iphone hysteria

Lord, forgive us that as a nation, as a people, we wait 10 hours in line to celebrate getting a new iphone, and we won't give 10 minutes to seeking out, serving, or speaking to Your children. Your children who are orphans, homeless, widows. Forgive us that we pass over these image-bearers of You so easily and so readily for things that don't last.

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

-Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Where are our hearts really Lord?

pride in believing

This past Sunday, the message centered on Revelation 21. The message emphasized how it is the redemptive Christ that comes to us, not us to Him. We see this in the context of the new earth to be, "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." (Rev 21:2)

I've been reflecting on that a bit. That's exactly how Christ works. It is His initiative that brings reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-21), not the other way around. Yet, so often, it's hard for us to accept this incredible gift. I get caught in a "must earn" mentality.

Christ freely left Glory, on His initiative, with us in mind to save. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't earn or know how to earn salvation. I still struggle with the concept of even accepting such an incredible offering, it's contrary to my conditioning here in this world, yet Christ compels us to, and it is my pride that keeps me from acknowledging His incredible gift.

Lord, help me let go of my earning power, let me latch on to the gift of Your salvation, that you so lovingly offered.

the value principle (grace)

In our world today, someone of value is given something of value as a sign and symbol of worth. Value seems to be tied together.

Office employees who have been with a company for forty years receive a diamond studded bracelet in thanks for many years of outstanding service to the company. Or consider a regular salary for a worker. The worker receives value in the money for creating some sort of value through his or her work. Even little kids, who might go 0-12 for an entire basketball season, still get a trophy at the end of the season (I was that kid) for trying hard and coming close.

I'm claiming that this idea about value being tied to something else of value is some sort of universal principle... "well, ya, duh Hunter..." but I'm trying to make a very simple point.

I challenge you to come up with something that would be of greater value than a life that possesses the most joyful relationships that are truly authentic, a life that has the greatest possible purpose, and a life in which one receives the greatest contentment from such a purpose. Yes, these things rolled altogether into one life. Forever.

Possible?

Absolutely! The greatest gift of value is available for the incredible worth of individuals from every tribe, tongue and nation. If it were not so, Christ would not have come to earth, and He would have not gone to the cross.

Jesus recognizes, with His unique special eyes and insight, the worth of every person. And it is Christ, and Christ alone, who offers the most valuable gift--an eternal life spent in Jesus' presence--that is unparalleled in its worth. This great gift of value is given for the incredible value that individuals possess.

It is simply up to those individuals to allow Christ to give the gift and to accept it.