- Jesus' appearance changed while He was praying (verse 29, italics added for emphasis). He had taken Peter, John, and James up to the mountain to pray, and God's glory fell on Him once he started praying. The same verse says Jesus' clothing became "white" and "gleaming." My Bible says that the word "gleaming" here literally means "flashing like lightning." So pretty much VERY glorious. :o) The take-home lesson I got here? Miraculous things happen when we pray. The very atmosphere can shift, as well as ourselves. But we can't expect God to move if we're not praying for Him to do so.
- Peter and the other two disciples had fallen asleep while Jesus was praying (is it just me or do they seem to do that a lot in the Gospels?). It wasn't until they were fully awake that they saw God's glory manifested in Jesus' appearance as well as in Moses and Elijah who had appeared and were talking with Him (verses 30-32). So we can't be spiritually "out of it" if we want to see God's glory. There's no way around it...you have to be fully awake to see.
- "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles..." (Peter, verse 33). It had to have been indescribably amazing and wonderful to be on that mountain during the Transfiguration. Why else would Peter want to stay there permanently? Getting even a taste of God's glory always leaves us wanting more.
- In verse 37, they "came down from the mountain." In the verses following, Jesus heals the demon-possessed boy when the disciples were unable to do it. In verse 38, the boy is described as the only child. In that culture and time, having boys was important and preferred; I bet having just one boy made for one very over-protective parent! My translation says another word for "only" in this case is "begotten." Which of course made me think of John 3:16; Jesus was, and is, also the "only begotten son." Perhaps that's why the demon held on to the boy so tightly.
- When Jesus rebuked the demon and healed the boy, the people watching were "all amazed by the greatness of God" (verse 42). God shows His glory everywhere, not just on the mountaintop. Even in the worst of circumstances, His majesty is there. Prayer can change the appearance of the situation so that His glory can be found in the difficult and the ugly.
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
September 13, 2012
lessons from the transfiguration
I recently re-read Luke's account of the Transfiguration of Jesus (9:28-45). Here are some things I learned that had not jumped out at me previously:
December 9, 2011
never lose the wonder.
I confess, I've been neglecting this blog. Really, I've been neglecting my time with Him. It seems so much easier to go about my day and keep myself busy with projects rather than turn to the only One who can offer healing. With each day, He offers me new mercies anyway, and reveals Himself in ways I never expect. I feel so unworthy, but He sees me as gold.
Let me share something with you that He has taught me this week. My almost two-year-old son recently learned the word "Almighty" from listening to a Third Day worship song. My husband and I were impressed, and immediately encouraged him to also say "Jesus." Let me tell you, whenever my son says the name of Jesus, his face lights up. His countenance changes and it's like he KNOWS he's talking about Someone who's just wonderful. Even though he's young and still doesn't have all of the knowledge yet, I really think God has already placed the wonder of all that He is in my toddler's heart.
It reminds me of that scene in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe when the Pevensie children have all entered Narnia and are sitting down with the Beavers. Mr. Beaver tells them that Aslan is on the move, and immediately the atmosphere in the room seems to change.
"And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don't understand but in the dream it feels as if it had some enormous meaning -- either a terrifying one which turns the whole dream into a nightmare or else a lovely meaning too lovely to put into words, which makes the dream so beautiful that you remember it all your life and are always wishing you could get into that dream again. It was like that now. At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer."
I have to confess, this is one of my favorite passages in the whole Narnia series. And the movie adaptation does a great job at conveying what C.S. Lewis was describing here. At the name of Aslan, you see the expressions of the children's faces drastically change, as if they had just heard something very profound and life-changing, and each of them conveying it in a different way.
It might be a stretch, but when I see my young son's face light up when he speaks the name of Jesus, I like to think that perhaps he is also feeling as if a delightful strain of music is floating by. Or maybe he's feeling more brave and adventurous. Or maybe he's feeling something totally unique that he couldn't describe even if he had the ability to tell me. I'm just excited that he's already open to the wonder of all that Jesus is. And when he's old enough to learn about how Jesus walked the earth and died for our sins so that he could have a relationship with Him for all eternity, I'm hoping it'll just be more pieces to the puzzle snapping into place. How amazing that will be.
I hate to admit it, but it turns out you can learn something from your kid. Am I allowing the wonder of Jesus into my life? I want to get to the point where even the mention of his name changes my face as well as the atmosphere in the room. Thank You Lord for teaching me and loving me even when I don't find the time to crack open my Bible. Show me more of Your wonder.
Let me share something with you that He has taught me this week. My almost two-year-old son recently learned the word "Almighty" from listening to a Third Day worship song. My husband and I were impressed, and immediately encouraged him to also say "Jesus." Let me tell you, whenever my son says the name of Jesus, his face lights up. His countenance changes and it's like he KNOWS he's talking about Someone who's just wonderful. Even though he's young and still doesn't have all of the knowledge yet, I really think God has already placed the wonder of all that He is in my toddler's heart.
It reminds me of that scene in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe when the Pevensie children have all entered Narnia and are sitting down with the Beavers. Mr. Beaver tells them that Aslan is on the move, and immediately the atmosphere in the room seems to change.
"And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don't understand but in the dream it feels as if it had some enormous meaning -- either a terrifying one which turns the whole dream into a nightmare or else a lovely meaning too lovely to put into words, which makes the dream so beautiful that you remember it all your life and are always wishing you could get into that dream again. It was like that now. At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer."
I have to confess, this is one of my favorite passages in the whole Narnia series. And the movie adaptation does a great job at conveying what C.S. Lewis was describing here. At the name of Aslan, you see the expressions of the children's faces drastically change, as if they had just heard something very profound and life-changing, and each of them conveying it in a different way.
It might be a stretch, but when I see my young son's face light up when he speaks the name of Jesus, I like to think that perhaps he is also feeling as if a delightful strain of music is floating by. Or maybe he's feeling more brave and adventurous. Or maybe he's feeling something totally unique that he couldn't describe even if he had the ability to tell me. I'm just excited that he's already open to the wonder of all that Jesus is. And when he's old enough to learn about how Jesus walked the earth and died for our sins so that he could have a relationship with Him for all eternity, I'm hoping it'll just be more pieces to the puzzle snapping into place. How amazing that will be.
I hate to admit it, but it turns out you can learn something from your kid. Am I allowing the wonder of Jesus into my life? I want to get to the point where even the mention of his name changes my face as well as the atmosphere in the room. Thank You Lord for teaching me and loving me even when I don't find the time to crack open my Bible. Show me more of Your wonder.
September 14, 2011
what I've learned from Naomi.
This morning I was looking through past entries in my journal. I mostly use my journal for jotting down sermon notes and devotionals, as well as any dreams or words of knowledge that God gives me for myself or others. I find it particularly interesting to go back one year and see where I was and maybe (hopefully) see how much I've changed.
Around this time last year, underneath a Sunday message, I had this jotted down....
"The name 'Naomi' has been on my heart for awhile now, and I wasn't sure why until this morning when we got to ministry time [a time in our service where people can go up if they want prayer]. I was praying to God about risk-taking and stepping out [the very point of the message I had just heard!] and He brought up Naomi again. He told me that up till now I've been more of a Naomi than a Ruth; stuck living in a cave, grieving my losses while someone else goes out and gathers sheaves. He's calling me out to be more like Ruth in my boldness to step out and work in His kingdom, but to also maintain the wisdom Naomi had to instruct Ruth on how to do so."
Remember the story of Mary and Martha, and how Mary chose the better part by lingering at Jesus' feet rather than jumping up to help Martha in the kitchen? I think a balance between the two is required of us most days; spending that precious time with our Heavenly Father, while still serving others and doing our little part to further the Kingdom.
The same is true in the case of Naomi and Ruth. We tend to sympathize more with Ruth (and why not? The whole book is named after her, not to mention she's the one who lands herself a husband and a son by the end!), but let's not forget what Naomi can teach us. This is a woman whose worst nightmare came true. She lost her husband and two sons, and was forced to return to her homeland in order to have any hope of surviving on her own. And she was blessed with the company of Ruth, her widowed daughter-in-law who refused to leave her. Ruth gathered sheaves in the fields of their kinsmen-redeemer, Boaz, and long story short, the two got married and blessed Naomi with a grandson to care for.
I'm not sure why, but I always picture them living in a cave when they got to Bethlehem. Maybe I read that somewhere else, but my Bible doesn't say they did. But even if they didn't live in a physical cave, you have to agree that Naomi was dwelling in an emotional one for sure. She even told her friends, "I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty" (Ruth 1:21). She stayed in that cave while Ruth went out to keep them fed.
But Naomi still had a purpose. She lovingly advised Ruth when it came to gleaning in Boaz's fields, and kind of played matchmaker in a way (check out her counsel that led to the somewhat-shocking threshing floor proposal in chapter 3!). Although she felt that God had afflicted her (1:21), Naomi still retained His love and wisdom, and allowed those things to manifest themselves in her dealings with Ruth to bless her as well. And because of her faith in the midst of grief and uncertainty, Naomi became the catalyst that led to not only a marriage, but to the restoration of her name and family, as well as the birth of the child Obed who's in the very lineage of Jesus Christ.
So I think it's okay to have a little Naomi in all of us. That part of us may get scared or emotional in times of struggle, but as long as we remain faithful in the One who is guiding us through, the wisdom and love He pours out on us can certainly spill onto others. But don't be afraid of having a little Ruth in you either, since some difficult times also require us to roll up our sleeves and get to work in the fields, all the while receiving counsel from other wise Christians. It's all about balance. Some situations require more Naomi than Ruth, or vice versa. Just don't write Naomi off. All you have to do is read Ruth's story to see she was more important to the outcome than most of us realize!
Around this time last year, underneath a Sunday message, I had this jotted down....
"The name 'Naomi' has been on my heart for awhile now, and I wasn't sure why until this morning when we got to ministry time [a time in our service where people can go up if they want prayer]. I was praying to God about risk-taking and stepping out [the very point of the message I had just heard!] and He brought up Naomi again. He told me that up till now I've been more of a Naomi than a Ruth; stuck living in a cave, grieving my losses while someone else goes out and gathers sheaves. He's calling me out to be more like Ruth in my boldness to step out and work in His kingdom, but to also maintain the wisdom Naomi had to instruct Ruth on how to do so."
Remember the story of Mary and Martha, and how Mary chose the better part by lingering at Jesus' feet rather than jumping up to help Martha in the kitchen? I think a balance between the two is required of us most days; spending that precious time with our Heavenly Father, while still serving others and doing our little part to further the Kingdom.
The same is true in the case of Naomi and Ruth. We tend to sympathize more with Ruth (and why not? The whole book is named after her, not to mention she's the one who lands herself a husband and a son by the end!), but let's not forget what Naomi can teach us. This is a woman whose worst nightmare came true. She lost her husband and two sons, and was forced to return to her homeland in order to have any hope of surviving on her own. And she was blessed with the company of Ruth, her widowed daughter-in-law who refused to leave her. Ruth gathered sheaves in the fields of their kinsmen-redeemer, Boaz, and long story short, the two got married and blessed Naomi with a grandson to care for.
I'm not sure why, but I always picture them living in a cave when they got to Bethlehem. Maybe I read that somewhere else, but my Bible doesn't say they did. But even if they didn't live in a physical cave, you have to agree that Naomi was dwelling in an emotional one for sure. She even told her friends, "I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty" (Ruth 1:21). She stayed in that cave while Ruth went out to keep them fed.
But Naomi still had a purpose. She lovingly advised Ruth when it came to gleaning in Boaz's fields, and kind of played matchmaker in a way (check out her counsel that led to the somewhat-shocking threshing floor proposal in chapter 3!). Although she felt that God had afflicted her (1:21), Naomi still retained His love and wisdom, and allowed those things to manifest themselves in her dealings with Ruth to bless her as well. And because of her faith in the midst of grief and uncertainty, Naomi became the catalyst that led to not only a marriage, but to the restoration of her name and family, as well as the birth of the child Obed who's in the very lineage of Jesus Christ.
So I think it's okay to have a little Naomi in all of us. That part of us may get scared or emotional in times of struggle, but as long as we remain faithful in the One who is guiding us through, the wisdom and love He pours out on us can certainly spill onto others. But don't be afraid of having a little Ruth in you either, since some difficult times also require us to roll up our sleeves and get to work in the fields, all the while receiving counsel from other wise Christians. It's all about balance. Some situations require more Naomi than Ruth, or vice versa. Just don't write Naomi off. All you have to do is read Ruth's story to see she was more important to the outcome than most of us realize!
March 17, 2011
new things.
"Behold, the former things have come to pass. Now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you." Isaiah 42:9
Am I the only one who's immediately transported back to circa 1993 when reading this verse? Come on, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. If you were in any kind of youth group back then, you know everyone was all over dcTalk and sang "Nu Thang" with reckless abandon. Or maybe that cassette was released before 1993, and I was just very slow with that trend. Who knows. Guess that's why I said "circa." But I digress. :o)
The first part of Isaiah 42 is a really awesome prophecy about Jesus (another reason why I love my New American Standard Bible; this version capitalizes pronouns attributed to the Trinity, so there's no confusion about who the writer is talking about!). Jesus is described as God's chosen one (verse 1) who will "faithfully bring forth justice" (verse 3).
And how will he bring forth justice? By opening the eyes of the blind and releasing captives from prisons (verse 7). I used to read this in a literal way, but God has shown me lately that there are more ways to be blind than in a physical fashion, and there are myriad of internal or spiritual prisons that can hold us captive.
Really, until we find Jesus and trust Him with our lives, we are all blind to the fact that we need a Savior. We can be blind to the needs of the poor or blind to patterns of sin in our lives. Jesus came to open our eyes to these "spiritual cataracts" so nothing will blur our focus on Him and what He wants to do with us. He trades our blind eyes for new eyes, in a way.
And we might find ourselves trapped in prisons of addiction, temptation, out-of-control emotions, or those same patterns of sin mentioned before. I know one of my main "prisons" is depression. God has had to release me from that prison again and again, and really it's only because of Him that I'm walking free of that today. Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10); a life in prison does not allow for any kind of abundance, unless it's an abundance of pain and regret. With our release from prison comes a new lease on an abundant life, and the realization that as long as we're walking in-step with Jesus, there's no reason that we have to go back to our prison again.
The best part is, God declares the "new things" He has in store for us before they even happen (check out verse 9 again)!. Meaning He won't wait until your eyes have been opened or the prison door swings open to show you the promise He has planned out for you. That's His blessing for us. He may not reveal specifics, but He does offer the promise of new things again and again. In the midst of our pain and darkness, He peels back the curtain just a bit to reveal the light on the other side, which illuminates the new things He wants to do in our lives if only we ask Him to help us see with new eyes and walk in new freedom.
Trust in Him. He holds the salve for your blinded eyes and the keys to your prison cell. He wants to do a new thing for you!
August 24, 2010
Living Water
"Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation." Isaiah 12:3
Isaiah 12 is a brief but poignant chapter that focuses on thanksgiving. In the previous chapter, Isaiah prophesies about the reign of Jesus and how His faithful remnant will be restored. Such words of promise can only lead to songs of praise!
In verse 3, the prophet says that because God is our salvation and we have no reason to fear, we will "joyously draw water from the springs of salvation." I noticed in my Bible that the phrase "draw water" had a couple of New Testament references as well, both in the Gospel of John:
So seek after that living water that can only come from Him. Allow your thirsty spirit to partake of the only water that will truly satisfy. And remember, one drink is never enough!
"My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1
Isaiah 12 is a brief but poignant chapter that focuses on thanksgiving. In the previous chapter, Isaiah prophesies about the reign of Jesus and how His faithful remnant will be restored. Such words of promise can only lead to songs of praise!
In verse 3, the prophet says that because God is our salvation and we have no reason to fear, we will "joyously draw water from the springs of salvation." I noticed in my Bible that the phrase "draw water" had a couple of New Testament references as well, both in the Gospel of John:
- John 4:10: Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman at the well and tells her that living water comes from God.
- John 7:37-38: Jesus cries out in the midst of a feast, saying "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me...'from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
- Jeremiah 2:13: God says through His prophet Jeremiah that His people have forsaken Him, "the fountain of living waters," and have made their own cisterns that have no hope of holding any water.
- The water we draw from His springs of salvation is living water. It comes from Jesus Himself; His death and resurrection allowed us access to the living water. We draw from His spring with both JOY (Isaiah 12:3) and BELIEF since we obtain the living water by believing in Jesus (John 7:37). It is active and constant, and flows through our hearts. We have a thirst that can only be quenched by a constant supply of living water. Living water brings us not only salvation, but a deeper revelation of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God Himself. Forsaking the true Source of living water causes drought in our lives, and attempting to find it on our own (via "broken cisterns") also leads to drought.
So seek after that living water that can only come from Him. Allow your thirsty spirit to partake of the only water that will truly satisfy. And remember, one drink is never enough!
"My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1
August 16, 2010
Arrogant Axes
"Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?" Isaiah 10:15
In the tenth chapter of Isaiah, God turns His anger on the Assyrians, a nation that He initially uses as His "instrument" to attack His own people because of their prideful ways. Apparently arrogance is a universal thing, no matter who you are or who you follow, because God speaks these words through Isaiah concerning the Assyrian ruler: "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness" (verse 12). The king gives himself credit for everything his nation has plundered and destroyed, saying, "by the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this" (verse 13). God compares the king's blatant and unapologetic pride to an axe that "boasts itself over the one who chops with it" in verse 15. An axe, like any other inanimate object, cannot perform its purpose without a more powerful entity taking it up and manipulating it in such a way as to create a result. An axe cannot chop wood by itself. Similarly, the nation of Assyria, and more specifically its king, could not have successfully invaded and plundered Israel without God's intervention.
Granted, the hearts of the Assyrians are hardened; Isaiah even says that the nation does not "intend" to trample God's people, but does so because "it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations" (verse 7). Much like it is the axe's purpose to cut wood, it is the Assyrians' purpose to destroy; they face their own destruction because of their haughtiness and godlessness. However, we as God's children can learn from this mistaken way of thinking; in fact, it is the Israelites' pride that caused the Assyrians' attack to begin with (see previous post and Isaiah 9:8-21). Exalting ourselves for the blessings God gives us is not only wrong, but harmful to our relationship with Him. We become deluded into thinking that we have everything under control and can do anything using our own power and devices. Remember the vine and the branches? Jesus said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). God wants to use us for His purposes, and it can be very exciting to see just what we're capable of with His help and grace. But the minute we choose to take credit for what He's done or to exalt ourselves using the gifts He gives us, we become no better than the Assyrians. Our hearts will become hard and we will bring about our own destruction.
Ask God for His help; come before Him as His child who is helpless without Him. Bring Him your empty hands to be filled with His gifts, and ask Him what He would have you do for His kingdom. And most important, exalt the One who allows you to represent Him in such wonderful and astounding ways. Remember, we are but axes who need powerful hands to fulfill a great purpose; apart from Him we can do nothing.
In the tenth chapter of Isaiah, God turns His anger on the Assyrians, a nation that He initially uses as His "instrument" to attack His own people because of their prideful ways. Apparently arrogance is a universal thing, no matter who you are or who you follow, because God speaks these words through Isaiah concerning the Assyrian ruler: "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness" (verse 12). The king gives himself credit for everything his nation has plundered and destroyed, saying, "by the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this" (verse 13). God compares the king's blatant and unapologetic pride to an axe that "boasts itself over the one who chops with it" in verse 15. An axe, like any other inanimate object, cannot perform its purpose without a more powerful entity taking it up and manipulating it in such a way as to create a result. An axe cannot chop wood by itself. Similarly, the nation of Assyria, and more specifically its king, could not have successfully invaded and plundered Israel without God's intervention.
Granted, the hearts of the Assyrians are hardened; Isaiah even says that the nation does not "intend" to trample God's people, but does so because "it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations" (verse 7). Much like it is the axe's purpose to cut wood, it is the Assyrians' purpose to destroy; they face their own destruction because of their haughtiness and godlessness. However, we as God's children can learn from this mistaken way of thinking; in fact, it is the Israelites' pride that caused the Assyrians' attack to begin with (see previous post and Isaiah 9:8-21). Exalting ourselves for the blessings God gives us is not only wrong, but harmful to our relationship with Him. We become deluded into thinking that we have everything under control and can do anything using our own power and devices. Remember the vine and the branches? Jesus said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). God wants to use us for His purposes, and it can be very exciting to see just what we're capable of with His help and grace. But the minute we choose to take credit for what He's done or to exalt ourselves using the gifts He gives us, we become no better than the Assyrians. Our hearts will become hard and we will bring about our own destruction.
Ask God for His help; come before Him as His child who is helpless without Him. Bring Him your empty hands to be filled with His gifts, and ask Him what He would have you do for His kingdom. And most important, exalt the One who allows you to represent Him in such wonderful and astounding ways. Remember, we are but axes who need powerful hands to fulfill a great purpose; apart from Him we can do nothing.
July 19, 2010
Good Grapes
"...Then He expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones." Isaiah 5:2
With Isaiah 5 comes a parable of a vineyard. It describes God diligently working in His vineyard, which in the end only produces worthless grapes. So in turn God rebukes His vineyard and leaves it to the weeds (verses 5-6). A similar thing happens in over in the New Testament in which Jesus rebukes a fig tree for not producing fruit, and so it withers and never produces fruit again (Matthew 21:18-19).
For those of us who grew up learning about parables, it's not difficult to deduce the meaning behind this one. Even so, the seventh verse in Isaiah 5 explains it for us anyway: "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant." So rather than producing good fruit for the Lord, His people are instead producing worthless fruit (or worse, no fruit at all).
Why is this? The conditions for yielding good grapes seem ideal in this vineyard: it's planted on a fertile hill (verse 1), and the Lord Himself has worked within it. He digs all around, removes stones, and above all, He plants the "choicest vine" (verse 2). And it is clear that God expects good fruit to come from His vineyard, as he builds a tower and a wine vat within the vineyard in anticipation of the upcoming harvest (also in verse 2). So we can't blame any of the conditions within the vineyard; indeed, God Himself even asks, "What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have no done in it" (verse 4)?
I think the problem is within the "grapes" themselves. The next group of verses in Isaiah 5 are titled "woes for the wicked" in my Bible (NASB translation). These woes describe the sins of God's people that resulted in their present, "sour grapes" condition. These sins include drunkenness (verses 11-12), pride (verses 15 and 21), lying (verses 18-20), and justifying the sins of others (verse 23). They suffer because of their lack of knowledge of God's righteousness and power (verse 13), and also because they have rejected the law of the One who first planted them (verse 24). These "grapes" were nothing before God chose them for His vineyard, yet they refuse to be anything more if it means depending on Him.
So how are we to be good grapes? The answer comes from Jesus Himself: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). If we abide in Him, we will bear fruit, and not just any kind of fruit, but the GOOD kind, since Christ is the actual vine we get our nourishment from. This means depending on him, since "the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me" (John 15:4). That would be like a lone branch lying on the soil, fully expecting to grow and bear fruit apart from the vine from which it came. It just doesn't work, and likewise it doesn't work for us, either, if we try to live apart from God. So study His word. Pray often. Develop the gifts He has given you. Resist sin and other temptations. And don't be afraid of God's discipline; He is only "pruning" us so we can bear even more fruit for His glory (John 15:2):
"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:8). May our ultimate concern be to bring glory to His name and to bear GOOD fruit for His kingdom.
For those of us who grew up learning about parables, it's not difficult to deduce the meaning behind this one. Even so, the seventh verse in Isaiah 5 explains it for us anyway: "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant." So rather than producing good fruit for the Lord, His people are instead producing worthless fruit (or worse, no fruit at all).
Why is this? The conditions for yielding good grapes seem ideal in this vineyard: it's planted on a fertile hill (verse 1), and the Lord Himself has worked within it. He digs all around, removes stones, and above all, He plants the "choicest vine" (verse 2). And it is clear that God expects good fruit to come from His vineyard, as he builds a tower and a wine vat within the vineyard in anticipation of the upcoming harvest (also in verse 2). So we can't blame any of the conditions within the vineyard; indeed, God Himself even asks, "What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have no done in it" (verse 4)?
I think the problem is within the "grapes" themselves. The next group of verses in Isaiah 5 are titled "woes for the wicked" in my Bible (NASB translation). These woes describe the sins of God's people that resulted in their present, "sour grapes" condition. These sins include drunkenness (verses 11-12), pride (verses 15 and 21), lying (verses 18-20), and justifying the sins of others (verse 23). They suffer because of their lack of knowledge of God's righteousness and power (verse 13), and also because they have rejected the law of the One who first planted them (verse 24). These "grapes" were nothing before God chose them for His vineyard, yet they refuse to be anything more if it means depending on Him.
So how are we to be good grapes? The answer comes from Jesus Himself: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). If we abide in Him, we will bear fruit, and not just any kind of fruit, but the GOOD kind, since Christ is the actual vine we get our nourishment from. This means depending on him, since "the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me" (John 15:4). That would be like a lone branch lying on the soil, fully expecting to grow and bear fruit apart from the vine from which it came. It just doesn't work, and likewise it doesn't work for us, either, if we try to live apart from God. So study His word. Pray often. Develop the gifts He has given you. Resist sin and other temptations. And don't be afraid of God's discipline; He is only "pruning" us so we can bear even more fruit for His glory (John 15:2):
"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:8). May our ultimate concern be to bring glory to His name and to bear GOOD fruit for His kingdom.
July 17, 2010
The spirit of burning
"When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning..." Isaiah 4:4
The fourth chapter of Isaiah describes a time where God creates and protects a remnant of His children. The above verse caught my eye because my Bible indicated that the phrase "spirit of burning" had a similar occurrence over in the book of Matthew. This time, John the Baptist is the one prophesying. He says of Jesus, "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (3:11).
Two different prophets. Two different testaments. Two different references. Or are they actually very similar? Think about it. In Isaiah 4:4, "purge" also means to "rinse away," which reminds me of what happens during a baptism. Our sin is washed away by Jesus' blood when we believe in His name, and that "rinsing away" is demonstrated further when we are baptized in His name. In a way, we're using water to symbolize how God's fire actually works.
In addition, if you read one verse further in Matthew, you'll see that John the Baptist elaborates on this fire idea; he prophesies that Jesus will "clear His threshing floor" and "burn off the chaff with unquenchable fire" (verse 12). This mirrors with what we read in Isaiah 4; the "filth" and "bloodshed" are basically the chaff that is burned away by God's fire to create His remnant.
Notice the dual result of God's fire: It destroys what is evil, but it also cleanses and refines what is good. It "burns off" our sin and then purifies us so we can be more like Him. The same fire He will use to create His remnant on Mount Zion is the same fire He uses now when He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit.
So what does it mean to be baptized with His fire? The first thing that comes to my mind is POWER. The moment we are baptized with God's fire, we become more powerful for His purposes than we ever thought possible. The same Holy Spirit that fell on the disciples in Acts is the same that dwells in us, and when you read about all that happened AFTER that day of Pentecost, that's pretty incredible. So be confident in the One who gave you this fire and causes it to burn in you still. He has great plans for all of us if we would just allow His fire to work in us and through us for the good of His kingdom. Let His fire burn off the chaff within you so nothing will hold you back from all that He has intended for you. And allow it to cleanse you so you'll become more like Him.
The fourth chapter of Isaiah describes a time where God creates and protects a remnant of His children. The above verse caught my eye because my Bible indicated that the phrase "spirit of burning" had a similar occurrence over in the book of Matthew. This time, John the Baptist is the one prophesying. He says of Jesus, "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (3:11).
Two different prophets. Two different testaments. Two different references. Or are they actually very similar? Think about it. In Isaiah 4:4, "purge" also means to "rinse away," which reminds me of what happens during a baptism. Our sin is washed away by Jesus' blood when we believe in His name, and that "rinsing away" is demonstrated further when we are baptized in His name. In a way, we're using water to symbolize how God's fire actually works.
In addition, if you read one verse further in Matthew, you'll see that John the Baptist elaborates on this fire idea; he prophesies that Jesus will "clear His threshing floor" and "burn off the chaff with unquenchable fire" (verse 12). This mirrors with what we read in Isaiah 4; the "filth" and "bloodshed" are basically the chaff that is burned away by God's fire to create His remnant.
Notice the dual result of God's fire: It destroys what is evil, but it also cleanses and refines what is good. It "burns off" our sin and then purifies us so we can be more like Him. The same fire He will use to create His remnant on Mount Zion is the same fire He uses now when He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit.
So what does it mean to be baptized with His fire? The first thing that comes to my mind is POWER. The moment we are baptized with God's fire, we become more powerful for His purposes than we ever thought possible. The same Holy Spirit that fell on the disciples in Acts is the same that dwells in us, and when you read about all that happened AFTER that day of Pentecost, that's pretty incredible. So be confident in the One who gave you this fire and causes it to burn in you still. He has great plans for all of us if we would just allow His fire to work in us and through us for the good of His kingdom. Let His fire burn off the chaff within you so nothing will hold you back from all that He has intended for you. And allow it to cleanse you so you'll become more like Him.
July 13, 2010
watered-down truth
"Your silver has become dross, your drink diluted with water." Isaiah 1:22
Last night my husband and I started reading Isaiah together. It's a book full of prophetic utterances that are still relevant today in these end times. I skimmed over the above verse without thinking too much about it until my husband highlighted it for me, explaining that the "drink diluted with water" represents the act of diluting the truth with those things that are not true.
You can think of countless examples of this almost immediately. We are told through the media and through (unfortunately) popular opinion that an unborn child is not really alive until it is born, therefore abortion is okay. The production and distribution of pornography is really just "freedom of speech" being carried out. True, there are thousands of people living in poverty in the U.S. alone, but don't worry, take care of yourself. Everyday we are bombarded with some version of the truth, but it is often airbrushed, covered up, masked, or diluted with lies from those with ulterior motives.
The Enemy doesn't want us to seek after the truth, because he knows that it weakens his grip on our hearts and minds. Jesus called Satan the "father of lies" in the book of John, saying that lying is his native language (8:44). I once heard a saying that Satan will often tell us things that are true, but he never tells us the actual truth. Yes, it's TRUE that living here on earth is a struggle, but the TRUTH is that this place is not our home. The Enemy knows that if we only focus on what is "true," we will never go any further than that to seek out the full "truth."
On the other hand, all God tells us is the truth, and that truth is found on every page of His Word. Just take a look at the Gospels and how Jesus spoke to His followers. Go to www.biblegateway.com and type in "Jesus truth" in the keyword search. See how many examples pop up where Jesus says, "I tell you the truth"? And remember John 14:6 where He says He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life? The truth is, God IS the truth. "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill" (Numbers 23:19)?
If we are to be imitators of God, we are to walk not just in His love but in His truth. In a world that constantly presents us with watered-down truth, let us be the ones who are willing to speak God's truth AS IS as His unashamed children.
"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. " Ephesians 4:14-15
Last night my husband and I started reading Isaiah together. It's a book full of prophetic utterances that are still relevant today in these end times. I skimmed over the above verse without thinking too much about it until my husband highlighted it for me, explaining that the "drink diluted with water" represents the act of diluting the truth with those things that are not true.
You can think of countless examples of this almost immediately. We are told through the media and through (unfortunately) popular opinion that an unborn child is not really alive until it is born, therefore abortion is okay. The production and distribution of pornography is really just "freedom of speech" being carried out. True, there are thousands of people living in poverty in the U.S. alone, but don't worry, take care of yourself. Everyday we are bombarded with some version of the truth, but it is often airbrushed, covered up, masked, or diluted with lies from those with ulterior motives.
The Enemy doesn't want us to seek after the truth, because he knows that it weakens his grip on our hearts and minds. Jesus called Satan the "father of lies" in the book of John, saying that lying is his native language (8:44). I once heard a saying that Satan will often tell us things that are true, but he never tells us the actual truth. Yes, it's TRUE that living here on earth is a struggle, but the TRUTH is that this place is not our home. The Enemy knows that if we only focus on what is "true," we will never go any further than that to seek out the full "truth."
On the other hand, all God tells us is the truth, and that truth is found on every page of His Word. Just take a look at the Gospels and how Jesus spoke to His followers. Go to www.biblegateway.com and type in "Jesus truth" in the keyword search. See how many examples pop up where Jesus says, "I tell you the truth"? And remember John 14:6 where He says He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life? The truth is, God IS the truth. "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill" (Numbers 23:19)?
If we are to be imitators of God, we are to walk not just in His love but in His truth. In a world that constantly presents us with watered-down truth, let us be the ones who are willing to speak God's truth AS IS as His unashamed children.
"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. " Ephesians 4:14-15
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