How do you respond ...

There are many ways that we might show someone how much we appreciate them, how much they mean to us, how much we love them. I am sure you have heard the saying, actions speak louder than words. And that is particularly evident by the actions of Mary (the sister of Lazarus) in this encounter:

John 12:1-11 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

So I pose the question again, how do you respond to the knowledge of who Jesus is? What action of yours brings honour to Him? In what way do you display your appreciation, your gratefulness, your love for Him, to Him?

Sadly, before the twelfth chapter of John is concluded, we have people who do not believe, or are willing to show their belief in Jesus for fear of reprisal, or fear of what others might think, or the repercussions they might face. It makes answering the question all the more important, and with a bit more consideration -

How do I respond to the knowledge of who Jesus is?

What has your attention ...

A few days ago I mentioned a book I was reading by Andy Stanley - The Principle of the Path. In this I related the principle of the path, the road we have chosen to be on (the direction we are going), and how this determines our destination (where we end up). Within this I discovered that for all the great intentions I might have, the goals and dreams I might hold onto, these won't make any difference if I choose the wrong path.

As the book proceeds, another lesson is learnt, another element explored. Andy Stanley raises in the formula the matter of "attention". What has your attention? What has captured  your eye? What has drawn you to give it all of your focus?

This is because what lures us or grabs our attention will most often determine the path that we take. Again, whether that be concerning our finances, relationships, employment, education ... If something or someone captures our gaze, it will often take us in a direction that may have been contrary to the one we were initially intending.

The importance of being aware of this, is so we allow God to keep our gaze. We allow God to command what it is we do, where it is we go, who it is we associate with. The alternative is to be taken by whatever, whoever  and wherever that something captures our eye the most.

Thus attention -> direction -> destination.

I would encourage you, if you are looking for a good read, to pick up a copy of the book and take up the challenge of being focused for God.

The purpose ...

When we begin to examine more closely, we begin to see that everyone has a purpose about their existence. Many may not realise this, because it is not necessarily intentional, determined with some thinking or planned on their behalf. However, if you were to look closer you will see they have made some decision to go a particular direction, they have chosen one way over another. They have chosen their course. Some of these purposes are beneficial to the person concerned, some more so to others who will receive from them. Some are such that they may disturb or even concern us.

Jesus reveals to us His purpose:

John 10:10 (New Living Translation)
¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10 (The Message)
¹⁰ A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy.
I came so they can have real and eternal life,
more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

I am intrigued that the interpretation of those outside the Church (and living contrary to what we believe),  to be far from this claim of Jesus. They would rather explain Jesus as being a party pooper, dull and boring, bogging us down with all the rules and regulations to suck the life out of us, taking away all the possibility of fun. Interestingly, the aspects of life that these people would see Jesus being against are the very elements that we (as Christians) might  find destructive to the fabric of our society, degrading of other human beings and self destructive in nature of the persons concerned. If people were more honest in these arguments it might expose that Jesus for them, reveals a guilt or conviction that what they are doing is less than good, or pure or leading to a holy life.

Jesus revelation again reinforces for us that He desires good for those who will be His followers - actually this is His desire for all persons. Life - in all its richness and satisfaction. 

May we live in accordance with that purpose, accepting the gift of real life in Jesus, and making it our purpose to share this same purpose with others around us.

What do I say ...

Well the title is probably one of the most common questions to giving your testimony. "What do I say?"

I think the problem arises out of the misconception that we need to be eloquent in our delivery. We need to ensure we use the right words (which often means jargon). Some might expect it is required to be spectacular in some way, spelling out a dramatic change that has taken place, explaining the ins and outs of the experience. Is it any wonder that some might ask - "what do I say?"

I love the following passage, one, for the reminder of the miracles that Christ is able to perform, but secondly, for the interaction that takes place regarding what has taken place, and within this the testimony of this young man:

John 9:1-34 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!”

But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!”

10 They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?”

11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!”

12 “Where is he now?” they asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied.

13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”

The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?”

20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this,[b] because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”

25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?”

27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”

28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”

30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”

34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

The questioning by the religious leaders of the young man leads him to counter with just a simple explanation - I can;t explain what He (Jesus) did. I don't know who He (Jesus) is. But here's what I do know, I was blind and now I can see. That is it - simply put I believe our testimony is just recalling what has happened for us, not how (the understandings and intricacies that we just cannot explain anyway), but what our personal encounter with Jesus has been.

As Christians we each have our own unique story/encounter to tell. Let's be faithful in recalling that when we have an opportunity.

Chinese whispers ...

Well I reckon from the reading tonight the Lord must have been aware of the game of "Chinese whispers", you know what I mean - a group of people gather, someone begins a message and whispers it to the next person, who whispers it to the next and on it goes until it gets right through to the very last person. Seldom is the concluding message exactly the same as the message that the group commenced with. So here is what I read:

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (New Living Translation)

The Lord’s Second Reply

2 Then the Lord said to me,

“Write my answer plainly on tablets,

so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.

3 This vision is for a future time.

It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.

If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,

for it will surely take place.

It will not be delayed.

The prophet Habakkuk is recounting a vision that he was given. He is struggling with the circumstances he finds himself and the nation within. There seems to be nothing by strife and trouble for them. There is certainly no hope (it appears). And even in the Lord's first reply (response) to their questioning, it may seem that the Lord is set on destroying or annihilating them.

Here is where I see the Lord saying, I am not about to entrust the message to someone who might get it wrong, or twisted or out of shape in any way. I want My message to be clear, plain, simple, correct and precise. I want no mistaking that I have a plan that is for you.

Have a look again, this time through Eugene Peterson's The Message,

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (The Message)

Full of Self, but Soul-Empty

2-3And then God answered: "Write this.

Write what you see.

Write it out in big block letters

so that it can be read on the run.

This vision-message is a witness

pointing to what's coming.

It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!

And it doesn't lie.

If it seems slow in coming, wait.

It's on its way. It will come right on time.

Lord I am glad Your message is given to me (us) plain and simple, though I see many who just don't get it. You anoint and appoint me (us) to carry Your message into the world. In my (our) attempt to be faithful to this purpose, help me to be ever reliant on Your Spirit to speak through me and help me not to be a hurdle or barrier to the clarity of Your message.

The principle of the path ...

Well, onto another book which I want to share some insight from tonight. Maybe something more of a getting you thinking and whetting the appetite to read the book for yourself.

One of my favourite authors. A person I have had the privilege of sitting under their ministry a few times (both in Chicago and here in Australia), to which this exposed me to his writings and then the application much of what I learnt from these to my own ministry (well an attempt to do this). Andy Stanley and the book The Principle of the Path.

The gist of the book is that, this principle of the path totally effects our lives, whether it be dating, marriage, child-raising, career, finances, health. Andy Stanley reminds us that direction - not intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, beliefs, intellect, or education - determines destination. Simply put, you and I will win or lose in life by the paths we choose.

Crudely speaking (in my simple explanation), no matter what we might intend. No matter how learned we might be. No matter what we hope or dream for. It is the path we choose and the direction we go that determines the destination we find ourselves in the end. If we continue down a particular route in life that is heading to destruction, don't expect a simple prayer or hope for something different, to change the outcome of that destination point, if  (unless) you don't stop and change course - it won't and cannot happen.

Lord, the realisation I come to, is the need to listen to You and follow the lead You give for my life. To choose Your direction, the path You have set before me and to stick to this. Help me to do this in faith and to Your glory.

How's your faith ...

I am interested in the passage recorded below which recalls the account of the "Feeding of the Five Thousand". There is the challenge that Jesus presents, that they (He and the disciples) might be able to take care of the crowd with a meal, feed them, remember, over 5,000 of them.

Then there is the realism of Philip who recalls what that would cost and how little money they had to achieve that goal.

But, and I love this one, Andrew comes forward and presents the virtually impossible probability that all these people and five loaves and two fish. Even though he questions this himself. Here's the thing for me, if you didn't even remotely believe that there was some possibility of resolution, some inkling of a miracle, I don't think you would even make presentation of such a meagre offering to such a large issue. Thus I reckon we have evident here some amazing display of faith.

So here's the question again - "How's your faith?"

John 6:1-16 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.