Blessed Are Those Who Know Sin is Serious

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Perhaps in the same breath that he spoke the words about knowing you are needy, Jesus speaks of mourning over your personal condition. This isn’t sorrow over getting caught, or fear of being found out. What does God not already know? (Perhaps we fear earthly repercussions more than heavenly ones.) It is sorrow over sin—sorrow that leads to repentance. Paul amplified it this way in 2 Corinthians 7:10:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 

It is sorrow that brings about change.

The comfort he speaks of is comfort of forgiveness. If you repent—turn away from your sin and turn toward God—then you will be comforted. 1 John 1:9 reminds us “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Confess means “to say the same” and in this context means to say the same thing about a thought or action that God says about it. If He says it is sin, then call it sin. Do you ever have trouble calling something you know is wrong “sin”? I do. Seems I can call it a flaw, shortcoming, something stupid, or whatever, much easier than agreeing with God that it is “sin.” But that is the starting point to forgiveness. Confession is acknowledging what God has already said about something. It is letting myself know that I agree with God about it.

Speaking of the day when Jesus would come and make this forgiveness possible, Isaiah 40:1-2 says,

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins. (NIV)

Those were words to the entire Jewish nation of the coming Messiah. He would pay for their sins, once for all. That payment is now effective for every Christ follower.  

1 Peter 3:18 says it this way, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (NASB) Notice that first phrase. Christ died once for all sins. He didn’t deserve it, we did. He was completely innocent. We are completely guilty. He died in order that we might be brought to God. That is comforting. 

An Update
I continue to feel well. People even tell me that I look good. (Yes, that rarely happened before I was sick.) Anyway, in spite of my "good" looks and feelings, I still desperately need your prayers. Unless it has been removed by the Father and we have not yet discovered that, the cancer still lurks in my bone marrow, awaiting an opportunity to rear its ugly head. More than the meds, your prayers keep it at bay. Please don't let up. Those prayers mean more than you know.

Oh, here's a view from a home I recently visited with friends up in the NC mountains. Soooo Nice!

The front porches of the house were right on this stream.

Blessed Are Those Who Know They Are Needy

Matthew 5:1-3
Jesus saw the multitudes and took the opportunity to teach them many things. I think it pretty appropriate that his first words to them are both and encouragement and an affirmation. To imaginatively paraphrase, “Happy are those who know they are needy. You know you don’t know everything there is to know. You know you need more for life. Well, you are in the right place at the right time. Listen to what I have to say hear, apply it, and you will find yourself a part of the kingdom of heaven.”

This hits me at the core of my American-Western self-sufficiency. The “I can do it” attitude has to eventually understand there are some things it cannot do. We Americans have accomplished some amazing things, but that doesn’t mean we are all knowing and able to fix everything. Other nationals developed lots of the things we enjoy, and even with their help we still cannot put everything right. What has happened, I am afraid, is that we have chosen to ignore or explain away those things we cannot fix—the things of the spirit. We have achieved much in the physical realm, from manufacturing to medicine. We have learned, through drugs, to alter or numb some of the disorders of the soul. But the realm of the spirit is God’s realm. Only He can do the work that needs to be done in every person’s life.

I would posit that the spirit of a man or woman is the foundation upon which they live, move, and have their being. If that spirit is not rightly related to God, then there is a very weak foundation indeed. My physical maladies of late remind me how fragile this body is, and how things can be going terribly wrong inside without the first “check body” warning light illuminating on the mind’s dashboard. Soul maladies—the things of the mind, will and emotions are more challenging. Why do I think the way I do? Why do I act the way I act? Why do I feel the way I feel? If my spirit is estranged from the Creator, then my answers will be at least somewhat in error.

Paul helps us understand this better in Acts 17:24-31. He is in Athens, expounding the good news to the elite: “In Him we live, move, and have our being” (emphasis added). Jesus said blessed are those who know they are needy—spiritually needy, spiritually poor—for they will seek the truth, find it, and become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.

How needy am I? Plum needy—completely needy. I may find treatment for some of my physical issues or challenges. I may be able to treat some of the maladies of my soul. Yet, I cannot fix my spirit. It is the deepest part of who I am. Only the designer-creator knows how it works. Only He can fix it—if I allow Him to.

Health Update:
I am feeling well. So far, the maintenance chemo is not making me feel any ill effects. Keep praying that is the case. There are other side-effects that can only be followed by doing blood work, so I will be going to the doctor on a weekly basis for a tiny bit of blood letting. You can pray those tests show the chemo having minimal impact on my body while at the same time doing their job.

God's Anti Anxiety Provision

Matthew 6:34

     "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (NIV)
      "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (KJV)

How many times have I said to others, and myself, “One day at a time”? If you needed a scriptural basis for that thought, this is it. Along with the verses about how God takes care of the lilies and the birds comes this one. The verse just prior reminds me to “seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things [that I worry about] will be taken care of by God. Awesome. Easy to preach—hard to live out.

I try not to be negative about things, but being a “contemplative” by personality, I am usually able to see the small negative in the midst of overwhelming positives. (Other similar personality systems may designate my personality type as a “Conscientious,” or “Beaver,”—as in “busy as a…” It basically means I am most happy to be behind the scenes with a task that I like.) When I got the VGPR—Very Good Partial Response—report from my hundred-day-post-transplant test, I focused on the word “partial.” The doctor, and most others, focused on the words “very good.”

Jesus hits right where I and my personality live. I have to take each day as He brings it to me. I cannot do anything about tomorrow. Worrying doesn’t fix anything, and it usually focuses on things that do not happen. Looking into the future to find things to worry about is counter-productive at best. The chief thing I must do is “not worry about tomorrow” but “seek first His kingdom” and trust Him to add whatever else I need for today. Is another way of saying to God, “I trust You, with me.”


Update On Things Medical...
Today I went to my local oncologist. He is a very good doctor, and he has a very good staff. We got the ball rolling on what I call my maintenance chemo, and some bone strengthening meds too. I will start the bone stuff (its an IV) next Friday, and the chemo (it’s a pill) when the specialty pharmacy gets it to me.

Pray that: 
1. God will be glorified.
2. That I will be patient, trusting, and faithful.
3. That treatment will be effective
4. That side effects will be minimized.
 
Addendum
*If your interest has been piqued about this personality thing, you can find out a bit more at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DISC_assessment

There are tons of DISC type evaluations out there. Some are in books and others are administered by professionals for a fee. It is valuable to understand your personality type, but it is not the only variable in who we are and how we deal with life. A relationship with Christ deals with our bent toward sin and many of the hard edges of our personalities. Spiritual gifts given to us by God often compensate or augment our personalities. Rick Warren speaks of how five things determine how we are “SHAPEd” for ministry:

• Spiritual Gifts – Received when we become a Christ follower 
• Heart – What do you love to do? 
• Abilities – These can be natural (talents that have been honed) or acquired (stay in school)
• Personality – (see above) 
• Experience – What have you learned in life already?

[Boy this was long!]

Pre-Toddling

I have been reading When Life Falls Apart, by David Jeremiah. A friend gave me the book shortly after my cancer diagnosis. In the book, Jeremiah relates his struggle with cancer and what he learned from it. I started this book last fall, and then put it down about halfway through. (I am able to put almost any book down.) A week or so ago, I picked it up and began reading again. I came upon an illustration (page 122) that really resonated with me. Here is the short version.

The story revolved around a very proud grandfather and his little granddaughter. She was at the beginning stages of learning to walk. She was a "pre-toddler." You know, she crawls over to the couch, pulls herself up, and then stands there, wanting to move around like all the taller people around her, but not quite sure about the wisdom of attempting such locomotion. Grandpa did what almost every parent and grandparent has done. He got down on the floor and called to her to “come to papa.” [I don’t know why we so encourage our kids to learn to walk, because when they begin to walk, we begin to chase!]

After a bit of coaxing, she would leave her steadying grip on the sofa and head his way, only to fall each time. After a couple of attempts, grandpa arose and went over and took his little granddaughter’s hands in his. He helped her stand. Next, he raised her up just a little and positioned his feet under her feet. Then, together, grandpa and granddaughter proceeded across the room with little baby steps. She really wasn’t walking. Grandpa was doing all the work. She was completely dependent upon her grandpa’s ability and strength to get across the room. She was attempting to do what for her (at least at this stage of her development) was impossible.

I am a spiritual pre-toddler, and I must rely on my Heavenly Father to get me to the other side of this and whatever else life may bring. I am dependent upon His grip, dependent on His ability to guide my feet, and dependent on His strength to hold me up. Here are a couple of verses I hang on to (especially the first one). Proverbs 3:5-6 – "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths [my personal application: guide my feet]. Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Health and Prayer Requests:

• I got a haircut this week. Yep, its short and gonna stay that way. I have decided that I like getting up in the morning and my hair is "done."
• Found my notes from my meeting with the oncologist in Atlanta on July 6, and was reminded that along with the low-dose chemo (pray that side effects are minimized, please) I will be taking something to strength my bones. That will be by IV, but may only be monthly, and takes an hour to get it in. (Side effects of this one are minimal, but you can still pray that they really are.)
• I feel really good. Have lots of energy. One more prayer request: Pray that I will be able to keep this energy level or close to it, once I start the chemo. I have an appointment with my oncologist here on Friday. Then I'll know when I will start and what my schedule will be with it.

Near the end of the book (page 276), Jeremiah says, " …From my vantage point, there was one powerful factor that went the farthest to explain the success of my ordeal. I attribute my healing to the faithful prayers of the people of God—so many of them in scattered places. "

Your prayers still are the most important ingredient in treatment of my cancer. Doctors practice. God heals. 

Backing God into a Corner is Not a Good Idea

Matthew 4:5-7 
The devil starts off like he did with the first temptation. “If you are the son of God…” trying, perhaps, to instill a bit of doubt in the head of Jesus. This time though, the devil even quotes scripture related to the Son of God. However, he takes verses about God’s protection and trusting Him and twists them into an invitation to presume on or test God.

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 this time. “You shall not tempt [test] the Lord your God.” This passage is recalling the Israelites grumbling against God when water was in short supply. They got the water, but Moses named the location Massah (“test”) and Meribah (“quarrel). It will always be known for the people’s doubting of God: “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (See Exodus 17:1-7)

Presuming on God’s protection, provision, blessing, and deliverance is a bad idea. The “One time won’t matter,” or, “He’ll forgive me anyway,” mode of thinking is very dangerous spiritually and physically. Sort of the spiritual and physical equivalent to, “Hey Bubba, watch this.” The Israelites got water, but they’ll always be known as a whiny, quarrelsome bunch.

The Report from the Doctor (Tuesday, July 6)
My evaluation was “VGPR-Very Good Partial Response.” That means I am not healed, nor am I in remission. It means I will start a regular low-dose chemo to keep it beaten down.

How do I feel about all this? Mixed. I was hoping and trusting for healing, or at least remission. However, I am glad the response was good. The doctor likes my numbers, and that is encouraging. I continue to walk this road, trusting God for each day, and relying on you to continue to lift me up in prayer. Thanks!