Do you love me, really?

We gathered for a unity prayer service last night and it was good. When Pastor Scott Wilson spoke about leaving ‘competition’ behind, about our shared mission, the congregation broke into applause.  The theme of the National Day of Prayer was unity which is laudable in word but far more difficult in practice.  What we celebrated in that time together has to be worked out around quirky personalities, differing world views, and unique practices.  

Any married person knows that in marriage it is usually the little things that become irritants. That trait that we found so “cute” in the dating days becomes truly aggravating when we have to live with every day. I pray that we can find our way to join hands and hearts in the cause of Christ locally, becoming ‘one in Christ’ with more than tolerance. I long for a deep, abiding, committed love. 

When we are born of the Spirit and baptized in faith, Paul says we are included!  "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28, NLT)  Unity demands that we go past knowing this to actually doing the work with esteem and love for one another.  

This is not just about multiple congregations coming together. Within our own church family we need to choose more than our self-interest. When we do, we will find support, fellowship, and encouragement. 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. The connections that return the kind of joy promised to those who are ‘in the Body’ require an ongoing experience of the Holy Spirit.  But, consider what becomes when we learn to live in unity. "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) We find mutuality and interdependence, a richer and more effective Christianity!

Are you ready to make a radical commitment to a local church, something like that covenant 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 –  turn into a misplaced focus that hides our shared salvation, our great hope, our true identity. 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. When offended, we build high walls that keep us from knowing the people who are our best allies in the walk of faith. Even worse, if 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.

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, and then, to the Church around the world.

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)

What could God do with people who were willing to forget themselves, to set aside difference, to embrace ‘the other’ for the sake of Christ? I believe our world is waiting to see that.

Let’s love, serve, and seek the unity of the Spirit.

Working With God!

Ever been working on something that was proving difficult only to be joined by a friend whose extra hands made a real difference?  Last weekend I helped a friend clear several trees that were brought down by winter winds.  One man could have done the work but 4 of us accomplished it in a much shorter time and with the bonus of good company.  The wisdom of the Word says "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NIV)

Tonight, on this National Day of Prayer, several local congregations will gather to work together in a holy effort of prayer.  (Faith Discovery Church, 7 pm, 5/3) I am anticipating the opportunity to stand in the Presence of God with others for this spiritual work.  We err if we think that prayer is just sentimental musing, repeating inspiring words. Prayer is one way that we work with God to bring His will and rule to this world.  In prayer we wrestle with spiritual forces in the power of the Spirit. Our minds and wills are brought into alignment with the will of God when we engage in praise and petition.

The story of the first generation of Christians is marked by prayer. Jesus directed them to stay in Jerusalem and wait to be empowered. The Spirit came on them and in a single generation they changed the known world with the Gospel of Christ.  Prayer was their breath, their food, their weapon, their comfort.   

 Luke records this about one incident.  "On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. …  Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (Acts 4:23-32, NIV)

In a conversation with a good friend yesterday, we spoke of the spiritual need of our nation. Is sin a new thing? Of course not! All of the spiritual sickness we so lament are common to the human experience. The cure remains the same as it has been for 2 millennia – the powerful presentation of the Gospel of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, that transforms lives.  When people give themselves to Jesus, sin’s grip is broken and the beauty of holiness emerges. But, sin and Satan do not let their prey go without a fight.

So, today across America, people will gather to pray. My hope is that our prayers will be filled with faith, that we will engage with the Spirit in holy work, partnering with others who love the conquering Christ. May we pray for something more than prosperity, more than our personal blessings.  God call us to the true prayer for the revelation of the love of Christ, so that lives are forever changed by an encounter with the Holy One.  And may we fearless seek God’s kingdom to come, bringing eternal life, the defeat of materialism, lust, greed, racial hate.  Can I get an “amen”?

Here is a word from the Word.  "Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ." (Colossians 4:2-3, The Message)

God, call us to work with You in the holy work of prayer that powerfully seeks Your kingdom come.

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From the National Day of Prayer website (a suggested guide to prayer today)

HOW TO PRAY FOR THE SEVEN CENTERS OF INFLUENCE IN AMERICA

GOVERNMENT

Federal: Executive, legislative, judicial

State: Executive, legislative, judicial

Local: Executive, judicial, police and first responders

MILITARY

Leaders

Divine protection

Courage and dependence on God

MEDIA

Truth-bearers

Life-giving

Unity-contributors

BUSINESS

Leaders of integrity

Creators of economic blessing

Givers of resources to the community

EDUCATION

Truth-centered

Excellence-driven

Opportunity-afforded

CHURCH

Gospel-centered in message

Disciple-makers in mission

Spirit-empowered to unity

FAMILY

Return to the biblical model

Reconciliation in broken relationships

Restoration to love and unity

I have an opinion about that!

“The best way to do this is …” and the ‘expert’ expounds on his discovery.  Opinions, ideas, and convictions fill up an increasingly noisy world!  I almost never watch the cable news channels for more than a few minutes these days. I cannot sort out the hard news from the nonstop chatter of people who imply that only they have the inside information. 
Perhaps a pastor should not admit to this, but sometimes I grow weary of endless doctrinal wrangling about things like whether a Christian can become an apostate, about the value of certain ways of worship, about how the Spirit works in the Church today …  yes, there seems to be endless matters that occupy Christian debate; and which tragically are allowed to divide the Body of Christ.

I need to re-center on the core truth- to that which gives me hope and assurance – Jesus Christ!

In his gospel, John tells a story in detail about a man who was blind. Jesus and the disciples encountered him as they were walking together.  The disciples had an opinion. The blind man must have done something terrible, or his parents had, because  ‘everybody knew’ that hardship was always caused by ‘sin’ and God’s judgment. Jesus told them that their assumptions were wrong that God had allowed this for His glory to be displayed. Shocked, they watched Him heal the man. 
When the man went home seeing, the neighbors had an opinion.  “How can a man blind from birth have sight? It can’t be him,” they insisted, “it must be someone who only looks like him.”  They were wrong.  He told them a man had put mud on his sightless eyes and sent him to wash in a pool. When he obeyed he began to see. “Sure,” they said, “where is this man?”  He told them he did not know.

When the religious leaders heard the story they had an opinion that the healing was wrong because it had been done on the Sabbath and nobody should do ‘work’ on that holy day, evening it was healing work. They badgered the man about the how and why and who of his story. They lost sight of the good thing of healing and concluded that the healer must be a bad person because he broke the Sabbath rules!  They asked the man if he thought his healer was a good person.

Finally, in exasperation "He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see! … Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:30-33, NIV)

Is your experience of Jesus’ love rich and sustaining?

Do you worship Him, know Him, and live in His grace?

When the debate is getting loud, when inner fears or doubts clamor for your attention, you can come back to the central fact – Jesus Christ came to save me!

Paul opens his letter to Timothy with a statement of the anchor fact that is beyond debate. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15-17, NIV)  Can you say that?  Have you, by faith, accepted His grace, been forgiven, and made a child of God? Then stand on that.  It is the foundation of faith!

Here is a word from the Word. As you read these inspired words, let them renew hope, strengthen your faith.  In the windy storms of opinion and debate, make the fact of Jesus’ love your anchor. "Yet now He (God) has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News." (Colossians 1:22-23, NLT)

_________

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now I’m found,

Was blind, but now I see.