What can you do?

We all have those moments when Jesus doesn't 'give us what we want', don't we? The people following Jesus this day were intent on him showing them a miraculous sign of some sort. While they didn't stipulate the exact sign, they wanted one as 'grand' as the manna that came down from heaven in the wilderness and they are so bold as to say so. Jesus told them if they wanted to perform 'God's works', then they would believe in him. Their response - show us something 'more grandiose' and 'amazing'. Gotta ask, but what is more amazing than the God of the Universe standing right there in your midst?

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? (John 6:28-29)

If you want us to believe in you, show us what you can do! Heartbreaking words to the ears of our Savior, I am sure, but he is gracious and goes on to tell them that he is the bread of life, even better than the manna that fell from the skies in the wilderness. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” (vs. 35-40)

You have seen, but you have yet to believe. Isn't that a bit like each of us sometimes? We have seen God work in our lives numerous times, but when the evidence is right there before us, we actually miss what he is doing or has done. Seeing isn't always believing, is it? If we come to Jesus with an open heart - even a questioning and seeking heart - he will not reject us. We might not even be all that 'sure' about him, but if we just come, he will do the rest. The truth is we don't need another 'sign' or 'wonder' - we just need to believe he is the one he says he is, that he will do what he promises, and then trust him to welcome us with open arms.

Too many are seeking a 'performance' - God isn't always going to be evident in what he is doing. He asks us to believe - to have a conviction of heart and mind that trusts. Take him at his word - for his actions follow. Just sayin!

Did I see that before?

Back in the day when I took cruises, there was one man who will stick in mind because of the importance of what he did for all the passengers on board. You may think it was the Captain, since he steered us clear of all kinds of seas which would upset our stomach due to the waves, or kept us on course just by keeping us out of certain currents. The man was a meek, mild mannered individual stationed outside the doors of the buffet each meal. His words were the same: "Washy, washy! Happy, happy!" His mission: All passengers dining within would wash their hands prior to entering. Why? To ensure the journey of all traveling on the ship would be safe, enjoy their trip and avoid the exposure to unwanted food-borne diseases. Now, that is an important job, is it not?

God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. (Psalm 19:11-13)

Each day God stands in front of us simply saying: "Washy, Washy!" He knows the "dirt" we acquire as we go through our days - taking in this influence and the next without realizing the potential for damage they cause if allowed to take "hold" of us. He stands there to direct us to the hidden treasures he has prepared for us. The gentleman at the door of the buffet could not tell us where the hidden treasures were that meal, but he prepared us to dine. God prepares us and he brings us to the hidden treasures that await. Our part is to dine.

We get all confused with what to do next because we cannot sort things out quite as well as we'd like to think we can. God cleans the slate - giving us a fresh day to start. Then he keeps us from "stupid sins" we'd like to pick up along the way! Lest we think God doesn't know our folly, he is the one who created us with the ability to choose! He knows we will not always choose wisely, so he prepares a way for us to wash away the grime caused when we have not! This is what we call grace. God keeps us from totally "fouling" our lives for good - providing a means for our protection and our provision.

The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. (vs. 7-9) The Word of God - pulls us together and makes us whole. His Word is the way to see clearly when circumstances befuddle our minds and cloud our thoughts. It opens us up to clarity quicker than any other source of "wisdom" or "advice". How? Because it is alive and breathing, sharper than any two-edged sword, knowing right were to get at the root of what is bothering us and causing us such turmoil.

His Word points out the right path to take much as a signpost does for the driver of an automobile. In this day and age of GPS to help us travel from one point to another, we find ourselves reliant upon technology instead of the good old foldable maps of days gone by. There was something to be said about studying that map though. The main thing I see with the map versus GPS is the ability to see where we have come from and where we are headed. It gives us perspective. We can clearly see the journey - marked out for us. His Word points out the places of joy along the way. The journey may be riddled with all kinds of difficult places, but interspersed in the journey will be places of joy and healing. God provides "physical" places of joy for us along the way - just as carefully as he prepares the spiritual!

His directions should not be burdensome for us. He may not take us the quickest route, but he takes us by the one that will produce the greatest opportunities for our "intake". His directions are never burdensome, my friends. They bring us to places we need to be and times we need to enjoy. As we close this morning, let us not skip over the insight of "chewing on God's Word all through the day". It is important to mull-over these words again and again, allowing them to sink in deeply, washing over us with freshness each time we do. God's Word never gets old. His signposts are often needed more than once in the journey. Just sayin!

What sign?

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.  I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. 

(Psalm 119:9-10 The Message)

Yesterday, we finished the first "section" of this Psalm.  We begin the next "section" with David posing a question:  How do we live a clean life?  He sets out several things in the verses that follow - we will consider those over the next couple of days.  Before we get to the answer, we should try to understand the question a little better.  In some translations, this question is posed as:

- How shall a young man cleanse his way?  That one is a little confusing because it sort of focuses us on having to do the work of "cleaning up our act" ourselves.

- How can a young person live a pure life?  I like this one because it really gets to the core of what David is trying to say - he wants to know how he gets from the point of making impure decisions which lead to impure actions.

- How can a young person stay pure?  This one even brings it home a little clearer because it points out that purity is not a one-time "fix", but something that we need to stay focused on as we make our life choices.

So, now that we understand the question a little better, we are ready to begin to "digest" what is set out as the answers, right?  You know me better than that!  What does it mean to live a pure life?  Purity is a lost concept in our society today.  Therefore, we need to understand God's perspective on purity.  The word "pure" simply means to be free of things that contaminate our minds, emotions, or souls.  In science, we'd say that is being free from any "admixture" - there is nothing "mixed in".  

David is really asking God:  How do I live, truly live, without getting stuff "mixed into" my life that will lead me down wrong paths - in my speech, my actions, my thoughts, etc.?  Those are the kind of questions God enjoys answering.  They thrill his heart!  So, here's what God answers:

- By carefully reading the map of my Word.  Have you ever thought of the Word being like a road map?  If we begin to think of it that way, we might consult it more often, especially when we go into "unknown" territory.  A road map is only of value when it is consulted.  Have you ever traveled with someone who is too stubborn to consult a map?  Now, wives, don't all look at your husband right at this moment!  I imagine there have been a few times when you were "lost" yourself!  It is often our own stubbornness that keeps us from consulting God's Word.  When we get "lost" along the way, we are getting things "mixed into" our journey that don't need to be there!

- By being single-minded in your pursuit of Jesus.  It should go without saying that God desires us to keep Jesus central in our lives - the object of our focus. Yet, we have a tendency to "mix in" all kinds of other things, people, ideas, etc., in place of Jesus (or alongside Jesus).  The simple truth:  It will not work!

- By paying attention to the "road signs" clearly posted by the one who has prepared the journey.  Stop here for a moment.  Think about your last time on the road.  Did you really read each of those signs you whizzed on by?  Or did they become like wallpaper to you?  I am guessing that the latter was the case.  We often "miss" the signs because we turn a blind eye to them.  God says that he has put them there - we just need to pay attention to them.

So, as we delve a little deeper into the ways we walk free of "admixture" in our lives, let's begin with these three instructions for a safe journey.  Read the map!  Keep focused!  Don't ignore the signs!