The Trap of Imagined Perfection

The call was a reminder of a moment in time when I was less than godly!  I felt the weight of failure settle on me. Regret and remorse came to visit me as well. “Why did you make that choice?” I asked myself. I refuse to live in shame, however.  Our sins are fully forgiven when we confess them to our Savior. The Word tells us that there " is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1, NIV)  Are there consequences rippling my choices? Yes, there are. But there is no more guilt!

Christians need the message of radical forgiveness. Some insist that ‘too much grace’ leads to more sin. Exactly the opposite is true! Accepting God’s declaration of forgiveness, believing that He reconciles us fully to Himself, frees us to live nearer to His heart, where we find power to choose to be holy. Bob Carlisle sings a song called "We Fall Down."  (lyrics at the end) He describes a peasant who envies the monks who he imagines live above the temptations he experiences. He meets one of them outside of the monastery one day. The man tells him that monks are tempted and sometimes fall, too. The lyric repeats -  "We fall down, we get up - and the saints are just the sinners who get up!"

We may look at someone and slip into the trap of imagined perfection -  "Look at him. He is so much better than I am, he does not even struggle with sin any longer!"  It is never true! There is no place and no one that has achieved sinless perfection this side of Heaven. A disciple who is growing in Christ will always deal with temptation, often severe, always deeply personal. For one it may be lust, for another greed, for another pride. As the Holy Spirit leads us along the Way, we do conquer temptations, but evil conspires to find another way to neutralize us. Subtle pride is just as much a sin as blatant lust! Apathy is not as obviously a sin as stealing, but it is a failure none the less. Temptation is ever present and the war continues - sometimes raging, sometimes just a skirmish! "We fall down, we get up - and the saints are just the sinners who get up!"
 
The Word reminds us that "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT) Be very suspicious of the authenticity of anyone who claims they have found 'the secret' that allows them to live without any struggles with sin and/or temptation! Either they are self-deceived, lying, or they want to sell you something. The Word reminds us that "sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7, NIV)  How do we grow in holiness of heart, the beauty of Christ Jesus?
 
We defeat Self, Satan, and Systems of this World - not by our cleverness, nor by escape to some utopia - but by standing in the Truth of God's amazing grace in the middle of the war! -We know His love is deeper than our sin We know that the Spirit is at work in us giving us the strength to stand. If we fall, we reach for Jesus' hand and get up, learning and growing from our failure. "We fall down, we get up - and the saints are just the sinners who get up!"
Are you struggling with past failures and sins today, feeling ashamed, alone, inferior, broken?
 
Is some temptation dancing in your mind?
To hide it, to deny it, to try to defeat it all by yourself will lead only to failure.

Saints (that is what WE ARE when we belong to Christ) are not perfect. "We fall down, we get up - and the saints are just the sinners who get up!"

Stand in Christ! Here's a word from the Word. It's the Truth. Hold onto it today.

"That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives.
Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life.  Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time- (remember, you've been raised from the dead!) - into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live.
After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God." (Romans 6:12-14, The Message)
 
Listen to Bob Carlisle sing “We Fall Down.”  (YouTube Link)

______________

We Fall Down

Cursing ev'ry step of the way

He bore a heavy load

To the market ten miles away.

The journey took its toll

And ev'ry day he passed

A monastery's high cathedral walls

And it made his life seem

Meaningless and small

And he wondered how it would be

To live in such a place

To be warm well fed and at peace

To shut the world away

So when he saw a priest

Who walked for once

Beyond the iron gate

He said tell me of your life

Inside that place

And the priest replied

“We fall down, we get up,

We fall down, we get up.

We fall down, we get up,

And the saints are just the sinners,

Who fall down and get up!”

Disappointment followed him home

He'd hoped for so much more

But he saw himself in a light

He had never seen before

'Cause if the priest who fell

Could find the grace of God to be enough

Then there must be some hope

For the rest of us

Then there must be some hope

Left for us

'Cause we fall down and get up

We fall down we get up

We fall down we get up

And the saints are just the sinners

Yeah the saints are just the sinners

Who fall down and get up

Kyle Matthews

© 1997 Above The Rim Music (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)

BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Nobody, from Nowhere, with Nothing

Do you ever read about people making a difference in the world and wonder if your life counts for much?  When you are challenged to ‘reach the world for Christ’ do you feel inspiration and guilt in about equal measures?  

I know that response! Billy Graham preached to millions and brought the Gospel to hundreds of nations. Entire cities stirred to his message about Jesus’ love.  Bill Hybels writes inspiring books read by thousands and leads a church that ministers to tens of thousands each weekend. Andy Stanley speaks to conferences, inspiring thousands of Christian leaders and leads a church that is noted for helping the next generation to find Christ.  By comparison, what am I doing?  That is the wrong question!

What should we be asking ourselves? What should we be doing?  Let’s look at two stories in the Bible about obscure servants.

A little girl in ancient Israel was taken captive during a war with Syria. She was carried off to a foreign nation and made a servant to the wife of General Naaman.  He became diseased with leprosy.  That girl could have secretly rejoiced that Naaman was sick. But, despite being a nobody, from nowhere, with nothing – she spoke up. "She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3, NIV)  After a series of dramatic events, Naaman did meet Elisha, exercised faith, and was healed! The greater result was that he came to know the Lord God. "Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel." (2 Kings 5:15, NIV)  And, it all started with a servant girl who was willing to speak.

Mark tells us about another nameless woman’s devotion. "Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head. Some of the guests became furious among themselves. “That’s criminal! A sheer waste! This perfume could have been sold for well over a year’s wages and handed out to the poor.” They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her." (Mark 14:3-5, The Message)  From a natural point of view her efforts appeared silly, stupid even.  But, Jesus saw her differently.  He saw love and devotion.  Her extravagance was not wasted in His eyes.  He silenced her critics saying, "Leave her alone … She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial." (Mark 14:8, NIV)

There are opportunities to do the work of Christ that you, and only you, can do today. They may not be notable. They may not change the destiny of thousands. Some may judge your effort as ineffective, or silly, or a waste of time.  But, what does the Spirit say?  Who are you really serving? The Word speaks to us with this imperative: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV)

Christians may indeed be nobody, from nowhere, with nothing – but if we are FAITHFUL to live a life worthy of His calling, the results are beyond our ability to calculate.

Here’s the word from the Word. May it help us to stop looking around to compare and to look instead to serve.

"After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants

through whom you believed the Good News.

Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it,

but it was God who made it grow.

It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.

What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose.

And both will be rewarded for their own hard work." (1 Corinthians 3:5-8, NLT)

___________

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning.

It's time to sing Your song again!

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes!

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger,

Your name is great and Your heart is kind.

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing,

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

O my soul,

Worship His holy name.

Sing like never before,

O my soul,

I'll worship Your holy name.

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come,

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending,

Ten thousand years and then forevermore!

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

© 2011 Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Everyday Wisdom, take it!

Everyday Wisdom, Take it!

Proverbs, read from it lately? This book in the Holy Bible is not the same kind of spiritual nourishment as Ephesians but to ignore it is to miss out on God’s rich resource of wisdom.  Proverbs does not unfold rich doctrines of grace, for example, but every line is full of pithy, practical truth for life.  An exclusive diet of Proverbs will not make a strong, healthy Christian.  But, a proverb a day will give you thought to live by.  They will cut through the complexities of everyday choices and make plain the best way. "A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness." (Proverbs 13:16, The Message)

Check out these gems!

·         "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”   (Proverbs 22:1, NIV)
There’s a direct slap in the face of our culture, celebrity-crazed and character-starved. 
Somehow we have come to believe that having wealth or fame excuses us from living honorably. 

·         “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.”  (Proverbs 22:2, NIV)
What a powerful reminder. We’re all equals before God. He does not care about class distinctions.
If that idea takes root in our minds, it will revolutionize the way we relate to others.  Envy and disdain die when we live as brothers.

·         "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7, NIV)
If we really believed this, we would resist the temptation to spend tomorrow’s income today on things that will be worn out before they are paid for!

·         "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son." (Proverbs 10:4-5, NIV)
It doesn’t get much more plain than that.  What a challenge to our entitlement culture.

Americans of this 21^st century desperately need to know what Proverbs says about sex and faithfulness.  (see chapter 5!) It warns about the emptiness of materialism. It exposes vanity that chases flattery instead of true honor. Proverbs teaches us to respect to those who guide and lead us.  "Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you. Don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor." (Proverbs 1:8-9, NLT)

Here’s a word from that book. Read it and be blessed.  Make a trip to Proverbs frequently, to learn the ancient, yet timely, wisdom recorded there.

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver and
yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;

those who lay hold of her will be blessed."
(Proverbs 3:13-18, NIV)

____________________

Father, lead us to wisdom.

Expose the folly of self-will, vanity;

The emptiness of a life built without

The foundation of Your Truth,

Without the pursuit of worship.

Teach us to love the Word,

All of it.

Spirit of God may our way

Be shaped by the words of life.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen

“Lord, help him to understand he is an idiot.”

Ever had a “difference of opinion” with someone? There are plenty of things to differ over –  some that really matter.  Often the real issue is just ‘what I think.’  A statement as benign as “I think avocados taste like dirt” will bring on a challenge. (Really, I do not care for avocados, but if you do, enjoy!)  Differences often escalate into an argument.  Arguments turn into attacks, attacks end relationships. When all the noise ends, we wonder, “how did it come to this?”   Couples who were once deeply in love find themselves in a lawyer’s office planning a divorce. Christians who were allies for the Kingdom of Christ  no longer even speak. Neighbors build fences.  Nations raise armies for war.

Conflict in human relationship is inevitable. Thinking people will have different opinions. If we will take even a moment to be honest we will recognize that many of our ‘convictions’ are more like our preferences, what we know and where we are comfortable. For the Christian, the real failure is not having different ideas, but refusing to work at understanding and reconciliation. Followers of Christ should be 'in the bridge-building business.'  God's Word teaches us that we must approach conflict differently from the rest of the world.  Power resolves conflict by conquering. The Kingdom of God never advances with guns or fists or even bellicose words!  Scripture directs us to approach others, even those with whom we differ, this way: "Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future." (Ephesians 4:1-4, NLT) What a practical passage, but full of challenging concepts: humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance!

Never under-estimate the power of prayer when working through a conflict, be it in your marriage, at work, with a neighbor, in your family, or in the world! What kind of prayers do we pray?  The natural tendency is to ask the Lord to change the other person.  Have you ever prayed something like this?  “Lord, help him to understand he is an idiot.”  Perhaps not with those words, but was the sentiment similar?  Jesus taught us that resolution begins with kind of prayer: "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." (Luke 6:28, KJV)  The Message says, "When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person." 

“Get’em God” prayers reveal anger not love. Conflict makes us angry and the Holy Spirit will help us to work through it when we take that anger and/or frustration to the Lord. Confession is the foundation of healing and change.  However, our prayers need to mature beyond “help them to see how right I am” to “Lord, open my ears and my heart. Help me to listen. Be our peace.” 

Bridge-builders must be committed to reconciliation. That does not mean that we give up on the truth or wave the flag of surrender to purchase peace at any price. We patiently allow the truth to mature.  An amazing thing happens when we wait on the Lord in this way.  We change! Humility is a key. Dying to self means we give up our desire to be comfortable – either by walking off or exercising power to win! In constant prayer, we lay ourselves down before Him. When we surrender to Him, the Spirit comes with new life, new love, new peace.

Never forget that just as we can ‘wage war,’ we can ‘make peace!’ Here’s a word from the Word. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, NIV) “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family." (Matthew 5:9, The Message)

I'm going to be a bridge-builder - with God's help! How about you?

__________________________

I found this appropriate to my life today.

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001