You Are Not What We See

Judges 6:12 - And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” (ESV) 

Gideon was anything but a mighty man of valor. He was grinding wheat hiding in the bowels of winepress instead of the easier, but exposed, threshing floor that was designed for it. His people were oppressed. He was scared, but the angel greeted him with two powerful Hebrew nouns, gibor and hayil, either of which on its own was used for the strongest of heroes.

Gideon did not look like a mighty person of valor. Gideon did not act like a mighty person of valor, but God saw more in him than anyone else could. God saw the real Gideon and called it out of him. Gideon went out to lead an incredible victory that brought freedom and deliverance to the people of Israel.

What was true for Gideon is true for you. You are more than you can see. You are more than any of us can see when the LORD is with you. As Gideon experienced, living out our new identity is not always easy, but the world changes when we choose to live as the mighty people of valor we were created to be.

Misreading Motives

Joshua 22:11-12 (ESV) – The people of Israel said, “Behold, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel.” And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.

Someone has wronged you. Someone has hurt you. What did you think when that happened? Most of us immediately assume that other person intended to cause us to suffer. While that may be the case sometimes, more often than not we misinterpret why others have done what they have.

As Israel made its way from slavery in Egypt to occupying the Promised Land that is the Nation of Israel today, they first came to the other side of the Jordan River, to what is now the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Israelites subdued those empires and claimed that land as part of their future territory. The tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh asked Moses if this could be their land. (See Numbers 32.) Moses agreed if their men would fight to conquer the rest of the Promised Land before they settled there. The two-and-a-half tribes agreed. Many years later in Joshua 22, the Promised Land was conquered, the two-and-a-half tribes returned home across the Jordan River, settled in their homes, started farming their land, and built a large altar right by the river that the Israelites west of the Jordan could see.

Those tribes immediately assumed that the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan had built the altar as a place of worship in direct violation of God’s established law only to worship at the one place God approved (Deuteronomy 12). They were convinced the two-and-a-half tribes wanted to form their own nation with their own system of worship, and they were not about to allow that to happen. They got ready to go to war to make things right.

The problem was their assumptions of the Eastern Tribes’ motives were mistaken. They explained in Joshua 22:22-29 that they did not build the altar to be a place of worship or a symbol of division between the two parts of the Nation of Israel. Instead, their motive was the exact opposite. The altar was to be a witness – a reminder – that they were one nation and that worship was to happen at one place.

Had the two sides not taken time to determine the real motive behind the action, war would have followed with many unnecessary deaths. That probably would have led to the permanent division neither side wanted.

We each will have situations that will lead us to make assumptions about others’ motives. We may be tempted to assume the worst. That can lead to relational destruction and bitterness. Don’t pay that price if you don’t have to. Take time to hear their story before you judge others.

A Servant of All

Mark 9:35 – “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Over the last twelve years, the void the last Monday in July brings has become tough for my wife Keira and me. For twenty-three days, we load coverage of the world’s greatest bike race on the DVR and watch the exciting competition, unreal physical effort, and sometimes-crazy drama that accompanies the Tour de France. 2018’s race had some very touching stories, and this year’s winner is a surprising living embodiment of Jesus’ words. 

Professional bicycle racing looks like an individual sport, but winners truly depend on their teammates. Because, like bird formations, the rider in front of a group of cyclists does far more work than those in the peloton, riders who win grand tours like the Tour de France have several teammates called “domestiques” (the French word for domestic servants) who work as hard as they can so the team captain can go on and win the race.  

Geraint Thomas was born and raised in the County of Wales (part of the United Kingdom). He started bike racing at the age of ten, went pro at eighteen, and got 140th place of 141 riders in his first Tour de France in 2007. He became a domestique extraordinaire. He worked hard to help the first and second British riders in history to win the Tour de France (Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome). Geraint was set to work hard again in the 2018 Tour to help Chris Froome to win his fifth Tour de France and hopefully go on to be only the second rider in history to win all three grand tours in one year after winning Italy’s Giro d’ Italia in May. Yet, Geraint Thomas won two stages in the second week of the Tour that put him into first place, wearing the famed Yellow Jersey. Even after getting to that lead spot, when asked if Team Sky was now going to work for him, Geraint said, “No, it’s still about Chris. I’m here to help Chris Froome to win.” 

The third week featured three hard days of riding in the Pyrenees Mountains near Spain, but Chris Froome was not as strong as usual. Other teams’ riders threatened to take away the Yellow Jersey, but Geraint would not allow Team Sky to lose. When Chris was not able to keep up with the leaders in Stage 17, it was clear Geraint, who had always ridden to serve others, now had his chance to shine. Four days later, he rode into Paris in yellow and took his place at the top of the podium, as the winner of cycling’s greatest race.  

Geraint Thomas never expected to win Le Tour in his life, but his selfless brutally hard work was key to Team Sky winning seven of the last eight Tours de France. How do you work? Do you serve diligently and selflessly? Do you put in your best effort when someone else will benefit? Remember, even Jesus Himself “did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:41)

Peace in the Midst of Trouble

John 16:33 – I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Wouldn’t you love to have a trouble free life? Our culture, marketing, media, and often even the church seem to promise a trouble free life filled with total ease, convenience, and pleasure without ever having to deal with unpleasant things, disappointment, and pain. Yet, trouble hits us all sooner or later. Some of us get hit with it constantly. The difference between our trouble-free expectations and trouble-filled reality causes us anger, pain, and depression. There are two aspects of dealing with trouble that amplify the negative emotions and make it so hard to navigate. One is our expectation. The second is the way we deal with the difficulty when it comes.

Many well-meaning preachers have promised their would-be converts, “Come to Jesus, and all your troubles will disappear!” Yet, Jesus never made any such promise. Look at the verse above: “In this world you will have trouble.” Trouble is part of this season of our existence. Our prayers often do change our reality. God heals. Relationships are restored. Miracles happen. However, the Christian life is not about a perfect life in the present world. It is certainly a better life, but it is an eternal life. The day will come when trouble will cease, but today is not that day. Sometimes being a Christian means we face new and different troubles, but expecting no troubles is a recipe for disappointment.

The second question is: how do you deal with your trouble? You may be tempted to cry, to whine, to fight, to give up, to run, to hide, to scream, or take it out on those you love, but Jesus offers a different way – a much better way. He says above, “You may have peace.” While all the problems and troubles are pressing in, you can have a peace that is greater than all. This is not a placebo of naiveté. This real, tangible, life-changing peace only has one source. Jesus says, “In me you will have peace.” It does not come from a substance, and experience, or any other person. Jesus alone is our source of peace. I have personally experienced the powerful peace Jesus brings countless times, and I would love for you to have it in your life, as well.

Jesus told his disciples the things he told them so they would have this peace in the midst of the world’s trouble. I encourage you to spend time in those words. Read them and live by them. Get to know the one who said them. He has overcome the world through his resurrection, and he can give you real peace today.

Do You Know the Way?

John 14:2-6 – In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

These words are some of the most loved words Jesus spoke. He unmistakably promises to return for those who have believed in him and bring them into God’s presence forever. This is eternal life. This is living with Jesus forever in the place he has prepared for us. Certainly every one of us wants to know and experience a joyous existence forever after we die. How do we get there?

Jesus said that the disciples who had spent the last three years with him “know the way,” but Thomas spoke words of confusion on behalf of all of them, “We do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Thomas heard Jesus’ words, and he understood their literal meaning. A place is a location. It takes a way – a road or path – to get to a location. Yet, Jesus clarified his wording to let them know that they did know the way. The way was not a road. The way was a person. The true Way still is that same person. The only begotten Son of God.

Your eternity waits as does all of ours. The road you take after your life here is done is fully dependent on choosing the right way now. That road is a road of relationship. Do you know the Way? He would love for you to. Receive his love and begin a relationship with Jesus today. He has a room for you.

When Darkness Comes

John 13:29b – And it was night.

This is a short sentence in English. It is even shorter in Greek, just seven letters in three words: en de nux. Yet, on the surface, it seems so unnecessary. John just told us about Jesus saying the one who he shared bread with would betray him. Judas took the bread, Satan entered him, and Judas left the Last Supper. Why did John even write those words? Of course it was night. This was a dinner, after all. 

Let’s not jump away from these words too quickly. All throughout this Gospel, John has been using day and night along with darkness and light as powerful metaphors for people, circumstances, and spiritual reality. Early in the first chapter we are taught that Jesus was the true Light who enlightens every person. (John 1:9). Those who follow Christ walk in the light (John 3:19-21, 8:12, and 12:46). There is a clear pervasive truth that Christ is the “Light of the World.” (John 8:12) 

However, even in Jesus’ life there were times of night and darkness. He foretold the coming night in 9:4, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.” He gives a similar warning in 12:35. “The light is among you for a little longer.” Suddenly, these three little words in the middle of the Last Supper become loaded with significance. They speak of more than just the time every day after sunset. They describe the darkness Jesus entered as a result of Judas’ betrayal when he was taken away as a prisoner, falsely accused for a crime he did not commit, suffered unimaginable pain in some of the worst torture ever devised, and, worst of all, bore the guilt of all people of all times and places. It was indeed a dark night. 

Perhaps you are in a season of night and darkness in your life. It may have been brought on by your choices, the fault of another person, or simply horrible circumstances beyond anyone’s control. I do not want to belittle the pain you are experiencing in any way. It is real. It is serious, but it is a season. The same Jesus who foretold his own night said it would come to his followers, yet he also promised a day greater than all. It is not by coincidence that the eternal destination of those who believe in Jesus will never experience darkness or night (Revelation 22:5). 

John even makes the point early on Easter morning, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark.” That darkness finally and completely passed when she met the resurrected Jesus later that morning after the sun rose. 

Whatever darkness you face right now, Jesus knows what you are experiencing. He suffered an even greater night for you so that you could be with him in the place of never ending day. Invite him into your life. Seek his strength in your night. This, too, shall pass.