'The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.' Matthew 13:44
Before we begin to look at this in detail, I want to highlight something. Jesus uses the words 'the kingdom of heaven' to express many different things. It can mean the gospel, God's judgement, the behaviour God expects from us. There is a key thing to note though, they all relate to us. They are about how people should interact with the kingdom of heaven.
It's a strange parable because it doesn't seem to be very Christian behaviour... the field which the man is digging in is not his own (he has to buy the field for himself) so he is either digging in someone else's field which is pretty out of order or he's a labourer digging in his employers field. He finds treasure, something incredibly valuable, realises its worth and then hides it again, goes out and sells all his possessions so that he can finance his purchase of the field and, with it, the treasure.
We can criticise him for a few reasons. The secrecy over the treasure. If this is the gospel, this hidden treasure, surely this is contrary to God's instruction to spread it over the earth? I suspect the problem often found with this parable is that we too easily relate the treasure to a single element of the kingdom. I think it's really about realisation and reaction.
Have we seen the kingdom for what it really is? Have we seen it as the most valuable treasure or have we missed the point? The man is indeed in the wrong to behave the way he does in the situation laid out but what Jesus is telling us is not about how we should behave in the world but about we should feel in our hearts!
Imagine, free of your morals, free of any kind of worry, in full knowledge of your plan's success, being the man in the story. Imagine the absolute dedication, the unstoppable urge, the greed. God says this is how we should feel about his kingdom.
We need to be greedy for God. Ravenous for him.
Greed in this world is bad because things are in limited supply. If someone eats too much food, they deprive others. They put their own desire (they eat because they want to eat of course) above consideration for others. The point is though, God is infinite and inexhaustible, we can gorge ourselves on him and he'll never be depleted! So where are the negative aspects of a greed for God?
If the kingdom isn't your number one priority, your love, think again! Go back to the word and find out exactly why you need to treasure it, why you need to follow it with such drive and determination.
Get hungry to see his kingdom come.
Tuesday 19 May 2009
Wednesday 6 May 2009
A silent God?
And they said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us, or we will die!"
(Exodus 20:19 NLT)
Just a really short thought.
Speaking with a friend the other day, we both criticised a view in a book that God does not speak to us today but rather eternally through Jesus and through his word found in scripture. Denial of prophecy outside the pages of the bible. Cessationism.
I just can't even begin to list my frustrations with this 'theology'. It's an idea where the God who spoke the world into being, who spoke to Abraham, who continuously spoke to the prophets and people of Israel, who walked this earth and spoke to the people, who then spoke through the apostles in their letters and accounts, this speaking God suddenly falls silent. As far as I can see, it's a belief unsubstantiated in the bible.
The chattiest God in the world suddenly shuts up and seals his lips for 2000-odd years? Are you beginning to see the madness; the way in which cessationism warps the character of God? Abraham, Isaiah, Daniel, David, Esther were great men and women but that's exactly what they were; men and women like you and I.
I think the root of cessationism is sadly obvious. It's the same school of thought that says that spiritual gifts such as healing and speaking in tongues died out in the early church and I will state the cause of it clearly here.
They make people uncomfortable because they're not normal, they're not of this world. These are the supernatural aspects of being a Christian and these are the things that force our heads above the parapet and distinguish us. 'But they make people uncomfortable...', whoever said God wanted us to be comfortable?! God wants us to be active and often that means being uncomfortable! The fact is, these gifts, God's voice, as loud today as it's ever been, make people uncomfortable because they grate and jar against everything this world tells us and that's precisely why they are from God. The kingdom of God and the world clash against each other whenever they meet.
I understand the caution with which people approach these things, don't get me wrong. We are warned against false prophecy in the end times (which surely implies there will still be true prophecy in the end times, otherwise it'd say 'Ignore all prophecy in the end times'?) and some of the spiritual gifts can often become about drama for drama's sake and like all drama, acted or fabricated. But all this does is say to me: 'Spiritually assess and apply the wisdom and intelligence God's given to you to these things.' It doesn't say to discount them entirely!
If spiritual gifts, if the idea of prophecy, God speaking to us here and now, makes you uncomfortable, you need to reassess. You might be living a Christian life, you might be preaching the gospel, you might be regularly attending church, but you're a world-friendly Christian. There's the aspect of being 'all things to all people', certainly but there's also a big thumb plugging up the fountain of spiritual gifts that you're sat on right now! We're to be adaptable, we're to be wise in our treatment of non-Christians and the world but we're also not to be too gentle with it. Why? Because it needs shaking out of its complacency and its sleep and gentle apologetics and comfy chats aren't going to accomplish that!
Ask yourself, am I acting out of fear? Am I only rejecting these things because they make me uncomfortable? God has got an arsenal of supernatural, unearthly and awesome abilities ready for you to access but you've got the door locked out of fear. I speak as someone who was, at one time, extremely scared and dubious (in that order) of the spiritual gifts, of speaking in tongues but the only way past that fear is to dive in - put your inhibitions to one side and step up into the next level of God's blessings for you. I will never forget the feeling of surging power and peace I felt the first time I spoke in tongues, the exhiliration and honour of delivering prophecy... it is not a gift I would want to keep to myself!
This little thought has become a big challenge. Listen for God today and don't be an Israelite, scared of hearing directly from him. Don't get his message second hand, you don't need a commentary or a range of books on grace (even though they might help sometimes)! So stop leaning on the understanding of others and engage directly with God. Let him who has ears listen to what the spirit says: My God still speaks to me, sometimes outside the pages of the bible... does yours?
Amen!
(Exodus 20:19 NLT)
Just a really short thought.
Speaking with a friend the other day, we both criticised a view in a book that God does not speak to us today but rather eternally through Jesus and through his word found in scripture. Denial of prophecy outside the pages of the bible. Cessationism.
I just can't even begin to list my frustrations with this 'theology'. It's an idea where the God who spoke the world into being, who spoke to Abraham, who continuously spoke to the prophets and people of Israel, who walked this earth and spoke to the people, who then spoke through the apostles in their letters and accounts, this speaking God suddenly falls silent. As far as I can see, it's a belief unsubstantiated in the bible.
The chattiest God in the world suddenly shuts up and seals his lips for 2000-odd years? Are you beginning to see the madness; the way in which cessationism warps the character of God? Abraham, Isaiah, Daniel, David, Esther were great men and women but that's exactly what they were; men and women like you and I.
I think the root of cessationism is sadly obvious. It's the same school of thought that says that spiritual gifts such as healing and speaking in tongues died out in the early church and I will state the cause of it clearly here.
They make people uncomfortable because they're not normal, they're not of this world. These are the supernatural aspects of being a Christian and these are the things that force our heads above the parapet and distinguish us. 'But they make people uncomfortable...', whoever said God wanted us to be comfortable?! God wants us to be active and often that means being uncomfortable! The fact is, these gifts, God's voice, as loud today as it's ever been, make people uncomfortable because they grate and jar against everything this world tells us and that's precisely why they are from God. The kingdom of God and the world clash against each other whenever they meet.
I understand the caution with which people approach these things, don't get me wrong. We are warned against false prophecy in the end times (which surely implies there will still be true prophecy in the end times, otherwise it'd say 'Ignore all prophecy in the end times'?) and some of the spiritual gifts can often become about drama for drama's sake and like all drama, acted or fabricated. But all this does is say to me: 'Spiritually assess and apply the wisdom and intelligence God's given to you to these things.' It doesn't say to discount them entirely!
If spiritual gifts, if the idea of prophecy, God speaking to us here and now, makes you uncomfortable, you need to reassess. You might be living a Christian life, you might be preaching the gospel, you might be regularly attending church, but you're a world-friendly Christian. There's the aspect of being 'all things to all people', certainly but there's also a big thumb plugging up the fountain of spiritual gifts that you're sat on right now! We're to be adaptable, we're to be wise in our treatment of non-Christians and the world but we're also not to be too gentle with it. Why? Because it needs shaking out of its complacency and its sleep and gentle apologetics and comfy chats aren't going to accomplish that!
Ask yourself, am I acting out of fear? Am I only rejecting these things because they make me uncomfortable? God has got an arsenal of supernatural, unearthly and awesome abilities ready for you to access but you've got the door locked out of fear. I speak as someone who was, at one time, extremely scared and dubious (in that order) of the spiritual gifts, of speaking in tongues but the only way past that fear is to dive in - put your inhibitions to one side and step up into the next level of God's blessings for you. I will never forget the feeling of surging power and peace I felt the first time I spoke in tongues, the exhiliration and honour of delivering prophecy... it is not a gift I would want to keep to myself!
This little thought has become a big challenge. Listen for God today and don't be an Israelite, scared of hearing directly from him. Don't get his message second hand, you don't need a commentary or a range of books on grace (even though they might help sometimes)! So stop leaning on the understanding of others and engage directly with God. Let him who has ears listen to what the spirit says: My God still speaks to me, sometimes outside the pages of the bible... does yours?
Amen!
Tuesday 5 May 2009
1YB: Judges 9:35-37, Luke 24:13-31
These two passages show us one thing clearly, God is in charge of our eyes and our sight.
In the extract from Judges, Gaal sees an army approaching his city and, even though the traitorous Zebul tries to fool him into believing it is simply the shadow of clouds on the hillside, he stands by his assessment of the truth and is able to mount a counter-attack in defense.
In the extract from Luke, two of Jesus' followers bump into him on a road but God prevents their eyes from recognising him. How weird... If the men had have recognised it was Jesus, what would the harm have been? They'd have been overjoyed! But Jesus, in his God-given disguise from them, explains the prophecy of the ressurection to them and they understand. Only when he breaks bread with them after they invite him for dinner, does the penny finally drop. God releases them from their unrecognition.
Sometimes, God obscures our view for a reason. Perhaps we need to understand the processes of God before we see his results. Perhaps we need to find him rather than him finding us. Sometimes, God blinds us to his own work in our lives. It's where trust really comes in. If God's hand was always clear, if we always knew exactly what he was doing, we wouldn't have to have faith and he wants us to trust him completely, so sometimes he covers our eyes and makes us take a step in the dark.
Sometimes, the enemy can obscure the truth from us as Zebul tried to do. We can hear the lies but we have to stand by what we know first, like Gaal. At the forefront of our minds and lives should be the promises and truths of God. If these go before us, the lies of the enemy that follow will be useless and ineffectual. We set our minds on the truth and we stick to it!
So, pray that God will open your eyes to the lies of the enemy but know that, if you can't see God, it might be because he's hidden himself from you. Your faith and trust are being tested and strengthened in the most loving way possible. Stay true to him, remember his promises, he will never forsake you, he will never let you go. His hand is always upon you but sometimes it's hidden from your sight. Keep trusting and he will reappear, proud and beaming at your faithfulness!
In the extract from Judges, Gaal sees an army approaching his city and, even though the traitorous Zebul tries to fool him into believing it is simply the shadow of clouds on the hillside, he stands by his assessment of the truth and is able to mount a counter-attack in defense.
In the extract from Luke, two of Jesus' followers bump into him on a road but God prevents their eyes from recognising him. How weird... If the men had have recognised it was Jesus, what would the harm have been? They'd have been overjoyed! But Jesus, in his God-given disguise from them, explains the prophecy of the ressurection to them and they understand. Only when he breaks bread with them after they invite him for dinner, does the penny finally drop. God releases them from their unrecognition.
Sometimes, God obscures our view for a reason. Perhaps we need to understand the processes of God before we see his results. Perhaps we need to find him rather than him finding us. Sometimes, God blinds us to his own work in our lives. It's where trust really comes in. If God's hand was always clear, if we always knew exactly what he was doing, we wouldn't have to have faith and he wants us to trust him completely, so sometimes he covers our eyes and makes us take a step in the dark.
Sometimes, the enemy can obscure the truth from us as Zebul tried to do. We can hear the lies but we have to stand by what we know first, like Gaal. At the forefront of our minds and lives should be the promises and truths of God. If these go before us, the lies of the enemy that follow will be useless and ineffectual. We set our minds on the truth and we stick to it!
So, pray that God will open your eyes to the lies of the enemy but know that, if you can't see God, it might be because he's hidden himself from you. Your faith and trust are being tested and strengthened in the most loving way possible. Stay true to him, remember his promises, he will never forsake you, he will never let you go. His hand is always upon you but sometimes it's hidden from your sight. Keep trusting and he will reappear, proud and beaming at your faithfulness!
Monday 4 May 2009
Nature
When [Jesus] reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. "Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!" But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, "Teacher, rebuke Your followers for saying things like that!" He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"
(Luke 19:37-40 NLT)
From scripture to nature, this is the breadth of the Christian life. I engage with God in the quiet of my bedroom on pages compressed from the lignin of felled trees or out in the fields where trees stand tall and skeletal against the day's grey sky.
Indeed, the truths of nature are found in the words on the page but the experience of those truths, the validation of them (for how will we know something is true before we try it?), is in the depths of the woods or on the heights of the hills.
Man rejected the love of God, brought down a curse on the whole of creation, nature must be imperfect but man could not reject the image of God. I do not believe the image of God only exists in man but resides in all that he made. Romans 1:20 says 'For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.' Any aspect of nature can be traced down to God and I firmly believe that nature still retains some quality of Eden in it, however hard man tries to bring it to ruin.
When the trees are gone, how will man know God? The world will stand and point at concrete and steelwork rising on all sides and say 'God had no part in this; I can introduce you to the men who built all of this with there own weathered hands! One is my brother, one is my cousin's son.' The words of the bible would become senseless when creation was overcrowded and choked by buildings and machinery. It's part of our duty as Christians. Romans 8:19-21 says: 'For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.'
God never originally intended for us even to live in houses. Adam and Eve lived in nature but the fall changed that and made the earth inhospitable. The first city was built out of Cain's rejection and mistrust of God's protection over him (Genesis 4:13-17). I don't believe God's calling us to be a rural community, I believe he intends to have his influence in the city as well, but we need that contact with nature to fully understand him. Jesus spoke in rural parables, he spoke of shepherds, farmers, fishermen; men who interact directly with nature and creation for their livelihood.
Every aspect of nature reflects him in some way; the might of the river, the majestic eagle, the towering mountain, the tranquility and ferocity of the ocean. The Romantic poets called it 'the sublime'. The personal response to an external object of awe, reverence, an agreeable fear. That knowledge of ones own miniscule existence against the vastness of creation; the glimpse of the eternal. We define ourselves against God's greatness and the knowledge of his love and consideration of us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, part of the American Romantic movement put it beautifully like this: 'To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesmen, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street, and sees the sky and the woods, and is a man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself.' We find our identity in God.
The bible gives creation a personality, especially in the Psalms. The rivers clap their hands, the mountains sing. Some might say that this is poetic license but I think it's totally true. Nature is alive with the spirit of God. God's word is also alive through his spirit.
God's call is to learn about him through his word, but also through his creation. Pantheists stop short at worshipping the creation, we should use the creation as a pathway into a deeper worship of God. Like any act of profound worship it also echoes into our world, our lives and our situations.
So today, even in the rain which God sends, go into the woods. On a clear night, go out, lie in a field and look at the stars. Draw on the energy and life that comes from spending time in reverence of God and his creativity. God's spirit cannot dwell where it is not reverenced but I believe it is irresistably attracted to a place where it is. Take that life and that energy and give it to your friends, your colleagues, your family.
Like leaking vessels, we must constantly be topped up with the spirit, and the word is important in that, so is prayer, meditation, worship, praise but today, my challenge to you in to draw that spirit from creation itself. The stones still burst into cheers, the trees of the field still clap their hands; we just need to take a moment to adjust our ears to hear the sound of creation's anthem of praise.
Amen.
(Luke 19:37-40 NLT)
From scripture to nature, this is the breadth of the Christian life. I engage with God in the quiet of my bedroom on pages compressed from the lignin of felled trees or out in the fields where trees stand tall and skeletal against the day's grey sky.
Indeed, the truths of nature are found in the words on the page but the experience of those truths, the validation of them (for how will we know something is true before we try it?), is in the depths of the woods or on the heights of the hills.
Man rejected the love of God, brought down a curse on the whole of creation, nature must be imperfect but man could not reject the image of God. I do not believe the image of God only exists in man but resides in all that he made. Romans 1:20 says 'For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.' Any aspect of nature can be traced down to God and I firmly believe that nature still retains some quality of Eden in it, however hard man tries to bring it to ruin.
When the trees are gone, how will man know God? The world will stand and point at concrete and steelwork rising on all sides and say 'God had no part in this; I can introduce you to the men who built all of this with there own weathered hands! One is my brother, one is my cousin's son.' The words of the bible would become senseless when creation was overcrowded and choked by buildings and machinery. It's part of our duty as Christians. Romans 8:19-21 says: 'For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.'
God never originally intended for us even to live in houses. Adam and Eve lived in nature but the fall changed that and made the earth inhospitable. The first city was built out of Cain's rejection and mistrust of God's protection over him (Genesis 4:13-17). I don't believe God's calling us to be a rural community, I believe he intends to have his influence in the city as well, but we need that contact with nature to fully understand him. Jesus spoke in rural parables, he spoke of shepherds, farmers, fishermen; men who interact directly with nature and creation for their livelihood.
Every aspect of nature reflects him in some way; the might of the river, the majestic eagle, the towering mountain, the tranquility and ferocity of the ocean. The Romantic poets called it 'the sublime'. The personal response to an external object of awe, reverence, an agreeable fear. That knowledge of ones own miniscule existence against the vastness of creation; the glimpse of the eternal. We define ourselves against God's greatness and the knowledge of his love and consideration of us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, part of the American Romantic movement put it beautifully like this: 'To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesmen, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street, and sees the sky and the woods, and is a man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself.' We find our identity in God.
The bible gives creation a personality, especially in the Psalms. The rivers clap their hands, the mountains sing. Some might say that this is poetic license but I think it's totally true. Nature is alive with the spirit of God. God's word is also alive through his spirit.
God's call is to learn about him through his word, but also through his creation. Pantheists stop short at worshipping the creation, we should use the creation as a pathway into a deeper worship of God. Like any act of profound worship it also echoes into our world, our lives and our situations.
So today, even in the rain which God sends, go into the woods. On a clear night, go out, lie in a field and look at the stars. Draw on the energy and life that comes from spending time in reverence of God and his creativity. God's spirit cannot dwell where it is not reverenced but I believe it is irresistably attracted to a place where it is. Take that life and that energy and give it to your friends, your colleagues, your family.
Like leaking vessels, we must constantly be topped up with the spirit, and the word is important in that, so is prayer, meditation, worship, praise but today, my challenge to you in to draw that spirit from creation itself. The stones still burst into cheers, the trees of the field still clap their hands; we just need to take a moment to adjust our ears to hear the sound of creation's anthem of praise.
Amen.
Friday 1 May 2009
One Year Bible: An explanation
So, alongside my usual thoughts and ponderings, I'll be putting up some posts in my 'One Year Bible' thread.
I use the One Year Bible to make sure I read some of the bible every day. For those of you that don't know, the One Year Bible is a bible (NLT for me) that is arranged into 365 readings so you can read on every day of the year and do the whole thing. I tried a reading plan but I was really poorly disciplined and I find this a lot easier... so if you've struggled like me I'd really recommend it.
Anyway, every day you read a bit of the Old Testament and a bit of the New, a psalm and a couple of proverbs. These are arranged in order (so you start with Genesis next to Matthew...etc) but I've started to notice that you can often link up the themes or little aspects of the Old Testament and New passages they include... and they didn't even plan this!
It's not a surprise, God's word is totally unified in its purpose, our God is the God of Israel, but I've been really blessed at seeing these little connections. Sometimes it even goes into the psalm and the proverb as well!
So here's what I'll do: whenever I find these little links and connections (and sometimes it's easier than others!) I'll post them up here with all the references you need to study them for yourselves.
They'll be formatted like this example:
'1YB: Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1:1-6'
Just so you're not confused by these little extras...
Bless you!
I use the One Year Bible to make sure I read some of the bible every day. For those of you that don't know, the One Year Bible is a bible (NLT for me) that is arranged into 365 readings so you can read on every day of the year and do the whole thing. I tried a reading plan but I was really poorly disciplined and I find this a lot easier... so if you've struggled like me I'd really recommend it.
Anyway, every day you read a bit of the Old Testament and a bit of the New, a psalm and a couple of proverbs. These are arranged in order (so you start with Genesis next to Matthew...etc) but I've started to notice that you can often link up the themes or little aspects of the Old Testament and New passages they include... and they didn't even plan this!
It's not a surprise, God's word is totally unified in its purpose, our God is the God of Israel, but I've been really blessed at seeing these little connections. Sometimes it even goes into the psalm and the proverb as well!
So here's what I'll do: whenever I find these little links and connections (and sometimes it's easier than others!) I'll post them up here with all the references you need to study them for yourselves.
They'll be formatted like this example:
'1YB: Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1:1-6'
Just so you're not confused by these little extras...
Bless you!
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