It is raining so hard outside right now. I want to go running, but it will take a little more time to wake up and get motivated.
In the mean time, I've been reading Luke chapter 9. The theme I keep seeing this morning, over and over again, is the theme of being on the same team.
Ministry of the Twelve (v1-14): Jesus sends His twelve closest friends out to the city to preach and heal. It confuses Herod, thinking that John the Baptist is back. (Jesus, the disciples, and John the Baptists are all on the same team!)
Five Thousand Fed (v12-17): After the 12 return, Jesus tries to find a lonely place for solitude. But, the crowds flash him faster than a flash mob can form on facebook. The 12 ask him a valid question, "how will we feed everyone?" Jesus reminds them that they're on the same team. The disciples find some bread and some fish, organize the crowd into smaller teams of 50, and everyone is satisfied.
Conversations out of Solitude (v18-27):Again, Jesus tries to spend time alone with the Father, but the disciples come to ask questions. He asks them what the word on the street is: people say Jesus is John the Baptist or Elijah reincarnate. The disciples, though, know that Jesus is the Christ, the promised anointed one. Jesus reveals the grand game plan for the team: "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it."
The Transfiguration (v28-36): The next week, Jesus calls his inner circle out for a camping trip. During intense prayer, Jesus' appearance changes and all of his clothes turn bright white. Moses and Elijah show up for the conversation. Peter, James and John had fallen asleep, but this woke them up! Peter tries to problem-solve and figure out the logistics for adding two new campers to the team. Then, God speaks from the clouds to remind them that Jesus is leading the team. The visitors return to Heaven and the campers keep the revelation to themselves.
The Demon-possessed Boy (v37-45): A man seeks out Jesus' help to heal his son from a demon. The disciples weren't able to cast out the spirit. Jesus rebukes both the demon and the people. The boy is healed and "all are amazed at the greatness of God." Jesus then uses this time to tell his disciples that his death is coming soon, but the disciples don't understand and are afraid to ask for clarification.
The Test of Greatness (v46-56): After the preaching, the healing, the miracles, and the special camping trip, the disciples begin to argue about who is the greatest. Jesus employs a new form of wisdom and uses the analogy of a child to call out their pride. Then, John continues to try a new variation of the same question. He asks Jesus about the other people in the city who are performing successful healings with Jesus' name. Jesus says, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." The crew reaches opposition as they move to enter Jerusalem. The problem-solving disciples offer to call down fire from heaven to consume the opposition, but Jesus reminds them of the vision statement of the team: "for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."
Cost of Discipleship (v57-62): This is where the team contract is described in deeply uncomfortable terms. As new members ask to join the team, Jesus lays out the terms. 1) No home. 2) No looking back. 3) No family. On this team, home is Heaven. On this team, the future is Jesus. On this team, family is the Bride of Christ. It's expensive to be on this team, but the greatest sacrifice comes in Luke chapter 24. Jesus is about to beat death forever for everyone. The disciples just don't know it yet.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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