Facets of Faith

Conversations about life, faith, and friendship.

The Lion and the Lamb: the Beauty in Truth and Grace

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We’ve got quite the line up at FACETS! We have precious thoughts from Tracy, Kim (next week), and you’ll have a chance to read our friend, Kelli Worrall. If you don’t know her yet, you need to! Check back the fourth week for her guest post. I know you’ll love it!

“March—in like a lion and out like a lamb.” Do you remember that from elementary school, too? That was the springboard thought for this month’s topic. Then we thought about the character of Jesus. Have you noticed He is called “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” and “the Lion of Judah” in the Bible? These are two of my (Jennifer) favorite names. I notice something about the natures embedded in them. One reveals to me the deeply compassionate and huge nature of Jesus. The other makes me think of a confident, powerful nature. Ah, the multi-faceted nature of God! As the team settled into the topic, we wondered how each of us is multi-faceted, too.

Which of God’s character qualities can I see in my own life?

Grace and truth. That’s a tricky balance, isn’t it? I can get flustered when I think about these two character traits doing their intricate dance in my life. I’m uneasy about “grace” that I think might squeak and scamper into a corner. I’m personally more familiar with “truth” that dons a black robe and wields an over-sized gavel with a BANG!

But Jesus—

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 CSB

Jesus is grace and truth!

When I get muddled in the grace-truth balance, friends remind me of something super-important—our God doesn’t have a wimpy approach to offenses. He doesn’t wink at sin because it damages our hearts and our relationship to Him and others. I’ll limit this post to the category of sin including offenses. (My understanding of sin is richer than that.)

The truth of sin has to be acknowledged. That might make me happy if I had success in perfect living or I felt offended and hoped someone would receive their “just desserts.” But when I’m gut-level honest, I might be overwhelmed by the truth of every known and unknown offense I’ve dished to family, friends, and ultimately my Abba. Then I should be forever grateful for the goodness of truth and grace!

That said, this slice of my life includes a study of the book of Romans. Chapter one is an eye-opener when it comes to truth. I’m reminded that God’s truth will not be mocked.

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth…They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Romans 1:18, 25

There are consequences for knowing God, not acknowledging Him, and not being thankful: a darkened mind (1:21) and ugly heart. That’s something I don’t want for myself or anyone, but that’s where the path leads. I want to be sensitive to truth and respond well. And I sure don’t want to hide it from anyone who hasn’t been introduced to it yet or might ignore it. But how? I’m going to let that question sit for now—

I’ve received boundless grace from God, and it is the very thing He hopes I’ll extend to others. Actually, it’s more than hope; He commands it.

Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4

I’m tempted to breathe a sigh of relief when I see “rebuke him” because it feels like some kind of control after a tough exchange. But letting someone know they’ve done wrong is loving and gracious. After all, offenses should be acknowledged. Then I focus on “if he repents, forgive him.” When someone responds well, there’s a command: forgive. I must! The “seven times in a day” leaps off the page. Grace after an offense—forgiveness—is the gift I’ve been given, and it’s the gift I lavish time and again.

My story, like yours, is chock-full of difficult interactions. Some events may be more extreme or shocking than many women have experienced, but that’s not my point. Our offenses are not fewer or less significant than others’. What’s helpful but challenging to remember in ugly situations is this:

Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for although the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17

Moses’ law revealed the problem of sin. Through Jesus, the problem was solved completely and permanently. All the offenses—mine and yours, forgotten and remembered—were addressed truthfully (acknowledged) and graciously (the debt to Holy God was settled). Each of us is invited into confession, repentance, and belief (1 John 1:9).

I know this truth. In love, I share it. By grace I want to live out of it with others. Why? Because—

…whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing. Mark 11:25

My God is no vending machine. And prayer is more than the laundry list of requests, let’s be clear. But a clean heart makes all the difference in connecting heart-to-heart with Him. That’s the prayer conversation I want with my Father in heaven—hearing Him and thankful I’m heard.

And relationships with others? Nothing is better than knowing you are loved at your worst. Sure, we are liked and even loved at our best, but that’s easy. The rough moments mirror the Lion and the Lamb in everyday life, right?

Thanks for reading, friends. What you think about this month’s topic? Pop a comment in below or at the Facebook page. Are you choosing to know truth, reveal it, and be gracious in the process, too?

Signature, Jennifer Howe

How Do I Model Myself After The Lion And The Lamb?

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Welcome to Facets of Faith and this month’s question: How do I model myself after the Lion and the Lamb? I (Tracy) will be curious to see what my fellow sojourners in Christ, Jennifer and Kim, have to say on the subject. I wonder what your thoughts are as well. Do you find it hard to reflect Christ?

Those eyes. Kind and determined. Gentle yet fierce. Contrasts seemingly a contradiction.  But are they? Eyes speak. What do mine say when I look in the mirror? Do they see what Christ sees in me? Do they say to others what He would have me say?

The honest answer? Sometimes. Sometimes not.

Sometimes I see myself as gentle as a lamb and fierce and determined as a lion. At other times, I am like a bull in a china shop bumping into people emotionally all along the way.

I’m not always spiritually clumsy, but I have my moments. I can go from lovable to prickly porcupine if someone steps on a nerve … especially if it’s my last one because I’ve had it up to that familiar place–here!

A far cry from gentle. Sometimes, that’s where I find myself. When my feelings are hurt? Even harder to hang onto those eyes God would want me to see through. Blink. Blink. Tears blur my vision.

Sometimes, eyes need to peer into myself with sensitivity first. Sweet. Soft. Compassionate. It’s okay. God sees. He knows. He loves you when you are good, when you do good. He loves you when you aren’t good, and you wish you could hide from Him, others, and yourself.

If I can’t start by seeing myself with softness, it’s impossible to look upon others in that light.

The only way I can do so is to fix my eyes on Jesus─first. Without Him my vision gets distorted like water disrupted from a pebble thrown on its surface.  It can be difficult to see the truth. What am I really looking at? Which brings me back to:

How do I model myself after the Lion and the Lamb?

For you created my inmost being;

            you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

            your works are wonderful,

            I know that full well. ─Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

I remember who I am and who made me. I remember that His works are wonderful, so in His goodness that means me too. You too. And I don’t just know it. I know it FULL WELL. That’s how the image reflected back at me in the mirror can look like the Lion and the Lamb─tender and gentle, fierce and bold, made in His image, and formed by His hands.

It takes great courage, to be a lion and believe every good thing God says about us in His Word. When the world (or its people) tell us we are less than, we get to make a choice.

Will we choose to courageously believe what God says about us? Or will we be cowardly and cave to unkindness? If I internalize unkindness, it’s sure to slip out toward others. Scripture is my spiritual weapon that acts as anointing oil making every sharp word slide right off me, so I don’t say something to someone I might regret.

Praise Jesus for the anointing oil of His Scripture that helps unkindness slip away without absorbing into my heart!  God’s Word says,

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” ─Psalm 27:14 KJV

God, and His Word, help me to be of good courage. He and His Word are the source of my strength. When my heart needs encouragement, I know straight where to run. I learned in the school of hard knocks. My education has served me well. Every hard lesson helped me graduate to today, the place where I stand still learning as I look in the mirror, absorb my reflection, and smile as eyes twinkle back at me because I AM learning. I am growing. And that feels good!

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.─Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV

When I think of a lamb, I think of gentleness. When I think of THE Lamb, I think of sacrifice. Perhaps gentleness is my sacrifice, paying tribute to all God did to save me and set me free from sin for eternity and in my day-to-day.

His Word above says to be completely humble and gentle. My thoughts. How? How is one COMPLETELY gentle and humble? I can be for five minutes – maybe – but completely? Seems like a tall order. But that’s what God’s Word says.

The words that follow help me to feel better equipped to carry out this command. His Word says to Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Applying that same principle to humility and gentleness, it tells me to make every effort, to keep trying, and to do my best.

How do I model myself after the Lion and the Lamb?

I make every effort. It requires a daily determination. Lord, each day help me to live gentle as a lamb and fierce as a lion when fighting for freedom, fighting for kingdom causes and purposes, fighting every spiritual battle that presents itself.

A lion’s roar echoes loud enough to demolish every stronghold, tearing down what used to keep me down. When a woman finds her roar, she relentlessly pursues Christ and His purposes.  My challenge to you? Find your roar!

To be gentle requires a fierceness. Anyone can fly off with the mouth. It takes great restraint to be gentle in the face of adversity. Believe me. I know. It’s the season God has called me to.  Not responding is perhaps one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.

The Lion inside of me, the Holy Spirit, is the only way I can. He silences me when I want to speak up and defend myself. He also asks me to speak up in gentleness to convey truth and love. Sometimes I might wonder why am I the one that needs to say this? And I lament feeling a little like the prophet Jeremiah delivering news no one wants to hear. That takes courage too.

How do I model myself after the Lion and the Lamb?

Little by little each day I listen to Him. I listen for His guiding voice that helps me navigate the jungles of this world as He keeps me safe in spite of its dangers. He snuggles me close, helps me hold my head up high, as I gaze directly into His eyes where I borrow strength for a new day.

How is God calling you to model yourself after the Lion and the Lamb?

Join the conversation here or on our Facebook page.

Do You Need a Do Over?

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Let me (Tracy) be one of the first to wish you a Happy New Year! In the season of resolutions we may keep ─or not─ we wondered if any of you might be looking for a do over. Will 2017 be the year that helps you live differently than you did before? Will THIS be the year that thing you’ve always done becomes something you never do again?

At the core of things, isn’t that what a New Year’s resolution is?  I desire to do something better, perhaps to BE better in some way.  The whole idea of a do over, or even a New Year’s resolution, seems to be rooted in regret. If only.

If only I could lose that last ten pounds.

If only I could carry out my calling without wanting to check out when it gets too hard.

If only I could hold my tongue when it wants to wag faster than a dog’s tail.

If only I could forget the hurtful words said to me, expunge them from my brain forever.

If only they’d never been said in the first place.

Maybe if only I’d never said them to someone else.

If only that goal I’ve longed to achieve was finally met.

If only the goal didn’t matter so much.

If only I’d never stumble again in the stinky, miry mess of my sin.

If only.

Right about now you may be wondering, what’s so happy about this post ushering in the new year. Hang in there. We’ll circle around like the second hand of a clock clicking around close to midnight. Time will usher in the HAPPY of this message about needing a do over.

Here’s the thing. We all make mistakes. The key is not to live in them, or let them limit the way we live. Each of us has a high calling. We’re called to glorify God, and we can’t do that if we are plunked down in a sea of regret longing for a do over.

When we don’t get it right (and we won’t always), we repent. We turn from sin and turn to our Daddy who loves us in spite of our sinful nature.

We accept God’s forgiveness and we move forward. Because that’s what He wants us to do.  He’s a God who gives us chances. Lots and lots of chances, because He knows He’s in the process of changing us at His pace and through His grace.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and STRAINING toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.─Philippians 3:13-15 NIV  (capitalization emphasis mine)

The Greek word for straining is epekteinō which means to extend, to stretch forward, reaching forward.₁

We’re not called to reach back and take hold. We’re called to forget about those regrets, to forget about the sin (ours and others) that wants to entangle us. Instead, we’re commanded to stretch forward as if we’re a third basemen trying to get the game winning out. Reach for it. Because it matters.

We’re called to reach forward, because that’s where the prize is located. Our view as mature believers in Christ should be that facing forward gaze that looks to where our Heavenly Father is guiding us. Where we are going. Not where we have gone.

At some point, we need to think differently than the world. The promise in Scripture: God will make it clear to us. He’ll show us the view, the vantage point, He wants us to gaze at a thing from.

What if God is using our lack to show us things about ourselves? What if God is using our lack to show us things about Himself? On both accounts, He is.

What if our desire for a do over is really pointing to something God wants to help us deal with?

I’ll let you sit with that question for a minute.

What if our desire for a do over is really pointing to something God wants to help us deal with?

The song “Blessings” is playing right now in my earphones. What if the trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

What if.

Sometimes, if you’re anything like me, it takes a bit to understand a reaction. Why did that bother me so? Why is that thing (or that person) hitting a nerve? What is it about that proverbial last straw that says, I can’t take another thing? It’s not the last straw that set you on edge. It’s everything that has led up to that, layer by layer, until there’s a signal God allows through that says enough is enough.

Sometimes, He’s showing us a need not being met in our desire for a do over.

Certainly, our need for Him in all things. Like King David, we cry out to the Lord.

Hear me, LORD, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life for I am faithful to you;

save your servant who trusts in you.

You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,

for I call to you all day long.

─Psalm 86:1-3 NIV

Every day would be a day I’d regret if I didn’t have God and didn’t know I could call out to Him in my need. I have great need for His mercy, grateful His mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23)─and that I don’t have to wait for a new year to roll around for them to come again.

I love King David and his example. He gives me hope. Even in his sin, he called himself a faithful servant of the Lord. A servant who trusted God. Even in my sin, I can call myself a faithful servant of the Lord. A servant who trusted God. So can you. More of God’s mercy dispensed to His kids who want to do well, but don’t always.

Even while we are meeting the needs of others (perhaps more so) God wants to make sure our needs are being met. If we ignore the signals, He’ll allow them to get louder. It’s part of His merciful plan to turn up the volume.

That’s not My best for you.

That’s NOT My best for you!

THAT’S NOT MY BEST FOR YOU!

My best for you looks like boundaries and margin. Not doing more, but less.

The boundaries and the margin are for me, needs God wants to meet in my life. Maybe that’s not your issue, the thing God is trying to give you His best in.

But what is His best for you this new merciful day early in 2017? What is He revealing He wants you to possess, so you can be your best? Remember our high calling as believers? We are to reveal His glory. Embracing His goodness, letting Him fill us with His love when we are empty, allowing Him to lead and guide our life─really, fully, all the way … even when it’s hard.

What is God showing you in your need for a do over? What good does He want to bring forth like the rising of the sun on a fresh, new day as He helps you elevate higher?

Join the conversation here or on our Facebook page.

 

₁Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.