A Life Worthy

Are you so foolish?  After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? (Galatians 3:3)

Do you remember how it was in the beginning?

Not THE BEGINNING–none of us is that old, even if it feels like it on Monday morning.  No, I mean your beginning.  Do you remember how it was when you first gave your heart to Christ?  How you trusted him completely, how you knew you were utterly incapable of doing this on your own and so threw yourself at his feet?

Yeah, that was a good time.  You stayed out of God’s way and let him do his work.  And he did good stuff.  Whaddaya think–could you go back to that place?  Can you get yourself back to that state of total dependence on God?

No–you can’t get yourself there.

But

you can ask God to take you there, which is kinda the point, ya?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

You foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you?  Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified (Galatians 3:1).

You know the scene.  Star Wars–the real one, the first one.   Luke and Obi Wan–the real one, the first one–are on their way to the spaceport, and they are stopped by stormtroopers.  The troopers are on the lookout for two droids, which are obviously sitting in the vehicle in front of them.  Luke is scared, but Obi Wan does a little zip-zappety-zing-zang-force-ninja business and says, “These are not the droids you are looking for.”

And they buy it.

Paul’s words here make me think of the stormtroopers’ boss, reviewing the security tape later that day.  I imagine it went something like this:

“What was that?  The droids were right there!  You saw them!  They were obvious!  Some old dude waves his hand, and , what….you went blind?

You foolish stormtroopers!

You foolish Galatians!

You foolish Michael.
Happy Thursday, Beloved.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Frankly, I don’t know how those non-believer types do it.

I mean, to wake up every morning and move through the day, not knowing that you are forever, that you are loved by the Lord of Everything, that you are forgiven for being…you.

I’m telling you, I can’t make it three steps without throwing myself headlong onto the throne of grace.

We live by faith, Beloved.   And Faith is another word for Trust. We trust that, whatever comes, we are safe because Christ loved us and gave himself for us.

Whatever comes

Even if it’s Tuesday

You are safe.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

I have been crucified with Christ… (Galatians 2:20).

But…I haven’t.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not second-guessing Paul here, and I’m certainly not questioning Scripture.  I get (sorta) the idea that Jesus went to the cross on my behalf, so that it is as though I were in fact crucified.  The Father looks at me and sees my record clean and my debt paid, because of Christ.

But

I did not bear the scorn

or the lash

or the thorns

or the nails

or the shame

or the tomb.

Those were his, and his alone.

Though it should have happened to me, it happened for me.

I am left with so much that I don’t deserve

and

so little that I do.

And that, I suppose, is grace.
Happy Friday, Beloved.

 

Today is a day to sing.

Sing this hymn we’ve been talking about all week. Sing it in your living room, in the shower, walking the dog, on the drive to work. Let it roll over you, and let the Holy Spirit do his work.   If you don’t know the tune, just say the words.  Make it your prayer today, Beloved.

Oh, and leave a comment telling us where you sang it!

 

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou, my best thought by day or by night

Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light

 

Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word

I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord

Thou my great Father; I thy true son

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

 

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise

Thou mine inheritance, now and always

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart

High King of Heaven my treasure Thou art

 

High King of Heaven my victory won

May I reach Heaven’s joy, O Bright Heaven’s Sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all