God's own?

A comedy called City Slickers, (1991) about three guys who try to recover their male identity with a trip to a cattle ranch in the West, included a great performance by the late Jack Palance in the role of an old cowboy who cryptically told the guys that life was about finding the 'one thing' that is important. He never defined 'one thing,' which was part of the humor of the film. Funny or not, it is true. A life well lived has focus, has passion, and is shaped by purposeful pursuit of One! There are many ways to earn a living, many ways to find enjoyment in our world - but just One Person from whom we can gain 'life to the full.' I don't need to be cryptic. God, who made Himself known to us in the Man, Jesus Christ, is that One Person on whom a life of meaning is centered.

Some of you are thinking, "Jerry, are you implying we all have to become employees of the Church?" to find a meaningful life. No way! But, all Believers are ministers (servants) called to do the work of God. It does not matter if you are a medical doctor, a teacher, a carpenter, a mechanic, a full-time Mom, an engineer... OK, you got it, right? The Word says, "Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, NLT) The passion of life, the 'one thing' is to know Christ and to make Him known. There are more ways to do that than I could explore in this TFTD, but we all start down that road by redefining the meaning of life to be about our relationship with God. We take Him from Sunday morning, from our private devotional thoughts, with us into the world. We learn to be in conversation with the Holy Spirit, all the time, everywhere, about everything!

It honors God if, when others think of us, the next thought is Jesus! When the mention of the name "Jerry Scott" is made, I hope that I have lived in such a way that one of descriptive phrases others would use about me is: "He is God's man!" No, not because I am especially pious. I'm not! No, not because I am a part of the professional clergy with the honorific title of "Rev." I've met quite a few "Revs." who earn their living in church work, but who I would not describe as belonging to God! Lord, help me to be different, I pray. I want other to think of Jesus because they see a deep and profound love for Him in my words and actions. I desire that it would be obvious that I live to know and serve Him. What and/or who we esteem and love is quickly evident. My friend Jake loves guitar music. You don't have to be with him long to realize that. My Dad loves kids, something you know within minutes of meeting him. What are you passionate about? Anything? Or are you just letting life drift by without digging in to find the joy of being passionate about something?

Know this. If you're passionate about God, not everyone will applaud! People who are passionate about something in life are hard to be around because they turn into fanatics. In the new movie, Freedom Writers, in which Hillary Swank, tells the story of Erin Gruwell, a young teacher who became passionate about reaching those urban kids that the educational system no longer cared about, we see that. Erin's life was defined by her love for those kids, to the extent that she took extra jobs so she could afford to buy them books and take them on trips. Her husband divorced her because he couldn't stand her intensity. The emptiness of his own life was made even more evident by the fullness she found in loving her students. (See it! It is worth the money. It's not a Christian film, but the story inspires.)

That's the way it ought to be in our lives in the way we love God. Love for Him, which finds expressions in so many ways, should be our central passion! Not everyone will appreciate the passion. Some will find us unpleasant to be around, not because we are preachy, but because the high quality of life we live for God makes their pursuit of money, sex, fame, or pleasure all the more evidently meaningless! Here's what the Word says about this. "... you died, (to self-centeredness) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory..." (Colossians 3:2-12, NIV)

Are you God's own?

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:

Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:1-2, The Message)

Letting go and letting God!

When I arrived at the jail where I conduct a Bible study each Wednesday morning, I asked the man who unlocked the room, "So, how many will be in study today?" "A big group," he answered, "they're sending you a group of female inmates today!" Immediately I felt the anger rising in me because I had not planned for this new development. I was looking forward to seeing the men that I usually taught. But, I quickly overcame my irritation and prayed that the Lord would let me help someone in the new group; which He did! A couple of the women in the study were keenly interested in the Word and professed faith in Christ. Once again, in a simple way, I was reminded that He is a sovereign God, that I need to 'get out of His way' and let Him lead. Perhaps you're thinking, "Well, duh, Pastor, we all know that." Ah, we do and we don't.

Our doctrine teaches us that God is in control. However, we have plans that we want to complete. Our agenda is often changed by unexpected events, by unforeseen developments, by 'accidents,' and such things. When that happens, Self may lead us into anger and we will fight to assert our will. Or, we may fall into despair, doubting God's goodness, struggling with faith as our life plan is re-written before our eyes as if by an unseen hand. It can be very hard to step back and faithfully say, "I am the Lord's servant, may He do with me as He chooses. Blessed be the Name of the Lord."

Do not read me wrongly today. I am not a fatalist. God has given us choices to make and made us partners with Him in His work. In a mystery that defies complete understanding and/or explanation, He declares two truths to us.

First, He says, "I rule the affairs of the world and know the smallest details of your life." The Word says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16, NIV)

Second, He says, "Choose wisely in your life." Joshua calls on us to "Choose today whom you will serve. ... But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15, NLT) Philosophically, I cannot reconcile those two statements, but in faith, I accept them and live in the balance they provide.

I will not try to control my life with no reliance on God, for that leads me to folly of many kinds! The person who thinks himself the master of his fate is deluded, and everybody knows it but himself. He will become increasingly desperate when he is confronted with situations over which he has little or no control; in his frenzy concocting schemes that are more and more bizarre.

But, I will not abdicate my responsibility to step up to making decisions. The person who mistakenly concludes that he can do nothing to shape his life is foolish. He finds himself in many tight spots which are of his own making, the result of the failure to be prudent. Wisdom invites us to learn from her and promises, “Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and wins approval from the Lord." (Proverbs 8:34-35, NLT)

Spend a few moments today in meditation on the following passage. Ask the Spirit to lead you to live in that secure place where God leads and you follow.
"So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. ...

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. ...

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." (Galatians 5:16-25, NLT)
_______________________
On God's holy Word I challenge you
To give to the Lord your life anew.
My friend, make your choice;
He waits for you
For this is the moment of truth.
Now walk with God
And He will be your dearest Friend
Where'er you go
In everything you do.
And may your life
Reflect His love to ev'ryone.
Now walk with God
And He will walk with you.

Now Walk With God- Skillings, Otis
© 1969 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company) CCLI License No. 810055

Just to know His smile!

Awards are everywhere - in the entertainment industry, in sports, where you work, at school. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted two new members yesterday - Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn. Notably, they rejected Mark McGwire despite his homerun records, on the suspicion that he cheated with performance enhancing drugs. Last year, the Assemblies of God noted my 25 year anniversary of ordination to Christian ministry. I wear the pin denoting that milestone with some pride, hopefully the good kind of pride, not the arrogant kind! Not all awards have to be published or pinned, either. Drs. Trent and Smalley wrote a book to explain the importance of giving kids 'the blessing,' urging parents to pass along appropriate affirmation for their children. The way that a parent gives honor to his child is one of the biggest influences that shapes that child's sense of worth and purpose for the rest of his life. If a parent is dishonors his child, treating him with contempt and/or nagging criticism, he steals confidence and sets up that child to grow into an adult who will struggle with issues of inferiority. If she appropriately recognizes and encourages her child, she helps lay a foundation for good relationships and a sense of worth, enduring to the grave!

There is one reward that supersedes, by far, all others; the blessing of God!
How do we live in His blessing? How do we enjoy His affirmation?

Take a look at what the Word says,“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." That line comes from a passage in the book of Isaiah that reminds us that we cannot do anything for God that He could not do for Himself. We are not rewarded with His blessings because we enriched Him in anyway. To think that is absurd, and leads us into the Pharisaical folly of thinking that God is fortunate to have us on His team. Remember the story Jesus told about two men who went to pray? The self-righteous Pharisee asked nothing of God, only commending himself to God for all the good things he had done. The 'sinner' lowered his eyes and prayed only for mercy from God. Jesus said that only one man went home right with God and it wasn't the 'good guy.' (see Luke 18:10-12)

We cannot 'buy' God's approval, nor can we earn it. And yet, we must learn to live in it and there are choices we make which allow us to enjoy it.

Read this carefully. "This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man, and whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense, like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations;" (Isaiah 66:1-3, NIV) Building temples and presenting offerings cannot replace a heart that loves God and a life that honors Him with obedience!

King Saul, who lived in rebellion, tried to buy God's favor with a thousand sacrifices, but God swept aside his offerings, the prophet Samuel declaring: "Do you think all God wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production." (1 Samuel 15:22, The Message)

Are you living in humility before God, allowing Him to lead you? Are you discovering His will, day by day, not necessarily as He writes it in the sky in mile-high letters, but in obedience in the little things? There is the place of blessing, the place where His smile warms our hearts and we know what it is to live with a sense of close fellowship.

In 1981, the movie, Chariots of Fire, told the story of Eric Liddell, a committed Christian who became an Olympic competitor, and later a missionary to China, who died in as a prisoner of the Japanese in WWII. There is a memorable line in that movie. Liddell confidently, yet humbly says, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." Nothing in the world can replace the sense that God takes pleasure from us as obedient children! If you're running from Him, resisting Him, complaining about Him - stop, turn in repentance, and humbly give yourself to Him. That does not guarantee that everything in your will magically turn out wonderful, that you will be spared all difficulty. It does allow you to know the smile of His blessed approval - and that, my friend, supersedes all other awards, any other achievement.

"Valued because He said so"

Redeemed... as I meditated on that word, my mind drifted back a long time to when I first became aware of the concept. It was about S. and H. Green Stamps. When Mom shopped, she received sheets of green stamps in proportion to how much she spent. I had fun pasting them into little books. Yep, I licked 'em and got the glue on my tongue, but hey I was 7 or 8. When she collected enough little books full of stamps she could 'redeem' them for household items. That's all I remember, but I discovered that S. + H. company, the green stamp people, are still around only now they issue 'digital points.' Not nearly as much fun as books full of little green stamps, at least for a kid. The books filled with green stamps had no value until they were presented to the company who issued them and who put a value on them, a process they termed, redemption!

Have you been redeemed?

The question is an important one! Redemption is a theme throughout the Scripture. The Bible tells us that we are devalued by sin, that we are destined for the garbage heap of eternity, except for Divine redemption! "For thus says the Lord: “You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money. ....Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. " (Isaiah 52:3, 9 NKJV) Our lives, destroyed by disobedience, are given eternal value, but not because we have done great thing to achieve world renown. We gain value because God, in mercy, found us, bought us from the Evil One to whom we had sold ourselves for meager price, and set His seal of ownership on us. Solely because of His mark, we who were once destined for destruction are now people of great worth. So Isaiah exults - God says, “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. .... that’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you." (Isaiah 43:1,4 The Message)

When we take hold of that truth, owning it by faith, we are changed. Despair gives way to hope. Striving gives way to contentment. We are less tempted to give ourselves to worthless pursuits because we are now owned by God, with a high and holy calling to serve Him as 'vessels of honor.' Yes, redemption makes us holy people- transforming us from slaves to free persons, from sinners into saints. Whatever we once were, we are no longer because Jesus Christ redeemed us from death.

Pray to know that Truth! Ponder it, meditate on it. Thank God for loving you when you were worthless, wasting your life.
It's my song today. I am joyful in it. I've been redeemed.
________________________

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed thro' His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed thro' His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell!
I know that the light of His presence,
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer;
I think of Him all the day long.
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of song.

I know I shall see His beauty
The King, in whose law I delight,
Who lovingly gaurdeth my footsteps
And giveth me songs in the night.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed thro' His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed
Crosby, Fanny J. / Butler, Aubrey L.
© 1966, 1967 Broadman Press ARR Distributed by Genevox Music Group
CCLI License No. 810055

Not 'me,' but 'we'

The world functions around power. Need to settle a political dispute? Line up the allies and pressure the errant state into compliance. If that fails, send in the army! Whether we realize it or not, American society functions as well as it does, in large part, because of power! Author Donald Miller observed that what makes America great is her justice system where the majority uses the courts and police to keep everybody in line! He's a cynic, to be sure. There are a lot of wonderful things about our nation that make her great besides her police force. Never the less, he's got a point. We live reasonably secure lives because we have empowered police to remove the bad guys from among us. Even on a personal level, we tend to use power to shape situations the way we want them to be. When there is a problem, we find the pressure point and lean on it to bring the other person around to our point of view.

But... you knew there was a 'but' coming soon, didn't you? ...Believers are instructed to focus away from power in their lives. The genuine relationships of the Church should not be based on power tactics. As a leader of a local church, I am both tempted and tested by the use of power. I am tempted to use whatever limited power I have to make people who live in my little sphere of influence 'get with the program.' I humbly admit that too often I have succumbed to that temptation when faced with a person who makes my life and ministry difficult. And I am tested, on a regular basis, by the power plays of individuals who become vocal critics hoping to force a change in me or church programs, who threaten to withhold financial support, or who 'boycott' the meetings of the church to get the attention of the board who they hope will lean on me for change.

Take a look at what the Scripture says about this. "Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people." (Ephesians 4:2-4, CEV)

Imagine living without resorting to power tactics, without threatening anyone, ever? That's what the Lord asks of us. It sounds so naive, but it what He desires from us. Our security and our personal happiness are not found in forcing our way or intimidation. They are found in giving away ourselves and becoming a part of God's work. "Be humble!" is not the prescription for worldly success. When I was young, my late uncle advised me about capturing attention and making my way in the world with this parody of a Bible verse, "He who tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted!" But, Uncle Dean was wrong. God's way is humility, serving without notice and taking joy from the opportunities that God gives - great or small. The gentleness that the Lord asks of us is an expression of ultimate trust in Him! A gentle person is not lacking in backbone or courage, though he is often perceived in that way. He is a person of amazing courage who has set aside power and decided to seek a greater good than his own agenda or his own comfort.

I am heartened that the passage I quoted gives a nod to the difficulties of human relationships. "Patiently put up with each other!" lets me know that people will be people: cranky, headstrong, selfish, and immature. (Me, too, from time to time.) The church is not a utopian community where 'never is heard a discouraging word.' It is an imperfect community of people 'in process,' who are called to choose patience over power, where we move - together- toward the calling of God - s l o w l y - but steadily as the Spirit leads us. And we are told to "Love each other!"

We make much of love, but understand it so little. Love is reduced, so often, to a expression of the ephemeral expression of our emotions. Love, as portrayed in the New Testament, is a robust thing, a choice from which all other choices flow. The model for our love is the love of Christ - which caused Him to enter the world, to live as an ordinary Man, and to walk boldly to the Cross, where He died an excruciating death and allowed our sins to alienate Him from the Father. And, why? Because of love - for you, for me. The quality of His love, which compelled amazing sacrifice, is far removed from the syrupy emotionalism that we mistake for love in our Christian relationships, isn't it? We are barely willing to put up with another's irritating habits or quirks, to say nothing of actually living with them for 30 years, fully entering into their experience, and then dying for them!

I propose an experiment for us today. When tempted to use power to gain compliance from another, even in the little things of life, choose the way of humble and gentle love. Let love compel you to step boldly into the other person's life, even for a moment, and then ask the Holy Spirit, how He wants you to respond. It will lead you to some amazing, awkward, and perhaps even Christ-honoring moments. And it will surely please the Father.
__________________

Love Divine-- Wesley, Charles / Zundel, John

Love divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion;
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Breathe, oh breathe, Thy loving Spirit
Into ev'ry troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver;
Let us all Thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish then Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee:
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055