Read the Song of Solomon lately? It can make you blush! One of the more 'tame' passages reads like this- "You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace. Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices. Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. Your clothes are scented like the cedars of Lebanon." (Song of Solomon 4:9-11, NLT) Yes, that's right. The Bible has a whole book that celebrates the intense physical passion that draws Solomon and a young woman together. Some of it is hard for us to understand, for it is written in metaphor and allusions that are from another era and culture, but even then, we get it. This couple really, really were into each other!
So is that book in the Bible included just to tell us about a couple's attraction to each other, which, by the way, is God's design? I think not. There's another application that goes beyond that first and obvious one.
In the Old Testament Israel is called God's wife! "For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth." (Isaiah 54:5, NLT) Nuptial imagery is often used to describe His love for his people. When they follow other gods, He calls them adulteresses, and He speaks to them in the voice of a broken-hearted husband of an unfaithful wife; at once both angry and longing. "The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also." (Jeremiah 3:6-8, NKJV)
In the New Testament, the Church is called the Bride of Christ. Christ's love for His people is a model for spousal love. "Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her." (Ephesians 5:25-26, The Message)
So, since this is the way God sees us - as His love, His wife - I think we can read the passionate poetry of Solomon's Song with a secondary understanding about loving our God and Christ; with real passion, intense longing for Him, emotional and tender. {Yes, guys that can be stretch for us, at first, but you can come 'round to it.} For many 21st Christians the core of their religion is an intellectual exercise. Knowing God is about learning doctrines, working out a creed, and knowing the history of the Bible. They can argue about interpretive models for Genesis, and how Scriptural principles shape a humanitarian philosophy of life. And, all that is good, but that is not all that there is! We can love God with our hearts, too. Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy, says, "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30, NKJV) In addition to our intellect, we be passionate in our love and worship of the Lord, our God.
How does that look?
We ought to let the things that break His heart break ours, too.
We need to feel His grief when we spurn His love for other lovers of this present world.
We should expect that He will come near to us, wait for Him to comfort us, earnestly desire that He should guide us as our loving Husband!
And, we should pray that His Presence will satisfy us even more deeply than any earthly lover could!
Consider these words of the Psalms. They are full of emotion for God. Ponder them today, and pray that God will teach you to love Him - with your heart as well as your mind.
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God! What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises."
"A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right." (Psalm 84:1-4, 10-11, NLT)
_________________________
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
My Home in Heaven
I used to scoff at 'Heaven talk' as so much escapism, a way to dodge the realities of life. I wondered, 'why do those old Believers get all misty eyed and claim to want to be in a place where they have never been?' Now, I am beginning to understand! I just needed to get a little nearer to home to feel the tug of Heaven.
OK, everybody relax. As far as know, I'm not dying, at least not today. I am not in despair. I have much to live for. But, Heaven is in my heart. A friend of mine stopped by my office yesterday. He was the best man at our wedding 33 years ago, so you get an idea just how far back we go. Jack and I talked about our families, our walk with the Lord, and life in general. As he was leaving, the conversation came around to the subject of eternity. We agreed that when we were younger, full of dreams and eager to change the world, that we thought very little of Heaven, but now it is more on our minds. I joked, "Jack, maybe God's plan in aging us is to help us let go of the things of this earth and get ready to go home!" But, that's really not a joke, is it?
African Americans, in the time of slavery, led hard lives, full of sorrow. So they sang of Heaven, of God's sweet home. They sang of the comfort offered by God. Songs like "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "There is a Balm in Gilead" and "Marching Up the Heavenly Road" and "Gonna Shout All Over God's Heaven" sustained their hearts with hope they could not find here in this world. My Pentecostal ancestors, people who were generally poor and struggling with difficult lives, often sang of Heaven, too. "When We all Get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory" they sang out on Sunday morning; and they meant it!
Heaven is not just a dream. It's not just a way to cope with life. It is home! The Bible says, "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, (the coming of the Kingdom of God) but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:13-16, NLT) Peter tells us to keep our hearts set on our true Home. "Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives." (1 Peter 2:10-12, The Message)
Don't worry about being 'so Heavenly minded, you're no earthly good!' The truth is that a Believer who has set his heart on Heaven is the most effective servant of God here on earth. He is not pre-occupied with trying to hold onto what is slipping away from him. He is not trying to build a kingdom here. He is not fearful of what may come into his life. Why? Because he knows that he's not home yet, and that his home is secure and ready for him.
So, take these words of Jesus with you. Memorize them. He promises, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3, NIV)
___________________________
Some glad morning when this life is o'er.
I'll fly away.
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, O glory.
I'll fly away.
When I die, hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away.
When the shadows of this life have gone.
I'll fly away.
Like a bird from prison bars has flown.
I'll fly away.
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away.
To a land where joys shall never end.
I'll fly away.
I'll Fly AwayAlfred Brumley
© 1932 Hartford Music Company.
Renewed 1960 Albert E. Brumley And Sons (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
OK, everybody relax. As far as know, I'm not dying, at least not today. I am not in despair. I have much to live for. But, Heaven is in my heart. A friend of mine stopped by my office yesterday. He was the best man at our wedding 33 years ago, so you get an idea just how far back we go. Jack and I talked about our families, our walk with the Lord, and life in general. As he was leaving, the conversation came around to the subject of eternity. We agreed that when we were younger, full of dreams and eager to change the world, that we thought very little of Heaven, but now it is more on our minds. I joked, "Jack, maybe God's plan in aging us is to help us let go of the things of this earth and get ready to go home!" But, that's really not a joke, is it?
African Americans, in the time of slavery, led hard lives, full of sorrow. So they sang of Heaven, of God's sweet home. They sang of the comfort offered by God. Songs like "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "There is a Balm in Gilead" and "Marching Up the Heavenly Road" and "Gonna Shout All Over God's Heaven" sustained their hearts with hope they could not find here in this world. My Pentecostal ancestors, people who were generally poor and struggling with difficult lives, often sang of Heaven, too. "When We all Get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory" they sang out on Sunday morning; and they meant it!
Heaven is not just a dream. It's not just a way to cope with life. It is home! The Bible says, "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, (the coming of the Kingdom of God) but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:13-16, NLT) Peter tells us to keep our hearts set on our true Home. "Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives." (1 Peter 2:10-12, The Message)
Don't worry about being 'so Heavenly minded, you're no earthly good!' The truth is that a Believer who has set his heart on Heaven is the most effective servant of God here on earth. He is not pre-occupied with trying to hold onto what is slipping away from him. He is not trying to build a kingdom here. He is not fearful of what may come into his life. Why? Because he knows that he's not home yet, and that his home is secure and ready for him.
So, take these words of Jesus with you. Memorize them. He promises, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3, NIV)
___________________________
Some glad morning when this life is o'er.
I'll fly away.
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away.
I'll fly away, O glory.
I'll fly away.
When I die, hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away.
When the shadows of this life have gone.
I'll fly away.
Like a bird from prison bars has flown.
I'll fly away.
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away.
To a land where joys shall never end.
I'll fly away.
I'll Fly AwayAlfred Brumley
© 1932 Hartford Music Company.
Renewed 1960 Albert E. Brumley And Sons (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Near to His Heart
Staying connected with others is a critically important part of spiritual, emotional, and even physical health! We are wired by God to be in community. A little boy I spoke with recently was crying softly. I asked him why and he said, "I hate going to school." The conversation revealed that he is alone, teased for being different, unliked, disconnected. Without intervention, his life will probably become even more difficult in years ahead. He needs friends. One of the curses of the elderly is loneliness. When infirmity makes it more difficult to get out, as they are less able to participate in church and social events, their isolation produces depression. We must remember them and bring encouragement to those who are shut-in.
The comfort that friends provide was a real blessing in my own life last week. As my friends heard of my father's surgery and illness, they reached out with emails, phone calls, and cards. So many repeated a similar theme - "Thinking of you, praying for you." Those connections were a lifeline for me and from them I drew strength. I thank God for the network of support that He has given me, increasingly realizing the value of being 'connected' as I grow more mature.
The most important connection, however, is the one that does not depend on social grace, or involvement in church or civic organizations, or even on electronic communications. It is our connection to the Living Lord, the Spirit of God! He who knows us best, loves us most. He does not abandon us when we are cranky, in pain, or complaining. He does not move on when our resources are exhausted. He does not move away, or turn on us because of misunderstanding or miscommunication. He says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6, NKJV)
The Enemy of our soul knows the importance of being loved by God, so he tries to get us to focus on our sins so we feel alienated from the Lord. He attempts to make us see our difficult circumstances as evidence that God has abandoned us. One of his most effective assaults on the Believer in time of trial is a whisper - "God does not care. He is not there for you!" In Psalm 73, we read the prayer of a man who forgot, for a time, that God was near. He looked around and saw the wicked prospering. He saw injustice everywhere. He concluded that the Lord had taken a vacation, that He had abandoned His people. Then, he went to worship! "I entered the sanctuary of God, and I understood!" He re-connected with his Lord. His prayer continues: "I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." (Psalm 73:22-25, NIV)
Believer, stay connected: with God's people, and with the Lord Himself.
When life is going well, when things are great, the temptation to self-sufficiency is strong. But, the time will come when friendship with Jesus and others will be your life-line. Worship regularly and often; both on your own and with the congregation. Stay 'in the Word.' Make time to express love for others, in big and small ways. Someday you will be glad for the support you will enjoy when those you have loved, love you in return.
Should the Devil be hounding you today, trying to make you think God is far away, cling to the Word which declares you are near to His heart. Here's a passage from Exodus. The simplicity of it is captivating. The descendants of Abraham had moved to Egypt. Over many years time, they had grown in numbers and been forced into slavery. It looked like God had forgotten His promises, but then He called a man named Moses to be the one who led them back to the Promised Land. Chapter 2 closes this way. Read it and then take the thought with you as a reminder that God is near!
"The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out.
Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God:
God listened to their groanings.
God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
God saw what was going on with Israel.
God understood. " (Exodus 2:23-25, The Message)
________________________________
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry,
everything to God in prayer.
-- Joseph Scriven
The comfort that friends provide was a real blessing in my own life last week. As my friends heard of my father's surgery and illness, they reached out with emails, phone calls, and cards. So many repeated a similar theme - "Thinking of you, praying for you." Those connections were a lifeline for me and from them I drew strength. I thank God for the network of support that He has given me, increasingly realizing the value of being 'connected' as I grow more mature.
The most important connection, however, is the one that does not depend on social grace, or involvement in church or civic organizations, or even on electronic communications. It is our connection to the Living Lord, the Spirit of God! He who knows us best, loves us most. He does not abandon us when we are cranky, in pain, or complaining. He does not move on when our resources are exhausted. He does not move away, or turn on us because of misunderstanding or miscommunication. He says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6, NKJV)
The Enemy of our soul knows the importance of being loved by God, so he tries to get us to focus on our sins so we feel alienated from the Lord. He attempts to make us see our difficult circumstances as evidence that God has abandoned us. One of his most effective assaults on the Believer in time of trial is a whisper - "God does not care. He is not there for you!" In Psalm 73, we read the prayer of a man who forgot, for a time, that God was near. He looked around and saw the wicked prospering. He saw injustice everywhere. He concluded that the Lord had taken a vacation, that He had abandoned His people. Then, he went to worship! "I entered the sanctuary of God, and I understood!" He re-connected with his Lord. His prayer continues: "I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." (Psalm 73:22-25, NIV)
Believer, stay connected: with God's people, and with the Lord Himself.
When life is going well, when things are great, the temptation to self-sufficiency is strong. But, the time will come when friendship with Jesus and others will be your life-line. Worship regularly and often; both on your own and with the congregation. Stay 'in the Word.' Make time to express love for others, in big and small ways. Someday you will be glad for the support you will enjoy when those you have loved, love you in return.
Should the Devil be hounding you today, trying to make you think God is far away, cling to the Word which declares you are near to His heart. Here's a passage from Exodus. The simplicity of it is captivating. The descendants of Abraham had moved to Egypt. Over many years time, they had grown in numbers and been forced into slavery. It looked like God had forgotten His promises, but then He called a man named Moses to be the one who led them back to the Promised Land. Chapter 2 closes this way. Read it and then take the thought with you as a reminder that God is near!
"The Israelites groaned under their slavery and cried out.
Their cries for relief from their hard labor ascended to God:
God listened to their groanings.
God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
God saw what was going on with Israel.
God understood. " (Exodus 2:23-25, The Message)
________________________________
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry,
everything to God in prayer.
-- Joseph Scriven
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wandering, wondering?
When questions in life outnumber answers, we are tempted to spend too much time in the labyrinths of 'what might have been' and 'what possibly could happen.' Wandering the lanes of either place is a not very productive way to live. We must act and decide while living in the now!
Ever found yourself in the darkness that comes when you try to push the rewind button of time? It doesn't work. Marty McFly got to travel "Back to the Future." We don't. The lens of recall does funny things to memory and what we think we remember is about as close to reality as the reflections of the mirrors in the circus funhouse. Both the depths of failure and the heights of success tend to be exaggerated when we haul them out of our memory banks for review. The future is even less accessible than the past, having the substance like the fog of an early Springtime morning. No matter how hard we try to sculpt the future, the dawn of a new day brings its own challenges, many unforeseen. Jesus' words recorded in the 6th chapter of Matthew's Gospel, urge us to walk with God today. He says we should entrust ourselves to God, inviting His Kingdom to come and His "will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Our petition is one of a simple faith, "Give us our daily bread."
To the extent that we try to re-do yesterday or seize control of tomorrow, we fail to simply 'be' in the present. Perhaps one of the reasons that we often look back at a time of terrible crisis with something akin to thanksgiving is that in such times we tend to live totally in the moment which allows us to know God's gift of grace and peace.
Last week I spent four days so enveloped in the care of my Dad, so concerned about loving the family, so taken by immediate responsibilities, that I prayed simple faith-filled prayers to get through each day. I had no occasion to think about the past or the future at all! I did not worry about the state of the church, about presidential politics, about money, or even about the Devil's schemes! The paradox is this - for those days at the peak of personal crisis, I experienced less anxiety than I have felt for weeks! Such is the grace one can experience when living in God's Presence and 'in the moment.'
So what can we do with memories of yesterday? Paul's advice is "forgetting the past, I press on!" Our sins are forgiven when we give them to Jesus, and we must release the same kind of forgiveness to those who have sinned against us. The successes cannot be repeated either, so we stow them away, with thanksgiving, and move forward. Joshua urged the people he led, "Choose today whom you will serve." The wisdom of his counsel is compelling. If we choose the right actions today, we strengthen the foundation of faith and hope on which tomorrow's choices will be made.
Are you wrestling with difficult decisions? Are you trying to fix something you did yesterday or working to meet some challenge you anticipate arising tomorrow?
Trust the Lord right now. Ask for His provision for this day, with thanksgiving. Walk in obedience today resisting temptation, giving yourself to the guidance of the Spirit.
Here's the promise He makes to the faithful: "Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." (Philippians 4:6-7, The Message)
___________________________
Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best;
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure,
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in ev'ry tribulation,
So to trust Your promises, O Lord;
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a Father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Day By DayBerg, Ahnfelt, Skoog
© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055
Ever found yourself in the darkness that comes when you try to push the rewind button of time? It doesn't work. Marty McFly got to travel "Back to the Future." We don't. The lens of recall does funny things to memory and what we think we remember is about as close to reality as the reflections of the mirrors in the circus funhouse. Both the depths of failure and the heights of success tend to be exaggerated when we haul them out of our memory banks for review. The future is even less accessible than the past, having the substance like the fog of an early Springtime morning. No matter how hard we try to sculpt the future, the dawn of a new day brings its own challenges, many unforeseen. Jesus' words recorded in the 6th chapter of Matthew's Gospel, urge us to walk with God today. He says we should entrust ourselves to God, inviting His Kingdom to come and His "will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Our petition is one of a simple faith, "Give us our daily bread."
To the extent that we try to re-do yesterday or seize control of tomorrow, we fail to simply 'be' in the present. Perhaps one of the reasons that we often look back at a time of terrible crisis with something akin to thanksgiving is that in such times we tend to live totally in the moment which allows us to know God's gift of grace and peace.
Last week I spent four days so enveloped in the care of my Dad, so concerned about loving the family, so taken by immediate responsibilities, that I prayed simple faith-filled prayers to get through each day. I had no occasion to think about the past or the future at all! I did not worry about the state of the church, about presidential politics, about money, or even about the Devil's schemes! The paradox is this - for those days at the peak of personal crisis, I experienced less anxiety than I have felt for weeks! Such is the grace one can experience when living in God's Presence and 'in the moment.'
So what can we do with memories of yesterday? Paul's advice is "forgetting the past, I press on!" Our sins are forgiven when we give them to Jesus, and we must release the same kind of forgiveness to those who have sinned against us. The successes cannot be repeated either, so we stow them away, with thanksgiving, and move forward. Joshua urged the people he led, "Choose today whom you will serve." The wisdom of his counsel is compelling. If we choose the right actions today, we strengthen the foundation of faith and hope on which tomorrow's choices will be made.
Are you wrestling with difficult decisions? Are you trying to fix something you did yesterday or working to meet some challenge you anticipate arising tomorrow?
Trust the Lord right now. Ask for His provision for this day, with thanksgiving. Walk in obedience today resisting temptation, giving yourself to the guidance of the Spirit.
Here's the promise He makes to the faithful: "Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." (Philippians 4:6-7, The Message)
___________________________
Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best;
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure,
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in ev'ry tribulation,
So to trust Your promises, O Lord;
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a Father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Day By DayBerg, Ahnfelt, Skoog
© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, January 21, 2008
Let's win together!
A group of people who come together with a shared goal can do amazing things! The New England Patriots just completed a perfect season in their league going all the way without a single loss. Now they have only to win the Super Bowl to become a legendary team. That word is appropriate for those men. No single factor has produced their success. They have an outstanding quarterback in Brady, but who would he be without Moss or Faulk or Welker to carry the ball? They have a brilliant coach in Belichick, but he needs the cooperation of the men he leads. Bruschi, Seau, and Harrison lead a solid defense. Admire the individuals, but everyone acknowledges that their success belongs to the team.
Jesus Christ calls us to join His team - the Church. Believers who want to be most effective for God, who want to enjoy the best kind of Christianity, will not fall for the highly personalized "gotta do my own thing" experience that has captured so many. They will not go to church just to extract something for themselves. They will commit to a team that has a goal of building up God's kingdom, learn their calling, perfect the gifts that God gives them for service, and celebrate the success of the church.
I have the privilege of observing a team of Believers everyday, people who inspire me by the way they serve together. At Good Shepherd Christian Academy, (http://www.gscacademy.com/) our local Christian school, there is a genuine team in place. The goal of creating a school where children can learn in an atmosphere of academic excellence, be taught the truth of the Scripture, and see the Lordship of Jesus modeled in everyday life has brought together a group of people who give of themselves in amazing ways. They are from at least 8 different local congregations and yet they function as a tightly knit, well coached team! Their love for the mission and ministry supersedes the need to be a star, to earn a big salary, or to enjoy individual recognition. Go team!
I see the team spirit modeled in our church's music ministry. God has brought together skilled musicians and people who are passionate about music. None needs to shine individually. None insists on 'doing it his way.' They work together to create music that helps the people in the pews to open up their hearts to the Presence of God. As they give up their individuality, a symphony emerges; for the glory of God.
Teams will not function at a high level of effectiveness in an atmosphere of criticism or competitiveness. Those on the team must be individually motivated to give their best. They must desire the success of the team far more than their own glory. The old cliché says, "There is no 'I' in 'team!'" and it is true.
The Word says, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV) There are key truths wrapped up in those few words.
First is this - "Consider!" The word is about taking time to think it through. Team unity and effort must be intentional. It does not just happen. We have to purposefully seek to build a team.
Second is "Spur one another on." That phrase is about getting the job done by calling each other to get with the program. We are not in a mutual admiration society where we only say nice things that cover mediocrity! Those who are on a team give each other a 'kick in the behind' when necessary, not because of selfishness, but to urge the highest level of participation!
Third is "Meet together." We give priority to the group and to coming together to strengthen our ties to one another.
Fourth is "Encourage one another!" The word in the Bible's original text is the same root word used as a title for the Holy Spirit, 'the Advocate, the Comforter.' We are to become advocates who offer cheers, support, and love to each other with the purpose of urging a maximum effort in the work of God.
And why do we do this?
Not for a Super Bowl ring or a trophy, not for a certificate of recognition. Peter says we do it to win an eternal "crown of glory that fadeth not away."
The Kingdom of God, when built on His Lordship, shaped by the Gifts of the Spirit, and oiled by generous amounts of bold love, brings amazing blessings to humanity. Are you part of the team of Believers building who are seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Let's win together!
Here's a word from the Word. Think deeply on it today.
"If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead." (Philippians 2:1-3, The Message)
Jesus Christ calls us to join His team - the Church. Believers who want to be most effective for God, who want to enjoy the best kind of Christianity, will not fall for the highly personalized "gotta do my own thing" experience that has captured so many. They will not go to church just to extract something for themselves. They will commit to a team that has a goal of building up God's kingdom, learn their calling, perfect the gifts that God gives them for service, and celebrate the success of the church.
I have the privilege of observing a team of Believers everyday, people who inspire me by the way they serve together. At Good Shepherd Christian Academy, (http://www.gscacademy.com/) our local Christian school, there is a genuine team in place. The goal of creating a school where children can learn in an atmosphere of academic excellence, be taught the truth of the Scripture, and see the Lordship of Jesus modeled in everyday life has brought together a group of people who give of themselves in amazing ways. They are from at least 8 different local congregations and yet they function as a tightly knit, well coached team! Their love for the mission and ministry supersedes the need to be a star, to earn a big salary, or to enjoy individual recognition. Go team!
I see the team spirit modeled in our church's music ministry. God has brought together skilled musicians and people who are passionate about music. None needs to shine individually. None insists on 'doing it his way.' They work together to create music that helps the people in the pews to open up their hearts to the Presence of God. As they give up their individuality, a symphony emerges; for the glory of God.
Teams will not function at a high level of effectiveness in an atmosphere of criticism or competitiveness. Those on the team must be individually motivated to give their best. They must desire the success of the team far more than their own glory. The old cliché says, "There is no 'I' in 'team!'" and it is true.
The Word says, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV) There are key truths wrapped up in those few words.
First is this - "Consider!" The word is about taking time to think it through. Team unity and effort must be intentional. It does not just happen. We have to purposefully seek to build a team.
Second is "Spur one another on." That phrase is about getting the job done by calling each other to get with the program. We are not in a mutual admiration society where we only say nice things that cover mediocrity! Those who are on a team give each other a 'kick in the behind' when necessary, not because of selfishness, but to urge the highest level of participation!
Third is "Meet together." We give priority to the group and to coming together to strengthen our ties to one another.
Fourth is "Encourage one another!" The word in the Bible's original text is the same root word used as a title for the Holy Spirit, 'the Advocate, the Comforter.' We are to become advocates who offer cheers, support, and love to each other with the purpose of urging a maximum effort in the work of God.
And why do we do this?
Not for a Super Bowl ring or a trophy, not for a certificate of recognition. Peter says we do it to win an eternal "crown of glory that fadeth not away."
The Kingdom of God, when built on His Lordship, shaped by the Gifts of the Spirit, and oiled by generous amounts of bold love, brings amazing blessings to humanity. Are you part of the team of Believers building who are seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Let's win together!
Here's a word from the Word. Think deeply on it today.
"If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead." (Philippians 2:1-3, The Message)
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