Pieces of Grace

“First let the children eat all they want,” [H]e told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

“Yes, Lord, she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”  Mark 7:27-28

In Jewish tradition, it was customary at Jewish tables for diners to use pieces of bread to wipe their fingers, since most of what they ate was with their fingers. After the bread was used, the piece was tossed onto the floor for the dogs to eat. So it was in the time of the Messiah.

To Jewish thought, a Jew always had priority over a gentile. In fact, Jews often referred to them as “dogs.” The term Jesus used with this Greek woman was a bit kinder.  It could be translated “puppy” (kunarion), i.e. household pets, and not scavengers.

This woman was asking Jesus to heal her daughter of an unclean spirit. While His reply might, at first might seem harsh and unfeeling, this woman was acquainted with Jewish prejudices of outsiders and was not offended.  Even though she knew the Messiah was there to feed the family first, she believed pieces of that Grace from that banquet table could be had.

Jesus saw that this gentile woman’s faith was strong and He wanted to test its mettle. In giving her the chance to stretch that faith, she demonstrated her sincere confidence in God’s authenticity, love, and power, and He healed her daughter.

Thanks to God’s grace, we can receive more than a few pieces of His favored love and attention. As did this gentile woman, we can come face-to-face with our Messiah and present our requests to Him. But unlike her, we won’t have to settle for pieces of grace to feed our hungry hearts.  We are no longer considered as puppies under the table, but as family.  And when He invites family to come and dine, it is now to feast fully on the Bread of Life, Christ Jesus (John 6:35).

Ken

Count Them if You Can

He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars-if indeed you can count them."  Then [H]e said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Genesis 15:5 (ESV)

I used to mouth the words, “God is good,” with a kind of nonchalance to the real Truth of His Person. However, in the past few years I have come to use that phrase with a deeply respectful appreciation. After all the bad things I’ve experienced, I can't count the times I've seen Him turn those things to good on my behalf. I have found that He indeed works for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

     Did Abram completely trust in the power and strength of God at all times?  No, he didn’t, for he, like the rest of us, was imperfect, and bent by a sinful nature toward doubt.  He too needed to occasionally hear the LORD’s encouragement that He would always be his shield and protector.

     One night, He showed Abram the vastness of the Milky Way and had him look at the stars, challenging him to count them if he could.  He promised him that He would make Abram’s descendants as numerous as the stars he was looking at (Genesis 15:5). 

     Paul writes that Abraham believed God was as good as His word, and it was credited to him as righteousness. He goes on to say it was not credited to him alone, but also for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 4:22-24).

     Yes, God is good.  His response to us is individually tailored to meet our individual needs, and all His promises are strong and true and will stand forever.  His promise and will for you may not be a miracle of fathering a child of promise at 100 years old, but all your needs are just as important to Him, and to Him it’s personal.

     Peace to you today.  Trust in such a gracious and good Father King. There is no need to be afraid, for He is your shield and very great reward with mercies too numerous to even count.   They never fail.  He isn’t just a God who offers you the moon. He gives you the stars.

Ken

 

 

 

 

Napoleon's Chump Change

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  Romans 12:3 (ESV)

Have you ever heard the term ‘chump change’?  Webster’s Dictionary defines it as: A relatively small or insignificant amount of money.  It’s not worth the trouble. 

     One example, I recall, is the story of Napoleon Bonaparte when he became Emperor of the French Republic. As Pope Pius VII was about to place the crown upon Bonaparte in Notre Dame Cathedral, Napoleon grabbed the crown from the Pope’s hands and placed it upon his own head.  Napoleon thought he alone was the only one worthy enough to put him on the throne.  He thought of himself more highly than he ought to.

     For myself, this is an area I struggle in.  I am prone to place my Crown of Destiny upon my own head.  Seeking to do that has seemed like a splendid idea, but once on the throne of my own will, my prayer life wilted and following my own devices, I wound up, as Emperor Bonaparte, standing before the smoking ruins of a Waterloo of my own making.

     Jesus invites all of us to trust Him to anoint us for our life’s portion.  Sober judgment, with faith is our crown.  I’ve found when I have seized my crown from His hands, any imagined palace became a very real dungeon.  Compared to the riches of Christ Jesus, it was an insignificant and pitiful return for my efforts. I saw it for what it was, simply chump change. Obedience is truly better than that (Psalm 51:17).

Ken

 

 

The Man That Stopped God

When he [Bartimaeus] heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” Mark 10:47-49

There is more to being blind than just the loss of physical sight.  There is a greater handicap that can be more frightening; a darkness that blinds the soul.

Bartimaeus was blind, reduced to sitting beside the road each day begging, but in his blindness, a light shone on his soul. Even in his physical blindness, he was looking for the One he knew could heal his infirmity. Those who tried to silence his cries for mercy when he finally found Him were the truly blind. 

When he heard Him passing, he knew Him, and called Him by His Messianic title, Son of David. In crying out for mercy he stopped God where He stood. And God in His mercy touched a blind man and gave him his sight. Mark tells us after Bartimaeus received his sight, he followed Jesus down the road (vs 52).

There are many dark places we may struggle in.  Places to dark to  find any way way out.  If you’re human, you know whereof I speak. Jesus is more than willing to stop and show us mercy. 

He is constantly moving in His universal Power, and is never too busy to stop for us. Bartimaeus had blind sight, for he was looking for, and knew, the Son of David. When we realize He is as near as our cry, He stops and says, “Come to Me.” The Lord’s mercy brings healing, and His Word brings light into our darkness.  It was so obvious, even a blind man saw it.  

Ken

Ronnyvu!

After all this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” Revelation 19:1 (NIV)

One of the most strikingly beautiful novels I’ve ever read is Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher. I've read it more than once.  This is the same book that the movie Jeremiah Johnson is based on.

The hero of the story is a solitary mountain man named Sam Minard.  As lonesome a life as Sam leads, he will occasionally meet other mountain men in the course of trapping beaver. As the men would part, they’d speak of meeting up at rendezvous. The rendezvous was a kind of Mountain Man’s Company Picnic, with food, tall tales and contests of skill with rifle and axe.  All the mountain men looked forward to this time of festivity “Next year at Ronnyvu.”

There’s a rendezvous coming for all who have believed on Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus said He was going to His heavenly Father to prepare a place for us, and if He went away, He would come back for us (John 14:2-3).

It will be a time when all of us, both who are resurrected from the grave, and those of us still alive, will be caught up into the air to meet Him and will always be with Him (1^st Thessalonians 4:13-18).  It will be a great reunion with believers from all ages where we will meet and greet one another and offer worship and praise to our God. Exactly when this will be only the Father in heaven knows (Matthew 24:36), but we expect it to be very soon.

The mountain men were notorious for wanting to keep their lives private and being left alone throughout the year.  But the Lord doesn’t want us to be that way at all.  His love, grace, and free gift of salvation is cause for great celebration and He wants us to spread the word.  It is going to be a wonderful time of jubilee as we rendezvous, glorify and exalt God’s only begotten Son.

The next time we meet someone, let’s tell there’s a Rendezvous coming and they’ve got a personal invitation from Jesus Himself.  It’s almost time to head out.  He wants to see you at that future and final gathering and He’s looking forward to you being there. I'm going, and I hope to see you there.

Ken 

Fully Freed

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I went up to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble upon the people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23

Waiting for something we want at times seems to be mostly more trouble than it’s worth. And when we’re waiting on God to fix a desperate problem, like Moses, we tend to forget the I AM in the burning bush and focus on the burning crisis. Moses’ plan was to lead Israel out of Egypt.  God’s plan was to first break their chains of slavery, that He would be glorified among all the nations (Psalm 86:8-10).

When God does not move in the timing of our plan, we can become confused and doubtful, and in that doubt may retaliate with an attitude of “God, You aren’t doing this my way.  Why haven’t You rescued me from this situation? Don’t You care?” Of course, He cares.

To say God is not interested or cares about us is to deny the truth of His character. He always acts in our best interests. Sometimes instantly, but mostly in a timing that’s aimed to strengthen our faith and break the bonds that imprison us. What good would it do to lead us to His promised land if we remain in our chains?

Even though God didn’t move in the timing Moses expected, He remained the same unchangeable Person He reveals to us through His Word (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8). He assured Moses He would save His chosen people (Exodus 5:6-7). And He achieved His purpose.  Perfectly (Ex. 12:31-33).

He is not the God who chains you to your troubles, but the breaker of your chains. If He takes a little longer to bring you out of your troubles it does not mean He loves you any less.  It just means He loves you enough to free you fully (John 8:36).

You never have to wait for Him to catch up. He is always two steps ahead of you, as He was with Moses. Trust in His timing. You’ll know it’s right, by those chains you find lying at your feet.

Ken

Who Does This Jesus Think He Is?

Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Simon and Judas? Matthew 13:55

Ever notice how generic and comfortable a conversation is when people are only talking about God?  But things can grow tense when Jesus enters the picture.  Friends and family’s eyes dart around looking for the exit, while some disbelieve and mock.  Jesus faced the same kinds of things from friends, neighbors, the religious leaders of Israel, and even His own family.

A general God is a sterile God, and a sterile God is not a threat.  That kind of God of the imagination means folks can live their lives outside of His provisions and safety. But when the Word that became flesh (John 1:14) appears, He asks the question that we all have to answer, “Who do you say that I am?” 

Many can get their dander up over this question with the self-righteous response, “Hey, who does this Jesus think he is, anyway? No one can tell me how I can approach God. I'm no worse than anybody else.” To approach God?  Really?

Christ tells us no unrighteous person can approach God’s holy perfection, except through Him. People say, “That’s exclusive and bigoted.”  It is exclusive, in that He is the only way to a fully established relationship with the Living God. But it’s also totally inclusive in that God is willing that all should embrace His invitation to repentance (2^nd Peter 3:9, John 1:12) and He sent Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, to make it possible.  His free salvation covers anyone that calls on the name of Jesus, believing He died for their sins.

Those who ask who does this Jesus think he is anyway want to believe all roads, especially their road, leads to God. They’re right. Any road taken will ultimately end with God, either in judgment of sin or eternal life in Him.  Exclusive or inclusive?  Yes, to both.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, exclusively (John 14:6).  But inclusively too, in that He invites all to eternal life through His death and resurrection from the dead. Jesus, as very God of very God, is the only One with all authority to do it (Matthew 28:18). This is who Jesus thinks He is.  This is who Jesus says He is.  No argument. No debate. Who do you say He is?

Ken