Captured

A very smart person once talked of a messiah crucified. Huh? Another time, the smartest man to ever live once told a grown man to be born again. Yeah... I got you bro?? Many scriptures that make up the Bible and outline the Christian faith seem to make us scratch our head more than give us clear insight. It is in this area of thought that we find our reason to be completely inadequate. If we can bring ourselves to a place of understanding that we cannot understand we will start to understand...(I know I would be asking a lot of you to still be with me but please read on...)

Just kidding... I am here.

During worship, I sometimes tend to not sing and just reflect on the words in the songs that we are offering to God in worship and in praise. Sort of praying the lyrics silently, going to a place where me and God are alone and I can give him the worship and praise personally. I will draw a picture or create a scene that will accurately portray the meaning of the words and phrases of the songs; that is where me and God meet.

I was recently in a worship service. One of the songs we were singing talked of being "captured by grace". Here is the deal... That doesn't make sense! Listen (or read) for a second. Think about the word capture. In my experience of hunting, the captured animal does not want to be captured. How about a prisoner of war? I am pretty sure the soldier did not intend on being captured. Most of the time, to be captured would indicate that the thing to be captured would have been running from the thing that captured it. Why would we run from grace?

Typically you don't run from a better situation. If a million dollars were chasing you down the street, then once you figured out you could keep it, you would probably stop running. Another part of the song that was influencing the created meeting location for God and I was the word and thought of being rescued.

I was in the woods. (I like to hike and have had the feeling of being lost; not fun) I was now running swiftly, in no particular direction and that feeling of being lost and chased where making my heart pound more than usual. Suddenly, all the horrible feelings of never being found was lifted from my heart as it's beating calmed to a resting rate. I realized then, I was no longer lost. I was also no longer being chased. I immediately knew where I was. Confident that it was the right place. I was captured by Grace. Hey, that rhymed.

Some things we cannot understand. Us running from a God that is simply trying to love us... we cannot understand.

God is chasing you. Why run? Why remain lost? Be found. Be captured by Grace.

Define

This is the introduction to a message series I am preparing called Define:Reestablishing definitions of Christian life. I hope you enjoy it.

Def-i-ni-tion: (noun)
1. The formal statement of the meaning of a word or phrase.
2. To make definite, distinct, or clearly outlined.

Every day we use words coupled together to communicate thoughts with others, creating conversation. We subconsciously use these words without the need of thinking of the definitions of each word used. There is no need because we know it.

What about defining ourselves? Why is it so hard to define who we are or what we believe in? Just like at the very core of our conversations lie the definitions of the words used, our lives too have definition. How then do we not have definite, distinct, or clearly outlined lives? Have we forgotten the definition of our lives?

Jesus came with clear instruction. He knew the definition of his life and in turn gave us the definition for our lives. Throughout scripture God reveals to us instruction and gives us the means in which to never forget our life's definition. Jesus was able to sum up our definition when some religious leaders tried to catch Jesus in a mistake. The greatest commandment is to love the Father with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; everything we are. The second greatest which fulfills the first is to love people as we love ourselves.

Everything outside of these commandments leave our life's definition tainted and obscure. When we allow things other than the love of the father to dictate our direction we will forget our meaning. It seems as though we have lost the meaning of several terms that must not be separated from the life of a believer. We as the body must remember these crucial elements and return to a life definite, distinct, and clearly outlined as lives lived for Jesus Christ. May there be no question about who we are or what we believe.

There are several key terms that I believe we as the church have forgotten their true or full meanings. These terms are the underlying foundations of our beliefs as believers. Some of the terms are: Christian, Church, Sin, Holy, Grace, Mercy, etc. We need to look at these words and remember their definitions. For the next several weeks we will be traveling down this road, searching for and reestablishing definitions of the believers life.

Father I pray that you remain my source for defining my life. May I never forget my purpose, my meaning, my God given definition for living. Lord I pray this for others as well. I pray they too will realize that the dictionary for life is your holy scripture and insight is given by your gentle Holy Spirit. Father I pray to you in the name of your son Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, amen.