Monthly Archives: January 2013

"To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge." Ephesians 3:19

Emily Grace made her grand appearance Friday a week ago (January 18th). She is my granddaughter, my first grandchild. Like most any grandparent, I have plenty of pictures and plenty of stories. While some people might see it as poor taste to gush over one's own grandchild, I have to say that if you are of that opinion you can stop reading right now. I'm going to gush. Besides, this is my website.

Having been the father of two children prepared me very little for the roil of emotions I experienced when she was born. As a new dad I was nervous and felt slightly incidental to the whole process. This time around I had a profound sense of peace. Another generation arrived. For only the third time in my life, I looked at someone directly, biologically related to me.

Peace gave rise to joy. I honestly don't recall sensing joy at the birth of either of my children. It was a hectic time and, especially with Lauren (my first child) a time filled with uncertainty. I could not believe the medical staff at the hospital was allowing us to take a baby home.

With Emily Grace, however, I knew she would be coming home to her grandmother who is completely comfortable and proficient in caring for a child. Instead of being immersed in the whirlwind, I had a different perspective, one that perhaps comes with both experience and age. A new life arrived in the world. Life is so precious, God's first gift to us. It is good, very good. And that brings joy, a laughter of the soul.

Holding your first grandchild is overwhelming. It feels so right, and yes she is so beautiful! I love looking at her fingernails. She arrived with what appears to be a perfect manicure, tiny little nails on long skinny little fingers. That simple, miraculous perfection is repeated throughout her body, from the smallest, invisible cellular components to the little philtral columns of her lips (look it up). She is a testament to the Creator.

What has most impressed me throughout the last 10 days is watching my daughter become a mother. She read many books about caring for a baby and unblushingly critiqued our parenting prowess with her, but what amazes me is to watch her love this baby. Lauren is enraptured with Emily Grace, absolutely enthralled by her. Emily Grace arrived instantly and permanently loved by her mother.

The love for children is surely the most God-like love. It is not forced, calculated, or measured. From the earliest moments after her birth, Emily Grace was held by someone who is totally committed to her. My granddaughter and my daughter are a window into God's heart.

We are all home now and establishing new rhythms for the day. Frankly, I am surrounded by so much baby-girl cuteness I think I might spontaneously combust. But I am also wondrously reminded of a God who instantly and permanently loves each one of us.

By the way, in case you are wondering, Lauren told me that the middle name Grace was "because of GraceWaves." She has thus irrevocably secured her place in my will.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis (Granddaddy)

January 28, 2013

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." Romans 8:26

This verse is a favorite for many Christians, but before we delve into the particulars let’s begin by noticing an important admission by Paul: he did not know how to pray as he should. In any list of “the most important Christians of the first century” I would wager Paul is going to make the top three. So here we have one of the greatest Christians, the author of nearly half the documents in the New Testament, who often in those documents enjoined us to “pray constantly” admitting that he’s really not very good at it.

Prayer is a basic tool of the Christian trade, so this rather stunning admission may sound akin to your thoracic surgeon telling you he’s not very adept with a scalpel. The difference, of course, is that prayer is much more mysterious and vastly deeper than thoracic surgery. Prayer is at once amazingly accessible and tremendously baffling. Pray openly and honestly because God invites it, but never for a moment believe that you have become skillful. Even Paul felt inadequate. So what should we learn about prayer from this verse that will encourage us to pray?

First, this verse answers an important question: how important is prayer to God? The answer is that prayer is so important that one part of the Trinity is devoted to listening to our prayers and “bringing” them to God. We must not trip over any thought of a reluctant God not wanting to hear our prayers. Paul’s point, and the truth of this verse, is that God wants to assure us of His intense interest in hearing and responding because He loves us. You may not pray as you should, but the problem is not with an uninterested God.

Second, the Spirit’s intercession for us transcends definition. The word for intercede can mean to plead. The Spirit pleads our case. The word for sighs can be used of someone who is in distress. These word pictures are beautiful images not concrete descriptions. Just as Paul’s journey to the third heaven gave him insights which “cannot be told or uttered” (2 Cor. 12:4) this revelation of prayer leaves him struggling for words. The picture Paul paints for us here is of the Spirit genuinely longing to hear our prayers and earnestly seeking an understanding of them that is greater than our own. He also appears to be working our requests into God’s great providence (note: “the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God” in 8:27).

Third, we must not conceive of this work of the Spirit as something external to us. In other, words, do not think of your praying alone in your room, prattling on about this and that, and then having the Spirit hear in heaven and somehow “translate” your incompetent utterings. In Romans 8, Paul has driven home the point that Christians walk according to the Spirit (8:4), are now “in the Spirit” and “the Spirit dwells within us” (8:9), “are led by the Spirit” (8:14), and experience the Spirit “bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (8:16). Paul would have us understand that the Spirit, who is in us by birthright, is deeply involved in our prayers and, in some manner, shares in both the origin and reception of them. He is praying with you.

So what do we do with all of this mystery? A concrete testimony is appropriate. Harry Fosdick, one the greatest preachers of the 20^th Century, suffered a deep depression as a young minister. Of this “horrid experience” he wrote, “I learned to pray, not because I had adequately argued out prayer’s rationality, but because I desperately needed help from a Power greater than my own. I learned that God, much more than a theological proposition, is an immediately available Resource; that just as around our bodies is a physical universe from which we draw all our physical energy, so around our spirits is a spiritual Presence in living communion with whom we can find sustaining strength.”

None of us can comprehend Romans 8:26, but we have enough light to be comforted by a thrilling truth. Prayer is a chief expression of an intensely personal relationship between you and God. Never let your lack of understanding, or even your feelings of ineptitude prevent you from praying. He understands you better than you understand yourself. Take anything to Him. Hide nothing.

Your prayers are not orphan sobs in the darkness. You are a daughter or son of the Father, in Whom you are in constant contact. So pray, not because you fully understand it, but because you desperately need to, and the Spirit desperately wants to help you.

Grace,

Dr. Terry Ellis

January 14, 2013

"Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1-2

This is perhaps a perfect New Year’s text. It sums up so many spiritual qualities and commitments that can make 2013 a better year for you, regardless of the circumstances you face. Let's note each one.

The cloud of witnesses always evokes a lot of questions. Do our ancestors look over us? It’s a pleasant idea, but the Bible teaches us specifically that God Himself watches over us. That’s good because the Spirit of God watching over me is much more beneficial than say, my dad. So why did the author of Hebrews write about a cloud of witnesses? These people are the examples we are to follow. There are people in your past who have had a spiritual impact on you. Remember what they have told you and the examples they led. Some of those spiritual mentors still live. You can talk to them, gain insight, and encouragement. God sends people into your life regularly to help you, and for you to help them. Remember them, or seek them out. You're definitely not alone in 2013.

Laying aside every weight and sin is a little more direct. When we talk about leaving things behind that can drag us down, sin comes first to mind. This is simple: if you have a recurring problem with a particular sin then stop it. And stop it again. We can’t fool around with sin. Jesus taught us to pray "forgive our trespasses" because sin is a deadly reality. It has real, terrible consequences, and should be regularly cleaned out. Stop rationalizing the sin, and start repenting of it.

The word weight is particularly interesting to me. I can fully understand the preacher of Hebrews writing that we should lay aside sin, but why every weight also? What did he have in mind? The word for weight can also mean impediment. I wonder if he was thinking about old fears, disappointments, lingering resentments? We all surely collect enough of those over the years, and they prevent us from thinking about God as clearly as we should. God wants to get everything out of the way so we can see and hear Him more clearly, and feel His love overflow in our hearts.

Ken Chafin, one of the great Baptists who has joined the great cloud of witnesses, was preparing for Easter by praying and spending time alone to listen for God's voice. Here is what he heard: “Kenneth, you’re a little frightened; let me take your fear. Through the years, you’ve accumulated people that don’t like you. You’ve let that bother you. Let me take that away from you. Let me take away your defensiveness and insecurity and bring to you a sense of peace, of boldness, of love, of forgiveness, of openness, and the willingness to risk.”

God may be trying to say the same thing to you. Take a good look at what you're dragging around. It’s impeding you from moving forward with God. Be done with it.

Finally, run with perseverance. I could write or preach a whole series on what it means to run with perseverance. This morning’s sermon was entitled “Look to Jesus!” You can preach a long time with that kind of theme. I resisted that urge, but did point out that this is what the writer of Hebrews was aiming for the entire letter. Jesus is superior, Jesus is sufficient, and because of His sacrifice for us, Jesus deserves our highest devotion. The word for perseverance can also be translated as patience, the kind the actively presses forward with a conviction that God will bless and guide.

I’ll close with a congregational prayer we said together this morning in worship:

"Everlasting God of all the years, You have been our companion through all the mysteries of the past to uphold us when we knew not the way. Take our hand now and share our pilgrimage to an unknown future. Open our eyes to recognize Your presence with us this day that we may give You praise and celebrate the goodness of Your guidance. Renew us. Refresh us. Fill us with Your Spirit; we pray in Christ’s name. Amen."

God has already provided all the help you need for the New Year. Enjoy it.

Grace and Happy New Year,

Dr. Terry Ellis

January 6, 2013