Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Faith assignment No. 5

Piggy backing on Mark

On Sunday May 4, Mark Crocco delivered a wonderful message on our union with Christ. This such a key topic for all of us as Christians to reflect upon regularly and ensure that our lives are being lived in conformity to this reality. So, how do you do that? I would recommend taking his notes, reading his key points at the beginning of each day and at the end of each day. I would pray and ask God to help you remember that you are crucified with Christ and that the real life that God wants you to live can be lived by only by Christ’s indwelling presence. A even simpler application is to take Galatians 2:20, write it on a 3 x 5 card, pray it back to the Lord, and carry it with you throughout the day as a reminder. A prayer based on this verse might go something like this: “Lord, I want to be reminded that I have been crucified with Christ and that the old me before I came to Christ is past history. The new me that you have made is being lived because of Christ’s resurrection life in me. Help me to continually discover the reality of this realationship and your transforming power. “

Since this is a faith issue, let me repeat a definition of faith that I have found helpful. Faith is believing thatGod reveals through His Word the true picture of reality inspite of my feelings or circumstances.
Let me know how you are doing.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Faith Assignment No. 4

This Sunday, most of us will join with others in our church family to celebrate a most wonderful reminder of what it means to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and what He has done to make this relationship possible. When I revisit the original refocusing of the Passover meal, I am both unnerved and comforted. Over the last seven months I have had more than one occasion to ask the question, “Lord, where is this all headed?” The answer is always the same, “Just trust me.”

In the Upper Room Discourse (John 12-17), Jesus announces that one of the twelve disciples is going to betray him.(John 13:21) If I were one of the disciples, I would have recalled anytime that I doubted the credibility of Jesus and would have been unnerved. How do you relate to someone who can read your inner thoughts like an x-ray machine? Many of us have probably thought that he is about to kick us out of his family for some of the nasty thoughts we have had about him. And yet, He continues to demonstrate by grace his commitment to love us unconditionally. In the same context of this announcement of a betrayer, Jesus also showed them the full extent of his love (John 13:1). He surprises them by washing their feet. They should have done this and yet the one who is about to be betrayed by one of them, is still willing to love them. Reminding them to be comforted by the fact that if they can trust in God the Father they can also trust in him. The Jesus they can see is an accurate incarnation of the Father whom they cannot see. If I am going to trust my heavenly Father, I have to realize that He is vastly different than my earthly father. For any of us who have had earthly fathers who did a great job of modeling for us the character of our Heavenly Father, trusting Him is going to be less of a problem. For the rest of us here are some affirmations that may help in correcting our wrong image of God the Father.

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ...
1. distant and disinterested
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
1. intimate and involved (Psalm 139:1-18)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
2. insensitive and uncaring
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
2. kind and compassionate (Psalm 103:8-14)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
3. stern and demanding
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
3. accepting and filled with joy and love (Romans 15:7)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
4. passive and cold
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
4. warm and affectionate (Isa 40:11; Hosea 11:3-4)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
5. absent and too busy for me
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
5. always with me and eager to be with me (Heb 13:5; Jer 31:20)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
6. never satisfied with what I do, impatient and angry
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
6. patient and slow to anger (Exodus 34:6

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
7. mean, cruel or abusive
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
7. loving, gentle, and protective of me (Jer. 31:3 Isa 42:3; Psa 18:2)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
8. trying to take all the fun out of life
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
8. wants to give me a full life. His will for me is good, perfect and acceptable for me (Lam. 3:22-23; John 10:10; Rom. 12:1-2)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
9. controlling and unforgiving
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
9. full of mercy and grace, forgives me when I fall (Heb. 4:15-16; Luke 15:11-24)

I renounce the lie that my Father God is ....
10. nit-picking and perfectionistic
I joyfully accept the truth that my Father God is ....
10. committed to my growth and lovingly disciplines and prunes me for my good and His glory (Rom 8:28-29; Heb 12:5-11; John 15:1)

[these ten points extracted from Ken Boa and Neil Anderson material]

I hope this encourages you to develop a deep trusting relationship with a great Heavenly Father. When He answers, “just trust me,” I hope His character as a perfect Father will make it easy to trust Him.

Pastor Joel MacDonald