Grumbling akin to Questioning?
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2)
The Pharisees grumbled – a lot. The dictionary definition of grumble is to “complain or protest about something in a bad-tempered but typically muted way.” A thesaurus search of the word leads to things like whine, mutter, protest, make a fuss, and grouch. Interestingly, my scripture reference book refers Luke 15:2 to Luke 7:39 where the Pharisee questions (to himself) the actions of Jesus and why he would allow an immoral woman wash his feet with her hair. When we grumble then, are we basically questioning the sovereignty of God?
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world… (Philippians 2:14-15)
All things without grumbling or questioning? That’s a tall order, isn’t it? But if I truly believe the Lord is sovereign, I wouldn’t complain, right?
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
The tax collectors and sinners mentioned in Luke 15 don’t say anything. (At least, their words are not recorded.) They simply drew near to hear.
Embarking on Luke 15
I began a detailed study of Luke 15 this morning. As is usually the case, I barely got into the second verse. When studying, I tend to use a book called The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. It keeps me on one verse for extended periods of time because it refers me all over the bible, referencing applicable verses and passages to different words and phrases I’m currently looking at.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to him. (Luke 15:1)
Now that I’ve written out the verse I studied this morning, I have to wonder how on earth I spent a half an hour on it. But I did. And what I learned is intriguing. I love studying first thing in the morning. It gives me the whole day to think about what I learned and hopefully it apply it in all I do.
In Luke 5:32, Jesus claims, I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Tax collectors and sinners are typically near Jesus (Luke 5:29-32, 7:29; Matthew 9:10-13). He draws them; they are compelled to be near him. Why?
Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. (Ezekiel 18:27)
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:20-21)
Jesus came to reconcile us to himself through the cross. He came to “heal the sick.” The Pharisees surrounded Jesus to prove their righteousness. Sinners drew near to him to seek righteousness. Hearing the Lord “with ears to hear” leads to repentance. Grumbling Pharisees were blinded by their arrogance, while the sinners and tax collectors alluded to in Scripture were fully aware of their need to be saved from the sin that ensnared them.
An interesting point my husband brought up yesterday: Luke 14 ends with, He who has ears to hear, let him hear (35). Luke 15:1 begins with the tax collectors and sinners drawing near to hear him. While the tax collectors and sinners were doing this, the Pharisees grumbled. Their grumbling inhibited their hearing. Interesting.
I can’t say I’m perfectly clear on Luke 15:1. For application sake, what compels the sinner? It seems we must know the character of Christ in order to understand why so many sought his counsel. From this verse though, I see that he indeed is compelling enough to draw unbelievers to belief, sinners to repentance, and the “righteous” to indignation. He is God. He is King. I know my personal need of him is great and that life without him is not life. I am the sinner. I am the tax collector. I desire to turn from my own wickedness, to do what is just and right, so that my life will be saved. Overall, I desire to know this compelling Christ more.
A Little Bit About Nothing
It’s Sunday morning and there is about five inches of fresh snow outside. Pretty soon, my husband will be chaining up the car so we can make the trek to church. The house is quiet now; both my husband and son are sleeping. I’m sitting here thinking about many things: Christmas coming up, long-distance friendships, my neighbors. What I really want for today is to be at peace and to be a blessing. To not stress out about anything or worry about whether we’ll make it home to see our family on Tuesday. All things work together. Today is part of the “together.” Glory to God in the highest. He reigns!
Limping Between Opinions
In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah came near to the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” He then demonstrated the Lord’s power by proving that though the people invoked Baal from morning until noon and cut themselves (prohibited by Old Testament law, yet practiced by some), Baal was a nothing God. The people could not entice him to burn the offering that was prepared. When Elijah called on the name of the Lord, even a trench full of water burned up, along with the bull on the altar of twelve stones. Seeing this, the people fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord he is God” (1 Kings 18:39). Then the Lord blesses the people with rain that had not come for some time. Through Elijah, the Lord revealed his power and once again reconciled the people to himself.
This is my first encounter with Elijah. I have heard of him in many sermons and know that he ascended to heaven and escaped earthly death (though I have yet to read that myself in Scripture). I’m learning that he was obviously a prophet of the Lord and most astounding is his deep love for Him. In 1 Kings 19:10 he says, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I , even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” God protects Elijah. He hides him and feeds him by his angels and continues to use him to prophesy in different capacities.
Elijah was steadfast. His love for the Lord emboldened him to call into question the faith of the people. He saw their lukewarm love of God and blasted them for limping halfheartedly between Baal and the King of Kings. In looking at Elijah and the people he criticized, of course I hope to see this bold spirit of his within me, but instead I find myself more often on the crooked line which dabbles in the pleasures of the world. Revelation 3:15-17 speaks to this condition: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Elijah needs God. It is this need that makes him jealous for the Lord. He sees that the people need him too. I need him. We all need him.
Yet there is hope for my weak heart. God reconciles. Just as he used Elijah to reveal his power and might to the people of Israel, that they may turn from the world and look to him as the provider and source of life, God employs his Son. We are not left alone. The section in Revelation continues: “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:18-20).
As the Israelites did again and again, repentance repairs our relationship with the Lord. It once again draws us close to him and provides peace that we are unable to find in this world that is not our home. My prayer today? May I repent for straying, for placing value on unimportant things, and submit this day fully to the God who saves and reconciles.
Congo Still in Crisis
Innocent people are being killed by the hundreds in Eastern Congo. Most of them men, husbands with young children. Young men are being forced to fight alongside the rebel party. Many remain locked in their homes so as not to be kidnapped. The fear has spread. A pastor we support on the far western edge of the DRC is concerned his son will be kidnapped if he strays too far from home. One woman’s story in the article below details how her fifteen year old son was kidnapped and has now been missing for over two weeks. Her husband was killed and she is left alone with her young daughter.
All I can say is, please pray for the people of Congo.
For the most recent New York Times article, click here.
Be Still and Know
I started reading through the Old Testament this past summer. I made it to 1 Kings. Recently, Michael started a yearly reading schedule and since he was beginning in 1 Kings and Luke,I figured I’d join him. He’s on chapter 21 though and I’m trying to catch up from the beginning.
This morning, I read something that made me stop. King Solomon (in 1 Kings 8:22-61) had just built the church where the ark of the Lord would rest. He blesses the Lord then delivers a prayer of dedication. In verse 46 he says, “If they sin against you – for there is no one who does not sin – and you are angry with them…” That one little side note, “for there is no one who does not sin,” made me stop and settle there for a bit. There is something about Solomon’s candidness here that either I haven’t approached in the Old Testament yet, or I simply don’t remember. I always wondered how the Israelites felt. How they felt about all of the laws and requirements bestowed to them through Moses. Did they feel a weight of expectation? Did they feel hopeless in carrying out every law and order? Or did they feel prideful, knowing they were God’s people and that because of this, they could live as he prescribed? I guess the air is cleared hearing King Solomon say before all of the Israelites that there is not one who doesn’t sin. They were aware. And Solomon professes this before the Lord and declares their need for Him.
In the sermon yesterday, our pastor discussed the Martha-Mary story in Luke. The few stories preceding it show the prideful nature of the disciples. Mary displays humility, in contrast, as she sits at the Lord’s feet desiring nothing more from him than to hear him speak.
It isn’t the actual sermon that I intend to speak of here. Rather, it was our pastor’s referral to the state of the congregation. As I appreciate Solomon’s candidness, so do I appreciate that of our pastor. There was a point where he said to us that if we all were living as Mary, listening and waiting, with spirits knowing that we rejoice because we have a place reserved in heaven, our congregation as a whole would look vastly different. No sugarcoating how great our church is. Just a simple statement that we are not what we could be, and if we were, how we live amongst each other and within our communities, our families, our friendships – these would look vastly different.
So what do we do with that? What do I do with that? Solomon submits. Mary submits. I, too, should submit myself to the Lord, rest in him, and listen. Allow myself to realize that he loves me, he cares for me, he sits at the right hand of God interceding for me… As these truths sink in and I live in light of them, through His Spirit, I will be transformed. And so will my family, my friendships, my community, and my congregation.
A candid word is sometimes all we need to steer us back in God’s direction. Imagine how our conversations would change if the hearts of those we spoke to motivated our speech? A candid word reminds us where we are and where we should be. In love, Solomon prayed for the people. Also in love did he remind them who they were and how much they needed the Lord. In love, a pastor seeks to draw closer the relationship between God and his people. Be reminded today, friends!
[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17).
Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
One to Remember
Our church hosted a Christmas Festival tonight. It was the first one put on for the Issaquah Highlands community and I have to say, it was a hit. Oddly enough though, my best memories of it occur not during, but both before and after the event.
Members of our congregation worked hard setting up a stable last night for a live nativity scene (a camel, miniature donkeys, and sheep! oh my!). Others amassed sugar cookies for the children to decorate and others still (my husband included) coordinated the bands and announcements. Also, one of our elders stood on top of a four-story building in a glittery angel costume, proclaiming the gospel and reminding the nearly 1000 people who attended below that the Messiah came, and he came as a baby and was born in a manger.
Now, this sounds like some cool stuff, right? (The angel, especially. Sweeeet!) But there are two moments I’ll remember for some time, even more. One was when I walked out of our apartment with Jude to head to the festival. It rained a lot today. And as I found out later, it completely down-poured during the setup this afternoon. But by the time Jude and I walked out the door, the sky was fairly clear and the rain clouds had disappeared. I nearly cried, I was so overjoyed that God had provided decent weather so that more would come and more would hear.
After the festival, after Jude and his dad and I watched the bands for hours and toured the nativity scene, my son and I walked to the car. Jude was quiet and still. No one else was on the sidewalk. The street was lined with lighted trees. It was peaceful and glorious – and I was so thankful for such a successful evening, knowing that our pastor and all those who put their time and energy into the event were pleased.
My husband said to me during the night, as Christmas music was playing on the street, ever so gently, “I hope people come to Alathia.” That’s my hope too. So that more will know the Lord, will put their faith and trust in him, and stand alongside us as we seek to serve their community and people in the name of Christ.
Oh, blessed night.
Finally a Snuggler
My son has never been a snuggly baby. When you hold him, he turns his body out, never in. When you try and hold him close, he gets super squirmy and practically wiggles out of my arms. But lately, just before his naptimes and bedtime, I can hold him in the rocking chair as long as I want and he almost (almost!) falls asleep on my chest. It’s a blessed thing, since he’s never enjoyed being cuddled before. And it’s almost like we have conversations during these moments because he just chats and sleepily talks away: ma-ma, da-da, bubba, and quiet squeals. So glory, glory this Saturday morning, as I just snuggled my little guy and it makes me feel great.
More on the Cross
I can’t stop thinking about this. (This post is in addition to my most recent one.)
If taking up our cross were simply a matter of awaiting what comes and obeying when situations arise, how would the apostle Paul’s life, for example, look different than it does in Scripture? Paul was a tentmaker. He could have remained a tentmaker and interpreted Luke 9:23-27 as what I describe in the post below. As my husband put it last night, his burdens and suffering could have come from whacking his thumb with a hammer. Instead, he went for it. He pursued the Lord and endured much. His endeavors, his bearing of the cross, resulted in a radical lifestyle. Do you see the difference? Now, we can’t all leave our jobs, right? And for me, I’m a mom. My priority is to care for my husband, home, and children. So what does taking on the cross, radically, mean for me?
First of all, taking on the cross daily, as we are prescribed to do, means we must remember Jesus. Daily. Just a brief meditation on Luke 9 this morning has had me pondering Christ and his Word throughout the day. In turn, how I’ve treated my son, how I’ve interacted with strangers, and even how I’ve driven have all been injected with the gospel. Secondly, my mind has been churning and I have been ready to do the unordinary, because I’ve been thinking about it. And third, there is a boldness that arises when contemplating the work of Christ on the cross. What could possibly happen to me that would be as terrible or painful as what the Lord endured? Therefore, I should be bold. I should do what is not the norm, be that an interaction with a neighbor, a stranger in the store, a mom at the park. It means seeking out the poor and needy and being ready and willing to serve them. Most of all, the cross exemplifies selflessness. When we contemplate the cross, we are far from ourselves, for it is Christ in our place that suffers.
One conclusion I’ve come to today is that remembering the cross should make us bold. And bearing the cross, bolder still.
Take Up Your Cross
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:23-25)
What does it mean to daily take up the cross? I recently had a conversation with a number of people about this. What our discussion boiled down to was that we encounter daily things that we must endure or suffer. Things like speaking up to a coworker against wrong, or listening to the Lord and the conviction he provides in the smaller things, like whether you should run the yellow light or not. Now, I understand that following the Lord on things like this are examples of choosing to obey, to bear the cross, to remember Jesus and follow him instead of the world. What I’m confused about though is this: Does taking up our cross mean only that we bear what comes our way? Or does it mean that we purposely put ourselves in the way of suffering?
In comparison to the lives of other Christians in the world, say, in India and the Congo, my suffering is not suffering at all. Not in the slightest. I’m uncomfortable with even saying that my car breaking down or my house burning up inflict suffering, simply because they are circumstances that came my way during a day in which I am called to take up my cross. And what about standing up verbally for the Lord and feeling the echoing awkwardness that often ensues? Is that really suffering? Feeling awkward or losing my job? I understand that to some, it may be, and I don’t want to minimize that at all. I guess I just personally see carrying a cross as a more radical, life-altering action.
Take a look at Jesus. What did carrying the cross mean for him? Last night I fell asleep reminded of the movie The Passion of the Christ (a movie I’m still unprepared to watch again). In it, Jesus is flogged, beaten, brutally wounded, spit upon, then made to carry an enormous cross on his fleshy back in the midst of mockers and haters. Humiliating as that was, he hung on it. Died a painful, slow death. And yet, he forgave those who killed him. Taking up a cross, as Jesus calls us to do, should reflect the way in which he carried his. The thing is though, he didn’t just take it up one day. His whole life was a preparation for it. He went to it, willingly. He sought it out. He could have evaded the cross and those who intended harm, but he didn’t. He marched right to it, right into the enemies hands.
Jesus was a radical, don’t you think? For the Lord, he suffered much. For us, he suffered much.
What if taking up our cross meant not only enduring daily hardships, but also seeking what will be difficult as well? For the sake of Christ and to reveal his glory? What if it goes beyond our daily routines and instead changes our routine?
Anyway, these are my initial thoughts on this. Any comments would be appreciated.
