Petra Means Rock! And I mean that. But unfortunately, after a third of a century of rocking people around the world with their uncompromised message of faith in their music, the rock band Petra is calling it quits at the end of this year. Over the years, many of their songs have touched my life, but there’s one song in particular which the Lord used one day in my life to comfort me and reassure me when I was questioning the direction in which my life seemed to be moving. I wasn’t questioning God’s actual plans for my life. I knew that I knew that I knew what He had called me to do. But I was questioning why the path He had me on didn’t seem to have anything to do with fulfilling the plan!
You see, several years ago God started putting certain dreams and desires in my heart, in regards to ministry, and I guess I sorta kinda figured that He would bring it all to pass fairly quickly. But in short, each time I tried to make it happen I would end up frustrated and I felt like I had failed to live up to God’s call on my life. Now, I knew (in my head) all the Bible stories with characters who waited for years before God’s promises were fulfilled, and I tried to encourage myself with that type of thinking. However, my seeming failure to live out God’s call on my life continued to be on my mind more than I would have liked. Had I not “really” heard God correctly? Had I not prayed enough? Was sin keeping me from God’s will? Was I simply not disciplined enough to go through with this? Doubt-filled questions like these haunted me on and off for a few years.
One day, as I was driving from Waterloo to Jesup as part of my job, my mind was going somewhat crazy due to this self-focused fear and doubt. But as I drove along, the Lord began to encourage me. Not so much in words, but simply by giving me the understanding I needed in my heart, God was telling me that I was exactly where He wanted me and all I needed to do was to keep trusting Him. I had not moved “out of His will for me.” His plan would come to pass, not because He was dependant upon me to fulfill it, but because He is God! He is not slow in fulfilling His plans. I’m simply wrong to think that “I” can do it and that it will be done in my timing, no matter how logical my own timing may seem!
Tiny tears were beginning to form in my eyes as a little bit of weight was lifted off of me, as my thoughts turned from worrying about how weak this clay jar is to how exceedingly great is the power of the Potter. But things were just getting started. I had randomly grabbed some music to listen to that day. The first song I listened to, “The Right Place” by Petra, literally melted my heart. The song is an anthem for those who feel weak, for those who feel they can’t make it, for those who feel the odds are against them, for those who feel like giving up, for those who feel there’s no way out. The chorus goes: You're in the right place - trusting only Him. You're in the right place - kick back and just depend. You're in the right place - to see what He can do. You're in the right place - He will come through.
The verses and chorus of the song went along perfectly with how the Lord had been encouraging my heart. All of a sudden my slightly moist eyes became flowing rivers as I realized that I really was right where God wanted me to be! I was in the right place - I was trusting Him. But this is still not the end of the story. God had more for me that day. I exited off of Highway 20 and headed into Jesup. With tears still streaming down my face, I looked up as I approached a stop sign at a T intersection. Across the road was Jesup’s big welcome sign with big words sticking out to me like they’d never stuck out before - “THE RIGHT PLACE.”
What’s left in a person when his tears are already like gushing rivers?!?! I literally could not contain myself! Within less than ten minutes, I had gone from doubt and fear to a nice dose encouragement, to a sobbing fool who could not contain the joy and rapture which came when the Spirit moved the truth from a man’s head to his heart.
Grace Roots Articles
Thursday, December 1, 2005
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Two Branches (Abiding)
One day, two branches were cut off of a tree and grafted into another tree known for its fruitfulness. This new tree spoke to the branches. “You are now a part of me and I am a part of you! My very life will flow through you and will produce fruit. You cannot bear this fruit by yourself - without me you can do nothing. Now, there will be seasons of dryness and unfruitfulness but there will also be seasons of great fruitfulness. If you simply remain here with me through it all, trusting that what I say is true, the fruit will be plentiful!
So the branches stayed with the tree but there were no immediate signs of fruit. The first branch grew restless and said, “I just can’t seem to figure out how to make this fruit thing happen.” But the second branch said, “I think I heard the tree say that we are to stay right here, and that his life will produce fruit through us.” But the first branch wasn’t convinced. “There’s got to be something wrong. Maybe we’re supposed to go and create our own fruit for the tree.” So off he went. The second branch had some doubts but yet she chose to remain right there with the tree. “I’m sure he said to stay here with him.”
Out on his journey, the first branch sought with great zeal to find a way to produce some good fruit for the tree. He tried everything imaginable (except what the tree had said) to try to be a productive branch. He also befriended some other plants who had uprooted themselves in search of purpose and fruitfulness. But none of them, being away from their life-sources and away from where they had been rooted and grafted, seemed to be able to make anything worthwhile happen.
Meanwhile, with great love and tenderness, the tree spoke often to the branches who had remained with him. “Be patient, branches. Wait. Don’t worry. Your ‘work’ is to trust me. I know you are eager to bear fruit, but don’t be tempted to go off and try to do it yourself, as some have done. This is my very own fruit. With just the right care and at just the right time, I will make it all work out just as I want it.” This comforted the second branch, and although she didn’t understand how it was all going to happen, she knew this was a safe place to be and she knew she was one of many who were also waiting and trusting.
Soon, the cold of winter set it. The first branch, who had gone off by himself, had missed what the tree said and he couldn’t figure out why he was failing so miserably. He sincerely wanted to please the tree with some beautiful fruit. So out there in the cold, far away from the tree, he struggled and strived all the harder to force himself to make something happen. He worked very hard, but in the end he only got very worn out and very discouraged.
The second branch, on the other hand, encouraged herself daily with the words of the tree. Wait. Be patient. Abide in me. Still, she wondered why it seemed so cold and why nothing seemed to be happening. How long would this take? But yet she and the other branches continued to encourage each other and remained confident that the tree knew what he was talking about and had a plan which he was fully capable of bringing to life.
One day, someone was gathering up twigs and branches for a fire. He came across the first branch, which by now was withered and dead. Into the fire went the branch, along with some nearby hay and straw.
Then, at long last springtime arrived. The branches on the tree had made it through the cold and barrenness, and the tree had kept them alive. But not only were they still alive, they noticed small buds beginning to grow on them! The buds grew, and large green leaves appeared. Before long, each branch which had simply trusted and remained with the tree had fresh, juicy, great tasting fruit growing on it. And they celebrated with great joy!
John 6:28-29 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
John 15:4-8 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Rom 7:4-6 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another — to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom 10:2-4 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
(All verses NKJV)
So the branches stayed with the tree but there were no immediate signs of fruit. The first branch grew restless and said, “I just can’t seem to figure out how to make this fruit thing happen.” But the second branch said, “I think I heard the tree say that we are to stay right here, and that his life will produce fruit through us.” But the first branch wasn’t convinced. “There’s got to be something wrong. Maybe we’re supposed to go and create our own fruit for the tree.” So off he went. The second branch had some doubts but yet she chose to remain right there with the tree. “I’m sure he said to stay here with him.”
Out on his journey, the first branch sought with great zeal to find a way to produce some good fruit for the tree. He tried everything imaginable (except what the tree had said) to try to be a productive branch. He also befriended some other plants who had uprooted themselves in search of purpose and fruitfulness. But none of them, being away from their life-sources and away from where they had been rooted and grafted, seemed to be able to make anything worthwhile happen.
Meanwhile, with great love and tenderness, the tree spoke often to the branches who had remained with him. “Be patient, branches. Wait. Don’t worry. Your ‘work’ is to trust me. I know you are eager to bear fruit, but don’t be tempted to go off and try to do it yourself, as some have done. This is my very own fruit. With just the right care and at just the right time, I will make it all work out just as I want it.” This comforted the second branch, and although she didn’t understand how it was all going to happen, she knew this was a safe place to be and she knew she was one of many who were also waiting and trusting.
Soon, the cold of winter set it. The first branch, who had gone off by himself, had missed what the tree said and he couldn’t figure out why he was failing so miserably. He sincerely wanted to please the tree with some beautiful fruit. So out there in the cold, far away from the tree, he struggled and strived all the harder to force himself to make something happen. He worked very hard, but in the end he only got very worn out and very discouraged.
The second branch, on the other hand, encouraged herself daily with the words of the tree. Wait. Be patient. Abide in me. Still, she wondered why it seemed so cold and why nothing seemed to be happening. How long would this take? But yet she and the other branches continued to encourage each other and remained confident that the tree knew what he was talking about and had a plan which he was fully capable of bringing to life.
One day, someone was gathering up twigs and branches for a fire. He came across the first branch, which by now was withered and dead. Into the fire went the branch, along with some nearby hay and straw.
Then, at long last springtime arrived. The branches on the tree had made it through the cold and barrenness, and the tree had kept them alive. But not only were they still alive, they noticed small buds beginning to grow on them! The buds grew, and large green leaves appeared. Before long, each branch which had simply trusted and remained with the tree had fresh, juicy, great tasting fruit growing on it. And they celebrated with great joy!
--------------------------
John 6:28-29 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
John 15:4-8 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Rom 7:4-6 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another — to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom 10:2-4 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
(All verses NKJV)
Saturday, October 1, 2005
We're All Important Parts of the Body of Christ
Someone in my life recently parted ways with me. This is someone who wasn’t out to get credit for the important things he did. Actually, I scarcely even knew he existed. It wasn’t until after his departure that I realized the quiet but crucial way he had helped me. He did something specific which nobody else could have done, even if they tried. And he didn’t try to be anyone else, either. He simply faithfully did what God had created him to do.
I have to let you in on something. I’m not really talking about a person, but actually a part of my body - my gallbladder - which was surgically removed! This unseen part of my body worked faithfully along with all the other parts of my body to keep me healthy, until some problems developed and I had to say bye-bye to the friend I never even realized I had.
Our bodies are made up of all kinds of parts which all work for the good of the body as a whole. I’m no expert in areas of anatomy, physiology, biology, histology and whatever other “ologies” there are, so I admit that I don’t know a whole lot about the complex workings of the human body. What I do know is that a single body doesn’t work properly without many different parts working together. The Bible uses the human body as a symbol of the church, with many parts (individual Christians) making up the “body of Christ.” Some people in Christ’s body are more visible and highly praised by others, while some do their work quietly behind the scenes and are given little or no attention by others.
What about your part in the body? Are you perhaps one of many who have a more prominent showing of the well-known “gifts of the Spirit” listed in the Bible (such as prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, wisdom, knowledge, healing, pastorship, evangelism)? Or perhaps is your part in the body something not as easily noticed, or something which isn’t necessarily given a “name” or well-noted coverage in the scriptures? No matter what your part, purpose or gifting within the body of Christ, God has chosen you for that part – and He’s never lacked wisdom in anything He’s done!
It can be an easy temptation for people to look down on or disapprove of others who don’t “minister” or work in the body in the same way they do, or to expect others to conform to their way of doing or seeing things. And it can be equally as tempting for people to feel inadequate because they don’t have the ability to serve in some of the “big” ways that they see others serving. But my gallbladder never tried to get one of my big toes to store bile and release it when my body needed it for digestion! And while my esophagus understands how important my heart is, it doesn’t get envious or sad and try to take over the job of pumping blood through my body. It just swallows its pride (pun intended) and does what it was created to do.
As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it (1 Cor 12:18, MSG). We all have different gifts, ministries and functions within this body, but it’s the same Spirit who works all these things in all of us, and it’s all done according to His grace working in us individually and together as a body. Therefore, we shouldn’t think too highly (or lowly) of ourselves (or others). We all belong to Christ and we all belong to each other! No part of the body can say “I’m not needed” or “you’re not needed.”
Did I mention that Christ Himself is the Head of this body, and quite capably so? “We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love” (Eph 4:15-16, MSG). As vital parts of the body of Christ, each one of us is fully dependant, along with all the other members of the body, upon the grace which flows in just the right proportion from the Head to every single part of the body, seen or unseen!
I have to let you in on something. I’m not really talking about a person, but actually a part of my body - my gallbladder - which was surgically removed! This unseen part of my body worked faithfully along with all the other parts of my body to keep me healthy, until some problems developed and I had to say bye-bye to the friend I never even realized I had.
Our bodies are made up of all kinds of parts which all work for the good of the body as a whole. I’m no expert in areas of anatomy, physiology, biology, histology and whatever other “ologies” there are, so I admit that I don’t know a whole lot about the complex workings of the human body. What I do know is that a single body doesn’t work properly without many different parts working together. The Bible uses the human body as a symbol of the church, with many parts (individual Christians) making up the “body of Christ.” Some people in Christ’s body are more visible and highly praised by others, while some do their work quietly behind the scenes and are given little or no attention by others.
What about your part in the body? Are you perhaps one of many who have a more prominent showing of the well-known “gifts of the Spirit” listed in the Bible (such as prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, wisdom, knowledge, healing, pastorship, evangelism)? Or perhaps is your part in the body something not as easily noticed, or something which isn’t necessarily given a “name” or well-noted coverage in the scriptures? No matter what your part, purpose or gifting within the body of Christ, God has chosen you for that part – and He’s never lacked wisdom in anything He’s done!
It can be an easy temptation for people to look down on or disapprove of others who don’t “minister” or work in the body in the same way they do, or to expect others to conform to their way of doing or seeing things. And it can be equally as tempting for people to feel inadequate because they don’t have the ability to serve in some of the “big” ways that they see others serving. But my gallbladder never tried to get one of my big toes to store bile and release it when my body needed it for digestion! And while my esophagus understands how important my heart is, it doesn’t get envious or sad and try to take over the job of pumping blood through my body. It just swallows its pride (pun intended) and does what it was created to do.
As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it (1 Cor 12:18, MSG). We all have different gifts, ministries and functions within this body, but it’s the same Spirit who works all these things in all of us, and it’s all done according to His grace working in us individually and together as a body. Therefore, we shouldn’t think too highly (or lowly) of ourselves (or others). We all belong to Christ and we all belong to each other! No part of the body can say “I’m not needed” or “you’re not needed.”
Did I mention that Christ Himself is the Head of this body, and quite capably so? “We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love” (Eph 4:15-16, MSG). As vital parts of the body of Christ, each one of us is fully dependant, along with all the other members of the body, upon the grace which flows in just the right proportion from the Head to every single part of the body, seen or unseen!
Thursday, September 1, 2005
The Gospel Isn't Fair!
My kids like to inform me when things aren’t “fair.” Jared gets a quarter inch less juice in his cup than his sister, and it’s not fair. Noelle’s time out is 2 minutes longer than her brother’s – she thinks it’s not fair. Jared’s handful of Skittles contains only 4 red ones, but Noelle has 5. It’s not fair! We put them to bed at their actual, predetermined, scheduled bedtime - how can we be so unfair!
I hope they get used to all this unfairness. C’est la vie, right? But the thing is, I myself still have a hard time with the inequities of life! I still have the propensity to be vexed and perplexed when the “fair” column in life seems to have fewer check marks than all the rest.
Now I suppose I could use this as an opportunity to encourage all of us believers to be overcomers and conquerors whenever it seems we get the short end of the stick. You know, how we should “turn the other cheek” and “learn to be content whatever the circumstances.” Indeed, let’s not stop growing in these areas as we continue to daily trust in Christ to be victorious through us.
But taking another direction, how about something unfair which actually ends up good for us. Can something unfair actually be a good thing? How about a Real Good Thing?
“When we don’t get what we deserve, it’s a real good thing.”“When we get what we don’t deserve, it’s a real good thing.”
These Newsboys lyrics are, of course, a description of God’s mercy and grace, lavished upon us not because we deserve it, but rather despite the fact that we’ve done absolute diddley to earn anything good from Him. You could call it a summary of the gospel itself (the good news), in which sinners don’t receive the punishment they deserve and are even given the gift of God’s righteousness and eternal life, which they don’t deserve. Which leads me to this very heretical conclusion – The gospel isn’t fair!
I’m sure you get where I’m coming from, but in case you’ve just now come up with some nice names for me such as “heathen!” or “infidel!,” I’d like to offer some scriptures which will hopefully give credence to my blasphemy:
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Eph 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
Rom 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (All verses NIV).
Is it fair that Jesus, who knew no sin, would actually become sin for us? Is it fair that we, who were completely dead in our sins, would actually become the righteousness of God? Really now - is this exchange fair at all??? But does the gospel, and for that matter, do any of God’s ways have to be “logical” or “fair” or make sense to us according to worldly wisdom?
“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” “It pleased God through the foolishness of the message to save those who believe.” (1 Cor. 1:20,21).
Thank God for His foolishness and unfairness! The only thing we really need to overcome or conquer here is our lack of belief that God could be so good to us!
I hope they get used to all this unfairness. C’est la vie, right? But the thing is, I myself still have a hard time with the inequities of life! I still have the propensity to be vexed and perplexed when the “fair” column in life seems to have fewer check marks than all the rest.
Now I suppose I could use this as an opportunity to encourage all of us believers to be overcomers and conquerors whenever it seems we get the short end of the stick. You know, how we should “turn the other cheek” and “learn to be content whatever the circumstances.” Indeed, let’s not stop growing in these areas as we continue to daily trust in Christ to be victorious through us.
But taking another direction, how about something unfair which actually ends up good for us. Can something unfair actually be a good thing? How about a Real Good Thing?
“When we don’t get what we deserve, it’s a real good thing.”“When we get what we don’t deserve, it’s a real good thing.”
These Newsboys lyrics are, of course, a description of God’s mercy and grace, lavished upon us not because we deserve it, but rather despite the fact that we’ve done absolute diddley to earn anything good from Him. You could call it a summary of the gospel itself (the good news), in which sinners don’t receive the punishment they deserve and are even given the gift of God’s righteousness and eternal life, which they don’t deserve. Which leads me to this very heretical conclusion – The gospel isn’t fair!
I’m sure you get where I’m coming from, but in case you’ve just now come up with some nice names for me such as “heathen!” or “infidel!,” I’d like to offer some scriptures which will hopefully give credence to my blasphemy:
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Eph 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
Rom 5:8 God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (All verses NIV).
Is it fair that Jesus, who knew no sin, would actually become sin for us? Is it fair that we, who were completely dead in our sins, would actually become the righteousness of God? Really now - is this exchange fair at all??? But does the gospel, and for that matter, do any of God’s ways have to be “logical” or “fair” or make sense to us according to worldly wisdom?
“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” “It pleased God through the foolishness of the message to save those who believe.” (1 Cor. 1:20,21).
Thank God for His foolishness and unfairness! The only thing we really need to overcome or conquer here is our lack of belief that God could be so good to us!
Monday, August 1, 2005
No Longer Identified By Sin
Hi, I’m Joel Brueseke. It has been no less than a wonderful, joyful experience for the past 5 years for my wife and I to worship with and connect with the various parts of Christ’s body who call the Vineyard their home, as we do. Along with our two children, Jared and Noelle, we thank God daily in our prayers for extending our family by a couple of thousand people! I work part time at Covenant Medical Center as a Courier and I work part time at the New 89.1-The Spirit (aka KWOF-850AM in Waterloo). You might know me as Joel Sommers on the radio, and if you do know me in that capacity, my sincerest apologies!
As I share a little bit more about myself, I’ll use someone else’s words to describe my thoughts: “I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Paul, in Galatians 2:19-21, The Message)
My friend Mike Kapler (also with KWOF and this church) has often brought up that we humans tend to identify ourselves by what we “do.” You find out what other people “do” and you tell them what you “do.” “I’m a salesman.” “I’m a hairdresser.” “I do construction work.” “I work in radio.” “I race cars.” “I’m a pastor.” “I work in a factory.” In introducing myself above, I first told you what I “do.” But because what I do is generally the fruit of who I am, or even the fruit of who I perceive I am, I first want to grow in and be grounded in who I am.
The Bible says that my identity – who I am – is not “me” anymore! When I was born, I was identified with Adam and unfortunately it was a life which didn’t quite cut the mustard when it came to being right with God. So, as an act of His great love for us, God made a way for all of us who were born in Adam to be “born again” into Christ. But in order become this “New Creation,” as Paul phrases it in II Cor. 5:17 and Gal. 6:15, it was necessary for the old “me” to die. So, that identity was crucified with Christ. It is dead and buried, expired, six feet under, bereft of life, pushing up daisies. It’s rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. It’s stone dead. (Thanks to a Monty Python skit for those synonyms for DEAD!) My new identity (who I really, actually am) is identified by the very life of Christ in me.
Plainly put, before coming to Christ we were identified as “sinners.” Now, after coming to Christ by faith, we have a new identity as saints! As Bill Gillham writes in his book, “What God Wishes Christians Knew About Christianity,” and as our pastor has often said, we are not “sinners saved by grace.” It is grace alone which has saved us, but now in addition to having been forgiven of our sins, we have been made holy, blameless and righteous - saints! That is actually, factually what God has made us to be! He doesn’t just “see” us as holy and righteous. We are holy and righteous.
We do contain the capacity to sin, and the reason is that sin dwells “in” us (see Rom. 7:17,20). The good news is that we are not identified by what is in us but rather by who we actually are! When you have a virus “in” you, you don’t say “I am a virus” or “I am a runny nose and swollen tonsils.” What is in you might temporarily have power over your bodily functions, but it does not define who you are. In Christ, sin doesn’t define us. We are defined as a saints. Nothing we “do” can change that identity, just as nothing we did created that identity in the first place. It was all the work of God and it will always continue to be the work of God. The prodigal son didn’t lose his identity as a son, even when he went off and squandered his inheritance.
The book mentioned above says, “Believe you are a ‘sinner saved by grace’ and you’ll act like one; believe you are a holy, purified saint who admittedly sins at times, but who hates that life-style, and you’ll be highly motivated to act like such a saint.” Our new life in Christ is lived by trusting and resting in what God has already done, and in His very life which is in union with ours!
Friday, July 1, 2005
What We Need, Not What We Deserve
It’s a Saturday night in October of 1988. I’m 19 years old, and I’m ready to go have some fun! I’m grabbing some friends and we’re going road-tripping down the highways and back roads surrounding my hometown of Waverly. But what kind of fun would it be without a case of beer and a two bottles of Mad Dog 20/20? It seemed like the perfect touch to an evening of fun and laughter – until…
Our fun and laughter ended up in fear and screaming after my inattentive eyes missed a “curve ahead” road sign on the gravel road. Amazingly - and thankfully - this part of the story ends with no one getting seriously hurt. In fact, as all our friends drove by the following day to view my totaled car which had been towed from the ditch in which it had landed upside down, they marveled that we were alive at all.
But the most amazing part of this story is yet to come. Something that has impacted me in a far greater way. And it all centers around grace. Back up to the previous year. My pastor-dad and mom had gone beyond their means to purchase this car for me so I would have wheels while I was 100 miles away at college. When I dropped out after only 4 months my parents were undoubtedly disappointed but they graciously welcomed me back home and granted me the continued use of the car and all the other benefits of being a son. I sure had a fine way of showing them how thankful I was, eh.
After sitting with my buddy in the local jail overnight, we were released early Sunday morning. We walked across the river, viewed my smashed up “college” car for the last time (at the place where it had been towed to) and then I slowly and hesitantly walked home, not exactly eager to face my parents. My mom was standing in the kitchen, getting ready for church. I didn’t know what to say. I’m sure my parents were angry. I’m sure they were deeply disappointed. I’m sure they weren’t even sure what to think or say. But five words came out of my mom’s mouth that would eventually have more of an impact on my relationship with God than I ever would have imagined at the time.
“We’re just glad you’re ok.”
Disappointment and anger were probably only the beginning of the flood of emotions mom and dad were having, and add to that the fear and worry about their seemingly messed-up son’s future. But whatever dismal thoughts may have been going through their minds, there was something else on the inside of my parents which superseded all of it. Their main concern was to let me know I was loved. They most certainly had every right to go all off on me and let me know how I had let them down, and those thoughts probably tempted them more than I’ll ever know. My neck deserved a good wringing. But they didn’t give me what I deserved. They gave me what I needed.
They confirmed to me that I was still their son. The deafening silence - there were no long talks, no sermons, no preaching – spoke to me more than anything else could have. That said, I still had a lot of growing to do, and it’s not as if I didn’t push the limits from time to time. My life was by no means instantly transformed at the time. It wasn’t until a few years down the line that this experience spoke even more clearly to me about the love of my parents – and the love of God.
I came to a stage in life when I was beginning to learn more about the grace of God – His favor and blessing that is given to me freely, that I have done nothing to earn, and in fact which is given to me despite the fact that the absolute total of what I have “earned” really only amounts to death and condemnation. One day I was thinking about this time in my past when I had been given what I didn’t deserve by my parents. Suddenly the magnitude of how they had responded to my needs rather than reacted to my actions hit me like a ton of bricks and I was swept up in a huge emotional wave. My experience from the past provided me with a clear picture of a loving Father who gives grace to those who need it, not to those who deserve it. And for perhaps the first time in my life I truly appreciated the immeasurable freedom and grace which had been given to me over the years by my earthly parents and my Heavenly Father.
I don’t want to imply that the way my parents treated this matter was the only way. I can’t guarantee that when both my kids become teenagers, my wife and I will respond in the same way to their misdeeds! I hope and pray that by the Spirit of God in us, we’ll raise them with godly love, grace and discipline. But what’s really wonderful is that we have a Father who always knows exactly how to treat us. The good news is that while He is well aware of our faults, He is much more interested in providing for us what we need rather than what we deserve. He proved it with the Cross.
Our fun and laughter ended up in fear and screaming after my inattentive eyes missed a “curve ahead” road sign on the gravel road. Amazingly - and thankfully - this part of the story ends with no one getting seriously hurt. In fact, as all our friends drove by the following day to view my totaled car which had been towed from the ditch in which it had landed upside down, they marveled that we were alive at all.
But the most amazing part of this story is yet to come. Something that has impacted me in a far greater way. And it all centers around grace. Back up to the previous year. My pastor-dad and mom had gone beyond their means to purchase this car for me so I would have wheels while I was 100 miles away at college. When I dropped out after only 4 months my parents were undoubtedly disappointed but they graciously welcomed me back home and granted me the continued use of the car and all the other benefits of being a son. I sure had a fine way of showing them how thankful I was, eh.
After sitting with my buddy in the local jail overnight, we were released early Sunday morning. We walked across the river, viewed my smashed up “college” car for the last time (at the place where it had been towed to) and then I slowly and hesitantly walked home, not exactly eager to face my parents. My mom was standing in the kitchen, getting ready for church. I didn’t know what to say. I’m sure my parents were angry. I’m sure they were deeply disappointed. I’m sure they weren’t even sure what to think or say. But five words came out of my mom’s mouth that would eventually have more of an impact on my relationship with God than I ever would have imagined at the time.
“We’re just glad you’re ok.”
Disappointment and anger were probably only the beginning of the flood of emotions mom and dad were having, and add to that the fear and worry about their seemingly messed-up son’s future. But whatever dismal thoughts may have been going through their minds, there was something else on the inside of my parents which superseded all of it. Their main concern was to let me know I was loved. They most certainly had every right to go all off on me and let me know how I had let them down, and those thoughts probably tempted them more than I’ll ever know. My neck deserved a good wringing. But they didn’t give me what I deserved. They gave me what I needed.
They confirmed to me that I was still their son. The deafening silence - there were no long talks, no sermons, no preaching – spoke to me more than anything else could have. That said, I still had a lot of growing to do, and it’s not as if I didn’t push the limits from time to time. My life was by no means instantly transformed at the time. It wasn’t until a few years down the line that this experience spoke even more clearly to me about the love of my parents – and the love of God.
I came to a stage in life when I was beginning to learn more about the grace of God – His favor and blessing that is given to me freely, that I have done nothing to earn, and in fact which is given to me despite the fact that the absolute total of what I have “earned” really only amounts to death and condemnation. One day I was thinking about this time in my past when I had been given what I didn’t deserve by my parents. Suddenly the magnitude of how they had responded to my needs rather than reacted to my actions hit me like a ton of bricks and I was swept up in a huge emotional wave. My experience from the past provided me with a clear picture of a loving Father who gives grace to those who need it, not to those who deserve it. And for perhaps the first time in my life I truly appreciated the immeasurable freedom and grace which had been given to me over the years by my earthly parents and my Heavenly Father.
I don’t want to imply that the way my parents treated this matter was the only way. I can’t guarantee that when both my kids become teenagers, my wife and I will respond in the same way to their misdeeds! I hope and pray that by the Spirit of God in us, we’ll raise them with godly love, grace and discipline. But what’s really wonderful is that we have a Father who always knows exactly how to treat us. The good news is that while He is well aware of our faults, He is much more interested in providing for us what we need rather than what we deserve. He proved it with the Cross.
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