There are people who seem to be fingernails on the chalkboard of my life. I hear the Holy Spirit saying, when they enter my "space", to love them and give grace. There is no "eagerness" there for me and more often than not I avoid them or removed them from my life. I think this might be a perfect example of the opposite of this passage and frankly the three previous chapters in Ephesians.
Here's what I gleaned this morning after reading Ephesians 4:1-16, actually I did not get past verse 8.
I am rarely "eager" to maintain unity. Most of the time the opposite is true, I want justice and vindication at all cost. I want to be right and I want to be heard. I believe that flies in the face of "eager for unity". This is my flesh rising up, certainly not the life Paul is describing.
The words that preface this "eagerness" are. . .
Walk in a manner worthy of the calling
Humility, gentleness and bearing one another in love.
As believers we are all called. Paul has laid that foundation in the previous chapters. The evidence of the calling is walking is an attitude of humility, gentleness, love. It looks like "eagerness for unity" is a by-product of the transformed life, surrendered to Christ, living in the full measure of God's gift of grace. There is choice in that life and the choice seems to be either, live self-focused or Christ focused.
My food for thought today:
What am I eager for?
What does my calling, my walk reflect in relationships that are challenging?
Since I was not at The Gathering on Sunday, I would love anyone who was there to fill in the blanks for me. I would love to know what you heard from God.
Peace of Christ be with you.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Fablous Facade
There is a wonderful water feature by our bedroom patio. It's sound is sweet and gentle as the water moves in measured quantity over the edges of a sizable, hand-picked boulder. The pond itself appears shallow and small. The plants and accent rocks, place with care, bring attention to the star of the show . . . the water.
What is unseen is the mechanism that makes this feature work; the structure that supports it's workings. The pond is not shallow and under the layer of small rock, beneath the boulder is a cavity of concreted framework that supports it. The hole is precisely dug; drain tiles and hoses keep the water circulating and clean. A pump is hidden in the corner, providing the power for the movement of the water. If the water does not move, the biological filter does not work and the pond is silent. The water does the work, powered by a hidden source.
The Container, its Capacity and Content make it's Conveyance a work of art.
Ephesians 3:14-21 As Jon shared, is a crescendo to the previous framework Paul has been building. This passage is purposeful, laced with inspired phrases like "for this reason", "so that", "so that you may". Paul uses tangible and tactile words for those of us who struggle with "feeling". Words like strength, dwell, rooted and grounded, breath, length, height and depth, in reference to comprehending God's available, limitless love.
Unlike the "Mike-made" water feature, our Container; what we are becoming is crafted by God, with love and care, specific to us and his loving purpose for each of us.
It's Capacity needs to be filled with the reflection of it's filler; strong and elastic for growth and movement. This is God's work in a surrendered spirit, yielded to his filling, not the fruitless work of an impostor, a counterfeit god.
It's Content is the dwelling place, the created place intended for Christ alone. A place rooted and ground in his love, filled and refilling, circulating but not with used water, but fresh, renewed, clean and life-giving.
Finally, it's Conveyance is abundant, overflowing, beyond what we can ask, think or dream. Jon used a word picture of a bridge. Everywhere in this country you see a bridge, the road would have stopped had someone not dared to dream it could go further. As believers, God is that bridge always allowing us to move forward; every desirous to fill us to capacity with ALL the fullness of himself and all that means.
"What are you becoming?"
What is unseen is the mechanism that makes this feature work; the structure that supports it's workings. The pond is not shallow and under the layer of small rock, beneath the boulder is a cavity of concreted framework that supports it. The hole is precisely dug; drain tiles and hoses keep the water circulating and clean. A pump is hidden in the corner, providing the power for the movement of the water. If the water does not move, the biological filter does not work and the pond is silent. The water does the work, powered by a hidden source.
The Container, its Capacity and Content make it's Conveyance a work of art.
Ephesians 3:14-21 As Jon shared, is a crescendo to the previous framework Paul has been building. This passage is purposeful, laced with inspired phrases like "for this reason", "so that", "so that you may". Paul uses tangible and tactile words for those of us who struggle with "feeling". Words like strength, dwell, rooted and grounded, breath, length, height and depth, in reference to comprehending God's available, limitless love.
Unlike the "Mike-made" water feature, our Container; what we are becoming is crafted by God, with love and care, specific to us and his loving purpose for each of us.
It's Capacity needs to be filled with the reflection of it's filler; strong and elastic for growth and movement. This is God's work in a surrendered spirit, yielded to his filling, not the fruitless work of an impostor, a counterfeit god.
It's Content is the dwelling place, the created place intended for Christ alone. A place rooted and ground in his love, filled and refilling, circulating but not with used water, but fresh, renewed, clean and life-giving.
Finally, it's Conveyance is abundant, overflowing, beyond what we can ask, think or dream. Jon used a word picture of a bridge. Everywhere in this country you see a bridge, the road would have stopped had someone not dared to dream it could go further. As believers, God is that bridge always allowing us to move forward; every desirous to fill us to capacity with ALL the fullness of himself and all that means.
"What are you becoming?"
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
For this reason...
I tried to post this yesterday but the Lord prevented me. I think partly because I needed to continue beyond words and look deeper at my own heart.
Paul lived a surrendered life. He remained in that place of surrender and it was from there he wrote and ministered. He could be who he was called to be, "do" ministry from wherever he was because he lived surrendered fully to the person of Christ.
On Sunday at The Gathering, Jon Byron continued in Ephesians 3-1-13. He highlighted three manifestation of Grace.
1. Grace was manifested in a ministry received
2. Grace was manifested in a mystery revealed
3. Grace was manifested in the mission accomplished
Paul was surrendered fully to the plan of Christ because he was completely surrendered to the person of Christ. It was from this place, this humbled out place he was able to "count it all joy"; to see his sufferings as the Gentile's glory - for a greater good. He focused constantly on the person of Christ and that changed his perspective on his location and his hardship. He kept the eyes of his heart lazor beamed on the change Christ had accomplished in him; from murderous zealot to gentle gracious servant/slave. (Jon spent some time in the words servant and slave and how Christ used those words in his ministry. The main difference is ownership, servant from a place of choice, slave by nature of ownership). This focus afforded Paul a different view; he did not see through the world's fun house mirror, instead he saw life through the magnifying glass of Christ.
Paul was in prison while writing this letter to Ephesus, but he took the circumstances of his life in stride; the hardship that came along with a Roman dungeon; the lack of freedom and the basic comforts of life because these were not his focus. Christ in him was his hope and he fully placed his unwavering trust in the person who had so completely transformed him. It was because Paul recognized his weaknesses, his sin, his shortcoming and failures that he understood the grace he so personally speaks of in this passage.
The key to understanding and living in the grace of God, given to each believer is the ability to accept it. In order to accept it, one must understand the depth of their own sin and what it cost to reconcile their damaged relationship with God. My son is working with a personal trainer and recently I asked him why this experience has really changed how he views his health. His response was that it was expensive and because he had invested in the process, he could not afford not to pay attention. This was not the answer I expected to receive from him. But the same is true for living in this grace place Paul speaks from, this place of surrender. He knew who he was and from what he was redeemed and understood what it cost of the one who paid the price for him.
This changed his focus, it was the driving force of the ministry to which he was called, it affected all his relationships and colored all his conversations. Grace received cannot be held. Grace received must be given. In order to receive grace, full surrender must change ones focus and circumstances become the vehicle from which grace can be given.
Paul lived a surrendered life. He remained in that place of surrender and it was from there he wrote and ministered. He could be who he was called to be, "do" ministry from wherever he was because he lived surrendered fully to the person of Christ.
On Sunday at The Gathering, Jon Byron continued in Ephesians 3-1-13. He highlighted three manifestation of Grace.
1. Grace was manifested in a ministry received
2. Grace was manifested in a mystery revealed
3. Grace was manifested in the mission accomplished
Paul was surrendered fully to the plan of Christ because he was completely surrendered to the person of Christ. It was from this place, this humbled out place he was able to "count it all joy"; to see his sufferings as the Gentile's glory - for a greater good. He focused constantly on the person of Christ and that changed his perspective on his location and his hardship. He kept the eyes of his heart lazor beamed on the change Christ had accomplished in him; from murderous zealot to gentle gracious servant/slave. (Jon spent some time in the words servant and slave and how Christ used those words in his ministry. The main difference is ownership, servant from a place of choice, slave by nature of ownership). This focus afforded Paul a different view; he did not see through the world's fun house mirror, instead he saw life through the magnifying glass of Christ.
Paul was in prison while writing this letter to Ephesus, but he took the circumstances of his life in stride; the hardship that came along with a Roman dungeon; the lack of freedom and the basic comforts of life because these were not his focus. Christ in him was his hope and he fully placed his unwavering trust in the person who had so completely transformed him. It was because Paul recognized his weaknesses, his sin, his shortcoming and failures that he understood the grace he so personally speaks of in this passage.
The key to understanding and living in the grace of God, given to each believer is the ability to accept it. In order to accept it, one must understand the depth of their own sin and what it cost to reconcile their damaged relationship with God. My son is working with a personal trainer and recently I asked him why this experience has really changed how he views his health. His response was that it was expensive and because he had invested in the process, he could not afford not to pay attention. This was not the answer I expected to receive from him. But the same is true for living in this grace place Paul speaks from, this place of surrender. He knew who he was and from what he was redeemed and understood what it cost of the one who paid the price for him.
This changed his focus, it was the driving force of the ministry to which he was called, it affected all his relationships and colored all his conversations. Grace received cannot be held. Grace received must be given. In order to receive grace, full surrender must change ones focus and circumstances become the vehicle from which grace can be given.
Lord,shut out the world as I live in it
hearing only it's muffled tones,
Listening only for your mercy
Focused in on you alone.
Drown the call of all it's pleasure,
cover it with just your voice,
Calling me in boundless measure;
Calling me to make the choice.
Choices that were made at Calvary
When you chose to rescue me.
Let me see in unmarred measure
All that you have done for me.
Move me past this earthen vessel
Move me past this earth's strong pull.
Help me Lord, your grace sufficient.
Help me live for you alone.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Perception versus reality
Ephesians 2:11-22
As I read this passage during last week, the thought was, "amazing God" and I was touched by the depth of his love for me. Sunday night as Jon Byron opened this passage my exiting thoughts were " I do not know how to live this truth out in "hostile" relationships. I have a few. How do I live out
Inclusion and intimacy
Peace and reconciliation
Unity and supportive relationship
These are the three ideas Jon spoke about. The place of my deepest hurts and places where there is restlessness within me.
This morning as I reflected on this passage again with new revelation and clarity, I asked God to show me how this plays out practically in my life.
Gods reality is this truth. Positionally the work is finished, inclusion, intimacy, peace instead of hostility, and unity they all exist, they ARE. What must change is my perception, my reality needs to match truth. If hostility exists in relationships within me is the ability to let the wall down and live in peace. I can extend peace and grace because of what Christ has already done. I have grace and I can give grace. Tensions may still be present but it does not have to stop me from giving grace and peace.
Satan wants me in silos of anger, boxed in by my emotion and hurt. My flesh wants resolution and justice, but God wants me to extent grace and peace. It's a choice, I can either live in my own reality which is hostile or accept and live in God reality, truth, and live in peace, extending grace and demonstrating the unity for which he died.....in order that the world might see Him lived out in me.
As I read this passage during last week, the thought was, "amazing God" and I was touched by the depth of his love for me. Sunday night as Jon Byron opened this passage my exiting thoughts were " I do not know how to live this truth out in "hostile" relationships. I have a few. How do I live out
Inclusion and intimacy
Peace and reconciliation
Unity and supportive relationship
These are the three ideas Jon spoke about. The place of my deepest hurts and places where there is restlessness within me.
This morning as I reflected on this passage again with new revelation and clarity, I asked God to show me how this plays out practically in my life.
Gods reality is this truth. Positionally the work is finished, inclusion, intimacy, peace instead of hostility, and unity they all exist, they ARE. What must change is my perception, my reality needs to match truth. If hostility exists in relationships within me is the ability to let the wall down and live in peace. I can extend peace and grace because of what Christ has already done. I have grace and I can give grace. Tensions may still be present but it does not have to stop me from giving grace and peace.
Satan wants me in silos of anger, boxed in by my emotion and hurt. My flesh wants resolution and justice, but God wants me to extent grace and peace. It's a choice, I can either live in my own reality which is hostile or accept and live in God reality, truth, and live in peace, extending grace and demonstrating the unity for which he died.....in order that the world might see Him lived out in me.
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