The Adventure of Discipleship

When we think of the heart, Valentine’s Day and love come to mind.  We often contrast the mind and heart as the mind is for thinking and the heart is for feeling.  Songs of the heart are those that move us emotionally.  Poetry is written to touch our minds but even more so our hearts.  Those who are more cerebral or objective tend to value thinking and reasoning while dismissing as superfluous the emotions we associate with the heart.  The result is to polarize the mind and heart and thus create tension as to which is more relevant. 

The term heart is used in three primary ways:  the physical organ, the core of something (e.g., the heart of the matter), and the inner part of our personhood.¹   The word appears in the Bible text over 700 times compared to 140 times for the word mind, indicating it is a fairly prominent theme. 

The first time the word heart occurs in the Bible is in Genesis.  “So the LORD was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:6).  This initial heart statement tells us that God’s nature includes emotions or heart.  It is safe to conclude then that, since we are created in God’s image, we, too, have this intangible part of our nature called the heart and emotions.  But is that all there is to the heart?  A quick flyover of how the Bible describes the heart will reveal that it is an essential part of who we are but more complex than just emotion.

When Scripture refers to the heart, it acknowledges that it is the core of our inner person.  “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).  When the Bible uses the term heart, it can refer to our thoughts, emotions, and will, or all three. 

• Thinking
  • As a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7 KJ).
  • I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders (Psalm 77:6). 
• Feeling
  • My heart is in anguish within me (Psalm 55:4).
  • Even in laughter the heart may be in pain (Proverbs 14:13). 
• Acting:
  • Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction (Proverbs 22:17 NLT).
  • With all my heart I will observe Your precepts (Psalm 119:69). 

The Bible makes a distinction between the body, soul, and spirit.  “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).  And from the book of Hebrews, we get a distinction between the soul, the spirit, and the heart.  “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).   

If we let the soul refer to our inner person (different than the spirit) then our heart could be called the seat of the soul.   The following illustration is one way to express the concept of the heart and how it relates to our journey of discipleship and disciplemaking.  If we let the composite of our mind, emotions, and will represent our soul, then the heart could represent the core of our soul.  The above verse in Hebrews says that the Word is able to not only penetrate the inner person of the soul, but also our heart.  I will let the soul refer to the composite inner person of the mind, emotions, and will, and the heart refer to the composite deeper level of the soul.

An oversimplified (but hopefully helpful) way to express these ideas is to let the outer circle represent the soul with its three components of mind, emotion, and will.  The heart, then, is the deepest expression of our soul (mind, emotions, and will).  At the surface level, we have knowledge, feelings, and behavior.  But at the heart level, we have convictions, passions, and resolve.

At the surface level, the mind operates with thoughts, knowledge, and information.  Beliefs at this level are constantly changing as new information is acquired.

Convictions, however, reside at the heart level of the mind.  They are beliefs that are rigidly held (whether they are true or not.)  Often there is a discrepancy between what we say we believe (knowledge level) and what we deeply believe (conviction level.)  It has been said, “Beliefs are what we fight for, convictions are what we die for.”  At the heart level, knowledge becomes conviction. 

Discipleship is the process of developing biblical convictions, not just gaining knowledge so we can parrot the correct answers.  Two factors are vital to this process.  First, the Spirit is committed to using the Scripture for life change (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and, therefore, the question should always be, “What does the Scripture say?”  Buying a book on the subject to see what others are saying is easier, but it does not build the conviction that first-hand exploration of Scripture does.

Second, as educators have known for a long time, adults learn best by self-discovery rather than listening to lectures.  Biblical convictions come as a person participates in the learning process and experiences the concepts through practical application.

Of course, it would be ineffective if we had to learn everything simply by self-discovery, so guided self-discovery becomes a valuable method for building convictions.  As we disciple others, we need to equip people to personally study, meditate, and make application of Scripture.  These skill sets will give them tools for a lifetime of developing convictions.  

In the same way, our emotions operate both as surface feelings and heart passions. The feeling level is fairly fluid and changing.  Feelings are temporary whereas passions are steady and consistent.  Developed over time, passions can withstand adversity and not diminish whereas feelings are easily swayed by current circumstances.

Helping people move from feelings to passions in their discipleship journey involves personal exposure and first-hand experience.  Early in my discipleship journey, I knew that I should have a heart (passion) for world missions.  I read missionary biographies, went to mission conferences, and attended all-night prayer meetings for missions.  They all were helpful but nothing compared to a trip to Africa where I spent a summer living with Kenyans.

The will is our complex decisionmaker, our control/action center.  The will can respond to knowledge and feelings or to convictions and resolve.  At the resolve level of the will, we demonstrate actions that are consistent over time, expressed by our character and values. 

The Old Testament prophet Ezra is an example of resolve.  The key to his success is given in Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”  It was the set of his heart (resolve) that allowed God to bless him.  The Gospels record a similar resolve when they say that Jesus “set his face” towards Jerusalem as he resolved to do the Father’s will on Calvary. 

We all know of stories of men and women who had a deep resolve to accomplish something even though it was not easy, fun, or convenient.  Their resolve helped them stay the course regardless of the distractions or costs. 

A discipling coach (mentor) needs to help people align their will with Scripture at the heart level (resolve).  A coach not only explains what to do, and models how to do it, but helps people put desired behavior into practice over time.  However, accountability must be voluntary.  Forced accountability usually results in compliance but not resolution.  When there is resolve, God-honoring behavior moves from a duty to a delight. 

The heart is a deep, yet a critical mystery.  ‘Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).  We are also told that we do not know another person’s heart, but God does and that the Scripture is a discerner of our hearts “… able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  Although we cannot directly affect another person’s heart, we can cooperate with God in the process of heart transformation through the power of prayer, Scripture and effective equipping.

Let’s not be satisfied with surface levels of conformity but aim for heart-level formation, (convictions, passion, and resolve) in ourselves and in those we are mentoring.

Questions for reflection

1.  Identify a truth that went from information to conviction in your discipleship journey

2.  What are some of your passions?

The ubiquitous target is designed to move our aim toward the center:  the bullseye.  Whether we are throwing darts, shooting arrows, or firing a rifle, the challenge is not simply to hit the target but to hit the bullseye.  Every serious marksman knows that it takes continual practice to consistently hit the center.

The Kingdom Target

Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10).

If we step back and take a long look at God’s purposes, the above familiar prayer establishes the target.  God is expanding his kingdom; it’s the family business. When we are united with Christ by faith, we inherit the family blessings and the family business.  Jesus said, “as the Father has sent me, so send I you” (John 20:21).  When Jesus recruited the early disciples, he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  Peter and the boys knew about a family fishing business.  They knew that as members of their family, they inherited their father’s fishing business.  Jesus tapped into that expectation by saying that if they followed him, they would inherit a spiritual fishing business.

As members of God’s family, our family business is to expand God’s kingdom.  But within that target are many specific objectives that can help us reach our target’s bullseye.  Each concentric circle gets closer to the heart of the Great Commission.  Each is an expression of kingdom expansion but the center is the ultimate goal and as expected, more difficult to hit.  As the disciples followed Jesus over the three-plus years, they were trained to not only hit the target but to aim at the bullseye of making disciples who make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

Circle 1:  Serve others

Let’s let the outer circle of our target represent the broadest expression of kingdom expansion:  acts of service.  In the Sermon on the Mt., Jesus said, “Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). 

Mother Teresa is the icon of this expression of kingdom expansion.   She is world-renowned for modeling sacrificial service for the sake of others.  This is not unusual as Christianity has been responsible for some of the most effective humanitarian movements in history.  Early first-century Christians, medieval monastic movements, the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and Doctors without Borders are just a few examples.  From the international to the local, people of faith are expanding God’s kingdom influence by sacrificially serving their communities.

Circle 2:  Gospel proclamation

The gospel is not a concept that can be deduced from nature or acts of kindness.  It is a message that must be told.  “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14).   God commissioned his family to verbally declare the message of Jesus and serve as his ambassadors to this broken world (2 Corinthians 5:20).  

Circle 3:  Make disciples

Paul modeled not only the importance of taking the message of Jesus into the Gentile world but of conserving its fruit.  The Epistles are “follow-up” letters to new converts who were asking, “So, now what?”  Helping develop new believers to become mature image bearers of Christ, is our third circle on our target.  Using a physical metaphor, it is the development of mature spiritual adults.  Spiritual maturity is not sudden or simple.  Regardless of the strategy or effectiveness, developing disciples as mature followers of Christ has been the desire of most local churches and para-church ministries. 

Based on the lack of authentic Christ-like image bears, we could call into question the effectiveness of hitting this circle of our target.  The failure, however, is not due to a lack of desire or effort.  Nor is the problem restricted to our current age.  The early apostles and church had their shots miss this target circle also.  “You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:15). 

Circle 4 (The bullseye):  Disciples who make disciples

When Jesus gave those initial disciples the mission to make disciples, he was launching a generational, missional strategy.  This strategy not only stresses circles 1 to 3, but it establishes the basis from which to hit the bullseye which includes making not only mature, healthy, spiritual adults but also producing effective spiritual parents.                        

We could all give testimony regarding the personal growth that results from having children.  It is hard, for example, to be a parent and remain self-focused.  It is even hard to maintain the illusion we have all the answers.  Parenting is a pathway for maturity developing qualities like perseverance, courage, and at times, humble authenticity.    

There is something beautiful about the dynamics of a healthy, three-generational family:  Grandparents, parents, and grandkids.   Each generation needs the other and provides God’s design for healthy communities.  The same dynamic occurs with a three-generational spiritual family. It doesn’t always happen, but it is healthier if it does.

Leadership guru Stephen Covey made popular the phrase: “Begin with the end in mind.”  What a difference it would make if our ministry activities were designed with the “end” of developing three-generational family lineages.

Tightening our shot pattern

Poor aim is not the only reason we miss the bullseye.  Every accomplished marksman knows that the longer the shot, the more chance there is for drift.  Gravity and wind are two of the more common causes of a shot that misses the target.  Aiming to make disciples that make disciples is not without the opposition of spiritual gravity and winds that can take our shot off center.  Sometimes the drift forces are within us like discouragement, at other times it can come from those we are trying to help.   Sometimes it is the complexity of living life in a broken world that takes our shot off target.  So, we need to factor in the drift forces and keep our aim on the bullseye.

While personalizing the bullseye for my own life, I remember a message by Lorne Sanny (past president of The Navigators) gave on 1 Corinthians 15:58. “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  I have returned to this admonition and promise many times over the years as I keep aiming for the bullseye.

For reflection

1.  What are some other forces that cause our shot to drift off target?

2.  How many generations are there in your spiritual family?

For generations, the refrigerator door has been the family bulletin board. Since everyone in the family comes through the kitchen at least several times a day, the refrigerator was the most central family gathering place. Before post-a-notes were invented, Scotch tape was used to stick notes and information to the door. Masking tape replaced Scotch tape since it could easily be removed. Magnets soon dominated the adhesive duties which worked quite well unless someone slammed the door too hard. With the introduction of nonmagnetic doors, I guess we are back to masking tape!

You can usually tell what stage of development a family is by simply looking at what is on the fridge door. Initially, it is shopping and do lists along with pictures of the dog. These are eventually replaced by sonograms and baby pictures. Eventually, these too are replaced by children’s version of modern art followed by school progress reports and team sports pictures. Then comes the bitter-sweet phase when we post graduation announcements and senior pictures.

Then there seems to be a lull when it is back to do lists and pictures of the dog, who is now so old he can no longer stand up for his picture. Excitement returns to the fridge door once grandkids start arriving. Once again it’s sonograms and pregnant mommy on the door as the dog pics get moved to the side of the fridge.

The fridge door is a place to announce what we are celebrating; what we wanted others to celebrate with us. More than once our kids would ask, after giving us their recent Crayola drawing, “Are you going to put it on the refrigerator?”

So, what does the door to our spiritual refrigerator look like? What are we celebrating? Is it covered with Bible study schedules and missionaries we support or pictures of our spiritual children and grandkids? Celebrating physical generations is so natural we take it for granted. Why not spiritual generations?

The Old Testament model of spiritual expansion was through family relationships.

He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. (Psalm 78:5-7)

Fathers were to teach their children who in turn would teach their children. The temple and priests were a complement to the family strategy. It seems that Paul had this same relational strategy in mind when he told Timothy to invest in faithful men who could teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). Early believers during the first centuries expanded the kingdom through this relational model.When Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica, he commended them for the way their faith story had made its way into the areas of Macedonia and Achaia without him. Without access to public forums, these new believers just “gossiped” the gospel where ever they went. They didn’t wait for a public crusade or a captivating orator. They took serious Christ’s commission “as you are going, make disciples

For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

But at some point, after Constantine made Christianity fashionable, we lost the relational, generational model in favor of an institutional one. As a result, instead of families, we created orphanages. Spiritual refrigerator doors no longer celebrate spiritual generations but organizational activities.
Recently my wife and I attended a “Grandparent’s Open House” for our kindergarten grandson. As we huddled with our grandchild admiring his artwork and his box of Crayolas, I heard a boy in the middle of the room, sitting all alone, shout out, “Where are my grandparents?”

I recently met with a college grad who had come to faith at the University of Missouri during his freshman year. He is now living and working in the Marketplace in Kansas City. When I asked him about his faith story, he pulled out his smartphone and showed me a picture of his spiritual family tree. He could trace his spiritual family back multiple generations. Then he told me about a student he had led to Christ before he graduated who was now growing and learning to share his faith. He had a keen awareness of his continued responsibility to help the next generation not be the last link in the chain.

Jesus instituted a relational and generational strategy when he passed on to his disciples his kingdom mission to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The great commission strategy was disciples who make disciples. I don’t think that his strategy was solely for the exponential potential of multiplication over addition. I think it was also because he knew what would happen in the lives of his people when they became spiritual parents and grandparents.

Children have a way of challenging our self-focus and teaching us how to love sacrificially. They expose our weaknesses and demand our attention. They cause us to rethink what we know so we can pass it on in an understandable way. Children help us mature, up close and personal.

Today, couples in America are increasingly opting out of having children. Maybe they are scared off by the composite cost of raising a child in today’s economy ($310,000). Or maybe it’s the reluctance to forfeit the pursuit of the “good life.” The reasons are many and varied. The result, however, is that refrigerators are void of family pictures, displaying only schedules and pictures of the dog.

But what about spiritually? What’s posted on our spiritual refrigerator door? The Apostle John wrote in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my (spiritual) children walk in truth.” There is a God-designed joy that comes from our children and grandchildren’s pictures hanging on our refrigerator door. The concept goes back to the original command in the Garden of Eden. “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Sin made the job harder but it didn’t change the strategy.

What would it take to make “family” the celebrated focus of our spiritual refrigerator door?

For reflection

1. What barriers do you see that prevent us from a relational, generational approach to expanding God’s kingdom?
2. What does your own spiritual family tree look like? Who played the role of your spiritual parent? Siblings? Who would look to you as his/her spiritual parent?

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

In previous blogs, I have suggested that God’s glory consists of his attributes and nature as he has revealed them.   The first time Jesus publicly revealed his glory was when he turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:11).  He continued to reveal his glory over the next 3+ years while on earth. 

God declares his nature not only in the Scriptural narrative and the life of Jesus but also as he demonstrates his nature through our life journey.  The practical question is, “What should be our response to his glory?” 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.  But how do we do that in practice?  We commonly think of glorifying God as worshiping by thanksgiving and praise.  Thanksgiving and praise are undoubtedly part of the response, but the answer is much more comprehensive.

Going back to an earlier blog, I suggested that the three pursuits of a disciple are knowing, reflecting, and sharing Christ.  These pursuits correlate with God’s relational, transformational, and missional purposes for his people.  With that as a backdrop, I would suggest we glorify God as we pursue those three purposes, giving us a multi-dimensional platform on which to glorify God in our daily lives. 

Interestingly, people are the only part of God’s creation that has the option to glorify him.  Nature does it automatically (Psalm 19:1-4; Isaiah 42:12; Psalm 97:6; Romans 1:20); we, however, do it by choice.

1.  We glorify God as worshippers, celebrating his attributes.

Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all,  and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name (1Ch 29:11-13).

Glorifying God in thanksgiving and praise, whether private or public, is a natural response to experiencing the glory of God.  David’s prayer, stimulated by the generous offering of the people for the building of the proposed temple, is filled with celebration and admiration of the attributes of God.  

The command to remember the works of God is a constant theme in the Old Testament.  Remembering how God showed up in the past fuels our prayers of praise to God in the present.

Glorifying God in worship can take on different forms in various cultures.  It may be verbal or silent, public or private.  The popular song “I can only Imagine” expresses the wonder and often confusion about how best to express our celebration of his glory.

2.  We glorify God as image-bearers, reflecting his character.

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine, oh, I can only imagine.

Jesus was the manifestation of God’s glory, and we, on the other hand, are to be its reflection.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature (Hebrews 1:3).

But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).

As a mirror glorifies sunlight by reflecting it, we glorify Christ by living transformed lives that reflect his image (Galatians 5:23-24).  An illustration of this is found in the relationship between the sun and the moon. The moon is not an optimal mirror, but it does reflect sunlight to the earth.  The moon, having no light of its own, reflects sunlight when adequately aligned with the sun.  The ability to reflect sunlight depends on how well the moon sees the sun.  Likewise, our ability to reflect God’s glory depends on our ability to see him clearly for who he is and act as his image bearers reflecting his nature to others.

In his prayer in John 17, Jesus explains how he glorified the Father.  “I have revealed (manifested, KJV) Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world….  and I have made Your name (nature) known to them, and will make it known” (John 17:6 and 26).

Jesus made it very clear that we are to reflect his character.  “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

3.  We glorify God as servants, doing his will.

I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4). 

Jesus both demonstrated and taught servanthood as he did the will of his Father.  Our works as servants of the King continue what Jesus started.  “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). 

Our work on his behalf should draw people’s attention to him, not us.

 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-15; see also Mark 10:45).

Since we represent the King, service on his behalf should be done with excellence.  Therefore, it is important not only what we do, but how well we do it.  Both aspects reflect on the One we serve. 

We glorify God when his purposes become our pursuits, resulting in his pleasure, our blessing, and the knowledge of his glory filling the earth.

For reflection

1.  Which of the three forms of glorifying God do you find the easiest?  Most difficult?

2.   How could you make glorifying God more intentional?

One of the most important promises that God gives us in Scripture is that he is with us.  It was the one guarantee that Moses requested as he led Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land.  The promise of God’s presence with us, as found in Isaiah’s prophecy, was ultimately and uniquely fulfilled in Jesus as he is given the name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).

God is not only omnipresent in a general way, but he is also specifically present by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those he has chosen.  However, God also wants us to daily experience his presence in a very personal and unique way throughout our faith journey.  Each time God shows up in our lives, he reveals a color or facet of his glory.         

As Jesus prepared for his redemptive work on the cross, he reflected on the previous three plus years that he spent with the disciples, declaring to the Father, “I have glorified you on earth having accomplished the work You have given me to do” (John 17:3).  The work that Jesus is referring to in this context is expressed in verse 6.  “I have manifested Your name to the men You gave Me.”  As Jesus lived and interacted with the disciples, he constantly showed them the nature of the God they worshipped.  So, the writer of Hebrews could say, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3). 

In light of God’s promise to be with us, the critical question is not will God show up, but in what way?  God does not always show up as we would like or expect.  The most obvious illustration of this principle is the Hebrew expectation of God showing up as the Messiah.  The Jews had a picture of how the Messiah would appear based on their understanding of the Old Testament prophecies.  They were not wrong in their hope of the Messiah but only in how the Messiah would initially show up.  They expected the Lion of Judea; instead, He came as the Suffering Servant, the Lamb of God.  They failed to see God because of their inaccurate, preconceived picture and expectation.  God showed up, but not as they expected or wanted.  And they missed him!

Abraham is another example of a person of faith who discovered the mystery of how God shows up to fulfill His promises.  God promised Abraham that he would be the father of numerous descendants through Sarah, his wife.  Abraham and Sarah concluded after 40 years of waiting that God would show up through the handmaid, Hagar.  But they were wrong.  Then when Abraham took Isaac, the promised heir, up the mountain to sacrifice him as God commanded, he believed God would show up and fulfill his promise.  He just wasn’t sure how but reasoned that God could bring Isaac back from the dead (Hebrews 11:9).  Instead, God provided a ram in the bushes.  Abraham’s faith allowed God to show up as he pleased.

The story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership provides another example of God showing up but not as expected.  The Israelite leadership were ecstatic after the display of God’s presence and power in the fall of Jericho.  But, unfortunately, they thought he would show up in a similar way as they went up against the comparatively minor and insignificant city called Ai.  So confident were they that they didn’t bother to pray and ask God for directions.  Well, God showed up alright but in defeat…not victory (Joshua 6 & 7).

In each case, they learned something important about God’s nature.  At Jericho, they learned that God is powerful and can break down fortified city walls using a parade.  But at Ai, they learned that God is holy.  They learned that God is serious about sin, and his commands are not just suggestions. 

Fast forward to the book of Acts, where we have another example of God showing up in unexpected ways.  After Christ’s resurrection, Peter and John are arrested and put into prison.  But after a stern warning from the rulers and elders, they were released (Acts 4).  Weeks later, some of the apostles were again arrested and put into prison.  This time an angel of the Lord opens the gates of the prison and sets them free to preach the gospel (Acts 5:17+).  It looks like a pattern of victory over jealous and arrogant leaders.

So, when Herod arrests James, the brother of John, in Acts 12, I am sure the early believers were taken aback when James is executed.  Unfortunately, Herod’s execution of James is so popular with the masses, he decides to imprison Peter with the intent of imminent execution (Acts 12).   Faced with this crisis, the local believers hold an all-night prayer meeting for Peter’s safety.  I am sure they were praying for Peter’s deliverance.  But how?

During the night, an angel escorts Peter out of the well-guarded prison, where he immediately goes to the house where the believers are praying for God to show up.  We don’t know what they expected, but it is evident by their reaction that they didn’t expect Peter’s release so quickly.  When Rhoda, the servant girl, reported that Peter was outside on the patio, they thought she was out of her mind!  God showed up with both James and Peter but in different ways. 

The familiar anecdotal story of a man stranded on his roof during a flood illustrates the point.  Praying for God’s deliverance, he turns down several offers of help from neighbors who come by in their boats.  Then, standing before God after he drowns, he asks why his prayers were not answered.  God replies, “I sent three boats, and you turned down each one.”

Since God’s great purpose is to reveal his glory to us personally, we should expect that he would use our various circumstances to make himself known, especially during difficult times.  We usually prefer God to show up like he did at Jericho rather than Ai.  But there are aspects of God’s nature we can only experience in pain, conflict, and disappointment.

In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul is transparent about his struggle to understand how God was showing up.  Paul initially considered his “thorn in the flesh” to be an unnecessary obstacle that God could easily remove.  However, the thorn that caused Paul discomfort was not an accident or an unnecessary inconvenience. 

After repeated prayer for its removal, Paul gains God’s perspective.  Rather than removal, God promises to provide the grace/strength to endure it.  Because of the thorn, Paul was to experience the grace of God in a new way.  Once Paul understands that his discomfort is linked to a greater knowledge of Christ, he welcomes it as a friend rather than an enemy (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

So How did God show up in your life yesterday?  How will he show up today?

Questions for reflection

1.  What other examples in Scripture can you think of where God showed up unexpectedly?

• Where have you been surprised by how God showed up along your journey?

Following the strategy of the classic game of Clue, we need to identify not only how God has shown up in our lives but where He has shown up:  in the hall? The study? The lounge? Let me suggest three places we should look to see God’s fingerprint:  the natural, the supranatural, and the supernatural. 

The Natural

A pantheistic worldview believes that God is nature and, therefore, not distinct from it. Deism believes that God was the creator who set the cosmos in motion, but now He is simply a distant landlord… no longer intervening or interacting with His creation.

 In contrast, the Christian faith believes that God not only created the universe, but He is distinct from it and directly involved with it. The belief that God is sovereign means that nothing large or small happens that does not have God’s fingerprint on it. Neither luck nor “mother nature” is a viable concept in the Christian faith.

The natural world we live in has a rhythm and predictability that gives us a sense of security and comfort. These factors have also motivated early scientists to study and identify the natural laws that God established to govern the physical universe. The predictability of those laws has made it possible to explore space, develop medical cures, and advance in technology. Modern scientific discoveries are based on the assumption that what we observe today will still be true tomorrow. King Solomon agreed with that assumption. “What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again” (Ecclesiastes 3:15 NLT).

However, to the follower of Christ, consistency does not eliminate the belief in an ever-present God in our everyday, ordinary lives. The Bible claims that God not only created the universe, but He is presently holding it together. “…all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17).

The natural world is the starting point for discovering and appreciating the touch of God on our lives. But the fingerprint of God is also seen in the supra-natural and the super-natural.

The Supranatural

Supranatural is the plus factor, going above and beyond the natural.   It reminds me of the fast-food marketing gimmick of “supersizing” your meal. In religious life, we use the term blessing. We consider people blessed when something happens beyond what would typically be expected. For example, when a farmer harvests his crop and gets 300 bushels per acre rather than his usual 200, he feels blessed. 

Supranatural events function within the known laws of nature and social relationships. For example, when we ask God to bless our family or friends, we ask for better than average results. We are not expecting God to step outside the known laws of nature but rather . . . .well, bless them!

For example, Jesus fed the 5,000 with the resources of five loaves and two fish. Not only did everyone have enough to eat, but there was also extra for a “to go” box for their trip home. Jesus applied a multiplication factor to the natural available resource resulting in a supranatural event… touched by God.

When God’s multiplier is greater than one, we consider the outcome a blessing. But when it is less than one, it is a discipline. In either case, God shows up. Consider Israel’s situation at the time of Haggai the prophet.

This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes (Haggai 1:5-6)! (See also Isaiah 5:3-6)

A multiplier of less than one in the Old Testament was often in the form of a drought and the resulting famine. Usually, it was precipitated by prolonged disobedience.   When God’s people did not obey or heed warnings from the prophets, famine was the wake-up call.

The Supernatural

We think of the supernatural as events that step outside of either the natural or supra-natural. These are events that have no explanation within the known natural laws. Sometimes supernatural has been attributed to events for which people are ignorant of their cause. For example, centuries ago, a comet in the sky was a supernatural event that caused great fear. With little understanding of our cosmos, the event seemed supernatural. Today, however, we know that comets are relatively common events, and we know why they occur. Supernatural is the term we apply to events that occur without a known explanation: outside the laws of nature.

In the biblical narrative, God steps into His created, predictable natural order and acts supernaturally. For example, Jesus claimed divinity during His earthly ministry by stepping outside the natural order and causing events to happen that were supernatural. The resurrection of Lazarus comes to mind. Had Jesus arrived on site earlier and healed Lazarus, it could have been considered supranatural, a blessing. But when He delayed, and Lazarus died, Jesus raising him from the dead was a miracle – a supernatural event.

“Breakthrough” is the name of a movie made about John Smith of St Charles, MO, who in 2015 fell through the ice in a local lake. He was underwater for 15 minutes, and his heart had stopped beating for 43 minutes. When his mom arrived at the hospital, she prayed, asking God for a miracle. His vitals immediately responded, and, in a few days, he was fully conscious. He had a complete recovery and now readily shares his story. The doctors have no natural explanation for what occurred. It was a supernatural event indicating the fingerprint of God.

As dramatic as supernatural events are, and as much as we desire them, their impact seems to have a short shelf life. Reflecting on the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, I notice that after the supernatural damming of the Red Sea and a dry seabed crossing, it didn’t take long for the people to revert to their old ways and views of God. So, God repeats the supernatural with a dry river crossing at the Jordon River. This time, however, He has them set up a monument so they would remember and pass this supernatural event on to the next generation. The Old Testament prophets constantly challenged the nation of Israel to remember what God had done.

In the game of Clue, the deed is done in only one room, but God has manifested His glory in every place. God is present in the natural, supranatural, and supernatural. His fingerprint is everywhere if we take the time and effort to look for it. 

So, what do we do once we identify the fingerprint of God? You may want to read David’s example in 2 Samuel 22, where David investigated and discovered God in the landscape of his life.

For Reflection

1. Reflect on a time recently when God touched your life with a plus factor of the supranatural.

2. Which of the three (natural, supranatural, supernatural) do the Psalms

primarily refer to?

The Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) TV series and its various adaptations have been one of the more successful genres in recent decades.  The basic idea is that in a one-time (crime) event, the “who done it” is not apparent.  It assumes the perpetrator did not leave his business card behind, but he did leave some evidence.  Forensic science has come a long way from the magnifying glass of Sherlock Holmes, but the aim is the same:  find the evidence.

In the last blog, we looked at the demonstration of God’s glory.  Now I want to look at our response to His demonstration:  investigating His glory through the lens of faith.

Fingerprinting was one of the first forensic techniques used to identify perpetrators.  This technique goes as far back as the 1800s.  However, forensics took a massive leap beyond fingerprints with the discovery of DNA.  Because of its specificity, DNA has helped both convict and “unconvict” many accused.

Since Christ promised to be with us wherever we go, we should feel confident that He will show up regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.  The only question is how.  When He is not apparent, we need a Spiritual Christ Scene Investigator (S-CSI).  And every S-CSI needs the equivalent of a spiritual magnifying glass to see the evidence that is there but not always obvious:  a magnifying glass of faith.

Our culture often implies that only religious or superstitious people live by faith.  “Normal” people live by facts.  But a quick look at several definitions of faith can help us dispel this myth. 

The assent of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by another; belief, or probable evidence of any kind.¹

Faith (GR: Pistis): primarily, “firm persuasion,” a conviction based upon hearing.²

The confident conviction of an unseen reality based on the integrity of another.

Faith Principle #1:  Faith is the lens that allows us to see what is real but invisible.

Our eyes are perfectly designed receivers to see the spectrum of reality made visible from the radiation or reflection of white light.  Likewise, most of our space telescopes are receivers of white light, allowing scientists to discover amazing facts about distant stars and galaxies.  The Hubble telescope, for example, outside the earth’s atmosphere, uses visible light lenses to detect distant solar objects.  It has sent back pictures from outer space with outstanding clarity since 1990. 

But white (visible) light is only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.  Almost all objects on earth and in space also radiate and reflect infrared light which is invisible to our natural eyes.  With a longer wavelength, infrared light can penetrate cosmic dust clouds, allowing scientists with an infrared lens to see with what was previously hidden.  Scientists are hopeful that the recently launched Webb infrared telescope will be able to see into deep space and display reality undetectable even by telescopes like the Hubble.  The key is in the type of lens they look through. 

Reality is made visible in space or life with the proper lens.  In addition to our eyes, God gives us the lens of faith with which to see what is real but hidden from our physical senses.  We need the spiritual eyes (lens) of faith if we are to see God’s glory.  God is not hiding from a seeking heart. . . . just from an indifferent one. 

In Jeremiah, God said, “‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).  And the writer of Hebrews said, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). 

We all live by faith every day. 

1.  We believe in things that are real but unseen based on the word of experts and people we trust.

2.  Our physical senses do not detect all that is real.

3.  Many discoveries about one-time events in fields like geology, criminology, and history, are made through the lens of abductive reasoning³ rather than physical evidence. 

Consider these statements from Scripture:

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen (Hebrews 11:27). 

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). 

The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse declares the work of His hands.

Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge (Psalm 19:2). 

Faith Principle #2:  Faith does not create reality but discovers it. 

So we fix our minds not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). 

We have an example in the Old Testament story of Elisha and his valet hiding out in the town of Dothan, trying to avoid the Syrian king who was out to kill them.  One morning they wake to find their city surrounded by the Syrian army.   The valet panics, but Elisha appears calm and relaxed, casually drinking his mocha coffee.  The valet suggests that Elisha needs to start looking at reality and make a plan to escape.  But instead of panic, Elisha prays for the lens of faith.  Now when the servant looks out the window, he sees more than the Syrian army.  He also sees God’s army (See 2 Kings 6).  God was present all along . . . just unseen by the casual observer.

Faith does not pretend something is true when it is not.  We don’t create reality by our faith; we only see the reality that is invisible without it.  We usually struggle to see the unseen reality because God doesn’t show up in the way we expect Him or when we expect Him.  For example, God came down with fire when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.  But later, Elijah was surprised when God didn’t show up either in the storm, fire, or earthquake.  Instead, He spoke to Elijah in the gentle blowing wind.  In these cases, we need to look for His fingerprint through the lens of faith.

Also, God often does not show up when we expect Him.  Remember the story we mentioned in a previous blog about Jesus’ delay in helping Lazarus.  His delay was not from disinterest but for a greater demonstration of His glory.  Abraham, a paradigm of faith, struggled with God’s timing.  Forty years is a long time to wait for God to show up.  Impatient, Abraham made some choices that still affect us today.  The lens of faith sees God at work even when there is little evidence when all we have is the quiet voice of His promises or the confident conviction of His nature. 

Returning to our S-CSI, if we are to discover God’s presence in the landscapes of our lives, we will need to investigate His glory using the lens of faith.  Otherwise, like the two men on the road to Emmaus, we may not recognize Him even though He is there.

^1.  Webster Dictionary

^2.  Vines New Testament Word Studies

^3.  Abductive reasoning:  A logic that determines the best possible explanation from the available evidence.

For Reflection:

1.  What keeps us from recognizing God’s presence in our daily lives?

• What is a personal example of God showing up in the “still small voice”?

Today, palladium is the most expensive precious metal on the planet.  Discovered in 1803, the demand for the metal has risen exponentially as new uses for its chemical properties are discovered.  Businesses are increasingly using palladium in electronics, jewelry, dentistry, and primarily in the automotive industry for catalytic converters to change harmful gases into beneficial ones. 

However, gold was the most precious and coveted metal for most of history.   History is replete with examples of people’s efforts to obtain precious metals.  Conquistadors braved the unknown, invaded continents, and enslaved civilizations in their search for gold and silver.  The discovery of gold in America in the 19^th Century significantly changed our country’s population distribution.  It started with the discovery of gold in Georgia (1820s) and the resulting redistribution of the southwest native Indian population.  Next, the California gold rush of the 1850s and the Yukon gold rush of the 1890s brought hundreds of thousands of people migrating to the west hoping to get rich. 

When Old Testament writers wanted to identify the value of godly wisdom, they symbolized it using the most valuable and precious metal of their day: silver and gold.

Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.  It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold (Job 28:17).  For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold (Proverbs 3:14).

The Bible describes wisdom as valuable and rare because it is not native to the human heart — foolishness is.  The writer of Proverbs states that “foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child” (Proverbs 22:15).  We, for example, never had to teach our kids how to be foolish!  The warning is that since foolishness is our default condition, it will persist unless replaced by wisdom.  

The proverb that I often quoted to my teenage children summarizes the book of Proverbs: “It is not illegal to be foolish, but it is expensive.”  I also stressed that they didn’t have to validate the proverb themselves; there were plenty of examples of their friends making foolish decisions from which they could gain wisdom.    

The term foolish in Scripture has a range of meanings, from evil and rebellious to thoughtless or even silly.  Generally, it means “thickness” of mind.  The Greek word MOROS, from which we get our English word moron, means dull, silly, or stupid.  A general definition of foolish that would apply in most cases is “the lack of commonsense perception of the reality of things natural and spiritual.”¹ The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament (Job, Proverbs (especially), Ecclesiastes, and Psalms) deals significantly with the contrast between the wise and foolish. 

Jesus testified that foolishness is not just a childhood trait.  In his parable of a rich man presuming the longevity and meaning of life, a man stockpiles wealth for a comfortable retirement.  However, God said, “You fool!  You will die this very night.  Then who will get everything you worked for?’  Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:20-21). 

Foolishness is a byproduct of our broken relationship and rebellion against God.  Cut off from the Source of truth and arrogantly confident of our own ability, we are shortsighted and blind to God’s design for life.  “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).   Without intervention, childhood foolishness will follow us throughout life, wreaking havoc and robbing us of the abundant life God desires for us (John 10:10).

In the life of David, we have an example of how foolishness can follow us into adulthood.  In 1 Samuel 25, we have the story of two foolish men and one wise woman.  In the narrative, David is trying to avoid confrontation with King Saul, who is seeking to take his life.  He believes God will deal with injustice, so there is no need to seek personal vengeance.  David leaves King Saul and justice in the hands of God.  Yet in 1 Samuel 25, David and his men are rebuffed by Nabal, a wealthy, arrogant rancher whose livestock David has been protecting.  David’s answer is a path of foolish revenge.

Graciously, God sends Abigail, a woman of wisdom and the wife of Nabal, into David’s life.  Two foolish men are on a collision course, each for different reasons:  Nabal out of arrogance and David out of revenge.  In the story, with Abigail’s help, David recognizes and repents of his foolishness and lives.  Nabal, however, persists in it and dies.  Foolishness unchecked is very expensive!

Here are some observations about foolishness from Scripture.

• It is our natural, default condition (Proverbs 22:15).
• It results from our rebellion against the Source of truth and choosing evil (John 3:19).
• It brings grief to ourselves and those around us; it is expensive (Proverbs 10:1).
• The foolish seek wisdom in all the wrong places (Job 28:19-20).

Wisdom

If foolish is the “lack of commonsense perception of the reality of things natural and spiritual,” wisdom is its polar opposite:  the exercise of discretion.  Wisdom requires both understanding reality and the discernment of the best means to achieve a worthy outcome.

Although foolishness is part of our default DNA, we need not be victims of it.  The book of Proverbs tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).  However, although wisdom is available to anyone, it does not come automatically.  Proverbs highlights the challenge of gaining wisdom.  Notice action verbs in the following passage.

My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom; Incline your heart to understanding.  For if you cry out for insight, And raise your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And discover the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:1-6, emphasis added).

Scripture promises that we can gain wisdom by intentionally and diligently looking in the right place.  On the other hand, foolishness comes from doing nothing and reaping the costly consequences.  In the personification of wisdom in Proverbs, wisdom promises that when she is ignored, neglected, and mocked, there will come the point at which she will no longer be available. 

Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; And you neglected all my advice, And did not want my rebuke; I will also laugh at your disaster; I will mock when your dread comes, When your dread comes like a storm And your disaster comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.  Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but will not find me (Proverbs 1:24-28).

Here are several observations from an overview of wisdom from Scripture:

• Intelligence, age, or experience are not substitutes for wisdom (Luke 12:21).
• Wisdom can be obtained, but it cannot be bought or sold (James 1:5).
• Wisdom is more valuable than palladium (Proverbs 3:14).
• It is a bi-product of the fear of God (Proverbs 9:10).
• Wisdom is accessible to everyone and can be missed by anyone.
• Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life (Proverbs 9:11). 
• Wisdom is available for the asking from the right Source, under the right conditions (James 1:5).
• The fruit of wisdom is increased wisdom (Proverbs 1:5).

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.  For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold.  Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her (Proverbs 3:13-15).

¹  Webster Dictionary 1828

For Reflection

1.  What are other characteristics of the foolish?

2.  Who do you know that you would consider wise and why?