UpperLoft Meditation – Feb 23

February 23, 2010

God saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Yes? I’m right here!” – Exodus 3:4

Sometimes God reveals himself and his purpose to man in the most unlikely places. In a desolate and lonely place, God came to Moses and made himself real to him. We are dealing with a divine communication with the mind and heart of a man who had eyes to see and ears to hear in the calling of Moses from the burning bush.

God had been at work preparing Moses for the task to which he was being called. In the home of his birth, his adoption, and his exile, God was at work equipping him. Although Moses was equipped by birth, training, and experience to do what God wanted him to do, we find him offering many excuses as to why he cannot achieve this task. In these excuses, Moses reveals his humanity rather than an attitude of humility. We can see ourselves in these excuses. We should recognize how foolish it is to refuse or to neglect to respond to God’s call to our hearts.

In an attitude of resignation, Moses finally yielded to the will of God, but only after God had become angry with him. God had equipped Moses to be the deliverer. He had blessed him in order that he might be the deliverer. God had a right to be angry with Moses, for he refused to cooperate.

God has called us into his work so that we might be his redemptive instruments in delivering a sinful world from the slavery of sin. For us to make excuses as Moses did is to bring divine chastisement upon ourselves. God will make us adequate, in spite of our limitations, if we will respond by faith and obedience to his call. It is time for each of us to begin cooperating with him.

UpperLoft Meditation – Feb. 16

February 16, 2010

God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.” – Genesis 12: 1-4

There are some who have the mistaken idea that the Great Commission was given to God’s people only once and that this event took place following the resurrection. The truth is that the redemptive purpose of God has been clearly revealed since the call of Abraham. By understanding the call of Abraham we can unravel some of god’s purpose for us today.

Sovereign purpose of God
With the call of Abraham, God begins to form a family through whom he will reveal his purpose of redemption to the world. God reveals his purpose and determination to redeem the race that he had created from the ruin of sin by the choice of his grace and love.

Implications of God’s call to Abraham
God’s call involved separation. To be God’s man it was necessary that God separate himself from his country and recognize the sovereignty of God. God’s call also involved obedience. Obedience to the revealed will of God is the mother of spiritual success. Disobedience is an insult to the graciousness of God. It is an act and attitude that deprives us of walking the highway of spiritual achievement.

God’s commission to Abraham
“You shall be a blessing” (Gen 12:2). These words were more than a statement, they were a calling to Abraham to conduct himself in such a manner as to be a blessing not only to use contemporaries but also to his posterity.

God called Abraham for a redemptive purpose. He did not call him merely to pour out his blessings upon him. God called him so that in blessing him he might bless all the people of the earth. God has called each of us to participate and cooperate with him in his continuing work of redemption.

UpperLoft Meditation – Feb. 9

February 9, 2010

My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God. – James 5:19-20

What does your local church need most? Better buildings? A bigger budget? A larger congregation? What does your local community need most? Better streets? Better parks or schools?

What does God need most from us? James is writing to persuade his readers to become personal evangelists.

So what is our responsibility as an evangelist? In Ezekiel 33:7-9 God held the prophet Ezekiel responsible for warning the people in the time of peril. And the greatest peril that people can face is the peril of entering into eternity without God. If God held the prophet responsible for warning people concerning the peril of living in sin, then we can be sure that God holds us responsible when we neglect to encourage the unsaved about us to forsake the way of sin and unbelief.

There is also great blessings that comes from this challenging opportunity to be a personal evangelist. James wants to encourage all of us to use any worthy method of communicating God’s love, mercy, and grace. And by all means, let us be persistent. We must continue to pray and continue to present Christ as the answer to the deepest problems of life to those around us.

So I ask the question again: What does your local church need most? What does your local community need most? What does God need most from us?

UpperLoft Meditation – Feb 2

February 2, 2010

“Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

This is a dramatic story of great contrast between a Pharisee and a woman who is described as “living a sinful life.” Jesus is invited to dinner at the home of a Pharisee. The woman comes into the home acting as a servant. She proceeds to wash and kiss his feet and then pours expensive perfume on his feet. Jesus points out three social failings of the Pharisee host. The woman fulfills these three expectations. The Pharisee is aghast at the behavior of the women. Jesus then tells him a parable with a question about being forgiven a great debt.

Forgiveness comes from confession and repentance. Jesus ties forgiveness to the act of loving others. If we have been forgiven little, we will love little.

The foundation for our capacity to love others is built on our experience of being forgiven by God. If forgiveness is a rare experience for you, than your acts of love will be infrequent. We often hear the exhortation to love one another. Of greater importance is the exhortation to forgive one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ Jesus.

Do you want to become a more loving person? Ask God to bring to your mind areas of your life and relationships where you need to repent and seek forgiveness.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” -Psalm 139:23-24

UpperLoft Meditation – Jan26

January 26, 2010

“When I say to a wicked man ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.” – Ezekiel 3:18

Ezekiel has been speaking about how a watchman’s duty is to warn the people and the people’s duty is to listen to the warning. We are unable to make a sinner repent, but can only warn of the judgement in store for those who insist on living in rebellion against God.

People without the Lord are lost.
Those without Christ are not only sinners, for all have come short of God’s glory, but are lost and doomed to an eternity of punishment.

God commands Christians to care.
The NT counterpart to Ezekiel’s figure of speech is that of the Christian going out to witness about the work of Christ and the necessity for people to repent. To do this, we must have the kind of compassion Jesus had when he looked at the multitudes and saw them as sheep without a shepherd.

Of course the job is a big job. A discouraged person of another century asked the Duke of Wellington, “Are Christians really obligated to tell the message of Christ to all the world?” The Duke replied, “What were the marching orders of your commander?” The man replied, “He told us to take the message to everyone.” The Duke then responded, “If those are the marching orders of your Commander, you have no alternative.”

To be indifferent to the spiritual needs of others and fail to tell them the gospel story is a serious thing. The NT is not clear as to how far God would go in requiring a lost person’s blood at our hands, but no Christian should want to bear that responsibility.

While emphasizing the seriousness of failing to witness, we should also stress the delight and joy that come in seeing those we have introduced to Christ blossoming into full-grown Christians. Let us be good watchmen and accept our responsibility.

UpperLoft Meditation – Jan19

January 19, 2010

“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” Mark 10:21

The phrase “Jesus looked at him and loved him”, has always drawn my focus. This was one of the great traits Jesus had as he came face to face with humans. He saw them as the objects of God’s great love. He related to humanity in terms of their being of great worth in God’s sight. He related to humanity in terms of love with no desire to exploit or to profit from His relationship with them. Jesus’ habit of relating to people with love is a habit that His followers need to develop.

1. Jesus loved the Father God supremely
Jesus said that we must love the Father God supremely. (Matt 22:37)

2. Jesus said that we must love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:39)
Many people have difficulty loving their neighbors because they do not genuinely love themselves. Genuine love has been defined as “a basic attitude of concern for the satisfaction, security, and development of the one loved.” Jesus related to both his friends and enemies with just such an attitude.

3. Followers of Christ are now capable of relating to others in terms of love
People can be ugly and repulsive, difficult to love. Yet, Jesus commands us to relate to them with love. He isn’t talking about an emotional response based on the attractiveness of those around us. Because God first loved us, it is possible for us to love others. (1 John 4:19) Because of God’s great love for others, it is possible for us to develop Jesus’ habit of always relating to even the most unlovely with an attitude of genuine Christ-like love.

The love of Christ is unmerited, sacrificial, appropriate, forgiving and affirming. This is the kind of love that will identify us as true followers of Christ and will bless the world.

UpperLoft Meditation – Jan12

January 12, 2010

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Dale Carnegie taught a popular self-improvement course designed to build self-esteem and strengthen relationships called How to Win Friends and Influence People. The Bible is a book on developing and maintaining friendships – influencing people for Christ’s sake. The entire second chapter of Thessalonians is a great demonstration of these biblical principals. The key to Paul’s approach is found in verse 8: “You have become very dear to us.”. The word “very dear” is from the Greek word agape – God’s love. This chapter describes the vital nature love plays in influencing people for Christ. Four qualities of love are found in this chapter.

Authentic (v. 3-5)
In Paul’s day roaming philosophers, sorcerers, and other people used tricks to impress their audiences. Paul approached them with honesty and without manipulation. He was direct and decisive.

Gentle (v.7)
Part of the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness, which involves patience, empathy, and mercy. This quality is essential to win friends and influence people for Christ.

Firm (v. 11-12)
Love is not gullible, nor does it ignore situations and evil that threaten “a life worthy of God.” Paul describes the personal involvement and helping someone towards maturity like a father being involved in his children’s life. Love is never effective when a relationship is kept at a distance.

Current (v. 13-19)
Paul also refers to his desire to keep his love “up-to-date”. His love was deepened through daily prayer for the Thessalonians. He corresponded with them and wanted to see them face to face. Plus, Paul was not too timid to say, “I love you.” Outreach for Christ would be more effective if we expressed love at times other than during a special evangelistic event.

Is your life characterized by a love for people that is authentic, gentle, firm, and current?

UpperLoft Meditation – 1/5

January 5, 2010

“I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” – Psalm 89:1

Throughout this Psalm the author lauds God’s love and faithfulness. It is not a simple internal recognition. It is not a simple ascent to a gift received. It is an awareness of God’s GREAT love for ever. To keep quiet would be a total denial of what God’s love is all about.

A pastor was about to eat at a restaurant when a man walked up to his table and said, “Do you mind if I sit down with you?” The pastor said, “No, it is quite all right.” Before he ate, the pastor had bowed his head and silently said grace. When he lifted up his head the man asked, “Do you have a headache?” The pastor said, “No.” The man said, “Is there anything wrong with your food?” The pastor said, “No, why?” The man replied, “Well, I saw you sitting there with your head down and I thought you must either be sick or there was something wrong with your food.”

The pastor replied, “No, I always return thanks to God before I eat.” The man laughed. “Oh, you’re one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don’t have to give thanks to anybody when I eat, I just start right in!” The pastor looked at him and said quietly, “Yes, you’re just like my dog. That’s what he does too!” (1)

This week how will you share with others the daily impact in your life of knowing God’s love and faithfulness?

(1) T. Williams, God Alive, Bangalore, 1988

UpperLoft Meditation – 12/29

December 29, 2009

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:8-9

This is a week of summary statements when we reflect on this past year and prepare to enter 2010. This passage came to mind for today’s reflection. Peter is exhorting believers in their relationship with one another.

The Message offers a paraphrase that clearly makes the point:

“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless – that’s your job, to bless.”

Our task as followers of Jesus is to be a blessing to others. All of us are to work towards that end. Our problem is that often we steal the blessings by our actions or lack of action. Peter cites five areas we need to give our attention to so as not to inhibit the blessing we are to be to others:

• Harmony – Freedom from disputes. A sympathetic understanding of the opinions and actions of others.
• Sympathy – Sharing the feelings of others, especially feelings of sorrow or anguish.
• Brotherly Love – Caring for one another because you are family.
• Compassion – Understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it.
• Humility – To be humble with a lack of false pride.

As you prepare to make your New Year’s resolutions, look closely at ways in which you can bring the blessings of Christ to others. Is there some repair work you need to do in your relationships? A good starting point is to examine how God has blessed you, in spite of all the problems you may have had, in this past year.

UpperLoft Meditation – 12/22

December 22, 2009

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” – Luke 2:19-20

Christmas is a day when work stops, schools are closed, and the family comes together. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the one who was born to save us from our sins. It is to be a very special day, a day to remember, a day to rejoice, and a day to give thanks.

The shepherds and the wise men came to worship and to celebrate. They came because angels had been sent to guide them to Jesus. The shepherds were near by, but the wise men journeyed a great distance. There coming was not an accident, it was intentional. They did not come to take pictures, but to bring gifts and to bow down and worship.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!” [Charles Wesley -1739]

Let us stop and give thanks.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love. [Isaac Watts -1719]

Christmas is a day to worship and celebrate.

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