Examining Christ with all our senses...

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
As John begins his letter, he invites us to join him in the examination room, as if we were a medical examiner or other professional.  To do our job well, we must engage every facility.  Looking is very important, and John will use more than one term to refer to that.  But for us in our society, we wrongly equate seeing and believing, and there is much more than meets the eye.  Our seeing must include the microscope to look more closely, and we need to learn to listen to the patient, or to the one who has been with the patient or victim to describe what they were experiencing.  And we must handle the evidence - not just look at it.  How closely have you looked at all the evidence of Who Christ is?  How engaged have you been in the examining room with those who know Him well?  There is a story to hear, to see, to touch, and to become a part of.  That is doing church.

Powerful speech, more powerful silence...

James 1:19-21 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 
We see it every day - emotions vented on social media.  That's what it's for, right?  Social media is a very powerful tool - for good, and evil.  We find it easier to write things than to call people up and say them.  We are free to express ourselves... or is it a bondage?   Words that hurt, words that divide, words that cannot be taken back.  James is used by God to tell us that many of our words need to be viewed for what they really are - moral filth - sinful slime shooting out from our sinful hearts - selfish and self-righteous reactions to life and those we are supposed to love.  May there be less speech, more thoughtful speech, silence first, then something said that really matters.

True Holiness

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

(Revelation 2:1-5 ESV)
As Christ addressed the seven churches - true historical churches, but also churches like them throughout history, and those of us who are a part of them, His first concern is not so much what we do, but what our relationship with Him is.  Do we have that passionate love.  He asks us, like Peter at the sea: "Do you love me?"  We can be doing all the right things, and abhoring all the wrong things, without loving Christ.  May we sing from our hearts today that last verse of "Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart":
Teach me to love you as your angels love, 
one holy passion filling all my frame: 
the fullness of the heaven-descended Dove; 
my heart an altar, and your love the flame. 

Worshipping and waiting...

Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “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.” 
The disciples went to Galilee, just as Jesus had instructed.  They all knew it the appropriate response was to worship Him, even though they still did not have everything figured out.  Then they waited: "what are we here for?  What instructions will He give us?"  I'm pretty sure Jesus said much more, but Matthew summarizes: make more followers - go and tell them, depending on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you.  May we worship the risen Christ as well, without the waiting.  His call to us  is the same - go and tell.

When we truly understand...

Luke 24:45-49 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 
Seeing is not believing.  Even when the disciples saw the risen Christ - at least three times, they still did not have it all put together. Christ had to open their hearts and minds to what it all meant, and what He then expected from them, and from us.  The message of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ must be proclaimed.  Implied in the action is our reaction.  Go and tell.  Provided with this expectation is the provision of the Holy Spirit to embolden and guide us in our telling.

How Rumors start...

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” (John 21:20-23 ESV)
Peter was having a discussion with Jesus - pointed to him, but overheard by the others. Then the old telephone game began: as the story was passed from one to another it became a little bit twisted.  But that is not the core issue here; the main point is that Peter was not to compare his ministry to that of others.  Peter and John, though often close together, would not always be able to stay with each other.  Christ had different goals and places for them.  They would share much during the opening days of the church, but where they would go and what they would experience would be very different. We are all called to do different things, and that does not mean we will be weird or different in a bad way, but that God is sovereign and creative and wanting to use us in His way for His glory.

Following the shepherd...

John 21:15-19 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 
Peter had to be almost fearfully awaiting this moment - their first conversation about his failure to follow Jesus as he had promised the night Christ was betrayed.  But Jesus wanted to make it very clear what He meant when He pressed Peter on his allegiance.  He was not asking him to pull out his sword and conquer the world for Chist.  He was not asking Peter to join Him as He ascended to heaven. He was asking Him to look at people the way He does - as sheep needing a shepherd, and to lovingly lead them to His fold, to the place of spiritual safety and pasture.  It was quite a change from "the son of thunder" who wanted to call down fire on unbelievers.  That fire of judgment will come on all who fail to respond in faith.  Our call is to compel them to instead come to faith in Christ and be saved.  Let us follow and look for more followers.