journey onWord with us

In traveling through the seven days that comprise a week, Wednesday represents the apex.  Also referred to as “hump day,” the connotation is that the uphill climb toward week’s end is about to encounter its highest point.  And once reached, it’s all downhill from there.  I would suggest this is also true of the Wednesday in the last week of Jesus.

For as many years as God numbers for me, I will think of an unnamed woman on this specific calendar day.  Because I believe the story of this woman stands at the very crest of Jesus’ final week, and provides the proper propulsion towards the intensity and power of His final days.  The setting is a meal at the house of Simon the leper.  The scene fits, doesn’t it?  Are you at all surprised that Jesus would be enjoying a meal at the house of a former leper?  Yeah, me either.

Jesus is reclining at the table with the other guests and, contrary to proper etiquette, a woman (who would normally only approach the table to serve the men who were eating) approaches Him.  She carries with her “a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard.” (Mark 14:3 NLT)  It is suggested that perfume of such quality and quantity would be the equivalent of a year’s salary and would likely have been a treasured family heirloom or inheritance.  I think it’s fair to say that this would have been a prized possession and would have amounted to most, if not all, of what she had of value in this world.  The last sentence of Mark 14:3 describes what happens next …

She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. (NLT)

She broke open the jar.  She broke open the jar.  No, that’s not a mistaken duplication of text, it’s repitition for the sake of great emphasis.  See, I believe there is deep significance in this very intentional act.  The unnamed woman did not simply uncap the bottle and measure her pour.  She broke the bottle, making an irreversible commitment that its entire contents would be spent in the anointing of Jesus.  A whole (and opaque) vessel would allow for restraint and the possibility to keep a measure for herself.  It could give the appearance of pouring it all out, yet still allowing for some to be hidden and saved.  A broken vessel is an exposed vessel; there is no hiding with a broken vessel.  A broken vessel is a submitted vessel; one that can no longer be used for its prior purpose, but rather given up fully to the purpose it was broken for.  These are the gifts of the unnamed woman … not only her perfume, but also herself.

Immediately upon seeing this act, those who were in attendance began to criticize her harshly.  What in the world was she doing?!  Does she not know how valuable the perfume was?  How much money could have been gained from its sale?  How much could be gifted to the poor?!  It is important to understand that alms for the poor were a very integral part of the Passover celebration.  Much like our modern celebration of Christmas, it was customary to be very generous to the poor during Passover.  So in their own reasoning, the guests saw horrible injustice and waste in what they had judged to be a hasty and frivolous act.  In their own reasoning, that is.

As quickly as they began, Jesus jumped to the woman’s defense.  “Leave her alone … she has done a beautiful thing to me.” (Mark 14:6 ESV)  In His divine, kingdom vision He saw the moving of her spirit to anoint Him for burial; a broken and complete sacrifice to honor Him and prepare His body for what was to come.  It was not customary for a criminal’s body to be anointed for burial.  Knowing this would be His Son’s fate, God authored this beautiful and purposed act.  Jesus chastises the guests with the truth that they will always have the poor among them to offer their help to, but they will only have Him for a very short time.  And lest this be interpreted as a selfish statement, Jesus is quoting the Old Testament text of Deuteronomy 15:11 where God says, “There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” (NLT)

I see a stark contrast in this story of a sacred interruption in an otherwise ordinary dinner; namely, that which exists between kingdom purposes and those of the natural world.  In their focus on perfume, money, and tradition, the guests missed the kingdom act of anointing.  They were focused on the denarius.  Jesus and this woman have his Father’s kingdom on their hearts and in their sights.

Then there is Jesus’ answer to the teacher of the law the day before (Tuesday) when he questioned, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (Mark 12:28 NLT) In breaking the bottle and giving it up to its final and divine purpose of anointing, the woman loved the Lord her God with everything she had.  Jesus’ words, “She has done what she could” (Mark 14:8a NLT), are the same language He used the day before in describing the widow’s offering.  In response to what she did, Jesus promised that, “wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9 ESV)

What is yours and my beautiful alabaster jar?  What is our essence of nard, our counter-cultural act?  Our challenge is to live as the woman acted … that completely broken, that poured out, and that unnamed.  All for the purpose of the kingdom, and loving the Lord our God with all that we have in this world.

On this final Tuesday of His earthly life, we find Jesus in full-on teaching mode, and more often than not, in direct confrontation with religious “leaders.”  As the people and their “leaders” came at Jesus with question after question, Jesus taught the way He always did … with story.  One of my favorites that He shared on His final Tuesday is of a king and a wedding banquet.  The kingdom of God is such a beautiful mystery to me, and I never tire of reading or speaking about it.

A few years ago I heard a story that brought me to tears.  It touched a sacred place inside of me and spoke plainly and profoundly of what I have come to believe of the kingdom of God.  The story may make you uncomfortable at times, but I pray it is a God-honoring illustration of the kingdom Jesus brought to us as a very real baby boy, crucified Redeemer and risen Savior!  Join with me in reading an excerpt from Tony Campolo’s book Let Me Tell You a Story, about Tony and a girl named Agnes.

If you live on the East Coast and travel to Hawaii, you know that there is a time difference that makes three o’clock in the morning feel like nine.  With that in mind, you will understand that whenever I go out to our fiftieth state I find myself wide awake long before dawn.  Not only do I find myself up and ready to go while almost everybody else is still asleep, but I find that I want breakfast when almost everything on the island is still closed–which is why I was wandering up and down the streets of Honolulu at three-thirty in the morning, looking for a place to get something to eat.

Up a side street I found a little place that was still open.  I went in, took a seat on one of the stools at the counter, and waited to be served.  This was one of those sleazy places that deserves the name “greasy spoon.”  I mean, I did not even touch the menu.  I was afraid that if I opened the thing something gruesome would crawl out.  But it was the only place I could find.

The fat guy behind the counter came over and asked me, “What d’ya want?’

I told him, “A cup of coffee and a donut.”

He poured a cup of coffee, wiped his grimy hand on his smudged apron, then grabbed a donut off the shelf behind him.  I’m a realist.  I know that in the back room of that restaurant, donuts are probably dropped on the floor and kicked around.  But when everything is out front where I could see it, I really would have appreciated it if he had used a pair of tongs and placed the donut on some wax paper.

As I sat there munching on my donut and sipping my coffee at three-thirty in the morning the door of the diner suddenly swung open, and to my discomfort, in marched eight or nine provocative and boisterous prostitutes.

It was a small place and they sat on either side of me.  Their talk was loud and crude.  I felt completely out of place and was just about to make my getaway when I overheard the woman sitting beside me say, “Tomorrow’s my birthday.  I’m going to be thirty-nine.”

Her “friend” responded in a nasty tone, “So what do you want from me?  A birthday party?  What do you want?  Ya want me to get you a cake and sing ‘Happy Birthday’?”

“Come on!” said the woman next to me.  “Why do you have to be so mean?  I was just telling you, that’s all.  Why do you have to put me down?  I was just telling you it was my birthday. I don’t want anything from you.  I mean, why should you give me a birthday party?  I’ve never had a birthday party my whole life.  Why should I have one now?”

When I heard that, I made a decision.  I sat and waited until the women had left.  Then I called over the fat guy behind the counter and I asked him, “Do they come in here every night?”

“Yeah!” he answered.

“The one right next to me, does she come here every night?”

“Yeah!” he said.  “That’s Agnes.  Yeah, she comes in here every night.  Why d’ya wanna know?”

“Because I heard her say that tomorrow is her birthday,” I told him.  “What do you think about us throwing a birthday party for her–right here–tomorrow night?”

A smile slowly crossed his chubby face and he answered with measured delight.  “That’s great!  I like it!  That’s a great idea!”  Calling to his wife who did the cooking in the back room, he shouted, “Hey!  Come out here!  This guy’s got a great idea.  Tomorrow’s Agnes’s birthday.  This guy wants us to go in with him and throw a birthday party for her–right here–tomorrow night!”

His wife came out of the back room all bright and smiley.  She said, “That’s wonderful!  You know Agnes is one of those people who is really nice and kind, and nobody ever does anything nice and kind for her.”

“Look,” I told them, “if it’s okay with you, I’ll get back here tomorrow morning about two-thirty and decorate the place.  I’ll even get a birthday cake.”

“No way,” said Harry (that was his name).  “The birthday cake’s my thing.  I’ll make the cake.”

At two-thirty the next morning I was back at the diner.  I had picked up some crepe paper decorations at the store and had made a sign out of big pieces of cardboard that read, “Happy Birthday, Agnes!”  I decorated the diner from one end to the other.  I had that diner looking good.

The woman who did the cooking must have gotten the word out on the street, because by 3:15 every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place.  It was wall-to-wall prostitutes. . .and me!

At 3:30 on the dot, the door of the diner swung open and in came Agnes and her friend.  I had everybody ready (after all, I was kind of the MC of the affair) and when they came in we all screamed, “Happy Birthday!”

Never have I seen a person so flabbergasted. . .so stunned. . .so shaken.  Her mouth fell open.  Her legs seemed to buckle a bit.  Her friend grabbed her arm to steady her.  As she was led to one of the stools along the counter we all sang “Happy Birthday” to her.  As we came to the end of our singing, “Happy birthday, dear Agnes, Happy birthday to you,” her eyes moistened.  Then, when the birthday cake with all the candles lit on it was carried out, she lost it and just openly cried.

Harry gruffly mumbled, “Blow out the candles, Agnes!  Come on!  Blow out the candles!  If you don’t blow out the candles, I’m gonna hafta blow out the candles.”  And, after an endless few seconds, he did.  Then he handed her a knife and told her, “Cut the cake, Agnes.  Yo, Agnes, we all want some cake.”

Agnes looked down at the cake.  Then without taking her eyes off it, she slowly and softly said, “Look, Harry, is it all right with you if I … I mean is it okay if I kind of. . .what I want to ask you is … is it okay if I keep the cake a little while?  I mean is it all right if we don’t eat it right away?”

Harry shrugged and answered, “Sure!  It’s okay.  If you want to keep the cake, keep the cake.  Take it home if you want to.”

“Can I?” she asked.  Then looking at me she said, “I live just down the street a couple of doors.  I want to take the cake home and show it to my mother, okay?  I’ll be right back.  Honest!”

She got off the stool, picked up the cake, and carrying it like it was the Holy Grail, walked slowly toward the door.  As we all stood there motionless, she left.

When the door closed there was a stunned silence in the place.  Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying, “What do you say we pray?’

Looking back on it now it seems more than strange for a sociologist to be leading a prayer meeting with a bunch of prostitutes in a diner at Honolulu at three-thirty in the morning.  But it just felt like the right thing to do.  I prayed for Agnes.  I prayed for her salvation.  I prayed that her life would be changed and that God would be good to her.

When I finished, Harry leaned over the counter, and said, “Hey!  You never told me you were a preacher.  What kind of church do you belong to?”

In one of those moments when just the right words came, I answered, “I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for whores at three-thirty in the morning.”

Harry waited a moment, then he answered, “No you don’t.  There’s no church like that.  If there was, I’d join it.  I’d join a church like that!”

In the years since I read this story, I have dared to live it out in other contexts.  My life has been deeply and profoundly changed by each and every one of my Agnes’.  I pray that as you walk through this last week of Jesus, you will come into full intersection with the kingdom of God.  It’s a wedding feast with a wide open welcome.  It’s a birthday party at 3:30 in the morning.  God is the host.  Jesus has paid the price for the bountiful feast.  You are the one the cake is for.  Are you already there?  Are you coming?

On the final Monday of his earthly life, Jesus left no doubt as to where He stood on appearances and what his Father’s house was to be.  A fig in full leaf served as bookends for a day that was defined by His house cleaning at the Temple.  On the surface, the seemingly minor issue of phantom fruit and the major eradication of the cancer that had infected God’s house might seem unrelated, but upon closer scrutiny, they both reveal the truth and face of the false self, both in our individual lives and our communities of worship.

Jesus makes a bold statement to his disciples as they walk the road from Bethany to Jerusalem Monday morning.  Scripture says that Jesus is hungry and spots a fig tree in full leaf.  This specific tree is out-of-place in the landscape at this time of year.  It’s not fig season, and the deciduous tree should be bare.  Jesus approaches the tree to observe.  Is Jesus surprised?  Clearly for the fully man who is also fully God, this is not the case.  No, as will be His pattern for the middle of this week, Jesus is in teaching mode.

In approaching and examining the tree, Jesus finds no fruit.  He speaks to the tree (in a voice all the disciples can hear) and condemns it.  “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” (Mark 11:14)  Was Jesus angry because his hunger went unfulfilled?  John 4:34 provides a clear and emphatic answer to that question.

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. (NLT)

Jesus condemns and curses the tree, because it gave the appearance of fruit.  And with the condemnation that all heard that morning, Jesus taught a lesson that is also true of our lives.  The false self that adorns itself in personal righteousness, speaks its own wisdom, and serves for the purpose of recognition and its own advancement, is like that fig tree in full leaf.  It is of no use to the King or His kingdom.

Almost as quickly as it happened, Jesus moves on from the fig tree and continues toward Jerusalem.  His steps are measured.  His destination is clear.  He has already been there, and He is returning with a purpose and a plan for decisive action.  Wait … He has already been there?  A verse that escaped my notice for as many years as the true meaning of hosanna is Mark 11:11.  While His triumphal entry was front page news from Palm Sunday, buried on page 6 was His visit to the temple before He returned to Bethany late that afternoon.  Mark 11:11 says…

So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples. (NLT)

The gospel accounts give us no further detail, but a closer study of the Greek reveals a sense of deeper intent and scrutiny than the translation “looking around” would suggest.  Although Scripture doesn’t say it, I see Jesus stealing away as He often did to pray.  Visiting his Father’s house was on His agenda, and I cannot see Jesus taking a group along with Him.  He needed to experience with His fully Divine and fully human senses what had become of God’s house.  Proving that His ways are not ours, verse 11 notes that “he left because it was late in the afternoon.”

God does not choose to reveal Jesus’ thoughts and reactions during His deliberate visit, but we know from history that what Jesus saw resembled nothing of the house of prayer that God commissioned and commanded it to be.  The once holy and sacred space had, over time, become more of a human institution.  Temple currency was created to generate a profit for those who controlled and exchanged it.  There was an entire enterprise structure built around acquiring a suitable sacrificial animal.  There were merchants, inspectors, priests, and at every level, corruption that lined the pockets of the privileged few at the expense of those who had little.  Honest pilgrims desiring to honor God, fleeced by those they trusted were there to ensure their sacrifice was fitting.  I have only research to rely on, with no first-hand account, but everything I know suggests that this was far from a house of prayer.

What I had always believed, was the picture of Jesus storming into the Temple and overturning tables was a sudden and visceral reaction to the shock and surprise of what He walked in on.  How much more powerful and consistent with the character of God it is to understand that this was nothing more than Jesus making right, the mess that had been made of his Father’s house.  This was a righteous response to the evil that had co-opted God’s house of prayer.

When we cast our gaze over the entirety of the final Monday in Jesus’ earthly life, we can clearly see how God feels about the false self in us and in our communities of worship.  As the group with Jesus returns to Bethany late Monday, they pass by the fig tree.  It has withered and died.  A fitting picture of what God desires for the false self in us.  As we enter our houses and communities of worship this week to remember and celebrate, let’s follow Jesus’ example and “look around.”  What do we see, hear, taste, touch and smell?  Is it a house of prayer where those on the margins are welcome?  Are there some tables that should be forcibly removed?

The pages of Scripture remain alive today and speak through the ancients directly to us.  This is not just another Monday.  What a blessing to walk deliberately and intently through Jesus’ final week and learn from Him.

Hosanna!  This is a day of celebration! … or is it?  “Hosanna!”  It was the loud cry of praise from the overwhelming and jubilant crowd … or was it?  Let’s set the scene …

The city of Jerusalem was packed to overflowing as pilgrims from far and wide descended on the city to celebrate the feast of the Passover.  It was the central Jewish festival, and it had become big business.  Jerusalem was in full festival mode.  A sea of people navigated the narrow streets of the city, eating, talking, buying and selling.  Think host city of the Final Four on championship weekend.

A buzz began circulating in the city streets.  “The Messiah is headed this way!  Rumor is, he is just outside the city.  We must go quickly to the gate to meet him.  We must find a place on the route he is likely to take.”  Thousands, likely hundreds of thousands, of people began rushing to find a place where they could see him.  He was coming!  They had heard of him, maybe they had been in the crowd when thousands were fed, or one was healed.  They broke off palm branches and rushed to find a place to see him.  The emotion in the crowd swells and as Jesus enters the city, they begin to cry “Hosanna!” in unison, and their cries are deafening.

Somehow, after years and years of Sunday School lessons and Palm Sunday services, I had managed to see this only as a boisterous and joyous scene.  The cries of “Hosanna!” translated “Yeah, Jesus!”  But why the palm branches, and what is the literal translation of the word hosanna?  It was not until a few years ago, as I began to seriously focus on the final week of Jesus in my personal observance of Lent, that my eyes were truly opened to the truth and translation of this symbol and word. Things that now seemed so obvious had me wondering how I missed them for so long.

This was not an expectant crowd excited to see their leader, shouting “Yeah, Jesus!” and laying down leaves of a regionally appropriate plant to honor him.  No, this was a desperate crowd crying out to be delivered from Roman oppression, shouting “Save Us!, please Save us!” and intentionally choosing an obvious symbol of how they expected this savior to deliver them … by military victory.  This was not a groundswell of praise; this was a passionate plea.  This was a not an expectant crowd; this was one full of expectation.

There’s a temptation in knowing what is about to happen, projecting it forward and tying it together with future events for some grander application.  But for today, let’s stand shoulder to shoulder with the crowds who lined the streets.  Let’s smell the air, observe the faces, and truly hear the cries.  It is easy for us to judge the people on the pages of Scripture, but aren’t they also us?  Easy to judge those of “little faith” who cried out for a military hero to drive the Romans out and setup a sovereign and sacred state of peace and autonomy, but aren’t they also us?  Easy to judge those who valued strength and dismissed and rejected a King and kingdom whose cornerstone is humility, service and those who are outside the margins, but aren’t they also us?  “Save us, please Save us, and we have it all figured out as to how!” … isn’t that also us?

Oh, how I long to be one of those that Jesus healed along the road.  To be one of those in the crowds who were fed or saw him reach into the heart and life of one single soul and forever change it.  To have been healed, fed or saw and then left everything to follow him.  But who am I?  I fear I am more often one that is crying out along the parade route.

For today, let’s stand shoulder to shoulder with the crowds who lined the streets.  Let’s smell, observe and hear.  And then, let’s look into the face of Jesus riding on the back of a young donkey and ask … who am I, and who do I say you are?

Happiness is such a fleeting emotion. It is not unusual to be on top of the world one day, and a valley dweller the next. Circumstances can, in a moment’s time, give us a jolt of emotional bliss or bring sadness to our spirit. Yesterday my life was consumed with computer problems, and an overdose of winter weather. Truthfully, I was not happy. We all know that life is not about happiness, but it’s a normal response to crave it. There is something in all of us that desires to have a good day, to hear good news, or just to feel good about life. Even the Declaration of Independence declares that the “pursuit of happiness” is a right. Although we will never live a perpetually happy life, we can live a perpetually joyful journey. Happiness always is not realistic, but rejoicing always certainly is!

Great counsel on rejoicing comes from a man who was a prisoner in Rome. Paul was under house arrest when he wrote the book of Philippians. He wasn’t a man just spouting happy talk, but a man controlled by a true sense of joy that rose above any circumstance. It is one thing for someone in a good place to instruct others to rejoice, but it is far more meaningful to speak of rejoicing from prison. Under the inspiration of God, Paul gave the Philippian Christians words that still ring true today.

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

All believers in Christ have the same opportunity for joy that Paul challenged the Philippians with. He made his point with obvious impact by repeating the word rejoice twice. If joy were an emotion like happiness, then we could assume that the feelings of joy would come and go, just like happiness.

“But joy is not a feeling; it is the deep-down confidence that God is in control of everything for the believer’s good and His own glory, and thus all is well no matter what the circumstances.”
The John MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Philippians

It is sad but true, that most believers don’t live with a deep-down confidence that God is in control. I would be less than genuine to proclaim that I have mastered the choice to live perpetually with joy. Studying this passage of scripture shows that rejoicing was to be a continual, habitual practice. We can rightly assume that God, through Paul, told the Philippians to live with a heart of rejoicing. Is the same challenge and opportunity for Christ-followers today any different? I don’t think so!

Living with a deep-down confidence that God is in control leads to a life of rejoicing. Circumstances will not always be good, but God always is. Our problem is that we believe intellectually that God is in control, but refuse to personally experience what He has made available. Accept today by faith, that God’s design for you is a perpetually rejoicing heart. It will take choosing His truth over your emotions, but the results are worth it. We may crave happiness, but what we really want (and need) is joy!

SPECIAL NOTE:  We are choosing again this year to walk intentionally through the final week of Jesus’ earthly life.  We will post each day and draw on people, events and truths from that specific day in Jesus’ journey, beginning with His “coronation” parade all the way to Resurrection … He is risen, indeed!  Our desire is to bring Holy Week alive in your personal journey.  Our prayer is that it will distract you from your everyday, draw you into close communion with God, and rightly prepare you for the solemn remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross and brilliant celebration of His Resurrection!

I really don’t get it!  Do you ever wonder why some people seem to just flow through life with everything seeming to work out well, while others can’t seem to catch a break? Obviously, everyone has struggles, but I think you know what I mean. Some of our struggles are caused by our own sin and bad choices, but sometimes it seems that the burdens of life often land heavy on certain people (and not only because of sin or bad choices).  I really just don’t get it. For the past week, I have been wrestling in my mind with God’s response to a significant event that happened in the lives of one Old Testament and one New Testament hero from Scripture. Both sinned and were guilty of a monumental failure.

In “Mike theology,” which is human to the core and not always looking at the life from God’s perspective, I find it a bit puzzling to consider the contrast of what happened with Moses and Peter in the aftermath of their monumental failures. I really don’t get it.  Moses was severely punished in being denied the opportunity to enter the Promised Land, while Peter is restored, preached at Pentecost and became an elder and leader in the early church.  Again, didn’t both men sin and fail miserably?  Still not getting it.

When I think of what Moses went through with the rebellious children of Israel, I want to defend him. It’s easy to look at the scene that led to Moses’ lack of self-control and wonder out loud, “was his reaction that significant?”  You may have dealt with a group of people who at best were frustrating, and at worst were infuriating. You may have even found yourself at wit’s end, and you finally just blew up. So I feel some empathy for Moses when he lost his temper with the complaining Israelites. That being said, in the midst of the conflict, Moses chose to clearly disobey God. God said speak to the rock, and he struck it twice instead. My hero lost his temper, disobeyed God and never entered the Promised Land as a consequence for his sin.  The story would not be complete without noting that, through God’s grace, Moses was allowed view the land before he died.

What would it have been like to walk with Jesus? Peter knew, and saw firsthand the greatness of the very Son of God. And then he denied Him…not once but three times!  As much as I want to empathize with Moses, I want to say to Peter, “Why didn’t you stand with courage?!”  However, I must confess that too often in my life, I have failed my Lord in critical moments.  So I am a bit understanding of his failure, and thankful for the grace of God that restored him.  Peter was then used incredibly by God.

Was God fair in the way He chose to deal with these two men? Is He fair in the way He chooses to deal with us today? Absolutely!  Although “Mike’s theology” wants to pull for Moses and yell at Peter, God knew exactly what He was doing. He dealt with them personally, just as He does with each of us. He was true to His righteous character with them (not ignoring sin, but showing grace) just as He does with us. He cared deeply for both Moses and Peter, just as He does for us. He knew the best plan of action after their failures, just as He does for us. You see, He is God, and He knew what He was doing with Moses and Peter, and He knows what He is doing with you and me. I get it!

Today I get to work on taxes (not a fun day). Taxes come due every year, and when we fail to pay enough, April 15th is not a fun day. If you have more taxes to pay than last year … well, I’ll stop there and not add to your misery. Have you ever noticed that worrying about the taxes you owe or extending your return (and misery) doesn’t eliminate the problem? Well, that’s the thing with worry … Emotional, and spiritual, and physical energy is given to something that will not change the facts. Corrie Ten Boom gives us great counsel on worry: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” Go back and read that one more time, slowly.

As I think about worry, I am struck with two thoughts. First, God’s Word gives us very strong insight about it. And second, most Christ followers worry better than they rest in the Lord’s grace and provision. It’s easy to say, “you don’t know my issues” or “that is just the way that I am,” but it is clear from Scripture that we have the capacity to overcome this common malady. I find that there are areas of my life where it is easy to drift from confident faith to fretful worry. I know the Word, and have the right answers for others, but without consciously choosing to rest in His power and provision, I can worry up a storm. Pardon my southern roots, but I am sure you can relate.

Let the words of Luke 12 give you confidence for today’s worry and all your “taxing” tomorrows.

Luke 12:22-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

The words of Luke are clear. God cares for ravens and He cares for us, and worry won’t add a single hour to our lives. Would it be reasonable to assume that if you and I daily yield each part of our day to His care, more internal rest will come? I think Scripture is clear. And don’t be mistaken, it is not by saying, “I will not worry, I will not worry,” that we overcome it. Victory comes by committing all things to the Father’s care (casting your care on Him), and then choosing to believe His Word. A story of George Mueller, a pastor from the 1800′s, gives greater emphasis to my challenge. Would you have worried or trusted?

The captain of an ocean steamer tells that on one occasion his ship was engulfed in a dense fog off the coast of Newfoundland. It was Wednesday evening and the captain had been on the bridge for 24 hours when someone tapping him on his shoulder startled him. He turned and saw one of his passengers … George Mueller. “Captain,” said Mueller, “I must be in Quebec on Saturday afternoon.” “That’s impossible!” replied the captain. “I’m helpless!” Mueller suggested, “Let’s go down to the chart room and pray.” The captain thought that he had a lunatic on board. “Do you know how dense the fog is?” he asked. “No,” came the reply, “my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.” Once in the chart room, Mueller got down on his knees and prayed, “O Lord, if it is consistent with thy will, please remove this fog in 5 minutes. Thou knowest the engagement Thou didst make for me in Quebec for Saturday. I believe it is thy will.”

After Mueller prayed, the Captain started to pray. Mueller stopped him and said, “There’s no use for you to pray, God has already answered my prayer. The fog is gone.”

AND IT WAS GONE!

Let the words of Corrie Ten Boom, the testimony of George Mueller, and most importantly the Word of God, give you fresh encouragement to surrender your worry. You may just find that the fog will lift!

There have been many times in my life when my words and actions resulted in great remorse, and there was no taking them back! Your memory bank may also contain recollections that make you wonder, “How could I have said, or done that?” Now, take a moment and imagine if your lack of discretion was memorialized in print?!

Moses was a man to be admired.  He was a man of great faith who had put up with repeated complaining and grumbling by the children of Israel.  However, we see a vivid description of his own failure when the Israelites were grumbling by the waters of Meribah.  With rash words towards the people, and in clear disobedience of God, Moses created an epic “how could I have done that?!” moment.

Psalm 106:32-33 (NLT)
At Meribah, too, they angered the Lord, causing Moses serious trouble. They made Moses angry, and he spoke foolishly.

Although I want to make excuses for one of my heroes, there can be no mistake that Moses’ rash words and actions were wrong. Why couldn’t he in simple faith believe that God’s command was best? Instead, he did exactly what you and I do regularly; he took over and did it his way (struck the rock twice, rather than obeying God and speaking to it).

Every time I think about what happened that day, the severe consequence for Moses comes front and center in my mind. The leader of the children of Israel would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. Wow! His leadership role may have played into the severity of the punishment, but failing to obey the Father always has consequences.  Can you imagine the sense of regret this humble servant of God must have felt in realizing that his journey would end outside the Promised Land?  The following verses give us a sense of how he must have felt.

Deuteronomy 3:23-26 (NIV)
At that time I pleaded with the Lord: “O Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.” But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.”

Notice that the Lord refused his request by not allowing him to go into the Promised Land, but notice also whom he blames. He squarely places the responsibility for God’s decision not to listen to him on the children of Israel.  Isn’t it easy to blame others rather than accept the fact that we were wrong?  There is no question that the people Moses was leading were difficult at best,  but their lack of trust and complaining attitudes were no excuse for Moses’ disobedience. He was responsible for his own words and actions.

It would take pages to examine all the lessons that can be gleaned from Moses’ epic failure. However, there is no question that obedience to God’s directives is not an option. Without question, there are people in all of our lives that push us right to the edge of the emotional ledge. For Moses, God’s way was best … no excuses. For us, God’s way is best … no excuses.  A lifetime of good can be changed in a moment of frustration.  Determine to let your words and actions reflect the Father’s will.

In three weeks, most reading this article will enjoy a holiday.  There will be a multitude of events that happen on that day, from fun and recreational outings to meaningful and deeply spiritual observances. Good Friday should be a day of reflection.  The world will take time to look at the historical event we call the crucifixion of Christ.  Churches will seek to help us look at what that day really represents. Christ-followers will battle their human desires for a relaxing day against a deep sense of reverence for what Christ did on the cross.  I am convinced that most serious followers of Christ look at this day with profound thankfulness for the price that Christ paid for our redemption.  I had a chance to reflect this week on the love of Christ as I read a true story about a guilty grandmother and a ten-dollar price tag.

One winter’s night in 1935, it is told, Fiorello LaGuardia, the irrepressible mayor of New York City, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. That night a tattered old woman, charged with stealing a loaf of bread, was brought before him. She defended herself by saying, “My daughter’s husband has deserted her. She is sick, and her children are starving.”

The shopkeeper refused to drop the charges, saying, “It’s a bad neighborhood, your honor, and she’s got to be punished to teach other people a lesson.”

LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the old woman and said, “I’ve got to punish you; the law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail.” However, while pronouncing the sentence, LaGuardia reached into his pocket, took out a ten-dollar bill, and threw it into his hat with these famous words: “Here’s the ten-dollar fine, which I now remit, and furthermore, I’m going to fine everyone in the courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.”

The following day, a New York newspaper reported: “Forty-seven dollars and fifty cents was turned over to a bewildered old grandmother who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren. Making forced donations were a red-faced storekeeper, seventy petty criminals, and a few New York policemen.  (William Bausch, A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers)

The old grandmother had a debt she couldn’t pay. Justice demanded a payment. All mankind had debt for our sins that we could never pay.  God being just, demanded a payment. The debt could only be paid in one way; by the sinless Son of God. He took our sins upon Himself. Oh, what a price He paid!  Although we are thankful, it is hard to comprehend the enormous price of our Salvation. I trust that a tough mayor, a tattered grandmother and a ten-dollar bill will help you prepare for the coming holiday, reflecting on the price that Jesus paid for you and me.

If you don’t know this Christ and the true and very real story of the price He paid for you, we would love to share it today.  Don’t wait another minute, reach out to us by clicking here. We love to tell the story of a God who loved you SO much that He paid your debt with the most precious possession He had.

Talk about an adventuresome life! Moses’ journey takes us from the riches of Egypt to the backside of the desert. Through the lens of Scripture we see Him at the burning bush and leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea. He spent time on the mountain with God, and brought back the Ten Commandments. Leading a band of people who were easily disgruntled would have been an adventure enough.

As we follow Moses’ life and leadership through the pages of God’s Word, we see him as a man with weakness and sin, but also deeply dedicated to the Lord. But after nearly 40 years in the wilderness, it happened: an event that kept Moses from going into the Promised Land. Have you ever wondered why?

In Numbers chapter twelve, Moses is called the most humble man on the face of the earth. But just a few short chapters later, we see a picture of an indignant man, who acted rashly, and lost his opportunity to lead his people into the Promised Land. The Israelites were grumbling about the lack of water. Moses was instructed to take the staff and speak to the rock. God told him it would pour out water. Remember at an earlier time when the children of Israel were unhappy about the lack of water, Moses was instructed to smite the rock. He had done as God commanded and water flowed. But this time, he disobeyed and instead of speaking, he smote the rock twice.

Numbers 20:10-12
He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

A man of deep humility was overtaken by rash, angry words. He said “must we bring you water out of this rock?” Although there can be varying opinions on why this was such a glaring failure, there is no question that Moses directly disobeyed God’s design and desire, and in his own power struck the rock. Centuries later, we struggle with the same problem, taking God’s design and doing it our way. Whether we do it out of reaction or rebellion, we choose our own means and method. God has always placed a high value on obedience whether it was smiting a rock, or living our way in the 21st century.

Lessons learned from this scene can be very helpful to any Christ-follower. The Father wants obedient children; He does know best! God’s grace is seen through this scene as, even with Moses’ lack of trust, the water came for the people. I personally see the beauty of God’s grace in letting Moses see the Promised Land before he died. You and I will often fail as Moses did, but is your heart set on obedience?