Thinking; I've been doing a lot of that this week. My Dad is hospitalized after major surgery. Mom takes the night shift and I spend each day with him at the hospital- monitoring his care, helping him with the necessary stuff, talking about life, and watching him sleep. Life has come to a kind of standstill - a time to wait. Usually I live at a fast pace all day long, with my mind in high gear, dealing with people needs, church management, and in preparation to speak or teach.
But, last Monday, I left that all behind for a week to focus on my Dad. "Lord," I prayed, "I just want to offer him the gift of myself completely, my full attention, my love." At first, I was bored. Then, I felt anxious about work going undone. Then, with God's help I chose to relax 'into' the situation! I'm not in charge - of his illness, of his life, of the schedule; of much of anything this week. So, I think- mostly about God, life, choices, and mortality. Today I spent time while he napped pondering my value system. "Jerry, what are you spending your days to gain? When you're the guy in the hospital bed, will you be looking for the rewind button, full of regrets or will you be at peace?"
The default setting for Americans is one that reads - 'spend your life to get things.' We are programmed to get an education, choose a career, and start to work to create a stream of income so we can buy stuff. There is a promise implied in the "American Dream" that goes like this: "If you get more stuff, you will enjoy a better and happier life." To a limited degree, it works. It's nice to have enough money to buy the car we want, rather than just the one we need. Having a bigger house than we actually can live in is as American as apple pie! We heat and maintain 3,000 square feet of house and then actually spend 90% of our time in three rooms - kitchen, bedroom, and living room. The more stuff we have, the more money it takes to keep it all in good repair, insured, and safe. The bargain with the Devil is that now, as a result of our acquisitive ways, we have less time to enjoy the stuff we can afford; but, we keep buying. It's a fool's game. Many of us are certain that 'if we had more,' we would have a better life. I am not making a case for poverty here! God doesn't either. He does tell us that life's meaning can never be found in a bigger pile of stuff! "Life is not defined by what you have, even if you have a lot!" Luke 12.18 The Message
And, then there is this which has become a lot more clear to me this week: even if we do a great job in getting it, keeping it, and piling it higher - someday we will leave it all behind. The government and our kids will divide the pile and what nobody wants will end up at the Salvation Army or on the curb!
What if we focused on an entirely different goal - becoming somebody! No, not in the sense of fame or celebrity. What if we determined that the measure of a good day was not the size of the deal we closed, the hours we put on the clock for our paycheck, but by the ways we helped another person feel the love of God. That will not happen unless we radically accept God's love for ourselves, becoming centered and satisfied in Him, made emotionally whole, forgiven of our sins, and freed from the tyranny of ego! That's the sense in which I mention - becoming somebody. And, we continue - becoming - as God leads us on.
The most basic choice of this kind of life is one that goes against conventional wisdom. In the natural world being somebody means gaining influence, resources, and control. In God's wisdom, becoming a real somebody requires surrender! John Ortberg writes that "surrender is not passivity nor abdication. It is saying yes to God and life each day. It is accepting the gifts He has given to me - my body, my mind, my biorhythms, my energy. It is letting go of my envy or desire for what He has given to someone else. It is letting go of outcomes... Surrender is accepting reality ... the ultimate reality: I am a ceaseless being with an eternal destiny in God's great universe." {When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back Into the Box, 2007, Zondervan} It is, he says, the profound realization that I am not master of the game, Another is.
The depth of our surrender to Him directly effects the extent to which He is able to use us in His purpose of building the Kingdom of God - here and for eternity. Jesus says it most succinctly - "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it." (Mark 8:34-35, NLT)
What would life look like if instead of working to impress others, instead of building a network of power to defend our rights, instead of measuring ourselves by our ability to make situations fit into our expectations - we started each day by placing ourselves at God's disposal with no expectation other than to find the joy of obedience?
Might it mean that we would be as eager to stop and talk to the lonely old man at Dunkin' Donuts as we would be to try to capture the attention of an important man who passed by?
Might it mean that we took more of an interest in what our kids thought than the grades on their tests?
Might it mean that we would encourage our spouse to respond to God's leading instead of worrying about whether we were getting enough of her attention?
Might it mean that in place of lists of our demands that He make our lives easier we would pray conversationally with God, all day long, waiting to discover His will?
I hope this week is one that God uses to chisel another piece of Christlikeness into my life! Surrender, letting go, discovering the adventure of His purposes. I want, by the grace of God and the help of the Spirit, to live as a becomer, for the glory of God.
How about you?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
More than "I hope so!"
Friend, there will come a moment when all you have professed to believe will be shaken to its foundations. As I talked with my Dad yesterday I realized anew just how important it is to know the Who, what, and why of our faith. Dad is dealing with the aftershocks of having a doctor tell him he has an inoperable tumor in his abdomen. He is drawing on every lesson, every Bible study, every song of his Christian life! He's been in tough times before, but this is a true 'life and death' struggle.
In this time he must dig down to the bedrock of faith - beyond emotionalism, beyond sentimentalism, beyond inspiring stories from Guideposts! If Dad were just now trying to lay the solid rock foundation for a life-sustaining, death-surviving faith, I am not at all certain it could be done. His many years of conversations with the Lord are now the substance of hope in his life. Long ago, Dad found the Scripture to be his source of wisdom. Long ago, he trusted Christ with his life- present and eternal. Thus, it is that today, despite the trials and uncertainties, he can rest secure on the Rock of his salvation. He is able to say, with conviction, "I know Whom I have believed and that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him." (2 Timothy 1.12)
Faith is somewhat superfluous when our road in life is smooth and wide.
How much real faith does it require to sing, "God is Good, All the Time," when days are full of sunshine, when the horizons appear limitless?
When we are healthy, when our job is secure, when our spouse loves us; our prayers tend to be the perfunctory kind. In those seasons, and thank the Lord for the good times, many of us tend to let our spiritual experience become something less than the Bible's ideal of Christian discipleship. It isn't that we lose faith. We just let it get out of shape, without exercise!
God's wants us to live in pursuit of a disciplined development of character, to engage in study and understanding of Christian doctrine, to regularly practice loving service for others, and to allow Him to lead us outside of our comfort zone on regular basis. If that seems to involve rigor to you, you're right in your perception. Why work so hard at something that we cannot see, touch, or hold in our hands? Thus, when life is good, when we're living with the illusion of perpetual youth, vitality, and security, our 'worship' easily deteriorates into mere expressions of sentiment. We are drawn to a kind of 'Bible study' that is nothing more than a superficial search for the daily promise, or a short reading of 60 words from "God's Moment for the Busy 21st Century Saint!" Service that requires something of self-sacrifice becomes a job for 'somebody with more time.' Pleasure and games replace worship as a weekly commitment. We keep just enough 'faith' in play to keep our conscience quiet; keeping our Heaven policy 'in force.'
The Proverbs record this prayer, which only the bold will pray from their heart - "Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" (Proverbs 30:8-9, NLT) Reflection will prove the wisdom of that prayer for about 99.9 % of us. Jesus asks us to consider the same principle when He says, "what does a man profit if he gains the whole world and in the process loses his soul?" It's not the wealth that is the problem. It is the way we respond with a misplaced confidence in it! We tend to get caught up in the deception that we can be gods in our own little universe.
If your life is blessed today, praise God and begin to 'lay up treasure' in Heaven, by building some real faith reserves. Friend, the steady practice of spiritual disciplines produces a harvest of righteousness from which we can be sustained in the lean times.
Worship faithfully.
Learn the Word and process the Truth so it is driven down deep to the core of your soul.
Don't let religious jargon that sounds like the real thing replace the Truth that will keep you in times of trials.
The Bible says, "Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul." (2 Timothy 2:15-17, The Message)
______________________________
My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' Name.
On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand!- public domain
In this time he must dig down to the bedrock of faith - beyond emotionalism, beyond sentimentalism, beyond inspiring stories from Guideposts! If Dad were just now trying to lay the solid rock foundation for a life-sustaining, death-surviving faith, I am not at all certain it could be done. His many years of conversations with the Lord are now the substance of hope in his life. Long ago, Dad found the Scripture to be his source of wisdom. Long ago, he trusted Christ with his life- present and eternal. Thus, it is that today, despite the trials and uncertainties, he can rest secure on the Rock of his salvation. He is able to say, with conviction, "I know Whom I have believed and that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him." (2 Timothy 1.12)
Faith is somewhat superfluous when our road in life is smooth and wide.
How much real faith does it require to sing, "God is Good, All the Time," when days are full of sunshine, when the horizons appear limitless?
When we are healthy, when our job is secure, when our spouse loves us; our prayers tend to be the perfunctory kind. In those seasons, and thank the Lord for the good times, many of us tend to let our spiritual experience become something less than the Bible's ideal of Christian discipleship. It isn't that we lose faith. We just let it get out of shape, without exercise!
God's wants us to live in pursuit of a disciplined development of character, to engage in study and understanding of Christian doctrine, to regularly practice loving service for others, and to allow Him to lead us outside of our comfort zone on regular basis. If that seems to involve rigor to you, you're right in your perception. Why work so hard at something that we cannot see, touch, or hold in our hands? Thus, when life is good, when we're living with the illusion of perpetual youth, vitality, and security, our 'worship' easily deteriorates into mere expressions of sentiment. We are drawn to a kind of 'Bible study' that is nothing more than a superficial search for the daily promise, or a short reading of 60 words from "God's Moment for the Busy 21st Century Saint!" Service that requires something of self-sacrifice becomes a job for 'somebody with more time.' Pleasure and games replace worship as a weekly commitment. We keep just enough 'faith' in play to keep our conscience quiet; keeping our Heaven policy 'in force.'
The Proverbs record this prayer, which only the bold will pray from their heart - "Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" (Proverbs 30:8-9, NLT) Reflection will prove the wisdom of that prayer for about 99.9 % of us. Jesus asks us to consider the same principle when He says, "what does a man profit if he gains the whole world and in the process loses his soul?" It's not the wealth that is the problem. It is the way we respond with a misplaced confidence in it! We tend to get caught up in the deception that we can be gods in our own little universe.
If your life is blessed today, praise God and begin to 'lay up treasure' in Heaven, by building some real faith reserves. Friend, the steady practice of spiritual disciplines produces a harvest of righteousness from which we can be sustained in the lean times.
Worship faithfully.
Learn the Word and process the Truth so it is driven down deep to the core of your soul.
Don't let religious jargon that sounds like the real thing replace the Truth that will keep you in times of trials.
The Bible says, "Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul." (2 Timothy 2:15-17, The Message)
______________________________
My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' Name.
On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand!- public domain
Monday, January 14, 2008
His Wonderful Presence
Last Friday morning, a phone call brought the news that Dad's surgeon had found an additional mass in his abdomen that he could not remove due to its location around his main arteries. While conclusive tests are not yet done, he offered his opinion that the tumor was treatable, but not likely curable. Coming at the end of a week in which the flu had weakened me physically, when important leadership issues are demanding greater efforts in my service as a Pastor; this news was just too much. I was temporarily overcome with despair. When I visited Dad's hospital room later that day I actually collapsed from the strain.
The entire day was full of inner struggles with faith, with questions for the Lord. Later that night, I drifted into a restless sleep, and awakened to prayer on Sat. morning 'round 2; not pleasant praise filled prayer, either. But, when we are faithless, He is faithful. At 4 am, the Lord showed up in my bedroom, with an indescribable comfort. He didn't tell me that Dad would be healed though that would be a wonderful development! He didn't tell promise me that a donor was about to send the church a $50,000 check. Yes, that too, would be a most welcome blessing! He gave me the Gift of Presence! In my heart I heard Him say, "Your Dad, the church, and you, Jerry, are held in the palm of my hand." I knew that already, but there are differing ways to 'know' truth, and I came to 'know' it in a new way! The Presence of the Lord made the difference.
Tom Edmunds, a dear friend who preached at the Assembly yesterday, took his text from Matthew's Gospel, from a story set in the context of the experiences of those who were Believers in the days immediately following the Resurrection. Despite the good news not everyone was comforted. We read, "When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!" (Matthew 28:17, NLT) Tom then continued by noting the response of the Risen Lord to the doubters. He did not berate, nor did he condemn them. Instead, He "came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ... I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-21, NLT) The promise of His Presence gave them the strength they needed! Every difficult experience is easier to endure when we have someone to share the burden. And no one bears the load like the Lord, if we wait on Him and let Him come near.
So, how can we live in His wonderful Presence?
Make the decision to Trust Him. Faith is both a gift from God and a choice we make. If we allow ourselves to be bitter, if we lash out and blame God, we cut ourselves off from the very One who can comfort us in our time of need. The ancient story of Job is a model for this. Job felt his pain, did not deny his sorrow, but he chose to trust God.
Wait, patiently, for the Lord. He allows us to walk in the dark for a time, but He is never far away, nor has He forgotten us. The Psalmist says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." (37.7) That is a discipline we must learn if we want to know His Presence.
Reject temptation to sin in ways that provide temporary soothing of the soul! The Tempter is quick to exploit our pain and the appetites of the sinful nature grow stronger when our spirits weaken. Gluttony, lust, materialism - and more - take on new luster when we are hurting. The tragedy is that when we sin, guilt only increases our sense of distance from our Heavenly Father. Surround yourself with people who will urge you to do the right things when the storm is raging.
Worship- individually and with others! Yes, offer the sacrifices of praise to God. No, you don't have to insincerely say things you do not mean. You do not have to thank for the pain. Thank Him for Who He is, for What He has done in the past, for the promises you find about Him in His Word. One of the best hours in the past week was Sunday's worship service with God's people. The formal rituals and songs were like a salve for my soul, renewing my hope.
Here's a word from the Word. Take it with you today.
"The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination! Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way." (Psalm 16:7-11, The Message)
The entire day was full of inner struggles with faith, with questions for the Lord. Later that night, I drifted into a restless sleep, and awakened to prayer on Sat. morning 'round 2; not pleasant praise filled prayer, either. But, when we are faithless, He is faithful. At 4 am, the Lord showed up in my bedroom, with an indescribable comfort. He didn't tell me that Dad would be healed though that would be a wonderful development! He didn't tell promise me that a donor was about to send the church a $50,000 check. Yes, that too, would be a most welcome blessing! He gave me the Gift of Presence! In my heart I heard Him say, "Your Dad, the church, and you, Jerry, are held in the palm of my hand." I knew that already, but there are differing ways to 'know' truth, and I came to 'know' it in a new way! The Presence of the Lord made the difference.
Tom Edmunds, a dear friend who preached at the Assembly yesterday, took his text from Matthew's Gospel, from a story set in the context of the experiences of those who were Believers in the days immediately following the Resurrection. Despite the good news not everyone was comforted. We read, "When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!" (Matthew 28:17, NLT) Tom then continued by noting the response of the Risen Lord to the doubters. He did not berate, nor did he condemn them. Instead, He "came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ... I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-21, NLT) The promise of His Presence gave them the strength they needed! Every difficult experience is easier to endure when we have someone to share the burden. And no one bears the load like the Lord, if we wait on Him and let Him come near.
So, how can we live in His wonderful Presence?
Make the decision to Trust Him. Faith is both a gift from God and a choice we make. If we allow ourselves to be bitter, if we lash out and blame God, we cut ourselves off from the very One who can comfort us in our time of need. The ancient story of Job is a model for this. Job felt his pain, did not deny his sorrow, but he chose to trust God.
Wait, patiently, for the Lord. He allows us to walk in the dark for a time, but He is never far away, nor has He forgotten us. The Psalmist says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." (37.7) That is a discipline we must learn if we want to know His Presence.
Reject temptation to sin in ways that provide temporary soothing of the soul! The Tempter is quick to exploit our pain and the appetites of the sinful nature grow stronger when our spirits weaken. Gluttony, lust, materialism - and more - take on new luster when we are hurting. The tragedy is that when we sin, guilt only increases our sense of distance from our Heavenly Father. Surround yourself with people who will urge you to do the right things when the storm is raging.
Worship- individually and with others! Yes, offer the sacrifices of praise to God. No, you don't have to insincerely say things you do not mean. You do not have to thank for the pain. Thank Him for Who He is, for What He has done in the past, for the promises you find about Him in His Word. One of the best hours in the past week was Sunday's worship service with God's people. The formal rituals and songs were like a salve for my soul, renewing my hope.
Here's a word from the Word. Take it with you today.
"The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination! Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way." (Psalm 16:7-11, The Message)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)