The coming kingdom described in Revelation 21 is indescribably good - no more death, mourning, crying or pain. A kingdom of full allegiance to God where evil is completely absent. Its physical manifestation will be as real as Jesus' resurrected body.
In contrast, the kingdom we live in today constantly wars against God's reign. The devil feeds our worldly appetites for money, power, fame and self-preservation, causing tremendous human suffering.
While we endure much darkness now, God can empower resistance to such corrosive influences. Jesus said "the Kingdom of God is found within us" (Luke 17:20-21), affirming that even today--here and now--we can experience God's presence in such a way that we can reflect limitless light and life within the decay and death that surrounds us.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Hallowed be your name
This second petition in the Lord's prayer has also been translated as "may your name be kept holy", suggesting God's name can be soiled. No one likes being misrepresented, not even God.
So, whose job is it to keep God's name holy? Angels probably have some part in it but I don't want to speculate in that unfamiliar realm. Then there are Jesus' followers. Whether we like it or not, the moment we claim to be His follower--claim that our business belongs to Him or that we are doing His bidding--we put God's reputation on the line. That's high pressure we say.
I guess that's why Jesus asked us to make this our regular request when we pray. We simply aren't capable of keeping God's name clean on our own effort - we need divine help again and again.
So, whose job is it to keep God's name holy? Angels probably have some part in it but I don't want to speculate in that unfamiliar realm. Then there are Jesus' followers. Whether we like it or not, the moment we claim to be His follower--claim that our business belongs to Him or that we are doing His bidding--we put God's reputation on the line. That's high pressure we say.
I guess that's why Jesus asked us to make this our regular request when we pray. We simply aren't capable of keeping God's name clean on our own effort - we need divine help again and again.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Our Father in heaven
A perfect father is someone who:
- knows me
- loves me
- provides for me
- protects me
- challenges me
- cherishes me
- chastises me for good
- wants me to grow and fly
He is someone I:
- love back
- obey
- honor
- am proud of
- depend on
- trust completely
- confide in
Pretty amazing to have Jesus tell us this is how we're supposed to relate to God. So amazing that we can hardly believe it.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Why the 'Lion' of Judah?
I never appreciated what a 'lion' really means until I encountered one on safari in Africa. Lions have absolutely no fear. The one I speak of came toward us, walking with confident deliberate strides, right down the middle of the road as if our big Jeep didn't exist. Passing within a few feet of us, he didn't veer one inch or even cock his head to look at us. A lion knows that it is the king of the land.
Kruger National Park, Sept 2008
Monday, January 18, 2010
Being boastful isn't a bad thing
....as long as God is our source of pride.
Look at David before he killed Goliath. He had a history of God winning for him, once against a lion and once against a bear. He had reason to be confident that Goliath was an easy kill. Yet his own brother accused him of being conceited and wicked (1 Samual 17:28-29). David ignored his brother and kept talking about his potential victory. His bold claims got him to Saul's court and eventually in front of the giant--whom he taunted face to face. It was one boast after another--all along about the living God that he knew.
There is a difference between boasting that God forbids and boasting that God enjoys. Just because some people can't tell the difference doesn't mean the latter type of boasting should be refrained.
Look at David before he killed Goliath. He had a history of God winning for him, once against a lion and once against a bear. He had reason to be confident that Goliath was an easy kill. Yet his own brother accused him of being conceited and wicked (1 Samual 17:28-29). David ignored his brother and kept talking about his potential victory. His bold claims got him to Saul's court and eventually in front of the giant--whom he taunted face to face. It was one boast after another--all along about the living God that he knew.
There is a difference between boasting that God forbids and boasting that God enjoys. Just because some people can't tell the difference doesn't mean the latter type of boasting should be refrained.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Do I love God for God?
Or do I love God for the bling bling He brings me?
Job's story shows that it is possible to worship and love God even if the whole world collapses on me.
Satan's attack was not just against Job, it was an even bigger strike against God. In effect, he was saying, "God Almighty, you bribe with your blessings. You wouldn't get worshipped if it wasn't for the good things you give to your people. You alone are not worthy to be worshipped!"
Job proved Satan wrong. And countless others in church history have also proved him wrong.
Job's story shows that it is possible to worship and love God even if the whole world collapses on me.
Satan's attack was not just against Job, it was an even bigger strike against God. In effect, he was saying, "God Almighty, you bribe with your blessings. You wouldn't get worshipped if it wasn't for the good things you give to your people. You alone are not worthy to be worshipped!"
Job proved Satan wrong. And countless others in church history have also proved him wrong.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Why is glory so important to God?
God understands glory better than we do.
The story of Gideon is all about glory. In the book of Judges we read that 135,000 soldiers are attacking God's people. Gideon scrabbles together 32,000 to fight their enemy--and most likely die losing the battle. But God was going to win that battle for them--and knew something important about glory. He needed to make it obvious that HE, not they, was the key factor. It's theoretically possible that 32,000 men could overthrow 135,000. So God commanded Gideon's army be whittled down to 300 to ensure that the fighting men would have no right to claim credit after the battle (Judges 7:2).
But why is giving God glory such a big deal?
The end of the story gives us a hint. Gideon couldn't resist claiming a little glory for himself; he made an ephod of gold from the plunder collected from his fallen enemies and put it in his home town. People started worshipping it and it became 'a trap for Gideon and his family' (Judges 8:27). Glory corrupts everyone except God himself.
The story of Gideon is all about glory. In the book of Judges we read that 135,000 soldiers are attacking God's people. Gideon scrabbles together 32,000 to fight their enemy--and most likely die losing the battle. But God was going to win that battle for them--and knew something important about glory. He needed to make it obvious that HE, not they, was the key factor. It's theoretically possible that 32,000 men could overthrow 135,000. So God commanded Gideon's army be whittled down to 300 to ensure that the fighting men would have no right to claim credit after the battle (Judges 7:2).
But why is giving God glory such a big deal?
The end of the story gives us a hint. Gideon couldn't resist claiming a little glory for himself; he made an ephod of gold from the plunder collected from his fallen enemies and put it in his home town. People started worshipping it and it became 'a trap for Gideon and his family' (Judges 8:27). Glory corrupts everyone except God himself.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What really happens when we pray?
This is what Revelation 8:3-5 tells us:
"Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. Then the angel fiilled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake."
"Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. Then the angel fiilled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake."
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Don't sweat the small stuff
Concerns for health, wealth and happiness in life preoccupy our thoughts. But sometimes, in rare moments of clarity, we see that life should be about more than these. From one perspective, this life is only a blip, however, God has ordained that what we value and what we focus on in this life have eternal consequences. So, let's not allow trivial things distract us. As someone once prayed, "don't be painting the Titanic when you should be watching out for icebergs!"
Friday, January 1, 2010
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