Sage Words

An Invitation to Inclusion

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus gives an invitation to inclusion.

But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:16

In the first century, children were overlooked
Marginalized, not valued, not considered worth much.

In the passage, the disciples followed the culture.
They thought they were preserving Jesus’s valuable time and attention
Reserving it for those more worthy, more deserving.

Jesus turned the cultural idea on its head.
He invited, welcomed, elevated the standing of the children.
Earlier He encouraged us to have the faith of children.

So, if you are one of those on the fringes of society.
Those overlooked and devalued …

The poor, the homeless, the addicted,
The sketchy, the mentally ill, the ex-con,
The L, G, B, T, Q and others,
The trauma survivors, the refugees, the jobless,
The immigrants, legal and illegal.
The high maintenance.

Jesus Christ invites and will include you in His kingdom
By His grace through faith and forgiveness.

We are the body of Christ.
His representatives.
His ambassadors.

We must invite and include
Those on the fringes of society.
Those overlooked and devalued.

The poor, the homeless, the addicted.
The sketchy, the mentally ill, the ex-con.
The L, G, B, T, Q and others,
The trauma survivors, the refugees, the jobless,
The immigrants, legal and illegal.
The high maintenance.

We must help bring them into His kingdom with us
Because we were just as needy
And someone showed us
His grace and forgiveness.

A Holy Priesthood: Clothed

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

Peter says believers are a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5), drawing parallels with the priesthood established under the Law. Peter packs a lot of information and theological truth in that one metaphor. So let’s take a few posts to break down what Peter wants us to understand. The first thing is God has cleansed us from our sin. This week, let’s consider how priests are clothed.

Old Testament priests wore specific clothes.

In Exodus 28, God details how Aaron and his sons (and all future priests) should be clothed in order to enter God’s presence and serve in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The overall purpose is the convey the authority of the priest as God’s representative to the people.

First, he had an ephod. An ephod was essentially a tunic. It was a sleeveless garment, in this case made of linen, but with beautiful stitchwork. It was always worn with a breastplate. The breastplate had precious stones inset in, each one representing one of the twelve tribes. It also had the Urim and Thummin. The breastplate’s purpose was to show the priest represented the people before God and that he carefully discerned God’s will. He also had a high priest’s robe that was worn under the ephod. While Scripture gives more details, consider the bells around the hem of the robe. The priest could not enter the Holy Place or serve without those little bells jingling. He had a linen tunic to wear under everything. Finally, he had a turban with a gold nameplate at the front inscribed HOLY TO THE LORD. All of these served as a reminder that everything the priest did was done as part of God’s consecrated purposes.

Believers are clothed in righteousness.

While believers may change their actual clothes as a matter of modesty or propriety, our clothing is more figurative. Paul explains to the Ephesians that they should now “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). The righteousness is not our own but what was imputed to us by Christ.

Just as the Old Testament priests had other pieces in their wardrobe, we should add to the righteousness. In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul says we are to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering and love. All of those help us in our mission to bring others into the kingdom. We carry a burden for others and joyfully serve and minister to them. We depend on God for direction. We never lose sight that everything we say and do is consecrated to God.

Of course, there is much more detail and symbolism with the priests’ garments. (Perhaps that’s a series for another time.) But even in this quick overview, we see that we represent God best when we are clothed as He prescribed, reflecting His character.

The next step for Aaron and his sons was anointing. Next week we’ll see what that means for us.

Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

Where cross the crowded ways of life,
where sound the cries of race and clan,
above the noise of selfish strife,
we hear your voice, O Son of Man.

In haunts of wretchedness and need,
on shadowed thresholds dark with fears,
from paths where hide the lures of greed,
we catch the vision of your tears.

From tender childhood’s helplessness,
from human grief and burdened toil,
from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress,
your heart has never known recoil.

The cup of water giv’n for you
still holds the freshness of your grace;
yet long these multitudes to view
the strong compassion in your face.

O Master, from the mountainside
make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
among these restless throngs abide;
oh, tread the city’s streets again;

Till all the world shall learn your love,
and follow where your feet have trod;
till glorious from your heav’n above
shall come the city of our God.

Frank Mason North, 1905
Read Matthew 22:8-10

“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” was written after the writer was challenged to write a hymn about city missions. He used Jesus’s words in Matthew 22:8 as his inspiration. Spreading the gospel and serving the communities in cities presents a unique challenge. But even in smaller towns, the charge is the same. Go invite everyone. Pray for those ministering in urban areas.

An Invitation to Relationship

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

invitation to relationship title graphic

The first time we see Jesus in the Gospel of John, He issues an invitation, an invitation to relationship.

And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
John 1:38-39

The two disciples were essentially asking for a private conversation.
Jesus offered much more.

Come and see, not just where He was staying,
But how He lived,
How He ministered.

Come and learn.
The truth He would teach,
The truth about the Father,
About the Scriptures,
About the Messiah,
And the truth about themselves.

Come and imitate.
Love and serve others.
Teach the truth and hope.

All this and so much more.
But it begins with a relationship.

Will you come?

A Holy Priesthood: Cleansed

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

The priests were cleansed by a series of sacrifices.

As the priesthood was inaugurated, before the priests could serve, God instructed Moses to bring Aaron and his sons before all the people and perform a detailed ritual. You can read about it Leviticus 8. The first step, though, was a a regular physical washing to get rid of dirt. Aaron and his sons were dressed in special garments (we’ll talk about those later) and anointed with oil (we’ll also talk about this) before they offered a series of sacrifices.

First was a sin offering. This was for unintentional sins and restored the offerer to a right relationship with God. The burnt offering was also a payment for sins. These two together illustrate the seriousness of sin and a recognition of its awful consequence. Finally, they offered a wave offering. The wave offering seems to be a subtype of the peace offering. It was meant to express thanks to God.

Jesus cleansed us from sin by His death.

The Old Testament sacrifices were a temporary measure to stay God’s judgment until a perfect sacrifice could be made. This is one of the major threads in Scripture. Christ was that perfect sacrifice. Paul explains

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:8-9

Jesus’s death did all the things that series of sacrifices did (and more). It paid for our sins and restored our relationship with God, a relationship that had been broken since Eden. Then John affirms that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). In Romans 8:1 Paul further says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” NO condemnation. The cleansing is complete and final. No more guilt. No more shame.

We no longer offer wave offerings but thanks and gratitude for this amazing gift are certainly warranted. One way we can show our thanks is to live a life that keeps us unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

Next week we’ll look into the clothes Aaron and his sons wore for service.

When the Battle’s Over

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

Refrain:
And when the battle’s over we shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
And when the battle’s over we shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.
Wear a crown, wear a crown,
Wear a bright and shining crown;
And when the battle’s over we shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies,
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas? [Refrain]

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God? [Refrain]

Sure I must fight if I would reign:
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy word. [Refrain]

Isaac Watts, 1724
Read 2 Timothy 2:3-10

Consider verse four: “Sure I must fight if I would reign/ Increase my courage, Lord/ I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,/Supported by Thy word.” We don’t have much inclination to fight. Usually we would prefer to make friends with culture. Then “I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain”. We’re not much for that either. But these are exactly what Jesus told us to expect from a world that stands in enmity against God and those who follow Him. That is exactly why He entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation, and that’s where the crowns come from. Strive to wear a crown when the battle’s over.

An Invitation to Inclusion

A Holy Priesthood: Clothed

Old Testament priests wore specific clothes.

Believers are clothed in righteousness.

Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life

An Invitation to Relationship

A Holy Priesthood: Cleansed

When the Battle’s Over

Encounters Series

Covenant of Trust Series

Foundations Series