How serious?

Scripture Reading Today: Exodus 1-3

Many thoughts running through my head today Lord, which is good. It seems to have been a long time since I've really had this flow going, where I am truly excited to be learning and contemplating. But with my head going in so many different good places, I'm not sure where to direct this conversation this morning.

I guess, both of my main thoughts do come together on one issue. Seriousness. As I think about Scripture, conviction, Your will some things are murky to me. Many things I just don't understand. But some, admittedly few, things are crystal clear. The biggest of those clear things was reemphasized today in my reading of Exodus.

"I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering." --- Exodus 3:7

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that You are concerned with those who cry out, with those who are suffering. Your call to us, as those who love You and are blessed by You, is right from this same heart. Be concerned about the poor, the oppressed, those who are crying out. But serious concern, serious enough to do something.

I know that You want us to be concerned. That's why I spout that off all over the place, to anyone who is willing to listen. But what do I do about it? Often times, just like the other things I lack discipline about, I sit back and say yes this is wonderful, yes let's help those who don't have enough, yes, yes, yes! But then the time continues to get away from me while I just sit there thinking, "Where do I start? How do I start? Will I really make a difference? How can I even relate to their world?"

The thing that is most frustrating is that right now I know where to start. We have relationships with those who are in need. I know how to start. You've been pulling on my heart ever since Gideon's birth about this and I know what I should do. Will I make a difference...yea, that's really a ridiculous question by me. It's honest, but ridiculous. Can I relate, I don't think they'll care. That's only a fear of mine.

But am I serious about my faith? That's a crucial element here. Will I push for what my head believes and look to You for strength and hope, or will I retreat into fear? If I was putting money on me, I know I'd lay it on the fear. But I'm not, I'm putting money on You (well, okay, not really). When we're weak, when we would choose fear, You are strong.

Remember the Poor

Just an interesting observation today as I read through Galatians. Paul is defending the simple gospel that he preached to the believers in Galatia, saying that if somebody is preaching something different, they are wrong. So Paul goes through a process of backing up his version of the gospel, showing how those with authority and those who were highly esteemed by the early church approved of what he was saying.

Interesting then, that the one thing these early church leaders reminded Paul must not be left out of his gospel message: "Remember the poor." Paul was preaching a gospel of freedom from the law by living in the grace of Christ, but the one thing that the apostles wanted to make sure also was conveyed was that the poor in the community must be provided for. It is, apparently, an essential part of the gospel, an essential part of Jesus' truth.

It's sad then to look at the state of American Christianity. We have embraced Paul's theme of freedom from the law, the forgiveness of sin through Christ. But have we ever forgotten the poor. We have more wealth in this country than we know what to do with. So we buy bigger houses, bigger TVs, newer... anyways, I'm on a silly rant right now. How well do I remember the poor?

I like to console myself by the fact that I volunteer, support a Compassion child, etc. But is that remembering the poor in the way that God calls us to? I don't really ever feel so. My biggest problem is my fear of the poor. I never grew up around anyone who wasn't well taken care of. It makes me really nervous and uncomfortable to be around less refined, less educated, less fortunate people. How awful is that! I mean it seriously shames me.

But I do nothing about it. Because it really does scare me. It a ridiculous little circle. Fear and no action, fear and no action. But the fear-of-the-Lord is to be stronger than my fears. Can I let it be stronger than my fear of the poor? Can I form relationships and remember those who struggle...

I'm afraid I want to answer: "Probably not..."

Leaving

Texts:
- Psalms 5-8
- Matthew 3-4
- Ezekiel 42-43

Matthew 4, the tale of Jesus's temptation, may be one of my favorite stories in all of Scripture. It's such a rich chapter though, beyond just the temptation. Over this whole Lent period I have been fasting, praying, and listening all aimed at self-control. Leaving behind what I need to leave behind as I venture forward. Leaving behind my tendency to be controlled by the food I eat, by the lust that can overtake me, by the frustrations of living my life in reality, by the escapes that I constantly cling to, by the continual quest for more comfort.

Everywhere I turn in this season then, I am confronted with this message of leaving behind. First, our Exodus Community teaching group decide to teach on the Exodus, the main message of which is that the Israelites are leaving Egypt, leaving that world and its comforts and concerns and oppression behind. After that, Mars Hill Bible Church (which I listen to) makes their Lent series "Leaving Egypt," all culminately on Good Friday when you are to take a physical representation of what you need to leave behind up onto their stage and leave it there. Then I'm continually coming across things in the text, like today. Jesus leaves behind comfort (He goes into the desert) and food (for forty days). Jesus's first disciples leave behind their jobs and their families.

What are you trying to get at Lord? Actually, I think that is a bad question. Or actually one that is just easily answered. You are trying to get me to leave something behind, or a lot of things as listed before. Okay, okay, out of obedience I will attempt to leave my oppressions behind. But that hasn't always worked before.

Reading through Ezekiel today though, I see something else, something that I am looking at with fresh eyes now. In Ezekiel 43, verse 9, God says, "Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever." This is the why! This is why we leave things behind! It's not ground-breaking or new knowledge to me, but at the same time, how ground-shaking and fresh it seems to me!

We leave things behind so that in a very real sense You will live among us, bringing Your weighty glory into our human existence. Existence wrapped in Your presence is the sweetest kind that I know, that kind that has been a focal point in my journey. And here, cloaked in the instructions of how to rebuild the temple, is another living example of how to bring You close. And it all has to do with leaving.

I want to leave. I want to leave things at the altar. I want to escape from tendencies that oppress me and believe into You. But on a larger scale, I want to help others get to this place to. Help me to begin by living this message, living this text, and continually leaving.

Now, may I leave into You this morning. May I seek to cry to You at the sight of oppression, may Your voice turn me to the sweetness of Your presence, and may I in turn lead others there. May You, O LORD, in your righteousness, make straight your way before me. Yes, blessed are You, oh LORD God most righteous, for You make the paths for us to leave and walk down them with us in Your strength. Amen.

Obedience and Correction

Zephaniah 3:1-2 - Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD, she does not draw near to her God.

Oppression, a topic that is definitely rolling around in my head during these forty days. It's scary to look at where oppression really starts, and yet, it makes total sense. Here in a very unread and unknown book to me, Lord, You have begun to unfold the dimensions of oppression and unjustice.

What I think I see in this verse is a progression. A progression that ends with an oppressor. And where does it all start... WITH A LACK OF LISTENING AND OBEYING. The one who opposes the reign of God begins with obeying no one, listening to no one's correction.

This really becomes significant when it is applied to my relationship with You. What reveals my trust in You? My obedience. If I believe that You are truly good, then I will do what You have asked of me, because I know that it is only for the benefit of Your plan. And if I don't obey what You've told me, where does that leave me? Well, I will not be able to draw near to You.

The progression of the oppressor is simple: lack of obedience, lack of correction, lack of trust in You, lack of Your felt presence.

My question becomes very simple then...what are You calling me to obey?

Hearing Injustice?

Isaiah 58:6 - Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: TO LOOSE THE CHAINS OF INJUSTICE...

This is a life verse for me. The kind that I want to memorize and carry in my spirit forever. The rest of the chapter itself is amazing. It is a call that is close to my heart, to share with the hungry, to provide shelter, to clothe the naked, to spend ourselves in behalf of others...but I can't hear.

Awhile ago, I realized that to lead others in ministry, I need to hear hearts. Lord, You must provide me with the ability to hear the heart of many. What do they desire, yearn for, worry about? What do they constantly come before You in prayer for and how can we help them?

But it seems that as this fast starts I am extremely deaf. Perhaps I have not taken enough time to hear, perhaps I am too selfish with my time, perhaps am I simply too lazy. Lord, the kind of fasting You have chosen is to loose the chains of injustice, but I must hear where that injustice is first. Help me to have an ear for the cry.