I am Willing

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”

He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.”

But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to him, “We are able.”

Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”

When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards James and John.

Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”      Mark 10:35-45 (WEB)

I want to be with Jesus in heaven. I believe that I needed a savior to atone for my sins. Jesus did that. I believe in Jesus. So I will be with Jesus in heaven. Check.

In this passage, James and John want more. They want a seat of honor. Jesus doesn’t promise that. He infers that it will be the Father’s decision. Only the Father will decide – judge – on that Day.

Jesus gives the disciples a hard answer to their request. He comes back with questions of His own. “Are you able…?” Am I? This is not a quick-answer question. I believe that salvation is a free gift for everyone. But some are asked and are willing to follow Jesus in all His journeys, even to Gethsemane and Calvary, as these disciples were. That may mean physical death but it may also mean to die to our own plans and dreams. Am I able to die in order to live like Jesus?

Jesus is such a very good teacher and friend. He does stick closer than a brother. And so He shows me intimately how to die. From the moment He left heaven to live here, He showed me how to give up in order to win! From Bethlehem to Calvary, Jesus walked the life of a servant not a king. Jesus gave over and over. He took only once. He took my sins. He took on Calvary so that I could forever live.

Jesus speaks here about baptism. Baptism is about dying to my old life; dying to sin. I was “sprinkled” as a child. My parents and godparents made a commitment for me to live my life with Jesus Christ. A dedication like that is a good thing, I think. It should be a serious moment for parents to begin to grasp how God has placed His child in their arms to raise in the knowledge of Him. But several decades later, I decided to be baptized, some would say, again. I had made a decision to live my life with Jesus. And being baptized by immersion made sense to me. Baptism is a sacrament: an outward sign of an inward change in me. Immersion was going down into the pool; dying to my way of sin and coming up, a new creation; clean and fresh. It was truly an extra-ordinary experience. Jesus’ question as to whether I am willing to be baptized with His baptism is I good question: Am I willing?

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Jesus, I Want

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”

He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.”

But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to him, “We are able.”

Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”

When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards James and John.

Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”     Mark 10:35-45 (WEB)

“Give me what I am asking from You, Lord.” How familiar is that?

“Give me, give me, give me.” I find myself praying that too often.

Jesus, Teacher, asks (so that I speak it aloud), what do I want Him to do for me? So many times when I speak or write what is whirling in my mind, I get some clarity on the truth Like a toddling child I ask daddy for what I want – and I want it now! An adult child would be learning and growing toward their goals, not expect daddy to hand it to them. Jesus is always looking for the opportunity to teach me so I can grow and learn. He doesn’t cut me off and just tell me I am ignorant or a ‘baby’. He teaches me and takes me through the next step. I learn.

Jesus also protects me…often from myself! When I ask, how awesome is it that I ask the One who truly knows what is good for me?!! Jesus knows all the consequences for what I ask. Do I know what it is I am ask? Not usually. I am so limited in my sight. I am working on my “Kingdom sight” but, oh, how blessed I am to have Jesus!

Now reading this passage I always chuckle at the disciples’ request. They want what??? They think they are worthy to sit with Jesus? But then I think of some of my requests and I bet that those same disciples – from their current viewpoint in heaven – think some of my requests are worth a chuckle, too!

Jesus looks with the same loving discipline at me as He did with His disciples. If I will listen, if I am willing to listen, Jesus will explain to me what I am really asking. If I want to stand in the glory with Him, there is a journey that I must take. That journey will not be easy and will not be short. There is suffering that will come like a refiner’s fire. Am I willing to drink that cup? This is not a question to answer quickly. It is a question that needs a lifetime commitment of prayer. A lifetime commitment to daily speak with Jesus and learn from His life and example.

Tomorrow we’ll look at what Jesus meant by the “baptism”.

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Beggars Are Choosers – in Jesus Christ

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

– Henry Neufeld

But the land shall not be permanently sold, because the land belongs to me, and you are strangers and resident aliens with me.  — Leviticus 25:23 (HN)

I’m always alert for the various ways in which God’s grace is presented in the Old Testament.  Many people have the false impression that the Old Testament is all about anger, and the New Testament is all about grace.

But here is one of many cases in which we see God’s grace proclaimed in the Old Testament.  In fact, the foundation of New Testament grace is built in the Old Testament.

In the discussion of the sabbatical years and the year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25 we have repeated emphasis on the need for the Israelites not to oppress one another.  The reason given is that they were once slaves, and God provided them with freedom.  But in addition, God points out that they are now strangers, aliens who are residents on his land.

For it’s by grace that you are saved, through faith.  And it’s not something that comes from you; it’s God’s gift.  It’s not by works, so that nobody can boast.  For we are something he has made, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we could live in them.  — Ephesians 2:8-10 (HN)

We are all beggars.  As Christians we have nothing to claim for ourselves, nothing to boast about.  We have nothing that God has not given us.  We are, as Leviticus says, strangers and resident aliens in God—in God’s grace.

That tells us that we can’t boast about anything, we can’t set ourselves up above anyone else.  We all are in the same condition, all totally dependent on God.

But grace takes another step.  If we go back to the proclamation of the year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25:10, we see that people are called to go back to their own property.  So how do you read it?  Do we own something or don’t we?

You can find the answer in 1 John 3:2—Now we’re children of God.

We earn nothing, we’re owed nothing, but we have everything.

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My Offering

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Jody Neufeld
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on the name of Yahweh.
I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of Yahweh’s house, in the midst of you, Jerusalem. Praise Yahweh!
Psalm 116:17-19 (WEB)
It is a wonderful study to read about the many “offerings” that are described int eh Old Testament. God was teaching His children how to a relationship with Him. He was teaching them how to give the best of their daily lives to Him. How does that translate to me?
What was the best part of my day yesterday? Was it the way I treated people I did not know? Was it the time I gave to listen to someone in pain? Or was it in writing what God said to me and passing it along to others in a devotion?
“This is my offering, Lord.”
Will God smile at the sweet fragrance or grimace at the off hand “whatever” offering that came from me?
Every day gives opportunities to offer God the “best fruits” of my day. The offering is not about how GRAND or flashy it is. I may get the task that seems like little but to God it is a full, fragrant banquet! A tiny act of compassion, unseen by every person around me, can set bells to ringing in God’s throne room. It is those “heart moments” that come through so clear that show God how He is reflected through me to others. In the courts of God it is about magnifying and glorifying our Lord. THIS is my offering…my life…the best parts of my life…created and given by the One that I adore!
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Home is Where my Heart is

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints.
Yahweh, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid.
You have freed me from my chains.         Psalm 116:15-16 (WEB)
If you have had a loved one die recently, you may struggle with these verses. Though I have not had a recent loss, on any given day I may want to skip these verses. But wait! It says – God sees their death as “precious” – as a “treasure”.
I saw some pictures of a local National Guard battalion returning home after a year in Iraq. I saw a seven-month-old baby pat his daddy’s face in wonder for the first time in his young life! THAT is precious! God sees my coming home to Him in heaven just that way! In my death – I go home! Really home!
In my death, I am free! I am free of a body that grows old so that joints wear out and organs become weak. I am free of a world of injustice, war, and suffering.
Grief is a feeling in this world. I grieve (feel sad, hurt, ache, lonely) for those who have gone home to heaven even while I rejoice at where they are. I do not believe that my son, James, who is in heaven misses me. He is with Jesus! There is nothing better than that! Jesus said that He was leaving to prepare my home in heaven. (John 14) Whenever my children visit, I do many special things to celebrate them being home.
God sets the time for me to go home. Until then I am His servant. I have work to do. With the power of His Spirit and following in the footsteps of Jesus, I will fulfill His plan for my life and go home when my work “day” is done.
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Repay? No Way!

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me? [How will I repay Him?]
I will take [lift] the cup of salvation, and call on the name of Yahweh.
I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116:12-14 (WEB, my addition)
Most days, I am AWED by all that God has done. For example:
– a co-worker’s daughter was running a fever. I took her temp, looked at her throat, and encouraged them to take her to a doctor as she had been ill for three days and not improved. Turned out she had H1N1…yup, swine flue. That was over a week ago and she is better and I did not ‘catch’ it!
– someone pulled out in front of me on the way home late one night – but I stopped in time. No accident.
– I saw cardinals flying across my path yesterday. They are so beautiful!
Now some may think that these events can be scientifically explained away. Scientific principles, laws of physics, and laws of nature, aren’t those also the way the Creator ordained it? It seems even logical that I am thankful to my Creator!
My thanks can not begin to balance God’s extravagant love. The psalmist said it well. I can only acknowledge, or lift up, the many blessings and call out His name. I can only give God all the credit for what He has done.
And what are the vows that I have made and that I should fulfill them? We may have some common answers but we also have personal, or individual, answers to that question.
I have promised to love and serve God above all others. NO EXCEPTIONS! That is not always easy in my daily life. My wants have been laid aside when I did not understand. I did not always agree when I did understand! My life has become less about me and that has brought me opportunities and joys I never would have made on my own! The tent posts that surround my life have far exceeded my boundaries!

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it not be to my sorrow!”

God granted him that which he requested.      1 Chronicles 4:10 (WEB)

Oh, how we may have said our prayers and had no idea how BIG God might answer!

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Where is the Answer?

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”     Matthew 14:16 (NIV)

This verse comes from Matthew’s account of the “feeding of the five thousand”.  There is a large crowd running after Jesus; chasing Him for … what He has.  They have followed Him miles from their home.  The disciples recognize that this crowd is tired and hungry and so their answer is to “send them away” so that they can scrounge for themselves and find what they need.  Every man, woman, and child for themselves!  But Jesus shows me His true nature.  Jesus has compassion.  Jesus shows His extravagant love.  Jesus has just been told of his cousin’s death.  John the Baptist has been murdered by Herod.  The Scripture says that Jesus was going to take some time in a “solitary place” to speak to the Father.  Refill Himself and yes, even mourn the loss of His cousin and fellow minister.    But the crowd had a need and they were turning to Jesus for the answer.

When I have a need, I do not have to go any where but where God is.  Where God is… that is where my answer lies.   If I have a situation that I do not know which way to turn – turn toward God.  Go in the direction that is His pleasure.  That would include waiting because sometimes I may be moving in front of God’s timing instead of walking with Him.

When someone comes to me, recognizing me as one of Jesus’ disciples, I am not to send them away to scrounge for themselves.  I am not their answer but I can give what I have – I can give them Jesus.  I can give what I have.  When Jesus is real in my life then He can use me as His hands to reach out to someone in need.  Jesus can use me as His feet to walk with them.  Jesus can use my heart to reflect His heart.

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.      Matthew 14:19 (NIV)

Jesus took the tangible – five loaves and two fish – and LOOKED TO THE FATHER to make MORE than meets the eye!  God takes what I have and makes it MORE when I keep my eyes on Him and give HIM all the glory – all the credit for what will happen!  Jesus gives to me and freely I give it on to someone else!

What is my need today?  What are the needs in the lives of those I love?  Go to God!  Where He is – that is where my answer is.

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God Speaks…Do I want to hear?

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.  (11)  And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'”  (12)  When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.  (13)  Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”  (14)  And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”       Acts 21:10-14 (ESV)

This little story is very interesting to me.  We have a group of people who are clearly all quite accustomed to listening for God.  Agabus is a prophet, practically a professional listener.  He presents his message, and does so quite graphically.  To everyone present, the message is clear:  Don’t go to Jerusalem!  You’re going to be arrested there!

Most of us would think that this was pretty accurate.  In fact, I suspect many people who read this story would likely report that Agabus had given Paul a word from God that he should not go to Jerusalem.   But notice that Agabus didn’t actually say that.  He simply said that Paul would be arrested and bound if he went to Jerusalem.  The audience filled in the blanks.  It’s obvious, isn’t it?  If you’re going to be arrested if you go to a certain place, don’t go there!

But Paul has a different view of the matter.  He is going to Jerusalem.  God has plans for him if he goes there.  He knows that is where he is supposed to be.  And in the end, the rest go along, and they finally accept that God’s will must be done.  But it was only Paul’s determination that persuaded them.

Very often we make the assumption that having knowledge of the future will mean we will know how to act.  Even more, we often act with great certainty as to what God would want to have happen.  So did Paul’s companions.  They just knew that  God would not want Paul arrested.  It was obvious, wasn’t it?

But the key question was simply this:  What is God’s will?  Why is it that it is so hard for us to say  that up front?  Some people have suggested to me that it shows a lack of faith.  But for me, it is my faith that gets in the way.  I know that God can do something.  I know what I want him to do.  If I say, “I ask for this, Lord, if it’s your will” I face the possibility that God’s will and my will may not be in agreement.  The temptation to manipulate God comes from the combination of my believing God can act, and my fear that in this case his plan may not include my wishes.

A couple of weeks before my father died, I had a conversation with my mother in which we both acknowledged that we needed to release my dad to God.  We knew that he might not make it this time.  But in addition we both knew that God had healed my him in the past.  He was 86 years old.  He had lived 35 years after a doctor had predicted he couldn’t live more than 10 more years.  We knew that God can heal, we knew that God had healed, but we knew this also might be the end of the race God had set for dad.  We needed to accept God’s will.

Simply knowing the future doesn’t give you the answers.  It simply gives you knowledge.  Obedience involves finding God’s will and acting on it.

Are you listening and trusting?

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Winning Team

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

from Henry Neufeld

Only conduct yourself in a way that is worthy of the good news about Christ, so that whether I come and see you or whether I’m away and hear about you, you’ll be standing in one spirit, struggling together like one person for the faith that is the good news.  — Philippians 1:27

The gospel message is a demanding message, not because it asks us to earn salvation, but because salvation itself changes us.  The greatness of the gift of salvation demands great change in us.  Conducting ourselves in a way that is worthy of the good news means that we must allow God to work fully in us.

But the key element here is that those who come under the power of the gospel must begin to stand together, to be guided by one Spirit—the Holy Spirit—and to work together.  The Greek word I’ve translated “struggle together” above is the same word from which we get the English word “athletics.”  It refers to a simple concept—teamwork.  While it’s a simple concept, teamwork isn’t an easy thing.

I’ve been thinking about the world series a bit and even writing about it on my Threads blog,  What is the key element to being successful in an athletic contest?  Many people seem to think it’s star power, but I think it’s teamwork.  That applies to your daily life at work, and also to your spiritual life.

First, you have the ultimate teamwork with Jesus, in which you let him make those critical calls and you just follow the plan.

Second, there’s the teamwork with the other folks who are on the Jesus team.  This is much harder.

In baseball when the coach is calling for the batter to swing for the fence, that’s something a player wants to do.  Additional hits, RBIs, and home runs look good on your stats.  But what happens if the signal is a sacrifice bunt?  Those who follow the game closely know that a sacrifice can be very important in winning a game, but for some reason when a new batter comes to the plate, the scoreboard reads RBIs and home runs.  I’ve never seen them post the number of sacrifices at that point.

In our spiritual life, it’s nice to be called to a position of importance, to a place where people will notice how spiritual we are.  But what happens if it’s our job to make someone else look good?  What if we’re called to clean the church so the great evangelist can preach?  What if we’re called to change the letter on the sign so people will come into the church?  What if we’re just called to hand $5.00 to the person who needs food for lunch?

Doing the task of the gospel as one person means simply that we don’t care which part we are called to play.  We care only that the “good news” team wins.  To do that, we’ll do whatever it takes.

Let’s work together on Jesus’ team.

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Proverbs…Wisdom…Gift

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.

Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.                   Proverbs 7:1-3 (WEB)
There are 31 Proverbs. That is really handy. (and maybe no coincidence in God’s plan!) There was a six month period when I read a Proverb a day with the number corresponding to the day of the month. There is so much to be learned in these words.
Keep these words. Do not discard God’s words. Not every word is going to strike the center of my heart on a given day but all are worthy of my attention and consideration. As I said, I read a Proverb a day, every day, for six months. I learned a lot. I also have filled about a dozen journals with notes from sermons, teachings, and private study time. Every ‘season’ that God has directed me has different characteristics of study and ways He has helped me to keep His words.
Lay up the commandments. Interesting that the writer did not use the word ‘keep’ like in the first phrase. For me it means I am not to keep the commandments like a Pharisee where I spend all my time keeping the letter of the law but never bring the Spirit of God’s commandments into my life. It is laying up the joy of being obedient. It is obeying because of love. The love I have for my Lord. Lay up (store up) the joy of being an obedient child of God. What a wonderful way to live!
God’s teachings are the best! Most of us have heard this saying usually describing a child as the “apple of her daddy’s eye”. It brings words to mind like ‘precious’ and ‘treasure’. When God speaks intimately, so personally to me it is like having my Father’s attention, knowing that I am so very special to Him. It is realizing how much He loves me. Imperfect…but so very much loved.
They teach me to reach for His good and my heart belongs to Him. God has shown me over and over that His teachings and commandments are about a relationship. It is learning about God through His Son, in-the-flesh, Jesus, and through His Spirit. As I follow Jesus’ example and listen to God’s voice (Spirit) my hands and feet do His work and my heart desires to do His work. It goes from ‘commandments’ to ‘habit’ to my ‘life’. Along the way, I make the choice that my life is His life. Decisions are no longer about “what is in it for me” but “how can I point people to God through my life”. My ego … dies.
The sacrament of communion was, at one time in my life, just a ritual; just a habit. It is now truly “an outward sign of an inward change” in my life. One of the phrases that has come with me through this journey is what I say, in my heart, every time I participate in a communion time. “I am with Him… and He is with me.” That phrase is everything about my relationship, my faith, in God. I choose Him. He has always been with me.
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