Knock Knock. Who's There?
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart."
- Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
I lose things. Lots of things. It's true. Ask anyone who knows me.....I'm notorious for it. Even more notorious for this than I am for my lack of a sense of direction. My good friend Caren says I could get lost in a paper bag. My husband is even more convinced. More experience I guess. Don't ask me how to get anywhere. I may give you directions, but they won't be right. Yeah, probably should stop giving directions. Anyway, back to losing things. I lose things constantly. Once I lost a very expensive, special ring my husband got me. Lost it for almost 2 years. I found it in a desk drawer. It had been scooped off one day when I was working on a paper. I lose inexpensive things too, but usually it's the more important ones that cause me to seek diligently, sometimes for hours and sometimes for days, weeks, etc.
When I have lost something like this, the object is on my mind constantly. You could say I'm obsessed with it. I just HAVE to find it. Like the world will end if I don't. I'm very serious about it. I believe our salvation lies with the very same kind of determination or obsession if you will. Jeremiah 29:13 talks about that kind of obsession, which is one that involves the whole heart. I like the New American Standard Version of this verse, which is an update of the American Standard Version. The ASV was written in 1900. Writing a new version of the Bible has always been an interesting process that I won't go into here. Needless to say, the writing of a version is not taken lightly. Anyway, the ASV and later the NASB both used the word 'search' when describing the seeking process of Jeremiah 29:13. 'Search' used here comes from the Hebrew "darash" (daw-rash') meaning to frequent, follow, diligently search, or seek for. It describes a process that goes way beyond what many Christians of today consider "following Christ".
Most things we value have a strong investment in them. It may be the investment of money. It may be the investment of time, such as an heirloom or antique. It may be a relationship investment. The investment is what makes the object valuable. Although my ring was worth a considerable amount of money, it was the personal investment my husband made to get it for me that made it the most valuable to me. It was a gift, a surprise, and he went to great lengths so I could have it. He bought the ring with money he worked for in extra jobs. I could go out and buy the same ring or even one that cost more, but it would never be as valuable as that one. So I hunted. For a very long time. I "frequently diligently searched or sought for" it.
Not only do we need to personally be this fervent in our relationship with Christ, we are called to help others along in this journey as well. My Bible study group is currently studying "True Spirituality - Becoming a Romans 12 Christian," by Chip Ingram. Right now we are looking at verses 9-12 in Romans 12, where it teaches us about how to live in community with each other. Chip's premise is that the Bible is saying we need to be a part of a small group that is invested in each other. A group that takes time to know each other, to develop trust, to be authentic with each other. If we are REAL, i.e. honest and portraying ourselves as we really are, and if we invest the time with each other, Chip believes this is where the deep spiritual work is done. He uses Christ and the disciples as an example. They spent a tremendous amount of time together. They lived and traveled together. And even though the disciples sometimes tried not to be who they really were, Jesus called them on their insincerity every time. Because of their investment of time and study with the Savior the world was changed. It is a model we can copy with each other.
My dad was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. I went to some meetings as well. Dad said it was his "church". He felt safe there...knowing he was not going to be put down, criticized, or coddled. The people there were going to be honest, supportive, and yes, even loving. They helped save his life I believe.
The church should be an AA for sinners. A place to be safe, accepted, and loved. A place where people can learn from each others' mistakes and experiences. And while this is difficult to do in corporate worship, it is much easier with a small group of people who are committed to each other. Whether it be a group of ladies in study together, men who fish together, couples who take turns having small group activities together........the key is building an environment of trust and relationship where we are free to be ourselves and deal with our "stuff".
In the May edition of "In Touch" magazine, Winn Collier writes an article entitled "Healing Presence". Collier states that there is great freedom when we own the fact that we are all hurting and sick, and we can't "fix" our messed up lives. We all have different stories, but we all have the same problem. There is only one solution for that problem, and He is eager to make "sick and ruined people like us whole". This is why it is so important to share our stories with others . Until they know they are not alone in their brokenness....until they understand the only way we are walking and talking is by the healing power of the God of the universe....until they feel a part of our body instead of like a lost soul with no hope to join the "clique", our attempts at growing in relationship with God and each other are futile at best.
There are some estimates of 2.1 billion Christians in the world. That's wonderful! There is only one problem with those numbers. I wonder what the world would look like if these numbers were close to correct, and if those 2.1 billion people were using the "darash" approach to their relationship with Christ both in their own lives and encouraging it in the lives of others? I suspect it might look a bit different.
You know I have to be honest here. I am not always anxious to invest this time. Sometimes I'd also rather put on my "Pollyanna" mask and act like I have it all together. It's easier. It is particularly hard for me to be a part of a small, close group. I guess I am a loner at heart. That, and the fear of being hurt, seeming foolish, or saying the wrong thing make me want to tunnel in with my life the way I want it. Also, being a certain place at a certain time is not always what I want to do at that particular point. I could probably even stand the sterile, surface relationship with Christ one has when they try to go it alone (for a while). But, I have found that while it's easier, and sometimes more convenient, it doesn't begin to compare with the pure joy of connecting with other Christians and experiencing more of Jesus.
If you are not in some type of small group with other Christians, make it a priority. Stick your neck out. Be real. Be inconvenienced. Struggle. Seek. Question. Listen. Ask. Learn. Knock. Heal. And help someone else to do the same. There's nothing like it.
"So I say to you; ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you."
-Luke 11:9
- Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
I lose things. Lots of things. It's true. Ask anyone who knows me.....I'm notorious for it. Even more notorious for this than I am for my lack of a sense of direction. My good friend Caren says I could get lost in a paper bag. My husband is even more convinced. More experience I guess. Don't ask me how to get anywhere. I may give you directions, but they won't be right. Yeah, probably should stop giving directions. Anyway, back to losing things. I lose things constantly. Once I lost a very expensive, special ring my husband got me. Lost it for almost 2 years. I found it in a desk drawer. It had been scooped off one day when I was working on a paper. I lose inexpensive things too, but usually it's the more important ones that cause me to seek diligently, sometimes for hours and sometimes for days, weeks, etc.
When I have lost something like this, the object is on my mind constantly. You could say I'm obsessed with it. I just HAVE to find it. Like the world will end if I don't. I'm very serious about it. I believe our salvation lies with the very same kind of determination or obsession if you will. Jeremiah 29:13 talks about that kind of obsession, which is one that involves the whole heart. I like the New American Standard Version of this verse, which is an update of the American Standard Version. The ASV was written in 1900. Writing a new version of the Bible has always been an interesting process that I won't go into here. Needless to say, the writing of a version is not taken lightly. Anyway, the ASV and later the NASB both used the word 'search' when describing the seeking process of Jeremiah 29:13. 'Search' used here comes from the Hebrew "darash" (daw-rash') meaning to frequent, follow, diligently search, or seek for. It describes a process that goes way beyond what many Christians of today consider "following Christ".
Most things we value have a strong investment in them. It may be the investment of money. It may be the investment of time, such as an heirloom or antique. It may be a relationship investment. The investment is what makes the object valuable. Although my ring was worth a considerable amount of money, it was the personal investment my husband made to get it for me that made it the most valuable to me. It was a gift, a surprise, and he went to great lengths so I could have it. He bought the ring with money he worked for in extra jobs. I could go out and buy the same ring or even one that cost more, but it would never be as valuable as that one. So I hunted. For a very long time. I "frequently diligently searched or sought for" it.
Not only do we need to personally be this fervent in our relationship with Christ, we are called to help others along in this journey as well. My Bible study group is currently studying "True Spirituality - Becoming a Romans 12 Christian," by Chip Ingram. Right now we are looking at verses 9-12 in Romans 12, where it teaches us about how to live in community with each other. Chip's premise is that the Bible is saying we need to be a part of a small group that is invested in each other. A group that takes time to know each other, to develop trust, to be authentic with each other. If we are REAL, i.e. honest and portraying ourselves as we really are, and if we invest the time with each other, Chip believes this is where the deep spiritual work is done. He uses Christ and the disciples as an example. They spent a tremendous amount of time together. They lived and traveled together. And even though the disciples sometimes tried not to be who they really were, Jesus called them on their insincerity every time. Because of their investment of time and study with the Savior the world was changed. It is a model we can copy with each other.
My dad was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. I went to some meetings as well. Dad said it was his "church". He felt safe there...knowing he was not going to be put down, criticized, or coddled. The people there were going to be honest, supportive, and yes, even loving. They helped save his life I believe.
The church should be an AA for sinners. A place to be safe, accepted, and loved. A place where people can learn from each others' mistakes and experiences. And while this is difficult to do in corporate worship, it is much easier with a small group of people who are committed to each other. Whether it be a group of ladies in study together, men who fish together, couples who take turns having small group activities together........the key is building an environment of trust and relationship where we are free to be ourselves and deal with our "stuff".
In the May edition of "In Touch" magazine, Winn Collier writes an article entitled "Healing Presence". Collier states that there is great freedom when we own the fact that we are all hurting and sick, and we can't "fix" our messed up lives. We all have different stories, but we all have the same problem. There is only one solution for that problem, and He is eager to make "sick and ruined people like us whole". This is why it is so important to share our stories with others . Until they know they are not alone in their brokenness....until they understand the only way we are walking and talking is by the healing power of the God of the universe....until they feel a part of our body instead of like a lost soul with no hope to join the "clique", our attempts at growing in relationship with God and each other are futile at best.
There are some estimates of 2.1 billion Christians in the world. That's wonderful! There is only one problem with those numbers. I wonder what the world would look like if these numbers were close to correct, and if those 2.1 billion people were using the "darash" approach to their relationship with Christ both in their own lives and encouraging it in the lives of others? I suspect it might look a bit different.
You know I have to be honest here. I am not always anxious to invest this time. Sometimes I'd also rather put on my "Pollyanna" mask and act like I have it all together. It's easier. It is particularly hard for me to be a part of a small, close group. I guess I am a loner at heart. That, and the fear of being hurt, seeming foolish, or saying the wrong thing make me want to tunnel in with my life the way I want it. Also, being a certain place at a certain time is not always what I want to do at that particular point. I could probably even stand the sterile, surface relationship with Christ one has when they try to go it alone (for a while). But, I have found that while it's easier, and sometimes more convenient, it doesn't begin to compare with the pure joy of connecting with other Christians and experiencing more of Jesus.
If you are not in some type of small group with other Christians, make it a priority. Stick your neck out. Be real. Be inconvenienced. Struggle. Seek. Question. Listen. Ask. Learn. Knock. Heal. And help someone else to do the same. There's nothing like it.
"So I say to you; ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you."
-Luke 11:9
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