Death. Then Life. Through The Light.

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Whenever I don’t have a chapter book or novel to read, I flip to a selection in Eugene Peterson’s “As Kingfishers Catch Fire.” It’s a collection of one pastor’s encouraging sermons from over 30 years in the pulpit. 

There is a chapter entitled “Father, Glorify Thy Name” which includes many truths. These words articulate Jesus’ shortest prayer, recorded in the Gospel of John: “Father, bring glory to your name.” (John 12:28, NLT).
It may be a short prayer, but it is a powerful prayer. Peterson says praying, for us as it was for Jesus, is like breathing. “If we are to live, we all have to do it… it is woven into the fabric of life.”

I believe this is a season when we will all rise, but only as we first kneel.

Many have found a new voice of prayer during this season. That is wonderful! I even saw a news clip from MSNBC where the host asked his guest, Pastor T.D. Jakes, to offer a prayer for the Nation. I was a TV news anchor and reporter at one time and under “normal” circumstances that would never happen. Yet here we are! For 30 seconds as the pastor prayed, news anchor Craig Melvin bowed his head and affirmed the petition with his own “Amen.” Isn’t that encouraging? God is gracious. Many are lifting an eye towards heaven and seeking God’s peace, His calm, His healing, His protection. Keep it up! Thank you for breathing. Thank you for praying.

I believe this is a season when we will all rise, but only as we first kneel. I can’t help but recall an often quoted scripture from the Old Testament: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV).

And the glory of God? Paradoxically, it’s not more. It’s less. Peterson says Jesus redefines glory. “The glory with which Jesus is glorified is not inspirational… It is not glamorous.” It is not a beautiful sunrise, although through our eyes it is. No, in God’s eyes, it is first an agonizing cross. “Obscurity, rejection, a sacrificial life, an obedient death.”

Seeds must die and be buried before there is new life. It might be said that the world is dying right now. There is irony in seeing gorgeous spring cherry blossoms and daffodils and redbuds in full bloom as we suffer through a physical, virus-driven fall and winter for humankind. Yet there will be a morning when our life will spring forth again! We can trust the Creator to be glorified in the new life that always follows death.

Peterson notes that the Son must die so that the Son, and the Father, and the Spirit, are glorified. Will you join me in earnestly praying that we will all see the Glory of God during this season?  Jesus describes it this way:

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.” (John 12:24‭-‬25, MSG).

We are to let go of our life – we are to die – so that we might save it and live.

Jesus’ final words in this scene? “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” (John 12:35‭, NLT)

We can trust the Light to shine. We can! Light is key in the cycle of death to germination to regeneration to birth. In the Light, we will all find life.

One final note on the importance of light, from the book of Revelation where John describes heaven: “The City doesn’t need sun or moon for light. God’s Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp!” (Revelation 21:23, MSG).

A simple, yet powerful prayer for this season? “Shine on, Jesus! Shine!”




(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.

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As Kingfishers Catch Fire, by Eugene H. Peterson, (c) 2017, WaterBrook.










God Never Fails.

Posted on by richlyspeaking

God will help you catch your breath.
You’ll find God right there.

God Never Fails. I’m pretty sure I’ve written that before. Maybe multiple times. But it’s worth repeating. Over and over again.

God never fails.

We fail, right?

Can I assure you, however, that for those who trust God and who follow Jesus that it’s okay to fail. I believe we all actually need to have at least one moment in our life, or multiple moments in our life, where we we fail… where we are broken… where we take all of the burdens we’ve been carrying and finally fall to our knees at the foot of the Cross and say, “Here, Jesus. I can’t do this anymore.” I believe we all need to get to that point where we stop kidding ourselves that we can be self-dependent and we fully cross the line to being dependent on God and God alone.

For me personally, I could share story after story where I was so broken that I just couldn’t carry the load any longer.  They include:

      • Each of the six times my employer at the time decided to change directions without me.
      • Too many times to count when parenting teenagers or adult children.
      • And the recent death of my Mom.

On each occasion, my knees couldn’t hit the floor quick enough. Did I fail or did my situation fail me? No matter. I couldn’t bear the weight alone.

The strongest people are those who fail… who acknowledge that they are weak and empty.

One of the greatest, strongest people of all time was Israel’s King David. He writes, “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there.”  Then, look at the word picture painted by the Message translation: “If you’re kicked in the gut, He’ll help you catch your breath.” (Psalm 34:18 MSG). What an encouraging image!

Even when bad things happen to good people, God is there for you. Every time.

Perhaps your tending to a broken heart? Perhaps you’ve wondered where is the promised victory of the Christian life? In Luke 4 Jesus says the whole reason He came was to heal the brokenhearted, to release the captives and to bring sight to the blind. No matter what broke your heart, no matter what is holding you captive, no matter that you can’t seem to see your way out of your situation, can I assure you that Jesus came for you.

You may have failed, but you are not a failure! Take time, maybe even right now, to tell God that you need Him. Admit that you can’t carry this burden on your own. Tell Him that you’ll trust Him.

And then… do it. Lay your burden down and trust Him.  Cross that bridge and breathe in the air of a new found freedom and peace.  Jesus is waiting to help you catch your breath!

 

(c) Rich Ronald. 2019

Christ is Enough. He is more than Enough!

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The Cross Before Me

We sang Hillsong’s “Christ is Enough” this past weekend at our church. Like many worship songs today, it is a mash up of a new song with an old hymn. The lyrics to the new song:

Christ is enough for me.

Christ is enough for me.

Everything I need is in you.

Everything I need.

Through every trial.

My soul will sing.

No turning back.

I’ve been set free.

Then, the lyricist adds the words to the 19th Century hymn “I have decided to follow Jesus:”

I have decided to follow Jesus. The cross before me. The world behind me. No turning back. No turning back.

Christ is enough for me. How do I know this? Personally, I have experienced His provision first-hand during trial after trial. And, the Bible is peppered with God’s promises proclaiming it:

Luke writes, “Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.” Acts 4:12

Christ is enough for me. How do I know this? Paul writes, “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need.” Philippians 4:19

Christ is enough for me. How do I know this? The Psalmist writes, “You’re all I want in Heaven! You’re all I want in earth. When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful.” Psalm 73:25-26

Christ IS enough. No matter if we think all our good deeds means we get to go to heaven, it doesn’t work that way. No matter how much we exercise or how many skin tightening facial cremes we use at night, we cannot control that we age, that our flesh and heart will fail. No matter how much we try to plan and control all the many and mini details every day, failure is a part of life. And that’s the point. Only when we get things in the right order can we find true freedom. God is our strength! He is enough. He is more than enough! The cross in front of us. The world behind us. No turning back.

The story behind that old hymn is inspiring:

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is sung to a traditional folk tune from India, and it is named after the northeastern Indian state once home to tribes known as “head-hunters” due to their custom of collecting heads and hanging them on their walls. In his book Why, God, Why?, Dr. P. Job says that 150 years ago a Welsh missionary converted a man, his wife, and his children to Christianity. After the village chief demanded that the man renounce his faith, he spontaneously sang the now-famous words, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” Reportedly, the chief ordered his archers to kill the man’s two children, threatening to kill his wife as well; but the man sang, “Though no one joins me, still I will follow.” The archers shot his wife, but still the man refused to deny Christ, and he was executed while singing: “The cross before me, the world behind me.” It was said that the chief was so moved that he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” and the entire village converted.

Can I assure you: Christ is enough. He is more than enough for whatever weakness,whatever stress, whatever illness, whatever failure, whatever brokenness you are facing today. He will meet your every need. Let Him be your strength. Put the cross in front of you and the world behind you. Jesus is enough. He is more than enough!

(c) 2019 Rich Ronald.

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Notes:

“Christ is Enough” by Hillsong Worship. Written by Jonas Myrin and Reuben Morgan. CCLI # 6514035.

Story behind “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” from Christian Classic Ethereal Library, CCEL Times 6.10 (October 3, 2011), accessed May 22, 2019.

You are the intersection of the Cross

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My college roommate was the first to introduce me to the key concept of horizontal and vertical relationships.  Even though I had been a Christian all my life and he was a relative new-comer to the faith, Jim had a grasp of the depth of God’s love greater than any of my peers.   

We all understand what horizontal relationships are… those with our friends and family living this life and walking this walk with us daily. 

And the vertical relationship is also easy to see when we look for it… between us and the triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

And all of these relationships intersect in you… in your mind… in your heart.  And really all of these relationships overlap don’t they?  If you have put Jesus on the throne of your life, the relationships you have with people… the love you have, men, for your wives, the love you have women for your husbands and  for your children, are driven by the true source of love, God.  I John 4.  “God is love.”  If God rules your life, it’s all connected isn’t  it?

Continue reading You are the intersection of the Cross