Daily Butter: Do your part

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/16/12):

 

but those who trust in the Lord

will renew their strength;

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary;

they will walk and not faint.

(Isaiah 40:31 HCSB)

 

Isaiah paints such a beautiful picture of God’s strength using the apparently effortless soaring of the eagles. Throughout the generations, Christians have been inspired by this verse when placed with painting, sculpture, photography, and other of visual arts. Sometimes, I fear, we forget the prerequisite for the promise. Trust is the key that unlocks the promise. Just as unseen wind currents keep the wings of eagles aloft, confident trust in the reality of the unseen Spirit is the key to His uplifting strength. Both a person who fails to trust fully and an eagle that fails to spread its wings have as much likelihood of soaring as a rock.

 

“The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 HCSB)

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Self-Sacrifice

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/15/2012):

 

“And now I [Paul] am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:16b, 22b-24 HCSB)

 

Paul used the word “bound” to describe his reason for heading to Jerusalem (the “not optional” tone consistent across all English translations I’ve seen). He felt he must not be delayed by a stop in Ephesus, but sent that the leaders of the church should meet him at his stop over in Miletus so that he could impart this prayer request. This Apostle who urged believers “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) did not do so out of a hypocrisy, but walked the walk that proved his belief that the importance of his deeds far outweighed any pain or suffering his body may receive. Though not embracing the thought of impending pain and suffering with broad-grinned joy, Paul clearly did not back down from the pull of the Spirit. He thought nothing of the personal cost having already committed his life to follow the call. When the sacrifice is made in advance, the cost is of little consequence.

 

- Andy Jentes

Daily Butter: The Folly of Faith

I know it's been a while, but it's become clear to me that I need something (if even the structure of this little exercise) to keep me grounded, so without any further delay...

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/14/12):

By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, ... considered that the One who had promised was faithful.
    (Hebrews 11:11 HCSB)

C. P. Hia words in today's ODB about the difficulties on the journey being greatly overshadowed by the destination and this verse from the focus passage teamed up with some words that my pastor said on Sunday. Pastor Larry reminded us all that skepticism is welcome in His presence. Sarah here is remembered for her faith, but the thought of God's promise made her laugh (Genesis 18:10-15) and even the name of the son became a reminder of the incredible promise fulfilled (Genesis 21:1-7). It amazes me that the scripture repeatedly calls Him "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." That the God of the Universe would choose to allow himself to be known through the generations as the the God of "He laughs" reminds me of one amazing truth: God desires that we be drawn near to him, and He can take those who approach only to laugh in His face to have their eyes opened and transform them when He proves Himself faithful.

Is this on?

I know I've been silent and distracted recently. But in my Sunday School class, we talked about hope and it reminded me of this classic hymn that I wanted to share (that and "Blogger" has been updated since my last post and I wanted to at least make a simple post to try it out)

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Daily Butter 4/13: Not about me

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (4/13/12):

 

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.

(2 Corinthians 1:6 HCSB)

 

I often think of the phase “It’s not about me” as a reminder that it’s about Him and for His glory and (as Dave Brannon reminded us in today’s ODB) ultimately through His power, a different point jumped out at me. As Paul noted to the believers in Corinth, he and his travelling companions endured for the sake of their brothers and sisters. Not only do we endure to reach the prize (Rom 8:16-18; Phil 3:12-14), but as an example to fellow believers that they may see His strength, grace and peace through our endurance.

 

- Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 4/2: Child labor

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (4/2/12):

 

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

(Romans 8:15 HCSB)

 

This verse reminded me of a couple things. First being chores as a child (“Do I HAVE to?”) with the fear of the consequences of not doing what was expected. It was fear, yet I knew that the one enforcing those consequences did so out of love. This yields a fresh understanding of what “the fear of the Lord” means to one of His children: It is not motivation by a slave’s fear of his/her master’s retribution, but greater fear of breaking my Father’s heart by disappointing Him.

 

The second was a recent reminder from my Old Testament readings.  I’m no scholar of Greek, but the above verse is one reason I don’t like that the translators of the Holman Christian Standard Bible chose to translate Paul’s beginning to Romans “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,…” rather than the way New American Standard Bible translators chose: ”Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, …“. But I suppose slavery is a concept that we understand pretty well, while it must be explained that bond-servants are bound to their master by choice – willing slaves I suppose. It is not forced slavery of obligation to a demanding owner, but committed loving service by part of the family given out of gratitude to one who bought them with a price AND has given them freedom:

 

If your fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, you must set him free in the seventh year. … But if your slave says to you, ‘I don’t want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your family, and is well off with you, take an awl and pierce through his ear into the door, and he will become your slave for life. Also treat your female slave the same way.

(Deuteronomy 15:12,16-17 HCSB)

 

Father,

I am especially mindful in this season of the price that You gave for me. And to think that You paid that price so that I might have freedom is so far above my comprehesion. Therefore it is with eternal gratitude that I yield you my service. It would have been enough to have the joy of being Your servant after so great a gift, yet You have called me Your child. What amazing love! What amazing grace!

 

Only through Your grace,

- Andy Jentes

"Daily" Butter 4/1

Only the Daily part is an April Fools ;-)

 

In the Our Daily Bread for this Palm Sunday 2012, it was something different that prompted today’s thought. Rather than a different take from the “Read” spotlight passage, it was a reminder from the writing of Julie Ackerman Link about the promise of the Good Shepherd (teamed up with feeling something has been missing and the reminder of a dear friend that I hadn’t written anything like these thoughts in quite some time) that prompted the break in silence.

 

She wrote: ”Not all change is pleasant, but when we’re being led to a better place by Someone who loves us, we don’t need to fear it.”

 

She mentioned that we don’t dread change when it is pretty clear to us that the situation after the change will be an improvement and as one colleague moves into a new job situation, I continue to wrestle with a thought that change is what is going to be required. Without laying everything out for all to see, I would ask for your prayers as I have  been wrestling with the age-old struggle of what I want to do and what does He want me to do inevitably get filtered down into what will I do. I struggle knowing my faith and trust in Him is not measuring up to the supreme example of Christ’s selflessness to us in the Garden prayer (pardon the paraphrase) “I REALLY don’t want to do this, but if You say this is the only way, so it shall be done.”

 

But in the words of the great seatbelt traffic sign: “What’s holding YOU back?” I’m not sure whether it is uncertainty as to His leading, weak faith in this morning’s reminder to truly  believe that I need not fear when following the Good Shepherd or (as I have accused others) manufacturing manmade excuses to make something blurry that He has tried to make clear. Pardon my rambles, but please pray for me that I might see clearly and act wisely to take the path of His leading regardless of the terrain.

 

“Come!” He said.

  And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

  Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

(Matthew 14:29-31 HCSB)

 

 

Andy Jentes