Who cares? What is the use of it all?

Heaving a deep sigh, I say, "What's the use of it all?" In the middle of the work day, the whisper comes insisting that it is all just a puff of wind, spit in the ocean! Useless! Or there is the feeling that a real life waits somewhere other than where I am.  Do you ever feel that way?   Are you tempted by spiritual apathy, wanting to say, "Who cares? Let's just float along." 

A couple of days ago when I was wondering about the meaning of it all, a woman visited with Bev and me who told us how our love shown to her in 1984 had made all the difference in this world and the next for her.  Our love, she said, helped her to make better choices for life.  She recounted how we just kept loving her even when she tested us, rejected us, did not understand us. I felt no pride, but I did feel the blessing of God, who seemed to be saying, “And you thought it was all for nothing!”  

Disciple, apathy is perhaps a greater spiritual hazard than outright disobedience! The Spirit of the Lord invites us to actively pursue His plans, His path laid out before us. That road is not always marked with excitement or full of sunshine. Weeks go by when we walk by faith. 

Over and over again,  the holy Scripture reminds you and me about the importance of patience and persistence. James points to the labor of the farmer to illustrate how we must meet apathy’s temptation. "Wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time." (James 5:7-8, The Message)

Andy Stanley writes, "The daily grind of life is hard on visions. Life is now. Bills are now. Crisis is now. Vision is later. It is easy, therefore, to lose sight of the main thing, to sacrifice the best for the good. All of us run the risk of allowing secondary issues to rob us of the joy of seeing our visions come to completion. Distractions slowly kill the vision." (Visioneering, Multnomah, 1999)

If we seek results too soon, if we insist on a continual sense of fulfillment, we will grow frustrated, or we will turn from faithfulness to look for some novel thing, and in that choice lies a real risk of making a awful mistake.  We need the ‘long view,’ the vision that Stanley wrote about.

If we work only to make money, we will feel the treadmill effect.

If we make ministry just about checking off the `completed' box each week, we will lose enthusiasm.

Today, my goal is to complete the sermon that I will bring to the congregation on Sunday. That ‘job’ can be viewed in two distinctly different ways.

I can see it as 'just getting something to say on Sunday 'cause that's what is expected of me.'  If it’s ‘just my job,’  excellence will disappear. Seeking God’s voice will be replaced with ‘get it done.’  

If, however,  I take on today’s task (and yes, it is real work!) with the knowledge that God is presenting me the opportunity to help somebody whose lost, confused, or without hope to find the Way or to stay the course, I have a vision that makes the effort required worth it.

Never lose sight of the `why' behind the `what.' Don't allow the lie that tells us every day should be exciting, that each task should sparkle with significance, that ‘things should be easier’ to overtake you today. Take a few moments right now to re-focus and to set the tasks that await you into a larger context of vision.  Paul pointed out the real way to keep on, keeping on is to keep Jesus in front of our eyes.  To servants (and that’s what we are) he wrote,  “Don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ.” The Message (Col 3:22-24).

Don’t give up or surrender to apathy! Look higher, praying for renewed vision.

Here is a word from the Word.

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.

Remember the great reward it brings you!

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will.

Then you will receive all that he has promised.

"For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.

And my righteous ones will live by faith.

But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." (Hebrews 10:35-38, NLT)

Are you who they think you are?

From the outside he looked like a great guy.  Police Lt. Joe Gliniewicz volunteered his time in a youth program that encouraged teens to choose law enforcement. He was a family man, respected by the community. He was a training officer for new police personnel. In September, when it appeared he had been ambushed by three criminals and killed, he was given a hero’s welcome.  But yesterday, the image he carefully maintained was stripped away.  His death was a staged suicide. He had stolen funds from the program he led to pay for trips and unsavory personal habits.  Knowing that reality was nothing like the image, he took his life. What a tragedy– for Lt. Gliniewicz, for his family, and for his fellow cops.

Let’s get real this morning.  Is the person you know in mirror the same one that your family and friends know?
Are you who they think you are or is there a growing gap between the image and the reality?

To some degree we all adjust our outward choices to meet the expectations of others.  We like being known as one of the ‘good guys,’ don’t we?  Image building is a dangerous game to play. Self-deception can, and often does, quickly take over. We can, any many do,  lose sight of who we really are.  God can meet our needs, help us through our troubles, and even forgive our sins – only when we are honest about who we are, where we are, and what we need.

Jeremiah was sent by God to the door of the newly renovated Temple in Jerusalem. The people of the city took great pride in the place.  They took comfort from going there, listening to the rituals of worship, and seeing the priests offering up the sacrifices to God.  They were convinced that having “God’s House” right there among them was a guarantee that they would never suffer the same disaster that had overtaken their cousins to the north, the invasion by Assyria, that destroyed Israel.  Judah would different, they told themselves, because of ‘the Temple of the Lord.’  There was a problem that God saw from His home:  their ‘worship’ was disconnected from their daily lives. They maintained an image as God’s holy people but lived as though He did not exist.

“Listen, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship God. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, has this to say to you: “ ‘Clean up your act—the way you live, the things you do—so I can make my home with you in this place. Don’t for a minute believe the lies being spoken here—“This is God’s Temple, God’s Temple, God’s Temple!” Total nonsense!

Only if you clean up your act (the way you live, the things you do), only if you do a total spring cleaning on the way you live and treat your neighbors, only if you quit exploiting the street people and orphans and widows, no longer taking advantage of innocent people on this very site and no longer destroying your souls by using this Temple as a front for other gods— only then will I move into your neighborhood. Only then will this country I gave your ancestors be my permanent home, my Temple. “ ‘Get smart! Your leaders are handing you a pack of lies, and you’re swallowing them! Use your heads!

Do you think you can rob and murder, have sex with the neighborhood wives, tell lies nonstop, worship the local gods, and buy every novel religious commodity on the market’—and then march into this Temple, set apart for my worship, and say, “We’re safe!” thinking that the place itself gives you a license to go on with all this outrageous sacrilege? “ (Jeremiah 7:2-9, The Message)

Is there secret sin in your life, Christian?
Are you failing to repent, taking comfort from the fact that you go to church, give your tithe, own 10 Bibles, or had a godly mother?  Stop!

The only way to know an ongoing, sweet, empowering experience with the Lord is to ‘walk with Him’ in open honesty, to let Him deal with sin with forgiveness. Discipleship is not just about words or heritage, it is about living in loving obedience.  Jesus says “When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.” (John 15:10, NLT)

Here is a word from the Word. “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Isaiah 29:13, NIV) “Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” (Isaiah 29:15, NIV)

“He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:6-8, NIV)

________________

Change My Heart, Oh God

Change my heart, oh God;

Make it ever true!

Change my heart, oh God;

May I be like You!

You are the potter,

I am the clay.

Mold me and make me,

This is what I pray.

Eddie Espinosa

© 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)

CCLI License # 810055

Jerry Scott
http://www.FaithDiscovery.com

It happens in 3 weeks! Start now!

 

I have a challenge for you!  It’s November and in three weeks we will celebrate … yes, that’s it  … THANKSGIVING!  For some the day will be a slight pause from routine to eat turkey, watch some football, and gear up to start shopping for Christmas. I want to propose that we take this opportunity to change our hearts.  How about making the next 21 days a time of real, deep gratitude?  Put a reminder in your phone, post a big note on your fridge – however you can help yourself to remember – and look for ways to express your thankfulness.  Start with the Lord!  When  you open your eyes, offer a specific prayer of thanks; for someone, something, your salvation, the Cross, your hope in Him. Just make it more than ‘thank you, God.’   Then, at least once during the day, tell someone ‘thank you,’ and make it more than a polite response.  Make it personal!

If there is one ugly part of being American, it is that sense of entitlement that makes us think that everyone owes us something.  When I let it control me, I turn into a miserable, critical man.  I do not want to be ‘that guy’ and so my prayer this November is to learn ‘thanks-living’ - for God’s sake, really.  Gratitude is a spiritual issue. When the Holy Spirit is given access to our heart and we begin to practice genuine gratitude, we open up great possibilities for God to do amazing things in us and with us.

Luke tells a story about 10 men who approached Jesus  because they were in a desperate situation. They were ‘lepers.’  They had a skin disease and because of it, they had to live isolated from friend and family, begging and generally despised because most people thought they had leprosy because ‘they deserved it.’  To be a leper at that time was a kind of living death!  These men heard about Jesus’ healing work and when they saw him, they yelled “Have mercy on us!”  He directed them to an act of faith. “Go show yourself to the priest.”  If a person’s skin issue cleared up, the priest could certify that and allow them to return to society.

"And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:14-17, NIV)  God met their faith with restoration!  The tragic truth is that just one even thought to go back to Jesus and express his gratitude. Luke includes the detail that the grateful one was another kind of social outcast, a Samaritan; not a ‘true child of God’ in the opinion of the majority. The Bible obscures his true reaction with a rather dry phrase ‘praising God in a loud voice.’  Today we might say he was freaking out. He was yelling, pointing at his new skin, jumping up and down, and crying. He didn’t kneel reverently when he found Jesus. He threw himself at His feet in an expression of complete humility, realizing he deserved nothing and received everything.

Does the Lord Who gives life and grace to you, Who has made you part of His eternal family, Who has fully paid for your deliverance from death, find Himself looking at a person who, like the nine of Luke’s story, has forgotten the Source of those blessings? Do you remember to give thanks?

Real gratitude that flows out of a life where Self is surrendered fully to the Spirit will be rich and enriching to others. There are days when I devote most of my prayer time to simply giving thanks. Out loud and one by one I start to thank the Lord for people, situations, and past mercies. In those times, frequently I am deeply moved emotionally as I realize the depth of His amazing grace. Is life all that I would like it to be?  Not always, but He is!  

Gratitude also grows faith in my heart that helps me to offer up my prayers with true expectation. Sadly, there are days when I am wrapped up in a little bundle of ME, when I complain and criticize too much. The misery only increases as I fail to appropriate – with thankfulness – the provisions that my Father has made available to me because I want to live life on my own terms.

Ready to take the GRATITUDE challenge? Make those reminders and start to give thanks. Take a cue from Paul about how to become grateful. It is not by handcuffing your negativity! It is by becoming totally Jesus focused. He says, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)

Here’s a word from the Word, an ancient song sung by those who recalled the Lord’s mercies in restoring His people to their land and faith after a long time in captivity. Make it your song today.

"When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord,
as streams renew the desert.

Those who plant in tears

will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest."

(Psalm 126, NLT)

Don’t be one of the 9 who forgot their Source! Be the 1 who worshipped!

___________

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.

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.

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!

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

© 2011 Said And Done Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

SHOUT! Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Help your pastor to serve well

Serving a local church in the office of pastor is not a ‘job,’ it is a calling, a way of life. Those who are Pastors live their vocation, who they are is inseparable from what they do. The spans a huge range of demands – privileged to teach the Word and shape lives all the way down to locking the doors and balancing the church budget. He moves  from emotional highs to lows as he shares life – birth and death, grief and celebration - with his flock. He is often the first person called at a time of death, is asked to help when there are crises:  marriage difficulty, tragedy, serious illness. He must prepare his heart and mind so that when he speaks he is not only ‘interesting,’ but able to nourish souls. And, he must deliver this  message every Sunday -regardless of his personal circumstances.

This Pastor can honestly say that there is no better life than the one to which God has called me!

Yes, there is heartbreak. People angry at God sometimes aim their frustration at the person who represents Him before them. Others ‘use’ their pastor in their time of need and discard him when things are blessed. If his sinful humanity is too visible he may be criticized, and not kindly, at the very moment that he's struggling to cope with some need in his own life. Pastors whose hearts are true feel the most joy when those they serve are growing in Christ, when they the ‘fruit’ of their work in a life that is pointed in the right direction.

Pastoral ministry is not best modeled after the modern CEO or the Lone Ranger of American lore. His title is the best clue to how he serves – Pastor means ‘shepherd.’ He serves to protect, feed, and grow the flock of God!

You can maximize your Pastor's effectiveness with some gifts you can offer.

1. Pray for him, every day.
Ask the Lord to keep and protect him, to help him to be disciplined and courageous, and to be loving in times of trial, and to stay renewed and alive in the Spirit.  Remember, spiritual leaders are front-line targets. When a pastor fails, there is hurt and disappointment. Even where there is no moral compromise, like all people, pastors become discouraged or disillusioned. So, pray for your Pastor.

2. Accept him and the spiritual gifts God has given to him.
Appreciate the unique strengths of your Pastor and encourage him in those areas where he is not as proficient. He probably knows the gaps in his skills and gifts better than you do. Remember, too, that he does not possess every gift of the Spirit. He, like you, has been created by the Lord to serve in a unique way.

3. If you must criticize him, (and no pastor is above correction or criticism) do it honestly and directly.
If you have an issue with your pastor, make a time to sit with him and tell him about it. The church looks very different from his side of the pulpit and he may not share your perception. Give him the opportunity to explain that decision with which you disagree.  Take time to understand yourself before you criticize your pastor. If you are angry with God, do not take it out on the one in the pulpit.

4. Don't idolize or idealize him.
He must live what he teaches, but he cannot do it not perfectly. He, like you, is working out his salvation each day, a recipient of God’s grace. If you turn him into idol, you sin because only God is worthy of your worship and devotion. If you idealize him, pushing him onto a pedestal, you will be disappointed. From that place, his ability to serve you is nearly impossible. He teaches you best, not from some lofty place far removed, but as leads you with an authentic, observable, living faith in a loving Lord. Jesus cautioned his disciples about seeking titles, about hiding behind robes. (see Matthew 23) We are all brothers in Christ. Don’t try to make your pastor more than he is – a Christian walking with Jesus – just like you.

I hope it does not sound self-serving, but remember that the Word teaches that pastors are a gift from God to His church. The Lord "gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13, NLT)  What a ministry position description!

Here is a word from the Word. "Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.... Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?" (Hebrews 13:7, 17 The Message) "Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him." (1 Timothy 5:17-19, NLT)

Thanks for letting me serve you!
__________

A note – I use the male pronoun in this blog, not exclusively. God’s gifts and callings are given without regard to gender.