Freedom and Peace

They made idols for themselves. (Hosea 8:4)

Ornately carved dragons, stoic Buddhas, calves, bulls, even human forms with animal heads—the ancient world offered an extraordinary variety of idols. Today, we’re more likely to treat athletes, rock stars, or luxury cars as idols. But in the end, an idol is anything that we allow to influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions more than it should. Perhaps the Pharisees who opposed Jesus idolized their own narrow observance of Judaism. So when Jesus came neither looking nor acting as they thought he should, they plotted against him.

Here’s the thing about idols: they’re tricky. They can have great sway over us, yet not appear as idols at all! But if something erodes your peace, causes your heart to tremble, or drives rational thoughts from your head, there’s probably some kind of idolatry behind it. 

That’s not to say that we’re all idolaters who willingly and greedily bow down to the modern world’s false gods. It’s hard to find someone who “worships” money or someone who is truly “obsessed” with gaining power. Still, if the everyday ups and downs of the stock market send you into a panic or if the slightest tickle in your throat brings on visions of a fatal illness, then something has a greater hold on you than it should. 

It doesn’t have to be this way! Nothing has to rob you of your peace or your trust in the Lord. If you can get into the habit of guarding and examining your thoughts during the day, you’ll find yourself more peaceful. Just try to be aware of the thoughts that grip your imagination, and see where they lead you. Don’t engage in a witch hunt; just take a look at what goes on inside of you. If the thoughts are making you more agitated or more self-focused, try to redirect them. 

For example, tell yourself, “God holds my life in his hand, and nothing can snatch me away.” Or “God is a God of hope; I know he can satisfy the longings of my heart.” Where you find fear or gridlock in your heart, take it to your heavenly Father. Remember that he sent his Son to give you freedom and peace!

“Jesus, you are the one true God! Teach me how to find my hope in you. Lord, I want to know the peace that comes from surrendering to you.”

from wau.org

"My Lord and my God"

Unless I see … I will not believe. (John 20:25)

Try to imagine yourself in Thomas’ sandals. How do you feel when Jesus appears? No doubt, you are astounded to see him alive. Certainly, you are awestruck to see him as the risen, glorious Lord. Perhaps you become lost in worship as you look into his eyes and touch his wounds. You are filled with gratitude as you realize that he has accomplished nothing less than the salvation of the world.

But if you were Thomas, you might feel like laughing at yourself as well! You’ve spent three years with Jesus, watching him heal the blind and the lame, drive out demons, and raise the dead. You heard how the tomb was found empty and the stone rolled away and how Mary Magdalene and the others saw Jesus alive. But still you wanted proof. And now here he is, standing right in front of you. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Thomas, it really is me! Trust me; I will never abandon you.”

It may be hard to imagine Thomas as finally being relieved of his doubts and even chuckling over them. Besides, it can be very easy for us to identify with the first part of his story—especially when we ourselves feel stressed or anxious. We may be going through a serious illness, financial problems, or some other crisis, or maybe something horrible is happening to someone we are close to. We may wonder if God is really going to come through and help. We may even blame ourselves for not having enough faith.

Whenever this happens, think of Thomas. Let Jesus tell you the same thing he told this wavering apostle: “Look at me and trust! Believe, even when you cannot see.” Who knows? He may even tell you to laugh in the face of your problem. Jesus promises that if you take just one small step in handing over everything to God “with thanksgiving,” then his peace, which “surpasses all understanding,” will come to you (Philippians 4:6, 7). So no matter what you are dealing with, look at the cross, and see the finished work of Jesus. Then, with a heart full of praise, cry out, “My Lord and my God!”

“Thank you, Jesus, for being with me at every moment, in good times and bad. I praise you, Lord, for being my Savior!”

from wau.org

Limits

Ahab went home disturbed and angry. (1 Kings 21:4)

Limits are a part of life. Games work only if everyone follows the rules. Chaos reigns in a society without laws. But how do you view limits in your life? It’s tempting to consider them as inconvenient impositions—as limits to our freedom that keep us from doing what we want. But today’s reading shows what can happen if there were no limits. 

Ahab, king of Israel, wanted a vineyard that one of his subjects, Naboth, owned. But the Law of Moses decreed that God had given the land to the people of Israel, and it was not to be sold out of the family. This was so that no family could be shut out of the covenant by losing their ancestral inheritance. This was, after all, the land that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants forever. It was a very physical sign of their covenant with him, proof positive that they were his chosen, beloved people. But Ahab didn’t see it that way. All he could see was the convenience of having a vineyard located right next to his vegetable garden.

Since Naboth wasn’t free to sell the land, Ahab went away in a sulk. Queen Jezebel reminded Ahab that he was king; he could do whatever he wanted. Then, to prove her point, she took matters into her own hands and had Naboth murdered.

Two points stand out in today’s reading: First, how easy it can be to respond to limits the same way Ahab and Jezebel did! If we can’t get what we want, we sulk. If we can somehow disregard the limits, we go for it. Second, how challenging it can be to respond as Naboth did! He could have made a lot of money out of Ahab’s offer. He might have even suspected that his refusal to sell would have angered the queen. But he knew what God had commanded, and he stayed true. 

Naboth respected the limits God placed on his people, and it cost him his life. We will probably not face martyrdom for our faith, but every day brings us the opportunity to “die” to ourselves so that Christ can live in us. Let’s trust him. Let’s embrace his limits as the life-giving protections that they are!

“Lord, I trust you. Draw me closer to you through the limits in my life.”

~from wau.org

go all in

The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth. (1 Kings 17:14)

Have you ever heard the poker term “going all in”? It’s when you take your chips and throw them all in during one hand. When you go all in, you know you have the chance to win it all—or to lose absolutely everything.

Today’s first reading has a similar “going all in” feel to it, but the stakes are much higher than a poker game. People here are gambling with their lives!

Even though God has kept the prophet Elijah hidden and protected him from Queen Jezebel’s death threats, God now tells him to go to a widow who lives in Jezebel’s homeland of Zarephath. Knowing how dangerous such a journey could be, Elijah goes all in. He leaves his safe haven and travels across the drought-ridden land to find the woman.

For showing such faith, Elijah is rewarded. He discovers that this widow is also willing to go all in with the Lord—even though she is a pagan with no connection to the God of Israel! She puts her life and the life of her son at risk, trusting that God will do what he has promised through this wandering prophet.

How about you? Have there been times in your life when you decided to go all in with the Lord? Perhaps by choosing one vocation over another or by finding the courage to finally confess a long-standing sin. Have you ever done this and not been rewarded by the Lord? Of course not!

But it’s not just in the major events that we can take steps like this. Every day offers us numerous opportunities to decide whether we are going to remain all in with the Lord. “How should I respond when people at work start to gossip?” “What should I say when a friend asks why I go to church?” “Is there anything I can do for that poor fellow on the street corner?” Each and every decision we make is an opportunity to affirm that we are “all in” with Christ.

Throw in all your chips, and see what kind of reward the Lord has waiting for you.

“Lord, help me go all in with you today. Teach me to entrust my whole life to you.”

from wau.org

What a friend

Text: John 15: 13-15

In today's text we read of the creator of the universe calling us his friend. I tried to think of the depth of this statement and its implications. I believe that His meaning to this statement far exceeds the boundaries of friendship but He uses this human metaphor to communicate a valuable message:

A true friend knows all about you but yet still loves you: Today Jesus is reminding us of His ever present love in our lives. Regardless of our shortcomings and failures, He is still concerned about us and loves us to the point of death. He is reminding us that we can still count on this love whenever we feel down especially due to our mistakes. He is encouraging us that through the consistency of His love, we already have available to us the grace and strength to stand up and move forward. With His strength we can come out stronger than before.

A true friend is willing to listen and converse: Most of our good conversations, I believe, have been had with good friends. Today Jesus is reminding us of the essence of prayer; a conversation. He is inviting us as friends to meet Him in prayer, to come and speak and listen to Him. He desires that we come and enjoy a good conversation with Him. Whether we are pouring out our fears, doubts, sorrows, requests, thanksgiving or praise.... He is asking us to come and talk with Him and to listen as He speaks with us. Today, Jesus is inviting us to a conversation.

A true friend is a companion: I believe you can recall the good times you have had with your buddies, and how you sometimes smile to yourself when these nostalgic moments flash through your mind. Today Jesus is reminding us that He is a companion who will never leave us. Through good times and bad, He is and will be there. He is not a companion who might be far off at a distance, or one who leaves when you depart to go home....No. He is one that is always there. He is the true companion.

A true friend is there to help: Today Jesus is reminding us that He is always there to provide the assistance we need. He promises that He sends us the Holy Spirit. In John 15:26 He says  “I will send you the Helper from the Father." The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. His promised Spirit is with us. John 14: 17 says “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”. Indeed He is our helper.

In verse 13 of John 15, Jesus resounds this message:  ^“The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. Today He wants us to remember this love, personally....individually.

I would like to conclude with the lyrics of this popular hymn we sing so often by Joseph M. Scriven. I implore you to kindly reflect on these:

1.                 What a friend we have in Jesus,

                    all our sins and griefs to bear!

                    What a privilege to carry

                    everything to God in prayer!

                    O what peace we often forfeit,

                    O what needless pain we bear,

                    all because we do not carry

                    everything to God in prayer.

2.                 Have we trials and temptations?

                    Is there trouble anywhere?

                    We should never be discouraged;

                    take it to the Lord in prayer.

                    Can we find a friend so faithful

                    who will all our sorrows share?

                    Jesus knows our every weakness;

                    take it to the Lord in prayer.

3.                 Are we weak and heavy laden,

                    cumbered with a load of care?

                    Precious Savior, still our refuge;

                    take it to the Lord in prayer.

                    Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

                    Take it to the Lord in prayer!

                    In his arms he'll take and shield thee;

                    thou wilt find a solace there.

Amen.

No nudity.

Today I happened to chance upon a growing lewd movement called #freethenipple. I was shocked to the core to see what was happening, all in the name of gender equality. It made me wonder what the Christian approach and perspective to such showcase of nudity should be. How can we equip ourselves with the necessary tools to combat such an upside down world. I found a site which gave an interesting perspective though addressing a similar issue. I decided to share the article with u:

Question: "What should be the Christian perspective on nudity in art?"

Answer: The Bible has much to say about the human body, which was not only created perfect by God, but also created unclothed. Adam and Eve were innocent in their nakedness, but when they sinned, “the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Genesis 3:7). Never before had they realized they were unclothed—the concepts of “clothed” and “unclothed” were meaningless to them. But sin affected their hearts and minds, creating vulnerability, guilt, and shame, and these things produced fear (verse 10). In their attempt to cover their spiritual shame, Adam and Eve intuitively covered their bodies. We should note that, when God took away their fig leaves—a sadly inadequate covering—He replaced them with something more permanent—animal skins (verse 21). Thus, God regarded clothing as appropriate and necessary in a fallen world.

We are not saying that the naked body is evil or repulsive; on the contrary, we see the body as a beautiful part of God’s creation. However, due to the fall, nudity now has implications of sinfulness attached to it. With few exceptions, the Bible presents nakedness as shameful and degrading (Genesis 9:21; Exodus 20:26; 32:25; 2 Chronicles 28:19; Isaiah 47:3; Ezekiel 16:35-36; Luke 8:27; Revelation 3:17; 16:15; 17:16). The only passages in which nudity is free of shame are those that describe Eden’s idyllic setting or that deal with marital relations (Proverbs 5:18-19; Song of Solomon 4).

In concert with biblical principles, most societies attach negative connotations to public nudity and place taboos on it. It is interesting, then, and somewhat puzzling, that those same societal taboos do not apply to artistic displays; a gallery may be full of nude statues, but the people viewing those statutes are required to be clothed.

So, Western culture has determined that nudity in art is permissible. What is the Christian perspective? Can nudity be used in a valid presentation of truth? Can artistic nudity be part of making a larger, legitimate point? For the Christian, does exercising “artistic license” justify portrayals of the nude human form?

Of course, all sorts of tangential questions also arise: What about partial nudity? Is a bare leg too suggestive? What about cleavage? If someone paints a scene from the Garden of Eden, how much shrubbery should surround the carefree couple? Does Michelangelo’s David need underwear? Where does “art” end and “pornography” begin? If lust occurs, whose fault is it—the artist’s, the viewer’s, or both?

We can’t answer these questions in all their particulars—we’ll leave that to individual conviction and conscience—but we can lay out some general principles concerning nudity in art. The first two we’ve already touched on:

1) The naked human body is not inherently sinful.
2) The Bible portrays public nudity as disgraceful.

To these we would add the following:

3) Lust is sin (Matthew 5:28; 1 John 2:16). We are responsible to guard our own hearts against lust. “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15). We should make every effort to avoid whatever causes us to sin and make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14). This means that, if a visit to the art gallery arouses lust in the heart, then, by all means, stay out of the art gallery.

Related to this is our responsibility to guard against inciting lust in others. We realize that some Christian artists draw, paint or sculpt nudes, and they do so with a clear conscience. We are loath to pass judgment on anyone’s personal convictions; however, Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 are powerful passages on conviction, freedom, and stumbling blocks. We all bear a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Christian artist must find a way to balance “artistic integrity” with his obligation not to obstruct the spiritual growth of others. To paraphrase 1 Corinthians 8:13, “If the art I create causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never create art again, so that I will not cause him to fall.”

4) Christians have been called to modesty (1 Timothy 2:9). In this matter, we wish to strike a balance between legalism and licentiousness. We don’t want an “anything goes” attitude, but neither do we want to wrap women in burqas. The basic guideline is for Christian women to dress “modestly, with decency and propriety.” Of course, this instruction is for living people and not for art, but perhaps there is a connection, if indeed art imitates life. Why would a Christian artist paint a model—who is to dress modestly—in an immodest way? Why should Christian art be held to a lower standard than the Christian himself?

5) Christians should have nothing to do with the evil that is pornography. It is true that our culture differentiates art and pornography, and we understand that artistic nudity does not necessarily equal pornography. But we must remember that we live in a fallen world. The legal definition of pornography—the attempt to quantify “obscenity” and gauge “salacious intent”—becomes meaningless when someone is lusting at a picture. It does not matter what the intent of the picture is—if it incites lust in someone’s heart, then there is a problem.

Some artists attempt to disassociate nudity from its sexual connotations and thereby justify depictions of the nude human form. These artists may be attempting to portray vulnerability or recapture a lost purity; they may be trying to promote an innocent appreciation of beauty or glorify the Creator of the body. We agree that humanity could use a little more recaptured purity and recognition of beauty, but we question whether artistic nudity is helpful in a society saturated with sex.

Jeremiah 17:9 warns us that “the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.” Part of the heart’s deceit is self-deception, as we try to convince ourselves that we are not affected by sin, that we are somehow uncommonly resistant to the temptations “common to man” (1 Corinthians 10:13). That fact is, none of us are free from the influence of the flesh (Romans 7). It’s easy to say, objectively, that a certain nude image has artistic merit and communicates truth, but as fallen human beings, we all bring a measure of subjectivity into play. That subjectivity—combined with the emotional response that art seeks to induce—makes artistic nudity problematic, if not impossible.

6) Art, since it is created by morally responsible beings, is not morally neutral. It is a myth that art is inherently good simply because it is “art”; likewise, it is a myth that art is morally neutral, regardless of subject matter. We cannot evaluate art on mechanics or technique alone; we must also consider intent, theme, and subject matter. Philippians 4:8 can serve as a guide for judging the intangibles: is it true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy? This is the standard to which Christian artists are called.

In the end, we would say that, if possible, nudity in art should be avoided. This may not correspond with the world’s thinking, but it should be no surprise to find the world at odds with biblical principles. By no means are we advocating a withdrawal from the art world. We earnestly need Christian artists, critics, and patrons. Neither are we saying that the study of art, human anatomy, or artistic nudity is a sinful pursuit. But we urge believers to be extremely careful when viewing nudity in art. Put on the full armor of God and stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11-18). And, for those creating the art, remember that God clothed Eden’s emigrants. What God has covered, let not man uncover

from: http://www.gotquestions.org/nudity-in-art.html

Potentials

Most blessed are you among women. (Luke 1:42)

Don’t you find it remarkable that God chose to bring about his work of redemption through two unborn children and their mothers? Jesus was still in Mary’s womb, yet in his presence, Elizabeth and her own unborn son, John, were filled with the Holy Spirit. This short but powerful scene gives us a glimpse of the forceful love of God, who is always eager to pour out his life. What a foreshadowing of the glory of the risen Christ, who wants to pour his Spirit on all people!

Elizabeth’s pure and humble response to the work of God in their lives must have brought great comfort to Mary. In Elizabeth, she finally found someone with whom she could share her joy and awe at what was happening within her. Who else at this time could understand the song welling up within Mary’s heart? Rather than being jealous of her younger relative’s exalted position, Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary and embraced her own supportive role. For her part, Mary did not wait for Elizabeth to come to her, but hastened to her side.
While this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is unique, there is something here that we can all experience.

 As baptized believers, each of us is capable of bearing Christ to the world. If our eyes were opened to the glory of this truth, we too would rejoice and be humbled in the presence of so holy a vessel as a sister or brother in Christ. Even nonbelievers would move us to great reverence because they too are created in God’s image and have just as much potential of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If God has so highly honored human beings this way, how could we fail to show them equal honor?

God used Jesus, even when he was just a fetus in the womb, to pour out divine life. Everyone, no matter how young or old, no matter how strong or weak, has been created as a dwelling place for God. So how can we long for God’s presence and yet disregard him in the people all around us?

“Lord Jesus, just as you opened Elizabeth’s eyes in the presence of Mary, please open my eyes to those who also bear Christ. Help me to honor the potential of each person to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

taken from wau.org