Seeking the Life in Christ: October 2023

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

A Pleasing Aroma to God

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 31, 2023

A Pleasing Aroma to God

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Jesus was able to reconcile two seemingly irreconcilable truths he experienced on the cross. By resting in the truth of God’s affirmation of him -- “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” -- Jesus was able to confront his negative emotions --“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” -- and return to resting in God’s love -- “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” As the followers of Christ, we too are called to reconcile two seemingly irreconcilable truths.

On the one hand, our life, apart from the saving grace of Jesus, is totally repugnant to God. Even so, while we were completely lost in our sin, God loved us, and Christ died for us. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NRSV). We have been saved by grace and we live by grace. We can never, ever do anything to earn our right standing with God. Even though God speaks those most precious of all words to us when we come to Him by faith, “This is my dearly loved (Child), who brings me great joy,” nevertheless, our works within our own strength are still repugnant to him because they are offered through our sin-broken flesh.

However, Jesus shows us how to reconcile our life in grace with the works of our hands. Jesus “loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). The Philippians grasped this truth when they sent an offering to Paul while he was in jail. Paul wrote to them that their offering was “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18c). When the love of Christ for us moves us to express his love for others, especially when we give sacrificially of ourselves and our resources, our offering becomes a pleasing aroma to God.

My Takeaway: As you seek to make your life a pleasing aroma to God, never forget that it is God working in you to transform your life into a sweet-smelling sacrifice. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

May God, “equip (us) with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:21).

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.

Monday, October 30, 2023

How Foolish Can You Be?

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 30, 2023

How Foolish Can You Be?

Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

Galatians 3:3

Our culture differs greatly from that of the Galatians. Most of the people in our culture do not believe in any gods, much less in the Christian God. Many Christians, while affirming their faith in God, see their faith as a way to a better quality of life, not a way to be in a right relationship with the God of the universe. I believe it is in the DNA of Americans to be proud, rebellious, and self-reliant. When I visited the Museum of Western Expansion in St. Louis, I saw this character trait embodied in a quote from the journal of someone who was a part of a wagon train heading west: ‘We had preceded only a few days travel, when the American character was fully exhibited. All appeared to be determined to govern, but not to be governed.”

However, it was vitally important to the people in the Galatian congregations to be in a right relationship with God. This was not optional to them. It is not hyperbole to say it was a matter of life and death to them. You can sense Paul’s frustration. Paul had proclaimed the Gospel to them, and the Galatian Christians had experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They had entered into a right relationship with God by grace, through faith in Jesus. Now the church leaders were backing up and forcing their congregations to keep rules and laws in a desperate attempt to stay in a right relationship with God. Do you remember the third chapter of 2 Corinthians where Paul talked about the veil being removed? The Galatians were putting the veil back up, and Paul was doing his best to get them to remove the veil and live by grace, not work.

Seeking the life in Christ is hard work! On one hand, we rejoice that God loves us, unconditionally, just as we are. On the other hand, we know this marvelous grace of God does not give us a license to keep on sinning. We are called to crucify our flesh with its sinful desires. On one hand, we want to glorify God and live in a manner that others can see Christ in our mortal flesh. On the other hand, the witness of Christ within us comes by grace, not an accumulation of good works. (See 2 Corinthians 4)

My Takeaway: It has been my experience that reaching a balance where our good works are evidence of God’s grace at work in our lives is more of an art than it is a process to be learned. As we seek to release the graceful artist within us, we’ll do well to remember Paul’s admonishment to the Galatians, “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).

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, October 27, 2023

When the Angels Are Absent

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 27, 2023

When the Angels Are Absent

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:17

Because Jesus is fully divine, the Word made flesh, he can forgive our sins. Because Jesus is fully human, the author of Hebrews could proclaim, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). I am comforted to know that Jesus experienced the same self-doubts that I do.

There were times when Jesus must have wondered if it really was the Holy Spirit who led him to the River Jordan to be baptized and then led him into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. I suspect there were times when he got tired of the hostility heaped onto him by the Pharisees, and when he grew weary of his disciples who just couldn’t connect the dots of his ministry. Even so, we don’t have to wonder how he handled those times of doubt: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16).

During those times of prayer, I believe Jesus’ Heavenly Father was gracious to speak again those most comforting of all words, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” I believe there were other times when, as in his wilderness temptation experience, God’s “angels came and took care of Jesus” (Matthew 4:11). I also believe there were times when heaven was silent, and the angels were absent.

It was during these silent and absent times that Jesus’ faith was forged into unbreakable iron. This is the faith that allowed Jesus to reconcile two seemingly irreconcilable truths he experienced on the cross.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”(Luke 23:46)

During those silent times in the wilderness, Jesus may not have heard again the voice of God, but he never forgot what he did hear that day in the River Jordan, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

My Takeaway: By the way, a voice from heaven said the same words (Matthew 3:17) to you when you were baptized. In your moments of weakness, recall those words and allow the Holy Spirit to forge strong your faith.

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, October 26, 2023

Sē’lah

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 26, 2023

Sē’lah

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

Psalm 3:5

Near the end of King David’s reign, his son Absalom led a rebellion against David and seized the throne of Israel. This incident is included in Gene Edward’s book, A Tale of Three Kings, which chronicles David’s relationship with both King Saul and his son Absalom. (I believe this book is a Christian classic and should be in the personal library of every Christian.) Psalm 3 was written by King David during Absalom’s rebellion. David responded to the revolt by expressing his deep trust in God: if God wants me to be on the throne, no one can take it away; if God doesn’t want me on the throne, there is nothing I can do to keep it.

It is during adversities, both big and small, that the depth of our Life in Christ is revealed. The adversity may involve something as simple as someone being rude or cutting us off in traffic, or perhaps we see everything we have worked for being lost through divorce, business failure or personal bankruptcy. How we respond to these circumstances reveals what we believe about God and how deeply Christ has transformed our life.

The word Sē’lah is used three times in Psalm 3. I believe this is a very important word. Regrettably the NIV translation drops this word. The NRSV keeps the word Sē’lah, and the NLT translates the word as, Interlude, which comes close to describing its meaning. But Sē’lah is more than an interlude; in this context, it is taking the time to think and reflect on what has been written. David’s circumstances had not changed, but he was able to rest because he knew the Lord was watching over him. Taking the time to reflect on God’s nature allowed David to lie down and sleep during his greatest adversity.

The Apostle Paul captures David’s heart in his letter to the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

My Takeaway: When you are facing adversity, make time to Sē’lah, to pause and reflect on God’s nature. Remember that the Lord is watching over you, and rest in the assurance of His love 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.)

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Go!

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 25, 2023

Go!

They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.

Galatians 1:23-24

Many years ago, I visited a young man in the hospital who was under police guard. As I approached his room, I was stopped by a Police Officer. I identified myself and told him I had received permission from his Captain to visit the young man. The Officer responded, “Who are you?” I again gave my name and repeated that I had been authorized to make this visit. He again asked, “Yeah, I got that, but who are you?” He was trying to establish my credentials; was I an attorney, relative, or friend of the family? None of the above. All I could do was repeat myself. Eventually the Officer gave up and allowed me to make the visit.

The Apostle Paul was in a similar situation. He had moved on after first proclaiming the Good News in Galatia, and other Christians, who took exception to Paul not requiring Gentile converts to keep the Law of Moses, had moved in. The issue of Paul’s credentials, his authority to lead the church, had been called into question. The issue of who has the authority to speak for Christ is still an issue for the Christian movement today.

At the time of writing the letter to the Galatians, Paul had been completely accepted by the church leaders in Jerusalem, and he had been commissioned as an evangelist to the Gentiles. His authority was undeniable; yet he never relied on that ecclesiastical authority in making his case to the Galatians. As the adage goes, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Paul reported that the Christians in Jerusalem knew that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” And they praised God because of me” (Galatians 1:23-24).

Paul isn’t teaching us that clergy credentials don’t matter. He is teaching us that while they certainly have their purpose and place, there is something else that is more important. Is there fruit? Is their ministry making disciples for Jesus Christ? Can you see evidence that they are building for the Kingdom of God?

The young man I went to see in the hospital was there because he had tried to commit suicide. He was under guard because he had been arrested for dealing in drugs. I went to see him to share my faith in Christ and offer the hope of Christ to him. We prayed at the end of my visit, and I left him thumbing through the Gideon Bible. He called me the next day to tell me that after reading Psalm 32, he had prayed and asked Jesus to be his Savior. This was several years before I became a credentialed minister. I was just plain ole John Q. Church-Layman. Paul didn’t make a big deal out of his church credentials because he wanted to be clear that it is Jesus who authorizes us, each one of us, to go and make disciples for the Kingdom of God.

My Takeaway: Go!

By the way, this is what the young man read: “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1).

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, October 24, 2023

Meditating on God’s Nature

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 24, 2023

Meditating on God’s Nature

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Jesus’ prayer life was grounded in scripture, especially the Book of Psalms. In his teaching, Jesus quotes from the Psalms more than twenty times. If we want to go deeper into the heart of Christ and the mind of Christ, the Psalms will teach us much. We find Jesus described in the very first psalm.

While some newer Bibles translate Psalm 1:1 gender neutral as “happy are those” or “blessed are those”, the original text uses a word that is very gender specific and should be translated, “Blessed is the man.” Jesus is this perfect man who delights “in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). As followers of Jesus, yielding ourselves to be transformed to become like him, Psalm 1 gives us a clear example of how to order our lives.

Seriously?

Is it possible for a mortal human being to get excited about meditating on God’s law, day, and night?

When the Psalmist refers to ‘the law’ they do not mean just the Ten Commandments or other rules and regulations aimed at restricting certain behaviors. They mean law, as in God’s nature. God is love. God’s nature is to forgive. God’s law includes His love that cannot fail, His Word that does not return to Him void, and His mercies that never come to an end. The Psalmist has in mind the law of God that looked at a world that did not exist and spoke it into being by the power of His Word. The law of God is summed up in one verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

As I think about the complete nature of God, I can get excited about meditating on God, day, and night!

My Takeaway: The Psalmist pronounces God’s blessing on us who take time to reflect on all the ways we have experienced God’s law, His nature in our life. Join me in meditating on how we have experienced His mercies and forgiveness, His favor and how we know God to be our Shepherd. As we practice this spiritual discipline, we will be blessed as we delight in the law of the Lord, and as we meditate on his law – God’s character -- day and night.

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, October 23, 2023

God Is For Me

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 23, 2023

God Is For Me

This I know, that God is for me.

Psalm 56:9b (NRSV)

One of the spiritual disciplines I am trying to master is to take a few moments and look at my calendar at the beginning of each day. I take time to consider all the interactions I will have with family, friends, and neighbors. Then I purpose in my heart to remember that God is for me! I listen for the voice of God reminding me to be at peace. During this quiet time, I recall that God knows everything about me. He knows the stuff I call fear, failure, and success. I remind myself that I have God’s love and affection because God chooses to love me. He created and redeemed me, and He doesn’t, not even for one second, have buyer’s remorse! My purpose during this quiet time is to open my heart and mind and receive the seemingly incomprehensible love of God for me. I want this truth to permeate deep within my consciousness and let it guide me throughout each day.

Saint Paul summarized this quiet time spiritual discipline as “praying without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Have you ever wondered how to do that? You can! Just remember, it is possible to do by training what is impossible to do by trying. Purpose in your heart to keep your mind focused throughout the day on God’s love for you, and you will be praying without ceasing.

My Takeaway: Another praying without ceasing spiritual discipline is in remembering Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (NRSV). If you keep this psalm in the forefront of your mind, you will be praying without ceasing. When we allow the truth of God’s unfailing love for us to inform the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart, our words and meditations will be pleasing unto Him.

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, October 20, 2023

Resident Aliens

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 20, 2023

Resident Aliens

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3:20-21

There is a huge temptation to nationalize our Christian faith. While I do not see a conflict with loving our homeland and displays of patriotic spirit, I also believe the Christian should never, ever lose sight of the truth that our citizenship is in heaven. It is good and proper that we pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. However, as the fully devoted followers of Jesus, our first loyalty is to the Kingdom of God. In truth, we are resident aliens in this land as we look forward to the coming again of Christ Jesus.

The prophet Jeremiah spoke the word of God unto the Israelites as they were exiled in Babylon. His words are equally instructive for us as we await our coming King: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:5-7).

I believe Jeremiah’s counsel is especially relevant for the church today, especially his very strong direction to Multiply! Do not dwindle away! Too many churches are dwindling away because too many in the congregation refused to embrace Jesus’ commission to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

My Takeaway: We are called to remember to work for the peace and prosperity of the city where we live. Wherever we live, we are resident aliens in exile awaiting the return of Jesus. Wherever we live, God has commissioned us to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

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, October 19, 2023

Expect To Be Blessed

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 19, 2023

Expect To Be Blessed

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 7:6b

In his sermon, You Are Accepted, Paul Tillich describes that wonderful moment when we realize the truth that we are made right with God by grace, through faith in Jesus: “at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: "You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted. If that happens to us, we experience grace. After such an experience, we may not be better than before, we may not believe more than before. But everything is transformed." (Paul Tillich, The Shaking of the Foundations, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, pages160-161)

Miles Stanford would call Tillich’s observation the moment when we taste the grace of God. Stanford then notes, “To taste the grace of God is one thing; to be established in it, and to manifest it in character, habit and regular life is another." (Miles Stanford, Principles of Spiritual Growth, Back to the Bible, Lincoln, NE, pages 12-13) Tasting the grace of God and being established in the grace of God are both resting on the same foundation: God’s acceptance of us through faith in Christ Jesus. First, last, and always, our relationship with Abba has been made secure by Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

We never, ever, want to lose sight of our acceptance by God. There will be good days when our thoughts and actions are noble, when we have been sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and responded with joyful obedience. On those days, we may be tempted to think God got a pretty good deal when he got us. God would smile and agree. Yes, He believes He got a good deal when we came home to Him, but the basis of His thoughts toward us are grounded in His unconditional love and acceptance of us, not our good deeds.

There will be other days when we turn a blind eye to the ways of God, when we yield far too easily to the temptation to gossip, to anger, to self-indulgence. On those days, we may be tempted to think God will reject us, that He will punish us severely for our sins. In those times, we want to remember that the punishment for our sins has already been paid in full by Jesus. The magnificent truth of the Gospel is that God’s acceptance of us, because it is based solely on what Jesus has done for us, never falters or fades.

My Takeaway: This complete and everlasting acceptance by God shapes the attitude of the child of God living under grace. “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). We refuse to make resolutions and vows because that is to trust in the flesh, not grace. We expect to be blessed because grace confers undeserved, unconditional blessing. (Principles of Spiritual Growth, pages 20-21) This is life in Christ. Why would we want any other?

(In Romans 7:6, Paul introduces in one simple statement, the heart of the Christian’s life. A very good study of this wonderful new life in Christ is in the book, The Pressure's Off: There's a New Way to Live by Dr. Larry Crabb.)

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, October 18, 2023

The Father of Mercies

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 18, 2023

The Father of Mercies

“Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.”

Psalm 4:1a

The Bible is not the least bit concerned with proving the existence of God. The Bible was written because God is. The purpose of scripture is to reveal the character of God. The very essence of God’s character is God’s desire to be in a right relationship with His creation. In Psalm 4, King David reveals the quality of a right relationship with God. David begins by exhibiting great confidence in his relationship with God by calling out to God, “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.” David was in a right relationship with God because God called and anointed David to be King over Israel. Do you know that you too can call out to God because you have a right relationship with God? Jesus, God’s Son, who was without sin, is in a right relationship with God the Father. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Because we have been made right with God through faith in Christ Jesus, we can rest in the sure knowledge that God is faithful and will fulfill all His promises. What does it mean that we can rest? Consider my paraphrase of John 10:27-30:

“Jesus, I am yours and I listen to your voice; because you know me, I willfully follow you. You give me eternal life, and I will never perish. No one can snatch me away from you, for God my Father has given me to you, and my Father is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch me from my Father’s hand. My Father and Jesus are one in their love and care for me.”

My Takeaway: Because of what Christ has done for me, I can join my voice with David and call out to God in confidence. Because I trust God, I can rest knowing God will never abandon me. This assurance empowers me to join my voice with St. Paul’s great doxology,” Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

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, October 17, 2023

Jesus, All for Jesus

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 17, 2023

Jesus, All for Jesus

For in him we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:28a

Just as I started to write this, Robin Mark’s song, Jesus, All for Jesus, began to play on my iPod. I think I can hear Saint Paul giving Robin a “Yes and Amen” because his lyrics certainly parallel Paul’s comments at Areopagus (Mars Hill) in Athens. (Acts 17) Although Robin’s praise song has some catchy lyrics, Paul was pointing to something much deeper in his comments to the philosophers of Athens. Paul was pointing to the almost incomprehensible foundation of Christianity. The very core of our faith is a personal relationship between mere mortal human beings and the eternal God, Creator of all that exists, and revealed in Christ Jesus.

All religions share three basic elements. They all have intellectual elements, that is, their doctrines and beliefs. All religions have sacramental elements that provides for their manner of worship and sacrifice. All religions have personal elements that determines the relationship between the individual and their god. The uniqueness of our Christian faith is that Jesus stands at the center of all three of these elements.

John’s Gospel affirms that Jesus, the Word, and God, stands at the center of all we believe about God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-4, 14).

Saint Augustine rightly observed that it is Jesus alone who baptizes, confirms, forgives, and heals. Jesus is the host, and the meal itself, in the sacrament of Holy Communion, and, thus, Jesus is the very heart of worship. Jesus is all our beliefs about God, he is the very substance of our worship, and he is our relationship with God the Father Almighty because, “In him we live and move and have our being.”

My Takeaway: As I contemplate my life in Christ I sing these words from Robin Mark’s song, Jesus, All for Jesus:

Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into your hands

For it's only in your will that I am free

Jesus, all for Jesus

All I am and have and ever hope to be

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, October 16, 2023

Daydream Believer

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 16, 2023

Daydream Believer

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:5-6

What are your daydreams? There is a three-pronged test to determine our ideals in life. First consider how you spend your time, especially that time we call free. Secondly, examine your check register; where do you spend your money? Lastly, what are the subjects of your daydreams? Combine your findings and you will have what is in fact your ideal, your priority in life.

All three prongs in the test are important, but I am coming to believe our daydreams may be the most revealing about the driving force in our lives. While the daydreams may be on a somewhat subconscious level, they do heavily influence the choices we make, the words we speak and the actions we take. There is a direct link between the subjects of our daydreams and the insatiable need we have to be loved, to be accepted and to have a sense of self-worth, a belief that it matters that we are on planet earth.

When you look at the life of Jesus revealed in the Gospels, you see a life wholly committed to the Kingdom of God. What do you suppose Jesus daydreamed as he walked from Galilee to Jericho and on to Jerusalem? When he withdrew from his disciples for quiet time, where do you think his mind wandered? For sure, I know there must have been times when he would think back to his simpler, quieter times as a boy in Nazareth. However, for the most part I think he dreamed of God’s Kingdom, of when God’s purpose for humanity will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

My Takeaway: Jesus wants his fully devoted followers to buy into his dream of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, let us “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Let our daydreams be influenced by “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8).

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, October 13, 2023

The Healing Process

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 13, 2023

The Healing Process

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid

Psalm 56:3-4 (NRSV)

Are you ever haunted by your past? Your past could be something that you did fifty years ago, or something you did yesterday! Every one of us, all of God’s children are dynamically unique. There has never been another person like you in the history of mankind, nor will there ever be. God has made you an original, one of a kind, a special person. Even identical twins have their own individual and unique qualities. When we are redeemed by God, we are not cloned. God created us as His one-of-a-kind children, and when we are redeemed, we retain our uniqueness. Because God “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them,” even the events in our past that may trouble us contribute to our uniqueness and are included in God’s healing and redemptive process. Therefore, we can draw from the psalmist’s comforting words and determine to be not afraid as we submit our past to God. We can also rejoice in the Apostle Paul’s comforting words to Titus, “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5)

You may find it helpful to God’s healing process for you to take a sheet of paper and list the parts of your past that still trouble you. Spend time experiencing the emotions that surround each troubling occurrence on your list. Open your Bible and read Psalm 56:3-4 and Titus 3:4-5 and allow the truth of God’s love, the tenderness of His embrace of you, to wash away the fear and sorrow associated with your past.

My Takeaway: Here is one more bit of encouragement before you engage in this healing process:

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

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, October 12, 2023

Mr. Confrontational

Meditations for Ragamuffins

October 12, 2023

Mr. Confrontational

“For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.”

Psalm 22:24

What is your image of Jesus? For many years my image was stuck on Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Jesus the shepherd that left the ninety and nine sheep in the wilderness to go seek and find the one that had wandered away. Then I encountered Jesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untamable God by Mark Galli (Baker Books). Galli’s book is based on the Gospel of Mark and presents Jesus as stern, confrontational, purposefully confusing, and even impatient. Jesus was in fact bold, in-your-face, and confrontational, as much as he was gentle, kind and forgiving. Constructing an authentic image of Jesus requires that we embrace all of Jesus.

In my life, my image of Jesus is ever evolving because I am continuing to grow in Christ. One addition to my personal gallery of Christ is still a work in progress. Inspired by Christopher L. Heuertz’s book, Simple Spirituality: Learning to See God in a Broken World (IVP Books), I am being led to embrace a part of God’s Kingdom that I have pretty much kept at arm’s length. Chris discusses how the church has pretty much insulated and isolated itself far from those who are poor. With vivid stories of his experiences in those parts of the world where extreme poverty and malnourishment are tragic realities for millions of people, Chris followed Jesus’ lead to do even more than offer a cup of water or slice of bread; he offered himself in friendship and love.

In my life I need to keep my eyes on the Good Shepherd, but I am growing in awareness that The Good Shepherd needs to confront me lest I go wandering off on my own. I know what he wants me to say: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psalm 139:23).

My Takeaway: For the last few months I have been implementing Psalm 139:23 in my life with this liturgical prayer every morning,

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen

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, October 31, 2023

A Pleasing Aroma to God

Monday, October 30, 2023

How Foolish Can You Be?

Friday, October 27, 2023

When the Angels Are Absent

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Sē’lah

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Go!

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Meditating on God’s Nature

Monday, October 23, 2023

God Is For Me

Friday, October 20, 2023

Resident Aliens

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Expect To Be Blessed

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

The Father of Mercies

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Jesus, All for Jesus

Monday, October 16, 2023

Daydream Believer

Friday, October 13, 2023

The Healing Process

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Mr. Confrontational

Seeking the Life in Christ

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