From my devotional today... thought it was a good reminder and contrast to the somewhat prestigious role being a shepherd holds in CCF.
"Psalm 23:1
'The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.'
A Shepherd by Choice
Let's be real. Let's not romanticize this. A shepherd's life in biblical times wasn't what we see gracing the covers of Christian greeting cards. For the most part, it consisted of spending every waking hour with stinky, smelly, stubborn, stupid creatures. Not the sort of existence many, if any, would want to sign up for.
In fact, most shepherds didn't sign up for being a shepherd, it was an occupation they were born into and stuck with. Keep in mind that in Bible times people's futures were pretty much determined once they were born. Unless they possessed an extraordinary gift or skill, they were destined to maintain the family trade. A shepherd typically wasn't a shepherd by choice.
That's even the case with David, who being the youngest of eight boys, was the one stuck with his household's shepherding responsibilities. And it's noteworthy that we never see his older brothers sharing this chore with him. They seem all too happy to have dumped the shepherding on little David (1 Samuel 16-17). Suffice it to say, shepherding wasn't something people willingly chose to do; almost any other profession would have been preferable!
And then there's the Lord, who has the ability to be anything He wants to be, yet He chooses to be our Shepherd. It's what He desires to do! How encouraging it is to know that our Good Shepherd isn't there by default but by desire. He doesn't long for greener pastures doing something else, but is completely content to tend us--even with all of our stinkiness, stubbornness, and stupidity.
Good and Great Shepherd of our souls, thank you for willingly and faithfully caring for us, faults and all. Help us to both know and follow Your voice as you lovingly lead us."
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Rich Young Ruler
The English language is laden with Christian imagery and terms, and it hit me a couple weeks ago that the act of "giving up" can be viewed through the same Christian mindset.
You see it in books, movies, and on television: an exasperated character throws his hands in the air and proclaims, "I give up!"
Giving up with one's hands raised ... it's almost like an offering to the Lord, a sweet sacrifice of whatever you're gripping onto.
To the world, this seems really stupid. Giving up reeks of weakness, of brokenness, of the abominable mindset of "I can't do this." How could you possibly admit that? Why would you surrender like that?
Maybe because you simply can't do everything after all.
Not by yourself anyway. After all, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). So He'll even strengthen you to give up. Give it up to Him.
Give up your fears. Give up your worries. Give up your past. Give up your friendships and your family. Give up your dignity, your pride, your money, your grades, your future, your everything. Give up your life.
It's like the rich young ruler:
"And a ruler asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: "Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother."' And he said, 'All these I have kept from my youth.' When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me'"(Luke 18:18-22)
Jesus asked him to do the one thing he could not do. To give up what he had been clutching onto for years.
"But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich." (v.23)
You can just imagine him ashamedly walking away, head down, unable to do this one last thing. I used to read this passage with a sort of contempt for the ruler. He had done everything else, and now he couldn't do this one simple thing? Not only could he have had the opportunity to be Jesus' disciple, but Jesus also promised him treasure in Heaven!
So then Jesus declares that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (v. 24).
I would think, "Just don't get rich, fool!"
But now I realize that we all have our own kind of "richness" that God is asking us to give up. Our blessings, our decadent lifestyle, our relationships, our time, our desires, our happiness...
So what's the one thing you cannot do? What is it that God is asking you to give up to Him?
You see it in books, movies, and on television: an exasperated character throws his hands in the air and proclaims, "I give up!"
Giving up with one's hands raised ... it's almost like an offering to the Lord, a sweet sacrifice of whatever you're gripping onto.
To the world, this seems really stupid. Giving up reeks of weakness, of brokenness, of the abominable mindset of "I can't do this." How could you possibly admit that? Why would you surrender like that?
Maybe because you simply can't do everything after all.
Not by yourself anyway. After all, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). So He'll even strengthen you to give up. Give it up to Him.
Give up your fears. Give up your worries. Give up your past. Give up your friendships and your family. Give up your dignity, your pride, your money, your grades, your future, your everything. Give up your life.
It's like the rich young ruler:
"And a ruler asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: "Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother."' And he said, 'All these I have kept from my youth.' When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me'"(Luke 18:18-22)
Jesus asked him to do the one thing he could not do. To give up what he had been clutching onto for years.
"But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich." (v.23)
You can just imagine him ashamedly walking away, head down, unable to do this one last thing. I used to read this passage with a sort of contempt for the ruler. He had done everything else, and now he couldn't do this one simple thing? Not only could he have had the opportunity to be Jesus' disciple, but Jesus also promised him treasure in Heaven!
So then Jesus declares that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (v. 24).
I would think, "Just don't get rich, fool!"
But now I realize that we all have our own kind of "richness" that God is asking us to give up. Our blessings, our decadent lifestyle, our relationships, our time, our desires, our happiness...
So what's the one thing you cannot do? What is it that God is asking you to give up to Him?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Singleness & Celibacy Interview
"Have there been particular practices, ideas, or states of mind that you have found to be helpful in your journey as you have been striving to live our your sexuality in a way that you feel is pleasing to God?
Yes. First, I find it very key to day-by-day minimize the importance of sex. I realize our culture seems to think that without sex a person is barely alive, but the culture (the Bible calls this “the world”) is not accurate about most life issues, so I’ve experimented with living life fully despite having no so-called “sexual fulfillment” and I find life can be very full and satisfying without sex. Second, cultivating an attitude of praise and thanksgiving is highly medicinal to any hurdle life puts in my path. Failing to give thanks is perhaps one of the most prevalent sins in the 21st century western church, and I try to fight that tendency/temptation in myself by finding things for which to offer thanks and praise to God. Third, I seek to comprehend and then practice the two giant commands of Christianity: love God and love people. This takes significant focus and energy. Fourth, I have offered my sexuality as a gift and offering to God. Sometimes I’ve told God, “I don’t have much to give you, but I do have this—take it and use it as You will”. Fifth, I’ve found that thinking of sexual sin in terms of “idolatry” is particularly helpful. Sex is an idol to many of us, and I do not want idols (things I worship, things I value more highly than I value God) in my life. Sixth, Celebrating the joys of single life with friends reminds me that I’d usually rather have my problems and my burdens than those of married folks. Seventh, I’m cultivating a habit of thinking about “positives”. For example, I’m often asked if I believe homosexual activity is “wrong”, but I prefer to focus on what is right…and good….and holy….and beautiful….and low-key the focus on what’s “wrong” or bad. Light overcomes darkness.
What can the Church do to better support single individuals (regardless of their sexual orientation) and those pursuing celibacy?
... My church tries to provide “ministry” to single people. I don’t think single people need to be ministered to; I think we need to be challenged to live out our full, abundant, unique calling in God’s Kingdom. My church doesn’t do that very well. The Bible speaks of the benefits of singleness, and God asked some of his key servants (Jeremiah, for example) to refrain from marriage. My church never talks about any of this
.Although it is not always the case, as marriage often gets placed on a pedestal in the Church, what are some of the blessings in being single that are often overlooked?
...The spiritual discipline of solitude and a sense of intimacy with God are more available logistically to single people. Single people, even if residing in households that include other people, have a sense of aloneness about them, and the best way to cope with that is to develop good spiritual disciplines. That means the single people of the church, given the right conditions (especially the encouragement of the church) can become spiritual powerhouses and champions for the Kingdom of God."
.Although it is not always the case, as marriage often gets placed on a pedestal in the Church, what are some of the blessings in being single that are often overlooked?
...The spiritual discipline of solitude and a sense of intimacy with God are more available logistically to single people. Single people, even if residing in households that include other people, have a sense of aloneness about them, and the best way to cope with that is to develop good spiritual disciplines. That means the single people of the church, given the right conditions (especially the encouragement of the church) can become spiritual powerhouses and champions for the Kingdom of God."
Really, really good commentary about singleness and celibacy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)