Dating or Married?

This Sunday at Faith Discovery Church we will be talking about something everybody ought to know. Yep, we’re going to point out the obvious. What is it? That the church is a family and that Christianity is about relationships!  Christ commissions us to faithfully do His work – feeding the hungry, comforting the broken, preaching the Gospel – but that’s not all that it’s about.  His church is a place to belong, a place of grace. We miss that sometimes, getting so busy in the work of the Lord that we forget the importance of loving and listening.

Are you, disciple, part of the Body? Are you committed to the Church and the church?

Bible doctrine teaches us that the Church is the universal Body of Christ. We are joined to her when we are born of the Spirit and baptized in faith. But, we need to do more than know this. We need to do this!  When we make gathering with our church family a priority, we discover support, fellowship, and encouragement; and who doesn’t need that?  So, why don’t more of us find the richness of relationship I’m describing? Because churches are made up of real people, flawed people, who don’t always love well.  It takes commitment, patience, and time to create the connections that return the kind of joy promised to those who are ‘in the Body.’  Look what is possible. "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad." (1 Corinthians 12:26, NLT)

Experiencing that connectedness requires radical commitment; akin to that which we make in marriage. Some Christians “date” churches endlessly, but never marry one! Thus, they never know the great joy that can only be experienced as a part of a team that is building the Kingdom of Christ. They let the superficial stuff – who was nice to me, who talked to me, who noticed me – replace the unity of the Spirit that binds us all together.  When we let the Tempter stir up feelings of resentment toward other people in Christ's Body, we will fall into the sin of offense.  Inevitably a high wall will appear dividing us from those who are our best allies in the fight for faith. Even worse, when we let resentment loose, we will begin to attack and destroy what Christ loves! Think what it does to His heart when we tear down, for selfish reasons, the Bride (the Church) that He loves so much that He gave His life for her.

The Bible offers this lofty description of Christ’s Church. "By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:7-11, NLT) God's plan is to use the church to demonstrate His grace and goodness to Heaven and Earth!

Don’t miss out. Join up! Make a radical commitment to the work of God in your local church.  It’s not just about joining a mission! It’s about being ‘in a family.’  Sunday, we’re going to present the vision of “Discovery Groups” a place outside of the church building where we can learn to be the people of the Lord. It’s not about yet another ministry. It’s about a place to belong, a place of grace.

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today. "I ... beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each  other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." (Ephesians 4:1-6, NLT)

Ears to Hear?

Ears to hear?

How’s your hearing?   With age, mine isn’t what it used to be.  When I ask Bev to repeat something she said while in another room, it frustrates her. But, some loss of ability to hear quiet or higher pitched tones is normal.  Of greater concern to me is the ability to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit!  In the book of the Revelation, there is a phrase repeated seven times in the first three chapters: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:29, NIV)  If I become spiritually hard of hearing, I lose a precious treasure – the joy of knowing Him, being led by Him.

Francis Chan, author of Forgotten God, a book about the Spirit’s ministry, reminds us that we should live with an amazing intimacy with the Spirit.  His Presence and voice reaches us in places where other people cannot come.  When we are sick, traveling, fearful, alone, worshiping, working … everywhere, He is there!  But, are we aware of Him? Are our ears open to His voice?  Obviously living in open rebellion cuts us off from knowing the fellowship of the Lord.  Chan suggests less obvious things that creep into our lives that rob us of our ability to listen to the Spirit.

First, he says, we can value our comfort more than His leading!  Are you willing to let Him direct you out of the place where you feel ‘at home?’  I am not just talking about a call to missions work in some nation on the far side of the world!  Will you let Him lead you across the street to serve a neighbor?  Will you let Him lead you to forgive that person you have grown to despise?  Will you let Him lead you to a place of obscure service that has no immediate reward? Will you listen when He invites you to grow deeper in the character of Christ Jesus, by taking you along a path that is difficult?  OR, will you love comfort so much that you ignore Him?  The cost of discipleship is obedience. Knowing the rewards of being the child of God demands that we are willing to live as Jesus lived.  "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:15-17, NIV)

Second, Chan says that we can be spiritually deafened by the noise that fills every waking moment. For most of us, every day is full of interaction.  Phones we carry everywhere buzz, beep, and jingle signaling texts and requests to talk.  We stick little speakers in our ears that pipe a stream of music into our brain while we walk, work, and exercise.  The TV is on for hours.  In all that clamor, the Holy Spirit’s voice can be lost to us.  We may hear His voice deep inside, but only respond with a ‘huh, what did You say?’ before turning up the volume of the noise of life.  Jesus found time to be alone with His Father.  If the perfect Man needed that quiet to hear the voice of the Spirit clearing, how can we think we have less need for listening in the quiet?  Contemplative prayer is a lost art for many of us. No wonder we wander so far from God!

The Spirit is not silent!  Can you hear His voice?

This word from the Word carries great promise. “Oh, Lord, may we listen well that we may live in the place of Your peace. Amen.”

“Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.”
And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me, with his Spirit. This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." (Isaiah 48:16-18, NIV)

Right Where You Are

Joseph's life is an inspiration for me! As a teenager, the Lord gave him big dreams for the future. He saw a bright, wonderful promise ahead. For the next 20 years, he experienced one setback after another. His brothers' hatred caused them to sell into slavery. The wife of the man in whose household he served lusted after him and, when he kept his integrity, lied about him. He ended up in prison. What if he had said, "This is my fate" and decided that his dreams were too big? What if he had just settled down in that situation? He would not!  

He continued to pray, help onto faith. The Bible says, "The Lord was with Joseph there, too, and he granted Joseph favor with the chief jailer. Before long, the jailer put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison." (Genesis 39:20-22, NLT) Things are looking up, right? No, not really. A man he helped promptly forgot him after being released from prison and he languished there for two more years. Was this the moment when he decided to 'accept' life as it was, to give up on people? He kept faith, not bitterly, not selfishly. Finally, the moment comes when Pharaoh learns about the young Hebrew whose connection to the Almighty God was authentic. He sent for him and Joseph ultimately realized the promise that he received decades prior to that moment.

So, how did Joseph hang onto the promise and still live faithfully and at peace throughout the years of disappointment? He experienced the Presence of God in each moment! He did not wait to know or to serve God for some future time when the circumstances of life were all he hoped they might be. When he was a brother, he was the best brother possible. When he was a slave, he chose to live with excellence. When he was a prisoner, he served the captain of the guard well.

Niebuhr's prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference," is one I pray often! I want to live in the peace and joy of the Lord today, but not at the expense of failing to fulfill His high calling. We cannot confuse acceptance of our circumstances with resignation to fate! There is a huge difference between choosing to live in peace as we take the grace He offers for this day and just giving up on our dream so we can exist. 

In the Philippian letter, Paul reveals the tension between present grace and future hope. He exults in what God has done for him. He is in prison, yet knows that the Lord is using that situation to advance the kingdom. He is a man at peace. "I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." (Philippians 1:12-14, NKJV)

But, he is not resigned to living in prison for the rest of his life. God promises more and so he writes, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, NKJV)

The open secret of living in peace while pressing on is knowing the Presence of God; right here, right where we are. How?

First of all, we reject the false comfort of sin and/or disobedience! When life is turbulent, temptation will come. Food, sex, new stuff, anger, pride - these things have a special appeal when we are walking through situations that are hard or beyond our understanding.

Second, we do the right things! Prayer may be hard, the words just don't flow, pray anyway. Joining with others for worship may feel like an empty ritual, do it anyway. Serving, loving, giving may be the last thing you want to do; do them anyway.

Third, we look up. The Bible tells us to "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in."  Why? "Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." (Hebrews 12:2, The Message)

Accept the grace for this day, but don't settle for the status quo. Here's the word from the Word: "God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, NLT)

___________________

Great is Thy Faithfulness,

Oh God, My Father.

There is no shadow of turning

With You.

Thou changest not,

Thy compassions they fail not,

As Thou hast been

Thou forever will be.

Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan

© 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company

Two Weeks from Today

Two weeks from today

Are you planning to vote? In Presidential elections years about 2 of out of 3 eligible Americans will do so, leaving an amazing 30% who stay home for one reason or another. Electing our government officials should be regarded as a duty as well as a privilege. We can attempt to justify our decision to stay home by pointing to the fact that we are just one in millions. We can excuse our failure to vote by pointing to the corruption of political processes. In both cases, we would be wrong. Each vote counts and if higher percentages of voters insist on accountability, better candidates will be put into office.

With all the noise about the election of a President, it is easy to overlook that there are candidates for a whole range of offices from local town committees, to state legislatures, and Congress. Though the Presidential race gets the lion's share of attention, it is often the actions of those in lesser offices that actually effect our lives on a day to day basis. Can you even name those running? In a few days you will receive a sample ballot in the mail. Review it! Do your homework. Talk with others and become an informed citizen, then vote!

So, you might be wondering why a daily devotion written primarily to encourage Christians in their walk with the Lord engages this topic? Perhaps you believe that as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven you are above the dirty process of politics with all the mud-slinging that goes on. If so, I want to change your mind.

We are, first and foremost, subjects of Christ, our Lord. The Word reminds us that "our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20, NIV) Interestingly, the word 'citizenship' in that passage is translated from the NT Greek word "politeuma" which referred to civil life, to the administration of public policies. The Bible is telling us that our daily lives here on earth are governed by Christ from Heaven. Our constitution and by-laws are written by Him. And, that includes how we act in the context of the earthly government under which we live. Our Christianity is expressed, in part at least, by our earthly citizenship.

Jesus never advocated anarchy. He paid His taxes and urged respect for those who ruled. A Christian is commanded to " submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." (Romans 13:1, NIV) I'm certain that the idea of people selecting their own leaders through the electoral process was not in Paul's mind as he was inspired to give us that directive. We have an amazing privilege of helping to choose those to whom we are to submit.

Give me another couple of minutes today to opine. (Thank you for your patience.) Please do not become one of those simple-minded Christians who cast votes for a person based on a single issue or because "he looks like a good Christian." Educate yourself on the totality of a candidate's positions, as best you are able to do so. There is no perfect candidate. Look for values, for evidence of integrity, for qualities of leadership. It is true that "when the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan." (Proverbs 29:2, NLT) Don't be duped by the candidate who learns the code words that appeal to Christians. That fact that he says, "God bless you," and shows up in the pulpit of a famous preacher does not necessarily indicate that he will govern in a godly way. Be wise.

Finally, be prayerful. The Spirit promises to guide us. As we study the roster of candidates standing for election, let's pray for insight. God's design for humanity includes leadership, those who exercise the right to set the policies that govern us. He has sovereignly chosen to allow you and me to live in an era in which we participate in the selection of our leadership. We can become His partner in choosing those who will spend our taxes and defend human dignity. So, I appeal to you to be an informed, active citizen; one who exercises the privilege of the ballot in a way that honors our Heavenly King - two weeks from today.

He's your Dad!

He's your Dad

For a few days last week I was with my children and grandchildren.  Of all the ways I am described by others;  friend, brother, Pastor, counselor;  none compares to "Dad." My adult kids love to tease me and can do it so well knowing all the right stories to tell. When one of the little ones approached and said, "Hi, Papa" I literally wept with joy!
Jesus taught us to address God primarily as "Our Father."  We come to Him with open heart and an expectation of acceptance because that's Who He is. "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." (Romans 8:15-16, The Message)

There are many ways to know and understand our God. He is Majestic Lord, Creator of the Universe, the Divine Warrior, the One who lives in Heavenly Splendor,  the Great I Am.  And He is our Father, our Abba!

"But, Pastor, if I relate to Him like that, won't I lose respect and treat His demands with contempt?"  No you will not.  If your love for Abba is deep and authentic, your obedience will be complete; not fear-based but love inspired.  My adult children are self-sufficient, having nothing to fear in me. The respect they give to me has its foundation in love.  Love is a much stronger motive than fear; more sustainable, too!

Is God just an idea to you?  Is He 'someone out there, somewhere?'  Pray to know Him.

Receive the Father love He has for you.  John says that this 'love casts out fear.'  If we only fear God we have not yet known the fullness of His salvation offered to us through Christ.

Receive the Father provisions prepared for you. He will meet your needs from His riches!
Receive the identity.  A father provides an identity.  Long before his children can consciously process thoughts about who they are and how they fit into the world, a good Daddy shows them by his life.  His values become theirs. His way of 'doing life' is unconsciously adopted.  He anchors them in the world.   My primary identity in this world was given to me by my Dad and, later by my Heavenly Abba.

Here's a word from the Word.  May this truth go deep and become a rock of stability for us in a world filled with instability. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:1-3, NIV)
____________

"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed (revered as holy) be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one."  Amen (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV)