Incarnational Living Archives - Page 2 of 2

Beauty of the Cross

by Andre | Jun 19, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“Oh wondrous love that called me out by name
The one who made it all died to make a way
And every earthly gain I will count as loss
I am redeemed, that’s the beauty of the cross”

Beauty of the Cross, The Prestonwood Choir

“ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV

Jesus came to die so that we might live.

It is easy for us to get sidetracked by the complexities of Scripture, End-Time thinking, promises of prosperity and the more mystical aspects of our Christian walk. While all of these things are important to consider it means absolutely nothing without a basic, foundational understanding of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

We were lost to sin. We were counted as casualties of our own transgressions. We were distant and far away from God our Creator.

Some of us still are. As much as we pray, prophesy or cast out demons – as much as we prosper in the Name of Jesus – many of us are still not truly rooted in Jesus.

Jesus said the following: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practise lawlessness!’

The fruit of our Christian walk is not measured by the practice of power – even heathens and unbelievers can cast out demons – but the one thing they cannot do is give you Jesus to fill the gap left behind.

Even unbelievers can ‘prophesy’ – but the Spirit of true prophecy is the Testimony of Jesus.

Even unbelievers can prosper – the Bible teaches us this – but only a proper understanding of Christ and His Cross can give you true prosperity: the shalom of God, contentment in every circumstance and situation.

We have in many ways been measuring our fruit according to the wisdom of this world – but the wisdom of this world is foolishness.

The Cross offers us a paradigm shift – a change of perspective. We now count the world and its wealth, earthly gain and esteem as loss.

The Cross of Christ offers us the opportunity to crucify the flesh, die to self and the world, sin and unrighteousness – and gives us new life as we stand up in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

You are called out by name! Called out of the grave of your transgressions – by name! Called out of the grave of spiritual loneliness and poverty – by name!

When you were in darkness God saw you. God loved you!

The fruit of our Christian walk is not measured in power, but in presence – the presence of God in your life. The presence of His peace, His love, His mercy, His grace, His capacity for forgiveness – the presence of the fruit of His Spirit in our lives – that is how we measure our spiritual growth.

We do not measure the fruit of our Christian walk by our capacity to own – but in our capacity to give away without expecting returns and without agenda – our finances, our resources, our time, our love – sacrifice is the operative word!

The grave is a solitary place – we put our dead in a coffin in the ground – there is no community. Jesus calls us out of the solitary and lonely graves of our selfishness into life – into community and fellowship – we measure the fruit of our Christian walk by looking at our selflessness. We do not measure our Christian walk by what or who we are but rather by what and who we are not – by what and who Christ is in and through us. The goal of the Christian life is to become less so that He might become more – so that we might be conformed in every way to Jesus.

We strive for righteousness and holiness. We avoid sin like the plague. We keep our garments clean. We tend to the garden of our Christian walk through prayer, meditation and study, fellowship and community. We reach out to others with the same Hand that Jesus extended – love and mercy, goodness and grace.

The Christian walk is not about the practice of power – but the power of Christ in us is the practice of His Presence in a world that does not know Him.

Let us die to self so that others might find life in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, let me become less so that You might become more. Help me die to self so that You might reign and rule in me. Show me the areas of my life that need to be surrendered for You to increase. Help me pursue presence more than power – Your presence in and through me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

I Lift Your Name on High

by Andre | Apr 24, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“You came from heaven to earth to show the way
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky
Lord I lift Your name on high”

Lift Your Name On High. Maranatha! Praise Band

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Hebrews 1:1-4:

In Afrikaans we have a beautiful word for incarnation: “vleeswording”.

“Vleeswording” is the combination of two words: “vlees” (flesh) and “wording” (becoming).

Incarnation can sound so mystical at times – “vleeswording” feels way more practical but doesn’t translate very well.

In Colossians 1:15: Paul writes and explains that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

What Paul is saying here in verse 15 is that Jesus is the “flesh-becoming” / “flesh-coming” of God.

He is God revealed – unveiled – in the flesh.

In John chapter 1 we read that in the beginning there was the Word (LOGOS), and that the Word was with God and the Word was God.

“Logos” was originally a Greek word invented by heathen philosophers to describe the greater scheme of things – the bigger picture – the plan and will and design of the universe.

What John is saying, in context and in plain English is this: “In the beginning was the Plan, and the Plan was with God, and the Plan WAS GOD!”

God’s plan for us, from the very beginning, was Himself.

He showed the plan to Moses when He said, “build me a Tabernacle so that I may dwell in Your midst!”

The Israelites did it and God tabernacled in their midst – but they didn’t get it. All they saw was the Curtain.

God showed His plan through the Law – so that His Word may be engraved upon our hearts through our diligent reading, studying and meditation of His expressed Will, that we would then live His Heart – be His presence in the midst of our neighbours.

But all they saw was the Letter and not the Spirit.

So God gave His plan through the Prophets – spoke to His people bluntly and earnestly, expressing His desire for His people to turn to Him and be restored – but the people didn’t get it.

Finally, Jesus comes – He comes to demonstrate the pattern as the Word made flesh!

Jesus comes to show us the way – the way we should live and treat our neighbours, but also the way back to the heart of the Father.

He is the Door, the Truth, the Light, the Way – He is the plan of God – Immanuel: God with us!

And through His death and resurrection He invites us to become a part of the Plan. To become a part of the LOGOS of God.

As we are reconciled with God we are filled with His Holy Spirit and called to the ministry of reconciliation – that is – living a life that testifies of His grace and mercy. His Law becomes engraved upon our hearts and we become the expressed Will of the Father as He makes His habitation in us as the Holy Spirit.

We are called to the ministry of reconciliation. As God tabernacles in us – in these tents of flesh and bone – His desire, the desire expressed through the prophets, becomes our desire and we take God to our family, our friends, our neighbours and countrymen – and from there – the nations.

We are called to the ministry of reconciliation. As God tabernacles in us through the Holy Spirit the Gospel of Jesus comes alive in our minds and in our hearts – Jesus comes alive in us.

We start walking as He walked. We die to self and the resurrection comes alive in us – and we seek to see others come alive as well: becoming the ‘flesh-becoming’ of Jesus, living a life becoming of the life He lived – in a hurting and broken world.

Prayer: Lord, as I look to You today let me be transformed by the vision of Your grace. Come flood my life! Come live in me! Come alive in my heart and mind! And in doing so, Lord, let me live a life becoming of the life Your lived. Lord, let my life be so full of You that it overflows into the lives of those around me. Let my life be so full of You that people can see it from afar. Come alive in me today. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Grace to Grace

by Andre | Apr 24, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

If love endured that ancient cross
How precious is my Savior’s blood
The beauty of heaven wrapped in my shame
The image of love upon death’s frame

Grace to Grace, Hillsong

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2:

In the book of Numbers we read that even on the doorstep of the Promised Land the people grumbled and complained. They grew impatient. Again and again they complained and spoke out against God, the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. In Numbers 21:5: they say “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

They did not see the salvation of God.

So the Lord sent fiery serpents in their midst. They bit the people and many died.

The people realised their folly and with it the source of their present trouble. They went to Moses and repented asking, in their humility, for him to intercede with God on their behalf.

Moses went to the Lord in prayer and was instructed by God to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole – and all who looked upon it would be saved!

In the Garden of Eden a serpent speaks out against the plan and providence of the Lord. With that first bite of the forbidden fruit the sly serpent of sin bit the soul and death entered the world into the world.

In Romans 5:12: we read that sin entered the world through one man – and that sin came to all and through sin death.

That poison was in the blood – from generation to generation – in our DNA.

In talking about His purpose as the Messiah, in the third chapter of John during His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus brings up the story of the bronze snake. He compares Himself to the snake in verse 14-18: “ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

“Love endured that ancient cross…”

Jesus came and – to pardon our iniquity – He not only took our sin upon Him but rather became sin itself upon the Cross.

“The Beauty of Heaven wrapped in my shame…”

God stepped down from His throne – the Holy One of Heaven – and enrobed in frail and failing flesh He hung upon the Cross the very image of the snake who bit us. He was crucified for our transgressions as our transgression – as the very image of sin itself. All of our carnality pierced through – He shed His holiness in that moment – that moment where He cried out MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME!

(See also Psalm 22. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Messianic promise – His death bookended by the first and last lines of this Psalm!)

God separated Himself from Himself. Stripped of His holiness so that we may become whole. He was our weakness upon that cross – to become our strength. He was our infirmity – to become our healing. He was our poverty – to become our prosperity. He was our darkness – to become our light.

God separated Himself – His holiness – from Himself – and became our sin.

He became our sorrow so that He could become our joy. Our nakedness – to clothe us in righteousness. He became the burnt offering so that our ashes could make the clay of beauty.

The Beauty of Heaven hung upon that old rugged cross, clothed in my sin and shame – so that all who looked upon Him would be saved and have eternal life. He bore the wrath, condemnation and judgement that was for our account – the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. The trial, torment and terror of our sin fell upon His shoulders – He became the curse to become the Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27:).

No greater love will ever be found in the history of the world. No greater love will ever be found anywhere other than His Story.

Prayer: Oh Lord, My God – words cannot describe the awesome, awe-inspiring, almost terrifying thought of what You suffered for me to be here today. Words cannot describe the sacrifice, the price You paid for my peace. My soul trembles at the thought. Thank You Lord for Your love – for Your grace and for Your mercy. I pray that where words fall short You will see my gratitude in the life I live for You. Help me, through Your Spirit, to live a life worthy of the Life You gave – that all may see and know that You are the Lord of my life. Let Your love shine in me and through me. Let Your Kingdom come in me, through me and around me. Let my life be a worthy and acceptable sacrifice unto You. In the precious, beautiful Name of Jesus. Amen.

More Precious: A Worship Devotional

by Andre | Mar 12, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“Lord, you are, more precious than silver.
Lord, you are, more costly than gold.
Lord, you are, more beautiful than diamonds,
And nothing I desire compares with you.”

Lord You Are More Precious Than Silver, Oasis Worship

^“5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”

⁷Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,””

1 Peter 2:5-7:

What could we ever give – what could we ever do – to really show our gratitude to the One who gave it all for us?

Just like Peter, Paul admonishes us to offer up acceptable spiritual sacrifices. (Romans 12)

In both cases we see a call to repentance and holy living. Peter asks us to set aside malice and evil, the carnal life – and to trade the lusts of the flesh for a craving of pure spiritual milk – so that we may grow in our salvation. Paul, likewise, calls us to hate what is evil, to crucify the flesh and pursue the renewing of our minds and transformation of our lives through our submission to the Word and Will of God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus tells us to store up TREASURES in Heaven.

True prosperity has got nothing to do with silver or with gold.

The Psalmist says: “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” (Psalm 119:72).

Jesus is the law made flesh – the Word incarnate and in our midst.

More precious than silver and gold, He promises true prosperity. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding, a joy unspeakable and full of glory – a life of abundance saturated with the milk and honey of His grace and mercy.

Nothing in all of the universe can compare to His love poured out – the Bread of His body broken for us, and the cup of His blood shed for our souls.

What then is a worthy response? How then should we as the recipients of this gift of grace respond?

We respond in kind. In giving our lives – our bodies, hearts and minds – to the One who gave it all for us.

We respond in kind by getting on the altar of His lovingkindness.

We respond in kind by becoming His hands and feet.

More precious than diamonds, He is the stone the builders rejected – but to those of us who believe He has become precious – the cornerstone and foundation of who we are.

And so we devote our lives to the pursuit of Him – more of Him. And as we find Him we find His will is for us to seek the lost on His behalf.

Our desire for Him and delight in Him transforms us – not only does He become our desire, but His desires become ours as well.

His purpose becomes our purpose.

We lay aside our will and our ways for His.

Prayer: Lord, come and take over. Today I give all of my desires and trade them for delight in You. Lord, let Your desires become my desires. Let my heart be set upon Your ways. Let Your ways be set within my heart. Let the fire ignited by Your love burn in me – all consuming – let it be a hunger that cannot be satisfied. Help me see the ways in which I can pursue You today Lord – turn mere minutes into Manna as I take every opportunity to pray, to praise, to worship You. As I take every opportunity to seek You today. In Jesus Name. Amen.

They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love

by Andre | Mar 1, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

At the last supper, just before His crucifixion, and after predicting His betrayal, Jesus shares the following in John 13:

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

In this verse we see Jesus talking about ‘agapé’ – which is a value-driven and decision-based love. It is not rooted in experience or in feeling.

My dad used to say, ‘I don’t have to like you to love you.’

There are a myriad of situations where I might not like the other person, or feel like loving them – but I CHOOSE to love them because that is what Christ would have me do.

And yes, it is hard – at first.

Just like any discipline. It took a lot of practice to learn how to play the guitar. It took a lot of work to get good at your craft. It takes work, commitment and practice to progress in our love of others from mere feeling to decision.

“They will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”

Love in this context is a choice.

And it only works if we cast aside the fetters of pride and arrogance that would have us think that we are in any way, shape or form better than those we aim to love.

Heidi Baker, in her testimony, tells how the Lord sent her to sit with the poor – she was doing massive tent meetings at the time, and God stopped her, saying, “You don’t know anything about my Kingdom. You need to sit with the poor.” And that became her journey.

I personally learned a lot from going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Teachers like Rob Bell and Richard Rohr went through the same journey – when an older man came up to a young pastor Bell and said, “You can learn everything you need to know about running a church from going to an AA meeting…”

I learned how to really love in AA meetings.

Before that it was easy for me to judge, or to think myself superior – but that is not the Kingdom.

The Kingdom is not about being raised up – it’s about choosing to go down.

It is about choosing humility and being stripped of self so that Christ can be exalted in and through us. It is about going down to the level of and sitting with the poor, the lost, the addict – Jesus demonstrated that. God Himself stepped down from His heavenly throne to come and walk barefoot in the dirt among us… And not just ‘among’ us – but with us!

Christianity is about CHOOSING to love.

We are called to a higher standard as Christians. We are called to be different.

Even when we don’t like the other person. Even if we disagree. Whether they belong to our church or even if they don’t go to church at all. We do not pick and choose who to love, but instead we choose to love everyone regardless.

We are called to love – not like we love ourselves – but as Christ has loved us.

I got saved because someone chose to share the love of Christ with me even when I did not deserve it.

You got saved because someone chose to share the love of Christ with you.

John 15:13: “No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.”

But Jesus proves His love in dying for us while we were still His enemies.

That’s the kind of love Christ would have us show the world.

The kind of love that lays down its life even for its enemies.

Christianity is about CHOOSING to love.

We are called to a higher standard as Christians. We are called to be different.

We are called to love – not like we love ourselves – but as Christ has loved us.

Prayer: Lord, in this day, show me and teach me how to love. Help me to not be blinded by ego and self-interest, but rather let me love regardless. Let me love like You love. Lord, in this day, show me how I can make a difference in the lives of those around me. Help me to walk as You walked. Not among people, but with people. And let my brothers and sisters who have strayed come back home in Jesus name. Amen

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