The Joy of Glory

Luke 13:6-9 (click here)
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. [7] And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ [8] And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. [9] Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)

Reflection
“I’ll give you one more chance!”

I cannot count the number of times I heard those words as a child… or the number of times I have said them to my own children… and why? Typically in those situations, no one deserves “one more chance.” Some rule has already been violated and there is a known consequence that should be applied immediately… yet “one more chance” is given… why?

Kindness… gracious kindness.

Even though I did not recognize it at the time… whenever my parents gave me “one more chance” it was not because I deserved it, but because they were being graciously kind… AND their kindness had a purpose… it was meant to lead me to repentance.

While we were still lost in our sin… God showed us this type of gracious kindness every single day… every single moment!

God would be completely right and just to pour out his judgment upon the world at any moment, but like the vinedresser of Luke 13… he gives the vine (us) more time. Not only that, his kindness goes further! Just like the vinedresser tills the earth and puts fertilizer around the fig tree of Luke 13, so also the Lord providentially brings people into our lives to point us toward the good news of the Gospel.

This is all God’s gracious kindness… for what we deserve is judgment… AND there is a purpose to his kindness… it is meant to lead us to repentance.

Romans 2:4-5, “…do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

There is a day coming when God’s wrath will be revealed. Just like the fig tree has a day coming when it will bear fruit or be cut down… but right now, every day and every moment we are given is a moment we live in the gracious kindness of God.

May that kindness always lead us back to him!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Mark 11:15-19 (click here)
And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”  (Mark 11:15-17)

Reflection
Not many churches have artwork hanging up of Jesus flipping tables and chasing people out of the temple.

Why not?

Does this image of Christ make us uncomfortable? Do we like our Jesus domesticated… meek and mild and patting children on the head?

I think it is because we are not quite sure what to do with an image of Jesus’ righteous wrath… and this is because we try to make sense of Jesus’ actions by relating them to ourselves. We think about what it would be like for us to flip tables and clear out a space… and if we are honest, we don’t really like what we see. Our “wrath” is rarely righteous and always tends to be out of control. Surely Jesus isn’t like that.

Don’t worry… he’s not.

In trying to understand Jesus’ actions we are making a wrong comparison by relating him to ourselves. To put things in their proper perspective we must relate ourselves to the Gentiles in Mark 11.

The buying and selling of sacrificial animals was taking place in the court of the Gentiles. It was the only space in the temple complex where Gentile believers could gather to worship… and that area was being turned from a worship space to a marketplace. One could scarcely focus on prayer over the sound of sheep, birds, and bartering. In effect, the Gentiles were being barred from worship.

Enter Jesus.

Out of love for you and me… Jesus cleared the way for all nations to worship the Father! This is what he came to do! To make a way for me and you!

Jesus’ actions at the temple are a small picture of the larger work he would do through his death and resurrection, namely, make a way for all nations to worship the one true God!

So yes… let’s hang up a picture of Jesus flipping tables! He’s flipping them out of love for you! He’s flipping them so there is a way and a place for you in the house of God. Flipping tables is kinda his thing.

He went to the cross and flipped the table of your sin to make a way to the Father through him! So come one… come all… a way has been made and a place for you has been created… we call him Jesus…

Let him flip the table of your life!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Matthew 11:20-24 (click here)
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. (Matthew 11:20)

Reflection
“You’re older than him… you should know better!”

I cannot count the number of times I heard those words from one of my parents after I had gotten into a fight with my younger brother. Typically, these fights would escalate to some form of a physical altercation, which would end with him running to mom or dad in tears.

Granted… I am five years older than him, and when we were young this meant that I was far bigger and able to win every fight we ever had. But it was not my superior size that my parents pointed to when disciplining me… it was my age… or more accurately, my experience and exposure. Their words pointed to the fact that because I had been alive longer, I had more time to learn and experience the proper way to behave. Apparently, this made me more responsible, more culpable than my brother.

In Matthew 11, Jesus says something similar to many cities who had witnessed his ministry and miracles. Because of their exposure and experience, they were more responsible, more culpable than other cities who had not seen the things they had seen. It’s not that these other cities bore no responsibility for their unrepentant hearts, but that guilt grows the more his light shines and we still run to darkness.

How much has Christ light shown into our lives? Through Scripture, sermons, other people, etc I know that I have had endless exposure to the glorious Gospel of Christ. Has that led me to repent… or to run? One thing I know… I cannot deny that I am responsible!

What have you done with the light of Christ’s glory that has shown into your life? Has it led to you repent and run to him… or have you run from him? May we run to the light of Christ through the glorious gift of repentance! And, may we call others to do the same!

Repentance is running to Christ!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.