John 14:2-3

 Read: John 14, Sing: Most Merciful God.

Today we will talk about a misconception that comes out of verses 2 and 3. Many times we go to the Bible looking for something we want, we go to it wrong... we should bring nothing to it and glean everything out of it. Going with a preconceived idea and then imposing it on the Word is very dangerous and can cause some very serious theological issues in your belief about who God is and what He has done or is doing. 

Well, what do I mean even by this? I am going to attach a small video about exegesis and eisegeses that we use to teach our children how to interpret the Bible. I like there definitions as simple to understand and apply. So, exegesis: arriving at the meaning of a passage of scripture by mining the meaning out from it, and carefully not inserting a different meaning into a passage. 

Eisegeses means inserting meaning into the passage, especially meaning that wasn't intended. We see this often today. Very often. There are very popular pastors who distorts whole passages of scripture to take the view of Christ and put it square onto yourself. If you would like to talk more about this, I would love to grab coffee and chat!

This brings us to today's portion of scripture. And this was hard for me to realize how wrong I had it and search out the root of if I longed for heaven for right reasons. Jesus says, " In my Father's house there are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." Every sermon and commentary I studied from men of the past to men currently on the pulpit says that mansions is best understood as dwelling place. In this time frame often children would build onto their father's house. There would be a central yard and they would keep adding on turning them into these large homes. They were dwelling place was their Father's home. Jesus is saying that he is going to prepare a dwelling place for us! Because the Holy Father is about to receive us as children, because His Son is about to carry the weight of our sins that we can be called child of God. 

I cry thinking about this. Jesus knowing the agony ahead looks at His disciples and says do not be afraid, I am going to prepare a place for you. Our place at the cost of His blood.

I was raised believing that mansions meant mansions. American Mansions in an Oprah Giveaway style... One for you  and you and you!!!! Flinging that stuff everywhere, because heaven was about me. Not me getting to dwell with my Father- but my time in heaven, my rewards... for what? This type of interpretation leads us to theology that would teach your best life now--- and there. You deserve happiness, because you are great! We become self-idolizing religious fools because in claiming Christianity we worship ourselves. We miss out on the magnitude and magnificence of Christ when we make it about ourselves. And as women, we can often interpret the Bible with emotions rather than biblical lenses. We studied this concept last year during lent when we looked at Eve in the Garden. The serpent approached HER, and said... did God really say? And Eve added. She misinterpreted. She smudged the words to justify her thought process. And yet it continues, have you ever noticed the self help Christian book market dedicated to women. Friend- Guard your heart and examine scripture carefully. If your theology has developed a low view of God... repent. If your pastor teaches a higher view of yourself and happiness than of Christ, run! (And take a friend with you!) 

This is so important to me, because look at what can be missed. Lets read John 14: 1-3 again. Jesus is with his disciples, moments before His own death, teaching and comforting them because He knows what lies ahead.  One study reads, "By His sufferings and exaltation He will obtain a place for them with the Father in Heaven," this points us to Hebrews 6:19-20 That we have a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf...

Friend, Jesus loved you so much he laid down His life for you. He was the propitiation for our sins! He has gone to prepare a place for us, with Him. That surpasses any earthly measure we have set for heaven. The Creator of the universe calls us child, and we get to dwell with Him forever. Wow.

Have we misunderstood key portions of scripture? Do we have an American view of heaven that robs of of the truth? Are we seeking earthly riches rather than eternal glory in Christ with the Father? Take time today as we journey forward to study, meditate and pray through how you approach scripture. He is our steady anchor.

Little Pilgrims Theology "E"

Let not John 14

 

Read: John 14 Sing: Most Merciful God

John 14. I am as intimidated as I am excited to walk through these next few chapters with you all. My prayer is that we can truly sit, savor, meditate and change more into the likeness of Christ as we understand His word. That He would transform our minds, and give us the grace and strength to walk in His way.

We could literally park on John 14 for months. I have been there for a couple at this point and yet every morning I am struck by newness, something missed, something misunderstood, or conviction or love. This week I will on Wednesday and Friday put out a list of sermon links of preachers who have greatly helped me to understand this passage through their exposition. Some local pastors some not so local! Today we will look at verse 1 and verse 27.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me. verse 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Jesus, following the Lord's Supper now turns and offers comfort to His disciples. He whom is about to suffer a way that no man will ever fully understand, about to bare the weight of the sins of the world; looks to His followers with compassion as says as only the Good Shepherd can, "Let not your hearts be troubled..." Every commentary and message I read or listened to points to the fact this is meant to minister to the hearts of those listening. Jesus is our Great Comforter. 

Sigh. Actually literal giant sigh here. I wrestle against extreme anxiety as an adult. My anxiety comes out when I have to be in a crowd, when I face unknowns or when I allow myself to battle what ifs. I get extreme crowd anxiety so indoor places with lots of people (i.e. church) freaks me out. Ha, I have erased this twice because it can be quite embarrassing. But alas, its true. It got to the point fear was conquering me. Not Christ. And my husband suggested I started meditating on scripture and a very good friend gave me a study on anxiety. Both, not catering to myself but forcing me to soak in God's goodness and mercy and come face to face with some very serious lies and mistruths I was holding onto. It has been transforming. NOT EASY, but literally transforming. 

How? by following the first word in the sentence. Let. I needed to let the peace of God transform my understanding. I needed to let not by heart be troubled. I needed to not seek for physical comfort or peace as the world gives something changed. Christ offered it,and I took hold of it. He promised the Helper and He gave the strength to do what I could not...believe in His word. Mark 9:24 has become a favorite verse and prayer of mine, "Lord I believe; help my unbelief!"

There are literally hundreds of verses on fear and anxiety in the Bible. Not a couple not a dozen hundreds. Yet this year, truly pausing ans soaking in, with the realization of what lay ahead of Christ, and what words He was offering, what compassion His was giving and what love He was administering broke my heart. And I let peace in. And Jesus was able to be magnified. 

Today, as we walk towards the Cross...what are you letting in? Are they things that are pure, and of good report? Are they lovely and edifying? Or are they things of the world, lies, burdens and things that aren't necessary. Do we let are ourselves delight in the Lord or is our focus on the temporal? Take time today to truly think on these things. To think yet then on these verses, and to ask yourself, the toughest question of all, Is Jesus enough. Because He is. He is and was and always will be enough. He offers us hope and life in peace. Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, moments before the greatest of agonies, offers us comfort, because he cares for His sheep. Is the Lord your Shepherd? 

I have been reading through Jonathan Edwards Resolutions for a month or two. They are fantastic. Open confession... I love reading the puritans. Today I wanted to simply end with a few of Edwards resolutions that seem fitting to living with hearts not troubled. 
"Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die." "Resolved, to examine carefully and constantly what that one thing in me is that causes me in the least to doubt the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it." "Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live."

Dear sister... Let not your hearts be trouble. Neither let them be afraid. <3

In the beginning

Read: John 13-21, Sing: Not in Me.

The book of John opens with this, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men." The very last passage of John reads in chapter 21 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were everyone one of them written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."

These are two of my very favorite passages in Scripture. The simplicity of the message but the vastness and magnitude of what is being stated, is overwhelming. Now as we study in chapter 14-17 the next few weeks, we will get the privy and intimacy in hearing the last teachings of Christ to his beloved disciples hours before His death.

A.W. Tozer says, what a man thinks about God is the most important thing about him. I often reflect on this, because there was a rather lengthy season were I had a very low view of God, thought works is was kept be on His good side and had zero understanding of His glorious mercies and grace. A high view of God, one were we can't even begin to comprehend His goodness, and our unmerited favor, and His lavishing love, where we can stand in awe of His attributes, and humbly sit at His feet, is a great place to get to. Where we can say- not I but Christ. 

This weekend I would encourage you to read or listen through 13-21 and prepare your hearts for a seat at the table. We will get to hear Jesus. This Jesus, the One through whom all creation flows, and the one who is so great the entire world could not contain all the goodness He has done. Are you ready for this journey? Are you ready to submit to the Word and His teachings and be changed? Be molded into a follower of Christ, to walk the road to Calvary and then rejoice at the empty grave? 

We get the honor of reading this after. We know where the road will take us... and that is victory over death and sin. Jesus Christ died the death we could not, to make atonement for us. And now, as joint heirs of the kingdom when God looks at us, He sees us not as sinners but as redeemed. We sit under the banner of Christ righteousness! Can there be anything greater?!

I look forward to meeting you in John 14 on Monday. 

 

Is it I?

 Read: John 13-20; Sing: Not in Me

Todays focus is John 13. It was on all accounts a heavier read than usual for me this morning, mainly because it caused some very serious examination of my heart. This chapter, can at times, much like our advent reads become a chapter we are so familiar with we glance through it. "Oh yea, last supper, communion passage..." and we enter thinking we already know it. However, I am reminded constantly that the Word of God is living and active...sharper than any two edged sword.

While it could take a year to go through this chapter alone, I would like to examine 3 parts. 

The first is that Jesus, in His preparation to die, cares for those around him. In the notes of my study Bible it reads, " As Christ looked beyond the cross to the crown, which He was about to wear, so believers should look beyond earthly trials to the glory to be theirs at last." As I read Jesus model the perfect example of selfless love and submitting to the Father in the most dire of trials, I was hit square in the heart. How many times this year have I complained, or whined or thought only of myself because I bought into the lies of 2020. "This year sucks, the year everyone wants over, the year of unfairness....the year I realized and saw all of MY demands of those around me and how when I am not being served in the way I see fit...well then I just am not going, or participating and now am judging." How many times have grumbled rather than thanking the Lord for this gift and opportunity of trial to grow closer to Him? How many times have I stopped to ask, what can I do to be more like You? I was reading a post from a missionary with terminal cancer in his 30's and heard the passage of scripture he quoted repeated at church last night from Matthew 7:10-12, the Father gives good gifts. The missionary wrote, "my cancer is a fish!" The father does not give bad gifts. Have I called a snake that which the Father offered as a fish? I ask this because, this is now our second Lent season in Covid,and for many of us still some sort of restrictions. Have we become exhausted? Angry? Full of despair? Many of us had serious trials within the confines of 2020. Already isolated we have had to walk journeys that we felt no one could help bare. Has it shut us down? Or as Christ followers are we to serve one another in love ( I am stopping here because that is part 3.)

A thread that will continue through our study is the questions the disciples asked. They are years into walking with Jesus, seeing His miracles, hearing His teachings, and many still have questions. Questions aren't bad! Jesus patiently answers them. In chapter 14 alone we will look at 3 questions. But today- in 13, we will look at one.  John 13:25, "Lord, who is it?" John asks Jesus who would betray Him. They had no idea. They fellowshipping together had no idea which disciple was a traitor among them. Jesus, walked 3 years with the man who would sell his own soul for 30 pieces of silver. And when Jesus gave the answer, and even dipped the bread with Judas, saying out loud, "what you are going to do, do quickly." The disciples in the room still had no idea! It says in the passage, "now no one at the table knew why he said this to him." Judas was a good follower. He followed the rules, he followed Jesus place to place, he lived as a disciple. BUT, Christ was not his King. Jesus did not rule over Judas heart. And in the end, his love of money, would drive his betrayal. It struck me like a brick, that none of the disciples could figure out who it would be. In fact in other gospels we hear them say " Is it I Lord?" Even Judas, knowing would look at Jesus and ask, Is it I? I found myself thinking through this alot lately. in 2020 and now 2021, in the pandemic, in the politcal...was it I? Did I find more inherent value in things being offered by the world and did I deny my Savior on account of it? Did I find myself scared of death? To the point I became angry when others had different opinions  or diffierent conclusions of the sickness, did I start to hate them because I was afraid they might hurt me? Was it political? Was I willing to call fellow believers out as stupid or murderers or whatever you want to label whatever side it is you disagree with...all because I wanted my way? Was I willing to forsake the Cross and what Jesus had done for me, for us; because I felt ______. FIll in the blank. As we look at the Upper Room and as we sit at Jesus feet these next few weeks to learn from Him, I am so grateful His mercies are new every morning. If ever a year I felt inadequate to write this its this year. Yet, as the Pslamist writes, " though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand." Even yet today we can glorify God through answering honestly..."was it I?" 

Which brings us into part 3: that we can correct it by loving one another. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Are we teaching the Gospel message through our love for one another as disciples. If I had to answer honestly, even for myself , the answer is often no. Social media makes it easy to form opinions about people, based off their posts. Or it makes it easy for us to be cowardly brave and confront things we shouldn't, or feel justified in speaking out...often. Or... just spouting and scrolling mindlessly and wasting about the brief vapor of life we have been given. I have really been wrestling through this. I do not want to waste my life. I do not want to waste my moments with my children or my spouse, or the time at hime. Yet I do. I could have become a prayer warrior this year.... yet I found myself distracted in all the "time" I was given. Especially convicting was a conversation I had with an older woman at our church. She can't attend and hasn't since shut down... her attitude broke me. " I use it to pray!" I pray for my children, I pray for our pastors, I pray through our directory over and over." She told me she was grateful for this time to be able to pray. :::Insert humblepie here:::Woah, I had turned into a bag of complaints and she had turned into a fountain of praise. Covid has made most of us me centered. Repent of it. Stop demanding and insisiting that everyone do things the way you want them done. And seek the Lord, asking how can I serve others in love that the world made know  I am His? Jesus gave us the bar, " Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another." He demonstrated it, and then as we will read, knowing we can't do it on our own merrit, sent the Holy Spirit, the Helper to give us the strength we do not have to love as Christ loved.

I love that Easter is in the spring. It comes at the time when darkness is fading into life. Sweet friend, may today be each of our newness. May we love one another as Christ has loved us; and may we too journey with our eyes on the Eternal Crown.

As we approach the cross.

I cannot believe it is this time of year again. The "Lent" season as many refer to it as, has a rich history. However as I use the term, I am usingit quite loosely to define the time between now and Good Friday. Much like Advent where we took the time to anticipate the Savior's birth, now is the time to still our hearts and make much of His life, death and Resurrection. 

This year we will be studying in depth John 14-17, but this week as our overview and prep for our journey we will read John 13-21. If you can try to read through it in one sitting so you can gain a scope of the entirety of it. If reading feels overwhelming use a bible app and listen along, driving, walking, working out. Try and make the time to be in this book this week.

We will include 1 song a week for added worship. 

I was struggling on what we were going to read this year. If you have been in this study we have covered many different approaches and books leading up to and then through the Crucifixtion and Ressurection of Christ. 2020, we did the entire thing on zoom in the middle of a pandemic! This year, I feel there are so many of us (myself espeically) feeling distracted, tired, overwhelmed by the anger and quick changes going on, mourning the loss of what was and wondering what will be. And it bringing me right back to my desperate need of Jesus. He is enough. And Christ, hours before His journey to the Cross took the time to comfort His disciples. We will sit in on the very intimate conversation and then prayer to the Father from the Son. 

I find myself excited, we have the opportunity to chose to be at Jesus feet now and then after this study. I am challenging myself, challenging you to really be present, to intentionally meet with the Lord in His Word every morning. Many of us "give up" things during the lent season, TV, sweets, social media... lets give up things that distract us from Christ and hinder us from His word and His truth. Chose something without hopes to add it back in 40 days! Chose something that has zero eternal value and add in something that does. 

Our lives are but a vaopr, and we have had to meet this square in the eyes the past year as plans have been cancelled and loved ones have been lost and life has been shut down, maybe to never be "what they once were." If our hope was in the world, this would be cause for great alarm;but if you are a believer, our hope is in Christ! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! And as we are to read...take heart dear sister, let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid!

Read: John 13-21; Sing: Not in Me.

Tomorrow

 Tomorrow, as is every 4 years in inauguration day. There is a lot of tension and fear and anger and joy. Some people are happy about the transition of powers, others not so much. 4 years ago I remember people outside of the Trump tower and in many major cities wailing, crying and holding signs saying " Not my President." Tomorrow... will be much of the same, just on the other side of the wall. 

I think it is important, that we show compassion to both sides. Both have fears, spoken or not, both have anger and resentment, spoken or not. And both want a country that is protecting and hearing what they are asking for and saying and find value in. BOTH. 

For a number of reasons, I do not like the thought of left leaning platforms or right leaning platforms...because they cluster lump us in with same sided thinkers. So we are always and only with people who act and talk and think just like us. Yes men. This is not good. Not in  public square. We no longer take the time to hear the other side, to know the other side, to think kindly of people on the other side. We label them as enemies, idiots or worse. 

The country is split about 50/50 right now on a number of things. I think that is good! It shows we are a nation of free thinkers and have been able to live in balance...not such much harmony...but can live with completely different ideology...till law making comes. Which is to be expected. However, we do not live as if half of our neighbors think different. We only talk to those who eat and talk and do the same. Social Media is DESTROYING us, our neighborhoods, our families. You can say anything to anyone on this thing. Its easy to be brave sitting in your jammies, feeling free of reprecussion. It would be different if we had to say it face to face. So we watch shows and news that broadcast to our own thinking and keep in our homes and our safe spaces and label one another.

We set this wheel turning and now we have a mess. It is so good to not only know what your neighbor thinks, but to share a meal with them. To see their human side, to ask for recipes from someone who had a different political sign in their yard. When we take away the soul of one another, and see their lives as not worth as much as yours, simply because they think different, we have put ourselves in a VERY bad spot. We create more pockets then ever of fear and hate and prejudice. We are making stereotyping the abosolute norm and are willing to try and convict people with a death sentence without knowing a thing about them. "They look democrat, republican, Christian, Muslim...whatever." 

We have made a mess. WE...not they...WE. But...we can fix it. Yes even tomorrow. There are those who were scared the last 4 years, celebrating for their guy, there were those who were not scared, but now are very concerned about the next 4 years for themselves. We may all be filtiering a million different emotions, thoughts, pains and victories tomorrow- but together we can have compasssion and kindness for where each other are at. Here is the crazy thing, you don't have to agree with someone to like them! and you don't have to want to squish like a bug the guy on the other side. 

This is not a plea for a utopian society, this is a lament, for what has become. May we teach kindess to our children...hold a door for someone, buy a coffee for the next guy, shovel your neighbors driveway, do something, anything, because it has to be far better than what we are doing right now. 

All the wrong reasons.

 Hated, for My name's sake. These were the words of Christ. We have heard them echoes for centuries. And yet here we are in 2021 and the message seems awry.

These are simply my thoughts in a world that has too many already...but I grieve this year. I grieve what I read and see, especially among believers. We are to be a light in the world. A city on the hill, yet when you look around the division of things that hold no eternal value runs rampant. I have seen old college friends become so polarized that the way they talk to, or moreso, dismiss one another with utter disdain is heart wrenching. 

Are we not brothers and sisters in Christ?

I was talking to my husband yesterday, no I am lying, I was crying, over the state of the church. The hostilities, the hurt, and the LACK of Gospel witness is a world that is utterly broken overwhelmed my heart. How many times have there been atrocities, genocides, earthquakes and broken spirits around us where we remained silent. Not just silent but apathetic. Yet this year, I have see so many people willing to be hated for something other than the Name of Christ. 

Nations rise and fall, but the name of the Lord lasts forever! I guess, my concern is, so many of us have made a hill that we are willing to die on, that has zero eternal value. And we are willing to alienate neighbors, friends and brothers and sisters in the faith over it. This is for both sides. But when is the last time we were willing to be hated for the sake of the Gospel? When is the last time we were willing to speak truth at the cost of our reputation, job or even life? 

The banner we should be flying in times like this is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. The world has enough bad news right now. And so many of us are trading in His banner of love for a cheapened white posterboard with our feelings on fleeting affairs. 

Are these things important, yes. Are injustices and prejudices and turmoil and handling of events of governmental affairs of value to debate; absolutely. But when they take our hearts and eyes and time of attention off of the main thing, they trivialize the hope that is within us. The only hope we have in this brokenness is Christ! We can offer hope and healing and a promise of justice and security in righteousness, IN CHRIST!

Nations rise and fall, they are but a drop in the bucket. But the Word of the Lord...that lasts forever. If I am to be hated, may my last breath be to His glory alone.