God's High and Deep Love

As I was preparing the worship service for this coming Sunday morning, I've been drawn to two specific passages of Scripture that are just incredible. Let me include them here:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:17-19)

Both of these passages speak to the love of God. The first passage reminds us of the inseparable union of God's love with the believer. The second passage reminds us of the immeasurable nature of God's love for the believer.

As I meditated upon these two verses, I was drawn to the two similar phrases which I italicized above - height nor depth/high and deep. When I think about these words, the first things that come to my mind are sky and sea. When I examined the meaning of the words in the original Greek language, I wasn't far off.

God's love is deeper than the deepest part of the sea. If I took a submarine to the bottom of the ocean, I couldn't escape the grasp His love has upon me; I can never be separated from it. This is an incredible truth that gives strength to my present and hope for my tomorrow.

I enjoy looking at the stars at night. Astronomers tell us that the Whirlpool galaxy is 31 million light years away. I can't even begin to comprehend that. Yet, if I was somehow able to travel out to this galaxy, I would find that God's love is present with me for even the highest of heights cannot separate me from His love. I would also discover that God's love is all around me for it is as vast as the heavenly expanse.

Here's another incredible fact. If I traveled out to the Whirlpool Galaxy and saw the nucleus, I would discover that God's love is also displayed. Take a look at this picture of the nucleus of the Whirlpool Galaxy to see what I'm talking about.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)

Worship - An Act of Grace

Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, writer, and existentialist of the early to mid 19th century. He was a critic of the state church of Denmark arguing that the marriage of the state with the church brought secularism and politics into the church thus making Christianity an empty religion throughout the country. He believed that the institutional church made lazy and apathetic Christians. Much of his writing in his latter years was dedicated to awakening Christians to the need for total abandonment and commitment in their faith.

One notableble contribution of Kierkegaard was his idea of worship as drama. In drama there are three distinct parts: actors, prompters, and audience. He said that worship is much like a drama with these three parts. Too often the worship leaders were the actors, God was the prompter, and the congregation was the audience. He argued that there should be a redefining of roles to which the worship leaders become the prompters, the congregation becomes the actors, and God becomes the audience.

There is much truth to this idea. Often in our churches today, the congestionion is simply an audience coming to sit and receive or even more sadly to be entertained by the professional worship leaders and pastors who have a special instructional relationship with God. Thus, the congregation can sit idly and watch the religious performers do their thing.

In true worship, the worship leaders and pastors should simply be the prompters of worship while the congregation is the major participant of worship for the audience of one - God.

I agree with this idea whole-heartily and see my role as a worship leader as both a prompter of worship, but more importantly a participant of worship with the congregation. Yet, as I've thought about worship more and more, I've begun to see worship as drama a little differently.

Worship is sometimes defined as ascribing worth to God or "worthship." I believe that worship is nothing more than our response to who God is and what He has done. God is a holy and so I respond with bowing and confession. God is merciful and gracious so I respond with humbleness and thanksgiving. God is loving so I respond with joy and adoration. God is great and awesome so I respond with fear and reverence. God is victorious so I respond with shouts and celebration. Jesus died upon a cross so I respond with tearful repentance. Jesus rose from the dead so I respond with triumphant praise. Jesus sits enthroned in majesty so I cast my crowns before Him. Jesus has been given the name above all names so I bow to my knees in humble confession of His lordship.

I could go on and on. We respond to His name, His character, His works, His will, ... His all. Therefore, the more I know and experience Him, the more I worship Him. So if worship is my response to who God is and what He has done, then God takes the initiative. God reveals Himself and I respond in worship. God reveals Himself through His Word, through prayer, and through His sovereign guidance in circumstances and then I praise, adore, give thanks, confess, and more. Therefore, God is not only the audience, He is also the prompter of my worship.

As I consider my role in worship, I realize that in my weakness, I cannot engage in the act of worship without His participation. In his letter to the Romans, Paul expressed this dilemma in reference to prayer. He said that in our weakness, we don't know what to pray for. Yet the Spirit of God, who lives in us (1 Cor. 6:19), helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. The Holy Spirit prays for us in accordance with God's will (Rom. 8:26-27). Without the Spirit of God living and working in my life, my prayers and my worship are centered upon me. My prayers become focused upon my wants and my will as opposed to God's desires and will. My worship becomes focused upon my likes and preferences as opposed to God's character and glory. Therefore, God is not only the audience and prompter, He is also the actor.

So if God is the audience, the prompter, and the actor in worship, where do I fit in? The answer is grace alone. My position as a worshiper is an act of God's saving grace. My participation as a worshiper is an act of God's empowering grace. So, let me bring all of this together in the following definition of worship: worship is ascribing worth to God by grace in response to who He is and what He has done.

Worship is

ascribing worth to God

by grace

in response to

who He is and

what He has done.

All Nations in Ceaseless Worship

I've been on vacation this past week visiting my family in Texas. I had a great time hanging with the family, going to the beach, tubing on the river, finding a few caches, and eating Mom's cooking. I didn't get the chance to post while I was away, but I did get to do quite a bit of reading in preparation for my two seminary classes which started last week - missiology & church history.

One of the textbooks for the missiology class is Perspectives on the World Christian Movement edited by Ralph Winter & Steven Hawthorne. I had the privilege of taking this course in the mid 90s and it did what the titles says - changed my perspective of missions. Let me share a couple of thoughts that I've been reminded of while reading a couple of the articles in the book.

What we call the Great Commission says,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

This passage contains rich applications for the Church and for all believers. I want to focus today upon the first part of verse 19 which says, "go and make disciples of all nations." The words "all nations" come from the Greek words panta ta ethne.

When we first hear the word "nations" what often comes to mind is a political, geographical, or religious grouping such as the United Nations, the nation of India, or the Islamic nations. Yet that is not the use of these words found in Matthew 29:19.

Panta simply means "all," "every," or "whole." Ta is the word for "the." Ethne is the plural form of ethno which means an "ethnic group" or "a people with a unifying ethnic identity." Thus the phrase could say, "go and make disciples of all the ethnic people groups."

I was brought up being taught that the Great Commission was God's call for me to be a witness for the lost. It was God's commission upon my life to evangelize those who do not know Christ and to make them disciples of Christ by the grace of God. I saw this as my task both locally and globally but specifically with the individual in mind. By making local disciples who made disciples, it would become a discipleship process that eventually became global in scope.

I believe that this can be an application of this passage although it is not at the foundation of its meaning. In the NT, the singular ethnos never refers to individuals; it always refers to a people group or nation. The plural form ethne can refer to either individuals or people groups. Of the 18 times the plural form is used, only once must it refer to individuals (Matt. 25:32) Nine others demand the people group definition based upon context or connection with the OT (Mark 11:17, Luke 21:24, Acts 2:5, 10:35, 15:17, 17:26, Gal. 3:8, Rev. 12:5, 15:4). The remaining eight could go either way (Matt. 24:9, 24:14, 28:19, Luke 12:30, 24:47, Acts 14:16, Rom. 1:5, 2 Tim. 4:17). Further, almost all of the 100 or so uses of panta ta ethne in the Greek Old Testament refer to nations when not talking about the nation of Israel.

I like the way John Piper put it in his book Let the Nations Be Glad:

In all likelihood Jesus did not send His apostles out with a general mission merely to win as many individuals as they could, but rather to reach all the peoples of the world and thus to gather the "sons of God" which are scattered (John 11:52), and to call all the "ransomed from every tongue and tribe and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9), until redeemed persons from "all the peoples praise Him" (Rom. 15:11).

Heaven will not just be about individuals worshipping God, but rather about people groups or nations worshipping God. The nations will bring their splendor, and honor, and glory before Almighty God in holy, new-song worship (Rev. 21:24-26).

Therefore, I will pray for the nations or people groups of the world. I will send and I will go to the nations or people groups of the world. Why? Because God desires worship for every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. God not only wants my ceaseless worship, He wants all nations in ceaseless worship.

Things Above

In my last post, I reflected upon the passage in Colossians that admonishes us to set our minds on things above or to become kingdom minded. Our kingdom mindedness results from our position with Christ. By God's grace, we are hidden with Christ in God.

The next question is, "What are the things above that I set my mind to?" Chapter 3 of Colossians goes on to outline earthly things such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying (Colossians 3:5-9). In his letter to the Galatians, Paul decribes the fruit of flesh:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21)

The obvious answer to the question is that we are to set our minds upon the opposite of these things. Paul goes on to tell us that we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, forebearance, and forgiveness (Colossians 3:12-14). He tells us that a life lived in submission to the Spirit bears the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

In his concluding exhortation to the Philippian church, Paul writes:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praisworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Wow, you put all of these together and you have quite a list. My mind is to be set, focused, and consumed with these things. Yet, how in my own strength am I supposed to fix my mind on these things? Without the guiding hand of God, how do I even know what is true? Without the grace of God, how do I discern what is lovely? Without the Prince of Peace intervening, how does peace consume my thoughts and actions? I don't, I can't, and it doesn't!

For you see, Christ is the very being and definition of all things above. The things that are true - Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). The things that are noble or honoring - Christ alone is crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:7-9). Things that are righteous - Christ has become our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Things that are pure - Jesus is the purest of sacrifices (Hebrews 7:26-27). The same is true with the fruit of the Spirit. God is that fruit. To bear the fruit of the Spirit is to blossom with the very nature of God.

I keep coming back to the same place as I rest in these passages and others - to truly live, I must die. For in dying, Christ flows and pours forth in my living. My thoughts, my emotions, my words, my actions, and my all, brilliantly reveal the things above which are ultimately my God and my Savior.

Father, I am humbled as I bow at the foot of the cross realizing my position in Christ through His death and resurrection. By Your grace and mercy, I have been crucified with Him. Now, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me so that I may now live for Him and for Your glory. May You alone receive ceaseless worship.

Kingdom Minded

The letter to the Colossians was written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He had never visited Colossae and was not relationally connected to the church there outside of a few friends. The church most likely reflected the diversity of the city with a mix of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, Roman influence, and Oriental mysticism. As the church experienced trouble, Paul wrote this letter of admonition and encouragement. His focus was the centrality of Christ.

One of the beautiful passages in the letter is found in chapter 3.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3)

I also like the way THE MESSAGE puts it.

"Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from His perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life."(Colossians 3:2-3)

Our minds are to be affixed, affectioned, and absorbed in kingdom things not earthly things. We are to be so kingdom focused that our thoughts reflect the heart of Christ. Through the miraculous act of grace, we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). As we daily die to self, we live in Christ; we are hidden with Him.

As I studied a little deeper into the word "hidden," I found some great food to chew on. The word comes from a Greek word krupto from which we get our English word "crypt." A crypt is an underground burial vault or chamber that is usually concealed, hidden, and secret. Another associated word is encryption which is a message hidden within a message.

When I think of a crypt, I picture a team of adventurers digging around in Egypt looking for mummies. They make their way to a large underground room and then search for the hidden crypt that has to be right before their eyes. What usually happens is someone accidentally pushes a stone or wall ornament which triggers a wall to swing open revealing the crypt. The crypt was there the whole time, it was simply behind the wall. With encryption, the hidden code is there in the message, it's just hidden within the words. Though a person may know there is a crypt in the room or a code in the message, all the person can see in the room or the message.

So it is when we are hidden in Christ. We died to ourselves and Christ now controls us. We are clothed with Him (Galatians 3:26-27). As we are yielded fully to the Spirit of God, people don't see us anymore - they see Christ.

Therefore, through daily dying I am concealed in Christ and kingdom minded.

Father, for the glory of Your name, may those who look at me, see Christ alone.

Weeping for the Lost

Another book that I am reading is called Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer & David Putman. The book challenges churches to engage their local communities as missionaries do in foreign countries. A couple of statements in the book have really challenged me and revealed a heart this is overlooking my Jerusalem. Before I share the statements, let me lead up to them.

Our church has recently adopted an unreached people group in India called the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond. Through past ministry opportunities, I've been involved with this people group for about a decade. I've had the privilege of praying for these people and even walking among them on several mission trips, the most recent being this past April.


During our time with the Kuvi/Dongaria Khond (DK) this past spring, our team had a once in a lifetime experience. To our knowledge, there was only one Christian convert among the DK when we made our trip. We had the opportunity of spending quite a bit of time with this enthusiastic and energetic 19 year old boy. We spent three days living in various DK villages. One evening, the entire village gathered with us for a time of singing, dancing, and sharing. After an hour or so of music and dance, the village chief asked to hear about the God of creation. This new convert stood before the village and shared the gospel. My eyes filled with tears as I watched this young man pour his heart out longing to see his people come to faith in Christ. To see the fruit of years of prayer and ministry was absolutely overwhelming. (By the way, since our trip, there are now seven more converts.)

Backing up to the first day after entering India, we met up with an IMB missionary serving in the north working among the Napalese. We asked him to share with us about his ministry and how we could pray for him. As he shared about the Napalese, big tears ran down his cheeks reflecting his deep love for and passion to reach these people.

Now to the statements from the book that have shaken my heart.

The key to breaking the code of a community is to have the heart of the Father for that community. The only way to do that is by spending serious amounts of time with the one who loved Jerusalem deeply enough to weep over it. We must have that same weeping spirit for the lost of our own glocal communities.

Missionaries have know this for centuries: To reach a tribe we must first have a call to reach them, and then have a love for the people. We need to receive God's call and have a love for that group.

I can tell you my heart is tender toward the Kuvi/DK. I have wept for them and I'm not a crier. Yet, when I look at my heart in relation to the lost in my community, the passion meter is barely registering. Sure, I've taken opportunities to share about Christ to the lost, I've ministered to those in need, and I've actively sought out my neighbors to build relationship with them in the hope of leading them to Christ. Yet, my heart doesn't break over the lostness of my community; my eyes don't fill with tears before the Lord as I pray for my community. I care for the lost of my community, but I don't weep for them as Jesus did for Jerusalem. (Luke 19:41)

I'm grateful that the Lord brought this book across my path. Now, by God's grace, I long to see my community with the same eyes I see the Kuvi/DK with.

Father, forgive me for my shortsightedness and sinfulness. Forgive me for my lack of concern for the lost of my community. By Your grace and mercy, ignite a flame in my heart for those around me that need to experience life with Christ. Impassion me with a longing to gather the lost of my community as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. (Matthew 23:37) Then let me respond to every opportunity that You bring my way by sharing and showing the love of Christ. Let Your word in my heart be like a fire that cannot be held in. (Jeremiah 20:9)