Remembering Resurrection

This week is called Holy Week in many churches. I just finished reading a long article describing the history of Holy Week and the different liturgical elements that one tradition includes in its services this week. Honestly, it was bit exhausting trying to retain all the rituals, symbols, genuflections and prostrations.

When I read the New Testament, I am struck by the simplicity that characterizes the way we are to remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul describes the church together taking the bread and then taking the cup and remembering the Lord’s death. In so doing they declared that he will return as the resurrected Christ.

And, of course, this wasn’t done just one day during the year, but again and again as the disciples came together. While I never want to leave this simplicity, I have thought about what I can do to prepare myself for a special time to remember the resurrection this Easter.

Sheila and I have decided to observe Shabbat (the Sabbath) before Easter, treating it as a Sabbath day of rest (which means, for one thing, staying away from the computers!). We will follow the traditional Jewish times, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Having more time to pray, one of the needs we will focus on will be those who we know are considering Jesus and could soon be united with his death and raised with him from baptism.

This week should not really be more “holy” than any other for Jesus’ followers, but I would encourage you to think about what you might do to have a special week, remembering the most mind-changing event in history.

God's Problem?

I heard a distinguished author being interviewed on radio. He stopped believing in God because the Bible didn’t answer his questions about the problem of human suffering.

As I thought about his words, they seemed to raise an interesting question for the author and others. Do we only believe in God if he answers all our questions? What kind of God would he be if we can put him on trial and reserve the right to banish him if we don’t hear from him what satisfies us? Am I missing something or doesn’t giving our conditions to God and saying “I expect you to meet them,” lead to a god who couldn’t possibly be spelled with a capital “G”?

Recently a man told me he wanted my help in overcoming his arrogance. He sees something the famous author seems to be missing. Sure, many of us struggle with the suffering that comes from earthquakes, storms, drought, poverty, disease and the like.

But we have crossed the line from honest questions to arrogant posturing when we say to the Creator we are considering, “You won’t get my trust unless I decide that you have done the right thing.”

I am reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 11:

"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

From reading the Book of Psalms I would say God has no problem with our questions. From reading the whole of Scripture I would say he has a big problem with our arrogance.

Focus Scriptures

Job 38:1-7
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2"Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?
3Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

4"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone--
7while the morning stars sang together

Job 42:1-3
42:1Then Job replied to the LORD:
2"I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

God's Book of Poems

Last week, I told you that we were able to hear John Ortberg talk about Christians being “God’s workmanship,” making the point that disciples are never mass-produced; they are handcrafted by God, with each of us being uniquely formed. The word for “workmanship” in Ephesians 2 is the Greek poiēma, from which we get the English “poem.”

With this in mind I have asked Sheila to share with you something she blogged about on “My Bucket of Sand.”, following up on these thoughts…

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As I reflect upon the fact that all poems are completely original and individual, just as people are, I am encouraged in two ways.

First, it reminds me that I am special to God. He loves me, quirks and all. And as I yield myself to him, he is handcrafting me into the “me” he has prepared me to be.

Second, it reminds me that every person is special to God. Think about another disciple whom you find it difficult to like, maybe one who really gets on your nerves. Now think of a person you genuinely like and are eager to spend time with. Each one is God’s poiēma. Each one is being handcrafted by the God of Creation to be exactly who he or she was born to be.

I know what it feels like to share poems I have written. There is a certain vulnerability, a fear of rejection and a flush of victory in the risk.

As God shares his poems with each of us, every day, in our interactions with others, let’s remember to listen to the heart of the poem, and not to judge its style or delivery. Let’s try to look more through the Poet’s eyes and less through our own.

Psalm 139:1-16

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

    O Lord, you have searched me

        and you know me.

    [2] You know when I sit and when I rise;

        you perceive my thoughts from afar.

    [3] You discern my going out and my lying down;

        you are familiar with all my ways.

    [4] Before a word is on my tongue

        you know it completely, O Lord.

    [5] You hem me in--behind and before;

        you have laid your hand upon me.

    [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

        too lofty for me to attain.

    [7] Where can I go from your Spirit?

        Where can I flee from your presence?

    [8] If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

        if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

    [9] If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

        if I settle on the far side of the sea,

    [10] even there your hand will guide me,

        your right hand will hold me fast.

    [11] If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

        and the light become night around me,"

    [12] even the darkness will not be dark to you;

        the night will shine like the day,

        for darkness is as light to you.

    [13] For you created my inmost being;

        you knit me together in my mother's womb.

    [14] I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

        your works are wonderful,

        I know that full well.

    [15] My frame was not hidden from you

        when I was made in the secret place.

    When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

        [16] your eyes saw my unformed body.

    All the days ordained for me

        were written in your book

        before one of them came to be.

   

Uniquely You

Have you ever heard someone talk about some spiritual practices such as getting up every morning at 5:00 to pray for an hour, or reading three or four chapters in the Bible each day, or keeping a daily spiritual journal, and then you feel guilty and unspiritual because some of those things just don’t seem to work for you?

A few days ago I heard author John Ortberg give three messages, and his point each time was that God is not into mass producing disciples, but instead he handcrafts each one of us. He quoted Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The Greek word for workmanship is “poiēma” from which we get our word “poem” which refers to something created.

Just as every poem is uniquely designed, so each of us is uniquely designed. We will not all learn the same way. We will not all grow the same way, and we set up something harmful if we decide there is one way to be spiritual and that everyone must be poured into that mold.

This doesn’t mean that Scripture leaves us without give us direction. Everyone needs to listen to the Word, pray, be devoted to relationships, pass on the message and care for the poor. But the way I do those things may not be the best way for you to do those things. However, if both of us seek first the reign of God in our lives, he will shape each of us according to his will, and the “you” he makes will fit very nicely with the “me” he makes.

Focus Scripture:

Ephesians 2:4-10 (NLT)

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.