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Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. Genesis 37:20-22 

There is a father who will take out his anger on his children today. He will cut them to shreds with a sharp rebuke and they will shrink and go into hiding. He’s done it before. He even saw the damage in their eyes but that did not deter him. 

There is a middle-aged woman who will see dreaded circumstances repeat themselves. She will say, “Oh no, not again!” but she will make the same disastrous choice she made the last time. She does not see that God is giving her another chance in order to do something different.

Reuben, for all his faults, did make a different choice. (Although not one that was drastic enough.) He had sinned against his father many times throughout his youth and had experienced the stab in his own heart as he saw his father’s pain. The last offense he committed was sleeping with Bilhah, his father’s concubine. With that fresh in his memory, he will not agree to take the life of Joseph, his father’s favored son. He could not bear the thought of Jacob’s grief yet again. 

Do I really learn from my mistakes? The magical answer is ‘yes’. Who is going to repeatedly put their hand over an open flame? That is naive. When bad behavior is generational, thoughts of stopping the pattern don’t come easily. By default, we live as our fathers did. 

Jesus told Nicodemus two critical things. 1.) ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh.’ We are like whom we came from. I am a product of a mother and father and will possess not only their physical characteristics but their holy and sinful bents as well. I will not deviate without spiritual transformation. And, 2.) ‘That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.’ I am to be like by new Father because I was born of His Word and His Spirit. So here’s the question that replays in my mind? Am I more like my new Father than my earthly parents? I should be if the new birth and the things of the Spirit are nurtured. 

How does this relate to learning from my mistakes? When I repeat the foolishness of my youth, the Spirit of God calls to me. “Why are you doing that? You’re now my own daughter and I’m calling you out to be like me, not them.” Past mistakes are a mirror. I see the reflection of my former self against the reflection of my brother, Jesus, standing next to me. With just a glance, I walk away and have no appetite for the former things.

Forget my last name today, Lord. I am Christine – of God’s heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8

That is a thought provoking verse ~ that Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of the devil. Wait, didn’t he come to die to redeem mankind? Yes. But God’s over-arching mission was that the works of the devil might be destroyed through Jesus’ incarnation, through His survival as a toddler under Herod’s murderous rampage, through the crucifixion of the innocent Lamb, and through His resurrection unto glory. Throughout His ministry, Jesus didn’t ignore His enemy. He engaged him by often imposing limits on his freedom.  (“Do this, not that, go here, not there. Be quiet!”) He engaged him, too, by the relentless deliverance of people from sickness and demon possession. 

And, Jesus engaged Satan in the desert ~ ever giving us a template for how to handle temptation. (Luke 4) Jesus looked behind Satan’s smokescreen, identified the real intent, and quoted appropriate scripture.

 
Satan said, “If you are the son of God, turn this stone to bread.” Behind the smokescreen was ~ “Prove you are God and fill your stomach now.” The issue was not hunger but getting Jesus to do something God didn’t tell him to do.

Satan said, “I’ll give you all this authority and its glory.” Behind the smokescreen was ~ “Waiting is hard and I’ll give you kingly rule early if you worship me.”   Satan’s desire for worship was what originally caused him to defect from his place in heaven.

Satan said, “Throw yourself down and see if angels will take care of you.”Behind the smokescreen ~ “Let’s just see if God takes care of you.” This time it was Satan who quoted scripture, “For He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11  Jesus was savvy and quoted Deut. 6:16 back at him. “You shall not test the Lord your God.”  What did that mean? ‘Testing the Lord your God’ means to doubt God’s care and goodness.

There are numerous ways for me to deal with my enemy as well. When I obey God, trust God, step out in faith, and when I believe His Word over my own instincts, all of these destroy the works of the devil. In intercessory warfare, when I rise up to use my authority in scripture, limits are placed on Satan’s activity once again. And when I ask God for the spiritual eyesight to see behind the smokescreen of each temptation so that I can quote appropriate scripture back at him, his works are destroyed. 

Lord, our enemy is not acting like a defeated foe. But he is. He acts like he has all power. But he doesn’t. With Your Word, make my mouth a sharp sword. Amen

All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  John 3:20 NLT

Whether infant, boy child, or adult Jesus in full time ministry, He was the Light of the world. Throughout His ministry, He told us what Light does.  It draws and warms the searching heart but it also exposes and convicts.  It probably wasn’t long after Jesus’ birth that His righteous gaze saw clear through people, even the souls of His parents. Their sins had to be an open book.  Was Jesus ever punished simply because the adults in His life felt exposed by the light of His glory?  And what about His siblings?  Talk about tension in the house!

Though scripture doesn’t fill in the blanks of Jesus’ childhood, these are the kinds of things I can safely assume because of what Jesus revealed about Himself.  His light exposed darkness ~ whether child, adolescent, or adult, Roman solder, or Jewish leader.  It divided child’s play and it challenged the rabbis in the temple.  It most assuredly pierced conversations at family gatherings.  

His Light still exposes. My own sin is under His gaze.  How many times have I felt the burning in my heart!  It happens when I’m just thinking about wrong-doing and it gets really intense when I go ahead and do it.  The burning is conviction and guilt, but it is also sadness that I have grieved Jesus.  Exposure can cause anyone, even the most seasoned saint, to wonder if God’s love will be faithful in the face of failure.  The same Light of the world that exposes also bathes the sinner in a love that melts away all fear.  

Thank you for exposing my sin.  I get to be freed from its clutches and also feel the warmth of Your embrace.  Amen

All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. John 3:20 NLT

The darkness makes mischief-makers bold.  Most sexual abuse happens at night because victims are probably sleeping and can easily be preyed upon.  Many other crimes happen at night, too.  Under the cover of darkness, evil men creep around to unleash destruction, whether person or property.  The fact that no one can see them lessens the risk of them getting caught.  The intensity of the crime increases as they are emboldened by their invisibility. 

I’m convinced that the dark forces of Satan’s kingdom work in the dark too.  Though most of us have never seen a demon, we imagine that they lurk in the shadows.  Paul warned in Ephesians 4:12 not to stuff our anger out of sight lest we put it down into the darkness.  The implication is that nothing good happens outside of the Light of God’s grace. 

Add a few spotlights to a home property and you have more protection.  Light exposes what is hidden.  Just as it is in the physical, it is often in the spiritual.  The Light of the world enters the room and men instinctively know that He can see clear through to their soul.  The intents of their hearts, their innermost secrets, are not hidden from the Light of His gaze.  For the one who loves his sin, there is much to hide.  The evil person shrinks back and runs back into the shadows. 

If only sinners could stay long enough in the Light, they would experience uncomfortable exposure, yes, but they would also bask in Jesus’ love and hear the call to adoption.  It is a wooing to leave captivity in exchange for freedom.  To leave a life of sin in exchange for a life of conformity to Christlikeness.  To leave the shadows for God’s circle of light.  What peace awaits anyone who decides to embrace Christ and live in His presence.  No need to hide.  No need to fear.  No need to fear disclosure.  This is the person who sleeps peacefully at night.  Few regrets.  Whatever remains is calmed by the assurance of God’s redemption. 

The question for each person, and I’m asking myself this as I write ~ ‘Am I, in any way, afraid of the Light of my Savior?’

I want to live, always, confident in our eye contact.  I am a dancer in the Light.  Amen

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.  John 3:14-15 NLT

This is the Gospel.  God is holy and must deal with our sin.  God is also love and offers us mercy.  To receive it, we must turn from our sin through repentance and look to Christ. 

The last thing the Israelites wanted to do was to look at a snake, a brass likeness lifted high up on a pole. Seeing the snake reminded them of the curse God had brought upon them because of their grumbling.  Only some were willing to look at it – and live.  The rest chose to nurse their grudge against God for whatever reason or they felt God’s remedy was preposterous and refused to humble themselves.  They chose death over life.  

The last thing any of us want to do is look at the gruesome scene of a crucifixion, to someone lifted up high on a cross.  Couldn’t there be some other extension of mercy than to have to look to Jesus, beaten and bruised, suffering unspeakable horrors?   Anything else would be easier to take.  Only some are willing to look to Him – and live. The rest choose to nurse their grudge against God for whatever reason or they feel God’s remedy of His only Son is preposterous and they refuse to humble themselves at the foot of the cross.  They choose death over life. 

This is ultimately a love story.  Bitten by sin, we all face a death sentence.  We are cursed.  There is only one remedy and we don’t get to decide how we’ll be saved.  But the One who does decide is a Savior who loves us ~ so much so that He was willing to take our curse upon Himself and die in our place.  He was hung, high and lifted up, on a cross.  Our curse was put on Him and He was despised, shamed, and rejected.  Oh, but when we look to Him, consider and then repent of our sin, we live.   

Jesus, sometimes the power of the story of the Gospel washes over my soul in a fresh way.  This moment is one of them.  Thank you.  Always, you are high and lifted up.  Amen

Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  John 3:6 NLT

What did Jesus mean when He talked about flesh and spirit with respect to the new birth?

To be born physically, the union of a man and a woman are necessary.  Coming from them, I resemble them.  I have their DNA in my bones.  I have my grandmother’s nose, my aunt’s musical ability, my father’s gentle spirit, my mother’s gift of compassion, and a combination of their gestures and facial movements.  That’s why Jesus said, ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh.’

To be born spiritually, there is also a birth by a parent.  A new Father calls me His child.  He touches my dead spirit and brings it to life.  I’m given a new nature, His nature.  I’m given undeserved righteousness, His righteousness. Begotten of God, I become like the One who gave me a spiritual birth.  That’s why Jesus said, ‘That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’

But, am I more like my earthly parents or my Heavenly Father?  If I’ve been born again, my second birth is to trump the first.  The second birth is to re-define my whole identity.  It is meant to re-shape whatever has been disfigured by formation inside my human family.  My perfect Father intends to re-parent me.  He’s eager to fix what was broken and mature what was stunted.  He blesses the righteous seeds of my parents while challenging the sinful legacies. That creates friction ~ both in me and in my family.  Yet, this is what spiritual growth involves.

I can pray the sinner’s prayer, call myself a child of God, but never engage in a Father/daughter relationship. I do not experience His endearing ways. From lack of intimacy, I don’t become like the One who gave me spiritual life.  I cling to the patterns, habits, and beliefs of my earthly family.  My history normalized their dysfunction and it feels uncomfortable to step out of line.  My family might not like it if I honor Jesus before them.  I will potentially lose favor.  

Yet, this is the call.  I am to leave father and mother to follow God.  ‘The family way of doing things’ is to no longer bind me if ‘the family way’ is out of step with the kingdom.

I don’t like not fitting in.  I am uncomfortable with criticism, especially from family. Your likeness is what I seek so give me grace for whatever friction my follow.  Amen

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”   John 3:3-4 NLT

The kingdom-related things that take place between people and God are invisible.  The new birth is invisible.  The washing away of sins is invisible.  The cleansing of our conscience is invisible.  God is invisible.  The Spirit is invisible.  And Jesus, once visible, is invisible once again.  

The new birth is no small thing.  Whomever I am ‘born of’ determines who I am like.  Children inherit the attributes of their parents.  I was ‘of my father the devil’ until the new birth.  I was in his clutches and, like him, my own flesh drove my decision making.  Now, I could be on good behavior but it was only because it was self-serving.  My heart was alive to sin and dead to God.  This captivity was invisible.  

But oh, there was a day when God said ‘let there be light’ to my own spiritual eyes.  Jesus came into view (though invisible) and nothing has ever been the same.  I was born of heaven and my entire nature changed. I was no longer like my father the devil.  God touched my spirit and I was born of Him.  My likeness was transformed to resemble my new Father.  I had new spiritual DNA.  (Invisible) Whenever there is birth, the one who gives birth bears pain.  My birth into God’s kingdom cost me nothing.  The pain was borne by Jesus.  

What can be seen by physical eyes todays is least important.  Real life happens behind the veil.  God’s promises are at work in my life.  Invisible.  Jesus is praying for me.  Invisible.  I am being sanctified.  Invisible.  Jesus is preparing a home for me.  Invisible.  Every prayer I pray is being answered.  Invisible.  

My faith is in One unseen and in a kingdom yet unseen.  Do kingdom things become visible in this life?  Oh yes!  We know that.  We see people change, provisions appear, diseases healed, seasons perpetuate, and God is everywhere if we look for His fingerprints. In Sunday School a few days ago, our teacher mentioned an Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote. 

Earth is crammed with heaven,

 And every bush afire with God.

But only he who sees takes off his shoes,

The rest sit around and pluck blackberries.  

Give my spirit eyes 20/20 vision.  Amen

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus.  John 3:1-2 NLT

It was 2009.  My daughter, Jaime, had been asked to speak to a group of women several hundred miles away. I offered to go with her, to be her companion and to give prayer support, something she has done for me hundreds of times. She and I sat near the front and the program was about to start.  Jaime was quiet, prayerfully reviewing her notes and getting her spiritual focus.  At that moment, the committee chairman came and whispered something in my ear.  She told me that some notable people with influence had arrived. Excited, I turned to tell Jaime the news.  “Guess who is here!” I said.  I began to tell her but Jaime held up her hand for me to stop.  She said, with such sadness, “Mom, why do you bring me so great a temptation right before I speak?”  An arrow of conviction pierced my soul.  Now, she would feel the pressure to perform well.  Now, she would be aware that her presentation was getting graded by a few people who came to be impressed.  I had delivered all of these pressures to her on a silver platter.  Later that day, I asked her to forgive me.  

I’ve spent much of my life wrestling with Christian Babylon, the world I’ve come to know from a lifetime of engagement in American church ministry.  It’s much about who hears you speak or sing. It’s about looking your best before taking the stage.  It’s about having a sold-out concert or conference.  It’s about the size of the church that invited you.  It’s about dressing in a way where others know you’re the speaker or singer when you walk into the room. The rule of thumb is to be a little bit more dressed up than they are. Make a statement with your choice of clothing and accessories.  All of this co-exists with the weight of wanting to magnify Jesus and reach people with the Gospel.  Oh, motives are messy and nothing is altruistic.  

Covid has been a course corrector.  With so much time to reflect, I’ve re-evaluated everything.  In the process, I’ve gone through my closet and donated almost all of my ‘speaking clothes and statement jewelry.’  I don’t have the stomach for it anymore.  God has done this new thing.  My new litmus test has become this ~ Would Corrie Ten Boom wear this to speak?  It seems that in every picture, she looked the same.  So in every way, I’ve simplified.  I’ve cast off some weights that so easily beset me.  

What does all of this have to do with Nicodemus and John 3?  Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a notable person, the equivalent of one of our supreme court justices.  He came to speak with Jesus but here’s the thing.  Jesus felt no pressure.  He didn’t sit up straighter because of who it was that paid him a visit.  He didn’t try to elevate His illustrations to impress.  He went the other direction.   He spoke of spiritually infantile things, the stuff of wombs and being born again.  

It’s the middle of the night and while pondering all of this on my bed, a vision came to me.  I was half-awake. I was in a gladiator arena.  I was the lone believer in the center, about to become a meal for the lions who were being released at any moment.  The roar of the crowd was out of my radar.  It didn’t matter to me if there were ten people in the stands or several hundred thousand.   My focus was the faith test in front of me and how I would face the large cats. They would see me as prey; I would see them as predators.  

Then, the Spirit of God spoke to me.  “In the kingdom, they will not consume you.  They will dwell with you as companions for your enjoyment.”  And so, I stood and awaited their arrival.  They circled me and I began to turn and look at each of them. I extoled their power, the beauty of their features, all given to them by Creator God.  I asked if I could pet them.  I approached the first, petted the top of his head, and scratched him behind his ears.  His eyes closed and I began to hear him purr.  I was in the kingdom and context had been transformed.  I was not their meal; I was their friend.  The audience were spectators of the power and glory of God. 

God promises to tame the lions.  We can exist in Babylon but not be consumed.  The need to perform, to be accepted, to excel, to impress, to compete and win, will no longer be lions of prey.  Nicodemus may grace our stage but so will the nameless widow who brought her mite to the temple.  King Saul may summon us to calm oppressive spirits but so will the notorious demoniac who lives among the tombs. None of these, famous or infamous, will need a statesman.  They will need a Savior and we will be the beggars who bring them to the One who saves. 

Lord, I hear it again ~ your great commission.  I will travel lighter, trading in my heavy robes for a simple tunic.  I’m laying aside such weights and temptations.  Amen

Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.^”  John 1:50-51 NLT

Our lives are fraught with challenges; earthly cares that rob our sleep and our peace.  We pray for God to intervene.  Sometimes He does and often, with quick and stunning results.  He brings a single financial miracle, or a healing, or a breakthrough in a relationship.  We are left to exclaim, “Wow, Lord!  You can do that?”  

This is the type of narrative between Nathaniel and Jesus.  Nathaniel, earlier in the day, had spent some time alone under a fig tree.  Yet when Jesus meets him, He tells Nathaniel that He saw him earlier – enjoying the shade of that tree.  Nathaniel knew he had been entirely alone and yet, somehow, Jesus knew he was there and saw him supernaturally.  He was left to also ponder, “This man can do this?”   And yet, that was such a small thing in the bigger scope of Jesus’ power and glory.  Jesus saw a man under a tree who thought he had been unseen but earlier in history, He created man out of dust.  Nathaniel was amazed that Jesus saw what had been invisible to others but earlier in history, Jesus proved He was the Lord of infinity.  

Jesus wants Nathaniel to know that if he is impressed by this earlier encounter under the tree, he hasn’t seen anything yet!  This announcement of ‘going up and down the stairway of heaven’ is an admission of being the God-man who spans and connects two worlds.  He is Lord of heaven and earth. When Jacob wrestled with the sovereignty of Yahweh, he saw this same ‘coming and going’ on a supernatural stairway.  

What a God I serve.  The things He has done that have left me speechless are miniscule in the larger scope of His power.  The miracles, which to me have changed me forever, will pale in comparison to the things I will see Jesus do.  Some things He will accomplish while I’m still alive, but most glorious things await me in the new kingdom.  Won’t it be glorious to finally see the open heavens and for our spiritual eyesight to engage?  If you know Jesus, we will share it together.  

I really have no idea who powerful you are.  Not yet.  How could your Word possibly tell it all?  Yet, You will personally show me.  What a day, Jesus.  Amen

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.  As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” John 1:46-49 NLT

No one has ever fallen in love with Jesus through the intimate stories of someone else’s faith encounter.  At best, the story inspired them and then opened the door for them to seek Jesus for themselves. Philip knew that Nathaniel would only be convinced about the Messiah if he saw Him personally.  That’s why he urged him, “Come and see.”

For Philip, the unmerited favor of God had just intersected his personal history and brought an experience the likes of which he would never forget.  Nothing in the future would eclipse the memory.  As he ran to Nathaniel, he knew that in just moments, the veil that limited Nathanael’s spiritual eyesight would be lifted as well.  He and Jesus would also engage in a personal discussion that would rock his world.

Are such defining moments possible today for the one who asks Jesus to reveal Himself to them?  Yes. There are moments that become mountaintops; encounters that become a Bethel. These are not limited to unbelievers seeking to be saved.  They are also for believers who have settled for monotony, who are trying to live on yesterday’s manna. We are to seek, listen, and pursue God relentlessly.  The glory of Jesus will surprise us again and again at unsuspecting times. An ordinary day will be turned upside down as the eternal penetrates the temporal.  God’s glory will fill our field of vision and earth’s trinkets will no longer impress us nor satisfy what it is we’re really craving.

Those around us may not see what we see but we know it is a holy moment.  We’ll take our shoes off even as we remember it.  In the afterglow, we’ll live dazed by the memory and tremble in the distraction of it.  Such is the condition of anyone who has seen God pass by and stopped to worship and be loved.  

We know it’s hard to capture it in words and tell someone else what happened.  That’s why we join the many other evangelists through the ages to say, “Come and see for yourself.”  

Lord, commune with us today in a place that doesn’t need words. Come to the ones we’ve been praying for who haven’t seen You yet.  Amen