In the midst of Christ’s creative genius (as God) he certainly took a strange step in his efforts to recapture the hearts and souls of humanity – he became one of those that he created (a man). To try and get a handle on this seemingly odd set of events take a look at…
John 1:1-14 (the before and after mystery)
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Read it a few times and ask yourself the following:
1. Who is “the word’ referred to in the first few verses?
2. What was “the word” up to?
3. Did “the word” have a beginning?
4. What does it mean what it says “the word became flesh”?
5. What is Christ’s glory?
It’s true; God’s mission is to seek out and restore/rescue humanity. This was his mission then and it’s his mission today. Jesus took the first step when led with compassion and became one of us.
While on earth Jesus repeatedly expressed compassion on those in the margins (the poor, lonely, rejected, homeless, imprisoned, widowed, orphaned, greedy, and assorted misfits); this compassion ran so deep that he took their place on the cross, and then asked them to take his place on earth.
It’s true for us too.
To love and serve means that we, like Jesus, address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people regardless of where they live, what they believe, their economic status, country of origin, or religious background; those living in the margins.
The compassion of God is meant to be shared and expressed in the way we live. No speeches, no lectures, no sermons, no handouts, no memorization, no formal training, no theological expertise, no judgments, no condemnation, no expectations, no religion; just love.
Just live as Jesus wants us to live.
This is the cool part; along the way, curiosity is peaked. People want to know why you are doing what you do giving you a chance to share the compassion message, and hopefully others will join us in our desire to help those who need to experience a living hope. His name is Jesus…
Compassion Rules! Live your Life...
www.compassionrules.com
Friday, June 27, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Sunday, June 8th 2008 Holy, yet empowering…
It’s humbling if you stop to think about it; Jesus in all of his glory, in the fullness of his deity, in the heavens that he left to become one us for a time being is actually praying for us. Even as you read this He is interceding on our behalf before the living God – God the Father. Unbelievable; his love and concern for us never stops.
Do you ever feel alone? Lonely as if no one is around who really cares about you? I feel this way occasionally, I think it’s only human. It’s hard to accept; Jesus’ love is so deep that he stands in the gap for us everyday. Even when we think we don’t need the help. Again, it’s a bit overwhelming if you think about it.
While this realization may be new to you it’s really just an extension of who Jesus was while he was here on earth. We see this in one of his prayers. A small part of this prayer is below. As Jesus was preparing to go back to God because his mission was about to end, he interceded on behalf of those he loved…
John 17:13-21 (New International Version)
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
While this prayer has many facets that are worthy of discussion, I want to focus on the part where he mentions that we are “not of the word” and yet “we are in the world.” Seems a little odd, but like Jesus was in the world we too are in the world. Yet, at the same time we are not to be part of the world.
What do think about when you read this? What comes to mind? How can we be in and not of the world around us? Is it an issue of separation (non-engagement) as some would have us believe? Is it that we set ourselves in a position of judgment and therefore condemn those who may not live like us? What does it mean?
Maybe it’s just me, but I think the idea of being “in and not of” has been misunderstood for the past few decades. To me it suggests that we live differently while on this earth so others can see the love of Jesus in our actions. It means that we live by a different set of standards that point to Christ as the one who cares about those who are hurting and suffering. It means that we engage the world by making the sound moral choices that affect real change, but “morality” actually goes much deeper than you may think (e.g., when you think of “immorality” what come to mind?).
Unlike the dominant conservative evangelical church has behaved for the past few decades, making sound moral choices transcends sexual issues and means that we can also choose:
• Generosity over greed (personal or corporate)…
• Moderation over indulgence (mine or yours)…
• Reestablishing our priorities for the sake of family (workaholics in the church or anywhere else)…
• A life that is more about serving others and less about serving self (it’s not about you)…
• Down-shifting over consumerism (living on less so more can be shared)…
• Caring for our planet by accepting an eco-friendly way of life…
• Engaging the issues of social justice rather than avoiding them (making things right instead of turning a blind eye on the poor, the orphaned, the hungry, homeless and thirsty)…
Talk about this stuff with your friends and start making the hard choices – choices that will let others know how much Jesus really cares about them.
Hey, I’m gone for a few weeks (with a team in Guatemala), so think on these things and let Jesus work on your heart. I’ll update the blog when I get back.
Remember, you not doing this alone; Jesus is praying for you right now and he will guide you around every corner.
Peace out…
PS – if this blog is useful to you please let me know via email – rgelaude@connexionscc.com
Do you ever feel alone? Lonely as if no one is around who really cares about you? I feel this way occasionally, I think it’s only human. It’s hard to accept; Jesus’ love is so deep that he stands in the gap for us everyday. Even when we think we don’t need the help. Again, it’s a bit overwhelming if you think about it.
While this realization may be new to you it’s really just an extension of who Jesus was while he was here on earth. We see this in one of his prayers. A small part of this prayer is below. As Jesus was preparing to go back to God because his mission was about to end, he interceded on behalf of those he loved…
John 17:13-21 (New International Version)
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
While this prayer has many facets that are worthy of discussion, I want to focus on the part where he mentions that we are “not of the word” and yet “we are in the world.” Seems a little odd, but like Jesus was in the world we too are in the world. Yet, at the same time we are not to be part of the world.
What do think about when you read this? What comes to mind? How can we be in and not of the world around us? Is it an issue of separation (non-engagement) as some would have us believe? Is it that we set ourselves in a position of judgment and therefore condemn those who may not live like us? What does it mean?
Maybe it’s just me, but I think the idea of being “in and not of” has been misunderstood for the past few decades. To me it suggests that we live differently while on this earth so others can see the love of Jesus in our actions. It means that we live by a different set of standards that point to Christ as the one who cares about those who are hurting and suffering. It means that we engage the world by making the sound moral choices that affect real change, but “morality” actually goes much deeper than you may think (e.g., when you think of “immorality” what come to mind?).
Unlike the dominant conservative evangelical church has behaved for the past few decades, making sound moral choices transcends sexual issues and means that we can also choose:
• Generosity over greed (personal or corporate)…
• Moderation over indulgence (mine or yours)…
• Reestablishing our priorities for the sake of family (workaholics in the church or anywhere else)…
• A life that is more about serving others and less about serving self (it’s not about you)…
• Down-shifting over consumerism (living on less so more can be shared)…
• Caring for our planet by accepting an eco-friendly way of life…
• Engaging the issues of social justice rather than avoiding them (making things right instead of turning a blind eye on the poor, the orphaned, the hungry, homeless and thirsty)…
Talk about this stuff with your friends and start making the hard choices – choices that will let others know how much Jesus really cares about them.
Hey, I’m gone for a few weeks (with a team in Guatemala), so think on these things and let Jesus work on your heart. I’ll update the blog when I get back.
Remember, you not doing this alone; Jesus is praying for you right now and he will guide you around every corner.
Peace out…
PS – if this blog is useful to you please let me know via email – rgelaude@connexionscc.com
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sunday, June 1st, 2008 All powerful, yet ever so trusting…
I remember on many occasions when my dad, who was gentleman farmer and skilled in many areas, would ask me to do something for him. This is not uncommon with young boys who had a dad who loved projects, but what I found interesting was that while he was more than able to get the job done much quicker and with more skill, he still wanted me to do it.
He trusted me to do the best I could do, and if I needed help all I needed to do was ask. As I reflect back I see this as an example of how God desires to do the same. In all of his power, his holiness and his perfection he still asks us for help. He trusts us to share his message of hope, peace and reconciliation.
It’s a mystery to me…
Don’t believe me? Read and think through the following:
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (New International Version)
18-20 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:16-20 (The Message)
16-20 Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
Here are a few questions to ponder:
What are the best ways we can share the hope that we have?
What are the often practiced and least effective ways people share Christ?
What is an ambassador? How does this role play out in life?
Why do you think that God asks us to join him in his plan to extend true hope to the world?
What it is that God is looking for in a person?
Personal note:
For the longest time I’ve noticed that the fabric of a person character is revealed not in the words of their speeches (or sermons), nor in the promises they make, but in their actions and deeds. It’s one thing to say you’re a follower of Jesus and wear the façade of Christianity; it’s wholly another to live as he lived. In large part our devotion to Christ is measured by our willingness to just follow him wherever it takes us.
It’s funny really. I’ve been part of “church” for about 20 years, and I’ve just recently come to this conclusion: we have not been placed on this blue marble planet to serve an institution called the Church, but to serve our King and those he loves so dearly. We are to do so at any and all costs.
But then, maybe it’s just me…
Peace…
He trusted me to do the best I could do, and if I needed help all I needed to do was ask. As I reflect back I see this as an example of how God desires to do the same. In all of his power, his holiness and his perfection he still asks us for help. He trusts us to share his message of hope, peace and reconciliation.
It’s a mystery to me…
Don’t believe me? Read and think through the following:
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (New International Version)
18-20 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:16-20 (The Message)
16-20 Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
Here are a few questions to ponder:
What are the best ways we can share the hope that we have?
What are the often practiced and least effective ways people share Christ?
What is an ambassador? How does this role play out in life?
Why do you think that God asks us to join him in his plan to extend true hope to the world?
What it is that God is looking for in a person?
Personal note:
For the longest time I’ve noticed that the fabric of a person character is revealed not in the words of their speeches (or sermons), nor in the promises they make, but in their actions and deeds. It’s one thing to say you’re a follower of Jesus and wear the façade of Christianity; it’s wholly another to live as he lived. In large part our devotion to Christ is measured by our willingness to just follow him wherever it takes us.
It’s funny really. I’ve been part of “church” for about 20 years, and I’ve just recently come to this conclusion: we have not been placed on this blue marble planet to serve an institution called the Church, but to serve our King and those he loves so dearly. We are to do so at any and all costs.
But then, maybe it’s just me…
Peace…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
