Let’s talk about being REACTIONARY

Think of a pool table and how the balls on that table move. The player sets up a shot, aiming the cue ball to strike a ball that is just sitting there passively. The balls on the table react, moving only when hit. The illustration is imperfect in that pool balls are inanimate objects, but let me challenge you to ask yourself if you are just waiting for something or someone to set you off, bouncing off some remark, moving only when pressure is placed on you?   

God has gifted us with the ability to choose course, to live purposefully, to rise above living a reactionary life to the hits that come our way!

Let me quickly add this. We are not masters of the universe. Many things will enter our lives that we never saw coming. Six months ago who knew that our world would be turned upside down by a pandemic? Six years ago I was just beginning to wrestle with the unimaginable thought that my beloved wife had a cancer that could (and did) ultimately prove deadly. You have your own story about those moments that changed you. What we must know is that we can live purposefully, moving beyond being reactionary. When the hits come, we need not let ourselves be knocked completely off course or destroyed by those unforeseen developments like cancers, viruses, economic collapse, divorce, or disappointments. How can we remain ‘on course?’

We choose to serve God.  Joshua, the leader of God’s people, addressed them at the end of his life with a challenge of choice. "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NIV)   

When Jesus Christ is our true God, not just our Sunday god, or the insurance god we keep around hoping for a good life, or the Heaven god that we hold in reserve for the dreaded end, we will set our hope in Him and plan our course around discovering and doing His will. Even when we waver or are pushed temporarily ‘off course,’  knowing that He is Lord brings us back ‘on course’ in due time.

We see beyond the moment.  When we cultivate faith, living worshipfully at all times, devoted to the Lord, there is a core strength created in us. That faith allows us to live the words of Paul- all the time – not just when the sun is shining on us. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, NIV) God has something planned for us that is just ‘out of this world’ literally. We must never let the pain of the moment push that from our mind.

We remember He is always at work on our behalf.  I wish I could see the why behind the what of everything that happens to me, but I cannot, nor can you. Wise people will try to learn from what happens to them, will accept responsibilities for those choices that brought about unintended consequences, refusing to play the victim in life. They will also realize that sometimes the human mind cannot fathom the cause and effect. That does not mean we surrender to fate, becoming like those balls on the pool table, reacting to hit after hit, knocked about randomly throughout life. 

We are held secure in this truth about the sovereign power and will of God.   " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 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 8:36-39, NIV)

Are you spending inordinate amounts of time just reacting to people or situations?

Are you living without a greater vision of who you are in Christ to guide your responses?

Have you, in your reactions, given others the ability to write the script of your life rather than choosing to faithfully and purposefully living in the will of God? 

Paul wrote those words about his single-minded focus of life early in his public ministry. History reveals that he lived them!  About two decades later, he was once again reflecting on the course of his life, this time as he was imprisoned and waiting execution at the hand of Caesar. He had stayed with the God Story for his life so he was not filled with regret or remorse. 

Note the anticipation in the words he penned to Timothy. "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NLT)  I love those words! 

Fought, finished, faithful!  The prize, the crown, now waiting for me!  That is living ‘on purpose.’
Lord help us to live in that way in these turbulent times.

___________

Lord I Need You

(Pray with Chris Tomlin as he sings of our heart’s need)

Lord I come I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

And without You I fall apart

You're the one that guides my heart

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher

© 2011 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Being a “kingdom” person

The lines of cars stretched for blocks, people waiting for food distribution. One man waited 2 hours to find the supply exhausted. In frustration he wondered how he would feed his family. Another older person spoke of her loneliness, day after day alone in her apartment, anticipating those brief moments when someone would drop off groceries. Many report broken sleep patterns, evidence of inner stress. Some are waiting vigil by the phone, unable to be with a critically ill family member.  So many needs. Perhaps you are struggling to stay on your feet today. The need can be overwhelming, right?

While praying for those people, for my church family, I found myself deeply moved and yet feeling so powerless. What could I do in the face of such need? In my meditation this morning, I felt the Spirit’s touch and a fresh reminder that He desires MY faithfulness, a willingness to do my part, as He equips, to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. Is that not what Jesus taught us? He told us to pray that for the "kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, NIV)  In my dreams that looks like having access to millions of dollars and large armies of workers. In reality, the Kingdom comes when I submit to His rule in my own life and then do what He calls me to do to make Him known.

Today, it may seem that America’s greatest needs are economic and/or about physical health. There is no denying those realities, but by far the greatest need is spiritual. The stress of this time is showing up in growing evidences of hate, strife, and division. These things will only grow more acute if things become worse. Stressed people are usually angry people! Angry people can become dangerous people with little provocation. God invites us, you and me, to center ourselves in His love, to entrust ourselves radically to His care, to release our fears and receive the gift of a “peace that passes understanding.”  And, He then commissions us to be ambassadors of the Kingdom.

Right now the world needs the Church to be less militant, to set aside the warrior concept of Christianity and to be more like Jesus that night before His crucifixion. He saw His friend fighting and competing. His response? He took a towel and basin to wash their feet. He ministered to a basic need and invited them to humble service like His! Oh that we would be like Him, humbly choosing to serve, to care, to comfort, to love. I am not blind to the hostility towards the good and godly that some in our nation have shown towards Christians. But, I choose to ignore the insults, to step around the sneers and jeers. I simply pray, "Your kingdom come, (in me) Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

That said, please know that we cannot share what we do not know.  We must be living a renewed and whole life before we can hope to lead others to the fullness of the Spirit. Make no mistake, perfection is not the prerequisite for showing Jesus to our friends, family, and neighbors. Were that true all Christians would all be compelled to silence on life’s sidelines. In humility we admit that we do better some days than others, that we are a work in progress, and that we are imperfectly who we are because of Who He perfectly is.

Today, if you think only of BIG solutions and CHANGING THE WORLD you may well miss the Kingdom opportunities that are right in front of you. If we are able to help just one find the new life available through Christ, we may be setting off a chain reaction we cannot even imagine. A young woman evangelist brought her Gospel Tent to Northwest Iowa about 80 years ago. When my godless Granddad heard her preach the Good News that Jesus saves, he responded to the Spirit and became a follower of Christ. His choice, that day, was like a little trickle that became a stream and is now a river of influence for the Kingdom of God! Among his descendants are hundreds of Christians, pastors, teachers, and faithful servants of Christ who are making Him known. Thousands of people have heard about Jesus because my Grandpa knelt and entered into the Kingdom of Christ there in Truesdale, Iowa sometime around 1940.

Let me ask you – are you alive to God, a person living in His reign, knowing His peace?  You can enter in, right now, where you are, by faith. Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.” (John 7:37-38, The Message) Invite Him to forgive your sins, to enter your life, to make you new and alive to God. That’s the start of a life of faith.

Christian, I leave this promise with you, a word from the Word.  As you pray to represent the Kingdom today, know that you are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Lean on the power He provides, using the gifts He will give, and make a Kingdom difference. "I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. In fact, God thinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone. For people who are being saved, this perfume has a sweet smell and leads them to a better life. But for people who are lost, it has a bad smell and leads them to a horrible death. No one really has what it takes to do this work. A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God’s message. But we are God’s sincere messengers, and by the power of Christ we speak our message with God as our witness." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17, CEV)

_________

You Are My King (Amazing Love)

(Worship along with Chris Tomlin)

I'm forgiven

Because You were forsaken

I'm accepted

You were condemned

I'm alive and well

Your Spirit is within me

Because You died

And rose again

Amazing love

How can it be

That You my King

Would die for me

Amazing love

I know it's true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do I honor You

You are my King

You are my King

Jesus You are my King

Jesus You are my King

Billy J. Foote

© 1996 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Let’s talk about our being HIDDEN with Christ

As we try to make sense of our lives in the middle of this crisis, it is all complicated by the endless political posturing that goes on while people die, businesses close, and lives are being turned upside down. The responses to the virus are predictable, following the lines between Left and Right in the country; largely determined by whether you are among the ‘haves’ or the ‘have nots.’  

 Consumed by self-interest, we fight with each other when we could be using that energy to find solutions, to be creative about figuring out how to save lives and keep people from economic ruin. Instead, we let the opinion makers of both sides reinforce our positions, dig in, and call the people on the other side names. I will be transparent here and admit that I, too, find myself angered at one moment and deeply sad in another and when those emotions control me, I become part of the problem!

The problem of self-interest especially among those who are privileged with power, IS NOT a new thing. Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, a phrase that lets us know that he is a nobody from nowhere, was moved by the Spirit of God to go to the royal palace of Israel and speak the truth to power. As I read his words this morning, it seemed to me that they could have been written to 21^st America! They reveal the heart of God to us.

"How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth! You trample the poor and steal what little they have through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, you will never live in the beautiful stone houses you are building. You will never drink wine from the lush vineyards you are planting. For I know the vast number of your sins and rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. So those who are wise will keep quiet, for it is an evil time. Do what is good and run from evil—that you may live! Then the Lord God Almighty will truly be your helper, just as you have claimed he is. Hate evil and love what is good; remodel your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on his people who remain." (Amos 5:10-15, NLT)

My response to those convicting words is one of humility.

I am praying that God will give me a heart that seeks justice, that treats others fairly.

I am praying for a voice that will not give in to the temptation to cheer for the party that promises to protect my self-interest, but to try to seek the best for us all.

I am praying for those who hold places of leadership to be granted wisdom and to become truly self-less public servants.

I am praying to be less cynical and to trust God to make a way when I cannot see a way.

Even as I write those words, I know that those aspirations will remain just ideals without a profound work of God’s Spirit in me. God reminded me, in my questions about all this, about the key to my identity. It isn’t in political persuasion nor is it in my job. 

He wrote these words on my heart.  I want to close my time with you with them. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3, NIV)

Will you desire that each thought of everyday be shaped by the truth that you are held as an eternal being, in Christ, near to God’s heart?

What power we gain to be agents of change in this sick, sinful, suffering world IF we know to Whom we belong and the security found in being ‘hidden with Christ in God.’

Once more, here is that passage from The Message, a contemporary paraphrase. Take this word from the Word with you today and be changed inside out. "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. 

Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life." (Colossians 3:1-3, The Message)

_________

Knowing You

All I once held dear, built my life upon,

All this world reveres and wars to own;

All I once thought gain, I have counted loss,

Spent and worthless now compared to this…

Now my heart's desire is to know You more,

To be found in You and known as Yours;

To possess by faith what I could not earn,

All surpassing gift of righteousness…

Oh to know the pow'r of Your risen life,

And to know You in Your sufferings;

To become like You in Your death, my Lord,

So with You to live and never die.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You;

There is no greater thing!

You're my all, You're the best,

You're my joy, my righteousness,

And I love You, Lord, love You, Lord!

Graham Kendrick

© 1993 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055