Try a little kindness

The feedback to me was spot on accurate – “You are task oriented!” I am internally wired to seek efficiency, to like results, and that sometimes shows us in ways that are not godly, and I am insensitive to the needs of others. Not so long ago, in a moment of frustration with another person I spoke words that were unkind and unfair. Were they true? Yes, but they were not “helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  (Ephesians 4:29)  Later I felt God’s Spirit correcting me.  “Jerry, you can be both efficient and kind!”  It is not the first time I have felt His reproof in that area.

Who tests your love and kindness? That teenager in your household? A supervisor who is overly demanding? A neighbor who lets his dog run all over your yard?  If you are a Christian, your Father’s expectation is clear - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, NIV)  In that list of the evidence of the Spirit’s’ life found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians these two traits are included:  “patience and kindness.”  It is so easy to talk about love but actually practicing it demands the transformative work of the Holy Spirit deep inside of us.

Genuine love serves people in a way that gives them dignity and respect. Love causes us to give up our 'rights' even when we are misunderstood or misused. Love refuses to take note of unkind words, causes us to extend ourselves to meet the needs of another even when it is inconvenient.  How do I know that? Because, our model for love is Jesus; and that's what Jesus did for me... and you. He left the powerful and perfect life in Heaven to become one of Nazareth's common laborers. He worked when labor was back-breaking, without vacations or fringe benefits, or even Aleve™ to ease the muscle aches. Why? For love's sake alone! Hebrews says He became a full participant in this world so that He could our Priestly Intercessor - One who "understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do." (Hebrews 4:15, NLT) He embraced people who hated Him. He died 'while we were still sinners!' 

The Spirit speaks to us with the example of Jesus. "Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!" (Philippians 2:3-7, The Message)

I pray that I will rediscover the power of kindness and gentleness, rooted in the meekness of Christ.  In a time of such division and competition in our nation, would you join me in praying to be among God’s gentle people?  Jesus assures us that “the meek will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)  Let’s not confuse ‘meek’ with ‘weak.’  Jesus gave Himself to the least, the broken, the dysfunctional with such gentleness that they were healed. Even the lowest outcasts found Him approachable. That same Jesus could confront the arrogance and hypocrisy of the Pharisees fearlessly.  Oh God, teach us how to live like that, gentle yet fearless.

Matthew quotes the words of Isaiah that describe the ministry of the Messiah. As we read this today, let’s pray for the same gentleness of heart.
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
‘till he leads justice to victory.

In his name the nations will put their hope.”

(Matthew 12:18-21, NIV)

____________

Father, I am praising You for gently loving me,

For Your amazing patience for me when I fumble and stumble.

Give me a tender heart, break my heart with those things that break Yours.

Jesus, help me to be your hands that lift up those who are weak.

Give me words that encourage those who have lost hope.

Forgive me when I am unkind and change my heart to one that is meek and gentle.

In this may You become more visible in my life and

Let me live for Your honor and glory.

Amen

What a talker

My friends in the corporate world complain about the endless, nearly pointless, meetings that eat up large chunks of the work day. I have sat through some of those myself! Don’t you just love that guy who fills the agenda with his ‘great’ ideas but who seldom follows through? In any setting, it becomes clear in a few days who works and who just talks. My admiration goes to the one who gets the job done without feeling the need to tell everybody about what he is doing, why he is doing it, and how hard he is working at it. To borrow a phrase, “Just do it!”  I grew up with a phrase that described a person who was just words. My dad called that man ‘all hat, no cattle.’  Funny phrase, isn’t it?  It referred to a person trying to look the part of the rancher, but who didn’t really own any stock. 

In his final letter to his protégé, Paul warned Timothy that people would come into the Church who were big talkers, who liked to derail others with long arguments about words. "Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them." (2 Timothy 2:14, NLT)  "Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior." (2 Timothy 2:16, NLT)  I remember the long debates in college coffeehouses about whether we should serve wine or grape juice at Communion. We debated, ad nauseam, projected timelines for the Last Days.  We talked about things of which we knew next to nothing, but we sure had opinions!  To turn our Christianity into mere words about trivial matters or personal preferences is not just a waste of time, it is ruinous to faith.

We are warned in the Word about those who just want to have an argument. Should we get ourselves worked up, ready to fight to the finish? No. "Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth." (2 Timothy 2:23-25, NLT)

So, the counsel of the Spirit comes to us. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV)  The approval we need should come from the only One that matters. As we live this Christian life the we will not chase after making great impressions or with creating an image of success. Instead we will ask ourselves just one question – Is the God who knows it all pleased with me?  We can comfort ourselves with the truth that "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:13, NLT)  And, if we are just big talkers, the truth of God’s omniscience should put us right, closing our mouths and sending us to work.

We live in a world of words. The torrent of information that washes over us makes it more difficult than ever to sort out the truth, doesn’t it? Let’s not fall into the trap of talking a better Christianity than we actually practice.  Here is the word from the Word. "For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power." (1 Corinthians 4:20, NLT)

Lord, call us to faithful, steady, effective service for You. Amen.

____________

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus' Name

Christ alone cornerstone

Weak made strong in the Savior's love

Through the storm He is Lord

Lord of all

Afraid? Alone? Tempted?

As I closed the day in prayer, the Spirit of God whispered, “why do you allow yourself to be fearful?”  As I pondered that challenge, I realized there are several areas in my life where I had allowed fear to take root. It is not that I am cowering behind closed doors, a recluse. The fear with which I must deal is a ‘presence’ that lurks just outside of my conscious mind. It shows up in ‘what if’ questions.  It makes me defensive, keeps me on edge, and steals the joy of the Lord.  Most likely this fear is, in part,  left over from the stress of Bev’s illness and death which redefined so much of life for me, shaking the foundations of life and faith. So, I will do the spiritual and emotional work that will let faith rise.

Are you afraid? Do you spend an inordinate amount of time living defensively, protecting yourself from threats, real and imagined? 

The ancient prophet Habbakuk is a companion to those who struggle with fear. The opening words of his book reveal his struggle to keep faith: "How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence!” I cry, but you do not come to save." (Habakkuk 1:2, NLT) That is one gutsy prayer, isn't it? "Hey, God, what up with this? I thought you would answer my call and it feels like You walked away." Habbakuk saw the growing threat of the Babylonian Empire and thought God would step in to deliver His people. Instead, God revealed that He would allow that nation to conquer Israel. The ancient Jews lived with the assumption that because they were the people of the Lord and Jerusalem was the home of the Temple of the Lord God, He would never allow their city to fall, defending them against all enemies regardless of their personal faith or practice.  Then the Lord tells the prophets that disaster is coming!

What does one do with such a vision?
How does one deal with those things that redefine our assumptions about what is true?

It's what we struggle with when we pray to be healed and God says, "I'll be with you but I won't take away the illness."  When we  pray for deliverance from temptation and God says, "No, we'll walk together through the fiery trial," we feel uncertainty grow. Habbakuk gives us a prayerful voice that waits and wonders at God's often inscrutable ways. Ultimately, he comes to the place where he says, "God hang onto me. It's the only hope I have."

If you're in a hard place today, brokenhearted, fearful, disappointed, confused - do not let the Enemy of God and good convince you are just weak or that you are a terrible Christian. Know that the trials of life, the testing and temptation that comes our way,  are the common experiences of those who follow Jesus. When we put one foot in eternity while we still live on earth, we invite a certain tension into our lives! We keep hoping when others give up and live small, hopeless lives. We keep working to make the world brighter and better when others settle for 'what is.'  We press on for the reward of Eternity when others settle to live with no other purpose than to "eat, drink, and be merry!"

Habbakuk wrestled with fear and faith until he found an answer. I truly love the resolve that comes at the end of his little book. It is a glimpse of mature faith that gives away the need to control outcomes and instead radically trusts the Person of God. Let’s remember that when we are afraid, if we will reach out,  God's grasp will tighten on our hand. We will surely be carried through the trial, if not over or around it. "O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. " (Habakkuk 3:2, NKJV) "Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NKJV)

Centuries later, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul gave us this word in the Word. May it silence the voice of fear. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-40, NIV)

Fear not! Live in faith! He is our strength and He makes us sure-footed in treacherous territory.
_________________________

Hold Me Jesus - Rich Mullins

Oh, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small.
And I wake up in the night
And feel the dark.
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart.

So hold me Jesus,
'Cause I'm shaking like a leaf.
You have been King of my glory,
Won't You be my Prince of Peace?

Surrender don't come natural to me.
I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need.
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down,
I'm falling on my knees.

So hold me Jesus,
'Cause I'm shaking like a leaf.
You have been King of my glory,
Won't You be my Prince of Peace?

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin.

So hold me Jesus,
'Cause I'm shaking like a leaf.
You have been King of my glory,
Won't You be my Prince of Peace?

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