Dressed for success?

Mark Twain said, “Clothes make the man.” What most don’t know is that being the humorist he was, he finished that quote saying, “Naked people have little or no influence on society!”

My choice of clothing don’t really change me, but how I am dressed most certainly effects the way other people respond to me. Yesterday, I had on grey dress pants and a black shirt. David, a boy in 6th grade, asked, “Do you have a funeral today, Pastor?” He took a cue from my attire. Today, I’m wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Do you think he will ask the same question? Of course not. Our society is very informal having largely abandoned dress codes. But still, our dress sends signals about our status, wealth, and occupation. Sometimes those signals are accurate and sometimes people are just playing, ‘dress up’ trying to create an image that is at odds with their reality.

The issue that really matters is how you dress your spirit! Some live in the filthy rags of sinfulness despite being offered a suit finely tailored just for them by the Master. How about you? The Bible urges us "as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12, NIV) Again, we are told to "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24, NIV) The word in the original text of the NT that is translated, “put on,” was a word that would have been used for sliding into a shirt or a robe.

Make no mistake about true holiness. Action on our part is demanded. We do not become useful to God, beautifully reflecting His wholesomeness to our world by accident or effortlessly. There must be intent, a real desire to be like our Savior. Ah, yes. Clothing can temporarily conceal the truth. Anyone can buy a uniform and look like a soldier, but only basic training creates a real Marine! It is possible to hang out with genuine disciples and learn enough of the lifestyle to adopt a mannerism that conceals an unchanged heart. That’s not the appeal of the Word. The instruction here is that we take steps to make sure we are living the reality of our calling, that our lives are dressed appropriately in the character of Jesus Christ. In the book of the Revelation, the Lord tells a lukewarm, unholy church to get dressed! Allow me to paraphrase His words. “Stop lounging around in your pajamas, thinking you’re presentable,” He says. "I counsel you to buy from me … white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness.” (Revelation 3:18, NIV)


Are you dressed for success, as a Christian?
Are you putting on the righteousness of Christ, inviting the Spirit to scrub away the filth of hatred, unforgiveness, greed, and sensuality to allow the beauty of your salvation to show through?
Do you wear the suit provided by your Father in a way that let’s others know to Whom you belong?

Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder the promise today and wear it.
"I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul!
He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara.
For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms,
So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations." (Isaiah 61:10-11, The Message)

________________

Do you hear them coming brother,
Thronging up the steeps of light,
Clad in glorious shining garments,
Blood washed garments pure and white?

'Tis a glorious church,
Without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
'Tis a glorious church,
Without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.
A Glorious Church
Hudson, Ralph E.
© Public Domain

Turn loose the horses!

Dad had a stable full of horses for most of his life, except for a couple of years while we lived in New York City. When we would open the gate of the corral and let them out to pasture, I still remember the rush I felt as those amazing and beautiful animals thundered by, manes and tails flying in the wind, heads high, nostrils flared. There’s something about a horse! It that experience, still vivid in my mind after 40 years, that informs my senses as I read the opening lines of the 6th chapter of the Revelation.

John opens the chapter with four horsemen thundering out of the Presence of the All Mighty one to ride over the Earth. In this vision, we are captivated, warned, and reminded of God’s supreme power over history and humanity. A voice rolls across Heaven saying, “Come!” and a white horse bearing a conqueror with a bow at the ready gallops by. The scene repeats and out rides a red horse whose rider carries a sword of bloodshed, followed by a black horse who rider carries a scale, the universal symbol of commerce. This horse announces famine. Interestingly, the one bringing famine is limited by the decree of Heaven. "Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:6, NIV) The grain fields may be burnt but they will grow back in one season of planting and harvest. If the vineyards and olive groves are destroyed years, perhaps decades, will pass before they become fruitful again. In this we learn that God is not seeking total destruction of those He judges, but rather is willing to visit temporary suffering on them that they might turn again. The black horse of famine, in John’s vision, is then followed by the pale horse, ridden by "Death, and his companion was the Grave.” (Revelation 6:8, NLT)

The message is stark: When men turn away from God and His glory to pursue power for Self, there is only one inevitable result: terrible suffering!

In those few short verses, John reveals the cycle of violence that has repeated itself throughout history and in every culture. A leader is given power and when he drinks the cup of authority, he goes mad with the need to control more – people, land, and money. Conquest requires war, which spills blood by the bucket. Peace, which allows for prosperity, is gone and soon deprivation arrives with the failure of commerce. When the crops cannot be planted and people are turned into refugees, disease and death come.
In this chapter, John reveals the Judgment of God, in which He allows rebellious people to taste the fruit of their own choices to walk in disobedience. There is a severe mercy in His judgment. He does not wish to annihilate us, but only to make us aware of our plunge into self-destruction! In this time of great grace, there is hope. Those who turn to Him, find forgiveness and life. But, there will come a time when the God of eternity, will declare that time has come to an end, that all things must now be made right, that justice must rule. When that moment of finality arrives, I want to be found in His mercy, don’t you?
Here’s a word from the Word. Find the promise and hold tightly to it. Though the suffering of those who are rebellious may touch our lives, though we may hear the thundering hooves of the Four Horsemen who announce His Judgment, our hope is secure in Him. And that, disciple, is reason for great hope.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you,


not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.


But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?


You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."
(2 Peter 3:9-12, NIV)

________


Holy God, awesome and terrible,
Loving and gracious, kind and severe;
Call us to obedience with these fearsome visions.
The seductions of the systems among which we live is powerful,
appealing to our base nature.

Your Spirit is alive in us and we pray that You, Holy Spirit,
will guard our hearts and sharpen our minds,
helping us to know and live in the Truth,
making us bold to serve,
full of confidence born of our hope in
the Eternal life that is our through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Amen.

Guaranteed Return

In our economy, investing for the best return is difficult. Five years ago, it appeared that real estate had no ceiling. “Buy property,” we were told, “It will only increase in value.” Well, that’s no longer true! Most real estate has steeply declined in value in the last year. Warren Buffett, CEO of the investment firm, Berkshire Hathaway, a man whose sense of the economic markets has made him one of the richest men in America, yesterday invested $44 billion (that’s not a typo!) in Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. He called his investment, “An all-out wager on the economic future of the United States.” Buffett is not a gambling man despite his choice of words. He must be convinced that the American economy is about to start to hum again, raising the need for rail transport and the profitability of the railroad. But, even Buffett cannot guarantee a return.
In what are you invested? No, I’m not asking about your financial situation. The question is bigger than bucks. It’s a life question, worthy of research and careful planning. In what are you putting your efforts, your time? What kind of future reward or pay-out do you anticipate?

Some disciples raise an eyebrow when rewards are mentioned! But why? The Scripture, time and again, promises all of us a reward. Our lives are not without consequence; good or bad! Take a look.

• "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites." (Colossians 3:23-27, NLT)

• In another passage that borrows on an agricultural metaphor we learn that "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV)

I anticipate a rich reward in Heaven! I am not ashamed to say that and I make no apologies for looking ahead. I read the prospectus, evaluated the worthiness of the Guarantor, and chose to trust my life and treasure to the Eternal CEO of heaven. Many of the choices I have made throughout my life are investment decisions. Rather than choosing to pursue a short-term return of wealth or pleasure that I might have enjoyed, I have chosen to follow Christ’s invitation to ‘lay up treasure in Heaven’ where there is no market fluctuations, no Bernie Madoff-style rip-offs, no shift in values.

Some of you may be thinking, “Jerry, you sound almost greedy.” No, I am just taking God at His Word. Do not read me wrong here. It’s not that I expect rewards similar to those that are based on earthly wealth. In heaven who will care about a house with 10 bathrooms or a Lamborghini in the garage? Who will desire to own reserves of gold in a place where all that we need is provided for us by a loving Father? I cannot even begin to conceive of the joy of receiving God’s commendation, or knowing that my life has pleased and honored Him. That reward, which He guarantees to those who are faithful, captivates me today.

Yes, I see all of life as an investment. May the Lord make us wise investors who see beyond Today and into our eternal home. Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder it and be challenged by the promise.
"Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward."
(1 Corinthians 3:10-14, NLT)

_________________

Often I'm hindered on my way,
Burdened so heavy I almost fall.
Then I hear Jesus sweetly say,
"Heaven will surely be worth it all."


Many the trials, toils, and tears,
Many a heartache may here appall.
But the dear Lord so truly says,
"Heaven will surely be worth it all."


Heaven will surely be worth it all.
Worth all the sorrows that here befall.
After this life with all its strife.
Heaven will surely be worth it all.

Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All
Cooper, W. Oliver / Jones, Minzo C.
© 1945 O.A. Parris. Renewed 1973. Assigned 1979 M. Lynwood Smith Publications
CCLI License No. 810055

On the Home Front

A report published in 2002 by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services contains this statement. “Compared with unmarried people, married men and women tend to have lower mortality, less risky behavior, more monitoring of health, more compliance with medical regimens, higher sexual frequency, more satisfaction with their sexual lives, more savings, and higher wages.” Marriage helps us live longer, enjoy better sex, and be prosperous and yet, fewer are marrying today. Why? Because what passes for marriage in far too many cases is nothing like what it ought to be. In place of a covenanted, committed relationship, we find economic partnership, oppression, and endless power struggles. The result is a high divorce rate which produces a unique kind of ongoing pain for all involved.

Divorce, according to the same study, not only almost always has a significant economic impact, it also becomes an important predictor of a child’s future well-being. “Children raised in single-parent families are more likely to drop out of high school, have lower grades and attendance while in school, and are less likely to attend and graduate from college than children raised in two-parent families. They are more likely to be out of school and unemployed and are also more likely to become single parents themselves, than children raised in two-parent families.” (Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United States – CDC, July, 2002)

Throughout my 32 year long ministry as a Pastor, marriage trouble is the primary reason that people seek my counsel. People with a dysfunctional marriage are truly miserable, dealing with anger, disappointment, and frustration on a daily basis. Creating an intimate and happy marriage is not rocket science, but it does require emotional maturity and spiritual sensitivity, which appear to be in ever shorter supply. When one spouse loses sight of the goal of serving the other, trouble is soon to follow. When either begins to flex their power in the relationship (be it physical, sexual, financial, or emotional) love quickly withers. A satisfying marriage is nothing like the portrayal of it in pop culture. Good marriages do not happen. They are created and maintained by committed people who subjugate their selfish whims to seek the good of the relationship.

The Bible speaks directly to issues of marriage with wisdom that is often rejected as dated or impractical. Truthfully, it is a solid wisdom but what we read requires the cooperation and investment of both the husband and wife to realize the full return of obedience. Take a look. "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly."  (Colossians 3:18-19, NLT)  Yes, I know, 21st century women are ready to stop reading now. “Submit” is one of those words in the Bible that is terribly misused and misunderstood. It is not about being inferior. It is about following. Christ is the Second Person in the Holy Trinity, but He is equal with God, the Father. He chooses His place in that mysterious Being. Marriage creates a unity and within that unity, the wife, though equal in every way with her husband, chooses to follow. Husband, never forget- it is the responsibility of those entrusted with headship to become ‘servant leaders’ of the home! Once again, we are directed to the model of Christ, who “loved the church and gave himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25, NIV)

Marriage partners who want to enjoy a life-long, growing, emotionally satisfying relationship must surrender large chunks of autonomy. Simply put, for those who are married, “me” exists less and less and “we” becomes foremost! The Word urges all disciples to a life of unselfish service. This is particularly important for those who are married. Here’s what God says. "Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!" (Philippians 2:4-7, The Message) This wisdom flies in the face of our individualistic ideals and our belief that our personal happiness requires self-expression above all things.

High on the list of priorities for the church of Christ in America, must be a renewed emphasis on the home and family. Our faith must ‘work’ at home. It must inform the way we form our marriage relationship as well as the ways we maintain it. Not all will marry, nor should they think they must to find happiness. Those who do, however, must know that marriage is more than a means of bearing children or sharing the expenses of a home. It is, ideally, a living example of love in action, of God’s love for and intimacy with His people. When our homes are full of God’s grace, when we mutually seek to serve God and each other, we create the possibility of something unique and amazing to come into being.

Lord God, help us to love, to serve, to endure the hard times, and to know the blessed times. Amen!

All Jesus, All The Time!

Over 200 channels of programming flow into my house on the cable that stretches from the street. The sheer number of channels means that programmers can stick to one narrow topic. There is an Animal Planet channel dedicated to, you guessed it, animals! There are several channels that report the news (or some variation of it) 24/7! ESPN and her sister channels bring sports and stats our way endlessly. Just how many ways can sportscasters describe a homerun hit in the Series? Religious channels brings every variety of modern Christianity from Sister Angelica's Catholicism on EWTN to 'charismania' on TBN. These channels attract an audience by knowing what they are about and focusing on that subject.


I want to know Who I am about and focus my life on Him! In Colossians 3, disciples are urged to make life about the Lord Jesus. "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:2-4, NIV) Do you understand that, friend? The meaning of our lives is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. The title we hold at work, the level of achievement that we reach, the grades our kids earn in school, the size of our house, the amount of our salary, the hobby we enjoy on the weekend - we are not living for these things! If we do, we're missing out on 'real life.' We will devote our energy and give our time and money to something that will inevitably disappoint us.

If, however, our lives are focused intensely on Him, if His will shapes our conversations, our actions, our hopes and dreams- we have the promise that we will share the full glory of Christ. Think of it this way. Early in an American presidential campaign, candidates announce their intention to run. They hire staff, people who choose to invest themselves in the man or woman who is running. Those staffers know that their future is now fully invested in that person. If he succeeds and is elected to sit in the Oval Office, they will gain a seat at the table of power. If he fizzles and fades, they will go back to some obscure job in the political world. Similarly, if we invest our lives in Jesus Christ, we are assured that when He takes His Throne and reveals the fullness of His Kingdom, we will bask in the Glory right alongside of Him!

Disciple, be wary of allowing your life to be about too many things. Many Christians are ineffective and joyless because they are unfocused. Yes, they love Jesus Christ and know Him, but they also love reputation, or money, or pleasure, or ... the distractions make a long list. Take a cue from the narrowcasters of the cable networks. Find out Who you're about then focus, focus, focus on Him. "Let every detail in your lives-words, actions, whatever-be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way." (Colossians 3:17, The Message)
Don't misunderstand what the Word asks. It is not spending our entire life in church! We are not asked to become cloistered nuns or monks chanting in a chapel! We need not retire to a commune in Montana to be 'about Christ.' Rather, we take the stuff of our daily life - being a spouse, being an employee, being a neighbor; yes, just being human - and we focus on doing whatever we do in a way that reflects His will, His purposes, His values. When we make life about Jesus, all the time, we will begin to live as we pray - "may your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." Amen!

____________

Let Christ in us be glorified.
Christ in us be magnified.
Self denied, sin crucified.
Let Christ be glorified,
Let Christ be glorified.

In ev'ry song we sing,
In the praises that we bring,
Let Christ be glorified.
In the service that we give,
And the lives that we live,
Let Christ be glorified.

Christ in us be glorified.
Christ in us be lifted high.
Let His love in us be shown,
And His praises all be known.
Let Christ be glorified.

Christ In Us Be Glorified

Chapman, Morris
© 1995 Maranatha Praise, Inc.
CCLI License No. 810055