Neal Lozano makes a fascinating observation about Jesus confrontation with the Pharisees in Jn 8:21-59, in which he told them that the truth would set them free:
Instead of accepting his invitation, they distorted the truth and responded in unbelief: "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone? How can you say that we shall be set free?" (verse 33). What a strange retort, considering that all the children of Israel celebrated Passover every year, identifying themselves as former slaves who were set free by God Almighty. - Neal Lozano, Abba's Heart
Likewise, we often think that the free society in which we live means that there is no bondage of any sort upon us, and fail to be set free from our sin. And once set free in one area, we fail to allow Jesus to reveal the additional ways that he wants to deliver us into freedom. Thus we remain stuck in bondage to old ways of thinking and behaving, even attributing our slavery to part of our nature.
Sunday, February 07, 2016
Friday, February 05, 2016
Like son
When Jesus told the parable of the father with two sons, He wanted to convict those who thought they were faithful to God. He wanted them to see that their hearts were actually hardened toward the Father and others, whereas the Father's heart was tender. He also told that story so that those who had been disobedient to God would know that the Father longs for them with a broken heart, ready to forgive and embrace them. - Neal Lozano, Abba's Heart
My heart is so moved by these words. I want to soak in them and add to them, and it seems as if there is nothing more to be said in general terms.
I only know that I am so grateful that my heartbroken Father made a way for me to be reunited with him. It seems to me that it is hard to keep from being like the older son if you have never been like the younger. Perhaps the single way in which we are most frequently like the younger son is by being like the elder one.
My heart is so moved by these words. I want to soak in them and add to them, and it seems as if there is nothing more to be said in general terms.
I only know that I am so grateful that my heartbroken Father made a way for me to be reunited with him. It seems to me that it is hard to keep from being like the older son if you have never been like the younger. Perhaps the single way in which we are most frequently like the younger son is by being like the elder one.
Not my friend
Anyone who thinks that their final words to me need to be take care of my wife doesn't know me. At all.
Thursday, February 04, 2016
Okay, it's one of those books . . .
. . . that I just want to keep quoting from. I can't keep doing that. Get a copy. Abba's Heart. Neal Lozano, with Matthew Lozano. Read it just a nibble at a time. I'll keep reflecting on it here, but so far it's worth the whole read.
The Father's broken heart
There's an idea that Neal Lozano mentions that's based on an image from The Passion of The Christ, when the camera zooms out from above the cross and shows the Father's eye shedding one lone tear, which becomes a downpour on earth. Neal suggests that, in eternity, that tear was not shed only at the death of the eternal Son, but at the fall of Adam, and indeed at every sin of each of us. His heart breaks for us, over our separation from him.
He goes on to say that the image of the Father's broken heart is the Son's broken body on the cross. But he loves us so much that he chose to bear that heartbreak for us, before he created us, even knowing that we would separate ourselves from him.
He goes on to say that the image of the Father's broken heart is the Son's broken body on the cross. But he loves us so much that he chose to bear that heartbreak for us, before he created us, even knowing that we would separate ourselves from him.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Brokenhearted joy
. . . I would like to introduce the first of two foundational elements in Jesus' description of the Father: He is both brokenhearted and full of joy. If you understand these two truths about the Father, they will be weapons for you against any false images that have held you back from truly knowing Him. - Neal Lozano, Abba's Heart
Well, let's start at the end and work our way back a little, but only a little, as Mr. Lozano has gone on to develop the first part in much more detail.
There is one inescapable thing that will always hold us back from truly, fully knowing the Father: our minds are finite, and He is infinite. But that doesn't keep us from being in relationship with Him, which is, of course, the knowledge of the Father to which we are all called, which He has made possible through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I don't think I'm arguing with or correcting Neal here; I'm sure this is what he has in mind when he talks about "truly knowing Him."
Yes, our theology seems to have gotten skewed with regard to our conception of the Father. Because we need Jesus' sacrifice to enter His presence, we tend to think of the Father as the strict disciplinarian, and associate Jesus as the merciful One. But Jesus was the Father's plan for us all along!
I think that being parents gives us an experience of the Father's simultaneous heartbreak for us and joy in us like nothing else I've ever known.
Well, let's start at the end and work our way back a little, but only a little, as Mr. Lozano has gone on to develop the first part in much more detail.
There is one inescapable thing that will always hold us back from truly, fully knowing the Father: our minds are finite, and He is infinite. But that doesn't keep us from being in relationship with Him, which is, of course, the knowledge of the Father to which we are all called, which He has made possible through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I don't think I'm arguing with or correcting Neal here; I'm sure this is what he has in mind when he talks about "truly knowing Him."
Yes, our theology seems to have gotten skewed with regard to our conception of the Father. Because we need Jesus' sacrifice to enter His presence, we tend to think of the Father as the strict disciplinarian, and associate Jesus as the merciful One. But Jesus was the Father's plan for us all along!
I think that being parents gives us an experience of the Father's simultaneous heartbreak for us and joy in us like nothing else I've ever known.
Two sons
One son sins openly and runs away from his father . . . . The other remains, but has withdrawn his heart from the father. - Neal Lozano, Abba's Heart
Two things about this. First: I have certainly been both sons, and perhaps this is true of many of us.
Secondly: It's pretty easy to fall into the second son's trap, for a couple of reasons. We tend to live by the comparative identity, and when we do, we need someone against whom to compare ourselves favorably. The other reason is: those who live rightly may fail to recognize how much that is also a gift of the Father's grace and mercy. When I believe that I have earned a status that, in truth, I could never merit, it's easy to start feeling proud of my accomplishments and lose sight of the gift I have received.
Two things about this. First: I have certainly been both sons, and perhaps this is true of many of us.
Secondly: It's pretty easy to fall into the second son's trap, for a couple of reasons. We tend to live by the comparative identity, and when we do, we need someone against whom to compare ourselves favorably. The other reason is: those who live rightly may fail to recognize how much that is also a gift of the Father's grace and mercy. When I believe that I have earned a status that, in truth, I could never merit, it's easy to start feeling proud of my accomplishments and lose sight of the gift I have received.
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