I CAN'T but Jesus CAN

I CAN’T… But Jesus CAN

Our society encourages us to have high self-expectations.

I CAN, YOU CAN, WE CAN are the mantra of modernity.

But I know that I can NOT, more than I CAN.

I am not capable, I am not able, my limitations far exceed my abilities. Just as a human being, I see my ‘can nots.’

Relationally, I am not trustworthy, I am not dependable, I am not loving, I am not aware.  In every relationship, my failures out-darken my light.

Spiritually, I am not obedient.  I am not submissive.  I am not humble. I am not open-hearted to God’s Word or Spirit.  Like Paul, “… I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19 ESV)

But what I cannot do, Jesus can do.

Leaving aside for now our examination of what makes Christians peculiar, we will focus for a time on one very peculiar aspect of Christianity.

Jesus does what we cannot do.

Slavery

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, (James 1:1 ESV)

Slavery

I do not argue often with professional translators.  What knowledge I have gained in Biblical Languages is usually just enough to follow their arguments about particular word choices, and not nearly enough to pretend fluency.

But James did not, as most translations say, claim to be a servant of God.

He claimed to be a slave.

Culturally and historically, the idea of slavery makes most of us uncomfortable.  But we, like James, can rejoice in our slavery to God.  I would not rejoice in slavery anywhere else… but slavery to God is unique because He is absolutely good, unconditionally loving, and holds us so very close.

Slaves absolutely depend on their masters.  Slaves are completely under the authority of their masters.  Slaves trust their masters.  Slaves listen to their masters.  Slaves know they can not exist without masters.

Because of Adam’s world-breaking sin, humanity is in slavery to sin.  Because of Christ’s death and life, and God’s exchange, we are God’s slaves. 

And it is a necessary, comforting, exciting thing.

We are peculiar, we relish our slavery.

Finding Wisdom

Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep! (Proverbs 14:6 The Message)

Finding Wisdom

I stared in bewildered wonder at the dashboard of the unfamiliar car.  I had discovered that there actually IS a CD-player, but I could not figure out how to eject a CD.  I was doomed to listening to Clearance Clearwater Revival until the car died, apparently.

But then I opened the owner’s manual.  And suddenly it all made sense.

No mare CCR!

The world is a lot like me.  They see a world full of mystery, unknown things, and unclear relationships.  And like me, they search, and examine, and theorize.  And sometimes, of course, they get it right!

But we have a quick route to wisdom.  We have a secure way to find truth.  We have a reliable source of knowledge, application, and wisdom.

Wisdom is actually pretty simple.  Although we often find it hard.

Wisdom is listening to God.  Wisdom is not found by hard work, study, experimentation, examination, hypothesis, synthesis, or guessing.  Wisdom is found by asking, “What does God say?”

And we get to do that all the time!

We are peculiar, we know how to find wisdom.

Patience

But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;  nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. (Galatians 1:15-17 ESV)

Patience

Have you ever asked God to develop patience in your heart, and found yourself demanding that patience right NOW?  Paul did not act like that. 

Even after God had amazingly converted Paul, had told Paul mouth to ear that Paul was going to preach about Jesus, had brought fulfillment of all of Paul’s previous life in Paul’s new calling, new job, and new position… Paul was patient.

It reminds us of David, waiting years after Samuel anointed David as King before accepting the throne.  It reminds us of Jeremiah, preaching and preaching and preaching with no results, but still preaching.  It reminds us of Simeon and Anna, knowing that the Messiah was due to be born, but having to wait for so very long.

They had patience.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, meaning that we receive it because God offers it to us and gives it to us.

We can be like Anna, and Simeon, and Jeremiah, and David, and Paul.

Because we know God, we can hear God’s promises and be patient.

We are peculiar, we do not really need it now.

Pride

They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. (I Kings 4:21 ESV)

Pride

I learned in school that the ancient nation of Israel was a tiny place, tucked between other mighty lands, and only notable because the Bible notes Israel’s existence.   But that is not an accurate picture.

In David and Solomon’s time, the Kingdom of Israel was powerful, wealthy, and respected.  Because it literally was God’s land.  Israel was no flea-land, but was the nation other kings turned to for knowledge, for advice, and for help.

Just as Rome was sought after, so was Israel.  Just as Britain was emulated, so was Israel.  Just as Chinese emperors established governmental traditions that lasted for centuries, so was Israel.

I have seen Christians act ashamed of the place of Israel in ancient history.  But instead, we can be proud.  I have heard Christians belittle David’s line.  But instead, we can be proud.  I have read the History of God’s people belittled as never having made a difference in the world.  But instead, we can be proud.

Because ancient Israel was mighty, and because ancient Israel set the stage for the Messiah.

God honored Israel in preparation for Jesus!

We are peculiar, we have an amazing heritage.

Credit Evangelism

And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. (I Kings 3:28 ESV)

Credit Evangelism

One of the easiest ways to do evangelism is to copy Solomon.  He was famous for his wisdom, but Solomon gave God credit for it.  When Solomon’s decisions were praised, this verse hints that Solomon did not brag, describe the hard steep path to the top, or offer video courses on “Five Steps to Good Government.” 

He gave God credit. 

And so, all of Israel gave God credit, too.

We get to do that, too.  When we are praised for an accomplishment, give God credit, and the world might hear.  When you find success, big or little, shine the spotlight on God, and the eyes of your friends might look at Him, too.  When your plans reach fruition, when you learn a new skill, when you get a reputation for doing something right, say, “God was in me.”

The result in Israel was accurate praise of God.  It can be for us, too.

We are peculiar, we know how success really happens.

Sensible

When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah. (Genesis 26:34, 35 ESV)

Sensible

I once worked for a man who had a strange rule… no shoes were allowed in his house.  He did not have particularly nice flooring, he just didn’t like shoes.  Apparently, it is illegal in some cities to spit on the sidewalk.  I do not know if such rules are enforced, but they certainly are strange.  My parents declared a very arbitrary bedtime when I was a child.  I never understood the rationale.  I still do not.

But God’s rules, laws, and commandments are not only His holy instructions to set us apart from the rest of the world, they also make sense.

Look what happened to Isaac and Rebekah after Esau married two other women.  God’s intention from Genesis 2 onward was a man and a woman to marry, but Esau decided he knew better. 

And the result was a bitter life.  As we would expect in any multi-spousal family.

But God’s commandments make sense.

Because they are His.

We are peculiar, we can follow His sensible laws.

Foundational Grace

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. (Genesis 25:27 ESV)

Foundational Grace

From the beginning, scripture gives hints that Esau was a better man than Jacob.  In their day, a man who was skillful in outdoor tasks was superior to a man who quietly hung around home.  And the comparison continued.  Esau was honest, Jacob a liar.  Esau was hard-working, Jacob was sneaky.  Esau was steady, Jacob was flighty.  Eventually Esau was gracious and kind, and Jacob was often bitter and angry.

So why was Jacob God’s chosen man for the line of the Messiah?

I have no idea.  He would not have been my choice. 

But God is gracious.  He chose Jacob because He chose Jacob.  He does not explain why.

I notice that He chooses me the same way.  Others have nobler character than me.  Others are more kingdom-useful than me.  Others are smarter, healthier, warmer, kinder, and even better looking.

He chose me to be His adopted child because He chose me.  He does not explain why.

So I do not need to fear losing His choosing.  I do not need to be insecure about my standing in His family.

The foundation of my relationship with God is grace.

We are peculiar, He chose us.

Reverse Heirs

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. (Genesis 25:1 ESV)

Reverse Heirs

Sarah had died, and Abraham got married again.  While Sarah only had one son, Keturah had six.  It might seem that Abraham would favor Keturah.  Now that the ONE son had arrived, Isaac, these other six sons were delicious icing on the cake!  And even perhaps further assurance of God’s promise keeping.  But Genesis 25:6 shows that none of Keturah’s sons held Abraham’s attention or affection.

This sounds odd, or even bad, to our ears.

But if so, it is because we are forgetting the BIG picture.  Sarah and Keturah were both beloved companions of Abraham, but only one of them was connected by blood to the Messiah.  Abraham favored the line of Sarah over the line of Keturah not because Isaac was better than Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

But because of Jesus, born of Sarah and Isaac.

Jesus is the center.

And likewise God favors His people over Buddhists, Muslims, Thor-worshippers, or atheists.  Not because we are better, indeed we are often not!  But just like Sarah and Isaac looked ahead to Jesus, we look back. 

But because we are connected to Jesus through HIS blood.  And any Buddhist, Muslim, Thor-worshipper, or atheist can be favored by God, too.  Just connect to Jesus.

We are peculiar, we are reverse heirs.

Promises

So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city.  After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. (Genesis 23:17-19 ESV)

Promises

Even though God had promised the entire region would be Abraham’s,  so far Abraham had not seen much fulfillment.  In the same way that Abraham and Sarah might have doubted God’s promise for a child, they might have been doubting God’s promise of land.

And Abraham believed enough to start the ball rolling.  He bought this land, with the purpose of burying Sarah, as the first installment of the Promised Land.  Just as Isaac was only one child on the way to legions, so the cave of Machpelah was the first square of land on the way to the expanse of heaven itself.

Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, and Leah all end up buried in that place.  Because their families all believed God’s promises. 

Today, Christians, heirs of Abraham, are more than I can count, fulfilling God’s people-promises.  And today, Christians live under King Jesus all over this world, fulfilling God’s land-promises. 

We are peculiar, we can see God’s promises are kept.

Weakness

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12:9,10 ESV)

Weakness

I know a young man who is amazingly clever with Rubik’s Cubes.  He owns dozens, of different shapes and compositions.  But no matter how difficult the situation, that guy can solve it post haste! 

But, of course, if I were better at those puzzles myself, I might not enjoy watching him as much.  The fact that I am unable to solve even the simplest allows me to relish his performance that much more!

In the same way, I take pleasure in the skills of my mechanic when he gets rid of that annoying noise in the engine compartment.  I find pleasure in a well baked dessert.  I smile when I listen to a flautist, a pianist, a trombonist, or a ukulele-strummer.

Because I can not do those things.

The whole world feels bad about ourselves when we discover our weaknesses, encounter our failures, or taste our disasters.  But Christians do not need to react that way.

Our weaknesses allow us to see Christ’s perfections.  Those things that I believe I can do well are hard for me to surrender to Christ.  But those things I am unable to do, I have no choice but to gladly hand over to Him.

We are peculiar, even our weaknesses show us Jesus.

Work and Work

Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:3,4 ESV)

Work and Work

I have a relative who belittles my occupation.  Because I do not break out in a sweat, he has thought that I do not do any real work.  When we have discussed it, I tend to emphasize the hard mental effort, my emotional exhaustion, and the difficulty of pastoral work.  But we both were looking at it wrong.  Because I can acknowledge the necessity and value in his work.  And he can do the same with mine.

The Disciples did not suggest physical laborers because they were lazy, or even because they looked down on that kind of work.  Instead, they acknowledged that many kinds of work exist.

And they are all useful in God’s kingdom.

We do not need to compete with each other for which kind of work is best.

Instead, we get to rejoice that God enables all kinds of workers for all kinds of work.

We are peculiar, we can ALL work for Christ’s kingdom.

Discipline

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline (Hebrews 12:7 ESV)

Discipline

When our difficulties loom in front of our eyes and hearts, we might wonder what is happening.  Perhaps most often, we assume the Almighty God is punishing us, rightly so, for our rebellions, disobedience, and sin.

But God does not punish His children twice.  And He already punished Jesus for every sin we have committed, are committing, and will commit.

So, what is going on?

God is not punishing us, but treating us like His children.  

Punishment is judicial, discipline is guidance.

Punishment is angry, discipline is hopeful.

Punishment is finished when it is done, discipline has an eternal aim.

Punishment is cold, discipline is warm and loving.

We are peculiar, God disciplines us.

Adopted

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4,5 ESV)

Adopted

The Roman emperors used to adopt the children of their enemies, after war.  It would be interesting to see how successful that was, statistically.  But God does not adopt us to keep us under His thumb or to humiliate His previous enemies.

God adopted us because He knows how much we need Him in our lives.

Not merely in a comforting or provisional sort of way, but by necessity.

In this world of arrogant and ignorant rebellion against God, sins’ effects are devastating and eternal. And the only people who will find true and full relief are the children of God.

So, He adopted us. 

We are peculiar, we are adopted.

Exponential

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way…  (II Corinthians 9:11 ESV)

Exponential

As summer ends, I’ve been thinking about watermelons.  I like watermelons.

But the best thing about a watermelon is the hope found in the seeds.

One watermelon seed can lead to somewhere between 500 and 800 new watermelons!

One watermelon is not only tasty, it is also a potential investment!

God thinks exponentially with the blessings He gives to His people.

Like a watermelon, our blessings have within them the potential to bless others, who can bless others, who can bless others, who can bless others.

It is exponential.

And we can be a part of how God blesses His people, and even the world.

All we have to do is think like watermelons.

We are peculiar, God blesses exponentially.

Sing

And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. (II Samuel 22:1 ESV)

Sing

Towards the end of his life, King David contemplated how much God had done for him.  And he responded to that contemplation with a song.  It was not the first song David had written about God.  It was not the longest song David had written about God.  I am not sure how exactly to evaluate whether or not it was the best song David had written about God, but I like this one.

A song is a good way to respond to God’s work.

You might say, “But I am no musician, or composer, or writer!”

And you might be right.

But God’s work in our lives is worth writing even a poor song.

You do not have to publish it.  You do not have to present it to any human.  You do not have to claim it is beautiful, artistic, or monetarily valuable.

But it will be about what God has done for you.  And that makes it grand.

Music plays a part in our body, mind, heart, and soul.

Go ahead and write that song for God.

We are peculiar, we can sing.

The One

Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”  And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. (Genesis 18:32,33 ESV)

The One

Abraham was arguing with God for the sake of the city of Sodom, or more accurately, for the sake of Abraham’s nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom.  God had declared that He was going to destroy Sodom due to the rampant sin and open rebellion against Him that had become obvious there. 

God would have been just and right to do so.

But Abraham knew God’s Grace and Mercy, and so Abraham asked God to withhold His anger.  Progressively bartering, Abraham asked the Lord to save Sodom if 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally only 10 righteous people were found to be living in sin-engorged Sodom.  And God agreed.

But Abraham stopped too soon.  And perhaps the Lord knew exactly what He was doing as He agreed with Abraham’s begging and every decreasing number.  It was nudging Abraham towards an understanding of how necessary Jesus is.

Abraham could have kept decreasing all the way down to one.  Because God does save the world for the sake of one.  Not just ANY one.  But The One.  The Messiah.  The Christ.  Jesus.

God shows mercy for the sake of His Son. 

That One is why the Lord is merciful to us.

We are peculiar, we know the One.

Patience

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” (Genesis 18:11,12 ESV)

Patience

So, Sarah laughed.  Laughter exists on a continuum that spreads from derision and mockery on one side, to joy and exaltation on the other.

And somewhere in the middle, I think, is Sarah’s laughter at the repeated promise of childbirth from the Lord.  She was tired of making excuses for the Lord.  She was tired of hearing His Words, but never seeing any physical proof.  She was frustrated that her schemes with Hagar had not born acceptable fruit.  She was frustrated that Abraham did not join her in her doubting.  

Perhaps she even laughed in a way that was cynical, arrogant, and safe.  She had stopped believing, and looked down on those who still might believe.

But she could have laughed with hope.  She could have laughed with expectation.  She could have laughed with knowledge of God’s grace towards her.  She could have laughed, using laughter as God intends laughter to be used.

It would have required patience, when Sarah had understandably run out of patience.

But God was patient enough for both of them.  He kept His promises in His time, as He knew all along He would.

And then later Sarah did laugh correctly.  In Genesis 21: 6, she laughs in humility and joy, as the promised son, Isaac, was born.

It is not merely our sorrow that He will turn to laughter He also, if we wait on Him, turns our laughter into better laughter. 

We are peculiar, God is patient for us, too.

Family

It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” (II Samuel 19:1,2 ESV)

Children

David was called a man after God’s heart. (I Samuel 13:14) And while we often look for signs of that heart when considering the life of King David, we see it here perhaps most clearly.

Absalom was hateful towards David.  Absalom tried to have David killed.  Absalom was a political, familial, and emotional rebel.  Absalom took and took and took from David, taking advantage of David repeatedly.  Absalom hated David.

But David did not seek revenge.  In fact, while most of the nation rejoiced at the rebel Absalom’s violent end, David grieved.  David wept.  David mourned.

And in the story of this event, we are Absalom, and God is David.

When we rebel, and suffer the consequences, God grieves.

When we take advantage of God and suffer the consequences, God grieves.

When we laugh at God, scoff at God, ignore God, disobey God, rewrite God in our image, mistrust God, put God on the sideline or in our pocket, God should and could join all of Israel in rejoicing when we fall.

But instead, He sent Jesus Christ to die in our place.

Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s sacrifice as our own.

Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s punishment as our own.

Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s death on a tree, like Absalom’s, as our own.

David’s heart was like God’s because David was compassionate towards a rebel, unconditionally loving towards His children, merciful and gracious to those of His people who oppose Him.

That’s some amazing grace.

We are peculiar, we are like Absalom and God like David.

Blessing

and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2 ESV)

Blessing

God does not bless His people spiritually, emotionally or physically simply because He loves us.  He does not bless us in those ways as a reward.  He does not bless us in any way because He is obligated to us. 

In fact, God does not bless His people for any reason that has to do with them, particularly.

God blesses us so that we can bless others.

Now of course, God does love us, care for us, and enjoys our enjoyments that come from Him.

But the purpose of them, just like the promise to Abram, is for the blessings to multiply.

If you are a Christian, God has given salvation to you so that you can introduce Jesus to others.  God has given you emotional peace, hope, and joy so that you can help others find those states.  God has given you physical blessings like money, land, possessions, and food so that you can bless others with them.

We do not have to hoard any of them.

We get to use them for those around us.

We are peculiar, we can be a blessing.