A time for everything - and now it's time for something else

NORSK
The plan was to do the exercise for 9 weeks when, on 1 April 2009, I decided to blog my daily 'manna' - which simply means sharing with others the thought the word of God gave me to ponder upon for each day.
 
More than eight years is a long time, and I have regularly considered to 'quit'. However, the blogging has been a blessing for me, and helped me expressing my faith with my personal words.
 
Along the way, I have also experienced several 'Aha!' discoveries that have helped me seeing clearer things that were previously filed in the ‘mystery-box’. At the same time, the contents of the mystery box have not been reduced. On the contrary, I have seen even more of the mystery of salvation and grace. I actually like that I do not understand everything, and I even think that also is a part of the grace of God.

I do not stop blogging because I have a ‘writer’s block’. The truth is that I am full of thoughts about topics and books that deserve my devoted attention. However, I am now at peace with the decision to prioritize differently - at least for an undefined period of time. There are several reasons for this. They are not important to anyone, but myself. All the same, I share some reasons in the footnote (1).

Part of the mystery of grace are the testimonies that the blog postings have helped others too. I thank God for this, and I am glad that the internet gives the opportunity to be present with testimonies about the good news. My challenge to you is therefore to use the internet to spread a message of hope and love, and I share this promise:

Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.
Eccles 11:1

To cast the bread upon the water is like sharing the 'manna', more specific: 'the bread of heaven' = Jesus (2) with others. When I share him, the return is always a blessing. Until now, the record for a return is 30 years before I saw a concrete result of something I felt led to do. Fortunately, we do not always have to wait so long. Sometimes it happens right away.

‘Manna’ for today:

There is always an opportunity to share the life of Jesus with others!

NB - You will find overview over my blog-postings in English HERE
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(1) Here are some reasons:

• A lot of time during a workday I spend sitting working on a screen. In addition to long working hours, blogging takes at least one hour extra screen-time every day.
• I want to release time without losing the personal devotion it is to write the blog. My intention is to improve one of my languages, and now I will spend my devotions studying the Bible in Russian.
• Over the past ten years I have written very much (not only the blog), and there has been little time for reading. Now I will prioritize reading again, because I feel that I need it.
• I have peace of mind to make this decision
• There are already almost 3,300 posts on the blog. These are available on Bibelportalen, where the posts are sorted in 66 books of the Bible (in the right-hand column), so it is still possible to have access to all previously published reflections.

(2) See John 6:35-40

It is about sharing - a time for everything *

NORSK
Yesterday I wrote about the ‘holy unrest’ that was caused by the need to share an important experience with friends. The two who had walked from Emmaus to Jerusalem in the darkness of the evening managed to find their friends. I expect that they were taken by surprise and amazement when friends beat them on the ‘finish-line’ and proclaimed:

“It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Luke 24:34-35

The need to share can be so strong that I cannot afford to let it be. When Peter after Pentecost was commanded to stop speaking about Jesus, he answered:

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:20

I think Jesus was a model for his disciples even in the field of sharing personal experiences. Since Jesus was alone in several of his spiritual victories, he must have told his disciples about them. He was alone when he was tempted in the wilderness and he was alone when he fought with his own will in Gethsemane. 

I do not know when on the journey he shared the first experience with the disciples, but the Gethsemane experience must have been shared with the disciples after the resurrection. Simply because there was not much time to share it before the crucifixion. It means that it must have been shared in one of the meetings Jesus had with the disciples before his ascension to heaven.

The disciples saw and learned from Jesus' testimony. And when they used the same method themselves, I am convinced that they found it both useful to share their experiences, and a blessing on the ongoing journey.

One of the most important things in my life, is to share the testimony of who Jesus is and what he has done to me. I simply cannot help.

‘Manna’ for today

I just have to tell about it!

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* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost

Help recognizing Jesus - a time for everything *

NORSK
Sometimes I need help recognizing Jesus, and sometimes I've been able to help others.

When I read the story about the seven disciples who decided to go out and fish on the Sea of Galilee without catching anything, it is hard to understand that they do not recognize the man who asks them to throw the net on the right side of the boat. Even when the catch is too big to haul, it is only John who draws the conclusion and tells Peter:

“It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
John 21:7

There is an important lesson in this little event. Peter longed to be with Jesus, and therefore he should probably have recognized him, but fortunately it was enough that John confirmed what I think Peter might at least have hoped and believed in his heart: "It may be Jesus there on the beach, or…?"

It is important for us believers to confirm the presence of Jesus when we are together. Often it is so easy to get busy with the mission and the dealings with all the matters at hand that we become blind, and do not see Jesus in our midst. He is there all the time and we have to help each other recognize him.

‘Manna’ for today:

Where there are disciples, Jesus is always present.

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* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.

Think afresh? A time for everything*

NORSK
Today, I move to the story of Thomas. A few years ago, I took the role as defence attorney for Thomas for the simple reason that I think he may have been a victim of a ‘spiritual miscarriage of justice’. In my 'procedure' I wrote:

Let us for some moment try to put ourselves into the minds of my client: “If my Master has risen from the dead, why are James and John afraid - why are we still behind closed doors in fear of what the Jews may do to us? If Jesus truly lives, it means that he has even defeated death - what then is there to be afraid of? If my friends really believed it, they should not only tell me, but run out of the streets of Jerusalem and tell the good news.” (2)

When we judge Thomas as a ‘doubter’, we have forgotten that the behaviour of the disciples was not consistent with their recognition of the risen Jesus. Thomas’ claim for proof was therefore absolutely valid.

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:25

I will reflect more on the teaching in the incident with Thomas tomorrow, but I think that the disciples also learned that for a testimony about a living Jesus to be credible, our lives must show that it is true. If not, it is impossible to recognise Jesus.

‘Manna’ for today:

My life must show that Jesus lives

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(1) It is part of the family genes to defend both believers and doubters
(2) See ‘A spiritual miscarriage of justice’ – unfortunately only available in google translate
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity'
 Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.
 

Knowing when it is time to tell - a step on the journey

NORSK
Two years ago we got the call notifying us that we were appointed to Eastern Europe. However, the ‘appointment’ was a secret until it was officially announced five days later; - which happened to be 1 April, and therefore, many people thought it was somebody playing ‘April-fool’. Still, it was good to be free to talk about the news to others than our closest family.

On the way up to Jerusalem, Jesus took a detour together with Peter, James and John up on a high mountain. There Jesus was transfigured in front of them. The strange vision also included Moses and Elijah; it was so special that Peter wanted to build three huts for them. Although I love doing carpentry I am puzzled by Peter’s crazy proposal; perhaps he thought that it was the only thing he could contribute with. Fortunately, he was interrupted by the voice of God speaking from a bright cloud, confirming that Jesus was his son.

Peter, James and John had been witnesses to a powerful revelation. But they had to return to reality, and reality is where the people are:

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matt 17:9

There is no point in telling about visions and spiritual experiences if it is not confirmed by the new life in Jesus Christ. I'll never forget a conversation I had when I 44 years ago was evangelising on the streets of Tromsø (Northern Norway). “I do not believe in what you say because 'you' say it” the young man whom I had approached replied, “but I believe it's true because I see what has happened with Gøril!" Gøril had experienced radical salvation in a meeting in the basement of the Salvation Army some months prior to my encounter with the young man. As a new creation in Christ, Gøril was a testimony of the new life to her old friends.

When I know that the new life lives in me and around me, I can boldly tell about what has happened, and people will believe it because the new life makes the words trustworthy.
 
Today 'manna':

I want to tell about the new life

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(1) Evangelising in the streets of Tromsø 1 May 1974 - yes, it is I who face the camera, and yes, the 'slumsister' gave me clothes that no-one else would wear - 'squares' were 'out' in 1974 - who cares (?) - and yes - I was able to tell about the new life through the loudspeaker I carry - and yes - I was alive in Christ and so were the people around me - many of them new Christians.

Something to be ashamed of?

NORSK
I will never forget a phrase from General André Cox's speech at Boundless in 2015. “Shame on you!”, he said. “Shame on you!”, he repeated several times. We should be ashamed if we did not have work for children and youth in our churches. I know people who were provoked, but that is OK. Because, if we neglect to focus on the most important work entrusted to us – then “Shame on us!”

However, there is something we should not be ashamed of, and Paul gave a clear message to Timothy:

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.
2 Tim 1:8a

I remember that happened on several occasions that I was a little embarrassed on behalf of the Christians when I was a child. In some ways it wasn’t “tough” to be a Christian. On the contrary the “tough” guys normally spoke against anything that had to do with religion. 
My embarrassment quickly disappeared when the Jesus revolution came. All of a sudden I could identify with the "rebels" - people who continued to have long hair after they fell in love with Jesus. So, I let my hair grow too, and discovered that Jesus did not reject me because of it.

I also discovered that the testimony of our Lord is nothing to be ashamed of. 
It is still the world's only hope, and if we ever needed such a hope, it is right now when a large "Christian" nation so clearly shows what Christianity is not. That makes me embarrassed.

‘Manna' for today:

I am not ashamed of Jesus and all he represents,
but of some of those who claim to represent him.

On the arena of conduct

NORSK
The arena of speech, which I wrote about yesterday, is definitely very important. An equally strong testimony will arise from taking today’s challenge seriously:

“…set an example … in conduct…”
1 Tim 4:12

Normally I start working on the blog for the next day every morning. Yesterday, I had made the decision to quote a verse Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, because 'conduct' is the core theme in the letters he wrote to them, and this verse does in many ways confirm why:

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry”
2 Cor 3:2-3  

Some hours later I took part in a funeral. We were gathered around the open coffin of the 33-year-old Sergeant Major in Botanica corps. Vladimir died after a very short illness and is survived by a wife who is expecting their first child in near future. There was a lot of tears, combined with gratitude for Vladimir's life and his very strong testimony and clear focus. His focus on salvation was also very evident during the entire ceremony. 

Among the speeches of gratitude, there was a retired officer who read the verse quoted above, and she concluded: "Vladimir lived as Christ's letter of recommendation." 

In a brief glimpse I saw his wife smile through the tears. She knows that it is true, I and many others know that it is true. Vladimir was an example for the believers, but also for the family and other friends who had turned up to say goodbye. They heard a clear message of faith, hope and love.

At the last meeting Vladimir attended at his corps a short while ago, the corps officer asked the congregation a rhetorical question: “Can you confess that you are ready to meet God?” - Then Vladimir declared out loud: “Yes, I'm ready!”

Vladimir has gone home to be with the Lord, but we will continue to read the letter he leaves behind.

‘Manna’ for today:

Role models are letters read by all

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* The ribbon we all pinned on our jackets, states: "Until we meet in heaven"

It is about 'intravenous' love

NORSK

A new command I give you:
...As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
John 13:34

The 'new' is not that we shall love one another, but that we shall love with the love of Jesus. 

To do so takes a divine intervention. I need a shot of love that makes it flow through my whole body and becomes part of me - and it is possible!

Here is the testimony of Samuel Logan Brengle:

He gave me such a blessing as I never dreamed a man could have this side of Heaven. It was a Heaven of love that came to my heart. I walked out over Boston Common before breakfast, weeping for joy and praising God. Oh, how I loved! In that hour I knew Jesus, and I loved Him till it seemed my heart would break with love. I loved the sparrows, I loved the dogs, I loved the horses, I loved the little urchins in the streets, I loved the strangers who hurried past me, I loved the heathen—I loved the whole world.

Do you know what holiness is? It is pure love. Do you want to know what the baptism of the Holy Ghost is? It is not a mere sentiment. . . It is a baptism of love that brings every thought into captivity to the Lord Jesus; that casts out all fear; that burns up all doubt and unbelief. . . that brings one into perfect and unbroken sympathy with the Lord Jesus Christ in His toil and travail to bring a lost and rebel world back to God. God did that for me, bless His holy name! (1)
 
'Manna' for today:

Holiness is to love as Jesus loved

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(1) Samuel Logan Brengle's testimony as quoted in R. David Rightmire: ”Sanctified Sanity” Crest Books 2003 p 87

Here is a recording containing Brengle's testimony