Category Archives: Christian Life

SYMBOL OR RITUAL? – 17

Christian Life, ,

John 13:3-5 NLT‬
[3] “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. [4] So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, [5] and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.”

‭John 13:12-17 NLT‬
[12]”After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? [13] You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. [14] And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. [15] I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. [16] I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. [17] Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

It amazes me how often God’s people turn spiritual truth into a religious ceremony! Jesus used ordinary human activities to illustrate profound spiritual truth but, instead of applying the truth, we like to major on the activity and turn it into a ritual.

John 13 is a case in point. Why did Jesus wash His disciples’ feet?

In the culture of His day, it was the host’s responsibility to assign a slave to wash the feet of his guests. Sandaled feet picked up dust and dirt as they walked, on paths covered with animal dung. Since they usually ate a meal reclining on cushions at a low table, dirty feet would soil one another’s clothes.

The smelly task of washing feet caked with animal dung was assigned to the lowliest of slaves. So, no one in Jesus’ group of disciples considered himself responsible to do the job, least of all Jesus, their rabbi.

However, imagine the disciples’ shock when Jesus Himself took on the role of a slave. Peter, as usual, resisted! He saw only the action, not the profound truth in what Jesus was doing.

However, Peter’s resistence brought the real meaning of Jesus’ action to the surface.

‭John 13:8-10 NLT‬
[8] “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” [9] Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” [10] Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”

How does Jesus cleanse His people? Not literally by washing their feet but spiritually, by cleansing away the pollution of sin

‭John 15:3 NIV
[3] “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

‭Ephesians 5:25-26 NLT‬
[25] “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her [26] to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.”

Without God’s Word, we would never know what God did through His Son to cleanse us from our sin. His Word is the instrument by which we learn all the truths about Him that quicken our faith and bring us into union with Jesus. So, the Word teaches us that

‭1 John 1:7 NLT‬
[7] “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

As disciples of Jesus and children of God, we are to love one another, then, as Jesus loves us. One of the practical ways in which we show that love is to build one another up in our faith.

‭1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT‬
[11] “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

‭Galatians 6:1 NLT‬
[1] “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

“Walking” in a filthy world soils our feet. Loving each other means washing one another’s feet. We use God’s Word, which tells us of God’s solution for sin, gently to bring a fallen brother or sister back to the path that takes us to the Father.

This loving action takes courage and humility since people’s pride often deters them from acknowledging their sin. Jesus’ actions shows us that, to wash another’s “feet” means to step down into selflessness that is willing to take the consequences even to resistance and hostility, to bring another, who is walking the wrong way, back into the light.

So, literally washing another’s feet has no meaning apart from restoring one to fellowship with the Father and His children who has walked in the dung of this world.

Go ahead, then, and wash one another’s feet. We do it only as a reminder that, as members of the Jrsus’ body, we are to be as concerned about clean souls as we are about clean feet.

THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE – 14

Christian Life, ,

John 10:27-30 NLT‬
[27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, [29] for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. [30] The Father and I are one.”

What a profound promise! Is it possible to be eternally secure and to know it? Jesus said it is. What makes it possible for a person to go through life with an unshakeable conviction that his/her future with God in heaven
is guaranteed?

How many times did Jesus’ opponents ask Him the same questions! It seems that they has spiritual Alzheimers because, no matter how many times they asked Him the source of His authority, they “forgot” His reply and asked the same question again.

‭John 10:24-26 NLT‬
[24] “The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” [25] Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. [26] But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.”

Still using the imagery of shepherd and sheep, Jesus responded with this profound reply.

‭John 10:26-27 NLT‬
[26]”But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. [27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

The difference between those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do, is simple….connection!

When one person knows another person, they have a connection. Understanding, empathy, involvement, participation, trust, love, togetherness, friendship, are all in the mix.

How does the connection between a believer and Jesus come about? Another important word joins “connection” – that is “identification”. Far more than knowing Him on a merely human level, identification with Him takes the believer into a connection with Jesus that enables them to participate with Him in His death and in His life.

‭Galatians 2:20 NLT‬
[20] “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

This connection and this identification with Jesus also takes the believer into a union with Him so intimate that we can hear Him speaking to us in our innermost being. Jesus gave us His Spirit to be His presence in us, closer to us than our breath. When He speaks, we are able to hear Him because we are joined to Him in the spirit realm.

His sheep, then, hear His voice and follow Him. Other voices, like the voice of the false shepherd, the hireling who has no interest in or concern for the sheep, can only drown out the Shepherd’s voice if we are not listening to the Shepherd.

Jesus’ sheep can only hear His voice if they are listening. Hearing is a function of the ear. Listening is a response of the heart. It takes a lifetime to learn to listen to the voice of Jesus’ Spirit that is guiding us safely home.

Only this connection and identification with Jesus can guarantee us a safe passage to the Father. He holds on to us as we hold on to Him. This is a mystery. Jesus said we can never perish. That’s His promise.

But He also warned…

‭Matthew 24:12-13 NLT‬
[12] “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

‭Mark 13:13 NLT‬
[13] “And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Does this mean that someone can be lost who was once saved? I think that Jesus was speaking from the perspective of eternity. His sheep will never perish because they will endure to the end because the Father has them in His hand. From God’s point of view, it’s a done deal.

Jesus did not mean that we can take anything for granted. Security in Him involves listening to His voice and following Him. THEN, we shall never perish because our connection to Him is secure.

SUNSHINE ON MY WINDOWS

Christian Life, ,

One wall of my lounge is glass, a sliding door and windows facing east, letting in lots of light and sunshine. A wall like that has advantages and disadvantages. Living near the sea and enduring many windy days adds up to dirty windows that are visible and unsightly. Add to that, I have a little dog who uses my windows as a palette for her ‘doggy art’!

At age over eighty, cleaning windows is not an easy task. So, when I do get the job done, I’m delighted with my efforts until…. the early morning sun shines on the smudgy bits I missed. What I thought were clean windows turned out to be not-so-clean windows after all.

How like our lives as God’s children! God delights in transparent lives, clean and letting in His light but, to our shame, we often have ‘smudgy bits’, areas we have neglected to clean which only show up when the light of God’s Word shines on them.

What do the smudgy bits do to us? Smudgy bits in our lives spoil our fellowship with the Father and with our fellow believers.

1John 1:5-6 NLT
[5] “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. [6] So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.”

Does God censure us for these smudgy bits we have yet to clean up? No! He gives us His solution instead.

‭1 John 1:7 NLT‬
[7] But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

Like windscreen wipers that keep cleaning the rain off the windcreens of our vehicles as we drive, so the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us as we walk in the light with God and each other.

So, let’s thoroughly clean the windows of our souls so that God’s light can shine through us, unspoiled by smudgy bits. How do we know when our hearts are clean? We have fellowship with one another and with the Father and the Son and… the peace of God guards our hearts, and minds through Christ Jesus.

LET’S SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO – 13

Christian Life, ,

Another miracle… another sign… another lesson!

En route to somewhere, Jesus and His disciples encountered a blind man, most likely begging by the wayside. Nothing unusual in that but this encounter was a divine appointment. Jesus was always on the alert for an opportunity to glorify His Father.

So, perhaps in the hearing of the blind man, the disciples began to discuss his condition with Jesus. Was this blindness a consequence of someone’s sin, the man himself or his parents?

Typically, man’s way of thinking! How often even God’s own people think that their adversities are a punishment for sin. Yes, God does punish sin, has punished all sin through the death of His Son. No longer is every bad thing that happens to us punishment. This idea was an age-old way of explaining the reason for suffering. Think of Job’s friends who tried to convince Job that he had done something really bad to deserve his calamities!

Jesus brings a new perspective into the situation. “Look at it this way,” He says.

‭‭John 9:3-5 MSG‬
[3-5] “Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do….”

What a way to view our troubles! Instead of a pessimistic resignation to suffering, Jesus saw an opportunity to put God’s glory on display. He recognised God’s love shining through the trials and hardships of this life. He looked at every situation through the eyes of faith and anticipation.

God is never happy to inflict suffering on His people. He uses whatever difficulties that come our way for a greater purpose. He wants us to see our adversities as opportunities to experience more of His covenant love (chesed) in our lives.

So, Jesus changed the outlook from, “There’s nothing we can do about it,” to “Let’s see what God can do.”

Blindness, for the disciples, especially from birth, was an irreversible condition. However, Jesus didn’t see it that way. He called the Father in to intervene. How does God work?

‭Psalms 107:20 NLT‬
[20] “He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.”

‭Matthew 8:8 NLT‬
[8] “But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.”

How often in the Gospel records Jesus spoke and healing happened.

‭John 9:6-7 NLT‬
[6] “Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. [7] He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!”

Why did Jesus put mud on the blind man’s eyes? There was no magic or healing in the mud. It was not even an agent through which healing happened. Perhaps muddy eyes forced the man to wash it off! In that act of obedience and necessity, he was healed.

Of course, this event sparked another furious debate with Jesus’ enemies, once again raging around Jesus ‘working’ on the Sabbath. However, for us now, the miracle itself points us to a way of dealing with impossible issues in a way far better and more rewarding than mere resignation.

When we are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, let’s do what Jesus did. Let’s not look for a reason for our suffering. We may never find one, and anyway, the reason will not bring a solution. Instead, let’s see what God can do.

A perspective like this awakens faith and expectancy and gives God an open door to work on our behalf and, best of all, to reveal His glory once again.

The outcome of this miracle for the blind man was faith in Jesus, the Messiah and a changed life – a greater miracle of grace.

‭John 9:35-38 NLT‬
[35] “When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [36] The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” [37] “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” [38] “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.”

For those who believe and love Jesus, “Let’s see what God can do,” changes the attitude from resignation to hope, the expectation from continual misery to a new life, and from self-pity to thanksgiving and praise to God.

‭1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT‬
[18] “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

FREEDOM – FROM WHAT? 12

Christian Life, ,

Everyone longs to be free! The desire for freedom drives people to do many strange things… like murder, for example, to get rid of someone who gets in the way of one’s “freedom”, or war to take out or subdue a nation that interferes with another nation’s freedom. What about other kinds of freedom, like freedom from financial woes, freedom from physical ailments, freedom from fear, anxiety, stress and….and….If only I could be free, my life would be so much better.

And so the quest for freedom continues. People do many wrong things for the sake of freedom but, afterwards, are they really free?

Jesus was aware of this drive in people to be free, but He also knew what real freedom is and where it can be found.

In yet another clash with His opponents, including those who supposedly believed in Him, He pointed out that they would die in their sin if they refused to believe in Him. Though they claimed to be descendants of Abraham, they didn’t behave like Abraham.

‭‭John 8:39-41 NLT‬
[39] “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. [40] Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. [41] No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”

External circumstances are not the cause of real slavery. People will always blame someone or something else for what they feel inside. Slavery is the consequence of sin. Sin enslaves one to guilt, fear, and shame as certainly as the locked door of a prison cell imprisons a law-breaker.

‭John 8:31-32 NLT‬
[31] Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. [32] And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”…
[34] Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. [35] A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

In a nutshell, Jesus put His finger on the source of all slavery, sin.

The Apostle Paul put it like this…

‭Romans 6:16 NLT‬
[16]” Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”

Trouble is that slavery to sin leads to terrible consequences.

Since everyone is born with a sin nature, inherited from Adam, all people are born slaves to sin. How can we get free from this enslavement since we will inevitably die in our sin unless someone rescues us?

Trying to keep rules won’t save us because, no matter how good we are or try to be now, we have a past we cannot escape. Our debt to God for disobedience is so huge that we could never repay it even if we lived a million years.

So, what’s the solution?

The words of Keith and Kristin Getty’s song answer that question.

“Oh to see the dawn
Of the darkest day
Christ on the road to Calvary
Tried by sinful men
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood,

Oh to see the pain
Written on your face
Bearing the awful weight of sin
Every bitter thought
Every evil deed
Crowning your blood-stained brow,

This, the power of the cross
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh to see my name
Written in the wounds
For through your suffering I am free
Death is crushed to death
Life is mine to live
Won through your selfless love,

This the power of the cross
Son of God slain for us
What a love, what a cost,
We stand forgiven at the cross.”

Can we be truly free, free to live our lives in peace and contentment, from from issues that cause us to react against people or circumstances?

Jesus said we can if we follow Him.

‭Romans 6:5-8 NLT‬
[5]”Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. [6] We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. [7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. [8] And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him….
[17] Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. [18] Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”

34]”Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. [35] A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

True freedom is a heart at rest with God, oneself, and people, forgiven, free from fear, guilt, and shame, all at Jesus’ expense!

‭Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT‬
[14]”Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. [15] Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

‭Romans 5:1 NLT‬
[1] “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.”

‭Romans 8:1-2 NLT‬
[1] “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. [2] And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”