David Bahn - Reflections

True witnesses to the Christian faith have never tried to hide these things. The Gospel message welcomes the bright light of full disclosure. The message of the gospel must not be relegated to the corners of life.

Jesus' victory, however, was both through death and resurrection. He didn't just die in agony. He rose in victory. He didn't just carry our sins, taking them into his body. He brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. He didn't just overcome the sharpness of death. He ascended to the right hand of God and reigns there forever. He didn't just confound the naysayers. He confirmed the faithful. 

Each of us fit into those categories in some way or another. Tell your story. Who knows how it might inspire, encourage, or bring light to darkness for someone else and shape their lives forever. 

Paul will have to endure further trouble, suffering, hardship, and difficulty. This was also part of what Jesus told Ananias - who came and baptized Saul after his Damascus Road experience. I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name," Jesus tells him (Acts 9:16). 

Today we walk in the light of God's love, Christ's redemption, and the Holy Spirit's sanctification. It must certainly be this way. The gospel must be preached. The lost must be found. Those walking in darkness must be brought into the light. And in all this, God's name will be eternally praised. 

I wish I had more of Paul's courage. I wish I was more bold. But I am thankful for his courageous faithfulness. You and I are beneficiaries of his faithful witness to Jesus Christ. Ignited by Jesus' Damascus Road confrontation and mission mandate. Fueled by God's grace. Sustained by the Holy Spirit's presence. Giving us meaning and purpose today. Anticipating the joyous vindication in the life of the world to come.

Opening eyes, turning people from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, and helping people take their place among those who believe in Jesus is a challenge and an honor. We might shy away from such a high challenge. But here is God's calling through Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth. Written 5 or 6 years before these events before Agrippa. 

Jesus died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised (2 Corinthians 5:15). 

Martin Luther wrote about it this way: Jesus...redeemed me...so that I may be his own and live under him in his kingdom and serve him.

Such a life - not living for ourselves, living under Christ, serving him in whatever vocation to which we are called - is much more than surviving. That is the abundant life. That is thriving.  

 Thrive, by Casting Crowns

It's very easy to credit modern medicine, social and psychological factors, and emotional growth in these things. The world always points us in that direction. But just because it's easy to see something, doesn't make it right. And just because Jesus' influence and participation isn't always obvious to us doesn't mean he's not behind it all.

Paul was struck to the ground and had to hear from Jesus directly. He had to be asked, "How long will you kick against the goads?" The reference there is to a sharp stick (goad) used to urge beasts of burden forward. Kicking against them will only hurt, not get rid of them. If Paul had continued in his rigid and strong opposition to the message of Jesus, it would have served only to cause himself great harm. Jesus wasn't going away.

Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? Because our faith is weak. Because we don't understand the depth of God's grace and love. Because we don't know the power and grace of God. 

But we do know this. We do believe - even if our faith his weak. Jesus has been raised from the dead. It may be thought to be incredible. But it's true. And it is profoundly good news. There's no question about that. 

My own spiritual journey is unlike Paul's except in regard to my earliest spiritual formation. I was raised in a Christian family, and attended Sunday School and church throughout my youth. It was not a strict religious environment, but it was dedicated. My character has experienced reshaping throughout my life. Some of those reshaping moments have been difficult. Other have been almost pleasant. 

But I am very much like Paul as he expresses in Philippians 3:12, "Not that I...am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." God is at work in our lives to shape us more and more into the image of Christ - whatever our training from our youth may have been. So we must not think we're finished growing in our faith or character, but remain humble and open to the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts and minds. 

I wonder how many times we stand on hills too small for principles too minor and bloody ourselves in battles that need not be fought. Whenever I help church leaders formulate strategic plans, I like to make the distinction between God's good provision for his mission: the people, pastors, facilities, and programs on the one hand, and God's mission on the other hand. People get stuck on what color the carpet should be, or what program must be retained or abandoned. Or what color should the eternal light be. But carpet wears out. Programs come and go. God's mission goes on until Jesus returns.

Jesus went to a hill and died for the sins of the world. He won salvation for us by his death. His resurrection vindicates his whole ministry. It also give us hope, and reminds us in the face of every challenge or trouble: The tomb is empty. We stand on that truth with confidence and hope.