A Place at Jesus’ Table

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given Jesus’ honor; Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair…

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews, found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. John 12:1-3, 9 (NIV)

Many wonderful Christian writers have written about the “Mary-Martha metaphor”. There is no doubt that we need both personae in the Church. But let’s look at all three of these siblings. We need all three!

Remember the ‘early’ Martha in Luke 10 who was the worker bee in the house and verbalized her frustration to Jesus about her ‘sitting sister’? Now we see a new creation Martha who is serving again and must have found her joy. Every church needs an army of Marthas! Statistically it is 10% of the church who does 90% of the work! We need the servants who will mop floors and make dinners and teach study groups! Marthas are the Energizer bunnies! They have a strength that will keep going and going. They do not live for the applause. They live for the accomplishment of the task.

Mary is doing here in John’s gospel as she did in Luke’s. She is worshiping. In Luke, she was quietly sitting and absorbing Jesus’ words. Her worship was in her attention and just – joy – at being at the feet of the Lord! What could be better?! Here Mary is stepping closer in her worship. She isn’t just a spectator – she gives her love to the Lord. She leaves her ego in the box that carried the perfume. She doesn’t care if she looks foolish! She doesn’t care about the cost! She has gotten a glimpse of the love the Lord has for her and she wants to return as much as she can give! We need the Marys in the church. We need their songs. We need their prayers. We need their passion for Jesus!

Lazarus is not active in either John or Luke’s gospels. Other than being raised from the dead!!! We never read that he did anything for Jesus! He wasn’t one of the twelve. He’s a cousin who opens his home to Jesus. Maybe that is the key. Lazarus invites Jesus in and Jesus takes it from there. Lazarus dies. Jesus gives a miracle not because Lazarus deserved it or earned it. It was a divine gift. And now Lazarus becomes a witness. He tells what God has done. If you read the whole story in John 12 you will find that the church leadership put Lazarus and Jesus in the same class – they both deserved to die!

If you are a Martha – serve! Teach the rest of us that there is evangelism in serving the needy and worship in caring for the sick.

If you are a Mary – worship! Teach the rest of us that we can never be too busy to worship our Lord and nothing is too important that it cannot be laid down for quiet worship!

If you are a Lazarus, then tell! Remind us that we all have a story to tell and neighbors who are searching for answers that only God can give. We also died and have been brought back to life!

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Manifestation of Jesus’ Love

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do what ever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.

John 2:1-9 (NIV)

Mary saw a problem situation and she took it to the One who she knew had the answer. Hmmm.

Jesus did not produced a bag of money to go buy more wine. He did not pull back a curtain and show a hidden wine cellar. Jesus first seems to indicate He is not going to become involved in the problem. Then He gives an order that seems to have nothing to do with the problem! Hmmm.

The solution came after the servants did what Jesus said. The answer followed obedience! What if the servants had not obeyed? What if I see the problem, take it to Jesus, and then do not obey? Hmmm.

Jesus asks me to forgive even when I am hurt and angry.

Jesus asks me to give even money is tight.

Jesus asks me to be patient even when others are idiots!

I can not see God’s face but Jesus tells me to pray and believe in Him.

The answer follows obedience!

The timing of the answer is perfect. The answer is perfect. It is my ears and heart that can eschew the end results. Jesus said that our relationship is more than Master and servant. It is friends who know each other.(John 15) Jesus gave me the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds me that it is that same Spirit that helps me to know the Spirit of God.(1 Corinthians 2) As I know God, I will hear God and willingly obey God.

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. John 2:11 (NIV)

The miracle at Cana that I see today is not water turning into wine. Today I see the obedience of those who did not even recognize Jesus as God and yet received a miracle, the manifestation of His love.

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Active Word

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Henry Neufeld

12For the word {message} of God is alive and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and spirit, bones and marrow, and judging the desires and thoughts of the heart {mind}. 13And there is no creature who is not visible to him, for everything is naked and laid bare to his eyes, to whom we must render an account. 14Since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us grasp our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, since he has been tested in all things in the same way we have, but without sin. 16Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we might receive mercy and we might find grace in time of need.  — Hebrews 4:12-16 (HN)

Yesterday I talking about praying and reading scripture—making your entire time in Bible study also be a time of prayer.  Today I want us to notice some of the specific things about this text.  I have often heard Hebrews 4:12 quoted, and commonly we quote the first part—the word of God is alive and active—and possibly the second—sharper than any two edged sword—but then we stop there.

But what follows is important.  Swords in Bible times were generally not decorations.  They were used for a purpose.  This one pierces right down to the center, looking at the way we’re put together.  It makes judgments about our thoughts and our desires.  You can’t stop it.  It will show make everything clear.  And finally we have to give an account to someone who knows everything, not just whether you’re naughty or nice but even whether you think naughty or nice!

So let me suggest something to specific to pray as you open your Bible:  Lord, let your word change me.

Lord – Jesus is your savior and lord.  You acknowledge that he is the one with the authority in your life.
Word – It’s easy for us to talk about the word, but we have to remember that it is God’s word we’re dealing with.  God’s word will not come back without accomplishing what God has sent it to do (Isaiah 55:11).

Change – Let God make the changes he sees are necessary.

Me – This is the key element.

I don’t know how many times in my life I’ve gone to the Bible to find out something for somebody else.  Many times I’ve gone to the Bible to find something I can use to correct someone else.  Many more times I’ve encountered others who were looking for something in the Bible to use on other people.

Sometimes you have to look things up for other people.  People ask me Bible questions and I research the answers.  Sometimes someone needs to be corrected, and a person in authority must research the scripture to present the best case.

But the first thing we must do is be corrected by God’s word ourselves.  I need to hear from the Lord about what he wants me to change in my life.  That is my first task.  Only when the Lord has done something in me through the power of his creative word am I ready to minister that word to others.

The word has to go through me when I use it in ministry.  I can’t just pluck words from the page and throw them at other people.  I have to consume them myself, let them find my weaknesses and move me closer to God.  I must let them humble me.  Only then can I truly minister God’s word to others.
Let’s pray that God will help us all to be open to his powerful word!

— Henry Neufeld

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Living Word

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Henry Neufeld

12For the word {message} of God is alive and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul and spirit, bones and marrow, and judging the desires and thoughts of the heart {mind}. 13And there is no creature who is not visible to him, for everything is naked and laid bare to his eyes, to whom we must render an account. 14Since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us grasp our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, since he has been tested in all things in the same way we have, but without sin. 16Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we might receive mercy and we might find grace in time of need.  — Hebrews 4:12-16 (HN)

When I was in graduate school I met a young man from India.  Actually, he was about my age, but now many years later I remember him as young.  He asked me to do him a big favor.  He was hesitant to ask.  I wondered what he could be after that he was so hesitant.

Finally he told me.  He wanted me to teach him how to drive.  He assured me he had read the manual and passed the written test.  He had the permit in his hand.  He just needed someone to teach him how to drive.  Now I had no idea what his background was.  My idea was that you grew up around cars, you knew lots of things about them.  I’d steered my dad’s car, driven it in and out of the driveway, and so forth.  By the time I went to get my license I already knew a great deal about the car.

So we went down to the parking lot next to the library where we both worked.  I invited him to take the driver’s seat.  “Are you sure?” he asked.  I didn’t understand his hesitation.  I got him into the driver’s seat.  He put the car in reverse and let out the clutch.  We flew out of the parking space.  We barely missed several cars.  By the time I had wrestled the car to a stop, which involved stalling the engine, we were almost on the other side of the parking lot.  Miraculously, we didn’t hit any of the cars.

“I told you this wasn’t a good idea,” he said.  With further conversation I discovered that he had not grown up with cars.  He had no idea how things worked.  He had a theoretical knowledge of how each thing worked, but no feel for how the car functioned.  We continued his training in a large field.

For many of us, the word of God is just like that young man and the car.  We know some of the things it says.  We go to it day after day to discover facts and gather information.  But far too many of us leave our time with the Bible with a few more facts, but nothing more.

Now commentators debate whether the “word of God” in our text today can be thought of as the Bible, or whether it is the Word incarnate, Jesus.  I think the answer is “yes.”  It is both.  Whether we are looking at Jesus or studying the scriptures, we are dealing with God’s word.

According to our text God’s word is active.  It’s going to do things to you.  Good things if you let it.  How do you get that excitement, that experience of God’s presence as you read?  How can you open yourself up to let God change your life as you take in his Word?

Let me just make one suggestion.  Try starting with prayer, but don’t say your “Amen” until your reading is complete.  Make your reading a part of your prayer in your own mind and spirit.  Let God speak directly to you.

Facts are important.  But letting God take control of your life is more important.

— Henry Neufeld

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Clean out the closet…Refill your pantry

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry…

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:5, 12-17 (NIV)

The Scripture is a bit longer than usual today. It’s just so good!

Verse five in the third chapter is one of those verses that sneaks up on me. I see the colon mark and know that I am going to be reading a list. A list in this case of sins. I read along and am feeling pretty good about myself! “Hey, I’m doing good in Your sight, Lord!” Then I get to the word ‘and’. At first I read the word ‘greed’. “I’m not greedy. I don’t want everything, or even a lot!” Uh-oh. The word ‘idolatry’ goes through my mental scanner. Do I want ‘things’ more than God? That is one of those questions to get in a quiet place and get naked with God. I mean get real, holding nothing back. God knows it all, sees into all my dark corners and hidden closets, but the point is to confess my sins. I have to clean out my heart before filling it up again with what God desires to put in my heart!

Look at how God calls me chosen, loved, and holy! God wants to fill my heart closet with all the ‘stuff’ that shows that I am His child. My Father wants me to be filled with compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. God wants me to be humble. He wants me to forgive as HE has forgiven me! God has an inexhaustible amount of all these blessings to give me. Take some time each day and empty out the ‘trash’ and open the doors wide to receive the lush, extravagant blessings that will come in to fill up all those newly cleaned spaces. How beyond ‘WOW’ is that???!!! Do I deserve it? Oh, no! But that is what my great Father does!

And then thanks! God does the cleaning. God does the re-stocking. God gets ALL the thanks and praise! Sing! Speak the words! Lift God in thanks and praise for what He has done, is doing, and will do! I am feeling a dance across the room coming on!

Come on! Let’s do this every day for the rest of this week and see what happens!

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He is there

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?

Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?

I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fall because of all my foes.

Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.        Psalm 6 (NIV)

Many commentators have ‘guessed’ that this psalm was written by David during his adulterer-murderer-his-child-dying era. It is a good guess and if you have come across this psalm during a dark, dark period in your own life (as I have) – you would agree with those commentators. This psalm speaks to pain and sorrow, despair and the need to repent!

How blessed I was to speak this psalm in the darkness of my own life! How blessed I was to have this testimony that says, “The Father hears! The Father comforts! The Father has the authority to tell evil to go and leave you alone! And the Father will hold you and wipe your tears; comfort you as only He can do – totally!”

It is so important to build or work on our relationship with God so that we get to this point. Tough even terrible times are going to come in your life. Sometimes even more than once. When (not if) that happens, where are you going to lean? To whom are you going to lean? Yourself? Your spouse? Your parents? God is a a true place to ‘lean’! He is there! He never sleeps. He never is tired of hearing my voice. And hard questions? God can handle them! He will work with me to get to the answers. God is truth! And in 99% of the situations, I need to ask forgiveness for something. And that is the key. With forgiveness comes that flood of love with His mercy and the joy of being reunited again in right relationship with Father God.

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Sharing Good News

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)

This is one of those passages that we should all print and post on our monitor or our bathroom mirror or whatever is our memo board that we check everyday. Maybe put it in our PDA with a daily alarm to remind ourselves “we too were…”. Why do we need the reminder? Let us count the ways!

1. We are saved because of God’s mercy. We in no way earned it! God desired to save us and Jesus did it! He was the only one who could.

2. We stay in this relationship by the power of God’s Spirit as Jesus promised. We need the Spirit to strengthen us and guide us in that relationship. We could not do it in our own strength or feeble mind.

3. We are to “Go” and be “witnesses” and too often we forget how to do that without being jerks! We forget from where we came. We forget what brought us here. It was not our great intelligence. It was God’s great love! We are to “Go” and be “witnesses” to that LOVE!

4. Hope the word that is so precious to our ears and in our heart and yet is scarce in this world. The world’s media does not cultivate hope much less plant it on a daily basis. Bad news sells papers/air time. Daily circumstances of illness, death, and war make some think hope is only a fool’s dream. It is not. It is God’s promise.

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 was all about asking the Father to bless the relationship that He (Jesus) had established between us and the Father. Jesus reminded the Father of all that He had done and He reminded the Father of the promises. He affirmed the eternal connection that was now to be between us and the Father because of His perfect atonement. It is a connection that is available for everyone. There is no one too sinful that Jesus will not extend his hand and touch just as He touched the lepers; just as He touched me.

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus 3:8 (NIV)

Let us go out today and do and say what is good.

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“Nothing to Fear—But Fear Itself” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Posted on May 1, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

I will fear no evil for you are with me;… Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing the body, has power to throw you into hell.” Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)

FEAR is the word that we are hearing in every newscast and headline. There is a frenzy of buying of masks, waterless soap, and sanitizing wipes. Schools are closing and I have even seen email alerts from churches who are considering not holding services. FEAR!

A Christian does not abdicate his/her brains when they walk in faith but they do check their emotions. It is emotion that can cause me to ignore facts and focus on the “maybe’s” and “what if’s”. It is emotion that has me thinking all manner of things when I do not hear from my grown children. My imagination can rival George Lucas. The Wookies and Jar-Jar binks are child’s play for what I can imagine once my emotions kick in – fear!

My very good friend once advised me to never hold back with God. Tell Him everything that is running through my mind. Yes, He already knows it – but something happens when I put voice or pen to what is in my mind. When I speak it out loud or write it down on paper, the emotion seems to drain out of it and truth becomes more clear. The truth is sifted or drained from the emotion and I can lift the truth and say, “This is truth, isn’t it God?”

Each of us has a button(s) that the enemy can use to ‘turn on the fear’. Certainly the safety and care of those we love is an easy button for him to find. Put on your Godly armor (Ephesians 6) and look that fear in the eye – and spit the Word of God at it! “I do not fear you! I am the child of THE King! BE GONE!”

In the days ahead, whether it is swine flu or a terrorist attack, a child or husband late coming home, whatever is the ‘button’ that can be pushed in life to ring up fear – let us “pray without ceasing” as Paul said and keep God sifting our cares through His colander of truth. Begin each day with a time to commit all of our cares to God. End each day with thanksgiving for all He has done. And in between – call on His name – because He is there!

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My LORD, My Shepherd

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23 (NIV)

How wondrously ‘cool’ was it when I went to my Bible study yesterday and our Scripture was a psalm! And in case I thought I could learn nothing new from a very familiar passage – I did learn!

When the word ‘Lord’ is in all caps like this: LORD, then it is God’s name or Yahwah which is the way we spell and say it in English. It is the name that God indicated to Moses. “I AM Yahweh.” Notice that this psalm begins and ends with that word, LORD. God, my LORD, is the beginning and end of all.

God is my shepherd. What does that mean? If you have not read the book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by W. Phillip Keller, (ISBN-10: 0310291429) first written in 1996, then you need to check it out from your local library or invest $12 in a wonderful book. A shepherd is a protector, provider, and comforter to the sheep that he loves. Yes, loves. A shepherd, like David was, will sleep with his sheep to provide them with the assurance of his presence. I was reminded today that David was not only a shepherd but a king. My LORD, my shepherd, is also my King.

My shepherd provides all. The image of green pastures and water is the food and drink to the sheep. My shepherd goes further than just providing for my physical body…He restores me. God doesn’t just rehab me – He doesn’t bring me from broken and bruised to where I was before. God takes me from death in my sin to totally NEW life. I do not have a ‘redone’ old life. I am brand new!

The next part about walking through the valley of death is a phrase that many of the Bible versions try to ‘pretty up’ and avoid the ‘d’ word. This is such a pretty psalm – why shadow it with mentioning a downer concept? Because death happens! Unless Jesus comes back before, the only way I can get to heaven and live with God forever – is to die! And most of us, if we are honest, fear death. It is, at best, an unknown, and at worse, we are for sure we are going to heaven. God wants me to know that no matter the fear – He is with me and wants to assure me that He has conquered death and I have nothing to fear if I have chosen to walk with Him.

And I walk with the Creator who has the rod and staff – the tools to protect me with all authority at all times and in all ways. Even when evil lurks around the edges (and it will in this world), God provides not just enough to sustain me but a feast! He sits me down and serves me. Remember how Jesus did it in the last Supper?

Now the part I didn’t know was in this phrase: Surely goodness and love will follow me. Nope. Wrong translation! ‘Goodness’ and ‘mercy’ do not follow me! The word is not ‘follow’ it is pursue!!! Goodness and mercy pursue me! Maybe I need to slow down in my agenda and plan and let God’s goodness and mercy catch me!!!

I shall life with God my whole life – that includes eternity! WOW! I am so glad I went to class!

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Songs Through the Ages

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Sing to the LORD a new song, Psalm 149:1 (NIV)

Sometimes I have a problem praying. Shocked? Sometimes I have a problem expressing myself. Shocked again? People who know me would be shocked about both of my statements – but there it is!

One of the best personal Bible studies I ever did was reading through the psalms. I didn’t put a time frame one it. Some days I read a psalm and some days it was two or three. Other days I read the one from the day before – again. And then other days I read a psalm and went back to one I read another day compare or see something new that God was teaching me. There is a psalm for every emotion and every day in my life. I found a way to put words to my feelings. I found feelings to connect to God’s Word. And I found concrete lessons on how to spiritually grow!

Psalm 51 and 32 show me how to repent and be restored.

Psalm 1 sets a reachable standard (with His help!) for my life as God’s child.

Psalm 119 (yes the longest one!) is the relationship psalm for me!

Psalm 91 and 139 are the ones I read when I am hurting and need to be held and hear the love from my Father.

Whether it is the psalms or any other part of God’s inspired Word, I learn and see a ‘new song’ in my heart. And just think – I am speaking the same words that David and Jesus and Peter and Paul and thousands and thousands of God-lovers have spoke for centuries, expressing their love, fear, remorse, and praise to the One, the Only One! That is – WOW! The words are never stale! Hearing “I love you, Mom” from my daughter is different than hearing “I love you, Mom” from my son. Each grandchild has a special way of saying “Nanna”. I think God hears our voices the same. Each child special and precious and we can say the same psalm – and He is overjoyed to hear each child speak to Him. His love endures forever!!!

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