The Four Promises of Forgiveness (Ken Sande, The Peacemaker
• I will not dwell on your sin.
• I will not bring up your sin and use it against you.
• I will not talk to others about your sin.
• I will not allow your sin to stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.
I'm grateful that Jesus does this consistently and quickly with me (since he really did it all in the past, how cool).
I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.
Exodus 23:29-30
Ever grow impatient with God's process of growing you or releasing you to live and serve as you have always dreamed? I know I have.
I found encouragement from the above verse that God is faithful to release us into what we have grown ready for. If he were to completely swing open the door our character, habits, and expectations would simply lead to disappointment and attack. Jesus talks about this in regards to the Enemy and how he works:
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.
Matthew 12:43-45
In other words, if we are freed from what has ailed us, but we do not enter ino life with God (the Kingdom) there will simply be emptiness and desolation which leaves us open for even more attack. This will leave us worse off than when we began.
Now I see Jesus leading us in victory little by little. He is growing us. Reshaping us. Transforming us. And then, when we have the character to rely on His power, we find we have travelled farther than it seems, and more and more of the life we've always wanted is ours. So it seems Jesus admonition to be faithful with little has even wider scope than simply that of service, but also in the renovation of our hearts and relationships.
While reflecting on the Exodus passage these were the questions I felt I should ask myself:
What am I waiting for God to do in my life, relationships, and ministry?
In what ways am I not ready for those things to actually happen tomorrow?
What are some of the battles I face between now and what I am waiting for?
How may these battles shape me and my dependence on God?
What am I facing this week that I need God’s help with?
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore. – Psalm 133 (ESV)
Unity . . . Wholly Together . . . Joined . . . Harmony . . . Assembly . . . Undivided . . . One Mind . . . Peace . . . Community . . . YAHDAW in Hebrew.
How good and pleasant when the people of God are YAHDAW. It is like precious oil (an image of the presence of God's Spirit) overflowing on those as a crowning moment of relationship with one another and God. It is refreshing like the morning which brings new mercies and all the provisional grace we need. Living in YAHDAW is where God's blessing is commanded!
Commanded. That's a huge statement.
Do you feel on the outs? Do you feel alone? Do you feel that God is distant? Run to his people! Run and enter into YAHDAW. There his blessing is commanded. There he will be (I seem to remember something about "where two or more are gathered . . .")! There you will discover a place where his will is done. A place where his kingdom is manifest, present, tangible, experiential. There in YAHDAW.
No wonder the author of Hebrews (who I think is Paul) believed that the community of believers was so important for drawing near to God and holding on to hope:
. . . and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:21-25 (ESV)
The author is so aware of our need to be cleansed as imperfect people, but still "requires" the pursuit of "togetherness." YAHDAW.
I find myself in a new community of believers. Initially I share nothing with them but location and the bond of Christ. Do I believe this is enough? Do I believe this is powerful enough to command God's presence, blessing, and eternal life? Will I dive in to these relationships knowing that I, along with everyone else, need cleansing and will likely hurt one another? Will I risk being uncomfortable, lonely, misunderstood, and more for the reward and promise of YAHDAW?
I wonder what stories of YAHDAW you have? When was it beautiful? When was it hard? When did you want to quit? When did God's presence cover you like oil? When did the common become a sacred moment?
Help. Your stories will sharpen and spur others and me on to pursue YAHDAW?
Over the last three weeks, and there are three more weeks to go, I have been teaching high school students about sex. It's quite the journey. The premise has been to discover God's plan from the Scriptures for the BEST SEX EVER. It has been fun, awkward, insightful, and challenging to remind myself about the Theology of Sex.
This week, I believe, Rob Bell's new book, Sex God, came out. (Is "came out" the best choice of words?) He makes an even stronger tie between our spirituality and our sexuality.
