I live in a house that is solid. It makes me feel secure to close the door and turn the bolt lock when darkness falls. I have money in the bank, not a great deal, but enough that I don’t have to wonder about how I will feed myself tomorrow. There is a kind of security in that, too. I am physically strong and have no fear of falling down or being assaulted. For each of those things, I am thankful! But, my house could be gone in a moment if a tornado blew through my town. The value of my money could be lost (and it appears more likely it will be!) if the economy of these United States collapsed. My physical body is already starting to betray me as it ages and I know that one major illness could rob me of my strength!
Yes, all the things that I cling to for my security are ephemeral- here today, gone tomorrow; yet, I am not afraid! Here’s why. The fragile nature of life is wrapped in the unchanging promise of God. In fact, my weakness becomes the revealer of His strength. Yesterday, when my inability to control my world was squeezing down hard on me, I whined to a friend – “What does God want from me?” His answer was a reminder of what I already knew: “All of you!” Yes, the truth is that when I live with confidence in my illusory strengths, I rely less on God and the luster of His Spirit is dimmed. In that moment, I realized in a fresh way that through fragile, God’s Spirit is a my true strength. This treasure in me shines out in me when weakness tears away my own confidence.
The Scripture tells us that "We have this light (the Gospel of Christ Jesus) shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, NLT)
Disciple, is life great for you right now? Then, give thanks! Enjoy it, but don’t let yourself be tricked into thinking that you have somehow become a master of the universe. "Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore. …Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop." (Ecclesiastes 12:3, NLT)
Perhaps you’re in a different season, when you feel insecure or alone. Embrace your weakness! No, not in a whiny, misery-laden, complaining way. Invite God to shine in you revealed in your time of weakness. "He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NLT)
______________
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible
Hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious,
The Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting
And silent as light;
Nor wanting, nor wasting,
Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice, like mountains,
High soaring above;
Thy clouds, which are fountains
Of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest,
To both great and small;
In all, life Thou livest,
The true life of all;
We blossom and flourish
As leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish
But naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory,
Pure Father of light;
Thine angels adore Thee
All veiling their sight.
All praise we would render,
O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor
Of light hideth Thee.
Amen.
Immortal Invisible
Smith, Walter Chalmers / Robert, John
© Public Domain
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Higher Choice
Are you ruled by your emotions? Many people are! I hope you have matured to the point where you are working to use your feelings to enrich your life while never letting them be ‘in charge.’ Some days I feel madly in love with Bev. Some days, not so much! Does that change my marital status? Of course not. Sometimes I feel more godly than others. Should I allow that to determine if I choose to be holy?
Is your faith totally dependent on feelings? Do you pray only when you are in a certain state of mind? Do you somehow think that your relationship with the Lord is directly tied to the chemicals that ebb and flow inside your cranium? Such a flimsy foundation is insufficient for Christian faith! Eugene Peterson, one of my favorite authors, writes: “My feelings tell me next to nothing about God or my relationship to Him. My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about Him or myself or my neighbors.” (A Long Obedience)
Look at this declaration! "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:5-8, NIV) Rock, fortress, refuge! Those are strong words, expressing faith that is not here today and gone under the stress that comes tomorrow!
Those who enjoy a deep and life-governing love of Christ are those who choose daily to practice the disciplines that open both their heart and their mind to the Truth of God and the work of the Spirit. They set God above all other parts of their lives – higher than family, higher than demands at work, higher than their desires, higher than diversions; and yes, higher than their emotions. They faithfully open the Scripture to learn. They regularly offer prayer and listen in meditation. They make gathering with other disciples a priority choice. They serve others. They give time and resources to the work of God first, not last.
You may object- “Jerry, that sounds like duty; like I am attempting to earn God’s favor.” To be honest, there are days when my choice to deny my impulse to be selfish or sinful is dutiful! But, I am glad for the Truth that guides me past the shoals of my own emotions at that moment. There’s nothing wrong with doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do! If only follow God when our heart is stirred by good feelings, our discipleship will be shallow, if it exists at all.
The paradox is this: the person who consistently makes the choice to do what God desires of him –regardless of his feelings– almost certainly will develop a deeper, richer intimacy with God over time! He learns what it means to ‘walk with God’ and knows that He is equally present in the dark valley and the mountaintop. It is like the man who moves past infatuation with a woman, who makes the covenant pledge of marriage. His choice for one woman, his surrender of the ‘freedom’ of bachelorhood, lays a foundation for discovery of a deeper relationship with his wife; one he could never find in a series of relationships based only on attraction.
Disciple, exercise the God-given ability to choose!
Don’t float with the current. You’ll drift away from God, never to Him. Don’t walk with the crowd. They will never lead you to the King of Glory! Take Joshua’s challenge – “Choose today whom you will serve!”
Here’s the word from the Word.
"Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.
None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.
Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives.
Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
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 3:15-17, The Message)
_________________
He’s my Rock, my Sword, my Shield!
He’s my Wheel in the middle of the wheel!
He’s my Lily of the Valley,
He’s my Bright and Morning Star!
Makes no difference what you say,
I’m going on my knees and pray,
I’m gonna wait right here for Jesus ‘till He comes.
- Public domain
Is your faith totally dependent on feelings? Do you pray only when you are in a certain state of mind? Do you somehow think that your relationship with the Lord is directly tied to the chemicals that ebb and flow inside your cranium? Such a flimsy foundation is insufficient for Christian faith! Eugene Peterson, one of my favorite authors, writes: “My feelings tell me next to nothing about God or my relationship to Him. My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about Him or myself or my neighbors.” (A Long Obedience)
Look at this declaration! "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:5-8, NIV) Rock, fortress, refuge! Those are strong words, expressing faith that is not here today and gone under the stress that comes tomorrow!
Those who enjoy a deep and life-governing love of Christ are those who choose daily to practice the disciplines that open both their heart and their mind to the Truth of God and the work of the Spirit. They set God above all other parts of their lives – higher than family, higher than demands at work, higher than their desires, higher than diversions; and yes, higher than their emotions. They faithfully open the Scripture to learn. They regularly offer prayer and listen in meditation. They make gathering with other disciples a priority choice. They serve others. They give time and resources to the work of God first, not last.
You may object- “Jerry, that sounds like duty; like I am attempting to earn God’s favor.” To be honest, there are days when my choice to deny my impulse to be selfish or sinful is dutiful! But, I am glad for the Truth that guides me past the shoals of my own emotions at that moment. There’s nothing wrong with doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do! If only follow God when our heart is stirred by good feelings, our discipleship will be shallow, if it exists at all.
The paradox is this: the person who consistently makes the choice to do what God desires of him –regardless of his feelings– almost certainly will develop a deeper, richer intimacy with God over time! He learns what it means to ‘walk with God’ and knows that He is equally present in the dark valley and the mountaintop. It is like the man who moves past infatuation with a woman, who makes the covenant pledge of marriage. His choice for one woman, his surrender of the ‘freedom’ of bachelorhood, lays a foundation for discovery of a deeper relationship with his wife; one he could never find in a series of relationships based only on attraction.
Disciple, exercise the God-given ability to choose!
Don’t float with the current. You’ll drift away from God, never to Him. Don’t walk with the crowd. They will never lead you to the King of Glory! Take Joshua’s challenge – “Choose today whom you will serve!”
Here’s the word from the Word.
"Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.
None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.
Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives.
Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
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 3:15-17, The Message)
_________________
He’s my Rock, my Sword, my Shield!
He’s my Wheel in the middle of the wheel!
He’s my Lily of the Valley,
He’s my Bright and Morning Star!
Makes no difference what you say,
I’m going on my knees and pray,
I’m gonna wait right here for Jesus ‘till He comes.
- Public domain
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tossing grenades?
There is a part of my earlier years I sincerely regret, that of assuming the role of critic! I did it far too often and know now that I was a foolish man whose words created more animosity than real change. Critics have a role to play, pointing out flaws; giving artists, leaders, and other a strong motivation to ‘get it right.’ But, the years have taught me that it is a lot easier to toss grenades that blow things up than it is to build things in the first place.
How easily we take the critic's role.
We look at the struggling marriage of another saying, “Why doesn’t he just love her more intensely? What’s wrong with her that she can’t just forgive him his indiscretion?” Do we really understand the pain, the back story, all the issues that are at stake? No!
We are tempted to toss word grenades at Christians who walk through up’s and down’s in their holiness, at those whose financial situation is precarious, and ... well, who have you criticized today?
Jesus was sometimes a critic, but He generally approached others with offers of acceptance, understanding and lifting them up. When some grenade throwers dragged a woman who was having an adulterous affair to Him, did He lash out at her with scathing words about her shamelessness, her failure to understand the consequences of her choices, or her lack of character? No! He offered her love, gave her dignity. Only then did he say, “Now, go and sin no more.”
It’s a sign of security in God’s purposes and real emotional maturity to be an encourager. When Moses was told that his leadership of Israel was drawing to a close, he argued with the Lord, asking for more time. The Lord refused his request and told him - "commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” (Deuteronomy 3:28, NIV) Moses’ obedience was remarkable. He became Joshua’s biggest supporter, urging him on, endorsing him before the nation. In part, Joshua’s amazing success was directly attributable to Moses’ encouragement.
So, disciple, will you forget yourself, your preferences, your comfort and take an interest in another?
Will you, for the Lord’s sake, become an encourager?
There is a great joy to be found in instilling another with hope, in helping to lift a burden, in pointing one to a new way of thinking. Some may realize what you have done and say, ‘thank you.’ Some may never know the wind that you redirected into their sails. Will you toss grenades like any old critic, or will you hold out hope?
Here’s a word from the Word. "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13, NIV)
--------------
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad.
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Make Me A Blessing
Wilson, Ira B. / Schuler, George S.
© 1924. Renewed 1952 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
How easily we take the critic's role.
We look at the struggling marriage of another saying, “Why doesn’t he just love her more intensely? What’s wrong with her that she can’t just forgive him his indiscretion?” Do we really understand the pain, the back story, all the issues that are at stake? No!
We are tempted to toss word grenades at Christians who walk through up’s and down’s in their holiness, at those whose financial situation is precarious, and ... well, who have you criticized today?
Jesus was sometimes a critic, but He generally approached others with offers of acceptance, understanding and lifting them up. When some grenade throwers dragged a woman who was having an adulterous affair to Him, did He lash out at her with scathing words about her shamelessness, her failure to understand the consequences of her choices, or her lack of character? No! He offered her love, gave her dignity. Only then did he say, “Now, go and sin no more.”
It’s a sign of security in God’s purposes and real emotional maturity to be an encourager. When Moses was told that his leadership of Israel was drawing to a close, he argued with the Lord, asking for more time. The Lord refused his request and told him - "commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” (Deuteronomy 3:28, NIV) Moses’ obedience was remarkable. He became Joshua’s biggest supporter, urging him on, endorsing him before the nation. In part, Joshua’s amazing success was directly attributable to Moses’ encouragement.
So, disciple, will you forget yourself, your preferences, your comfort and take an interest in another?
Will you, for the Lord’s sake, become an encourager?
There is a great joy to be found in instilling another with hope, in helping to lift a burden, in pointing one to a new way of thinking. Some may realize what you have done and say, ‘thank you.’ Some may never know the wind that you redirected into their sails. Will you toss grenades like any old critic, or will you hold out hope?
Here’s a word from the Word. "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13, NIV)
--------------
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad.
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Make Me A Blessing
Wilson, Ira B. / Schuler, George S.
© 1924. Renewed 1952 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Take ALL of me, Jesus
I could not help but overhear the conversation being carried on in a church’s coffee shop. The beautifully dressed woman was talking to two friends. She had her Bible laying there in front of her on the table and she was about to attend a worship gathering. To every appearance, she was a Christian. Her manner of speaking did not reflect the spirit of Jesus! A torrent of criticism, bitter words without love or compassion, spilled out of her.
After a couple of moments, I moved away and given her self-obsession, I wondered how she would worship ‘in Spirit and in truth.’ Lest you think I’m a judge only of another, I will hasten to tell you that when I went into the church’s sanctuary and prayed before the first song, the Holy Spirit led to remember my own manner of speaking in a conversation the prior day! My prayer in that moment was one we all need to pray often- “Jesus, take all of me!”
The Scripture calls us to serve Jesus with an unquestioning obedience. "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18, NIV)
Michael Spencer writes: “Invest yourself in anything, from watching South Park to obsessing over your lawn, and it will alter the kind of person you are. Human beings aren’t static, but dynamic. We change. We are influenced, nurtured, moved, and moldable.” (Mere Churchianity, Waterbrook, 2010)
I want to invest myself in Jesus, so as to enter into the paradox of being a ‘free slave!’ It is difficult for us to accept that by giving away our right to self-rule we discover the highest form of liberty. The Scripture asks to ponder the cost of hanging onto our natural impulses and inclinations. "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:21-22, NIV)
From the depth of your being, pray this surrender: “Take all of me, Jesus!” Let Him own you and find the freedom to be who He purposes and enter, right here and now, into eternal life.
_________________
"Gotta Serve Somebody"
You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Copyright – Bob Dylan
Judy Collins sings it.
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=bYam0tQfPrU&feature=related
After a couple of moments, I moved away and given her self-obsession, I wondered how she would worship ‘in Spirit and in truth.’ Lest you think I’m a judge only of another, I will hasten to tell you that when I went into the church’s sanctuary and prayed before the first song, the Holy Spirit led to remember my own manner of speaking in a conversation the prior day! My prayer in that moment was one we all need to pray often- “Jesus, take all of me!”
The Scripture calls us to serve Jesus with an unquestioning obedience. "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18, NIV)
Michael Spencer writes: “Invest yourself in anything, from watching South Park to obsessing over your lawn, and it will alter the kind of person you are. Human beings aren’t static, but dynamic. We change. We are influenced, nurtured, moved, and moldable.” (Mere Churchianity, Waterbrook, 2010)
I want to invest myself in Jesus, so as to enter into the paradox of being a ‘free slave!’ It is difficult for us to accept that by giving away our right to self-rule we discover the highest form of liberty. The Scripture asks to ponder the cost of hanging onto our natural impulses and inclinations. "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:21-22, NIV)
From the depth of your being, pray this surrender: “Take all of me, Jesus!” Let Him own you and find the freedom to be who He purposes and enter, right here and now, into eternal life.
_________________
"Gotta Serve Somebody"
You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed.
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
Copyright – Bob Dylan
Judy Collins sings it.
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=bYam0tQfPrU&feature=related
Monday, August 09, 2010
No Place Like Home
Each of the last 8 nights, I have laid my head on a different pillow in a different room. Bev and I helped Chris and Pete relocate from California to Maryland, 14 states, 2975 miles in 7 days! It was fun to see the countryside across these United States, but I’m ready to go home! Taking a break from life’s routines is a welcomed experience, but there is a genuine comfort in seeing faces of those who I love, buying coffee at the same shop, and sitting on my own couch.
We cannot over-estimate the importance of making a place called home. We do it less by building a house than by becoming part of a network of friends who love us, by regularly serving in a way that dethrones self-interest, by being a small part of something larger than ourselves. The late Kingman Brewster (1918-1988), a president of Yale University and a public servant, said "There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation." In other words, it challenges Self to serve, but it is immensely rewarding to do it well and in a way that makes us part of a supportive web. That is the true ‘home.’
Our culture lauds independence, making our own way in life, with swaggering distain for a need of assistance. Such a life is largely mythical. Those who pursue life apart from 'home-making' will find themselves emotionally crippled, alone, and spiritually useless! The richness of love, not the sappy stuff of romance novels, but the robust, bold love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV) is the soul of the best life. So, I’m looking forward to going home, plugging back into my network, and doing what God calls me to do each day.
What about you, disciple?
Are you creating a ‘home’ where you are doing the sometimes seemingly impossible, always costly, work of weaving a strong web that ties you to others? Some will nourish you. Some will require you to feed and serve. Both are part of love.
One of these days, we will all be called to our final home. If our hearts are already in love with the Father and His family, it will be a wonderful reunion. But, what of those who have been too pre-occupied with themselves, too committed to self-indulgence to step outside of themselves to create authentic, loving relationships? What will they experience? For me, there’s no place like home.
Here’s a word from the Word. Soak it in today.
"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (Hebrews 11:8-10, NLT)
"Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own." (Hebrews 11:14, NLT)
_____________________
Wherever there is laughter ringing,
Someone smiling someone dreaming,
We can live together there,
Love will be our home.
Where there are words of kindness spoken,
Where a vow is never broken,
We can live together there,
'Cause love will be our home.
If home is really where the heart is,
Then home must be a place we all can share.
For even with our diff'rences
Our hearts are much the same.
For where love is we come together there.
With love our hearts can be a family,
And hope can bring this family face to face,
And though we may be far apart
Our hearts can be as one,
When love brings us together in one place.
Love will love will be our home,
Love Will Be Our Home
Chapman, Steven Curtis
© 1988 Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. / Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Greg Nelson Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
We cannot over-estimate the importance of making a place called home. We do it less by building a house than by becoming part of a network of friends who love us, by regularly serving in a way that dethrones self-interest, by being a small part of something larger than ourselves. The late Kingman Brewster (1918-1988), a president of Yale University and a public servant, said "There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation." In other words, it challenges Self to serve, but it is immensely rewarding to do it well and in a way that makes us part of a supportive web. That is the true ‘home.’
Our culture lauds independence, making our own way in life, with swaggering distain for a need of assistance. Such a life is largely mythical. Those who pursue life apart from 'home-making' will find themselves emotionally crippled, alone, and spiritually useless! The richness of love, not the sappy stuff of romance novels, but the robust, bold love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV) is the soul of the best life. So, I’m looking forward to going home, plugging back into my network, and doing what God calls me to do each day.
What about you, disciple?
Are you creating a ‘home’ where you are doing the sometimes seemingly impossible, always costly, work of weaving a strong web that ties you to others? Some will nourish you. Some will require you to feed and serve. Both are part of love.
One of these days, we will all be called to our final home. If our hearts are already in love with the Father and His family, it will be a wonderful reunion. But, what of those who have been too pre-occupied with themselves, too committed to self-indulgence to step outside of themselves to create authentic, loving relationships? What will they experience? For me, there’s no place like home.
Here’s a word from the Word. Soak it in today.
"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (Hebrews 11:8-10, NLT)
"Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own." (Hebrews 11:14, NLT)
_____________________
Wherever there is laughter ringing,
Someone smiling someone dreaming,
We can live together there,
Love will be our home.
Where there are words of kindness spoken,
Where a vow is never broken,
We can live together there,
'Cause love will be our home.
If home is really where the heart is,
Then home must be a place we all can share.
For even with our diff'rences
Our hearts are much the same.
For where love is we come together there.
With love our hearts can be a family,
And hope can bring this family face to face,
And though we may be far apart
Our hearts can be as one,
When love brings us together in one place.
Love will love will be our home,
Love Will Be Our Home
Chapman, Steven Curtis
© 1988 Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. / Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Greg Nelson Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
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