Inside Out

If you're like me, you may have noticed all the nice Scripture decor in stores, homes, and churches. They make us feel good. But often, we read and apply them inside out. They don't fit quite right, but we try to make them say and mean what was never intended.

Funny side story (if you're interested--if not skip this paragraph and keep going, but it relates to the topic at hand); We focused on Scripture as our children were growing up and they noticed it was used in greeting cards, etc. One Sunday afternoon they were inspired to cut slips of paper and write Scripture references. It was close to Valentine's Day so with each Valentine, I included one of their hand-written notes. Weeks (months?) later, out of curiosity I looked up the references.

I don't remember the exact verses, but they were similar to Jeremiah 5:6*, Judges 8:19**, Colossian 6:13, etc. I read them, and was both puzzled and horrified. "Did you read the actual verses you wrote down?" No. No, of course they didn't. 

All that to say, it's easy to misread and misuse Scripture. 

This morning, as I read about Stephen's discourse in Acts 7, I thought of how many times people seeking deliverance refer to stories of Moses, God's promise to Israel in Jeremiah 29:11, or the conversion of Saul. Those are amazing stories! God has shown Himself powerful and strong to save.

And there's the rub--instead of putting ourselves into Scripture that is narrative in style, that recounts a specific person and situation--we would do far better to pull God off the page and focus on His wonder and grace. This God does not necessarily rescue us from a difficult situation, but shows His might and grace by seeing us through the situation.

The psalmist wrote, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."? He didn't set up camp and break out lawn chairs. He kept walking, moving forward, trusting his Shepherd to lead him to the other side.

Ephesians says God's mystery (the gospel, the purchase of our souls at the cost of Jesus' life and the inclusion of Gentiles) "... is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens." (Ephesians 3:10). 

God's power is displayed in His work through us--and in us. His Spirit changes and transforms us supernaturally. Not magically, but surely.

Today, take heart that, whether or not your circumstances change, God is working to change you. He is able. He is He who says He is and He will do what He says He will do. Instead of reading your Bible, looking longingly at people He delivered, look at the God who worked deliverance. Yes, He will and does deliver, that is what He does, but in the process, He is doing a much greater work. He is leading you to change--to depend on Him, to see the way He sees, to think the way He thinks, to act in accordance with His character instead of your own.

When you read your Bible right-side out, it fits much better!

 *"Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; A leopard will watch over their cities. Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many; Their backslidings have increased." (Jeremiah 5:6)

**Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” (Judges 8:19)

Wisdom is Not Nice

Many times I read about the waiting virgins and oil, aghast that the wise would not share with the foolish. When the groom came in the middle of the night and the foolish virgins asked, the wise virgins said, "No, there won't be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves." (Matthew 25:1-13)

My initial response would have been to share--or to give up my place in line. Isn't that what Jesus did? He gave His life for me, the least I could do is give to others. Or that's what I was taught. That's what I believed and lived.

The problem is that Jesus' purpose and intent was the cross. He was obedient to His Father in giving His life. And He gave His life once--once for all. Once for all time. Once for all people. Once.

God did not create me to give to everyone, all the time. 

That is what many children are taught. That is what women are taught. It is what people say. But it isn't right. Or biblical. Or wise. And, often, it is taught for the ease, convenience and benefit of those with authority--not for the benefit of those in their care or under their authority.

Instead, regardless of my gender, position and station in life, God has given me responsibility.

The parable that follows this one (Matthew 25:14-30) is about a man who entrusted his possessions to his servants. In the time he was gone, the servants didn't give them willy-nilly to those in need or want. They stewarded, invested, and multiplied them with the exception of the one who hid the talent and did nothing.

The body God gave me is mine to steward. Not foolishly spend. Not foolishly give away.

The mind God gave me is mine to steward and use to wisely multiply God's goodness. 

The Spirit/spirit God has given me is mine to steward in ways that accurately reflect the Giver.

The strength God gives me is mine to steward in ways that reflect Jesus' earthly life, values, and ministry.

When/If I piddle them away or give them to fools, I am not using them the way God intended, for the purpose of righteousness. 

When I am nice, I use what God has given to feel good about myself momentarily. These good feelings are based on a fickle reaction of others. Being nice is nothing more than manipulating an outcome that paints me in a good light. But it is not sustainable. It is not healthy for me because it isn't authentic or true. It isn't loving. And it isn't godly stewardship.

When we teach people to be nice, to give to everyone, all the time, especially those in authority, we create an ungodly, human, sinful system. When those with fewer resources are punished for not giving or for not doing what is asked, it's time to step back and look at the process that got them there.

God does not call anyone--not His people, not the poor, weak, those under authority--to give to fools. Instead, He instructs us to guard our hearts, to discipline our bodies, to renew our minds. Then, from a place of stability and strength, one day we will hear Him say, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothes me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25: 36-36, 40)

These are outcomes of discipline and wise living. Wisdom is not nice.

Privilege and Power

It is a mighty, humbling experience to be used by God. At some point, as we follow Jesus, we realize we have been part of something no less than miraculous. In plain sight, in a very normal setting, God has accomplished the impossible.

In Mark 6 Jesus was offended in Nazareth and left. He commissioned the twelve. And, with increased exposure, Herod heard and confused Jesus with John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded. When the twelve returned, they reported to Jesus, and he took them to a remote place. Apparently it wasn't remote enough because the people followed. Jesus then fed them all with five loaves and two fish and we are told there were twelve baskets left.

At the end of the day, Jesus sent his disciples across the sea, dismissed the crowds, and took time to pray. "Well into the night," the passage says, "He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." The end of this story left me curious. 

Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:48-52)

As I read the last sentence I wondered about their hearts being hardened. Why? What just happened? It was an amazing day--another amazing day--of being with Jesus.

Is it speaking of the disciple's unwillingness to glorify God for His provision of bread? Were their hearts hardened because they took Jesus for granted? Did they see themselves as part of God's provision to the people? Was the day's miracle somehow about them and not about Jesus? Perhaps they were afraid. 

Perhaps, as the storm raged, they grew angry. Jesus had sent them into this mess and He intentionally stayed behind. Perhaps they felt abandoned. Then, to top it all off, in spite of the miracles they performed while traveling and returning to distribute bread, they had no power over the storm. Bad things were happening to them, not others--to them--and they didn’t have the ability to change the circumstances. After they'd been at it for a few hours, Jesus showed up. “He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased."

God used them and they saw miraculous things, participated in amazing, impossible realities, but without Jesus, they had nothing. Like Superman exposed to kryptonite, they were normal, limited human beings with no special power or authority whatsoever. And their response? "Instead [of giving thanks; instead of worship] their hearts were hardened.” (phrases added)

That may not be an accurate rendering of the passage, but it serves as a warning and reminder. The work of God is always, will always be and has always been, about Him. I desire to be a vessel of His grace, mercy, and love. I choose to align myself with Him and submit to His Word and Spirit. But I must be reminded, especially after long seasons of ministry, especially in the midst of the storm, that apart from Him, I can do nothing.

If that is not my reality; if/when I see myself as influential or important, Jesus may allow me to work, strive, and flounder on my own before He calms the storm. And in that moment I have a choice: I can be humbled or hardened. It's all about who I acknowledge as the source: God or myself. 

Perhaps this serves as a reminder. Perhaps it's a warning. Either way, God is faithful and we are blessed.