To "See" the Lord

The other day I saw one of those verses I had not really paid attention to before. I could say I hadn't "seen" it. Hebrews 12:14 says, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." I have even preached/taught on the "Pursue peace...." part, but had not noticed the result of a lack of holiness.

Of course Jesus says in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." One comment says about "pure," "The word describes physical cleanliness; ceremonial purity; and ethical purity. Sin pollutes and defiles, but the blood of Jesus washes the stains away." Holiness is of the spirit, soul and body, and is a result of the grace of God.

This is required to "see" God. This word "see" is more than a casual glance, it is an extended gazing at something remarkable (Strong's). Read further in Hebrews 12 and we see some of the things that keep us from holiness because we fall short of the grace of God.

"Lord, I want to see you today. Thank you for cleansing me and then giving me the ability to stay clean by walking in the Spirit today. As I see You, I will know what to say and do in the situations I face today. Let me be like Jesus who said the things He did were what He saw You do."

Dead Wood

Yesterday I mentioned the word to Ezekiel about the uselessness of a vine, which is contrasted by the life giving vine of Jesus. As I meditated on these passages, I thought of the ways that mankind takes useless things and uses them. For instance, it was a thorny vine that was used for Jesus' crown. I noticed a wreath made out of vines being used as a decoration. The other day I saw a vine carved into a walking stick......a crutch.

While on one hand it is resourceful to make a wreath and a walking stick, the words of Jesus in Matthew 23: 27-28 keep ringing in my ears: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

There are so many things and people we put time, energy and money into trying to redeem or make useful, when we need to let them go and focus on things of real value. So much of life is wasted on the external trappings while the Lord is left waiting to receive only our leftover time, energy and money, and our personal destiny goes unfulfilled because of our focus on dead wood and dead works.

Wood of the Vine

The Lord has had me reading in Ezekiel. Today I was reading chapter 15, which talks about the wood of the vine. This chapter says it is not good for anything other than firewood. Interestingly, it is the 15th chapter of John in which Jesus also talks about the vine. He declares that He is "the true vine" and says we are the branches attached to the vine. The vine gives life to the branches from which fruit comes. If we are not connected, we will not have life. Even if we are connected and do not bear fruit, we will be cut off and burned like the vine of Ezekiel. Jesus declares, "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

In Ezekiel God says He will give up to fire the inhabitants of His beloved Jerusalem "because they have persisted in unfaithfulness." (15:8) The result is desolation of the land, economic destruction. It is not unlike what we see happening in the USA where every day's headline is about another financial bailout that is unproductive. In the 16th chapter of Ezekiel God says, "...cause Jerusalem to know her abominations," and I pray that the desolation we are seeing in our world will cause us to see our abominations represented in greed, racism, murder, violence, hedonism, and on and on and on.

"Ministry of the Saints"

As I prayed today for the people I pastor, I found myself praying 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Many times we quote verse 6 about sowing and reaping or verse 7 about being a cheerful giver. Perhaps we go to verse 8 about abundance or verse 10 about the supply of seed.

But do we read the parts about increasing our righteousness (v. 10) or thanksgiving in verse 11? How about the purpose of God being glorified (v. 13) by those who observe the ministry of the saints?

My prayer is that we will do all things with integrity and excellence in our dealings with each other and the world around us. So often God is anything but glorified because a "Christian" lies, cheats, does poor work, is slothful, gossips, or some other way misrepresents God.

I pray for myself that all I do today will represent my Heavenly Father well and cause others to glorify Him!!!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 7

As I looked downstream, I also looked up. What had been a bright, perfectly clear and cloudless autumn sky was now full of thick clouds that covered the sun and said to me that the rain was coming! Change is coming!

It was time for me to go, and it did not rain on me that day. But I'm excited to be like the patient farmer of James 5:7 waiting patiently for the rain that will come in God's time. I don't particularly like being stuck in a stagnant pool, but the Lord has purpose even in that, and I pray, "Send Your Rain, O, Lord!" and "Thank you for 'The lesson of The River!'"

It is interesting to me that the timing of the end of "The lesson of The River" comes on the day after the presidential election. As I read my Bible this morning, I was in Ezekiel 7, a prophecy of destruction. I believe the rain that is coming is a storm of massive proportions and the American election is just part of a world-wide catastrophe with the elements of Ezekiel 7 and much more. The storm will be like that of Jesus' parable with the houses built on either the rock of His word of the sand of the world (Matt. 7:24-27).

The economies and governments of the world are built on sand that make them look like the "Tower of Babel" with the leaders saying what was said in Genesis 11:4, "Let us make a name for ourselves." There is not thought of serving people so that they can fulfill God's commandment to "be fruitful and multiply...and have dominion" under godly direction. There is only thought of personal gain and humanistic idolatry.

This is not a time to mourn, but a time for the Body of Christ to be like the house that was left standing on Galveston Island earlier this year when Hurricane Ike leveled all the houses around it. If we are truly built on the "Rock of His Word," His light will shine through us and God will be glorified no matter what happens. It will ultimately be a latter rain of harvest.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 6

As I looked downstream, I realized that I was seeing only a very small portion of the river. The lessons I was learning were being repeated over and over with numerous variations, and there were more lessons in the river. The running water was fresh and "alive." Sometimes it was obvious because of shallow rapids, but other times it was deep and appeared calm while it moved. Rocks helped divert the water so that it covered more area. While they looked like a hindrance to the flow of the river, they actually served the great purpose of spreading out the life-giving effects of the river. They were also a part of God's plan that created stagnant pools like mine. There are purposes and times to be in what seem like worthless stagnant pools. The pools provide a resting place, holding area until it is time to re-enter the flow, place for the creation to get water ("still waters"), and reflecting pools of God's glory.

The rocks remind me of "The Rock" of the words of Jesus on which He said the wise man built his house that could stand against a raging storm. While they may seem inconvenient, create a place for slippery moss to gather (on which one can stumble and be "crushed"), and impede the flow of the river, they not only fulfill the purposes above but also provide stepping stones across the river. Without rocks there would be no rapids for beauty, thrills and oxygenation, places for smaller fish to have shelter, or stone to be ground into soil.

Every single element of the river provided lessons, but the best was yet to come!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 5

I asked the Lord whatI should do about my stagnant condition. He said that the only thing that changes the condition of things I was seeing was "rain." Just like the river had reminded me of Jesus and the leaves of people, the rain reminded me of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that will increase the water flow and wash leaves like mine into the main flow of the river. Other leaves will be washed from the trees, banks and stagnant pools. The increased water flow will aksi break loose and break apart those leaves stuck in the main stream as well.

It is like the "latter rain" of James 5:7 for which the farmer patiently waits in order to produce the "precious fruit." It is a refreshing rain of encouragement and life giving water. I also thought of the rain in Noah's day that totally changed everything. God doesn't do things part way. It is all the way with Him. Even things that seem "small" are whole within themselves and a part of a greater plan.

As I write this today, I grieve the loss of a very good friend and brother, Jim Adams. I realize how often the Holy Spirit used him as "rain" to bring a refreshing laugh, word of encouragement, reminder of a true steadfast friend, or a challenging word. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of having walked with Jimmy!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 4

The river also reminded me of the river flowing out of the Temple in Ezekiel 47. That river had various depths, but more importantly it was flowing toward the east to the Dead Sea where it brought life both to the dessert and to the waters of the Sea. Again, those immersed in the water would have the impact of keeping the river flowing. This "immersion" comes from spending intimate time with the Lord.
But the slower, shallow water is what actually "touched" the dessert and brought life. The most important thing is to be a part of the river. There is a time to be in the "depths" and a time to be a partof the shallows. The emphasis is not on the parts of the river, but the river itself. The Body of Christ is made up of various parts, but it is the unity and sum of the parts that accomplish the tasks.
I asked the Lord where I was in the river and He directed me to a stagnant pool of water that was isolated on a large rock. Immediately I identified with the image. I was in the water, but going absolutely nowhere and motionless. I was wet, but not even close to being a part of the "living water" of the river. It was a result of circumstances and situations, not so much my doing, or lack of doing. It is just where I am right now, waiting.