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In the Middle
I want to be in the middle of the battle
So that I can see your victory
I want to be lost in the middle of the ocean
Where your power washes over meI want to stand in the middle of the fire
So that my heart can be purified
Keep me in the middle of humiliation
That I would not know pride -
My Own Worst Enemy
Am I so concerned with my own rights and happiness that I trod on all others? Am I living as though the “ends justify the means?” Who am I that I deserve more than the next? Do I feel like I deserve something better? Perhaps the world owes me something? Maybe God owes me something! Since I got short-changed earlier in life, now that I am in Christ, do I feel He owes me a better life now?
Do I resent God for not providing it to me? And does that mean that I must accomplish it on my own? Because I deserve it, and if nobody else will give it to me, I guess I need to take it myself!
Am I constantly trying to make “my” world better so that I can be happier or more comfortable in my world? And what about everyone who gets to be part of my world? Do they deserve any of these same rights, or is it just me? Was I uniquely wronged or wounded in my past that I should get a free-pass and not be required to live out Jesus’ commands?
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I Am Free!
I am free.
I have been freed from the chains of the law. When I try to uphold the law and live according to the law—for the purposes of accomplishing the law—it leads to death
Romans 6:23 . The Apostle Paul spoke of this, and explained that it is through knowing the law that we are aware of our sinRomans 7:7 . But as it happened in the first century church, the moment that we attempt to live according to the law, we become bound to it. And once we are bound to the law, we are no longer free!Jesus has saved me and freed me from the law. While this does not make me lawless, it has given me the freedom to live a new life apart from the law. This is the very nature of the things that Paul taught. Jesus says that only through following his teachings—by obeying his commands—can I know the truth
John 8:31-32 . And only then can I truly be free from the very law that condemns me.Psalm 119 says,
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.”
Psalm 119:32 God revealed to me the plainness of the fact that, with God’s commands, I have boundaries. But these boundaries mark off a very large path! And within those boundaries, the path is leading on without obstacle, and I can run freely in it. The laws are the boundaries, not chains; not burdens. Only because the boundaries are visible, am I given the freedom to live, to work, to love, and to play within that space.
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Approaching the Throne
I approached God this morning on my knees. As my king, I approach the throne as his servant. Humbly requesting attendance with him. And I asked him to hold his blessings and his instructions for me until I confessed my sins to him.
I had to explain that I had sinned against him and his kingdom, and as a result he may need to reconsider his position. These very sins prevent me from being an effective servant in his kingdom, and before I continue to serve he must know of my transgressions so that he may judge me and determine my usefulness.
My greatest sin is pride. I so often see myself as more important than I am, and in a position of authority greater than I have been given.
By nature, I am a sluggard. I do not want to do anything, especially those things that are difficult. I have been given a responsibility to care for my body, and even have a gym membership that would allow me opportunity to better myself for his glory. But because I am lazy and selfish, I find it very difficult to adhere to any regular program.
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Convinced Our Words Can Change
We so often believe that if we could only say the right thing, we could change others’ hearts, minds, or attitudes. How arrogant we are!
Did not Jesus walk the earth? Did he not speak the words of truth to everyone? If, then, his direct words of love and truth did not always affect a change, why are we so convinced that our words can do more?
This is true for us whether we are sharing the gospel with a non-Christian or trying to convince a loved-one of our position, regardless of how “right” we believe we are, or what truth we are attempting to communicate.
Today we are challenged with this question when engaged in a discussion with a loved one:
Why am I trying to convince them? What is my motivation here?
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Seeing Myself as God Sees Me
I often wrestle with accepting my identity in Christ. While many characteristics have been given to me, and have transformed me into a new creation, I often find myself “held back” by seeing me as I have always been: broken and defective.
And while I have often considered the need to purposefully look at others through the eyes of God—so that I can more fully apply my Christ-like qualities toward them—I have discovered that I’ve never really thought of applying that logic to me directly.
Until recently, it never occurred to me to see myself as God sees me. But indeed, this is the key.
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Why Can’t God Abolish Evil?
Mankind was charged with leadership and dominion of all the animal kingdom. He was not just given authority and power, but responsibility. Many may mention, if not too casually, that freewill—the human ability to choose right and wrong—was part of the package.
I agree, it sounds too “convenient” for Christians to simply say that freewill is the reason for evil and suffering. But more importantly, that’s not really the question. The question many ask is, “In the face of evil, oppression and suffering, torture, mayhem, human trafficking, child molestation, murder, terrorism, etc., how could such a “loving God” allow all this evil to exist? Why doesn’t he raise a hand against it? Why doesn’t he just “fix it” all?”
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Stoop So Low
During my current study of the Gospel of John, attention has been brought to the situation at the Last Supper where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.
Being mindful that the author was retelling these stories some 40-50 years after the fact, and that he provides the special privilege of seeing and explaining to us both the practical and the spiritual implications of this and other events to which he testifies.
We’ve undoubtedly heard this event woven into at least one pastoral message at some point. But I’d like to share a couple of details that may have gone a little below the radar.
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I Was There
I was there in the garden early that day
To bring you and your companions to court
When the one you called “friend” had kissed your cheek
I wondered what I was really there forI was there when they brought you before the governor
When they said you claimed to be a king
But I saw in your eyes there was something more
A strange but wonderful thing -
It Was Me
Luke 22:47-23:34 I watched him in the garden
Greet his friend there with a kiss
Silent as he was led away
Though the soldiers had much to say
Against himI watched him in the courtyard
Afraid they’d take him too
With fear he denied he was a friend
On his courage he could not depend
AnymoreI watched them in the temple courts
As they accused and lied and screamed
They cursed him for all the right he’d done
I watched them as they beat him
And put thorns upon his head
“Crucify Him! He says he’s his father’s son!”I watched them as they led him
Up the long and winding road
They weeped for him along the way
Though they knew not what he’d done that day
Deserving thisI watched them as they stretched him out
Across a tree there on the ground
They took his clothes and bound him
Extending all his limbs
In painIt was clear now that this was an innocent man
And I shouted for them to stop
But my blood ran cold when he drove the nail
Through his wrist from bottom to top
I grabbed the soldier by the arm
And wrestled the hammer free
I cursed him for condemning an innocent man
But when the soldier turned I saw…That it was me
