Sage Words

Launching Out

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4

Jesus’s words were authoritative, enlightening and transformative.

They challenged the status quo in society as well as in the hearts of the individuals listening.
They were equal parts compassionate and convicting.

However, it does us no good if they are just words.
It does us no good to read, to study, to teach and be taught if that’s where it ends.
At the end of the words, there must be action.

Launch.

Go.

Do.

Jesus said to launch out into the deep.
Where commitment was necessary.
Where effort was required.
And Simon Peter did.

The people on the shore heard great words that day, no question.
But Simon Peter had a great catch.

Jesus ended His earthly ministry, stopped speaking long ago…
Are we content with listening to a discourse or are we launching into the deep?

If I had to write a list of adjectives to describes myself, it would be in the second ream of paper before I came up with the word holy. Maybe that’s because at some point in our imaginations, “holy” became “holier-than-thou,” and we don’t want any part of that. Or we picture seclusion, scratchy clothes, bland food and lots of praying and chanting. In 1 Peter, the apostle writes to a group of believers who are living in a hostile culture facing continued persecution. While encouraging them to faithfulness, or perseverance, might seem more logical — and he does both of those — Peter stresses holiness.

What is holiness?

The short answer: holiness is the expression of God’s perfection. But it also denotes those that have been set apart by God, for His purposes. So Peter’s advice on how to live a Christian life in the middle of a hostile culture under the ever-increasing threat and reality of persecution is to be set apart by God, for God.

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
1 Peter 1:13-15

Holiness requires mental preparation.

The mind can help us push through when we’re ready to give up, or it can feed us devastating lies that cripple us. Paul reminds us it is one of Satan’s favorite avenues of attack, (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) and he encourages us to have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:16)
Mental preparation for holiness means identifying the goal and committing to the steps it takes to get there. The steps include things like identifying thoughts or attitudes that are not Christlike and getting rid of them. It means opening up to the Holy Spirit’s inspection when we think we’ve done the job of getting stuff cleaned out. And it means understanding this is not an afternoon or even a weekend project. Holiness is a lifetime discipline. Discipline comes from the same Latin root as the word student. It is important to remember that students sometimes fail. When that happens it doesn’t mean we give up. It means we begin again.

Holiness requires obedience.

Obedience, not conformity. Obedient to God, not conformed to the world around us. In the ways we analyze our situations. In the way we seek solutions to our problems. In the way we conduct business. In the way we work. In the way we relate to others. Holiness means we follow God’s standards and not what feels right, seems right or looks right. We don’t act one the basis of what we deserve, what is justified, or what is owed to us. We act on the basis of God’s grace and mercy.

For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Leviticus 11:44

Holiness requires action.

It’s not enough to agree that holiness is a good thing. It’s not enough to acknowledge that I should be living a holy life. I must do it. I must put forth the effort and do the work. ‘Be holy’ is as much of a commandment as ‘thou shalt not kill’ or ‘love thy neighbor.’ So I have to be diligent. I must not allow ungodly, unloving thoughts to stay in my mind. I must take action when the Holy Spirit prompts me.
Peter began verse 4 with “therefore.” If the commitment to holiness is a burden or we don’t feel particularly motivated or obligated to it, then we don’t understand the wonder that salvation is. We don’t comprehend what it cost. We don’t realize what it’s worth. I’m pretty sure the two are directly related.

The measure of my holiness and the passion with which I pursue it are a direct reflection of my love for and devotion to a Savior who suffered and bled and died to accomplish it.

Not Half Has Ever Been Told

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

I have read of a beautiful city,
Far away in the kingdom of God;
I have read how its walls are of jasper,
How its streets are all golden and broad;
In the midst of the street is life’s river,
Clear as crystal and pure to behold;
But not half of that city’s bright glory
To mortals has ever been told.

I have read of bright mansions in Heaven,
Which the Savior has gone to prepare;
And the saints who on earth have been faithful,
Rest forever with Christ over there;
There no sin ever enters, nor sorrow,
The inhabitants never grow old;
But not half of the wonderful story
To mortals has ever been told. [Refrain]

I have read of white robes for the righteous,
Of bright crowns which the glorified wear,
When our Father shall bid them, Come, enter,
And My glory eternally share;
How the righteous are evermore blessèd
As they walk through the streets of pure gold;
But not half of the wonderful story
To mortals has ever been told. [Refrain]

I have read of a Christ so forgiving,
That vile sinners may ask and receive
Peace and pardon for every transgression,
If when asking they only believe.
I have read how He’ll guide and protect us,
If for safety we enter His fold;
But not half of His goodness and mercy
To mortals has ever been told. [Refrain]

Refrain
Not half has ever been told;
Not half has ever been told;
Not half of that city’s bright glory
To mortals has ever been told.

J.B. Atchinson, 1875
Read 1 Corinthians 2:9

Artists have tried to draw or paint what they think heaven will be like. Writers have exhausted their vocabulary trying to describe the way it must be. But the truth is, our imaginations don’t do heaven justice. I think the hymn has it right, though. The glories of heaven do not compare to the wonder of salvation. In the ages to come, I doubt we’ll be discussing the streets and the gates, but we will be worshiping the Savior who gave His life so that we could be there. Yes, when it comes to His goodness and mercy, the half has not been told.

Acceptable

By Paula Leave a Comment

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

I have always viewed this verse as a prayer, something I wanted God to do for me.
Transform my words, and the thoughts that gave rise to them, so that they are acceptable to You.

It’s an honorable, worthy prayer, born of a desire to please God.

It’s not exactly worded like a prayer though.
These are the words that accompany an offering left on an altar.

See, that changes things.
My words are not held up as something for God to fix.
They are an act of worship.
My thoughts are not something I want Him to sanctify.
They are offered to Him as a sacrifice.

Would the last ten conversations I had make much of an offering?
Even if I only counted the substantive ones?
Would the things my mind and emotions landed on yesterday bring delight to the one I claim as LORD?
Were they His kind of thoughts?

May these gifts I give You be acceptable.
May the things I say,
May the things that linger in my heart and mind,
Be gifts worth giving You,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Don’t You Care?

By Paula Leave a Comment

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38

You know the story. Jesus and His disciples embark on a quick routine trip across the Sea of Galilee, but then a storm rises. Enough of a storm that the veteran fisherman were concerned that they might lose the boat and even their lives.

But I think the story is striking for another reason. I believe it taps into deep unspoken fears – fears that have nothing to do with drowning.

Fear #1 – We are on our own. When the storms come if we make it through it will be because of our own furious efforts.

Fear #2 – Jesus is unaware or unmoved by what we’re going through. Here we are struggling, fighting, perishing, and Jesus is absent.

Distilling those fears even further, the questions become, do I matter? Do You really love me? Which is the real Jesus? The one who says He loved me enough to die for me or the one who sleeps while I’m drowning?

This is the middle of the story though.

We have to examine the beginning and end of the story. In verse 35, Jesus says, Let’s cross over to the other side. The safe passage was guaranteed. He said they were going to the other side. The first thing to remember is Jesus’s purposes are going to be accomplished.

At the end of the story in verse 39, He says, “Peace, be still.” The wild chaotic elements of nature obey like a trained puppy. The other thing to remember is that He is in charge and has the power to back that up.

Then Jesus responds with His own question. “How is it that you have no faith?”

Because we’re afraid. We are more focused on what’s inside and around us than the One who is with us. We forget who made the plans and who has the power.

And for the record, yes. He cares.

He guaranteed they would reach the other side of the lake because He cared. He calmed the wind and waves because He cared. Most importantly, He got in the boat with them because He cared.

Sunlight

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

I wandered in the shades of night,
Till Jesus came to me,
And with the sunlight of His love
Bid all my darkness flee.

Tho’ clouds may gather in the sky,
And billows round me roll,
However dark the world may be,
I’ve sunlight in my soul. [Refrain]

While walking in the light of God,
I sweet communion find;
O press with holy vigor on,
And leave the world behind. [Refrain]

I cross the wide-extended fields,
I journey o’er the plain,
And in the sunlight of His love
I reap the golden grain. [Refrain]

Soon I shall see Him as He is,
The light that came to me,
Behold the brightness of his face,
Thro’out eternity. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Sunlight, sunlight in my soul today,
Sunlight, sunlight all along the way;
Since the Savior found me
Took away my sin,
I have had the sunlight of his love within.

Judson van de Venter, 1897
Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-7

This is a happy hymn that captures the joy available every day to those who know Jesus. Even in its simplicity, it reminds us to keep an eternal perspective. No matter what goes on around us. we belong to Jesus and His Spirit lives in us and goes with us. That truth is the treasure Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 4. May we walk in that same joy today.

Launching Out

Holiness

What is holiness?

Holiness requires mental preparation.

Holiness requires obedience.

Holiness requires action.

Not Half Has Ever Been Told

Acceptable

Don’t You Care?

This is the middle of the story though.

And for the record, yes. He cares.

Sunlight

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