"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields them all day long, and they rest between His shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12

There is a story that Jesus tells in Luke 15 about a flock of sheep. There are 100 sheep in this flock, and one of them is missing. Jesus asks those who are listening what they would do if this was their flock of sheep. Would they leave the ninety-nine to go look for the lost sheep? He doesn't really give them a chance to respond and goes on to share the best possible scenario: "When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors and says, 'Rejoice with me! I have found my lost sheep.'"

It's not difficult to identify Jesus as the shepherd. He calls Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10. "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me...I lay down my life for the sheep." The greater mystery in this story lies with this question: Who are the lost sheep? Jesus identifies them as sinners who need to repent. But that can be difficult to define.

Or maybe I should say, that can be difficult to define accurately. I think we're all pretty good at pointing out "sinners who need to repent". The Pharisees and teachers of the Law were good at this too and did it often. In fact, it was their observation that Jesus was welcoming and eating with sinners that prompted Jesus to tell several stories about "lost" things: Sheep, coins, and sons. But what was it about these things that made them lost?

Simply put, they were not where they were supposed to be. It wasn't so much about behavior as it was about location. The sheep was alone—away from the shepherd. The coin was missing. It wasn't where coins were usually kept. Its value was in jeopardy. And the sons? One was away from home, away from his father and his whole family. And the other? He was there in body, but not in spirit. He was living in his father's household, doing what was expected of him, but he wasn't enjoying it.

We generally label those we call "sinners" by their behavior. But I don't see Jesus defining them in that way. It's not about what they are doing or not doing; it's about where they are. Is the sheep close to the shepherd or out of his sight? Is the coin in a treasured place or is it missing? Is the younger son near his father or far away? And is the older son near his father in a physical sense but distant in his heart?

Jesus isn't really teaching about lost sheep or coins or sons. He's using them as illustrations to teach about something greater. And He wasn't teaching the tax-collectors and "sinners", He was teaching those who saw themselves as "righteous". If He would have spoken more bluntly, I think He would have said something like, "These people you call sinners are coming to me and listening. I'm excited about them! I'm welcoming them with open arms because that's why I'm here! They get it. They understand what I'm saying about God's mercy and love. But you? Not so much. I want to be excited about you too, but I can't yet. Not until you understand My love. Not until you change your thinking (repent). Not until you get to where you need to be. Not until you let Me rescue you. Not until you enjoy being God's child."

In Deuteronomy 33, God says, "My beloved ones rest secure in Me. They rest between My shoulders."  They are at rest. They are at peace. They are lost sheep who have been found. They are lost sons who have come home. They are precious to Him, and they know it. 

They are near Him and secure in His love. They have nothing to prove. No where else they would rather be. And no fingers to point because they have their eyes on their loving, merciful, and faithful God.

They are His, and they are loved, and that's enough.

Life: Gift or Burden?

"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." --Jesus (Mark 2:27)

Have you ever given someone something with the intention of it being a blessing, but it became a burden to them instead? Or have you ever found a gift that someone gave you to be more trouble than it was worth? Are there things in your life that at one time you saw as something to celebrate, but somewhere along the way that changed?

This can happen with things and with people. Possessions. Jobs. Cars. Houses. Marriages. Friendships. Children. Churches. Ministries. Holidays. The excitement we have over them in the beginning often fades as the reality of long-term endurance and upkeep sets in. Things break down or become outdated. Cars and homes require maintenance, money, and time. So do relationships. Holidays that are intended to be a day-off and a celebration often require so much energy to prepare for, the day doesn't seem worth the trouble. The thrill of receiving a particular call in ministry can be exhilarating and we can't wait to get started, but after a few months or years, we just want out.

When God gives us life, He intends it to be a gift. But for a lot of us, it becomes a burden. The same is true for many of the things in life that He intends for us to enjoy. Even our relationship with Him can become a burden. If you spend any time reading the gospels, you will see that all three of these were true for the Jewish people living at the time of Jesus. They were God's chosen people, set apart to be blessed by God, and they were, but many of them weren't living the blessing. They were burdened by their circumstances, by religious practices, by sin, by greed, and by a misunderstanding of God and His ways. The sacrifices, religious festivals, and the Sabbath were all being practiced, but the meaning had been lost. Things that were intended to be good for them had become a burden.

Jesus came to change that. He came to make God known. He came to restore what had been lost. He came to show a new way to live. He came to change people's thinking. "Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near!" He said this everywhere He went. He wanted them to think differently. He wanted them to see the beauty of God's Kingdom. And it was more than a message, it was reality. God with us. That's who He was. Immanuel.

One day some Pharisees were getting after His disciples for picking some grain to eat because they were hungry as they were walking with Jesus through the fields. It was the Sabbath, and the religious elite considered their actions to be a violation of the Sabbath law to abstain from work, but Jesus disagreed. Why? Because they were hungry. He spoke some profound words. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." In other words, the Sabbath was meant to be a blessing, not a burden.

Thinking that we must serve religion rather than religious practices serving us leads to a lot of burden and frustration that God never intended. Similarly, people often say things or demand things of others in the Name of God that do not accurately reflect His love and His character. Jesus said that He came to bring us abundant life. Life is meant to be a gift.

Church. Ministry. Marriage. Children. Homes. Jobs. Relationships. Possessions. These are all intended to be a gift, not a burden. These are made for us to enjoy. To provide for our needs. To be a blessing. Try to keep that in mind the next time you feel frustrated by things or people in your life. And maybe some of those things or people shouldn't be there. Maybe some changes are needed. If you think that may be the case, spend some serious time in prayer and take whatever steps you feel Jesus leading you to take concerning them. But for the things you can't get rid of or shouldn't walk away from, learn to see them differently. To see their value and benefit. To believe God has a purpose. To love even when it's hard. To put the effort into them you know they are worth. To have hope, not despair.

A popular December saying is "Keep Christ in Christmas." I'd like to expand that same idea and encourage you to "Keep Christ in Life." His love. His joy. His peace. It's not just for Christmastime, it's for the other 364 days of the year too. Life is a gift.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." --Jesus (John 10:10)

What's The Secret?

Then He opened their minds so they could understand... Luke 24:45

Do you ever wish other people would get what makes so much sense to you? Do you ever feel frustrated when you see others doing the same things over and over that you know just aren't going to work? Do you ever feel like you're talking to a brick wall? Do you ever feel like giving up on somebody?

I read words from the Bible like the ones above, and I say, "What's the secret? How did Jesus open their minds to understand what He wanted them to understand? Why? How? And is He ever going to do that for so-and-so? Do I need to shout louder? Pray more? Speak the truth differently?"

When it comes to opening the minds of others, a lot of waiting is usually involved. Even Jesus had to wait for that. He did a lot of teaching to a lot of people in a lot of different settings in a lot of different ways. He used illustrations. He used real-life circumstances. He used miracles. He used the Scriptures. He used stories. He used other people to declare His message. He showed them what compassion looked like. He showed them how to trust the Father. He taught them how to pray. He showed His love and His power through His death and resurrection. And when He came back to life, He went to those same people He had taught the most to and found them sitting around being more scared and confused than ever.

Hello, McFly? Is anybody home?

"John, Peter, Thomas? Wait, where is Thomas? He's not even here. Ei-yi-yi! I'm in my moment of glory here! Wake up! Open your eyes!"

Well, I'm not sure Jesus said it that way or was even thinking that, but I know I would have been. And I would have wanted to know the secret. I would have wanted to make everyone magically understand, and Jesus did that somehow. But I'm not sure how, or why, or why He did it in that moment.

Maybe someday I'll figure it out, but I do know this: It happened. That day came. When the time was right and Jupiter aligned with the will of God, it happened. And I think that's the one thing we can know. God will do it. Minds will be opened. Eyes will see. What seems impossible and hopeless isn't. What frustrates me today will eventually have its date with destiny. Because God never gives up. He never stops short of bringing someone to that moment of revelation. His truth may be out there for a long time, waiting for someone to believe, but it never returns void.

This is why the Bible is full of words like faith, hope, and believe. We cannot open the minds of others like Jesus can, but we can do what He asks of us. Love, trust, and wait...the glory is coming.