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The Disciples Didn’t Get It, Until…

/ Bill Jones / 7 Comments
English: The Last Supper, showing Jesus, at th...

Jesus said: “One of you shall betray me”.

“And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And, as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” Mark 14:17-19 ESV

We read in the Gospels that the disciples often just didn’t get it. They were with Jesus and He was teaching them and showing His power through miracles on a daily basis. But, because they didn’t get it, Jesus’ words to them often began with “Oh, ye of little faith”.

The disciples were there when Jesus fed five thousand men (plus women and children) from a few loaves and fishes. Yet, not long after that, Jesus asked them about feeding four thousand and they said it couldn’t be done.

Jesus kept repeating the fact that He was going to Jerusalem to die. Yet, they took it to mean He was going to start His earthly reign, and spent time arguing over which of them would get the highest office in that kingdom. They just didn’t get it.

However, in the Scripture above, during what we call The Last Supper, they did get it. When Jesus said one of them would betray Him, they didn’t accuse each other and point fingers of guilt. No, each of them sorrowfully recognized his own weakness and asked the troubling question “Is it I?”

Before we start condemning them, we need to ensure we get it. We need to recognize we have no real strength without Jesus. We may not betray Him in the same manner He described, but we can betray our faith in many different ways.

The assurance comes, though, in that we don’t have to act on our own strength. 1 John 4:4 tells us Whose strength we can rely on:

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 ESV

No Barriers, No Defeat – With God!

/ Bill Jones / 9 Comments
Barrier

Barrier (Photo credit: Plbmak)

Several years ago, our company held a business retreat that, as they normally do, featured a motivational speaker. He had worked his way into the Olympics in one of the solo sailing events. It was a good story, as he came from a disadvantaged country and family. And, it was motivational.

The slogan used for the retreat (and the title of the book describing his accomplishment) was something like “No Barriers, No Defeat!”

The various sessions had that as the theme, and the speakers adapted it to their subject. The organizers did an excellent job of weaving those words throughout all the sessions and events. When the gathering ended at lunchtime on the third day, the excitement was evident. We left as a group thinking: “we can do it – no barriers, no defeat!”, and as individuals applying it to ourselves: “I can do it – no barriers, no defeat!”.

But, as usual, in the aftermath of such a retreat, getting back into the day-to-day work can bring down the excitement level. The same problems exist, the routine is still routine, and there are still barriers and defeats – no matter what words you say.

Much like those described as in the “rocky ground” in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, there was a group who heard the words and got excited, but quickly lost motivation when the troubles arose once more.

Jesus explained that the seed being sown was the Word of God and in the rocky ground, it didn’t take root (the Holy Spirit had not prepared their heart to be “good ground”). The “rocky ground” folks were acting on their own emotions and strength.

And, that’s where most of us were as we stated: “No barriers, no defeat”. We thought if we just tried hard enough, focused clearly enough, and were strong enough, we would win all the battles. But, we know that’s not true.

The poem “Invictus” has a line: “I am the master of my fate”. I once thought that a powerful statement, but now understand it’s nothing but silliness and arrogance.

I’m not implying that we shouldn’t work against barriers to do what needs to be done. Neither am I implying we should give up if things are hard to do. No, I’m saying we have to change our focus.

We have to turn from any “man-centered” thinking (such as the Invictus line) and turn to God. Not saying what we will do (on our own), but acknowledging, as instructed in James 4:13-17, that if the Lord wills, we will do this or that. Recognizing, as Jesus says (John 15:5), we can do nothing apart from Him.

And, with those passages and this Scripture, we can fearlessly (yet humbly) go against whatever barriers may exist: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 NKJV.

Through the years I’ve modified the slogan we used that week. The first variation, instead of “No Barriers, No Defeat” became “No Arrogance, No Conceit”. But, on consideration, I think it may be more appropriate to say “No Barriers, No Defeat – with God!”

I’m Tired, but God is Still Here

/ Bill Jones / 10 Comments

Oak with Sunflowers

It’s been a busy few weeks here and I’m tired. But, thankfully, I finished one of the major projects I was working on and hope to get a little breathing room (But not too much – if you’re a contractor these days, you don’t hope for much breathing room.)

As always, the Lord has been there during the busy time. He gave me the work to do, the strength to work, safety in travels, and especially gave me Sharon to encourage me along. And, as you see in the photos, he gave me a neighbor down the road that planted a patch of sunflowers. I get to say “Wow, that’s beautiful” each time I pass by.

Sunflower Patch

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15

Revive us again, Oh Lord.

Shoutin’ “Whoooaaa” Before We Hit the Ground

/ Bill Jones / 28 Comments
Dirt road through the |]], near

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is part of the Christianwriters.com blog chain. This month’s theme is memory, and here’s one of mine. Check out my friend’s blogs on their day from the list on the right.

My uncle’s old pickup bounced noisily along the dirt lane leading to his farm. My cousins and I sat on the tailgate and dangled our feet inches from the ground. We slumped against each other, exhausted from a day in the fields. But, the freedom of the open truck bed and the breeze from the movement began to revive us. Soon we were shouting over the truck noise and laughing as each pretended their intent to push another off the tailgate.

When the truck hit a bump, the sagging suspension allowed our feet to scrape the dirt. After a few times, we made a game of it. We inched closer to the edge and stretched our legs to see who could let their feet slide the longest.

It became precarious when we hit two bumps in a row. The first would cause us to stretch out and the second would bounce us quickly again, moving us closer to the edge.

I looked down and watched the dirt and grass between the ruts move steadily by. We weren’t going fast so it wasn’t zipping by – just a steady pace. I reasoned that if I was bounced off at that speed, I could just keep my legs moving and stand up.

At the next pair of bumps I got to try my theory out. As we hit the first one, we all stretched out, giggling at what by now we understood to be danger. The second bump was more of a hole. The tires went deep and then quickly up to the top, sending the truck’s rear end into the air. With that, my rear end bounced off the tailgate and when it came down, I was too near the edge to stop. I scrambled for a handhold but found none.

I whooped out a long “Whooooaaaa!” as I sailed off the truck, and flailed my feet in hopes of remaining upright. But, my theory had at least one fatal flaw. I had not considered the direction I was facing. If a mishap occurred, I would come off the truck backward. No matter how good you are, you can’t run backward as fast as forward.

That was proven as my feet hit the ground. Rather than showing any semblance of uprightness, my back and then my head followed quickly onto the dirt. I slid awhile, came to a stop and lay there in the middle of the road.

By then my cousins’ shouts had alerted my uncle to stop, and they jumped out of the truck and dashed back to see if I was hurt. The slide had torn my shirt and scraped my back – but thankfully, there were no broken bones and nothing more serious than a nice goose-egg from the head banging.

I thought I had it figured out. I knew I was on the edge but kept inching closer. Surely, my plan would take me through. If I was bounced, or pulled, or pushed over the line, I could easily use my own strength to keep straight. But, as I lay in the road staring up at the sky, it was clear my own strength had been useless – either to prevent me from falling as I kept tempting danger, or to hold me up once the boundary had been crossed.

It’s not unusual for us humans to think we’re stronger or smarter or quicker than we really are. Sadly, it’s also not unusual for us believers to walk close to the edge of temptation, relying on our own strength.

We read of Samson and Delilah in the Book of Judges. Each time she asked how he could be defeated, he became more arrogant in his answers. Finally, he told her cutting his hair was the secret.

That night Delilah had someone shave Samson’s head while he slept, and then she cried out the Philistines were there. He jumped up, ready to defeat them as before, but found he had no strength. His hair had been cut, but the real problem was that God had left him – and Samson didn’t even know it. He had toyed with temptation and eventually crossed the line. Samson quickly found that without God, his own strength was useless.

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.” (Pro. 4:14-15 ESV). God knows our tendency to think we can handle temptation on our own, and He knows that we will fail if we try. His Word has many verses like these, that warn us with verbs like “avoid”, “turn away”, “depart” and the one that expresses it most dramatically – “flee!”.

We shouldn’t be walking close to the edge – we should be running the other way, because our strength will not keep us from being bounced, pushed or pulled over the line where temptation gives way to sin.

But, thankfully, God has not left us to our own strength. The Bible also has many verses that promise He will be our strength. If we take the warnings to heart and trust in His promises and His power, we won’t find ourselves whooping out a “Whooooaaaa!”, flailing our feet and hoping to stay out of the dirt on our own.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)