Sage Words

Risking Grace

Luke 15 gives us three of Jesus’ most famous parables, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. The three stories are strung together by Jesus to emphasize a common theme- the restoration of the lost. I had the privilege to teach these to my Sunday school kids and my Wednesday night kids recently, but I had a flash of insight on the stories.

Is Jesus talking about the lost finding salvation or Christians who stray and are restored? The answer is both. The sheep and the coin represent the lost who come to Christ for the first time. They didn’t purposely get lost- they just were, and in each case, there is a search and an honest desire to return the lost items to their place. We are born with a sin nature. We don’t have to intentionally do anything to end up lost, and we’re powerless to prevent it. But God found us and restored us to our place, in a relationship with Him that was lost when Adam sinned.

Now the boy is a different situation. He is a son and he willfully chooses to walk away from his father. The father doesn’t search for him. He watches and waits, ready to receive him. The boy comes to himself, in humility recognizes what a mess he’s in (literally and figuratively), has a change of heart and wants restoration. That’s what the father was waiting for! The fact that the boy came home is all the evidence the father needs to restore him, not just to the family, but the line about ‘put a ring on his finger’ indicates the boy was once again made a joint heir with his elder brother. It was as if he had never left.

When we as believers walk away from God, He doesn’t search for us, but waits for that genuine change of heart. When we drag ourselves back in humility and repentance, our gracious Father takes us in His arms before we can finish our speech.

Grace is a risky business, after all, what’s to stop the boy from leaving again? Not a thing. The father loves the son and yearns for that relationship, that communion so deeply that to him, it’s a risk worth taking. Sometimes we are hesitant to extend grace because of that risk. We’re afraid. When we see others with the eyes of Christ, we will love more, and fear less.

Is there a relationship in your life in which God is calling you to risk grace?

Study Tip: Now What?

By Paula

In the last few tips, we’ve examined Scripture to see what it reveals about God, and what it tells us about ourselves. What do we do with all that information? If it doesn’t affect our daily lives and make us more Christ-like, then it’s no better than knowing our state capitals.

By way of review, last week we considered Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

And we came away with some observations about ourselves.

1. I am made up of the physical and spiritual.

2. I have hidden motives

3. I am not able to hide myself or my motives from God.

4. I must give account to God.

Here’s the part I call the ‘Now What?’ How does this information change my life when I leave my desk? How will it make me more Christ-like?

Knowing that I will give an account encourages me to life according to His standards, to be transparent and diligent in His service. Understanding that I will deceive myself about my motives (I have hidden ones that God sees through), I need to constantly ask God to show me where I’m fooling myself. One of the most significant things I’ve learned is that I cannot trust my perceptions and I need God to sort those things out for me.

Be Still and Know

By Paula

Just back from Women of Faith. Sheila Walsh used one of my favorite verses in her talk- Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God“. That’s the last verse in a great psalm, but in v. 1-3 we read:

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though its waters roar and be troubled

Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

I think this psalm is to be taken absolutely literally when it speaks of raging water and mountains crumbling at the sound of His voice. However, when I move to personally applying it, I utilize some symbolism. The wild waters are always a picture of the emotional turmoil I find myself in from time to time. The instability, unpredictability… the way the waters cover over and wash away everything familiar… floodwaters that carry uncleanness. In contrast, the mountains are the constants, the things I depend on. So for me, these verses read:

God is my place of absolute security and safety. He is my confidence. He is abundantly available and reliable.

Therefore I should not be afraid, distressed, depressed.

Even when I have found my own resources to be nonexistent, and everything else I have confidence in- my judgment, my perceptions, my ability to reason things through- is swept into the maelstrom.

Even when it is at its worst…

Be still- stop trying to fix this yourself, stop wearing yourself out…

and know- when you stop, then you will realize at the very core of your being

that I AM – your place of absolute security and safety, your confidence. I AM abundantly available and reliable.

Friday Update: Firefox and Flu

By Paula

Today, I’m in St. Louis at Women of Faith. Each year, I look forward to taking a break from the routine and focusing on God. These two days go a long way toward recharging my spiritual batteries.

Friday update: I’m actually writing this post a few days early, but if I’ve stayed on schedule, I’ve got one chapter to go. This is the intense resolution of the book with some of my favorite scenes.

: Image via Wikipedia

What have I learned this week- technically speaking? Mozilla Firefox rocks! The add-ins are tremendous and it’s faster and slicker than IE. I also got some comments on my blog posts which were incredibly encouraging.

What have I read? I’m kind of on vacation so I’m reading , The Great Influenza about the 1918 pandemic. It’s a narrative nonfiction. The fascinating thing to me is the description of the world of the turn of the century. I don’t always grasp how different society was, how far we’ve come and the developments are not always positive. On the book so far, my verdict is: nerds only or skip a lot.

What did God teach me this week? He taught me I still try to handle far too much on my own. He showed me that perhaps ‘the way we’ve always done things’ may not be the best, most effective way.

No Seriously, 1 Chronicles

By Paula

It’s been several years since I’ve read through the Bible- you know, the whole Genesis to Revelation thing. I’ve done plenty of studying, mind you. I just haven’t given in to the whole ‘order and structure’ thing. (That right brain asserts itself occasionally.) This year I began a new trek through, and I’ve hit 1 Chronicles. (And I’m not on any ‘plan’ or anything, so there’s no pressure. I hate pressure.)

Anyway, 1 Chronicles… The first few chapters are tougher than Leviticus and Deuteronomy put together. (I happen to like Deuteronomy, thank you very much.) The book begins with genealogies that go on page after page, with names I can’t spell (but I always pretend I can pronounce them). Why on earth would God want to include 1 Chronicles in His Bible? I don’t know, but I have a few ideas.

1. It’s the story of Israel, the apple of God’s eye, His chosen people.

Don’t you revel in the minute details of those you love? Can’t you remember the first time your kids smiled? Or that second grade program? Don’t you include all that in your Christmas letter each year? Or… how about this… how long could you talk about your hobby? Those details get us giddy and excited because of the love, not the details themselves.

2. It shows the vast scope of God’s plan, involving so many people across so many generations.

The web of His will is so intricately woven, we can’t begin to fathom the connections.

3. There are practical, useful things in there if you’re diligent (stay awake) while reading.

In 5:20, there is a quick reference to a victory won by the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. It says the victory came because ‘they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer because they put their trust in Him.’ There are so many lessons there- crying out to God in battle, He hears when we put our trust in Him, how victory comes… and those are the obvious ones.

4. Those aren’t just endless names to God.

He knows each one of those people intimately. He delighted in their obedience. He grieved when they sinned. So many stories are there waiting to be uncovered. Like the folks in 1 Chronicles, I am not just a number or a name to God.

So… any portions of Scripture slow you down? I have another that’s even more difficult, but I’ll save it for later.

Study Tip: Revealing Ourselves

By Paula

Last week’s study tip encouraged us to consider what a verse or passage teaches us about God. This week, we’ll look at the flip side and look at what Scripture teaches us about ourselves. I’ve heard it said that God’s word is a mirror that reveals our true selves. In Hebrews 4:12, it says that God’s word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

Let’s just use those verses in Hebrews 4:12-13 for our examples.

Here are some of the things we can learn-

1. We are made up of the physical and spiritual.

2. We have hidden motives

3. No one is able to hide himself or his motives from God.

4. We must give account to God.

Take it a step further and make it personal rather than general-

1. I am made up of the physical and spiritual.

2. I have hidden motives

3. I am not able to hide myself or my motives from God.

4. I must give account to God.

Next week we’ll consider what we do in light of those things.

Risking Grace

Study Tip: Now What?

Be Still and Know

Friday Update: Firefox and Flu

No Seriously, 1 Chronicles

1. It’s the story of Israel, the apple of God’s eye, His chosen people.

2. It shows the vast scope of God’s plan, involving so many people across so many generations.

3. There are practical, useful things in there if you’re diligent (stay awake) while reading.

4. Those aren’t just endless names to God.

Study Tip: Revealing Ourselves

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