I'm Excited!

Anticipation is half the fun of big events. I’m excited as we head for this Sunday’s game. The “SuperBowl” has become an unofficial holiday for Americans, a break in winter doldrums, an excuse to have a party, throw off the serious stuff of life, and get into the hoopla that builds up around two football teams chasing the season championship. Last year, the game drew a television audience of over 100 million in the United States! And, yes, I’m psyched because the Patriots are in Indianapolis to even the score with Giants!

There’s a promise of an event that Christians need to keep front and center in our minds, around which we need to build anticipation. When the slog through the mess and mud of life gets hard, it will keep us going. When we wonder why, it will lift our vision higher. When we’re tempted to give in to the temptations of this present world – power, materialism, sensuality, greed, Selfishness – it will help us to press on. What is this? The promise of the return of Christ!

The Bible says "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep (die), or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, NIV)

This is no isolated text, either. Throughout the Scripture, there is a promise of hope, an assurance that the Lord will set things right, avenge the righteousness, and reward faithful service. The last will be first, on that great day! Those who have invested in the Kingdom will be given the victor’s award. Call me what you want to; I’m hanging onto that promise. I believe the lyrics to that Gospel song that says, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.”

Do I understand every word about the promise of Jesus’ return? Not at all. All the charts and explanations that once captivated me hold little appeal. The doctrinal arguments about Millenniums and Tribulation can obscure the central fact – Jesus is coming back! Here’s what He said. This word from the Word is the Christian’s Blessed Hope, the most exciting event, a day worth of our anticipation. “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” (Luke 21:25-28, NLT)
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Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.
Copyright, Esther Rusthoi

Get Lost! I don’t need you!

The company that owns the social network site called “Facebook” announced a stock offering yesterday.  When it happens,  California will have hundreds of new millionaires, people who made a fortune out of creating friendships in the 21^st century. I use the site that allows me to stay in contact with friends, new and old, near and far. Facebook is better than an occasional note or annual Christmas card.  On the ‘wall’ I see pictures of my friend’s kids and dogs, hear about their successes, and learn about disappointments. To be sure, sharing a meal, laughing together, and being physically in a person’s company is incomparably more fulfilling than a few lines on Facebook.

Why do we enjoy social connections? Because we need a place to belong. The circle of friends in our lives steady us, encourage us, and help us to avoid that sense of meaninglessness that so often accompanies anonymity!

If you want to be healthy, both spiritually  and emotionally, cultivate friendships by investing yourself in other people, hanging with them through the inevitable up’s and down’s.  We all struggle through misunderstandings or hurt feelings from time to time, but the love that comes from the Spirit, propels us past those things. Jesus said, "This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:35, The Message) The quality of that love means that our connection to one another is a priority above our convenience and our feelings! We are committed to one another.

“You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. ... But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don’t need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You’re fired; your job has been phased out"? ... I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together." ( from 1 Corinthians 12 The Message)

One of the major ways that the Devil destroys God’s work is by stirring up envy, suspicion, bitterness, or disappointment among Christians! If he is somehow able to deceive us about the motives or sincerity of our faith family, we all suffer. Perhaps more tragic than our personal pain is the disgrace that our infighting brings on the Lord of Love. A frequent reason for not attending a local church is a past experience of some ugly fight that tore Christians apart over some relatively trivial matter. Few things distract the Church from her mission more than internal strife.

Here’s the word from the Word.  "This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.

Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:11-16, NIV)

Let's get connected. Go to http://www.facebook.com/ and create a profile. Once you're finished, bring up this link - https://www.facebook.com/jerscott and send me a friend request.

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Heavenly Father, I thank you for the Church,
for calling me to know the joy of serving
with so many others who love You.
Help us, Lord, to stay connected.
Fill us with love; make us patient.

Give us a revival of authentic and deep love
for the family of faith.
Renew our desire for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
so that we will do the work of Your Kingdom
in a way that is complementary to one another,

Powerful in accomplishing eternal goals, and fulfilling.
We pray all of this in the Name of
Jesus Christ our Great and Wonderful Friend.

Amen!

A different way to see

On Tuesday, I met with a pastor who is a missionary/pastor to the United States from Nigeria and a friend of his who is a pastor in Nigeria. We talked about the church in the United States before we prayed together. American Christians, in their opinion, tend to ignore the realm of the spiritual, explaining sin and suffering only in psychological and/or sociological terms. We do not admit that evil is real and personal, the acts of Satan and his demons who are in rebellion against the Kingdom of God. When we prayed together (what a time of prayer!) I heard the way that their worldview shaped their prayers. They called on the Spirit to rise up and defeat the Devil.

The conversation left me with much to think about. Have my efforts in the work of the Lord focused too much on behavior modification and too little on defeating evil? Am I trying to rehabilitate people instead of expecting that the supernatural power of the Spirit will transform them from the inside out? Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy, asserts that most American Christians settle for a ‘gospel of sin management.’  We do not go to war to defeat evil and we do not expect sinners to become saints! Instead, we aim to manage sin and its effect on us aiming to become marginally better people, centering our religion around moralistic piety. (translate that - We just try to be nice people!)

Imagine Paul going into a pagan city and offering classes on stress management or financial matters. I can’t, can you? His ministry was Christ-centered and expected profound results. "We go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. … to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can’t begin to compete with God’s “weakness.”   … Nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it!" (1 Corinthians 1:23-25; 2:4, The Message)

We do not have to discard our understanding or education to work effectively with the Lord. But, we must acknowledge the limits of efforts based solely on those things. The primary mission of the Church is to establish the Kingdom of God. That can only be done in the power of the Spirit and because of the completed work of Christ, who lived, died, and rose again. The promise of Jesus to us is not merely preservation. He offers empowering.  He left His disciples with this promise, which must also be our expectation. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NLT)  We need a new Pentecost, a new outpouring of the Spirit!

Here’s a word from the Word. May it increase our faith and inform our understanding. “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ” (Zechariah 4:6-7, NIV)

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By My Spirit

Is there a mountain in your way?

Do doubts and fears abound?

Press on, Oh hear the Spirit say,

“This mountain shall come down!”

“Not by might not by pow'r,

By My Spirit.” saith the Lord of Hosts.

“Not by might not by pow'r

By My Spirit.” saith the Lord.

This mountain shall be removed.

This mountain shall be removed.

This mountain shall be removed.

“By My Spirit,” saith the Lord.

Then trust alone the mighty God.

He speaks, the winds obey.

Take courage then oh fainting heart,

For you He'll make a way.

© 1957. Renewed 1985 Gospel Publishing House (Assigned to Lorenz Corporation, 1998)

Almeda Herrick | Cyril McLellan

CCLI License No. 810055

What’s of more value than rubies?

Are you wise? Wisdom is knowledge matched with understanding. There is probably no time in a person’s life that is more packed with danger than the teen years. Why?  Because teens generally have greater freedoms but they have not yet developed the discernment and insight that allows them to fully appreciate the long-term consequences of their choices. I remember at age 17, driving a car incredibly fast because I could! I was smart enough to have a license but not wise enough to understand that I risked serious injury or death as a result of my stunts. 40 years later wisdom has taken root. I know that 2 tons of steel wrapped around me do not make me invincible.

The Proverbs declare that "wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 8:11) Wisdom says, "Wealth and Glory accompany me— also substantial Honor and a Good Name. My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus. You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk— at the intersection of Justice Avenue, Handing out life to those who love me, filling their arms with life—armloads of life! " (Proverbs 8:18-21, The Message)

So where do we find this amazing thing?  The Bible says that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” (Proverbs 9:10-12, NIV) A deep reverence for God is the source.  A person who is willing to admit he does not know it all, who will bend his will to the will of God, will gain wisdom. Wisdom is not simply learning Bible verses! It has been my misfortune to know many religious fools full of Bible knowledge and trivia while lacking insight and discernment totally.

Knowledge can feed pride and nothing makes a greater fool than being proud! In Romans 1, the downward path of humanity from glory to depravity is traced to the growth of knowledge without the humility that leads to true wisdom. "Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools." (Romans 1:21-22, NLT)

Each season of life requires a new kind of wisdom. As we become skillful and gain knowledge, we must remember the Lord.  Begin each day with prayer. Take time often to reflect on His majestic holiness. Ask for wisdom! Prepare for discipline. No wisdom comes without the testing that deepens our insight by stripping away superficiality. Study the Scripture and pray for the Holy Spirit to make the truth your foundation.

Here’s a word from the Word. I pray it describes my life (and yours, too)!
"Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts." (Psalm 119:98-100, NIV)
"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130, NIV)

Salty Talk

Do you find having a civil conversation somewhat more difficult these days?  The high pressure, fast moving way that we live has seriously diminished our ability to discuss things on which we disagree without soon coming to sharp disagreement. We trust others less having seen many people profess one set of beliefs publicly while failing to allow those convictions to guide their own choices. And, then too, we sometimes are guilty of hanging onto ideas without the benefit of reason or careful reflection. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in our political conversation. The political culture in America is poisonous from the top down. Name-calling is rampant, cooperation nonexistent.

About twenty years ago I learned a real lesson about expressing sharp opinions. I made a point in a meeting about an issue on which I felt there was no gray only black and white! I was forceful, as I look back, even offensive. A thoughtful woman attending that meeting took exception to my words with an invitation to explore the issue in depth. She became a good friend and when I learned the circumstances of her life, I was mortified knowing that my words sliced at the emotional wounds that gave her such pain. Paul’s exhortation to “speak the truth in love” gained new importance for me. It’s not just what we say that matters. It’s how we are heard.

I still manage to get myself in trouble with my words from time to time. James points out that our speech is tough to bring to maturity! "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." (James 3:2, NIV) Jesus’ counsel is that we learn to talk less. “Let your ‘yes,’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’” He said. Too often we go on and on and in our flood of speech, we offend others and sin against God.

The Scripture directs us with this: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:6, NIV) Gracious words are considerate of others and contextualized in the circumstances. The gracious speaker does his best to know how he will be heard. That is much easier for me to write about than it is for me to practice, I candidly acknowledge! Then, too, the Lord tells us to practice salty speech. In our culture that little phrase is usually about words that are sprinkled liberally with profanity. Obviously, we are not called to curse. In Biblical times, salt was a very expensive item that was widely used to retard spoilage of food in the absence of refrigeration. In this passage, we are called to use words that add flavor and that control the rot that grows out of filthy, selfish, hateful words.

What’s the only way to learn to salty and gracious words?  It is clear from Jesus’ teaching. May He change the fountain from which our words flow.

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:43-45, NLT)

Change my heart, O God. Amen!