With My Own Eyes

I got to talk to Zac Cannon Friday. Zac and I served together at FBC Ojai. He had a profound impact on the spiritual development of my kids. What a great reminder Friday was of just how God has gifted me over the years with so many amazing ministry teammates. Apparently God knows I need lots of help and He has always provided the best. I am grateful.

Highlight – Hebrews 9:28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

Explain – Jesus is coming back!  He took care of our sin problem with His first appearing (Thank you Jesus!) and will now take us home to be with Him forever with His second appearing.  We should most certainly be those who are eagerly awaiting His arrival.

Apply – I’m doing better with the eagerly waiting part.  Perhaps it is age and the accumulating tribulations of this life.  Maybe it is preaching through Revelation. But I still can get lulled into focusing on the things of this world. I can still “forget” about what will ultimately be the greatest day of my existence.

Respond – “Father, I eagerly wait for the return of Jesus.  Maybe today?  I pray that you would find me to be ready and working diligently for the purposes of the Kingdom. I pray for those who are not ready for your return. May I be privileged to lead someone across the line of faith today.”

I posted an update on Josh a few days ago. Here’s the latest with Anna:

Thank you to so many of you who inquire about her health. We had a scare with thyroid cancer a year and a half ago. After surgery she has done exceedingly well with no sign of the cancer.

Anna will be graduating in May from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Civil Engineering. She will then be moving to Ashville, NC to work for the Eaton corporation. It is hard to imagine her living so far away, but I hear Ashville is a great place to visit. Excited for all that is in store for her.

Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (ESV)

Strive to rest. In context the writer of Hebrews is writing about resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ as the atonement for our sins. But one evidence of grasping this reality in the spiritual is how we apply it in the physical. Do we trust that God’s got it? Or does my busyness and lack of intentional rest signal that I believe it is up to me? This was God’s wisdom in commanding Israel to observe a day of Sabbath. By striving to rest they acknowledged and practiced faith that God would take care of them in the many details of their lives. While I do not believe we are governed today by a law of Sabbath, I do believe we are intended to practice the principle of Sabbath. We are still meant to strive to rest. What would this look like for you?

Hebrews 3:13

[13] But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (ESV)

Some form of that word “exhort” (parakaleo in the Greek) occurs 109 times in the Scriptures, which tells us it is a really big deal to God. It literally means to “urge, beg, appeal, encourage, comfort”. Ultimately, it is the act of brothers and sisters in Christ speaking words of weight to each other that foster growth in Christlikeness. I am struck by the fact that Hebrews 3:13 tells us that this is to happen “every day.” For that to happen will require several significant changes:

1. We will have to relate to one another more regularly, certainly more often than a couple of Sundays a month when it fits our schedules.
2. We will have to relate to one another more deeply, speaking words of weight that go beyond small talk.
3. We will have to relate to one another more vulnerably, giving permission for others to speak the truth in love to us.

Yeah, this isn’t business as usual. It will be unusual, different than the surface relationships of the world (and much of the church). But that’s the idea. We are not the world. We are called to something greater.

Hebrews 3:13 ends with a warning: “that you may not be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” If we do not actively pursue these kinds of relationships, we can expect our hearts to become cold and hard.

Are there steps you need to take today to pursue relationships of exhortation?

It is hard to believe that Josh is in his last semester of undergrad studies at Olivet Nazarene University. He will be done at Thanksgiving with a degree in political science and is applying to law schools for next year. He is gaining some valuable experience working in the Kankakee Co. Courthouse. Some big decisions will be made in the next few months, so please keep him in your prayers.

From a blog post about a decade ago: What if you could meet the actor from the very best scene of your very favorite movie? That was the gift Josh gave to me yesterday for my 39th birthday. If I was stranded on an island with only one movie to watch over and over (and lots of batteries) it would be “Field of Dreams.” My favorite scene is when Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Kostner) plays catch with his Dad, John Kinsella (played by Dwier Brown). Dwier Brown’s son is in Josh’s class at school and Josh arranged a meeting for my birthday. It was way cool. Thanks Josh!