The Source of Gratitude - and a detour from Matthew...

Starting the Love God Greatly study on gratitude:

Who God Is and What He has Done

M Ps. 145:3-8 Ps. 145:8
T Dan. 2:20-23 Dan. 2:20
W Ps. 18:30-32 Ps.18:31
Th Lam. 3:21-25 Lam. 3:22-23
F Rms. 5:6-8 Rms. 5:8

Our Response

M Col. 3:1-2, 12-14 Col. 3:12
T 2 Cor. 12:9-10 2 Cor. 12:10
W Ps. 100:1-5 Ps. 100:4-5
Th Eph. 1:18-21 Eph. 1:18
F 1 Pet. 1:3-9 1 Pet. 1:8-9
So, to begin:

Psalm 145:
God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.
There are no boundaries to his greatness.

Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;
each one tells stories of your mighty acts.

Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;
I compose songs on your wonders.

Your marvelous doings are headline news;
I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.

The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;
your righteousness is on everyone’s lips.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

Yes - but how I realise how failing I am in thankfulness, how meagre my 'attitude of gratitude' is.  Despite trying to notice things to be thankful for every day, and grumbling far less than I used to, my heart is still not naturally overflowing.

And I want to 'write a book full of the details of your greatness'. My prayer is to open my eyes wide so that I see, really see, God's goodness:

God's grace

God's compassion

God's patience

God's love.

And God's mighty power: Job 37:5 - 6 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

Read this again today, elsewhere, as well!
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.Job 37:6,11,12
Daniel, put on the spot to interpret the King's dream, is given the answer by God. His instinctive response is to take his eyes off the situation and focus on God, praising and thanking him:
' “Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever. He knows all, does all:
He changes the seasons and guides history, He raises up kings and also brings them down,
he provides both intelligence and discernment, He opens up the depths, tells secrets, sees in the dark—light spills out of him! 

God of all my ancestors, all thanks! all praise!
You made me wise and strong. And now you’ve shown us what we asked for.
You’ve solved the king’s mystery.” '

And so Psalm 18:30 - 32 says: 

What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth.
Every God-direction is road-tested.
Everyone who runs toward him
Makes it.

Is there any god like God?
Are we not at bedrock?
Is not this the God who armed me,
then aimed me in the right direction?

So, God our rock: as Brian Doerksen sings so  beautifully in Faithful one: our rock of peace, our rock in times of trouble...in the middle of trouble, in the storm of uncertainty, his faithfulness carries us through.


He is a firm foundation, always there, always faithful, always loving:

Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;        Lamentations 3:21 - 25

And so we acknowledge Romans 5:8 "Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us." Jesus PROVED it. I just have to look to the cross to realise this.

So (thank you Colossians 3:1 - 2), let's keep focused on heaven, not on the minutiae, important as it might seem in the day to day. "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ,act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective." It is in the day to day that we I need most help to do this.

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without love."

The next few verses under the banner 'our response' stymied me at first: talking about power in weakness.  Paul talking about his 'thorn in the flesh': "At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

'My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.'

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become."

The NIV says: "for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties."

Whitney at Love God Greatly says: "How glorious that the imperfection of the needy leads to gratitude for the provision of a perfect Savior."

And here's the challenge: "Since gratitude is our focus, and since Jesus is the lasting Source of our gratitude, it follows that if you’ve been rescued, you too have an important story to tell.

“I can’t tell my story,” you say.

It’s too messy.

Too imperfect.

Too incomplete.

Too unresolved.

Too hard.

Too {fill in the blank}…

But wait.

Remember, the best stories aren’t the perfect ones. Listen, no one can relate with those anyway. The best stories are centered on the hope and gratitude we live out in the midst of our imperfect stories, because all of the glory is shifted away from us and back onto the real hero of our story… our perfect Savior.

If we actually lived out this kind of consistent, genuine gratitude in the middle of our imperfect mess… it might just go viral.

A woman confident and content in who she is in Christ overflows with gratitude even in the midst of her less than perfect story, allowing God’s beautiful story of redemption to continue to shine through her to the next generation.

He’s given each of us a story.

It’s up to us to decide what we’ll do with it."

Live GRATITUDE.

And so: On your feet now—applaud God!
Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.

Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

For God is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever."

Respond to The Gift with a gift in return.

And it seems that everywhere I look, I am invited to respond with thankfulness. Psalm 95:1 -2 was my 'verse of the day' today: 
"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song."

And we thank God for each other, for this encouragement. Ephesians 1:15 - 19 says:"That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks."

Thanksgiving leads to encouragement and intercession: "But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!"Than

Thankfulness turns us to consider others' needs. It turns us to want to help. It turns us to prayer - not for ourselves, but for others.

And so this study on gratitude finishes with our ultimate response to God's goodness: "You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation." (1 Peter 3:8 - 9, The Message)

We haven't seen God, but we love him.
We don't see him now, but we believe in him.
Because we believe in him, our future is totally secure, even after death....

Now, that is something to be thankful for.

Humble

So, following on from 'the last will be first and the first will be last.' The disciples had given up their lives to follow Jesus. They had left all that was familiar and safe but Jesus had promised them the world: the kingdom of heaven, and how they would be rewarded with far more than they had given up.

Yes, when I 'feel' as if I am really following Jesus, being obedient to his example and commands, it really does feel 'heavenly'. A deep sense of rightness in my spirit and a heartfelt joy that is not possible to get with material possessions.

Presumably the disciples felt like that, too, but they were also clouded with material desires, hoping that Jesus would be the promised Messiah who would lead the Jews to regain their kingdom and independence once again and be a nation in their own right, not ruled by foreign invaders as had happened for hundreds of years.

So Jesus again tells what seems like a harsh parable: the story of the labourers in the vineyard, where those who did the least work received as much as those who did the most.
An image of the kingdom indeed, where those who come late inlife to God are as gladly accepted as those who have served God all their lives.

I'm with the disciples. It seems in one sense hard when those who have lived sacrificially receive the kingdom of God in the same way as those who have lived selfishly. It shows I do not really understand grace - this incredible gift of 'rightness' with God which he has given through Jesus.

Because, if I REALLY REALLY DID, IT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD TO ME AND NOTHING ELSE WOULD MATTER.

I liken being in the kingdom to being part of a wonderful royal household: the castle stands, magnificently turreted with a huge, protective wall around it, on a hill above the surrounding countryside. It is not possible to get inside - even to visit - unless you are a member of the royal household. The humblest servant girl, the one who sweeps the ashes out of the fireplace and is at the beck and call of everyone, serves in delight because she is accepted into the royal entourage. She is privileged to have a place which is the envy of all those outside.

This is what Jesus wants us to understand: he himself was called to sacrifice his own life for others and so, immediately after he tells the disciples of his forthcoming death, when the mother of James and John asks for positions of privilege for her boys, It is even more shocking.

And then he gives sight to two blind beggars who, indeed, are the lowest of the low. He restores them to the ranks of the 'normal' through his mercy.

How much does it take for me to realise how humble I need to be to enter the kingdom?

Childlike trust.

As I read through Matthew in The Message, I'm struck by how practical Jesus' teaching was. 

The first part of this chapter is all about marriage: how to live in marriage well, but also recognising that it is not for everyone. 

Then he talks about just how to LIVE: 

simply, like a child; 

sacrificially, as one who puts God before material possessions; 

trustingly.

I looked up the synonyms of 'trust': unsuspicious, innocent, naive, unwary.

It is, indeed, just approaching this gift of life with the innocence and trust of a child...Trust: and putting God first in everything...

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

Prayer

Just researching a little on the benefits of prayer.

I discovered:

1. Prayer makes us healthier. Scientific studies have shown that physical health improves in people who pray.
2. Prayer helps us when we are worried and stressed.
3. Prayer makes us better people: we are less likely to be selfish when we pray!
4. Prayer makes us happier!

So, what's not to like?

Take it seriously...

I've come to the part in Matthew 18 where Jesus emphasises that we should let nothing get in the way of God. He gives the 'extreme' image of cutting off the hand which does something sinful, or the foot which leads us astray. The graphic images of what he says are shocking. He is serious.

And then he says:“Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?"

This, straight after saying that we need to become like children ourselves.

Again, humility, submitting to others.

Jesus goes on to talk about how God is desperate that we should be saved from our lostness and sinfulness. He searches for each one of us, regardless of how many are already following him, in the story of the lost sheep: one out of a hundred. It is serious.

And to keep hearts soft towards God, we need to start with our fellows. We need to deal with issues, lovingly 'carefronting' those who hurt us, trying our best to work out the problem, involving others in the church to help us if necessary. We need to speak truth, so that others can rely on what we say, and there will be eternal consequences when we do so.

Not only that, but when we pray together, Jesus is there, guiding us in what we ask for and listening to our concerns. He takes it seriously.

And then Peter asks about forgiveness. And again Jesus shows how serious it is.

Simplicity. Humility.

Now having some idea of who Jesus really is: a prince among men, the new king in waiting - visions of David's glory which was to come after his years as a fugitive - the disciples now want to know how they qualify to be part of the inner circle. Who is going to up there with Jesus? Who will be top dog in the kingdom of heaven?

The answer cannot be what they expected; For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, unless you change and become like little children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child, whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.

Matthew Henry points out: Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their parents. ...these are marks of childhood, and render them proper emblems of the lowly minds of true Christians. Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, as little children, and willing to be the least of all. Let us daily study this subject, and examine our own spirits.

I think of children's simplicity and straightforwardness. They like something: they are over the top enthusiastic, crazily in love with their favourite obsession.

Am I crazily in love with Jesus? Can he be more important to me, occupying my thoughts and desires, more than anything else?

I think of children's simplicity and straightforwardness. They don't like something (or someone): they make it very clear how they feel. They have no qualms about being honest in their dislike.

Am I similarly honest? Or do I pretend? Not that there is any excuse for rudeness or unkindness, but do I avoid opportunities where I could be more sincere and genuine about how I feel?

I think of children's enforced humility. In every society, even where they are valued, they are still of low importance in day-to-day affairs. They are subject to adults' whims and directions, having to follow along and obey.

Do I follow along with Jesus and obey what he has told me to do?

And then, beyond myself, I think about those adults who are like 'little children'. The mentally challenged, the damaged and vulnerable, the elderly: the many who are dependent on the goodwill of others. 

I think of how I can better treat them with grace, with love, with kindness. With great value, because they are, often, like 'little children'. Terry, Paul, Alice...scorned by many, you are signposts guiding me to better attitudes and a better way of following Jesus.

Extraordinary

I tend to think of Mark's gospel as being the one which rattles along at breakneck speed: first Jesus did this, immediately he did that... but chapter 17 in Matthew is also breathtaking.

The disciples have the supernatural experience of seeing Jesus completely changed in front of them, talking to people who had been dead for centuries; they even heard God's voice coming out of a glorious cloud of light.

Then Jesus tells them that his cousin John  is the Elijah who would foretell of the coming of the Messiah and starts to tell of the suffering and death he himself would endure.

Mix in an astounding healing where a boy "possessed by evil spirits" (evidently suffering from severe epilepsy) is completely healed, and then the extraordinary story of Jesus telling Peter to catch a fish which will have exactly the right amount of money in its mouth with which to pay the temple taxes and keep the authorities quiet.

And Jesus says: ' “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.

When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?”

“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.” '

Faith. Faith the size of a poppy seed. This seems impossible: how can you quantify faith as something physical, tangible?

Extraordinary.

You're not in the driver's seat

"You're not in the driver's seat." is the sub-heading in The Message for Matthew 16, verses 24 - 28

"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself."

It is when I read words like this that I realise how far I am from really following Jesus. To live my life subject to him, letting him lead me in everything I do...

Now, to ask Jesus what to wear, or what to eat, is ridiculous: after all, he says, paraphrased in the old Catholic chorus we used to sing and which remains in my memory as a Rakwaro seminary song:
"Do not worry over what to eat,
what to wear or put upon your feet,
trust and pray go do your best today,
and leave it in the hands of the Lo..rd, leave it in the hands of the Lord."

(The melody remains in my head after more than 30 years!)

Instead, perhaps, it is more about using commonsense, training and past experience to inform the present and future, while listening for a sense in my spirit than I am journeying in the right direction: ' Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ' (Isaiah 30:21) B.eing aware of a nudge to keep me on the right track, a gentle touch of the hand to change my focus.

It takes practice. But the rewards will be great: look to the future:  "`Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”

And then, in the very next chapter, that is exactly what happens. The Transfiguration.
When the disciples heard God's voice, they response was to "fell flat on their faces, scared to death."

Then I remember Jesus has told the not to worry or be afraid:

"But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus."

I want to open my eyes and look around and see Jesus, only Jesus.

No other way to live makes sense to me.

Who do you say that I am?

This morning's reading was Matthew 16. I quickly came across these verses, which were mentioned in the theology course we were following last night:
"When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out."

I thought, of course, of the great list of I AM statements: the YOU ARE statements that it would be good for me to remember when I wake in the morning, when I wake up to God in the middle of the busy work day, when I wake up to quietness in the evening.

But then I noticed that Jesus tells Peter who HE is. And I had a sudden longing for Jesus to tell ME who I am, Who I really am.

(Actually, I know He HAS already. I am God's special treasure, bought with a price, known inside and out...I just need to remind myself..)

Faith

Yesterday, in my morning reading and in the reading at church, I heard Matthew 14:22 - 36 "Jesus walks on the water."

I was struck by Peter's response: "Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
Not just a 'Wow!' moment but an overwhelming desire to do what Jesus was doing - something extra ordinary.

And Jesus let him join in: "He said, “Come ahead.”
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus."

Peter walked on water!

Then fear kicked in: "But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” "

Again, Jesus responded quickly. "Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand."

And Jesus points out it was Peter's faith - or lack of it - that let him down: literally. "Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” "

But Peter was still safe. He was with Jesus. And Jesus was in complete control: "The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down."

Faith. In Matthew 6:30 and 16:8 Jesus promises that God takes care of physical needs for those who have faith. ""Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'…" and in Mark 4:40 we can have faith in a man who controls the elements.
Again, in Matthew 8:26 he tells us to have faith and not be afraid.

Yet FAITH is 
Fear
Anxiety
Isolation
Trust
Hope

When we step forward and can't see where the foot is to land; where nothing makes sense except that Jesus IS; when all we can do is keep on going because we trust Him: this is faith.

And some more 'nuggets':

There is more to life than just here and now...the most damaging aspect of contemporary living is short-term thinking. To make the most of life keep the vision of eternity in my mind and the value of eternity in my heart... Only a fool would go through life unprepared for what will eventually happen...
1 John 2:17 ...if you do the will of God, you will live forever. Because this world, as Hebrews 13:14 says, I'd not our home...

Life is a trust and a trust... The way I see my life shapes my life. What is my life metaphor - how do I picture my life?
A sea journey - a cruise, where the destination is more important than the journey, the longing to arrive greater than the now...and yet I also believe it is more important to travel than arrive, that the 'how' of how I journey is important.