Trust

Simple thing: trust.

"Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don't be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows."
- Matthew 10:29-31

"Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue,
You know all about it, Lord.
5 You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me."
- Psalm 139:1-5

God knows us completely. He knows even the details about us that we wish he didn't. Still, he loved us enough to die and still loves us to this day. Psalm 139 continues on to say, "This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it."

Rest in this "extraordinary knowledge" and trust that if he knows you this completely, he is worthy of your daily trust. For if he is eye is on the smallest sparrow, don't you think he watches over you? Rest in his peace and trust in Him each new day.

Good News

Simple things: good news.

It's hard to keep it a secret, isn't it? When something really good happens you want to tell all your friends. Matthew 9: 27-31 tells the story of Jesus healing two blind men. He sternly warns them, "Be sure that no one finds out!" What do they do? They go out and "spread the news about Him throughout the whole area." I know Jesus told them not to, but I can hardly blame them! This happens repeatedly in the gospels. 

Sometimes a preceding factor of good news is obedience. 2 Kings 5: 1-19 describes the commander's of Israel's army being healed of a skin disease. It wasn't quite as straightforward as you might think, though. Elisha the prophet told him to "go wash seven times in the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean." Oh, but Naaman, this commander, got angry. Why dip in the Jordan? Why not another river? Why does he have to do this at all? Couldn't Elisha heal him by the wave of a hand? In the end, he did as he was told and was grateful.  He tried and tried to give Elisha a monetary gift for his healing which brought such good news to Naaman. However, Elisha would not accept them. Still, Naaman's joy and thankfulness at this good news is clear. He even put his faith in the God of Israel alone.

So why did Elisha have him wash in the Jordan 7 times? Why does that even matter? Doesn't that sound a little superstitious? Maybe it is more than the act itself. Rather, asking him to wash 7 times in Jordan tested his obedience to a prophet of God, and further, to God himself. 

Good news is a wonderful thing and hard thing to keep a secret. Fortunately, we don't have to keep the Gospel a secret! Often, good news first requires faith and obedience. Remember today that the best news our world has ever received is what Jesus did for us. Even when you can't find any other good news in your life, know that the gospel of Jesus Christ, and more importantly the person of Jesus Christ, is with you always.  Let that good news permeate your life through obedience so that all the world may know what Jesus did for us.

Note: All scriptures from Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB).

Summer Institute

Go to http://theheartofthequestion.blogspot.com/2013/06/rzim-summer-institute-day-1.html to see my adventures at the RZIM Summer Institute all week!

Peace

For those of you who didn't see my post yesterday, go read that and come back to this.

Emptiness. My lord is dead. Suddenly the women disciples of Jesus ran into the room they were staying. "The body of Jesus is gone!" Peter was outrun by John, but entered the tomb first. The clothes were folded and the body gone. Grave robbers.

Again, I am with Peter here. A glimmer of hope and yet this could be bad too. What if those who stole the body want to harm us as well? Safety is the next logical option.

I imagine Peter and the disciples were restless and confused waiting in that dark room. Wondering what to do next. Wondering if each set of footsteps outside may try to knock down the locked door and arrest them. Watching as the candles slowly burned ou-

Suddenly JESUS! He appeared out of thin air. I don't know what they did, but I would have fallen completely over. The man who I watched die is alive! Is this real? Will he speak to me after all I have done? After denying him? And yet he says to me, "Peace be with you." And so I am at peace.

He rose from the grave so that you can too. Nothing can hold you back with Jesus on your side. Not even death on a cross.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Peter and the Crucifixion

In light of Holy Week I have been reflecting on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Seeing as Easter is not until tomorrow, let us focus on the crucifixion. At a Maundy Thursday service I listen to the story being read from the gospel of Matthew. He went from celebrating Passover with his disciples to dying a humiliating, torturous, painful death on a sinner's cross.

Who would I have been in that story? Maybe one of the Jews screaming for crucifixion for the "liar". Maybe one of the women mourning for Jesus. Honestly though, I think I would have been Peter. Afraid, confused, and terrified.

My instinct would have been the same as his when the guards came to take Jesus away. "What do I do now? They are about to take my Lord! I must defend him." Then pull out my weapon and start swinging. The fact that he only got the ear of the slave is a good indication of his dazed state due to pure confusion. I would have been just as confused. I would have wanted to go down swinging.

After that? Surely, I would think, I would never deny my Lord. But when this man who healed the sick, cast out demons, and calmed the seas is now on a cross? Suddenly nothing makes sense. I am terrified. Have I been lied to for three years? Would they kill me because I am his disciple? I think I would have lied too. And in turn, when I heard the rooster, I would have wept.

I get Peter. We are on the same page. Confusion, desperation, and pure terror. What now? What next? My Savior is dead.

You only live once

There are two things you need to know about "YOLO"
1) It means "You Only Live Once"
2) It is the most overused... thing... acronym... whatever.

I am currently on a school trip with a bunch of other nerds from my school.  This trip entailed a 5 hour drive. You stick 7 college kids in a van for 5 hours and things get interesting. In this case: Everything anyone says is followed by yolo. "Dude that's yolo-ing there!" [Yeah, apparently it's a verb now] "Nah... that's not yolo. That's just dumb."

So why do I bring this up? To talk about how goofy my friends are? Not really.

Here lately I've been contemplating the long held idea to live life to the fullest and enjoy it.  For some, they say drink, smoke, sleep around. If that's what you enjoy, do it. I am not endorsing this; however, let's dig into this a little.

Put aside morals and ethics for one moment.  One thing people of such a mindset do great is partaking in things they enjoy.  They do what they believe will allow them to live a full life.

So, why do many of us as Christians live so safely? Why take the easy way out? Jesus himself said in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Wake up, guys! You got God on your side! Enjoy your life! Am I saying be crazy and party? Absolutely not. But enjoy the few years on earth God has given you! Give your best to God in everything you do and do it with  joy.  Be happy. Smile. Take a chance or two. And I can't believing I'm saying it.... but yolo. You only live once with your few years God has given you. Enjoy them!

Hey You

Hey you -
You with the hurt behind that beautiful smile. God loves you so much.

Hey you -
You with the addiction you try to hide - or even hide behind. God loves you like crazy.

Hey you -
You with the unique personality hiding behind the boxes you put yourself in. God loves YOU.

Hey you -
You with the belief that your sin is too much for God. God loves you too.

Hey you -
You with the fear of admitting your faith for fear of what others might say. God still loves you.

Hey you -
God loves you.