A Stumbler's Walk | THERE

And we are writing these things... 

1 John 1:4

John was there. When Jesus walked the Galilean shore, John walked along. When Jesus called, John answered. When Jesus died, John witnessed. 

John looked into an empty grave-cave. John ate with a resurrected Christ. John stood, with dropped jaw, as Jesus ascended into a heavenly light. 

My point? John was there.   

Jesus healed... John saw. Jesus taught... John heard. Jesus fed thousands... John collected leftovers. Jesus walked on water... John marveled. John was there. 

When he writes about the reality of true life and joy, John is not espousing a religious feeling or new insight. He is not passing on some good stories for inspiration. John writes from experience. John was there. "What I've heard, what I've seen, what I've touched..."  And though we will not see, hear or touch with our physical senses, the call and opportunity to be there with Jesus remains. Beyond that, being there is vital. 

If you'll allow a confession from a former pastor: There were many times over the years that I delivered sermons that were not the result of me being there. I did (and do) truly believe in the power and purity of scripture and in God's ability to overcome my inability. Therefore, I could stand firmly and proclaim truth and grace (while raw and in desperate need of grace). And though God is faithful, and can play beautiful melodies through broken instruments, there is no substitute for being there. 

John wrote from his intimate experience with Jesus. I must live my life from the same intimacy. I must be there. Anything short of truly being there with Jesus is simply religious jargon and empty ritual. 

God, you are near, help me find no substitute to being there with Jesus.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | TIME

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, 

making the best use of the time.

-- Colossians 4:5

The one commodity that can never be recovered is time. I am writing this post on the morning of my son's (and youngest child's) 18th birthday. We are heading to breakfast and church, then off for a quick getaway to Chicago and a Cubs game. He is no longer the chubby-cheeked towhead; he is a young man.

Time has not moved slowly. And I ask myself, "Have I made the most of the time?" The answer is no, and yes; it is sometimes and maybe. 

(Just as in the last post - DO - I believe this one will produce a sequel. But again, for now, back to the purpose of this devotion.)

Paul writes to the Colossian Christians that they must focus on making the best use of time. The instruction sounds much like that in Ephesians 5:16. However, in both cases, Paul sets the admonition to use time well in context. Here, he speaks of making the most of our time in relation to those who do not believe the way we do. 

When I served as a pastor, one of the things I repeatedly said from the pulpit went something like this: 

We should be much more concerned that people understand what we are for, 

than what we are against.

I really don't think the Kingdom of God hinges on whether we dance or have a glass of wine. (Though my dancing could cause some to deny the existence of an Intelligent Designer.) Furthermore, I wonder what damage has been done in the name of Being Salt and Light when we are passionate about issues, but lose compassion for people. 

It is possible, I believe, to be both passionate on issues and compassionate toward people. And this is the point Paul makes. It is also the point of Christ's ministry. Read the Gospels, you will find it - Jesus' overriding passion was for the glory of his Father. And this passion was displayed in his compassion toward people - broken, hurting, wounded people. God's heart has always been for the humble and the humiliated. 

Jesus' harshest words were reserved for those who self-righteously misrepresented God. They were those who drove a wedge between a redeeming God and the focus of his love - failing people. They did not make the best us of the time because they did know compassion. They did not know the heart of God. 

Jesus life was one of mission. He said, "I came to seek and to save that which was lost," (Matthew 18:11); "Come to me all who are weary and burdened; I will give you rest," (Matthew 11:28); and "I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly," (John 10:10). 

Christ's calling on our lives is to join him in his mission of compassion and redemption. 

It is imperative to understand and know what we believe. But we must also understand the gospel is a salve for wounded hearts, not a club for us to pummel those (including ourselves) who desperately need compassion. 

In the days of true vinyl records, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) had a song, a portion of which was intentionally recorded backward. Spinning the record in reverse (try that with Spotify) the words became clear: The music is reversible... time is not... Go back... Go back...

We cannot go back. What we can do is make the most of the time we have. We can join in carrying out Christ's mission of passion and compassion. 

God, give me a heart that is passionate toward you and compassionate toward people.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | DO...

...you have put off the old self... and have put on the new self

-- Colossians 3:9-10

I wear a simple chain around my neck with a simple little pendant. On it is inscribed one simple - and powerful - word:

 DO

You see, I can tend toward dreaming. In some areas of life I tend to ponder, to visualize, to analyze - and to be stagnant. There is nothing wrong with dreaming. It is a good thing. But dreams without action are frustrating, and ultimately, sadly futile. 

DO... Sometimes we just need to move, to put ourselves into action. A chain and pendant can be a reminder, but in the end it is only cheap jewelry. I must do... 

In our faith we often wait for a feeling. Or we wait until we know enough. Or we wait until we have our questions answered. Here is an epiphany: We will never have all our questions answered. We will never know everything we want to know. 

The fact is, when we simply act upon what we do know - when we put into practice the little faith we possess - we change. We are impacted by the reality of God's kingdom and presence. And we become instruments of compassionate impact in Christ's hand. 

Paul writes that we are to put off the old, and put on the new. He doesn't say we will suddenly feel like it on day 185 of our yearly devotional. He doesn't promise a break in the clouds of doubt that reveals perfect clarity in our understanding. He simply says... DO. 

To be perfectly accurate to the text, Paul tells us this putting off/on is actually DONE (already). When we were redeemed by Christ he made us new. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he IS a new creation.

The old HAS passed away; behold, the new HAS come. 

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our job is simply to DO according to who we already are - who we have been (re)made to be by Christ. When you really think about it, for a redeemed person to NOT DO according to the new self is actually the anomaly. To NOT DO is to live hypocritically. Stagnant faith is underselling... it is under-living who we are!

We were created for so much more than we experience. We have been redeemed to experience love, community and purpose beyond our wildest dreams.

We simply need to DO...

God, my prayer is simple, but not easy; it is not complex, but it is a struggle. Help me to DO.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | NAILED IT! (pt.2)

This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

-- Colossians 2:14

(This is part two. For context, please first read part one. To help distinguish, I cleverly titled them Pt.1 and Pt.2)

In the last post we addressed BEING guilty and the incredible depth of grace that removes our guilt. There is however, another and deceptively dangerous side of guilt - FEELING guilty.

When we are redeemed by Christ we are completely free. Our guilt is removed. Our debt has been paid.

Whom the Son sets free, is truly free.

-- John 8:36

And yet, from time to time many (most) of us struggle with a sense of guilt. The shadows of our past close in. Or recent failure draws the curtains blocking the sunshine of grace.  

Guilt. It is an ugly word. Guilt can burden. 

It can oppress. Guilt can shut us down...

Guilt and fear are cousins. We feel guilty when we fear we do not measure up; when we fear we are not worthy; when we fear we are not loved; when we fear our failure will cause God and others to turn their backs. 

The self-defeating insidiousness is that we sometimes find pseudo-comfort in our guilt. The outward whimsical expressions: "Well, that's just how I am..., I'm no saint..." or "I just suck," are simply covers that lay like a tattered blanket trying to bring some kind of warmth to the pain beneath. They fail. We are not designed to live feeling guilty. 

There is a sorrow according to the will of God that produces repentance without regret, 

leading to salvation. But the sorrow according to the world produces death.

-- 2 Corinthians 7:10

True freedom is found in living beyond regret - without being weighed down by guilt. When Jesus nailed our record of debt to the cross, he crucified guilt. It is only we who choose to resurrect it. 

As a redeemed person you are a saint; albeit, usually a messed up saint. You are free, though you sometimes stumble. Your guilt list, past present and even future is overwritten in the blood of Christ with the words:

I love you

It is finished

Debt paid

Freedom...

And the record of wrongs written beneath is no longer legible through the scarlet words of love. 

God, your nailed it! And I am free...

For now,

D

A Stumbler's Walk | NAILED IT! (Pt.1)

This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

-- Colossians 2:14

Guilt. 

It is an ugly word. What thoughts and emotions does it illicit? Guilt can burden. It can oppress. Guilt can shut us down. Sometimes it has no effect at all. (Hopefully I can make the point.)

There is a difference between BEING guilty and FEELING guilty. It is possible for the murderous psychopath to BE guilty - while feeling completely free of any sense of guilt. My guess is this is not the case for any reading this post (I hope).

It is also possible for the guilty offender to be completely unaware of his offense. I once was driving a Texas road with a posted 65 mph speed limit. It was a divided highway with two lanes moving in each direction. Suddenly, I noticed friendly red and blue flashing lights behind. What I had not noticed was the sudden change in the posted speed limit - from 65 to 45 in a matter of what seemed three feet. (I later discovered it was a notorious spot.) Driving those three feet, (realistically, hundreds) I had no sense of guilt whatsoever. This did not change the fact that I WAS guilty. And I paid the price - or the debt as the Apostle Paul puts it - for my offense.

Very frankly, and with no judgement or joy on my part, I am compelled to note we each ARE guilty before God; whether we know it - feel it - or not. Jesus said if we fail at one point in our righteousness, we've failed completely. This goes for popes, pastors, prisoners... all. We are guilty. And with this guilt comes a debt.

The problem is, unlike my speeding offense which cost me about 100 Starbucks Venti Americanos, this is a debt we are incapable of paying. Our righteousness bank account has woefully insufficient funds to cover the price to redeem our souls. It is a spiritual debt that spiritually bankrupt people cannot pay.

Now the good news. Christ paid our debt from the riches of his grace. As Paul writes, Jesus nailed our IOU to his cross. With his death he paid our penalty. And though he was buried and rose again, what remains, figuratively speaking, nailed to the cross is the record of our debt (and sins). The list is overwritten however, in bloody red letters with the words...

PAID IN FULL

It is up to us to receive or reject his payment for us personally. It doesn't matter how religious, good or bad, etc. we are or have been (or ever will be). What matters is that we simply admit our guilt, accept what he has done and experience the incredible freedom offered.

(I've not yet gotten to the point I had in mind as I began writing this post. But being several paragraphs in, I'll save it for part two. Like the teasers on the news, I'll go to commercial with this: In part two I hope to deal with the insidiousness of FEELING guilty. Hopefully you'll stick with me.)

God, as the camp(y) song goes, "You paid a debt you did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay..." How can I ever thank you enough?

For now...
D

TRY! Hump Day Inspiration

Sometimes motivational sayings, memes, etc. make me feel guilty...
You know, the "This is my reality, what's your excuse?" kind of thing.
Not the case here.
This is just ALL GOOD!

TRY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSWXzAnVe0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSWXzAnVe0
Courtesy of America's Got Talent

A Stumbler's Walk | HOLD ME JESUS

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

-- Colossians 1:17

One of my favorite albums (remember those?) of all time is Rich Mullins' A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band. Mullins was truly a poet-philosopher. 

I remember standing mesmerized as the shoeless minstrel banged on a hammer dulcimer while painting vivid pictures on the canvas of my soul. His lyrics were alive and full of passion, pain and hope. 

Among the phrases that were deeply planted in my brain, one stands out from his song Hold Me Jesus: 

So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf. 

You have been king of my glory. 

Won't you be my Prince of Peace?

The Apostle Paul writes to the Colossian believers about the preeminence and excellency of Christ. He affirms that Jesus is above all, creator of all, and intimately involved in all. I am reminded of the first few verses of both Genesis and John's gospel. 

My faith usually finds no struggle in a Jesus of creation; a Jesus of majesty and glory. I believe in an all-powerful God who has knit the fabric of all that is with care and creativity. His love paints with masterfully artistic strokes... (have you ever stopped to wonder why there are 20,000 species of butterflies in the world?). And this creative God - to quote the children's song - Has got the whole world in his hands.

However I do struggle at times - not with his power or majesty or God-ness. My struggle comes from a darker place - from the soul of a stumbler. I sometimes ask if this incredible God is intimate enough to hold ME together. 

Paul writes that Jesus holds all things together. In tact. Whole. And within this all, is me (and you). Jesus is (and wants to be) in intimate relationship with us. 

Mullins makes this personal in the title of his song-prayer: Hold Me Jesus.  

And he does.

God, you hold the planets and stars in their pre-defined tracks. You hold atoms together in their minute particle orbits. Jesus, I need you to hold me together. Hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf...

For now...

D

Click here for the video: Rich Mullins, "Hold me Jesus"