"I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.... now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy... I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:20,22,33)
Do you see a pattern here? Sorrow joy... sorrow joy... sorrow joy. Grief then joy. Grief then rejoicing. Trouble then overcoming. This is the pattern of the Christian life. This leads me to ask a question... is that really fair bible? How is it that you want me to be sad and happy? How are we supposed to be grieving but happy? And, shouldn't we always be joyful? If we are calling others to follow us then wouldn't joy be a great sales point? So why all this business about grief Jesus?
I do think that it is biblical to feel sad but still rejoice. But, our sadness should arise out of meaningful things. I don't think our hearts should break over petty things. There are things about this world that shouldn't be that big of a deal. We need to severe our love for petty things and the effect that they have on your soul. I am thinking about stuff like a car and having a mysterious dent shouldn't bring our world down. There are a million examples of things that shouldn't bring your world down what is yours? Money... when bills add up does that bring you sorrow? Sports... when your team has a bad week does that make you upset for a few days? When someone leaves the toilette seat up do you crumble with frustration? When someone goes in the 10 item or less lane at Walmart with a full cart do you lose it? When someone drives super slow and you are in a hurry does that make your blood boil? This is not what Jesus has in mind.
I think that our sorrow should come from things that matter. It should break our hearts that others don't know God. The fact that we have sin should grieve us. I think that watching a world that is corrupt and ruled by the prince of the air should make us sad. I think that our lack of faith should make us grieve. So there is a good grief. There is sorrow that is good. Paul describes it as godly sorrow (2 Corinth 7:10) that leads us to repentance. This is good. Sorrow can lead us to the cross. It is a sorrow that leads to repentance and ultimately to grace.
Then there are the verses that tell us to rejoice. Philippians 4:4 says, "rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice!" When the apostles were beaten in Acts 5 they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy of suffering for the namesake. This is bizarre stuff?! This is gospel stuff.
Let me tell you a story about a group of people that went to visit some Christian friends in prison. While they were at the prison their houses were ransacked. What do you think they felt? Upset? Furious? Bitter? Unbelief that God could allow that to happen? I mean they are good Christians and doing a noble thing by visiting other good persecuted Christians!? Maybe enraged is a good way to describe them? ...Nope they were joyful "because they knew they had a better possession and an abiding one (Hebrews 10:34)."
Does that begin to describe you? Because that is what Jesus is talking about. Sure you might encounter some troubles in this life, sure you will be grieved, but 'I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away.' So, enjoy some of that joy now. Rejoice that you are called and loved. Rejoice that you have a possession that will last for eternity... God. "Whom have I in heaven but you. And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:24)"
Paul sums it up so perfectly in 2 Corinthians 6:10, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." This is your struggle friend... being sorrowful yet always rejoice... being poured out yet being filled... facing trouble but overcoming... being grieved yet being filled with peace and joy. "You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy. (vs. 22)"
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Unbalanced
I know this might seem contradictory to the previous article but so what? It is truth. There are certain areas that I want to be unbalanced. And some areas where I don't have a choice. hehehe
The area that I want to be most unbalanced in is my pursuit of Jesus. This is an all out lopsided crazy pursuit at the expense of joyfully giving everything. I think a major theme can be missed in Jesus' teachings; you might not make the cut. Pastors might not make the cut (1 Timothy 4:16), apostles might not make the cut (1 Corinthians 9:27), disciples might not make the cut (Acts 5), and prophets might not make the cut (Jeremiah 23).
Jesus shares so much about the narrow road and narrow gate that only a few find. Broad is the road and wide is the gate that leads to destruction. Narrow is the way that leads to life (Matthew 7). "Are only a few going to be saved," one person asked Jesus? His response: "Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate because many will stand at the door and knock and I will say to them plainly, "away from me I never knew you (Matthew 13)."" Wives, jobs, property, and many other things will all be a distraction from God (Luke 14). Jesus speaks plainly about this and I apologize that pastors do not speak more boldly on this subject. It should make us all cringe at the thought of people saying, "but Jesus you taught in our streets, we prophesied in your name, and even drove out demons" but He will tell them plainly, "away from me you evil doers" (Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 13:26-27).
Not every one who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom. -Jesus
Ok, tell me if in light of those texts you want to hold anything back in following him? No way! That makes me want to go crazy and if someone tells me that I am too radical in my pursuit then I will show them why, "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:27)." I might be unbalanced. But, I think I am justified in doing this. The man who found the treasure in the field joyfully sold everything so he could purchase the field. The merchant who found a pearl of such great value sold everything he had so he could have that pearl (Matthew 13). That is how it is with God. When you realize what you get, you joyfully give up everything for him. You become unbalanced, you throw caution to the wind, you recklessly pursue Him, and you do it in a way that others might think you are crazy... But here is the truth: You would be crazy not to.
The area that I want to be most unbalanced in is my pursuit of Jesus. This is an all out lopsided crazy pursuit at the expense of joyfully giving everything. I think a major theme can be missed in Jesus' teachings; you might not make the cut. Pastors might not make the cut (1 Timothy 4:16), apostles might not make the cut (1 Corinthians 9:27), disciples might not make the cut (Acts 5), and prophets might not make the cut (Jeremiah 23).
Jesus shares so much about the narrow road and narrow gate that only a few find. Broad is the road and wide is the gate that leads to destruction. Narrow is the way that leads to life (Matthew 7). "Are only a few going to be saved," one person asked Jesus? His response: "Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate because many will stand at the door and knock and I will say to them plainly, "away from me I never knew you (Matthew 13)."" Wives, jobs, property, and many other things will all be a distraction from God (Luke 14). Jesus speaks plainly about this and I apologize that pastors do not speak more boldly on this subject. It should make us all cringe at the thought of people saying, "but Jesus you taught in our streets, we prophesied in your name, and even drove out demons" but He will tell them plainly, "away from me you evil doers" (Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 13:26-27).
Not every one who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom. -Jesus
Ok, tell me if in light of those texts you want to hold anything back in following him? No way! That makes me want to go crazy and if someone tells me that I am too radical in my pursuit then I will show them why, "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:27)." I might be unbalanced. But, I think I am justified in doing this. The man who found the treasure in the field joyfully sold everything so he could purchase the field. The merchant who found a pearl of such great value sold everything he had so he could have that pearl (Matthew 13). That is how it is with God. When you realize what you get, you joyfully give up everything for him. You become unbalanced, you throw caution to the wind, you recklessly pursue Him, and you do it in a way that others might think you are crazy... But here is the truth: You would be crazy not to.
You've Got Balance Brah!
So about a year ago I was hanging out in a pub with some friends. (You can read as hanging with sinners and tax collectors but be careful that you don't become like the ones that first coined that phrase) I ran into a kid from highschool that became an Alaskan fisherman, like the guys on "Deadliest Catch" and then took the money from his few months of nonstop work and traveled all over the globe trying to surf and soak up the vibes of different cultures.
Apparently, he had seen my myspace with pictures of me wakeboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and hanging with orphans on missions trips so he said to me, "you've got balance brah!" I don't even know if I can help you hear him say those words like he did. He was a little impaired and he put a ton of emphasis on the word "balance." I honestly didn't know how to respond, so I told him it was years and years of practice. Then he kinda grabbed my arm and said, "no man... you've got balance brah" putting more of an emphasis on the word balance. I guess he was talking about the mission work that I've done and that I make it very apparent that I am a sold out Christ follower so he was saying balance inferring that it was "gnarly that I answer to a higher power."
I am trying to figure out this whole balance thing. Lately I've been wrestling with what it means to have balance. How can you hold two seemingly different views in the balance? Think about this... the apostle Paul said "...besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? (2 Corinthians 11:28-29)" Sounds like a pretty intense burden? I know the feeling too... obviously not to the extent that Paul did, but I can feel the pain of looking at churches and have a concern for their spiritual well being. I know how he feels about feeling weak and I know how he feels when he speaks of sin and the inward burn. But in another place Paul writes these words, "Rejoice in the Lord! I say it again Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)" Be glad I command you. How does Paul hold in the balance these two seemingly opposing views?! How is it possible to be joyful when you are concerned about the health of churches or the fight of sin in your life or even the seeming victories Satan has in your friends or families lives? How can you be joyful then?
In my opinion it is only a work of God to have Joy when things are hard. We need to cry out that God would pour the oil of joy on our lives. We need to look at the majesty of the One on the throne and recognize, "He is enough."
Let me swing the other way for a moment... are you unconcerned? I think it is possible to be naive of what the Spirit is doing. And I think it is at your own detriment. Proverbs 1:32 says, "the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them." I think it is possible to be ignorant of the fact that the world is perishing around us and we simply attend church and feel pretty good about life. In fact Ezekiel describes the sin of Sodom as this (by the way we don't want to be like Sodom . God poured his wrath out on and consumed her with fire), "she was arrogant, overfed and unconcerned." Sodom was arrogant, overfed and unconcerned. Sounds deadly close to a description of my life.
So, I guess the crux of the matter is this... are you heavy on one side or the other? Do you have balance today? Or are you operating on one end of the spectrum? Because both ends are unhealthy and we need to find a way to be somewhere in the middle. Somehow concerned about the world around us, and the state of the churches, and the wages of sin, and weakness of our faith.... but also rejoicing and joyful in the fact that "the enemy has been defeated, and death couldn't hold Him down. So lift your voice in victory and make Your praises loud (Hillsong United lyrics paraphrased)."
Let's have some balance brahs!
Apparently, he had seen my myspace with pictures of me wakeboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and hanging with orphans on missions trips so he said to me, "you've got balance brah!" I don't even know if I can help you hear him say those words like he did. He was a little impaired and he put a ton of emphasis on the word "balance." I honestly didn't know how to respond, so I told him it was years and years of practice. Then he kinda grabbed my arm and said, "no man... you've got balance brah" putting more of an emphasis on the word balance. I guess he was talking about the mission work that I've done and that I make it very apparent that I am a sold out Christ follower so he was saying balance inferring that it was "gnarly that I answer to a higher power."
I am trying to figure out this whole balance thing. Lately I've been wrestling with what it means to have balance. How can you hold two seemingly different views in the balance? Think about this... the apostle Paul said "...besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? (2 Corinthians 11:28-29)" Sounds like a pretty intense burden? I know the feeling too... obviously not to the extent that Paul did, but I can feel the pain of looking at churches and have a concern for their spiritual well being. I know how he feels about feeling weak and I know how he feels when he speaks of sin and the inward burn. But in another place Paul writes these words, "Rejoice in the Lord! I say it again Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)" Be glad I command you. How does Paul hold in the balance these two seemingly opposing views?! How is it possible to be joyful when you are concerned about the health of churches or the fight of sin in your life or even the seeming victories Satan has in your friends or families lives? How can you be joyful then?
In my opinion it is only a work of God to have Joy when things are hard. We need to cry out that God would pour the oil of joy on our lives. We need to look at the majesty of the One on the throne and recognize, "He is enough."
Let me swing the other way for a moment... are you unconcerned? I think it is possible to be naive of what the Spirit is doing. And I think it is at your own detriment. Proverbs 1:32 says, "the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them." I think it is possible to be ignorant of the fact that the world is perishing around us and we simply attend church and feel pretty good about life. In fact Ezekiel describes the sin of Sodom as this (by the way we don't want to be like Sodom . God poured his wrath out on and consumed her with fire), "she was arrogant, overfed and unconcerned." Sodom was arrogant, overfed and unconcerned. Sounds deadly close to a description of my life.
So, I guess the crux of the matter is this... are you heavy on one side or the other? Do you have balance today? Or are you operating on one end of the spectrum? Because both ends are unhealthy and we need to find a way to be somewhere in the middle. Somehow concerned about the world around us, and the state of the churches, and the wages of sin, and weakness of our faith.... but also rejoicing and joyful in the fact that "the enemy has been defeated, and death couldn't hold Him down. So lift your voice in victory and make Your praises loud (Hillsong United lyrics paraphrased)."
Let's have some balance brahs!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Mark 10 -Give it up
The rich young ruler comes to Jesus and wants to know the way to inherit eternal life... what an important question. Some of us rush through life without asking about that important and pressing issue. But this man does and what he finds out is not favorable. Keep the commands. Which he did a good job of doing apparently, but Jesus stepped it up a notch. "Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me." The man went away sad because he had great wealth.
It is so easy for us to read that story and think what a dummy. He should sell his stuff ... I am glad I am not rich. Jesus wouldn't ask me to do that because I come from a middle class mediocre income family. I am by no means rich.... I need to tell you something. You are abundantly rich. 60 percent of the people on the planet right now... this very second, live for 2 dollars a day or less. The majority of people live on less than the amount we would spend on a value meal at McD's. You are filthy rich. And would you be able to give it up for the sake of the Kingdom? To inherit eternal life? Would you be willing to give all your possessions away. Live simply? Make sacrifices financially so that you could give more to the poor? Some of us give our 10 percent to the church and feel pretty good about it. Jesus is calling us to so much more. Give it all away and give to the poor, then come and follow Him. Is that the kind of faith you live? A reckless, sold out, all in faith? Or are you like the man who goes away sad? I will be honest it is hard to live this out. I don't want to be the tightfisted rich man in Mark 10... I want to be the Joy filled all consumed sold out guy in Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like a man who found a treasure in a field and in his Joy sold everything so he could purchase that field! So he joyfully gave up everything? You mean he willingly sold everything? He didn't even have to be asked he just did it? That is what I want to think about my Jesus. He is worth the whole darn thing. I would give it all up just to have him. My hope is that you see Jesus as that treasure. That you see him as far more valuable than anything else and you are willing to sell it all just to have him!
It is so easy for us to read that story and think what a dummy. He should sell his stuff ... I am glad I am not rich. Jesus wouldn't ask me to do that because I come from a middle class mediocre income family. I am by no means rich.... I need to tell you something. You are abundantly rich. 60 percent of the people on the planet right now... this very second, live for 2 dollars a day or less. The majority of people live on less than the amount we would spend on a value meal at McD's. You are filthy rich. And would you be able to give it up for the sake of the Kingdom? To inherit eternal life? Would you be willing to give all your possessions away. Live simply? Make sacrifices financially so that you could give more to the poor? Some of us give our 10 percent to the church and feel pretty good about it. Jesus is calling us to so much more. Give it all away and give to the poor, then come and follow Him. Is that the kind of faith you live? A reckless, sold out, all in faith? Or are you like the man who goes away sad? I will be honest it is hard to live this out. I don't want to be the tightfisted rich man in Mark 10... I want to be the Joy filled all consumed sold out guy in Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like a man who found a treasure in a field and in his Joy sold everything so he could purchase that field! So he joyfully gave up everything? You mean he willingly sold everything? He didn't even have to be asked he just did it? That is what I want to think about my Jesus. He is worth the whole darn thing. I would give it all up just to have him. My hope is that you see Jesus as that treasure. That you see him as far more valuable than anything else and you are willing to sell it all just to have him!
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