Communion

“And they heard the sound of The Lord God walking in the garden…” Genesis 3: 8. (NASB)

“Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the son’s of Israel; and they beheld God, and they ate and drank.” Exodus 24: 9-11. (NASB)

These are a few verses that tell of times when Heaven and Earth were one, the seen and the unseen. God walks and talks with man. God even dines with men. I like these verses for they show what God wants from us. He wants us to be with Him. Heaven and Earth, the seen and the unseen, united together. In the garden, sin and rebellion separated man from God. On the mountain top the elders of Israel enjoyed God for a short time but again sin and rebellion separated them from the Eternal One. Once off the mountain top Israel turned from the living God and worshiped a man made god of gold. In the very first chapter of Ephesians we read how God had us in mind long before the foundations of the world were created. He has always wanted us to be with Him, eternally with Him in fellowship. God wants us to be with Him so much that He gave His own son to accomplish it. God became man, God came to earth physically. In the first chapter of 1st John, the elderly disciple speaks for all the first generation Christians who were with Jesus. John writes, “That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked at and our hands have touched…The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it.” 1 John 1: 1-2. (NIV) That first generation of Christians also walked, talked and dined with God. My motive for this post is simple. It is the same as John’s motive for writing 1 John. “We’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. We want you to enjoy this too.” 1 John 1: 3-4. (The Message)

Last

Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35. Simple verse isn’t it. Straight forward, clear, and understandable. So why do we want to rush past it and move on? In the previous verses the disciples are arguing among themselves who is the greatest follower of Jesus. Can’t you just imagine the thoughts going through the disciples minds as the argument unfolds? Peter may have been thinking about how Jesus had said to him “On this rock I will build My Church.” John or any of the other disciples might have been thinking that they were better than Peter because didn’t Jesus call him Satan? Isn’t that just like you and me to remember the good things we have done and only the shortcomings of others? Thoughts like these occur in all of our minds. But Jesus sets the disciples and us straight. If anyone wants to be great he must be last of all and servant of all.
Jesus also taught a parable on this that is very practical for us at our places of worship. And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them…, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor…But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place… Luke 14: 7&10. Where is the last place at Church? Usually the jobs that no one else wants to do. These are jobs where there will be no recognition. Every church has different needs so the last seat may differ from church to church. One of the great benefits of these jobs is that you won’t be fighting anyone else for the seat. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29&30. No struggling for position here. But the greatest benefit and I know of none better is that Jesus will think your great.

Bling

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 1: 8-9. Each week I have my son memorize a proverb. I show him which one and then we discuss it. For Garrett this verse will be important to him when he is not with us. Yes it is important that he listen to his parents but more importantly that he remembers what we have taught.
As I began to think about this proverb, I wondered what did my parents teach me that is like jewelry, what makes me look good, what makes me stand out? One of the shiniest pieces of jewelry that was given to me was honesty. Do not lie. Tell the truth. In a world where there are so many who stretch the truth about themselves in order to be significant, simple honesty in a person is beautiful. Good sportsmanship is something that I have not always done but was stubbornly taught in our household. Win or lose we are to be gracious, good character is to remain intact. The character of the individual is more important than winning. I remember at one of my little league baseball games I struck out and then hit the ground with the bat. I knew after I had done it that I would be spanked. I was not, but after the parental reprimand I knew I would not get off so easy next time. Today some would say my actions on the field shows virtue. To them hating to lose and a strong desire to win is what’s most important. The young child who throws a tantrum after a loss at tic tac toe would agree with them.
My jewelry is not unique. I find that my brother and sisters have the exact same pieces. I was blessed with parents that had much of this type of wealth.

Unchanging

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13: 8.

Since God is the same today as He has always been, God’s character in the Old Testament should match that of the New Testament. It seems that the difference between the Old and New Testaments is one of perspective. The Old focuses more on Israel and God’s dealing with the nations on Israel’s behalf. God protects Israel, from whom will come salvation for all nations and all men, Jesus Christ. The New Testament focuses on Christ life, death, and resurrection. It tells of the spread of the Gospel, the good news, the church. It is concerned with only one kingdom, the Kingdom of God.
In the Old Testament the relationships between God and the individuals who trust in Him are lovely. In the book of Genesis, I like the passages where God takes care of women who are in bad situations by no fault of their own. I love the verbs attributed to God. Sarah’s pregnant maidservant, Hagar, runs away. Sarah has become jealous and abusive because of the pregnancy. God is so gracious. In chapter 16 scripture states that God found Hagar, God heard Hagar, God answered Hagar. The Angel of God appeared to Hagar. God’s grace was so great that it gave Hagar strength to do what God wanted her to do, go back and put up with the abuse. Hagar was so amazed that she calls God the “God who sees me!” God was also gracious to Sarah for He fulfilled His promise to her and she in her old age became pregnant with Isaac.
Leah and Rachel were sisters married to the same man because of the deceit of their father. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Scripture states in chapter 29 that God realized Leah was unloved. God opened her womb. God saw her misery. God heard her prayers. God gave her sons. God is so compassionate, He didn’t stop there. In this rivalry both sides felt hurt, both sides felt pain. God was gracious to both. Rachel also had children from her maidservant and then herself. Rachel says of God, “He took my side, He vindicated me, He listened to me, He gave me a son, He remembered me, He rewarded me.” The God of the Old is the God of the New, the same love and the same gracious acts.

So Jacob sent word for Rachel and Leah to meet him out in the field where his flocks were. He said, “I notice that your father has changed toward me; he doesn’t treat me the same as before. But the God of my father hasn’t changed; He’s still with me.
Genesis 31: 4-5.

Inspiration

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.” Revelation 12: 11. On my post, What is a Man Worth, I received a comment, “God died for me, would I do the same?” Good question. It is clear from the New Testament that we, if necessary, are to do just that, to be loyal to Christ even unto death. Eleven of the twelve disciples were martyred. In their deaths they gave the world one of the great proofs of the resurrection of Jesus. Men will not die for a hoax. They will not die for a lie. They saw the risen Lord and they died horrible, painful deaths in the confidence that they would be with Him.
The Apostle Paul and most of his church planting companions were martyred, Barnabas, Silas, Aristarchus, Secundus, Sopater, Titus, Timothy, Gaius, John Mark, Aquila, and Luke. Thousands upon thousands of first and second generation Christians were executed because they would not proclaim Caesar as Lord. The early church father Polycarp while being led to his execution was asked to proclaim Caesar as Lord. He replied, “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” And as he waited to be burned alive he prayed, “I give thanks that You have counted me worthy of this day and this hour.”
Today in many countries, Christians risk their lives by professing faith in Christ. Anti- conversion laws have been written. Churches are burned, Christians beaten, arrested, taken away, imprisoned and yes some are being killed.
And so the question remains, am I; are you, willing to die for Him? Am I; are you, willing to remain loyal to Christ and give up living the comfortable way? If we can’t do the latter I doubt we can do the former. The truth of Revelation 12: 11 is if we remain loyal in our lifestyle and our deaths, if we choose loyalty to Christ and suffer we defeat the “great dragon, that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan who leads the whole world astray.” Revelation 12: 9.
Our Father, “deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.

Pray for the persecuted Church.