One of Ten

Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 7:17,18 ESV)

One of Ten

Those are not impressive statistics.  Only one healed-leper went back and thanked the healer.  Of course, more than one might have been grateful, but only one came back.  More than one might have been aware of the depth of the gift they had been given, but only one came back.  More than one might have had humble and thankful hearts, but only one came back.

And only one got to have a closer relationship with Jesus.

They all had their worlds turned upside down by Jesus.

But one, afterwards, knew he had spoken to the Son of God.

Respond to the healings of God in your life like the one, instead of the nine, and you will be closer to Jesus, too. Respond to ALL of the gifts of God in your life like the one, instead of the nine, and you will be closer to Jesus, too

Loud

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:2,3 ESV)

Loud

The best seat in the house at any wedding is where I often get to be.  The front, watching the faces of the bride and groom as they advance up (or wait at) the center aisle. 

Usually, one brief glance at the faces sends me into gleeful euphoria, because THEY are so loudly rejoicing.  Even if nervous, even if some wedding-jitters  are present, even if they can not see past the next few moments, their faces glow.

Loudly.

It is not a matter of audible volume.  It is a matter of their hearts and hopes, perspectives and peace, excitement and exuberance being SO present that it is SENSible to anyone near them.

The world is rarely that loud. 

We humans grow up to be too cynical, too cautious, too care-filled, too concerned, too closed.

But we redeemed and transformed humans have within us a Spirt-fueled fire.  And it pushes to be displayed, to be on exhibit, to be evident.

We are able to be aware of His grace towards us.  We are able to be aware of His Plan A in our lives.  We are able to see the light through the present darkness.

To be loud.

And the simplest way, turning the world upside down all around us, is in gratitude.

Be loud in our giving of thanks. 

Bad Things

…give thanks in all circumstances. (I Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)

Bad Things

It is easy to be thankful for sunsets, babies, and bacon.  It feels harder to be thankful…. honestly thankful… for things like taxes, stomach aches, and draughts.

But the adjective ALL means all.

Maybe it is helpful to realize what we are saying when we thank God for hard times, circumstances, and situations.

We are not saying that we LIKE the bad thing.

We are not saying that somehow, we are mature enough to understand the depth of God’s providence even in the pain.

We are not saying that our eyesight has changed and we now see that what was bad is no longer bad.

But God’s children, adopted through Christ Jesus… know that God’s love, God’s sovereignty, God’s wisdom, God’s providence, God’s power, God’s goodness, and God’s kindness are all at work.  And therefore, we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

And that enables us to at least say the words of thanks.  To begin to think the words of thanks.  To trust God enough to want to say the words of thanks.

And thus, to be able to give thanks in all circumstances.

Practice

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4,5 ESV)

Practice

My Father, commenting on my Driver’s Education, uttered, “The most important part of driving is caution.  Practice caution.  Practice, practice, practice… because you need to be cautious every time you drive.”

Similarly, the most important part of a Christian’s life is thanksgiving.  Practice thanksgiving.  Practice, practice, practice… because you will be thankful every moment of eternity.  Do not wait, though… start now!

We enter His gates whenever we enter His kingdom.  While we usually consider this happening in corporate worship, Christians actually are always in His kingdom.  And even more, we will enter His gates when our bodies die, and we are resurrected in His presence. 

Christians enter God’s gates with thanksgiving because we know how richly filled our cups are.  God made us.  God redeems us.  God adopts us.  God loves us.  All through Christ Jesus.  We think we know it now, but when we are THERE… oh, we will know it!  His command to be thankful will be as natural as breathing.

And that ultimate immeasurable goodness and grandness will endure forever!  Through all generations.  Through all eternity.

Get used to thanksgiving. 

Start practicing it now.

Each Other

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.. (Colossians 1:3 ESV)

Each Other

Clearly, Christians pray for each other.  Many keep a list of prayer requests that regard friends, family, churchmates, and other folk.  And this is a good thing.

I expect that our prayers for each other would be more informed if, as often as we pray for each other, we also give thanks for each other.

First, giving thanks for the blessings that God has given them. Sometimes the source of our knowledge is from their own requests.  But even better, sometimes we can see for ourselves the showers of God’s love on their lives.  Sometimes even better than they do themselves.

Second, giving thanks for the gift that God gives us through the other people.  He blesses us through their gifts and abilities.  He blesses us through their encouragement.   He blesses us through their Spirit-brought challenges.  He blesses us through their fellowship.

It is easy to find fault in others.  It is common to be critical of others.  It even is, unfortunately, fun to belittle others.

Let’s turn that practice upside down.  Pray for each other.

Paying Attention

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2 ESV)

Pay Attention

I have no trouble paying attention to a new Star Trek episode, but I struggle to pay attention during Sports news.  I have no trouble paying attention to my grandchildren’s conversation, but I struggle to pay attention to the ramblings of a salesperson.  I have no trouble paying attention to my physician, my banker, or my mechanic, but I struggle to pay attention to a gardener, a tailor, or a hiker.

I expect your comparable lists are different.

But we pay attention to what interests us.

God’s people pay attention to God’s grace.  God’s people pay attention to God’s Word.  God’s people pay attention to God’s love. 

And when we pay attention to those things, gratitude is an easier and more common attitude.

Even praying, at times a dutiful repetitive activity, keeps our attention when we are giving thanks.  When our theme is thanksgiving more than listing lists.   When we remember Who we are speaking to, instead of wandering in our own minds.

Thanksgiving turns our prayers upside down.

Asking

But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:5 ESV)

Asking

A particular fundraising organization calls me every month and asks for money.  Our family gave a Christmas donation to this group around 4 years ago.  Just once.  But every time they call, the friendly and cheerful operator begins by thanking me for my years of generous support of their ministry.

I have not given them more money, yet.

Perhaps because the gratitude is not sincere.  It is exaggerated, inaccurate, and almost automated.  I wonder if this method works well with other donators.

But for me, believing that the organization was honestly grateful might make a difference.

Perhaps that is Paul’s point in our prayers.  Be grateful.  Make our requests known to God, yes… but do so with gratitude.  Ask, yes… but ask with gratitude.  Cry out to the Lord with our needs, yes… but cry out with an awareness of all that He has done, is doing, and will do.  Particularly regarding the life and works of our sacrificial Savior, Christ the Lord.

The world is used to asking with shopping lists, wish lists, and Christmas lists. 

We would turn the world upside down if we asked with Grateful Lists.

It's All Jesus

Upside Down

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57 ESV)

It’s All Jesus

After most football games, players take credit for the victory, or lay blame for defeat.  Whether it is the offenses of the offensive line, the backing of the Quarterback, or the officiating of the officials, we normally see victory claimed or loss blamed on SOMEone.

How unusual when we see someone sincerely give thanks to Christ for any victory.

Whether football, that financial big deal, an excellent work of art, a task accomplished well, or just a generally nice day, giving Jesus the spotlight is not common enough.  Not even among believers.

But when we do so acknowledge Him, it stands out.

It makes us different, because HE is different.

Turn your community upside down by more readily, more accurately, more thankfully giving HIM credit for His mighty works.

Enthusiasm

And then before you know it, and without you having anything to do with it, wasted Lebanon will be transformed into lush gardens, and Mount Carmel reforested. At that time the deaf will hear word-for-word what’s been written. After a lifetime in the dark, the blind will see. The castoffs of society will be laughing and dancing in God, the down-and-outs shouting praise to The Holy of Israel. (Isaiah 29:17-19 The Message)

Enthusiasm

Isaiah was given this message to God’s people in the context of a dark, terrifying, dangerous time.  Isaiah foretold that no one would be laughing or dancing.  They would be barely surviving.

But yet, Isaiah, because He knew God, knew that God would flip that.

And since the later rejoicing was absolutely coming, Isaiah was willing to praise God already.

Everything was going to be better, so act like it, now.

Everything was going to be fantastic, so act like it, now.

Everything was going to be overwhelmingly wonderful… so enthusiastically cheer for God, now.

Enthusiastic confidence in God is confusing to those who do not know them.

Turn the world upside down by focusing on His work, when the world sees only today’s trouble.

Fleas Flee

God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate Him shall flee before Him! (Psalm 68:1 ESV)

Fleas Flee

There should be an etymological connection between the words “Flea” and “Flee.”

But there is not.

But there is a logical connection.

When faced with danger, fleas flee.  Usually by jumping high and far, or at least attempting to.

Fleas do not attack a dog’s scratching paw.  Fleas flee.

Fleas do not attack a human’s grasping fingertips.  Fleas flee.

Fleas do not attack an insecticide’s drowning spray.  Fleas flee.

And God’s enemies should have the same outlook.

God’s enemies are fleas, but they believe they are Godzilla.

God’s enemies are fleas, but they believe they are geniuses.

God’s enemies are fleas, but they believe they are invincible.

When God’s enemies have encounters with God, they come face to face with the fact that they are fleas.  And that turns their world upside down.

The same thing happened to God’s people.  Our world was turned upside down, too.

And we fled INTO his arms.

That is the power of the gospel.  Jesus transforms His enemies into His people.  But we have to flee towards Him.

In fact, that is the only safe direction to flee.

Contact

…from the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. (Psalm 61:2 ESV)

Contact

Everyone has someone they reach out to in certain situations.  Well, maybe not everyone. 

But when a Christian’s heart is faint, we have a common person on whom we call.

The world turns to Psychology, political power, financial success, our own abilities, knowledge, experience, and donuts.

But we, God’s people, turn to the One True Living God.  We turn to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

And the world does not understand that. 

The world cannot understand that.

And so our hope and our help turn their world upside down.

Celebrate!

God, you are my God. I celebrate you. I praise you.  (Psalm 60:2 ESV)

Celebrate

Some grumpy people, when being grumpy, are grumpy.  No matter what we tell them, they do not like it.  Sun is shining? Don’t cheer, it is probably causing skin cancer.  Yummy food? Don’t cheer, it is unhealthy.  Fun event?  Don’t cheer, we’re wasting time. 

Recently we have seemed to live in an age of eggshells.

Our enthusiasm (in any direction) might hurt someone, so we keep it tamped down.  Our joy might be someone’s sorrow, so we keep it to ourselves.  Our exciting experience might trigger pain in someone else, so we do not talk about it.

But when it comes to God, do not walk on eggshells.

We do not have to!

We can praise Him unabashedly.  We can be honest about our hurts, our fears, our concerns, and our feelings.  We do not need to fear His reaction (because He loves!) We do not need to fear others’ reactions (because they are not God!) We do not need to do anything but praise Him!

That kind of celebration turns our immediate communities upside down!

Keeping Rules vs. LIFE

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (II Corinthians 3:3 ESV)

Keeping rules vs.  LIFE

Guitar chords have nearly become a part of my being.  I am usually able to play an A sharp minor seventh suspended without thought.  I just know what it is, because those chords had been written on my heart, in a way.  Of course, some moments I do better than others…

When I began to learn the banjo and mandolin, however, things did not go so well.  I had to slowly and purposefully choose the placement of my fingers.  I had to be very conscience of what chord was needed, and how to play it.  It was written on the musical score, but not in my fingers or my heart.

God’s Law (more than merely the ten commandments… but His Laws of how He works, how the universe works, and how we fit in with all of that) is written on the hearts of His people, through the Holy Spirit.

A Christian living by faith has God’s Law written on our hearts.  We do not always access it, but it is a part of us.  We do not always notice it, but it is a part of us.  We do not always act like it, but it is a part of us.

But the orchestra of our lives is more beautiful because of it.

It should not lead to arrogance, but rather wonder.  It should not lead to complacency, but rather excitement.  It should not lead to intellectual sleepiness, but rather an attitude of investigation.  It should not lead to self-awareness, but rather walking comfortably with the Lord.

And when we realize that we live amongst a world of people without that connection, it turns everything upside down.

The Right Side

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

The Right Side

As you look around today, be assured that around half of the people you see are disappointed, and half of the people you see are pleased.

But both sides have an opportunity to think God’s thoughts after Him.

God is God.

Whether considering the movements of comets, or bringing snow to Northwest Kansas.  Whether considering the formation of black holes, or providentially providing a surprising good night’s sleep.  Whether the cancer disappears, or the baby is born early.

God is God.

Because God is God, whether the Republicans think they have power, or the Democrats think they have power.

If you are afraid this morning because of the political situation, then cry out to God and believe that the God who loves His people so much that He killed His Son for us is still God.  Let fear drive you to Him.

If you are exuberant this morning because of the political situation, then praise our good God, not the electoral college system, statistical analysis, wily stratagem, or anything else.

I wonder why we saw a lot of pre-election prayer meetings… but not so many post election prayer meetings.  Both the fear kind, and the glad kind.

Maybe it shows who our god really is….

BUT the gospel can turn this upside down.  Because Jesus is King and has delegated authority.  Because God was not surprised, nor heaven shocked at any election results.  Because God isn’t overly glad or worried about last night.

Because HE is God.

Menu

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God.  You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. (Leviticus 18:1-3 ESV)

Menu

I have a delightful friend who is annoying in one way.  When eating out, he never seems to just choose from the menu.  Perhaps it is ala carte, or perhaps it is adjusting the offerings, or perhaps he is merely very fussy.

But when he orders his meal, he stands out.

I imagine the servers, cooks, and managers asking, “Why can’t he just be like everyone else?”

But God’s people are like my friend, perhaps.

They were not like the other nations on the menu.  They did not live like the Egyptians.  They did not live like the Canaanites.  They did not live like the Philistines.  They did not live like the Assyrians.  They did not live like the Babylonians. They did not live like the Romans.

They lived like God told them to live.

They stood out.  They were different.  They did not fit in.

And when done in love, in humility, in awareness that we only can live that way through God’s grace, mercy, and Son…

It turns the world upside down.

Slave

Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, (Romans 1:1 The Message)

Slaves

No one… absolutely no one… wants to be a slave.  Great stories are told of slaves who yearned for none-slavery, fought for non-slavery, and found non-slavery.

But Paul brags about being a slave.

Not just a slave though; a slave of Jesus Christ.

Paul, probably the greatest theologian, bragged about being a slave.  Paul, the Jew of Jews, bragged about being a slave.  Paul, author of thirteen books of the Bible, bragged about being a slave.  Paul, the most famous convert and preacher of his day, bragged about being a slave.

That turns our ambition upside down.

Bigger church or slave of Christ?  More notches on our Bible or slave of Christ?  Political power or slave of Christ?  Mental data base of knowledge or slave of Christ?  Best behaved family or slave of Christ?  Prestigious job or slave of Christ?  Dreams accomplished or slave of Christ?  Fanciest car or slave of Christ? 

Jesus Himself left heaven for dusty Judea.  Jesus Himself left the right hand of His father for the road to the cross.  Jesus himself, the perfect man, took our curse on Himself.

Be His slave.

Legalists

Then He said, “The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; He’s in charge.” (Luke 6:5 The Message)

Legalists

No one loved the Law like Jesus.  No one kept the Law like Jesus.  No one obeyed the Law like Jesus.

In fact, His perfect obedience provides a replacement for our DISobedience.  We could not be saved without it.

But sometimes we are more legalist than Jesus.

The purpose of the Law is to help God’s people.   The purpose of the Law is to show us God’s desires.  The purpose of the Law is to introduce us to our need for Christ, and then pull us into Him.

The purpose of the Law is NOT simply to obey the Law.

We are not Law-ians… we are Christians.  We are not Obedienc-ians… we are Christians.  We are not Perfect-ians… we are Christians.

And that turns the religious world upside down.

Relent

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (Jonah 3:10 ESV)

Relent

The  Bible has examples of foolish folk who keep promises they should not have kept.  For instance, a judge vowed to kill the first person he saw, if only God would give the victory He had already promised.  When he won, that judge foolishly killed the next person he saw:  His daughter.

But God relents of threats God has made, that in the end would harm His people.

He softened His heart towards the Egyptians, the wandering Israelites, and those who nailed Him to a cross.

And here, when the Ninevites turned from their sin, even past the last warning, God saved them.

Demanding God’s justice is a scary and dangerous thing.  Unexpectedly, He is gracious oh so very often.

And that turns MY world upside down.

Complaining

“It’s not you I’m complaining to—it’s God.Is it any wonder I’m getting fed up with his silence? (Job 21:4 The Message)

Complaining

Football coaches do not like complaining fans.  Employees do not like complaining bosses.  Children do not like complaining parents.  Drivers do not like complaining state troopers. 

I do not even like it when my dog complains.

We expect that God is dtispleased when we complain.

And if our complaints are dressed in selfishness, whining, and faithlessness, then He is not pleased.  (In fact, He killed His Son to pay for those sins…)

BUT, if our complaints are crying out in fear, then He inclines His ears.  If our complaints are made in faith that He CAN help, then He hears us.  If our complaints honest, un-gilded, faithful reminders of His faithful promises, then God might even smile.

God’s people turn the world upside down because we know how to complain, get to complain, and rest in complaining. 

Complaining

“It’s not you I’m complaining to—it’s God.Is it any wonder I’m getting fed up with his silence? (Job 21:4 The Message)

Complaining

Football coaches do not like complaining fans.  Employees do not like complaining bosses.  Children do not like complaining parents.  Drivers do not like complaining state troopers. 

I do not even like it when my dog complains.

We expect that God is displeased when we complain.

And if our complaints are dressed in selfishness, whining, and faithlessness, then He is not pleased.  (In fact, He killed His Son to pay for those sins…)

BUT, if our complaints are crying out in fear, then He inclines His ears.  If our complaints are made in faith that He CAN help, then He hears us.  If our complaints honest, un-gilded, faithful reminders of His faithful promises, then God might even smile.

God’s people turn the world upside down because we know how to complain, get to complain, and rest in complaining.