Wednesday, November 26, 2008
the rock
We need a rock, a foundation that is bigger than our life.
Psalm 61:2
If we limit ourselves to our own understanding and ability
we will be frustrated and troubled.
From the platform of faith we see further.
It seems like God always invites us out from our own
circles when we get overwhelmed by our circumstances.
He leads us to step into his presence.
He somehow encourages us not to worry about those
things that sooner or later will pass away and be no more.
He wants our souls to prosper.
Man’s subjectivity gives him a false security. People often speak
about their intuition, their ability to know people at first glance.
They trust their own heart and encourage others to do the same.
The reason why human heart is described to be more evil than
any other thing is it’s subjectivity. Jer.17:9
Most of the endless misunderstandings and other complicated
relationship problems are rooted in subjective hearts.
Jesus did not come to this world to look for people’s opinions.
He took the blame on himself
and became the rock that helps us to see beyond
the nonsense all the way to eternity.
Psalm 61:2
If we limit ourselves to our own understanding and ability
we will be frustrated and troubled.
From the platform of faith we see further.
It seems like God always invites us out from our own
circles when we get overwhelmed by our circumstances.
He leads us to step into his presence.
He somehow encourages us not to worry about those
things that sooner or later will pass away and be no more.
He wants our souls to prosper.
Man’s subjectivity gives him a false security. People often speak
about their intuition, their ability to know people at first glance.
They trust their own heart and encourage others to do the same.
The reason why human heart is described to be more evil than
any other thing is it’s subjectivity. Jer.17:9
Most of the endless misunderstandings and other complicated
relationship problems are rooted in subjective hearts.
Jesus did not come to this world to look for people’s opinions.
He took the blame on himself
and became the rock that helps us to see beyond
the nonsense all the way to eternity.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
The description of God’s love in I Corinthians 13
sounds too incredible. Practically speaking most of believers
would have a hard time with going all the way with it.
It doesn’t say, “Love covers some things”, it actually says it
covers all things. All means everything unless it is followed
by a list of other nouns specifying the all.
This love is daily tested in relationships where people
continuously abuse, cheat and fail.
How much should we cover?
What exactly does it mean to cover, not to talk about it?
I believe that this biblical principle of covering is strongly
connected with forgiveness.
We forgive because God forgives.
We have no biblical right to withhold forgiveness from anyone.
You don’t have to wait to forgive, it’s an immediate choice.
No evil in this world should be able to overpower our
decision to forgive.
This doesn’t mean that people are not held responsible for their
sins.
Evil should be reported through proper channels.
No one should accept continuing abuse, physical nor
emotional, in the pretext of spirituality.
This kind of situations are often very private and demand
a sensitive way to deal with them.
However the best covering for an abuser or any evil doer
is to bring his deeds to the light.
May it be a pedophile relative, dishonest boss or
a violent husband, God’s love wants to bring them to the light.
Whenever other people’s life is in jeopardy covering means
reporting.
sounds too incredible. Practically speaking most of believers
would have a hard time with going all the way with it.
It doesn’t say, “Love covers some things”, it actually says it
covers all things. All means everything unless it is followed
by a list of other nouns specifying the all.
This love is daily tested in relationships where people
continuously abuse, cheat and fail.
How much should we cover?
What exactly does it mean to cover, not to talk about it?
I believe that this biblical principle of covering is strongly
connected with forgiveness.
We forgive because God forgives.
We have no biblical right to withhold forgiveness from anyone.
You don’t have to wait to forgive, it’s an immediate choice.
No evil in this world should be able to overpower our
decision to forgive.
This doesn’t mean that people are not held responsible for their
sins.
Evil should be reported through proper channels.
No one should accept continuing abuse, physical nor
emotional, in the pretext of spirituality.
This kind of situations are often very private and demand
a sensitive way to deal with them.
However the best covering for an abuser or any evil doer
is to bring his deeds to the light.
May it be a pedophile relative, dishonest boss or
a violent husband, God’s love wants to bring them to the light.
Whenever other people’s life is in jeopardy covering means
reporting.
Monday, November 24, 2008
the cloud
Their ministry in the temple was interrupted by the cloud.
It filled the place of worship with God consciousness and
“they could not continue ministering because of the cloud.”
Their religion was interrupted by God.
I Kings 8:10-11
One of man’s problems is his ability to practice a religion that
works without God.
Without the presence of God any church turns to a market place,
or just to a funeral home, where bureaucracy is well maintained
by religious vocabulary.
What can stop a church from dying?
When you look at the massive , empty churches in Europe this
question is unavoidable. Why did these churches die?
It’s clear that for one reason or another they lost the mystery.
They lost the sense of God’s presence, the cloud that cannot be
controlled, manipulated nor perfectly explained.
Have you ever felt the presence of God? Many of us can recall
a strong sense of God’s presence in revival meetings
and prayer times, the place was shaking.
I think even a better question is, “Have you ever believed in the
presence of God?” When your emotions didn’t provide any
power signals, you didn’t think about moving mountains, but
you simply loved God with all of your heart and mind.
Faith accompanied with sings and wonders can easily be
shipwrecked. Faith without signs and wonders will most
probably die out. How about him who believes without seeing
and worships him independently of the visible and invisible
surroundings? He will be gladly interrupted by the cloud.
It filled the place of worship with God consciousness and
“they could not continue ministering because of the cloud.”
Their religion was interrupted by God.
I Kings 8:10-11
One of man’s problems is his ability to practice a religion that
works without God.
Without the presence of God any church turns to a market place,
or just to a funeral home, where bureaucracy is well maintained
by religious vocabulary.
What can stop a church from dying?
When you look at the massive , empty churches in Europe this
question is unavoidable. Why did these churches die?
It’s clear that for one reason or another they lost the mystery.
They lost the sense of God’s presence, the cloud that cannot be
controlled, manipulated nor perfectly explained.
Have you ever felt the presence of God? Many of us can recall
a strong sense of God’s presence in revival meetings
and prayer times, the place was shaking.
I think even a better question is, “Have you ever believed in the
presence of God?” When your emotions didn’t provide any
power signals, you didn’t think about moving mountains, but
you simply loved God with all of your heart and mind.
Faith accompanied with sings and wonders can easily be
shipwrecked. Faith without signs and wonders will most
probably die out. How about him who believes without seeing
and worships him independently of the visible and invisible
surroundings? He will be gladly interrupted by the cloud.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
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