Faith – Page 2 – Running After Papa

Counting the Cost (Luke 14:26)

Luke 14:26 NLT “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.” (emphasis mine)

Whoa! I must hate everyone else by comparison? I thought God is Love; Jesus is Love. Jesus loved everyone!

“… otherwise you cannot be my disciple.”

Those are some pretty heavy words. I don’t ever want to be told I cannot be His disciple. There are no half-hearted attempts that count. This discipleship thing is significant, it is real, and it has costs. Verse 28 begins with “But don’t begin until you count the cost…” It costs to follow Him. It is very expensive. It costs a lot. It costs everything.

There are costs in putting Jesus so far first that – in comparison – you hate everything else. I remember in high school being on the volunteer fire department. I went to a training class one Saturday in the middle of the summer in Texas. It must have been 112 in the shade. By any standards, it was HOT! It didn’t matter if it was a humid heat or a dry heat. It was HOT!

During these training exercises, the facility had a two story house structure built out of cynder blocks. They would put flamable furniture and hay bales in the house and ignite them and we would don our fireproof coats and protective gear and go into the structure and learn the right ways to put out fires.

The point of this story is that when I came out from putting out the fire on the second story, I took off all my fire gear. It was so hot inside that house that when I removed my gear, I literally got chills I was so cold in the 112 degree summer heat.

While it’s not a perfect comparison, it does give some context to this verse. I love my wife more than any human being on earth and I love my kids almost as much. You could say that my love for them is HOT by anyone’s measure. But Jesus is saying that my love for Him should be so much “hotter” that all my other relationships should feel cold, like that Texas heat after coming out of a burning building.

So what could it cost me? For those around us who don’t understand, it could cost friendships. We could be ridiculed. We could be inconvenienced. We could suffer loss financially, physically, emotionally. Some could die – literally – for the sake of Jesus. Some of us could have to turn our backs on everything we knew, every comfort we have, everything we enjoy to follow Him to some dark and hard place. It could cost A LOT.

Luke 14:33 NLT “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.“

Our cars, our Juicy Couture purses, our sports, our cheerleader competitions, our friends, our bank accounts, our investments, our security, our grades. Whatever those things are that bring us the most pleasure in life, Jesus says we have to give them up to be his disciple. Our appearance, our shoes, our jerseys, our clothes, our guitars, our pianos, our jobs, our positions, our hobbies, our status, our children’s hobbies, our houses, our kids schools, our location, our foods, our wines… whatever it is, it all has to be emotionally given up.

And it’s not just the physical “stuff” of life. Jesus asks us to give up our rights, our expectations, our will, our wants, our needs, our desires, our duties, our ownership, our rules, our way of doing things, our rituals, our habits, our clubs, our associations… you get the point. We’ve got to give it ALL up.

When we’ve emotionally given up all that we have and everything we are, it’s no big deal if Jesus asks us to give it up or give it away physically.

This is counting the cost. All or nothing. Following Jesus isn’t a $0.00 down, $199/month lease for two years. It’s all or nothing.

Galatians 2:20 ESV “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

If you’ve been reading my posts for long, you know this is my life verse. It always seems to come back to this verse for me. I am dead. Jesus is alive.

Running After Papa…

Faith like a child

Romans 4: 18-22 (NLT) 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

I don’t think I really, really understand faith. I am convinced that “faith like a child” that Jesus spoke of is much simpler than I make it out to be, in all my maturity and wisdom. (sarcasm implied)

My son Jake understands faith. I think he has faith like Abraham. If God said it, that’s enough for him. There are no questions and no doubts. Just faith. By the way, he’s 10 years old.

No, I think I’ve spent my whole life trying to squelch exactly what God puts in us as children. I so wanted to be “grown up” and a “big boy” that, somehow, I’ve let my faith be tempered by reason, understanding, and feasibility. OK… I just scared myself writing that down. Check out what Jesus said on this very topic.

Matt 19:14 ESV 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Luke 10:21 NLT 21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.”

How foolish of me to think this way. How prideful of me to think this way. Do I really think God only works and can work in the confines of what I understand? Do I really want a God that is limited by my own imagination? Not me. Sometimes, I think Papa just sits up on his throne and says about me “Bless his cotton-pickin’ heart. He has NO IDEA what I am capable of.”

Lord, I repent of my sin… my idiotic pride that has led me down a limiting and narrow view of You. I pray for faith. Help me exercise my faith this week Lord. I cast off all the preconceived ideas and pre-built boxes I’ve put you in being “religious” and “pious.” Forgive me. Fill me anew with your Holy Spirit and renew a right spirit within me. Reignite the faith of a child within me. Thank you for examples of faith such as Abraham. Help me be fully convinced as he was. Thank you for a living example of faith in my son. Help me be more like him. If You said it… that’s enough. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Running After Papa…

Eternal Life

OK. I’m still not very far in Romans, but in Romans 2:6-7 I was looking up all the meanings of the various words and for kicks I happened to look up “eternal.”

I’ve been a Christian a long time and thought I knew the word… Eternal Life and all, but its entirely possible that I’ve been missing something. Read carefully the definition in Strongs for the word translated as “eternal.” The word is aionios.

1 without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be. 2 without beginning. 3 without end, never to cease, everlasting.

Did you catch something new? “Without beginning,” really hit me between the eyes. Is it possible (prepare for a synapse or two to be overloaded here) that when we step into eternal life, we will will be “without beginning?” Just typing this out blows my mind, but this word is used 70 or so times in the New Testament and clearly refer to our eternal state. My finite mind can’t wrap its arms around that infinite thought because I was born on a fall day in 1966.

It’s possible that I’m way out in left field on this one. However, Father has shown me today what He needs me to see and that it is a very applicable lesson. How does that apply to me today?

I cannot possibly understand the ways of God. In one sense, it scares me to not be able to think my way through this. In another, it’s very reassuring to know that my God is so much bigger than I am and I can trust Him, even if I can’t wrap my head around Him.
Don’t stop seeking. Verse 7 in the ESV uses the word “seek” which means to “to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to inquire into.” We are to seek out those things – think on, meditate, reason, inquire – that bring glory, honor and immortality (those things that are pure and incorruptible) by patiently doing, but God himself will give us eternal life – that which we will never be able to reason out.

Father, Thank you that you are bigger than my mind. I praise the fact that I cannot understand you; I cannot figure you out; that you are SO much bigger than I could ever imagine. Help me walk today in that security and faith to do things bigger than myself in your name today. Bless your name. Amen.

Running After Papa…

Faith & Doubt (Mark 11)

Those who read my blog regularly know we sleep to the New Testament playing on my MP3 player 24×7. Every day, I wake up to a new passage. Today I woke up to the MP3 player playing Mark 11 and it captured me this morning. So, that’s what I studied. IT IS RICH… Here is just SOME of the greatness of this chapter.

Mark 11:12-14

Jesus curses a fig tree because there is no fruit on it; and rightfully so. Did you catch the end of verse 13 where it says “… for it was not the season for figs.” Clue #1: This isn’t about a Jesus taking it out on a fig tree because he was hungry. The end of verse 14 provides Clue #2 where it says, “... and the disciples heard it.” OK. I think Jesus was setting them up for a lesson, which comes “later”, when we get to verses 20-26.

Mark 11:20-26

The next morning the fig tree is dried up from the roots (Clue #3: OK… even Roundup doesn’t kill a fig tree overnight – something supernatural is going on here). When Peter notices (Yeah Peter!) Jesus lays it on them.

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

OK. Quick Greek lesson. Faith (v22) = pistis, which means to “believe to a complete trust.” Doubt (v23 “does not doubt”) = diakrinomai, which means “judge, or to judge there is a difference.” Heart (v23) = kardia, which means “inner self, including: the volition, the mind, the desires, etc., though the facility of the intellect may be slightly more emphasized.” Believe (v23) = pisteuo, which is “faith, believe to the extent of complete trust.” Says (v23) = laleō , which implies a literal breaking of the sound waves, to speak aloud. Received (v24) = lambano, “to take hold of, grasp, grab, acquire.”

I’m not advocating a “name it and claim it” mentality, because the Scripture is also clear that the Lord will give us the desire of our hearts – meaning when we are close to him, in intimate fellowship with Him, our desires will be planted in us by Him. This means we won’t be asking for a new Lexus, or a million dollars, or any self-centered, self-pleasuring thing. We will want what He wants and our prayers will come into agreement with His heart.

What I do think this passage, and what Jesus was trying to teach the disciples, is this. Our mind is the key to our belief and ultimately our faith. Clearly, “doubt” in this passage is the antithesis of “faith” – in this passage. When I unpacked “doubt,” it is very clearly dealing with the mind – “to judge“, or “to judge there is a difference.” That says to me that my mind is evaluating what’s coming out of my mouth (aka, my prayer) with what it believes and measuring up any discrepancy, or difference.

The second key for me, comes in verses 25-26. An odd place, at the surface, to throw in a seemingly unrelated statement. But Jesus does not throw down random thoughts. These are very related. For the sake of brevity, unforgiveness affects our prayers. Its related to the previous thoughts. If I haven’t forgiven someone, then when I pray to Father, my mind (my “heart”) is constantly evaluating the truth of it all. If I haven’t or can’t forgive someone, then the truth of God forgiving me is something my heart can’t receive, and if God hasn’t forgiven me, then how can I believe (pisteuo) that He will hear – much less answer – my prayers? This is when my heart diakrinomai (doubts).

What then is the significance of “says” in verse 23? Again, for brevity, and I may write another blog later on this, it has to be audible. I know I am way too guilty of praying silently, quietly, and in my Spirit – not always with my tongue, aloud, audibly. I believe there is significance to the implications of the word laleo. Jesus cursed the fig tree (which remember was NOT in season) aloud (the disciples heard it) because there is power in our words and in our audible prayers. This is going to require some more digging into…

Daddy, you are SO good. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for time with me this morning. May the truth of your Word and the truth of your examples sink deeply into my heart today, so that I will not doubt in my heart, so that I will not judge there to be a difference in what I say and what I know about You.

Running After Papa…

Remaining IN (John 15:1-17)

John 15:1-2 (NIV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful”

In the first 17 verses of John 15 (NIV Version) the words “remain in” is said eleven (11) times. Eleven times! “Remain”, Jesus says. He doesn’t say to “get into” or “move in” or “jump in”. He says to remain in the vine – which verse 1 says is Jesus himself. Verse 3 tells us that when we are in Christ, we have to choose to remain there.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “remain” as:
1. To continue in the same state or condition:
2. To continue to be in the same place; stay or stay behind:
3. To be left after the removal, loss, passage, or destruction of others: Only a few trees remain.
4. To be left as still to be dealt with: A cure remains to be found.
5. To endure or persist.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

What I find interesting is that remaining in the Vine it is our choice. Unlike a physical plant, such as a grapevine, on our world, we have the choice to stay plugged into Jesus and by staying plugged in we are choosing to bear fruit.

Notice, God never gives us an option of just hanging around on the vine without growth. God, the Master gardener clearly gives us ONLY 2 choices (verse 2). We choose to be pruned or we choose to be cut off. WHAT??? Read v2 again, “He [God] cuts off every branch in me [Jesus] that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (emphasis added). A branch either bears fruit or doesn’t bear fruit. THATS IT. We either get cut off (for not bearing fruit) or we get pruned (for bearing fruit). When this soaks in, this should shake us to the very core of our being. There is no other option. We will either bear fruit or be cut off. There is no choice to be set in the Vine and NOT bear fruit. We only bear fruit by remaining in Him.

v4 (NIV) “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

OK. Here’s the deal. It is impossible for us to bear fruit if we are not plugged in to the Vine; if we are not remaining in the vine – remaining in Jesus. Remember our definition? Our definition (#5) says that we are enduring and persisting in our bearing of fruit.

Let me take you back to John 15:2. Here’s the other cool part of this. If we are bearing fruit, we WILL BE PRUNED, not that being pruned is always so cool when its happening. Yes… often pruning is painful and we often will not realize what or why certain things happened, but remaining is enduring, persisting… another word for persisting is persevering. James 1:3-4 (NIV) tells us “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

When we persevere, we become mature and complete according to James 1:4. At the end of John 15:2, God says that through this pruning, through this testing of our faith (to develop pereseverance), we “…will be even more fruitful.” So, God is promising to us, that if we remain in the vine, we will become even more fruitful.

OK… So what does that mean? What does it mean to be more fruitful? What is the “fruit” that I WILL BEAR if I am in the Vine? Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the very fruits of the Spirit of God (which is also Christ’s spirit). I don’t know about you, but when I think of Jesus, these traits ALL come to mind. This means when I bear fruit, I am becoming more and more like Christ in my heart… I am being transformed…

v7 (NIV) “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.”

So… Is becoming more Christlike a license to get what I want? Does this verse make God a “genie” whose bottle we can rub for 3 wishes? I think not. Let’s look at it and break it down… What do we know? We know that we HAVE to bear fruit if we are in Christ or we will be cut off. We know that being more fruitful is becoming more like Christ, more Christlike in our thoughts, our words, our attitudes, and our actions.

Let me ask this… When Christ was on earth, did he ever ask for anything that glorified his own personhood? I know this is a difficult question for the believer because we know that Jesus and God are the same, ultimately… but hang with me here. As a human, did Christ ever ask or seek to glorify his own humanity? Absolutely Not. Jesus never asked for one self-serving, self-gratifying, self-centered thing OVER God’s will. Even when he was praying so intently over the crucifixion that was imminant, over the very existance of his life on earth, his core desire was to glorify God and have God’s will be done, regardless of his own suffering and pain. As a human on earth, every request Jesus ever prayed was ONLY to do God the Fathers will and to glorify HIM…

I encourage you to read the entire passage of John 15:1-17. It is RICH!!!

So here are my personal take aways from today’s reading:

So if I endure, persevere and remain in Christ, I have no choice but to bear more and more fruit in my life. God promises it. This fruit is the transformation of my old, self-centered, wicked man into a man more and more of Christ’s likeness. At a minimum, I will (notice I didn’t say “should”) see growth in the fruits of the Spirit in my own life. (v5)
If I am in Christ and His words are in me (i.e. memorize scripture) then v7 says God will give me whatever I wish.
If I am becoming more Christlike (#1) then what I wish for will not be for selfish, me-centered, trinkets and selfish ambitions. I will “wish” for those things that Christ wanted, namely that God the Father be lifted up and glorified in all the earth. I will want God to be glorified in all I do. I will NOT want me to be exalted or the center of my world, as that would take my mind’s attention and my heart’s affection off of God.

So my prayer today, Father God,
is that you would keep me plugged into the Vine. Help me to endure and persevere in such a way that You and You alone are glorified and lifted up in all I do today. Help me bear fruit today, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Running after Papa…