Tag: life

Allgemein, Reflection on the Word

God‘s wisdom – my comfort

Bibs

If you have ever read the book of Job, I wonder what stuck with you.
Maybe it’s the manner in which Job deals with immense, sudden grief, or how his friends attempt to offer reason and wisdom – or maybe, how all of it seems to be happening on the backdrop of a curious scene that takes place in heaven between Satan (the accuser) and God.

I’ve often wondered what I am supposed to get out of this book from the Old Testament. Especially the finally appearance of God and his challenging Job has always left me puzzled: Is God reprimanding Job? Is this simply putting Job in his place? And what does that mean for me?
You may gather that for years the end of the book of Job left me with a slightly daunting picture a God whose response felt less like comfort and more like intimidation.  
As it is, I found myself once again reading through Job’s lament and his friends’ frustrations and seemingly incomplete wisdom. This time, however, I decided to see wether some background knowledge might help me gain a better understanding of the story.

The Bible Project has this short videos on the different books of the Bible, and they have often helped me place the things I was reading into a broader context – historical, cultural, and even in terms of traditions of translations. They also offer videos on specific themes, characters, words, and concepts found throughout Scripture.
Regarding the book of Job, they have two main video clips: one that explores the book itself – its central ideas and structure – and another that places the book of job in conversation with the other two other books of „wisdom“, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
I will share the former with you, as it opened my eyes to the question I had been missing: Is God just?

Suddenly, my own efforts to discern God’s justice and His ways become liberatingly foolish. The final scene, in which God takes the stage and confronts Job with the intricacy of His creation, evoked a very different emotion than it had before. Like Job, all I could find within myself was a sense of deep humility and awe. There is no way I can even begin to fathom all that God perceives, knows and orchestrates every moment of every day. And while knowledge has always seemed to offer me comfort or sense of security, the sudden revelation of my profound lack of understanding came with a deep peace.
A liberation from the need to reason and figure out why and how things come about – what may be and what may not. A joyful lifting of hands in surrender, deeply content in the realization that I indeed lack the means to pass any judgment on the happenings around me, and instead reflecting on how awesome and almighty my God is.

My God how marvelous are your ways.
We are in awe with your works, your intricate design
Knowing that we only have a glimps of the vastness of all you made.
May we rest in your wisdom, rest in your almighty power
And contend ourselves in looking to you.
Where our reason ends, freedom begins.
I may never know, never understand but this I trust,
You know, you are involved and you are sovereign forever.
You love me and consider me.
So, let me lie down and remember in all of life’s trials – you are God.
Thank you.

Allgemein

The straight, narrow, and… hard

Bibs

Every once and while there will be a verse I stumble over during a morning devotional only to have it show up again during the day or week in some other shape or form.
Sometimes it will be something encouraging, sometimes an answer or clarification, and sometimes a nagging feeling.

The latter of which leads me to my blog. Mostly I write here to share some neat insight I had and because I hope to encourage others. This time, however, I write wondering if others out there find themselves asking similar questions and wrestling with Jesus’ statements as I am.  

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13-14

Quick context: These verses are part of the famous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus starts his sermon with the “Beatitudes”, a set of spiritual attributes he calls blessed and that lay the groundwork for the outward expressions which he teaches about later. Near the end of his sermon is where we find these verses, nicely fitted in between the Golden Rule (do to others as you’d have them do to you) and the fruit that reveals a good or bad tree.

Every time I come back to Jesus’ sermon on the mount I find something convicting or challenging.
This time, however, instead of an area of life that I feel needs adjustment or repentance, these verses pierced a bit closer to the core.

  • Am I walking the narrow way? Is it hard?
  • Have I chosen an easier compromise?
  • Only a fewfind it? Why only a few? And am I one of those?

Yes, Jesus offers grace, peace, rest and victory. Absolutely!
But, he also mentions over and over again the hardships, the cross, the persecution, and the challenges a follower will face. Now, life has its general ups and downs but the hardships Jesus mentioned here are the result of following him. So while those naturally-occurring “downs” certainly seem to be part of a faith-building process, my question is this:

  • Am I experiencing hardships due to my following after him?
    Am I following hard after him if I find myself facing little to no opposition?
  • Has it cost me anything to follow him? (Luke 14:27-28)
    Am I walking the straight and narrow path, or how much have I become a friend of this world (James 4:4)?

Jesus is clear that anyone who will follow him will be as light in darkness (Matthew 5:14). In other words, they will unquestionably stand out.
The persecution and hardships come, because people hate light. As Jesus said:

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” – John 3:19

The prophets, Jesus himself, and his desciples all endured hardship because their life irritated others. A reightous life will irritate those who walk in sin.
I know this to be true, remembering a time in my life when a friend’s “light” was incredibly irritating to me. And it wasn’t that my friend pointed out my sin to me or anything like that, rather their righteous way of living was so convicting it was truly irritating. However, once I had dealt with my sin, repented and turned back to God, and no longer was stuck in a defense mode, I found her light to be a delightful blessing.

So, how bright is my light?

What about you?

Ps. I mentioned in the beginning that the verses showed up again in another shape or form. In my case it was the movie “The Pilgrim’s Progress”. A low budget production, that still managed  to provoke a lot of reflection and reverence for the price of following after Christ.

Reflection on Life

New, Exciting, just not this…

Bibs

Getting to the root of feeling stuck and waiting
on God’s “bigger” and “better”

Have you ever felt stuck. I mean really stuck in life. The kind where all around you there seems to be this beautiful momentum but your life is just on hold or at most a slow progression in some unknown space. Maybe you have just come out of some momentum of your own but now there just seems to be that same old routine and that initial fire for purpose has dimmed down to a quiet ember. And apart from the occasional encounter with someone or an inspirational message here and there it really doesn’t seem like your life is moving in the purposeful or epic direction you had hoped for.

Should any of this hit home, let me assure you, that you are in good company my friend. I would like to describe myself generously as a visionary. I am not the greatest at executing plans but man can I dream up an epic adventure. Hanging on to so many words and dreams that spoke into my life I have spent much time longing for that purpose, that mind-blowing adventure to commence. Now, of course I have had inspiring and purpose-driven seasons in life. Times where I have witnessed God move in crazy and exciting ways. But every one of those “take offs” was followed by a crash-landing back to daily life.
From spiritual high to spiritual low.

One look at scripture and you will see that this is not something that seems to be highly unusual. Some of the passages and stories in God’s word happen to include lengthy seasons of desert – literally. This is not to say that some of my own loss of momentum in life hadn’t been on account of my own error, but God’s design for our life with him does seem to include a desert every now and again. It’s in those desert places where the nitty-gritty character-shaping workout often takes place. Where God seems quiet, and your best efforts seem to be but hot air.

I wish I could tell you a bullet proof way of getting out of that place, a way to kick-start that epic-God-given-purpose you have been waiting for. Maybe something that you read today gives you that kick – great! – if not, allow me to at least give you a fresh perspective today. I want to share with you a bitter-sweet truth that I am currently processing. Most likely a truth you have heard before – but reminders never hurt. 

Last Thursday evening my small group met to exchange their thoughts concerning previous Sunday’s message “heavenly ambition”. Prompted by one of the guys in the group, we all shared what we believe to be our “heavenly” ambition. And as I was listening, I reflected on my own “Paul-sized” ambitions; being a missionary and visiting all our partnering churches, helping with youth programs in less fortunate countries, being a known teacher/speaker around the globe, leading and discipling youth and young women and so on… when all of a sudden God interrupted my dreaming with a question:

How can you get so excited about a ministry in another country but feel contempt about the place I placed you in right now? Why do you feel a love for the youth in Armenia, but lack that same passion for the youth in your neighbourhood?

Ouch.
Allow me to elaborate…
I had been serving in the youth ministry in my church but lately had just not seen a lot of momentum anymore. As a teacher at a local school my hope for a revival among students and teachers had slowly faded. And my prayers for the people around me had been largely replaced with prayers for my day to day worries and challenges. I had become increasingly discouraged. And with growing discouragement my commitment and passion had begun to fade and my desire and hopes for some “bigger” and “better” purpose had begun to consume my daily dreaming.

And this is where God met me. Right where I was at, with a simple but profound question.

The simple truth, my friend, is that God had called me to serve just where I was at and had no intention of giving me a “new” assignment just because my passion for his initial calling was growing dim. He had given me a vision for my youth at church, at school and for the people around me and this had not changed but my efforts surely had.

And while others in my small-Groupe finished sharing their take on “heavenly” ambition the round came to a close with some final reflections from the guy who had prompted us in the first place:

It seems that we often get lost in desiring some ambition that someone else may be walking in – ambition that seems so much more exciting and glorious than the one we feel called to. And when you add all the noise of social-media-comparison on top of that you find yourself in a fog unable to see where you should be going. Each of us has a unique calling and like the analogy of the body being made up of many parts (1.Corinthians 12:12-27) the ambitions God has for us may certainly not be the same as that of someone else. Furthermore, our ambitions are to serve the body (the church of Christ) as one and therefor are crucial to those around us. So, us desiring and dreaming about someone else’s ambition will confuse us and, in that space, we will fail to walk in the purposes of God for our lives and those around us.”

There it is. Simple and sweet and maybe a bit bitter.
I don’t doubt for a second that God is keenly interested in taking you onto an amazing adventure and using you most mightily for his kingdom purpose in this lifetime on earth. However, his word also reminds us that God is looking for those faithful stewards.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” – Luke 16:10

This is God’s kingdom principle. The most epic stories in the bible are testimony to this principle. Allow me to remind you of some:

  • David anointed to become king, first spent years tending to his family’s sheep and protecting them and leading an outcast army in the desert before being placed as king to protect and lead the people of Israel.
  • Joseph had only a dream to hold on, while serving faithfully and with integrity as a slave for years before being put in charge as second over the Egyptian empire.
  • Job had no glimpse of God’s working for 37 chapters as he wrestled through loss and despair yet finding a place to worship God regardless of it all. And then also was raised up and walked into God’s blessings for his life.

And these are but a few of so many lives governed by this principle. Now, I do hope that your journey will not include years of deserts, but it is in those times that God has equipped those he called. So, take heart and ignite that passion for the purposes set before you today. Be it praying for that person God had placed on your heart, serving in kids church, sharing Christ’s love with your grumpy co-worker, or encouraging that stranger you walk past every so often. I believe God is looking for obedient and faithful people. Yes, a people who desire and dream big-kingdom dreams, but also those who will humble themselves where God placed them.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
– 1 Peter 5:6

This then is my prayer for you. That you may take courage from God’s word and the testimony of those who have walked before you in God’s purposes. I pray that the Holy Spirit may remind you of the places God has called you and equipped you to serve today. That you may experience his favour in those places and his grace in the desert places. That you may clothe yourselves in joy and contentment as Paul “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance” (Philippians 4:11) and throw off all discouragement and discontent.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Reflection on Life

There’s got to be more to life

Bibs

Longing for that freedom in Christ

It started with a simple question. “How do you see God?”
Then gradually a group of teenagers started to express with a deep sense of reference their frustration. Some expressed a sense of vast distance between them and God, while others felt a heavy weight regarding the expectations they felt were in place. Still others expressed doubt, that they even had anything that could be called a “personal relationship” with their creator, or Christ as they said. And in all of it a deep sense of feeling lost in a reality that seems so different to the ideal they believe in and try to convince others of.
I can relate.
Many times, sometimes still today, I would find myself faced with a reality of faith that seemed not to be the Gospel and good news that I was at the same time trying to share with others. This all together would make me feel much like a hypocrite and I assume, made me not a very convincing witness. In those times, spiritual disciplines such as praying, reading the Bible or even worshiping started to feel heavy – and tainted with a sense of duty, rather than joyous seeking.
This all would give me an awful sense of feeling like I was not measuring up; that somehow, I just needed to do more to get closer to God. During my teen years and early twenties, these crisis’ usually spiralled me into exhaustion, until I found myself just wanting to give up. Then I would calm down, get back up and start with a new sense of enthusiasm back into the same patterns – working my way into measuring up, working my way closer to God – always feeling that despite a conviction that my faith in God and Christ must be the true way and certainly full of beautiful aspects, there had to be more to life than this heavy religion.

God has done an amazing work in the last years. I still have ups and downs and occasionally will wind up trying to work myself into trying to prove myself to God; however, God has been leading me into a beautiful sense of freedom and peace.

Sometimes all I need these days is to take a deep breath…

and I am keenly aware again of the lightness which is grounded on my trust in God unlimited ability and love. Yet, while I tried to encourage this group of teenagers with this testimony, I began to wonder how I had gotten here. What had changed? And how could I avoid giving them just another well-intended recipe that would tempt them to work it out themselves?

As I meditated on this during my week, God’s spirit reminded me of scripture; bringing in the right messages; and opening my eyes to truth that I had not yet understood.
And so, I would like to share God’s word and reflect on a message about the freedom we have in Christ.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

This is the verse that sprung first to my mind when listening to these teens last Sunday. Weariness and a feeling of being burdened is exactly what I can relate to and seems to be what the teenagers are experiencing. So, what can we gather from this verse?
Let me begin with Jesus first words, which resound as an invitation “Come to me”. A commentary pointed out: “Many times Jesus said, “Come after (follow) me,” but only here does he say, ‘Come to me.’” A similar call precedes Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:29). We see him stepping out of a boat and walking towards the one who called him. As the story goes, you might remember this “walking on water” went great until his focus shifted to the waves.[1]  The same Peter, after having expressed his utmost loyalty to Christ, becomes painfully aware of his limitations regarding his love for Christ a few chapters later. Yet, faced with his limitations Jesus calls him to join into a great purpose – not a heavy load – but a glorious and grand commission. In the same way Jesus encourages us in this verse in Matthew to come to him with our limitations and simply answer his call.

We get messed up when we try to work things for God instead of working with God.

And the motivation might as well be love towards God when we try to do something grand for him; If I am honest, many times my hidden motive for doing a righteous work for God was and is a desire to be worthy of his love; To be good enough. But He is not asking for us to work for him but with him.
It’s a shift of focus.
We look to Jesus Christ and not our own strength; to his teaching and not our own figuring it all out. My biggest challenge DAILY is to look to Christ and simply walk with him rather than working my way to him. And in essence that is what all reflection of this week has pointed to – look to Him.

Does that mean we don’t have to read our bibles anymore, pray or practice any kind of discipline[2]?

No. Spiritual disciplines are keys that help us unlock a deeper understanding and fuller life in faith – when practiced out of a sense of purpose rather than wanting to proof ourselves. There is a life where discipline and freedom do not contradict. A life where disciplines can turn into desires, and the walk is an adventure and not a chain of endless frustrations.
My best friend once said:

“Wherever your focus is there is your centre of gravity and all the weight will be pulled towards it.”

So, when I focus on myself, and make my relationship with God depended upon my works, all the pressure will be on me. But when I focus on Christ and his works the centre of gravity shifts and I step into a lightness, finding myself practicing spiritual disciplines with a sense of joy.

I used to think there had to be more to life than a constant struggle and God feeling distant. More than feeling like I had to be something else, something better before being able to live the life God called me to live; A deeper and more real relationship with Jesus. What if the answer is simple? As simple, as going to Jesus, as we are, not with a desire to proof ourselves, but rather with a willing heart and an awareness of our own limits, trusting in his leading. So, when we are burnt out on religion, we find a gentle Lord and Friend. 

As it all comes together beautifully Jesus calls us to “come”, to “lay down” all that is heaviness, to “follow” him, to “find” life and purpose and freedom, and to “soar on wings like eagles”.

A simple gospel.

I pray that this message may encourage you. Encourage you to take a deep breath and lay down your burdens. To find rest for your soul in the freedom that we have because of all that Christ did and all that he is. Encouraged to learn from him as you dive into scripture and walk with him daily. To simply come and meet him. Encouraged that there is an abundant life God has desired for us, and a destination that goes beyond all we see here on earth. Encourage to rest in his grace and his mercy, knowing that he is fully able; Knowing that HE will finish what he has begun in you. Encouraged that his gospel will become the beat of your life and a testimony to the world. Look to him, bring a willing heart, and do not let fear and doubt rob you of a beautiful sense of peace in Christs love for you.

If you would like to comment on something that stood out to you in your studies or if you would like to share your testimony within these truths – you are welcomed to reply by leaving me a message.

Truths to meditate on…

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2.Corinthians 3:17

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” – Galatians 5:13

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. […] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” – John 15:5; 9-12

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

[1] See also “A little faith”

[2] Discipline: choosing what we want most, over what we want now.