WONDER / Luke 7:36-50

Ravi Zacharias in his excellent book, Recapture The Wonder, states that many things are hard to maintain throughout life, one of these being wonder. As Christ followers it is easy to 'take for granted' amazing grace. It is too easy to get stuck in the ruts and routines, and lose the passion and intensity, the joy and exaltation, the wonder and awe of what God has done and is doing for us in Christ.

In Luke 7, this unnamed woman, who spoke no words, is overwhelmed when she comes into contact with Jesus. She knew who Jesus was/is. Simon didn't. His logic, pride, religious prejudice, separated him from the One who could set his heart free. Her tears flowed from the depth of a heart set free from sin and death. Her extravagance found its motivation in the new life that was alive within her. She didn't care what anyone thought, this One who knew who she was had embraced her with mercy, compassion and grace. What He took, she wanted to get rid of anyway. What He gave she had only dreamed about, cried for, long and sought for. He was the fulfillment of it all. It was wonderful.

The widow's might

I can continue to wrestle with the priority of prayer. The call to prayer in Scripture is clear. Prayer was a priority for Christ, but he didn't live in our fast paced world of noise, clutter and busyness. Poor excuses I know and I don't want to live in the world Christ did. Wesley went to bed early, got up early and prayed. He found power in the Gospel message we often don't see today, or should I say, I don't see today. Thousands came to faith in Christ through Wesley's influence. The reports of the power of God moving on hearts during his open air meetings, and church meetings makes me know we are missing someONE. At one point I thought maybe I was beginning to get a handle on it, but the last few years it seems to be out of my reach again. Oh yes I pray. Faithfully pray and yes more than at meals-in fact sometimes I miss the meal prayer. It's the intercessory, deep, extended, let God move on me type of praying that I know I need and the church needs. Sometimes I get there, or at least close, but all too often I get finished and sense God hasn't even started. In Luke 18 Jesus calls us to pray and not quit. Then he tells of the widow's might. She didn't quit pounding on the judge's door. She prevailed until the answer came. God is not deaf, He is not unwilling as the judge, He is not hard hearted, but He wants us to pray about His will being done. Too often we pray about our stuff. Let's begin to cry out to God to join him in what He is doing and see a great harvest. Wherever you are in the prayer journey don't quit. I am convinced with Wesley, "God does nothing except in answer to prayer." Rally behind your pastor in prayer. Start a prayer band in your home with some friends. Let's become destitute and desperate like the widow-for His sake. A little book that helped me years ago is Dick Eastman's, The Hour That Changes The World.

Presence

I recently read the blog of another individual calling the church to a revival of personal holiness (Lee Grady/Fire In My Bones). It almost seems a paradox, that we would have to call the church to personal holiness-this should be the norm, this should be our daily pursuit and desire, and practice. We have embraced a cheap grace and a sinning religion. The church in America knows nothing of paying a price for anything, and scoffs at paying a price for personal holiness. I was in a meeting of pastors in a city where I was holding a revival, and a pastor asked a solemn question of the group. "When was the last time any of us gutted it out and battled our way through a temptation." Too many simply give in and attempt to go on. The going on is most difficult when the wheels have come off the wagon. Let's not minimize the effect of sinning-it brings death one way or another. I'm re-reading Tozer's classic, The Pursuit of God. In it he states that God meant us to see Him and live with Him and draw our life from His smile. But we have fled from that presence as Adam fled and hid in the garden. It is the realization of that awesome Presence that should make us mindful that holiness is not an option, and that His Presence, His manifest Presence is the key to that holiness. His holiness consuming us becomes the path to our personal holiness. O God take me to the cross, Your holiness is my desire.

Leadership

Tomorrow I have the privilege of facilitating a class at Amarillo College on leadership. As one author states, 'leadership is an art.' When I first read the title of that book, I was startled, because I am not very artistic. One thing I have learned about leadership, it is a challenge. To be a leader, one must be a learner. I don't know that I am a leader, but I do know I want to be a learner. Pastoring is a task that requires one to become a leader, and carries some interesting tensions. To be a servant leader, a shepherd leader is the Biblical model. The church growth movement and the rise of the mega-church in America has thrown the 'ceo leader' model into the mix. In a culture that exalts Donald Trump, and a church culture that exalts the one with the largest attendance, the leadership model of Jesus is often overlooked. In preparing for the class, and compiling a list of leadership definitions, the following by Leith Anderson in his book, Leadership That Works, got my attention.

"The truth is, very few leaders are heros. Most leaders work quietly, and their effectiveness comes as a result of a long series of wise decisions and good behavior. Most leaders are known in a very limited sphere."

scripting

I had lunch with a pastor friend & we were talking shop. The concept of 'scripting' came up from his side of the table. He identified how we often set the agenda with our pattern of thinking even before the plot begins to unfold. We establish that something will be chaotic, or a failure even before the opening round. The Word of God tells us to take every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and to focus our thoughts on things that are excellent (Philippians 4:8). Ironically the script has already been written. It is a script of victory, ability, wisdom and fruitfulness. It is following Christ. The crowd thought the cross was the end of the story, Jesus of Nazareth was a loser, a poser, a liar. The script had been written, Jesus had referred to it often, the prophets of old declared it, and the empty tomb confirms it. How I think should follow the way of the Lord, the way of victory. I need to apply that to daily situations, relationships, and choices. I am more than a conqueror-in Christ. Out with the negative scripts about myself, life and others.

Surrender

E. Stanley Jones is one of my favorite reads. Deep, insightful, coming from a heart that is full of the Holy Spirit and a life lived for Christ. In his book "In Christ" he is speaking of surrender & says this,

"Low at His (Christ's) feet we stand straight before everything else. Moreover, His will is our freedom. Bound to Him we walk the earth free. When we are most His, we are most our own."

He then prays. "O my Lord and Savior, thou dost bind me to thy heart and set me free at the same moment-free to love, to live, to grow, to enjoy with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I open my arms to thy bondage, for my heart wants freedom. Amen."

His final statement: "If I don't surrender to God, I will surrender to things."

The ways of the Kingdom of God are not the ways of man. Victory comes through surrender. The overflowing life through complete consecration. Freedom through bondage to Christ and the daily doing of His will without hesitation or reservation.

Reaching for the light

I'm in Spencer, Indiana doing a revival. Staying at McCormick Creek State park. Over ten miles of walking/running trails. This morning and yesterday did a little of both and breathed in the awesome glory of God's creation. Trees that reached 100 feet straight into the air, straining to gain the sunlight and stay alive. The trees paint an interesting picture. As they grow, lower branches are shed, and the branches and leaves are at the top where the light is. The lower limbs are basically worthless for the absortion of light. What a lesson for the Christ follower. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, as we reach for the heights, we must seperate ourselves from the things of lessor value. Paul says we are to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness-reach for the light (Ephesians 4:11). It is the daily challenge of discerning what is the best. Of choosing the things that bring me closer to the light, that lift me from the darkness into the marvelous light of His holy presence.