The Triumph of Common Sense

John 9:24-33(NKJV)

24So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”

25He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

26Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

27He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

28Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 

29We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

30The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 

31Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 

32Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 

33If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

I have long been a fan of common sense.  Book learning is fine and it is important but sometimes there is nothing like common sense. 

We've all heard the story (not sure if it really happened or not) of the big truck the gets wedged and stuck under a bridge.   They bring in all kinds of experts.  Wreckers and cranes and they can't get the truck unstuck.  A kid walks over and simply lets the air out of the tires of the truck.  Lowers it enough that they can just back the truck out from under the bridge.  Pretty cool!

Where do we get common sense?  I think it is a combination of our book learning and then our life experiences.  I don't know why but some people are better than others at melding those two facets of their lives to reach conclusions that escape others.  That's the "common sense quotient".  (Think I  should trademark that phrase?  LOL) 

Can it be taught?  I think to a certain extent it can.  One of my first jobs out of high school was reconditioning used cars.  The mechanics used to get such a kick out of me.  I provided the entertainment.  They would watch me struggle on a project and then after I finally finish it one of them would walk over and say "Hey did you ever think of doing it this way?" , and they would all laugh and laugh! 

That taught me to stop and think through a project before starting.  Two reason.  First it helped me find quicker and easier ways to accomplish the task.  Second, I don't like looking stupid!  Some might think their laughing at me was cruel but I've got to say it worked on me.

OK, back on track.  What I love about the scripture above is the triumph of common sense over book learning.  Look at the first part.  The Pharisees (book smart and legalistic) ask this guy if the person who healed him was a sinner or not.  Let me paraphrase his response.  Don't know, don't care, here is what I do know, He fixed me!

He's just a regular guy.  He doesn’t know all of that technical stuff.  He just knows he is fixed.  He had a life experience with this guy named Jesus.  He doesn't know all of the ins and outs of the thing.  He doesn't know that Isaiah prophesied about Jesus?  He doesn't know that the book f Daniel also predicts His coming.  All he knows is that this Jesus guy just did something for him that no one else has ever been able to do for him his whole life.  That's what he knows, and he knows it beyond a shadow of a doubt!  Why?  Because he lived it. 

The Pharisees continue to try and cast doubt.  Then the guys simply walks them through his common sense logic, step by step. 

1Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 

32Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 

33If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

So here is my question for you.  What is it that makes you know that you know that you know? 

For me it is a couple of things.  It's looking back in amazement at all of the seemingly unrelated events and how they have brought me to where I am today.  It's being able to talk to God and experience that peace that passes all understanding.  That peace that while all external indications tell you that you are screwed, you can smile because deep down you know that it is going to work out.  It's experiencing God guiding me through that little voice deep inside me.

Spend some time thinking about what it is that makes you know and then give God a smile and thank Him because that is worth more than all the book learning in the world!

“What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

That's a great question isn't it?  What is God's will for our lives?  What does He want us to do?  What is the purpose He has for us?

These are things that we ask God.  So obviously the first place to look for the answer is where?  The Bible, God's word.  I can't think of a better place to start.  Let's see what it says in the Gospel of John.

John 6:28-29(NKJV)

28Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Can it really be that simple?  Isn't there more to it than that?  Could this be another case of thanks God, but…….?

There is a lot of confusing stuff in the Bible.  A lot of stuff that you really have to puzzle over.  Jesus spoke in parables all the time.  Why did He do that?

Mark 4:11-12(NKJV)

11And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 

12so that      ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,     And hearing they may hear and not understand;     Lest they should turn,     And their sins be forgiven them.’” £

Matthew 13:10-13(NKJV)

10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 

12For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 

13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 

So I can see why we would have a tendency to look for deeper meaning but sometimes we need to just take things at face value.  So if you want to do the work of God, believe in Jesus.

Yeah but what about caring for the poor?  Just believe in Jesus.  What about evangelizing the world?  Just believe in Jesus. 

How can it be that simple?  Because if we start by focusing our heart and soul on Jesus, the rest will take care of itself.  You see it is through believing in Jesus that we receive the Holy Spirit.  Once we have the Holy Spirit then God has a direct line to our heart and He can guide us to do whatever else He would like us to do, but it begins with Jesus.

So do you feel that there has to be more?  That there has to be a purpose to your life but you can't quite figure out what it is?  If so then the answer is pretty simple.  Do the work of God by first and foremost , "believing in Him whom He sent."! 

It's Thankful People Who Are Happy

Love this sign!

 

So true in my opinion.  So how do you become a Thankful Person?  Make a decision!  Seems simplistic I know but it really is a matter of making a decision.  A famous quote by Abraham Lincoln states; “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” .  What I like about this quote is that it says "most folks" leaving an exception for those that suffer from clinical depression (according to some reports this is something that Lincoln himself suffered from)

But back to the central point, "most folks will be about as happy as they make up their minds to be".  So how do you make up your mind to be happy?  I think the easiest way is to make up your mind to be a Thankful Person.  Let me give you a really easy way to do it.  Then you only have to decide to do it.

 

My wife and I once went to one of Tony Robbins 4 day events in Chicago.  We did the barefoot fire walk and everything.  That's right, we both walked barefoot over a 20 foot bed of glowing hot embers.  Pretty cool.

Now I have learned a lot of great techniques in his training but I will also say that some of his stuff is a bit too new ageish and I am uncomfortable with it.  Those things that I was uncomfortable with I simply didn't participate in.  Doesn't make any of the good stuff I learned any less valuable.

I'd like to share one of the valuable techniques I did learn.  For those of you that work out, especially walking and running, use that time for an extended time of prayer.  Now here is the technique.  Spend the first 5 minutes of that prayer time to just thank God for all of the ways in which He has blessed you and those around you.  Who do you pray for?  Use the concentric circle approach.

Start by thanking God for all of the ways He has blessed you personally.  Then move on and thank Him for all of the ways He blesses your spouse.  Then thank God for all of the ways He blesses your kids.  And just keep widening the circle. 

You could also do this on your drive to work or while you are taking a shower in the morning, the possibilities are endless.

Here is my guarantee.  If you will make a decision to begin everyday by doing this simple exercise, within a very short time you will begin to experience the feeling of a heart soaring with thankfulness. (I know it is a cheesy saying but it is the only way I know to really describe the feeling that I get when I begin my prayer time with a thankful heart)

If you want to be happy then be thankful.  Start each day counting your blessing with a thankful heart and see how happy you become!    

And Many Walked With Him No More

I want to move on and write about other things but God seems to have other ideas and I learned a long time ago that His ideas are better than mine so we're going to take another look at the "can't we all get along" view of Christianity vs. the "exclusive family benefits" view of Christianity.  (Didn't know what to call the second view so I made that up.  If someone has a better name let me know)

As an example, on Friday I showed how in John 17:9-22 Jesus says that He prays for those who are saved and those who will be saved but He doesn't pray for the rest of the world. 

John 17:9-10(NKJV)

9“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 

10And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 

John 17:20-21(NKJV)

20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who £will believe in Me through their word; 

21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 

Pasted from <http://randomobservationsofacommonchristian.blogspot.com/>

This is an example of the "exclusive family benefits" that comes with being heirs in Christ.  It's not that Jesus wishes them any ill will.  In fact they are free to join the family any time they wish, He really wants them to.  He's just not wasting any of His prayer time on them, that is a resource that is reserved for those that believe in Him. 

What brought me back to this topic again today was the following verses:

John 6:61-67(NKJV)

61When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 

62What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 

63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 

64But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 

65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 

67Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

At times Jesus could be pretty in your face.  Here He flat out tells the disciples (not just the Twelve but all of them that were with Him) who He is and that He knows some of them don't believe Him.  He gets right in their face, "Does this offend you?"

Here is my point, while Jesus wants every single person to be saved He wasn't willing to water anything down to keep from offending them in hopes that maybe someday they might come around.  He simply explained to them who He was and how it worked.  They were free to believe Him or not, their choice.  Some chose not to believe and walked with Him no more.  Pretty sad.

So let me be very clear here.  I think we should be friendly, courteous, helpful, etc to all; believers and non believers alike.   We want to let the world see the love of Christ shine through us.  But I believe we also have to be truthful about what it is we believe and what it takes to be a follower of Christ.  As we can see from this example, no sometimes we can't all just get along, not when it means compromising the word of God! 

Thanks God, but....

Why is it that when we ask God to intervene for us on our behalf and He does, it isn't enough?  Here is the passage out of Genesis that prompts this question. 

Genesis 19:12-20(NKJV)

12Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! 

13For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

14So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

15When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 

16And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 

17So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that £he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

18Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 

19Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 

20See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”

Here we have God ready to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.  He makes allowances for Lot to save himself and his family.  You would think that that would be enough.  But no, Lot asks God to make it a bit more convenient for him.  Now in this case God granted Lot's request so I guess it is no big deal but it just got me to thinking. 

If God takes the time to answer our requests and intervene, shouldn't that be enough?  Shouldn't we just be thankful and do it His way.  Sure it may be a bit tough but trust that God knows what He is doing.  Maybe there is a lesson that He wants us to learn and it can't be taught in any other way.  Just a thought!

Who is Jesus Praying For?

I found this passage interesting.  It comes from the Gospel of John.  My Bible is a red letter edition Bible meaning the words printed in red are words spoken by Jesus.  Take a look at this.

John 17:9-10(NKJV)

9“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 

10And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 

John 17:20-21(NKJV)

20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who £will believe in Me through their word; 

21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 

Who is Jesus praying for?  He's praying for those who are already saved and He is praying for those who ultimately will be saved.  Who does Jesus say He is NOT praying for?  The world.  I take that to mean those who have rejected Him and will never accept Him.  Jesus isn't wasting any of His prayer time on those who reject Him.  Wow!

Is this cold hearted?  I don't think so.  And as I've written before, the reason I don't think it is cold hearted is that they are not being prayed for by Jesus because of a choice that they made. 

Jesus tells us that we are heirs with Him.  We are part of the family.  We are entitled to all of the benefits of being part of the family.  One of those benefits is Jesus praying for us. 

Because we have families we can understand this.  If you have kids you know that you are willing to share most everything you have with them.  You spend time thinking about them, caring about them, and worrying about them.  Why?  Because they are heirs, they are family.   

Now you run into people in your community everyday that need assistance.  You help out where you can.  You feel bad for them.  You may even think about their plight a bit.  But not to the degree and the emotional intensity that you do for your own kids.  Why not?  Because they're not family.

So for me the passages from John make perfect sense.  I don't see where Jesus is wishing them any ill will or anything.  They're just not part of the family and therefore not entitled to those benefits.

What I do find funny is all of the people that reject Christ but then would say that it isn't fair that He won't pray for them also.  Imagine how that makes Jesus feel.  Kind of reminds me of something a friend is going through.  He came to the aid of a friend and now the friend continues to take advantage of him and won't leave his house.  Here is what my friend posted recently.

"I came to the hospital cause your x said you were dying , I got you up and got you walking , I changed your ostomey bag " which is like wipeing your ass butt a lot smellier, I give you some where to live cause you have wasted most of your retirement and your soon to be x took the rest and you have no house cause the bank took it and you were headed to a nursing home . And Now I have told you to leave my home and you refuse cause I OWE YOU ...."

Reminds me of those people who reject Jesus and then turn around and say "well if He is really all about love like you say He is, He has to pray for me anyway."

Now here is the good news.  No one can stop you from enjoying all of the benefits of being heirs with Christ except you.  Jesus will accept you into the family in a heartbeat.  All you have to do is ask Him.

So would you like to have Jesus praying for you?  Think about that.  Would you like to have Jesus talking directly to God on your behalf?  Then just ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life.  It's really that simple and you'll be glad you did!

How Can a Loving God be Wrathful?

Ran across this today and it fit into what we have been writing about this week so I thought we'd take a look at it.

John 3:36(NKJV)

36He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Here is another example of what I have written about recently.  It’s not a simple let bygones be bygones thing if we reject Christ.  The Gospel of John tells us that the wrath of God abides on those that reject Jesus. 

Well that just brings up a whole host of questions.

How can a loving God be like that?  Isn't that petty?  I thought He wants all to be saved?

Let's start with the last question first.  God does want all to be saved, however He doesn't require it.  There's that whole free will thing.  People are totally free to reject Jesus but that doesn't mean that there aren't consequences to that exercise of free will.  What are the consequences?  God's wrath.  Now just so we are all on the same page let's look at the definition of wrath.

wrath

[rath, rahth or, especially Brit., rawth] Show IPA

noun

1. strong, stern, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire.

2. vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wrath

Fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation.  Keep those words in mind.

Now let's look at one other facet and then I will tie this together.  We are told that we are made in God's image.  The emotions we feel come from God.  The emotions we feel, He feels also.  Scripture tells us that there are things that sadden God, there are things that anger God, God loves us so we know He feels love, and God is also described as a jealous God.   Keep all of that in mind.

How can a loving God be like that?  Isn't that petty?

OK, let's see, God has poured out His heart for mankind.  Mankind keeps rejecting Him.  He perseveres.  He has his son Jesus sitting there.  Jesus is a great kid, the kind of kid any Dad would be proud of.  God needs someone to step up and do something truly heroic.  Jesus steps up "Got it Dad, you can count on me."  And He comes to earth and offers Himself as a sacrifice for all of mankind because Dad needed Him to do that.  Wow!

And after all of that His son Jesus did for mankind, many reject Jesus.  If they did that to your kid, how would you feel? How do you think God feels then?  Do you think fierce anger and deeply resentful indignation are out of line? 

The amazing thing to me is not that we earn His wrath when we reject Jesus.  The amazing thing to me is that He will take us back.  And that's what makes God's love greater than all other in my opinion.  It's almost never too late with God.  As long as your still breathing you can still ask Jesus into your heart.  Have you visited with Jesus today?  He's there waiting to hear from you.  Ask Jesus into your heart today and get away from God's wrath at the same time.  Sounds like a win-win to me.