A Parable for the New Year

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
In order to allow our faithful Companions in Christ devotional writers to have a little break, I will be writing all of the devotionals for this week. So… brace yourself. :) I'll tell you more about our theme for 2013 next Monday. But this week, we'll focus on living as a light in a world of darkness.

The Story of the Sheep and Goats is a good parable for the New Year, with all the emphasis on new resolutions. In reading this parable, I'm struck by the fact that the sheep seem just as surprised as the goats by the way they have acquired their inheritance. Surely this equality of incredulity provides an important clue to understanding the way of both sheep and goats. 

The surprise of the sheep seems to rule out any idea that we can somehow discipline ourselves and strive our way into sheepishness—that we can wake up each morning and say, “Oh, you beautiful sheep, you are so good at blessing people! Now get out there and clothe naked Jesus, help stranger Jesus, and give food and drink to hungry and thirsty Jesus.” 

Neither do the goats (or so it would seem from their equally surprised response in this passage) go through life thinking, “I am going to turn my nose up at dirty homeless Jesus, and I am certainly not going to visit murderer Jesus at the penitentiary.”

If neither the sheep nor the goats went about intending to serve or neglect Jesus respectively, how can we choose to live as one or the other? 

I don't imagine that my neighbors wake up desiring to snub those on the outskirts of society, and I know that I don't have this sinister goal—yet I get a lump in my throat when I read this passage because I know that I am often rather goatish. What can we do? Surely we all want to line up with the sheep! Yet, it seems that despite our good resolve, the end result remains surprising.

What if the only way to see the lost and broken as Jesus did comes in getting to know Jesus so well that we can't help but see the subtle and not-so-subtle glimpses of the divine, even in the dirtiest of street people and those most broken?

Maybe, when it comes to forming resolutions for 2013, our chief focus should be upon seeking the face of Jesus—passionately, faithfully, seeking to grow in our relationship with Christ.


PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, apart from you I cannot see the world in love. Thank you for the precious gift of your love. Please open my eyes each day so that I become an instrument of your mercy and grace.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and we had a marvelous time with Kate's family in Maine. It was incredibly hard to return home. But, after spending two weeks in sub-freezing temperatures, a certain part of me was definitely ready to return to the land of sunshine and 70° Christmas days. :)

Restored!

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 21 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:15-19, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
This scene between Jesus and Peter is one of the most spectacular interchanges in the whole Bible. I'm amazed by Jesus' tenderness, his mercy, his wisdom, and his redemptive heart for Peter. To me, the most remarkable thing about this story is that Jesus not only forgives Peter, but gives Peter a job to do. When Peter professes his love, Jesus doesn't say, "Well, that's okay." He says, "Well, then. Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep." 

His thrice repeated question: "Do you love me" correspond to Peter's three denials—three for completeness and three for a reminder of that fateful night. Just as it did on the night of Peter's denials, the smell of the charcoal fire lingers (18:8, 15; 21:9). Peter's night of agony—and Jesus' night of agony—returns. But because of the latter, the former can be dealt with. Jesus is the Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world (1:29)—Peter's sin included, your sin, my sin, all sin.

But the way in which this sin is taken away varies from person to person, and from case to case. It isn't just a matter of a divine decree being declared, wiping the slate clean. From a legal point of view, that might be just fine. But our sins and failings often linger in our memories and imaginations—they sort of fester there, like old sores. Like a computer with faulty and virus-stricken software, we need to have our sin and failings dealt with before we can operate with maximum efficiency once more.

 

And so, as he often does, Jesus goes straight to the place of pain. He takes Simon Peter away from the others, so the two of them can be alone. I imagine them walking slowly along the shoreline. And he asks the question that goes to the heart of it all: "Do you love me?"

 

Actually, the words he uses vary slightly. When Peter replies, the word he uses for "love" is different to the one Jesus uses in the first two questions. Then, in the third question, Jesus uses the word Peter himself had been using. But this is probably just a minor detail, and not all that important. What matters is that the question is asked and answered. And, even more so, that the answer earns, each time, not a pat on the back—not a "There, there, that's alright"—but a command. A fresh challenge. A new commission. Time to learn how to be a shepherd. Time to feed lambs and sheep, to look after them, to care for them.

 

Not only is this a fresh commission. Not only is Jesus entrusting Peter with a new task, calling him to get back to fruitful work, and to turn his wobbly love for Jesus back to good account. It is more: Jesus is sharing his own work—his own ministry—with Peter.

 

It is, after all, Jesus who is the Good Shepherd (chapter 10). It is Jesus who has the task of leading and feeding his lambs and sheep, guiding them to good pasture and fresh water, keeping them safe from predators. He knows them and they know him. He has now given his life for them. But Jesus' commission of his disciples was quite specific: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (20:21). There's no getting away from it. And this is what it means—Peter is to share Jesus' task of shepherding the flock.

 

I've had many failings in ministry over the years. I've often been selfish, petty, and ungenerous. I've often held grudges and cast stones at others. I've denied Christ before men and I've remained silent when I should have spoken up. I've failed to share the gospel with others, when I've known it to be God's will. And I've been bogged down by guilt because of the way I've treated others or failed to speak out on Christ's behalf. I've also let my shame keep me from both approaching Christ and ministering to others in his name. But I've also experienced, on a number of occasions, the gracious and restoring touch of Jesus. I've heard him ask me again and again: "Do you love me?"

 

And so I speak from experience when I say that this conversation between Jesus and Peter holds the secret to all Christian ministry, yours and mine. If you and I are going to do any single solitary thing as a follower and servant of Jesus, we have to hear and learn the deep truth of this conversation. Somewhere, deep inside, there is a love for Jesus, and though (goodness knows) you've let him down many times, he wants to find that love, to give you a chance to express it, to heal the hurts and failures of the past, and to give you a new work to do. His work.

 

And we aren't asked to do these works as a way of earning Jesus' forgiveness. Nothing can ever do that. It is grace from start to finish. But these are the tasks we do out of the joy and relief that we are already forgiven. Tasks we are given to do precisely as a sign that we are forgiven. Tasks that will be costly, because Jesus' own work was utterly costly. Tasks that will mean following Jesus into suffering, perhaps even to death. Jesus prophesies that Peter will complete his task as a shepherd by laying down his own life, in turn, for the sheep: "When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go" (verse 18). Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified upside down because he considered himself unworthy to be killed in the same manner as his Lord.

 

But even this is not something different from the call that drew the disciples in the first place. The call into service and even suffering is the same as it was on the Galilean shoreline: "Follow me!" (Matthew 4:19). Now that Jesus has already embraced the suffering of the cross, and has proved that death itself is defeated by the life and joy of the new creation, he can ask for everything from his followers, and know that he will get it.

 

Peter went from strength to strength. He still dropped the ball and messed up from time to time (Galatians 2:11-21, for instance). But he became a shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4). He loved Jesus and looked after his sheep. No one could ask for more. Jesus never asks for less.

 

 

WHO AM I?

I am Tres Sansom, and WE’RE SNOWED IN! It’s been snowing steadily since Wednesday night, so we are all huddled together in the Libby’s house. All of us, except our son, who’s loving playing in the snow with his cousins. Snowmen, sledding, tunnels, snowballs, snow angels… he’s done it all.  He even helped Grampy plow the driveway with the Bobcat.  We’ve had a wonderful stay but are looking forward to flying home tomorrow.

 

 

 

Jesus Appears

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 20 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.  (John 20:30-31, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
In John 20 we see several vignettes of Jesus appearing to his loved ones after his resurrection. I think there is some resounding beauty in who he appeared to and how he appeared to them, so let’s look at that today.

Mary Magdalene—Jesus was crucified and placed in the tomb before sundown on a Friday (so the Jews could keep the Sabbath) and a grieving Mary was at the tomb before daylight on Sunday to tend to the body. When she saw the body was gone she ran to get the men, who looked for a bit, then left, but Mary stayed. Angels were there, and interestingly enough this is one of the few places in scripture where the angels didn’t frighten the people they visited. Then Jesus appeared to her and she didn’t recognize him initially, until he said her name, and she knew that voice. She was every bit as much a disciple of Jesus’ as the 12 fellows often listed but because she was a woman, education was optional and she wouldn’t even have been considered a reliable witness to the occurrence in a court of law. Isn’t it curious, then, that Jesus chose to appear to her first?

The Disciples, notably:

Simon Peter—He’s baaack! Last time we saw Peter in the book of John he was swearing he didn’t even know that Jesus guy! Yet he was with John again when Mary came running to report that the tomb was empty. Always one to jump in boldly, he rushed to assess the situation. Hmmm… burial linens folded neatly… no grave robbery here. Something else must be afoot. 

John—As we’ve seen throughout the book, John refers to himself in third person, often as “the other one” or “the one Jesus loves.” John held nothing back in his innocent trust of Jesus but he was at the cross when Jesus died and saw it all come to a bloody end. He beat Peter in a footrace to the tomb but didn’t rush in… a broken heart can only take so much. Yet as soon as he saw the empty tomb, he “believed” or deposited his faith in Jesus again. 

Ten Disciples (Thomas was AWOL and Judas had hanged himself), had huddled in an upstairs room, afraid they would face the same fate as Jesus if the Jews found them. They had the doors locked when Jesus, not limited by human barriers, appeared in the middle of the group. In a strange scene, Jesus commissioned those fearful few to follow in his footsteps: “As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” Jesus had scars in his hands and side, and they were supposed to go for more? When they were badly in need of courage, guidance and a new perspective, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into them and gave them authority to forgive sin.

This brings us to Thomas. Thomas gets a bad rap doesn’t he? But he didn’t see the empty tomb, wasn’t there when Jesus appeared to the others and did not have the Holy Spirit “breathed” into him. Thomas wasn’t so much a doubter as an unbeliever who wouldn’t pretend to understand when he really didn’t, but when Thomas saw him rightly, he instinctively honored him: “My Lord and my God!”  We have seen Jesus conquer sickness, sin, evil men, death and sorrow; now we see him conquer unbelief. 


PERSONAL APPLICATION:
Have you found yourself in one of these scenarios yet? Underestimated? Brokenhearted? Unfaithful? Hopeless? Fearful? Unbelieving?  If so, you’re in good company. The resurrected Jesus chose to reveal himself to folks like me and you, and if you’ll let me paraphrase verses 30 and 31: Jesus did a lot of other awesome stuff but the best things are written here so if you can identify you can believe and have life breathed into you as well.


WHO AM I?
I’m Leigh Anne Bland. By the time you read this Christmas will be over, but I wanted to include a picture of my two favorite elves as they were setting up our tree this year.  

Here Is the Man!

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 19 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” (John 19:1-5, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
As we know, Genesis 1 tells the story of God creating the heavens and the earth. He makes the sea, the dry land, the plants, the fish, the birds and the animals. This is his world. This is the world over which he now rules. This is the world he wants to respond to him in love and gratitude. 

And so, God places within this new world, a living, breathing image of himself. He creates man in his image and likeness, and places him into this new world to serve as his representative. God's desire was that man might rule in his place, displaying his wisdom and love. His plan was that man might represent him in the fullest possible sense, so that creation would come under his rule, and in so doing honor him as the Creator of all things.

This is all described in wonderful detail in Genesis 1:26-28: 

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them. 

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 

Within the six-day creation story, mankind is created on the sixth day—or, Friday. After that, God rests. The work is complete.

 

Now, as we know, man utterly failed. Rather than displaying God's character, wisdom, and love, man lived selfishly and brought a curse upon the whole world.

 

…………

 

Fast forward to John 1. When we read the opening of John's gospel, we can't help but notice that it sounds an awful like Genesis 1. And, this is precisely because John structures his gospel as a re-telling of the creation story—the new creation story that came about through the life and ministry of Jesus. In John 1:14, we read: 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

The one who was with God, the one who was God, alongside the Father reflecting his character and love, became a man. God stuck with his original plan of having man represent him in the world—only now, the man he chooses to represent him is Jesus, his Son. He sends Christ as the ultimate image-bearer. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Jesus does, in the fullest possible sense, what God had desired of man all along—he serves as a showcase, displaying God's character, wisdom, and love.

 

In God's way of thinking, sending Jesus to dwell among us was the most utterly appropriate thing to do. It was like the sixth day of creation, only more so. Christmas isn't simply the story of Jesus being born. It's the revolutionary tale, the extraordinary news that God's image has come into the world as part of God's new creation project.

 

…………

 

Fast forward to John 19. In this chapter, we find ourselves on Friday morning—on the sixth day of the week—looking at the Roman governor and his prisoner. Pontius Pilate allows the soldiers to dress the prisoner up as a king, of sorts. But the soldiers' mocking—the crown of thorns and the slaps to the face—tell us what they really think of such a claim. And then, Pilate says the words that haunt us: “Here is the man” (verse 5). He undoubtedly spoke these words with disdain, mocking Jesus as the supposed king of the Jews. But his words, similar to Caiaphas' statement in 11:50, hold a cryptic message of truth. John undoubtedly records Pilate's scornful words of “praise” because they hold a truth, hidden deep within them, that's essential to John's gospel story.

 

“Here is the man!” Here is the true man, the true image of the true God. Here is the embodiment of God, the one who has made the invisible God visible. Here is the living and breathing image of God who has come into the world so that all creation might know what the Creator and Ruler looks like. Here is the true king. And all his rebel subjects can do is mock, and slap, and scream for his blood. “He claimed to be the Son of God,” they say (verse 7).

 

Having read John's gospel up to this point, we recognize that Jesus has indeed behaved as the one who reflects God in the world. Through his teachings and his "signs," he has revealed his intimate knowledge of the Father. And what's he got in return? Nothing but disdain, insults, accusations, mockings, and beatings. But—and here's the new thing, the thing not mentioned in Genesis 1—this is all part of what it means to be God's image, planted in a territory which belongs to God but which is in rebellion against him. “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:10-11).

 

When the living, loving God comes in person, in the person of his own Son, to live among us rebels, in the world he made and still loves, the appropriate form for him to take is not the superhero, sweeping through the rebel state with horses and chariots, defeating the rebellion in a blaze of glory. Instead, the appropriate form for him to take is the form Jesus has now taken. The king of the Jews, crowned with thorns. The innocent king, the true man, the image of God who told the truth and was accused of blasphemy. 

 

“Here is the man!” These words hang over the entire chapter as Jesus goes to the cross. It's as if John is saying: This is the true reflection of God. This is what it means that Jesus, the eternal Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. Look at this man, and you'll see your living, loving, bruised, and bleeding God. Our God is a God of self-giving love, and when we see Jesus—the ultimate man, the representative of God, the image of the Creator—we see nothing but self-giving love. A perfect reflection of the Father.

 

 

POINT OF ACTION:

Throughout the years, many artists have sought to portray this scene from John 19. Here is Antonio Ciseri’s painting “Ecce Homo.” (Ecce homo is the Latin phrase translated as “Here is the man.”) 

 

 

 

After seeing countless portrayals of Jesus' birth over the last month or so, almost all of which show him donned with a halo and surrounded by angels or cattle or worshiping wise men, it's hard for me to get my mind around the events that are described in this chapter. Here we see the suffering Jesus—the ultimate display of God's character and love. 

 

Focus upon this painting. Let your God-given imagination take over. Picture the bruised, battered, broken body of Jesus standing before the blood-thirsty mob. Envision yourself as one of the Jewish leaders shouting: “Crucify! Crucify!” Now, imagine Jesus lifting his bleeding head and looking straight into your eyes. In his eyes, there's no resentment… no hatred… no vindictive rage ready to strike back at you. Instead, his eyes are filled with love and compassion and "grace upon grace." Let yourself contemplate the humble, self-giving love of Christ.

 

 

WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and we’re still enjoying the frosty temperatures of Maine.  Thankfully, however, we have a nice warm home in which to thaw out.  Kate’s dad is a Timber Framer and, to make things easier for us, he built an accessible barn-style cottage for us to stay in when we travel to Maine (here's a link to it).  When we’re not here, her parents rent the cottage out to folks visiting Freeport.  It’s a cozy little place that is just perfect for a crippled guy and his family.  J  Our son Benjamin has been going on lots of adventures with Grampy.  On Friday, they cut down a Christmas tree from the woods behind Kate’s parents’ house.  It bears a slight resemblance to Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree, but we think it’s just perfect.  J

 

The Reason

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 18 (click the link)


REFLECTIONS:
I was born in April 1969 and spent the first 4 years of my life in a small frame house on McFerrin St in Waco, TX. I have a few specific memories about living there: the time my cousin Lisa came to visit and gave me chicken pox, the elderly lady who lived across the street that would come “rescue” me when I opened my window and called her name, the time a sewer rat made its’ way up into the house via the toilet (while I was sitting on it—a potty training setback for sure!), and I remember watching the moon landing on our black and white TV. My mom and I have an ongoing disagreement about this because the moon landing was in July 1969, and that put me at the ripe old age of 3months when Neil Armstrong made “one giant leap for mankind.” My mom says it’s not possible to remember something from such a young age, but I do have a specific memory of being bathed in an avocado-green plastic tub in that living room while something very important was on TV. 

What does that have to do with John 18? Well, I’ll keep this short because it’s Christmas Eve and we’re all busy with one thing or another. John 18 is one of the most un-Christmassy chapters in the Bible. It tells of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, of Peter’s zealousness in resisting Jesus’ arrest followed by his denial of a friendship with Jesus not once but three times. It tells of Jesus being taken to Governor Pilate to be judged but because it was during a religious celebration (Passover—oh the irony!) they couldn’t even go inside for a proper trial. Pilate calls the bluff of Jesus’ accusers by putting the decision in their hands—choose which prisoner to free: Jesus the innocent, or Barabbas the thief. Their hearts were set against Jesus and Barabbas was freed. Interestingly, Barabbas’ name means “son of the father.” Barabbas was everyman, and was the first of all mankind to experience Jesus’ death in his stead.

The thing that caught my attention as I sat with my Christmas shopping list beside me, coffee in hand and game face on was Jesus’ words in verse 37 “…the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.” It blows my mind that Jesus referred back to his birth in the last days before death. I suppose this is morbid, but do you think as a child, an infant even, that Jesus knew it would lead to this? Did he have some memory of being in the manger with the cows and sheep but knowing something very important was happening? Was he aware as God-in-tiny-flesh that he was there to rescue the shepherds and the wise men, and Mary and Joseph? That he would be betrayed by friends and die for everyman? It was all for this…

Take a look/listen to the song “How Many Kings” by Downhere. It’s one of my favorite Christmas songs and I hope it will be one of yours as well.


WHO AM I?
I’m Leigh Anne Bland and every time Christmas rolls around, I think and laugh a little about one of the more foolish and fun things I have ever done. In 2005, PRF did a retro-Christmas show in which I serenaded Greg with “Santa Baby.” Which do you think is more red, my dress or his face?

Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 17 (click the link)


REFLECTIONS:
For as long as I can remember, this has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I'm not exactly sure why I love this chapter so much. But it has always captured me. Maybe it has something to do with a feeling that we are being invited to listen to an intimate conversation between Jesus and his Father. 

The Gospels tell us repeatedly that Jesus was a man of prayer, but they hardly ever tell us what he prayed or how he prayed. But here, in this chapter, we are allowed to partake in the intimacy between Father and Son. Throughout John's Gospel, we've heard Jesus repeatedly say that he and the Father are one—they are intimately connected in every possible way. But here, in this prayer, we are allowed to hear Jesus verbally express his heart-connection with his Father. And it's a marvelous thing!

The prayer of this chapter has become known as Jesus' "high priestly prayer," for in it, our Lord takes upon himself the task that had always been the high priest's task: interceding on behalf of the people of God. In this prayer, Jesus prays for his own disciples and the spreading network of others who would come to believe through their work. We see Jesus standing between the Father and the rest of us. He is the One through whom the love of God flows to us, and through whom, astonishingly, our response of love to the Father flows back again in gratitude.

In a "technical" sense, Jesus' prayer has three sections. The first section of his prayer is a celebration and a request (verses 1-5). Jesus is celebrating the fact that his work is done. Yes, there is a huge and horrible task awaiting him the next day. But he has completed the deeds and the words that the Father gave him to do. He has laid before his chosen disciples all that the Father has given to him. And this is something to be celebrated. But it's also the foundation of his request.

Because he's been so faithful, his request is that he might now be glorified—that he might be exalted, lifted up to the place of honor and authority at his Father's right hand. As the Son of Man, the true Messiah, the king of all the world, he yearned to take his seat on the throne and to assume his rule over the whole world. This was the "coming age" that the prophets had longed for, and had taught would appear at the "present age." Jesus knew that his being seated at the Father's right hand would lead to a time of new life—life of a new type and quality, life of an eternal quality.

This "eternal life" is not just something that we can have after our death. This isn't just some future state that takes place in a distant heaven on the far side of the moon. No! The "eternal life" is available to us all right here and right now through Jesus Christ. If we trust in Jesus and believe that he has come from the Father, we can "know" God right here and right now. We can experience an intimacy with him that can only be described as "eternal life" (verse 3).

In the second section of his prayer, Jesus prays for the disciples (verses 6-19). He knows that he is about to be going away and returning to the Father (13:1), and so he offers a prayer in which he entrusts his disciples into the care of his Father. He has known the care and protection of his Father throughout his earthly life and ministry, and he now knows that the Father will provide the same care to his followers. Jesus is a realist—he knows that the disciples are in grave danger. The world, which hates him, will in turn hate his followers. The disciples will be threatened and abused, and they'll need protection. So that's what his prayer is about.

I find it interesting that the way in which Jesus asks the Father to protect his disciples is by making them holy. He says: "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (verse 17). The word "sanctify" essentially means "make holy." While he was with the disciples, Jesus had sanctified himself in order that they might be sanctified (verse 19). Now that he was going away, he's asking that the Father might protect his disciples by causing the "word of truth" to bring a deep and lasting change to their lives.

This is significant for us today, too. One of the primary ways in which God protects and sanctifies us today is through his "word of truth." As we study the Scriptures—which reveal the truth about God, the world, the people around us, and ourselves—we are not only enabled to withstand trials and temptations, but we are nourished and strengthened in our faith. As God's word of truth sinks down into our hearts, we are filled with wisdom and life. As we meditate upon God's truth, we are enabled to see things from God's perspective and to grow to bear his love and character. In sort of a divine conspiracy, God does a dynamic work within us through his word of truth and causes us to grow strong and mature from the inside out. And this is all part of his intimate love and care for the followers of Jesus.

The final section of Jesus' prayer is most extraordinary (verses 20-26). In this part of his prayer, Jesus is talking about you and me. "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message"—that's us. 

So, what is Jesus praying for as he thinks about you and me and the millions upon millions of others who have believed in him in this and every generation? He longs that we should be unified. Jesus asks the Father to knit our hearts together with a dynamic unity that is akin to the oneness he shared with his Father. Just as the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father, so we are to live in that unity. 

This is all so mind-boggling! It's an amazing thought, something I struggle to get my mind around. Jesus yearns for us to experience such a oneness of heart and mind, that words are incapable of fully expressing the dynamic. He wants this for us. But he also wants this to serve as a testimony to the world. As we come together in love—united across all barriers of race, custom, gender, or class—the world will know that this is only possible through the gracious work of God. "Then the world will know that you sent me" (verse 23).

This follows right along with what Jesus said in 13:34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Unity is vital! Unity is essential! I'm struck by the fact that Jesus could have prayed for anything, he could have asked for anything for us. But he chose to pray that we might experience unity. This simple fact alone should stir us up to strive for unity in all our relationships.

I'm fully aware that unity can't be forced, it can't be rushed. There can be no bullying or manipulation in an effort to reach a place of unity. Unity only comes about through the work of God's Spirit. But there is a mindset that we can embrace, a posture that we can settle into that will help lead us into a place of oneness of heart and mind. And, it all starts with humility. We can't take ourselves too seriously. We have to be willing to be authentic, to sincerely step into the open, and to embrace a vulnerability that oftentimes frightens us. If we will think of ourselves correctly, and if we'll view others with the right mindset—he's made in the image of God; she's a daughter of the king, a sister of mine—we will more easily and naturally move into a place of unity. If we'll refuse to jump to conclusions, if we'll set aside judgment and the casting of stones, and if we'll be quick to offer much grace to one another, then we will steadily grow into a family that is one with each other and with God. And if we will pray, if we'll cry out to the Father and the Son and the Spirit, eagerly expressing a desire for a closeness of heart and mind, God will rejoice to work within us. And as he does so, not only will we be changed, but the world will know that God is in our midst.


PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, make us one in your Son. By your Spirit's power, sanctify us and fill us with eternal life. We so desperately need your life at work within us. We long to experience the oneness of life with you and with one another. Graciously work within us. Infuse us with your love, so that we might know you and that we might love one another. Strengthen us to follow Jesus in the way of self-giving love, so that the world might know that he is your Son, and so that he might be glorified.


WHO AM I?
I am Tres Sansom, and we are currently in Maine with Kate’s family. After a long and harried trip, we’ve been enjoying ourselves quite a bit. Our little guy was especially excited about seeing snow for the first time. He loved catching snowflakes with his tongue, making and throwing snowballs, and “surfing” down the hill on his new sled. But most of all, he was excited about EATING the snow. So, as a precaution, we had to have a talk about NOT eating the YELLOW snow. J Today’s activities included building a snowman with Grammy. It’s been a lot of fun watching him experience all of this. 

Peace

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 16 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
My friend Rachel is now 34 weeks pregnant and when she was 31 weeks pregnant she was diagnosed with "a very aggressive form of breast cancer." They estimated that she has had it for 2-6 years because her tumor is 8-9cm in diameter.  I have gone back and forth with God on this one and I can honestly say, "Yes Lord, I believe we will have trouble in this life but I also believe You have overcome the world!"  And because of that, I can trust that whatever outcome you have for this, it is what you know best (but just so we are clear I want healing, Lord)!  I have laid my friend at the feet of Jesus more times than I can count.  I have gone through the emotions ranging from pleading with the Lord not to take her to saying, "Here she is Lord, she belongs to you!"  I don't want to lose her, but guess what? I'm not in control.  All I can do is pray and love her.  

I don't know who God wants to touch through my friend having cancer, but what I do know is that she trusts Him more than anything and she knows He is the only one who can heal her. She's going to have trouble in this life… she will lose her hair, be sick and try to keep that beautiful baby in her body as long as possible while going through chemo.  While all of this is going on, she gets to take care of her other 5 children that need her.  She also has to get through the holidays so she can go into January and give birth.  All the while holding it together the best she can, because she and her husband have 5 kids depending on them and they don't have the luxury of falling apart while her kids need her to be strong.  Her mom has told her if she just had faith and prayed her hair wouldn't fall out.  Her husband came home after a man approached him in church and told him that the reason my friend (his wife) had cancer was because she has bitterness and unforgiveness in her heart.  Mama told me there'd be days like this… Jesus promised us trouble.  Not if, but when…

So how do we respond?  Who do we listen to?  Do we listen to the voice of the enemy or do we listen to the voice of the One who has answers?  I wish I had some great message that would change the world. But today, in this moment, all I have is Jesus… but I guess that's ok, because that's the way He wants it anyway…


PRAYER:
I am completely empty, fill my cup.  And while You are filling my cup, help me to hear Your still small voice while the enemy yells.  And Lord, help me not to say anything thoughtless today.  I love you!

This is dedicated to my friend Rachel and all my friends who are battling illness…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DdgkvnsHjM

 

 

WHO AM I?

My name is Dorene Froese and this is a picture of me with my shaved head in honor of my friend Rachel.  It was totally worth it because I felt like I was supposed to shave my head a while back and I did… that day, I spoke with her and she told me she had just talked with another cancer survivor and she was told to shave her head that it was WAY more traumatic to have it fall out on its own.  She was crying about the same time I was shaving my head, because she knew she would rather shave her head than have it fall out.  She knows that it is vanity (her words not mine), but it is the only thing about her physical appearance that she LOVES! And she is going to lose it… anyway, because I was brave (her words not mine), she felt better about having her head shaved and she knows how much I love her.  Every time I rub my head, I try to remember to pray for her… so if you see me wandering the halls at church rubbing my head, I'm not being weird (well that's debatable I guess) J  

 

I have also attached a photo of her taken this week (Rachel is on the left).

 

A Holy Longing

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 15 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." (John 15:4-11, NASB)


REFLECTIONS:
I don’t even know how to communicate what’s in my heart right now.  I keep reading, worshipping, and reading and thinking, reading and listening while running circles in my mind trying to find a direction.  Inside I feel the desperate cry of a holiness NOT of my own desiring, longing, and burning to be freed.  Why isn’t it free, this holiness within?

Paul’s words echo in my mind from Romans 7 about not doing what I want to do, but what I don’t want to do I do.  I feel that, I experience that, even as a new creation in Christ.  Yet I know there is victory, that eventually the sinfulness I battle will be overcome because of this holiness, this Holy Spirit living in me.  Even if, at times, it feels like it’s moment-by-moment, day-by-day, one situation to another.  

John 14:11-13 says, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”  What is wrong with this picture?  Where are the greater works than these?  Why has the American church as a whole grown impotent in a world drowning in darkness?  Dare I say it might be me?  Dare I say it might be you?  Dare I say it might be us?  

In Hebrews 6:11-12 the writer says, “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” 

Are we diligent?  Are we hopeful?  Are we realizing?  Are we lazy?  Are we imitating?  Are we to caught up in our own struggles?  “Prove to be my disciples, bear much fruit, by this is My Father glorified” (John 15:8). Fruit/love, spiritual gifts, greater works, revelation, we all want them don’t we?  We really want to know the fullness of Christ.  We really want to fulfill our call. 

Jesus shows us the way: "Abide in Me” (John 15:4). “Abide” means to stay, to wait.  The word “in,” properly means, inside, within; figuratively, as in the condition (state) in which something operates from the inside (within).  Abide IN Me, abide IN the vine, My words abide IN you, abide IN my love.  Prove to be my disciples, operate from this holiness, this Holy Spirit that I’ve given you.  

Acts 17:27-28 says: “feel/ touch/handle/grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist.”  Living, moving and existing IN Him.  There are times this seems easier than others, but we have this holy flame living inside us, longing to exist in our whole being, to become one with our living and moving.  How do we move into this place of living and moving and existing in Him?  How do we step into the fullness of Him, to walk out these greater works?  Individually it is a daily pursuit, yes, but the second half of John 15 it is about loving one another, LOVING one another.

Does this not include togetherness?  Does this not include pursuing Him together?  Seeking His vision, His person, His fullness with each other, loving one another in the state we’re in, but knowing, wanting, and encouraging each other for more of Him. More of Him for each other, for our communities, for our cities, for our nation, for the world?  

I see it as if we’re coals, the fire is ignited, we burn, but if you scatter them the flame and heat die down.  If you gather them together the heat rises and the flame burns stronger.  Let us fan each other’s holy flame.  Let us come together not just as a habitual weekly activity. Let us truly seek, fervently long for, and intentionally come together with the purpose of pursuing the fullness, holiness and experience of God’s presence; as well as, His vision, not only for ourselves, but also for each other in this specific time and this specific place.  We are here in this moment together, for a reason, let us abide in Him, abide in love and diligently seek to become His people that will perform these “greater works.”


PRAYER:
Father, thank You for Your love that endures; thank You for the hope we have in You.  Thank You that there is no condemnation for those who are in You, and thank You that you are constantly at work within us.  Help us to capture Your vision of us as Your children, body and kingdom.  Transform our hearts so we can pursue You and love each other with complete abandon.  Ignite our hearts to make the most of every opportunity and to prioritize seeking Your will individually and together as Your children, have Your way with us Lord, we want more of You, and the world needs more of You.


WHO AM I?
I am Nicole Robinson. This photo was taken on my birthday this month.  I had told my husband Rob that all I wanted was to go country dancing since I hadn’t been for 17 years.  He doesn’t dance, but after 16+ years of marriage, he finally broke down and took me.  It was the most fun I’ve had in awhile, with an evening of friends, fun and laughter.  And the best thing was that after years of avoiding it, Rob found that in one night of trying something he had so long been hesitant to do, he actually enjoyed it.  He enjoyed it a lot.  In fact, he suggested we do it again.  I’m sure there’s a life lesson in there somewhere, but right now I’m just enjoying and anticipating the fun we’ll have the next time.

Greater Works: A Mission Possible

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 14 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
"12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:12-14, NKJV)


REFLECTIONS:
I don’t know about you but when I read verse 12 after reading story after story of what Jesus has done around Palestine the theme music from “Mission Impossible” starts rolling through my head.  This is Jesus talking.  And He’s saying that those who believe in Him will do greater works than these?  How is that possible?  We know God can’t lie and He said the words, so how do we obey this verse and make it our reality without watering it down, twisting the meaning, or trying to explain it away?  Well let’s step into Tom Cruise’s shoes and find out.  

Jesus did awesome things while He walked this earth—restored sight, healed lepers, fed multitudes with a few fish, walked on water, raised the dead!  And that’s the short list.  But notice that Jesus didn’t say that the disciples or anyone else would do greater miracles (I mean it’s kind of hard to top bringing a 4 day old dead guy back to life).  Let’s look at Luke 19:10 says the “Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  This is the work that Jesus was here to do—to see sinners saved, and then He tells us that we will do that too.  I think Jesus was talking about quantity regarding our greater works.  Think about it: more were converted in one day at Pentecost than during the entire earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.  The extent of what the apostles went on to do after Jesus’ death was made possible because Christ went ahead of them to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to empower them.  And that’s the coolest thing about Jesus to me—He’s always one step ahead, making the impossible possible.  Verses 13 and 14 go on to say that if we’re asking for the right things with the right motives (to see sinners saved) then Jesus will answer.  It’s important to not take this verse out of context.  People look at verse 14 and think it’s like having a genie in their pocket—that asking in Jesus’ name is a guarantee.  James 4:3 says that, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”  More often than not our motives are misplaced when we ask for things.  But we can rest assured in John 14:14 that if we’re asking for the right things our prayers will be answered.  Jesus tells us to use prayer to release His power and bring His blessing. So often we sell ourselves short because we view things from only a fleshly, earthbound perspective. However, when we serve and pray in Jesus' name, incredible things happen! Jesus does greater things through us than we can imagine!


APPLICATION:
As I reflect on these verses I think about all the ways that PRF is currently partnering with various organizations for local and world-wide missions.  Romans 10:13 says. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” which is an awesome promise of the Word, but it goes on in verse 14 and 15 to say, “How then shall they call on Him whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things.’”  

If our greater works lay in the significance and importance of seeing multitudes saved from their sins, then I think PRF is on the right track with our partnerships.  We’re working with Street Youth Ministry of Austin (this month’s focus!), the South Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, we support the Helping Hands Crisis Ministry of Spicewood, we’re resourcing families for orphan care, teaming with God of Hope prison ministry, supporting Hailey Bland in the world-wide mission field and Love-N-Care Ministries in India.  Our people and our resources are at work in the world.  And that’s exciting!!  This is what we’re all about… bringing glory to God by seeing people saved! There’s a life worth living. There’s a purpose worth committing yourself to.  I’d encourage you to get involved with one of these areas if you aren’t already, and start taking part in the greater works that Jesus has planned.  


WHO AM I?
I’m Jennifer Babb and I love music.  I can’t remember a time that music wasn’t present in my life.  To this day it feeds my soul.  I listen to everything, but definitely have a weak spot for rowdy country music (I know you are all shocked by that).  But, as I read John 14 a song came to mind as I read the well-known verse 6 where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  Songs are always popping up like that.  New World Son has a song called “There is a Way” that I really like and thought I’d share.  I also really love singing “The Eyes of Texas” in support of the Horns!  J