What does baptism make you do?

Am I afraid that my baptism in the name of the Christ, or baptism in the Spirit of God will force me out into the wilderness? Why do I sit comfortable in my office writing this? Lord let these weeks to Easter be a time for seeking your face and the fulness of your spirit in my life and church!

The Dark Night (Lent A1)

This week's texts read like the points of a sermon already. From temptation and the first sin to the promise of forgiveness to second Adam and his temptation. What a rich sequence.

I am learning about lent. All I knew growing up was from the perspective of a church that does not observe lent. The concept of entering 40 days in the wilderness with Christ catches my attention. We prepare for the joy of the resurrection with a time of physical and spiritual desolation. We examine our hearts through the lens of the darkness of our human situation. Perhaps we may even experience the dark night of the soul.

This is where we begin.

3 2:1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
32:2 Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
32:3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Selah-stop and meditate on this. Happiness contrasted with the wasting, groaning, heaviness of God's hand. This is also grace, in the middle of the dark night.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Selah-you forgave me. Lord help me to be faithful to you and your people as I lead us into a time of meditation and reflection, that we may see through the darkness the presence of your hand and the hope of salvation.

Transfiguration art

A year with the lectionary

I was looking over my old semons online, and I realized that I started using the lectionary February 15th last year. The second lectionary sermon I preached was the transfiguration from Luke.

It is something to see the difference between Year C and A in focus this week.

Mount Zion (Transfiguration A)

Come, let us climb the mountain of the Lord.

When God's glory covers the mountain, it looks like a consuming fire! Think on the immensity of the glory of God. It covers Zion. The mountain seems consumed. Moses, entered the glory there. The people trembled there. Worship at his holy mountain!

"I have installed my King
on Zion, my holy hill."

The psalmist cries to the world, tremble in fear at the foot of this mountain. Kiss the son.

Moses and Elijah still stand in the glory of Mount Zion as they see the long awaited Christ glorified in their own eyes. Blazing light, consuming fire.

Peter, who stumbled over what he was seeing, years later testifies, "I am an eye witness to that Glory!"

For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."n 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Walk humbly with your God.

Humility comes with walking hand in hand with God. It is humbling to be correctly related to God. It is when we rely on the self-righteousness of our beliefs and works that we exalt ourselves above the Holy.

Our conceit and rebellion cannot be redeemed with our sacrifice.

Micah 6:6,7 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Especially contrasted with the awesome power of God to deliver the people from Egypt. The Holy God acts ferociously in his mercy. In addition to his holy transcendence, this also shows his grace. He wants to lead us out of captivity. He wants to walk with us! It is possible to be Holy as He is, if we walk humbly with him.

Do I love Justice? Do I love mercy? My self-exulted heart cannot, it is hard and blind. When I revel instead in the light of his Glory and Grace, my heart melts. The things God requires are internal, heart maters. O Lord! Tear through the shield I have put around my heart and humble me! Batter My Heart Three Personed God!

Cliff said that the gospel is there, it is wonderful knowing exactly what God requires.

Tribulation

MT 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit… those who mourn… the meek… those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness… the merciful… the pure in heart… the peacemakers…
those who are persecuted because of righteousness. Blessed are you when
people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me.”

Imagine those words coming from Jesus who with heart heavy sees the persecution of the future church.
“Honored are those who go through the fire to come.”

Ray said today that it took him forty years to realize this truth unifying the beatitudes.As I meditate on this, tears come to my eyes, how bout you?