"And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, the sun being obscured; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.' And having said this, He breathed His last." Luke 23:44-46
From 1980-1983 I served at First Baptist Church of Houston as Minister to Single Adults. Every Friday night we held a Single Adult worship service in the chapel of the church. called
"Single Hearted" It was a regular gathering of Single Adults from all over Houston, and a great alternative to what was being offered on Friday nights. by the Urban Cowboy scene in the city. One night back in 1981, I was catching a ride home with Russ Barksdale, and he popped in a casette tape of a guy named Tony Compolo. He told a story of a preacher he had heard bring a Good Friday message entitled, "It's Friday! Sunday's A Comin' !" He attempted to present the message that he had heard, and even with his second hand effort it was a powerful presentation. It began slowly with a litany of woes that unfolded on the day of the crucifixion, and ended with a crescendo of hope rising above the chaos of Calvary. By the time the tape was over, Barksdale and I were shouting, pounding the dashboard, and perspiring with exhaustion at the exhilaration we received from the truth poured out on us by this obscure professor from Pennyslvania. WOW! I still get a charge out of remembering the first time I heard Compolo deliver that message. It reminds me that things are not always as they seem. When things look their worst, God is often up to His best.
Luke's account of Good Friday is short, but it is not sweet. Rarely in the scope of human language has so much significance been contained within the confines of such a brief phrase. It reveals a cosmic stuggle of epic proportion and all the action is exploding on the scene at once. From the "Holy of Holies" of the Temple mount to the top of Calvary's hill, God is moving to bring about the greatest transfer of debt in the history of the world. Sinful people owe more than they can ever pay back, and God has provided a way for the debt to be removed from their account.
All of the sins of mankind are being placed on the account of the Lamb of God, and He will blot out the stain of debt that is owed. Only the blood of Jesus will satisfy the requirement of the character of God. The separation of sin must be dealt with in order for the barrier between God and man to be removed. Only the spotless Son of God can take away the sin of the world, and build a bridge between the two separated parties. God's character does not allow Him to have fellowship with sin, and the consequence of the divine Law cannot be ignored.
The sun is obscured. The sky is dark, and the veil is torn. The cross has done its worst while God has been up to His best. When Jesus takes His last breath there will no longer be a separation between man and God that only an earthly high priest can mediate once a year. Jesus will take that mantle onto His shoulders. On the cross, he will pay the ultimate price to make it possible for the priesthood of the believer to be sustained by intimate personal, private, prolonged, and prayerful conversation between the Heavenly Father and His children.
A brief reading of this passage does not reveal much good about Good Friday. At first glance, God does not seem to be in control. Chaos is everywhere. Weather is threatening. Traditions are being disrupted. An innocent man is being executed. Death and destruction have taken the high ground and God appears to be on the run.
Later in Luke's account, when we find the disciples trying to process what happened on that day, we find them hiding in fear for their lives, or retreating from the scene of the battle. By Sunday, two disciples were on the Road to Emmaus and were trying to make sense of what they had seen the past three days. Luke's account says, "They were conversing and discussing about all these things which had taken place. And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus approached, and began traveling with them." (Luke 24:13-14)
They had been so consumed with the bad things that they had seen, they could tell when Jesus came into the picture. "And He said to them, 'What are these words that you are exchanging with one another while you are walking?" (Luke 24:17)
The Scripture informs us that the disciples were full of sadness, and short on insight, but that one of them had sarcasm to spare. He said to Jesus, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things that have been happening here in these days?"(Luke 14:18)
The response of Jesus to this question is a precious key that will unlock the door of doubt and allow to the discouraged. His next two words are an invitation for them to drop their disappointment into His hands, and to discover the GOOD about this GOOD FRIDAY. The next two words are perhaps the greatest invitation to prayer that has ever been recorded. "And He said to them, 'What things?' " (Luke 24:19)
What Jesus did for these two disciples was to offer His assistance. He eventually would take the blinders off of their eyes and reveal what God had been doing in the middle of all the chaos around them. He first offered His Presence, and then He pointed them to God's Word. He spent as much time with them as they wanted to spend with Him. The Scripture says that while He was praying the recognized who Jesus was, and then he left them. They were so filled with hope that they returned to the city of Jerusalem and delivered insight and encouragement to the disciples who were hiding in fear. All of this was a result of answering the question of Jesus.
Contemporary disciples would be served well by answering the two word question of Jesus, "What things." Whenever immediate circumstances cloud the vision of a believer, and it appears that God is not in control, Jesus still invites people to let Him make sense out of their confusion. Life is filled with challenges that cause Christ followers to still ask, "What's good about Good Friday?" When events come crashing in on life, and do not make sense to us, only Jesus can make sense out of the senseless. He still invites the discouraged and downhearted to look to Him and respond to His two word request, and unload their doubt to discover His deliverance.
GMillerLight4U
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Living Hope
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." I Peter 1:3
J. C. Matlock and I teamed up for the first time at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth. . We have known each other for over 35 years. We served (survived?) as camp sponsors of the ninth grade boys cabin at Camp Sagamore in Latham Springs in the summer of 1975. It was over 100 degrees every day and there was no air conditioning. These kind of experiences bond you for a life time. When I became pastor of the church in the 1990's, he was my chairman of deacons. I credit him with influencing me to close out any message I deliver from the pulpit to the people with an emphasis upon hope. He often reminded me that people need hope. How right he was then and how true his words remain today. Hope was not J.C.'s idea. It began with God. However, I remain grateful to a man for helping me see how the hand of God could be inserted into the glove of my life go give people a soft touch from Heaven when all hell is breaking out around them. Thanks J.C.!
Peter referred to a "LIVING HOPE." The Greek word for hope is rooted in the concept of pleasurable anticipation. It has come to be understood within the Christian community as joyful, confident expectation of eternal salvation. This salvation is not a moving target that ebbs within our reach and then flows away from our grasp. It is described as an inheritance that is impervious to the whims of economic fluctuations. It is death defying and life giving. It is preserved and reserved so it cannot be polluted, penetrated or tainted by any outside force that would try to devalue it or degrade it. This kind of hope is not merely an intellectual assertion of a historical fact or a theological pronouncement of a doctrinal position. It is the breath of life that one receives when they are born again by the mercy of God. It energizes a person with a new sense of direction. They no longer have a focus and a fear of entering the grave. They have a joyful and confident expectation of keeping an appointment with God that has been reserved for them in heaven.
Peter emphasized that this living hope in an imperishable inheritance was not purchased by man's means, but through God's mercy and Christ's blood on the cross. "Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but he has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." (I Peter 1:18-21)
In this sense, H.O.P.E. is Having Our Perspective Elevated. When we become overwhelmed with the residue of this "futile way of life" that still surrounds us here on earth, it is possible to regain our confidence and joyful expectation. No matter how great life can be on earth, it still leaves a hole in the heart that only Christ can fill. Regardless of the depths of the darkness of this world, the light of Christ can still penetrate it when we take a glimpse through the window of heaven.
Small minds talk about people. Good minds talk about events. Great minds talk to God. It is the willingness to lift our eyes from the foibles and failures of others and the futile way of this life to the finished work of Christ that holds the key to our living hope. There is no life without breath. The greatest use of our breath is prayer. It can be used to complain about or explain about our condition to others, or it can be used to place our condition before the Risen Christ. This lifts our burden from our shoulders that weighs us down. Unreleased burdens bend our backs and force our eyes down to the darkness of the pit. When the same amount of breath that is used to complain is invested in prayer, a transformation takes place. Living hope replaces the impact of intimidating circumstances.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne, 19th Century pastor and prayer warrior, sensed his need to lift his eyes from the intimidation of the immediate and refocus on the ministry of the Risen Christ. "If I could hear Jesus praying for me, I would not fear a million enemies. The distance makes no difference. He is praying for me."
Living hope is a matter of having our perspective elevated on a regular basis. This hope is a gift of mercy that is received when we are born again. For this hope to be strengthened, it must be exercized. I recently reactivated a work out regimen. This involved a change in diet and exercize that resulted in a significant loss of weight. Fortunatley, I have experienced a release and relief of an unneccessary burden that I no longer have to carry around every where I go. However, I have discovered that my cardio vascular workouts need to be taken up to another level. There is still a shortness of breath that will only be improved by continuing to walk. It will take time, but experience has taught me that until I walk until I am breathless, I will never improve my breathing.
Praying is the breathing regimen that improves our grasp on our living hope through the resurrection. Reading about it, talking about it, singing about it, or even studying about it often fall short of providing the insight we need. The intimidation of immeditate circumstances can bring a believer to a breathless condition of panic in the middle of chaos and confusion. This the best time for us to take a deep breath and focus on the Risen Christ seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. The living hope through the resurrection is maintained by regularly releasing the burden to Jesus and gaining this perspective of Jesus through prayer.
For years song writers have bemoaned the frailty and futility of the human condition. For one generation it may have been the old Peggy Lee torch song, "Is that all there is." For another it may have been, "Looking for love in all the wrong places." No matter who, when or where the ending of the song is always the same. There has just got to be more than this. God knows people need hope for the future even more than they need relief in the present.
Today, I am more and more comforted by the gentle reminder of a phrase from an old camp song, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." The living hope never grows old and it is only a breath away. Pray for Jesus to take the weight of this life and replace it with the worth of the next life. There is no reason to settle for the futile way of life when the living hope of the resurrection is only a prayer away. Thank you Jesus for praying for me today and for preparing a place for me to be with you in heaven...forever.
GMillerLight4U
J. C. Matlock and I teamed up for the first time at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth. . We have known each other for over 35 years. We served (survived?) as camp sponsors of the ninth grade boys cabin at Camp Sagamore in Latham Springs in the summer of 1975. It was over 100 degrees every day and there was no air conditioning. These kind of experiences bond you for a life time. When I became pastor of the church in the 1990's, he was my chairman of deacons. I credit him with influencing me to close out any message I deliver from the pulpit to the people with an emphasis upon hope. He often reminded me that people need hope. How right he was then and how true his words remain today. Hope was not J.C.'s idea. It began with God. However, I remain grateful to a man for helping me see how the hand of God could be inserted into the glove of my life go give people a soft touch from Heaven when all hell is breaking out around them. Thanks J.C.!
Peter referred to a "LIVING HOPE." The Greek word for hope is rooted in the concept of pleasurable anticipation. It has come to be understood within the Christian community as joyful, confident expectation of eternal salvation. This salvation is not a moving target that ebbs within our reach and then flows away from our grasp. It is described as an inheritance that is impervious to the whims of economic fluctuations. It is death defying and life giving. It is preserved and reserved so it cannot be polluted, penetrated or tainted by any outside force that would try to devalue it or degrade it. This kind of hope is not merely an intellectual assertion of a historical fact or a theological pronouncement of a doctrinal position. It is the breath of life that one receives when they are born again by the mercy of God. It energizes a person with a new sense of direction. They no longer have a focus and a fear of entering the grave. They have a joyful and confident expectation of keeping an appointment with God that has been reserved for them in heaven.
Peter emphasized that this living hope in an imperishable inheritance was not purchased by man's means, but through God's mercy and Christ's blood on the cross. "Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but he has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." (I Peter 1:18-21)
In this sense, H.O.P.E. is Having Our Perspective Elevated. When we become overwhelmed with the residue of this "futile way of life" that still surrounds us here on earth, it is possible to regain our confidence and joyful expectation. No matter how great life can be on earth, it still leaves a hole in the heart that only Christ can fill. Regardless of the depths of the darkness of this world, the light of Christ can still penetrate it when we take a glimpse through the window of heaven.
Small minds talk about people. Good minds talk about events. Great minds talk to God. It is the willingness to lift our eyes from the foibles and failures of others and the futile way of this life to the finished work of Christ that holds the key to our living hope. There is no life without breath. The greatest use of our breath is prayer. It can be used to complain about or explain about our condition to others, or it can be used to place our condition before the Risen Christ. This lifts our burden from our shoulders that weighs us down. Unreleased burdens bend our backs and force our eyes down to the darkness of the pit. When the same amount of breath that is used to complain is invested in prayer, a transformation takes place. Living hope replaces the impact of intimidating circumstances.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne, 19th Century pastor and prayer warrior, sensed his need to lift his eyes from the intimidation of the immediate and refocus on the ministry of the Risen Christ. "If I could hear Jesus praying for me, I would not fear a million enemies. The distance makes no difference. He is praying for me."
Living hope is a matter of having our perspective elevated on a regular basis. This hope is a gift of mercy that is received when we are born again. For this hope to be strengthened, it must be exercized. I recently reactivated a work out regimen. This involved a change in diet and exercize that resulted in a significant loss of weight. Fortunatley, I have experienced a release and relief of an unneccessary burden that I no longer have to carry around every where I go. However, I have discovered that my cardio vascular workouts need to be taken up to another level. There is still a shortness of breath that will only be improved by continuing to walk. It will take time, but experience has taught me that until I walk until I am breathless, I will never improve my breathing.
Praying is the breathing regimen that improves our grasp on our living hope through the resurrection. Reading about it, talking about it, singing about it, or even studying about it often fall short of providing the insight we need. The intimidation of immeditate circumstances can bring a believer to a breathless condition of panic in the middle of chaos and confusion. This the best time for us to take a deep breath and focus on the Risen Christ seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. The living hope through the resurrection is maintained by regularly releasing the burden to Jesus and gaining this perspective of Jesus through prayer.
For years song writers have bemoaned the frailty and futility of the human condition. For one generation it may have been the old Peggy Lee torch song, "Is that all there is." For another it may have been, "Looking for love in all the wrong places." No matter who, when or where the ending of the song is always the same. There has just got to be more than this. God knows people need hope for the future even more than they need relief in the present.
Today, I am more and more comforted by the gentle reminder of a phrase from an old camp song, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." The living hope never grows old and it is only a breath away. Pray for Jesus to take the weight of this life and replace it with the worth of the next life. There is no reason to settle for the futile way of life when the living hope of the resurrection is only a prayer away. Thank you Jesus for praying for me today and for preparing a place for me to be with you in heaven...forever.
GMillerLight4U
Monday, March 29, 2010
Resurrection Power
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering." Phillipians 3:10
I remember where I was when this verse was brought to my attention for the very first time. It was January 1975, and I was on Christmas break in Kings Park, New York. I was seated at the kitchen table with my father, Don Miller, and he shared this passage of scripture with me as his verse for the year. I didn't give it a great deal of thought. This was something that he did every year. I have to admit that I always enjoyed finding out his sense of direction for the year, but it was not a priority to me that morning.
I was making final prep for my return drive from Long Island to Fort Worth, Texas. I had just completed my first semester in seminary and was excited about beginning my new ministry as Minister of Outreach at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church. I had a lot on my mind and the future looked bright even if the road ahead was long. I couldn't wait to get back to Texas. Long story short, Dana was there. I was not going to be able to convince her I was the right man for her, if I had to do it over the phone. No texting available in those days. A guy had to just man up and go get to know a gal face to face. It is still the best way to build a relationship, just in case any metrosexuals ever happen to read this.
Dad's choice of this verse came to be more important to me after I returned to seminary. One evening I received a call from the Chairman of Deacons of North Shore Baptist Church. He told me that Dad had been taken into the local hospital for emergency surgery to repair a ruptured colon. He assured me that all was well, and he was resting comfortably. The crisis had passed. Less than 72 hours later he called, and informed me that Dad was in the emergency room and was not given much hope to pull through. Severe and intense infection had set in due to a leak in the connections that had been quickly made in the colon. In the swift efforts to save Dad's life from all the blood loss, there had been a mistake. Now they had to go back in and remove the infection and leave him with three colostomies in order to drain the poison from his body. The Chairman told me to wait by the phone, and he would keep me posted.
What took place in 1975 was a long ordeal of physical, spiritual and emotional suffering for Dad, and Mom, their church, and the four of us children. Dad survived the second surgery, but it was a mess. He was left with three bags on his abdomen, and forced to carry around an open sewer for the better part of a year. He dropped in weight to less than 100 pounds. He was unable to preach for almost a year. I made plans to leave my new position at Sagamore and drop out of seminary to go home and help. Dad was too weak to talk to me, but he told Mom to tell me to stay in school and come home for Easter and preach for him.
I will never forget Gene Brooks, a layman at Sagamore, paid for my flight to New York. Dad's church did not have the money to get me there for Easter, and I didn't make enough at the church to afford the cost of the ticket. Gene and Dad became great friends over the years that followed. Gene went home to Heaven recently, and when I think of him my heart is warmed. God bless Gene Brooks.
When I saw Dad for the first time in four months, he was seated in a chair in the living room of his home in New York. I was stunned. The smell and the scene was overwhelming. He was a shell of the man I had seen in early January. His color was ashen, and his robe sagged over his emaciated frame. This vibrant, active 53 year old man looked like he was over 90 and near death. Words cannot describe the shock. Physically, it was a jolt because it was like seeing it all happen to him over night. Spiritually it was a struggle because I could not believe God would allow this to happen to someone who just wanted to know Him better. I swore then and there that I would never claim that portion of scripture as a sense of direction for my life. This became a bone in my throat and a rock in my shoe for some time. I can see now that this was just fear at work trying to rob me of my faith in God's capacity to give us grace when we need it, but never ahead of time.
Easter 1975 I preached for Dad at North Shore Baptist Church. He surprised everyone and came to church in his wheelchair for the first time in four months. When he was rolled down the aisle to take a place near the front row, there was not a dry eye in the house. It was the first time many of the people had seen him in this condition. I struggled through the message, and couldn't tell you what I said. I do remember the look on Dad's face. He was serene. His countenance was placid, peaceful, and almost other worldly. He was there, and he was engaged in what I was saying, but he was in the presence of Someone else. He was with us, but not of us. When the invitation was given, Dad struggled out of his wheel chair and walked with a cane towards me to thank me for preaching and to ask me to pray for him. I was done in by that time. I can't recall how we ended the service. I think we all must have just melted in tears and flowed out the door into the parking lot. Unforgettable!
Mom and Dad came to Texas for surgery at Baylor Hospital in Dallas in December of 1975. He stayed in the home of Gene Brooks until the day of surgery. We spent Christmas Day in the ICU Waiting Room of the hospital and waited for Dad as he underwent 12 hours of surgery to repair the work done in New York. Throughout the day, I couldn't stop thinking about his verse for the year. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering." When I saw him for the first time in ICU, he was bloated and his head was twice the normal size. They had been filling his body with fluids because of the nature of the surgery. He was weak, but able to reach out his hand and hold mine. Again, he was at peace in the middle of the chaos. I remember the look on his face more than any words that we exchanged. There was pain, but there was no panic. Again, there was the unmistakable sense of Someone else in the room.
Over the years, I have heard a lot a my colleagues claim this verse of scripture. I have to admit that instinctively, I step back a ways just in case I get hit with what is coming their way. I have grown in my understanding of God in the past 35 years, but I still recall the price Dad paid to be introduced to a new level of intimacy with the Jesus he already loved. To know Jesus more intimately means to have a more personal fellowship with Him. There is a path that must be shared with Jesus if His fellowship with us is going to be more authentic than our casual once a week greeting given to Him on Sunday morning.
I have learned that the path of this fellowship is different for everyone. Paul went to prison. Dad went to surgery. Others experience the loss of a child, a mate, a job, or experience any number of life threatening encounters. It is not the way of suffering, but it is the destination of the journey that remains the same. "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering" leads to "being conformed to His death that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead." Phil. 3:10
Dead men have no rights. A corpse can be mocked, but it cannot take offense. It has no power to do so. There is no life left in it to make a reaction. "Being conformed to His death" was something that Paul said that he did daily. It was not enough for him to know that Jesus died on the cross. Paul needed to be reminded every day that the old Paul died there too. His rights, pride, plans, purposes, pedigree, and perspective were nailed to the cross. When Paul placed his hands upon Jesus to identify with His death for him, he learned that he too was a dead man in Christ. Paul would learn to say, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ." Gal. 2:20
Personal offenses and intimidating circumstances have a way of resurrecting a dead man's rights in the heart of a Christ follower. "The power of His resurrection and fellowship of His suffering" go hand in hand with preparing a believer to be "conformed to His death." Taking offense, living in fear, reacting in the flesh, responding in kind give evidence that there is a level of fellowship with Jesus that has yet to be reached in the life of the believer. Paul saw his relationship with Jesus as permanent, but his intimacy with Jesus as a process. The more time he spent cultivating the his fellowship with the Risen Christ, the more power of the Resurrection was released through him.
The conforming of our lives to the life of Jesus begins by being close enough to Him to see and hear how he responds to crisis, chaos, criticism, or confusion. We should always just follow His lead. If Christ panics, then it is time to panic. When He is praying, it is time to pray. The last word we have from Jesus is that He is praying. Take a guess at what a person who wants to have fellowship with Him should be doing. You guessed it. Pray! The power of the resurrection is found by learning to lean into the yoke of the Risen Christ. He is not on the cross suffering for our sins, but we are His companion on a journey that will involve suffering through the death of self. There is no power of His resurrection without the fellowship of His suffering and being conformed to His death.
This not a short trip, but a long journey. You never really know someone until you take a trip with them. The longer the trip, the better you are able to see the real person. It is hard to hide who you really are for very long. "To know the power of His resurrection" Jesus invites us to bring our suffering to Him, and He will make sense out of it. The fellowship of the resurrection begins at the foot of the cross, but this initial encounter continues as we "die daily." (I Cor. 15:31) Look into the face of the Risen Christ. He walks right beside us. He invites us to lean on Him and He will give us His power to overcome suffering, and be conformed to His death. On the cross, Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." His death preceded the power of His resurrection. Our death to self must precede the power of His resurrection in us.
GMillerLight4U
I remember where I was when this verse was brought to my attention for the very first time. It was January 1975, and I was on Christmas break in Kings Park, New York. I was seated at the kitchen table with my father, Don Miller, and he shared this passage of scripture with me as his verse for the year. I didn't give it a great deal of thought. This was something that he did every year. I have to admit that I always enjoyed finding out his sense of direction for the year, but it was not a priority to me that morning.
I was making final prep for my return drive from Long Island to Fort Worth, Texas. I had just completed my first semester in seminary and was excited about beginning my new ministry as Minister of Outreach at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church. I had a lot on my mind and the future looked bright even if the road ahead was long. I couldn't wait to get back to Texas. Long story short, Dana was there. I was not going to be able to convince her I was the right man for her, if I had to do it over the phone. No texting available in those days. A guy had to just man up and go get to know a gal face to face. It is still the best way to build a relationship, just in case any metrosexuals ever happen to read this.
Dad's choice of this verse came to be more important to me after I returned to seminary. One evening I received a call from the Chairman of Deacons of North Shore Baptist Church. He told me that Dad had been taken into the local hospital for emergency surgery to repair a ruptured colon. He assured me that all was well, and he was resting comfortably. The crisis had passed. Less than 72 hours later he called, and informed me that Dad was in the emergency room and was not given much hope to pull through. Severe and intense infection had set in due to a leak in the connections that had been quickly made in the colon. In the swift efforts to save Dad's life from all the blood loss, there had been a mistake. Now they had to go back in and remove the infection and leave him with three colostomies in order to drain the poison from his body. The Chairman told me to wait by the phone, and he would keep me posted.
What took place in 1975 was a long ordeal of physical, spiritual and emotional suffering for Dad, and Mom, their church, and the four of us children. Dad survived the second surgery, but it was a mess. He was left with three bags on his abdomen, and forced to carry around an open sewer for the better part of a year. He dropped in weight to less than 100 pounds. He was unable to preach for almost a year. I made plans to leave my new position at Sagamore and drop out of seminary to go home and help. Dad was too weak to talk to me, but he told Mom to tell me to stay in school and come home for Easter and preach for him.
I will never forget Gene Brooks, a layman at Sagamore, paid for my flight to New York. Dad's church did not have the money to get me there for Easter, and I didn't make enough at the church to afford the cost of the ticket. Gene and Dad became great friends over the years that followed. Gene went home to Heaven recently, and when I think of him my heart is warmed. God bless Gene Brooks.
When I saw Dad for the first time in four months, he was seated in a chair in the living room of his home in New York. I was stunned. The smell and the scene was overwhelming. He was a shell of the man I had seen in early January. His color was ashen, and his robe sagged over his emaciated frame. This vibrant, active 53 year old man looked like he was over 90 and near death. Words cannot describe the shock. Physically, it was a jolt because it was like seeing it all happen to him over night. Spiritually it was a struggle because I could not believe God would allow this to happen to someone who just wanted to know Him better. I swore then and there that I would never claim that portion of scripture as a sense of direction for my life. This became a bone in my throat and a rock in my shoe for some time. I can see now that this was just fear at work trying to rob me of my faith in God's capacity to give us grace when we need it, but never ahead of time.
Easter 1975 I preached for Dad at North Shore Baptist Church. He surprised everyone and came to church in his wheelchair for the first time in four months. When he was rolled down the aisle to take a place near the front row, there was not a dry eye in the house. It was the first time many of the people had seen him in this condition. I struggled through the message, and couldn't tell you what I said. I do remember the look on Dad's face. He was serene. His countenance was placid, peaceful, and almost other worldly. He was there, and he was engaged in what I was saying, but he was in the presence of Someone else. He was with us, but not of us. When the invitation was given, Dad struggled out of his wheel chair and walked with a cane towards me to thank me for preaching and to ask me to pray for him. I was done in by that time. I can't recall how we ended the service. I think we all must have just melted in tears and flowed out the door into the parking lot. Unforgettable!
Mom and Dad came to Texas for surgery at Baylor Hospital in Dallas in December of 1975. He stayed in the home of Gene Brooks until the day of surgery. We spent Christmas Day in the ICU Waiting Room of the hospital and waited for Dad as he underwent 12 hours of surgery to repair the work done in New York. Throughout the day, I couldn't stop thinking about his verse for the year. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering." When I saw him for the first time in ICU, he was bloated and his head was twice the normal size. They had been filling his body with fluids because of the nature of the surgery. He was weak, but able to reach out his hand and hold mine. Again, he was at peace in the middle of the chaos. I remember the look on his face more than any words that we exchanged. There was pain, but there was no panic. Again, there was the unmistakable sense of Someone else in the room.
Over the years, I have heard a lot a my colleagues claim this verse of scripture. I have to admit that instinctively, I step back a ways just in case I get hit with what is coming their way. I have grown in my understanding of God in the past 35 years, but I still recall the price Dad paid to be introduced to a new level of intimacy with the Jesus he already loved. To know Jesus more intimately means to have a more personal fellowship with Him. There is a path that must be shared with Jesus if His fellowship with us is going to be more authentic than our casual once a week greeting given to Him on Sunday morning.
I have learned that the path of this fellowship is different for everyone. Paul went to prison. Dad went to surgery. Others experience the loss of a child, a mate, a job, or experience any number of life threatening encounters. It is not the way of suffering, but it is the destination of the journey that remains the same. "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering" leads to "being conformed to His death that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead." Phil. 3:10
Dead men have no rights. A corpse can be mocked, but it cannot take offense. It has no power to do so. There is no life left in it to make a reaction. "Being conformed to His death" was something that Paul said that he did daily. It was not enough for him to know that Jesus died on the cross. Paul needed to be reminded every day that the old Paul died there too. His rights, pride, plans, purposes, pedigree, and perspective were nailed to the cross. When Paul placed his hands upon Jesus to identify with His death for him, he learned that he too was a dead man in Christ. Paul would learn to say, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ." Gal. 2:20
Personal offenses and intimidating circumstances have a way of resurrecting a dead man's rights in the heart of a Christ follower. "The power of His resurrection and fellowship of His suffering" go hand in hand with preparing a believer to be "conformed to His death." Taking offense, living in fear, reacting in the flesh, responding in kind give evidence that there is a level of fellowship with Jesus that has yet to be reached in the life of the believer. Paul saw his relationship with Jesus as permanent, but his intimacy with Jesus as a process. The more time he spent cultivating the his fellowship with the Risen Christ, the more power of the Resurrection was released through him.
The conforming of our lives to the life of Jesus begins by being close enough to Him to see and hear how he responds to crisis, chaos, criticism, or confusion. We should always just follow His lead. If Christ panics, then it is time to panic. When He is praying, it is time to pray. The last word we have from Jesus is that He is praying. Take a guess at what a person who wants to have fellowship with Him should be doing. You guessed it. Pray! The power of the resurrection is found by learning to lean into the yoke of the Risen Christ. He is not on the cross suffering for our sins, but we are His companion on a journey that will involve suffering through the death of self. There is no power of His resurrection without the fellowship of His suffering and being conformed to His death.
This not a short trip, but a long journey. You never really know someone until you take a trip with them. The longer the trip, the better you are able to see the real person. It is hard to hide who you really are for very long. "To know the power of His resurrection" Jesus invites us to bring our suffering to Him, and He will make sense out of it. The fellowship of the resurrection begins at the foot of the cross, but this initial encounter continues as we "die daily." (I Cor. 15:31) Look into the face of the Risen Christ. He walks right beside us. He invites us to lean on Him and He will give us His power to overcome suffering, and be conformed to His death. On the cross, Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." His death preceded the power of His resurrection. Our death to self must precede the power of His resurrection in us.
GMillerLight4U
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Accumulative Error
"Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
My father, Don Miller was trained as navigator during World War II. I have often heard him refer to a principle of navigation called "accumulative error." This takes place when a pilot flies a plane off course. The longer the plane continues on the wrong path, the greater the error becomes. If the pilot ignores his instruments, compass, charts, stars, maps, landmarks, radio frequencies, he will continue to head in the wrong direction. Even the slightest degree of diversion from the original destination can bring great danger to the pilot and the crew. There comes a point in the flight when no course correction can be made. Fuel supplies become depleted, and there is no hope of getting back on track. The 'point of no return" has been passed.
My father, Don Miller was trained as navigator during World War II. I have often heard him refer to a principle of navigation called "accumulative error." This takes place when a pilot flies a plane off course. The longer the plane continues on the wrong path, the greater the error becomes. If the pilot ignores his instruments, compass, charts, stars, maps, landmarks, radio frequencies, he will continue to head in the wrong direction. Even the slightest degree of diversion from the original destination can bring great danger to the pilot and the crew. There comes a point in the flight when no course correction can be made. Fuel supplies become depleted, and there is no hope of getting back on track. The 'point of no return" has been passed.
There is another kind of accumulative error, and the cure is "Spring Cleaning." I am not real fan of hanging on to a lot of stuff, but I have lost this argument over the years. We have an "empty nest" and a full garage. In 2003 I was conned into moving cheer leading megaphones, bicycles, boxes of ceramics, baby dolls, elementary school stuff and stuffed animals, old furniture, and other assorted essentials into an over sized two car garage. The last words I heard were, "Dad can we leave it here while we are in college. We will come back soon, sort through this and get rid of everything we don't want." Seven years later the stuff still remains. The garage has flooded on more than one occasion, and I have had to go in and move everything out and then move it back in at least three times. Each time my walk with God has suffered from the reminder that this may be my garage, but this is not my stuff. During this time, there have been numerous hail snow, rain and ice storms that have swept through this area. All this stuff is protected under my roof, but my automobiles are exposed to the elements. There is something wrong with this picture.
Whew! I feel better getting that off my chest. Can you tell that this week I have started cleaning out my office, and the garage? Bags of trash, unessential papers, ancient correspondence, outdated files and other "accumulative error" have been placed in bags and kicked to the curb. We are getting ready for a city wide garage sale and we are hoping that our trash will look like lost treasure to someone else.
This process has been a bittersweet experience. As I approach the big 6-0 on April 30Th, I have been taking stock of what is really important. As I have been forced to comb through files, I have been amazed at all Dana and I have done. We have been very busy, and can even say in some cases and places, we have been effective. Still, a nagging doubt arises with the question, "Is this all there is?"
As we reevaluate our lives, and set our priorities for the next phase of life, and ministry, I have started to see with a little more clarity the things that are really important. The flashing lights on the dash board, and the calendar remind me that the tank is not as full as when I began ministry in 1972. There is still a lot to be done, and I have to make sure that I have used what I have left wisely.
The highest priority of our live remains,...glorify God. This requires more vigilance than ever. Any thoughts that I may have have had earlier in life that I would become holier, just by getting older have been dashed by ministering in a retirement community for the past seven years. WOW! What a mess! People who are full of themselves early in life, do not become wiser as they grow older. They just get meaner. God has used this experience to convince me to never retire. I don't want to ever be a member of the "over the hill" gang. I believe God wants us all to regroup and recharge the hill. There is much left to be done, but it begins with a clear focus on Him, and not the work that He has called us to do. The first priority for me is to spend more time with Him, and to talk less and pray more.
Dana is also very high on that priority list. She is recovering well from her battle with breast cancer. Two major surgeries and six month of chemo are in the rear view mirror, and 2010 is going to be a year of recovery for her, and a year of refocus for me. Life will always have some kind of stress, but we are moving into a period of our lives where we are less likely to put up with our own foolishness, much less someone else's. The rest of our lives we want to invest ourselves in reaching up to God in prayer, and reaching out to people who have come to the end of themselves and are looking for the difference only Jesus can make in their lives.
The Bible has a lot to say about cleaning out the junk that accumulates in our lives. David called out to God, "Create in me a clean heart..." He had allowed stinking thinking to create in him what is called today a spirit of entitlement. Bathsheba looked good to him, and he took her into his arms because he was rich and powerful enough to do what he wanted to do, whenever he wanted to do it. He was the King. He was entitled. "Tiger" Woods did not initiate this concept, and neither did David, but it was self-destructive to both of them. When "accumulative error" landed David in a faraway place, He went to God. "Tiger" went to rehab. Time will tell which course correction was the wisest choice.
Paul exhorted the church at Corinth, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1) This gives us some personal responsibility in the matter of personal holiness. This is not a case for "God helps those who help themselves." It is a reminder that choices have consequences. Paul warned them about hooking up with people who were unbelievers. He wanted to keep the church focused on, "We are the temple of the living God." In a Christian world that is consumed with confronting the culture, and emerging in order to engage the culture around them, it is refreshing to hear Paul remind us, "Come out from their midst and separate says the Lord." I realize this may be quite un-contemporary, but I have made my choice. I will not be hosting any wine tasting parties, keggers or smokers to impact the people around me. The greatest guide out of the dark and into the light is still a holy life. I can't say that I understand all that this means, but I am going to focus the remaining years of my life on getting with Jesus, and I'll let Him reflect His light off of me. Something in me tells me that this is still the most reliable method to bring people out of the darkness and into the light.
John, The Beloved Disciple, has been a reference to me on this matter. This little book holds out for me one of the greatest passages of Scripture the Holy Spirit has ever inspired. He said, "But if we walk in the light, as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7) As I refocus for the final years of ministry, and regroup my resources for the next charge up the hill, I want to make sure that I am pointed in the right direction. I am not heading into the dark to find my way, but walking into the light. He is the source of hope for a lost generation. His church is the last great hope for this world. His blood is the only way a person can be cleansed from all sin. This week I was challenged by a young pastor to never say, "I am just a sinner saved by grace." He offered the substitutionary phrase that pointed out our righteousness in Christ. I believe what he said is true, and well meant, but I would add this word of caution. There is no shortcut that can be taken to get to the righteousness of Christ. This path takes us up a Calvary Road, and confronts us with the blood of Jesus, and our own death on the cross. It is not until a person has this low view of his sinful condition that they are ready to be elevated to the righteousness of Christ. There can be no sin blotted out from the ledger book of God until it is acknowledged that the debt is owed and it cannot be paid. There is no grace that can be received until there is an admission of the need of unmerited favor.
Excuse me, but the garage is calling me to complete an unfinished task. Something tells me that this is not the only place in my life where I have "accumulative error." Pray for me, and I will pray for you to have a clean heart that has had all the junk removed and kicked to the curb today.
GMillerLight4U
This process has been a bittersweet experience. As I approach the big 6-0 on April 30Th, I have been taking stock of what is really important. As I have been forced to comb through files, I have been amazed at all Dana and I have done. We have been very busy, and can even say in some cases and places, we have been effective. Still, a nagging doubt arises with the question, "Is this all there is?"
As we reevaluate our lives, and set our priorities for the next phase of life, and ministry, I have started to see with a little more clarity the things that are really important. The flashing lights on the dash board, and the calendar remind me that the tank is not as full as when I began ministry in 1972. There is still a lot to be done, and I have to make sure that I have used what I have left wisely.
The highest priority of our live remains,...glorify God. This requires more vigilance than ever. Any thoughts that I may have have had earlier in life that I would become holier, just by getting older have been dashed by ministering in a retirement community for the past seven years. WOW! What a mess! People who are full of themselves early in life, do not become wiser as they grow older. They just get meaner. God has used this experience to convince me to never retire. I don't want to ever be a member of the "over the hill" gang. I believe God wants us all to regroup and recharge the hill. There is much left to be done, but it begins with a clear focus on Him, and not the work that He has called us to do. The first priority for me is to spend more time with Him, and to talk less and pray more.
Dana is also very high on that priority list. She is recovering well from her battle with breast cancer. Two major surgeries and six month of chemo are in the rear view mirror, and 2010 is going to be a year of recovery for her, and a year of refocus for me. Life will always have some kind of stress, but we are moving into a period of our lives where we are less likely to put up with our own foolishness, much less someone else's. The rest of our lives we want to invest ourselves in reaching up to God in prayer, and reaching out to people who have come to the end of themselves and are looking for the difference only Jesus can make in their lives.
The Bible has a lot to say about cleaning out the junk that accumulates in our lives. David called out to God, "Create in me a clean heart..." He had allowed stinking thinking to create in him what is called today a spirit of entitlement. Bathsheba looked good to him, and he took her into his arms because he was rich and powerful enough to do what he wanted to do, whenever he wanted to do it. He was the King. He was entitled. "Tiger" Woods did not initiate this concept, and neither did David, but it was self-destructive to both of them. When "accumulative error" landed David in a faraway place, He went to God. "Tiger" went to rehab. Time will tell which course correction was the wisest choice.
Paul exhorted the church at Corinth, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1) This gives us some personal responsibility in the matter of personal holiness. This is not a case for "God helps those who help themselves." It is a reminder that choices have consequences. Paul warned them about hooking up with people who were unbelievers. He wanted to keep the church focused on, "We are the temple of the living God." In a Christian world that is consumed with confronting the culture, and emerging in order to engage the culture around them, it is refreshing to hear Paul remind us, "Come out from their midst and separate says the Lord." I realize this may be quite un-contemporary, but I have made my choice. I will not be hosting any wine tasting parties, keggers or smokers to impact the people around me. The greatest guide out of the dark and into the light is still a holy life. I can't say that I understand all that this means, but I am going to focus the remaining years of my life on getting with Jesus, and I'll let Him reflect His light off of me. Something in me tells me that this is still the most reliable method to bring people out of the darkness and into the light.
John, The Beloved Disciple, has been a reference to me on this matter. This little book holds out for me one of the greatest passages of Scripture the Holy Spirit has ever inspired. He said, "But if we walk in the light, as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7) As I refocus for the final years of ministry, and regroup my resources for the next charge up the hill, I want to make sure that I am pointed in the right direction. I am not heading into the dark to find my way, but walking into the light. He is the source of hope for a lost generation. His church is the last great hope for this world. His blood is the only way a person can be cleansed from all sin. This week I was challenged by a young pastor to never say, "I am just a sinner saved by grace." He offered the substitutionary phrase that pointed out our righteousness in Christ. I believe what he said is true, and well meant, but I would add this word of caution. There is no shortcut that can be taken to get to the righteousness of Christ. This path takes us up a Calvary Road, and confronts us with the blood of Jesus, and our own death on the cross. It is not until a person has this low view of his sinful condition that they are ready to be elevated to the righteousness of Christ. There can be no sin blotted out from the ledger book of God until it is acknowledged that the debt is owed and it cannot be paid. There is no grace that can be received until there is an admission of the need of unmerited favor.
Excuse me, but the garage is calling me to complete an unfinished task. Something tells me that this is not the only place in my life where I have "accumulative error." Pray for me, and I will pray for you to have a clean heart that has had all the junk removed and kicked to the curb today.
GMillerLight4U
Friday, March 26, 2010
Famous Last Words
"Father, 'INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT. ' " Luke 23:46
I have to admit I have always been fascinated by the study of the last words spoken by people just before they die. It is often inspiring, sometimes sad, and at times even a bit humorous. My top ten list includes a wide variety of patriots, preachers and personalities.
- "Are you guys ready? Let' roll." Todd Beamer, 9/11/2001
- "Now comes the mystery." Henry Ward Beecher, pastor, evangelist 3/8/1887
- ""I'm going to Heaven." Bo Didley
- "God take me." Dwight D. Eisenhower
- "Leave the shower curtain on the inside of the tub." Conrad Hilton
- "Texas, Margaret! Texas!" Sam Houston
- "This is it...this really is it." Michael Jackson
- "The best of all is God is with us." John Wesley
- "Strike the tent!" Robert E. Lee
- "Jesus I love you. Jesus I love you. " Mother Theresa 9/5/97
The last words spoken by a person can be extremely important. They often give us insight into the life of the person. At times their last breath is punctuated with words of tremendous significance.
When Jesus was on the cross, He called out to His Father and quoted this line from a beautiful passage of Scripture found in Psalm 31. The text is found within the context of a Psalm written by David that contains both complaint and praise. These few words are critical to understand what was going on in the life of Jesus moments before He died."In Thee, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed. In Thy righteousness deliver me. Incline Thine ear to me, rescue me quickly; be Thou to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For Thou art my rock and my fortress; for Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me. Thou wilt pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me; for Thou art my strength. INTO THY HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Psalm 31:1-5
Jesus was calling out to God in prayer in the midst of His dilemma. His favorite word of God was Father. This intimacy in prayer was a huge part of the life of Jesus. He loved to spend time with His Father. The prayer life of Jesus encourages every prayer warrior to turn to God in crisis, but to be intimately involved, and consistently connected with God before, through, and after the crisis.
Although Jesus gasps out only a portion of the Psalm, He was more than familiar with this passage of Scripture. He had heard it the first time David sang it. The Psalmist called out for God to incline His ear to hear and to take quick action to deliver him from the net that had secretly been set to trap him. In the end, he released himself into God's hands to be ransomed from his enemies, and for the God of truth to set the record straight.
Jesus revealed a familiarity with one of my favorite pictures of the Father. When God is revealed as a loving parent who will incline His ear to hear the cry of a child, it warms my heart and gives me hope. This is not a picture of a distant monarch who has a benign interest in the welfare of His subjects. This is a clear indication that God is passionately interested in the needs of His children, and will reach down to them when they cannot reach up to Him.
Words like refuge, rescue, rock, strength, stronghold, save, fortress, lead, guide, pull are indication of the safety to be found in God's Presence, and the confidence that can be placed in Him to take action on behalf of those He loves.
As parents, Dana and I have known the joy and the responsibility of having two daughters being brought into our lives. When they were little they always wanted to know that they had our undivided attention when they were talking to us. I can remember more than once the constant call, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" If I did not look their way, they would climb up in my lap and place their little hands on my cheeks and turn my face to look directly into their eyes. It was not enough that I could hear their voices, they wanted to make sure that I had inclined my head or looked their way when they called my name. When they were injured, it was not enough for me to observe and acknowledge their pain. They wanted to be held in my arms and comforted until the pain went away and the tears were dry. The warrior poet, David sensed this need too. Jesus called out to God to find a similar affirmation.
During this Easter season and tumultuous time in the life of our nation, it is good for every prayer warrior to be reminded that we have a Father who is aware of our condition and inclines His ear to hear the cry of His children. He remains the rock, the refuge, and the rescuer. Jesus has been elevated from the cross to the seat at the right hand of the Father. From that close proximity to the Father, He interecedes on behalf of the children of God. Prayer warriors who are overwhelmed by the challenges and concerns of these days can take confidence in knowing that the Father still inclines His ear to hear. Their requests are delivered by the Son and interpreted by the Spirit to bring about the result that will bring the greatest honor and glory to God.
God may be about His greatest work when it looks like things are at their worst. Anything that brings us to the end of our false hope in ourselves and creates a fresh dependency upon God for deliverance is a blessing in disquise. Government power and economic securithy are no substitute for or barrier against what God can do. God's greatest blessings are sometimes delivered in very strange and frightening packages. It takes people who will talk less and pray more to discover what God is up to in their lives. Prayer warriors allow God to turn their complaints into praise and trust Him to do something only He can get credit for.
Talking inflates the problem like a balloon filled with hot air and blocks the vision of the one doing all the blowing. Praying allows the prayer warrior to let go of the problem in order to get hold of God. The problem deflates and if it remains, it is at least a limp representation of what it once was. Prayer gets rid of the thing that is blocking the view of Jesus intereceding on behalf of the person who released their intimidating problem into His capable hands. Remember, He has experience taking the worst thing that the world can dish out and letting God bring about His best in the middle of it. To get a better picture of what God is doing in your life and in your country...TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
GMillerLight4U
Monday, March 1, 2010
First Love Awakening: Remove
"...Or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place." Rev. 2:5
"Or else" are two of the most ominous words in the English language. When they are used to describe the warning Jesus has for His church, they take on a whole new intensity. These two words pack a two fisted wallop of favor and fear. On the one hand, they promise that Jesus is coming again, but on the other hand, they point to the dire consequences of ignoring His call to return to their "First Love."
When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (Deut. 6:5) "This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF (Lev. 19:18).' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
In the mind of Jesus, love was to be focused first of all on God, and then there would be an overflow of His love to pour out onto others. This was a consistent theme in His teaching right up until His death on the cross. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35) Jesus knew the Church at Ephesus was in danger because their lack of love for Him. Eventually, their service for Him would weaken, and then they would become irrelevant. "Beware of anything that competes for loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service to Him." Oswald Chambers
The warning that He would not hesitate to remove their lampstand from its place is in keeping with the Scriptures teaching on the authority of Lordship.
"Or else" are two of the most ominous words in the English language. When they are used to describe the warning Jesus has for His church, they take on a whole new intensity. These two words pack a two fisted wallop of favor and fear. On the one hand, they promise that Jesus is coming again, but on the other hand, they point to the dire consequences of ignoring His call to return to their "First Love."
The Church at Ephesus could not be accused of being a lifeless church, but Jesus diagnosed it as being a loveless church. "The church that loses its love will lose its light, no matter how doctrinally sound it may be." Warren Wiersbe
Jesus called on His church to remember, repent, and redo the things they did at first. He promised that He would return, and He would remove their lampstand from its place, if they had not taken His counsel. Ephesus had a great reputation for being an active, tireless defender of the faith. Jesus knew that they lacked the ability to light up their community with His love, if they failed to add fuel to their own love for Him. Jesus knew the danger of cold hearted orthodoxy. It had been one of the driving forces of the self-righteous men who called on the Romans to put Him to death.
Personal love for Jesus keeps the heart of a church warm enough to receive people who come to their need of a Savior. Vance Havner used to say, "Some people are straight as a gun barrel theologically, and just as empty." Jesus wanted the first priority of His church to be a great love for Him, and this love would overflow to others.When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (Deut. 6:5) "This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF (Lev. 19:18).' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
In the mind of Jesus, love was to be focused first of all on God, and then there would be an overflow of His love to pour out onto others. This was a consistent theme in His teaching right up until His death on the cross. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35) Jesus knew the Church at Ephesus was in danger because their lack of love for Him. Eventually, their service for Him would weaken, and then they would become irrelevant. "Beware of anything that competes for loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service to Him." Oswald Chambers
The warning that He would not hesitate to remove their lampstand from its place is in keeping with the Scriptures teaching on the authority of Lordship.
- "Whom the Lord loves, He reproves." Prov. 3:12
- "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent." Rev. 3:19
Jesus is the "Light of the World" and His churches are called to be guiding lights that point people to the love of God. The threat of the removal of their lampstand from its place meant that there is a grave consequence to loving the work of the Lord, more than the Lord of the work...darkness and irrelevancy. At the very least the Church was losing their witness in the community because their light was not shining as it should, and as it could. The rekindling of their love for Jesus was key to having the light of His love restored in their church and in their community.
The personal application of this passage should cause every believer to check the level of their love for Jesus. The greater the love believers have for their Savior, the greater the light of His love will shine into a dark world. Any church that loses its love will soon lose its light. Any believer that focuses on service more than the Savior eventually burns out and leaves a world in darkness.
First Love Awakening is a call for the church to plug into a personal love relationship with Jesus. When His disciples love Him and love one another, people "see the light" and find their way out of the dark and into the light of God's love.
GMillerLight4U
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