An Unnatural Natural

We live in a world where there is always arguments on what’s “natural” and what’s “not.” It’s a big deal for people to find out if a disease or a calamity is of “natural causes” or were somehow fabricated by men. We make a big deal of what is normal.

Well, as saints, we’re NOT natural.

We saints are to “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ” (Romans 12:2a) Whatever is considered “normal” by the world, we do not simply “accept.” We’re to be a new kind of natural.

The apostle Paul talks more about this unnatural natural in his letter to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 4, he starts out by saying,

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Eph. 4:1)

Here’s the first unnatural natural principle: We are prisoners. 

At this time, Paul was writing from prison. So yeah, he was literally a prisoner for Christ. Paul’s era wasn’t really the kindest to Christians. But he emphasizes a  different kind of captivity when he quoted Psalm 68 in verses 7 and 8

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:

“When He ascended on high,
He took many captives
and gave gifts to His people.”

(Eph. 4:7-8)

He talks about Christ giving us grace, and then says He took many “captives” a.k.a PRISONERS.

Yes, Paul is calling us prisoners. And talks about it in an as-a-matter-of-factly kind of way — like it was the way it was supposed to be! AND IT IS.

I always talk about Christianity as a relationship and NOT a religion, and that’s what Paul is illustrating here. Come to think of it, there are two ways of actually being a captive:

1) To actually be forcefully taken in as a prisoner (say you’re caught by the police, or taken hostage by an enemy group, etc)

and

2) To be fully in-love with someone (or something) that it’s taken over you.

Think of all the movies you’ve seen — especially the cheesy lovey-dovey ones. There is always that idea of losing yourself to the one you love. It’s like you’re a slave to them. Not because they lord over you, but simply because you love them SO much you WANT to serve them and be together with them.

I am pretty sure, of all generalizations, this is one I can actually make — we have all been captivated by something (or someone) one way or another. We throw around the word love a LOT —

“I love Twilight”

“I love Bieber”

“I love Pokemon”

“I love her”

“I love him”

“I love basketball”

“I love shopping”

etc.

Somehow, sometime in your life you’ve uttered these words. And by saying any of these, you ARE being a prisoner of that thing that follows the word “love.”

The world puts SO much emphasis on being against captivity. It’s unnatural to WANT to be under the rule of someone. But let’s face it, we ALL have been somehow. And that’s what Jesus wants: For us to be in-love with Him — He wants us captivated by Him.

Paul furthers this illustration in verses 15 and 16,

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:15, 16)

We’re not the typical kinds of captives who are simply slaves — we are PART OF HIM.

Raise your hands. Your eye brows. Close your eyes. Stand up. Sit down. Jump up. Now sit back down with your legs crossed and your hands steady on your lap.

Every last inch of your body is a captive to you. And I do not think anyone of you would want it any other way. I sure don’t want a hand that won’t obey me. So yeah. Your body is your slave. But think about it, when your tummy aches, your whole body feels it. When you’re down with the flu, you hate it. When you get bruises or cuts, you’re unhappy. Let’s face it, we love our bodies. 

When Paul calls us captives, he had that analogy in mind. That of one body, and as he said in verse 15 our head is Christ. We are one with Him as His beloved children. And as part of His body, we are His captives.

Speaking of the body, here’s the second unnatural natural principle: We are to be united as a body with One head.

Okay, a united body isn’t as unnatural as the first idea of being prisoners. But think about it. A body whose parts are other human beings who each has their own will and their own ideas — ALL EXPECTED TO BE TOGETHER AND OPERATE AS SEAMLESSLY AS A BIOLOGICAL BODY SHOULD. Think of your local church for example, every week  (at least once) you come to church and fellowship with these strangers. You see the same people every week but none of you are related in any sort of earthly way, and YET you’re all expected to be “family.”

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:2-3)

Paul says we should, as Christians, bear with one another in love. As part of one body, we’re not just to be in love with Christ — we are called to love ALL the other parts of the body!  Sure, the world does see unity as something we should all strive for, but no one in their right mind would tell you to love everyone. And yet, we Saints are expected to do so. The church in actuality is one of the most unnatural human relationships we are ever going to encounter. Total strangers coming together and “loving” each other. That’s just not normal! So if it’s not, why are we charged to do so?

Paul explains in the following verses,

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:4-6)

We are called to be in loving unity with each other because WE SERVE ONE GOD. 

We are one body — a body with parts that do not love each other will NOT be able to function properly.

We have one Spirit — as Christians, we all share the same privilege of having the Holy Spirit in us. To teach, help, and guide us. It’s just logical and to expect people with the same Spirit in them to be at peace with each other.

We have one hope — we all are hoping for one thing: SALVATION aka “an eternity in heaven.” ie. We WOULD ALL BE SPENDING ETERNITY TOGETHER, shouldn’t we start getting along NOW??

We have one Lord — we serve the same Lord, and if He wants us to love each other… uhh… Shouldn’t we do so?

We have one faith — we all believe in one thing — JESUS. And if we’re all in love with one thing, we should be able to love each other. What do you think fan clubs are made of? They all share the same love for someone or something, and they end up bonding together.

We have one baptism — Oxford defines baptism as a “an act or a ceremony,” a bible dictionary takes it further and say it is “a public way of breaking with one’s past life and beginning a new one.” PUBLIC — it’s a public declaration, we tell the world and everyone who witnesses our baptism that WE SERVE JESUS! And if we serve a God of love, we should show love.  First to Him, then to other Christians, then to everyone else!

We have one God and Father of all — our God is not a normal God either, He’s not just a “god” who rules over people, He’s a God who calls us HIS CHILDREN. Okay, this one, even the world would agree — if we are all brothers and sisters, then DUHH we SHOULD be loving each other.

Last unnatural natural principle Paul gives us in Ephesians is this: We are called.

Our God is, again, not really the typical God. He calls us — He doesn’t force us into anything.

Going back to verse one, Paul says:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Eph 4:1)

We received a call.

There are two different calls that we can pick out from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

1) We are called into loving Him and being His children — everyone is called to be His children, God wants us all to be saved.

Paul “urges us to live a life worthy of the calling,” simply put, he’s saying: You were called into salvation, now live like you have received it.

2) We, Saints, are called to different positions too.

Going back to the idea of Christians making up the body of Christ, we cannot ALL be eyes. Paul talks about this in his letter to another church — the one in Corinth. He says,

“If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:17-20)

God did design our earthly bodies — He made us with a pair of eyes, a pair of ears, 4 limbs, a head, etc etc. So it’s just logical that He would want His body — the church — to be likewise.

That’s the second kind of call that Paul’s talking about. We are called to be different things. One body, many parts. 

He talks about 4 specific calls in verses 11-13 of chapter 4,

“So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ  may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-13)

In Paul’s other letters, he enumerates some more positions that God calls us to — not everyone is going to be called to be a prophet, an evangelist, a teacher, or an apostle —  but the idea is basically that we are called to different roles for the same purpose — to build up the Body of Christ until we all reach unity in the faith. 

What’s so unnatural about the idea of being called? Well, like any calls you make it can either be rejected or accepted.  Jesus is calling us into a love-relationship with Him. He’s calling everyone. But not everyone answers. Same thing too, us Saints, not all of us have answered His other call — some of us don’t even know what it is.

I wanna just end this with Paul’s own words:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. — Remember that you are called, called to a relationship, called to a unified body, and called to service.

Saints, it’s time to pick up the “phone” and become naturally unnatural.

Because meme’s can be for worship too!

 

 

You were as I, tempted and tried… human.

This line just kept playing in my head for the WHOLE week (in fact, I think it’s been like this for two weeks)!

I don’t remember the whole song, just this line. I just keep singing it in my head:

“You were as I tempted and tried. Human.”

Tonight, He finally told me why.

***

theprodigalsaint: “You were as I, tempted and tried — human.”

God: Oh, so you’re still singing that?

theprodigalsaint: I can’t get it out of my head! 

God: Do you know why?

theprodigalsaint: Well, it’s definitely a reminder that there’s no excuse for my sins — even You, in the form of Jesus, were tempted but remained sinless.

God: Well, I was still God during My time on earth.

theprodigalsaint:  True, but You were also completely man.

God: True. Hey, what song are you gonna present for Easter again?

theprodigalsaint: Huh? Oh, “No Greater Love”

God: You have a solo part right? I made sure you were given that part, what part was it.

theprodigalsaint: It’s — :’)

[No Greater Love is a Cantata by John Piper about the life of Jesus. I was given the part of Jesus being tempted in the desert. It was a duet using the tempter’s words and Jesus’s responses — I was singing Jesus’s responses. ♥]

***

Jesus was fully human and fully God; He too was tempted and tried — EVEN BY SATAN HIMSELF!

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matt. 4:1)

***

theprodigalsaint: Now I get it! But isn’t that what I said? You kept putting this line, not even the whole song, in my head to remind me that I am supposed to follow in Your footsteps — not fall into sin. 

God: Mm-hmm. But that’s not all. What else did you sing about?

theprodigalsaint: Well, I was singing the things You — :’)

***

Jesus, when He was being tempted by Satan, defended Himself — with God’s word.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matt. 4:7)

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matt. 4: 10)

He held on to God’s word. He knew what He was to do — obey God ONLY and FULLY.

***

theprodigalsaint: Well, Lord, it’s not that easy. Sure, I want to hold on to Your words too. I also have enough knowledge of Your words to be able to defend against the sins Satan commonly tempts me with. But…

God: But it’s not that easy because ‘I just can’t understand how there are things that you humans crave for so much that it’s become a physical pain?” or that ‘I don’t understand that there are things that you humans are prone too? Your emotions, your flesh’s desires, your socially constructed constraints, etc?’ 

theprodigalsaint: Yes, Lord! Yes! Exactly!

God: Son, why don’t you read the passage again.

***

Jesus had to deal with Satan like most of us. He, was COMPLETELY human after all.

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Matt. 4:2-3)

***

God: Did you see it?

theprodigalsaint: Yes.

God: So…?

theprodigalsaint: When You were tempted, you were tempted with something categorically similar to everything I’m tempted with … I mean, the circumstances are the same.

God: Mm-hmm, go on?

theprodigalsaint: When I am tempted, it’s SO easy to fall when I’m tired and/or stressed. Emotionally unstable because of physical weariness. It’s hard to focus, to think first before I act, let alone to ponder upon Your word before falling into Satan’s trap.

God: And at that time?

theprodigalsaint: Jesus was hungry and tired — He was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights! And He was tempted with food.

God: But?

theprodigalsaint: But what?

God: You were thinking of  a “but,” what is it?

theprodigalsaint: Well, He was FASTING after all, so that means He was spiritually recharged at that time. He was in communion with You! He was praying and all. He definitely was spiritually ready, and probably even mentally, to take Satan head on!

God: Sure, He was filled by the Spirit at that time. And yes, He was in communion with Me at that time. So what does that tell you?

theprodigalsaint:  … that if I were to spend my days seeking and communing with You CONSTANTLY, I will be able to draw on Your strength too, like how Jesus was spiritually ready to battle Satan, even when He was physically drained.

 God: And?

theprodigalsaint: And that no amount of physical craving or limitation would be able to weaken a Saint empowered by the Spirit — Your Spirit.

God: So now are you convinced that I really understand how you feel? How temptations appeal to your certain ‘perceived’ needs? Jesus was extremely hungry at that time, but He didn’t give in. He was SO tired, stones to bread would’ve been an easy way out of things. 

theprodigalsaint: He knew that there are greater things than just this fleshly body we’re bound in. He knew He had a higher purpose to fulfill: to bring You glory and to overcome sin and death. Turning stones to bread would not accomplish anything, in terms of His mission. That action won’t glorify You. Besides, if He were to do that, He’s be obeying and pleasing Satan — He knew what You want. He had the power in Him, but He knew you won’t allow Him too, why? Because there’s no purpose to it.

God: Sounds familiar?

theprodigalsaint: There are a LOT of things I know You can give me, I know I can do, and I know I can get — But I have to always trust in Your plan and focus on being goal oriented.

God: Goal oriented?

theprodigalsaint: Focused on one goal, and one goal alone, doing only things that please You. 

God: I think I’ve already told you that sometime ago, right?

theprodigalsaint: Yup. It went something like: There really is no such thing as right and wrong — only what pleases and displeases God — You.

God: There’s something else…

theprodigalsaint: hmm?

God: Son, I want you to be like Me. More and more like Me — like Jesus. He held on to My word, never let go. I  kept playing that line in your head to remind you that YOU ARE CAPABLE of doing what I did when I was on earth — be FOCUSED! Son, I don’t want you to just remember My words in times of temptation — I want you to be able to focus on My word in EVERYTHING. You need Me, you know that. And I want to help you too, and this is My way of telling you how. Stick close to Me, walk with Me — ALWAYS. Always means ALWAYS, right?

theprodigalsaint: I haven’t been giving much thought to what You want for everything, have I?

God: Mm-hmm,

theprodigalsaint: And that lead to a very slow but constant drift away from You. Slowly, yet definitely surely, I was making decisions on my own, focusing on things I want. Not that I was focusing on huge decisions, but just things like how to spend my afternoon, where to eat for lunch, what to eat for dinner, how to talk with my friends, how to deal with classmates, how to act on the bus, how to… etcetcetc. The more I got used to mundane things and mundane decisions made everyday — the more callous I became to You. When the time came that I needed to cling to You and let go of what I want and focus on what You want, I was already too used to listening to myself.

God: So what do you plan to do now?

theprodigalsaint: Pray, ask, and focus — I mean, just ask.

God: Ask?

theprodigalsaint: Ask for Your help and Your empowerment — that I may be focused. I cannot do all these on my own, I am too weak. BUT! There is power in You. 🙂

God: *chuckles* I love you, son.

theprodigalsaint: and I couldn’t be happier >:D< Love you too!

***

P.S. Here’s the song, thanks to Google, I finally found out what song it was!

Lead Me to the Cross — Hillsongs

It’s a RELATIONSHIP

If there’s one thing I can never stress enough, it’s that being a Christian is being in a relationship with Christ.

God wants that.

When God called Abraham to be the father of HIS chosen people, He did not call him to PRACTICE A RELIGION — He called him to DEVOTION to Him.

When Jesus came, He did NOT establish A CHURCH (in the religious sense of the word); He came and taught, DIED for the people He created — AND ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD to establish relationships with the people He came to save.

SALVATION is not received by MEMBERSHIP to a CHURCH, nor by AFFILIATION to a certain DENOMINATION — it is by A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST.

The Bible clearly says:

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

You NEVER go into any relationship with anyone YOU DO NOT KNOW. A relationship with Christ ENTAILS A KNOWLEDGE and ACCEPTANCE of who He IS, and what He’s DONE for us.

Another aspect of a relationship can be found in Matthew 7:21:

“Not everyone who says to Me (Jesus), ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Relationships demand OBEDIENCE. When we accept Christ for who He is — we essentially accept Him as our LORD and SAVIOR. It IS pretty straight forward, “Why are you calling me Lord when you’re not obeying me?” 

And of course, there’s the all important idea from 1 John 4:19

“We love because he first loved us.”

A relationship HAS to be founded on LOVE. The whole idea of Christianity is basically having GOD LOVE US SO MUCH.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Christianity is not primarily a whole list of dos and don’ts that can get you saved, that’s what RELIGION is for. Christ coming to earth was essentially BECAUSE HE LOVED US TOO MUCH and WANTED TO SAVE US. We do not become Christians to adhere to its teachings and laws to be saved — we become Christians to RECEIVE His LOVE and GRACE, to ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP with HIM. 

We saints do not subscribe to a religion, we FOLLOW a GOD who LOVES US. Blindly following a religion and its teachings is totally different from KNOWING, LOVING, and FOLLOWING Someone — Someone who came over to this measly earth He himself created, died in the hands of those He came to save, and provided His salvation as a free gift JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES US SO MUCH.

Q: Does it mean, then, that as long as I have a relationship with Him, I am a saint already? I don’t need to follow a certain way of living?

— Well sure, but remember, being in a relationship CHANGES people. If you truly are COMMITTED to someone, IT WILL SHOW.

It’s one of THOSE days.

These were the words I saw on Facebook the moment I went online:

it’s those “I want to lock myself in my room” days

It’s by a friend, I don’t think I have the authority to share what she’s going through, but one thing’s for sure — she’s not the only one.

I can’t tell you what she’s dealing with, but I know one thing: it’s one of those things that you just don’t want to face. Locking yourself up in your room sounds really, REALLY tempting.

I’ve had my share of things I don’t want to deal with, not that I can’t, I just don’t THINK I can. God promised us victory in Jesus Christ — victory from everything! By His love, we are more than conquerors. But sometimes things just SEEM to be bigger than us, it’s easy to forget how BIGGER our God is.

It got me thinking, maybe it actually is the right thing to do — TO LOCK YOURSELF UP IN YOUR ROOM.

Our power, our strength, and our victory comes from Jesus Christ. We are useless on our own, only through Him are we capable of great things — only through Him can we win over our sinful nature. So to win this battle, we have to be ON OUR KNEES.  Jesus said:

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

We are SAINTS; when saints lock themselves up in their rooms, it’s to seclude themselves from the world — from all its distractions — and focus on God, on Him alone. In solitude and silence, we focus on Him, seek Him solely. The world is a noisy place, everyone has their own opinion; in moments of anguish, it’s often overwhelming to deal with a lot of voices.

Yes, we should lock ourselves up in our rooms — spend time in solitude praying and communing with God. He won’t leave us nor forsake us, He will always be there. He’s always ready to console, to guide, and to give answers — but it’s hard to listen to Him when we’re distracted by the world.

I’ve had the song “We Are United” on replay on my iPod, and this line always sticks out: “We fight our battles on our knees.” At first, I really liked that — until today. Now? I say “We WIN our battles on our knees.”

Go ahead, go to your room, and pray. He’s just waiting for you to come away and spend time with Him.

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God'” Psalms 46:10

Still — Hillsongs United

At The Foot of The Cross – Kathryn Scott

So today’s Ash Wednesday.

Let’s trade our “ashes in for beauty, and wear forgiveness like a crown.”

Christ died so we could have life; He loved us though we were unworthy.

The least we could do is acknowledge His sacrifice and ponder upon the significance of the cross, His blood, and His resurrection in our lives.