So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. -Gen. 29:20
Jacob went through some crazy stuff to get Rachel. He worked 7 years hard labor to marry her. Then, Laban pulled a fast one, secretly giving Leah to Jacob on his wedding night, instead of Rachel. Adding insult to injury, Laban shamelessly offered Rachel to Jacob for 7 more years of labor. Surprisingly, Jacob accepted the offer from his good-for-nothing uncle.
What would drive a man to work for 14 years under such undesirable conditions? The one word answer is love. Only love could make someone endure such incredible mistreatment and undeserved hardship. Love makes people do outrageous things for others—whatever the cost. It's the most powerful motivation in human relationships.
But, love doesn't stop there. Love is the greatest motivation in our relationship with God, too. It's the only thing powerful enough to drive us to lifelong service of God. Plus, only love could motivate us to endure mistreatment and undeserved hardship for following Christ. This whatever-the-cost type of following is unsustainable unless we love God. That's why Jesus argues the "great and foremost commandment" is "You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Mt. 22: 37-38).
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Jesus and Paul
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth...you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you... -Jn. 14:16-17
I am the vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit...Abide in Me, and I in you...he who abides in Me...he bears much fruit..." -Jn. 15:1-5
Scholars refer to the lengthy section of Jesus' teaching found in John 13 - 17 as the Upper Room Discourse, or the Farewell Discourse. These last, private words are Jesus' goodbye to His disciples. As part of this goodbye, Jesus announces the coming of the Holy Spirit. He also speaks about abiding in Him and bearing fruit.
While there is so much to be said about these verses, it amazes me how much of an impact they had on Paul. Paul loved this metaphor of bearing fruit. He must have spent countless hours in different seasons of his life reflecting on what it means to abide in Christ and bear much fruit. In Paul's earliest letter, Galatians, his famous "fruit of the Spirit" teaching echoes many of the themes present in Jesus' Farewell Discourse—fruit, the Spirit, love, joy, and peace. Paul thought of his ministry to the Romans as "fruit" (1:13). On behalf of the Philippians, Paul prays for "the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ..." (1:11). Again, on behalf of the Colossians, Paul prays they are "bearing fruit in every good work..." (1:10). While shepherding others and writing his letters, Paul is doing exactly what Jesus intended, bearing much fruit.
Clearly, Paul took Jesus' teaching to heart. Paul wove it all throughout his letters. Paul valued Jesus' words. He pondered them. He chewed on them. He was deeply affected by them. He let them shape his life. We should pray that Jesus' words would do the same to us.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. -Jn. 15:7
I am the vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit...Abide in Me, and I in you...he who abides in Me...he bears much fruit..." -Jn. 15:1-5
Scholars refer to the lengthy section of Jesus' teaching found in John 13 - 17 as the Upper Room Discourse, or the Farewell Discourse. These last, private words are Jesus' goodbye to His disciples. As part of this goodbye, Jesus announces the coming of the Holy Spirit. He also speaks about abiding in Him and bearing fruit.
While there is so much to be said about these verses, it amazes me how much of an impact they had on Paul. Paul loved this metaphor of bearing fruit. He must have spent countless hours in different seasons of his life reflecting on what it means to abide in Christ and bear much fruit. In Paul's earliest letter, Galatians, his famous "fruit of the Spirit" teaching echoes many of the themes present in Jesus' Farewell Discourse—fruit, the Spirit, love, joy, and peace. Paul thought of his ministry to the Romans as "fruit" (1:13). On behalf of the Philippians, Paul prays for "the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ..." (1:11). Again, on behalf of the Colossians, Paul prays they are "bearing fruit in every good work..." (1:10). While shepherding others and writing his letters, Paul is doing exactly what Jesus intended, bearing much fruit.
Clearly, Paul took Jesus' teaching to heart. Paul wove it all throughout his letters. Paul valued Jesus' words. He pondered them. He chewed on them. He was deeply affected by them. He let them shape his life. We should pray that Jesus' words would do the same to us.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. -Jn. 15:7
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. -Mt. 4:23
Ultimately, the kingdom of heaven (or, kingdom of God, as Mark and Luke like to call it) is the state of God accomplishing what He wants done in the world. The Greek word for kingdom stresses the de facto notion of ruling and could be translated rule (as in, "the rule of God"). In other words, God is every moment on His throne taking care of business. His kingdom, or rule, is the great theme of the sermon on the mount.
No doubt, this sermon is one of the greatest sermons ever preached. It reaches to the heights of heaven; and, it descends to the depths of hell. It is poetic, and the imagery is vivid. It speaks to all the great issues of life—money, love and sex, fame, and power—and does so with remarkable tact. It boils all the Law and the Prophets down to one sentence! It's frank. It's honest. It's utterly challenging.
The closing thoughts of Jesus' sermon is an allusion to Israelite wisdom tradition*, "...the way is broad that leads to destruction...and the way is narrow that leads to life..." (7:14). The Jewish listeners would hear these words of Jesus and immediately think of Moses in Deuteronomy, staring at the promised land from Moab east of the Jordan River, "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity...I have set before you life and death...So choose life in order that you may live..." (30:15-19). Jesus pulls a Moses on everybody, and the crowds are stunned.
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority... -Mt. 7:28
*See my last post "Two Ways" for more information on Israelite wisdom tradition.
Ultimately, the kingdom of heaven (or, kingdom of God, as Mark and Luke like to call it) is the state of God accomplishing what He wants done in the world. The Greek word for kingdom stresses the de facto notion of ruling and could be translated rule (as in, "the rule of God"). In other words, God is every moment on His throne taking care of business. His kingdom, or rule, is the great theme of the sermon on the mount.
No doubt, this sermon is one of the greatest sermons ever preached. It reaches to the heights of heaven; and, it descends to the depths of hell. It is poetic, and the imagery is vivid. It speaks to all the great issues of life—money, love and sex, fame, and power—and does so with remarkable tact. It boils all the Law and the Prophets down to one sentence! It's frank. It's honest. It's utterly challenging.
The closing thoughts of Jesus' sermon is an allusion to Israelite wisdom tradition*, "...the way is broad that leads to destruction...and the way is narrow that leads to life..." (7:14). The Jewish listeners would hear these words of Jesus and immediately think of Moses in Deuteronomy, staring at the promised land from Moab east of the Jordan River, "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity...I have set before you life and death...So choose life in order that you may live..." (30:15-19). Jesus pulls a Moses on everybody, and the crowds are stunned.
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority... -Mt. 7:28
*See my last post "Two Ways" for more information on Israelite wisdom tradition.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Two Ways
"For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." -Ps. 1:6
In biblical scholarship there is something called the Wisdom Tradition. Basically, most of the time an author in the Old or New testament starts talking about "way" or "path" or "steps" or "wise" or "fool" or "fearing God" they are alluding to this whole big collection of wisdom passed on from generation to generation. The essence of the wisdom tradition is that there are two great diverging paths in life: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.
So, to the Israelites, it was prideful for someone to presume he could figure out the way of the LORD on his own. For example, Jeremiah says, "I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps" (10:23). Furthermore, Solomon says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6).
In Hebrew, the word wisdom literally means skill in living. Such skill is only seen in the way of the righteous. Essentially, wisdom is walking through life, doing what's right. Indeed, this walk takes great skill, for the right thing to do is not always apparent—and it's hard to know on the front end where life will take you. Looking back in the end, however, the wise person will know, "God helped me every step of the way."
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul...
Proverbs 2:6-10
In biblical scholarship there is something called the Wisdom Tradition. Basically, most of the time an author in the Old or New testament starts talking about "way" or "path" or "steps" or "wise" or "fool" or "fearing God" they are alluding to this whole big collection of wisdom passed on from generation to generation. The essence of the wisdom tradition is that there are two great diverging paths in life: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.
So, to the Israelites, it was prideful for someone to presume he could figure out the way of the LORD on his own. For example, Jeremiah says, "I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps" (10:23). Furthermore, Solomon says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6).
In Hebrew, the word wisdom literally means skill in living. Such skill is only seen in the way of the righteous. Essentially, wisdom is walking through life, doing what's right. Indeed, this walk takes great skill, for the right thing to do is not always apparent—and it's hard to know on the front end where life will take you. Looking back in the end, however, the wise person will know, "God helped me every step of the way."
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul...
Proverbs 2:6-10
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Beautiful Beginnings
"The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed." -Genesis 2:8
The title of Genesis in Hebrew means beginnings. It is a book full of beginnings. The beginning of the world, the human race, and the nation of Israel all happen in this first book of the bible. In the first two chapters, we gain a glimpse of the setting of Adam and Eve's pastoral beginnings.
Of all the places in which God could have prepared for Adam and Eve to live, He decided to plant a garden?! What? Why a garden? Peace and beauty grow in gardens. There are trees and flowers and birds and fruit—everywhere. Eden even had a river running through it. Can you imagine the breathtaking beauty of this place?
This lush garden is where God wanted man to experience relationship with Him. God "took the man and put him into the garden of Eden" (2:15). So, God intentionally put Adam in a place of peace and beauty. From the very beginning, Adam—and all of mankind after him—were intended to live with God in the garden. God is a God of beautiful beginnings.
The title of Genesis in Hebrew means beginnings. It is a book full of beginnings. The beginning of the world, the human race, and the nation of Israel all happen in this first book of the bible. In the first two chapters, we gain a glimpse of the setting of Adam and Eve's pastoral beginnings.
Of all the places in which God could have prepared for Adam and Eve to live, He decided to plant a garden?! What? Why a garden? Peace and beauty grow in gardens. There are trees and flowers and birds and fruit—everywhere. Eden even had a river running through it. Can you imagine the breathtaking beauty of this place?
This lush garden is where God wanted man to experience relationship with Him. God "took the man and put him into the garden of Eden" (2:15). So, God intentionally put Adam in a place of peace and beauty. From the very beginning, Adam—and all of mankind after him—were intended to live with God in the garden. God is a God of beautiful beginnings.
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