Monday's Meditation: Capturing His Attention

I’ve been intrigued lately with those things that impressed Jesus. Some things captured his attention. I’m not smart enough to present a systematic theology of God’s heart, but I know that he has one. I’ve seen it in the scripture, and I've seen in in my life. Have you? He stops the course of time and history and bends low to the affairs of men.

This Monday let me present my simple list of what catches God’s attention. If you meditate on these few suggestions, I’ll bet you could add a few more:

• The Father loves humility. It turns his head. But I’m quoting myself. You can read my view of a humble heart in last week’s post.
• Jesus was impressed by faith. When he encountered genuine trust, he never failed to point out how rare it can be. He usually discovered faith in the socially unacceptable places of his day, like women and foreigners (Matthew 8:10 and 15: 28 are two examples).
• Jesus stopped for the bold: A blind man screaming on the sidelines evoked this question from the Lord, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18: 35 - 43) Can you imagine Jesus interrupting his schedule to ask you--personally--”What do you want me to do for you?”
• Jesus defended outrageous acts of worship: When Mary crashed a party to lavish attention on Jesus other people criticized her impropriety. But Jesus said “Leave her alone.” (John 12:7) Do I pour out my passion in a way that would bring Jesus to my defense?

Jesus loved these traits. He rewarded them. But there is one human trait that never seemed to impress the Lord: our intelligence. True, I want every part of my being to serve the King, but one thing is sure: God is never impressed by anyone’s intellect, but he is frequently impressed with people’s hearts.

Monday's Meditation Correct Answers and Cold Hearts

Knowing the right answer is overrated. A heart moved by the truth is beyond measure.

In Matthew’s account of the Christmas story three wise men (rich pagan astrologers, actually) follow a star to Israel. They know the star is the herald of a new king and a new world order. Because these men understand protocol and honor, they pay a visit to the current king of Israel. The Magi presumed Herod and his court would be aware of this epochal change:

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2: 2 - 6)

I have always been astonished at this passage. The Magi had gone as far as their knowledge could take them. They had already traveled a long way and were willing to go the distance. The chief priests and teachers of Israel--the religious professionals--could correctly answer the question regarding the birthplace of the king, but not one of them said to the Magi, “What?!? It’s happening now? We must go with you to see the king.”

Not a single scholar went to see the the hope of Israel and Savior of the world. They were content with knowing the correct answer, but their hearts were apparently unwilling to experience the truth first-hand. This Monday, this Christmas season, may God deliver us from right answers living in cold hearts.

Monday's Meditation: Burning Heart Road

When is the last time your day was interrupted by impossibly good news? Most of us suffer interruptions all the time. We plan our day, set to our tasks, and the interruptions come along one after another. Yet some interruptions are a good thing: Luke 24 reminds us that when we least expect it, Jesus himself would like to break into our schedules and priorities.

Two guys, despondent over the death of Jesus, make the long walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They are leaving the big city and their dreams of something better. They dared to place their hope in someone else, and those hopes have been crushed. I think they were returning to the routine and the mundane, convinced that they should never let their hearts get carried away again.

The text tells us that Jesus approaches them as they walk down Despair Way. They don’t recognize him, though—perhaps because when we are caught up in our disappointment nothing looks right. Now the three of them continue walking, but as Jesus begins to interact with them, they find their hearts lit up with new possibilities and hope renewed. Finally, as they reach their destination, they make an important decision. Despite their own sadness and disappointment they invite the Stranger to share a meal. They welcome the interruption.

You know the rest: Jesus reveals himself. They are amazed. They recognize the old burning in their hearts, and they head back to Jerusalem to deliver impossible, ridiculously good news. They had walked down Despair Way, but now they raced up Burning Heart Road.

This burning heart is only possible by walking with Jesus—or rather, by inviting him to walk with you. Jesus was content to join them as they went their own way. Yet when they finally recognized him it totally changed their destination! Of course, here’s the catch: they didn’t know it was him. They had to welcome the interruption. They had to look past their disappointment and open themselves up to something beyond themselves.

How will Jesus interrupt your day? You won’t know it until after you welcome the interruption.