Seeking the Life in Christ: August 2023

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Come and See

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 31, 2023

Come and See

“Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” he said.”

John 1:38-39a

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the men who spent the afternoon with Jesus. Andrew then went to his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:40). John the Baptist had already pointed out Jesus to Andrew, as the Lamb of God, but something happened to Andrew that afternoon with Jesus that forever changed him. I have long been intrigued by the simple dialog of this passage: “Where are you staying? “Come and see.”

I can get so comfortable in my routines of life that I can become oblivious to what is happening around me. I think that is typical of our human experience of life, but it was not typical for Jesus’ earthly experience. Every day his senses were fully aware of his surroundings and of those around him. Every day he was fully aware of his Father’s love for him. Every day he was fully engaged in his Messianic mission. God wants us to have life in Christ. The Holy Spirit is fully engaged in His ministry of forming Christ within us, to the end that every day our senses will be fully aware of our surroundings. Every day we will be fully aware of Abba’s love for us, and every day we will be fully engaged in the ministry God has assigned to us. How?

By having our own simple dialog with Jesus: “Where are you staying? “Come and see.” The key is to stay. I am finding that there is a directly proportional relationship between the quantity and quality of time I spend with Jesus and the acuteness of my awareness of my environment.

My Takeaway: One thing I greatly regret about years of pastoral ministry was the absence of periodic sabbaticals of extended time alone to be with Jesus. Even so, my hearts longs for more of Jesus, and I trust the Holy Spirit will help me to press on so “that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12b NASB).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life. The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Spiritual Beggars

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 30, 2023

Spiritual Beggars

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

Matthew 5:3

The story of the Gentile woman and Jesus illustrates the power and truth of this first Beatitude. The Gentile woman came pleading to Jesus, “Have mercy on me.” Her daughter was demon-possessed, and she knew the only hope for the child was Jesus. After a rather terse dialog with the woman, Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted,” and her daughter was instantly healed. (Matthew 15: 22-27) The woman was one Tom Long calls ‘spiritual beggars.’ (Matthew, Thomas G. Long, (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville 1997) page 48).

When we are spiritual beggars, we recognize we need help; we recognize we can’t save ourselves, no matter what we do. All we can do is plead for mercy. Jesus says this is the key to our right-standing relationship with God.

Speaking to spiritual beggars in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says the Kingdom of God is theirs-- now, that instant. Still today, spiritual beggars are given the same right-standing with God as Jesus-- now, this instant.

John Wesley taught his congregations about Holiness of Heart and Holiness of Life. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is holiness of heart. This is our right-standing relationship with God-- now, this instant. Next, the Holy Spirit begins to work within us, teaching us how to live as the beloved children of God. This is holiness of life.

My Takeaway: One thing never changes. We were spiritual beggars when we first experienced the transforming grace of Jesus, and it is as spiritual beggars that the Holy Spirit works in our lives to bring us into God’s New Creation with holiness of life. We never, ever, lose our complete dependence of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

The Eternal Law of Love

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 29, 2023

The Eternal Law of Love

“But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”

Matthew 5:39

What do you suppose is the greatest obstacle to mastering the life in Christ as your way of life? I think the answer has to do with cultural opposition to the ways of Jesus, so the answer will vary depending on where you were raised and where you are living. In the USA, I believe the answer is a tie between our rebellious nature and our competitive spirit.

Our rebellious spirit makes it exceedingly difficult for us to completely surrender control of our lives and surrender everything and every person within our span of influence, to the ways of Jesus.

Our competitive spirit makes us devalue anything that we can’t win, or at least measure a positive rate of return on our investment of time, energy and resources. Both of these spirits within us make it very difficult for us to own the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. Consider the verse quoted above. How much time and energy do we burn when we feel slighted, or that someone has taken advantage of us, or mistreated us in some way? We may not proactively, aggressively retaliate, but we may stew over the incident for a long while. All the time and energy we devote to pondering and replaying the incident is time we are not spending responding to God who “is working in (us), giving (us) the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13).

There is no simple solution to this conundrum, which is why the Apostle Paul used such drastic language to express how he found his way to the life in Christ: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20a) Stay with the metaphor long enough to recall that crucifixion was a very long and painful death, and you will understand why Paul warned his friends to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12b NRSV).

My Takeaway: Inevitably, we are going to be hurt and angered by the words and actions of others, whether intentional or not. How we respond is of supreme importance to Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit to form Christ within us. Gandhi wrote that “Jesus lived and died in vain if he did not teach us to regulate the whole life by the eternal law of love.” Gandhi was correct in his thinking.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, August 28, 2023

Liberated From the Tyranny of Public Opinion

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 28, 2023

Liberated From the Tyranny of Public Opinion

“Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Romans 13:14 (NRSV)

I believe the one thing that distinguished Jesus in his humanity was his absolute certainty that he was God’s child. His sense of his identity, coupled with his commitment to his messianic mission, liberated him from the tyranny of public opinion. Contrast this with life in our fallen humanity as we try to gratify our desire for love, acceptance, and self-worth through the performance-based-acceptance ways of our culture. The more we struggle with the meaning of our existence, using the tools of our culture, the more we miss life from God (David C. Needham, BIRTHRIGHT- Christian Do You Know Who You Are?)

The Apostle Paul’s injunction to put on Christ was repeating his call not to “copy the behavior and customs of this world” (Romans 12:2a) Paul’s antidote to the behaviors and customs of the world is to embrace the same liberating identity as did Jesus. When Jesus first sensed God calling him, he went to the Jordan River to be baptized by his cousin, John. “As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:16-17).

For the followers of Jesus, “That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country. Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did“(Romans 6:3-13 The Message, selected verses).

My Takeaway: Embrace what Jesus did for you and accept your authentic identity as a child of God with whom Abba is delighted, and upon whom Abba’s favor rests. When you do, you will be liberated from the tyranny of worrying about what other people think of you, and you will be free to know and do God’s will for you.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, August 25, 2023

Vive la Revolution

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 25, 2023

Vive la Revolution

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

John Wesley once told a congregation they were holding to a form of religion but lacked the power of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Essentially, his congregation was fulfilling what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly” (2 Timothy 3:5). One of the most serious issues facing the church today is how so many Christians underestimate the revolutionary nature of the victory Christ won for us. In setting us free from the laws of sin and death, Jesus didn’t just refine Judaism; he established God’s New Creation. The followers of Jesus don’t need to just clean-up their old life; they need to fully embrace their new life. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Consider some on the revolutionary implications of our new life in Christ.

To follow Jesus, is to surrender everything you have to his control: “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own” (Luke 14:33).

The disciples of Jesus don’t simply try to correct a few flaws in their character; they “throw off (their) old sinful nature and (their) former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception” (Ephesians 4:22. See also Galatians 2:20).

Christ-followers have crucified their interest in this world, and the world’s interest in them has also died. “What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation” (Galatians 6:15b).

For the fully-devoted followers of Jesus, there is “Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 The Message).

The disciples of Jesus are called to be revolutionaries who “take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into (our) conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in (us)” (Ephesians 4:23-24 The Message).

My Takeaway: Vive la Revolution.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, August 24, 2023

The Law of The Spirit

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 24, 2023

The Law of The Spirit

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

Matthew 5:17

In the St. Louis Museum of Westward Expansion, there is this excerpt taken from the journal of Lansford W. Hastings, Overlander:

“We had proceeded only a few days travel, when the American character was fully exhibited. All appeared to be determined to govern, but not to be governed . . .”

I believe Hastings got it right; we Americans are a rebellious lot. We don’t like anyone to tell us what to do. However, we also have strong feelings about law and order; we don’t subscribe to anarchy. This disposition toward rules heavily influences our Christian experience. We have ways of measuring our discipleship and the health of our churches. That’s not a bad thing when it helps us achieve Godly goals. However, we want to be careful to measure the things God wants us to measure.

Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law. Now, as the Apostle Paul so eloquently put it, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free from the requirements of the law. (Galatians 5:1) Religious law paved the road toward a right relationship with God. The problem was that for mortal humans, it was a never-ending road; we could never reach our destination. Then Jesus came and completed the journey for us. Now we have realized the destination of a right relationship with God the Father Almighty by grace through faith. However, Jesus did not set us free to live lives of anarchy. Again, the eloquence of Saint Paul: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1-2 NRSV).

The laws of God are available to help us along our journey to make the life in Christ our way of life. However, they have been replaced as the means to our right-standing with God. Now our right-standing with God is made certain by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

My Takeaway: As our lives are governed by the law of the Spirit, which is love and compassion in Christ Jesus, there is only one measurement I need to be concerned with: how visible in my mortal flesh is the love and compassion of Jesus?

But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. (Romans 7:6)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Christ-Centered Ego Strength

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 23, 2023

Christ-Centered Ego Strength

“When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.”

John 11:33

Because Jesus was fully human, he experienced the full range of human emotions. However, he not only experienced emotions and natural physical responses to his environment, he also fully expressed his humanity. When Jesus was angry, he expressed it. When he was disappointed with his disciples, he expressed it. When he was touched by human kindness, he responded with gratitude. When he was saddened by the sadness of others, he expressed it. When Jesus had an expectation for how he wanted details arranged, he expressed it. When he had a preference for his own comfort, like sleeping in the back of the boat during a storm, or needing to be alone, he expressed it. These are qualities of Jesus’ life that I believe he wants to live out in the lives of his followers as we seek the life in Christ as our way of life.

There are several ways these qualities can be made manifest in our daily lives. The narcissist has little trouble expressing their preferences in life. However, they also make little progress in dying to self so that Christ may express his preferences in their life. A person raised in a loving, affirming environment possesses sufficient ego-strength to express their preferences in an appropriate manner. By appropriate manner, I mean there are times when we should defer our preferences so that others may realize their preference.

However, for many people, expressing a preference is a challenge at best. When asked for our preference, we are far more comfortable deferring to others than expressing our heart’s desire. In fact, many people are so out of touch with their own needs they don’t really know what their heart desires. Ask them what they want for their birthday or where they want to go out to eat and they are stuck for an answer. I believe Jesus’ heart breaks for these of his brothers and sisters. He wants so very much for them to be so grounded in his unconditional love for them that they will grow to love themselves and mature with a Christ-centered ego-strength.

My Takeaway: As we train ourselves in the ways of Christ, and seek to respond to every interaction we have in life following the simple acrostic WWJD, I believe we will experience God forming Christ within us until we can easily say, “Thank you, I would like . . . “

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

To Become Eucharist

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 22, 2023

To Become Eucharist

“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.””

Luke 10:41-42

I have loved this little episode because I always thought of myself as being just like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus. But the truth is, I am way more like Martha: too worried and upset over the details of life. It is easy to deceive ourselves. I think back to the songs or hymns we have playing on our stereo system throughout the day. Most all affirm our hearts and lives as fully-devoted followers of Jesus. But do the affirmations in those songs and hymns truly reflect my daily life?

I know I truly want to embrace the Christian music I listen to and sing. However, when I take the time to truly process what I am singing, I realize there is a disconnection between what I am singing and how I live my life. But I don’t despair because there is no condemnation for those who love the Lord. (Romans 8:1-2) However, when I seriously undertake this little exercise in self-awareness, I experience conviction, the work of the Holy Spirit leading me into all truth.

I am trying to be more intentional about monitoring my outward actions and words, as well as my inner thoughts and feelings, to measure them with the person I want to be, sitting at the feet of Jesus. The word Eucharist is helping me in my quest. This word is translated “Thanksgiving” in protestant liturgy used in services of Holy Communion. It is because of all that God has done in Christ, as represented in the sacrament of Holy Communion, that I can come to God’s Throne of Grace with a grateful heart to sing those praise songs and hymns.

My Takeaway: I believe it is God’s ambition for me to become Eucharist to the world around me as I live a life of joyful gratitude. As a living Eucharist, I will reveal Jesus in my mortal flesh. I want to do just that! How about you?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, August 21, 2023

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 21, 2023

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

“For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.”

2 Corinthians 4:11 (NRSV)

Let’s make it our goal to be continually aware of the presence of Jesus in our life. How do we do that? First, remember “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:11a). (The truth of this scripture is that we can initiate a conversation with the Holy Spirit, and this gives us the awareness of Christ’s presence in our life.)

Sometime in the coming days, we may find ourselves in the grip of adverse circumstances. We may be so perplexed we don’t know what to do, or how to pray. That is ok because all we need to do is whisper, “Abba, I need you”, and we will experience the Holy Spirit praying for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. As we relax in the presence of the Risen One, a smile may engulf our face because we will know that God is working our circumstances for good. At that very moment, God is forming Christ within us. (See Romans 8:26-29 & Galatians 4:19)

On the afternoon I am writing this, I’ll attend a gathering of friends for a surprise birthday party for a neighbor. I just may shout, “Laissez les bon temps rouler.” Why? Because I remember Jesus at the wedding at Cana (John 2). I suspect Jesus may have had a twinkle in his eyes as the Wine Steward took a sample of the new wine to the bridegroom. Jesus may have said to himself, “Laissez les bon temps rouler --- “Let the good times roll.”

This simple discipline of just remembering Jesus in the ordinary times of life, will enable us to be given up to death for Jesus’ sake, which is Paul’s way of saying that we die to self-interest. When we do, the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

My Takeaway: I think it really is this simple. As we remember the teachings of Jesus in the everyday events of our life, we can have an active awareness of Jesus showing himself strong in our life. Then the good times really will roll.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, August 18, 2023

With Fear and Trembling

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 18, 2023

With Fear and Trembling

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”

Philippians 2:12b (NRSV)

Often in the social media, people will post stunning pictures of the beauty of nature as evidence of the Creator God. There is, however, another view. Thomas Long begins his excellent book on the nature of evil by remembering a great turning point, perhaps the tipping point, in the development of Enlightenment philosophy. It was the earthquake of 1775 that destroyed Lisbon on All Saints Day. Thousands of worshippers were killed when their churches crumbled down on top of them and then they were swept out to sea by the ensuing tsunami. (What Shall We Say?: Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith, Thomas G. Long, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2011) In the aftermath of this terrible disaster, people openly questioned the nature and existence of a god who could allow his followers to die while they were worshipping him.

Life is full of contradictions. So also, is the journey of faith. Our attempts to fully integrate our beliefs about Jesus into our daily lives are wrought with one step forward quickly followed by two steps backwards. As we seek the life in Christ as our way of life, our experience certainly does not resemble a straight, wide open interstate highway. The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, North Carolina, with three hundred eighteen curves in eleven miles, is probably a better roadway analogy.

One of the most important social developments of the twentieth century was the establishment of self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Al Anon. Two aspects of these groups are essential in our faith journey. First, we are not alone, others struggle along with us. (When you get to your small group in heaven, ask Peter to tell you how it felt to pledge his love to Jesus on the beach and get filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, only to struggle with jealousy with Paul’s missionary success.) Secondly, we get to be in accountability groups where our fellow travelers can ask us, “So, how’s it going with your issue of jealousy” Or lust, or anger, or whatever . . . you get the point!

My Takeaway: Life is full of contradictions, as is the journey of faith. What keeps me doing my best to move forward is my passionate belief, my trust in the truth of the Apostle Paul’s affirmation: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, August 17, 2023

The Sound of a Gentle Whisper

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 17, 2023

The Sound of a Gentle Whisper

“And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”

1 Kings 19:12

The Prophet Elijah had journeyed to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God, to escape his enemies. Then the Lord called out to Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (1 Kings 19:9b-10). The Lord’s response to Elijah is fascinating. God told Elijah to come out of his cave, and as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by. A mighty windstorm hit the mountain, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper, and the Lord was in the gentle whisper. (I Kings 19:11-12)

The Lord then asked Elijah, a second time, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah gave the Lord the very same reply. And the Lord said, “Go back the same way you came” (1 Kings 19:15).

I believe there is a tendency among people to expect to encounter God in powerful worship services where the choir or praise team are good, the congregational singing robust and full of joy, and the sermon outstanding. Maybe so. But I wonder if God’s message to us through Elijah is that before we can experience the presence of God through power, we first need to experience the presence of the Lord in His gentle whisper. I believe Abba wants us to hear His voice as we sit in a Board meeting, as we visit with a friend, or even as we walk the aisles of a grocery store. There are things God wants us to notice, people He wants us to touch, and truths He wants us to proclaim. Regrettably, the noise of life drowns out the voice of God far too often.

My Takeaway: It has been my experience in life that my hearing Abba’s gentle whisper is directly proportional to the amount of time I spend quietly listening for God in Scripture.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Resting in His Smile

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 16, 2023

Resting in His Smile

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.””

Matthew 11:28-30

One of the most precious fruits of the life in Christ is resting in God’s smile of affection. God is quite fond of us and when He thinks of us, God smiles. One of Abba’s greatest hopes and dreams for us, His beloved children, is that we would learn to rest in our own smile of affection for our life. This is why Bernard of Clairvaux could teach that the highest level of love is when we love ourselves for God’s sake.

All of Scripture reinforces God’s love and affection for us. Thus, God is modeling for us how we are to love ourselves. Psalm 56 is a great illustration of God’s love for us. The psalmist is trusting in the wisdom and power of God to be sufficient to help him. He is also affirming the very personal relationship he has with his God of mercy, power, and love; he is resting in the sure knowledge that he is God’s child.

Take a few minutes to contemplate these verses from Psalm 56.

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

This I know: God is on my side!

For you have rescued me from death;

you have kept my feet from slipping.

So now I can walk in your presence, O God,

in your life-giving light.

Psalm 56: 8, 9b, 13

This furious longing of Abba for me keeps track of my sorrows, collects my tears in His bottle, is on my side and has rescued me from death. God’s love for me keeps my feet from slipping so I can walk with Him in His light. He will personally go ahead of me and will be with me. He will neither fail me nor abandon me.

My Takeaway: Jesus adds, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Receive this love from Jesus and learn to rest in his smile of affection for you. As you do, you will learn to gaze at yourself in a mirror and rest in your smile of affection for your life in Christ.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Sing a New Song

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 15, 2023

Sing a New Song

Sing a new song of praise to him;

play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.

Psalm 33:3

As you begin this meditation, take a few moments to remember the events and happenings in your life over the last few weeks. As you remember your experiences or happenings, what gladdened your heart?

Did your experiences that gladden your heart include the joy of being able to pray, “Abba, I belong to you”? Do you remember your joy of being able to worship and study with a community of faith? How about the time you spent alone with God and your Bible, or opportunities you had to serve God in a caring, compassionate ministry, or just being a kind and compassionate friend?

What about the things that saddened you in the last few weeks. Do you recall your concern that you don’t make enough quality time for prayer and devotional reading? Were there times of spiritual laziness and moral laxity that are grieving you? Jesus’ last commandment was for his followers to love others as he loved them. Were you saddened over your lack of fidelity to this command of Jesus?

My Takeaway: First, the only way I can process my responses to this exercise is to remember, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). If you are like me, you may not be all that pleased with yourself after this exercise. We do exercises like this because Ludwig Wittgenstein was right when he said, 'Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself. ' We need to hold ourselves accountable to Jesus.

Even so, I can sing a new song of praise to my Abba, and I can sing with joy because first, last and always, I know I belong to Abba.

So can you!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, August 14, 2023

Engendered for Compassion

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 14, 2023

Engendered for Compassion

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Deut. 21:23 Greek version)

Galatians 3:13

How much of our wrongdoing was included in the death of Jesus on the cross? How much of the wrongdoing of the entire world was included in the death of Jesus on the cross? Is there any sin, any wrongdoing, any deviant behavior, any monstrosity, any crime or brutality, any act of oppression that is not included in the death of Jesus on the cross?

The clear and unambiguous teaching of Scripture answers those three questions with a resounding NO! The death of Jesus on the cross redeemed all humanity from the penalty for all our sins against God. The compassion of Jesus to bear our transgressions is more than my finite mind can comprehend. I am surprised that the Gospels only used the word compassion eight times in describing Jesus’ response to human need. For me, I am not sure there is a better word to describe what was in the heart of God in Christ as he took upon himself the curse for my sins.

Merriam-Webster says compassion is a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry or in trouble. Wikipedia says compassion is the feeling of empathy for others. Compassion is the emotion that we feel in response to the suffering of others that motivates a desire to help. That pretty much sums up Jesus’ motivation to go to the cross for us, his response to the suffering of humanity. Jesus’ compassion for me saved me!

My Takeaway: I sense God calling me to spend more time contemplating His compassion for me. Why? I believe it is God’s compassion for me which motivates Him to reach out to me repeatedly for all eternity. As the Father draws me into His compassionate heart, He engenders compassion within me: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 NRSV).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, August 11, 2023

My Cup Overflows With Blessings

Meditations for Ragamuffins

August 11, 2023

My Cup Overflows With Blessings

“I lift my eyes to you,

O God, enthroned in heaven.”

Psalm 123:1

Imagine as you turn the corner someone is quickly approaching you. He is actively chatting on his cell phone while carrying a Starbucks cup, without a lid, in his other hand. You almost collide as he swerves to miss a bad spot in the sidewalk, and predictably his coffee spills onto him, you, and the sidewalk. Why did he spill the coffee? No, not because he suddenly swerved, rather he spilled coffee because coffee was in the cup!

The same principle applies to our inner lives. When we are interrupted, when we are confronted with startling news, when we feel we have been slighted, not noticed, or appreciated, whenever our lives swerve, we are prone to spill whatever is in our inner cup. Our unresolved anger or our unresolved damaged emotions are bound to spill as soon as we experience life interrupted.

Just as the cure for our sin and our susceptibility toward spiritual laziness and moral laxity is God’s grace, so also the resolution for our anger and the healing for our damaged emotions is God’s grace. Answer this simple question: “Who am I?” God’s transforming grace is leading us to the sacred place where we can respond from the very depths of our being, “I am the beloved child of God.” When we know that, not just think it, or hope it is true, but when we know from the very core of our being that we belong to God, our lives are transformed. When we believe we are loved, esteemed, and adored by our Heavenly Father, our lives will overflow with God’s goodness. This is why the psalmist could write, “My cup overflows with blessings” (Psalm 23:5c). What do you suppose spilled from his cup when he swerved in life?

My Takeaway: How do we get from here to there? The Apostle Paul tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2). We move from our old life to our new life, which is hidden with Christ in God, by following the counsel of the psalmist: “I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.” Spend time, every day, with God and allow him to affirm the truth that you are His beloved child, His heir, a joint heir with Jesus. Give God the time He needs to resolve your anger, heal your emotions, and fill your cup with His blessings.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Come and See

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Spiritual Beggars

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

The Eternal Law of Love

Monday, August 28, 2023

Liberated From the Tyranny of Public Opinion

Friday, August 25, 2023

Vive la Revolution

Thursday, August 24, 2023

The Law of The Spirit

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Christ-Centered Ego Strength

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

To Become Eucharist

Monday, August 21, 2023

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

Friday, August 18, 2023

With Fear and Trembling

Thursday, August 17, 2023

The Sound of a Gentle Whisper

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Resting in His Smile

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Sing a New Song

Monday, August 14, 2023

Engendered for Compassion

Friday, August 11, 2023

My Cup Overflows With Blessings

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