It Depends On Who He Is To You

Published on by Christine Wyrtzen1 Comment

But who can endure the day of his coming? He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.  Malachi 3:2

‘Refiner’s fire and launderer’s soap’ is a line right out of Handel’s Messiah. It’s not exactly poetic to put to music and yet, how magnificently George Frederick Handel did it. With Christmas coming, you’ll probably hear these words again if you listen to the entire Messiah.

Refining fires will be experienced by everyone. Now, it’s the saints who are being purified through suffering. When others behold the lives we live, they see Jesus. Without the fire, the image is never developed. But one day, the unsaved will also face the fire of His holiness. While we are now drawn to the One who is holy, they will stand in dread of Him on judgement day. Same God ~ two opposing reactions because of the relationship or the lack thereof.

If you are God’s child, the thought of standing in the vicinity of the glory of God is thrilling. If you want nothing to do with God, you are either nonchalant as you think about it or simply terrified. It depends on who He is to you, Savior or enemy.

If you are God’s child, you are thrilled by what happened on the mount of transfiguration. The thought of Jesus taking on His full glory, dressed in dazzling white, makes you long to have seen it for yourself. If you don’t care about Jesus, the mere idea is bizarre and repelling. It depends on who He is to you, Lord of glory or good teacher.

If you are God’s child, you long to be holy. You long for God’s glory to purify the earth and wash away all remnants of the Fall. If you don’t care about Jesus, you are content in Babylon and see no need for change. It depends on who He is to you, Righteous Restorer of paradise, or a characterization of a religious myth.

Malachi’s pen must have trembled in his hands as he pictured the words the Spirit birthed.

Make sure my reaction is related to His, Lord. Amen

History Plus Experience

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And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.”  Luke 1:35

My biggest mistake would be to read God’s Word like a storybook and fail to see the stories as personal insights in how God might relate to me.  Can I have a burning bush experience?Can I know a Pentecost moment?  Do men and women still dream dreams and decide, upon waking, that God is sending them a personalized message? Yes.  My faith is not built on history alone but on a present day experience with Jesus Christ.

God’s Spirit hovered over Mary and she conceived.  Nine months later, she gave birth to the Son of God.  This intimate gesture of overshadowing ushered her into her most holy calling as the mother of Jesus.  But the Spirit of God must still overshadow the saints today if they are to give birth to their most holy callings.  There can be no conception of a call without this act of communion.  For years, I thought I was in touch with God’s will for my life, and in fact, I prayed for it earnestly but what was missing was intimacy with God.

Jesus said, “He who believes in me, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”  The word for innermost being in the original language is ‘womb’.  Through every child, God wants to birth something for the kingdom.  Something holy is to proceed from their spiritual womb.  What is it?  There is something about the redemption of our story that is unique.  Out of our individual brokenness, and out of the way He speaks His healing Word to those desolate places, our calling will emerge.  When He reveals it to each of us, it immediately resonates.  Praise, worship, and unspeakable joy are the result; our versions of the Magnificat.

To discover my purpose and to know how to walk in it, I must be intimate.  To transcend the challenges that come with a calling, I must be intimate.  Any kingdom work done without intimacy is powerless.

Overshadow my life.  I am your handmaiden. Amen

Finding The ‘Thank You’ In My Heart

Published on by Christine Wyrtzen3 Comments

 I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  Psalm 9:1

Thanksgivings, like any holiday, can be wonderful or imperfect, in varying degrees.  During the push to get ready for the big family dinner, feelings can get put on a back burner.  The days following, however, are often difficult because we re-live what was missing.

Life is all about perspective.  We know that.  But when things get difficult, God’s children struggle to find a perspective that means something deeply wonderful.  There is a list to encourage us to think thoughts that go upward instead of outward.  Looking up alters discouragement.  How does it work?

  • When loved ones will be missing from my table because of distance, I  will still be thankful that God hears every prayer I pray for them.  He will be near them though I will be far away.
  • When normal holiday sentiments get stuck in my throat because times are difficult, I will be thankful that glorious eternal sentiments are mine no matter the circumstances.  I am God’s child.  He is my Father.
  • When I see the faces of those I love around my table, I will be grateful that my love for them is just a little glimpse of the great love the Savior has for each of us.
  • When thoughts of the future overwhelm me, I will be grateful that it is only the immediate future, not my eternal one, which may be challenging.  For every difficulty, God will take me by the hand and walk me through it, smoothing the way.
  • Many of my family are in heaven and will be missing from my Thanksgiving table.  I can give thanks that we will sit together at another banquet table, one that eclipses the most beautiful gathering on Thursday.  Jesus will be the One serving us.
  • If, by chance, I have to look into the face of one who has not loved me well and I find there is pain with the memories, I will give thanks that I belong to One who is not like that.  Anything I need, He is.  He is the great ‘I am’.

Thanksgiving is not confession made through gritted teeth.  God does not force children to be polite little robots.  Instead, He encourages thanksgiving for what He has already given us and what is yet to come.  If I’m short on a list because of the imperfections of yesterday, I need only open the scriptures and put my name in the meta-narrative of redemption.  Every stunning promise is mine.  Every beautiful thing awaits me.

With tear filled eyes, I will thank you!  Amen

Beginning Again

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       God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Genesis 35:1-2

Oh, what a mess of things I can make. A series of bad choices can eventually result in a train wreck. With everything in shambles, it appears as if it’s too late to have a clean start. I believe I’ve passed the point of no return.

Jacob knows how that feels. This is where he is in his family’s story. They have narrowly escaped assimilation into a pagan society. Intermarrying would have destroyed the line for the Messiah. His sons have tricked the men from Shechem and then they murdered them in cold blood. The covenant with God is certainly null and void now, right?

But God appeared to Jacob with instructions for a new beginning. His prescription for starting again is quite simple. Identify (and gather) all your foreign gods, bury them, purify yourselves, put on clean garments, and renew your vows to God in a holy place. The message for me is this ~ I can’t mess things up so badly that God can’t redeem it.

If it’s this easy, why don’t more do it? Why aren’t there more Christians at the altar bringing the shambles of their lives to Jesus? What is keeping them from the exhilaration of this new beginning?

While God’s instructions are simple, the heart has to be willing. I have to own my mistakes, consider where I went astray, and then see my choices from God’s perspective. I need to own my rebellion and not justify my sin. Owning blame is for the humble. This is where most people forfeit God’s invitation to start again. Pride that resides in over-inflated and fragile ego resists being wrong.

God continued to speak this same message throughout history. Joshua will tell God’s same chosen people, in Shechem…. “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” Joshua 24:23 How ironic. The descendants of Jacob will have to hear the exact same message again, in the same place, so that they can experience the cleansing the precedes a new beginning. Is there a limit to the number of times God offers a clean slate?   No. His mercy knows no boundaries.

I want to make the practice of exposing idolatry and asking for forgiveness so familiar to me that I see all traces of rebellion disappear. Let my repentance be instinctive. Amen

The Shamed

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“I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.” Zephaniah 3:19

How do I connect with someone living with crippling shame? I learn from Jesus and remember that He knew just what to do. He removed shame and restored honor. 

He reached out to the woman of Samaria by crossing two lines of bigotry; gender bias and racial discrimination. He bestowed her great honor by revealing that He was the Messiah, His first public admission. 

Jesus built another bridge of honor with the woman caught in adultery. Her accusers cited the Law of Moses. They wanted her stoned. Jesus was silent, curiously writing something in the dirt, giving everyone moments of personal reflection. The accusers went silent and the sound of stones hitting the ground could be heard. Ultimately, he offered the woman mercy and gave her honor that was undeserved. It was reckless mercy and the Pharisees were offended. 

Those who suffer most from shame are the ones who are scared to tell us their stories. They have probably experienced bias. They feel unclean, unworthy, and cursed. I cannot tell them about Jesus without treating them without prejudice. I must build a bridge of honor by extending unconditional love. This does not mean tolerance and overlooking evil. It means being like God who loves the sinner but hates their sin. The ones in shame look for confirmations of their unworthiness in the eyes of others. If we come preaching, attempting to fix them with scripture, all with an attitude of being above them, shame is deepened and honor remains elusive. Legalism cements shame. 

I remember today that, before salvation, I was covered in my own shame and sin. I was unworthy and yet Jesus extended mercy to me. As I see one bent over under the yoke of shame, I am humbled by the memory of my own deliverance. Tragically, the ones most bowed down with shame don’t usually come through church doors. They won’t run toward those they fear will further condemn them. 

The Samaritan woman and the woman caught in adultery ultimately lifted their gaze to behold the love of God. Someone near me, too scared to look at Jesus, just might get the courage if they can see His love in my eyes first. 

Lord, help me build the bridge of friendship and honor strong enough to support Your truth.  Amen

Casual Teachers

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And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Matt. 13:52

A scribe was more than just someone who took dictation. He held a prestigious position within the Jewish community. An expert in the knowledge of scripture, he wrote it down and delivered it to the people. Jesus’ message here was this ~ A scribe/teacher has the authority and mandate to bring what is old, and what is new, out of his storehouse of knowledge and bring it to the people.

The role of the teacher is a critical one. In high school, my toughest subject was science. I thought I was just bad at understanding the concepts but when I look back, the teacher who taught it was checked out. He didn’t convey that he cared about his subject. He imparted information and I struggled to concentrate. As an adult, I’ve discovered that I like exploring the science of things. Naturally, I’m a curious person and love to learn.

Every teacher is a storyteller who brings life to what is important. Jesus did that by telling parables. He took old truths [about what the kingdom of God is like] and gave them new life by re-framing them in parable-like stories. He gave His people history and context as well as the New Covenant. There was never a more passionate teacher when He gave His life to defend it.

Where are the teachers who care to bring the whole counsel of scripture? Where are the teachers who tremble with the Word of God in their hands and feel like a horse at the starting gate on Sunday morning? I have been crying out to God this morning, “Lord, if they don’t care, the people won’t care! We won’t know our history, our legacy, and won’t embrace our spiritual treasures.”

 It is the sign of the times to see churches fall away. It is the sign of the times to see men of God lose the fire of their calling. It is the sign of the times to see the people languish for lack of knowledge. It is the sign of the times to see the Bible judged as irrelevant and boring. If the teacher doesn’t care, the student loses his way.

What do I do if I lack a Bible teacher? I engage the One who is resident inside of me. I make spending time with my inner Rabbi my first priority. Taking responsibility to feed myself and not rely on my local pastor is the ‘norm’ of far too many people. Yet, it is the only mode for their survival. Though our teachers fall away, this reality need not dictate my fate.

 Inside my spirit today resides the best teacher who ever lived. He knows the whole story, is passionate about it, and loves to be engaged to pass on what He knows. He unveils the mystery with insight, enthusiasm, and a well-chosen language formed just for my ears.

I will not starve with You inside. Thank you for teaching me and keeping my faith alive. In Jesus’ name, Amen

The Precise Language of Jesus

Published on by Christine Wyrtzen2 Comments

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. Proverbs 10:31-32

Just as I had to learn to talk, Jesus had to learn it too.  It wasn’t long before He was too big to sleep in Mary’s arms.  He became an active toddler, embarking on the learning curves of life.  It’s hard to imagine a child who was sinless in how he related to adults.  He was perfect and though I’m sure His personality was evident in the way He spoke, his speech was without sin.  He teaches me whether I think of Him as a toddler, an adolescent, or adult in the way He communicates.

One thing is common among the flawed human race. We all use superlatives and paint with a broad brush in ways that are self-serving. When I’m angry and I feel like I need to make my point, I will say, “You never care about how I feel.” Do I really mean ‘never’? Probably not, but I believe that the exaggeration will increase the possibility that I’m taken seriously. When frustrated, I will misuse the word ‘always’. “You always come home late.” Is that true? Probably not. But there were enough times to set a precedent and enough times to inflame my frustration.

Then there are overused words like ‘incredible’, ‘amazing’, and ‘life-changing.’ These marketing triggers have invaded the church and colored the claims of those who use them until they are virtually meaningless. They’re thrown around as a way to increase attendance and/or convince someone that something is more effective than it really is. Here’s the thing; few things are incredible, amazing, and life-changing and when they are, I want to know that there are words available to adequately describe them.

Jesus was precise in his language. When He said, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”, He meant all. Every single person. In the upper room, when He said, “Tonight, one of you will be betray me”, I can know that He meant only one. Did that mean that none of the rest of the disciples ever let Him down? No. He teaches us about intent and what is premeditated as opposed to slipups. The other eleven disciples, though imperfect, possessed good faith efforts.

The difference between the ways Jesus talked and the way I talk is vast.  He never had ulterior motives. There was never a selfish agenda that colored his speech. He said what He meant and every superlative was true. When He promised abundant life, I cannot fathom the far-reaching heights of such abundance.

As a flawed woman who wants to be more like Jesus, I have to curb the temptation to exaggerate in order to bring relief to my pain and frustration. This is where God promises grace. In the trenches, I must pray and ask God for the wisdom to speak with integrity. Every superlative must be under the control of the Spirit of God and if I’m worked up and know that I can’t trust myself to speak well, I should be quiet until I can. Wisdom knows the power of restraint.

This year, Lord, I’ll be working on it. Amen

SaveSave

When The Next Thing Happens, Is He Enough?

Published on by Christine Wyrtzen1 Comment

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. John 7:38

A person’s deep emptiness will only be filled by a relationship with Jesus. Not only will it be satisfied but it will overflow from the reservoir of life that Jesus pours in. That is the meaning of Jesus’ words here. Even on a bad day, a believer’s heart will spill out abundant life. Get that person talking about Jesus and tender words of love will flow.

When I was 30, I sat in a counselor’s office.  My mother had just died.  Unbelievably just nine months earlier, my husband’s mother also died.  We were so young with two young children who would not know any grandmas.  My counselor, on my first visit, asked me why I was there.  I told him that I just couldn’t lose one more person.  I asked him to promise me (on behalf of God) that I wouldn’t face any more impending tragedies.  Wisely, he looked at me and said, “The issue is not whether I can promise you a life without more pain.  The issue is this ~ When the next thing happens, will you know Jesus in a way where He is enough?”  That question registered deeply in my soul and set the course for the rest of my life.

With the tumultuous events happening in our world at this moment, God is, and will be,  enough for each of us.  No matter how desperate our need is, He is deeper still.  The faith that we need to believe that God will strengthen, comfort, and undergird us in order to persevere, is granted to us one moment at a time.  If we cling to His promises, they will sustain us even when we can’t see our way ahead.

And finally, the scriptures we have known and thought we understood will take on new dimensions in the days ahead and each one will meet us where faith and unbelief collide.  God invites us to swim in the vast ocean of His love and Living Water will carry our tears ~ and our praises.

Father, You are still the beautiful answer to every cry of my heart. Amen

What Kind Of Kiss Is This?

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Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.  Mark 14:44-45

In some cultures, strangers greet one another with a kiss.  It’s a custom, not necessarily a sign of personal affection.  However, the kiss Judas gave Jesus was of the personal kind.  In Greek, it was a ‘phileo’ kiss ~ showing deep love, affection, covenant, and relationship.  Jesus wasn’t fooled.  He saw it coming and Judas knew Jesus saw through it.  It does reinforce, however, that betrayal is always personal or it’s not betrayal. 

Scripture says that Jesus ‘knew the hearts of men’ so even though the disciples didn’t see signs of Judas treachery on the horizon, Jesus did.  He’d always known.  Yet, Judas was hand picked anyway to fulfill the scriptures.  Judas probably believed he was autonomous in his mutinous decisions but he was a pawn in the sovereign will of God. 

Since none of us are divine, we don’t always see it coming.  We don’t know that the person we least suspect will hurt us so deeply.  Good behavior and their internal divided kingdom veil who they really are.  It is only as we look back that we can see signposts that posted a warning.  In the end, it is a journey of wisdom and forgiveness.

For any of you who are beating yourself up over past or present relationships, know that the nature of a wolf is to deceive.  If he/she weren’t good at it, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to warn us to be biblically street smart.  When we receive a Judas kiss, followed by betrayal, Jesus knows and His tears blend with ours as we grieve the loss.  What did He do for His disciples when Judas was revealed in the upper room?  He didn’t scold them for being out of touch.  He tended to their wounds and washed their feet.

As much as You knew Judas’ kiss was coming, it had to break Your heart.  I’m so grateful You are acquainted with all our griefs.  Amen

There’s A Better Question Than That

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“Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.” Luke 11:44

Jesus words to the Pharisees made them angry. The lawyers among them were hostile and proceeded to question Him in private about His warning. It was obvious to Jesus that their status among the people was foremost in their minds and they couldn’t conceive that their hearts were really like tombs. Before God, they were unclean.

Jesus message was consistent with the prophet’s words. God looks at the heart. Mankind looks, and is obsessed with, exterior appearances. If we do things that make us look bad to people around us, it’s much easier to change our behavior than deal with our own sinful hearts.

If we are not careful, the church becomes little more than a catalyst for behavior modification. We can be consumed with asking the question, “What would Jesus do?” Then, gritting our teeth, we take on the challenge of acting like Him. While that can sound good, as evidenced by the millions of Christians who wore the bracelet that asks the question, our preoccupation needs to progress to an inward look.

I don’t want to just concern myself with doing what Jesus does. I want to think how He thinks. I want to feel how He feels. I want to love what He loves and despise what He hates. My sinful heart needs washing, then re-wiring. The water of the Word promises to do both but before I can walk in newness of life, I have to acknowledge the stuff in my heart that is not like Jesus.

I cannot butter you up and try to be the Teacher’s pet. You see right through me. I can dare look at my sin because You already died for it. I give up my defensiveness. Amen