This morning at church an interesting metaphor came to mind. My beautiful friend, Jen, was offering the teaching, even though she's suffering from a cold and only a week away from her finals. We are looking at the Advent topics and this week was peace. We talked about the peace that comes only from a relationship with Christ and the responsibility we have to share that peace with those around us and the world as a whole.
Jen shared with us that one of her favorite childhood Christmas memories was sitting in the living room with the lights off looking at the tree all lit up. She asked us to meditate on peace and look at the lights. Not because we worship a Christmas tree, but because it gives us a moment to reflect. It was definitely a peaceful moment. And here's what came to my mind. I hope that you find some part of it that means something to you.
I looked at the tree and noticed that it wasn't the tree that I saw. I saw the lights. I saw the light reflecting off the garland and the ornaments. But the tree just faded into the background. As I journaled I asked God to help me know peace. I asked that He show me how to show peace. And then it clicked. God showed me what the tree and I need to have in common.
A Christmas tree is beautiful when its all lit up and glowing from the strands of lights. Sometimes they are all white and other times a variety of beautiful colors. But when the lights are unplugged the tree looks dark, and kind of gaudy. If all the lights in the room are on, the Christmas tree pales in comparison. Those lights are not the strongest bulbs, but they do glow on. If we lower the other lights or turn them off all together, just picture the beauty that tree creates.
When we have accepted Christ as our Lord, He places a light within us. This light is meant to shine and show His amazing love to those around us. But in a world that sometimes shines so brightly, that light can be hard to see. Discipleship is the process of putting aside the world to strongly pursue Christ, a sort of dimming of the lights the world shines. As we dim these worldly lights, the light of Christ begins to shine.
So how am I like that Christmas tree? Its more than dimming the lights the world shines around me. God showed me that my role, like the tree, is to fade into the background. Don't get me wrong, I think an evergreen tree is beautiful, but when wrapped in those sparkling lights it's beauty is something extra special. Each part of the Christmas decorations has a correlation to our spiritual lives:
The lights on the tree represent the light of Christ, the Holy Spirit shining as a seal upon our hearts of something greater.
The garland wraps around a tree and glimmers not on its own right, but because of the lights that have already been placed. This stuff can be in a variety of colors and styles, but the shimmery, reflective material sends the light from those lights bursting forth in a million directions. Just as garland is wrapped around the tree, so too is grace wrapped around the Christian's life. In some places the Christian is wrapped in this grace more tightly than others, but in all the places, from top to bottom, grace reflects the light of Christ, inward towards the tree and outward for the world.
The ornaments on a tree can vary so greatly. My family's Christmas tree has always been covered in a lovely handmade ornaments from our growing up years. We also have a variety of ornaments from my parent's younger years. And then there are the beautiful new ones, silvery or sparkly. Some of these reflect the lights more easily than others, some are dark until a light from the strand is placed in front of it or behind it and illuminates the images it bears. Others, like the garland, send the light out in a million directions. Just as each ornament on our tree reminds me of a story from my past, so too am I covered in these stories. Some of them reflect the light of Christ better than others, but together they show the grace and purpose God has shown in my life. As I allow the light of Christ to be placed near these experiences, they begin to glow more beautifully. I learn from my past how God was paving the way for the beauty that would come. And now, as I am walking more closely to His side, He places beautiful new ornaments on my life, ones that send His light to the ends of the earth.
After we've looked the tree over we look up and see that tree topper. Some trees have stars at the top, others have angels, but you will be hard pressed to find a tree with nothing at the top. For me the tree topper reminds me of the crown that is to come. My faith in Christ offers me an amazing hope of a life to come. This life is one where everything has finally been set right. Suffering will end and strivings will cease. I will find my rest in Christ, my Savior, and will receive a crown for the completion of this race.
When the tree is finally assembled and the lights are dimmed, there is a moment that takes my breath away. The moment when the lights come on and the room is filled with this Christmas experience. All of the world is still for a moment as we take in the light that is filling our lives.
One passage we read this morning was from Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Jen admitted a bit of confusion because we are called the children of God from the moment we receive the grace Christ offers and accept the payment for our sins. This morning I understood that this will be the world recognizing the peace we are making and where it comes from, the light of Christ. We must be makers of peace throughout the world so that they can see the light of Christ. We must dim the lights of the world and shimmer in the light. Then the world will recognize, not a job well done by us, but the God who gives peace and grace to all. They will see lives set right and justice made real. They will see families coming together and broken hearts healed. All in the light of Christ, radiating from a life devoted to reflecting that light.
At Christmas we focus on the baby who was born in such a lowly position, the Christ-child. We remember the faith of His earthly parents and the amazing scene that God set for His son's arrival. But as a Christian my eyes look beyond the manger where the baby slept to the road that led Him to a very important tree. The Christ-child came with a singular focus, the cross, execution on a stake. He did this for us, each and every one of us. The Christ-child came for me. The Christ-child came for YOU! He longs to know you and be known by you. He longs to light up the life you are living. He longs to make things right in your life and offer you peace. If this is something you'd like to experience, please ask me. I'd love to share the peace with you!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Jesus said what? John 6:51-58
John 6:51-58
New International Version (NIV)
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” What an honest question. The statements Jesus makes in this section are confusing to say the least. Eat my flesh, drink my blood. He seems to be suggesting cannibalism of a living man.
Obviously we don't read this passage as cannibalism. We must bridge the gap between the appeared what we read and the meaning of the passage. Our job as teachers is to bring this message to our current readers and students.
Jesus says that he is the living bread that came down from heaven. Just as manna came down from heaven to provide for the Israelites as they wandered in the desert, Jesus came to provide for us. The sustenance that came from manna lasted only for the day. They could gather enough to satisfy a daily hunger, but any extra would go bad over night. They had no way of providing beyond a daily need.
Our lives may seem so much better than this daily fight for survival. We have refrigeration and food preservation. We can buy something today and eat it months from now. But are we really providing for ourselves? Are our needs really being met? We must eat again every few hours if we wish to keep hunger at bay. We keep pictures of our families in our wallets or on our cell phones to remind us of the love that we share. We cannot fathom the idea of being separated from all other people for more than a few hours at a time.
What Jesus came to offer would last more than a few hours or even a day. Jesus came to offer a bread that would satisfy for eternity. How can bread satisfy for that long? This is a filling, wholesome, hearty bread that feeds our souls. This bread, Jesus himself, satisfies our soul's longings rather than a grumbling tummy.
The Israelites could not find something that would give them life beyond their alloted years. They ate the manna provided and still eventually died. We, too, eat and live for only a certain amount of time. Death is inevitable for us as well. The bread that Jesus offers feeds us for all of eternity, giving us life beyond these few mortal years.
Jesus uses images of bread and wine to connect with his hearers. They understood the importance of bread and wine in ceremonial meals and even in daily life. They understood, like we may, how important daily food is to those who are not sure how it will be provided. Jesus also understood how odd it would sound to be promised a food that would not make you hungry later or could keep you from dying.
This is the bread that Jesus provides, His own life – His body broken and His blood shed. His life for ours. Will we eat of this bread? Can we take up this offer? Nothing is more real than this.
New International Version (NIV)
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” What an honest question. The statements Jesus makes in this section are confusing to say the least. Eat my flesh, drink my blood. He seems to be suggesting cannibalism of a living man.
Obviously we don't read this passage as cannibalism. We must bridge the gap between the appeared what we read and the meaning of the passage. Our job as teachers is to bring this message to our current readers and students.
Jesus says that he is the living bread that came down from heaven. Just as manna came down from heaven to provide for the Israelites as they wandered in the desert, Jesus came to provide for us. The sustenance that came from manna lasted only for the day. They could gather enough to satisfy a daily hunger, but any extra would go bad over night. They had no way of providing beyond a daily need.
Our lives may seem so much better than this daily fight for survival. We have refrigeration and food preservation. We can buy something today and eat it months from now. But are we really providing for ourselves? Are our needs really being met? We must eat again every few hours if we wish to keep hunger at bay. We keep pictures of our families in our wallets or on our cell phones to remind us of the love that we share. We cannot fathom the idea of being separated from all other people for more than a few hours at a time.
What Jesus came to offer would last more than a few hours or even a day. Jesus came to offer a bread that would satisfy for eternity. How can bread satisfy for that long? This is a filling, wholesome, hearty bread that feeds our souls. This bread, Jesus himself, satisfies our soul's longings rather than a grumbling tummy.
The Israelites could not find something that would give them life beyond their alloted years. They ate the manna provided and still eventually died. We, too, eat and live for only a certain amount of time. Death is inevitable for us as well. The bread that Jesus offers feeds us for all of eternity, giving us life beyond these few mortal years.
Jesus uses images of bread and wine to connect with his hearers. They understood the importance of bread and wine in ceremonial meals and even in daily life. They understood, like we may, how important daily food is to those who are not sure how it will be provided. Jesus also understood how odd it would sound to be promised a food that would not make you hungry later or could keep you from dying.
This is the bread that Jesus provides, His own life – His body broken and His blood shed. His life for ours. Will we eat of this bread? Can we take up this offer? Nothing is more real than this.
Friday, May 6, 2011
For Janet
So I only knew Janet for about 2 years. But as some of my friends will tell you, that's a long time in my book. I met Janet through Gary while he was attending classes with me through CCU at Indian Creek.
My first image of Janet was that of a diligent wife. She was always by Gary's side. She was supportive and ready with anything he may have needed. She always had healthy snacks packed for him, and extras for us. She sat quietly in our classrooms and occasionally offered her opinion or thoughts. That's when the magic happened.
When Janet opened her mouth the words that came out were beautiful. I wouldn't say that I would consider her quiet, but she never seemed obligated to talk. Her words were well crafted, always edifying and filled with so much love.
Janet was filled with love in everything she did. You could see the love dancing in her eyes like sparks flying as she talked about her kids, the church kids, the teens, her friends or almost anyone she met. She had learned to see with God's eyes. She saw each person as the part of God they had been created to be like. I could tell that with each new person she met her understanding of God became more complete.
Janet was such a good friend. I knew that no matter what idea was all of the sudden important to me, Janet would be willing to listen to me ramble on about it. She would talk with me about the things God was putting on my heart and share her heart with me as well.
I'm not sure why God called her home when He did. I know that a life like hers could never be fully finished. She would always have had more work she wanted to do, more people she wanted to love, more hugs she needed to share. But one thing I'm sure of is that she is now completely healed.
There's a picture on facebook of Janet next to a stone wall. There are these super determined flowers coming through the wall, blooming in their purple splendor. I commented for Gary that this was a perfect representation of Janet. She was a determined flower, pushing its way through the stone of life circumstances and hard hearts, to show God's full royal beauty to anyone willing to stop and see.
Thank you, Gary, for sharing Janet with us while you had her here. Thank you, God, for using Janet to inspire and motivate me to be a more loving person. And thank you, Janet for responding every day to the call of God on your life and loving completely.
My life will never be the same.
My first image of Janet was that of a diligent wife. She was always by Gary's side. She was supportive and ready with anything he may have needed. She always had healthy snacks packed for him, and extras for us. She sat quietly in our classrooms and occasionally offered her opinion or thoughts. That's when the magic happened.
When Janet opened her mouth the words that came out were beautiful. I wouldn't say that I would consider her quiet, but she never seemed obligated to talk. Her words were well crafted, always edifying and filled with so much love.
Janet was filled with love in everything she did. You could see the love dancing in her eyes like sparks flying as she talked about her kids, the church kids, the teens, her friends or almost anyone she met. She had learned to see with God's eyes. She saw each person as the part of God they had been created to be like. I could tell that with each new person she met her understanding of God became more complete.
Janet was such a good friend. I knew that no matter what idea was all of the sudden important to me, Janet would be willing to listen to me ramble on about it. She would talk with me about the things God was putting on my heart and share her heart with me as well.
I'm not sure why God called her home when He did. I know that a life like hers could never be fully finished. She would always have had more work she wanted to do, more people she wanted to love, more hugs she needed to share. But one thing I'm sure of is that she is now completely healed.
There's a picture on facebook of Janet next to a stone wall. There are these super determined flowers coming through the wall, blooming in their purple splendor. I commented for Gary that this was a perfect representation of Janet. She was a determined flower, pushing its way through the stone of life circumstances and hard hearts, to show God's full royal beauty to anyone willing to stop and see.
Thank you, Gary, for sharing Janet with us while you had her here. Thank you, God, for using Janet to inspire and motivate me to be a more loving person. And thank you, Janet for responding every day to the call of God on your life and loving completely.
My life will never be the same.
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