Have

The following was derived from thoughts and conversations that I have with my son. I'm grateful to God for these experiences.

Christians tend to develop a preoccupation with showing devotion; We make sure that our religious do’s are in order - A good understanding of theological terminology, pray, read the Bible, give money to church get involved in a ‘good fit’ ministry, one that garners encouragement and appreciation but doesn’t take up too much of your time. This eagerness along with the needs of local congregations take a toll. It’s not uncommon for Christians to end up feeling like we’re on a hamster wheel. And there’s most certainly more than one reason, but today, we’ll look at how we understand the idea of His place in us, or our place in Him.

We hear, "Thy will be done" and we start trying to accomplish what we believe His will to be, and that’s where things get tough. Have you ever tried to figure out what God’s will is for your life?
Do I drop everything and head off to Africa or China? OR in unspoken avoidance to option A; do I just start praying that His will is to give me the job where I can have a Bible on my desk and no one bothers me? Maybe that’s just me, but I doubt it.
There’s more than a few books written by notable authors with that singular goal in mind – Finding God’s will. Maybe its not as easy as we wish it were...but why?

I think a big difference between living free in Christ and living frustrated in a kind of religious carnality is how we see the relationship: Are you trying to have God, or are you trying to let Him have you?

When you let God have you, remembering to read your Bible is less of a fight than it is when you’re wrestling with your schedule and looking for time. When God has you, you know that His Spirit illuminates His word and your desire to know Him drives you. You may not find a consistent time and place but that doesn’t stop you from taking time and finding a place to get to know your Father.

When you let God have you, you no longer have to remember to make time for prayer. When He has you, it becomes wonderfully apparent that the dialogue between you rarely ever stops. I’d like to say never, but God does do “silence” on occasion – it proves, grows and strengthens our faith. Things that often confuse and frustrate us, serve real purposes for Him that we don't realize "in the midst".

And Oh yeah….that money thing. The bible says money answers all things- Eccl 10:19, and as important and impactful as money is, when you let God have you, He has all of you: Your time, your resources and your affections and you become a wonderfully less burdensome giver because ‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’- and He is your treasure because he has your heart.

Here’s The Word:

Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Psalm 4:3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building

1 Corinthians 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

None of us start off pursuing God. Even now, we don’t pursue Him without His help. We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) He initiated it all. It can be confusing if we say “He wants (or wanted) us”, our knee-jerk reaction can make us think too highly of ourselves. It really boils down to His compassion and mercy having pity on our helpless situation. Everything worth ‘wanting’ is in Him and everything He has is perfected in Him.

Now I know that this may sound like a little play on words or a cheap twist of logic, but that’s not the intent. Am I saying that it’s wrong to want God? Absolutely not. In the same way that children need repetition and rules, new Christians need the fundamentals of faith: This includes learning what the Bible is, and how to read and understand it, the attributes of God, the concepts of Salvation, atonement, substitution and all of that. However, all of these lessons should provide for the eventuality that this learning is not for us to make good use of God, but for Him to make good use of us. Too often, we stay in the elementary teachings and our efforts are to become demonstrably better than the other children rather than to truly grow into maturity IN Christ.

God help me. Help me to recognize where my efforts are misguided. My desire is to appreciate your goodness but I know how easy it is to fall into trying to earn it. Rather than being up, down or worried about having your attention, help me to understand the truth of your word and humbly let you have me.

In Him,
Cros

Woke

The concept of being “woke” is the new thing. Rather the newly refurbished word for an old thing. While researching this topic, I admit that I was less than a little surprised that the term is credited to African American culture. We've seen it in Spike Lee movies from the 80's with Lawrence Fishburne yelling "Wake up" in School Daze. But going further back, woke's origins are attributed to William Melvin Kelley of Harlem, NY. Today it has certainly spread far beyond its exiguous beginnings.
According to Webster’s online dictionary, this is what Woke means - aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)

From as much (or as little) as I’ve seen regarding “woke”, it’s always been in the context of necessity. A need to realize that detrimental consequences are actively aligning themselves against you. To quote Denzel Washington in the titular role of Spike Lee’s, Malcom X - "Ya been hoodwinked! Bamboozled! Led astray!"

Without going too far down road of America’s Civil Right’s issues – It’s pretty easy for me to see how the concept of “woke”- as far as being informed and active to help shine a light on a system of injustice was an absolutely necessary thing. However today, I hear woke in so many contexts that I’m not sure if it still means what it’s supposed to. For instance, there seems to be a faction pushing the idea that a person can’t be woke AND be a Christian. Google it for yourself, just don’t confuse the idea of finding evidence as being comparable to finding truth.

There’s a feminist woke, a social woke, a racial woke, and as a word grows in popularity, so expands the wide scope of its acceptable use. Music and film present an easy and relevant conduit for explaining “woke”, but the association with a vegan chef…not so much.

Ultimately, I agree with the initial premise of why woke is necessary. Situational awareness is a much better than comfortably complacency. However, I’m sure that my embrace of “wokeness” doesn’t fall in line with far-fetched conspiracy theories about how malevolent subversion is lurking around every corner to keep me blinded to the societal cage that my uninformed mind is already trapped in. Especially the idea that a Christian can’t be woke – probably because of the preponderance of the idea that a white Jesus has no other purpose but to establish white dominance while disenfranchising me. On the contrary, even before Mr. Kelley used the term in 1962, The Bible had a similar idea promoted by the Words of Christ “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” which captures the same idea of Kelley's "If you’re woke, you dig it."

Here’s The Word:

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

The triune God of the Bible; The Father, Son and Holy Spirit has not been hijacked by “the system” to minimalize anyone. It is the love of God and blood of Christ that has been shed abroad to the benefit of everyone. Don’t allow pictures of a white Jesus combined with the story of institutional oppression to be used to forfeit you from receiving God’s grace and salvation through Christ. There are most certainly some good conversations to have about worldliness and the paganization of Christian traditions but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water and don’t dismiss your opportunity to be lead into ALL truth because of someone else’s idea of ‘woke’.

His Cares

Here’s The Word:

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

This is as familiar a verse as it is comforting to know that our God is ready and willing to relieve our burdens.

Often times I write with one specific longing: To creatively encourage us to apply the truth of Scripture. It basically boils down to taking something very familiar to our lives and then applying Scripture to it in a way that re-associates the idea, at least partially.
So, here’s the flip; What does God care about?

If asked that question, we’d probably still think about what He wants in regards to us – He wants us to be good. He wants us to love one another. He wants us to help the poor. But then what? Is that all He cares about?

No doubt that its The Father’s good pleasure to provide good for us but think of how you would feel if your children only came to you to fulfill needs. Even beyond a heart of gratitude, it’s still a real desire as a parent that our children desire to know us. Same goes with Our Father, He cares about us walking in truth and wants something truly intimate with us.

Jeremiah 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

We’re often encouraged to read Scripture and take note of the promises of God and I absolutely believe that there’s benefit to that. However, I’d like to encourage us to read Scripture and take note of who Our God is and the things He cares about. Look into His revelation and listen to His heart. Listen to Him talk about the things He cares about.

Here’s few Scriptures that give insight into who our God is and His cares.

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Isaiah 58:2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Sometimes it can be a little less easy to grab ahold of; on one hand, to see ourselves as children of The King, and on the other hand to see ourselves as servants to a Master. Both are true and the more we spend time getting to know Him, the easier it is to reconcile these two ideas. We have a mandate to boldly approach the throne of grace for Our needs as well as the reality that Our Father has a heart that delights in us seeking to know Him beyond gift giver. It's not hard to shift our view in thinking how grateful we are to God for being involved in our lives, but truth be told, it's all HIS story, and His Sovereign benevolence have placed us in His eternal life.

Years ago, I had a friend make a statement to me that helped clarify this: The Bible says that “God hates divorce” Malachi 2:16. It’s not ONLY that He hates divorce, but it’s also that He really LOVES marriage. One way of looking at things compels us to act a certain way, concerned with the “rules” aspect, but the other way helps us see His heart and give attention to things He cares about.

Heavenly Father I thank You,
Your kindness knows no equal.
Aside of anything else I need,
Lord, please help me to see you.
My desire is to draw near to You.
As You also draw near to me.
You've allowed my life to be hidden in Christ.
For unfathomable intimacy.
I seek You daily, to know Your ways.
Teach me O' Lord, Your heart.
The wonders of your mercy and Grace.
Your creativity is off the charts.
Things like marriage, that give but a glimpse.
Of the Oneness that exists in You.
Speak to my heart, my Father, My God.
Lead me. Show me what is true.
Not a single thought surprises You.
Or catches You unaware.
As much I seek Your provision, Oh God.
Draw my mind to things of which You care.

In Him, Cros

Kingdom

Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

What does that mean? What comes to mind when you hear the term?
If we're honest, most times when we think of The Kingdom of Heaven, we’re just as naïve as the Jews in Christ’s day that wanted The Kingdom of Heaven to mean something that it didn’t …at least yet.
Something in me keeps wanting to believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is the eternal rulership of Christ. I want it to mean swift judgement for sin. I want it to mean glory, peace and a burden-free existence for those who are IN Christ, who have the seal of His Spirit.
It doesn’t mean that now and it didn’t mean that when John the Baptist first said it over two thousand years ago.

Here’s The Word:

Matthew 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

So then, what DID it mean “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”?
Did you know that the Book of Matthew is the only book of The Bible where the phrase “kingdom of Heaven” is found? Check it out. Furthermore, when you consider Matthew’s gospel, he spends a good bit of effort saying exactly what the kingdom of Heaven is like, and not once does He say that it’s like a mighty king who comes to crush his foes and give glory to his servants…nope, not once.

He likens the Kingdom of Heaven to several distinctly different things, yet that all fall within a common theme: It’s now, it’s real and the way you respond to it matters greatly.
The kingdom of Heaven has an approval rating based on a heart of servitude: Those who serve and teach are called great, those who disobey and lead others to disobedience are called least. (Mt 5:19) Now I know what you’re thinking; Firstly, something along the lines of "I thought we were all equal." Secondly, how can someone break a commandment and still be IN the kingdom?
First answer presents the need to clarify a misunderstanding between justified and approved. We're all justified the same way, through Christ and no other merit. But approval is something different. Tthe Bible tells us in Timothy to "Study to show ourselves approved"(not justified). Approved is based on an embracing of diligence and that's based on us.
For the second matter, reckoning that we’re saved by grace through faith and not works implies that it’s not what we do, but what Christ did. And in that, we can still tend toward a choice of diligent obedience or not. The Bible talks about the difference between the world and Heaven and how it’s possible and therefore necessary for someone to be chastised(even to death) in the flesh due to bad choices, but not forfeit their salvation.

1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The kingdom of Heaven is a growing thing; Like a mustard seed, like leaven mixed in dough to fully permeate the mixture, and seeds scattered by a sower, of which some will grow to varying displays of fruitfulness. But just like there are wheat and tares in the field, there are also different types of soil that range from fully receptive to not receptive at all. Because of that wildly dynamic set of circumstances, we are well warned, and are called to preach the immediacy of the kingdom of Heaven.
"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Mt 10:7)"
The kingdom of Heaven is something that God is doing now and only He knows the time when the harvest will be ready. It is then, that He will send out the reapers that will gather His produce and all else will be lost and cast out.

Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

We need to realize the truth of the matter. The truth is that Heaven is calling in a reckoning. The world was never just some wayward thing that God washed His hands of once it fell from grace. It has never simply been idle and unchecked, waiting for judgement. There has always been a plan to step in and start the process of identifying, sanctifying and reconciling His children of promise. Those who misunderstand this are probably thinking that a more clear warning will come, allowing them one final opportunity to make a choice. They're sadly mistaken.

Galatians 4:3-5 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Does this help? Hopefully we can stop putting expectations on an idea that’s inconsistent with Scripture.

So we repent and we proclaim repentance to any and everyone (The Lord knows those who are His). The Kingdom of Heaven is already underway, fulfilling its purposes and identifying its peoples. It’s more valuable than the pearl of a great price and worth more than anything else the world has to offer. It requires a righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees meaning as good as meticulous as they were, it wasn’t enough. None of us are righteous. It’s impossible for any of us to merit a place in God’s presence. But we can be justified. We can be imputed with Christ’s righteousness….actually, we must be, there is no other way. (John 14:6) IN this, we hide our lives in His and thusly, live by faith that the kingdom of Heaven is now and forever will be, our eternal home.


In Him,
Cros

Intimacy

Here's The Word:

Ephesians 5:21-33 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Most of us have never had the luxury (I use the term loosely) of starting our own business. We don’t know what it’s like to have a vision that consumes us to the point where we’re all in, where there is no sink, only swim, or swim harder; well acquainted with the depths of sacrifice and no quick return on investment but still driven by a dream. No. Most of us work for someone else. And even THAT someone may not be the person who initially had the idea for a new business idea. When I read the verses above, that’s what I see. God had an idea for a new idea – The Church. It would be unlike anything else…ever. When I look past the 'religiosity' of the verses, the business model becomes more clear - “Intimacy"!

The goal of the church, and by example the goal of marriage is an intimacy that's not realized in compatibility, but in cohesion. Compatibility is defined as two or more things that work well together. Cohesion is the action of forming one thing. So, following that line of logic, it shouldn't just shape our thinking, but transform it. We usually involve ourselves in one or two ways - either it's mine and I'm wholly responsible, or it's not mine and I'm not responsible at all. In Christ is where we can learn....really the ONLY place we can learn shared wholly, Holy responsibility.

But as to the commonality of our nature – we go with what works for us. We’re all too accustomed to the idea that it’s YOUR company, and I work for you. That’s the business model that makes sense to us. We show up for work and look for our list of things to do for the boss. In all actuality, the boss wants us to share the vision, not just the work.
Even when we really like our jobs, it’s more to the tune of “I like the people" or "the pay is good" or "the work isn't so bad" or even "I'm just waiting for something better to come along... or all the bunches of other reasons that help us keep at it day after day after day

However, just like Christ loves marriage, Christ LOVES the church. He’s captivated by the idea of this business idea of intimacy, fully vested (and invested) in its success. And this is a wonderful realization, but we have to be really careful here that we don’t bring our worldly understanding into this new idea - the church can’t change the business plan. Like we do with our natural jobs, we as The church can’t dictate that there are some things that it just won’t do: Like overtime, training others or other less desirable tasks - or if we do, we expect management to hear about it and address our concerns, or we're looking for another job.

Thing is, with the church, God is not looking for employees, He's making partners. Cohesion. People who will become one with the vision and the energetic enthusiasm to see it succeed, even at the cost of personal sacrifice. Too often, we compartmentalize our job away from His company. Sometimes, we see the lives of people and we immediately think "I don't want to get involved." That's not the way Christ treats us and that's not the vision for the church. He doesn't want us just to get involved, but to get intimate. We're in this with Him, with us, together.
When you read the verses from Ephesians 5, I hope that you see the progression being presented – not just to become employee of the month, but to be one with the business. This is a progression toward complete intimacy.

So then the church is not just a building. Not just a jobsite, but an idea. An idea unlike any other. Marriage is that kind of idea. A business model started by Christ toward a successful intimacy that can’t be compared to anything else.

In my opinion, the relationship between marriage, and Christ and the church has been one where it's not as easy to fill in some of the blanks. I guess that's the reason why there are so, SO many marriage "help" books. And even then, it seems that when it comes to talking about this subject, there's even less information and direction for single people.
Seeing the body as a vested endeavor, like a business, doesn't exclude singles. Because the end goal is still the same; Christ is looking for intimacy with His church and that can be an encouragement to couples as well as those who are as just as complete and comfortable with no desire to be involved in a relationship.
It's all about how you see your job. Your affiliation IN Christ, not just with Him or for Him. The Heavenly Bridegroom is grooming us to BE the business in oneness.

Here's The Word:

John 17:17 - 23(a) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;

In Him,
Cros