Dec 24 2010

Christmas, the rest of the story


When I think of the humble birth of Jesus the first Bible verse that comes to mind is this one from Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:5
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,but a body have you prepared for me”.

The “consequently” in that verse refers to the prior verses that explain that offerings, sacrifices, and religious ritual, and law keeping can never take away sin. Only the once for all, once for all time offering of the body of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, can take away sin forever.

It is good and right to celebrate Jesus’ birth, and just as important, we celebrate his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. Each time we share together in communion, eating the bread and drinking the cup, we declare the Lord’s death ’til He comes. And, each time a new believer is immersed in water, the gospel is acted out, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is proclaimed.

The Christ child did not come into the world just to be imitated. He came to pay the awful price of the wrath of God against sin and to show the love of God for sinners. The innocent babe of Bethlehem was just as innocent before His crucifixion until…., until the sins of the world were laid upon him. He suffered the shame, torture, and abandonment of God the Father and friends, and He did it for the ungodly, you and me.

Hebrews 10:10
And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Never again would it be necessary for a priest to go daily offering sacrifices. The one offering of Jesus of his own body satisfied completely the justice and righteousness of God so that based on that once for all, once for all time offering, God can declare an ungodly sinner “not guilty”. Those who are in Christ by faith need not try to appease God about their sins or do anything to attempt to gain His favor. His awful punishment of the Christ is His definitive statement on His love for sinners.

The coming of the baby Jesus was marked by people coming from afar to see him and by a bright star that lit the night sky over Bethlehem. He died alone, his friends had forsaken him, even the Father God turned away for a time, and light left the sky. But He rose from death victor over death, hell, and the grave.

Today the gracious offer of Christmas is Jesus Christ who himself is life everlasting, peace, and righteousness. Those who trust Him alone and forsake all to follow Him have newness of life, the forgiveness of all sins, and the promise of a heavenly inheritance reserved for them.

Peace on earth and goodwill toward men is only possible because the One who would suffer and die for us, and now lives for us, was born. “God with us” is the blessing of Christmas. From my home and heart to yours, may you know the true blessing of the Christ whose birth we joyfully celebrate.

Royce Ogle

Dec 13 2010

The mixed emotions of praying for the sick


Yesterday I joined some great men to pray about the impending surgery of one of our long time leaders as he faces the 3rd surgery in several weeks. I am confident he will be fine. We also prayed for another leader facing surgery tomorrow a.m., his 3rd in a year. He will be fine too I believe.

And, I and a friend stood by the bedside of an elderly sister who was hardly clinging to life, her body ravaged by cancer, and we prayed for comfort, for peace, that she would soon see her Lord. Not many weeks ago one of our dear brothers asked to be anointed with oil and prayed for. Our elders honored his request. He is now near death. It is increasingly obvious to me that God’s intention is not to heal everyone who asks or has someone asking on their behalf. How do we know what to pray for the sick?

Because I don’t know any better option I follow these guidelines.

I ask for healing. God invites is to ask for anything we desire. He gives specific instructions regarding prayer for the sick. So I obey and simply ask.

I trust God the very best I can. I often find myself in harmony with the Bible character who asked “Lord I believe, help my unbelief..”. That is my place often. With my limited faith I cling to God’s promises and expect Him to act.

I depend heavily on God’s promises. He has promised that He is making every event in our lives work for our good, even the bad stuff. I must believe that and cling to it tight-fisted in order to grapple with seeing a friend, a good God trusting man, die.

I pray for God’s will to be done. Some call this a crutch for unbelief. Well, I’ve already confessed to my unbelief, but since Jesus taught the disciples to pray “Thy will be done…” why should I do less? Jesus himself prayed “Never-the-less thy will be done” as he agonized in prayer before his crucifixion. It’s always right to want God’s will done. I want ALL my friends healed. But God’s will always trumps my will.

When we come to God with humility, simply asking for what we desire as a child asks his father, and trusting our Father to do what’s best, what will please him, I believe we are on safe ground. I know God heals in answer to prayer. My father was instantly healed of lung cancer. Once when I was a young man a preachers wife asked me to pray that God would heal her arthritic hands and He did. And in many, many cases when I joined others to pray for someone’s healing God’s sweet answer was “Yes”.

I prayed for many, many years for my dear mother’s blindness to be healed and that same trustworthy, promise keeping, loving heavenly Father, said “No”. I believe I was right to ask and I think it was OK to question God many times with “Why?”. Finally I discovered that in that particular case God’s “No” was absolutely best. Mom touched many, many lives and there will be lots of folks in heaven because of her sweet disposition and witness to Christ and his goodness to save.

Just today I received a report that yet another brother has the bad news that he has cancer. So, I will pray that God will heal him. And I’ll trust God the best I can and then I’ll see what God will do. Whatever the outcome, God is good, and loving, and just, and does what is best for His own. That I know for sure.

Agape’
Royce

Dec 11 2010

What does God want from you?


In my world, here in the Bible belt, a Christian is a moral man who takes his family to Sunday School every week. He says a prayer of thanks before meals, even in a busy restaurant. He gives 10% off the top, serves on committees at church, and is overall a good man.

He might drive a current year model SUV with a nav system and a back up camera, or he might drive a 20-year-old Mercury with a tattered KJV Bible on the dash and a Honk if you love Jesus bumper sticker on the back.

He might be Baptist, Church of God, Catholic, or Pentecostal Holiness. For the most part, his brand is incidental. It usually only differentiates him from others like him on Sunday for several minutes. Oh, by the way, this generic Christian is taught by his spiritual mentors to avoid sinners. And he is taught that good people go to heaven and bad people don’t. Be careful that you avoid strong drink, look at a beautiful woman with only a quick glance, be honest in your business dealings, and don’t miss church.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, the one where hurting people are waiting to be loved, there is a remnant of Christians who are different. Yes, they do fit the template described above, but they also are bigger than the template, or much smaller. They are learning discipline, becoming disciples of Jesus, becoming familiar with the cross. They are saying NO to self interests in order to serve others. They are not as interested in what the folks in the church community think about them as the first group. They are loving sinful, ungodly people, on purpose. They are engaging the world about them with acts of kindness, sacrifice, and unconditional love. They are world changers.

There is a watching and waiting world assessing those who are self-described Christians. They are somewhat able to sort out those who know about Jesus from those who actually know Jesus. Even when they are treated badly they keep on loving, they only ignore harsh words or crass humor at their expense. They are not imitating Jesus, they are living His life day by day. They are salt and light. They are content with whatever life, or lifestyle, God gives. They are faith followers of Jesus.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. (Matt 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23)

Deny himself? A cross? Lord I prefer a bumper sticker, or a sign of the fish emblem, or a Bible on my dash. I do pray in public you know. Deny himself? Oh, you didn’t mean that literally did you? ….Really? A cross? What does that mean? I have this prolonged illness… People at work don’t like me because I am not a drinker and don’t appreciate their filthy talk. That’s what you mean, right?

Those who want to save their lives must lose them. The way up is down in the Kingdom of God. Deny self means put other’s interests ahead of your own. And, a cross is never more nor less than an instrument of death. The cross of Jesus is a daily reminder that I must live as a dead man. That is I must live as one who is dead to bigger barns, fat bank accounts, personal recognition, and all the trappings of worldly success.

What does God want from you? The answer is quite simple. Surrender. That’s right, just give up. Stop trying to act like a Christian. Stop trying to imitate Jesus. Put self in the dust and allow the Holy Spirit to live the life of Jesus out of you to others. Love wins every time. Love them and tell them. Don’t promote you, or your brand of church, just give them Jesus and his story. And keep loving in His stead for His glory.

It all works out when He comes. Life isn’t fair, but He is.

Agape’,

Royce

Dec 10 2010

A Christmas Treat


Yesterday I was peeling a satsuma, my favorite, and I thought of my dad. And, I thought about how easy it is to take almost everything for granted.

My parents grew up in the rugged frontier of the mountains and valleys of Western North Carolina. They were both teens in the late 1930’s and times were quite hard. My grandfather lived off the land and somehow with the help of uncles and aunts and grandparents they raised a total of 12 children, most of them in that primitive lifestyle.

I remembered my dad telling me how he and the other children looked forward to Christmas because that is the one time of year they would get an orange. And you read right, “an” orange. Usually they each got one. A dozen oranges was splurging that one time of year. Were they poor? You have no idea how poor.

So, when I am prone to whine and moan about not having an iPad or a newer car or…whatever, I need to pause and remember that orange. I am very, very blessed to the point that I am very, very spoiled, as are most Americans.

Thankfully,

Royce