Have you considered what is already yours...

 ...what is already a benefit for you to claim as you need or want? In the ancient world to be a Roman Citizen was a high prize. Most people had to pay great sums of money to get the prize. The Apostle Paul was born a citizen of Rome and therefore was entitled simply by his birth certain rights granted by the state. Those rights are what got him to Rome for an appeal before Caesar. Those rights saved him from a beating at the hands of Jews.  Those rights were powerful and precious.

Last week I thought of Solomon and his opportunity to ask of God whatever his heart desired. He asked for wisdom to rule God’s people well. God was pleased with his request and granted that plus wealth beyond measure. So much wealth that if Solomon awoke and only had Warren Buffett’s money or Bill Gates or even those combined Solomon would wonder what was wrong and what happened. God granted his request and much more. Yet if we continue to read Solomon’s story we find in the end that wisdom was not enough for a successful life. IN FACT Solomon was a colossal failure as a king and as a man of God. Wisdom that he had asked for was not enough. You can read his words to that effect in Ecclesiastes. What should he have asked for? I give you this answer, the presence of God.

The presence of God in his life would have changed his whole reign but that’s not what he asked for. Did Solomon ask for enough? I say no. So if you had the same opportunity what would you ask for? You may say “hey Rev that’s not going to happen so why even think about it?” I would have to answer with truth “you are right that’s not going to happen” and then add “because what we need most has already been given.” Today for a believer of Jesus you already have the presence of God within you. He is already there. No asking, no begging, no wishing it is already done for you. Jesus said he would never leave you nor forsake you. He will meet our every need. Wherever you go he is already there and he travels with you. “I am the way the truth the life,” Jesus said the whole enchilada all in Him. That’s what we’ve been given, already yours. Now, have you considered what is already yours?

Thanksgiving is just such a time to count and remember just what is yours. Are you thankful for Jesus? There is so much given in and by him to all who follow. There are not enough words to recount what he has given us. But, that is no excuse for not trying anyway. We have an opportunity weekly to say thank you. We call that worship. Max Lucado in a book titled The Eye of the Storm writes:

Worship is when you are aware that what you’ve been given is far greater than what you can give. Worship is the awareness that were it not for his touch, you’d still be hobbling and hurting, bitter and broke. Worship is the half glazed expression on the parched face of a desert pilgrim as he discovers that the oasis is not a mirage. Worship is the “Thank You” that refuses to be silenced…Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered by the saved to the Savior, by the healed to the Healer, and by the delivered to the deliverer.

Thanksgiving is to consider what is already yours and be grateful. I don’t know what is already mine really. I know I am not grateful. Maybe this is my opportunity to count my blessings and “give thanks to Lord for HE is good.”

I hope you will too!

Friday 11.11.11 Veterans day and I sit here with a tie around my neck...

that is not my usual outfit. IN fact it rarely is an outfit at all for me with the exception of funerals, weddings and graduations. But today is an exception, it is Veterans Day and I had a small part in the annual program at the Effingham Veterans Park here in Springfield. So, I donned the tie and coat (I should have added sweater, overcoat etc. It was cold with the wind at the park) to fit in with others on the program.

Isn’t that funny that we dress up for ceremonies that remember or sanctify (set aside) actions that were anything but pretty or dressed up. War is a dirty messy business. Soldiers and sailors are not pretty in combat. They are often dressed in dirty, bloody, stinking clothes having not bathed in days or weeks because of their duty, the call to combat. Yet because of their enduring of filth and grim I can wear a tie to an event to honor their service.

The veterans were in the clothes of their service today, hats marking the conflict of their service, uniforms from active duty now or in the past, medals commending service above and beyond the call of duty proudly worn on coat lapels all clean and proud and nice for the unimaginable. The color guard was dressed in uniform and ceremony for the flag of our country the clean symbol standing out of brutal conflict. We sang the national anthem with its text of a flag waving in the wind following a night of brutal bombardment yet still there. We remember but not dressed like it was.

In heaven the saints will found in white robes the symbol of purity and wholeness bought by the spilling of blood. Not unlike our Veterans Day remembrance ceremonies and parades, the redeemed, the free will be pretty and white and here the redeemers (veterans) too are dressed in their very best. Not so in heaven, the Redeemer, The Lamb, the Son of the Living God will be dressed in symbols marked by the sacrifice of the conflict.

¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  Rev 19:13 NIV 1984

Blood that was his own in our place (Gal 3:13) that’s why our robes are white and his is blood stained. Recently a report made the national news of the oldest serving soldier who is in his 50’s. When asked why he was serving overseas he replied “So that a 19 year old doesn’t have to.” Why is Jesus dressed in a blood stained robe with scars on his hands and feet so we don’t have to.

Freedom has always come at a very high price. Usually blood stained the field and combatants so that others didn’t have to. To remember the sacrifice parades and memorials, ceremonies, uniforms and nice clothes are fine even a tie but not really enough are they? No, a sacrifice of that kind of price demands a life lived in the freedom that was purchased. A life lived with utter commitment and devotion to the one who gave his all.

Freedom is free but not cheap.