7 February 2011

Psalm 80; Isa. 58:1-12; Gal. 6:11-18; Mark 9:30-41

I believe that we, the church in the west, are like the nation of Israel as described here. We keep all the religious observances and we seek Him and delight in His ways but we do not seek righteousness or do justice. We ignore the needs of those among us or offer our prayers for them but do we care for them with our own assets? The Lord rebukes them for even their fasts which are not held with an attitude of contrition. We seek His blessing but not to actually hear His voice calling us to repentance and the renewing of our minds. If we would truly know His blessing then we must seek His kingdom and His righteousness.

How could they possibly be arguing about who would be the greatest after the Transfiguration? Surely the three who were there weren’t part of that discussion but we can be relatively certain that the speculation revolved around these three as Jesus’ favorites. We always want to rank ourselves and here Jesus tells them the way to the kingdom is not greatness but meekness, humility and simplicity like a child. Jesus’ response to John’s query about those who were using Jesus’ Name but not following them is interesting to say the least. If the person had genuine success invoking Jesus’ Name, how indeed could they then denounce Him later? We see the sons of Sceva in Acts 19 using His Name as more or less an incantation and it didn’t turn out well for them, so it isn’t advisable. We need to know Him to know the power of the Spirit working in us. The demons do tremble at the Name of Jesus yet we are not protected from them unless we are filled with the Spirit.

Paul’s understanding of himself, the world and the Lord has been completely changed since he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. What was formerly his source of identity and boasting in righteousness has become for him nothing at all. He has realized that the righteousness he formerly believed he possessed isn’t worthy of the name. His legal righteousness had been only playing at real righteousness, the righteousness that comes from the heart. We can be good rules-keepers and not possess righteousness at all. Paul says that the only boast he can make is in Jesus who is his righteousness but judicially before the Lord and also through the power of the Holy Spirit working in him to produce righteousness in his life now. We must set our store by those two things and continually seek the righteousness of God in our lives as we continue to run the race, not resting in the work Jesus has done for us but working with Him on seeing the kingdom established in our lives.

Let your hand be on the man of your right hand,

the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!

Then we shall not turn back from you;

give us life, and we will call upon your name!

Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!

Let your face shine, that we may be saved!