Bought With A Price

First Corinthians 6:19-20: Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Sometimes as we struggle along through life and wade through the waters of difficult challenges, and complicated relationships, there can be times that we feel that others don’t value us as they should or as much as we would like for them to. In our relationship with God, we need never be concerned that we don’t have value. We were bought with a very high price.

I have a possession that is very special to me. It is my Chickering grand piano. It is well over 100 years old, and it is a very beautiful instrument. I have spent hours and hours pouring my heart out through the piano keys. Nearly every day I spend time on that old bench communing with God.

A local man who is an expert in restoring old pianos found it for me and did the restoration. I had to wait several years for the whole process to be completed. I don’t remember exactly what I paid for the instrument and restoration, but it has been worth every penny. I love that piano. It has value to me. It was bought with a price.

It is mind boggling to think that I mattered enough, that I had value enough to God that He would allow his Son to suffer a horrible death to redeem my soul. I must have much value, you must have much value. God must love us dearly and at a level beyond our comprehension. We should never act like we own ourselves. God paid a price for us.

Getting back to my piano, because it has much value to me, I have it tuned when it gets out of tune, I wipe the dust off, and clean the ivory keys.

I think God looks at His valued ones and finds the areas that need to be tuned up, the places that have dust that needs to be wiped off, and all of the keys that need to be polished. We are valuable to Him, We were bought with a price. He wants our lives to make beautiful music. He can make it happen.

Immeasurably More

Immeasurably More

My all time favorite TV ad is the one where the little boy makes his way onto the stage and up to the grand piano and begins to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Quietly behind him approaches the music master and joins him making his childish effort sound professional. The parents sitting in the audience morph from humiliation to pride.

Something in me swells every time I see that video clip stressing the importance of encouragement. I think I see much more in that tiny one minute story. That little boy is all of us. That little boy is me and you. I think about my meager efforts to accomplish some good thing and I picture in my mind my Heavenly Father approaching quietly from behind and turning my elementary efforts into blessings. My wonderful God is like that. Maybe that is why I am so drawn to the ad.

Ephesians 3:30 says, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

I know that the purpose of the ad is to encourage people to be like the musician, willing to come alongside a child with encouragement and understanding and patience. I didn’t miss that. It just seemed to speak louder to me that at times, I am the child. I am in need of something bigger than myself. What a comfort to think of God’s big, powerful arms reaching around me turning my efforts into something worthwhile. It reminds me of when He turned water into wine.

Water Into Wine

Every week she made her way to the rest home on the hill,

And played the old piano, their lonely hours to fill.

She hit wrong notes, and sang off key, but no one seemed to mind.

They recognized the gospel tunes and often you would find,

Some would clap their hands, or hum, and some might sing a line.

Some would wipe a tear as Jesus turned this water into wine.

Jesus changes water into wine,

He can make the simple into fine.

You may feel you haven’t much,

but it becomes a treasure at his touch,

Yes, Jesus changes water into wine.

Nervously with trembling hand taking guitar from its case,

He began to strum the chords, and sing Amazing Grace.

His wife and little boy joined in as he sang and played.

A first time gift of love was at the throne then laid.

You could hear Amen! Amen! For all had thought it fine.

And all were blessed to hear as Jesus turned this water into wine.

Jesus changes water into wine,

He can make the simple into fine.

You may feel you haven’t much,

but it becomes a treasure at his touch,

Yes, Jesus changes water into wine.

Each week he sat and waited in his wheelchair at the gate,

For his Sunday morning ride, never was he late.

Neighbors watched and wondered, where does he go each week?

Must be to church, buy why, oh why? They’d wonder as they’d peek.

What has he to give thanks for, what can he do confined?

But his neighbors did not know the Lord was turning water into wine.

Jesus changes water into wine,

He can make the simple into fine.

You may feel you haven’t much,

but it becomes a treasure at his touch,

Yes, Jesus changes water into wine.

A Verbal Hug

Proverbs 18: 4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

My daughter Robin called me this morning. We chatted for a minute or two then she said the real reason I called was to tell you what Cayden did last night. My mind went to all sorts of places. What had happened to my adventurous 7 year old grandson? I waited to hear what she would say. I could tell there was concern in her voice.

She told me that she and Corbin, her other son, were watching American Idol. Michael (her husband) was busy in another room. Cayden was quietly playing by himself. He had a blanket that he was using for a cape. I am guessing it was a favored blanket and that it had been around a good while. Robin said the satin edge was coming loose on it.

Cayden had managed to slip his head through the hole. Now his cape would stay on by itself. Somehow in the midst of his imaginative play turning and spinning it got tangled and tightened around his neck. It was cutting off his air supply.

He came to the door where she was watching TV and quietly ask his mom for some scissors. She looked at him and noticed that his little face was quite red. She got up and came closer and figured out what was happening. At that point she did what most panicking moms would do, she screamed for dad. Michael came quickly and untangled the blanket and all was well.

Robin needed a verbal hug from mom this morning. I soothed her with comforting words assuring her that she is indeed a very good momma and no one can prevent everything that kids do. I reminded her that I pray for her family everyday and that God watches when we can't. I teased that I would ask God to send extra guardian angels for that boy. We laughed, both understanding that with his personality he needs extra.

My daughter needed a hug from mom. It had to be a verbal one. Words can be like deep waters, refreshing and healing. There are people all around us that just might need a verbal hug today. Proverbs 31:26 says: She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. "Dear Lord, please give me a kind tongue".

HE GOT IN THE BOAT AND LEFT

There is an incident recorded for us regarding a man who had demons controlling him. He is the guy living among the tombs who cuts himself and scares people. The scripture says that for a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. When Jesus came along, the man himself did not recognize Jesus but the powers within him did. Jesus confronted the evil and miraculously delivered him from the oppression. The demons understood Jesus’ authority; they also must have detected a measure of mercy, for they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. Jesus permitted them to go into a herd of swine. The swine ran helter-skelter into a lake and drowned.

It was told around the town and countryside about this miracle. I find it interesting that rather than rejoice in the man’s deliverance and healing and rather than recognizing this one sent from God, they were instead uncomfortable ,and afraid. The scripture says this: Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

He up and left. The son of God was asked to leave and so He left. He didn’t stay and try to state His case with them, convince them of all He could do for them. He didn’t beg them to recognize Him. He simply got in the boat and left. The one with all the answers to all the questions left.

I find this incredibly sad, and incredibly convicting. I am fully aware of who Jesus is. I know that He is God’s son, the Messiah. I’ve invited Him in to be my Lord and Savior. But, how often have I dissed Him. How often in this circumstance or that circumstance have I said by my actions “leave, I’m uncomfortable with your way”? How often in my own life has the miracle worker “got in the boat and left” because I wanted to do things my way, or because my faith was too weak to believe in a miracle? I’ll tell you how often…..too often.

Dear Lord, please help me to recognize your authority, your wisdom and your power in all things. Please don’t get in the boat and leave. I also pray a prayer for my Nation. If you are on your way to the boat, please come back.

Let It Shine

Luke 8:16-18 NIV: “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

The topic here is light. Jesus told us that He is the light of the world. He was telling us that He is the source of enlightenment, or wisdom and understanding. He passes this enlightenment to us then gives us the assignment to pass it on. He told his disciples, “you are the light of the world, so let your light shine before men so they will praise your Father in Heaven”.

If I get up in the night to find my way to the bathroom, I flip on a light switch. I do not want my bare foot to step on a wandering spider or any other critter that might be sneaking around in the night. When the light comes on nothing is hidden, all is brought out into the open. I safely come and go. (No pun intended).

Jesus wants us enlightened for several reasons. There are things we don’t need to be stepping on the darkness, things that could harm us. His enlightenment provides safety, a light to our path. Also, our enlightenment leads others to His light.

Jesus adds one more interesting thing about this light that He gives. It multiplies. When He is the source of the enlightenment it grows and grows. And he cautions those who find a source of light somewhere else, it will be extinguished.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine let it shine let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine.

A Miracle Within

This week I planted some seeds in little pots thinking ahead to spring and garden time. These are seeds that I got from a place that sells only heirloom seeds, that is, seeds that will continue to reproduce from season to season.

I think that we may have lost the wonder of the miracle of seeds since we have become a society that gets our food supply from the store instead of the garden. To add to the erosion of wonder the seeds within the food we buy won’t produce a crop, and many of the seeds out there will produce one crop only. There are now patents on seeds. Heirloom seeds are not like that. They have not been “altered” to not reproduce.

When you stop to think about it seeds, “real” seeds are filled with mystery and a miracle. God being the creator of seeds has placed something inside them that carries a message for us, a message of love. In my mind’s imagination I can hear a long ago conversation.

Jesus: “I have an idea, Father.”

God: “What is this idea Son?”

Jesus: “Well, let’s do the plants this way, I mean, I know it is pretty easy to speak forth the plants, as we will do to start out, but considering, and knowing all about the people that are to be, let’s give them an added reminder about us, a reminder about eternity. It is so important for them to understand that eternity is real, and to prepare for eternity. I want them to be with me Father.

God: “I like your idea Son. Put within the seeds eternity, the ability to reproduce after their kind forever.

Jesus: “Done.” (Genesis, chapter 1 Day 3 of creation.)

I don’t know if God the Father and God the Son ever had such a conversation or not. I know from John Chapter 1 that Jesus was there because it says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

As I planted those seeds, I planted them with the intention of harvesting some seeds when the plants are mature so that I will have seeds to plant again. I am moved by the miracle in those tiny seeds. I am reminded of the miracle within me, a soul. My pastor says, “You are not a body with a soul, you are a soul with a body. I do see eternity in the seeds, and it does cause me to ponder my own eternity beyond the use of this earthly body. I want to spend eternity with my creator, the one who though He could have spoken new plants every season, chose to put within them a picture for me that would help me grasp how great is my Lord.

Untouchable

I find interesting the story in Luke chapter 5 that tells of a man who was covered with leprosy. This man came to Jesus begging “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean”.

Jesus healed many. Sometimes He simply spoke and healing came, as in the case of the Centurion’s servant. Sometimes He gave the person instructions to be followed as in the case of a man blind from birth. Jesus spit in the dirt, placed the mud on the man’s eyes and told him “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam.” The man did as he was told and was healed. Healing came to a woman who simply touched the hem of His garment.

My point is this, Jesus did not have to touch the man with leprosy, but He did. How very much that touch must have contained. Beyond the healing it said, “You have value, you are acceptable, you are touchable.” It had probably been a while since that man had felt a human touch. Persons with leprosy were looked upon as “dead” and not allowed to be among the people. If they were somehow healed, they went through a ceremonial purification process that allowed them back into fellowship among the living.

Jesus told this man, “Don’t tell anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus does not shy away from coming into the unpleasant putrid parts of our lives to bring cleansing and healing. He left the pure holiness of Heaven to have the filthy sin of all mankind placed upon His purity. He traded our sin for His righteousness.

When I read this account of His willingness to reach out and touch the leper, I know His touch is available to me. It is available to all.

What Was She Thinking?

Recently I read a portion of scripture giving the account of a horrible case of child abuse. It made me ask myself, “What was she thinking”?

We are told of a woman, a wife and a mother, who, while caught up in deep sin made a decision regarding her daughter that is unthinkable to me. We are not told how old the daughter is, maybe 6, maybe 12, maybe 16, but young enough to still be in her mother’s care.

This “mother of the year” was having an adulterous relationship with the powerful leader Herod. This man was her husband’s brother or her brother in law. In this recorded piece of history, John the Baptist confronted the sinfulness of their relationship and this woman was not happy about it. Instead of cleansing her heart of the sin, and aligning her life to God’s plan, she wanted to get rid of the convicting voice. She wanted to have him killed, but Herod knew that John was a just and holy man and he protected him.

This opportunistic mother was soon given her chance. Herod had a big birthday celebration and her lovely daughter danced for Herod. She must have been quite talented for it pleased Herod to the point that he offered her a gift of her choice for the performance. Prompted by good ole mom, this child requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod could not go back on his word in front of everyone, so it was done. I can’t help but wonder what the heart of that child would have asked for.

This child carried the bloody decapitated head of John the Baptist, an innocent man, to her mother. Her clothes and slippers and hands and arms probably were covered with the gore of the brutal execution. What nightmares did she suffer for the rest of her life? The request that had come from her mouth had killed a man, a good man, a man believed to be a prophet of God. What kind of guilt did that girl suffer from the mother’s direction?

It is not an uncommon thing for a person to want to quiet convicting voices instead of making changes. Mothers (and fathers) may shun church or godly voices to keep from hearing convicting messages. In doing so, sons and daughters are also kept away. They are given the example of shunning truth.

If God sends a message about something He declares out of bounds for us, it is out of His love that He sends it. There are places where He can send His blessings and there are places that He cannot send His blessings. Open our ears, Lord, help us to listen.