charisma

Kharis is a Greek word translated as grace in the Bible.  Ephesians 2:8 says "For it is by kharis you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."  It is a free gift, unmerited favor, given by God for your edification.  
Funny that kharis is also the root for the secular word charisma denoting "the ability to inspire followers with devotion and enthusiasm."  Steve Martin is a charismatic guy.  I'm told he gives out this card whenever asked for an autograph; but what is the root of his warm, polite, intelligent and funny personality?  More importantly, what is the root, the source of your personality, makeup, gifts and traits?
I would postulate that our traits and gifting are from above (Ephesians 4:8) and He wants us to use them to their fullness.  Paul says "earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way." These are God's charismata or spiritual gifts listed in the Bible:

• Administration - 1Cor 12:28
• Apostleship - Eph 4:11
• Craftsmanship - Ex 31:1-5
• Discernment - Heb 5:14, Rom 12:2
• Encouragement - Acts 11:23, Heb 10:24
• Evangelism - Eph 4:11
• Faith - 1Cor 12:9
• Giving - Rom 12:8
• Healing/Miracles 1Cor 12:9 
• Helps - 1Cor 12:28
• Hospitality - 1Pet 4:9 
• Intercession - 1Tim 2:1-2
• Knowledge - Col 1:9-10
• Leadership - Rom 12:8
• Mercy - Rom 12:8
• Prophecy - Acts 2:17
• Shepherding/Pastoring - Eph 4:11
• Teaching - Eph 4:11
• Tongues/Interpretation on tongues - Acts 2:4
• Wisdom - James 1:5

It's a long list because God gives to us richly out of His abundance.  Take a look at yourself - what do you do well?  Did God give it to you?  If it's so then use that kharis in service to the building of His Kingdom here on earth.

David begat Solomon by the wife of Uriah ...

Baltimore can be a provincial town; an important point of reference is often where someone went to high school, what neighborhood they grew up in, or their family name. Lineage provides standing in Baltimore. No where was that more true than amongst the Jews when Christ came.

Paul testified to his excellent lineage in Philippians by saying "If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee." For the Jewish people, lineage provided not only a pecking order in a caste system but also their salvation.  As a member of a chosen people you were set apart and sanctified by your roots and the cultural traditions of atonement.  Which is why the description of the lineage of Christ in Mathew is perplexing to say the least, especially when observed through the lens of the world.

The first 17 lines of the New Testament trace out Christ's lineage to prove that He is indeed the Promised One, the Messiah foretold in Jewish Scripture. He is the Root of Jesse, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. If you asked me for my background, lineage or resume I would be honest but definitely highlight the good over the bad. I would note the change and renewal and what God is doing in my life today. This scripture doesn't do that.  The Word goes out of its way to highlight a corrupted pedigree.  Look at Verse 6, "David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah."

Matthew focuses on one of the great sins of the Bible, have a look at 2 Samuel 11.  David desires the wife of his faithful military leader Uriah.  He follows his flesh, lays with her and she is with child.  He makes stumbling, desperate efforts to cover his tracks but in the end he has Uriah killed.  A total disaster by our standards: sin run a muck, adultery, bastard children, murder, broken families doomed to a legacy of weakness and failure.  Any of that sound familiar in today's world?  But something remarkable happens - genuine repentance followed by divine forgiveness and ultimate victory over evil.  It reminds be of what Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."

This is not to say that God loves sin or that there is no consequence for sin.  Even with David's genuine, sorrowful repentance - the baby still dies.  Our sins have consequence in our own lives and in others'.  However, God knows the weakness of our flesh and can use it to prove His great strength.  He could have used mighty Egypt but he choose lowly Israel.  Maybe this is a self rationalization, but I believe that God can use the worst of what you have done to make the best of His Kingdom.

A fabricated story about a man-made god would not have revealed this lineage.  Have a look at the men, and especially the women, mentioned in the Matthew ancestry. The Scriptures are rife with their sin, weakness, failure and distrust of Him.  If inclusion of Uriah in the Scripture is intentional, what does it say to you?  I believe the inference to be: remain confident that He has a plan for you, a plan to prosper you and not to harm you, a plan to give you hope and a future.  A friend told me 'He doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.'  Stand up, because we serve a real, relational God who can overcome what you cannot.

Wait, Wait, Wait ...

I watched Braveheart again recently, what a gripping movie. I have been thinking about William Wallace and his ability to motivate men, to generate reverent loyalty and trust. You may remember the picture to the left, just before this shot Wallace and his men sat still and defenseless awaiting an onslaught of English horsemen rapidly approaching. Wallace can be heard to say 'Wait, Wait, Wait ..." At the last there is provision; long, sharpened sticks are drawn, horses and riders impaled, lives preserved.

To truly follow a man requires a deep trust in his intellect and intentions; an overwhelming sense this his mission and purpose are greater than your own. Has Christ not inspired that loyalty and obedience in His people? Are we not capable of being still facing that onslaught with confidence in His plan? To paraphrase a friend, 'In the midst of a life strewn with hardship, can we remain steadfast and light-hearted? Can we stand and weather the storms of life, keeping our focus on the eternal and not the temporal?'

Scripture floods in to support this stance. Psalm 46:10 'Be still and know that I am God.' Cease striving, bucking, arguing and complaining - be still and know that there will be providence and that His plan is greater than your own. Psalm 27:14 and Psalm 37:7. But especially, Isaiah 40:31, "Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." A promise of divine yet personal intervention in your life to strengthen and empower you not to simply cope but to flourish.

I find this principle most difficult to apply in the secular world. In the face of the world's message to be self reliant, self sufficient and self serving I find that grip on Him so easy to lose. Thankfully, when my grasp slips I will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds my hand. I have been thinking about the Hebrew word Selah that is oft repeated in the Psalms. A rest, a break, a caesura to reflect and contemplate, a time to see and hear what He will do. Can you hear Him whispering, "Wait, wait, wait?" Remain confident that providence will come, forces aligned against you will be disarmed, and your life will be preserved.

As for Me & My House ...

The end of Joshua 24:15 says, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua is asking the people to make a difficult and stark choice as to whom they will follow. We all answer that call and make that choice in life. Thank you Jesus for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which guides us in choices daily. What is of note in Joshua's declarative is the inclusion of his family; it reminds me of the promise that Paul and Silas made to the jailer in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."

I have two beautiful and funny children, pictured above. I am not saying that my choices guarantee their salvation nor do I believe that the bad choices I have made and will make permanently impede the progress of their lives. What is clear to me is the ripple effect of my free will, especially upon those close to me. As for me, I will serve the Lord; imperfectly of course because I have a weakness of flesh that God has yet to strip away. I try to make choices that honor Him because He deserves it; not for fear of future condemnation but simply to make Him smile.

All the while I stand on God's promise to guard what I have entrusted to Him, that being my salvation but also my children. I am thankful for the residual benefit due to my children because of the work God has done in my life. Acts 1:8 holds the message of concentric ministry. First deal with Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then the ends of the earth. I don't do this as well as I should but I am trying and I encourage you to try as well to minister to your Jerusalem (family and close friends) before you stretch out to the ends of the earth. Through this, I believe that I can stand on Paul and Silas' promise that my household and I will be saved.

non posse non peccare

This Latin phrase brought into our lexicon by Augustine so truly represents the brokenness of man. I cannot not sin exposes the hopelessness of our efforts to save ourselves. There is nothing I can do to make myself right with God, that work of justification could only have been done at the cross. I truly feel that I can do no good without Him, my flesh is weak and my unguided choices are poor.

Unfortunately, Christians are often hesitant to make the point that we are saved by His grace despite our transgression thinking that it leads to an abuse of this unmerited favor and a rationalization for bad behavior. As for me, I will continue to speak boldly of His great power and willingness to save in the face of my own personal failings. I understand that free will is based on the power of contrary selection; so yes, everyday I make hundreds of choices between good and evil. In the midst of a Spirit led sanctification process I make more honoring choices today than I did yesterday. But still, I acknowledge that I will never be holy and perfect until that day of Jesus Christ.

If Christ's work paid the price for all my sins now and forever does that alleviate my requirement to act justly? Does inability destroy responsibility? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Paul answered, "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ... Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." We are new men and our strength to not sin (posse non peccare) is derived solely from the renovation, redemption and restoration caused and directed by His Holy Spirit that dwells within us. For that I will be forever thankful.

Philippians 1:6

It seems foundational that we would and should be confident enough to sleep well each night knowing that we are safe and secure in Him. Confidence not placed in ourselves but in the One who is able to keep us from stumbling.

This verse in The Message is "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." Paul is an awesome encourager but this is much more; taken in conjunction with the full text of the New Testament it seems clear that these are words spoken over my life and yours as well. Words to stand on and a promise to depend on en medio de la tormenta.

I live life with a humility wrought like hammered iron from obvious evidence of my own failings. Some might see it as insecurity, shame or others as a false front to appease that masses that revel in a redemption story. I can truly say that the realization of my personal limitation was the beginning of my revelation of His omnipotence. I am truly grateful for my fall, for only from there did I realize my need to be picked up.

I know not to brag, even though sometimes overconfidence slips back in, but I will boast of this, that I understand and know Him, that He is the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; and He delights in these things. So boast and be confident in this one thing 'that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.'