Control is an Illusion

“This is my Father’s World”, written by Maltbie Babcock in 1901, is a beloved hymn. The hymn declares the sovereignty of the Father over all creation. “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.” “This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas – His hand the wonders wrought.” Too often people cling to the illusion of control. You realize that control is an illusion, don’t you? We don’t control, we can’t control the simplest aspects of life. The beating of a heart, breathing, digestion, healing from wounds, are all involuntary processes. Just try to stop your heartbeat, or breathing, or digestion by choosing to do so … you can’t. Jesus taught the disciples to pray “Our Father, who is in heaven.” He taught them to pray to the Father because this is the Father’s world. He also taught disciples to pray to our Father since “Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” Matthew 6:8 (NLT) He taught the disciples to give up worrying (I’m not very good at this one!) because “Your heavenly Father already knows your needs” and “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it” and “Your heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask Him.” Jesus’ brother James reminded disciples under his care that “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17 (NLT) You have a Father who knows your name, knows the details of your life, knows your fears, knows your needs and cares! You can call upon Him, rely upon Him and rest in Him. Remember, “Control is an illusion!” Embrace the Apostle Peter’s instructions: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Anxiety and Worry

Very few people travel through life without moments of worry and anxiety. Worry and anxiety are part of the human experience. If you are not a worrier, count yourself fortunate. Someone said to me recently, “If I don’t worry about these things, who’s gonna?” During Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) He challenged the disciples and the crowd about worry. “So I tell you not to worry about everyday life …” and “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” and “Why worry about your clothing?” and “Why do you worry about these things?” and “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.” Jesus’ admonitions and questions were for those that followed him physically and they are for us who follow him spiritually. The Apostle Peter knew about worry and he was familiar with Jesus’ teachings. He also knew worry was a struggle for the followers he led. In a letter, he instructed worriers to not just invite God into the circumstances that generate worry in person’s life, but to surrender or “give up” the act of worrying itself. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) King David wrote similar instructions in Psalm 55. “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.” Psalm 55:22 (NLT) David’s word burden illustrates the weight of worry. Sometimes we say, “He has the weight of the world on his shoulders.” That statement describes the weight of worry. We are told to “Give your burden,” and “Give all your worries and cares,” to God. How do we do that? You might say something like this in prayer to Jesus: “Jesus, I give you the burden, worries and cares about my son or daughter or parent or job and finances. I give you them and ask that you intervene. On top of the situation, I give you the burden and worry and care. I can’t continue to carry this weight of worry. I surrender my worry to you. You worry about it.” Then every time you pick the burden back up and start worrying, say it again. Say it over and over and over. Pray it over and over and over.

Amazed by Grace

Recently, I read slowly through Galatians, the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. Towards the end of the letter, Paul uses phrases such “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives” 5:16; “Directed by the Spirit” 5:18; “Living by the Spirit” 5:25; “Follow the Spirit” 5:25; and “Please the Spirit” 6:8. Galatians 5 describes the tension that we live in. We want to please the Spirit, but our sinful nature tempts and pulls at us. Living in the Spirit, following the Spirit, and pleasing the Spirit is life in the tension between sin and grace. Grace frees us from sin and calls us to live in, follow, and please the Spirit. Sin taunts us and pulls at us. Sin “wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the Spirit wants” and the “two forces are constantly fighting each other” according to Galatians 5:17 Sinclair Ferguson describes the tension this way: “The spiritual life is lived between two polarities: our sin and God’s grace. The discovery of the [sin] brings us to seek the [grace]; the work of the [grace] illuminates the depths of the [sin] and causes us to seek yet more grace.” I’m thankful for grace. I’m thankful that when I sin, grace is available. I’m thankful that when grace illuminates the depths of my sin, it causes me to see yet more grace. Grace “teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:12 NIV The words of an old hymn are playing in my mind right now; “Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all my sin!” Jesus, thank you for grace, I’m still amazed by it!

My Truth, Your Truth and The Truth

Over the last few years, there has been considerable usage, discussion, and controversy around the terms “My Truth” and “Your Truth.” Oprah Winfrey’s use of the phrase “your truth” in her Golden Globe speech in 2017 moved the phrase from the sidelines and onto the playing field. Traditionally, “truth” has been thought of as a group of shared common facts. Society agreement on common facts is important for cohesion and peaceful living. Common facts were the ideas that correspond with reality and are true. Ideas and facts that don’t correspond with reality are not true. The terms and concepts behind “my truth” and “your truth” are most often used in “philosophical and moral” discussions. People can and do debate and judge philosophical issues, moral viewpoints and positions using my truth, your truth labels. Seldom are the terms used in practical life application. My truth/Your truth shifts the idea into a different arena. An idea, thought, perception, belief I hold, is my truth even if it doesn’t correspond with reality. It is my truth when it corresponds with my reality. It is your truth, but not mine, when it corresponds with your reality. When I pay my mortgage, purchase gas, or stop in to grab some donuts, I don’t argue about my truth and your truth. The businesses and I agree on “reality” for the product or service. I’ve never argued “My truth” tells me “Your truth” about the price of gas is too high. I’m only paying “My truth” for the gas! Here’s $X for the gallon of gas. My truth wouldn’t get me very far when the sheriff showed up for stealing. When I served on a jury for a criminal trial, the judge didn’t instruct the members of the jury to interpret the “victim’s truth” verses the “defense’s truth.” The judge instructed the jury to listen to all the evidence and testimony and then determine guilt or innocence based on the facts. Jesus said: “I am the truth.” John 14:6. Jesus, his life, the way he lived life, his teachings and his relationships reveal a way that corresponds to reality. No one has ever lived, died, risen and impacted the world like Jesus. He is TRUTH. S. Lewis famously said: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Trust in Jesus

Boy, the world is in chaos! It seemed like 2020 was a once in a lifetime year. Now 2021 is just about as crazy as 2020. In the last two months, assassins executed the President of Haiti, American troops vacated Afghanistan, and the country slipped into absolute anarchy, a 7.2 earthquake rocked Haiti and then a tropical storm unleashed an unimaginable amount of rain, fires are burning across the Western United States, Greece, France, Italy, North Africa and Turkey. Conflict rages across the world. There are few regions of the world that don’t currently have conflict. There is civil conflict in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Israel and Palestine, Libya, Ukraine, Iraq, and Iran, just to name a few. In the US and other countries, the “Delta” variant of COVID-19 is creating new levels of uncertainty, stress, and division. This past week the Governor of Washington State mandated that all public, charter and private school teachers and staff must be vaccinated by October 18, 2021. A new statewide indoor mask mandate for vaccinated and unvaccinated people takes effect Monday, August 23, 2021. What a “fun” time! I keep going back to a line written more than 3,000 years ago by King David. He wrote the song during a period of strife, conflict, and uncertainty. The circumstances differed significantly from today, the stress and struggles were similar. David wrote: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalms 20:7 (NIV) In these stressful, uncertain, divided times, I choose to put my trust in the Lord our God. He knows the beginning from the end. He knows what I should respond to and how I should respond. Things may be uncertain to me, but they are not to Him who rules over all. 3,000 years ago, if you had chariots and horses, you were more powerful than almost any foe you could face. People who had chariots and horses trusted them to overcome all enemies and obstacles. People put their trust in chariots and horses. Don’t trust in chariots. Don’t trust in horses. Trust in Jesus!

Be Kind

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (NLT) “Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.” 1 Peter 3:8 (NLT) “It is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” James 2:8 (NLT) “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 (NLT) The letters of Paul, Peter, James, and John provide clear directives about how followers of Jesus should treat other people. The directives and principles apply in fair weather situations and stormy situations. Inexperienced pilots utilize visual flying and fly in good weather, when roads, rivers and other landmarks are clearly visible. Experienced pilots not only fly in calm conditions but when there is a cloud cover, the wind is blowing, and conditions are subpar. In stormy weather, experienced pilots read their instruments and gauges in the cockpit and respond appropriately. Following Jesus requires more than visual flying. Following Jesus requires reading, interpreting, and believing in the instruments of spiritual flight. We can tell if we are following Jesus in stormy weather by checking ourselves for the qualities of kindness, forgiving, being tenderhearted, humble, loving, demonstrating truth – these are the readings of our “instruments”. If the instruments reveal we are not acting in kindness, forgiving, showing compassion, humility, showing or living truth; we must adjust! Kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, mercy, humility, gentleness, patience, sympathy, and obeying the royal law are crucial in stormy relationships and situations. Most people can follow Jesus when the conditions are favorable. Stormy relationships and conditions reveal healthy followers of Jesus. Jesus, teach us how to read the instruments and fly with you and for you in stormy conditions. Amen