As we closed up the series called "Unexpected Jesus", Bryan and I shared from John 4 the story of the Samaritan woman Jesus encountered at Jacob's well. Our messages centered around the idea that Jesus is "a tolerant friend". The word "tolerance" has been hijacked by certain people, and sometimes, we have allowed that word to be defined in such a way that we are afraid to use it. In fact, we have done that with other words as well (i.e. "gay", "relevant", "emerging church", etc.).
John Burke says that "tolerance is the world's inexpensive substitute for grace". Gordon McDonald says that "you don't have to be a Christian to feed hungry people or build houses for the poor, but the one thing that the world can't offer that Christianity does is grace." Paul said in Romans 2:1-4, "You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" (New Living Translation)
Did you see it in there? God is kind, patient, and yes, tolerant! In fact, he is MORE than tolerant... with me... and with you... Thank God for that. He doesn't just "tolerate" us, but he loves us and he sent his Son to die for us! That's grace! In 2 Peter 3:9 it says, "God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change." (The Message)
Let's reclaim the tolerance of our Lord, and let's extend the tolerance and grace that he offered us to EVERYONE... whether they deserve it or not!
4.15.2009
Not Content
It seems that the more we hear about the bad economy, the more hopeless people seem to be. The calls we receive at the church office for help with groceries, rent, utilities, car payments, etc. have multiplied dramatically in the past 6-9 months. I do realize that as a Christ-follower, it is important for me to be compassionate and to help those that I can. I also believe that the church (a group of Christ-followers) should be compassionate and help others.
I hear people tell how bad things are for them, yet I also hear something else in some of their voices... "I am not content with what I have." Now, God has blessed my family beyond measure, but I didn't begin to feel that blessing until I learned to be content with what I already have. Contentment is a tricky thing though. Contentment is good when is finds happiness in whatever condition I find myself. Contentment is bad when it leads to complacency in an area that I need to improve in such as work ethic, spiritual growth, etc.
Contentment is an interesting thing... and this past Sunday, I talked about how Jesus was not satisfied (content) with my sinful condition, so he went to the cross and died for me. I was reading some information about what Jesus went through because of me. Crucifixion was a most cruel death.
He was whipped because of me. Hebrews limited the scourging to 39 lashes, but the Romans didn’t have this limitation. The whip was called a flagrum made with long, lashing pieces of bone and metal. The veins would be laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels were open to exposure. This whipping was enough to kill a man, but he survived it. Then Jesus had to endure the journey to Golgotha. His robe that was probably “stuck” to his back from the wounds was stripped off to be gambled for and he was spit upon. They placed a crown on his head with thorns the went in deep.
The crucifixion itself was such a horrible execution that Marcus Tullius Cicero, Rome’s most famous orator, said, “Even the mere word, cross, must remain far not only from the lips of the citizens of Rome, but also from their thoughts, their eyes, their ears.” Frederick Farrar describes this pain of a crucifixion… “dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds.” He was laid down on the rough, splintered wood with the wounds on his back scratching the surface. He was fastened to the beams with large spikes - through his hands and feet. The weight of his body would cause him to sag, which would cut off the air supply to his lungs, so he would have to push up with his "nail pierced" feet to try to catch his breath (This is why they wanted to break his legs to speed up the process).
A crucifixion last for hours and sometimes for days... and Jesus endured it because of me. He went to the cross because he was not content with allowing me to spend forever without Him. Being content can be a good thing... but I'm so grateful that my Jesus... my Savior... was not content with my condition.
I heard a singer named Billy Sprague sing the following words one time:
Thorns on His head, spear in His side, still in was a heartache that made Him cry
He gave His life so you would understand... Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
If Christ Himself were standing here, face full of glory and eyes full tears
And He held out His arms and His nail-printed hands... Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
How could you look in His tear-stained eyes, knowing it's you He's thinking of?
Could you tell Him you're not ready to give Him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need His love?
Jesus is here with His arms open wide; You can see with your heart, if you'll stop looking with your eyes
He's left it up to you, He's done all He can...Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
How could you look in His tear-stained eyes, knowing it's you He's thinking of?
Could you tell Him you're not ready to give Him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need His love?
Thorns on His head, your life is in His hands
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
I hear people tell how bad things are for them, yet I also hear something else in some of their voices... "I am not content with what I have." Now, God has blessed my family beyond measure, but I didn't begin to feel that blessing until I learned to be content with what I already have. Contentment is a tricky thing though. Contentment is good when is finds happiness in whatever condition I find myself. Contentment is bad when it leads to complacency in an area that I need to improve in such as work ethic, spiritual growth, etc.
Contentment is an interesting thing... and this past Sunday, I talked about how Jesus was not satisfied (content) with my sinful condition, so he went to the cross and died for me. I was reading some information about what Jesus went through because of me. Crucifixion was a most cruel death.
He was whipped because of me. Hebrews limited the scourging to 39 lashes, but the Romans didn’t have this limitation. The whip was called a flagrum made with long, lashing pieces of bone and metal. The veins would be laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels were open to exposure. This whipping was enough to kill a man, but he survived it. Then Jesus had to endure the journey to Golgotha. His robe that was probably “stuck” to his back from the wounds was stripped off to be gambled for and he was spit upon. They placed a crown on his head with thorns the went in deep.
The crucifixion itself was such a horrible execution that Marcus Tullius Cicero, Rome’s most famous orator, said, “Even the mere word, cross, must remain far not only from the lips of the citizens of Rome, but also from their thoughts, their eyes, their ears.” Frederick Farrar describes this pain of a crucifixion… “dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds.” He was laid down on the rough, splintered wood with the wounds on his back scratching the surface. He was fastened to the beams with large spikes - through his hands and feet. The weight of his body would cause him to sag, which would cut off the air supply to his lungs, so he would have to push up with his "nail pierced" feet to try to catch his breath (This is why they wanted to break his legs to speed up the process).
A crucifixion last for hours and sometimes for days... and Jesus endured it because of me. He went to the cross because he was not content with allowing me to spend forever without Him. Being content can be a good thing... but I'm so grateful that my Jesus... my Savior... was not content with my condition.
I heard a singer named Billy Sprague sing the following words one time:
Thorns on His head, spear in His side, still in was a heartache that made Him cry
He gave His life so you would understand... Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
If Christ Himself were standing here, face full of glory and eyes full tears
And He held out His arms and His nail-printed hands... Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
How could you look in His tear-stained eyes, knowing it's you He's thinking of?
Could you tell Him you're not ready to give Him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need His love?
Jesus is here with His arms open wide; You can see with your heart, if you'll stop looking with your eyes
He's left it up to you, He's done all He can...Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
How could you look in His tear-stained eyes, knowing it's you He's thinking of?
Could you tell Him you're not ready to give Him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need His love?
Thorns on His head, your life is in His hands
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
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