is all that disciple comes down to. Working, and talking. Talking, and working. I believe that it was significant that this would become the focal point, and bulk of their time with Jesus was essential. That tells me something. In some real sense, this is how we are to monitor and evaluate ourselves.
1) Do I gather onto Jesus with others?
2) Do I share with Him things that matter?
3) Do I evaluate my service with His light?
4) Do I tell Him everything– “honest and truthful?”
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.
As stumbling and struggling believers in God’s grace, we gather in a simple circle and wonder out loud. There are many things that perplex us. We share notes and try to make sense of our Father’s sovereignty and grace. Sometimes, it seems He is out to get us. I remember reading a saint, she said something like, “[God] no wonder you have so many enemies, when you treat your friends so shoddily.” (You can tell that I’m working on my attitude here.)
But it isn’t that he is out to “get” us. It is more like he is out to “make” us. A distraught woman who just lost her children in a house fire sobbed bitterly. It was obvious that she was completely broken and shattered. She turned to a close friend, “What is God doing to me?” Her dear friend, an older saint, quietly spoke with a profound wisdom. “Honey, He has just now started to make you.”
Beware of giving counsel. As I age, I’m starting to see how stupid that really is. The human heart has pain that only God, the Father can discern. I really think it is more important to love, than to be right. It has taken me decades to come to this place, and I’m still not sure I’ve settled into this. (But isn’t something God might come up with?)
We can guide, but we can’t direct. We can give out a road map, but honestly it seems that is the best we can do. I’m of the opinion that Job’s friends have a real need within themselves– to be “counselors.” They seem to fulfill a selfish interest when the give their friend directions. They want so much it seems, to be regarded as perceptive and astute. They seem to be like Boy Scouts trying to get their “merit badges.” Often people in ministry are this way. It’s like it is an occupational hazard, that pastors, elders and counselors must be aware of.
We live in a twisted world, and we are all trying to make our way through it. We often are clumsy and bumbling. But there is an acquired humility and a gentleness that drips slowly on our own hearts. This how wisdom is secured. This is a wonderful work of God’s grace that ends up changing us. Surely He is making us, and the promise is that when it is all said and done–we will be like Jesus.
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Broken Believers 