Why have you forsaken me?

Just before Jesus breathed his last breath he cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mk 15:34, Matt 27:46).

He is quoting the beginning of Psalm 22! It's almost like a title.

Before Jesus cries this though, they had already...

• "divided his garments among them, casting lots for them"
• "wagging their heads and saying, “Aha!..."
• "He trusts in God; let God deliver him now"

Then Jesus cries out ... 

"My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" the beginning of Psalm 22. But as you go on to read the rest of Psalm 22 it says:

:7      All who see me mock me;
      they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;


:8       “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;
      let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”


:18       they divide my garments among them,
      and for my clothing they cast lots.


Things that have already happened, was Jesus late on cue? Maybe Jesus' cry "my God, my God why have you forsaken me" was merely to identify himself as the man in all of Psalm 22. Those watching would have seen these things take place and at the sound of the cry, the flash of the Psalm to mind, they would know the ending.

And if that's the case then the entirety of Psalm 22 doesn't leave us with God abandoning his Son on the cross. It takes us on a journey, as do most of the other Psalms, look at Psalm 10! Jesus dieing on the cross looks like God has abandoned him, because he took on all the sin of the world (maybe theologically he does for a minute? I don't know) but then we get to verse 24! Victorious verse 24! It's where the psalmist is leading us, it may seem bad and bleak but don't stop reading at verse one, don't stop believing because we see that:

:24 For he (God) has not despised or abhorred

the affliction of the afflicted, 

and he has not hidden his face from him,

but has heard, when he cried to him. 

My God, my God why have you forsaken me? The answer is He hasn't!

 
and then the Psalm ends with ... "that he has done it." which could also be translated "it is finished" and Jesus cries out "it is finished". So a Psalm ain't over til it's over, just like the circumstances in our life lead us down all kinds of crazy twists and turns, it's not over until He has done it! It may be dark and look like God has abandoned you but in that cry following the Psalms you will find out that he hasn't, he has heard and seen. That's good news.

Living in Flatlands

Get up

Go to work

Come home

Repeat

The days drag on and the years fly by and most days are met with a familiar rhythm, nothing dramatic, nothing too exciting. Where does faith fit in? 

As missionaries we had years that were marked by a sort of 'forced faith'. One initial decision to go that resulted in a daily practice of walking by faith... in regards to a place to live, paying the bills, simple shopping trips, cars breaking down, children getting sick and the list goes on.  Most days began "Lord I don't know how to do this or even where to begin, so I'm going to just start walking and trust you to lead. Extreme highs and heartbreaking lows were around almost every corner. The use of faith is a bit of a spiritual drug, the more you use the more you desire. 

 

Now a suburban life in the states doesn't seem to offer that same roller coaster life of faith. It is like living in flatland most days. Faith doesn't seemed to be forced on me anymore (and I have insurance for everything, just in case of ...whatever ) and in fact it often seems discouraged by our society. I wonder if it is by faith that we please God, how is that to be done in a comfortable suburban home with food in the cupboards and money in the bank account? Should I sell everything I have and live by 'faith' that God will supply or is there a different way? 

Let me suggest 3 ways I'm learning to live by faith in the flatlands. 

• Take risks. Walking by faith begins with a first step, like the decision to go to Slovenia. It starts with a conscious decision to step without knowing the outcome, you could fall flat on your face. This is hard for most of us because I think most of us are inherently risk averse, which most times is a good thing. When you can see the ground below you it's harder to risk a step off the edge than when you have nothing below you. And I'm learning sometimes it takes faith to wake up, go to work, come home and do it all gain and believe that is what the Lord wants for you that day, a "long obedience in the same direction" as Eugene Peterson said.

• Get perspective. The rhythm of life in flatland can dull you into thinking you are missing something. Make you discontent. Tychicus, remember him? Not many of us do, I've read his name dozens of times but never made a huge impression. He was the friend of Paul that delivered some of his letters to the churches in Turkey. He waited on Paul, probably brought him food and items he needed in jail and was handed a few scrolls to take and walk for days, months. Paul had honorable faith that we can follow and Tychicus offered the example of faith in flatland, each day waking up with the same mission, no glamorous adventure, ... walk. His faithful walking God honored with mentioning him several times in the Word of God.

•  Pray specifically. One of the most practical out workings of faith is in our prayers. It's easier to pray 'Lord bless the day' and thanks for everything and help grandma get better. Our words make faith real, it directs our steps and most of our steps are safely on the ground we can control. We prayed for oil for our furnace tank in Slovenia when we were low on money and the gauge didn't move for 2 months! Prayer is faith's first step. It takes practice and courage that I often find myself losing remembrance of. Praying for specific things, people, opportunities begins that step into faith.

A Son is given

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given

A child is born, a son is given, why not a son born? What's the difference?

Psalm 2 speaks of God's anointed becoming king and God pronouncing the begetting or the giving of a son. The king speaks and says:

7. I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

 A child is born and a king is decreed! The King that will inherit the nations and crush them with a rod of iron. This giving of a Son is the key to the relationship with God, it's through the Son our relationship with God will be judged. 

11 Serve the Lord with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

It's not simply the birth of a child but the giving of a Son, the Son of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Gospel in Christmas

Reading through Luke 2 leading up to Christmas I was struck by a common phrase that I've never thought of. An angel comes to shepherds of all people and tells them "fear not I bring you good news". I always understood that as the good news of a baby being born.
            Everywhere else this verb 'bring you good news' is translated as 'preach the gospel' which makes sense, good news is the gospel. But when you read the story again putting in the angel came 'preaching the gospel' it has a different feel, something more connected to a story already being told.
                               

You see the angels came to some shepherds just outside of Bethlehem, the 'city of David'. The great king of Isreal's past started out as a shepherd himself in those same fields. It was there that David began to commune with God and write psalms of praise to him. We aren't given the author of Psalm 148 but the last recorded author is David so it very well could be. This is what was written perhaps a 1,000 years earlier in the same field.

         148 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his hosts.

                           After the angel makes the announcement to some 'random' shepherds a whole hose of angels appears and begin praising God saying.
                                               With the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace towards men.

The Gospel of the king who has finally come to rescue men from their sins. 



                            

Directions please!

Four years ago I moved back to the States from serving as a missionary in a small Alpine village of Slovenia.
               I knew the vision I had as a missionary...
                            It wasn't to write a book
                                           or have multiple simulcasts
                            It was to pour my life into a few and silently fade into the background
                                           giving ownership to the nationals.

Now as a young pastor in the States that vision has been challenged. Behind all the conferences and education, it seems there is an underlying idea that a successful pastor in the States will have a growing church with thousands of people, multiple services, a large staff, and a training program with some catchy theme or expressions ... pastors who fade into the background risk their job.

               So where do I set my sites as a Pastor who has Lord willing 30 years ahead of me? Gifted men like Driscoll and Chandler offer a false finish line for thousands of young men entering into ministry and many more leaving the ministry out of frustration of unfulfilled expectations. I've been called a leader and a visionary but I'd actually like to ask directions from someone that is not a type A personality, leading a church of several thousands...

I'd like to hear from a pastor of a healthy small church that has faithfully been loving a small group of people well, truthfully proclaiming the Word of God, and living a life of quiet integrity.  Here's the directions for a life of ministry I would expect he'd give me ...

• Don't trade your family for the ministry. There is always something more you could do, one more program, one more person to meet with, your job will never be done. You have a few short years with your children and your task of discipleship runs deepest in the home. Love your bride. 
• Carry the light not the torch. There are multiple ways to bring light, be who God has made you to be, don't copy or mimic those around you. The light you bring will be unique, don't expect others to imitate you.
• Hold compliments for 5 minutes.... criticisms too. It's nice to be encouraged and sometimes you may need it but don't let that give you a distorted view of yourself. Criticisms may offer a chance to learn and grow but can kill your joy if you hold them too long. 
• Set your vision for people not programs. Vision for programs uses people, vision for people uses programs and allows you to kill or implement new programs without crushing you.