Posted on by Renee Meyer · 2 Comments

The Call of Jesus: Come to Me and learn Sonship

Growing up, my value system was unknowingly ruled by 3 main things, 3 ways I managed life in order to know that I was OK.

Achievement. I was a hard worker, not for the sake of hard work or because I valued excellence really, but because I valued being thought well of. I was driven by reputation.

Relationship.  I felt good about myself because of who my friends were. And I was a good and caring friend – sometimes at the expense of my own needs, and in spite of my better judgment. I was a good and caring friend so that people would like me. Because I needed them to be my friend, I needed them to like me.

Responsibility. As the oldest child in a broken home, I felt responsible for others, aware that the younger ones were watching, that I was expected to be a good influence. I was always aware of my responsibility. I didn’t realize it at the time, but now I see that I thought I could overcome the hurt and pain and unpredictability in our family for myself and my siblings, by the power of my own responsibility and reliability. When I went off to college and left this role, predictably I went a little wild.

This was my value system, my way of managing life and being OK: Reputation, Relationship and Responsibility (and I was much better at being responsible for others than I was for myself.) That is how I was OK in the world.

Then, halfway through college, I met Jesus. I fell head over heels in love with Him, He filled up empty spaces I didn’t even know I had.

For years, this is how I shared my story: Before Jesus, I found safety, security, LIFE in relationships & reputation. But then I met Jesus and learned to find safety, security, life in Him.

I had been a Christian and telling this story for over 10 years before I realized it was a lie. Read more

Posted on by Renee Meyer

Abundance v. Scarcity {Living on the Rock}

This week in Living on the Rock, we are discussing a concept that’s intrigued and perplexed me for as long as I can remember: Jesus’ promise of abundant life.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The Mssg translates this: “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

This week we spent a couple of days looking at the Bible’s promise of ABUNDANCE. And the promise is abundance of LIFE, an abundant life. The word used there in John is elsewhere translated  MORE. It means exceeding, more than is necessary, surpassing, uncommon.

So my question is WHAT IS ABUNDANT LIFE? How do you have more life than is necessary? What kind of life is that? Read more

Posted on by Renee Meyer

A Blank Check {Living on the Rock}

This week in my Living on the Rock Bible study, we discussed the primary name of God: YAHWEH: I am that I am, the name by which God introduced Himself to Moses and Israel.

These simple words, I AM, express therefore eternity and unchangeableness of existence, which is the very first element necessary in a God who is to be depended upon. No dependence could be placed by any one of us upon a changeable God. He must be the same yesterday, today, and forever, if we are to have any peace or comfort.

But is this all His name implies, simply “I am”? I am what?–we ask. What does this “I am” include?

I believe it includes everything the human heart longs for and needs. This unfinished name of God seems to me like a blank check signed by a rich friend given to us to be filled in with whatever sum we may desire. The whole Bible tells us what it means.

Every attribute of God, every revelation of His character, every proof of His undying love, every declaration of His watchful care, every assertion of His purposes of tender mercy, every manifestation of His loving kindness–all are the filling out of this unfinished “I am.” God tells us through all the pages of His Book what He is. “I am,” He says, “all that my people need”: “I am their strength”; “I am their wisdom”; “I am their righteousness”; “I am their peace”; “I am their salvation”; “I am their life”; “I am their all in all.” – Hannah Whitall Smith, God of All Comfort

I love the idea that Yahweh’s meaning, “I AM” is like a blank check that I can fill in with whatever I need .

Not to say Yahweh will give me material things – He’s not that kind of blank check. But what we all need is not material things.

But He is the answer to every real need that I have. I wonder how often we pray for things—wisdom, peace, strength—and think there is no answer. Read more

Posted on by Renee Meyer

This week in Living on the Rock, we are discussing the primary name of God: YAHWEH. I am that I am, the name by which God introduced Himself to Moses and Israel.

In Exodus 3, God shows up in a burning bush and introduces Himself to Moses as Yahweh, I AM THAT I AM. In this introduction Yahweh says (3 x in Exodus 3) “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” He places Himself squarely in Israel’s history.

This is the God who made Israel a tribe and a people. And He is now intervening directly in their history.

In this first introduction of Yahweh to His people through Moses (Exodus 3), we learn several things about Yahweh:

  • He sees, gives heed to, is aware of their affliction.
  • He responds to their affliction by coming down to deliver them.
  • He hears their cries.
  • He promises to be WITH them (Moses in this part of the story, but the promise is extended to all of the people later.)
  • He has come DOWN to bring His people UP from affliction and slavery.

All of this would have been called to the Jewish mind in the name YAHWEH, as well as what follows this story:

  • Yahweh delivers Israel from Egypt, through the Red Sea on dry land, and leads them over 40 years in the wilderness, until delivering them into the promised land.

In the Jewish mind, the name Yahweh would have brought with it deliverance, presence, a God who intervenes on behalf of His people.

A God who comes DOWN to bring them UP out of slavery. Read more

Posted on by Renee Meyer

Secure in His Care {Living on the Rock}

This week in my Living on the Rock Bible Study, we took a long, lovely look at Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

No sheep always lives in green pastures, that would have been ridiculous to the first readers. Shepherds were always moving their flocks around – things would get sparse (because the sheep would EAT all the grass), so the flock would move on. We can’t take these as specific promises (I will never need anything; I will always live in lush pastures by quiet waters).

So rather than taking these as specific promises, I think we step back and ask what we learn about God’s character from this Shepherd picture. What’s the big picture promise about who our God is? Read more

Posted on by Renee Meyer

Who are you going to believe? {Living on the Rock}

This week in Living on the Rock, we are discussing our heavenly Father’s love. Along with verses and verses of Scripture, we asked ourselves:

How has your relationship with your earthly father affected how you see God as your Father?

The Father’s love for us is a key truth that shapes our God view. Maybe this is universal for men and women – I don’t know, I’ve only ever been a women. But as women I think our God view can be unduly influenced by the men in our lives – our fathers, but also other men. 

So my question for us this week is this:  

Who are you going to believe?

Read more