Icky (Jan 30)

Some time ago, I bought some new fish to add to my aquarium. No sooner had I added them to the tank, than a couple of fish showed signs of ich, a fish disease that can be fatal. Basically, with ich, a tiny parasite burrows itself into the flesh of a fish and feeds on the blood. This makes the fish itchy and they try to scratch themselves on rocks. It must be something like a chigger bite, only on a larger scale. After some time, the parasite will fall to the floor of the tank and multiply at an exponential rate. The new parasites attach themselves to the fish and the cycle continues. This wears down the fish, they get lethargic, and then often die. There are a few things that can be done to treat it, including chemical treatment, raising the water temperature, and cycling the water more often. So, for the past week, I've been treating my water and fish and they seem to be doing much better.

I was thinking about transformation and reading a few scriptures on the subject and I also thought about this situation with my fish. Those parasites don't belong there. They are getting into the fish and causing real problems. They need to be killed off and prevented from reproducing.

When we let sin into our lives, it often begins as a small thing, seemingly harmless. But it affects us. And then it grows and multiplies. We think it is gone and we overcome it and then more and more stuff gets into our lives.

Sin needs to be dealt with. God is a God that can transform hearts and lives. He can take a heart that is ridden with compromises and glossed over with cynicism – lethargic and no longer excitedly growing – and transform it into a heart full of vibrant life. If you've ever been sick, you know what I'm talking about. When your immune system is compromised, you just feel like sleeping or not doing much. But when you're better, you are suddenly full of energy and want to get up and do stuff. Perhaps a little cabin fever helps to move the process along, but you're out there living life again. Spiritually, God takes that heart and changes it. He cleans it out and fills it with His Spirit again. But you know, if we just let it go, there's nothing but death waiting. If I didn't treat my fish, they'd just die. Hopefully with the treatment, the tank will be transformed once again into a vibrant living environment and the fish will return to their darting around and what not.

Mat 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. (44) Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Tit 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Col 3:9-10 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Glory and Borey Too (Jan 16)

Due to illness, I didn't get to deliver this lesson last week, so I added some scriptures and thoughts and I share it again with you this week…

Welcome to 2011! Sure, it's just another day, but it's also a good time for some re-evaluation. I'm not suggesting that you come up with a bunch of lame New Year's resolutions that you won't keep. I'm suggesting that you take a quick look at your life, do a little inventory, check out your commitments, and figure out what it is you're doing here. Check out this devotional reading by Chris Tiegreen:

Eze 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Brilliant flashes of light, gyroscopic movements, mysterious faces, and a glowing presence. Those are feeble words describing an awesome vision—"the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD," according to the prophet. In other words, Ezekiel is saying, "This is the best that words can do." But he implies—and we know from his response—that it was more than a strange vision. It was the indescribable presence of majesty.

That sense of majesty—of great glory, unimaginably inspiring and impossible to grasp—is the sense that every believer should live with. It prompts prophets to declare God's truth with superhuman courage, and it drives painfully human worshipers to their knees. If we live without a sense of excitement, going through the routine of our days with rote motion and chilling apathy, we don't have it. We aren't living in the presence of God.

That's an absurd picture: In one realm, there are flashes of lightning, powerful winds, shouting angelic voices, and indescribable fire and motion. In another realm, there are lukewarm people going through stale routines without much enthusiasm, energy, or hope. That's expected of people who have never known God. It's inappropriate for those who have.

How can we who dwell in the passionless, visible realm live with the perspective of those who have seen the eternal flames of glory? For starters, we can begin each day in the posture of Ezekiel's response: We can fall facedown. In other words, we can worship. Given enough truth, time, and practice in the art of adoration, we got greater glimpses of God's glory. And if a day begins with that, it is anything but a routine day.

If you are bored with life, lacking energy, and losing hope, try spending more time in God's presence. Ask Him to reveal His glory. Life will never be the same.

Hmmm, think about those words. People going through their stale routines or boring lives, doing spiritual things out of habit or tradition…how can this be if they've seen the glory of God? Like the author said, "That's expected of people who have never known God. It's inappropriate for those who have." So evaluate your life. Take a look at your heart. Do you see glory or borey living? (Hey, I had to tie it back to my lame title somehow.) Seriously, though, how can we live in God's presence and be so apathetic?

Zep 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Mat 22:1-6 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, (2) The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, (3) And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. (4) Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. (5) But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: (6) And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

Heb 6:11-12 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (12) That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

And, in context, this section in my Bible is under the heading "The Peril of Not Progressing."

Heb 6:1-12 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit. (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (7) For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: (8) But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (9) But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (10) For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (11) And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (12) That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Glory and Borey (Jan 9)

Welcome to 2011! Sure, it's just another day, but it's also a good time for some re-evaluation. I'm not suggesting that you come up with a bunch of lame New Year's resolutions that you won't keep. I'm suggesting that you take a quick look at your life, do a little inventory, check out your commitments, and figure out what it is you're doing here. Check out this devotional reading by Chris Tiegreen:

Eze 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Brilliant flashes of light, gyroscopic movements, mysterious faces, and a glowing presence. Those are feeble words describing an awesome vision—"the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD," according to the prophet. In other words, Ezekiel is saying, "This is the best that words can do." But he implies—and we know from his response—that it was more than a strange vision. It was the indescribable presence of majesty.

That sense of majesty—of great glory, unimaginably inspiring and impossible to grasp—is the sense that every believer should live with. It prompts prophets to declare God's truth with superhuman courage, and it drives painfully human worshipers to their knees. If we live without a sense of excitement, going through the routine of our days with rote motion and chilling apathy, we don't have it. We aren't living in the presence of God.

That's an absurd picture: In one realm, there are flashes of lightning, powerful winds, shouting angelic voices, and indescribable fire and motion. In another realm, there are lukewarm people going through stale routines without much enthusiasm, energy, or hope. That's expected of people who have never known God. It's inappropriate for those who have.

How can we who dwell in the passionless, visible realm live with the perspective of those who have seen the eternal flames of glory? For starters, we can begin each day in the posture of Ezekiel's response: We can fall facedown. In other words, we can worship. Given enough truth, time, and practice in the art of adoration, we got greater glimpses of God's glory. And if a day begins with that, it is anything but a routine day.

If you are bored with life, lacking energy, and losing hope, try spending more time in God's presence. Ask Him to reveal His glory. Life will never be the same.

Hmmm, think about those words. People going through their stale routines or boring lives, doing spiritual things out of habit or tradition…how can this be if they've seen the glory of God? Like the author said, "That's expected of people who have never known God. It's inappropriate for those who have." So evaluate your life. Take a look at your heart. Do you see glory or borey living? (Hey, I had to tie it back to my lame title somehow.) Seriously, though, how can we live in God's presence and be so apathetic?