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You’ve probably heard the saying,  “Youth is wasted on the young.” My Dad loved that quote and now that I’m not exactly in the young category, I can appreciate it more. I thought of it today as I contemplated some of the powerful shifts in thinking I’ve experienced in recent years. I’m talking life changing stuff.

A tiny example is reflected by a conversation with a friend a few months back.  He asked me how long it had been since I had a glass of wine. Sharing an appreciation for full bodied reds he seemed genuinely bowled over when I told him it had been years. “Wow. What incredible will power” he said as he shook his head. ” I could never do that.”  “It has nothing to do with will power” I replied. “It’s surrender.”  His eyes widened as he considered the concept. “I’m going to remember that the next time I’m struggling with something” he said still shaking his head. “Hmmm….surrender.” “Yes, but it’s who you’re surrendering to…” I reminded him with a smile.

Powerful truths that have had such an impact on my life.  I can’t imagine the grief and anguish I could have spared myself, and others had I lived them out years ago.  Examining the life of Christ, these truths were not only taught by Him, but fully embodied in his every action. You want to lead? Become a servant. You want abundance in your life? Give generously.  Authority?  Submit to those figures in your own life. So contrary to our natural ambitions, so unappealing to our human nature.

I have however since learned the unflinching joy that resides with one living in “the sweet spot.” The incredible sense of ease and undeniable state of well being that comes with knowing you’ve got this one covered, or more precisely someone a lot bigger and stronger than you, has it covered for you and totally has your back.

The serenity that comes with discovering humility invites honor, weakness is an invitation for strength, and the peace of God within rules with impenetrable  dominion can not be over stated.  Who could have guessed at this stage of the game a whole new set of rules have come into play? When I catch my heart seeking recognition, I now choose to praise another. When I feel taken advantage of or disrespected, I carefully weigh my response; for Grace is mine to give and multiplied back in spades when I do. Talk about a win/win.

If I were to be entirely honest, I’m riding on someone elses coat tails. I am not the one that facilitated this exchange, yet I reap its rewards.  An entirely inequitable agreement, or covenant if you will that was made on my behalf and one I so gratefully yet unabashedly enjoy the benefits of.  Excising the ultimate height, depth, length and breadth this gift was given, though hardly received, when the Great Shephard was slaughtered as a lamb.  When the King of Creation died as a criminal.  When the author of life breathed his last breath, gave up the ghost and said, “It is finished.” So at this later stage of the game, I am finally getting it and have begun to partake of this divine inheritance.

2 Cor. 8:9 states, ” For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”  I’m not sure the word “rich” adequately portrays the magnitude of a soul sickened, diseased criminal receiving his pardon. Then in addition, receiving a miraculous touch of healing,  joy, favor  and every manner of blessing and prosperity. However, if that is how the Lord defines being rich, then yes, I am very, very rich indeed.

We have all experienced the unspoken judgment of others. A critical gaze, silent disapproval, a glaring objection. As I revisited the story of Luke chapter 7 my heart stirred with an experience not far removed, from the description of this Pharisee of old. Sharing the penchant of devotion as this woman who loved much, I can only imagine  what this encounter was truly like for her, or maybe what it would have been like for me and the treasured lesson for all of us to learn.

As the box crackled and broke open, her heart simultaneously erupted. There was no holding back the flood of tears. Her torso caved as she fell completely to her knees and poured forth the ointment. It was Him. She alone knew who He was and for these few moments, He belonged to her. As the others in the room became invisible, she began her sacred ceremony.  Barely whispering she sang the refrain of yesterday’s song in the quietness of her heart, ” I am my beloved’s and He is mine”.  With trembling hands she gently warmed the oil as she poured it upon the feet of Gods perfect one. Blinded to those around her she could only behold the form and flesh of the one person that mattered most. The only one who had ever truly seen her.  Who had discovered beauty hidden beneath her shame.  He knew the flawed, most intimate thoughts of her heart, yet still in-comprehensively, in-exhaustively loved her.

In his eyes she found an infinite pool of love and mercy that bathed her with forgiveness and somehow made her new. Perfect. Clean and finally, again beautiful.  A flood of emotion rippled through her body as she poured forth her soul in adoration. The oil flowed as her heart gushed and she humbly anointed the Holy One of God.  For the first time in so many, many years she was free.  Flushed with the feverish passion of her devotion, she was laid low by the longing of her thirsty soul as her tears fell upon his feet. Gently she dried them with her hair and whispered words of adoration only He could hear.  But her display of purity was met with disdain.  Her act of devotion, utterly despised.  “How could this man be a prophet?” the religious host silently scoffed. “Didn’t he know what sort of woman she was? ”  The very act that he despised, was the same act Jesus cherished. Her frail, fervent outpouring of love.

“Do you see this woman?” Jesus asked his host.   (ref. Luke 7: 36-50)

Not long after the Son of God would find himself more harshly judged and misunderstood than she and now it would be fitting to the Father that He that would pour out His soul. Instead of oil, he poured blood. Instead of the soft caress of hair, His flesh shredded with angry iron clad whips, until it hung as ribbons.  As his body pierced and tore from the jagged edge of raw metal and his skin stretched beyond its limit, he anguished.  Vinegar met his thirst, the spittle of men met his forgiveness.  As His heart ruptured in brokenness He prayed for His murderers; Father forgive them. 

Crushed as grapes in the wine press His soul continued to pour forth. The mockery of His King’s crown pricked his brow. Filled with passion and the fervor of his unwavering commitment, He completely surrendered to the fulfillment of His purpose, the pledge of love that would cost him everything.   He suffered unbearably until the appointed time when He finally spoke the words, ” It is finished”.  The betrothal to his Bride would require absolutely everything He could give, and somehow it seems, even more.  For Him, there was no other way. For He remembered her well and longed for her return.  The intimate fellowship and communion of her love.  And now finally, it was done.

The reproach of our love for Him is a small treasure we lay at his feet, a gift we bring to his altar. At times despised and misunderstood, we meet Him in the place of betrothal He paid so dearly for. It is there I so gratefully join Him in shame and embrace Him in reproach, in the secret place of worship. As the woman in this Biblical account I am are aware of how much I have been forgiven of.  The Pharisee viewed himself as not needing such a gift, yet I cherish nothing more.  As the healing of my heart and body testify of His love for me, it is His presence I cherish most.  When inclined to judge a display of worship,  to criticize an act of love, or even despise an outpouring of affection toward the King,  maybe we should ask the question Jesus asked, “Do we see this man?”

Kairos.  One of two ancient Greek words for time that implies an opportune time or a defining moment in ones life. Few stories capture the essence of this word like the Biblical account of King Saul.  An unassuming young man who suddenly discovers God has a great purpose and destiny for his life. In 1Samuel chapter 10 the Prophet declares; “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.” Miraculous confirmations take place, the nation cheers and Saul finds himself stepping into a life greater than his hopes or dreams could ever have imagined.

The new Monarch swiftly wins powerful military and political victories along with the hearts of the people.  Remarkable for a young man so shy he hid among the baggage when the people called for him to be made King!  So what transformed this unassuming young man into a powerfully gifted leader, so much so that the people declared, “What has come over the son of Kish?” The scripture holds the answer, not just to Saul’s life, but to ours. 

When the newly crowned King quickly faced a treacherous crisis scripture states “The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words…” (1Samuel 11:6). “He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen! Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.”

A swift victory was won over the vicious Ammonite King who not only promised to enslave the people of Israel, but to gouge out their right eyes to disgrace them. (1Samuel 11:2).  The Hebrew word rush implies an extraordinary, release of power. It portrays a supernatural pushing forward, breaking forth, advancing upon, succeeding and prospering.  And that was not the first time Saul experienced this. The Spirit of the Lord rushed on Saul, as a result of Samuel’s anointing of Saul as King.  As Samuel delivered the word of the Lord he stated “Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.”- 1Samuel 10: 6.  The Lord God enabled, equipped and supernaturally qualified Saul to succeed at every turn and there was but one requirement; “Do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.”- 1Samuel 12: 20.  One would think seeing all God had done for this young man, that would be a given.

The Lord is on our side. He delights in our success. He desires to bless and prosper, heal, deliver and fill the hearts of his people with ecstatic joy. Jesus said, “Which one of you, if his son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?”  – Mathew 7: 9-10.  He is a Good God. A loving Father.  A righteous God. One who is Holy and  just and has created us in His image.  He desires his people to choose to love and serve him and therefore does not violate our free will.  We decide for ourselves what path our lives will take.

Sadly, King Saul chose not to honor, obey and serve the Lord with all his heart and was more interested in the opinion of men, than the opinion of God.   In repeated acts of disobedience Saul lost his greatest treasure; the blessing and favor of the Lord.  His blatant rejection of the Lord’s commands brought an even greater rejection.  Samuel with a broken heart told Saul, ” For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected thee from being King”– 1 Samuel 15:23.

Never having, or maybe worse losing the favor, blessing and protection of the Lord is a terrible thing. Many are those who have allowed their Kairos moment, their greatest opportunity in their relationship with God to come and to go.  As if it was of no value. They have resisted and turned away from the great rushing of God’s spirit ready to bless, prosper and propel them into divine destiny.  I remember sensing the rush of Heaven and all of God’s mercy and love toward someone I cared for as I spoke with him in the final days of his life.  He vehemently rejected the love of God, and stubbornly repeated he had no need for God. No need for forgiveness. No need for the Lord’s blessing or intervention.

“Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from the Lord came forcefully on Saul and he raved (madly) inside his house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and there was a spear in Saul’s hand. Saul hurled the spear for he thought, ” I will pin David to the wall” but David evaded him twice. Now Saul was afraid of David for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.” – 1 Samuel 18:10 (Amp. Bible)

The Hebrew word forcefully used here is the same Hebrew word used for rush, the implication being that now the release of power, pushing forward and advancing upon is no longer of the Spirit of God, but of the evil spirit.  Surely the scripture describes Saul shifting from a valiant King and servant of the Lord to a terrified, tormented soul.  In the Spring of 2013 I embraced the second Kairos moment in my life, for me a defining moment.  I did not know if it would ever come again.  An opportunity for me to embrace my destiny and be ushered forth into the service of the King.  A visitation and a miraculous healing of my body followed my surrender to the invitation so mercifully given to me a second time.

My prayer today is that all who read this will seize their Kairos moment and say yes to the Lord Jesus Christ now while he calls, for another moment is assured to no one.

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One notable Passover tells the story of an infamous criminal named Barabbas. His name was known through out all of Judea for being a criminal of the highest notoriety and one might say of the lowest repute. An unconscionable derelict, an indiscriminate thief. The scripture describes this unsavory fellow as being the fortunate recipient of a Jewish custom facilitated that year by Pontius Pilate.  This custom took place annually at the Passover, and that particular year on what Christians have long since called Good Friday.  The Roman Prefect accommodated the crowd by releasing the criminal of their choice and the proverbial lot cast on this occasion, fell to Barabbas.

This was quite an unusual custom for the Romans to embrace, and one would have to wonder how the Jews persuaded Roman officials to acquiesce to such a request.  What were the chances an individual imprisoned by the Romans for egregious behavior would go free?  But as I have long since come to believe, even evil exists to fulfill God’s purpose. (Habukuk 1: 5-11)  So here Pontius Pilate, a man known for insufferable brutality (Luke 13: 1) who carried complete legal authority regarding this matter, sent Jesus to be crucified and released Barabbas to freedom. This done despite his strong personal preference and repeated statements that Christ was innocent.

Leviticus chapter 16 describes a priestly ritual in which Aaron was commanded to prepare a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household. This was necessary to spare his life as a High Priest when he entered into the Holy Place, apart from which he would surely die.  Then he was to take two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.  Casting lots over the two goats, one goat would be sacrificed and one set apart for AZAZEL.  Azazel was a Hebrew term used to describe the goat of departure, or the SCAPEGOAT.  This Goat would be set free in the wilderness, while the other goat would be sacrificed to the Lord. Barabbas seemingly the former.

It seems doubtful Barabbas sensed God’s merciful plan of salvation during those defining moments and legend tells us he arrogantly gloated over the decision made that day. Could he foolishly have believed he outsmarted the system and yet again had gotten away with his corrupt deeds? Some stories tell of a later repentance in his life in which he became a follower of the risen Savior. We just don’t know for sure. One thing I do know; for the Barabbas that lives in my heart and the heart of all men, I pray to live the rest of my days in humble gratitude. For I was the guilty one released,  forever  free to go, as Jesus, the Holy Lamb was slain for the debt I owed.