The Means or the End?

The Gift or the Giver

All cards on the table. Sometimes I just want Jesus for what He can do for me. Can you blame me? He can do a LOT!

I admit it. Too often I want the healing more than the Healer. I want the teaching more than the Teacher. I want the saving more than the Savior. I want the gift more than the Giver.

The Hero of the Story

Here’s the deal. Jesus doesn’t just provide the means to the end. He is THE End! Hmm, maybe that’s why He tells John, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Rev 22:13).

In other words, Jesus is THE POINT! He’s the Reason. He’s the Hero of THE entire story.

A Near Riot Near the Lake

That sure seems to be one of the big ideas behind Mark’s report of Christ’s crazy day at the lake (Mk 3:7-12). A desperate mob hunts Him down when they get wind of His many miracles.

There’s a near riot of people suffering with all sorts of longterm health issues. If that’s not wild enough, several different demons try to blow His cover before it was time.

These folks don’t appear to have any desire for what we like to call a “personal relationship with Jesus.” They just want what He can do for them. Nothing more. Nothing less. They want the means without the end.

Wanna Get Away?

Mark picks up the story along the shores of the large freshwater lake known as the Sea of Galilee. “Jesus went out to the lake with His disciples, a large crowd followed Him” (v7).

If you’ve been following along in John Mark’s bio of Jesus, you may remember what just went down. After being showed up by Jesus for the fifth straight time, local religious leaders got together to plot His murder (Mk 3:6).

It’s kinda like one of those Southwest Airlines commercials. “Wanna get away?” That’s exactly what the Son of God and His guys did. Just like so many of us like to do, they went to the lake to get out of the spotlight and get some rest.

A Healthy Gathering

But as you’ve already noticed, that didn’t last long. A big crowd is just over their shoulder. So much for a quiet day at the lake.

Just how big is this crowd and who’s in it? The original language gives us a few hints. First of all, we see that it’s “large” (πολυς/polus). This word describes a relatively large quantity or measure of something.

It can mean much, many, numerous, great, plentiful, loud, deep, or even long. “Large” points to the upper range of anything, big but not the biggest. Let’s just say this is a healthy gathering chasing Jesus down the beach.

Local Celebrity No Longer

And where are they from? “They came from all over, Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon” (v8). Well that escalated quickly. No longer is the Rabbi/Carpenter a local celebrity. His appeal has spread throughout the entire region.

Christ is clearly a hot ticket among the Hebrews. You see that by all the folks from various regions of Israel, such as Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.

He’s also getting traction among people living in lands of both Jews and Gentiles, like Idumea and the eastern side of the Jordan River.

The Twin Cities

For the first time we see a boatload of non-Jews coming to Jesus. Tyre and Sidon are the Minneapolis and St. Paul of Phoenicia. These Twin Cities are in what we know today as Lebanon.

They’re appearance in Galilee is a shocker since First Century Phoenicians aren’t worshipers of Yahweh.

It’s Jesusmania!

As if we didn’t already know, Mark gives us the reason for big crowd along the lake. “The news about His miracles spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see Him” (v8). The amazing stories of Jesus’ healings and exorcisms are in all the papers. He’s trending on Twitter.

This thing is getting big and it’s getting big FAST! He’s no longer just a local sensation in Capernaum. Forget Beatlemania. It’s got nothing on the craze over the Christ. Yup, you got it. This is Jesusmania!

Taking No Chances

Our Savior won’t get caught by surprise. He preps with His posse in case things get out of control. “Jesus instructed His disciples to have a boat ready so that the crowd would not crush Him” (v9).

He instructs His boys to have a boat nearby. You never know when an excited audience might take the ugly turn into deadly riot. Jesus may be God but, remember, He’s in human form. No reason to take unnecessary chances.

Miracle Medicine

It’s obvious from the get-go that this was not just a good idea but a lifesaver. “He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch Him” (v10). Word of Jesus’ ability to provide miraculous medical treatment is spreading like wildfire.

Think of how people go to Mexico or Europe when they read on the internet that some doctor has a unlocked the cure for cancer. They don’t care about the physician’s credentials. They simply want to get well and will do anything or go anywhere for healing. In 30 AD, that just happens to be Galilee.

An Act of Desperation

The excitement level of the big crowd explodes. Suddenly the sick “eagerly pushed forward” toward the Great Physician. Mark uses a Greek word here that describes their desperation. Επιπιπτω/epipipto describes falling or descending upon someone.

This is a compound word that means “land (Gr. -πιπτω/-pipto) on (Gr. επι-/epi-).” Picture somebody throwing themselves on another suddenly. It’s when you shift your weight so that somebody else is supporting you completely. It’s an act not just of excitement but desperation.

In a good way, this is an embrace. Like when John leans his head against Jesus at dinner (Jn 13:25). Or how about the time a dad is so excited to see his runaway son return from the pig sty (Lk 15:20).

By Any Means Necessary

In negative sense, it’s an attack. Like today at the lake. Suddenly there’s lots of pushing and shoving. This is about getting near the front by any means necessary. The irony is they came for healing and now are in danger of getting hurt.

They don’t want Jesus. They don’t want to talk to Him. They just want to get their hands on Him. They don’t care about who He is. They only want what He can do for them.

Got the T-Shirt

The words are hard to type because it’s so personal. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Given the t-shirt to Goodwill. I’ve done over and over and over. Sad to say, you can pretty much bet the ranch that I’ll do it again.

It usually happens when life goes off the rails somehow. Big trouble at work. A “heated discussion” at home. A breakdown on the interstate. A dicy diagnosis from my doctor. Jesus is near the top of my 9-1-1 calls. My divine phone-a-friend anytime I’m in a pickle.

It goes a little something like this. Money problems. Run to Jesus. Marriage problems. Run to Jesus. Job problems. Run to Jesus. Health problems. Run to Jesus. I think you get the idea.

His Greatest Gift is Himself

Dr. Luke paints the picture of two sisters who have different views of Jesus. Martha sees the Lord as the One to give her what she wants. In this case, it’s help from her sister. Meanwhile Mary simply wants her Savior.

Christ personally corrects Martha by saying her sister has figured it out. “There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (Lk 10:42).

Mary realizes He’s not just the means to the end, He is THE END! He’s the Point. He’s the Reason. As Max Lucado likes to say, “God’s present is His presence. His greatest gift is Himself.”

Top of the To-Do List

God says so all throughout His Word to us. Check out these lyrics from the Psalms. “Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever” (Ps 73:25-26).

In His most famous sermon, Jesus told us to put one thing and one thing only at the top of our to-do list each day. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything that you need” (Mt 6:33).

God Loved, God Gave

I need to make it my mission to seek Him, look for Him, pursue Him. Jesus compares our search for the goodness of God to the ultimate treasure hunt. He tells the story of one guy who cashed in all his chips in order to his hands on nothing but God (Mt 13:44-46).

Specifically, that Gift is none other than the Son of God Himself. Jesus tells a dude named Nick one night that He’s THE Gift. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

If you’ve grown up in or around church, you’ve heard that verse so many times that it loses its power. Pump your brakes and look at this amazing truth one more time. God loved. God gave. Jesus is the Gift.

More of Himself

God Himself gives Himself as the greatest blessing. Even the guy who wrote most of the New Testament is lost for words when it comes to the idea. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!” (2Cor 9:15).

So just like those desperate folks in Galilee, I need to remember that Jesus isn’t the means to the end. He is THE End. As Vaneetha Rendall Risner puts it, “The best gift God can give you is not health or prosperity or happiness in this world, but more of Himself.”

Coming out of the Woodwork

But there are more than just people with serious health problems there along the lake with the Lord. Mark tells us there’s a significant number of folks under demonic control there too. All through the Gospels, demons come out of the woodwork whenever Jesus is around.

“And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of Him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of Him shrieking, ‘You are the Son of God!’” (v11).

It’s a Throwdown Showdown

What a wild scene! The crowd crushes closer to get the hands on the Christ. Now demonically possessed people are raising a ruckus by flinging their victims at the feet of Jesus.

In John Mark’s play-by-play, he writes that these evils spirits “throw” (Gr. προσπιπτω/prospipto)” their hosts down. He uses a verb with same root word (Gr. προσπιπτω/prospipto) as when the sick people “eagerly pushed forward” to get to Jesus.

In this form, it means to fall forward in front of or even prostrate oneself in submission before another. These agents of Satan totally freak out when God is in town. Call it a throwdown showdown.

Unholy Screams

I’ll bet their unholy screams would send shivers down your spine. I love how the NLT translates the original language here as “shrieking” (Gr. κραζω/krazo). It not only means to cry out or shout with great intensity and volume but implies an unpleasant nature of the sound. Think fingernails on a chalkboard turned up to eleven.

Shrieking demons have a bad habit of revealing His supernatural identity (Mk 1:23, 26; Mk 5:7). Interestingly, the Lord tells them to stuff a sock in it. “But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who He was” (v12).

Seeing Him for Who He Is

Unlike the many people who saw Him as the means to the end, the evil spirits see Jesus for who He really is. The Son of God. Since they’re spirits, they see the spiritual world. They know full well He’s the means to their end!

So why did Jesus want them to shut up? Wasn’t He trying to get the word out? Theologians and Bible scholars have cussed and discussed this question for the past 2,000 years.

Staying on Schedule

I’m certainly not smart enough to figure it out but I think my old prof Doug Bookman is on to something. He says Christ only had three-and-a-half years to accomplish His mission before His crucifixion. In order to stay on schedule, He had to manipulate the political and religious powers.

In other words, Jesus is doing just what He tells the Twelve to do before sending them on assignment. “Be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Mt 10:16). Don’t be naive. Know there are enemies. Understand the big picture.

A Grip on the News Cycle

In this case, it’s keeping viselike grip on the news cycle and release of information regarding His mission. Christ couldn’t let the power brokers know His true identity too soon or it would be all over.

The word would get out fast enough when the time is right. In the meantime, who He is and what He’s doing is under a news embargo. Jesus certainly is not going to let the Prince of Lies put his evil spin on the Good News.

You may wonder if the Lord still has His embargo in place. Absolutely not! He makes it clear that we’re to tell everybody we meet about Him (Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15; Lk 24:47-48; Acts 1:8)! Make Jesus famous everywhere you go! There are no restrictions on that!!

His Eternal Benefits Package

The best way to give Him glory is by finding our ultimate pleasure in Him. There’s not doubt our Savior does amazing and miraculous things. But that’s just part of His amazing eternal benefits package.

In Him alone, there’s contentment. In Him alone, there’s fulfillment. John Piper famously says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” In other words, Jesus isn’t the means. He’s THE End.

©2017

Jay Jennings

En Fuego

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2Tim 1:6).

There are times when an athlete is absolutely on fire. Stephen Curry can’t miss a shot. Everything Bryce Harper hits is a vicious line drive. Tom Brady’s right arm rips apart the defense. In the words of Dan Patrick’s famous catchphrase, they are en fuego. But when this happens, it isn’t luck. These are highly skilled athletes who have worked their tails off. They’ve practiced. They’ve prepared. They’ve put themselves into position to sizzle when the moment arises. 

In a letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul tells the young pastor to do everything possible to get ready to ignite. His Grandma Lois and Mom Eunice had stacked the kindling in his life as a young man, hoping and praying for the day God would set him on fire (2Tim 1:5). At this critical time, Tim’s mentor knows it’s important to stoke the blaze. “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (v6). Do what you can and prepare yourself for Jesus to make you en fuego.

Paul pleads with his protege because he knows his own fire will soon go out. He writes from behind bars of the notorious Mamertine Prison. The apostle is well aware he’s on Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). As a dead man walking, he begs the young pastor to do everything possible to make it to Rome before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). He’s all alone except for his good friend Dr. Luke (2Tim 4:11). Paul writes the final letter of his life, encouraging Timothy to let God transform him into a human torch for His glory.

“For this reason I remind you” (v6). The apostle refreshes Tim’s memory about the purpose for what he’s about to say. This is the fourth time in just a few short sentences where Paul walks down memory lane. “As I remember you constantly in my prayers…As I remember your tears…I am reminded of your sincere faith…For this reason I remind you…” (2Tim 1:3, 4, 5, 6, emphasis added). He’s not getting all nostalgic and simply reflecting on the good times. Paul wants Tim to remember what God has done in his life so he’ll know without a doubt where he’s headed.

The man from Tarsus reminds Tim how his own memaw and mom stacked the kindling around him as he grew up in Lystra (2Tim 1:5). They prepped Tim for the day would God ignite the faith flame through Paul. Who did the Lord use to place flammable materials in my life and get me ready for the day He lit the match? Who am I splashing the gasoline of grace on? God is calling each of us to be an accessory to spiritual arson.

The apostle tells Tim that now’s the time for the young pastor “to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you” (v6). Is Timothy’s fire starting to fade? Possibly. When he received the last letter, Paul had left him in charge of getting the Ephesian church out of the ditch and back on the road to following Jesus (1Tim 1:3-11; 4:6-16). It’s a great reminder that we have seasons in our walk with Jesus. There are going to be times when we’re absolutely smoking for our Savior. And there are going to be days when we’re barely smoldering. Here at the end of his life, Paul is passing the torch of ministry to his spiritual son. He wants to make sure Tim’s burning white hot as he carries the Gospel to a lost and dying world. 

The phrase “fan into flame” is actually one word in the original Greek (Gr. anazopureo). It describes rekindling or stirring up a fire. This is the one and only time we see it in the entire Bible. Outside of Scripture, first century writers used it when talking about pumping air through a bellows to increase the heat of a live bed of coals. In other words, take something that’s already roasting and turning up the heat. Think blast furnace. Paul wants Tim to be en fuego.

We see that the original fire was NOT of human origin. It’s the “gift of God” (v6). We may be able to place spiritually flammable materials around someone, but it’s ultimately up to the Spirit of God to ignite the blaze. We don’t earn it. He gives to us what we could never do for ourselves as an act of overwhelming grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Billy Joel is right. We didn’t start the fire. It’s God’s gift to us. But according to Paul, we can raise the temp.

So what can I do to stoke the faith fire in my life? What can I do to put myself in position to fan the flames that He started? You probably already know what I’m going to say. It’s not brain science. Make sure you’re plugged into a great local church. And by “plugged in,” I mean serving, giving, and being part of a small group. This is a WHOLE lot more than showing up for a service a couple of times a month. You may have heard the story of how the Holy Spirit first fills believers at a small group meeting during Pentecost when tongues of fire flicker over every follower of Jesus in the room (Acts 2:3). Few things fan the flames better than being around others who are on fire.

We’ve all heard the other activities that act as accelerants. Make prayer a regular part of your day. Talk to God. Thank Him for all He’s done. Tell Him your hopes and hurts. Ask Him for help. For you. For your family. For your friends. For our world. Jesus’ kid brother James is famous for saying, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). One of the most incredible examples of prayer and fire is when King Solomon asks God to show up in a big way at the brand new temple. The next thing you know, Yahweh unleashes His heavenly blowtorch incinerating the sacrifices and His glory fills the temple (2Chr 7:1). Prayer certainly stokes the fire.

God also loves to fan the flames of our faith through Scripture. So there’s every reason to include reading and studying His Word a habit. Remember, the Bible isn’t some dusty document filled with fables and myths. God personally inspired every single word as His way of revealing Himself to us (2Tim 3:16) in order to perform delicate spiritual surgery on each one of us (Heb 4:12). Luke tells the story of the time the resurrected Jesus traveled incognito with a couple of dudes headed back to Emmaus. In one of the greatest Bible studies the world has ever seen, our Savior walks through the Old Testament and told them how it all points to Christ (Lk 24:27). When He suddenly disappears and they realize just Who was talking to them, they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened the Scriptures?” (Lk 24:32). Maybe every Bible should come with a warning label: Caution! Contents Flammable!

Just like great athletes who prepare themselves to catch fire in crunch time, we can stoke the flames of God’s gift in our lives. We can do that using three key flammable materials. Community. Prayer. Scripture. You’ve seen those boxes that read: “In Case of Fire, Break Glass!” Well, in case of NO fire or LOW fire, bust open these three combustable contents. Before you know it, you’ll be an example of spontaneous spiritual combustion. There’s really nothing like being en fuego for Jesus.

Don't Blow off God's Gift

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you” (1Tim 4:14).

Ever get a present at Christmas that totally underwhelmed you? Come on. Be honest. You know what I’m talking about. You’re hoping to open a box with the hottest toy or gadget but it’s just a three-pack of new underwear from Memaw. Sure, you’re running low on tighty-whities but you really NEED that sweet new Kylo Ren light saber. You immediately toss the undies aside and start ripping into the next package.

We don’t know if Timothy ever got new boxers or briefs, but we do know God gave him a gift. His spiritual mentor Paul encouraged him not to ignore it. “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you” (v14). God had personally picked out the present just for Tim and given it to him. But for whatever reason, he’s apparently ignoring it. The apostle reminds the young pastor not to blow off God’s gift. Unwrap it. Use it. Embrace it. Lean into it. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

Paul has left Tim to oversee the makeover of the Ephesian church while he’s on mission to Macedonia. Kick out the con artists who’ve completely distracted folks from following Jesus with all sorts of teaching that sounds like good stuff but is really not the Good News (1Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3). Find new leaders called overseers and deacons (1Tim 3:1-12). Proclaim God’s grace, explain God’s grace, and apply God’s grace (1Tim 4:6-16).

As the apostle focuses on his protege’s role as teacher and preacher, he encourages him, “Do not neglect the gift you have” (v14). Let’s make no mistake exactly who the gift is from. Flash back to Christmas as a kid one more time. More than once, I tore into a box to get to the present only to have my Mom ask who it was from. Oops. Forgot to look at the little to/from tag. My bad. 

Tim’s gift is from God. God is an overwhelming Giver. It’s just part of who He is. Our entire universe began with His gift of Creation. He gives us life. He gives us breath. He gives us food. He gives us friends and family. But the most incredible gift He gives is Himself. The Father gives us His Son (Jn 3:16). His Son gives us His life for our sin (Mt 20:28). God the Father and God the Son team up to give us God the Spirit to live inside every believer (Jn 14:16-17, 26; 16:-15).

Before you start thinking you’re hot stuff, you better slow your roll. You’re NOT God’s gift. Far from it. You weren’t a five-star, can’t-miss prospect He recruited to His team. He came to our rescue while we were still a sinful hot mess (Rom 5:8). As a matter of fact, Jesus saved you and me a complete gift so that we have no reason to be cocky and talk smack (Eph 2:8-9). God is the Giver. Just check the tag.

Now that we know exactly Who the gift is from and who we are as recipients, Paul tells us, “Do not neglect the gift you have” (v14). “Neglect” is the Greek word ameleo, which means to ignore, disregard, overlook, or be careless with. It literally means to not care. Just about every definition of “neglect” includes the idea of failure. When God gives me a gift, the last thing I should do is NOT not care. Pretty sure that falls into the category of “epic fail.”

Take a look at a couple of uses of this word in the NT. Jesus gives an illustration about inviting friends and family to the wedding event of the year but those on the guest list “paid no attention (Gr. ameleo)” and blew off attending (Mt 22:5). The writer of Hebrews reminds us not to “neglect (Gr. ameleo) such a great salvation” (Heb 2:3) that cost God so much. Just to make sure you’re paying attention here, when God sends out the invitation, open the envelope and RSVP ASAP! Do not pass “Go.” Do not collect $200. Do NOT ignore His goodness. You don’t want to miss out! When He gives us the incredible gift of salvation, open it up and enjoy it! Don’t be the guy who blows off God’s grace!! Seriously. Don’t be that guy.

Meanwhile back in Paul’s letter to Tim, there’s a subtle little something something going on in the grammar that’s easy to miss. The verb here is in the present imperative tense. The imperative part tells me this is a command. Not a suggestion. This isn’t just a good idea. And you can translate the present tense as, “Do not CONTINUE neglecting your gift!” While we don’t know for sure, there’s the chance that Pastor Tim wasn’t exactly embracing and using what God had so graciously given him.

Do you know how God has gifted you? Are you doing anything with it? If we’re a follower of Jesus, He has wired each of us with a unique combo of talents, skills, passions, and spiritual gifts. You have a set unlike anyone else’s. He gave them to us to use every single day. They’re not like the good china that your Mom keeps in the hutch just for special occasions. You’re not showing off when you use them. Keeping these gifts under wraps is NOT humility. It’s actually ingratitude to the One who gave it to you in the first place. Stop continuing to ignore it! Stop repeatedly running away from it! Stop blowing off what He’s given you time after time and day after day. Lean into His gift…today! His present is for the present.

It doesn’t take a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon to figure out that God gifted Tim as a preacher and teacher. In the previous verse, Paul encouraged him to proclaim, explain, and apply the truth of God’s Word (1Tim 4:13). A couple of verses later, the Ephesian young gun is to “keep a close watch on yourself and the teaching” (1Tim 4:16). Just before his execution, Paul wrote to Tim again and encouraged him to stoke the fires of his spiritual gift. “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands” (2Tim 1:6).

What’s your spiritual gift? Do you know? You can’t use it if you don’t know what it is. Check out several of the lists in the NT (Rom 12:6-8; 1Cor 12:8-11, 27-30; Eph 4:11). A couple of things. First of all, the Bible doesn’t list every spiritual gift. Second, there’s a good chance you have more than one. While I have a couple of others, God has graciously given me the spiritual ability to encourage others. I’m continually blown away at how Christ puts me into the position of motivating folks to grow in their relationship with Him. But there’s one little problem. Too often, I forget to do it. Sometimes, I simply don’t want to say or do something. Paul’s words to Tim provide a powerful and convicting command to me. “Do not neglect the gift you have!” (v14). 

So, really, what’s the big hairy deal about not using your gift anyhoo? God gives them to each follower of Jesus to be used, not shoved in the back of the drawer like those PJs Uncle Stanley gave you last Christmas. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” (Rom 12:6). And get this, your gift actually isn’t for you to begin with. It’s for the other folks in the church. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1Cor 12:7). The Holy Spirit drops them in our undeserving laps “for building up” each other (1Cor 14:26). Just to be sure this isn’t some whacky idea Paul cooked up all by himself, check out what Peter has to say about it. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1Pet 4:10).

When we ignore what He’s given to us, folks around us are the ones who are missing out. His gifts to each one of us keep on giving to those around us. Did you realize that we turn a fire extinguisher on the Holy Spirit when we ignore the gifts He’s given? Or as Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1Th 5:19). They are the gifts that keep on giving.

The apostle reminds Tim about the time God’s gift “was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you” (v14). This may conjure up spooky images of some weird ceremony with candles, robes, and a crystal ball. Remember, the church elders aren’t the ones who give spiritual gifts. God is THE Giver. A better understanding of this phrase is probably “given you WITH prophecy” (v14). As Robertson says, Tim’s spiritual gift was accompanied by prophecy, not bestowed by prophecy. Earlier, Paul said he could trust Tim with this important Ephesian assignment because of “the prophecies previously made about you” (1Tim 1:18). 

In other words, God prophetically revealed His gift to Timothy at the same time as “when the council of elders laid their hands on you” (v14). The Lord used someone with the gift of prophecy (Rom 12:6; 1Cor 12:28-29; Eph 4:11) to tip off Tim about his spiritual specialty. John MacArthur teaches that God confirmed Tim’s call to ministry subjectively through his spiritual gift, objectively through the prophecy made about him, and collectively through the affirmation of the elders and the church. 

While God can and will reveal His intentions prophetically outside of Scripture, it will NEVER, EVER contradict what He has prophetically revealed IN Scripture. Test what you think He may have revealed to you prophetically with what you’re certain He revealed in the Bible. Does it line up with His revealed will of His Word? Be VERY, VERY careful when you think you’ve heard a word from God. It could well be last night’s pizza.

The supernatural news of Tim’s spiritual gift happened when “the elders laid their hands on” him (v14). Paul’s describing a ceremony when the church recognizes God has equipped and called someone for ministry. This goes all the way back to the day Moses passed the baton to Joshua. God instructed the Big Mo to “lay your hand on him” and commission Josh in front of all of God’s chosen people (Num 27:18-23; Dt 34:9). 

That ancient Jewish tradition carried over into the days of the early church. When the duties of leadership stretched the apostles too thin, they chose seven servants to assist. “These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:6). The church in Antioch laid hands on Barnabas and Paul before they hit the road (Acts 13:2-3). Laying hands is similar to baptism. It’s an outward demonstration of God’s inward activity in someone’s life. It’s the church’s endorsement. When you lay your hands on someone, you’re pledging to support them. I’ve been on the receiving end a couple of times. It’s an incredibly powerful and humbling moment to your church has your back. And that ceremony provides a vivid reminder of God’s gift to you for ministry.

What’s your spiritual gift? If you’re a follower of Jesus, His Spirit has given you a tailor-made package of supernatural power. Discover what it is. Check the lists in the New Testament mentioned above. Ask your friends, your small group leader, or a pastor. Tell them to be honest with you. There are also a ton of spiritual gift assessments you can find online and in the bookstore. If you have a particular passion for specific area of ministry, give it a try. Take it for a test drive. If that’s not it, try something else. 

Once you figure out what your spiritual gift is, make sure you don’t neglect it. Don’t ignore. Don’t blow it off. God doesn’t need you but your fellow believers do. Your church won’t run on all eight cylinders until you start using your gift. Use it. Lean into it. It’s way better than a light saber. WAY better. And don’t forget to thank Memaw for the underwear. 

Grace Comes Full Circle

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Philippians 4:23).

All great stories finish where they started. The end of the movie or book wraps up with a strong connection to the opening scene. Everything that’s happened to the main character in the beginning has a whole new meaning in light of all that’s occurred. Think about Rosebud in “Citizen Cane”. There’s the box of chocolates in “Forrest Gump”. How about the opening and closing cemetery scenes in “Saving Private Ryan”? 

Our man Paul loves ending his letters in the same place he starts them. Philippians is certainly no exception. Once again, he bookends his note with God’s amazing grace. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (v23). The very last verse mirrors the opening lines. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:3).  Bookends of grace. That only makes sense. God’s glorious Gospel starts with grace and it ends with grace. The apostle wants us to know that Jesus’ grace always comes full circle. What goes around comes around.

Paul kicks off every single letter with greetings of grace. And he ends each one with more of the same. Every. Single. One. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a quick tour just to be sure. 

Romans 1:7 and 16:20. 

1 Corinthians 1:3 and 16:23. 

2 Corinthians 1:2 and 13:14.

Galatians 1:3 and 6:18.

Ephesians 1:2 and 6:24.

Colossians 1:2 and 4:18.

Philippians 1:2 and 4:23.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 5:28.

2 Thessalonians 1:2 and 3:18.

1 Timothy 1:2 and 6:21.

2 Timothy 1:2 and 4:22.

Titus 1:4 and 3:15.

Philemon 3 and 25.

Be sure this is no quick cut-and-paste. The apostle isn’t wasting his time with some generic throw-away filler. One reason is that each and every word of Scripture is inspired by God’s Spirit (2Tim 3:16). Second, you didn’t just swing by Office Max for a pack of the papyrus used by authors like Paul in the first century. He’s not just scribbling randomly. There’s no waste when it comes to grace.

So just what is this grace that he talks so much about? The Greek word is charis, which means undeserved kindness, goodwill, and favor. The best way to try and wrap your brain around it is as a totally unexpected gift. It’s God’s blessing from the blindside. Grace is so surprising because we’re so rebellious. It all started when our first parents fell for the lie of a satanic snake (Gen 3:1-7). We continued our terrorist campaign against God’s kingdom throughout the centuries (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). That’s when the craziest thing happened. Instead of dropping His divine hammer and putting a stop to this ridiculous revolt, He sent His sinless Son to rescue us and bring us into His family (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8). We did nothing to deserve to be saved. As a matter of fact, someone once said the only thing we bring to our salvation is the sin that makes it necessary. A great definition of grace is God’s descending one-way love. 

Yeah, so grace is a big deal. A VERY big deal. Paul wants us to never forget where we would be without God’s overwhelming and undeserved goodness headed in our direction. But notice the subtle difference from the apostle’s grace greeting at the beginning of this letter (and others) with what he writes here at the close. The epistle lifts off with “grace TO you” (Phil 1:2) and lands with “grace…WITH your spirit” (v23). Grace comes TO us. Grace stays WITH us. And that’s EXACTLY how it works in every one of Paul’s letters. Grace TO you. Grace WITH you. Feel free to check those verses I listed above. I’ll wait right here.

The apostle opens each letter by personally delivering the grace of Jesus. Then he signs off reminding us of the overwhelming goodness from God to us in Christ that never ends. Grace TO us. Grace WITH us. It’s this mind-bending benevolence that rescues us in the first place. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Once God overwhelms us with His grace and uses His kindness to turn us back to Him (Rom 2:4), all we do is place our trust in who Jesus is and what He’s done for us. He lived the perfect life of obedience to God’s Law we failed to live. He died the death for our sin we should have died. He rose to new life we don’t deserve. By placing our faith in Jesus, we embrace His grace. 

Christ’s grace is to “be with your spirit” (v23). The Greek word here (Gr. pneuma) basically means breath or wind. Think pneumatic. More specifically, Paul is talking about our very life spirit and the immaterial part of our human personality (Lk 8:55; Acts 18:25; 1Cor 5:3; 2Cor 7:1). Remember that God created us in His image (Gen 2) and He Himself is spirit (Jn 4:24). In a letter to the church in Rome, the apostle says our own soul/spirit connects with the indwelling Spirit of God in such a way that we know without a shadow of a doubt that we’re God’s very own kids (Rom 8:16). In other words, God’s grace goes deep inside us and touches us in a powerful way. Jesus doesn’t apply it topically. Or as the Message so wonderfully crafts this verse, “Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves” (v23 The Message).

Everything starts with grace. It ends with grace. Just like it does in Paul’s letters, God’s goodness bookends our lives. It goes deep into your very soul and impacts every aspect of your life. Because of His grace, I love because I’ve been loved. Because of His grace, I give because I’ve been given. Because of His grace, I serve because I’ve been served. It starts with grace. It ends with grace. Once the goodness of Jesus pours into my life, it has to flow out. You see, grace always comes full circle. What goes around comes around.

The Gift of Suffering

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (Philippians 1:29-30).

I’m not gonna lie. I love getting gifts. Christmas. Birthday. Anniversary. Fathers’ Day. Arbor Day (okay, nobody’s ever given me a present for Arbor Day but a guy can dream, can’t he?). Wrapping paper. Bows. Ribbons. Gift bags. It doesn’t really matter. There’s nothing quite like someone you love going has thought enough of you to bring you something you will like. So it’s really cool that our God is so incredibly generous. He gives and He gives and He gives. He gives us life. He gives us food. He gives us His Son. He gives us a supernatural inheritance that would make Warren Buffett blush. 

But God gives us something else that we’re not so crazy about at first. He gives us the privilege of suffering for the sake of Jesus. Suffering? A gift? At first glance, that’s kinda like opening that three-pack of underwear as your first present on Christmas morning. But Paul tells his friends back in Philippi that this is one of the coolest presents you’ll ever unwrap. They saw him suffer with their own eyes when he first rolled into their town. And now he lets them know Jesus has given him the gift of suffering for his Savior in Rome. 

The apostle starts by reminding his readers of the incredible privilege God has given the followers of Jesus of believing in Him. “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should…believe in Him” (v29). God has given you the gift of trusting in Jesus. This is a big deal. A VERY big deal. The only other option we have to be saved is through perfect obedience. Not only do we have to NOT sin but God’s standard says we must flawlessly follow every one of His rules and commands. And if you’re cocky enough to think that’s a walk in the park like the rich, young hipster (Mt 19:16-20), Jesus’ kid brother makes it clear that if we slip up on one little law, we’ve violated them all (James 2:10). Okay, so option one isn’t really an option for me. 

That’s why God has given me the gift of believing in Jesus. I can place my trust in what He did on my behalf. Christ lived the perfect life that I failed to live. He died the death on the cross for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that I don’t deserve. Jesus does for me what I could never dream of doing for myself. A few hundred years ago, a dude named Martin Luther called this the Great Exchange. We get Christ’s spotless obedience in an incredibly lopsided trade for our sin and rebellion (2Cor 5:21). Here in his letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds us what an incredible gift this is. The man from Tarsus uses the verb form of the noun that translates as grace. Charizomai means to show great favor or extend an overwhelming blessing. God has given us the gift of Jesus (2Cor 9:15). He’s given us the gift of trusting in His Son’s perfect life and substitutionary death. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

Did you ever open one present and then the giver tells you there’s another one that goes along with it? That’s exactly what Paul does here. Not only does God gives us the gift of believing in Jesus but he also gives us the gift to “suffer for His sake” (v29). If you’re like me, you’re checking the tag on the wrapping paper to see if you’ve accidentally opened somebody else’s present. Nope, this one’s for me. Suffering? As a gift? I’m pretty sure I’d rather get a gift card to Target. We might not see it now, but the apostle wants us to know that this is really one of the best things we’ll ever open.

Suffering for placing our trust in Jesus is a huge theme throughout the Bible. Christ Himself made it a key point of His most famous sermon. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt 5:12). James wanted to his Brother’s followers know that God uses hard times to deepen our faith. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-3). The disciple Jesus called Rocky made the connection between our suffering and our Savior’s. “When you do good and suffer for it you endure, that is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps” (1Pet 2:20-21). And later in this same letter, Paul makes it clear that sharing in Jesus’ sufferings is a lock to “attain the resurrection of the dead” (Phil 3:10-11). Suffering for Jesus really is the gift that keeps on giving.

Paul knows from personal experience what a powerful present suffering really is. Let’s just say he wouldn’t give his first trip to Philippi five stars. In Acts, the apostle’s traveling companion Dr. Luke goes into detail about those crazy days in Macedonia (Acts 16:12-40). When God used Paul to not only free a young woman from human trafficking and shut down a profitable (and “prophet-able”) business, a riot broke out like something we’ve seen in Ferguson and Baltimore. Local merchants charged Paul and his posse with disturbing the peace and practicing weird religious customs. They publicly flog the apostle and his sidekick Silas and throw them in the slammer. God used an earthquake to open the cell doors and unlock their restraints. But the Lord opened more than the jail doors. He also threw open the warden’s heart and gave him and his entire family the gift of knowing Jesus. The Philippians were eyewitnesses to Paul’s suffering. He reminds them that “the same conflict that you saw I had” is happening again in Rome (v30). 

Two thousand years later, this is a reminder that Jesus won’t waste one ounce of your suffering for placing your trust in Him. He won’t drop one drip of your tears. Now let’s be clear about what it means to suffer for our Savior. We’re not talking about enduring the pain of first world problems. You’re not suffering for your faith when your wifi goes on the fritz. It doesn’t mean getting pulled over for speeding when you’re late for work. We suffer for Jesus when we face opposition for our faith. Chances are ISIS won’t be rolling into the ‘burbs anytime soon. But in 21st century America, following Jesus isn’t exactly what all the cool kids are doing. If and when your beliefs become somebody’s punchline on Facebook, that’s the perfect time to love them unconditionally. That’s the gift Somebody gave you.

Don't Fast Forward

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v2).

I have this bad habit of blowing past the beginning of books and movies. I want to get to the good stuff. I flip past the boring stuff like preface and introduction when I open a book. I fast forward a film until the action really starts. Come on, you do it too, don’t you? Well, maybe you’re a better person than me. Guess what happens when I skip ahead. I miss stuff. Important stuff. Key stuff.

It’s the same when I read the Bible. A letter like Philippians is juicy and joyful. But those opening verses seem like the same old boring blah, blah, blah. I need to pump my brakes and realize this isn’t perfunctory fine print. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v2). Paul’s opening words here are actually the headline (Hmm, I wonder if he considered using a bigger font). Grace. Peace. From our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus. To you. To me. This isn’t just the big idea in his letter. It’s the big idea of the Gospel. Blah, blah, blah? I say, “NO! NO! NO!”

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v2). Do Paul’s words look familiar? If you’ve read any of the apostle’s other letters, it should. He uses this very same greeting to kick off every one of his letters. He uses the exact same word-for-word blessing seven times (Rom 1:7; 1Cor 1:3; 2Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; 2Th 1:2; Phm 3). And he only changes it up slightly in his other five notes (Col 1:2; 1Th 1:1; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4). Paul doesn’t repeat line this as some sort of biblical filler. Writing materials are at a premium in the first century. It’s not like you could swing by Walmart or Office Max for more another ream of paper when you got low. You only wrote down what was essential. The apostle put this greeting in every letter because it’s urgent. It’s the heart of God’s Good News through Jesus. Grace. Peace. It doesn’t get more important than that!

Paul writes to his friends back in Philippi as a prisoner in Rome. Not exactly the kind of situation that would inspire many of us to wax eloquently about God’s grace and peace. The dude has been in a series of jails for FOUR YEARS! He’s now in Rome waiting for Caesar to hear his appeal. I don’t know about you, but I’d be cranky on my good days if that were me. But not our man Paul. The former Pharisee has so much to be thankful for. Just a few years back, folks knew him as Saul of Tarsus. One of the best and brightest. An real up-and-comer in Judaism. Saul was so dedicated to his religion that he personally led a black ops team that traveled from city to city killing the followers of Jesus and hauling others off to jail (Acts 8:3; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6; 1Tim 1:13). This rascal was so ruthless that he applauded from the coat check table at Stephen’s murder (Acts 7:58; 8:1). 

But a funny thing happened to this cold-blooded killer while he was on his way to take out another pocket of Christ followers in Damascus. The resurrected Jesus blindsides Saul and knocks him off his horse. In one of the most ridiculous turnarounds in history, our Savior transforms this murderer into a missionary (Acts 9:1-19). He takes His number one enemy and makes him His top spokesman. I’m not sure what you’ve left off your resume and hidden in your closet, but it’s nothing compared to Paul. He knows Jesus’ grace personally. He knows His peace firsthand. That’s why he puts at the top of the page in every letter he writes.

The apostle passes along Jesus’ “grace to you” (v2). Grace. There’s not a word that better sums up Jesus’ incredibly Good News to us. This is the Greek word charis, which describes an undeserved and overly generous gift. Paul’s trying to get across God’s overflowing goodness, His lovingkindness, His delight, His kindness, and His generosity. Tullian Tchividjian calls it “God’s descending one-way love.” The man from Tarsus wraps this little letter in an envelope of grace. Before he sends this note to his Philippian friends, he signs off with “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you in spirit” (Phil 4:23). It starts with grace. It ends with grace. Hmm, that kinda sounds like the Gospel in nutshell!

Paul also passes along God’s “peace” (v2). This isn’t just a lack of war or fighting. He’s talking about a state of harmony, safety, security, without fear. It’s the OT idea of shalom. This is the perfect rhythm of life. Everything working and moving together as God originally designed it. Well, at least that’s the way it was until we broke it. This peace also paints the picture of no fear of God’s judgment. Without Jesus, we’re rebels against God’s kingdom. Terrorists. Enemies of God (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). We deserve His wrath. We deserve His judgment. We serve the all-out assault of His shock and awe. Instead of wiping us off the face of the planet, Jesus overwhelms us with His grace and peace. Just before His own crucifixion, Christ wished God’s peace on His posse (Jn 14:27). 

I’ve learned my lesson. Don’t blow past the beginning. Don’t skip ahead. Don’t hit that fast forward button. This is the good stuff. This is the best stuff. Jesus’ grace. Jesus’  peace. If anything, why don’t you hit rewind and watch it again. And again. And again.

Driven by Prophets

Corporations and their stockholders keep their eyes on the bottom line. They care about one thing. Making money. They are driven by profits. God’s people should keep their eyes on the REAL bottom line. Obeying and glorifying God. We should be listening for God’s voice through His handpicked spokespersons. This has nothing to do with piling up cash. Instead, we should driven by prophets. That’s what’s going on here as Ezra describes the situation in Jerusalem. God’s people have returned from 70 years of slavery to rebuild the temple (Ez 2:1). The local yokels freak out when the Israelites throw a huge party to celebrate the reconstruction project (Ez 3:10-13). The Samaritans sabotage the restoration of the house of the LORD for 16 years. That’s when God speaks through both Haggai and Zechariah (Ez 5:1). Yahweh uses this prophetic pair to jumpstart construction “until the second year of Darius king of Persia” (Ez 4:24). After taking a 16-year break, the Israelites are back on the job site. That’s because God’s people were driven by prophets.

The LORD lights a fire under the Jews through Haggai and Zechariah. This has to be a huge relief to Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the leaders of the return and reconstruction. As the governor and chief priest (Ez 3:2, 8), they must have been completely frustrated by shallow commitment of God’s people. They’ve tossed their tools away after the Samaritans used every trick in the book to discourage the Israelites from completing their work (Ez 4:4-5). Zerubbabel and Jeshua had to feel like they were pushing rope to get folks back on the job. It isn’t until God speaks to His people through Haggai and Zechariah that construction starts humming again. Ezra lets us know how the Jews “began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them” (Ez 5:2). So what exactly did this dynamic duo have to say? You can read it for yourself in the OT books bearing their names (Hag 1:4-11; Zech 1:1-6). 

There was just one little problem. Some of the leaders of the neighboring nations have their doubts about whether this reconstruction project was legal. Men named Tattenai and Shetharbozenai check in with the project managers and want to see all the permits (Ez 5:3). They not only want to see all the proper paperwork but demand a list of every craftsman swinging a hammer on the temple mount (Ez 5:4). Most Bible scholars believe these dudes weren’t as malicious as the first set of Samaritans 16 years ago. Tattenai and Shetharbozenai simply want to make sure things are on the up and up with the home office in Persia. In the following verses, Ezra cuts and pastes the contents of the letter to King Darius checking to see if he gave his royal thumbs up to this joint (Ez 5:6-17). Think of one of your neighbors dropping an email the HOA board to see if they’ve approved your new sun room.

While the historical context is important, the bigger point here is the role of the prophet as God’s personal mouthpiece. All throughout the Old Testament, Yahweh selects a series of prophets to communicate His truth to both His people and their leaders. The list of prophets includes many of the Bible’s heavy hitters. Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Elijah, Elisha, Obadiah, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Habbakkuk, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Haggai. These cats are either major characters in the OT narrative or have entire books named for their prophetic work. Yeah, they’re kind of a big deal. 

After God pressed the divine mute button for 400 years, we hear from John the Dunker (Mt 3:1-4). The Apostle Paul confirms that prophecy is included in the spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6). Prophets play an important role in “to the people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1Cor 14:3-4). Some believe that this is one of the gifts that disappeared after God finished delivering His Word in the form of Scripture. I have to say that I’m not nearly biblically nimble enough to make that argument. One thing is for sure. IF God still gifts people as His prophets today, everything they say must be tested against the Bible. God will not contradict Himself. He. Will. Not. 

And every prophet just points us the THE Prophet, Jesus Christ. Moses personally predicted that “God will raise up for you a prophet like me” from His chosen people (Dt 18:15). In one of the first sermons ever preached in Jerusalem Community Church, the Apostle Peter said Jesus fulfilled the Mighty Mo’s prophecy (Acts 3:22-23). Even the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth saw Himself as a prophet (Mt 13:57; Lk 13:33). Over and over, Christ announced that He was simply passing along what His Dad wanted Him to say (Jn 7:16; 12:49). If you’re not sure of there’s a lower-case “p” prophet in your church, you can always be sure the the capital “P” Prophet is always in attendance. After all, it is His church!

Five hundred years before Jesus, God used the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to get His people back on track and back to work. He used prophets all throughout history to speak truth. They encouraged. They challenged. Sometimes people listened. Sometimes they didn’t. He continued to use prophets like John the Dunker in the New Testament. You can include John the Apostle on that prophetic list. If the book of Revelation isn’t prophecy, I’m not sure what is. God’s Spirit continues to gifts people to be prophets. But each and every one of these shine their prophetic light on THE Prophet, Jesus Christ. For tax purposes, the church is a non-profit organization. For ministry purposes, God’s people should be driven by prophets. But only when those prophets are driven by God.

The Perfect Gift

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and goodness” (v3).

Do you know somebody who always rocks it when it comes to gift giving? My daughter-in-law Martha is a superstar when she gives presents. Whether it Christmas or birthdays, everyone stops to see what’s about to go down when you read the tag that says “from Martha.” She consistently gives a present that drops your jaw. It’s not only something you want, the gift is incredibly well researched. It’s not so much the cost or quality of what she gives, it’s that she knows EXACTLY what you like and delivers.

She’s good but she’s not God. You see, God is a giver. No, let me restate that. He is THE Giver. It’s just part of who He is. He gives and He gives and He gives and He gives. Everything we have is because of the overflowing goodness of His heart. He gives us life. He gives us food. He gives us His Son. He gives us His Spirit. Pete lets us know that God has done it again. He gives and He just keeps on giving. The apostle uses a verb here (Gr. doreomai) that emphasizing gift giving or the granting of a request. Jesus doesn’t simply toss us a few cheap goodies from the dollar store. He gives lavishly. Over the top. He’s a major league Giver. When it comes to sharing and giving, He’s a hall of famer. His grace is big time. 

Peter describes the source of Jesus’ gift to us. It’s “His divine power.” And if you’re wondering just who the “His” is, that would be the resurrected Rabbi from Nazareth. Yup, Jesus. Second Person of the Godhead. There’s no greater energy generator in the universe than God Himself. Compared to God’s supernatural power, coal-fired power plants are Bic lighters. Nuke reactors are nine volt batteries. When the source of Jesus’ gift is straight out of His power, you might want to step back just a bit. Think about that for a moment. He’s plugged you and me into the most explosive and limitless force that ever has or will exist. Consider the power at your fingertips. It’s divine power. Supernatural power. We’re talking Jesus’ power. Superman had “powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.” Forget that comic book stuff. That’s small potatoes compared to the divine power He’s handed His followers. My knees knock when I try to wrap my brain around that idea. See, I told you this is an awesome gift. I said He is a big time Giver.

So you might wonder why Christ has graciously given us such mind-blowing power. According to Pete, it’s for “life and godliness” (v3). Jesus didn't just save us (as if that isn’t enough!). He gives us life. And He gives us the power to live it. First of all, He presents us with “life” (Gr. zoe). Jesus not only is the Source of life but the Source of eternal life. Pete’s pal John wrote tons about Christ being the ultimate life source (Jn 3:36; 1Jn 5:12). Jesus Himself said that He’s the not only the sole Source of all life, but the life He gives is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. “I came that they may have life (Gr. zoe) and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). Abundant life. Overflowing life. Legit life. In other words, Christ gives us supernatural life that starts NOW! This isn’t some over-the-top benefits package for the sweet by and by. He gives us His eternal life in this life.

And if that’s not enough, Jesus gives us the power and strength to live that life right here and right now. Pete calls this “godliness.” This is the Greek word eusebeia, a compound word that literally means “good (eu-) worship (-sebeia).” It’s a particular manner of life characterized by reverence for God. A life marked by actions reflecting correct beliefs and attitudes toward God. The apostle drops this term four times in his second letter. Pete includes this in his list of qualities that deepen our relationship with Jesus (1:6-7). Later he tells us that our lives should be marked with “holiness and godliness (Gr. eusebeia)” as we wait in expectation for the Lord’s encore (3:11). 

The leader of the Twelve wants his readers to know that worship is so much more than singing a few songs during a service. Is that worship? Absolutely. But only a sliver. It’s SO much more than that. Good worship is life focused on Jesus and His Gospel. Legit worship is life lived in gratitude and thankfulness for who Christ is and what He’s done. True worship is life that drips with the grace and love of Jesus. And our Savior has given us His supernatural power to do that right now.

Peter then goes on to tell us why this Christ has given such an incredible and powerful gift. It’s so that we can have “knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (v3). In other words, He does this so we can know Him better. So we can know Him more intimately. So we can deepen our relationship with Him. Check out the Message on this verse. “Everything that goes into life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God” (v3 The Message). He’s done all of this so that we could have a deep and personal friendship with Him. Do you want to really know Him and not just facts about Him? Dive into the deep end of the pool of life. Trust in Him to be the Source of everything you need to follow and obey Him. 

Don’t think you have the power to do what He says? Well, you don’t. And neither do I. Not in our own strength. But He’s hooked us up to His power. His divine power. This is the same power that created the universe from nothing. I’m pretty sure that we can handle anything that life can throw at us today. 

Finally, the former commercial fisherman writes that Jesus does all of this for “His own glory and excellence” (v3). We’re blessed beyond belief that what is over-the-top for our good is for His glory. Ultimately, everything God does is to make sure everyone knows He’s the most magnificent Being of all time. This isn’t some supernatural ego trip. It’s not wrong when He’s the only one who deserves the applause. For God to deny the spotlight would be wrong. Everything He does is for His glory. And that includes graciously giving us unlimited access to His power for life in His name right here and right now.

So, I’m sure you’ve gotten some great gifts in your life. And I figure you’ve given a few as well. But that’s minor league stuff when it comes to what Jesus has given and continues to give. Divine power. Life and godliness. A deep and intimate relationship with God. See, I told you He’s a hall of fame Giver. His grace is big time.