Life By The Way

Why Go?

Why Go?

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Known as the “Great Commission,” these verses contain the last recorded words of Jesus before his ascension, according to Matthew’s gospel.

He begins by telling us who He is, that He has authority over all things, both in heaven and on the earth. Then he gives us our “job,” which contains several verbs:

~Go

~Make

~Baptize

~Teach

To “go” will require some purposeful action on our part, some intention. It may require us – sometimes but not always – to leave families or familiar things, and venture into the great unknown. This “going” is a global enterprise.

To “make disciples” will require us to pour into people’s lives. Disciple, from the Greek “mathetes,” means “learner,” or “student.” Making disciples is not done casually. It requires time, effort, and thoughtfulness from the one doing the discipling and from the disciple.

“Baptizing” in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, symbolizes turning away from sin – washing away sins and identifying with Christ as Lord. It is part of the outward declaration of the inward experience. The Apostle Paul would later write, “For am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

“Teaching” them to observe all Jesus commanded requires us to know and pass on the things He did teach.

Here are some of them:

~ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength

~ Love your neighbor as yourself

~Love your enemies

~Pray for those who persecute you

~Go the “extra mile” – do more than what someone asks of you (Matthew 5:38-41)

~ Hold marriage in honor (Matt. 19:4-5). Marriage is a reflection of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:23-24)

~ Turn from sin – Jesus sometimes forgave sins before performing a healing miracle, demonstrating that He had both the authority to forgive sin, and that turning from sin was a necessary part of following Him.

He ends our “job description” with a promise – “And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Because He is with us and has sent the Holy Spirit, we have the power to do all He has commanded us to do.

May we be found faithfully going, making, baptizing, and teaching.

Why Worship?

I have been combing through the Psalms lately and looking for words that describe how we worship or should worship. We worship because of who God is, and I have also looked for words that describe Him. These lists are by no means exhaustive, but give us a glimpse into His character, and our response.

Ways we worship:

Praise
Declare
Sing
Meditate
Give thanks
Bear fruit
Come into his presence
Bow down
Kneel
Bring an offering
Tremble
Rejoice
Exalt
Make a joyful noise
Serve
Dwell
Abide
Bless his name
Sing a new song
Stand in awe of him
Boast in the Lord
Magnify the Lord
Exalt his name
Shout for joy
Sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp
Blow the trumpet
Exult in your name
Be still before the Lord
Wait patiently for him
Clap your hands
Worship in the splendor of holiness
Make music
Walk with integrity
Bless the Lord, o my soul
Call upon his name
Make known his deeds among the people
Lift up my hands
Praise him with dance, strings and pipe
If you are breathing, praise him

Who God is:

Dwelling place
Refuge
Fortress
Faithful
Great
Mighty
Majestic
My help
Stronghold
Rock
King
Splendor
Strength
Beauty
A Judge
Righteous
Just
Marvelous
Exalted
Holy
Good
Deliverer
Protector
Shield
My hope
The strength of my heart
My portion forever
Glorious
Redeemer
Most High God
Shepherd
God of hosts
A sun and shield
Forgiving
Merciful
Gracious
Helper
Comforter
Father
Living God
Keeper
Shade at your right hand
Wonderful
Healer
Upright
Lifter of my head
King of Glory
Mighty in battle
My light and my salvation
Powerful
Sustainer
Awesome

But If Not

You may know the story. Three Hebrew boys, renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, in service to the Babylonian King, refused to bow to him. They were from the tribe of Judah and had been taken captive by the Babylonians. In order to make prisoners even more submissive to the powers that be, they were often renamed, to strip away their former identities and reinforce allegiance to their captors.

But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when asked to kneel before the golden image the king had made of himself, to bow before it in worship, refused. Knowing the fate that would be theirs if they refused the king’s command, they stood fast. Knowing they would be thrown into the fiery furnace, they said they knew God could deliver them. They knew He could, but would He?

The second part of their statement is just as important as the first. They expressed their trust in God to deliver them, and then said these words, “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

They knew God had the power, knew he had done great and mighty things for and through their people in the past. They knew he could, but would He do it for them, in this moment, in this time? That was the question, and they were willing to stand in the great unknown.

Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation. You believe God can do all things, but you are not sure if He will. Maybe that prayer you have prayed for years for a child or loved one seems to go unanswered. We know He has the power, we know He can, but will He? Maybe you even find it easier to believe God’s promises for someone else than for yourself, for your situation.

But are we willing to trust Him, even when the outcome is unknown?

The three boys in the story trusted and were in fact delivered. But first they were thrown in the fire – they had to walk through fear and doubt, but there was someone else with them. Jesus was beside them in the fire, with them every step. And when they came out of the fire unharmed, it was a testimony to God’s power and goodness.

The king saw the goodness of God, because they were willing to say, “But if not…”

But if not, we worship. But if not, we trust Him. But if not, He is still good.

Almost Persuaded

Almost Persuaded

In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa, after hearing Paul’s testimony said, “You almost persuade me to be a Christian.” To me these are among the saddest words in Scripture. Having heard Paul’s compelling evidence about Jesus, Agrippa was almost persuaded – but not quite.

How many of us are the same? How many want to believe, want to take Jesus at his word, but never take the next step and walk into the light and life he offers?

Almost persuaded. Close, but holding something back. Walking up to the edge but never wading into the living water.

Maybe at some point Agrippa dropped the “almost” and became persuaded. The difference between “almost persuaded” and “persuaded” is the difference between life and death, between peace and anxiety, between joy and ephemeral happiness.

I hope you’re persuaded.

~ Michelle Dowdy

It’s Eight Days Later

Eight Days Later

Imagine the scene if you will – Jesus’s disciples gathered together following his crucifixion and burial, on the third day, having just heard from Mary Magdalene, “I have seen the Lord!” The doors were locked and yet suddenly Jesus stood before them in the room. “Peace be with you,” were his first words to them. Thomas was not with the disciples during this first appearance following the resurrection. He missed out, missed the amazing encounter with the resurrected and living Lord. The interesting thing is, he did not believe the account of his friends, and boldly stated, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

In the week that followed, the sweet memory of seeing their Lord face to face and receiving his Blessing and the gift of the Holy Spirit, must have lingered in the disciples’ minds. But I imagine the only thing that lingered for Thomas was doubt. (Poor Thomas – forever known as the doubter.) He wanted proof; he wanted to see the physical evidence for himself that Jesus was alive. The scripture says eight days later, Jesus appeared to the group again, and this time Thomas was there. He told Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27)

Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God.” The evidence was clear, and Thomas believed, eight days later. Jesus said to him “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:28-29)

In that moment Jesus was blessing you and me, and the millions of others who would never see him face to face on the earth, but would still choose to believe.

What about you, Dear One, have you been hanging back, not willing, or able, to believe like the because of some lingering doubt or lack of trust in the sovereignty of God? Is there hurt somewhere in your past that keeps you from seeing God as a loving Heavenly Father? Are you perhaps held back by nagging questions no one seems to be able to answer?

I invite you to open your eyes and see Him. See the scars, see the sacrifice, see the body, broken for you. Seek Him, and in seeking you will find Him, and be forever changed. Maybe for you, it’s eight days later.

~ Michelle Dowdy

A Living Sacrifice

“And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:51

“And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.” Luke 23:45

I remember these descriptions in the verses above as a child, from the beautiful Bible Story book given to me by my grandmother. I could see it in my mind’s eye and imagination -and knew that when the earth quaked and the sky was darkened, it must have meant that something powerful was happening. But the veil – the veil being torn from top to bottom was the thing I could picture but of course could not fully understand as a child.

Today, I am filled with awe when I consider the veil. The veil in the temple separated two sections, the Most Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where God Himself dwelled. Only once a year could one priest enter into this Holiest Place, bearing a sacrifice to atone for the people’s sins.

Under the old system, a covenant was demonstrated by taking pieces of an animal torn in two, and both parties walking between them. The symbolism being, “If I break this covenant, may what happened to this animal happen to me.” Thus, the symbolism of the veil is rich – Hebrews 10:19-20 says that we can now “enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.”

Jesus became the veil torn in two, the sacrifice given, the body broken, and the covenant made new.

We are to imitate Christ in all things. Romans 12:1 says that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. Our bodies an offering to him. This is our spiritual worship.

What does a living sacrifice look like? Paul goes on to tell us in Romans 12:9-18, it looks like demonstrating genuine love, hating what is evil, outdoing one another in showing honor, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, being patient in tribulation, being constant in prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, blessing those who persecute you. It looks like rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep and living peaceably with all.

May our lives reflect his life, a living sacrifice, given for all.

What If?

What If?

“Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” 1 Tim. 6:11

What if the whole world suddenly began operating by biblical principles? What if every single person pursued the things above and was able to live by them? If we lived them out perfectly, we would no longer have stealing, cheating, bribery, or murder. There would be no acts committed from selfishness. There would be no honking horns or impatience on the highways, no need for paternity tests, no sexually transmitted diseases, no infidelity and no hurt because of it.

The Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to live in just this way, to pursue the attributes listed in the verse above. In this passage he also warns people against putting their hopes in money. He says to be “rich in good works,” to be “generous and ready to share.” He says in this way they will “store up for themselves the real treasure,” which he says is a “good foundation for the future, so they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

So often we think about our security here on this earth, our retirement, and planning for the future. But what if – what if we started to think of our possessions and bank accounts as only temporary, and the real treasure in our lives what is done for the Kingdom? What if we thought of everything we have as belonging to God?

As believers we have the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). We can know, think, and do what he asks of us. Every person who has trusted Christ has the same power that raised Christ from the dead residing in him or her (Romans 8:11) and therefore has the power to live out this kind of life, through His Holy Spirit.

What if I lived this way today? What if you did too?

What if?

Written By: Michelle Dowdy

This Book

It is amazing that we have This Book. Through it runs the Crimson Thread of Redemption, God’s great love story. The writers through whom God spoke had no tools to help them like we have today. Think about all that was done with just primitive pen and parchment, to convey God’s great plan and God’s great love. Sixty-six books becoming One Book that reveals its Author to us.

This Book is alive, and sharper than any sword, cutting away dead and decaying things from our lives. This Book is a mirror through which we see ourselves more clearly. It reads us as we read it. This Book is His story and our story too, the plot woven by the beautiful Crimson Thread, from Genesis to Revelation. The words of This Book will stand forever and will not return void.

Written by Michelle Dowdy

How Good It Is

Water. It’s vital to life. In fact, our bodies are 60-70 percent water. We cannot live without it. It’s not surprising that Jesus used water as an analogy for what we can have through Him.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'” (John 7:37-38).

A river has certain characteristics – it’s always flowing. A river has a “source,” a headwater from which it flows. It is always moving, and it can move you. It’s mighty, but peaceful. If you have ever sat on the edge of a river, or been on a river in a boat or tube, you know this. The water is fresh- alive and continuously stirred up.

“Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” The living water Jesus was talking about is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is alive, and gives us life. The Spirit is always moving and flowing and moves us along as well. The Spirit gives us peace. And like the physical water we need to live, the Holy Spirit is Living Water that sustains us. Think about when you are thirsty – how good that water tastes and how refreshing, when you are finally able to drink.

Joy and refreshment- Living Water – flowing from Him through us.

How good it is.

The Power to Change Everything

The woman was caught. Interesting that they did not bring the man before Jesus, but only the woman, who was discovered in the act of adultery. One can see how it might have unfolded – the woman, probably in a disheveled state, likely not fully clothed, being thrown down in front of Jesus – the Pharisees standing with stones in hand, waiting for him to condemn her, after asking him what should be done.

Jesus bent down to the ground and wrote on it with his finger – divinity touching dirt. Perhaps he bent down and put his attention elsewhere so as not to look at her and embarrass her further. But what do you think Jesus was writing? So many have pondered that.

Maybe what he was about to say to the Pharisees? Perhaps some Scripture pertinent to the situation?

It could have been either of those things, but maybe, in the dirt, with his finger, he was rewriting her story – the Word in that moment meeting the dirtiness of her life. He was about to pull her out of the muck and the mire and set her feet on a Rock. She was about to have a firm place to stand. She was about to change.

Jesus rose from his position, authority likely radiating from him, and spoke to the Pharisees, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first one to throw a stone at her.”

He returned to his position, once again writing in the dirt. One by one they left, seemingly painfully aware of their own sin, made to look at themselves rather than her.

Rising once more, He asked the woman, “Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” said the woman.

“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Verses 7:53-8:11 are not in the earliest manuscripts of the gospel of John, however they do seem consistent with character of Jesus as found throughout Scripture. He often ate with prostitutes and tax collectors, but did not leave them the same way he found them. He came near to them, not to affirm what they were doing, but to call them to a different way, a better way. After all, it was the “sick that needed a doctor.”

To follow him, to surrender to him, means change. As a dishonest tax collector, Zacchaeus promised to give back all he had stolen from people, and then some, after meeting Jesus. Paul, who had persecuted early Christians in the worst way, became the greatest of apologists for the faith, after Jesus spoke to him. Everywhere he went, those who encountered Jesus experienced a radical change in their lives and in their heart’s desires.

Today, He is still calling, still rewriting stories, still changing lives. See his compassion, know his grace, accept his love, for it has the power to change everything.