The Last Passover

This past week, Jews around the world began their celebration of Passover. They gathered with family and friends around the Seder table and they remembered ... they remembered the bitterness and harshness of Egypt – they remembered the bondage they lived in, the slave-drivers they endured, the mud bricks they made, and the many tears they shed. And then they remembered a lamb ... a lamb that was slain, so that they might live. They remembered the night the Death Angel passed over them because of the blood of that lamb applied to the doorposts of their homes. They remembered the night Egypt was struck down, so that they could be lifted up. They remembered the night they became a free people!

Hundreds of years after that miraculous night in Egypt, a man named Jesus gathered with twelve of his closest friends in the city of Jerusalem to celebrate Passover one more time ... one last time. There was nothing necessarily special about this Passover ... they set the table like they always had, they prepared the same food that they had always eaten, they planned for the same scripture reading and hymn singing. It seemed to be a Passover not unlike the many they had already celebrated, nor even the thousands that the Jewish people had partaken of since that first one. But then something changed ... in fact, everything changed.

While they reclined at the table, this man, Jesus, told these twelve friends that He was implementing a new meal, a new celebration ... that would be a memorial to Him. No longer would it be about God delivering them from Egypt ... now it would be about Him setting them free from sin and death. No longer would it be about the blood of a lamb applied to the doorposts of their homes ... now it would be about Him, the Lamb of God, and His blood applied to the doorposts of their hearts that would not just keep the Death Angel out, but in fact let God come in. No longer would it be bread that symbolized a breaking away from Egypt and a cup that signified God’s redemption ... now the bread would be about His body that was broken for them and the cup would be about His blood that was shed for the forgiveness of their sins.

This Friday, Jesus-followers from around the world, will gather with family and friends and remember ... we’ll remember all that Jesus has done for us. We’ll remember His sacrifice. We’ll remember a cross on a lonely hill called Calvary ... where God’s own Son was struck down so that we could be lifted up. We’ll remember His body that was broken and His blood that was poured out for us. We'll remember the reason that sin has been silenced and death has been defeated. We’ll remember the day that we became a free people!

"The Woodcutter's Wisdom"

In his book, "In the Eye of the Storm," Max Lucado tells the following story:

Once there was an old woodcutter who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before - such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength. People even offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused.

One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. All the village came to see him. "You old fool," they scoffed, "we told you that someone would steal your horse. You are so poor. How could you ever hope to protect such a valuable animal. Now the horse is gone, and you've been cursed with misfortune."

The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is judgment. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can't say. All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?" The people of the village laughed. They thought that the man was crazy.

After fifteen days, the horse returned. He hadn't been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him. Once again the village people gathered around the woodcutter and spoke. "Old man, you were right and we were wrong. What we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us."

The man responded, "Once again, you go too far. Say only that the horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don't judge. How do you know if this is a blessing or not. Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge? Don't say that this is a blessing. No one knows."

The old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break the wild horses. After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and broke both legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and cast their judgements. "You were right," they said. "You proved you were right. The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a curse."

The old man spoke again, "You people are obsessed with judging, yet you see only a fragment. You read only one page of a book. Can you judge the whole book? You read only one word of a phrase. Can you understand the entire phrase? Life is so vast, yet you judge all of life with one page or one word. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse? No one knows."

It so happened that a few weeks later the country engaged in war against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he was injured. Once again the people gathered around the old man, crying because their sons had been taken. There was little chance that they would return. "You were right, old man," they wept. "God knows you were right. This proves it. Your son's accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but at least he is with you. Our sons are gone forever."

"The old man spoke again. "It is impossible to talk with you. You always draw conclusions. No one knows. Say only this: Your sons had to go to war, and mine did not. No one knows if it is a blessing or a curse. No one is wise enough to know. Only God knows."

We are quick to judge, aren't we? Wouldn't it be nice though, to instead be wise like the old man of this story? And to learn to live life then with an understanding that right now is just a small fragment, just one page in the elaborate story of our lives. Can you imagine the anxiety and worry, the emotional turmoil, the constant ups and downs this would save us from? Like me, maybe you've lived out this roller coaster routine of the villagers: "Yeah! It's a blessing!" "No! It's a curse" ... "Oh joy! It's all good!" "Oh boy! It's all bad!" Back and forth we go, over and over again. Are you kidding me? Why in the world do we choose to live like that when instead we could live life with a "We'll withhold judgment until this chapter is completed" response?

In fact, how about something even better ... how about a response of faith. In Romans 8:28, the Author of Scripture, who coincidentally happens to be the Author of your life story as well, tells us that "all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans." You see, you don't have to live life wondering or even waiting ... in faith, you can have confidence right now that the end result of every situation and every circumstance in your life is always and only good in Christ!

In the story that is your life ... I don't know what page you're on; I don't know what problem you're facing or conflict your enduring; I don't know what's going to happen next. In fact, truth be told, I don't know any of the in between stuff ... but I do know the end, and it's going to be good!

Be wise like the old woodcutter ... and why not go ahead and encourage someone in your "village" that it's too soon to give up, that there's still the rest of the story to be written ... that the good part, even the best part, is still to come!

Be with Him

Mark 3:14 says, "He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with him ..."

Interesting isn't it - before the preaching and teaching; before the ministry and miracles; before the church starting or church organizing; before the problem solving or question answering ... even in fact before anything else, the call to discipleship was an opportunity to simply be with Jesus.

My Bible has the following commentary on this verse:

"The primary call of a disciple is to "be with" Jesus - to develop a close personal relationship with him. Serving God's purposes involves instruction and practice of various ministries, but these things must flow out of time spent with Jesus. Anyone who desires to serve Christ must first practice his presence. Out of a deep relationship with Christ comes the power and sensitivity to effectively serve and minister for him. After having been with him, Jesus sent his disciples out to preach his message. That message is to be proven with power. Such power comes from being with Jesus and knowing him. Our activity for God must be preceded by our intimacy with God."

Let me simplify that for you - there's nothing more important than time spent with Jesus! Anything we'd ever want or need God to do in us or for us, anything we'd ever want God to do through us - it'll only be realized on the other side of quality time spent with Him.

Let me put it to you another way ... you can't be too busy to spend time with Him! I know you've got life to live ... but you can't experience the blessing and favor of God that you seek and need for your life apart from first spending time with Him. You've got ministry to do, right - gifts to use, a church to serve, the lost to evangelize ... but you can't be effective to do any of that apart from time spent with Him. There are sick people in need of healing, hurting people in need of hope - they need you, I understand ... but you won't have anything for them if you haven't first been with Him.

I wonder ... for the church of Jesus Christ today - maybe it's not about doing different or doing more ... maybe it's just about spending time with Him before we do anything!

Never mind that. I wonder ... for my own life - maybe it's not about me, about what I feel I can do, should do, or need to do ... maybe it's about me learning to do what a real disciple, a true disciple is supposed to do - be with Him!

They say that practice makes perfect. Well then - let's practice His presence ... until we've become perfect disciples!

Take some time to be with Him today, every day ... and encourage someone to spend time doing the same!

How He Loves

It was the summer of 1987 - I was in Mombasa, Kenya at a Missionary retreat. Wow - almost 25 years ago ... no wonder I don't remember much about that week or the retreat itself. I couldn't tell you what hotel we stayed at. I don't remember who all was there. I couldn't even tell you what we did each day or even if we did anything except chill at the pool. I do remember one night, though. Interesting ... 25 years ago and I remember that night like it was last night.

All of us missionary kids were together for our own service. I have no idea what the worship was like that night or even if we had any; and I couldn't tell you who the speaker was or even give you a clue as to what he spoke about. It was the end of the service - that's what I remember. We were all gathered in prayer ... not sure why or about what, but there we were. I remember that night so well, because that was the night God spoke to me about how much He loved me! I know it's so simple, right? Of course, God loves us ... we all know that, don't we? Oh, but this night was different. I don't know that I can really tell you why except to tell you that it just was. It was as if God showed up to tell me that. Not that I heard it from someone, but that I heard it from Him. And that He would tell me that? I'm thinking He's coming to tell me all that's wrong with my life. I'm thinking He's coming to tell me that I need to do more. And instead, He says to me ... Denny, I love you! In fact it went further. That night, I knew God spoke to my heart that if even if it was just me that needed a Savior, He still would have sent Jesus to die. Even if for just me! Maybe that's what it made it so different, so special. Not that God so loved the world that He sent His Son ... but that He loved even just me that much!

Right there in front of every one, I began to cry ... weep, is probably the better word. I couldn't help it and I couldn't stop it. Obviously, it wasn't that something was wrong; instead, it was that in that moment everything was so perfectly right ... because God loved me! I remember our leader asking me what was going on. Through sobs and gasping breaths, I told him what God had told me. I don't know if it meant the same to him or the rest of the MK's as it did to me - I don't think it did. It probably sounded a little simple, maybe even a little silly - me getting so worked up over something so obvious. Not to me though. To me, it was one of those life-changing moments. I guess, as indicated by this blog, it was one of those moments that I feel worth talking about even 25 years after the fact. Those few moments and those three words from God - it means that much to me!

And so then, I share with you today what God shared with me then ... He loves you! Do you know that? I mean, do you really know that? Have you thought about it much lately? I know you've been busy thinking about all you should be doing for God. I know sometimes it's hard to think about anything other than how we've let Him down or messed things up. A thousand things we perhaps think of when we think of God ... but how about the simple reality of this: He loves you! Now you say it ... God loves me! Remind yourself of that every time you consider the regrets of your past, every time you start to count up the number of mistakes you've made, every time you're reminded of how you didn't measure up - how you didn't do what you should have done or weren't the person you should have been ... in fact, why don't you just remind yourself of that all the time!

For today, for this week, for a new pattern in your day to day living ... take some time to let God speak to you. I think you'll find He has lots to say ... I think you'll be surprised and overwhelmed like I was when the first thing and the last thing and sometimes the only thing He says: I love you!

Know that He loves you ... and why not remind someone today that He loves them, too!

Welcome!

Thanks for checking out my brand new blog. You taking a few minutes out of your busy schedule just to read what I have to say is a real honor . . . and a little intimidating.

I hope that what you read here will always be valued as both engaging and encouraging. One translation of Proverbs 16:24 reads this way: "Kind words are like honey - they cheer you up and make you feel strong." I hope that here, you'd always find words like that . . . words that would always do that for you. Most of all, I hope you'll visit often and that each time you do, you'll be able to consider it time well spent.

I hope to post something each week, so be sure and keep coming back . . . and by the way, your thoughts and/or comments are of course always welcome!

Be blessed . . . and be a blessing!