The Wild Card!

To add variation to the game, card players sometimes designate one of the cards as "wild," meaning that when played it can be given any face value the player desires. The phrase has now entered our vocabulary and is used to refer to all unpredictable factors. In sports competition, there are entries who do not qualify by normal rules, who are granted 'wild card' status. And, yes, there are occasions when, to all appearances, life deals us a wild card!

• A year ago, millions of Americans thought themselves financially secure, investments growing in value, 401(k) retirement accounts at the ready. Then, the bottom fell out of the world economy and portfolios lost 40% of their value in just days!
• Remember that beautiful day, September 11, 2001? That sunny morning, 19 terrorists commandeered 4 airplanes in the Northeastern United States. In an hour their murder of thousands rewrote American history!
• Then, there are those much more personal 'surprises;' things like an unplanned pregnancy, an unforeseen job lay-off, a friend who turns his back, a health crisis.

These 'wild cards' in life reveal who we are! They strip away our pretenses, knock out our systems of control, and leave us vulnerable, don't they? Disciple, wild cards will come. That is why it is so critically important to cultivate deep faith when things are going well, when life seems to be 'normal.' If we wait until the crisis to try to learn to trust God, to build a foundation of faith, it will be too late. We will quite probably only increase our misery as we scramble desperately to find some place of security or comfort.
Jesus spoke directly to the necessity of preparing for the storms that will inevitably blow through our lives. First, He explains that a life of faith is so much more than knowing and saying the right things. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21, NIV) He tells us to obey today, to work out the implications of living what we believe, right now.

He goes on to give us one of his stories to make the point. "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV)
Rain comes to the righteous and the unrighteous alike! One of the false expectations of many Christians is that they will be exempt from disappointment, financial problems, rebellious kids, or cancer! Jesus was clear that His disciples live as a part of a world where wild cards get played. What's the difference for the disciple? He has a unshakeable foundation.
Paul, near the end of his life, was imprisoned by the Romans. He did not think God had failed him, nor did he complain about how unfair the situation was. The solid Rock on which he had built his life was revealed. "I am not ashamed, (of being in prison) for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:12-13, NKJV)
Are you building a solid foundation, day by day, choice by choice - so that when the rains come and the winds blow you will hold together and not crash?

__________________

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.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found!
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

The Solid Rock
Mote, Edward / Bradbury, William B.

© Public Domain

Getting a flu shot is sinful!

That’s what somebody posted online yesterday. The writer went into great detail about the dietary laws of the Old Testament and how ‘consuming’ the injection would make a person unclean before the Lord. They sounded very wise, but they have erred from the Way in making flu shots into a spiritual issue. I replied with some sarcasm intended, asking if they also felt that it was necessary to have their sons circumcised to please God! I went on to write, “if you choose to have a flu shot or not to have one, just make the choice, but don’t wrap the decision in Bible verses that have nothing to do with flu shots!” (By the way, I have no opinion on that subject, one way or the other!)

My point is that disciples easily become diverted from the pure love of Christ by all kinds of arguments and issues. Rivers of ink have been wasted by Christians arguing the most insignificant points about how to please God. Serving God so quickly devolves from the two foundational commandments: “Love God with your whole being,” and “Love others as you love yourself,” into rules about how we dress, what we eat, when we worship, what songs we sing, which Bible we read, and other truly secondary issues. The Scripture warns about turning our life in Christ into a philosophical argument about right and wrong!
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8, NIV)

When a disciple becomes an issues person, pride enters in and division inevitably follows. Being ‘right,’ becomes much more important than being loving. Knowing something eclipses knowing Someone. In Bible Study last night, we did a survey of the various interpretative models for prophecy. As we talked about pre-millennial versus a-millennial timelines, about the nature of “Israel” and whether the Temple will actually be restored in Jerusalem, not a few people asked, “so what point of view is the right one?” It was not a lack of conviction that causes me to say, “None of them.” I have an opinion and can make a strong argument for what I believe on the matters of the Second Coming of Christ, but better students than I can make good arguments for differing prophetic views. Humility acknowledges the importance of being charitable and allowing for the unfolding of God’s plan as the Day approaches!

Stay focused on Christ, disciple. Don’t let anyone drag you into arguments about truly secondary issues. The Bible says, "You have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. …having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions." (Colossians 2:10, 14-18, NIV)
The paradox of Christianity is the strength found in weakness.
The sinful who confess their failure, find grace.
The humble who acknowledge their insignificance become the wise.
The least who loves becomes the greatest of all.
The one who seeks to know Christ forgetting the laws of religion, finds true holiness. And so it goes!

So, are you going to get a flu shot? Let it be the issue it is – a medical one with the best advice not wrung out of some text in Leviticus, but given by your physician. I don’t think your decision, one way or the other, will effect your standing with God. It just might get you to His Presence more quickly if you make the wrong one.
Here’s a word from the Word. Keep it in mind today.
"If you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective." (Colossians 3:1-2, The Message)

Advice or Command?

“This is not a request, it’s a directive.” I said that to my children occasionally when they failed to follow directions. When they were teens, sometimes they developed an acute case of independence and decided that Dad did not really understand their situation and therefore, his words could be ignored; often by feigned misunderstanding rather than blatant refusal. So, just to make it clear that I expected compliance, I reminded them that I was not simply offering advice. They were, just for the record, great kids and now more than a decade removed from that era, I still remember those days with joy!

As children of the Heavenly Father, we are tempted to re-interpret His commands as advice that we can follow or ignore as we wish. When the Tempter shows up, one of his tricks of deception is to convince us that the Lord just doesn’t understand our unique situation. A strange kind of logic overtakes us in which we reason that while the choice we are about to make is wrong for others, we are exempt. We create and choose to live in the lie that “God will understand and approve my choice, because He knows my special circumstances.” This broken line of thinking is one I have heard as a Pastor too many times to count from people who refused to forgive and fell into terrible bitterness, from those who choose not to honor God with giving of their resources, from wives who will not respect their husbands, from men who went ahead and got involved in illicit affairs, from teens who are choosing to be sexually active outside of marriage, and more!

Those who are choosing self-will often offer this rationalization: “God knows my heart.” True enough. God does understand our situation, our psychology, our temptations, and even the ways in which we think even better than we do! The Scripture says, "God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what." (Hebrews 4:12-13, The Message) Does that sound harsh? Does it make you tremble?

Then, read on into the blessed promise of the subsequent part of that passage. "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)

The Lord does not just hand down His edict and demand obedience, leaving us to struggle through the issues of compliance by ourselves! He really does understand in a priestly way and invites us to let Him be our Helper! The paradox of spiritual victory is that it is found in admission of weakness. When we find ourselves beaten up by our desires, enticed by temptation, longing to disobey – the worst response is to pretend we are doing fine, or that the situation is not critical, or to deny that we really do want to follow our own desire. Instead, we fall down before Him and cry out, “Father, I want to follow my heart, take my own path. It is the appealing choice. Help me to stand. Clear my vision.” And, He does not reject us in our confession! Instead, the Bible says, "God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, The Message)

Are you pulled between obedience and expedience today, disciple?
Are you facing a situation where God’s way and your desire are on a collision course?

Remember, His Word is not just good advice; it’s His directive. When we align ourselves to His will, we find life.  Here’s a word from the Word. May we find warning and encouragement in the Truth for today.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
(Jeremiah 17:9-10, NLT)
So, "we worship at your throne— eternal, high, and glorious!
O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who turn away from you will be disgraced.
They will be buried in the dust of the earth,
for they have abandoned the Lord, the fountain of living water." (Jeremiah 17:12-13, NLT)

What kind of intelligence?

People understand life, and thus are able to contribute to the world, in very different ways. I knew a young man that was severely disabled, unable to read or write, who could play a Lizst composition or a pop tune on his keyboard after hearing it just once! I’ve known guys who could not write a complete sentence who had the ability to rebuild an engine, making it like new. There are people who can run a vast company who can’t relate to their own family members. There is a theory of multiple kinds of intelligence that explains this and more. Howard Gardner originally suggested seven kinds of intelligence: Verbal/Linguistic, Musical, Logical/Mathematical, Visual/Spatial, Bodily Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist.

Here’s my challenge to you: Are you spiritually intelligent?

Unlike Gardner’s theory which suggests we are born with wiring in our brains that pre-disposes us to strength in certain areas, all of us can become wise in the ways of God! "We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—… For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:4,9-10, NIV)
Even though we may have widely differing ways of worshipping and perceiving the work of the Spirit, He promised that He will teach us His will and make us wise! Disciple, I beg you- be wise! Everything we do in life will be done better by another sooner or later. The best composition, the most beautiful music, the finest machine – these will all be forgotten with time. But, wisdom in the ways of God creates life and beauty and leads us to a rich reward in Heaven. "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7, NLT)
Natural intelligence must be developed with training and practice. Proficiency is not immediate. It grows over time with diligence! Spiritually, the same pattern holds. Wise disciples, who are discerning, grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His ways. Great Christians are not born, they develop. God, the Holy Spirit, works with us, speaks to us, and leads us. We have the freedom to choose to obey and follow, or walk willfully and fail.
Are you living like a fool?
Do you stumble into one sin after another?
Does failure follow you like your shadow?

It’s time to grow wise!
Surrender. That’s the first step. Just stop, look up, and acknowledge God. You may or may not have an emotional moment or some revelation. Make it a faith choice, a turning point of mastery.
Then, find a solid church where you will be mentored in spiritual truth and practice.
And, Pray daily! Not just the long lists of ‘gimme this, God’ that passes for prayer; but the kind of prayer that is quiet, that listens, that provides the Spirit an opportunity to direct you!
Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder it and begin to ask God for wisdom, then grow in grace!
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.


We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. … but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. …


We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:4-7, 10, 12, NIV)

______________

Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Deeper, deeper! Blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus
And His perfect will.

Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev'ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious holy Word.

Deeper, deeper! Tho' it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

Deeper, higher, ev'ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflicts past
finds me conqu'ror,
And in His own image
perfected at last.

Deeper Deeper
Jones, Charles P.
© Public Domain

Life as a work of art

Bev and I were watching a new crime drama (what’s with TV and crime dramas?) last Friday night. The story line was interesting involving a twist of time travel, as each character had an experience when they were able to see 6 months into the future for a few moments. We won’t be watching the program again, however. Our choice isn’t because of poor writing or acting. The show was godless. Morals were non-existent, lifestyles abhorrent to the Lord were celebrated. So, that program – like most in prime time – won’t be part of our viewing habits. Perhaps that strikes you as ‘old-fashioned’ or ‘rigid,’ or even – legalistic. I don’t want to become so comfortable with the sin of our time that I begin to think it is normal or even right! Dr. Gayle Beebe writes - “There is a cultural malaise that touches us all. … We have become completely accustomed to the normality of dysfunction. The constant stream of scandal, broken lives, and mayhem of every sort elicits barely a yawn from us. We have come to expect little else … This overall life dysfunction is so pervasive in our culture is it nearly impossible for us to have a clear vision of spiritual progress. Shining models of holiness are so rare today.” (Longing for God, 2009)
Many Believers want to enjoy the benefit of God's grace through Christ without becoming disciples. They refuse the disciplined life that leads to transformation! All Christians want to have the hope of Heaven at the end of this life, but many try to reserve the right to live now outside of the will of God. There is a diabolical lie that says that a devout life will be a dull, joyless, colorless life of religious duty and constant suffering. That was reflected in the message on a T-shirt I saw a couple of years ago that read -
"See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. - Have no fun!"

That lie is as old as Eden! Eve became convinced that she could only know happiness if she discarded the will of God. "You will be like God, knowing good and evil," the serpent whispered to her, goading her to throw away her perfect relationship with her Father Creator.
When a person turns to Jesus Christ and, in faith, accepts His offering of forgiveness through the Cross, that one is 'saved.’ He is literally rescued from the pending destruction that will come as result of being under the wrath of God! Following the rescue, there is a lot of living to be done; On the other side of that experience, there is transformation of character, called 'sanctification.' This makes us useful to God producing a life worthy of His high calling. Nothing invites others to follow Christ more than one whose life is full of the beauty of authentic holiness. In the hands of God, the holy person’s life become a work of art!
That disciple of Jesus who chooses to respond to God with obedience enjoys benefits, too.

• He lives with serenity, enjoys tremendous authority over sin and evil, and is spared the fruit of disobedience which is always bitter after the initial illusion of sweet satisfaction.

• He is transparent, knowing no need to hide any part of his life from the scrutiny of others.

• His worship is genuine, not needing to be forced past the guilt of his hidden deeds.

• He hears the voice of the Spirit more clearly, and thus, lives purposefully.

• His life lends light to the world where he walks, helping others to see their way out of confusion.

• His integrity grows for he is not 'this way today, and that way tomorrow,' for he is consistently God's man wherever he goes.

• He is trusted by the weak, sought out by the strong, and is a 'friend of sinners' without becoming a participant in their ways.

You may be thinking, "That's not possible for me. I am not perfect." Perfection arrives with eternity. Even the sanctified experience an ongoing insurgency of the sinful nature. There are moments of lapse when unholy thoughts, words, or actions break through. What then? The person who knows he belongs to God, repents, finds forgiveness, and makes no excuse for his sin. He accepts responsibility, makes restitution, and moves into a new day!

Getting saved is the work of Christ Jesus and we are recipients of undeserved favor. Sanctification is both God's work and ours! We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis in order to live a holy life. There are choices to be made - sometimes painful, sometimes difficult, sometimes provoking scorn from others - that allow the transformation to continue in us. True holiness (not its imitation - self-imposed piety!) is a thing of beauty. Invite the Lord to make you both safe and sound, won't you?
Here's a word from the Word. Think deeply and prayerfully about the application to your life today.
"But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation."
(1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, The Message) Amen!

_______________

Oh Lord, You're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when Your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with holy fear.

I wanna take Your Word
And shine it all around.
First help me just to live it, Lord!
And when I'm doing well,
Help me to never seek a crown,
For my reward is giving glory to You.


Oh Lord You're Beautiful
Green, Keith
© 1980 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)