Christ’s Invitation

This morning I read from Jesus, the One and Only by Beth Moore. In the chapter I read she discusses Christ’s interaction and Invitation to Peter (and to us) to take up our Cross and follow him. Here is a small excerpt from that chapter and a new favorite quote of mine from her.

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The key to true “follow-ship” with Christ is the recommitment to take up the cross. Luke’s version of this invitation includes an all-important word - daily.

Dr. Luke wrote the prescription for the victorious life, and he wrote it for all of us who would desire to become Christ’s disciples: live life one surrendered day at a time. Eyes to the East. Hands to the cross. Feet to the path.

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Meaning of Mountains and Valleys Parable

Luke shares with us in chapter 3 about a man who was prophesied about way back in the prophet Isaiah's time, roughly 700 years earlier.  John the Baptist.  This is what was prophesied about him: 

 "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the LORD's coming! Clear the road for him!

The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level.

The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.

And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'" (Luke 3:4-6, Isaiah 40:3)

I've been intrigued by John the Baptist for a while and not just because he ate locusts and wore camels hair.   No, it's because he has a miracle birth too just before Jesus and was called to pave the way for our Savior.  One of the greatest missions ever, yet only a few chapters in the New Testament are devoted to him.  You can read more about his greatness in my last post.  

And since I personally believe John the Baptist's calling and mission was one of the greatest, I wanted to look deeper, and what better area to dive into then what was prophesied about him back in Isaiah's time.  Hence the passage above.

The passage starts out sharing "a voice in the wilderness"; many know this part, as he literally lived in the wilderness and roughed it out there.  Not the kind of lifestyle I'd live but you can almost understand it after you hear his calling.  He was "preparing" people's hearts for the idea of salvation and forgiveness and trying to remove all obstacles in their life that kept them from God.  He was "clearing the road for Him."

So what were these obstacles?  The parable here tells us. 

Valleys - Every valley shall be filled.

Mountains - Every mountain and hill should be brought low. 

Curves - curves shall be made straight  

Rough places - rough places shall be made smooth

Since this passage is a parable we know the obstacles aren't literally valleys and mountains, so what are they? 

The Valleys  - I read about two different meanings.  One: John preached that salvation was for all flesh, Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles were any non-Jew. Jews were no longer going to be the favored nation and Gentiles should no longer be looked down upon.  Jesus came to save all.

Two: Filling up the valleys represents what God was willing to do for the poor and sinners who were like valleys, low in despair.  John was calling them to repentance and salvation through God's free grace to be brought out of the pit and placed among royalty as children of the one true King. 

Mountains and Hills -  I tend to think these mountains that need to be brought low are the Pharisees of the day.  The Pharisees were prideful, priveledge, and felt themselves above everyone else, boasting about their knowledge and how they were the "only" teachers of the law.  Pride is so often our mountain as well, but Jesus often teaches a life of servitude and humbleness are the way to him. 

Another Mountain can be our mountain of guilt.  We often feel unworthy of his free grace because of our sin.  But John teaches us that salvation is for all, and that Christ was coming to defeat this sin and we only had to have faith. 

Curves - I believe again these are the Pharisees.  They were crooked in many ways especially with the interpretation of the Law. They were strict in some area, even taking it far beyond what was intended. For example, working on the Sabbath and not even being able to heal (Mark 3:1-6). Yet they were short on others,  We can also apply this to our lives with the "rules" of worship.  Let me tell you.  There are no rules.  We are saved by faith alone. 

We are also thrown curves in life, the hardships, chaoticness, trials... It's these curves that Christ came for. He came to make every part of our life lie straight. Offering us a peace, a reason. 

Rough places - these are obstacles that slow up our relationship to God.  The Pharisees were guilty of placing many obstacles in the way of man to God.  Character can do that as well.  Do our words, manners, or actions hinder others from reaching out to grab hold of the Savior? Sometimes as Christians we focus too much on the don'ts of life, what if, we as Christians, focused more on the dos?  

I love this parable that was prophesied many years before.  For many reason, it connects the Old and New Testament, shows more proof on the validity of the Bible, reveals to us the purpose of Jesus Christ - the salvation found only in Christ and reveals the glory of God.

 I encourage you to dive deep into this passage as well as these are my thoughts.  There are great teachings behind the parables in the Bible.  I believe when just glanced at they can be confusing, but are meant to entice us to find the deeper teaching and meaning. And when you do, oh the truth, hope, and revelation of his power and grace that are brought forth.

 

resources: All The Parables of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer 

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400 years of Silence in the Bible

I took a Bible Study, Village Schools of the Bible, which I've talked about before.   This Bible Study shed some seriously light to the 400 years of silence.  Learning and studying about these 400 years  brings about so much peace during this year's crazy election.

What does it teach me most?  That God is working and orchestrating.  He is not silent.  Rather He is showing us He has a master plan and He is forever working in our lives.  For He is always with us.  He has perfect timing and brings everything to forwishen in His perfect timing. 

For example,  these 400 years, the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, God was bringing about the perfect moment for His Son to come into this world and save us.  

How So?  

There were four major empires that ruled during these 400 years.  Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.  God used each one of these empires to prepare for the coming King.

Babylon - During Babylon's reign, there were two major developments that allowed for "easier" access to God.  Synagogues and Scribes.  The Synagogues allowed for local worship rather than having to travel to Jerusalem.  In fact, Jesus often taught at local synagogues.    The Scribes copied and taught scripture.  No longer did people only rely on oral traditions.  Many could study it for them selves.

Medo-Persia - It was during this reign that the exiled Jews were allowed to return back to Jerusalem.  Medo-Persia gave financial support for the rebuilding on the Temple and the Jerusalem Wall.  Thus establishing the center of worship once again.

Greece - There are many aspects that came out of the Greece Empire.  One being the Pharisees and Sadducees.  The other being one of the biggest aspects which is the "common" language.  Many of the Jews adopted to the Greek language and cultural way of living.  Thus the Old Testament being translated in to Greek and crossing cultural boarders.  

Rome - This powerhouse allowed for self-government with a governor. Rome brought about major trade routes with roads which allowed for the Gospel to spread like wildfire after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:4  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.

It was God who used these pagan empires.  These empires that God's people distrusted and even despised.  These empires who ruled when they thought God was absent. These empires where the people wondered if God abandoned them.  It was these empires that developed local worship, access to scripture, a rebuilding of a people, a common language and a major road system that allowed for the Good News of Jesus Christ to reach the ends of the earth.   

God may seem absent in this prideful, chaotic and corrupt election,  but we know from history past that God is always working His master plan.  We may not understand it.  But we can have faith in it.  And someday when we look back, we will see Him in it.

Be Still and know that I am God.  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world.  Psalm 46:10

"I am the Alpha and the Omega-the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come-the Almighty One" Revelations 1:8

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