Spending Time with Friends

Today is Thursday, April 9, 2020. We have been in official state mandated 'stay-at-home' for 4 days. We've been social distancing for about 4 1/2 weeks. There are aisles of empty shelves at Wal-Mart. There are daily updates from the Governor concerning the progress and effect of COVID-19 in our state. I have purposefully stayed away from news reports. I have had meetings via ZOOM and conference calls. Things are different to say the least. 

On top of all this, it's Holy Week. The week we remember the events leading up to Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. So, on Thursday, Jesus had a meal with His disciples. As He was hours away from the cross, he wanted to spend time with His friends and He taught them in the process. Jesus was ever the Master Teacher. As they gathered in the upper room and got comfortable, here was the normal chit-chat, joking and horsing around like guys do when they get together. Especially men who had been together almost constantly for 3 years. And in the midst of this, Jesus got up, pulled up his robe and gathered it around his waist, poured water into a basin, took a towel and then approached each disciple and began to wash their feet. I don't know about you but I do not like people touching my feet. In those times you know that hygiene wasn't a top priority. Plus there were dirt roads and they walked around in sandals. Those feet had to have been nasty. Nonetheless, Jesus, the Messiah, went to each disciple, knelt down, because they weren't sitting in chair but were on the floor, dipped the towel in the water then slowly washed their feet.  At first the chatter continued. Whoever what the first to have his feet cleaned may have sorta jumped in surprise as something wet was massaging his feet. That disciple's conversation stopped immediately. He probably poked the guy he was talking to who may have jolted and said, "WHAT?" Then the first disciple pointed at what was going on at his feet. Slowly, the whole room grew eerily silent and all eyes were on Jesus. You could hear the towel dipping into the basin then the dripping noise echoing in the basin then on the floor and the soft sound of feet being washed. Jesus moves from disciple to disciple repeating his task. He gets around to Peter and Peter pulls his feet back. "No, Lord, I'm not going to let You wash my feet." I bet the other disciples started shaking their heads. Jesus said, "Now Peter, if you don't let me do this, you can't be a part of me." Peter's reply, "Okay, Lord but wash all of me, not just my feet." "Peter, that's not necessary." And then as far as we know Jesus washed Peter's feet and continued until all the disciples' feet were washed. 

Jesus shared with them, "What I've done is an example to you. As I've served you, you are to serve others. Here, near end of our time together, I want to once again tell you, follow Me."  

We are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of relationships now that we have been forced apart. I heard a DJ say this the other night. We are '#alonetogether.' That fits this time we're in as we are bombarded once again with oxymorons. Reminds me of terms like jumbo shrimp, bittersweet or exact estimate. Today we have social distancing and alone together. They just don't make sense. Jesus reminded use that relationships are important. He spent His last few hours with His friends. Even on the cross, He thought of others as He said, 'Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing.' 

As we remember the events of this week and the difference they made in our lives, let's also remember that this difference Christ has made is to be shared with others. Just as Christ's crucifixion was very public, our Christian walk should be public as well. Not only in this Easter season but, during these uncertain times, let's focus on others as much as we can. During these crazy times, people want to hear some good news. Well, we have the best news ever.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Any of you have extra time on your hands? Rhetorical question, of course. We all seem to, but what are we doing with that time? For me, I'm trying to observe the world around me better. Yes, I am still spending too much time on my devices but I am trying to limit it some. When we observe, we look. What have you seen that maybe you missed earlier because you weren't really looking? The other afternoon I looked at a red-headed woodpecker in the neighbor's tree. For me, it was the first one of the season. Maybe it's because I grew up watching 'Woody the Woodpecker' but, I really like woodpeckers. You hear the tap, tap, tap of their beaks as they search for food or build their nest. The brightness of their red feathers that adorn their heads seems royal to me. I watched that woodpecker for a good 10 minutes. I thought about taking a picture or two but I was afraid it might fly away before I could get a good shot. Eventually, the bird did fly away to another tree and it was out of sight. By the end of the day, once I got back to my routine, I forgot some of the intricate uniqueness of 'Woody.' That happens, regardless of how intentional we plan to be.

So, what do you remember about the final days of Jesus' life? We sing songs that remind us but do those remembrances last? We participate in the Lord's Supper together where we are worshiping through remembering but for how long? We can watch movies that portray the events in varying graphics. The more graphic, sometimes the image stays longer. 

This leads me to 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.' 'Surveying' is looking intently at something for a prolonged period of time. Let's look at the lyrics together.

"When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died. My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride." 

When I see the Prince of glory dying on the cross I realize that everything I've ever gained means nothing in comparison and anything that give me pride I count as contempt, it's worthless, not even deserving my consideration.

"Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood." 

Father, please don't allow me to ever think about boasting in anything I've accomplished in my life. The only thing I want to boast in the Jesus' death. Everything that catches my eye, draws my attention, please let me willingly give them up for Christ's sacrifice. Anything less from me doesn't cost me enough.

"See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown." 

As I take a closer look at Christ on the cross I see His pierced head, hands, feet, but instead of merely seeing the gravity of the blood from those wounds, I see sorrow, distress, a sense of loss mixed in with love, compassion, sympathy. I have never seen such an outpouring of these emotions ever in any human. And although, Christ is bearing a mockery of a crown made of thorns, there has never been a more majestic, priceless crown ever worn.

"Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far to small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." 

If I possessed everything in the world and could give it as a gift to Christ, it would be like a raindrop in the ocean compared to the demonstration of love on the cross. That love so amazed, so awesome, so priceless and yet divine, inhuman, unworldly, holy, heavenly, asks not only for all I have but also all I am, my life, my emotions, my thoughts, my temperament, my attitudes, my beliefs, my character, my behaviors, basically anything and everything I am.

Lord, I Need You

There's a huge difference between the things we need and the things we want. That is becoming crystal clear in these days of social distancing and stay at home directives from our local, state and national government. Our needs are basic...shelter, food, family. We are blessed if we have these. But our #1 need is Christ.

During this Holy Week I am reminded once again of the Father's love for His creation and His sacrifice to regain that intimate relationship He longs to have with us, His children. How far will we go to help stop the spread of this pandemic? Will we stay home like we've been asked to? Will we stay away from people for a short while? These are simple compared to what God, the Father, has done to stop the spread of the pandemic of sin. This truly is a pandemic because we are all sinners. There is no one righteous, not even one. The Father gave His only Son to repair the Grand Canyon sized gap that separated us from God. He gave all He had. Why? Because He loves us...loves you...loves me.

In these crazy days of chaos and confusion, remember, more than social distancing, more than washing our hands for 20 seconds or more, more than toilet paper...we need Jesus. When we're tired and confused...we need Jesus. When our hearts are torn...we need Jesus. When our soul is bruised...we need Jesus. When we give in to that same old sin...we need Jesus. When we are incapacitated by guilt...we need Jesus. When we're desperate for someone to listen...we need Jesus.

He is our salvation. He is our rock. He is our hope. He is our shepherd. He is our remedy. He is our...everything.

Use What You Have

Use what you have. 

Moses what do you have? A staff. Gideon what do you have? 300 men, a trumpet, and a torch in a basket.  Ruth what do you have? A kind heart and a love for my mother in law. Esther what do you have? I'm the queen. David what do you have? A handful of stones and a sling.  Mary what do you have? My life is open to whatever God wants of me. Young boy what do you have? 5 loaves and 2 fish. You, __________, (place your name in the blank), what do you have? Will you give it to God and allow Him to use it for His glory?

DO YOU SEE THEM?

     How’s your vision? Do you see the world around you? In your homes? At work? At the restaurant? At school? At church?

     We “see” people all around us every day. But do we really see them?

     What is going on in the lives of those around us? We talk to them. We may even shake their hand or hug their neck. We exchange pleasantries, but do we ever get to know their hurts or pains? Their joys or victories?

     Too many times in our culture we have the attitude of ‘who cares’. I’ve got my life, my family, my own little world. That keeps me busy enough. But we are God’s hands and feet, His eyes here on earth. We need to take off our blinders and ask God to help us see the world, our world, as He does.

     And how does God see His world? When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Matthew 9:36 (NIV)

     Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (NASB)

     When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (CSB)

     When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (HCSB)

     When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (NLT)

     HARASSED, HELPLESS, DISTRESSED, DISPIRITED, DEJECTED, WEARY, WORN OUT, and CONFUSED. That sums up our world very well. And when Jesus saw those in this state, He had compassion on them.

     Pray that God will open our eyes and that He will give us compassion for those around us. Jesus followed up that compassion with action. We should do no less. Remember compassion or love is a VERB.