Handling the Truth responsibly?

Frank came by my office to drop off a pistol he was letting me use for target practice. After he left, I took the firearm in my hand to see how it balanced, raised it to eye level and pointed upwards towards the corner of my office. On impulse, I pulled the trigger. Bang! It actually fired! The concussion shook me, not just physically, but emotionally. I broke the first law of gun safety! I never checked the chamber. I assumed (stupid mistake) that Frank, an experienced gun owner, wouldn't transport the gun without making sure it was unloaded. I've never again picked up another gun without being certain about whether it is loaded and ready to fire. Thankfully, the result of my stupidity was nothing more serious than a small hole in the sheetrock near the ceiling and a very damaged pride.

Do you realize the power of the Bible’s truth? 
In the time of the Scripture, the sword was the equivalent of our modern handgun, a powerful weapon, very dangerous if used improperly. Do you understand the power that the Scripture's Truth can wield?
Do you handle that Word with care and skill?

Some Christians use the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, wildly, indiscriminately, and dangerously! “God Says,” they proclaim, having no idea how the ‘truth’ they are speaking is cutting away at another person. Some seem to think that it is their responsibility to make sure that everybody knows what is ‘right and what is wrong’ in the most blunt way. If someone gets hurt in the process, oh well... that’s just collateral damage.

The Scripture is like a police officer’s weapon. It is powerful, defensive, and offensive when necessary. But, a wise Christian will not handle it as I did Frank’s .45 calibre pistol. They will "Do (their) best to present (themselves) to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV)

The Psalmist lauds the power of the Word to heal: "You were in serious trouble, but you prayed to the Lord, and he rescued you. By the power of his own word, he healed you and saved you from destruction." (Psalm 107:19-20, CEV) God's Word sets us right, points us to life, and restores wholeness. Sometimes it is like surgeon’s scalpel, cutting away, not to harm but to heal.  The Word of God does cut deeply! "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)

The Word is described as a Sword, an offensive weapon given to us for our protection! "Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17, NIV) The modern equivalent - the sidearm. Hence, my opening illustration.  Jesus, when tempted severely, used the Word to defeat Satan’s lies.  “It is written…” He said, and Satan left Him. The Truth of God’s Word will expose the deceptions of evil for us. We should learn and use that Truth to cut down the Devil, giving him no power over us.

Here’s the word from the Word - "Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13-17, NLT)

Amen.

Expectation dulled by parties, drinking, and shopping?

“Oh, Jesus, help us,” is my simple prayer sometimes when confronted with the sinfulness and the suffering visited on people I know.  And, too, war and terror bring suffering to millions. Poverty and violence keep neighborhoods in a death grip. Addictions destroy lives. “Oh, Jesus, help us.”  I rejoice when a person comes to know Him, finds His power to break free, and is changed from the inside out. One decision to let Jesus be Lord ripples through families and changes the destiny of hundreds of people.  But, I long for that day when Christ will return to this earth and say, “Enough!”  I long for His kingdom to come and His will to be done in all the earth!

In the days leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus spent time in the courts of the Temple teaching.  He taught about His revelation as Lord of all, His glorious Return, but warned that before that celebrated moment, things will go from bad to worse. “There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.  Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:23)

The details in those words are difficult to understand, but the promise is not.  His Kingdom will come and His people will overcome.  Are you anticipating His Coming? Is your life shaped by the knowledge that this present world is transient, that the eternal is our true home?  Christians need not wait for the Return of Christ to start to live in the hope and promise of His kingdom.  Here’s how Paul teaches us to prepare: "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4, NLT)  

Jesus knew how easily we could lose sight of eternity.  In that same teaching when He promised His return, He gave us this warning. “Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch.”  The Message (Luke 21:34-36) “Oh, Jesus, help us!”

If His return and the promise of the coming Kingdom was an important subject for Jesus during his Passion Week, should it not be a subject worthy of our attention?

Meditate on this. Let the hope of victory over sin, once and for all, inspire you.  Pray to understand God’s calling to live with a focus much higher than the food you eat, the house you live in, or the creature comforts of this present world.  C.T. Studd wrote  “Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.”  He lived what he taught.  Born into a family of wealth, Studd accepted Christ, gave away his inheritance, and became a missionary, serving in China, South India, and in outreaches in many parts of the world.  By faith he saw the Kingdom to come, and gave himself and his life to own it. Will you?

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Only One Life 

Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life's busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God's holy will to cleave;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e'er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, 'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say,"Thy will be done”;

And when at last I'll hear the call,

I know I'll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,'twill soon be past,

Only what's done for Christ will last.  

n  C.T. Studd

"Pay up," Jesus says.

“Pay up,” Jesus says.

It’s tax day.  Is your return filed yet?  Back in late January, I assembled documents, entered the totals of expenses, deductions, and income into the software. My computer did the calculations, and then I pressed ‘send’ – ‘e-filing’ my return. I remember the ‘old days,’ when doing my taxes was a long drawn out process of adding up numbers and finding the right forms on which to enter them.  Because I keep my financial management software current, filing my taxes now takes just a few hours.  The process is simpler now, but the whole idea of sending money to state and local government does not hold much joy for any of us, does it?

Jesus reminds us that we are citizens of two realms.  It is God’s will that we honor the obligations we have to both! Some religious leaders approached the Lord one day to test Him with what they thought was a no-win question. "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Luke 20:22, NIV)  If Jesus said, “Yes,” He risked offending many Jews who hated the Roman occupation government, who thought the ‘pagans’ unworthy of receiving their money.  If He said, “No,” He could be arrested by those Romans for inciting rebellion.  So what did He say? "He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:23-25, NIV)  

The New Testament consistently urges disciples of Christ to honor the governments under which they live. Paul teaches us that government is part of God’s order, that ultimately all authority flows out of His authority.  That does not mean that all who govern are good or honorable.  Sin mars the institution of government as it does everything else. Corruption is real. Egos all too often flourish when men and women are raised up to leadership.  That does not excuse us from good citizenship.

These words, written under the inspiration of the Spirit, by Paul to Christians living in Rome, are challenging to me.  But, they express the will of God for our lives. On this tax day, I urge you to take God’s Word to heart. "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority." (Romans 13:1-7, NLT)

Finally, I urge you to pray for those who govern us.  A few weeks ago, I was privileged to sit down with several other pastors to talk at length with the man who represents our district in Congress.  I came away from that meeting with a greater appreciation for the complexity of the issues as well as a new realization of the frustrations that come with the work of leadership. He told us how he is attacked, often personally, from one side or the other, no matter what position he takes. He spoke of the difficulties of legislating. Many years ago, while serving a church in New England, I made a run for town council.  (I was soundly defeated!) The experience gave me a greater appreciation for those who give up privacy to hold public office.

On Tax Day, honor your government. We are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, first; and citizens of our nations, second.  We serve our King well when we honor our government. “Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.” The Message, 1 Timothy 2:2-3

I have authority issues

Yes, sir!

“You have authority issues.” This was my daughter’s comment to me, made in jest, when I resisted some hospital visitation rules during Bev's stay there. When someone exercises authority ‘just because they can,’ without reason or respect, I resist. I am thankful for those men and women who work hard to keep order in our society, but when they exercise power in arbitrary ways, or worse, in a way that allows them to take advantage of those lacking influence I’ll admit to having ‘authority issues.’

I regularly examine my life to see if 
I am submitted to the one Authority Who governs my life in a way that is always ultimately for the best. His Name? Jesus Christ!  Many presentations of Jesus are about His love, His care for us, His sacrifice to save us- and all those are true. He is also, we must remember, Lord and King.  During the week that preceded His going to the Cross, He had an encounter with some men who despised Him.  He told them a pointed story about what happens to those who resist Him. 

“A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed. A third man was sent, and they wounded him and chased him away. “

‘What will I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.’ “But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ So they dragged him out of the vineyard and murdered him. “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you-he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.” “How terrible that such a thing should ever happen,” his listeners protested." (Luke 20:9-16, NLT)

Prophets came repeatedly to the people of God to call them to faithful service. They were rejected, some even killed. Then God sent His Son. Even He was rejected. That rejection did not go without consequence. God judged!

 

If we refuse the Lord’s invitation, if we reject Christ’s authority, we invite the discipline of the Almighty God to fall on us. When we love Him and show it with obedience, we live in fellowship with Him! “If you love me, you will obey what I command. ... Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:15,21, NIV)   

Jesus said that there will be many who stand before Him protesting their judgment, claiming that they did many things in His Name, but they will not enjoy His favor because they did not submit to His authority. "On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never knew you."  (Matthew 7:22-23 NLT)  

• Are you submitted to Christ Jesus as your Lord? Does that submission show in actions that match your words?

 Here is the word from the Word. May we enter into the blessings of the promise.“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority-quite unlike their teachers of religious law." (Matthew 7:24-29, NLT)

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Rejoice, The Lord Is King

Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Your Lord and King adore!

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing

And triumph ever more.

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice,

Rejoice, again, I say rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns;

The God of truth and love.

When He had purged our stains

He took His seat above.

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice,

Rejoice, again, I say rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail.

He rules o'er earth and heav'n.

The keys of death and hell

Are to our Jesus giv'n.

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice,

Rejoice, again, I say rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope.

Our Lord and judge shall come

And take His servants up to

Their eternal home!

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice,

Rejoice, again, I say rejoice!

Charles Wesley

 Public Domain