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Archive for the ‘Christ’ Category

The Agnostic’s Dilemma

Posted in A.J.Jacobs, Christ, Explanations, tagged on May 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. – Jesus (Revelation 3:20)

I am finding this book I am reading interesting. It’s by a self-avowed Jewish agnostic attempting to live what the Bible teaches. He provides an honest, non judgmental, secular perspective – a viewpoint I haven’t seen for a long time.

He, of course, approaches the Bible’s teaching as a “religion” and as such he is scared by it because:

To embrace religion, you have to surrender some control. But what if it’s a slippery slope, and you lose all control, slide right past the Judeo-Christian mainstream, and end up in a yurt kneeling in front of a guy wearing a tablecloth who has renamed you Lotus Petal?”

But our agnostic friend has a dilemma – he has a small son

It’s why I don’t know what do with Jasper. If I give him some religion, then he might become obsessed and go Guru Gill on me. Then again, if I give him no religion, he could descend into moral anarchy. They’re both so risky. I feel like I can’t win!” – The Year of Living Biblically by A.J.Jacobs, page 103

That’s a dilemma that can only be solved by yielding control not to a religion but the living Christ. He never forces us to do anything, but calls to us in love and leads us gently “Beside the still waters…” (Psalm 23:2).

We open the door to Christ, the living Lord, who physically walked out of the tomb and walks into our hearts. He leads us like a good shepherd.

Fall in love with Jesus and there is no dilemma.

– fritz@langgang.com

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God Hardening Hearts

Posted in Bible Characters, Calling, In Christ, tagged , on May 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: – Exodus 10:1

Many have pondered what choice a person has if God hardens their heart – as if the person was an innocent bystander unlucky enough to have been chosen.

But in our story none of these were innocent bystanders! They had made their choice, so why fault God for using them and even disposing of them as best suited his purpose?

An additional scripture may shine light here.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. – 2nd Timothy 2:20-21

Think of it this way.

In our homes we have various pots and dishes. Some, like fine China, are used for lovely purposes while others, like beat up bowls, are used for nasty needs.

The Bible says we can, actually, choose the kind of vessel we become! Jesus paid for our sins so we can become valuable for God’s holy purposes! If we choose to be a nasty vessel then we can’t complain if God uses us for a nasty purpose.

Pharoah chose to be a nasty vessel so God used him for a nasty purpose, but what’s your choice?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus who paid for my sins on the cross so I can be a chosen vessel in your service!

Sound Bite: I choose Christ and Holy Living

– fritz@langgang.com

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How Did She Do That?

Posted in Assurance, Bible Characters, Christ, Devotion, tagged , on May 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

And, behold, a woman  .. stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. – Luke 7:38

Ancient Roman Tear Bottle

Washing Jesus feet behind him may not have been a problem, they often ate while reclining as pictured above, but how did this woman wash Jesus’ feet with her tears?

I don’t believe a person could cry so much so quickly that they could wash someone’s feet with those tears! Instead, I think this passage indicates another cultural detail we know little about – Tear Bottles.

They are first alluded to in Psalms 56:8, where David asks to have his tears put in God’s bottle, and they have been discovered by archeologist. These bottles contained every tear its owner ever shed. Every deep emotion was represented by those tears.

I think the Bible is indicating this woman loved Jesus so much she poured her entire emotional history on Jesus feet and wiped them away.

Prayer: Jesus don’t just come for a visit, take my whole heart and desires. Amen!
Sound bite: Many invite Jesus to visit, but what do we do with our hearts?

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