Hupomone

I just get a kick out of saying that word -- hupomone (hoop·om·on·ay). Go ahead, say it again! Hupomone! I've taken leave of my senses, maybe writing in tongues (a new gift?) you think? Actually, I just got you to say a word of Greek from the New Testament. It's a compound word of a prefix meaning 'under' and a root meaning 'remain.' OK, here's the context... "since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance (hupomone) the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1, NKJV)

The writer of Hebrews calls for us to take a look at the distance runner as an example of how to live as a Christian. Unlike a sprinter who explodes from the starting block, pouring everything he has into a 100 meter dash, we are called to set a pace that we can maintain, steadily and consistently, living for Jesus– with patience, with endurance, with hupomone! The idea wrapped in the word is holding steady even under intense pressure!

All around us we can find examples of people who start something with gusto- only to collapse in the backstretch!
Marriages begin with great romance and fireworks, but too often, fizzle under the strain of kids and bills.
People head into new jobs with the intent of being the 'next best' only to become a place holder, a burnt out functionary, instead of an inspiring performer.
Students go off to college intending to make the Dean's list and too easily get sidetracked into the three day weekend party life style.

And.... yes, people invite Jesus Christ to become Lord and begin their Believer's journey with enthusiasm (interesting word, by the way, that comes from a compound word meaning to be full of God). When Believers gather, they are there in church or Bible class. They are discovering God's will and purpose and cheerfully becoming conformed to Christ Jesus. When they pray, it is with childlike simplicity and earnest faith. Then, again too often, over time the joy evaporates under the heat of temptation and pressure and they turn into pew warmers, preacher critics, with a 'form of godliness that denies the real Power.' Their Christianity becomes more of a habit than a source of joyful life.

Hupomone is not about a BIG start, it's about a faithful finish!

Are you a finisher?
Do you take time to think about commitments, praying for guidance - and only embrace those that you will see through to completion?

Jesus told a teaching story about this.
"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: `He started something he couldn't finish.' Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?" (Luke 14:28-32, The Message)

The implied conclusion is - FINISH what you start! That means - hupomone!

Remember that it isn't "all guts, no glory." Finishers enjoy what mere starters never find: the satisfaction of a job well done, a life well lived, a victor's crown!
Need a boost to stay in the race today?

Here's the way, the follow up verse to the one where we started today–
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.
Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God —he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame,
whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God."
(Hebrews 12:2, The Message)

HUPOMONE! Say through the day. People will think you're nuts. If they ask, just tell'em you're speaking Biblical! Have fun.

Chasing the mirage?

House, the Monday night medical drama, (Fox TV, 8 PM) is always recorded on my DVR. Strangely I enjoy the medical mysteries that are solved by the rude, socially inept doctor, who cannot sustain a real relationship in his life! A recent episode was about a famed physician, a cancer researcher, who left her work to dabble in various hobbies because, in her words, “I just had to be happy.” The story kept circling back to that theme of seeking personal happiness regardless of the opinions of others or the obligations a person feels to the larger world. In a hundred ways, the writers found places to put in the message that a person must not choose to live ‘doing the right things’ if they really want to be happy. You must chase your bliss! The doctor who had abandoned her career says, “You will only spend one day at the end of your life wondering if you lived in a way that really made a difference, but you will live 25,000 days before that. Those days should be full of happiness.” Are you nodding your head in agreement? It makes so much sense, doesn’t it? It almost got to me, too. I found myself wondering if I was a fool for the life choices I’ve made, if I should elevate happiness as a pursuit.

And, it is a deception! Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product of choices that are godly and noble. If a person focuses himself on attaining happiness, he will change course a hundred times trying to hold onto an elusive feeling. That is precisely how millions of people make their day to day decisions and then they wonder, “Why am I so unfulfilled?” After burning through three marriages, moving to yet another town, restarting their live in a fourth new career; they discover that happiness is not a situation or a location. If we choose to focus on self, we make a default choice for something less than God purposed for our lives!

“Jerry, are you the anti-happy guy?” No way, but I do believe that the pursuit of happiness is seriously over-rated in our time. I pursue joy, a similar emotion, but one that comes as a gift to those who put God and others first as Jesus taught in the basic commandments. A life that yields the greater satisfaction over the long term is one guided by the will of the One who designed us.

Jesus Christ says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV) On another occasion, a man quoted these two commands to Him and His response was, “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:28, NIV) The word, ‘live,’ in the context does not just mean, ‘keep on breathing.’ It includes vitality and refreshment; a life of fullness!

I’m not polishing my halo, so please do not read the next few lines in that way. I share this only as an illustration of the point. A year ago, when Dad was diagnosed with cancer, I realized that not only his life would change; so would mine. Because he lives 2.5 hours away, I knew that my priorities would need to be altered to make it possible for me walk with Mom and him through this valley as love requires. For months, every week I have spent my day off and the two nights before and after at his side. It ain’t always happy time! It’s required sacrifice of time, rest, and money. I don’t always even want to make the trip knowing I’ll come home sad and tired. But, I have experienced great joy in being a support, in sharing the tears, in loving their kids. If I just wanted to be happy, I’d avoid sick rooms and tears! But, loving him has opened the door to a deeper experience of joy, allowing me to know love and give love. God be praised!

Disciple, refuse to chase the mirage of happiness. It will always be one day, one dollar, one experience beyond your reach! Instead, choose joy! Obey God today. Love somebody today. Listen for the Spirit’s urging today and respond with a ready, ‘yes, Lord!’ Here’s a word from the Word. Let it fill your mind as you prayerfully ponder it.

"The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!" (Psalm 32:8-11, NLT)
____________

I have found a wondrous Savior,
Jesus Christ, the Soul's Delight.
Every blessing of His favor,
Fills my heart with hope so bright.

Heav'nly wisdom He provides me,
Grace to keep my Spirit free.
In His own sweet way He guides me,
When the path I cannot see.

Jesus is the Joy of Living;
He's the King of Life to me.
Unto Him my all I'm giving,
His forevermore to be.
I will do what He commands me.
Anywhere He leads I'll go.
Jesus is the joy of living,
He's the dearest Friend I know.

Jesus is the Joy of Living
Alfred Ackley © 1939. Renewed 1967 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

Meeting God under the oak of Ophrah

People who make a difference in the world will live 'on the edge' of impossibility. "Changers" - those people who go against the flow - are willing to risk failing and are willing to be disliked in the process of driving creative change. When I say, "change," I’m not thinking - "blow up the establishment." I am more in the mind of living against the culture of "me-ism" that has become the norm.

Change agents today embrace things like:
-A radical commitment to your marriage that puts nurturing your spouse and children ahead of financial gain and/or personal pleasure.
-A choice to live with less things while investing more in ministry and people.
-Tithing to God, first; and building wealth, second.
-Choosing sexual purity - in thought and actions.

One of my favorite ‘changers’ is a man who God called in desperate times. The people of Israel were oppressed by a powerful neighbor tribe. It was so bad that the Israelites abandoned their homes and fields to live in the mountains in caves. God choose a person to be the catalyst for change. He found Gideon threshing his wheat (that is, separating the grain from the stalks and the husks) in a winepress, hidden away under the oak of Ophrah.

Usually threshing was done on a large open floor where the breezes could blow away the chaff in the process, but this future leader was afraid of the marauders stealing his crop. The Angel of the Lord found him there. "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" (Judges 6:12) I love Gideon's response. He says, "Oh, yeah? If You're with us, why are we hiding in caves? And, by the way, I'm a hero? Well, you don't know my clan. We're known as wimps and I'm the wimpiest of them!" {my paraphrase!}

As long as you only see 'what is' instead of 'what could be' you will be incapable of change- both in yourself and in your world. God helped Gideon to create a new dream. His story is a fascinating study of the patience of God to develop a man He has chosen for His own purposes. The key to his success is this: The Lord said to him, "I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man." (Judges 6:16) He started a campaign of spiritual renewal which provoked just about everybody in the land. Because he challenged the status quo, his own people sought to kill him!!

Changers irritate people! Nobody enjoys having their life messed up - even it is already a mess! They learn to live without seeing the junk that is piled up in their heart! The Isrealites had come to accept their misery as normal.

After a long campaign, first to win the hearts of his own people and then to lead them to defeat the invaders; Gideon succeeded in bringing about the dream that God sparked in his heart at a hidden winepress in the back country. He led Israel for 40 years and this is the way the Bible sums up his life: "That is the story of how Israel subdued Midian, which never recovered. Throughout the rest of Gideon's lifetime—about forty years—the land was at peace." (Judges 8:28) This was the legacy of a man who saw himself, at first, as "the weakest man, from the weakest family, in the weakest tribe!"

Disciple, set your sights on God’s faithfulness, then ask Him to empower you.
Change starts in our hearts!
Let Him show you the world through His eyes; breaking your heart, pulling you from indifference.

Then, become a catalyst for change - a Kingdom Builder.
May your life be an influence -
-that brings others to wholeness,
-that leads them to freedom,
-that inspires them to love the God who loves you!

Somebody’s watching you!

In the church’s café on Sunday morning, I was reminded of a powerful truth by a little boy about 18 months old. Nathan is a the cutest little tike… blond hair, square little body, twinkling eyes. I sat down on the pew along the wall and as he toddled I reached out to pick him and sit him down next to me. He looked up with a shy smile. I crossed my legs, he crossed his. “Ah,” I thought, “he’s copying me.” So I lifted my hand in a peace sign. Ditto for Nathan! (Well, a was a lop-sided sort of peace sign, but the hand placement was the same as mine!) For the next couple of minutes, what I did; he did. We had fun connecting. I can only hope that if God allows me to be Nathan’s pastor for many more years, that he will find other more important things worth in my life that are worth mimicking.

Surely your son or daughter will pattern themselves, both consciously and unconsciously to be ‘just like’ you. Maybe it’s that neighbor across the street who is looking for spiritual reality who is inspecting your life! Is there a younger Christian looking for a model of faith in you? Somebody’s watching you, disciple. Will your life stand up to their scrutiny? If they look deeper than the surface will they find integrity, sincere devotion to the One you claim to follow? I always attempt to remember that the best lessons are those lived. The choices I make are much more influential, long-term, than the words I say.

With no sense of arrogance or self-aggrandizement we should be able to invite others to follow in our footsteps. Paul wrote to Believers and told them to "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." (Philippians 3:17, NIV) He commended another local group of Believers for learning from his life. "You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble." (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6, The Message)

Make sure your eyes on focused on Jesus Christ as the Perfect Model. Ultimately, He is the Way and we all follow Him. Disciple, I urge you to deal with the inconsistencies, the flaws, the sins so that those who choose you as their model will not be discouraged or disillusioned when they really get to know you! Be mentored and mentor somebody. That’s God’s plan for discipleship.

"Command and teach these things. … Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
(1 Timothy 4:15-16, NIV)

________________

Jesus calls me; I must follow,
Follow Him today.
When His tender voice is pleading,
How can I delay?

Follow, I will follow Thee, my Lord,
Follow every passing day.
My tomorrows are all known to Thee;
Thou wilt lead me all the way.

Howard Brown
Public Domain