new life reading

In today’s essay the fiery Christoph Blumhardt reminds us of the inseparable link between the reality of the Resurrection and living in Christ. For Blumhardt it is not enough for one to say “ I believe” in reference to the resurrection if that is not accompanied by a vigorous living for Christ in Kingdom activity. Here Blumhard makes a passionate statement that hits to the heart of the New Testament idea that the death and resurrection of Christ must be in us:

It is not the worst if some people are unable to believe that Christ rose from the dead-at least they still regard it as something tremendous, too to tremendous to glibly confess. The sad thing is that so many people today claim to believe it, and yet it means so little to them. It has no effect on their lives.

We tend to focus on perspective and that is helpful sometimes. But we should never loose our focus on purpose. It’s important to look at life from different vantage points but we must never forget that Jesus came to die and live and our lives are no different. We experience the death in and of this world but nevertheless we live because and for Him. Again Blumhardt, “We are simply to ask Jesus to give us more and more of his resurrection, until it runs over, until the extraordinary powers form on high that are within our reach can get down to work on all that we do.” Part of the “running over” is that the alive Jesus alive in us calls to bring life to others in ministry. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “ And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” The idea is that as the reality of the resurrection should pour out of our lives into the lives of others as God gives us opportunity. Live today.

New Life Reading

Today’s Essay comes from Methodist Minister and Missionary, E. Stanley Jones. What William Carey was to Overseas Missions in the 18th Century, Jones was to India in the 20th Century. In looking back on his earliest Spiritual development and looking forward to what it really means to follow Christ, Jones centers in on the centrality for Christ followers to be witness. I was really pulled by the following sentence, “In my ministry I was to be, not God’s lawyer, but his witness.” I appreciate the study of Christian apologetics and those who study and work to build a knowledge base to relate the truths of Christianity to many different cultural and intellectual audiences. The greatest defense of Christianity will always be a solid, authentic witness of Christ in one’s daily life. Part of being an authentic witness is recognizing our dependence on Christ and confessing our sins to Him. This helps with humility and avoids the arrogance that dampen the witness for Christ to those who might already have a suspicious opinion of Christianity. 1 John 1:5-10 talks about the importance of confession and the security we have in Christ. Confession develops us on the inside to effect the outside of our lives. To quote Jones once more and solidify life of witness, “We cannot merely talk about Christ- we must bring him.” Come in confession and bring Christ to your world.

New Life Reading

Today’s reading is entitled “I Had Been Waiting” and is written by Alfred Kazin, a premier writer and literary critic of the 20th century. It is not clear whether or not the essay is biographical or not, but it chronicles the experience of a Jewish man coming to believe in Jesus Christ of the New Testament as the promised Messiah looked forward to in Judaism, Yeshua. It tells with vivid imagery of how a honest reading of the New Testament led the speaker to know that Christ was everything he had longed for and needed. The realization comes from the work of the Spirit through the recording and teaching of Scripture. In hearing Jesus through the Gospel record the speaker says,

For that voice, that exultantly fiery and tender voice, there were no gaps between images and things for constantly walking before the Lord, he remained all energy and mind thrust his soul into every corner of the world, and passing gaily under every yoke, remained free to seek our God in His expected place.

This revelation is not the result of a stagnant Spirit or a casual reading. This comes from the Diving work of God as someone chooses to dig in to the meat of Scripture. Today’s Spiritual Formation is the meditate on Scripture. The text suggested is Psalm 23. To meditate simply means to give concentrated time and focus to portions of Scripture allowing space for God to reveal Himself and for us to really take it in. The suggestion is to read a different verse each hour over a period of six hours. However you choose to go about it an intense concentration on Scripture yields the opportunity to see God in His word and come away with an anchored conviction of His character and call. Meditating on Scripture allows us to be “free to seek our God in His expected place.”

New Life Reading

Today’s reading is an excerpt from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov. ” In “Redemption” the speaker, Father Zossima is telling his fellow Monk about the role Zossima’s brother Markel played in his personal conversion. The story is really more about the sickness and death of Markel and how he find real life. There is a point in Markel’s last days, during the time of Easter, when he confesses his sins to the birds outside the window to his room. He explains the confession, “there was so much of God’s glory around me, birds, tress, meadows, sky and I alone lived in shame, I alone dishonored everything, and did not see the beauty and glory of it all.” We can quickly become self-absorbed even in worthy pursuits. We are longing to be renewed inwardly but succumb to the temptation of looking for that redemption in ourselves and we miss the glory all around us. One way to come out of this neglect of God’s glory is through fasting. Fasting should be done after consideration of many factors chiefly motivation and proper health. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 that when we fast it should not be to draw attention to ourselves or make a display out of our misery. It should be done in solemn commitment and obedience to God. May we, like Markel, be made aware of what we are missing, even if that means something has to be put to the side for a time.

New Life Reading

Today’s reading is from Leo Tolstoy. It is part of his larger work translated “I Believe” in the Late 19th Century. Tolstoy’s essay is entitled “I, Like the Thief.” In the essay Tolstoy compares his conversion experience with that to the thief on the cross. Tolstoy sees himself on the verge of death, like the thief and sees him suffering in the evil of the world, like the thief. Also like the thief he was dramatically rescued out of death by Christ. The difference for Tolstoy is that he received a new lease on this life whereas the thief had only to look forward to the life hereafter. The most striking line of the whole essay for me is in the first line where Tolstoy says, “I came to believe in Christ’s teachings, and my life suddenly changed;” For me, coming to have a personal relationship with Christ did not result in a dramatic, perceivable life change. But my direction and aspirations did change. A Christ led life is different, it should be and it is worthwhile.

One of the differences is a Christ led life is a life of service. Mark 10:35-45 is instructive for following Christ as a servant. Jesus says it plainly in Mark 10:45 that He came to serve. The challenge of our Spiritual formation today is to find a way to serve another, be it a spouse, neighbor, or stranger. Our life’s change should result in change in another’s life.