Saturday, September 10, 2011
Jesus loves losers
I love a good story, especially when the underdog wins. And that's totally what Jesus is into as well. In fact, if you've studied even a small part of the New Testament, you see that Jesus longs to serve and save the losers that he encounters. And the great part is that he's still passionate about the marginalized and the misunderstood people around us today.
Maybe you feel like you're stereotyped for the wrong reasons. People just don't understand what you're all about. Perhaps you feel judged because of your ethnicity, gender, or social class. Maybe your inferiority complex comes from a broken or an abusive upbringing? Then again, it could be that you're just an unappreciated mom who feels like all you do is change diapers and fold laundry. Or are you the one who simply never gets a fair chance at anything, the kid who was always picked last for cherry ball? If so, stick around for three of Jesus' stories that deal with the outcasts of his time.
The first tale is about a deformed woman who is healed on the Sabbath. Jesus sees her suffering from some kind of evil spirit that has caused her to be crippled for eighteen years. She can't even sit up straight. So how does Jesus respond? Right away, we notice how much He cares about her. While many onlookers just stare past her, Jesus sees her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. And because he loves her, he decides to heal her.
"When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, 'Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.' Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God" (Luke 13:12+13).
So let's check out the synagogue ruler's response to this awesome miracle. He's a pretty good guy after all, right? NOT! Luke tells us about his foolish response:
"Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, 'There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.' The Lord answered him, 'You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?'" (Luke 13:14-16).
Obviously we don't want to respond like the ruler did, but do we generally act any better? Or do we lock God in by our insistent demands, telling him when and where and how he gets to direct our paths? And when God steps in to meet our daily needs, do we praise him? Do we even thank him for our most basic provisions like food, good health, and each oxygenated breath that keeps us alive? A more challenging question might be how we respond to the marginalized, like this woman who sits there alone as a needy outcast. Do we run to her type, willing to help, ready to care?
Now let's take a look at the second story, the one about that horrible sinner. He's done that one thing, the act that comes to your mind when you think of the person that could never make it in to heaven. She's said that certain word or phrase that would never come out of your perfect lips. He's that totally lost friend or relative that you avoid during reunions. Just being in the same room with this person makes you cringe. Well, guess what? Jesus cares about him or her too. Check out the story of the lost sheep.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law have been mumbling about how Jesus welcomes and even eats with sinners. So Jesus tells them this parable:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Luke 15:4-7).
Kind of unfair, right? I mean, why should God care more about those sinful people than about us? Oh wait... we are those sinners, totally in need of his amazing grace!
Now for the third story, think of an overzealous IRS agent and how freaked out you are by his meticulous legalism. Of how irritating it is that you have to keep all your financial statements for three to five years just in case your worst nightmare comes true and you get audited. Then picture Zacchaeus, the authoritative and mega-rich chief tax collector, traitor to his people and ally of the hated Romans, who also happens to be super short. He's so short in fact, that he can't even see over the crowd as Jesus rides in to Jericho. So he climbs a sycamore-fig tree to get a better look!
"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner'" (Luke 19:5-8).
This story shows us yet again that Jesus cares about outcasts. He notices Zacchaeus because he sees his heart before he even arrives. He knows that Zacchaeus needs a savior. He gives this marginalized member of society a chance, just like he gives all of us an opportunity to trust in him as well.
So guess how the tax guy responds?
"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount'" (verse 8).
Jesus then tells him that he is saved and Luke reminds us that "... the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (verse 10).
Zacchaeus does three things really well in this story. First, he addresses Jesus as Lord because he realizes that he's talking to the Son of God. Second, he takes care of the poor. Third, he is honest with those he has wronged. So let's take a look in the mirror. When we receive mercy from God, how do we respond? Do we call him Lord? Do we care for those in need? Can we admit we're wrong and make amends with those we've hurt?
We can all identify with the protagonists of these three stories: the crippled woman, the lost sheep, and the tax collector. We relate in some way as we battle physical differences, spiritual inferiority, or emotional weaknesses. With these stories of God's compassion for three New Testament losers, let's run to Jesus for his love and his truth for our own lives as well!
And just one last thought, when we do happen to stereotype our fellow human beings for their skin color, hairstyle, the types of tattoos they wear, the cars they drive, or the vices that entangle them, let's stop and view them with Jesus' eyes first. Then let's try to care like he does. And let's love them with his hands so they can be healed and redeemed as well! We're no better, just literally saved by God's perfect love and grace!
Maybe you feel like you're stereotyped for the wrong reasons. People just don't understand what you're all about. Perhaps you feel judged because of your ethnicity, gender, or social class. Maybe your inferiority complex comes from a broken or an abusive upbringing? Then again, it could be that you're just an unappreciated mom who feels like all you do is change diapers and fold laundry. Or are you the one who simply never gets a fair chance at anything, the kid who was always picked last for cherry ball? If so, stick around for three of Jesus' stories that deal with the outcasts of his time.
The first tale is about a deformed woman who is healed on the Sabbath. Jesus sees her suffering from some kind of evil spirit that has caused her to be crippled for eighteen years. She can't even sit up straight. So how does Jesus respond? Right away, we notice how much He cares about her. While many onlookers just stare past her, Jesus sees her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. And because he loves her, he decides to heal her.
"When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, 'Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.' Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God" (Luke 13:12+13).
So let's check out the synagogue ruler's response to this awesome miracle. He's a pretty good guy after all, right? NOT! Luke tells us about his foolish response:
"Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, 'There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.' The Lord answered him, 'You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?'" (Luke 13:14-16).
Obviously we don't want to respond like the ruler did, but do we generally act any better? Or do we lock God in by our insistent demands, telling him when and where and how he gets to direct our paths? And when God steps in to meet our daily needs, do we praise him? Do we even thank him for our most basic provisions like food, good health, and each oxygenated breath that keeps us alive? A more challenging question might be how we respond to the marginalized, like this woman who sits there alone as a needy outcast. Do we run to her type, willing to help, ready to care?
Now let's take a look at the second story, the one about that horrible sinner. He's done that one thing, the act that comes to your mind when you think of the person that could never make it in to heaven. She's said that certain word or phrase that would never come out of your perfect lips. He's that totally lost friend or relative that you avoid during reunions. Just being in the same room with this person makes you cringe. Well, guess what? Jesus cares about him or her too. Check out the story of the lost sheep.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law have been mumbling about how Jesus welcomes and even eats with sinners. So Jesus tells them this parable:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Luke 15:4-7).
Kind of unfair, right? I mean, why should God care more about those sinful people than about us? Oh wait... we are those sinners, totally in need of his amazing grace!
Now for the third story, think of an overzealous IRS agent and how freaked out you are by his meticulous legalism. Of how irritating it is that you have to keep all your financial statements for three to five years just in case your worst nightmare comes true and you get audited. Then picture Zacchaeus, the authoritative and mega-rich chief tax collector, traitor to his people and ally of the hated Romans, who also happens to be super short. He's so short in fact, that he can't even see over the crowd as Jesus rides in to Jericho. So he climbs a sycamore-fig tree to get a better look!
"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner'" (Luke 19:5-8).
This story shows us yet again that Jesus cares about outcasts. He notices Zacchaeus because he sees his heart before he even arrives. He knows that Zacchaeus needs a savior. He gives this marginalized member of society a chance, just like he gives all of us an opportunity to trust in him as well.
So guess how the tax guy responds?
"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount'" (verse 8).
Jesus then tells him that he is saved and Luke reminds us that "... the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (verse 10).
Zacchaeus does three things really well in this story. First, he addresses Jesus as Lord because he realizes that he's talking to the Son of God. Second, he takes care of the poor. Third, he is honest with those he has wronged. So let's take a look in the mirror. When we receive mercy from God, how do we respond? Do we call him Lord? Do we care for those in need? Can we admit we're wrong and make amends with those we've hurt?
We can all identify with the protagonists of these three stories: the crippled woman, the lost sheep, and the tax collector. We relate in some way as we battle physical differences, spiritual inferiority, or emotional weaknesses. With these stories of God's compassion for three New Testament losers, let's run to Jesus for his love and his truth for our own lives as well!
And just one last thought, when we do happen to stereotype our fellow human beings for their skin color, hairstyle, the types of tattoos they wear, the cars they drive, or the vices that entangle them, let's stop and view them with Jesus' eyes first. Then let's try to care like he does. And let's love them with his hands so they can be healed and redeemed as well! We're no better, just literally saved by God's perfect love and grace!
Labels: Bible, Jesus, Luke, marginalized
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Be still
It's hard to be still. And if you're a mom of little ones, you see the difficulty of this task for your own munchkins all day long. It's challenging to count the number of times you have to tell a jumpy kid to sit down at the dinner table instead of standing up next to her chair. Most kids wonder why they have to rest at all. They implore, "Just one more video? Just five more minutes of Wii? Just ten more minutes out on the trampoline? PLEASE!!!" The truth is, they're watching us all day long, but we don't really slow down either.
Whether you're religious or not, you'll love this Bible verse I'm about to quote. It comes from a song from the middle of the Bible. And it says, "Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10). This verse is particularly effective at telling us three things:
First it requires us to stop moving. We are to become motionless. And this is something that few of us actually do until we're flat on our beds snoring. We're just not comfortable slowing down. We'd rather race until our hearts pop and our heads explode. Sure we can take on more hours at work. Go ahead and toss in one more extracurricular for my kid since it'll make him smarter. Of course you can hand me one more volunteer activity at the school; I've got tons of free time. But then, when do you get to catch up?
Second, the verse reminds us that we are not God, that we are not actually the ones helping the earth to spin on its twenty-three point five degree axis with the sun. The motion of the universe doesn't really depend on us! And this is where the control freaks get to take a deep breath. They can whisper, "You mean, I don't have to figure it all out?" Even agnostics and deists can take heart from this admonition. By knowing that they are not God, it gives them the ability to take a break as well.
Third, to "know that he is God" means that your mind has to chill out as well, not just your body. You must find a way to quiet your brain in the midst of the chaos around you. For me as a Christian mom, this means to meditate on God's promises through prayer. So even if the kids are screaming in the background and the world around me refuses to shut itself down, I can quiet my mind upon some of God's truths. I can think about how he'll never leave me or how he's my refuge and strength. I get to let go of all of my anxieties because he tells me not to worry about anything but to go to him in prayer with thankfulness instead (Philippians 4:6).
With the school year spinning almost as fast as the earth and the moon, let's try to slow down physically and mentally. And if you're into the God thing, try to rest spiritually as well. Take some deep breaths! Spend time reading your spiritual text. And when possible, find a quiet place! Let your kids see you stretching and meditating. Put on some classical music or some hymns. Have them sit next to you with a favorite story or a coloring book. That way, we'll all be running the race more efficiently and restfully together.
Share your thoughts on being still in a world that refuses to slow down. We'd love to hear from you. Keeping it real! :)
Whether you're religious or not, you'll love this Bible verse I'm about to quote. It comes from a song from the middle of the Bible. And it says, "Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10). This verse is particularly effective at telling us three things:
First it requires us to stop moving. We are to become motionless. And this is something that few of us actually do until we're flat on our beds snoring. We're just not comfortable slowing down. We'd rather race until our hearts pop and our heads explode. Sure we can take on more hours at work. Go ahead and toss in one more extracurricular for my kid since it'll make him smarter. Of course you can hand me one more volunteer activity at the school; I've got tons of free time. But then, when do you get to catch up?
Second, the verse reminds us that we are not God, that we are not actually the ones helping the earth to spin on its twenty-three point five degree axis with the sun. The motion of the universe doesn't really depend on us! And this is where the control freaks get to take a deep breath. They can whisper, "You mean, I don't have to figure it all out?" Even agnostics and deists can take heart from this admonition. By knowing that they are not God, it gives them the ability to take a break as well.
Third, to "know that he is God" means that your mind has to chill out as well, not just your body. You must find a way to quiet your brain in the midst of the chaos around you. For me as a Christian mom, this means to meditate on God's promises through prayer. So even if the kids are screaming in the background and the world around me refuses to shut itself down, I can quiet my mind upon some of God's truths. I can think about how he'll never leave me or how he's my refuge and strength. I get to let go of all of my anxieties because he tells me not to worry about anything but to go to him in prayer with thankfulness instead (Philippians 4:6).
With the school year spinning almost as fast as the earth and the moon, let's try to slow down physically and mentally. And if you're into the God thing, try to rest spiritually as well. Take some deep breaths! Spend time reading your spiritual text. And when possible, find a quiet place! Let your kids see you stretching and meditating. Put on some classical music or some hymns. Have them sit next to you with a favorite story or a coloring book. That way, we'll all be running the race more efficiently and restfully together.
Share your thoughts on being still in a world that refuses to slow down. We'd love to hear from you. Keeping it real! :)
Labels: be still, parents, Psalm 46:10
