"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it." -Deuteronomy 30.11-14
Reading the law that God gave Moses for the people seems overwhelming. There are so many details with it that trying to learn it all would make your head explode. But here Moses says that it is not too difficult for the people, and that the goal is in reach. He tells them that that it is not far off, but that it is very close. It is in their mouth and in their heart so that they may observe it.
God has called His people to holiness, a lofty and daunting calling, but it is not too difficult. God's desire is for His people to be holy and so He has given them His word so that they might attain it. God's desire is for His people to be holy, and He will help them to attain it. For that reason it is not too difficult or out of reach.
I had a professor in college who said something that has stuck with me, but I have amended to show God's intention for His people, "The Bible contains everything you need to know in order to become like Christ; it does not contain the answers to everything you are curious about." God has given us His written Word so that we can know who He is, what He is like, and how He intended for us to live.
Today is Christmas, the day on which we celebrate the birth of Christ, but Christmas is about so much more than Jesus' birth. Most church people will tell you Jesus came to die, but if that's the case there is a lot of wasted time between His birth and death. Jesus came to live. He came to show us what God is like and how God would live life as a human. He became man to live the model life for man. At the end of His mission, after setting the perfect example, He died on the cross and rose again so that we could be empowered to follow His example.
That is what Christmas is all about.
Men, we have been called to a daunting task, be Men of God. But this task is not too difficult or out of reach. God desires for us to be Men of God, and so He became a man to show us what it looks like.
Let us strive to become more like Christ. Let us study the written word that we have been given, and model the living word of Jesus' life. Let us realize that the goal of Christlikeness is within reach of all who strive after it.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Showing posts with label Christlikeness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christlikeness. Show all posts
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Thursday, November 21, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 12: King, part 2
"The great problem of the earth and the great aim of the masculine journey boil down to this: when can you trust a man with power?... the whole history of God and man recounted in the Bible is the story of God wanting to entrust men with his power, and men not being able to handle it."
Think about that for a minute. Really that is what it comes down to. Men are born to lead, at the very least their families, but quite often, businesses, churches and nations. So when can you trust a man with power? In America there are laws for when someone can take office in the federal government. Before someone is made CEO of a company there are things that they have to learn and experience. The same is true of pastoring a church, which is like being the CEO of a non-profit organization. But the question remains, when can men be trusted with power? Just because you reach a certain age doesn't mean you're ready to be an elected voice for the people. And just because you're worked your way up the ladder, paid your dues if you will, doesn't mean you should be put in charge.
Over and over in the Bible we see power abused, or the role of leadership ignored. Too many men haven't been able to handle the power they have been given. That has to change; we were born to be Kings. "My sincere hope is that as we embrace the masculine journey, submit to its lessons, learn again how to initiate men, we shall make good Kings available once more. But before a man is ready to handle power, his character must be forged. It might be said that all masculine initiation is designed to prepare a man to handle power."
How many men you know in leadership would you say have been initiated? My guess is most of them have learned to do one or two things well, what a self-made man really is as we saw in Wild at Heart, and have used those skills to get them where they are. I know I've worked under many like that. But for them power has become about comfort and ease (more on this later). Being a King involves more than just learning what to say, or not to say, and the skills needed to get to the top. It involves a transformation of heart and upright, incorruptible character.
"'His children are not his real, true sons ... until they think like him, feel with him, judge as he judges, are at home with him, and without fear before him because he and they mean the same thing, love the same things, seek the same ends. (Unspoken Sermons)' It is a beautiful work God is up to in a man, perhaps the most beautiful of all his works, and when this has taken deep root in a man's life... when this is true of a man more often than not, then is he ready to become a King. It is a matter of the heart, my brothers."
We've seen before how the heart is our source of strength and passion. We need both of these to rule well. But in order to be able to rule well our strength must be redeemed and our passion purified. We must come to realize that our strength is ours so that we can serve others, and our passion is there to drive us towards our role in Kingdom work. It is only when we become like Christ, and live as Christ, that we are ready to handle power. That is what God is working towards, Christlikeness in us.
Romans 8.28-30, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Philippians 1.6, 9-11 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus... And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
God is working in us to mold us into the image of Christ, the King of kings. The more like Him we become, the more fit we are to rule. The more like Christ we are, the more we selflessly offer our strength to others, the more we passionately live to advance the Kingdom. "God rarely forces a man to do something against his will, because he would far and above prefer that he doesn't have to, that the man wills to do the will of God. 'Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve' (Josh. 24.15 NIV). What God is after is a man so yielded to him, so completely surrendered, that his heart is easily moved by the Spirit of God to the purposes of God. That kind of heart makes for a good king."
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God" (Romans 13.1). A King is only put in power by God, and therefore is subject to God. The power he is given is from God, and so how could a man expect to rule well if he is not yielded to God? How does a man make decisions in leadership, does he get an idea and run with it, or does he run it by God in prayer and seek His counsel? Read the Old Testament and look at what the good leaders did. A man cannot rule well, cannot rule to advance the Kingdom, unless he is seeking God's direction.
"Regardless of age, position, or natural abilities, a man is ready to become a King only when his heart is in the right place. Meaning, yielded to God."
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Think about that for a minute. Really that is what it comes down to. Men are born to lead, at the very least their families, but quite often, businesses, churches and nations. So when can you trust a man with power? In America there are laws for when someone can take office in the federal government. Before someone is made CEO of a company there are things that they have to learn and experience. The same is true of pastoring a church, which is like being the CEO of a non-profit organization. But the question remains, when can men be trusted with power? Just because you reach a certain age doesn't mean you're ready to be an elected voice for the people. And just because you're worked your way up the ladder, paid your dues if you will, doesn't mean you should be put in charge.
Over and over in the Bible we see power abused, or the role of leadership ignored. Too many men haven't been able to handle the power they have been given. That has to change; we were born to be Kings. "My sincere hope is that as we embrace the masculine journey, submit to its lessons, learn again how to initiate men, we shall make good Kings available once more. But before a man is ready to handle power, his character must be forged. It might be said that all masculine initiation is designed to prepare a man to handle power."
How many men you know in leadership would you say have been initiated? My guess is most of them have learned to do one or two things well, what a self-made man really is as we saw in Wild at Heart, and have used those skills to get them where they are. I know I've worked under many like that. But for them power has become about comfort and ease (more on this later). Being a King involves more than just learning what to say, or not to say, and the skills needed to get to the top. It involves a transformation of heart and upright, incorruptible character.
"'His children are not his real, true sons ... until they think like him, feel with him, judge as he judges, are at home with him, and without fear before him because he and they mean the same thing, love the same things, seek the same ends. (Unspoken Sermons)' It is a beautiful work God is up to in a man, perhaps the most beautiful of all his works, and when this has taken deep root in a man's life... when this is true of a man more often than not, then is he ready to become a King. It is a matter of the heart, my brothers."
We've seen before how the heart is our source of strength and passion. We need both of these to rule well. But in order to be able to rule well our strength must be redeemed and our passion purified. We must come to realize that our strength is ours so that we can serve others, and our passion is there to drive us towards our role in Kingdom work. It is only when we become like Christ, and live as Christ, that we are ready to handle power. That is what God is working towards, Christlikeness in us.
Romans 8.28-30, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Philippians 1.6, 9-11 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus... And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
God is working in us to mold us into the image of Christ, the King of kings. The more like Him we become, the more fit we are to rule. The more like Christ we are, the more we selflessly offer our strength to others, the more we passionately live to advance the Kingdom. "God rarely forces a man to do something against his will, because he would far and above prefer that he doesn't have to, that the man wills to do the will of God. 'Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve' (Josh. 24.15 NIV). What God is after is a man so yielded to him, so completely surrendered, that his heart is easily moved by the Spirit of God to the purposes of God. That kind of heart makes for a good king."
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God" (Romans 13.1). A King is only put in power by God, and therefore is subject to God. The power he is given is from God, and so how could a man expect to rule well if he is not yielded to God? How does a man make decisions in leadership, does he get an idea and run with it, or does he run it by God in prayer and seek His counsel? Read the Old Testament and look at what the good leaders did. A man cannot rule well, cannot rule to advance the Kingdom, unless he is seeking God's direction.
"Regardless of age, position, or natural abilities, a man is ready to become a King only when his heart is in the right place. Meaning, yielded to God."
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Strength
Strength, something all men want. Not all will admit it, but it's part of who we are as men. All of us want to be seen as strong. Some put up a front that's all for show, hoping that no one will see through the act. But those with real strength don't don't need to flaunt it, it isn't something they boisterously announce to the world, but something that comes from trial and identity.
One of, if not thee, greatest movie quotes ever comes from Gladiator. "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
If you've seen the movie you know the context. The Emperor of Rome is killed by his jealous, insecure, power hungry, son after he is told that Maximus, a loved and respected General, will be given power to return Rome to a republic. To cover it up he orders Maximus to be executed, but the warrior escapes. After he finds his wife and son murdered he is captured by slave traders and sold as a gladiator.
He becomes a champion and ends up fighting before the new Emperor in the Coliseum. After winning a battle that they shouldn't have, the Emperor wants to meet the new champion. And when he comes face to face with the man he thought was dead we see strength tear down the front of the false Emperor. A man who knows who he is, who has fought and won battles that have given him the confidence that only comes form overcoming trials, states his name and stares down a cowardly impostor. His confidence, his strength, comes from his identity, and it is something that no one can take away from him.
For the man of God, the identity comes from the relationship we have with God in Christ. This identity gives us true strength that no one can take away. In Christ we know that we belong to God. No matter what we go through, nothing will separate us from God. Paul said in Philippians 4.13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul knew that no matter what he faced in life, he had Christ with him. There was nothing he couldn't endure because everything he went through was with Christ. And everything Paul went through helped to mold him more into Christlikeness.
That is true strength, not confidence in our own abilities, but confidence in Christ. Our identity is not found in our career, marriage, or accomplishments, but in our identity in Christ. The man of God is strong because he is surrendered to God. His trust is fully in God. His identity is rooted in the fact that he is a son of God. That is strength.
"The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him." Exodus 15.2
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him." Psalm 28.7
"But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble." Psalm 37.39
"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually." Psalm 105.4
"The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." Psalm 118.14
"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." Isaiah 12.2
"Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40.31
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
One of, if not thee, greatest movie quotes ever comes from Gladiator. "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
If you've seen the movie you know the context. The Emperor of Rome is killed by his jealous, insecure, power hungry, son after he is told that Maximus, a loved and respected General, will be given power to return Rome to a republic. To cover it up he orders Maximus to be executed, but the warrior escapes. After he finds his wife and son murdered he is captured by slave traders and sold as a gladiator.
He becomes a champion and ends up fighting before the new Emperor in the Coliseum. After winning a battle that they shouldn't have, the Emperor wants to meet the new champion. And when he comes face to face with the man he thought was dead we see strength tear down the front of the false Emperor. A man who knows who he is, who has fought and won battles that have given him the confidence that only comes form overcoming trials, states his name and stares down a cowardly impostor. His confidence, his strength, comes from his identity, and it is something that no one can take away from him.
For the man of God, the identity comes from the relationship we have with God in Christ. This identity gives us true strength that no one can take away. In Christ we know that we belong to God. No matter what we go through, nothing will separate us from God. Paul said in Philippians 4.13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul knew that no matter what he faced in life, he had Christ with him. There was nothing he couldn't endure because everything he went through was with Christ. And everything Paul went through helped to mold him more into Christlikeness.
That is true strength, not confidence in our own abilities, but confidence in Christ. Our identity is not found in our career, marriage, or accomplishments, but in our identity in Christ. The man of God is strong because he is surrendered to God. His trust is fully in God. His identity is rooted in the fact that he is a son of God. That is strength.
"The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him." Exodus 15.2
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him." Psalm 28.7
"But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble." Psalm 37.39
"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually." Psalm 105.4
"The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." Psalm 118.14
"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." Isaiah 12.2
"Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40.31
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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