What we call “The Lord’s Prayer” or what we might call “The Kingdom Prayer” has this line: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done.” Soren Kierkegaard, who we have referenced the last two weeks, thought deeply about these words and felt that the more aware of God we become, the more humbly silent we will become before him.
He seems to be speaking to himself when says that the goal is “that you in silence might forget yourself, what your name is, your own name, the renowned name, the pitiful name, the insignificant name, for the sake of praying in silence to God, ‘Hallowed be YOUR name!’ That you in silence might forget yourself, your plans, the great, the all-comprehensive plans, or the petty plans regarding your life and its future, for the sake of praying in silence to God, ‘Your kingdom come!’ That you in silence might forget your will, your self-will, for the sake of praying in silence to God, ‘Your will be done!’ Yes, if you could learn from the lilies and the birds to become perfectly silent before God, what might not the Gospel help you to accomplish, then nothing would be impossible for you.”
Seeking first the kingdom of God is certainly a whole lot more than making church work your top priority. If fact we can do that and not be seeking first the kingdom at all. Seeking the kingdom is to want that place where our name is nothing and God’s name is everything, where our plans are surrendered and God’s reign is everything, where our will yields and God’s will is everything.
Kierkegaard sees that these words are strong, but that’s because he had a childlike willingness to listen to Jesus.
Focus Scripture
Matthew 6:9-13
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
[10] your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us today our daily bread.
[12] Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'
1/24/10
Kierkegaard's Lily
Last week I used a story by Søren Kierkegaard. In another place he talks about the fact that there is a great difference in man and the lily. He describes the lily who knows nothing but how to totally be what God wants it to be. On the other hand, he says that we men are quite accomplished at what he calls “half measure”—that is doing things partly for God, but partly for ourselves.
He describes a certain lily which gets rooted in a most disadvantageous of places, meaning it is out in a place where its beauty may never be seen and where its ability to have an impact seems minimal or non-existent its whole life long. “Nevertheless,” he writes, “the lily puts up obediently with its circumstances and shoots up in all its beauty.”
We men, on the other hand, would complain that this situation is hard and should not be endured. If we have the ability to bloom beautifully, it is only fair, we protest, that we be in a place where we get noticed and appreciated.
When I read of Kierkegaard’s lily, I found myself immediately praying, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.” While there are times when I feel I deserve nothing and want nothing, there are other times when I want recognition or credit. I was reminded of a book Kierkegaard wrote titled Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing, and I prayed for a heart change that would mean absolutely no concern for anything but the will of God and no concern for where I am planted and whether it seems of any advantage to me.
In the future I know there will be plenty of times when I will say to myself, “Remember Kierkegaard’s lily.”
FOCUS SCRIPTURES
Luke 17:7-10
"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? [8] Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? [9] Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? [10] So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
1 Cor. 7:17-25
Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. [18] Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. [19] Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. [20] Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. [21] Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so. [22] For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. [23] You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. [24] Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
He describes a certain lily which gets rooted in a most disadvantageous of places, meaning it is out in a place where its beauty may never be seen and where its ability to have an impact seems minimal or non-existent its whole life long. “Nevertheless,” he writes, “the lily puts up obediently with its circumstances and shoots up in all its beauty.”
We men, on the other hand, would complain that this situation is hard and should not be endured. If we have the ability to bloom beautifully, it is only fair, we protest, that we be in a place where we get noticed and appreciated.
When I read of Kierkegaard’s lily, I found myself immediately praying, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.” While there are times when I feel I deserve nothing and want nothing, there are other times when I want recognition or credit. I was reminded of a book Kierkegaard wrote titled Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing, and I prayed for a heart change that would mean absolutely no concern for anything but the will of God and no concern for where I am planted and whether it seems of any advantage to me.
In the future I know there will be plenty of times when I will say to myself, “Remember Kierkegaard’s lily.”
FOCUS SCRIPTURES
Luke 17:7-10
"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? [8] Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? [9] Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? [10] So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
1 Cor. 7:17-25
Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. [18] Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. [19] Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. [20] Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. [21] Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so. [22] For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. [23] You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. [24] Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
1/17/10
Take the Plunge
The next three weeks I will refer to an 18th Century writer named Søren Kierkegaard. He is best known as a philosopher, but he wrote many thoughtful things about the message of Jesus and the kingdom of God. He could write esoteric philosophical ideas, but he could also employ simple images and parables that communicated important spiritual truths.
One of the first of his stories that I read nearly forty years ago, described a man who wanted to understand swimming. Every day he went down to the sea to watch those in the water. He would carefully analyze their movements, make notes and use his knowledge of science to determine just what was causing them to stay afloat and move forward. He recorded many observations and wrote his conclusions for others to read. He believed that his description of swimming was one of the most technically accurate that one could find.
But, says, Kierkegaard, such a man really knows nothing of swimming, and he will not know anything of it until he himself plunges into the sea and commits his body to the water.
All around Kierkegaard saw people who were experts in languages and theology and could describe in great detail what Christianity was about. But, in his mind, these people did not know anything about the kingdom of God, because they had never plunged in and abandoned themselves to Jesus and his teaching.
And so Kierkegaard would encourage us to study and learn, but to take all that and charge by faith into the water. In terms we talk about here each week, no mind change really has any value until we believe the promises of God so much that we leave our comfort zone and take the plunge.
Focus Scriptures:
Hebrew 11: 8
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Hebrews 11:17-18
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Hebrews 11: 24-26
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
One of the first of his stories that I read nearly forty years ago, described a man who wanted to understand swimming. Every day he went down to the sea to watch those in the water. He would carefully analyze their movements, make notes and use his knowledge of science to determine just what was causing them to stay afloat and move forward. He recorded many observations and wrote his conclusions for others to read. He believed that his description of swimming was one of the most technically accurate that one could find.
But, says, Kierkegaard, such a man really knows nothing of swimming, and he will not know anything of it until he himself plunges into the sea and commits his body to the water.
All around Kierkegaard saw people who were experts in languages and theology and could describe in great detail what Christianity was about. But, in his mind, these people did not know anything about the kingdom of God, because they had never plunged in and abandoned themselves to Jesus and his teaching.
And so Kierkegaard would encourage us to study and learn, but to take all that and charge by faith into the water. In terms we talk about here each week, no mind change really has any value until we believe the promises of God so much that we leave our comfort zone and take the plunge.
Focus Scriptures:
Hebrew 11: 8
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Hebrews 11:17-18
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Hebrews 11: 24-26
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
1/10/10
Repent and Rest!
When we hear the word “repent” it is often followed in Scripture with an admonition to take action, as in the word addressed to the church in Ephesus, “Repent and do the things you did at first.” However, there is a beautiful text in Isaiah 30 that shows us that repentance may not always be followed by something we “do.”
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15
Repentance is about turning but sometimes what is most needed is not for us to turn and “do” but to turn and “rest.” When we have trusted in all our “doing” and lived as if everything depends on our performance and effort, we need to repent and rest on God’s promises and his faithfulness. In such quietness and trust God tells Isaiah, we will find our strength.
“Doing” and taking action will always be a part of faithfulness. But our doing needs to come from a confidence that our salvation and our strength is found in resting in God’s grace and God’s provision.
This reminds me of Psalm 23. It sounds a lot like lying down in green pastures and letting God prepare a feast before us and just enjoying the fact that our relationship cup overflows. In such quietness and rest we will then find the strength to get up and do what needs to be done.
Sadly, the Jews would have none of it. We need to have a lot of it.
Isaiah 30:15 in different versions:
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.But you were unwilling" ESV
For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said,
"In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength."
But you were not willing, NASB
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not. AMPLIFIED
This is what the Sovereign LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it. NLT
This is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"If you come back to me and trust me, you will be saved.
If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong."
But you don't want to do that. NEW CENTURY
God, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on me—The very thing you've been unwilling to do.
MESSAGE BIBLE
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15
Repentance is about turning but sometimes what is most needed is not for us to turn and “do” but to turn and “rest.” When we have trusted in all our “doing” and lived as if everything depends on our performance and effort, we need to repent and rest on God’s promises and his faithfulness. In such quietness and trust God tells Isaiah, we will find our strength.
“Doing” and taking action will always be a part of faithfulness. But our doing needs to come from a confidence that our salvation and our strength is found in resting in God’s grace and God’s provision.
This reminds me of Psalm 23. It sounds a lot like lying down in green pastures and letting God prepare a feast before us and just enjoying the fact that our relationship cup overflows. In such quietness and rest we will then find the strength to get up and do what needs to be done.
Sadly, the Jews would have none of it. We need to have a lot of it.
Isaiah 30:15 in different versions:
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.But you were unwilling" ESV
For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said,
"In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength."
But you were not willing, NASB
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not. AMPLIFIED
This is what the Sovereign LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it. NLT
This is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"If you come back to me and trust me, you will be saved.
If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong."
But you don't want to do that. NEW CENTURY
God, the Master, The Holy of Israel,
has this solemn counsel:
"Your salvation requires you to turn back to me
and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.
Your strength will come from settling down
in complete dependence on me—The very thing you've been unwilling to do.
MESSAGE BIBLE
1/3/10
Go For It!
I’ve felt a bit of pressure this week knowing that since it is the first Web cast of January, some of you may be looking for words of wisdom to launch you into a new year. But, on the other hand, I told myself that since it is the fourth of the month, you probably have your goals set, your theme scripture passage selected, and your motor revved up and ready to go. Assuming that, I have decided not to confuse or distract you with some other ideas.
Instead, I just want to remind you of a few things as you pursue godly growth and change in a new year.
First of all, you are in same mode as Paul when he wrote: “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
But if you should have doubts about yourself, hear the words the angel spoke to Gideon, a man who also had his doubts: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12). And later “Go in the strength that you have…Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14).
A few weeks from now, after hitting some obstacles and wondering if you can do it, keep in mind the words from Hebrews. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Finally, when you have had some victories, have the attitude of Paul when he said “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 10).
Now go for it in the New Year!
Instead, I just want to remind you of a few things as you pursue godly growth and change in a new year.
First of all, you are in same mode as Paul when he wrote: “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
But if you should have doubts about yourself, hear the words the angel spoke to Gideon, a man who also had his doubts: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12). And later “Go in the strength that you have…Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14).
A few weeks from now, after hitting some obstacles and wondering if you can do it, keep in mind the words from Hebrews. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Finally, when you have had some victories, have the attitude of Paul when he said “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 10).
Now go for it in the New Year!
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