ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED ....

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” -  1 Corinthians 11:23-24

"On the night he was betrayed ..."

What horrible, haunting words.  With these words the Apostle Paul begins his words of instruction to the Corinthians regarding the practice of the Lord's Supper.  The section contains a powerful statement of purpose and promise for all believers. 

Nonetheless, it is introduced by those six troubling, accusatory words.

Paul was referring to Judas' betrayal of Jesus but we would be spiritually remiss if we think that's all the text suggests.  For Judas was Jesus' first betrayer. He was not and is not the last.  On this Maundy Thursday I find myself drawn to those words.  I ask myself, "Am I one who betrays him?"  Not that I sold him to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver.  But are there not other ways I betray him by callously or lightly ignoring what He has done for me and the price He paid for my sin?

Do I not betray him ....
     When I operate from selfish pride instead of sacrificial humility?
     When I use my faith to satisfy my own needs and ignore the lostness of my neighbor?
     When I hold onto my anger and withhold my forgiveness?
     When I grow silent about my faith when others speak openly and scornfully?
     When I try to blend into the world and its values instead of risking it for the sake of the world?
     When I think that going to church or even belonging to one is the same as authentic discipleship?
     When I excuse persistent sin instead of confessing and surrendering to His transforming power?
     When I pursue 30 pieces of silver rather than giving all for Jesus?

As you come to the table of the Lord tonight, ask yourself, "Do I still betray him?"

(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn   

MATURITY

 Reading: Psalm 71:14-19

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
   and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
   do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
   your mighty acts to all who are to come.

I am now sixty years old but I still refuse to join AARP.  I can get just as good a discount deal from AAA and I don't need more life insurance.  Everything below my shoulders has the look and shape of a man my age, but my heart and spirit will subtract a decade or more.  My golf game is so bad that I'll never be able to shoot my age, but I can still yank a ball up the left field line for a hit (I just can't get past second base).

Lately I have been spending a lot of time with our student ministries as we transition to a new youth director.  I have been serving both as a teacher, spiritual counselor, and male influence especially for some of the young men who are part of this congregation.  They have graciously accepted me into their company and confidence, even Facebooking me. They acted incredulous went it was announced I had hit the big Six O.  That was a tremendous ego boost.

Bur I am also conscious that my remaining years of ministry are numbered.  They've always been numbered, I am just now more conscious of the fact. Financially, I plan to work another 10 years before "retiring."  But that's not where I am coming from.

God has already blessed me with 40 years of ministry. They have been fruitful years and they have been a purpose-driven life that I would trade for nothing.  I have been blessed to see God at work in powerful ways and I have been privileged to help facilitate transformed lives.  There are many people who are now fruitful servants of God experiencing life to the full as promised in John 10:10 because of the work God has given me and empowered me to do.

Yet I am intensely aware that there are still too many people for whom God is out of sight, out of mind; who maybe have a religion but not an authentic relationship with the Living God. I am aware that there are still generations who have not been reconciled to God, a reality that has eternal significance.  And that continues to be my purpose.  That's why I resonate with these words of David's; spoken in the years of his maturity.

 ¹⁴ As for me, I will always have hope;
   I will praise you more and more.
 ¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
   of your saving acts all day long—
   though I know not how to relate them all.
¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD;
   I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
   and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
   do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
   your mighty acts to all who are to come.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD?

"So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”" - Genesis 22:14 

"The Lord tested Abraham."  These words at the beginning of chapter 22 begin a  powerful and sometimes troubling story of Abraham and his son Isaac and the possibility that Abraham would sacrifice his son to satisfy the Lord,  Most of us know, however, that this was a test of Abraham's obedience.  God had magnificent plans for Abraham, whose personal story would provide a key chapter in God's Story of the salvation of sinful humankind,  And Abraham, who was willing to pay an extreme price to be obedient, demonstrated that he indeed feared the Lord,  He learned that the willingness to make sacrifices is the key element to experiencing the fullness of God's promise.

But also Abraham learned that God would never call him to make a sacrifice that would bring harm to those entrusted into his care. And Abraham learned that ultimately God provides what is needed for the sacrifices that He calls us to make.  Out of this came the conviction that "on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."

We think of mountain as mountain top.  So for many of us, we must find a mountain experience in order to be energized or re-energized in our commitment to the Lord.  But here mountain is referring to the place that is set apart to come close to God, the place where we have separated ourselves from the demands and desires of this world, to meet God and encounter His powerful presence.

So many times, in the press of life, we default to our own provision for faithfulness and fruitfulness.  In grasping at our own straws we actually distance ourselves from the sense of His presence and the dependence on His provision.

During our Lenten Journey, let us take all that we are, affirming all that we need, claiming all that we believe -- and go to the mountain of the Lord.  And as we arrive, we will discover an incredible, life-transforming truth ,,, on the mountain of the Lord, He will provide.

(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn

CROSS PURPOSES

 Reading: Luke 9.23

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves  and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Children are clever and sometimes, more than a little determined.  When my children were young upon my arrival at home I would often be greeted with a request, "Dad, can I do this or that?"  I learned very quickly not the launch into an immediate consideration of the merits of their  request, but to ask a question of my own.

"What did your mother say?"

Invariably, she had said something. A something with which they did not agree.  They were coming to me to see if they could get a more favorable verdict.  

I have learned that kids love to practice "divide and conquer" and a parent who is not alert to their little machinations can soon find themselves at cross purposes with their partner.The result is usually to the detriment of those they are trying to parent, especially if the cross purposes make Mom and Dad cross with one another.

At one point the Pharisees accused Jesus of being "of the devil."  They didn't like his authority. They didn't like his agenda.  They didn't like his vision of the Kingdom which threatened their vision of the kingdom.  Jesus responded to them, "A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand."  He was the One and Only Begotten of the Father. Satan would never give Jesus any occasion for glory, no support in his efforts.  To do so would to insure his failure.

A more important question for us during Lent is "are we at cross purposes with God?"  Christ came into the world and went to the cross to reconcile us to God. The intent was so that now we could live according to His purpose, to be the servants of the Good News.

Are you living with the purpose of the cross or at cross purposes with the cross?

(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn