Nestled into God’s heart

letter from exile 12

God’s Word: Hebrews 7:25-27

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Reflection: 

I saw this hilarious meme highlighting the difference between our culture’s perspective of the levitical laws before and after the corona crisis. It went like this:  

You, 6-weeks ago:  “Those levitical laws on impurity and contagions are so barbaric! Have a heart!” 

You, today:  “If a person tests positive for Corona, he shall remain unclean all the days of his infection! He is unclean.  He shall live alone. His dwelling is outside the camp!”

This is funny for so many reasons, but mostly because our snobbery towards ancient cultures is relative to our current circumstances.  

In ancient Israel, the Levitical system was firmly in place.  There were priests and sacrifices.  The priests functioned to a certain degree as public healthcare workers.  But as you know, it was more than that.  Priests cared about physical AND spiritual wellbeing.  That was the point of the whole sacrificial system. 

Every day, some innocent animal was slaughtered.  Every single day. Being a priest was a bloody profession, but why all the killing?  The system was intended to keep the people fully dialed into that fact that rebellion against God was not insignificant.  Sin is like spiritual pollution.  The whole world is filling up with spiritual graffiti and blood was the cleaning agent.  Our sin is what keeps us cosmically alienated from God.

But here’s the deal:  The healthcare workers (i.e. the priests) were also infected.  And as you know this could be a crisis, right?  Even today, public health officials are worried that supplies (like masks and gloves) for our front-line doctors and nurses could run out. And what happens when our “helpers” need to be helped?  It could be a crisis? 

It felt like for all the blood that was shed, it was never enough.  Enough was never enough.  The priests and the people needed a cleaning agent that could go deeper, because the stain of sin was so resistant. 

Well, in Israel, they had a solution.  The priests had to make a sacrifice for the people, and they also had to make one for themselves.  And so they did.  Thousands upon thousands of slain animals.  But even with this practice, there was always something nagging in their souls.  It felt like for all the blood that was shed, it was never enough.  Enough was never enough.  The priests and the people needed a cleaning agent that could go deeper, because the stain of sin was so resistant.  

This is the backdrop upon which Jesus comes to us.  We sing about it all the time!  What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!  But wait.  Is Jesus the sacrifice or the priest?  He is both.  Jesus, our Great High Priest, the one who stands between God and us, became the sacrifice.  

Even in your loneliest and most isolated moment, He is with you.  There are no more sacrifices to be made.  As Jesus presides at the right hand of the Father, you equally are perpetually nestled into God’s heart. 

See, Jesus was taken outside the camp and sacrificed.  His blood cleans deeper than a sacrificial lamb.  He is the slain lamb, par excellence.  And guess what this means for us.  Because Jesus was taken out, we are invited in.  We are no longer cosmically alienated from God.  In fact, nothing can separate you from the love of God.  Nothing. NOT EVEN A QUARANTINE!  Even in your loneliest and most isolated moment, He is with you.  There are no more sacrifices to be made.  As Jesus presides at the right hand of the Father, you equally are perpetually nestled into God’s heart.  

May this sure and deep communion with God give you endurance in this season of curfew, quarantine, and isolation.  

Prayer:  

Heavenly Father, forgive me for taking for granted the sweet access I have with you because of Jesus.  Your nearness is my great consolation.  You see me, even when no one else does.  Teach me to rest in your presence.  Teach me to practice living before you.  Lord, thank you for the access I have to your heart.  May my eyes stay focused on my Great High Priest, who made all this possible.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.  

Prayers of gratitude for answered prayers:

Thank you Lord, for we prayed to you and you answered!

• For the mended and encouraged hearts of friends who canceled their wedding. 

• For a healthy delivery (and continued health) of babies born.  

• For friends who were released from the hospital having beat COVID-19. 

• For friends and family who have healed and been released from the hospital without COVID-19 complications.

Sing the song of redemption

Letter from Exile 11  

God’s Word: Philippians 2:5-8

 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Reflection: 

Do you like to sing?  I have the desire of a rockstar, but without any of the talent.  I mean it.  I am surprisingly bad.  I think this is why I love performing karaoke at home with my kiddos so much.  With zero risk, I get a moment of musical euphoria with an approving audience.  My kids are easy to please.  But giving myself to music is something I try to do regularly.  Why?  Well, music has a way of getting into our souls and “educating” our emotions.  I love it so much.  I am that guy who when I find a lyric that captures my imagination, I will play that song on repeat….again and again.  

Did you know that theologians believe that the words of Philippians 2:6-11 are actually lyrics to a hymn that early Christians used to sing together?  It is known as the Christ Hymn.  Sometimes, your translators will even do you the favor of indenting those 5 verses so that the reader can see its artistic form, thus separating that portion from the rest of the letter.  

sing it into your soul.  Let the words educate and shape your emotions and thoughts.

Here’s why I mention it: Paul exhorts the church to “have this mind among yourselves”.  How does one do that?  One way is to sing it into your soul.  Let the words educate and shape your emotions and thoughts.  How else will we, like Jesus, “empty” ourselves out for others?  What does that even mean? 

My professor in seminary, Dr. Bryan Chapell, once told a story that has stuck with me.  In the remote parts of Africa, there was a tribe led by a wise and noble Chief.  There were two ways that an outsider could identify him as the chief.  First, he wore the most beautiful (and large) headdress and ceremonial robes.  Second, he was incontestably the strongest man.  His stature and physique were impressive.  In fact, it was his wisdom and nobility coupled with his physique that inspired the tribe to receive him as chief.  

One day, a man from his tribe was hauling water out of the shaft of a very deep well.  But on his way up, the man fell.  The fall was violent and he broke his leg.  The man laid helpless at the bottom of the well.  Now, to get to him, one would have to climb down to the bottom of this very deep well using alternating slits.  And then climb back up, an even more difficult task.

Because no one could carry this man, the chief was called.  When the chief saw the predicament of one of his own tribesmen, he took off his beautiful headdress and robe, set aside his status, and went down to get him.  The chief climbed all the way to the bottom, put the injured man on his shoulders, and climbed up to safety.  No other man was physically capable to do such a feat.  Only the chief could rescue this man, and he did.  

This is a glimpse of what Jesus did for us.  He set aside his heavenly glory.  Jesus “took off” his status and emptied himself of his glory.  He became the rescuing servant.  He went down--all the way down.  He put a cross on his shoulders and rescued us.  He did for us what no one else could do.  

In the stillness of curfews and quarantines, would you fill the void and replace the anxiety/fear with songs of redemption?  Let’s sing this song into our hearts.

Listen, I am writing to you from exile (i.e. quarantine).  Things are still.  I am asking Jesus to meet me in this precise space.  I don’t want my life to be put on pause. I want to change and grow.  I want my mind and emotions to be especially shaped by the gospel song.  These truths can shape you if you let them.  

In the stillness of curfews and quarantines, would you fill the void (and replace the anxiety/fear) with songs of redemption?  Let’s sing this song into our hearts until we “have the mind” of Christ shaping us from the inside out.  Put it on repeat, it's a good one.  

Prayer:  

Father, I admit that quarantine has made me want to “fill” myself instead of “emptying” myself.  I am so quick to fill my life with national news, information, social media, and Netflix.  Lord, let the Christ Hymn pour over my life like the musical score to a movie.  Spirit, please soften my heart so that these truths change me.   I need you, now more than ever.  I pray in the name of Jesus, the God-Servant, Amen.  

Praying outside of ourselves:

• Pray that the hearts of all citizens of Puerto Rico would find blessing and patience with the Governor’s leadership and restrictions.   

• Pray for those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, to have a meaningful sense of the Lord’s loving presence as they fight and recover.  

• Pray for business owners to have extreme wisdom as they make difficult decisions for both creating successful and sustainable businesses and seeking employee welfare. 

• Pray for children, adolescence, and parents to be surprised by intimate and tender moments together.