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Then God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM. When you go to the people of Israel, tell them, ‘I AM sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 (NCV)
Time changes things. Following is a list of things that have changed over time. It’s obviously not an exhaustive list. Maybe you can think of other things that have changed, some that have changed the course of the world, some that have changed your personal life.
Time has changed how we think about:
- Technology: Who would have thought ‘text-ing’ would be a form of communication and not just a form of print?
- Worship used to be a section of the church service rather than a style of music.
- Marriage was considered to be the relationship of a man and woman. There were no other options and it lasted a life-time.
- Family was a husband, wife and biological children. The concept of a blended family hadn’t been ‘invented’ yet.
- Divorce was rare in general and unheard of in ‘Christian’ circles. Now almost ½ of all marriages end in divorce and there is no difference between allegedly Christian and non-Christian marriages.
- Community was limited to the town you lived in and not a reference to the global relationship we all share.
- Commerce was limited to goods produced in your own country. Items from other countries were considered exports, rather than today when there is little difference between what is manufactured in one country or another.
- Phone messages have changed. 20 years ago the need to choose English (or whatever your native language is) wasn’t an option on answering systems. English (at least in theUSA) was assumed.
- Relationships are changing at a rapid pace. Aging, divorce and career moves (to name a few) make the idea of long-term friendships and relationships more of a rarity than a rule.
- Word meanings have changed as well. Not only is ‘text-ing’ as mentioned earlier, a new word, call someone gay today and, depending on the situation, you may find yourself in an instant conflict!
You may be able to add some things to the list. Things that have changed your life and the lives of those around you. So, what’s the point? Only this. When God introduced himself to Moses and the Israelites he didn’t introduce himself as the God who was. He didn’t introduce himself as the God who will be. He introduced himself as the God who is. ‘I AM’ signifies that he never changes. Time won’t change your God. Circumstances won’t alter his power. Societal changes won’t redirect the impact of his wisdom and his holiness for all of mankind. Unchanged from creation until today. Who or what else can boast of that?
PRAYER: Father God. I can’t wrap my mind around the truth of your unchanging character. My humanity seems in constant change like a ship without a sail. But you, O Lord are my rudder. You are the one who is so sure that you will guide me through the changes ahead. I praise you for being the ‘Great I AM’. Amen
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
As Jesus traveled along the dusty paths and streets of Israel he met many people from many walks of life. Some, like the woman at the well who had been divorced five times and the woman caught in adultery were struggled with emotional issues, feeling the guilt, shame and embarrassment of failure.
Others had more physical issues. The blind, the lame, the leprous suffered daily in a world of pain and darkness. Socially outcast and physically in pain they lived a life of pain and misery.
Then there were those who marveled at his teaching. For their entire lives they had been held captive by a religion which offered no hope. Strict rules and empty hope were just another irrelevant part of the journey they called life. It was a religion built on guilt, shame and fear.
Then Jesus came along. He offered rest to those who struggled with relationships. Don’t think for a minute that kids didn’t rebel back then. Pornography and lust were different then, but not non-existent. Feelings of failure and desperation were just as real then as they are today in your life.
One would think that the people who saw the miracles would follow. You’d expect that every person healed and all their families would give up everything to become his disciples. Some did. Most didn’t. In fact the very people he offered rest to from their physical and emotional trials were the ones who shouted ‘Crucify Him!’
Seems outlandish doesn’t it? Then again, maybe not. Over 2000 years later we are still doing the same thing. Jesus offers us hope. He offers us emotional healing. When he doesn’t offer physical healing he offers us strength to endure the pain. But people still seek religion over relationship; rules over freedom; death (spiritually due to sin) over life.
There is no religion on earth that offers us the things that Jesus does through a relationship with him. All he asks is that he be the only source of your praise, worship and love. Friends will mislead you. Religion will use you. Only Jesus gives you rest.
The hard truth is, as in any love relationship, you can’t experience the total joy Jesus offers without total commitment. Darkness has no place with light. Sin has no place in the life of a Christ-follower. Can you be forgiven? Yes. Can you live comfortably (physically)? Sometimes. But you won’t experience the total joy and peace Jesus offers until you come to him, only him, for rest.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I confess to you that there are so many times I seek pleasure, peace and comfort from things and people rather than you. My focus shifts from the eternal to the temporal. I want, so I go after it even if I know it will hurt my relationship with you. Forgive me for my refusal to sell-out to you completely. Empower me by you Holy Spirit to live completely for you. In your name I pray, Amen.
Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
There are certain stories in the Bible that require us to take a double take. When Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family were rescued by angels, they were told not to look back. When Lot’s wife stole a glance at the destruction going on in Sodom and Gomorrah she became a pillar of salt. God showed no mercy in this situation. We can’t really blame Lots wife from taking a look back. The fire that fell that day destroyed the lives of her family and friends. But God’s command was clear. Move on. No matter how much it hurts, it costs to follow me.
Thousands of years later, the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14. In the preceding verses what is he talking about? Suffering and sacrificing of all things.
One day Jesus was walking along the road. People came and proclaimed their intention to follow Him, but each one had a pre-requisite. Each had an area of their lives they wanted to hold back from Him. Theirs was not a complete allegiance but a convenient arrangement for their own good.
Grace is NOT free. Grace costs and costs dearly. It is free for us to take hold of, but that is only because the payment has been made on the Cross and is finalized through the empty tomb. Following Jesus isn’t easy. If anyone tells you that if you turn your life over to Jesus all your troubles will disappear….RUN! Following Christ may be the start of struggle.
First, you may be misunderstood by others. When you say you are a Christ-follower people may automatically assume that means you are perfect. Christ followers are NOT perfect. We are however forgiven. We may suffer, but our suffering is never as great as the suffering Jesus did for us on the cross. His suffering was physical (death) and emotional (deserted by family and friends) and spiritual (forsaken by God “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”).
The second area of struggle may be the struggle of our own self-image. It’s human to base your self-worth on what you do for a living, the decisions you’ve made in the past, the opinions of others. It’s human, but not Christ-like. Our self-worth, our heritage and our future are not based on anything we can do in life. Who we are and what we are to become is based solely on who Jesus is and what we allow Him to accomplish during our short stay on this earth.
What do you need to walk away from today to sell out completely to Jesus? Is it a job? A Relationship? A habit? A church? Nothing on this earth is worth risking your walk with Jesus. Only through Him will you be able to break free.
The good news is that Jesus looks on the heart. He knows our faults. He knows our struggles. He knows our desires. He knows how hard it is to break free. That’s why He patiently, lovingly and graciously empowers us through His Holy Spirit to move towards freedom and complete dependence on Him. Paul finishes his Philippians statement by saying, “Forgetting the past…I press on.”
Press on today in your walk with Jesus. Ask Him to show you what needs to be released. Trust Him to give you the power to let go for Him.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, this verse is a hard one for me. I know there are areas in my life that I’m not ready to give up to You. Please forgive me for that and help me to wisely and in the power of your Spirit, move towards complete dependence on You. Keep me from looking back. Help me to always see you before anyone or anything else. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 