Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Focusing on the Cross

This morning I was reading an article by Ron McGatlin on the “Organic Organization” of the church, and it reminded me of our meeting last night. The article described God’s natural order as opposed to man-made structure and organization without the Holy Spirit. When God is the author of something, it is very orderly, naturally organic, and smooth in its functioning.

During our discussion with the couple last night, he shared that he had opened his home to the Simple Church and other people he had only connected with online. Their last meeting was “interesting,” with a snag or two as some personalities clashed. There were good things that happened, and God was glorified in the end, but there were also awkward moments they had to work through. It made me reflect on the groups we attend and how they function, especially since most of them are filled with people we already know and have relationships with.

We started going to those groups because of those relationships, knowing we would be among familiar people. In contrast, this couple didn’t know most of the people walking into their home—only one was previously familiar. Their connection to the others was simply through the internet.

As I thought about it, I considered the biblical example. From what I can see, when people were saved in the early church, often their whole families came to faith. They would tell their neighbors and friends, and sometimes entire communities were converted. These people already had relationships, and families typically lived close together. People didn’t move away often because travel was difficult, so they remained in the same area most of their lives.

That meant they already knew the “off-beat” personalities in their midst and how to handle them. The “organic” side of it was that families and neighborhoods were saved—sometimes all at once, sometimes gradually—and then they met together with relationships already established. They knew one another’s struggles and could comfortably share needs and prayer requests.

What this couple is attempting to do is a bit more difficult because everyone is starting from scratch, but certainly not impossible with God. He can do all things and works in all situations. I think this was an insight the Lord gave me as I reflected on their situation.

Today Tom and W went hiking at Raven’s Rock. I was going to go along, but I was so tired I knew I couldn’t handle another full day. I slept in until almost 11:00 (I was supposed to get up at 7:00!). I’ve been feeling a little under the weather these last couple of days, so I wanted to be well-rested before diving into Thanksgiving preparations. Last night we stopped to pick up the turkey so it would have time to thaw, but I hadn’t yet made my list of all the other things we’d need. I was far too tired at 10:30 to even think about it! So today I’ve been able to search online for recipes and make my list. Now I feel rested and ready for the days ahead.

November 26

The Focal Point of Spiritual Power

Galatians 6:14 – “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

If you want to know the power of God (that is, the resurrection life of Jesus) in your human flesh, you must dwell on the tragedy of God. Break away from your personal concern over your own spiritual condition, and with a completely open spirit consider the tragedy of God. Instantly the power of God will be in you. "Look to Me . . ." (Isa_45:22). Pay attention to the external Source and the internal power will be there. We lose power because we don't focus on the right thing. The effect of the Cross is salvation, sanctification, healing, etc., but we are not to preach any of these. We are to preach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1Co_2:2). The proclaiming of Jesus will do its own work. Concentrate on God's focal point in your preaching, and even if your listeners seem to pay it no attention, they will never be the same again. If I share my own words, they are of no more importance than your words are to me. But if we share the truth of God with one another, we will encounter it again and again. We have to focus on the great point of spiritual power --- the Cross. If we stay in contact with that center of power, its energy is released in our lives. In holiness movements and spiritual experience meetings, the focus tends to be put not on the Cross of Christ but on the effects of the Cross.

The feebleness of the church is being criticized today, and the criticism is justified. One reason for the feebleness is that there has not been this focus on the true center of spiritual power. We have not dwelt enough on the tragedy of Calvary or on the meaning of redemption.

This was a good reminder. I don’t think we focus on the “tragedy” of God very much—if I’m honest, I’m not even sure I fully understand what that means! Should we focus on that instead of the “victory” of Christ? I know balance is important. So, Lord, help me focus on You alone and let You direct my gaze, because if I try to decide on my own, I’ll get it wrong.