by Elizabeth | Nov 8, 2010 | Learning Story
Back to James today…the whole passage is great; I’m looking at verse 25, which caught my eye because it talks about the “law of liberty.”
Frankly, law has gotten some bad press as Christians have rightly understood that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone (and all the other great sola’s!). Here’s the verse, wrapping up a sub-section of James’ passage that began with “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger”:
“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer that acts, …shall be blessed in doing.” Jas. 1:25
What is this law of liberty? I wondered. Yesterday I quoted a friend to the senior small group: “Don’t should all over yourselves.” We live missionally, we go into all the world to make disciples, to tell the amazing story of the good news of the gospel, BECAUSE we were made that way. It is the only natural response to being created by God and redeemed by Christ. I would argue it’s a “LAW OF NATURE.”
Here’s what Alec Motyer says about it:
“We see, then, that the Lord gives his law not as a means of salvation, but as a life-style for those who have been already saved. It is the way he wants his redeemed ones to live….He goes on to say that he is speaking to those whom he has brought out of bondage (Ex. 20:2b): not to those whom he is bringing into bondage by imposing his law upon them, but to those who are now (for the first time) enjoying liberty, and to whom he gives his perfect law in order to safeguard the freedom he has secured for them.”
The law of liberty refers to all of Scripture. It is far far more than a list of rules for how we SHOULD act. It is a description of the great joys we have as we act according to the nature of a free woman or man.
What do you think? What has your understanding of LAW been? What freedom can you see in living according to the law of liberty?
by Elizabeth | Nov 5, 2010 | Learning Story
transitions
Not much time to write today…but wanted to share — prepping for time with women in Ohio and awed by how God is changing us…This drawing my daughter did gives me such a lovely image of the process…
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflecta the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
by Elizabeth | Nov 4, 2010 | Learning Story
Received an email this morning from the editor for the Bible study, called Learning God’s Story of Grace in my proposed version. They are discussing titles and he asked me for a 3-5 sentence summary of the concept of shalom. I knew that was impossible — describing shalom is like describing love — best done with pictures of it and as soon as you show one, you think of another. Just see the difficulty John has describing it in Revelation 21-22.
Anyway, two things: one — if you have any suggestions for a title for a Bible study that takes people through the shalom structure of our lives in creation-fall-redemption-consummation, I will certainly send it on. Second — found this old post in my search for “shalom.” Since we’re getting near the Christmas season, I figured it wasn’t too early to put it up there. Besides, this isn’t really just a Christmas hymn — it’s a hymn of redemption:
“His Gospel Is Peace” is a line from…name that Christmas hymn:
Yes, O Holy Night. The lyrics are rich in their declaration of the power and transformation that came to this “weary world” with the birth of our “dear Savior.” Even so, today I am going to ignore all of the other lines to focus on just four words. I pray these four words will get stuck in my head and yours as we move into our own weary world today with a gospel of peace.
Gospel: translates the word euangelion, which historically meant a message of “good news.” Not merely a newspaper headline message, though. This announcement meant that the king had conquered the land and called for the hearers’ allegiance.
His: This is the gospel of the conquering King, Christ, the only one who can truly conquer the cosmos for our good and God’s glory. This isn’t just the next fallen person ascending the throne. This is God, who loved us so much he became human and died for us, so we might truly surrender our agendas to his wise and loving care.
Peace: Biblical peace is always about shalom, which is not simply the Hebrew word for hello and good-bye. Shalom is “the way things ought to be,” a universal flourishing, the kind where lions lie down with lambs and Auburn fans kiss Alabama fans. Shalom is the right rendering of the world. Look around you… See anything broken? Friendships, family relationships? Light bulbs need replacing or laundry needs doing — again? Chemotherapy or climate issues? His gospel of peace rights every wrong you can see or imagine.
Is: Always was, is now, and ever shall be. The Gospel story wasn’t PLAN B; it has been God’s plan for establishing shalom forever since the beginning of the world and will continue to be until the end of this temporary story we are living.
Here’s the take-home message: it’s a “syllogism,” as I learned from studying rhetorical terms with my daughter last night:
If His gospel is peace, and we are Christ’s followers,
then
Our gospel is peace too.
Into what wrecked realm or relationship will you bring his gospel of peace today? Just one caution — don’t forget as I often do and accidentally try to bring YOUR gospel of peace. It is HIS GOSPEL of PEACE that reigns forever and ever. His gospel is peace. His gospel is peace. Sing it with me today and every day!
by Elizabeth | Nov 2, 2010 | Learning Story
“Everyone should be quick to listen; slow to speak; slow to become angry.” James 1:19
Aargggghhhhh. Don’t you just hate it when the Bible nails you with a 3- clause-elliptical aphorism that’ll get stuck in your brain and quicken your heart all day, all week long? I do, and I don’t.
I’ve been mentioning my study of James here these last few weeks, and this verse has been “stuck in my head” since last week when I first read it. The day it got stuck, the day I first read it, for some ridiculous reason I thought “well at least I’ll remember not to get angry today!” I should have known better.
I went to get in my car to drive to Physical Therapy — that simple task that has recently become much more complex. I went to start the car only to discover my keys weren’t in my purse. No biggie, right?!! Do you know what I did? Explosively, with powerful righteous indignation, I threw up my one working arm, and shouted to all the birds and the bees who inhabit our garage, “GREAT!”
There was no lag time. Even as I was venting my huge frustration over a ridiculously miniscule matter, the verse was scrolling through my brain. And I just stopped. Took a deep breath. Said, “Lord, forgive me. I think I’m going to need a little more help with this than I had originally anticipated.”
Maybe you don’t need it stuck in your head, but I do.
For consideration, how does being quick to listen and slow to speak impact your anger (if you ever have that emotion?:)
Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
by Elizabeth | Nov 1, 2010 | Learning Story
IT IS MY BIRTHDAY!!
This morning my husband wished me happy birthday, kissed me, then gently teased me, “Well you can always say you’re 27 – again.”
I responded with conviction – “But I don’t want to be 27 again. I’m really happy to be 48.” (See, I just wrote that in my blog!)
I have this weird thing about birthdays. I like them. I even enjoy getting older – NOT – as my husband and I agreed, the physical deterioration that may come with getting older (since my present this year was another shoulder surgery), but celebrating the past, present, future of the amazing grace story God has written in me.
One of the things I like about celebrating is hearing from so many people – yesterday Pastor Barry Howard preached about how the new technology brings with it many opportunities to spread the good Word (even though, as he said, it comes with its own set of problems.) I have to say, looking at my Facebook wall today stuns me — I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I look at the ‘great cloud of witnesses,’ the fellow saints with whom I walk this earth (please note – my birthday is on ALL SAINTS’ DAY!). As I read emails and greeting cards, I think of all the faces and stories God has privileged me to walk this era in history with. People I have met once, people I’ve never met in person but hope to meet before heaven! Brothers and sisters in the Lord; children of my womb; the dear mother who gave birth to me. I want to have lunch with every one of them (you) and catch up on their stories.
I am getting older and I am grateful! (and if this seems a little rambling to you…let me say that my birthday coincides with one of the busier days of this month…and – IT’S MY BIRTHDAYJ so I’m taking a break from clarity!)
by Elizabeth | Oct 30, 2010 | Learning Story
Beethoven plays Debussy
