Why did Jesus sit down?

He sat down...

Have you ever wondered why Jesus sitting down is such a big deal? Hebrews 1:3 says, "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (ESV) Notice the second part of that verse; it's there we discover the reason Jesus sat down. You'll be blessed by this if you've never thought about it. 

Jesus sat down because His work was done and His work was approved. Isn't that awesome? 

Jesus Himself knew His work was complete; He said, "It is finished!" (see John 19:30). His finished work is why fear of God has no place in the heart of one who has come to Jesus in faith. The Spirit of God teaches us through the Apostle John, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1 John 4:18 ESV) 

Do you understand that, friend? "Perfect love" means something that has been fully completed. You see, when John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave...", it means God expressed His love by giving a solution to our debt, and that solution was completed on the cross, so God's love, in Jesus's finished work, crosses out God's wrath. If you believe on the Lord Jesus, and receive Him, you become a child of God, your sins are forgiven, you have fellowship with the Father and you have no need to fear punishment from God. Fear has to do with punishment, as John said, but we have nothing to fear if Christ has settled the issue for us and if we believe on Him. 

How can I know Jesus's work is enough? To answer that is to unfold the second reason Jesus sat down. Yes, He sat down because He was finished, but He also sat down because God the Father was satisfied with the work of God the Son! 

He stood (read: worked) till He was done and sat down at the right hand of God, and now He waits until "And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:11-14 ESV)

We who come by faith know God has approved of the work that paid for our sin and Jesus has completed. Because He sat down, we can be confident and without fear when we cling to Jesus by faith. 

I rejoice that Jesus sat down!

Are your commitments and priorities actual action or just talk?

Commitment...

Do you ever think about the concept of commitment? Commitment is a pledge to do something. 

How about the idea of priority? Priority is a thing that is more important and takes precedence over some other thing or things. 

We all live out our priorities. We may verbalize one set of priorities, but what we actually spend our time, talent, and treasure on is the real proof of our priorities. 

Think about it for a moment: how committed are you to following Jesus as a disciple? 

How high in your priorities is following Jesus?

We know what Jesus says. He says HE has to be our number one priority if we are going to be His disciples (see Luke 14:25-33). Jesus says we have to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength (see Matthew 22:37-38). 

We say we love God, but do our commitments and priorities prove that to be true? 

Joshua put a plain choice before others: "But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve." Then, Joshua made his commitment public, plain, and clear: "...as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." (see Joshua 24:15)

Paul's expression of joyful surrender is the only reasonable commitment when it comes to responding to God's goodness to we who believe in Jesus Christ. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 ESV)

Are you committed to the Lord? Does it show in our priorities, or is it a smoky thread, alive only in our speech?

For some, Jesus is a stumbling-block; for others, He is the Rock of Foundation.

Be focused!

The Apostle Paul said, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2 NASB)

Believer, be focused on Jesus!

Jeff Iorg said, "The message of Jesus Christ crucified is as radical, confrontational and controversial as it ever was in the first century, and like the first century, people are likely to call you either a stumbling block or a fool. But you stay focused on our message -– Jesus Christ, crucified."

Some time ago, I heard a sermon on the radio from Daniel 3 on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and I vividly remember the three points of the sermon. They were (1) they wouldn’t bend, (2) they wouldn’t bow, and (3) they wouldn’t break. I want to be that way about the truth of Jesus!

The thing is, the truth that for some Jesus is a stumbling-block is for others the cornerstone (see 1 Peter 2). For some, Jesus makes them stumble. For others, Jesus is the Savior. It's the same Jesus; it's the same message.

Friend, which is Jesus for you, a stone of stumbling, or a sanctifying Savior?

Believer, what are you focused on? Is your calling as a disciple of Jesus at the forefront of your commitments and priorities? Are you focused on Christ and Him crucified?

Are we all talk when it comes to loving God?

"Execute love with intentionality," I said to a young leader as I sent him on an errand. He nodded, knowing what that loaded comment meant from a previous conversation.

A middle school girl quickly queried, "What? What does that mean?" 

I began explaining to this girl that love is action and actions of love produce feelings, just like actions of hate or apathy or scorn or kindness produce feelings too. I told her love is action; it does something. I asked her if someone had ever said they loved her but did not behave in a loving way. Her eyes were big as she nodded yes.  I shared for about 2 minutes total.  Finally, she said, "Man, that's deep." 

It sure is. 

We say that we love ____________, but do we have actions of love or conversations about love? Many of us say we love God, but do our actions prove that or is it just talk? 

What should love look like? I believe it is the very nature and character of God. The Apostle Paul spelled it out to some degree like this: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)

How often are we unloving because we aren't patient?

How often are we unloving because we are unkind?

How often are we unloving because we are jealous of the good that happens to others or of who they are or what they have?

How often are we unloving because are boastful?

How often are we unloving because we are proud?

How often are we unloving because we are rude?

How often are we unloving because we demand our own way and only think of self?

How often are we unloving because we are irritable?

How often are we unloving because we keep records of others wrongs, weaknesses, slights, or faults?

How often are we unloving because we rejoice about the wrong stuff?

How often are we unloving because we give up on God or give up on others?

How often are we unloving because we lose faith?

How often are we unloving because we lose hope?

How often are we unloving because we fail to endure?

I am not seeking to answer these things for you, but for me. Right now, this evening, I want to execute love with intentionality toward some middle school campers!

Life itself is a dangerous road.

Not every road has rails... 

Think about it, you might drive along curvy, mountain road, and at switching intervals, it will have a rail on the side that goes down the mountain and there will be rocks on the side that goes up the mountain… This provides limits, and limits which take great force to deny.

Or you might drive along a raised road bed, where the drop off on both sides is very high, and this takes zero force to deny, and it’s easy to fall deep into a gulch or ditch.

Or you might drive along the roadway like this one pictured here, dropping off. The way is marked in the middle and along the edges by lines, but those lines can only warn a person; those lines cannot stop a person. A person could literally fall off this road, or person could safely ignore the edge by navigating with the lines. 

Some borders on life’s road are very noticeable and rigid and hard to cross. Others are beautiful and both easy to cross and able to follow. Some are very easy to break and immediately dangerous. 

We need boundaries. 

We need clear lines of demarcation. 

We need to know what is right and what is wrong. We need guidance and accountability in these things. 

Are we the sort of people who help others find the road of righteousness? Are we the sorts of people that help others stay on it? 

Are we the sort of people who lead others off the path? Shame on us and woe to us if we are. 

"'Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'” (Deuteronomy 27:18 ESV)

Are you aware of your sins and weaknesses?

Not perfect, but aware and surrendered... 

"You can't judge me!" I hear it all the time; not always in those words, but always that sentiment.

When I hear it I want to say, "Well, you're right, and you're wrong." 

You're right. I'm not the judge. I cannot judge perfectly, even if I were called to be a judge. But, the biggest thing is this: I'm judged too. I cannot be in the place of the One whom we both stand before. 

You're wrong. I can judge others along with judging myself. See that? See the difference? I can see and say, "WE are wrong. WE are judged. WE are part of the 'all' have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." I can also point out Scriptural ideals and help each of us to pursue the Lord and listen for His judgment. It's not that "I" am judging "you"; rather, I am pointing out that we are judged by God. 

Make sense? 

Here's the real heart of the thing: "He also told them a parable: 'Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?'" (Luke 6:39 ESV) The real heart of Luke 6:37-42 is simple; before judging anyone, let us judge ourselves. Before judging anyone, be sure we are aware of our own sin and faults and weaknesses. Before attempting to tell anyone else their problems, make sure we are aware of our own, humbled before the Lord and ready for Him to work in us. 

See, I'm not perfect. I am aware of my massive imperfections. The question for me is am I grieved over my sin? Am I surrendering to the Father? Am I calling out to the Son? Am I being filled by God's Spirit? Am I seeking healing? Am I willing to receive His mercy AND 'go and sin no more'? 

Judging is NOT about standing in God's place and pointing the finger at others. Judging is realizing that all of creation stands in God's presence and He is opening His hand to any who would receive. We are judged; He is merciful in Christ Jesus.

Even if you doubt you doubt, I doubt that you don't doubt.

The darkness of doubt...

Sometimes we doubt God. Some soul reading this is thinking, "I don't doubt God! Maybe I doubt YOU! Maybe I doubt me, but, no way, I don't doubt God." Okay, smarty-britches, whenever we bully or take things into our own hands, we are doubting whether God will solve things in our timing or according to our wishes. Whenever we worry, we are plagued about God's timing, power, concern, or a host of other things which place into question God's attentiveness to our desires and goals. 

We all doubt. Maybe your doubts are small, so you try to manipulate your child's future ahead of God's timing. Maybe your doubts are huge, wondering whether God is or, if He is -- and, you know I believe He is -- does He care, or is He personal, or is He involved, and so on. 

To the person who says they don't doubt, to them, I say, hogwash.

Sometimes, we fear our doubt, and then, we can either become angry at ourselves -- in defense of our own fear -- or we can become apathetic -- again, I believe, in defense of our doubt. 

The best thing to do is face doubt head on, while also not being fearful, angry, or apathetic. Face it. Name it. Go to God with it. 

Look at the words of the psalmist with me: "'Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?' Selah Then I said, 'I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.'" (Psalm 77: 9-10 ESV) 

Let me give you three quick thoughts on doubt... 

1. If you ever have struggled with doubt, you're in good company. This psalm-writer, Asaph, doubted. He wondered whether God would remain silent and [seemingly] uninvolved. Thomas doubted the resurrection. Gideon and Moses doubted God's call on their lives. Abraham and Sarah laughed at God. The list of "heroes of the faith" who are also "doubters in the crowd" is long. Like I said, you're in good company. 

2. Don't forget the end of the story. For those in Christ, EVEN IF their entire existence on earth is filled with struggle, it's temporary. Don't look at the whole of the thing while your choking on a chapter.

3. Record and rejoice in your times of certainty. Start journaling. Record your own words of certainty, in those seasons of spiritual clarity that you have them, and go back remember and rejoice and stir those times of revealed certainty. In today's verses, Asaph juxtaposes his own, present tense doubt against his own past tense certainty. He basically says [allowing my paraphrase], "The problem is not God; it's me." Asaph is saying, "God has turned against me, and it's me, not Him." Asaph remembers that he is more accurate in doubting himself than he is in doubting God. In those moments, let's look back at God's faithfulness and let's also check the record of our unfaithfulness. 

The darkness of doubt does come to every lighted soul, but the Light of Life will bring clarity. Let us not forsake the Light in our darkness. Rather, let us bow before Him and ask for the dissipation of darkness.

As for me, I am living in eager expectation!

 You'll know, but are you looking...

Believer, do you live in expectation of the return of Christ?

"And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:10-11 ESV)

He will return physically.

He will return suddenly.

He will return visibly.

We will know, but will we be looking?

We will know, but will we be ready?

Two things shape my life and drive my actions on a daily basis: (1) the standing orders to the church and (2) second coming of Jesus.

I want to be found faithful in the work when Jesus returns!

Physically: "This Jesus...will come..."

Suddenly: "...in the same ways as you saw him go into heaven."

Visibly: "...in the same way you saw..."

People, get ready. Soon, He'll be coming!

Do you only listen to what you want to hear?

Saying whatever you want to hear...

What we should want is people who witness, teach, proclaim, preach and exemplify Jesus. We should want the unvarnished, holy, God-honoring word of the Living God. We should demand straightforward, faithful handling of the Holy Scriptures.

What we should not want is ear tickling talk. 

We should not want such preaching that makes light of the same sort of sin the Savior sacrificed Himself for. We should not want such preaching that makes provision for the flesh.

Brother Peter was used of the Spirit to lay before us the reality and the danger...

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." (2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV)

Read that a few times. Think on it. Test the spirits. Open the Bible for yourself.

Are you following such sensuality? 

Do you only listen to what you want to hear? 

Do you enjoy teaching that tells you "you're okay" only?

Receive such teaching that causes you to exalt God. Demand such teaching that makes you tremble before holy God. Desire such teaching that lifts up Jesus and causes your flesh to yearn for Him.

Take nothing less.

Lord, teach us to number our days.

Life is but a mist...

James 4:14 says our life is a mist, rising and passing fairly quickly. Think about it; even 100 years is a blip across the scope of eternity. Job said, "...my life is but a breath..." (Job 7:7 NLT)

We need this perspective. We need to understand life is too short to take for granted, AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, we need to understand we are always our next breath away from facing God.

We most definitely need that perspective.

Look at how we treat one another ... the things we say ... the things we do ... the things we think about one another ... would we want to face God in the next breath after the way we often treat one another?

Though not exhaustive, look at these Scriptures for some perspective: Genesis 3:19, Psalm 39:5, Psalm 78:39, Psalm 102:3, Psalm 144:4, Proverbs 27:1, Isaiah 2:22, and Matthew 6:27.

One of my favorite perspective setting or restoring verses comes from Psalm 90: "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12 ESV)

We are all going to face God -- face to face -- and be held accountable for, most importantly, (a) about what we have done with the Lord Jesus and (b) all our actions in the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Job 34:11, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:32, Romans 2:16, Romans 14:10, and others).

We're all going to face God. We need perspective. We need it...

Lord, teach us to number our days, and to realize what comes at the end of them, and teach us to get a heart of wisdom. Father, help us to see that how we treat one another matters to You. May we see our time is short, but our deeds are being recorded in heaven, and may the reality humble us and bring us to Your feet in worship and dependence.