Get Up and Move

There are some parables and stories in the Bible that make an impact on me every time I read them. One such story is the one about the paralyzed man who camped out near the healing pool of Bethesda. (John 5:1-18)

“One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”

 The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”

Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.” (John 5:1-9 MSG)

Do we want to get well? Or are we going to continue to make excuses?

If you feel paralyzed, invalid, ineffective…listen to what Jesus says:

-Get Up—Pick yourself up; no more of this lying around feeling sorry for yourself.

-Take your Bedroll— your bedroll is whatever has enabled you to stay comfortable in your rut. Don’t leave this behind or else you’ll be tempted to go back to it.

-Start Walking—take that first scary step.

And if you happen to be so lucky as to have some holy intruders to nudge you along, then pay attention to their suggestions.

Holy Intruders

A friend of mine used the phrase “holy intruder” to describe someone who nudges others along God’s path. She said that the Holy Spirit of God is the only true Holy Intruder. However, I think the Holy Spirit works through human beings who are willing to be used. 

I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a holy intruder. Holy means—dedicated or devoted to God. An intruder is--someone who thrusts himself into a place or situation without permission or welcome. So a holy intruder is someone who is willing to be intrusive because of his/her dedication to God.

Now, I can be intrusive, and I dabble in holiness. This doesn’t make me a holy intruder. I like to tell people what to do—I’m just plain bossy! But I have encountered several holy intruders over the years. They are willing to be the hand puppets of the Holy Spirit. Their submission enables God’s Spirit to fill and move them according to His whim. Even though they might look goofy and people laugh at them, they remain pliable—allowing God to put them in uncomfortable positions. They prod and nudge others on God’s behalf.

The Bible describes several instances where God sends an intrusive angel to nudge someone to move forward along God’s chosen path. The angel Gabriel comes to Mary and prepares her for motherhood. (Luke 1) Angels direct Joseph to accept Mary as his wife and to move his family away from danger. (Matt. 1 & 2) An angel appears to Peter, while he is in prison, and tells him it’s time to get up and move on from this place of bondage. (Acts. 12:7)

Humans who are devoted to God can become temporary angels—as long as they are willing to intrude into the lives of others under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Cosmetic Issues

A few years ago, my family and I went on a medical service trip to Kolkata, India. The group set up free mobile clinics in poor villages and hundreds of patients showed up daily for the free medicines we were distributing. Surprisingly, an inordinate number of them were seeking help for cosmetic issues. Many of them wanted to know if we had any products to make their hair grow thicker, or shinier! We would kindly remind them that the medicines we were dispensing were mainly for their internal health.

Could this world and everything in it be like what is outside our skin? As humans, we are more concerned about visible, noticeable, tangible problems; but a few inches below the visible layer is a vast Spiritual realm. Many of our earthly concerns—today’s struggles and tomorrow’s worries—must seem like cosmetic issues to God. His purpose is to heal and transform us at a soul level; whereas we seek solutions for external, physical problems. I pray daily for my family, my friends, our futures, our health, our safety, and our peace. God cares for me enough to dispense some blessings, but His primary goal is to transform me into His image.

“He (God) decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.” (Romans. 8:29-30 MSG)

God wants to restore us to His original design. His plans go beyond the cosmetic concerns of this earthly life. Christ-formation—shaping each of our lives into the mold of His child—this is His intended purpose.

Independence Day

Today we celebrate our country’s independence with parades, flags, fireworks and grilled meat. So naturally, I woke up thinking of all the patriotic sacrifices others have made and the freedoms I enjoy.  But then I came across the following verse:

“Jesus was nailed to the cross so that we may have independence and freedom from sin.” (Romans 6:6 MSG)

Am I independent of sin (anything that separates me from God)? Or in my pursuit of complete freedom, am I seeking independence from God as well?

Subjugation in any form is irksome. My actions and thoughts are, more often than not, manipulated by my desire to be useful, valued, and admired…on my own merit.

I am financially dependent on my husband. I am aware that society measures my worth based on my association with him. By choosing to be dependent on him, I have given him power over me. (My husband is a nice guy, so I don’t feel resentful about this.)

Similarly, when I submit to God, I give Him power over me. My value is measured in association with Him. This means that I can’t be useful on my own. This is hard to accept.

The more I attempt to be independent, to stand on my own, to be defined by my own accomplishments—apart from anyone, including God—the more I become enslaved to sin.

State Farm-God

The State Farm insurance company has an advertisement where the customer just has to sing the magic jingle, and the insurance agent immediately whisks them away from trouble. (To watch this commercial click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRS4shfH1Pw )

A friend recently reminded me of this commercial and then told me: “I want a state-farm God—a God who will pull me out of troublesome situations rather than just stand by my side while enraged buffaloes attack me.”

What an authentic statement! Isn’t this what we all want—a God who will not merely stand by while we suffer, but will whisk us away as soon as we say a magic prayer?

Those of us who have dealt with insurance agents know that this commercial is meant to be a humorous exaggeration. In real life, the car would be wrecked and we would suffer. After the accident, we would have to call the insurance company, an agent may show up eventually, survey the damage, write up a claim report—and weeks or months later, we might get reimbursed for the medical costs and car repairs.

I don’t think most viewers would take this commercial literally. I doubt that anyone signs up for insurance, pays monthly premiums, and expects the insurance agent to prevent catastrophes. Yet we are tempted to take Scripture verses—especially ones that promise blessings in return for prayer, donations, sacrifices, or service—literally. 

I’m not sure what to expect from God. I suspect that everything I believe is merely a metaphor for the Truth…

Harnessing Power

Ancient people observed patterns in weather and worked out when to plant and harvest. They discovered how to domesticate animals. Once they felt like they had some control over the physical world, they tried to manage the Spiritual world. Native Americans built dream-catchers in an attempt to capture good dreams. Ancient cultures offered up sacrifices, hoping to gain favor and influence the gods.

Modern humans have figured out ways to harness the generative capacity of nature. We build dams, hydroelectric plants, windmills, and solar panels that convert the potential energy found in water, wind and sunlight into electricity. We turn fossils into fuel, which then automates our machines. We have learned how to capture, manipulate, store, and then use power according to our convenience. And, like our ancestors, we are still trying to harness God’s power, and use it for our own projects and purposes.

“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." (John 3:8 NLT)

Much of what we call religion is our attempt to harness and domesticate spiritual power. We can’t devise methods to control, influence or gain favor with God. The spiritual world is not ours to manage or manipulate. Like a wind chime that tinkles in the breeze, we can merely respond to the Spirit moving through us.

Burning Bush

Euonymus alatus is a popular ornamental shrub that is found all over the Midwest United States. It’s commonly known as “burning bush,” because its leaves turn a flaming red color in the fall. Most of the year, this bush is just an average green plant, but for a few weeks in the fall, it definitely gets your attention!

In the book of Exodus, chapter 3, Moses is amazed by the sight of a bush that is on fire but doesn’t burn out. He stops what he is doing and focuses on this wondrous spectacle. God uses a burning bush to get Moses to pay attention to His instructions.

God can use figurative ‘burning bushes’ to get us to stop whatever we are doing and to pay attention. Nondescript events or people can suddenly light up as if on fire.

I shall mention one such burning-bush moment that I experienced. I have known a certain woman for several years. When I first met her, I didn’t think she was anything special. She was nice, kind, and gracious, but not the kind of gal that would make anyone stop and take notice. Then she went through a great trial. However, her suffering didn’t consume her; instead, it transformed her into this magnificent role model. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I’d watch in amazement as she kept burning without burning out. She glorified God through her suffering. God used her to get my attention and teach me several lessons about faith, trust, and endurance.

 

The Latin name for the burning bush, Euonymus alatus, is translated as ‘winged spindle.’ This plant was not named for its spectacular fall foliage, but for the winged branches that have always lain hidden under the leaves. Similarly, what defines my friend is not that she overcame great suffering, but that she had wings all along…