Tag Archives: one thing

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…THE GOAL – 13e

Bible Study, ,

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For Paul, the path to the prize was simple…but not easy. He had to navigate a host of obstacles on his way to the podium. Like a competitor in the Olympic Games…the only way to win was to stay in the race and keep his eyes on the medal. If he became distracted by what happened around him, he would lose focus, fall away, and forfeit the prize. 

Paul’s strategy was carefully planned. 

Paul’s resolve…to finish the race, no matter what! “I press on…” he said…through dark and difficult days…over and past obstacles and hindrances…never giving way to temptation, or folding under suffering, fear, loneliness, opposition, persecution…

Paul refused to slow down. “I press on…” he repeated. He didn’t slacken off at the half-way mark…take a break when he was tired…need a holiday from his calling… take a “Sabbatical” to regroup…He pressed on, mile after mile, towards the prize that lay just ahead. 

Paul recognised that, to win the prize, he must finish the race. The prize was his only goal. Everything else must bow to his purpose. The prize was always ahead. He must reach the winning post. He must not stop before the end.  Those who had gone ahead of him awaited his arrival…at the finish line…to applaud his faithfulness. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

There is a prize at the end of the race…but only for those who complete the race. We have the supreme example to follow…Jesus…who ran right through death to gain His prize…all of us who finish the race. His prize is us…and our prize is Him. 

One more thing…

Paul chose never to remember his past. He never looked back. He never allowed his past to influence, hinder, or affect his future. Jesus had obliterated his past. It was blotted out by the  blood of the Lamb. God had chosen to forget every sin and every failure…we call it “selective memory!” Paul had a clean slate. He could run…unhindered by guilt, shame, or fear. 

Paul had taken to heart the one great truth of the gospel…the perfect love of God. 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This truth was his covering…his companion…and his energy. 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our )Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Armed with this reassurance, and strengthened by God’s love, Paul knew that his prize was secure. 

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you still running or taking a break? Only those who keep running to the end will gain the crown. 

To be continued

LUKE’S GOSPEL…DISTRACTED – 26

Bible Study, ,

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬-‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How often we read into Jesus’ rebuke a comparison between the two sisters, Martha and Mary.  Martha was wrong…Mary was right! Was this fair? After all, someone had to prepare lunch…Middle Eastern culture demanded hospitality…and for an extra thirteen people that day. This was no small task to accomplish in a few hours. 

What was the real issue? Was it about preparing a meal or was it about something else? 

I am a lay person. I look at this situation from my 21st century western perspective. How do I read Jesus’ words? 

Let’s look at it this way. Martha was the practical sister. She was about doing things. Her way of exercising her spiritual gift, if you like, was to prepare a meal for her guests. However, in this situation, her task was overwhelming. She needed help. Her attitude changed from the joy of serving to resentment towards Mary for not helping her. Her spiritual gift lost its purpose, now no longer a ministry but a burden and the cause for a rift between her and Mary. She was, in effect, demanding that Mary participate in the exercise of her gift. 

Even worse, Martha dragged Jesus into her resentment against  Mary’s “selfishness”. Jesus also didn’t care about her distress! Both Jesus and Mary were inconsiderate and indifferent to her suffering!

Can you see the issue? For Martha, this was about “me…me…me!” Herself – her preoccupation had intruded into her supposedly unselfish serving. Her song had morphed into a whine! 

Jesus recognised, in her attitude, a subtle shift from serving others to preserving herself. Her preoccupation with the burden of the task, becoming stressed and anxious, robbed her of the true purpose of serving. 

With a gentle rebuke, Jesus pulled Martha back to the real issue. Mary, the younger sister, was not Martha’s servant. She was a person in her own right, with a personality and gifts unique to herself. She had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet, considering His words of greater value than preparing a meal. This was her way of serving, her way of using her “spiritual gift”.  Perhaps a time would come when she would use the wisdom she gained at His feet to lift her own sister or someone else out of a difficult situation or a wrong attitude. 

Jesus was not by any means downgrading Martha’s service. Her gift was as valuable as Mary’s. However, her stress and resentment had taken the shine off her ministry. With the right attitude, Maths’s meal would benefit Mary and Mary’s listening and learning would benefit Martha as they lovingly served one another in the same household. 

There may be other lessons in this incident that we, as followers of Jesus need to learn. For example, we must not think that what Mary had chosen to do, to nourish her soul, was of greater value than Martha’s ministry of feeding her body. Yes, both are of equal value. Without food, the body will die just as without truth, the soul will wither. Spiritual gifts are never meant to be about competition. Each one is of value as it blends with others to form a mosaic. 

I find another important truth in this story. Jesus, in a roundabout way, pointed out that everyone has the right to make his/her own choices. He refused to put pressure on Mary, at Martha’s insistence, to leave her place at His feet to help Martha. Although He was Master, He would not use His own position to influence Mary. If Jesus, the Son of God, respects everyone’s right to choose, how much more should we!

An everyday story, told with simplicity, reveals many lessons that guide us towards maturity as we, God’s spiritual family, learn to do life together. 

To be continued…

THINGS THAT DAVID SAID – 10

Devotion, ,

THE “ONE THING”?

We’ve thought about David’s “one thing” in our previous meditation. Let’s think about this one thing a little longer.

David was not the only one in Scripture who had “one thing” in mind, one direction, one course, one goal, one desire above all others. There was also Mary, there was Paul, who both expressed in words or actions, the one thing they wanted most of all.

Every day, we are faced with choices. In fact, life is about making a constant stream of choices…this, not that…here, not there…now, not then! So many choices that we are mostly not even aware that we are making them!

This ability to choose is an integral part of being human. God built self-determination into humans when He created the first man, and didn’t withdraw it when he rebelled. However, now we have the added responsibility of choosing between good and evil, and a natural bent towards choosing the wrong way which we are to overcome by continually making right choices and following through on them.

Without a clear directive on one thing that keeps us on course, like Mary’s sister, Martha, “many things”, many conflicting considerations will cause trouble in our choices and land us in the “worried and upset” zone.

Let’s examine Mary’s “one thing” against Martha’s “many things”.

Luke 10:41-42 NIV
[41] “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, [42] but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha’s troubled mind, in the midst of her serving the Lord with a meal, became entangled in a “not fair” conflict. Can you hear her whining tone? “It’s not fair, Lord! Why can Mary sit here while I have to work so hard in the kitchen, alone?”

Martha had a lesson to learn. She needed a “one thing” to keep her on track, like her sister, even if her one thing was to worship and serve Jesus in the kitchen! Here’s the thing that would keep her track! Not even the passing of Lazarus should dim her confidence in the Lord of resurrection. “It will be okay, Martha. I’m here, and that’s all that matters!”

Martha needed to recalculate. She had lost her “one thing” in the busyness of her “many things”.

John 11:25-26 NIV
[25] “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

And what of Mary? The test of her passion for the life lessons Jesus taught and which she chose to hear above all else, came to the surface when crisis hit. How did she handle her crisis? She lost track in the cross currents of her passions.

Lazarus, her beloved brother was dead, and it was Jesus’ fault. He didn’t come when they called Him.

Mary’s current situation temporarily cancelled her “one thing”. She was so disillusioned that, when Jesus eventually arrived at Bethany, she refused to meet Him until He called her. Her first words to Him were an explosion of rebuke and anger, the exact words Martha used but with a very different tone.

Jesus wept at her response. The meaning of the Greek word is straightforward. Jesus shed tears. Why? Was it because death had claimed Lazarus? Was it because Mary was broken-hearted over her loss? Was He weeping in sympathy with her? I think not!

I think Jesus wept for Mary because her pain had cancelled her trust in Him. His weeping was a sign of His frustration over her unbelief. Not even her “one thing” at His feet, listening to His teaching, had protected her from the raw experience of her brother’s death. Lazarus’ death was crunch time and Mary failed the test. She didn’t wait for Jesus to finish what He started.

Why did Jesus allow this to happen? Was it a “good thing” because both Mary and Martha learned life lessons they would never forget? Martha learned that her fussing and fuming over “many things” paled into nothing compared with Jesus’ disclosure and confirmation by raising Lazaris to life. He was who He said He was! She needed only one thing, and Mary had discovered it..

Mary learned that Jesus was utterly trustworthy, even when circumstances appeared irreversible. A dead Lazarus, stinking in his decay, was no obstacle to the Son of God. Mary’s response returned her to her “one thing”, back at His feet, but now in worship.

John 12:1-3 NIV
[1] “Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. [3] Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

She had learned her lesson well.

Like Mary, David’s “one thing” kept him focused on his desire for the presence of God in his turbulent life. To dwell in the sanctuary was not a cop-out from the realities of life. Rather, it was a desire to carry the awareness of God’s presence wherever he went and whatever his circumstances were, to turn his whole life into a sanctuary of worship.

So, when life was tranquil, David’s thoughts were on God, His goodness, mercy, and glory. He dwelt on these attributes in song after song. When life was dangerous and unpredictable, he turned to the Lord for comfort and protection.

Was David’s longing for God’s presence, his “one thing”, satisfied? Most definitely, yes! His history and his psalms bear witness to his experience.

So, I ask myself, “What is my “one thing” that will hold me together and keep me on track when the chips are down? What is my goal in all my choices, even those that seem inconseqential in my daily life?

Is my life directed toward this one thing, this goal that keeps me alive until it is accomplished or will be in the life to come? Only I can decide. Only I can choose and stick to my one thing until my final breath. I must, like Paul, choose and act.

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
[13] “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

THINGS THAT DAVID SAID – 9

Devotion, ,

ONLY ONE THING!

Psalms 27:4 NIV
[4] “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

What a good thing to be single-minded, especially about God!

Some people are single-minded about worldly pursuits… like money, or sexual experiences, or pleasure, or even happiness! They go hard after these things, only to find that “enough” is always just beyond their reach.

To be single-minded in one’s pursuit of God is a two-way street. He hides Himself from those whose desire is half-hearted, insincere, or for selfish gain. He sometimes works incognito to achieve His purposes without interference, keeping from us the awareness of His presence to build our faith.

Isaiah 45:15 NIV
[15] “Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself, the God and Savior of Israel.”

God hid Himself from His people for many years, about 400 years to be exact. He went silent on them…never did anything or said a word, so it seemed, between Malachi and Matthew. He left them to their own devices but…He was working behind the scenes all the time.

God chooses when and to whom He reveals Himself, regardless of where or how hard we seek to find Him.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 NIV
[13] “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Thus…God’s promise to His people after He had exiled them from their homeland for seventy years, for their stubborn disobedience and idolatry.

The Apostle Paul was aware of this fact when he wrote,

Galatians 4:4 NLT
[4] “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.”

God was quietly preparing His people and the world for the greatest event in history, when He came in person to rescue us.

With a flourish, the angel announced to Joseph, Mary’s intended, before Jesus was born, reminding him of the promise God made to His people centuaries before…

Matthew 1:23 NLT
[23] “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

No, God is never distant from His creation or separated from His purposes. How can He be when He is everywhere? He Himself informed Jeremiah…

Jeremiah 23:23-24 NLT
[23] “Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. [24] Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.”

God chooses to whom He will reveal Himself either by tangible signs as He did to Paul on the road to Damascus, or by the quiet, inner assurance that He is always near.

So, what’s the secret of knowing God’s presence? What can we do to induce God to reveal Himself to us, especially in times of distress when He seems far away? How can we not only be aware of but also live in His presence, taking shelter in Him from the storms of life, and contemplating His glory against the backdrop of a wicked world? How can we keep our balance when everything around us is shaking?

Strangely enough, God gives us the initiative to seek Him, not the other way around.

James 4:7-8 NLT
[7] “So, humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

The Word gives us the simple steps that allow us to seek and find the Lord, and to enjoy the wonder of His person and presence continually. We have no need to beg Him to reveal Himself to us. He has done that in abundant measure through Jesus, our Immanuel.

First, He calls us to turn away from sin, from our stubborn independence that leads us away from Him, and to approach Him boldly through the blood of His Son.

Hebrews 10:19-20, 22 NLT
[19] “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. [20] By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.
[22] Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

There is no other way to access God’s presence but through Jesus.

Second, we must draw near to Him by faith. We must both trust and act on His promise.

Hebrews 11:6 NLT
[6] “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”

Third, as citizens of heaven, by faith we live in the realm of Jesus’ place and rule in His kingdom even as we conduct our daily lives on this fallen planet and in its corrupted systems.

Colossians 3:1-3 NLT
[1] “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. [2] Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. [3] For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Do you get it, dear child of God? Unlike David, who expressed a longing to live in the sanctuary where God was present, we are the dwelling place, the holy temple of God, right now.

1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT
[19] “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?…”

No need to desire, long for, or seek God’s presence. He is already in us by His Spirit. Once again, all we need is to change our perspective…to grow our awareness by faith, that we are in God and that He is in us and to gaze, contually, at Jesus. Slowly, as we gaze, we are being transformed into His likeness!

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
[18] “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

God’s presence isn’t hit and miss according to our experiences and emotions. He us with us and in us forever, right now.

HOW NOT TO PLAY GOD – 2

Christian Life, ,

Mark 10:17-22 NLT
[17] “As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. [19] But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” [20] “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” [21] Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine LOVE for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [22] At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

Strong’s g25

  • Lexical: ἀγαπάω
  • Transliteration: agapaó…
  • Definition: to love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem.
  • Origin: Perhaps from agan (much); to love (in a social or moral sense).

Only Mark’s version of Jesus’ encounter with this wealthy young enquirer incudes a detail which gives us the clue to His way with people. How could He let this man go without trying to persuade him to take His advice?

Unlike Satan’s way, Jesus’ modus operandi was to confront people with truth and give them the freedom to choose. Why? If He knew that only through Him can anyone experience eternal life, why did He not try to win him by pressing His point?

LOVE! Did you catch Mark’s comment?

Mark 10:21 NIV
[21] “Jesus looked at him and LOVED him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus loved him enough to tell him the truth and…

… give him the choice.

You see, Jesus does not want followers who are bullied into a relationship with Him by threats or coercion. He wants people to love Him more than their money or any other person or possession freely, by choice.

Luke 14:26 NLT
[26] “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.”

John 21:15 NLT
[15]”After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?…”

If Jesus, the Son of God, would not use coercion to make people do what He wanted, neither does God, the Father, nor God, the Holy Spirit, drive people into doing His will. Jesus goes before us and calls us to follow Him. He honours us enough to let us be who He created us to be.

So also, He requires us to treat one another as He treats us. We set ourselves and others free when we take full responsibility for ourselves and allow others to do the same.