Beware the drudge!

Drudge, even the word sounds ominous. Here's how the dictionary defines it: A person who works in a routine, unimaginative way. I admit that I am a very dutiful guy, who takes responsibility seriously, and who has trouble just letting go and playing. Last Fall, I bought a little Miata convertible - one of the more frivolous things I have done in my adult life. On a sunny day, I enjoy dropping the top, turning up the tunes, and hitting the road. Right in the middle of my fun, a stab of guilt will insert itself: "Shouldn't you be doing _________?" and I struggle with the urge to go back to do some job yet undone. Or I think, "How could you 'waste' this kind of money when there are so many needs around you?" Yep, I can be a real drudge!

In my prayertime today, the Spirit reminded me that His gift to me is joy and that if I allow myself to become a drudge, it's not His fault! The second aspect of the evidence of the Spirit's life in a Believer, the one that follows immediately after love, is joy. Jesus told the teaching story of the vine and branches, illustrating how those who become His disciples are connected to Him and draw life from Him. The principle is clear: No connection, no life! Remain intimately connected with Me, He said, and "you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" (John 15:11, NLT) A joyless Christian, one who is long-faced, miserable, and overwhelmed with his duties, is missing the point somewhere and failing to honor the Lord!

Could it be that we have allowed a caricature of Christianity to define the reality? Yes, the Scripture tells us that Jesus was "a man acquainted with grief, a man of sorrows." He did weep with those who were broken by disappointment, death, and disease. But that is only half of the story. He also earned harsh criticism from the religious leaders for being a man who ate dinner with those they considered low-lifes and sinners. He attracted people to Him everywhere He went. It is not a stretch of imagination to think that He did so by knowing how to laugh and lift them up. Don't forget, His first public miracle was supplying wine for a wedding! Somehow, for most of us, the only picture of the face of Jesus is the tear-stained one He wore on the night of Gethsemane's agony. We forget that kids loved Him, that crowds were drawn to Him, and that He spent a lot of time with so-called 'street people,' - a clue that He had to be a joyful man, too.

So, how do we live in His joy?

Worship! "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11, NIV) If we live life, with our face to the ground, focusing only on the needs, the duties, the pressing responsibilities - we will be overcome with fatigue, if not outright depressed. Worship, offering up the sacrifice of praise, lifts our face to Heaven and allows us to regain a view of God's glorious works. No wonder the Scripture urges us to "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." (Psalm 95:1-2, NIV)

Serve! Stop, Jerry, didn't you just say we need to step away from duty? Yes, I did, but if we give ourselves to vanity, to endless chasing of 'fun,' we will lose the joy of God's approval! Jesus told a story about men who were entrusted with responsibility. Two of the three were diligent and obedient in their service. Note their commendation: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful . . . Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23, NKJV)

Submit! Accepting God's grace for the road you will walk today is important. Nothing that happens to you today surprises Him. Those who are His beloved children can turn to Him and find help, strength, and resources. Sometimes He leads us through dark valleys, along ways we would not choose for ourselves. And, He gives grace for the journey. If we submit to His leadership, we can find joy even in the trials of life.

We must not confuse happiness, a transitory emotion that is largely based on pleasant circumstances, with genuine joy. Joy is a constant work of God's Spirit in us, not something we drum up, create, or paste into place. So, I repent of the sin of drudgery! And I pray for the joy of the Lord to fill my heart and mind so that I will honor Him even with my contentment and smile. I think I'll put in a worship CD when I take my Miata for a drive today- and let a song of praise fill the air, just for joy's sake!
____________

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ.
While fields and floods,Rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove.
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Joy to the World
Isaac Watts© Public Domain

AA and my church

The man's words stopped my thoughts when he said, "I get more out of my AA meetings than I do from my church." He went on to explain that at AA he received the benefit of being with people who had hit rock bottom just as he had, who shared the same shame, who had a keen interest in helping him maintain his sobriety. He is onto something that all churches need to think about seriously! Are we offering acceptance to those who need to be loved to wholeness? When someone full of shame and/or guilt makes their way into our meeting, do they find hope and forgiveness or stares of disapproval and not so subtle suggestions that they get their mess cleaned up?

Finding the right mix of genuine love and challenge to change is not a simple thing. AA does not say to the alcoholic, "You have two weeks to get it right. If you get drunk again more than three times, you're outta here!" Yet, the goal of sobriety is never compromised and anniversaries of sobriety are celebrated with noisy affirmation. Medallions are given out for the recovering alcoholic to carry in his pocket as a reminder of past victories and as a motivation for making right choices today. The success of AA is based on loving acceptance and real encouragement, not on punishment or shame! The 'friends of Bill W.' (AA's nickname) have a lot to teach those who claim to be friends of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that God wants His people to a "glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. . . . holy and without fault." (Ephesians 5:27, NLT) And how does He accomplish this? With love, drawing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. A high priority in our fellowship must be to "see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25, The Message)

How do you relate to other Believers?
Are you quick to criticize?
Are you willing to be authentic and transparent in your own struggles with faith and obedience? Do you celebrate successes - yours and others?
Are you letting others encourage you and offering the same to someone in need?

Make the love of Christ practical. If you know a person who is struggling to make it, whose walk with Jesus is faltering, pick up the phone and reach out. No, don't start out the conversation by saying, "Where have you been? I haven't seen you in church for months." Tell them you miss them. Ask them if you can help them today or if there is something you can pray for with them, and then do it, right then. Instead of rushing into church right at 10 and leaving at the closing prayer, come and talk with your brothers and sisters. Listen and learn. Be a friend and create bonds around the shared passion for Christ and His church.

I don't want AA to be better at 'being the Church' than we are! I am glad for AA and deeply appreciate their mission, but the Church has something even better to offer. We are the redeemed, the transformed, the family of God. Jesus Christ announced His mission with these words. Prayerfully consider them and ask the Lord to make them true of your life and your church. What a mission statement!

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come." (Luke 4:18-19, NLT)

A Priest Who Understands

When I wrote of the silence of God yesterday, I included this, "It's not an intellectual explanation I seek. I long for the touch of the Savior." As I pondered and prayed, I began to realize that the Savior does understand exactly what I am experiencing, for He experienced it, too. At the Crucifixion, even as He was put through physical suffering that is almost beyond my comprehension at the hands of cruel soldiers, He dealt with another kind of pain that was less visible, but more intense! He felt forsaken by God! "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"Matthew 27:46, NIV)

Jesus is God. From the foundation of Creation, He knew the plan of salvation. When He left Heaven to become the Incarnate God-Man, he clearly understood His mission. When He taught His disciples, He told them of what must happen to Him. He knew, yet when He went through the terrible experience that brought us forgiveness and reconciliation, He still felt alone and abandoned by His Father. So I conclude that even if we know what is happening to us, even if we can logically explain our situation, we may still feel alone!

Here's what I did with this. I thanked the Lord Jesus for standing alongside of me. He has promised to pray for me. "Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." (Hebrews 7:24-26, NIV) I give up my desire to press for explanations, release my demands for an easy or simple conclusion. I will just stand by Him, thankful that He knows my heart and that He will be my Priest in Heaven!

If we are willing to just trust God without demanding answers, we will become better comforters to those who suffer, too. Yesterday, I had the privilege of sitting with Andre D., a man from the congregation who has fought cancer's ravages for a long time. His cancer is now advanced, his body and spirit weakened. Instead of trying to offer explanations or even to 'make him feel better' I just listened while he talked and shared his tears. Our fellowship was sweet for a short time as I allowed myself to become "Jesus with skin on" for him. When we prayed, together we just stood alongside of Jesus Christ, by faith, and were comforted that He knew our sense of loneliness and that He was praying for us at the right hand of the God of Glory.

______________________

Jesus, what a Friend for sinners,
Jesus, Lover of my soul.
Friends may fail me,
Foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving;
He is with me to the end!

Chapman, public domain

When God is Silent

For six months since his cancer diagnosis, I have visited my Dad almost weekly. Seeing the way that his strength is sapped, his body weakened, breaks my heart. I awaken at the dawn, lifting him to the Father in Heaven. Seldom do I go to sleep without asking the Lord to be with him and with my mother. And, God appears to be silent! I pray to understand this trial and hear only more silence. I ask for some sense of serenity and feel as though He has ignored my cry! Well-meaning friends assure me that "God has a plan," but right now, even though I know the words are true, they irritate me much more than comfort. Others offer up that "the rain falls on the just and the unjust," a phrase that by this time offers little solace. I long for a word from Heaven, the Spirit's comfort. It is not an intellectual explanation I seek. I long for the touch of the Savior. My faith in God is not in jeopardy. I know Him well and trust Him. It is His silence that is hard to bear.

Ever been there, dear Believer? Seasons like this are named many ways by others. St. John of the Cross called such a time the "dark night of the soul." I have heard others refer to the "dry desert journeying" when the soul is thirsty for God's love. The tempter attempts to turn our focus to ourselves, to make us feel as though we have caused God's silence, and when he succeeds a sense of false guilt is added to our sorrow! In fact, we cannot always know why God is silent and we have only to hold onto His promises while we wait.

David sings of God's silence and his words are a source of comfort for me in the Word. In the Psalms, he writes: "I will praise you with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me?" (Psalm 101:1-2, NLT) In a much more desperate tone, he cries: "Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food." (Psalm 102:1-4, NIV)

What then can I do during this dark night?

First is to continue in what He has said to me in the past and in His Word. His present silence does not mean that I should forget to love Him or to love others, the two commands that are the foundation of all the will of God.

Second is to keep my eyes looking to heaven. Should I look to the things of this earth to heal the wound of my soul that can only be healed by His touch? Many is the person who has gone onto the rocks and wrecked their life when they sought some temporary comfort for the distress of their soul.

Third is to go "Steady on, to endure!" This is the directive of the Word for such times. "Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Hebrews 12:13, NLT)

Fourth is to weep, but not allow bitterness to take hold. To question God's seeming absence is no sin. To wonder why we are not able to hear His voice or sense the comfort of the Spirit is quite acceptable. To rail on Him, to accuse Him of being uncaring, unloving, or unjust only creates a place for doubt to flourish and bitterness to take root. The Word warns that from that root of bitterness comes great and troubling discontent!

If you, too, are bearing the silence of God, join me in an earnest prayer for faithfulness! This was what I asked of Him today that He would see my weakness and make it an opportunity to display His power, that He would defend me against the Destroyer and keep me faithful. Ask Him the same. He will do it, for His glory and His own Name's sake. Amen.
______________

"Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
"What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help."

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and
clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."

(Psalm 30:4-12, NIV)

More than you could ask or even imagine!

At the Assembly, we recently concluded a class for new Believers called, "The Foundation Experience." In feedback I received from several participants, it was noted that praying with and for each other was the best part! That group did experience some wonderful answers to prayer, including healings, personal guidance, and even a report about God helping with a custody issue in court. I hope those who were part of that class never forget the privilege and joy of praying for others. God answers prayer! Do I understand exactly why an all-knowing Father asks us to pray? No, but I obey anyway.

When we gather for Sunday worship, I love our prayer time! When I extend the invitation to people to come for prayer, anywhere from 20-30% of the congregation makes their way down to the front of the church. There I see extended families stand with their arms around each other. Tears fall freely as hearts are open to God's presence. As I, and other elders from the church, move down the line anointing people in the Name of Jesus, (see James 5:16) we are calling on the Spirit of God to bring healing, hope, and restoration. Over the years, I have seen the light of faith come in the eyes of those who are standing there! Sometimes the crush of the weight of the human need standing in front of me breaks my heart, and I too, begin to lead in prayer only to find myself too choked with emotion to speak. People bring cancer diagnosis, pending divorce action, threatened lay-off, hearts broken by disappointment - and so much more to their Heavenly Father.

The connection that is formed by the Spirit of God, the pure love that fills the room at that moment, is indescribable. It is a holy moment. To someone seeing this with human eyes it might appear to be foolishness, just an exercise in wishful thinking. To me it is a miraculous intersection of Heaven and Earth: powerful, and unbelievably life-giving. The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (James 5:16, The Message)

Do you pray with others? Honestly, I find a lot of "prayer meetings" among Believers distasteful. Too often, once a person thinks he is grown up in Christ, he loses the earnest childlikeness of genuine prayer. When prayer becomes a time to display one's piety, or when some feel the need to go on and on, stringing Bible phrases and church clichés together in long, boring speeches to God, I just want to get away and get real! Jesus says, "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again." (Matthew 6:7, NLT) Some of the most powerful prayers I have ever known were just a wordless hunger for God's Presence, a humble silence before Him that brought people together. In the quiet and submission to His will, the Spirit of God connected them together with a divine 'electricity.'

Even Jesus knew the value of shared prayer. On the night before He became the Sacrifice for the sins of the world, He was crushed by the knowledge of the way of Cross that lay before Him. The Lord of Glory made this request of his friends - "They came to an area called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him. He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony. He told them, "I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me." (Mark 14:32-34, The Message) Somehow Peter, James, and John failed Him that night, falling asleep when just needed them to be with Him. They missed the opportunity to experience the Presence of God.

So, when your pastor says, "let us pray," don't allow your mind to wander off. Don't just go to sleep. Instead, join your heart with others. Pray earnestly for the needs presented and your own needs as you enter in to His love.

Ponder this amazing promise - "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19-20, NIV) Let us pray!

Here's a blessing to claim, a promise from the Word. Take these words with you today.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21, NIV)

Moving on!

This evening about a dozen 8th grade students from Good Shepherd Christian Academy (http://www.GSCAcademy.com) will go through graduation ceremonies. Some schools call the ceremony where degrees or diplomas are presented to graduates, commencement, a word that I think is more appropriate to the occasion. Commencement is a word that indicates a new start - 'moving on.' Our young students will move on to high school. Some high school students will move on to college; others into the workplace. College grads, with freshly printed degrees, will look for an entry level job.

Graduation, whatever the level of education, is not so much about completion as it is about starting something new! The differing perspective of graduating students is most interesting. Some are anticipating the next step; others reluctantly yield to the inevitability of leaving familiar settings and friendships.

So, Believer, in this season of commencement are you moving on or are you trying to make the world stand still?

Are you full of vision, eager to work with God to make a difference or are you trying to hang onto some place where the memories are sweet?

The Word challenges us to let go of yesterday - both its successes and failure - as we keep pursuing God's plans. Paul writes of the power of Christ's Resurrection and then urges all Believers to understand the 'now' and 'not yet' perspective in which they live. "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. ( completeness) But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:12-14, NLT)

Every day we need to hold a personal commencement ceremony. We take yesterday's lessons as preparation for today's work, as we look for new possibilities that God is preparing for tomorrow! Only when God draws our earthly life to a close will we truly be able to say, "It is finished." Until then, we are keeping step with the Spirit; and what an adventure life with Him can be.

Ready? Set? Go!

_____________________

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Be Thou My Vision
Hull, Eleanor / Byrne, Mary E.
© Public Domain

Just about clean hands?

I think it was Ford Motor Company that had the slogan, "Quality is Job # 1" a few years ago. In the late 1980's the Japanese automobile companies made superior cars. It wasn't a 'style' issue. Putting a high tech radio or a shiny paint job on a car cannot ultimately compensate for a poorly built power train. When consumers realized that foreign cars were lasting longer and needed fewer repairs, the market shifted toward Japanese products. In response to loss of sales, American car makers renewed their emphasis on quality. Within a few years they were building cars that were the equal of Toyota and Honda, though the reputation of foreign cars having a higher quality persists even today. The lesson was that nothing substitutes for real quality!

Living in a way that pleases and honors our God is "Job #1" for us! Most Believers affirm the importance of living a holy life. But, do we actually produce, or are we content with just putting on a good show? Are we content to put a superficial religion over a heart full of pride, selfishness, or greed? Do we think that we have pleased God just because we show up in church, or keep a Bible on the coffee table, or avoid the really 'big' sins?

Jesus saw misplaced emphasis on external religion among the Pharisees. They made sure to keep the rituals of their religion, carefully washing their hands and observing the minute points of the Law, but missed the point of a quality relationship with God. Here's what Jesus said about that. "Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’" Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" . . . Peter said, "Explain the parable to us." "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’" (Matthew 15:10-20, NIV)

Don't miss the point! Jesus wasn't against washing hands before dinner! But He reminded them and us that we must not confuse being sanitary with being holy. A well-scrubbed body, a carefully screened vocabulary, or well rehearsed socially acceptable manners can conceal a filthy heart and it is the dirt in one's heart that concerns the Lord much more than the germs on one's hands. We are so quickly turned away from a genuine pursuit of knowing and loving God into a superficial religion. Giving the Holy Spirit access to our inner thoughts and attitudes and inviting God to put us through His school of faith that makes us like Christ are hard, costly, and painful choices.

It is much easier just to 'wash our hands' and consider the work of holiness accomplished.

Are you a quality Christian, one who really loves God, who has surrendered every part of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ? He will work deeply and persistently to transform those who love Him and who walk obediently with Him day by day. And, the best thing is this: A beautiful holiness will emerge that is authentic and heart-deep! Never settle for a Christianity that is just about clean hands. Seek a pure heart.

Here's a prayer from the Word. Let it shape your prayer today.
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. ... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. .... Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." (Psalm 51:1-2, 10, 12-13, NIV)
Amen.

Molding the man

Sean, my 29 year old son, took the pulpit at the Assembly in my place last Sunday. In his opening remarks, he joked about the various ways I made his life miserable during his teen years. He poked fun at my unyielding demand that he be home by curfew with the often repeated statement that "nothing good happens after midnight." He told about how, when he was 14 years old, I started giving him a clothing allowance of $12 each week with the admonition that he plan wisely to make the money stretch to cover underwear to overcoats! He remembered the infamous mileage charge he had to pay for using my car which made a trip to the neighboring city for a Coke a $20 expense. (I think he exaggerated that one!) But then he told how that he now considers those things "blessings" which taught him the value of discipline and the importance of learning to budget his resources.

Did I make mistakes as a Dad? Too many to recall! Sometimes I remember a harsh word, a mis-judgment, or a failure to recognize some effort made by my kids and my heart aches. Did they only feel the discipline or did they know my love? I wish that time allowed for some do-overs. What I would give to have some of those moments back, to live them with the wisdom that I now possess. What I know is that I loved them with my whole heart and would have gladly died for them if that were demanded of me. I tried to be the best Dad I could be. My focus was not on their comfort or even on mine; it was on developing mature, self-sufficient godly men and women who would be useful to the Kingdom of God.

The Bible says that God is our Father and that He, too, focuses less on making us comfortable than He does on molding us for maturity. And, the best part? He never makes a mistake! Take a look.

"Have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." (Hebrews 12:5-11, The Message)

Believer, does it feel like God is making your life miserable?
Does it seem that He says, "No!" more frequently than "Yes!"?

I know that feeling. Sometimes I even pray, "Father, could you let up just a little?" I think He's pushing me too hard, asking me for what I could never produce, making me do the impossible. But, He isn't! Our perfect Father knows our capabilities, sees now the person we will become, and purposes to lead us into those paths that will make us the people who best serve Him. It's not all hard, either! My kids remember that alongside of the tough discipline of our home, there were liberal amounts of laughter. Our dinner table conversations were sometimes out of control, legendary even in their outrageousness; so much so, that their friends coveted the experience of being at the Scott's house for dinner. God has moments of great joy planned for us as well.

So, trust Him. Center yourself in His love and obey Him.
"It pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God."
____________________________

All things work for our good,
Though sometimes we can't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth,
Our Father knows what's best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So when your pathway grows dim,
And you just can't see Him,
Remember, you're never alone.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart.

He sees the master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don't live as those who have no hope;
All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly,
But He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry,
He's weaving you and me
To someday be just like Him.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart.

Trust His Heart
Carswell, Mason© 1989 Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) / May Sun Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) / Causing Change Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

He's Done It!

People have always looked for for magical means to change their life situations. In the Middle Ages, kings employed legions of men who claimed that they could find the secret of elemental transformation - with a primary goal of turning ordinary lead into precious gold. We no longer pursue that aim, but we still want quick fixes for our problems. Companies get rich offering Americans 'magic' pills that will produce weight loss without diets or exercise programs. Counselors, often with with dubious credentials, claim to be able to rid us of our hang-ups and emotional pain in a couple of sessions were we can learn the secrets of life! And we all know about the myriad wealth schemes that drop into our email, promising instant riches.

But the truth is that all things of value - whether health or wealth - require steady efforts in a long process.

Building wealth requires careful stewardship, wise investments, and not a small amount of the blessings of the Lord with what we call fortuitous circumstances.

Extending good health demands that we monitor our consumption of foods, that we regularly exercise, and that we maintain our bodies by taking care of issues that arise before they become major problems.

Enjoying a wide circle of relationships, one of life's richest rewards, demands maturing beyond childish selfishness and learning to share in the lives of others as we extend forgiveness.

BUT, (there is always that exception, isn't there?) there is a transformation, a place of healing for the soul, that is a gift of great worth available to all, beyond our purchase.
The Bible tells us the story like this:
"Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. Youused to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeyingSatan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. ... All of us usedto live that way, following the passions and desires of our evilnature. ...and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that evenwhile we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when heraised Christ from the dead.
(It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)
For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms-all because we are one with Christ Jesus..... God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this;it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's
masterpiece." Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT

Wow! I hope you didn't read those words too quickly. The promise is so big that it boggles my mind! "Dead, now alive! "Saved... special favor. God's masterpiece!" Why would God would love a sinner like me (and you, too) with a love so great and so wonderful and so powerful -- that we can be saints, not in some moment in the future, but here, now?

Yet, that is what we are: saints, perfect today, in the sight of God because of an amazing work transformation that He accomplishes by the Spirit in us. He offers us beauty for our ashes, hope for our despair, whole lives for the broken ones - and all at His expense! This is THE glorious and amazing truth of Christianity.

To be sure, we have a responsibility to 'work out' the implications of God's love in our day to day lives. There are disciplines of the Spirit to be learned so that the likeness of Jesus is re-created in us more completely. But, do not let anyone tell you that you can be more saved than you are at this moment. There is nothing to be added to His salvation. The work done at the Cross is a complete work on our behalf at the altar of Heaven!

"For Christ didn't enter the earthly version of the Holy Place; he entered the Place Itself,and offered himself to God as the sacrifice for our sins.He doesn't do this every year as the high priests did under the old plan with blood that was not their own;if that had been the case, he would have to sacrifice himself repeatedly throughout the course of history. But instead he sacrificed himself once and for all, summing up all the other sacrifices in this sacrifice of himself, the final solution of sin. Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.
Hebrews 9:24-28 MSG

Have you humbly knelt before Jesus Christ and with faith, renounced your own attempts at pleasing God?
Have you embraced, in faith, this gift of life that is offered to you without cost? If not, why not do it right now - right where you are?

Simply thank God for making a spiritual transformation possible, for forgiving you for the offenses against Him that you have committed both in ignorance and rebellion. Invite the Spirit of God to fill your life and to make you a new person!

And, amazingly, He's done it!

Yahweh Shalom - "The LORD is peace"

It was a long meeting filled with pages of numbers, budgets, requests for funds, and the unspoken implication: "Produce results now!" My reaction? Stress on top of stress. In my first conscious moments the next morning, the Holy Spirit whispered, "Let the peace of Christ rule your heart... live in peace... be thankful!" (Colossians 3;15) Don't you love it when God hands you a prescription for spiritual health? He reminds me that I have a choice in how I respond to the pressure of life, and urges me to choose to receive His peace.

Peace can be an elusive quality of life. Deadlines, pressures, conflicts, chaos, misunderstandings, disappointments; all conspire to give us knotted muscles, furrowed brows, and restless hearts. Most of us believe that peace is circumstantial- that if we could change our place, our position, or our resources - we would find peace.

The Bible tells that true peace transcends our present situation!In the book of Judges we learn that "the LORD is peace." Raiders from the neighboring country of Midian had overpowered the Israelis, driving them into the hills where they hid in caves. Desperation was everywhere! Gideon, who was a farmer, needed to feed his family in spite of the raids and attacks in Israel. So he ventured from the caves, down to the fields. Judges 6 tells that he was hiding out near a winepress, threshing grain, fearing for his life. Suddenly he is aware of a Presence and a voice! "The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" {Judges 6:12 NLT} Gideon knowing only too well that he was anything but a mighty hero, that he was trying to avoid detection at that very moment, questions that assessment. "Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15, NIV) He goes further and questions God's messenger about the desperate times that his people are experiencing. But, when he saw the evidence of God's power and received the promise of God with faith, Gideon's heart changed. "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. (Yahweh Shalom)" {Judges 6:22-24 NIV} The OT word, "shalom" means more than the absence of conflict. Shalom indicates wholeness, restfulness, and satisfaction.

That quality of life is possible in any situation, as long as we are willing to choose to live in the Presence of God. His Spirit produces a serenity that allows us to rise above situations that cause others to panic, be to full of fear, or to fall apart. There are too many moments in my life when I choose to allow life's circumstances rob me of the peace of God. When I attempt to exert control over situations, when I try to impose a 'peace' of my own design, things usually get worse! But when I take time to re-center my soul, taking the offer of the peace of Christ by turning the challenges and problems over to Him with a request for His wisdom, peace follows. Often the situation remains exactly the same, but I am changed.

Don't misunderstand what God desires of you. His will is not that you detach yourself from reality, that you run away from life, or escape into denial. He wants us to be fully engaged with life, bringing order to chaos, healing to the broken, resisting evil wherever it makes its ugliness apparent. We can exhausted, yet serene! Endurance is demanded of us. "Endure hardship like a good soldier," Paul says. But our endurance is not simply borne of a stubborn refusal to retreat! We endure because He stands alongside of us to steady us, to quiet our fear. We are called to be people who live in His Peace!

Today, before you engage with life's challenges, go into the Presence of God. Meditate on His Word, commit yourself and your circumstances to Him. Invite the Spirit to use you as a agent of the Kingdom of Heaven wherever life takes you throughout this day. When you find yourself tensing up, feeling the pressure, breathe a prayer for peace-- "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 (NIV)_________________

In the presence of Your infinite might,
I'm so small and frail and weak;
When I see Your pow'r and wisdom, Lord,
I have no words left to speak.

And I cry holy, holy, holy God,
How awesome is Your name,
Holy, holy, holy God,
How majestic is Your reign;
And I am changed in the presence of a holy God.

In the presence of Your glory,
All my crowns lie in the dust;
You are righteous in Your judgments, Lord,
You are faithful, true, and just.

And I cry holy, holy, holy God,
How awesome is Your name,
Holy, holy, holy God,
How majestic is Your reign;
And I am changed in the presence of a holy God.

© 1989 Integrity's Praise! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) / PDIPraise (Admin. by Integrity's Praise! Music) CCLI License No. 810055

Did you see the sparkle in that uncut diamond?

First impressions are a part of life. Behavioral experts tell us that within 3 seconds of meeting people make judgments about our social status, intelligence, and even our trustworthiness based on the flimsiest evidence; facial expression, posture, the fit of our clothing, grooming, and accessories! We all do it, even unconsciously. And here is something that is even more sobering; those first impressions are nearly indelible. Once made, they stick and are almost impossible to change. Of course, it is a good thing to be able to determine who we should trust, who we should invite into our lives, but not based on a 3 second look which only sees the image.

Believer, Christ in us wants to change us from being servants to image and impressions, both in how we attempt to make the right impression on others and about how we form our opinion of others. He does this by working deeply in us. He wants us to see people, not clothing; real human beings, not a haircut or the watch or ring! Think I'm wrong? Hear the Word. "For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:2-4, NKJV)

Even the most godly can fall into the trap of superficiality. Samuel was a prophet of God who knew the Lord's voice and lived in obedience. The Lord sent him on a mission to Bethlehem where we was to anoint a king for Israel. Led by the Spirit to the household of Jesse, the prophet spotted Eliab, the oldest son, who carried himself with authority and dignity. The Bible reveals his first impression: "Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!" (1 Samuel 16:6, NLT) But he was wrong! God's choice wasn't the son who looked like a king; it was the son with the heart of a king, David. The prophet learned a lesson that is still important today. God told Samuel, "Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7, The Message)

The temptation to judge others based on our first impressions is something that the Lord wants to change in us, Believer. Will you let Him? Next time you find yourself forming an opinion about another person with no evidence other than his race, his body type, or his clothing - repent! Yes, that's right. Confess to the Lord that you have sinned in that moment. Ask for the gift of discernment and for the patience to take a second, a third, and even a fourth look with godly eyes. Pray for the love that lets you see the heart that God sees.

A diamond cutter takes a rough crystal in his hands. He looks at a rock and 'sees' the gem locked in it. With art and skill he cuts and shapes the stone until a sparkling gem of great value emerges. God calls us to see the potential sparkle that can be coaxed from others. Christ died for those who are filthy with sin, whose light is extinguished by depravity. He asks us to share the message of hope and renewal with them, not from arm's length, but in an embrace of love. Our goal is to release the gem from the rock!

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)

No question of defeat!

Ever felt the shadowy presence of dark demons circling at the edge of your life like wolves circling a weakened animal waiting for the right moment to rush in for the kill? In those moments, temptation whispers seductively, "Escape into my arms." Despair reaches out trying to hide the light of hope. Fatigue settles in, making every step an effort, and the body aches. Small hills turn into mountains, minor irritations provoke eruptions of anger. There are many reasons that such times come; illness, conflict, spiritual attack- but a few. The Bible has an encouraging word for a Believer in that place. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? .... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39, NIV)

"More than conquerors" - what can that mean?

The phrase is actually a translation of a single compound word in the Biblical text, that literally could be translated - "super victor." The word conveys the meaning of winning so decisively that the defeated enemy is done, unable to retreat and regroup for another attack. God says that He will pour His strength into us so that we have no reason to question our ability to emerge from the fight in any other place than as a victor, a 'super victor' at that. The Holy Spirit stands ready to infuse us with insight and faith, helping us to see through the illusions of overwhelming and inevitable strength created by the world systems, the craving of our sinful nature, or the Evil One. Believer, He is greater than your trials, your tests, your difficulties.

In Sunday School I learned a little song that becomes even more true in my adulthood: Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong! When they are weak, He is strong! Never get down on yourself because you feel the pressure. Do not conclude that you are a 'poor excuse for a Christian' just because you are experiencing rough days, or because you are weary to the point of despair! None other than Paul came to that low point, too. He says, "We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NLT) The truth is that even the greatest foe of humanity, death, cannot defeat those whose lives are hidden in Christ! Should we die, we enter the Presence of the Lord, where troubles cannot come, temptation is without any power, and Light always shines brightly. "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6, NIV)

Are you tested today? Jesus is strong.
Are you troubled? He is peace.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your bravado is the answer. Don't worry about saying 'the right words' to insure your success. In fact, don't focus on yourself, at all! Trials and troubles come, at least in part, to teach us the folly of self reliance so that we will "rely only on God!" Here's a word from the Word that shows us the right posture to adopt when the demons lurk near. "Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" (Psalm 46:8-11, NIV)

The End of the World scheduled for 2011

Yes, my friend, yet another "Bible Teacher" has worked out the 'hidden meanings' of the Scripture and determined that God's Judgment Day is now set for 2011! In the run up to his conclusion, he sets aside the clear warning of Jesus about date setting for the Second Coming found in Acts 1:7 where we read: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority." (Acts 1:7, NIV) This same 'teacher,' by the way, publicly stated that Jesus' return would be in 1988, and later revised his conclusion to 1994! Here's why I get so irritated with those who try to figure out a date for the Second Coming or the Judgment or the Rapture of the Church: it diminishes the credibility and importance of the Truth.

Even among sincere Believers the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ has become something of a joke because of all the false date-setting and nonsense that sensational preachers wrap around the truth. What ought to be beacon that gives great hope and purpose to our lives becomes a forgotten byword, an obscure doctrine relegated to the back pages of our minds.

I believe that the Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ will return to earth and that He will establish the Kingdom of God visibly among us. It is a keystone doctrine of my Christian faith. For me, and all faithful Christians, the hope of Christ's return is the "Blessed Hope," as it ought to be. These are the Last Days. Yes, I said, it. Are you shocked? Are you asking, "Jerry, do you actually believe the 2011 prophets?" No, not at all. They are foolish and a terrible hindrance to the work of God right here, right now.

Jesus declared that He would come again and that His coming was 'soon.' That was 2 millennia past. Was He mistaken? Dumb question, isn't it? I believe that we are living in the Last Days for two reasons. The first is that history and prophecy for an eternal God looks very different than it does to us who live 'in the moment' and with a grasp on a very short window in time. Second, He knew that for each of us the 'last days' are a reality. Generations come and go so quickly. In our lives the opportunity to do God's work is now, for tomorrow may never come. In that sense, I believe that I am living in the last days.

The promise of the Second Coming is of great comfort, but adds no urgency to my life. If somehow I knew that Jesus would physically sit on a throne in Jerusalem in 2011, nothing about my life would change! I am doing His work right now, living for Him right now, trusting His Word right now, and obeying His will right now. And, that is as it should be. Jesus told a story of servants who were prepared for the return of the owner of the household. "Be ready and keep your lamps burning just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you that he will get ready and have his servants sit down so he can serve them." (Luke 12:35-37, CEV)

Believer, hold to the Promise of His return. There will come a moment when evil is defeated, suffering is ended; when the things we did not understand are made plain. A day of vindication of those who gave their lives and fortune for the cause of Christ will surely come. God promises us that. The great chapter of faith, Hebrews 11, begins with accounts of great triumphs and ends with these words about those who did not appear to live in victory. There we read that "Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us." (Hebrews 11:36-40, NLT) Their sacrifices await the Day of His Glorious Return when the jeers of the mockers will be silenced!

Believer, I hope that you are living in a way that would not need to change, in the least, regardless of the day of His appearing! Whether the trumpet announcing His return sounds today, in 2011, or in 3000 AD; may we be living faithfully, hopefully. Here is a word from the Word. Take it to heart today.

"Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work. I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion. "How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they’ll walk through the gates to the City." (Revelation 22:12-14, The Message)
_______________________________

Word Seed

One of the great gifts that my parents gave to me is the familiarity with Scripture that was created by my regular attendance at Sunday School and church, along with the reading of the Word in our home. My brain is full of passages from the Bible, stories of the Old Testament heroes and Jesus, and teaching about the Christian life from the letters of Paul. I understand and interpret the events of life and the world around me through the filter of the Word. Don't get me wrong. I still have questions. I despise the simplistic mindset reflected by the old line, "God said it! I believe it! That settles it!"

Life is very complex. Truth is not simple, answers are not always easy to find. Finding the way to bring the eternal wisdom of God to bear on the challenges of life is often an act of faith and requires discipline of mind and spirit. Then, too, I know that my heart is given to rebellion and seasons come when it presses hard to throw off His reins and run head-long after its own way! More than a few times in my adult life my way has been a long dark walk of faith not sight. In those times I cling desperately to what I believe God has said despite situations that seem to make His Word a lie.

Yet, I am comforted, corrected, and guided by the wisdom of the Word, which the Spirit brings to my consciousness again and again. Jesus says that it is like seed planted in in us! He told us this teaching story. "What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:3-9, The Message) His friends came to Him later on and asked Him, "Why do you tell these stories? What does a story about a farmer planting seeds have to do with us?"

And He explained, "Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

"The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:18-23, The Message)

Will you open your heart and mind to the Word Seed?
Don't argue with God's wisdom because 'it just doesn't make sense.'
Don't hold Him at arm's length while you dispute His correction.
Don't refuse His comfort as you demand that He explain Himself.
Instead, give yourself to diligent study. Thank Him for the promises and the boundaries; the correction and the comfort. God is never offended by our honest questions, but we certainly sin when we allow our questions to become a root of bitterness or an excuse for rebellion. Be like Jeremiah who exclaimed: "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)

Here's some Word Seed. Ask the Spirit to plant this prayerful passage deep in your mind and heart today. "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." (Psalm 119:10-16, NKJV)
______________________________

I've had many tears and sorrows.
I've had questions for tomorrow.
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only come
To make me strong.

Through it all, through it all,
Oh, I've learned to trust in Jesus;
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys;
I thank Him for the storms
He brought me through.
For if I'd never had a problem,
I wouldn't know that He could solve them;
I'd never know what faith in God could do.

Through It All
Andrae Crouch © 1971 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)CCLI License No. 810055

"Get Saved," or Be Transformed?

God is depending on us! It is true! The King of the Universe relies on us to be living demonstrators of the power of the Spirit to transform a mere human being into a living saint! What a privilege and honor and what a responsibility. Believer, do your day to day decisions reveal an ongoing conversation with Christ and His Word in which you are applying His Kingdom truth and principles to your choices? Another way to ask it, do you show a life of faith, hope, and love that is built around the desire to know and please God? Have you settled for childish "bless me, Jesus" prayers, safe Christian friends that do not challenge your choices, and clichés about faith instead of fire-tested faith that wrestles with life's mysteries?

Jesus confronts us with a penetrating question that demolishes the vain hope of those who will not be truly transformed disciples. He said, "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes." (Luke 6:43-44, NLT) "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins." (Luke 6:46-49, NLT)

In a great little book called, unChristian, David Kinnaman shares his research about the Christian spiritual experience in America. In studies that followed accepted research practices, he found that two-thirds of adults in America claim to have made some kind of commitment to Jesus Christ at some point in their lives which remains important to them. Of those in that group who are ages 18-41, a third say they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith, while in those over 42+ about half make the same claim. That means about 50-60 million adult Americans claim to be absolutely committed to Jesus Christ. That's the good news! And, those numbers make me ask some questions.

That many people can exercise considerable clout - economically, politically- and they could accomplish a lot with volunteer efforts, so why don't we see a spiritual renewal of unprecedented proportions happening in America?

Why aren't issues like poverty, divorce, and economic opportunity being solved by millions of creative Spirit-filled people working to apply the Gospel's message and values to society's ills?

Here's the bad news. When these same individuals were asked questions that measured the depth of their faith and how they applied what they claimed to believe to daily life, the statistics went down remarkably. Only about 3% of Believers between the ages of 18 and 41 and 9% of those ages 42+ possess a truly Biblical worldview. Why is this true? Kinnaman suggests that the evangelical church is largely set on a 'get saved' mentality where a person is urged to make a decision to accept Christ that is largely emotional. A better model, he says, is to aim for spiritual transformation, a process in which a person is taught to think about truth, presented with the challenge of changing his life completely to serve Christ, and makes a choice for change that leads to adopting a whole new worldview centered on Christ and the Scripture. He writes, "the core of the 'get saved' mentality is a one size fits all message that fails to connect with their unique sensibilities, personality, or intellectual capabilities. ... people desperately need to be taught to process the rich complexities of life, to probe and test and stretch their faith from the perspective of a Christ follower."

Obviously we cannot ignore the power or influence of the Holy Spirit in the process of heart transformation, but we also know that he does not just magically change us. He works through our minds to change our way of living. If we want to fulfill Christ's commission to 'be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth,' we must shift our focus from simply 'get saved and go to Heaven,' to spiritual transformation that shapes the character of Jesus in us; sinners becoming saints.

Here's a word from the Word. Let the Spirit use it to challenge you to greater devotion today. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." (Romans 12:2-3, NLT)

Look in the right place!

The passage is familiar, "I will lift my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?" The Psalmist, whose identity is unknown to us, is reflecting on his search for comfort in time of trouble. As he gazes out on the mountains, for a moment he imagines that some relief might come from some hidden source there. When troubles pile up, we look for relief, too. Many things appear to be an answer. "If only I had more money, I could solve this problem," we may conclude. Can money really buy peace of mind? "If only I could get away for a few days," we muse as we dream of a mountainside cabin overlooking a sun-dappled valley. But we all know that the 'geographic cure,' is temporary, at best. Some who find life's difficulties pressing down on them, indulge the sinful nature seeking relief in 'answers' that only create more problems.

That Psalm continues with this line: "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:2, NIV) There was no deliverer that was about to ride down from the hills, but the writer knew that there is a Deliverer, a Help in time of trouble. He is the Creator; His Name - Yahweh. (Jehovah, to some) He is our Help! We cannot go wrong by searching for Him, by waiting for His answer to arrive in our time of distress.

"He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade." (Psalm 121:3-6, NLT)

Two truths comfort us.
The first is that God's care is available 'round the clock. When other friends weary of helping, when the dark hours of the middle of the night stretch on endlessly - He is not tired! He stands alongside of us when the demons that lurk in the darkness threaten!
The second is a truth that a person living in that arid desert appreciated more than most of us. "He is your protective shade!" In the heat of the day, a man could die in the desert from the scorching heat of the sun. A shady spot was a much needed place of safety at midday. God is always there for us - midnight and midday!

Have you grown weary in life? Do you need some help to cope, to stay on the road, to finish your task? Keep reminding yourself, "My help comes from the LORD!" Look for Help in the right place.

Here's a word from the Word for today; a declaration of commitment and hope.

"I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil." (Psalm 101:2-4, NIV)
"My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me." (Psalm 101:6, NIV)
_______________________

Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him,
And say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord,
And help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus.

Open Our Eyes
Bob Cull© 1976 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055

Big smile, great speech - Pick me!

The article's title grabbed my attention, "How to pick a President." It is the cover piece in the most recent issue of Christianity Today. (June, '08) I wish every American would read it and discuss the thoughts of the authors before casting their votes for our next President. The central idea of the article is that "virtue trumps policies and ideology" as a qualifier for leadership! I want to shout - "Amen!"

The lengthy, grueling (some might say torturous) path to the Presidency means that anyone seeking the office must have an incredible self-confidence and inner motivation, what some call 'fire in the belly.' Nobody could survive the constant attention, the unrelenting attacks and minute analysis of each and every twitch and syllable, if he wasn't possessed by the idea that he just had to be the President of the United States. But from where does that desire spring? If it is pure lust for power, then we're in for trouble. Such a President will personalize his policies and be unable to realize the difference between personal success and the good of the nation. He will likely pursue his policies, even when they are failing, because of his need to 'win.' We must have a leader who is convinced that he can lead or he will be weak and incapable of rallying us to his cause. We also need a person who is equally convinced of his own inadequacy in the face of the challenges of being the most powerful person in the world. Such a person will use advice wisely and hopefully seek the wisdom of God on a daily basis.

The article to which I refer in the opening lines includes this paragraph. "The greatest temptation for a well-meaning leader is to use power corruptly in order to accomplish seemingly benevolent ends. The best insurance against corrupt power is to choose leaders with the combination of virtues necessary to use power well." In an age of image and 30 second news stories on 24/7 cable TV networks, the person with the big smile and easy turn of phrase has a great advantage. May God help us to see behind the smile and to listen to the heart, not just the speechwriter's craft. I write that intentionally, since it will nearly be an act of God to discern the 'real' person that exists behind the smoke and mirrors of highly paid image consultants that sell us our Presidents.


Virtue - goodness of heart - the qualities of faith, hope, and love, are important in every leader, not just the President of the US. Whether we're electing a local councilman, a pastor for our church, or a committee chair at the local PTA, we should seek those gifted to lead well from a solid character.


Does all this sound a bit naive? Perhaps. But still I hope! How about you?

Here's a word from the Word for us all...

"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: '...If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.'
Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD."

(Proverbs 1:20-29, NIV)

Just Gotta Have It!

I knew the little square of dark semi-sweet chocolate was right across the room, in the cabinet. I wanted it! I could taste the exquisite flavor just by thinking about it, feel the smooth chocolate melting on my tongue. I resisted for a half-hour, my thoughts turning again and again to the possibility of enjoyment that could be mine with minimal effort. In the end temptation won. That was just chocolate. What about the yearning for things, experiences, pleasures that are of greater consequence?

We're all tempted. Some Believers huff and puff about the sins and failures of others claiming, "I'd never do that. I'm far too mature in Christ to be tempted that way." I want to say, "Get over yourself and admit your humanity." They are denying the truth. The Scripture says, "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) The setting of our temptations will vary and so will the bait on the hook. However, we all come to forks in life's road where there are just two choices: my will or God's will. For one it may be laziness that says, "Let it go 'til tomorrow. Why sweat?" For another it may be the allure of sex: Internet porn, fantasies about a friend, or an offer for an afternoon escape. For yet another it may pride that drives them to pretend to have a deeper spirituality. For still another it may be to overspend and buy bigger and better stuff. For another it might be desire for control misusing words, guilt, or position to dominate others. Yes, we're all tempted! "But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) However, victory requires our cooperation with the Spirit.

How do we resist temptation?

First of all, expect it. It should come as no surprise that the enemy exploits any chink in our armor that he can find. He desires to discredit the Lord and to destroy us. He circles, the Bible says, like a lion on the prowl, looking to have us for dinner. And, contrary to accepted wisdom, he does not always attack at our perceived weakness. We generally have our defenses built there. He takes us where we're strong - because we don't expect him to attack us at that point. Peter reminds us that when we're going through the trials of temptation we are sharing the same experience that Christ endured and he says, "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12, NIV)

Second, never negotiate! You can't outwit temptation. Self is amazingly clever in providing you with an excuse or a justification. If you hover around temptation long enough, you will find a way to take the bait! That is why the Bible says, "O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11, NKJV) "But, Jerry, doesn't the Bible tell us to 'resist the Devil?'" Yes, but resisting the devil is an entirely different exercise than standing as close to the fire of temptation as we think we can without getting burnt!

Third, understand and meet your needs as God intended! We need love, security, food, intimacy, and significance. Those needs were built into us by our Creator. He has provided a way for each of those needs to be met in a way that makes us whole, and when we do, we are much less vulnerable to temptation. Those little chocolate squares I mentioned a moment ago are not at all desirable when I have just enjoyed a good, nutritious meal. A person who enjoys intimacy with his spouse diminishes the power of temptation, too. Paul is very practical when he advises married couples to continue to be intimate with each other! "Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you." (1 Corinthians 7:5, NLT) Struggling with envy over another's joy in the Lord? Know this. A person who is diligent in ministry, using the gift that the Spirit has given to him, will be much less prone to covet the ministry of another.

Most important, look to Christ! We can endure "by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up." (Hebrews 12:2-3, NLT) When I am gripped by temptation I often feel like I am being torn in two, pulled apart emotionally and spiritually. Despite knowing what is right, I want what is wrong. The battle rages in my heart. I just "gotta have it!" whatever the 'it' is at that moment. There is no victory until and unless I find the reinforcement of the Spirit! If I humble myself and quietly I wait on my face before Him, His peace comes to the storm. Why? Because Jesus is my Priest and Intercessor before God. Remember, Believer, there is no shame in admitting to the temptation, for temptation is not sin!

Yes, Believer, while we live in this world, temptations will come at us. Some come from the world systems in which we work and live. Some come from what the Bible calls, 'the flesh,' or the sinful nature, the desires and needs of our physical body that crave satisfaction even in destructive or illicit ways. And some are diabolical, devilish schemes that come from the enemy of God and good.

Here's a word from the Word. Draw the strength of the promise from it today and meet temptation with the Truth that in Christ, you can overcome!

"Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21, NLT)

Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ?

Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ? That subject line got your attention, didn't it, which is my intent! The short answer is simple: I don't know. What is curious to me is why nobody's asking, "Is Senator McCain the anti-Christ?" Why are some Believers so ready to demonize Senator Obama? Why are some so quick to discount his 20 years membership in a Chicago area United Church of Christ and insist that because his African daddy gave him the middle name, "Hussein," his profession to be a mainstream Christian is a lie? Is it that we are not content to debate his policies feeling the need discredit him as much as possible? Politics is a dirty business and it gets even dirtier when clever backroom operatives start email whispering campaigns that play off of our fears and biases.

So why am I writing about this in a TFTD?

It isn't about supporting either the Democratic or Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States. I am much more concerned about how you and I represent our Eternal King. Somewhere deep in my spirit I am convinced that taking the tiniest shreds of 'facts' and turning them into assertions about the truth or falsehood of a man's religious affiliation or using them as basis for his being a figure of the Apocalypse is wrong, very wrong. As a citizen and a Christian, I want to be part of America's electoral process in a thoughtful way that carefully examines all the facts; that prayerfully evaluates how the candidates' positions will safeguard the weak, the poor; how they will promote true liberty and justice for all; how he or she recognizes the imperative of obedience to an Almighty God.

Instead of whispering about shadowy allegations, we should pray that God will reveal the content of the heart and mind of every candidate. If anyone of them are hiding secrets, He can reveal them to the world! If they have no real fear of the Lord, which is the "beginning of knowledge," (Proverbs 1.5) let's ask Him to cause that to be known before the election. Each of us must remember that we are first disciples of Christ, bound to the highest standards of His Lordship, and then we are American citizens. How we exercise our rights should be determined by His demand of His disciples to live in truth, committed to honesty.

I do not want Christians to be dismissed from the public debate as cranks, fools, or easily manipulated sheep - as has been suggested in the past. If we are fools for Christ because we live authentically, openly, and above reproach; so be it. If we are thought to be fools because we have not made the effort to learn the facts and just repeat nonsensical allegations made in anonymous emails, shame on us. More to the point, shame falls on Christ Jesus, our Lord, which is more than tragic. Ignorance among us, who are privileged to have the mind of Christ, is a disgrace to the Lord of Glory.

Here's a word from the Word. Meditate on it today.
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8, NIV)

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:11-14, NIV)

Truth and Grace

"You Christians are so judgmental!" The accusation was thrown down like a challenge. "Why can't you just accept people for who they are and let them alone?" The question was shaped in anger, not really a question at all, but an indictment. It is a common one according to David Kinnaman, author of UnChristian. His research confirms that most people outside of the church, especially those who are young, view the church's stand against things like abortion and same sex marriage as rigid and condemning.

So I ponder these questions:
Am I making a mistake in holding to what the Scripture teaches about sin?
Should I round the edges off of what I believe the Bible has to say about some things that collide with the values of the culture in which I live?

Kinnaman writes, "As we work to change the negative perceptions of outsiders, we need to avoid an equally dangerous extreme. Some Christians respond to outsider's negativity by promoting a less offensive faith. The more unpopular parts of Christian teaching are omitted or deemphasized. They hijack the image of Jesus by portraying Him as an open-minded, big-hearted, and never-offended-anyone moral teacher. That is an entirely wrong idea about Jesus. He taught remarkably tough truths about human beings and about sin.... Softening the message of the Gospel is an utterly wrong response to the objections that people raise." - UnChristian, Baker, 2007

We do no favor to those who are trapped by greed, sensuality, promiscuity, or selfishness by offering them comfort in their sinful state! Jesus says that the Truth sets us free. Just as He told the Truth and ran headlong into hatred as a result, we risk being ostracized by family and friends if we speak truthfully about choices made that run counter to the wisdom and ways of God.

There are two things that Christians do that are offensive, however, and which need to change. One is too readily pointing the finger at the sins of others without authentically dealing with our own sins! The Pharisees were quick to point out the sins that they saw in their time. And they were right about those sins. However, they used their indignation to avoid dealing with their own sins, which were less spectacular perhaps, but just as offensive to a holy God. Jesus challenged them to deal with their own hearts. "Don't just clean the outside of the cup," He said, "wash the inside, too." If we hide our own failures behind righteous rhetoric we will find ourselves also condemned by the Lord!

Another way we offend those who are outside the faith is when we are quick to indict people in their sin without offering hope for forgiveness and/or transformation. In the 1980's when the issue of abortion was at full boil in the Christian church, I saw too much hatred and fear allowed into the discussion. Anti-abortion Believers went for the sensational hurling the phrase, "baby killer" at young women who felt trapped by their pregnancy and saw only one solution. I was and I am convinced that abortion is a terrible evil, the taking of the life of an innocent and defenseless person, an act that is abhorrent in the eyes of God. However, I refused to join the attacks on women. Instead, I joined forces with several like-minded Believers to create a center where women could find answers, help, and practical care that would encourage them to obey God and choose life for their unborn child. We forbade our staff from using manipulative tactics based in condemnation or fear. Instead, we made an offer of life, based squarely on the truth.

I love this passage which reveals the heart and mission of Jesus. Take a look. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’" From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17, NIV) Did you notice a phrase that repeats twice? It is this one: "Grace and Truth." Moses brought the Law, which told the Truth. With the Law came the knowledge of sin and guilt that separated people from God. Jesus did not set aside the holy requirements of the Law, but He brought Grace that gives forgiveness and creates the possibility of transformation from the inside out. Only by His grace are we restored to our Father, from Whom we receive the Spirit who empowers us to be holy.

Believer, as we represent the Lord to others, if we hold to the Scripture as our standard, we will inevitably run head-long into the permissiveness of our culture. When we do, we must not drop the standard! Instead, we must proclaim grace that is greater than all our sin.

Ponder this today, Believer, and ask the Spirit to help you to understand how to tell the truth gracefully!

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 5:20-6:2, NLT)

Stay Connected!

As soon as I emerged from sleep, I thought about Phil, an elder in our church, who is scheduled for surgery today. I prayed for Mindy and for him. Then, more people from my circle of friends and acquaintances marched through my mind as I thought about their needs and lifted them up to the Lord. These prayers have nothing to do with pastoral duty. I love these people with whom I share life and that love is reciprocated. Last Sunday, as people made their way into church, one man saw me standing at the door greeting those who were arriving. Empathizing with my present circumstances, he pulled me into a bear hug and whispered in my ear, "We love you!" Such show of caring and affection might strike some as strange, but that should be the norm for Believers.

And, I've heard from various members of the Assembly's "Foundations Experience," a small group for newer Believers at the church, who tell me how much they look forward to that hour every Sunday morning when they come together to talk about their faith, their lives, to pray for each other. They stay in touch all week, too. One remarked to me, "It's going to be hard to break up this group at the end of the course!"

Are you attempting to go through life as a Lone Ranger?

Have you been disappointed by someone, by a church, or by a Pastor and concluded that you will live the Christian life in a way that makes it about "just Jesus and me?" If so, you are making a huge mistake, robbing yourself of joy and reducing your potential for effectiveness in the work of God. I will be the first to acknowledge that people can be difficult. It's not always easy to get along with me, either. (I heard that Amen!) Relationships can go sour. Expectations may be missed by a mile. The more deeply we are willing to love the greater the possibility of being deeply hurt! And still, I love God's people. He commands us to do so. "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" (1 Peter 4:8, NKJV) The rewards of love so far outweigh the disappointments, we forget about them, forgive them, and grow in love. Well, we will do that if our love is genuine and inspired by God's love for us.

The model for the way we love is the self-sacrificial, radical love of God that was shown in His gift of salvation. When we love people in the way that God loves us, we make Him visible to the world! Indeed, nothing compels others to consider the Truth of Christ and His Kingdom like Believers who genuinely love other people! "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:10-12, NIV)

Don't expect that love will 'make nice' all the time! That's as silly as thinking that love in marriage is based on diamonds and roses! There is nothing wrong with romance, but the stuff of real love has little to do with flowers and jewelry. It's about caring enough to adapt to the idiosyncrasies of our spouse, stepping up to be a part of their life, changing diapers, listening to their complaints, enduring their moods, and celebrating their successes. Loving other Believers will involve conflict, hard work, disappointment. But that's not the whole story for there will also be moments of incredible tenderness, joy, and shared mission. We are called to carry each other to the finish line of life!


Get connected in a local church body. Ask God where He wants you to be planted, then put down roots and stay! Reach out to care. "But my church is so unloving," you say. Perhaps it is. Then become a catalyst of caring, a person who sows the seeds of love in that church. Do it, for God's sake! It may take a year or two for change to begin, but you will be a partner with God in spiritual transformation. Isn't that an exciting mission? And, stay connected with people in your world who are still in need of Christ. It is so easy, so inviting, to move into a church circle where our only friends are those who share our faith but if we allow ourselves to do that, who will demonstrate the love of God to those who need Him most?

Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples-when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35, The Message)

A Rich Father

When we established our home, Bev and I gladly made lifestyle choices that involved having less money. Until our youngest children were in high school, she chose to be a full-time Mom which meant we lived on one salary, a preacher's salary at that. We lived simply, but not poorly! To this day, our kids say that they had no idea how limited our financial resources were back then. They felt that their home was rich, and it was, in many things that mattered - time, love, care, spiritual life. They laugh now at how excited they got over something as simple as going out to eat, and then only at family restaurants like Friendly's. We could only afford that kind of thing with our entire family on special occasions like birthdays. We celebrated what we could afford, resisted debt, and lived in the blessings of God. What a difference love made! Our house might not have had all the things that some families enjoyed, but we were and are wealthy in love. The Lord abundantly resourced us with all that we needed and more.

Believer, you have a rich Father! The wealth that He gives you may not always be in a fat bank account or material possessions. He will always provide love, peace, and contentment to those who live close to His heart. The Bible teaches us that He delights in us as His children. He desires that we obey and love Him so that He can surround us with His blessings. Moses called Israel together and reminded them of their heritage. He said, "For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. ... If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors." (Deuteronomy 7:6-9, 12, NLT)

Those of us who are called to be His people today, who are 'in Christ,' enjoy the same kind of favored status among the people of the earth! "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son." (Ephesians 1:5-6, NLT) "But, Jerry, won't we become full of pride if we think of ourselves as select or special?" Not if we remember that the selection is because of His favor, not our desirability! God did not choose you or me because of our race, our achievements, our intelligence, or productivity. As with Israel who was chosen by His love, we are chosen by His love. Having received His grace, we do have an obligation to live obediently and responsively to Him. When we do, we are in a place to enjoy His favor. Because of this special status, I want to encourage two choices in your life, Believer.

First, choose to live contentedly in what your Father provides! My children would occasionally visit in the homes of their friends and sometimes they would come home wanting more than I could or would give them. Comparing led to temporary unhappiness. Do you ever do that to your Heavenly Father? Do you become discontent because you covet the calling, the resources, the opportunities of another? Come home to Him and trust Him for His wisdom in providing what you need, not what you want. Be faithful with the blessings you have and He will trust you with more. That's a Biblical principle. "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" (Matthew 25:23, NIV)

Second, honor the Lord with thankfulness! Wealth begins with attitude. There are those who have much who are yet poor because they are ungrateful, selfish, and discontent. There are those who have little who live like a king because they have learned to live with an attitude of abundance, giving thanks and sharing with they have to give.

__________________

How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!

There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!

How Rich I Am
John W. Peterson© 1956. Renewed 1984
John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055