Doing: A Meditation on Psalm 34:14

"...and do good"

This is part 2 of the meditation on Psalm 34:14.

Although the last phrase's emphasis was on the negative (ie saying "no" to evil, turning away, or swerving from evil), we can't let that be the end of the movement. We can't turn from evil and then assume we're "good". It's good to turn away, but what are you turning towards? Something better or worse? The Pharisees found themselves in this same place, turning from evil, but turning towards self-righteousness, in a sense attempting to be their own saviors. This sort of thought process was violently opposed by Jesus, because it led to the Pharisees assuming they were "healthy" when in fact they were just as sick as the tax collectors but completely unaware. They were outwardly healthy but inwardly dead.

So what do we turn towards? Jesus seemed to have a "third way". It wasn't a life spent on pleasure (like the "sinners" he hung out with), but it wasn't a life devoted to meaningless ritual (like the Pharisees he confronted). He invited people to repent of both these paths, and be "born again". This re-birth involved placing a new spiritual heart within people. A new humanity learning to live again under a new King in a new kingdom. Jesus the King was crucified by his subjects under the old kingdom's regime so that today we could live under a new authority, stronger than sin and death (the very things he declared as dead on the cross and evidenced by the empty grave). What do we trust in as we swerve from sin? Our new good deeds? Our good behavior only lasts so long, and then we realize the problem wasn't just our outward actions, but our inward intentions. We're bent outwardly, but primarily inwardly. Jesus' life isn't just meant to "un-bend" our actions, but also our heart. In a strange sense, we all had been kidnapped since birth and Jesus' life was the very ransom that paid for us to be freed from the hands of our captors. We learn to trust in his ransom, recognizing that we lacked the power to ransom ourselves, and then also learn to live a new life that's forever affected and influenced by that very ransom. If you want to read a simple book on this thought, check out Tim Keller's book called "The Prodigal God".

Another thought: often our empty religion can lead us to a list of things we're refraining from (sex, alcohol, rated R movies, fill-in-the-blank morality) but never call us to engage in anything. The word repentance is commonly misunderstood by our generation, and is almost called a bad word. However, in the word "repentance" is the idea that we don't just turn from something, but we also turn toward something. Jesus calls us to follow him. So often we think faith is about abstaining, but it's also about engaging, feasting, delighting, and enjoying God and his gifts. We turn from evil and turn from thinking that our turning suddenly makes us holy, and turn towards Jesus, following Him, trusting in His ransoming sacrifice. Would we consider what are we swerving from but also swerving to?

Those rescued from death, from kidnappers, from a terminal disease always live differently. They are a grateful people. They know what matters. They seem to be present, in the moment. Would we not just settle for outward purity, but an inward joy that leads to a full life of someone who's grateful for the days they have. The gospel is not just about saving people from something, but rather saving people for something. Let's be known not just for what we say "no" to (which is necessary often), but primarily for what we say "yes" to... Would we consider ways of doing good, not just in word but in action. He didn't say, "swerve from evil and talk good (Okie way of saying "talk nicely"), but "do good". Throughout the New Testament, it's clear our faith doesn't just affect a portion of our lives, but rather consumes the whole thing. True religious affections always lead to full expression of life, they must be manifested. The God-life in us always finds its way out into our actions, evidenced by fruit that looks like God. Because of the good work in you, go and "do good".

Approaching Holy Week

I feel a little distracted walking into Holy Week. I'd hope for a softness, an openness to feel the weight of the events that took place 2000 years ago, but that's not there for some reason. It might be my busy-ness, but I'm praying for fresh eyes and a raw heart. Practically I'm started a few things this morning to attempt to engage and opening myself.

One way was something Sam mentioned yesterday in his sermon. He called us to "meditate on the magnitude of the mercy of Christ on the cross." I don't do this nearly enough. To sit, pray, and think on the cross. Maybe find a passage that might speak on this and meditate on it. Pick a small passage and slowly reading and praying through it (look up the discipline of Lectio Divina). Take time this week to slow down, push pause, and be humbled by what you see. One way I try to do this is by writing songs based off the ideas or Scriptures I'm learning from. One I started today was based off of Romans 5:8.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

What stood out wasn't just that God showed his love for us in Jesus, but that God shows (present tense) his love for us in Jesus. I need to slow down and ask God to remind me of his love seen in his Son's death.

Another way I've been trying to engage is by spending time reading through John Piper's "The Passion of Jesus Christ". He talks about 50 reasons why Christ died as seen in the New Testament. I read the first few today, and my heart began to feel some of the intensity of Jesus' death. The wrath we deserve, the love that he showed, the justice that was served on the cross.

What ways do you engage with Holy Week? Anything that you're doing new this year?