For the past month, when I've found the times to be quiet, I've found myself asking myself "is this all real? Is this Jesus thing, is it real to me? Despite all the theology, all the whatever, is this thing for real or is it all a game I'm playing?" And in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul rightly recognizes that this question all hinges on a historical question. "Did Christ really raise from the dead?" And in response to that question he lists all these things we should do if it's not. He lists the implications in honesty as if he's lived in light of the implications. In verse 17, he basically says that if Christ has not been raised, we should just go back to the futility of self-justification. We've still got to do something with our sins. But after this, there is a response to these implications of the "if":
"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (ESV)
I'm grateful that the exchange we made back in Genesis 3 has been exchanged back by the work of Jesus. So helpless, so dead we were. How saved, how loved, how alive we are. Praise Jesus. Thank God for the cross and the empty tomb. We're no longer in our sins anymore. As Christ's body wasn't still found in the tomb, neither are ours. We're alive. We've been raised. We've been resurrected from the dead. Good news!
About Me
- JonLau910
- "The good, bad, ugly, Lord use it. I just want You to be glorified through it." -Andy Mineo
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
I can actually see it.
Sometimes I wonder whether my theology is a product of other people's theologies combined with little effort on my part of actually struggling with the scriptures to see what they mean. Like there's a difference between having a working theology and reading scripture and agreeing about it and coming into scripture with no game plan and letting the scriptures determine what you believe. Wow I just realized I was defining eisegesis and exegesis in the middle of that sentence. So I guess it's just comforting to know that this faith is my own tonight. That these things I believe about God and His scriptures, this gospel I say I will lay my life down for, it's something I can actually see in this book. It's not my hero's idea but it's right here in front of me on pages of paper.
It's just fun sometimes where you go "oh snap, i'm reading exodus 20 and for some reason I see Romans 7 all over it." It's exciting. Like you hear people you trust go "The Old Testament is all about Jesus. It's pointing to Him the whole time." But to actually see it, to feel it, to have a glimpse of the scope Paul was writing in to the church of Rome.
I wonder if I'm being overdramatic. It's just a fear of mine I've had ... "is the message of the scriptures something I've actually seen with my own eyes or is it something I kind of/somewhat see and just agree with?" "Is this stressing of the necessity of gospel-centeredness something I've personally been convinced of in the scriptures or is it a ministry philosophy/camp I agree with b/c I like and trust the guys and friends that say it?" That's my flesh a lot of the time. But, there are some rich moments where I begin to see that this stuff is simply true. "As clear as day" as they say. The gospel is everything. I thank God tonight for showing me this in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 and Romans 7.
I'm not sure I have a favorite verse but I think John 19:30 might be it:
"It is finished."
Thank You for giving me spiritual eyes to see God.
-Jon
It's just fun sometimes where you go "oh snap, i'm reading exodus 20 and for some reason I see Romans 7 all over it." It's exciting. Like you hear people you trust go "The Old Testament is all about Jesus. It's pointing to Him the whole time." But to actually see it, to feel it, to have a glimpse of the scope Paul was writing in to the church of Rome.
I wonder if I'm being overdramatic. It's just a fear of mine I've had ... "is the message of the scriptures something I've actually seen with my own eyes or is it something I kind of/somewhat see and just agree with?" "Is this stressing of the necessity of gospel-centeredness something I've personally been convinced of in the scriptures or is it a ministry philosophy/camp I agree with b/c I like and trust the guys and friends that say it?" That's my flesh a lot of the time. But, there are some rich moments where I begin to see that this stuff is simply true. "As clear as day" as they say. The gospel is everything. I thank God tonight for showing me this in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 and Romans 7.
I'm not sure I have a favorite verse but I think John 19:30 might be it:
"It is finished."
Thank You for giving me spiritual eyes to see God.
-Jon
Monday, April 18, 2011
No doubt
Further confirmation of the calling. I think anyway.
I found myself asking "do i really wanna do this for the rest of my life?"
I replied: "No doubt."
It's exciting how these next years will play out. I'm afraid as I suppose it's normal to be, and sad at the realities of growing up. I absolutely love my friends here at Baylor and my family back at CBC. But for now, I'm not going to think about the thought of not seeing them as much and just take advantage that I can tomorrow :D.
He's good. plain and simple. He's good. Jesus, thanks. None compares.
-Jon
I found myself asking "do i really wanna do this for the rest of my life?"
I replied: "No doubt."
It's exciting how these next years will play out. I'm afraid as I suppose it's normal to be, and sad at the realities of growing up. I absolutely love my friends here at Baylor and my family back at CBC. But for now, I'm not going to think about the thought of not seeing them as much and just take advantage that I can tomorrow :D.
He's good. plain and simple. He's good. Jesus, thanks. None compares.
-Jon
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Alfred and Friday, Friday, Friday. Kidding.
Me, prepping some notes based off of Romans 1:18-25 around Saturday night, at 4am ... heh. Alfred wakes up from a 4 hour nap.
Me: "why does God hate sin? Why does our sin invoke His wrath?"
Alf: "... Because ... He loves us."
Me: "... dangggg dawgggg! That's good! Yes! *pounds it*. That's gonna make it in on Friday."
-We had just had a nice chat at Texas Roadhouse and Alfred goes back to sleep after this conversation about 10 min alter ... I love Texas Roadhouse's fort worth ribeyes!
I love the multiple layers of the gospel. God is personally offended and angered and infuriated against sin. Why? Because a perfect Father loves His children enough to hate the things that separate His children from His all-satisfying, all-providing self. We need to get back to Him somehow. And His infinite perfection and holiness demands that it come at a costly, costly price. Praise God for His Son, Jesus. Praise God for Jesus.
By the grace of Jesus Christ, I have an opportunity right now to be discipling a newer believer in Christ. His name is Alfred Lee. It's been a joy to just be a part of his life and to be an agent that got to see, firsthand, the transforming work of the gospel on his life. It's crazy. Just looking back on how far he's come and how much more God is doing and will do in him. It's crazy. He's going back to his home, Taiwan, on his first ever mission trip! That's pretty exciting ... to think about Acts 17 playing itself out ... Me and Alf really shouldn't have that much in common to be honest. He's a first generation Taiwanese student who never wanted to come to the states and leave his home behind, with no working knowledge of who Jesus was and I'm a 2.5(?) generation, Texan, Cantonese, brisket-loving wanna-be ghetto kid who grew up in the church but never felt like I belonged to it. Somehow God works ... And thinking about all those times where Alfred would just sit on our couch in my apartment, with a friendship solely built on the sport of basketball (what a sovereign God we serve), and kinda just waiting ... as if He was waiting for me to share the gospel with him or something ... It took entirely too long (in my opinion) but what joy it was when I finally did share the great news of the person and work of Jesus. Fast forward 7-8 months later, and Alfred later decides to follow this Jesus at a camping trip with the fellowship group that brought our paths together, at a moment where i was so disbelieving in God and the power of the gospel, and it's all just so crazy how it happened. It's not easy discipling someone ... I think this might be my first intentional discipleship relationship, but it's totally worth it and it's satisfying ... Sometimes it's hard to be patient, and work through the weeks where it seems so hard ... just life and trying to teach and lead a friend to more Jesus. But then there's moments like these where they get it! And I'm reminded that the costs of following Jesus are great and I'm aware that many "dark nights of the soul" will come, but, boy, is Jesus worth it. Jesus alone is worth it. I can't believe I say things like that still.
I'm a little nervous coming into Friday. This is going to be the first time I'll have spoken in front of a large group since ... high school after a mission trip. This time is different however. Much different. These are my peers and my dearest friends and brothers and sisters and I feel a lot of weight already, a lot of the gravity of preaching already and a lot of nervous doubt of "what the heck am i doing? I can't do this. Part of me wants to run away from "preaching" because you know ... "me!? who am I to speak? I shouldn't be doing this." Yet, I know this is what He calls me to do. I'm scared, yes, but I'm excited and hopeful for the Holy Spirit to perhaps be mighty ... even through a weak vessel like me. I think God much enjoys it to use completely average nobody's if only to have us say "Danggg, that really had nothing to do at all with us. It had to be the God of the universe." My heart's heavy in a good way. My main prayer is to be an obedient server of the dish of the gospel, and to have a peaceful joy in knowing that in the end God saves ... not my attempts at eloquence. Jesus, call your sheep by name, just like you did Alfred, just like you did me, just like you're doing as I type. Make much of your glorious name.
Me: "why does God hate sin? Why does our sin invoke His wrath?"
Alf: "... Because ... He loves us."
Me: "... dangggg dawgggg! That's good! Yes! *pounds it*. That's gonna make it in on Friday."
-We had just had a nice chat at Texas Roadhouse and Alfred goes back to sleep after this conversation about 10 min alter ... I love Texas Roadhouse's fort worth ribeyes!
I love the multiple layers of the gospel. God is personally offended and angered and infuriated against sin. Why? Because a perfect Father loves His children enough to hate the things that separate His children from His all-satisfying, all-providing self. We need to get back to Him somehow. And His infinite perfection and holiness demands that it come at a costly, costly price. Praise God for His Son, Jesus. Praise God for Jesus.
By the grace of Jesus Christ, I have an opportunity right now to be discipling a newer believer in Christ. His name is Alfred Lee. It's been a joy to just be a part of his life and to be an agent that got to see, firsthand, the transforming work of the gospel on his life. It's crazy. Just looking back on how far he's come and how much more God is doing and will do in him. It's crazy. He's going back to his home, Taiwan, on his first ever mission trip! That's pretty exciting ... to think about Acts 17 playing itself out ... Me and Alf really shouldn't have that much in common to be honest. He's a first generation Taiwanese student who never wanted to come to the states and leave his home behind, with no working knowledge of who Jesus was and I'm a 2.5(?) generation, Texan, Cantonese, brisket-loving wanna-be ghetto kid who grew up in the church but never felt like I belonged to it. Somehow God works ... And thinking about all those times where Alfred would just sit on our couch in my apartment, with a friendship solely built on the sport of basketball (what a sovereign God we serve), and kinda just waiting ... as if He was waiting for me to share the gospel with him or something ... It took entirely too long (in my opinion) but what joy it was when I finally did share the great news of the person and work of Jesus. Fast forward 7-8 months later, and Alfred later decides to follow this Jesus at a camping trip with the fellowship group that brought our paths together, at a moment where i was so disbelieving in God and the power of the gospel, and it's all just so crazy how it happened. It's not easy discipling someone ... I think this might be my first intentional discipleship relationship, but it's totally worth it and it's satisfying ... Sometimes it's hard to be patient, and work through the weeks where it seems so hard ... just life and trying to teach and lead a friend to more Jesus. But then there's moments like these where they get it! And I'm reminded that the costs of following Jesus are great and I'm aware that many "dark nights of the soul" will come, but, boy, is Jesus worth it. Jesus alone is worth it. I can't believe I say things like that still.
I'm a little nervous coming into Friday. This is going to be the first time I'll have spoken in front of a large group since ... high school after a mission trip. This time is different however. Much different. These are my peers and my dearest friends and brothers and sisters and I feel a lot of weight already, a lot of the gravity of preaching already and a lot of nervous doubt of "what the heck am i doing? I can't do this. Part of me wants to run away from "preaching" because you know ... "me!? who am I to speak? I shouldn't be doing this." Yet, I know this is what He calls me to do. I'm scared, yes, but I'm excited and hopeful for the Holy Spirit to perhaps be mighty ... even through a weak vessel like me. I think God much enjoys it to use completely average nobody's if only to have us say "Danggg, that really had nothing to do at all with us. It had to be the God of the universe." My heart's heavy in a good way. My main prayer is to be an obedient server of the dish of the gospel, and to have a peaceful joy in knowing that in the end God saves ... not my attempts at eloquence. Jesus, call your sheep by name, just like you did Alfred, just like you did me, just like you're doing as I type. Make much of your glorious name.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Exciting.
The ministry of Asians For Christ (the Intervarsity group I'm plugged into here at Baylor) really freakin excites me. Next year's gonna be crazy awesome. The rest of this year I'm equally excited about. It's fun for me to look back and see where I've grown. Every year I swear I'm like "last year Jon was such a arrogant jerk that thought he had all the answers to everything ..." All that to say that it's a good thing (sanctification?) and it's been a blessing to be part of this particular ministry. And dare I say that as the end of my college career is looming nearer every day, I'm beginning to feel the Hebrews 11-like vibe for this ministry. Stretching it a tad? I don't think I am too much :). A sliver more grateful every day for the asian brethren who've gone before me and even the founders ... *stares into the distance in deep thought and reflection* ... Weird to say but I'm even more excited to see what it'll look like in like 3-4 years.
The blog I title "Asians For Christ" will be an emotional one (and probably a 7-10 page paper) so I've changed the title to "Exciting" and will save that title for super senior year :). Might as well be my "graduation thesis" or w/e. I don't think I do that as a human resources major ...
...
Jesus, thank you. You loved us first. Be precious to us. Be cherished by us. Transform this campus for the sake of Your glorious name.
The blog I title "Asians For Christ" will be an emotional one (and probably a 7-10 page paper) so I've changed the title to "Exciting" and will save that title for super senior year :). Might as well be my "graduation thesis" or w/e. I don't think I do that as a human resources major ...
...
Jesus, thank you. You loved us first. Be precious to us. Be cherished by us. Transform this campus for the sake of Your glorious name.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Grace, a call confirmed, and the need for more grace.
Thankful for a community of brothers that know me and allow me to know them. I tend to run away from them sometimes but they love me regardless (whoa sanctification). Me and Aug really are totally opposite but we've concluded that it makes us a great tag team.
Today I was reading Ezra at work today (my job allows me to do whatever basically), and somehow at chapter 9 something just stirred in me and helped me reevaluate my most singular life passion: To be able to play my part in a resurgence of the explicit gospel of Jesus Christ. Resurgence being the word for a particular reason while also seeing and being greatly encouraged by many many faithful men and women living and breathing it as I type this. I'm grateful for my first mentor who loved the gospel so much that he preached it every single sermon, talked of it in tons of conversations (a lot of fun dating convos haha) and I could always tell he was thinking about it by that look in his eye. I've been blessed with an apartment-mate who not only loves the gospel but has ANGST to see its power manifested. I'm excited and hopeful that our generation of young people would be obsessed, enamored, and deeply satisfied by the beauty of the explicit gospel of Jesus. Not a system, not a particular camp of theology, but simply the person and work of Jesus. This is what excites me more than anything else and I'm excited to see that my burning for it is making me see the urgent need for it right before my eyes everyday. I've always known it and felt it a lil, but it's getting stronger and I feel it pushing me to where, by grace, I'll be able to say with Jeremiah (Jer. 20:9):
If I say, “I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
shut up in my bones,
and I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.
This campus here at baylor, each time I go to the SLC, the library, the business building, the CUB, it's slowly pressing in even more each day ... that people not only need the gospel, but that the harvest really is ready and the workers really are few. I've confessed over the past couple of weeks that I don't give people enough credit in thinking that they don't want this gospel, this Jesus, this God. But I'm compelled a tad bit more each day that they're just waiting and almost pleading for someone to tell em.
I've always somewhat run from the call to pastoral ministry, particularly the ministry of preaching. I'm a preachy guy but when it came to it, I'd shy away and pretend that the business major I'm in would actually be in my long term plans. But this year, I've been freed to at least be able to answer honestly to the question "What are your plans after college?" with "I'm planning on going to seminary and becoming a pastor." It's freeing to not have to shy away from that and being 100% confirmed in that. I'll have my days where I begin to doubt but God willing, I don't think I'd be satisfied doing anything else. So I'm reminded today, and reinvigorated with that passion that I had seemed to have lost the past semester with a question from Paul. I want to dedicate my life to this and consider my life itself as nothing if only I may gain Christ. He's too true to chase anything or anyone else.
"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
-Romans 10:14-17
I'm begging you brothers and sisters, let us partner in this gospel together. It's powerful beyond measure. It's freedom for the captives. It's life to the full. Can't believe he entrusts the ministry of reconciliation to continual screw ups. Maybe it's to "show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Thank You Jesus. You've won my heart and there's no turning back. Your love keeps me. To the praise of His glorious grace.
-Jon
Prayer request for my life: "[Jesus] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me" (Colossians 1:28-29).
Today I was reading Ezra at work today (my job allows me to do whatever basically), and somehow at chapter 9 something just stirred in me and helped me reevaluate my most singular life passion: To be able to play my part in a resurgence of the explicit gospel of Jesus Christ. Resurgence being the word for a particular reason while also seeing and being greatly encouraged by many many faithful men and women living and breathing it as I type this. I'm grateful for my first mentor who loved the gospel so much that he preached it every single sermon, talked of it in tons of conversations (a lot of fun dating convos haha) and I could always tell he was thinking about it by that look in his eye. I've been blessed with an apartment-mate who not only loves the gospel but has ANGST to see its power manifested. I'm excited and hopeful that our generation of young people would be obsessed, enamored, and deeply satisfied by the beauty of the explicit gospel of Jesus. Not a system, not a particular camp of theology, but simply the person and work of Jesus. This is what excites me more than anything else and I'm excited to see that my burning for it is making me see the urgent need for it right before my eyes everyday. I've always known it and felt it a lil, but it's getting stronger and I feel it pushing me to where, by grace, I'll be able to say with Jeremiah (Jer. 20:9):
If I say, “I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
shut up in my bones,
and I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.
This campus here at baylor, each time I go to the SLC, the library, the business building, the CUB, it's slowly pressing in even more each day ... that people not only need the gospel, but that the harvest really is ready and the workers really are few. I've confessed over the past couple of weeks that I don't give people enough credit in thinking that they don't want this gospel, this Jesus, this God. But I'm compelled a tad bit more each day that they're just waiting and almost pleading for someone to tell em.
I've always somewhat run from the call to pastoral ministry, particularly the ministry of preaching. I'm a preachy guy but when it came to it, I'd shy away and pretend that the business major I'm in would actually be in my long term plans. But this year, I've been freed to at least be able to answer honestly to the question "What are your plans after college?" with "I'm planning on going to seminary and becoming a pastor." It's freeing to not have to shy away from that and being 100% confirmed in that. I'll have my days where I begin to doubt but God willing, I don't think I'd be satisfied doing anything else. So I'm reminded today, and reinvigorated with that passion that I had seemed to have lost the past semester with a question from Paul. I want to dedicate my life to this and consider my life itself as nothing if only I may gain Christ. He's too true to chase anything or anyone else.
"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
-Romans 10:14-17
I'm begging you brothers and sisters, let us partner in this gospel together. It's powerful beyond measure. It's freedom for the captives. It's life to the full. Can't believe he entrusts the ministry of reconciliation to continual screw ups. Maybe it's to "show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Thank You Jesus. You've won my heart and there's no turning back. Your love keeps me. To the praise of His glorious grace.
-Jon
Prayer request for my life: "[Jesus] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me" (Colossians 1:28-29).
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