Too old too soon . . .

In Paul’s letters to various churches, the first part explains what Christians believe. The remainder describes how we therefore should live. This shows how belief determines values and world view, and those values determine behavior.

Besides sin, this explains much of the horrible things people do. For instance, if I believe humans are evolved apes, I would not have the same respect as I have from believing humans are created in the image of God. If I believe there is no God, I would not have any motivation to live a godly life.

The letter to the church of Rome gives a magnificent description of Christian beliefs. The next section begins with linking those beliefs and values to Christian behavior:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:1–5)

These verses are very familiar to me, yet this morning I noticed that to behave like a Christian means to first offer my body as a sacrifice and in worship to God. He didn’t begin with mind, intellect, emotions, or my will, but with the most external part of me — my body. Other passages affirm that my body belongs to God (see the two previous posts) and this one also links salvation with the way I respond to His grace — in my body:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” (Titus 2:11–12)

The next issue is the mind. If I am going to live out Christian beliefs and values, then I need to reject the beliefs and values of the world and let God renew my mind with His thoughts. This makes sense. It also explains why many Christians have learned to guard what they read or watch on television and in movies. How can I renew my mind if I continually expose it to the thoughts and values of the world? As one Christian said, ‘Being a Christian is like having two dogs fighting inside you” and the one that wins? It will be the one I feed the most!

One important aspect of my mind is how I think about God and about myself. My first ideas about God were much like the concept I had of my parents. They spoiled me for they were told I would die before growing up. After I became a Christian, I soon realized that God was not going to indulge me, yet that idea was deeply rooted and ‘renewal’ has taken a long time.

The above passage in Romans says I need to think less highly of myself with ‘soberly wise’ judgment based on faith and based on truth that I am part of the Body of Christ with many other believers. This is both a strong privilege and solidly humbling. We are in this together, but we are not identical. The passage goes on to describes how we are gifted in different ways, yet even with those differences, much of what we do is alike and like Christ who saved us.

Mind renewal happens in several ways. First, those who are saved are given the mind of Christ who comes to live in us. (1 Corinthians 2:16). His mind brings an entire new set of values and a different worldview, one that conflicts with my former way of thinking. Paul says testing is part of proving that His way of thinking is right and true. I need that because not every new thought is from God (the devil wants to confuse and distract with his thoughts). Mind renewal involves reading the Bible to confirm His thoughts. Obedience also confirms them. Or I can learn the hard way — by the experience of foolish choices.

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Jesus, dear Jesus, when Mary sat at Your feet and listened to Your word, You told her sister Martha that only one thing was necessary and “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42) My experience has taught me that why that sitting at Your feet is necessary. Psalm 119:9 is true: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” What makes me sad is that experience IS the long way as well as the hard way, much like my Swedish granny used to say: “Too old too soon too late smart.” Thank You for your great patience and mercy.

Always learning but never knowing?

Imagine this week a young man suddenly arriving from an obscure village. He is a carpenter who has never been much farther than his hometown. He speaks with an accent familiar to those in his area. Imagine him telling us that our accredited teachers are generally wrong in what they have been telling us, and that our religion is largely obsolete. He says he came to show us a more excellent way, a truer faith. He even claims he will die to prove it is true. How would we react?

None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Would I listen to the first man described any more than people listened to the second, Jesus Christ? How am I at listening to new ideas? I know myself. I’m a hard sell. Many time, the more someone tries to convince me, the less inclined I am to believe them. I have this, “I must prove it for myself” quality, which isn’t always a bad thing for it keeps me from buying into false schemes, and makes me investigate thoroughly.

But if that way of thinking keeps me from accepting new discoveries, our home would not have a telephone, much less computers, or an e-book reader and an android. Worse, every time I read the Bible and saw something that I’ve never noticed before (which happens daily), I’d throw that new idea out without considering its authority and relevance to my life. I would be stuck in the mud of my old ways and Christ would have no positive effect; I would not change. I have to admit that this happens far too often.

When Jesus sends new light, those upon whom that light shines must be willing to experience it and reflect it. Otherwise, all we do is balk at it until the light goes out and leaves us in the dark. That happened to the rulers of that age who crucified the Lord of glory. They would not listen, and soon they could not listen. It also happens over and over in this age until much of the population even denies there is a Lord of glory, never mind listens to what He says or believes in Him.

An early Christian called Tertullian said, “Christ did not call himself the custom, but the truth.” People love custom, even those who determine not to “get in a rut.” Custom is easy, the flow is downstream and others happily go along, making the ride pleasant. Truth has few real disciples and encounters many more hostile minds. The lovers of custom are distrustful and suspicious of those who go upstream, who think innovatively, who claim their new and grand ideas will change the world.

Jonathan Edwards, another Christian of a more recent era (1703-1758), wrote in his diary, “I observe that old men seldom have any advantage of new discoveries, because these discoveries are beside a way of thinking they have long been used to. If ever I live to years, I will be impartial to all pretended discoveries and receive them, if rational, how long soever I have been used to another way of thinking.”

I don’t know how old he was when he wrote this, but today’s devotional author says that if such an entry had been recorded in the diary of Caiaphas or Annas (the religious rulers during the time of Jesus) and lived out, Calvary would not have happened. They would have seen that this Man who came out of obscurity had really been sent by God to seek and save those who are lost in sin and they would not have crucified Him.

Today, I see all around me evidence of how the power of sin can destroy lives. Even though Jesus rose again, the sin of the world had power enough to kill the eternal Son of God. It also blinded the minds of those who determined that custom and habit were better than truth. We are definitely living in that age where people are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

This motivates me to pray that if I am still here at the end of this age when Jesus returns, my mind will be so eager for continued revelation from Him that I will still be learning, and will easily recognize Him when He comes.

Learning at His feet

When I share with others that I’m going back to school to finish my Master’s degree, the reactions vary. One person, a pastor, was instantly excited. He almost jumped off his chair and cheered. Others look at me as if I am out of my mind. 

The decision to do this was not for ‘people pleasing’ yet I’m encouraged by the cheers. I’ll need those people to pray for me as my old mind tries to wrap itself around new ideas. I’m trying to not even think about the challenges of learning two languages or trying to remember how to spell Rehoboam and other words not in the average spell-checker.

Those who wonder what has possessed me could easily have me second-guessing this decision. Isn’t serving God more important than learning about Him? Yesterday, I must have been wondering about that for I went to bed worried whether the lack of support from some people might pull me into a slump or even quit before I start. However, God has this amazing way of being my very best encourager. Today’s devotional reading hits me right where I am, using the story of busy Martha…

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:39–42)

Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Mary wasn’t refusing to work, but knew that her time with Jesus was short. She could make lunch later, but when Jesus was gone, so was her opportunity. She selected to sit at His feet.

The Old Testament has several verses that use the word ‘portion’ but the one that I’m the most familiar with is Psalm 73:26. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” This verse comforted me when my heart problems started and it comforts me now. Choosing to sit at His feet is the strength of my life, strength to know my future, strength to know what God wants me to do in the present. He is my portion, my allotment in life.

Mary learned much at the feet of Jesus, but the most important thing she learned was about His impending death on the cross for the sins of the world (see John 12:3ff and John 11:1ff). Even His disciples hadn’t figured that out, but when she anointed Jesus’ feet with precious nard, He commended her, knowing she had intended to use it for His burial. 

Any anxieties I might have about “should I or shouldn’t I?” are answered with this simple story. I am where Jesus wants me. W. Hay Aitken, who wrote the devotional article, says that at the feet of Jesus is my place of privilege and blessing as well as where I am to be educated and made fit for the practical duties of life. It is at His feet where I renew my strength as I wait on Him. Here I learn how to mount on wings as eagles as I become possessed with that true knowledge that empowers me to serve without fretting, as Martha did. I learn from Him how eternal service is to be done, and am given His motivation to do it. 

As happens now, He will give me errands to run and people to bless while I am studying. At His feet I will find solace in the trials of that work — and they happen — and in the trials of life in general. At the feet of Jesus I will get a deeper foretaste of heaven even in these days on earth — for sitting at His feet is the closest I can be to those heavenly places. Gazing upon His glory right now is doing what I will never get tired of doing when I leave this place.