Reflections on Resurrection

"But your iniquities have separated you from God.  For your hands are stained with blood, and your tongue mutters wicked things.  No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity.

We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.  Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.  He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him."

(selections from Isaiah 59)

 I took portions of scripture and fitted them together here.  I don't think I've changed the meaning of the overall passage.  Please, follow the link to Isaiah 59 or open your own Bible to read the whole thing.  I'm not discussing the finer points of the composition or the deep theological issues of this.  Just think of what today represents.

It's the Resurrection of Jesus.

I read the passage in Isaiah and I think of me.  Of us today.  That those descriptions fit us.  Our iniquities have separated us from God.  Our hands are stained with blood.  (maybe not literally, but remember what Jesus said about just being angry with a brother...)  Our tongues mutter wicked things.  We walk in deep shadows because we cannot find the light.  Truth is nowhere and anyone who rejects evil...is prey!

I'm tired of being that person.  I'm tired of being separated from God.

We do not have to be separated from him.  He already fixed everything.  "So his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him."

God made the way back through the darkness.  Back to the Truth.  We can come out from beneath our iniquities, our wicked tongues, and blood stained hands and be with Him in the light.

Jesus is that salvation worked out, the sustaining righteousness.

The coolest thing is that it is done.  We just have to embrace him.  To acknowledge who he is.  Then we live life changed, different, out of darkness.  We follow the lessons and commands he left for us.  We live life according to the salvation Jesus provided through his resurrection.

Enjoy the flowers and eggs and candy today, but remember there is so much more to it than that.  "Easter" is a holiday.  The Resurrection is a way of life.  Live it.

grace, peace + hope

-Jesse

Humility?

America calls itself a Christian nation. If all who call themselves CHRISTians (Christ followers) would truly be emulating the Rabbi, the Teacher Jesus Christ-the one whom we derive our name, what would we look like? Make it personal, what would you and what would I look like?

If Jesus were physically walking with us today what would his followers be called to do?


Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26NLT)

Our lives would be marked with humility… The cross was an object of humility, pain, death, scorn and degradation. Andrew Murray wrote, “The call to humility has been too little regarded in the Church because its true nature and importance has been too little apprehended. It is not a something which we bring to God…it is simply the sense of entire nothingness, which comes when we see how truly God is all, and in which we make way for God to be all.” [i]
Jesus is not asking or suggesting but mandating, take up your cross daily and follow me.
“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” (Mt 5:20NLT)
It is a daily surrendering, a daily acceptance that I am nothing without grasping…without taking hold of the truth that I am because of Jesus Christ.
Only God’s cleansing can generate a heart of true humility.

Our lives would be marked with hospitality… Our homes would be marked with hospitality not “Alarmed by XYZ Security Company”. It isn’t the size of our homes, the stuff in our homes, or the impressive spread on the dining table. Hospitality begins and ends with humility. Becoming a servant at heart with arms ready to serve and receive those who will never be able to repay. It is serving in Super-Sized portions grace and mercy, acceptance and forgiveness.
Only God can motivate a life of hospitality and it starts with humility.

Our lives would be marked with change…Priorities would change. We would not allow our wealth to identify us. Nor would it own our hearts and time. “turn from your selfish ways..” Lk 9:23; Mt. 19:21-30
Only God can motivate a heart of change and it starts with humility.

Our lives would be marked with unity…There would be no denominational divisions, barriers or jealousies Luke 9:49-50. We would stand ready to help, encourage and defend a fellow brother not matter his affiliation.
Only God can motivate a heart and desire for unity and it starts with humility.

Our lives would be marked with a holy pride…There would be an awareness of holiness, respect and marvel when sharing this message of hope, redemption, restoration, life, healing and deliverance. We would be a compass to those desperately seeking Truth pointing them always to the Father.
Only God can motivate a heart filled with His holy pride and it starts with humility.

Jesus didn’t call us to build dynasties; he called us to build relationships. This is the difference between being the organized church and being the body of Christ. I believe this is the mark of a CHRISTian…a follower of Jesus Christ.

A work in progress,
Kay

[i]
Humility by Andrew Murray, pg 14-15