It was time for a break! The day was long, filled with people's needs- the sick, the deranged, those desperately needing attention pressed in to be close. So, at evening, they decided to take the boat and go across the lake. As they made the crossing, a squall kicked up that threatened to sink the little boat. The men realized the danger and looked at their leader asleep at the back of the boat. "He will be able to handle this," they reasoned among themselves, so they awakened him. He stood up and amazingly faced the wind. It was an irrational thing he did, except that it worked - "Quiet. Be still!"
The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. ...
They were in absolute awe, staggered.
“Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!” "
(Mark 4:39-41, The Message)
Some insist that Jesus was just lucky or that He sensed the end of the storm and timed His declaration just right! These readers reject, categorically, the possibility of miracles. "Miracles," they sniff, "are for the credulous, the simple. They are the invention of those who cannot cope with life; who see what they want to see." It is true that 'miracles' are abused by charlatans seeking to sway the crowds. The healing revivalists that toured America in the middle years of the 20th century too often stooped to sleight of hand and magic tricks when they failed to produce genuine miracles on demand. In the 1990's, one 'evangelist' was caught using a radio transmitter in his ear, through which his wife prompted him about the needs and ailments of those in his audience so he could appear to be 'hearing from the Spirit.'
I believe the testimony of the Scripture, because I believe that miracles happen; not often, certainly not 'on demand.' That's why we call them - 'miracles.' Something that we can repeat, that we can measure or quantify - by definition is not a miracle! I don't miracles to sustain my faith, but I thank God when I see them.
The Gospels record Jesus' doing miracles and His miracles are believable precisely because they are so randomly done and so tangential to His message. He doesn't try to impress anybody. Truth is, often when He did something miraculous, He asked the witnesses to keep it to themselves. He didn't often call attention to His powers, preferring just to let the miracles speak for themselves. When He fed 5000 people with a couple of dried fish and 5 pieces of bread, He didn't have the story written up in the Galilee Times with a picture of Himself standing among the 12 baskets of leftovers!
What a wonderful Lord!
How's the weather 'round your boat today? Windy, with waves kicking up that seem threatening to you?
Invite Jesus into the situation. Trust Him with it and see what He does.
Sometimes He quiets the storm and sometimes He steadies the boat. But He's always near and in His presence there is peace.
____________________________
I invite you to worship at 10 am this Sunday.
I'll be continuing my series of messages - "Who is Jesus?" and I'll be talking about the Miracle Working Lord.
If you're unable to join us at the Assembly you can read and/or listen to the messages at
http://www.WashingtonAG.net/sermon.htm
Friday, June 17, 2005
Thursday, June 16, 2005
A God of Abundance
God cares about your needs! God created the world as a place of abundance where every need of every person should be met. I believe that. It is a consistent theme of the Bible.
Genesis tells us that He looked over what He had made and said, "It is good!" That didn't mean OK, just about right, acceptable and we'll work out the bugs, etc. It meant that He made it perfect and provided everything that was necessary for life.
Abraham, when he experienced God's provision at a moment of 'impossibility' named Him, "Yahweh Yireh" - God, my Provider. To be sure, Abe's trust wasn't perfect and on more than one occasion he tried to take care of his own needs in his own way. The results of his attempts at self-sufficiency were always less than wonderful.
In Israel's economy, God built in protections for the poor. A poor Israelite was not be be permanently enslaved by his fellow Israeli. An economic cycle of 7 years was set and in every 7th year debt was to be canceled. On the 50th year, it was the 'year of Jubilee,' when the land of a family lost to debt was to be restored to that family. Why did God command this? He knew the importance of keeping wealth from being concentrated in the hands of a few. (see Leviticus 25:8-14) You say, that was impractical! No, the greed of the people just kept it from being implemented. Certainly the implications of this cyclic system were many, but God intent was to erase permanent poverty.
Ultimately, God reveals that poverty is the result of sin. Oh, be careful how you apply that phrase. Don't misunderstand me as saying that you or I can look a poor person and conclude, 'he is a sinner!' That would be both unloving and wrong. It might be the sins of past generations, the sins of his nation, the sin of his extended family, or even the sin of his neighbor. But, the truth is that where people live in God's ways, prosperity is the general result!
The key to enjoying God's provisions is obedience. In Deuteronomy 15 (NLT) we read: "There should be no poor among you, for the Lord your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession. You will receive this blessing if you carefully obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. The Lord your God will bless you as he has promised. You will lend money to many nations but will never need to borrow! You will rule many nations, but they will not rule over you! Isn't that a great promise? But God also recognized that there would be those who, for one reason or another, were not blessed.
And what of them? Take a look. “But if there are any poor people in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year of release (that 7 year cycle) is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. Give freely without begrudging it, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need." (7-11, NLT)
I take two lessons from that passage.
The first is- God will take care of me.
I don't always live at peace in that promise, do you? But, when I center my thoughts on His Word I am able to trust Him in new ways.
The second is- if meeting humans needs is important to my Father, then it must be important to me.
Here's a passage to ponder this day: Proverbs 11:24-26 (The Message)
The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped.
Curses on those who drive a hard bargain!
Blessings on all who play fair and square!
Genesis tells us that He looked over what He had made and said, "It is good!" That didn't mean OK, just about right, acceptable and we'll work out the bugs, etc. It meant that He made it perfect and provided everything that was necessary for life.
Abraham, when he experienced God's provision at a moment of 'impossibility' named Him, "Yahweh Yireh" - God, my Provider. To be sure, Abe's trust wasn't perfect and on more than one occasion he tried to take care of his own needs in his own way. The results of his attempts at self-sufficiency were always less than wonderful.
In Israel's economy, God built in protections for the poor. A poor Israelite was not be be permanently enslaved by his fellow Israeli. An economic cycle of 7 years was set and in every 7th year debt was to be canceled. On the 50th year, it was the 'year of Jubilee,' when the land of a family lost to debt was to be restored to that family. Why did God command this? He knew the importance of keeping wealth from being concentrated in the hands of a few. (see Leviticus 25:8-14) You say, that was impractical! No, the greed of the people just kept it from being implemented. Certainly the implications of this cyclic system were many, but God intent was to erase permanent poverty.
Ultimately, God reveals that poverty is the result of sin. Oh, be careful how you apply that phrase. Don't misunderstand me as saying that you or I can look a poor person and conclude, 'he is a sinner!' That would be both unloving and wrong. It might be the sins of past generations, the sins of his nation, the sin of his extended family, or even the sin of his neighbor. But, the truth is that where people live in God's ways, prosperity is the general result!
The key to enjoying God's provisions is obedience. In Deuteronomy 15 (NLT) we read: "There should be no poor among you, for the Lord your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession. You will receive this blessing if you carefully obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. The Lord your God will bless you as he has promised. You will lend money to many nations but will never need to borrow! You will rule many nations, but they will not rule over you! Isn't that a great promise? But God also recognized that there would be those who, for one reason or another, were not blessed.
And what of them? Take a look. “But if there are any poor people in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year of release (that 7 year cycle) is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. Give freely without begrudging it, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need." (7-11, NLT)
I take two lessons from that passage.
The first is- God will take care of me.
I don't always live at peace in that promise, do you? But, when I center my thoughts on His Word I am able to trust Him in new ways.
The second is- if meeting humans needs is important to my Father, then it must be important to me.
Here's a passage to ponder this day: Proverbs 11:24-26 (The Message)
The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped.
Curses on those who drive a hard bargain!
Blessings on all who play fair and square!
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
The Poor are my Brothers
I once was blind, I am beginning to see
Until very recently, the plight of the world's poor people was an "Ah, that's too bad," kind of thing to me. It not like I thought of poverty as a good thing, but it wasn't really of any real concern to me. Sure, I spent some time in the mid-80's in India and had some pangs of conscience when I saw widespread poverty up close, but even then, it was their problem, not mine. It was a nice gesture to give to those in need, and I did. I have supported several missions including a home for orphans faithfully for years. From time to time, Bev and I have shared our home with those in need. But... largely the poor were invisible to me, at least in terms of my Christian faith!
What I am confessing is this: I didn't really connect my daily life-style choices to the issue of world poverty. If I could afford something honestly and in keeping with practices of good stewardship, then I bought it. Why not? After all, I was faithful with my tithing and monitored my debt carefully. So, you might be saying, what's wrong with buying what we can afford? I am beginning to see as the Lord removes the consumerism cataracts from my spiritual eyes that the question is not 'what can I afford?' but 'what should I afford?'
It's an intensely personal question, but when we give account to the Lord of Glory, our answer will be on public display! I am becoming more and more convinced that rich American Christians will stand before Jesus quite ashamed of the ways we used our incredible wealth to make our lives ever more comfortable while children starved to death. I sometimes wonder if our national epidemic of obesity is actually a wake-up call from Heaven. Could God be using our fat bodies to show us the bloated state of our lives, weighed down with so many things that are so unnecessary?
Legalism is a real risk here! That's why I want to be careful not to point at the 'toys' owned by somebody else. It would wrong for me to set a limit on the size of the house you live in, or to tell you what kind of car is 'acceptable' as a means of transportation. I take seriously the declaration of the Scripture that with regard to those issues "each one will give account of himself to God." But I am not ashamed to poke at your heart and mind, painfully perhaps, so that you will consider with me what the Lord requires of each of us. Then, too, even as I write this, I know that there is hidden hypocrisy in my life- stewardship choices that are obviously wrong in my life, but which I cannot yet see because they are so close to me. But, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am serious about becoming more aware of what He wants from me in this area of stewardship.
James is not subtle in his demand that we take the plight of the poor to heart. He writes, "Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.”" (James 2:14-18, NLT)
Dear Believer, are you chasing 'the good life?' Then, let me ask you- "How are you defining that?"
Though you consume more, are you less satisfied with life?
The ancient prophet, Haggai, spoke to the people of God during a time of prosperity and called on them to make choices that honored their God. Read his words thoughtfully today and meditate on them through this day:
"And then a little later, God-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over. You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can’t get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much— a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what.
That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.” Then God said: “Here’s what I want you to do: Climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me. You’ve had great ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. The little you have brought to my Temple I’ve blown away—there was nothing to it.
“And why?” (This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins." (Haggai 1:5-9, The Message)
Until very recently, the plight of the world's poor people was an "Ah, that's too bad," kind of thing to me. It not like I thought of poverty as a good thing, but it wasn't really of any real concern to me. Sure, I spent some time in the mid-80's in India and had some pangs of conscience when I saw widespread poverty up close, but even then, it was their problem, not mine. It was a nice gesture to give to those in need, and I did. I have supported several missions including a home for orphans faithfully for years. From time to time, Bev and I have shared our home with those in need. But... largely the poor were invisible to me, at least in terms of my Christian faith!
What I am confessing is this: I didn't really connect my daily life-style choices to the issue of world poverty. If I could afford something honestly and in keeping with practices of good stewardship, then I bought it. Why not? After all, I was faithful with my tithing and monitored my debt carefully. So, you might be saying, what's wrong with buying what we can afford? I am beginning to see as the Lord removes the consumerism cataracts from my spiritual eyes that the question is not 'what can I afford?' but 'what should I afford?'
It's an intensely personal question, but when we give account to the Lord of Glory, our answer will be on public display! I am becoming more and more convinced that rich American Christians will stand before Jesus quite ashamed of the ways we used our incredible wealth to make our lives ever more comfortable while children starved to death. I sometimes wonder if our national epidemic of obesity is actually a wake-up call from Heaven. Could God be using our fat bodies to show us the bloated state of our lives, weighed down with so many things that are so unnecessary?
Legalism is a real risk here! That's why I want to be careful not to point at the 'toys' owned by somebody else. It would wrong for me to set a limit on the size of the house you live in, or to tell you what kind of car is 'acceptable' as a means of transportation. I take seriously the declaration of the Scripture that with regard to those issues "each one will give account of himself to God." But I am not ashamed to poke at your heart and mind, painfully perhaps, so that you will consider with me what the Lord requires of each of us. Then, too, even as I write this, I know that there is hidden hypocrisy in my life- stewardship choices that are obviously wrong in my life, but which I cannot yet see because they are so close to me. But, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am serious about becoming more aware of what He wants from me in this area of stewardship.
James is not subtle in his demand that we take the plight of the poor to heart. He writes, "Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.”" (James 2:14-18, NLT)
Dear Believer, are you chasing 'the good life?' Then, let me ask you- "How are you defining that?"
Though you consume more, are you less satisfied with life?
The ancient prophet, Haggai, spoke to the people of God during a time of prosperity and called on them to make choices that honored their God. Read his words thoughtfully today and meditate on them through this day:
"And then a little later, God-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over. You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can’t get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much— a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what.
That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: “Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.” Then God said: “Here’s what I want you to do: Climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me. You’ve had great ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. The little you have brought to my Temple I’ve blown away—there was nothing to it.
“And why?” (This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins." (Haggai 1:5-9, The Message)
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
"I'm offended!"
Not long ago, I came to a car attempting a left hand turn across a busy highway at an intersection that was marked 'no left turn.' Thinking perhaps the other driver had not seen the sign I sounded the horn, not a blaring blast, just a gentle 'toot!' and pointed to the sign. The other driver abandoned his quest to make an illegal turn and proceeded to chase me for a few miles. I slowed to just let him pass, but he wouldn't. Instead he drove alongside of my car, waving, shouting, and making obscene gestures. I smiled, waved, and continued to drive, commenting to my wife that that man must have been having a bad day! I knocked a chip off of his shoulder, for sure.
Got a 'chip on your shoulder?' Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.
In my role as a Pastor I am called to be a peace-maker. It amazes (even amuses) me, sometimes, how worked up people can get over the most minor of perceived slights. Some of us are so insecure, we walk around seeking offense - daring someone to even appear to 'diss' us (slang term for showing disrespect) so we can work up our hurt feelings and become the center of attention for a few moments, at least. I've had to work with Christians who were offended by situations such as: "He failed to greet me in church!" "She didn't extend a return invitation to dinner after I had her to dinner." "Her son called my son stupid." Yes, these are situations where courtesy failed, where someone was overlooked, but are they really a reason to call attention to yourself?
Things that set us off are often obscure or meaningless to others. When my brother, Andre', was little, about age 6, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' Of course, being 5 years older, I took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! Call him a 'green pig' today and he'll laugh and wonder if you're crazy. Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress?
I've heard dozens of variations in the complaint over this "offense:" "I was sick and missed church for two weeks and no one called to see how I was doing." A couple of things make that complaint of offense particularly interesting - often it comes from someone who is so marginally involved, who contributes so little to the life of the church that, indeed, their presence was not missed. They could change that by becoming a participant instead of a spectator. The other factor that makes that complaint curious is that these people universally don't call to let anyone know they're in need! It would be funny, if it weren't so pathetic.
But, then, I remember times when I have allowed offense to take root in my heart over equally inconsequential things. Offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! I have realized that I am much more likely to be offended when I am not walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that the Evil One likes nothing better than to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin good organizations, that can cause close groups to disintegrate. The Devil spotlights the failure, the lack of simple courtesy, or even the intentional digs that we deal with and we become convinced that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)
Secure your heart in the Love of God!
Let His Word convince you how much you matter to Him.
Then, learn to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- you're being 'dissed,' - you can silence his chatter in a moment if you know the depth of the Father's love. Learn to forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this you please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God.
And here's a word from the Word to take with you today --
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.
Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)
Got a 'chip on your shoulder?' Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.
In my role as a Pastor I am called to be a peace-maker. It amazes (even amuses) me, sometimes, how worked up people can get over the most minor of perceived slights. Some of us are so insecure, we walk around seeking offense - daring someone to even appear to 'diss' us (slang term for showing disrespect) so we can work up our hurt feelings and become the center of attention for a few moments, at least. I've had to work with Christians who were offended by situations such as: "He failed to greet me in church!" "She didn't extend a return invitation to dinner after I had her to dinner." "Her son called my son stupid." Yes, these are situations where courtesy failed, where someone was overlooked, but are they really a reason to call attention to yourself?
Things that set us off are often obscure or meaningless to others. When my brother, Andre', was little, about age 6, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' Of course, being 5 years older, I took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! Call him a 'green pig' today and he'll laugh and wonder if you're crazy. Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress?
I've heard dozens of variations in the complaint over this "offense:" "I was sick and missed church for two weeks and no one called to see how I was doing." A couple of things make that complaint of offense particularly interesting - often it comes from someone who is so marginally involved, who contributes so little to the life of the church that, indeed, their presence was not missed. They could change that by becoming a participant instead of a spectator. The other factor that makes that complaint curious is that these people universally don't call to let anyone know they're in need! It would be funny, if it weren't so pathetic.
But, then, I remember times when I have allowed offense to take root in my heart over equally inconsequential things. Offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! I have realized that I am much more likely to be offended when I am not walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that the Evil One likes nothing better than to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin good organizations, that can cause close groups to disintegrate. The Devil spotlights the failure, the lack of simple courtesy, or even the intentional digs that we deal with and we become convinced that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. " (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)
Secure your heart in the Love of God!
Let His Word convince you how much you matter to Him.
Then, learn to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- you're being 'dissed,' - you can silence his chatter in a moment if you know the depth of the Father's love. Learn to forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this you please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God.
And here's a word from the Word to take with you today --
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.
Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)
Monday, June 13, 2005
More than anything?
If asked today, 'what is your life about? what do you hope to be accomplished in your living?' could you answer cogently, succinctly, readily? Would you need to scratch your head, think, fumble and perhaps come up with something by tomorrow, or could you say with conviction and certainty - 'this is why I live?' In the 1991 comedy about mid-life crisis starring Billy Crystal- "City Slickers," we met Curly Washington, the gnarly cowboy, who held up his index finger and challenged the city slickers on the cattle drive to know 'the one thing,' that life was about, enigmatically leaving that 'one thing' unspecified. It was part of the humor! We laughed at Jack Palance's portrayal of the wise cowboy who couldn't quite say what he meant.
Life is about focus, about bringing all the various parts of ourselves in line with the one thing! Too many of us live scattered or fragmented lives and, as a result, have little real impact on the world. Lacking a unifying purpose, we serve many masters and, in the process of trying to pleasing each one, satisfy none! Kierkegaard, the philosopher, observed that "to will one thing" produces purity of heart. What does he mean? We must live with the desire to love God as THE one thing that over-rides all others in our minds and hearts.
The Scripture says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, NIV) A contemporary translation amplifies the meaning for us: "Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field." (James 4:8, The Message)
God wants to the One Love of our life, the One that we are focused on, and 'round Whom all other things are oriented. Jesus said it profoundly - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and heart." The love of which He spoke is not the sentiment of the greeting card or the warm fuzzy feeling provoked by some family picture. It is the choice to submit and serve.
At the beginning of this week, I encourage you to spend time prayerfully, thoughtfully, inviting the Holy Spirit's aid to evaluate your life in light of God's love. Be scrupulous, tough on yourself!
As you look through your daily planner, ask - does the way that I organize my time reflect that I love God more than anyone or anything else?
As you review your financial choices, look for evidence that you are demonstrating your love for God with your spending.
Sort through the attitudes of your heart and honestly review them to see if they are submitted to your love of God.
Jesus promised that God's holy commandments would be fulfilled in us completely, IF we commit ourselves to loving God as THE priority choice in life. Does the Lord sense that you are torn between two loves, that you are fragmented because you love yourself more than Him, or that you love pleasure more than Him, or that you love ___________ (what idol seduces you?) more than Him?
Fads, fashions, and trends will come and go. If we are slaves to those things, our lives will be full of instability as we shift our compass to point to the 'new true North' dictated by society. However, God's purpose never changes. His high calling is constant, steady, and consistent. Those who are oriented to His Truth, are drawn on steadily, with a course that is trued and straight.
____________________
"Father, many voices call to us from the periphery of our lives.
Many who would be our masters, ask for our loyalties.Good things and people ask us to fulfill their agendas.We need your wisdom to find the one thing that is necessary.
Speak to us clearly, patiently, yes, Lord- persistently.
And, help us, oh, help us to focus on loving You,
more than anything or anyone else.
As we live with competing demands of
home, family, church, and business;
become the One Unifying focus for us and in us.
Be the Lord of Life,
not merely in the words of our worship songs,
but in the work of our hands.
in the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen."
Life is about focus, about bringing all the various parts of ourselves in line with the one thing! Too many of us live scattered or fragmented lives and, as a result, have little real impact on the world. Lacking a unifying purpose, we serve many masters and, in the process of trying to pleasing each one, satisfy none! Kierkegaard, the philosopher, observed that "to will one thing" produces purity of heart. What does he mean? We must live with the desire to love God as THE one thing that over-rides all others in our minds and hearts.
The Scripture says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, NIV) A contemporary translation amplifies the meaning for us: "Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field." (James 4:8, The Message)
God wants to the One Love of our life, the One that we are focused on, and 'round Whom all other things are oriented. Jesus said it profoundly - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and heart." The love of which He spoke is not the sentiment of the greeting card or the warm fuzzy feeling provoked by some family picture. It is the choice to submit and serve.
At the beginning of this week, I encourage you to spend time prayerfully, thoughtfully, inviting the Holy Spirit's aid to evaluate your life in light of God's love. Be scrupulous, tough on yourself!
As you look through your daily planner, ask - does the way that I organize my time reflect that I love God more than anyone or anything else?
As you review your financial choices, look for evidence that you are demonstrating your love for God with your spending.
Sort through the attitudes of your heart and honestly review them to see if they are submitted to your love of God.
Jesus promised that God's holy commandments would be fulfilled in us completely, IF we commit ourselves to loving God as THE priority choice in life. Does the Lord sense that you are torn between two loves, that you are fragmented because you love yourself more than Him, or that you love pleasure more than Him, or that you love ___________ (what idol seduces you?) more than Him?
Fads, fashions, and trends will come and go. If we are slaves to those things, our lives will be full of instability as we shift our compass to point to the 'new true North' dictated by society. However, God's purpose never changes. His high calling is constant, steady, and consistent. Those who are oriented to His Truth, are drawn on steadily, with a course that is trued and straight.
____________________
"Father, many voices call to us from the periphery of our lives.
Many who would be our masters, ask for our loyalties.Good things and people ask us to fulfill their agendas.We need your wisdom to find the one thing that is necessary.
Speak to us clearly, patiently, yes, Lord- persistently.
And, help us, oh, help us to focus on loving You,
more than anything or anyone else.
As we live with competing demands of
home, family, church, and business;
become the One Unifying focus for us and in us.
Be the Lord of Life,
not merely in the words of our worship songs,
but in the work of our hands.
in the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen."
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