"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." - Philippians 1:9-11
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". . .that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. . ."
Paul does not go into detail here about what love is - he skips straight to the practicality of love. However, I think it may be beneficial to quickly talk about love. I have been reading Simone Weil, the Christian Mystic, and while her ideas are hit and miss with orthodoxy, it is nonetheless challenging to our apathy towards orthodoxy (in a good and bad way). Two thoughts of love by her come into mind in this verse.
Firstly, Weil talks of the love of God: "Love of God is pure when joy and suffering inspire an equal degree of gratitude." The radical extremes that this quote gives us reminds me of Job. Job was profound not because God gets away with whatever because He is so big and Job is so small. When Job says, "You give and take away/ Blessed be the name of the Lord," He is saying much more than this simple induction of the trumping nature of God's Sovereignty and power. Job's love for God, in many ways, was intimate. God's love had rubbed off on Job's ideas of love. Job for once was selfless, knowing that God's love was where his justice and comfort was found.
Secondly, Weil talks of our love for others: "Belief in the existence of other human beings as such is love." In this perspective, we realize what love for others is about - the esteeming of the other. We love our neighbors as ourselves not only because it redeems and satisfies our human nature itself but also because it redeems and esteems the humanity in every individual. With these two quotes in mind, let us move to the practicality of Paul's teaching on love here.
Knowledge and discernment, in this excerpt above, are the guides and filters of our love in practice. First, knowledge here is concerned with our knowledge of God; specifically an intimate knowledge of God. The second, discernment, is concerned with wisdom in our social situations. Just as Jesus asks us to always keep our souls towards love of God and others (Matt. 22), and John teaches us that loving God and neighbor are not mutually exclusive (1 John 4), and Amos tells us that seeking God calls for righteousness in our dealings with our fellow man (Amos 5), so does Paul ask us to keep God and neighbor in focus with our love.
In specifics, this part is extremely practical for your sabbath. Our love is to be guided and filtered through our intimate knowledge of God (things you know by time spent with the person and not by reading their bio). Knowing God's character, desires, and law intimately makes our daily lives quite sensitive to living righteously. Moreover, our love needs to continually be on discernment. How we act in a certain situation depends greatly on how our selfless love has grown in wisdom. It would be really hard to act inappropriately in public if we realize that the people we are dealing with our human beings as such. Utility has little room in such a circumstance. But also, we realize that the safest action in a situation is usually the selfless act. When we are around others we are dealing with souls that can be injured or uplifted. Our love guided by our discernment, will help us greatly in uplifting souls only.
Today, in our Sabbaths, we need to refocus our love towards God and others by knowing God intimately and using discernment in our dealings with others. Let us find our love abounding today because of our continually desire to know God more and esteem our neighbor with even higher honor.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thoughts for Your Sabbath: Prayer
"Prayer may not save us, but prayer makes us worth saving."
"Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living. It is all we can offer in return for the mystery by which we live."
"The focus of prayer is not the self. . . It is the momentary disregard of our concerns, the absence of self-cetnered thoughts, which constitute the art of prayer. . . Thus, in beseeching Him for bread, there is one instant, at least, in which our mind is directed neither to our hunger nor to food, but to His mercy. This instant is prayer."
- Abraham Heschel on Prayer
The Sabbath for a Christian is a time of ceasing for the body and rest for the soul. It is a time for us to focus on our holiness. With this in mind, I thought it would be prudent to focus on what the early church held as holiness. In the beginning of Paul's letter to the church in Philipi, he offers up a prayer:
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." - Philippians 1:9-11
The next five saturdays will be a series on these three verses. There are three main statements made that each start with the word "that". We will look at each one a week starting next week. This week, I wanted to focus on the very first phrase that may have stronger implications than we realize.
"And this I pray..."
What is prayer to Paul? Later in Philippians he makes a very important statement. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Prayer AND supplication. The word for supplication here means asking and even begging for something. Notice this act is coupled from prayer but not the same. Prayer, in its essence, is a time of communion. In this communion, we offer up praise, thanksgiving, and requests as well as frustrations, agonies, pains, joys, love, and our neighbors. I am convinced that prayer would be much more powerful if we focused less on ourselves and more on others. Therefore, prayer is not telling God what He already knows you need. Prayer is offering up to God, as Lord, your very soul.
What does prayer look like? Jesus, in Matthew six, gave very different instructions to prayer than we are used to:
1. We are to pray in solitude (Matt. 6:6). Jesus Himself went to the mountain sides, wilderness, and pretty much any place he could find at early hours to ensure He was alone. He teaches this for focus (the Father is unseen), but also metaphorically to help us remember that prayer is an intimate act between you and God when each other's logos and pathos is poured out.
2. Prayer should be to the point and not filled up with words (Matt. 6:7). Being to the point produces sincerity in our words and hearts. Also prayer is not to be filled with words because our words are not near as important as His word.
3. We are to have the same focus on prayer as the Model Prayer shows us. We acknowledge God's presence and ask for his kingdom to be manifested in our own lives daily; we may ask for much but trust His character on what is essential (i.e. sustenance); we concern ourselves with our neighbor and our sins against our neighbor and God; and finally we ask for God's continual presence and guidance throughout our day.
This quick look at Jesus' teaching helps us refocus today as we pray. We can take his very simple guidance and turn it into a revolutionary instant in our day. The result of prayer and supplication, Paul says, is the peace of God. And that is true rest for the soul. In closing I want to offer up one more quote from Heschel that may refresh our senses on what prayer really does.
"The true motivation for prayer is not, as it has been said, the sense of being at home in the universe, but rather the sense of not being home in the universe. . . That experience gains intensity in the amazing awareness that God himself is not at home in the universe. He is not at home in the universe where His will is defied and where His kingship is denied. God is in exile; the world is corrupt. The universe itself is not at home. To pray means to bring God back into the world, to establish His kingship for a second at least. To pray means to expand His presence."
"Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living. It is all we can offer in return for the mystery by which we live."
"The focus of prayer is not the self. . . It is the momentary disregard of our concerns, the absence of self-cetnered thoughts, which constitute the art of prayer. . . Thus, in beseeching Him for bread, there is one instant, at least, in which our mind is directed neither to our hunger nor to food, but to His mercy. This instant is prayer."
- Abraham Heschel on Prayer
The Sabbath for a Christian is a time of ceasing for the body and rest for the soul. It is a time for us to focus on our holiness. With this in mind, I thought it would be prudent to focus on what the early church held as holiness. In the beginning of Paul's letter to the church in Philipi, he offers up a prayer:
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." - Philippians 1:9-11
The next five saturdays will be a series on these three verses. There are three main statements made that each start with the word "that". We will look at each one a week starting next week. This week, I wanted to focus on the very first phrase that may have stronger implications than we realize.
"And this I pray..."
What is prayer to Paul? Later in Philippians he makes a very important statement. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Prayer AND supplication. The word for supplication here means asking and even begging for something. Notice this act is coupled from prayer but not the same. Prayer, in its essence, is a time of communion. In this communion, we offer up praise, thanksgiving, and requests as well as frustrations, agonies, pains, joys, love, and our neighbors. I am convinced that prayer would be much more powerful if we focused less on ourselves and more on others. Therefore, prayer is not telling God what He already knows you need. Prayer is offering up to God, as Lord, your very soul.
What does prayer look like? Jesus, in Matthew six, gave very different instructions to prayer than we are used to:
1. We are to pray in solitude (Matt. 6:6). Jesus Himself went to the mountain sides, wilderness, and pretty much any place he could find at early hours to ensure He was alone. He teaches this for focus (the Father is unseen), but also metaphorically to help us remember that prayer is an intimate act between you and God when each other's logos and pathos is poured out.
2. Prayer should be to the point and not filled up with words (Matt. 6:7). Being to the point produces sincerity in our words and hearts. Also prayer is not to be filled with words because our words are not near as important as His word.
3. We are to have the same focus on prayer as the Model Prayer shows us. We acknowledge God's presence and ask for his kingdom to be manifested in our own lives daily; we may ask for much but trust His character on what is essential (i.e. sustenance); we concern ourselves with our neighbor and our sins against our neighbor and God; and finally we ask for God's continual presence and guidance throughout our day.
This quick look at Jesus' teaching helps us refocus today as we pray. We can take his very simple guidance and turn it into a revolutionary instant in our day. The result of prayer and supplication, Paul says, is the peace of God. And that is true rest for the soul. In closing I want to offer up one more quote from Heschel that may refresh our senses on what prayer really does.
"The true motivation for prayer is not, as it has been said, the sense of being at home in the universe, but rather the sense of not being home in the universe. . . That experience gains intensity in the amazing awareness that God himself is not at home in the universe. He is not at home in the universe where His will is defied and where His kingship is denied. God is in exile; the world is corrupt. The universe itself is not at home. To pray means to bring God back into the world, to establish His kingship for a second at least. To pray means to expand His presence."
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thoughts for Your Sabbath: Living by Truth
"But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." - John 3:19
It is clear with just an simple reading of Jesus' teachings that He liked to use the image of light in the darkness as metaphor for the good deeds of those who believe in Him. The contrast of this imagery immediately puts strong weight upon the actions of believers. This verse can easily be coupled with Matthew 5:9 where Jesus makes a very similar statement: "In the same way, let your light shine before man that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." This profound message does need to be taken lightly given the connection to our actions and the world's perception of God Himself.
"But whoever lives by truth..."
What Does this mean? It is interesting that truth, in this passage, is dichotomized by evil (verse 18). The typical dichotomy for evil is good, but not here. Jesus is striking the heart of the evil. In the Christian perspective, we must not be so shallow as to think that the counter point to evil deeds is good deeds. These are external manifestations of an internal quality found in our very souls. If man is evil and marred, only the truth found in the gospel can relieve our souls. This why we live by the truth. The truth is not merely ideas and evil not merely an action. The truth is the redeeming reality of a changing gospel that turns the marred soul of evil into a soul that is born again. The truth is the powerful force that sets our enslaved soul free, our continual test against the falsity of evil, and our steadfast guide to how we ought to live.
On this day that we remember our souls, let us be captivated to live by the truth (the gospel and commandments). The consequence of such a life is that it draws us near to God, and it draws others to God. Find time today to focus on the truth of the gospel and how it has made your life anew. This life, this fresh soul, is the source of all our good deeds. Loving God and neighbor might become a very easy thing to do once we allow the truth to become a motivation to live and not just mere facts.
Let us live by truth.
It is clear with just an simple reading of Jesus' teachings that He liked to use the image of light in the darkness as metaphor for the good deeds of those who believe in Him. The contrast of this imagery immediately puts strong weight upon the actions of believers. This verse can easily be coupled with Matthew 5:9 where Jesus makes a very similar statement: "In the same way, let your light shine before man that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." This profound message does need to be taken lightly given the connection to our actions and the world's perception of God Himself.
"But whoever lives by truth..."
What Does this mean? It is interesting that truth, in this passage, is dichotomized by evil (verse 18). The typical dichotomy for evil is good, but not here. Jesus is striking the heart of the evil. In the Christian perspective, we must not be so shallow as to think that the counter point to evil deeds is good deeds. These are external manifestations of an internal quality found in our very souls. If man is evil and marred, only the truth found in the gospel can relieve our souls. This why we live by the truth. The truth is not merely ideas and evil not merely an action. The truth is the redeeming reality of a changing gospel that turns the marred soul of evil into a soul that is born again. The truth is the powerful force that sets our enslaved soul free, our continual test against the falsity of evil, and our steadfast guide to how we ought to live.
On this day that we remember our souls, let us be captivated to live by the truth (the gospel and commandments). The consequence of such a life is that it draws us near to God, and it draws others to God. Find time today to focus on the truth of the gospel and how it has made your life anew. This life, this fresh soul, is the source of all our good deeds. Loving God and neighbor might become a very easy thing to do once we allow the truth to become a motivation to live and not just mere facts.
Let us live by truth.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Thoughts for Your Sabbath: A Day for Holiness
"Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands, but our soul belongs to Someone Else. Six days a week we seek to dominate the world; on the seventh day we try to dominate the self. . . Is there any institution that holds out a greater hope for man's prgoress than the Sabbath?" - Abraham Heschel, I Asked for Wonder.
The Sabbath is the most sacred time for the Jew, and it is the most enigmatic commandment for the Christian. It is a time set apart by God as an eternal covenant with Israel (Ex. 31:16) and Christians alike (Heb. 4:1-11) where we cease from work, in deed and thought, and find rest in turning our souls towards God alone. For the Jew, the Sabbath is a covenant based on time - their Sabbath is not a place but a day. For the Christian, the Sabbath is a covenant based on the Gospel - our Sabbath is not a time but an essential quality in our new life.
God commanded the Sabbath as a day for holiness. He set apart this day as holy in order that we may cease from our role as cultivator and subduer of the earth, and find rest in the pursuit of God and holiness. The rituals for the Sabbath are all based on de-cluttering your life to focus. It is a command to leave behind the vanity, vulgarity, and business found in the world for the solitary and holy pursuit of God. It is a time for the work of the body to cease and the soul to flourish.
Sabbath is not a daily devotional for the Christian. It is not prayer, reading scripture intentionally, and reflection alone - although it contains all of this. Sabbath, I believe, needs community as well. The Jews practice the Sabbath, rest and ceasing of subduing and cultivating the earth, by spending it in community. It is the ceasing of utility in our lives for the sake of the quality of the essence of ourselves and those around us. We most certainly can and should retreat in solitude during our Sabbath, but only to prepare for the community that equally needs to be embraced. If human beings by nature are relational, we must not neglect one relation (man) for another (God). It is a time to refresh or souls in both love for God and neighbor.
As you go about your day remember the significance of the Sabbath, a day specifically for the flourishment of our souls. Whether your Sabbath is the whole day, an hour, or 15 minutes, focus singularly on nourishing your soul at some point today. As Jesus said, the Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He makes it clear that ultimately the Sabbath is not a command to be obeyed but a gift to cherish. Fathers gather your family and cherish the gift of the Sabbath by communing with one another in study, prayer, and relaxation. As you meet with your friends, spend time with them in fun and reflection of your souls before God. Keep God and holiness in the forefront of your mind whether or not you are working today. This is about being intentional for the sake of your soul. In the middle of our to-do lists, let us not forget about our souls.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This weekly installment is a call to claim the seventh day (or at least a morning or hour) towards holiness and God. For the Christian, while our Sabbath or rest is found in the Gospel and not a day (Heb. 4), I think it is prudent for us, in this modern age, to claim a day a week solely for the pursuit of holiness. These devotional, conversational, and thought-provoking installments are meant to jump start your day in the direction towards remembering your soul's condition.
The Sabbath is the most sacred time for the Jew, and it is the most enigmatic commandment for the Christian. It is a time set apart by God as an eternal covenant with Israel (Ex. 31:16) and Christians alike (Heb. 4:1-11) where we cease from work, in deed and thought, and find rest in turning our souls towards God alone. For the Jew, the Sabbath is a covenant based on time - their Sabbath is not a place but a day. For the Christian, the Sabbath is a covenant based on the Gospel - our Sabbath is not a time but an essential quality in our new life.
God commanded the Sabbath as a day for holiness. He set apart this day as holy in order that we may cease from our role as cultivator and subduer of the earth, and find rest in the pursuit of God and holiness. The rituals for the Sabbath are all based on de-cluttering your life to focus. It is a command to leave behind the vanity, vulgarity, and business found in the world for the solitary and holy pursuit of God. It is a time for the work of the body to cease and the soul to flourish.
Sabbath is not a daily devotional for the Christian. It is not prayer, reading scripture intentionally, and reflection alone - although it contains all of this. Sabbath, I believe, needs community as well. The Jews practice the Sabbath, rest and ceasing of subduing and cultivating the earth, by spending it in community. It is the ceasing of utility in our lives for the sake of the quality of the essence of ourselves and those around us. We most certainly can and should retreat in solitude during our Sabbath, but only to prepare for the community that equally needs to be embraced. If human beings by nature are relational, we must not neglect one relation (man) for another (God). It is a time to refresh or souls in both love for God and neighbor.
As you go about your day remember the significance of the Sabbath, a day specifically for the flourishment of our souls. Whether your Sabbath is the whole day, an hour, or 15 minutes, focus singularly on nourishing your soul at some point today. As Jesus said, the Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He makes it clear that ultimately the Sabbath is not a command to be obeyed but a gift to cherish. Fathers gather your family and cherish the gift of the Sabbath by communing with one another in study, prayer, and relaxation. As you meet with your friends, spend time with them in fun and reflection of your souls before God. Keep God and holiness in the forefront of your mind whether or not you are working today. This is about being intentional for the sake of your soul. In the middle of our to-do lists, let us not forget about our souls.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This weekly installment is a call to claim the seventh day (or at least a morning or hour) towards holiness and God. For the Christian, while our Sabbath or rest is found in the Gospel and not a day (Heb. 4), I think it is prudent for us, in this modern age, to claim a day a week solely for the pursuit of holiness. These devotional, conversational, and thought-provoking installments are meant to jump start your day in the direction towards remembering your soul's condition.