A New Kind of Forgetting

"My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead."  (Philippians 3:13, CEV)

What is Paul forgetting, neglecting, overlooking?  “What I once thought was valuable is worthless.”  (v.7)  Forgetting God gives birth to sin and pride.  Paul has reversed the equation.  Instead of neglecting God and valuing sins and his previous accomplishments (vv.3-6), he has now begun to seek God and neglect what he once valued.

How would I apply such forgetfulness to my life?  One thing I have found helpful is procrastination.  Instead of putting off what is good, I have been learning how to put off what I should not do.  Instead of a bold “No!”, I find a lazy “Maybe later” a good way to overcome some sins.

Nothing is quite as dangerous as hope placed on the wrong object.  Nothing is quite as strengthening as hope well-placed.   So I find Paul’s hope so powerful and encouraging: “Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus, my Master.” (v. 8)  Hope is not only found in what I look forward to, but also what I leave behind.

Christ First: Paul's Colossian Letter

Distraction rules the day.  People can hardly drive in a straight line or complete a simple conversation without being interrupted by distractions.  This lack of focus ultimately comes from a divided and confused soul fueled by minds obsessed with desire.  Such minds are easily filled with "hollow and deceptive" ideas, just like those which endagered the Colossian believers in the first century.  In his letter to that group of believers, Paul gives the best and only remedy: Christ first.

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Paul grounds the Colossians in hope.  Faith "springs up" (1:5) from this hope almost automatically.  This faith takes the disciple to love.  The hope of the follower of Jesus is that "in everything he might have supremacy."  (1:18)  Christ first in everything, not just "in my heart," but in everything that has been made and is being remade.  (1:15-20)  This is the heart of the gospel which brings about faith.  (1:3-6)  Such faith brings about a "life worthy of the Lord" (1:10) which ends in "the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light", that is, "love in the Spirit."  (1:12,7)  Any hope or faith not ending in this love is not full and true.

The Colossians have not always known the truth that Christ is first in all things.  They were told through Paul's associates.  They were enemies alienated from God, but brought around to trust Him by the message of Christ's sacrificial work for them (1:21-22)  Now they are among those who know God's mystery: "Christ in you, the hope of glory."  (1:27)  Above all else, Paul says, "We proclaim him," so that the Colossians would come to know God, who they did not know at all, and "be encouraged in heart and united in love" with all believers.  (2:2)

Even as they are escaping an unrighteous ignorance of God shown by their "evil behavior," now the Colossians face a new challenge.  Self-righteousness based on "human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" has found its way among them.  (2:8)  These teachings have "the appearance of wisdom, . . .  but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."  (2:23)  Paul gives them a better way.

The instruction in the way of Christ begins with the heart and mind being set on "things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."  (3:1)  With Christ first in the heart, a new life grows and old ways are put aside.  This is evidenced in their gatherings "as God's chosen people," as well as in their homes as wives, husbands, children, servants, and masters relate to each other.  Such  gatherings and homes are characterized by prayer and in careful conversations "full of grace" (4:5) with those outside the gatherings of Christ.  What begins in the heart ends with "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."  (3:17)

Such instruction is not abstract, but plays out in the details and drama of each person's life.  For Paul, his fellow workers and those who minister to these churches were his life.  He names them and expresses deep love for them as "dear brothers" and a "comfort to him."  (4:7,11)  "Christ in you" is not intangible, but plays out in each life in relationships and situations lived with love or without it.  This makes the gospel into a history rather than a mere myth.

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Christ is still our foremost hope, our certain faith, and our deepest love.  This gospel shown through Christ's sacrifice for us has brought us to trust Jesus.  Self-righteousness remains a constant distraction from him into making it on our own.  As Christ becomes first in our mind and hearts, we find our way to a life full of words and deeds like our Master.  This new life is lived in our day-to-day situations with the people we know and meet and nowhere else.  And so, just as Paul signs this letter at the end "in his own hand," each of us will sign our lives with or without Christ first "in our own hands."

Getting Out of Being "in Want"

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. (C.S. Lewis)

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want."  What would it be like to not be "in want"?  That is where I find myself too often - stuck "in want."  Desire is a cruel master.  It never has enough.  Desire can only be fulfilled when it submits to something greater.  Desire leaves us before half the journey is done to fulfillment..  Half-hearted desire wanders and gets lost, taking us one way and then another, but never further.  Only with the Lord as my shepherd will desire become part of deep satisfaction, the place where I can say, "I shall not be in want."

"Now I lay me down to sleep."  I used to say that prayer as a child.  I felt such comfort in the softness of my bed and the darkness of the room and one of my parents close by.  Recovery comes from such rest.  As I laid myself down, I also laid aside the days troubles and concerns.  Something in a child can forget such things.  God brings me to that place where I can lie down and lay down, so that I can enjoy what he has given to me.

The place of my rest is the green pasture of my life.  Many people pray "Give us today our daily bread" on many Sundays.  Yesterday's pastures are brown.  Tomorrow's pastures are not yet grown.  The green pastures reside in today's life.  Only in these pastures can I find rest instead of regret or worry.  The comings and goings of this day are where the hand of my Shepherd can nourish me.  Even remembering and hoping live in the present if they have any life at all.  God satisfies my soul as we walk together into this day, this hour, this moment, with him as my guide.

The great danger is that I will walk by that place of rest and green pastures.  Instead of lying down in trust and hope, I take up my life in a restless rush after empty dreams.  Instead of laying down my troubles and concerns into his hands, I clench onto them with determination to fix what I can on my own.  Instead of seeing the pastures green around me, I think they must be greener on the "other side."  The other side being a past I cannot recover or a future I only think I know.  I do not say, "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places" (Psalm 16:6) or "Surely, the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." (Genesis 28:16)  I say, "I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. . . and I'll say to myself,'. . .Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.'"  (Luke 12:18-19)  Such is the nature of desire as a master: it is greed, which is idolatry.

Resting.  Receiving this day's events as nourishment.  Abandoning greed.  My soul will be satisfied and restored on this path.  It is not the denial of my desires, but placing it under the rule of God.  Under his influence, desire can lead to what is good, what is true, and what is beautiful.  In these I find satisfaction for my soul.  Desire is fulfilled after it is laid aside for greater things.  It has done its job.  Lord, let my desires lead me to you, your ways, and your guidance.  Show me how to make them servants instead of masters of my life so that my soul may be restored in paths of righteousness for your name's sake.  Amen.

The Greater Part of Being Human

What is man that you are mindful of him?  (Psalm 8:4)

What is man?  Chemicals and molecules gathered together?  A body?  A brain?  These are the lesser parts.  These are  the tip of the iceberg.  These are the bare minimum of a human being.

What lies under the sea of body and brain. sweat and bone?  What is the greater part of man?  His spirit.  In this way, the psalmist answers his question, "You have made him a little lower than God."  God is spirit.  We are embodied spirits.  Like him in an amazing way.

But it seems today the lesser part of human beings is all that concerns us.  The desires and whims of our bodies rule us and our spirits lie fallow.  That is my concern.  I look for ways to cultivate and renew this spirit, making my body a servant rather than master.  The way has been made.  The way is in Jesus.

By a companionship that moves into oneness, Jesus becomes my guide, my brother, my food and water, my very life.  It is not just praising him, but living with him.  It is not just thinking him good, but thinking he's the smartest.  It is not just following him to see what he'll do, but becoming his apprentice for life.  Jesus teaches me what is man.  The greater part.  Heart, spirit, will, under God.

Lord, today I ask for a glimpse of the greater part of human beings so I might gain perspective on my life. Amen.

Fall at His Feet!

Fall at his feet; fall at his feet!
When evil overcomes your life,
fall at his feet!

 Fall at his feet; fall at his feet!
When your daughter lies dying,
fall at his feet!

Fall at his feet; fall at his feet!
When under illness and strife,
fall at his feet!

They may say to him,
"Please leave us alone."
They may crowd him
yet leave him untouched, unknown.
They may wail and cry,
and sneer at his hope.
But you, fall at his feet!

Fall at his feet; fall at his feet!
Tell them how much he has done for you
and fall at his feet!

Fall at his feet; fall at his feet!
Go in peace, from suffering freed,
and fall at his feet!

Fall at his feet; fall at his feet!
Don't be afraid, just believe,
and fall at his feet!

Fall at his feet; fall at his feet!
He'll take your hand, raise you up.
Just fall at his feet!

(Meditation on Mark 5, The Healing of the Demon Possessed Man, and A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman)

The Other Side

Across the lake lay the darkness of unbelief.
On the lake was the darkness of the storm above, the deep below.
On the shore the tombs put out the darkness of possession.
"Let us go over to the other side," he said.
We followed, even into the darkness.

The wind and the waves obeyed him.
The demons feared and lay before him.
Even unbelief was challenged by him.
"Let us go to the other side," he said.
We followed, and he overcame.


Only doubt would ask if you cared.
Only evil would fear torture from you.
Only unbelief would ask you to leave.
"Let us go over to the other side," he said.
We followed, and were rejected as well.

At the end of the day, the storm was calmed,

The tortured man sat quietly at your feet in his right mind,
The people gained a witness of God's mercy and power.
"Let us go over to the other side," he said.
We followed and found hope.

(Meditation on Mark 4:35-5:20)

Lord, going over with you to the other side brings fear and even resentment in my mind.  What can I say?  I will follow you.  Let me find hope in you.  Amen.

Unburdening the Heart

Kindness comes from a heart unburdened
  and joy from a soul set free.
When can I go and meet with God,
  the One who goes unseen?
  Before the One unseen.

In a secret room with bolted door
  alone with the God I know,
I pray unforced with quiet hands
  that let every burden go.
  Let every burden go.

Just a corner in the courts of God
  is all I really need.
Surrounded by much greater prayers,
  I only plant a seed.
  Just a little seed.

My hands get tied, my mind obsessed
  by sins I know too well.
I need the freedom of holiness
  to pull these weeds of hell.
  Pull out these weeds of hell.

I must let go of my brother's neck -
  of our debts we take our leave.
We gather in our Savior's arms.
  We're safe with him between.
  Only safe with him between.

No duty, no law, no preacher's word
  is safe without this tie.
Unyoked from duty, in freedom free,
  Released from laws that lie.
  Released from laws that lie.

True holiness is freedom's path -
  it's sin that brings the fear.
More people do not make more love.
  if Jesus is not near.
  Jesus must be near.