It was a long meeting filled with pages of numbers, budgets, requests for funds, and the unspoken implication: "Produce results now!" My reaction? Stress on top of stress. In my first conscious moments the next morning, the Holy Spirit whispered, "Let the peace of Christ rule your heart... live in peace... be thankful!" (Colossians 3;15) Don't you love it when God hands you a prescription for spiritual health? He reminds me that I have a choice in how I respond to the pressure of life, and urges me to choose to receive His peace.
Peace can be an elusive quality of life. Deadlines, pressures, conflicts, chaos, misunderstandings, disappointments; all conspire to give us knotted muscles, furrowed brows, and restless hearts. Most of us believe that peace is circumstantial- that if we could change our place, our position, or our resources - we would find peace.
The Bible tells that true peace transcends our present situation!In the book of Judges we learn that "the LORD is peace." Raiders from the neighboring country of Midian had overpowered the Israelis, driving them into the hills where they hid in caves. Desperation was everywhere! Gideon, who was a farmer, needed to feed his family in spite of the raids and attacks in Israel. So he ventured from the caves, down to the fields. Judges 6 tells that he was hiding out near a winepress, threshing grain, fearing for his life. Suddenly he is aware of a Presence and a voice! "The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" {Judges 6:12 NLT} Gideon knowing only too well that he was anything but a mighty hero, that he was trying to avoid detection at that very moment, questions that assessment. "Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15, NIV) He goes further and questions God's messenger about the desperate times that his people are experiencing. But, when he saw the evidence of God's power and received the promise of God with faith, Gideon's heart changed. "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. (Yahweh Shalom)" {Judges 6:22-24 NIV} The OT word, "shalom" means more than the absence of conflict. Shalom indicates wholeness, restfulness, and satisfaction.
That quality of life is possible in any situation, as long as we are willing to choose to live in the Presence of God. His Spirit produces a serenity that allows us to rise above situations that cause others to panic, be to full of fear, or to fall apart. There are too many moments in my life when I choose to allow life's circumstances rob me of the peace of God. When I attempt to exert control over situations, when I try to impose a 'peace' of my own design, things usually get worse! But when I take time to re-center my soul, taking the offer of the peace of Christ by turning the challenges and problems over to Him with a request for His wisdom, peace follows. Often the situation remains exactly the same, but I am changed.
Don't misunderstand what God desires of you. His will is not that you detach yourself from reality, that you run away from life, or escape into denial. He wants us to be fully engaged with life, bringing order to chaos, healing to the broken, resisting evil wherever it makes its ugliness apparent. We can exhausted, yet serene! Endurance is demanded of us. "Endure hardship like a good soldier," Paul says. But our endurance is not simply borne of a stubborn refusal to retreat! We endure because He stands alongside of us to steady us, to quiet our fear. We are called to be people who live in His Peace!
Today, before you engage with life's challenges, go into the Presence of God. Meditate on His Word, commit yourself and your circumstances to Him. Invite the Spirit to use you as a agent of the Kingdom of Heaven wherever life takes you throughout this day. When you find yourself tensing up, feeling the pressure, breathe a prayer for peace-- "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 (NIV)_________________
In the presence of Your infinite might,
I'm so small and frail and weak;
When I see Your pow'r and wisdom, Lord,
I have no words left to speak.
And I cry holy, holy, holy God,
How awesome is Your name,
Holy, holy, holy God,
How majestic is Your reign;
And I am changed in the presence of a holy God.
In the presence of Your glory,
All my crowns lie in the dust;
You are righteous in Your judgments, Lord,
You are faithful, true, and just.
And I cry holy, holy, holy God,
How awesome is Your name,
Holy, holy, holy God,
How majestic is Your reign;
And I am changed in the presence of a holy God.
© 1989 Integrity's Praise! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) / PDIPraise (Admin. by Integrity's Praise! Music) CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, June 06, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Did you see the sparkle in that uncut diamond?
First impressions are a part of life. Behavioral experts tell us that within 3 seconds of meeting people make judgments about our social status, intelligence, and even our trustworthiness based on the flimsiest evidence; facial expression, posture, the fit of our clothing, grooming, and accessories! We all do it, even unconsciously. And here is something that is even more sobering; those first impressions are nearly indelible. Once made, they stick and are almost impossible to change. Of course, it is a good thing to be able to determine who we should trust, who we should invite into our lives, but not based on a 3 second look which only sees the image.
Believer, Christ in us wants to change us from being servants to image and impressions, both in how we attempt to make the right impression on others and about how we form our opinion of others. He does this by working deeply in us. He wants us to see people, not clothing; real human beings, not a haircut or the watch or ring! Think I'm wrong? Hear the Word. "For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:2-4, NKJV)
Even the most godly can fall into the trap of superficiality. Samuel was a prophet of God who knew the Lord's voice and lived in obedience. The Lord sent him on a mission to Bethlehem where we was to anoint a king for Israel. Led by the Spirit to the household of Jesse, the prophet spotted Eliab, the oldest son, who carried himself with authority and dignity. The Bible reveals his first impression: "Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!" (1 Samuel 16:6, NLT) But he was wrong! God's choice wasn't the son who looked like a king; it was the son with the heart of a king, David. The prophet learned a lesson that is still important today. God told Samuel, "Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7, The Message)
The temptation to judge others based on our first impressions is something that the Lord wants to change in us, Believer. Will you let Him? Next time you find yourself forming an opinion about another person with no evidence other than his race, his body type, or his clothing - repent! Yes, that's right. Confess to the Lord that you have sinned in that moment. Ask for the gift of discernment and for the patience to take a second, a third, and even a fourth look with godly eyes. Pray for the love that lets you see the heart that God sees.
A diamond cutter takes a rough crystal in his hands. He looks at a rock and 'sees' the gem locked in it. With art and skill he cuts and shapes the stone until a sparkling gem of great value emerges. God calls us to see the potential sparkle that can be coaxed from others. Christ died for those who are filthy with sin, whose light is extinguished by depravity. He asks us to share the message of hope and renewal with them, not from arm's length, but in an embrace of love. Our goal is to release the gem from the rock!
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)
Believer, Christ in us wants to change us from being servants to image and impressions, both in how we attempt to make the right impression on others and about how we form our opinion of others. He does this by working deeply in us. He wants us to see people, not clothing; real human beings, not a haircut or the watch or ring! Think I'm wrong? Hear the Word. "For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:2-4, NKJV)
Even the most godly can fall into the trap of superficiality. Samuel was a prophet of God who knew the Lord's voice and lived in obedience. The Lord sent him on a mission to Bethlehem where we was to anoint a king for Israel. Led by the Spirit to the household of Jesse, the prophet spotted Eliab, the oldest son, who carried himself with authority and dignity. The Bible reveals his first impression: "Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!" (1 Samuel 16:6, NLT) But he was wrong! God's choice wasn't the son who looked like a king; it was the son with the heart of a king, David. The prophet learned a lesson that is still important today. God told Samuel, "Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7, The Message)
The temptation to judge others based on our first impressions is something that the Lord wants to change in us, Believer. Will you let Him? Next time you find yourself forming an opinion about another person with no evidence other than his race, his body type, or his clothing - repent! Yes, that's right. Confess to the Lord that you have sinned in that moment. Ask for the gift of discernment and for the patience to take a second, a third, and even a fourth look with godly eyes. Pray for the love that lets you see the heart that God sees.
A diamond cutter takes a rough crystal in his hands. He looks at a rock and 'sees' the gem locked in it. With art and skill he cuts and shapes the stone until a sparkling gem of great value emerges. God calls us to see the potential sparkle that can be coaxed from others. Christ died for those who are filthy with sin, whose light is extinguished by depravity. He asks us to share the message of hope and renewal with them, not from arm's length, but in an embrace of love. Our goal is to release the gem from the rock!
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
No question of defeat!
Ever felt the shadowy presence of dark demons circling at the edge of your life like wolves circling a weakened animal waiting for the right moment to rush in for the kill? In those moments, temptation whispers seductively, "Escape into my arms." Despair reaches out trying to hide the light of hope. Fatigue settles in, making every step an effort, and the body aches. Small hills turn into mountains, minor irritations provoke eruptions of anger. There are many reasons that such times come; illness, conflict, spiritual attack- but a few. The Bible has an encouraging word for a Believer in that place. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? .... 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 8:35-39, NIV)
"More than conquerors" - what can that mean?
The phrase is actually a translation of a single compound word in the Biblical text, that literally could be translated - "super victor." The word conveys the meaning of winning so decisively that the defeated enemy is done, unable to retreat and regroup for another attack. God says that He will pour His strength into us so that we have no reason to question our ability to emerge from the fight in any other place than as a victor, a 'super victor' at that. The Holy Spirit stands ready to infuse us with insight and faith, helping us to see through the illusions of overwhelming and inevitable strength created by the world systems, the craving of our sinful nature, or the Evil One. Believer, He is greater than your trials, your tests, your difficulties.
In Sunday School I learned a little song that becomes even more true in my adulthood: Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong! When they are weak, He is strong! Never get down on yourself because you feel the pressure. Do not conclude that you are a 'poor excuse for a Christian' just because you are experiencing rough days, or because you are weary to the point of despair! None other than Paul came to that low point, too. He says, "We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NLT) The truth is that even the greatest foe of humanity, death, cannot defeat those whose lives are hidden in Christ! Should we die, we enter the Presence of the Lord, where troubles cannot come, temptation is without any power, and Light always shines brightly. "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6, NIV)
Are you tested today? Jesus is strong.
Are you troubled? He is peace.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your bravado is the answer. Don't worry about saying 'the right words' to insure your success. In fact, don't focus on yourself, at all! Trials and troubles come, at least in part, to teach us the folly of self reliance so that we will "rely only on God!" Here's a word from the Word that shows us the right posture to adopt when the demons lurk near. "Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" (Psalm 46:8-11, NIV)
"More than conquerors" - what can that mean?
The phrase is actually a translation of a single compound word in the Biblical text, that literally could be translated - "super victor." The word conveys the meaning of winning so decisively that the defeated enemy is done, unable to retreat and regroup for another attack. God says that He will pour His strength into us so that we have no reason to question our ability to emerge from the fight in any other place than as a victor, a 'super victor' at that. The Holy Spirit stands ready to infuse us with insight and faith, helping us to see through the illusions of overwhelming and inevitable strength created by the world systems, the craving of our sinful nature, or the Evil One. Believer, He is greater than your trials, your tests, your difficulties.
In Sunday School I learned a little song that becomes even more true in my adulthood: Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong! When they are weak, He is strong! Never get down on yourself because you feel the pressure. Do not conclude that you are a 'poor excuse for a Christian' just because you are experiencing rough days, or because you are weary to the point of despair! None other than Paul came to that low point, too. He says, "We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NLT) The truth is that even the greatest foe of humanity, death, cannot defeat those whose lives are hidden in Christ! Should we die, we enter the Presence of the Lord, where troubles cannot come, temptation is without any power, and Light always shines brightly. "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6, NIV)
Are you tested today? Jesus is strong.
Are you troubled? He is peace.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your bravado is the answer. Don't worry about saying 'the right words' to insure your success. In fact, don't focus on yourself, at all! Trials and troubles come, at least in part, to teach us the folly of self reliance so that we will "rely only on God!" Here's a word from the Word that shows us the right posture to adopt when the demons lurk near. "Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" (Psalm 46:8-11, NIV)
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
The End of the World scheduled for 2011
Yes, my friend, yet another "Bible Teacher" has worked out the 'hidden meanings' of the Scripture and determined that God's Judgment Day is now set for 2011! In the run up to his conclusion, he sets aside the clear warning of Jesus about date setting for the Second Coming found in Acts 1:7 where we read: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority." (Acts 1:7, NIV) This same 'teacher,' by the way, publicly stated that Jesus' return would be in 1988, and later revised his conclusion to 1994! Here's why I get so irritated with those who try to figure out a date for the Second Coming or the Judgment or the Rapture of the Church: it diminishes the credibility and importance of the Truth.
Even among sincere Believers the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ has become something of a joke because of all the false date-setting and nonsense that sensational preachers wrap around the truth. What ought to be beacon that gives great hope and purpose to our lives becomes a forgotten byword, an obscure doctrine relegated to the back pages of our minds.
I believe that the Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ will return to earth and that He will establish the Kingdom of God visibly among us. It is a keystone doctrine of my Christian faith. For me, and all faithful Christians, the hope of Christ's return is the "Blessed Hope," as it ought to be. These are the Last Days. Yes, I said, it. Are you shocked? Are you asking, "Jerry, do you actually believe the 2011 prophets?" No, not at all. They are foolish and a terrible hindrance to the work of God right here, right now.
Jesus declared that He would come again and that His coming was 'soon.' That was 2 millennia past. Was He mistaken? Dumb question, isn't it? I believe that we are living in the Last Days for two reasons. The first is that history and prophecy for an eternal God looks very different than it does to us who live 'in the moment' and with a grasp on a very short window in time. Second, He knew that for each of us the 'last days' are a reality. Generations come and go so quickly. In our lives the opportunity to do God's work is now, for tomorrow may never come. In that sense, I believe that I am living in the last days.
The promise of the Second Coming is of great comfort, but adds no urgency to my life. If somehow I knew that Jesus would physically sit on a throne in Jerusalem in 2011, nothing about my life would change! I am doing His work right now, living for Him right now, trusting His Word right now, and obeying His will right now. And, that is as it should be. Jesus told a story of servants who were prepared for the return of the owner of the household. "Be ready and keep your lamps burning just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you that he will get ready and have his servants sit down so he can serve them." (Luke 12:35-37, CEV)
Believer, hold to the Promise of His return. There will come a moment when evil is defeated, suffering is ended; when the things we did not understand are made plain. A day of vindication of those who gave their lives and fortune for the cause of Christ will surely come. God promises us that. The great chapter of faith, Hebrews 11, begins with accounts of great triumphs and ends with these words about those who did not appear to live in victory. There we read that "Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us." (Hebrews 11:36-40, NLT) Their sacrifices await the Day of His Glorious Return when the jeers of the mockers will be silenced!
Believer, I hope that you are living in a way that would not need to change, in the least, regardless of the day of His appearing! Whether the trumpet announcing His return sounds today, in 2011, or in 3000 AD; may we be living faithfully, hopefully. Here is a word from the Word. Take it to heart today.
"Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work. I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion. "How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they’ll walk through the gates to the City." (Revelation 22:12-14, The Message)
_______________________________
Even among sincere Believers the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ has become something of a joke because of all the false date-setting and nonsense that sensational preachers wrap around the truth. What ought to be beacon that gives great hope and purpose to our lives becomes a forgotten byword, an obscure doctrine relegated to the back pages of our minds.
I believe that the Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ will return to earth and that He will establish the Kingdom of God visibly among us. It is a keystone doctrine of my Christian faith. For me, and all faithful Christians, the hope of Christ's return is the "Blessed Hope," as it ought to be. These are the Last Days. Yes, I said, it. Are you shocked? Are you asking, "Jerry, do you actually believe the 2011 prophets?" No, not at all. They are foolish and a terrible hindrance to the work of God right here, right now.
Jesus declared that He would come again and that His coming was 'soon.' That was 2 millennia past. Was He mistaken? Dumb question, isn't it? I believe that we are living in the Last Days for two reasons. The first is that history and prophecy for an eternal God looks very different than it does to us who live 'in the moment' and with a grasp on a very short window in time. Second, He knew that for each of us the 'last days' are a reality. Generations come and go so quickly. In our lives the opportunity to do God's work is now, for tomorrow may never come. In that sense, I believe that I am living in the last days.
The promise of the Second Coming is of great comfort, but adds no urgency to my life. If somehow I knew that Jesus would physically sit on a throne in Jerusalem in 2011, nothing about my life would change! I am doing His work right now, living for Him right now, trusting His Word right now, and obeying His will right now. And, that is as it should be. Jesus told a story of servants who were prepared for the return of the owner of the household. "Be ready and keep your lamps burning just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you that he will get ready and have his servants sit down so he can serve them." (Luke 12:35-37, CEV)
Believer, hold to the Promise of His return. There will come a moment when evil is defeated, suffering is ended; when the things we did not understand are made plain. A day of vindication of those who gave their lives and fortune for the cause of Christ will surely come. God promises us that. The great chapter of faith, Hebrews 11, begins with accounts of great triumphs and ends with these words about those who did not appear to live in victory. There we read that "Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us." (Hebrews 11:36-40, NLT) Their sacrifices await the Day of His Glorious Return when the jeers of the mockers will be silenced!
Believer, I hope that you are living in a way that would not need to change, in the least, regardless of the day of His appearing! Whether the trumpet announcing His return sounds today, in 2011, or in 3000 AD; may we be living faithfully, hopefully. Here is a word from the Word. Take it to heart today.
"Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work. I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion. "How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they’ll walk through the gates to the City." (Revelation 22:12-14, The Message)
_______________________________
Monday, June 02, 2008
Word Seed
One of the great gifts that my parents gave to me is the familiarity with Scripture that was created by my regular attendance at Sunday School and church, along with the reading of the Word in our home. My brain is full of passages from the Bible, stories of the Old Testament heroes and Jesus, and teaching about the Christian life from the letters of Paul. I understand and interpret the events of life and the world around me through the filter of the Word. Don't get me wrong. I still have questions. I despise the simplistic mindset reflected by the old line, "God said it! I believe it! That settles it!"
Life is very complex. Truth is not simple, answers are not always easy to find. Finding the way to bring the eternal wisdom of God to bear on the challenges of life is often an act of faith and requires discipline of mind and spirit. Then, too, I know that my heart is given to rebellion and seasons come when it presses hard to throw off His reins and run head-long after its own way! More than a few times in my adult life my way has been a long dark walk of faith not sight. In those times I cling desperately to what I believe God has said despite situations that seem to make His Word a lie.
Yet, I am comforted, corrected, and guided by the wisdom of the Word, which the Spirit brings to my consciousness again and again. Jesus says that it is like seed planted in in us! He told us this teaching story. "What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:3-9, The Message) His friends came to Him later on and asked Him, "Why do you tell these stories? What does a story about a farmer planting seeds have to do with us?"
And He explained, "Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
"The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:18-23, The Message)
Will you open your heart and mind to the Word Seed?
Don't argue with God's wisdom because 'it just doesn't make sense.'
Don't hold Him at arm's length while you dispute His correction.
Don't refuse His comfort as you demand that He explain Himself.
Instead, give yourself to diligent study. Thank Him for the promises and the boundaries; the correction and the comfort. God is never offended by our honest questions, but we certainly sin when we allow our questions to become a root of bitterness or an excuse for rebellion. Be like Jeremiah who exclaimed: "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)
Here's some Word Seed. Ask the Spirit to plant this prayerful passage deep in your mind and heart today. "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." (Psalm 119:10-16, NKJV)
______________________________
I've had many tears and sorrows.
I've had questions for tomorrow.
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only come
To make me strong.
Through it all, through it all,
Oh, I've learned to trust in Jesus;
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.
I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys;
I thank Him for the storms
He brought me through.
For if I'd never had a problem,
I wouldn't know that He could solve them;
I'd never know what faith in God could do.
Through It All
Andrae Crouch © 1971 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)CCLI License No. 810055
Life is very complex. Truth is not simple, answers are not always easy to find. Finding the way to bring the eternal wisdom of God to bear on the challenges of life is often an act of faith and requires discipline of mind and spirit. Then, too, I know that my heart is given to rebellion and seasons come when it presses hard to throw off His reins and run head-long after its own way! More than a few times in my adult life my way has been a long dark walk of faith not sight. In those times I cling desperately to what I believe God has said despite situations that seem to make His Word a lie.
Yet, I am comforted, corrected, and guided by the wisdom of the Word, which the Spirit brings to my consciousness again and again. Jesus says that it is like seed planted in in us! He told us this teaching story. "What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:3-9, The Message) His friends came to Him later on and asked Him, "Why do you tell these stories? What does a story about a farmer planting seeds have to do with us?"
And He explained, "Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
"The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:18-23, The Message)
Will you open your heart and mind to the Word Seed?
Don't argue with God's wisdom because 'it just doesn't make sense.'
Don't hold Him at arm's length while you dispute His correction.
Don't refuse His comfort as you demand that He explain Himself.
Instead, give yourself to diligent study. Thank Him for the promises and the boundaries; the correction and the comfort. God is never offended by our honest questions, but we certainly sin when we allow our questions to become a root of bitterness or an excuse for rebellion. Be like Jeremiah who exclaimed: "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty." (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)
Here's some Word Seed. Ask the Spirit to plant this prayerful passage deep in your mind and heart today. "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." (Psalm 119:10-16, NKJV)
______________________________
I've had many tears and sorrows.
I've had questions for tomorrow.
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only come
To make me strong.
Through it all, through it all,
Oh, I've learned to trust in Jesus;
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.
I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys;
I thank Him for the storms
He brought me through.
For if I'd never had a problem,
I wouldn't know that He could solve them;
I'd never know what faith in God could do.
Through It All
Andrae Crouch © 1971 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, May 29, 2008
"Get Saved," or Be Transformed?
God is depending on us! It is true! The King of the Universe relies on us to be living demonstrators of the power of the Spirit to transform a mere human being into a living saint! What a privilege and honor and what a responsibility. Believer, do your day to day decisions reveal an ongoing conversation with Christ and His Word in which you are applying His Kingdom truth and principles to your choices? Another way to ask it, do you show a life of faith, hope, and love that is built around the desire to know and please God? Have you settled for childish "bless me, Jesus" prayers, safe Christian friends that do not challenge your choices, and clichés about faith instead of fire-tested faith that wrestles with life's mysteries?
Jesus confronts us with a penetrating question that demolishes the vain hope of those who will not be truly transformed disciples. He said, "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes." (Luke 6:43-44, NLT) "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins." (Luke 6:46-49, NLT)
In a great little book called, unChristian, David Kinnaman shares his research about the Christian spiritual experience in America. In studies that followed accepted research practices, he found that two-thirds of adults in America claim to have made some kind of commitment to Jesus Christ at some point in their lives which remains important to them. Of those in that group who are ages 18-41, a third say they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith, while in those over 42+ about half make the same claim. That means about 50-60 million adult Americans claim to be absolutely committed to Jesus Christ. That's the good news! And, those numbers make me ask some questions.
That many people can exercise considerable clout - economically, politically- and they could accomplish a lot with volunteer efforts, so why don't we see a spiritual renewal of unprecedented proportions happening in America?
Why aren't issues like poverty, divorce, and economic opportunity being solved by millions of creative Spirit-filled people working to apply the Gospel's message and values to society's ills?
Here's the bad news. When these same individuals were asked questions that measured the depth of their faith and how they applied what they claimed to believe to daily life, the statistics went down remarkably. Only about 3% of Believers between the ages of 18 and 41 and 9% of those ages 42+ possess a truly Biblical worldview. Why is this true? Kinnaman suggests that the evangelical church is largely set on a 'get saved' mentality where a person is urged to make a decision to accept Christ that is largely emotional. A better model, he says, is to aim for spiritual transformation, a process in which a person is taught to think about truth, presented with the challenge of changing his life completely to serve Christ, and makes a choice for change that leads to adopting a whole new worldview centered on Christ and the Scripture. He writes, "the core of the 'get saved' mentality is a one size fits all message that fails to connect with their unique sensibilities, personality, or intellectual capabilities. ... people desperately need to be taught to process the rich complexities of life, to probe and test and stretch their faith from the perspective of a Christ follower."
Obviously we cannot ignore the power or influence of the Holy Spirit in the process of heart transformation, but we also know that he does not just magically change us. He works through our minds to change our way of living. If we want to fulfill Christ's commission to 'be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth,' we must shift our focus from simply 'get saved and go to Heaven,' to spiritual transformation that shapes the character of Jesus in us; sinners becoming saints.
Here's a word from the Word. Let the Spirit use it to challenge you to greater devotion today. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." (Romans 12:2-3, NLT)
Jesus confronts us with a penetrating question that demolishes the vain hope of those who will not be truly transformed disciples. He said, "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes." (Luke 6:43-44, NLT) "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins." (Luke 6:46-49, NLT)
In a great little book called, unChristian, David Kinnaman shares his research about the Christian spiritual experience in America. In studies that followed accepted research practices, he found that two-thirds of adults in America claim to have made some kind of commitment to Jesus Christ at some point in their lives which remains important to them. Of those in that group who are ages 18-41, a third say they are absolutely committed to the Christian faith, while in those over 42+ about half make the same claim. That means about 50-60 million adult Americans claim to be absolutely committed to Jesus Christ. That's the good news! And, those numbers make me ask some questions.
That many people can exercise considerable clout - economically, politically- and they could accomplish a lot with volunteer efforts, so why don't we see a spiritual renewal of unprecedented proportions happening in America?
Why aren't issues like poverty, divorce, and economic opportunity being solved by millions of creative Spirit-filled people working to apply the Gospel's message and values to society's ills?
Here's the bad news. When these same individuals were asked questions that measured the depth of their faith and how they applied what they claimed to believe to daily life, the statistics went down remarkably. Only about 3% of Believers between the ages of 18 and 41 and 9% of those ages 42+ possess a truly Biblical worldview. Why is this true? Kinnaman suggests that the evangelical church is largely set on a 'get saved' mentality where a person is urged to make a decision to accept Christ that is largely emotional. A better model, he says, is to aim for spiritual transformation, a process in which a person is taught to think about truth, presented with the challenge of changing his life completely to serve Christ, and makes a choice for change that leads to adopting a whole new worldview centered on Christ and the Scripture. He writes, "the core of the 'get saved' mentality is a one size fits all message that fails to connect with their unique sensibilities, personality, or intellectual capabilities. ... people desperately need to be taught to process the rich complexities of life, to probe and test and stretch their faith from the perspective of a Christ follower."
Obviously we cannot ignore the power or influence of the Holy Spirit in the process of heart transformation, but we also know that he does not just magically change us. He works through our minds to change our way of living. If we want to fulfill Christ's commission to 'be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth,' we must shift our focus from simply 'get saved and go to Heaven,' to spiritual transformation that shapes the character of Jesus in us; sinners becoming saints.
Here's a word from the Word. Let the Spirit use it to challenge you to greater devotion today. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." (Romans 12:2-3, NLT)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Look in the right place!
The passage is familiar, "I will lift my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?" The Psalmist, whose identity is unknown to us, is reflecting on his search for comfort in time of trouble. As he gazes out on the mountains, for a moment he imagines that some relief might come from some hidden source there. When troubles pile up, we look for relief, too. Many things appear to be an answer. "If only I had more money, I could solve this problem," we may conclude. Can money really buy peace of mind? "If only I could get away for a few days," we muse as we dream of a mountainside cabin overlooking a sun-dappled valley. But we all know that the 'geographic cure,' is temporary, at best. Some who find life's difficulties pressing down on them, indulge the sinful nature seeking relief in 'answers' that only create more problems.
That Psalm continues with this line: "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:2, NIV) There was no deliverer that was about to ride down from the hills, but the writer knew that there is a Deliverer, a Help in time of trouble. He is the Creator; His Name - Yahweh. (Jehovah, to some) He is our Help! We cannot go wrong by searching for Him, by waiting for His answer to arrive in our time of distress.
"He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade." (Psalm 121:3-6, NLT)
Two truths comfort us.
The first is that God's care is available 'round the clock. When other friends weary of helping, when the dark hours of the middle of the night stretch on endlessly - He is not tired! He stands alongside of us when the demons that lurk in the darkness threaten!
The second is a truth that a person living in that arid desert appreciated more than most of us. "He is your protective shade!" In the heat of the day, a man could die in the desert from the scorching heat of the sun. A shady spot was a much needed place of safety at midday. God is always there for us - midnight and midday!
Have you grown weary in life? Do you need some help to cope, to stay on the road, to finish your task? Keep reminding yourself, "My help comes from the LORD!" Look for Help in the right place.
Here's a word from the Word for today; a declaration of commitment and hope.
"I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil." (Psalm 101:2-4, NIV)
"My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me." (Psalm 101:6, NIV)
_______________________
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him,
And say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord,
And help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus.
Open Our Eyes
Bob Cull© 1976 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
That Psalm continues with this line: "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:2, NIV) There was no deliverer that was about to ride down from the hills, but the writer knew that there is a Deliverer, a Help in time of trouble. He is the Creator; His Name - Yahweh. (Jehovah, to some) He is our Help! We cannot go wrong by searching for Him, by waiting for His answer to arrive in our time of distress.
"He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade." (Psalm 121:3-6, NLT)
Two truths comfort us.
The first is that God's care is available 'round the clock. When other friends weary of helping, when the dark hours of the middle of the night stretch on endlessly - He is not tired! He stands alongside of us when the demons that lurk in the darkness threaten!
The second is a truth that a person living in that arid desert appreciated more than most of us. "He is your protective shade!" In the heat of the day, a man could die in the desert from the scorching heat of the sun. A shady spot was a much needed place of safety at midday. God is always there for us - midnight and midday!
Have you grown weary in life? Do you need some help to cope, to stay on the road, to finish your task? Keep reminding yourself, "My help comes from the LORD!" Look for Help in the right place.
Here's a word from the Word for today; a declaration of commitment and hope.
"I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil." (Psalm 101:2-4, NIV)
"My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me." (Psalm 101:6, NIV)
_______________________
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him,
And say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord,
And help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus.
Open Our Eyes
Bob Cull© 1976 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Big smile, great speech - Pick me!
The article's title grabbed my attention, "How to pick a President." It is the cover piece in the most recent issue of Christianity Today. (June, '08) I wish every American would read it and discuss the thoughts of the authors before casting their votes for our next President. The central idea of the article is that "virtue trumps policies and ideology" as a qualifier for leadership! I want to shout - "Amen!"
The lengthy, grueling (some might say torturous) path to the Presidency means that anyone seeking the office must have an incredible self-confidence and inner motivation, what some call 'fire in the belly.' Nobody could survive the constant attention, the unrelenting attacks and minute analysis of each and every twitch and syllable, if he wasn't possessed by the idea that he just had to be the President of the United States. But from where does that desire spring? If it is pure lust for power, then we're in for trouble. Such a President will personalize his policies and be unable to realize the difference between personal success and the good of the nation. He will likely pursue his policies, even when they are failing, because of his need to 'win.' We must have a leader who is convinced that he can lead or he will be weak and incapable of rallying us to his cause. We also need a person who is equally convinced of his own inadequacy in the face of the challenges of being the most powerful person in the world. Such a person will use advice wisely and hopefully seek the wisdom of God on a daily basis.
The article to which I refer in the opening lines includes this paragraph. "The greatest temptation for a well-meaning leader is to use power corruptly in order to accomplish seemingly benevolent ends. The best insurance against corrupt power is to choose leaders with the combination of virtues necessary to use power well." In an age of image and 30 second news stories on 24/7 cable TV networks, the person with the big smile and easy turn of phrase has a great advantage. May God help us to see behind the smile and to listen to the heart, not just the speechwriter's craft. I write that intentionally, since it will nearly be an act of God to discern the 'real' person that exists behind the smoke and mirrors of highly paid image consultants that sell us our Presidents.
Virtue - goodness of heart - the qualities of faith, hope, and love, are important in every leader, not just the President of the US. Whether we're electing a local councilman, a pastor for our church, or a committee chair at the local PTA, we should seek those gifted to lead well from a solid character.
Does all this sound a bit naive? Perhaps. But still I hope! How about you?
Here's a word from the Word for us all...
"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: '...If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.'
Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD."
(Proverbs 1:20-29, NIV)
The lengthy, grueling (some might say torturous) path to the Presidency means that anyone seeking the office must have an incredible self-confidence and inner motivation, what some call 'fire in the belly.' Nobody could survive the constant attention, the unrelenting attacks and minute analysis of each and every twitch and syllable, if he wasn't possessed by the idea that he just had to be the President of the United States. But from where does that desire spring? If it is pure lust for power, then we're in for trouble. Such a President will personalize his policies and be unable to realize the difference between personal success and the good of the nation. He will likely pursue his policies, even when they are failing, because of his need to 'win.' We must have a leader who is convinced that he can lead or he will be weak and incapable of rallying us to his cause. We also need a person who is equally convinced of his own inadequacy in the face of the challenges of being the most powerful person in the world. Such a person will use advice wisely and hopefully seek the wisdom of God on a daily basis.
The article to which I refer in the opening lines includes this paragraph. "The greatest temptation for a well-meaning leader is to use power corruptly in order to accomplish seemingly benevolent ends. The best insurance against corrupt power is to choose leaders with the combination of virtues necessary to use power well." In an age of image and 30 second news stories on 24/7 cable TV networks, the person with the big smile and easy turn of phrase has a great advantage. May God help us to see behind the smile and to listen to the heart, not just the speechwriter's craft. I write that intentionally, since it will nearly be an act of God to discern the 'real' person that exists behind the smoke and mirrors of highly paid image consultants that sell us our Presidents.
Virtue - goodness of heart - the qualities of faith, hope, and love, are important in every leader, not just the President of the US. Whether we're electing a local councilman, a pastor for our church, or a committee chair at the local PTA, we should seek those gifted to lead well from a solid character.
Does all this sound a bit naive? Perhaps. But still I hope! How about you?
Here's a word from the Word for us all...
"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: '...If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.'
Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD."
(Proverbs 1:20-29, NIV)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Just Gotta Have It!
I knew the little square of dark semi-sweet chocolate was right across the room, in the cabinet. I wanted it! I could taste the exquisite flavor just by thinking about it, feel the smooth chocolate melting on my tongue. I resisted for a half-hour, my thoughts turning again and again to the possibility of enjoyment that could be mine with minimal effort. In the end temptation won. That was just chocolate. What about the yearning for things, experiences, pleasures that are of greater consequence?
We're all tempted. Some Believers huff and puff about the sins and failures of others claiming, "I'd never do that. I'm far too mature in Christ to be tempted that way." I want to say, "Get over yourself and admit your humanity." They are denying the truth. The Scripture says, "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) The setting of our temptations will vary and so will the bait on the hook. However, we all come to forks in life's road where there are just two choices: my will or God's will. For one it may be laziness that says, "Let it go 'til tomorrow. Why sweat?" For another it may be the allure of sex: Internet porn, fantasies about a friend, or an offer for an afternoon escape. For yet another it may pride that drives them to pretend to have a deeper spirituality. For still another it may be to overspend and buy bigger and better stuff. For another it might be desire for control misusing words, guilt, or position to dominate others. Yes, we're all tempted! "But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) However, victory requires our cooperation with the Spirit.
How do we resist temptation?
First of all, expect it. It should come as no surprise that the enemy exploits any chink in our armor that he can find. He desires to discredit the Lord and to destroy us. He circles, the Bible says, like a lion on the prowl, looking to have us for dinner. And, contrary to accepted wisdom, he does not always attack at our perceived weakness. We generally have our defenses built there. He takes us where we're strong - because we don't expect him to attack us at that point. Peter reminds us that when we're going through the trials of temptation we are sharing the same experience that Christ endured and he says, "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12, NIV)
Second, never negotiate! You can't outwit temptation. Self is amazingly clever in providing you with an excuse or a justification. If you hover around temptation long enough, you will find a way to take the bait! That is why the Bible says, "O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11, NKJV) "But, Jerry, doesn't the Bible tell us to 'resist the Devil?'" Yes, but resisting the devil is an entirely different exercise than standing as close to the fire of temptation as we think we can without getting burnt!
Third, understand and meet your needs as God intended! We need love, security, food, intimacy, and significance. Those needs were built into us by our Creator. He has provided a way for each of those needs to be met in a way that makes us whole, and when we do, we are much less vulnerable to temptation. Those little chocolate squares I mentioned a moment ago are not at all desirable when I have just enjoyed a good, nutritious meal. A person who enjoys intimacy with his spouse diminishes the power of temptation, too. Paul is very practical when he advises married couples to continue to be intimate with each other! "Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you." (1 Corinthians 7:5, NLT) Struggling with envy over another's joy in the Lord? Know this. A person who is diligent in ministry, using the gift that the Spirit has given to him, will be much less prone to covet the ministry of another.
Most important, look to Christ! We can endure "by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up." (Hebrews 12:2-3, NLT) When I am gripped by temptation I often feel like I am being torn in two, pulled apart emotionally and spiritually. Despite knowing what is right, I want what is wrong. The battle rages in my heart. I just "gotta have it!" whatever the 'it' is at that moment. There is no victory until and unless I find the reinforcement of the Spirit! If I humble myself and quietly I wait on my face before Him, His peace comes to the storm. Why? Because Jesus is my Priest and Intercessor before God. Remember, Believer, there is no shame in admitting to the temptation, for temptation is not sin!
Yes, Believer, while we live in this world, temptations will come at us. Some come from the world systems in which we work and live. Some come from what the Bible calls, 'the flesh,' or the sinful nature, the desires and needs of our physical body that crave satisfaction even in destructive or illicit ways. And some are diabolical, devilish schemes that come from the enemy of God and good.
Here's a word from the Word. Draw the strength of the promise from it today and meet temptation with the Truth that in Christ, you can overcome!
"Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21, NLT)
We're all tempted. Some Believers huff and puff about the sins and failures of others claiming, "I'd never do that. I'm far too mature in Christ to be tempted that way." I want to say, "Get over yourself and admit your humanity." They are denying the truth. The Scripture says, "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) The setting of our temptations will vary and so will the bait on the hook. However, we all come to forks in life's road where there are just two choices: my will or God's will. For one it may be laziness that says, "Let it go 'til tomorrow. Why sweat?" For another it may be the allure of sex: Internet porn, fantasies about a friend, or an offer for an afternoon escape. For yet another it may pride that drives them to pretend to have a deeper spirituality. For still another it may be to overspend and buy bigger and better stuff. For another it might be desire for control misusing words, guilt, or position to dominate others. Yes, we're all tempted! "But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." (1 Corinthians 10:13, CEV) However, victory requires our cooperation with the Spirit.
How do we resist temptation?
First of all, expect it. It should come as no surprise that the enemy exploits any chink in our armor that he can find. He desires to discredit the Lord and to destroy us. He circles, the Bible says, like a lion on the prowl, looking to have us for dinner. And, contrary to accepted wisdom, he does not always attack at our perceived weakness. We generally have our defenses built there. He takes us where we're strong - because we don't expect him to attack us at that point. Peter reminds us that when we're going through the trials of temptation we are sharing the same experience that Christ endured and he says, "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12, NIV)
Second, never negotiate! You can't outwit temptation. Self is amazingly clever in providing you with an excuse or a justification. If you hover around temptation long enough, you will find a way to take the bait! That is why the Bible says, "O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11, NKJV) "But, Jerry, doesn't the Bible tell us to 'resist the Devil?'" Yes, but resisting the devil is an entirely different exercise than standing as close to the fire of temptation as we think we can without getting burnt!
Third, understand and meet your needs as God intended! We need love, security, food, intimacy, and significance. Those needs were built into us by our Creator. He has provided a way for each of those needs to be met in a way that makes us whole, and when we do, we are much less vulnerable to temptation. Those little chocolate squares I mentioned a moment ago are not at all desirable when I have just enjoyed a good, nutritious meal. A person who enjoys intimacy with his spouse diminishes the power of temptation, too. Paul is very practical when he advises married couples to continue to be intimate with each other! "Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you." (1 Corinthians 7:5, NLT) Struggling with envy over another's joy in the Lord? Know this. A person who is diligent in ministry, using the gift that the Spirit has given to him, will be much less prone to covet the ministry of another.
Most important, look to Christ! We can endure "by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up." (Hebrews 12:2-3, NLT) When I am gripped by temptation I often feel like I am being torn in two, pulled apart emotionally and spiritually. Despite knowing what is right, I want what is wrong. The battle rages in my heart. I just "gotta have it!" whatever the 'it' is at that moment. There is no victory until and unless I find the reinforcement of the Spirit! If I humble myself and quietly I wait on my face before Him, His peace comes to the storm. Why? Because Jesus is my Priest and Intercessor before God. Remember, Believer, there is no shame in admitting to the temptation, for temptation is not sin!
Yes, Believer, while we live in this world, temptations will come at us. Some come from the world systems in which we work and live. Some come from what the Bible calls, 'the flesh,' or the sinful nature, the desires and needs of our physical body that crave satisfaction even in destructive or illicit ways. And some are diabolical, devilish schemes that come from the enemy of God and good.
Here's a word from the Word. Draw the strength of the promise from it today and meet temptation with the Truth that in Christ, you can overcome!
"Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21, NLT)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ?
Is Barack Obama the Anti-Christ? That subject line got your attention, didn't it, which is my intent! The short answer is simple: I don't know. What is curious to me is why nobody's asking, "Is Senator McCain the anti-Christ?" Why are some Believers so ready to demonize Senator Obama? Why are some so quick to discount his 20 years membership in a Chicago area United Church of Christ and insist that because his African daddy gave him the middle name, "Hussein," his profession to be a mainstream Christian is a lie? Is it that we are not content to debate his policies feeling the need discredit him as much as possible? Politics is a dirty business and it gets even dirtier when clever backroom operatives start email whispering campaigns that play off of our fears and biases.
So why am I writing about this in a TFTD?
It isn't about supporting either the Democratic or Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States. I am much more concerned about how you and I represent our Eternal King. Somewhere deep in my spirit I am convinced that taking the tiniest shreds of 'facts' and turning them into assertions about the truth or falsehood of a man's religious affiliation or using them as basis for his being a figure of the Apocalypse is wrong, very wrong. As a citizen and a Christian, I want to be part of America's electoral process in a thoughtful way that carefully examines all the facts; that prayerfully evaluates how the candidates' positions will safeguard the weak, the poor; how they will promote true liberty and justice for all; how he or she recognizes the imperative of obedience to an Almighty God.
Instead of whispering about shadowy allegations, we should pray that God will reveal the content of the heart and mind of every candidate. If anyone of them are hiding secrets, He can reveal them to the world! If they have no real fear of the Lord, which is the "beginning of knowledge," (Proverbs 1.5) let's ask Him to cause that to be known before the election. Each of us must remember that we are first disciples of Christ, bound to the highest standards of His Lordship, and then we are American citizens. How we exercise our rights should be determined by His demand of His disciples to live in truth, committed to honesty.
I do not want Christians to be dismissed from the public debate as cranks, fools, or easily manipulated sheep - as has been suggested in the past. If we are fools for Christ because we live authentically, openly, and above reproach; so be it. If we are thought to be fools because we have not made the effort to learn the facts and just repeat nonsensical allegations made in anonymous emails, shame on us. More to the point, shame falls on Christ Jesus, our Lord, which is more than tragic. Ignorance among us, who are privileged to have the mind of Christ, is a disgrace to the Lord of Glory.
Here's a word from the Word. Meditate on it today.
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8, NIV)
"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:11-14, NIV)
So why am I writing about this in a TFTD?
It isn't about supporting either the Democratic or Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States. I am much more concerned about how you and I represent our Eternal King. Somewhere deep in my spirit I am convinced that taking the tiniest shreds of 'facts' and turning them into assertions about the truth or falsehood of a man's religious affiliation or using them as basis for his being a figure of the Apocalypse is wrong, very wrong. As a citizen and a Christian, I want to be part of America's electoral process in a thoughtful way that carefully examines all the facts; that prayerfully evaluates how the candidates' positions will safeguard the weak, the poor; how they will promote true liberty and justice for all; how he or she recognizes the imperative of obedience to an Almighty God.
Instead of whispering about shadowy allegations, we should pray that God will reveal the content of the heart and mind of every candidate. If anyone of them are hiding secrets, He can reveal them to the world! If they have no real fear of the Lord, which is the "beginning of knowledge," (Proverbs 1.5) let's ask Him to cause that to be known before the election. Each of us must remember that we are first disciples of Christ, bound to the highest standards of His Lordship, and then we are American citizens. How we exercise our rights should be determined by His demand of His disciples to live in truth, committed to honesty.
I do not want Christians to be dismissed from the public debate as cranks, fools, or easily manipulated sheep - as has been suggested in the past. If we are fools for Christ because we live authentically, openly, and above reproach; so be it. If we are thought to be fools because we have not made the effort to learn the facts and just repeat nonsensical allegations made in anonymous emails, shame on us. More to the point, shame falls on Christ Jesus, our Lord, which is more than tragic. Ignorance among us, who are privileged to have the mind of Christ, is a disgrace to the Lord of Glory.
Here's a word from the Word. Meditate on it today.
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8, NIV)
"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:11-14, NIV)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Truth and Grace
"You Christians are so judgmental!" The accusation was thrown down like a challenge. "Why can't you just accept people for who they are and let them alone?" The question was shaped in anger, not really a question at all, but an indictment. It is a common one according to David Kinnaman, author of UnChristian. His research confirms that most people outside of the church, especially those who are young, view the church's stand against things like abortion and same sex marriage as rigid and condemning.
So I ponder these questions:
Am I making a mistake in holding to what the Scripture teaches about sin?
Should I round the edges off of what I believe the Bible has to say about some things that collide with the values of the culture in which I live?
Kinnaman writes, "As we work to change the negative perceptions of outsiders, we need to avoid an equally dangerous extreme. Some Christians respond to outsider's negativity by promoting a less offensive faith. The more unpopular parts of Christian teaching are omitted or deemphasized. They hijack the image of Jesus by portraying Him as an open-minded, big-hearted, and never-offended-anyone moral teacher. That is an entirely wrong idea about Jesus. He taught remarkably tough truths about human beings and about sin.... Softening the message of the Gospel is an utterly wrong response to the objections that people raise." - UnChristian, Baker, 2007
We do no favor to those who are trapped by greed, sensuality, promiscuity, or selfishness by offering them comfort in their sinful state! Jesus says that the Truth sets us free. Just as He told the Truth and ran headlong into hatred as a result, we risk being ostracized by family and friends if we speak truthfully about choices made that run counter to the wisdom and ways of God.
There are two things that Christians do that are offensive, however, and which need to change. One is too readily pointing the finger at the sins of others without authentically dealing with our own sins! The Pharisees were quick to point out the sins that they saw in their time. And they were right about those sins. However, they used their indignation to avoid dealing with their own sins, which were less spectacular perhaps, but just as offensive to a holy God. Jesus challenged them to deal with their own hearts. "Don't just clean the outside of the cup," He said, "wash the inside, too." If we hide our own failures behind righteous rhetoric we will find ourselves also condemned by the Lord!
Another way we offend those who are outside the faith is when we are quick to indict people in their sin without offering hope for forgiveness and/or transformation. In the 1980's when the issue of abortion was at full boil in the Christian church, I saw too much hatred and fear allowed into the discussion. Anti-abortion Believers went for the sensational hurling the phrase, "baby killer" at young women who felt trapped by their pregnancy and saw only one solution. I was and I am convinced that abortion is a terrible evil, the taking of the life of an innocent and defenseless person, an act that is abhorrent in the eyes of God. However, I refused to join the attacks on women. Instead, I joined forces with several like-minded Believers to create a center where women could find answers, help, and practical care that would encourage them to obey God and choose life for their unborn child. We forbade our staff from using manipulative tactics based in condemnation or fear. Instead, we made an offer of life, based squarely on the truth.
I love this passage which reveals the heart and mission of Jesus. Take a look. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’" From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17, NIV) Did you notice a phrase that repeats twice? It is this one: "Grace and Truth." Moses brought the Law, which told the Truth. With the Law came the knowledge of sin and guilt that separated people from God. Jesus did not set aside the holy requirements of the Law, but He brought Grace that gives forgiveness and creates the possibility of transformation from the inside out. Only by His grace are we restored to our Father, from Whom we receive the Spirit who empowers us to be holy.
Believer, as we represent the Lord to others, if we hold to the Scripture as our standard, we will inevitably run head-long into the permissiveness of our culture. When we do, we must not drop the standard! Instead, we must proclaim grace that is greater than all our sin.
Ponder this today, Believer, and ask the Spirit to help you to understand how to tell the truth gracefully!
"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 5:20-6:2, NLT)
So I ponder these questions:
Am I making a mistake in holding to what the Scripture teaches about sin?
Should I round the edges off of what I believe the Bible has to say about some things that collide with the values of the culture in which I live?
Kinnaman writes, "As we work to change the negative perceptions of outsiders, we need to avoid an equally dangerous extreme. Some Christians respond to outsider's negativity by promoting a less offensive faith. The more unpopular parts of Christian teaching are omitted or deemphasized. They hijack the image of Jesus by portraying Him as an open-minded, big-hearted, and never-offended-anyone moral teacher. That is an entirely wrong idea about Jesus. He taught remarkably tough truths about human beings and about sin.... Softening the message of the Gospel is an utterly wrong response to the objections that people raise." - UnChristian, Baker, 2007
We do no favor to those who are trapped by greed, sensuality, promiscuity, or selfishness by offering them comfort in their sinful state! Jesus says that the Truth sets us free. Just as He told the Truth and ran headlong into hatred as a result, we risk being ostracized by family and friends if we speak truthfully about choices made that run counter to the wisdom and ways of God.
There are two things that Christians do that are offensive, however, and which need to change. One is too readily pointing the finger at the sins of others without authentically dealing with our own sins! The Pharisees were quick to point out the sins that they saw in their time. And they were right about those sins. However, they used their indignation to avoid dealing with their own sins, which were less spectacular perhaps, but just as offensive to a holy God. Jesus challenged them to deal with their own hearts. "Don't just clean the outside of the cup," He said, "wash the inside, too." If we hide our own failures behind righteous rhetoric we will find ourselves also condemned by the Lord!
Another way we offend those who are outside the faith is when we are quick to indict people in their sin without offering hope for forgiveness and/or transformation. In the 1980's when the issue of abortion was at full boil in the Christian church, I saw too much hatred and fear allowed into the discussion. Anti-abortion Believers went for the sensational hurling the phrase, "baby killer" at young women who felt trapped by their pregnancy and saw only one solution. I was and I am convinced that abortion is a terrible evil, the taking of the life of an innocent and defenseless person, an act that is abhorrent in the eyes of God. However, I refused to join the attacks on women. Instead, I joined forces with several like-minded Believers to create a center where women could find answers, help, and practical care that would encourage them to obey God and choose life for their unborn child. We forbade our staff from using manipulative tactics based in condemnation or fear. Instead, we made an offer of life, based squarely on the truth.
I love this passage which reveals the heart and mission of Jesus. Take a look. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’" From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17, NIV) Did you notice a phrase that repeats twice? It is this one: "Grace and Truth." Moses brought the Law, which told the Truth. With the Law came the knowledge of sin and guilt that separated people from God. Jesus did not set aside the holy requirements of the Law, but He brought Grace that gives forgiveness and creates the possibility of transformation from the inside out. Only by His grace are we restored to our Father, from Whom we receive the Spirit who empowers us to be holy.
Believer, as we represent the Lord to others, if we hold to the Scripture as our standard, we will inevitably run head-long into the permissiveness of our culture. When we do, we must not drop the standard! Instead, we must proclaim grace that is greater than all our sin.
Ponder this today, Believer, and ask the Spirit to help you to understand how to tell the truth gracefully!
"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 5:20-6:2, NLT)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Stay Connected!
As soon as I emerged from sleep, I thought about Phil, an elder in our church, who is scheduled for surgery today. I prayed for Mindy and for him. Then, more people from my circle of friends and acquaintances marched through my mind as I thought about their needs and lifted them up to the Lord. These prayers have nothing to do with pastoral duty. I love these people with whom I share life and that love is reciprocated. Last Sunday, as people made their way into church, one man saw me standing at the door greeting those who were arriving. Empathizing with my present circumstances, he pulled me into a bear hug and whispered in my ear, "We love you!" Such show of caring and affection might strike some as strange, but that should be the norm for Believers.
And, I've heard from various members of the Assembly's "Foundations Experience," a small group for newer Believers at the church, who tell me how much they look forward to that hour every Sunday morning when they come together to talk about their faith, their lives, to pray for each other. They stay in touch all week, too. One remarked to me, "It's going to be hard to break up this group at the end of the course!"
Are you attempting to go through life as a Lone Ranger?
Have you been disappointed by someone, by a church, or by a Pastor and concluded that you will live the Christian life in a way that makes it about "just Jesus and me?" If so, you are making a huge mistake, robbing yourself of joy and reducing your potential for effectiveness in the work of God. I will be the first to acknowledge that people can be difficult. It's not always easy to get along with me, either. (I heard that Amen!) Relationships can go sour. Expectations may be missed by a mile. The more deeply we are willing to love the greater the possibility of being deeply hurt! And still, I love God's people. He commands us to do so. "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" (1 Peter 4:8, NKJV) The rewards of love so far outweigh the disappointments, we forget about them, forgive them, and grow in love. Well, we will do that if our love is genuine and inspired by God's love for us.
The model for the way we love is the self-sacrificial, radical love of God that was shown in His gift of salvation. When we love people in the way that God loves us, we make Him visible to the world! Indeed, nothing compels others to consider the Truth of Christ and His Kingdom like Believers who genuinely love other people! "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:10-12, NIV)
Don't expect that love will 'make nice' all the time! That's as silly as thinking that love in marriage is based on diamonds and roses! There is nothing wrong with romance, but the stuff of real love has little to do with flowers and jewelry. It's about caring enough to adapt to the idiosyncrasies of our spouse, stepping up to be a part of their life, changing diapers, listening to their complaints, enduring their moods, and celebrating their successes. Loving other Believers will involve conflict, hard work, disappointment. But that's not the whole story for there will also be moments of incredible tenderness, joy, and shared mission. We are called to carry each other to the finish line of life!
Get connected in a local church body. Ask God where He wants you to be planted, then put down roots and stay! Reach out to care. "But my church is so unloving," you say. Perhaps it is. Then become a catalyst of caring, a person who sows the seeds of love in that church. Do it, for God's sake! It may take a year or two for change to begin, but you will be a partner with God in spiritual transformation. Isn't that an exciting mission? And, stay connected with people in your world who are still in need of Christ. It is so easy, so inviting, to move into a church circle where our only friends are those who share our faith but if we allow ourselves to do that, who will demonstrate the love of God to those who need Him most?
Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples-when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35, The Message)
And, I've heard from various members of the Assembly's "Foundations Experience," a small group for newer Believers at the church, who tell me how much they look forward to that hour every Sunday morning when they come together to talk about their faith, their lives, to pray for each other. They stay in touch all week, too. One remarked to me, "It's going to be hard to break up this group at the end of the course!"
Are you attempting to go through life as a Lone Ranger?
Have you been disappointed by someone, by a church, or by a Pastor and concluded that you will live the Christian life in a way that makes it about "just Jesus and me?" If so, you are making a huge mistake, robbing yourself of joy and reducing your potential for effectiveness in the work of God. I will be the first to acknowledge that people can be difficult. It's not always easy to get along with me, either. (I heard that Amen!) Relationships can go sour. Expectations may be missed by a mile. The more deeply we are willing to love the greater the possibility of being deeply hurt! And still, I love God's people. He commands us to do so. "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" (1 Peter 4:8, NKJV) The rewards of love so far outweigh the disappointments, we forget about them, forgive them, and grow in love. Well, we will do that if our love is genuine and inspired by God's love for us.
The model for the way we love is the self-sacrificial, radical love of God that was shown in His gift of salvation. When we love people in the way that God loves us, we make Him visible to the world! Indeed, nothing compels others to consider the Truth of Christ and His Kingdom like Believers who genuinely love other people! "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:10-12, NIV)
Don't expect that love will 'make nice' all the time! That's as silly as thinking that love in marriage is based on diamonds and roses! There is nothing wrong with romance, but the stuff of real love has little to do with flowers and jewelry. It's about caring enough to adapt to the idiosyncrasies of our spouse, stepping up to be a part of their life, changing diapers, listening to their complaints, enduring their moods, and celebrating their successes. Loving other Believers will involve conflict, hard work, disappointment. But that's not the whole story for there will also be moments of incredible tenderness, joy, and shared mission. We are called to carry each other to the finish line of life!
Get connected in a local church body. Ask God where He wants you to be planted, then put down roots and stay! Reach out to care. "But my church is so unloving," you say. Perhaps it is. Then become a catalyst of caring, a person who sows the seeds of love in that church. Do it, for God's sake! It may take a year or two for change to begin, but you will be a partner with God in spiritual transformation. Isn't that an exciting mission? And, stay connected with people in your world who are still in need of Christ. It is so easy, so inviting, to move into a church circle where our only friends are those who share our faith but if we allow ourselves to do that, who will demonstrate the love of God to those who need Him most?
Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples-when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35, The Message)
Monday, May 19, 2008
A Rich Father
When we established our home, Bev and I gladly made lifestyle choices that involved having less money. Until our youngest children were in high school, she chose to be a full-time Mom which meant we lived on one salary, a preacher's salary at that. We lived simply, but not poorly! To this day, our kids say that they had no idea how limited our financial resources were back then. They felt that their home was rich, and it was, in many things that mattered - time, love, care, spiritual life. They laugh now at how excited they got over something as simple as going out to eat, and then only at family restaurants like Friendly's. We could only afford that kind of thing with our entire family on special occasions like birthdays. We celebrated what we could afford, resisted debt, and lived in the blessings of God. What a difference love made! Our house might not have had all the things that some families enjoyed, but we were and are wealthy in love. The Lord abundantly resourced us with all that we needed and more.
Believer, you have a rich Father! The wealth that He gives you may not always be in a fat bank account or material possessions. He will always provide love, peace, and contentment to those who live close to His heart. The Bible teaches us that He delights in us as His children. He desires that we obey and love Him so that He can surround us with His blessings. Moses called Israel together and reminded them of their heritage. He said, "For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. ... If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors." (Deuteronomy 7:6-9, 12, NLT)
Those of us who are called to be His people today, who are 'in Christ,' enjoy the same kind of favored status among the people of the earth! "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son." (Ephesians 1:5-6, NLT) "But, Jerry, won't we become full of pride if we think of ourselves as select or special?" Not if we remember that the selection is because of His favor, not our desirability! God did not choose you or me because of our race, our achievements, our intelligence, or productivity. As with Israel who was chosen by His love, we are chosen by His love. Having received His grace, we do have an obligation to live obediently and responsively to Him. When we do, we are in a place to enjoy His favor. Because of this special status, I want to encourage two choices in your life, Believer.
First, choose to live contentedly in what your Father provides! My children would occasionally visit in the homes of their friends and sometimes they would come home wanting more than I could or would give them. Comparing led to temporary unhappiness. Do you ever do that to your Heavenly Father? Do you become discontent because you covet the calling, the resources, the opportunities of another? Come home to Him and trust Him for His wisdom in providing what you need, not what you want. Be faithful with the blessings you have and He will trust you with more. That's a Biblical principle. "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" (Matthew 25:23, NIV)
Second, honor the Lord with thankfulness! Wealth begins with attitude. There are those who have much who are yet poor because they are ungrateful, selfish, and discontent. There are those who have little who live like a king because they have learned to live with an attitude of abundance, giving thanks and sharing with they have to give.
__________________
How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!
How Rich I Am
John W. Peterson© 1956. Renewed 1984
John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055
Believer, you have a rich Father! The wealth that He gives you may not always be in a fat bank account or material possessions. He will always provide love, peace, and contentment to those who live close to His heart. The Bible teaches us that He delights in us as His children. He desires that we obey and love Him so that He can surround us with His blessings. Moses called Israel together and reminded them of their heritage. He said, "For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. ... If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors." (Deuteronomy 7:6-9, 12, NLT)
Those of us who are called to be His people today, who are 'in Christ,' enjoy the same kind of favored status among the people of the earth! "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son." (Ephesians 1:5-6, NLT) "But, Jerry, won't we become full of pride if we think of ourselves as select or special?" Not if we remember that the selection is because of His favor, not our desirability! God did not choose you or me because of our race, our achievements, our intelligence, or productivity. As with Israel who was chosen by His love, we are chosen by His love. Having received His grace, we do have an obligation to live obediently and responsively to Him. When we do, we are in a place to enjoy His favor. Because of this special status, I want to encourage two choices in your life, Believer.
First, choose to live contentedly in what your Father provides! My children would occasionally visit in the homes of their friends and sometimes they would come home wanting more than I could or would give them. Comparing led to temporary unhappiness. Do you ever do that to your Heavenly Father? Do you become discontent because you covet the calling, the resources, the opportunities of another? Come home to Him and trust Him for His wisdom in providing what you need, not what you want. Be faithful with the blessings you have and He will trust you with more. That's a Biblical principle. "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" (Matthew 25:23, NIV)
Second, honor the Lord with thankfulness! Wealth begins with attitude. There are those who have much who are yet poor because they are ungrateful, selfish, and discontent. There are those who have little who live like a king because they have learned to live with an attitude of abundance, giving thanks and sharing with they have to give.
__________________
How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!
There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!
How Rich I Am
John W. Peterson© 1956. Renewed 1984
John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, May 16, 2008
How big is your God?
Do you know how a toddler gets when he is desperately in need of a nap; irritable, on the edge of irrational? That was me! I had a sharp disagreement (read that, fight) with my wife over a silly statement that was really of no consequence. I complained inwardly about things that are no big deal. Yes, I was one big baby. Here's how I got to that place; I tried to be my own god! Instead of taking time to share my trials, temptations, concerns and needs with the Lord, I chose to try to carry them alone, worrying about things I cannot control, fretting over an unknown future. I felt the tug of the Spirit several times through the day inviting me to spend some time in retreat, prayerfully drawing on His strength. But, I was 'too busy' (that self-god thing) and decided to substitute a few flash prayers. Those are the quick short "Lord, help __________" that we pray in emergencies. It's fine to pray that way, but they are no substitute for contemplative deep reflection when we "wait on the Lord!"
Believer, if we are engaged with the world as we ought to be, we will find ourselves desperate and weary for the battle is often fierce. The work of the Kingdom of Heaven is no Sunday School picnic. The Word is not being sensational when He warns us that "This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. " (Ephesians 6:12, The Message) We are called to care, to love, to give! Those are not without cost. Evil is active, not passive. The Devil organizes forces against God and His people and he does not fight fair. His only goal is the destruction of the works of God. And, if he can accomplish that end by convincing us that we must be 'god,' exhausting ourselves to the point of despair, he will do that. The goals of the evil one are accomplished as readily when we work hard and ineffectively to the point of becoming ungodly, as they are when we do nothing!
But, we are not his victims. We are not helpless, hopeless, or hapless. We are richly resourced, equipped for the mission. "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10, NLT) There is an old saying worthy of repeating: "A Christian is never stronger than when he is on his knees!" "The Lord doesn’t care about the strength of horses or powerful armies. The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust His love." (Psalm 147:10-11, CEV) So we don't run from the battle. We don't ask to be reassigned to an easier place of service. We don't seek to be relieved of duty. We ask to be resourced from the rich supply that our God has available. This is the promise: "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV)
Here's a Word on which to meditate today. As you read them, make they help you to give God His rightful place in your mind and heart. May they help you to see Him in His majesty, for He is a BIG God.
"I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21, NKJV)
Believer, if we are engaged with the world as we ought to be, we will find ourselves desperate and weary for the battle is often fierce. The work of the Kingdom of Heaven is no Sunday School picnic. The Word is not being sensational when He warns us that "This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. " (Ephesians 6:12, The Message) We are called to care, to love, to give! Those are not without cost. Evil is active, not passive. The Devil organizes forces against God and His people and he does not fight fair. His only goal is the destruction of the works of God. And, if he can accomplish that end by convincing us that we must be 'god,' exhausting ourselves to the point of despair, he will do that. The goals of the evil one are accomplished as readily when we work hard and ineffectively to the point of becoming ungodly, as they are when we do nothing!
But, we are not his victims. We are not helpless, hopeless, or hapless. We are richly resourced, equipped for the mission. "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10, NLT) There is an old saying worthy of repeating: "A Christian is never stronger than when he is on his knees!" "The Lord doesn’t care about the strength of horses or powerful armies. The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust His love." (Psalm 147:10-11, CEV) So we don't run from the battle. We don't ask to be reassigned to an easier place of service. We don't seek to be relieved of duty. We ask to be resourced from the rich supply that our God has available. This is the promise: "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV)
Here's a Word on which to meditate today. As you read them, make they help you to give God His rightful place in your mind and heart. May they help you to see Him in His majesty, for He is a BIG God.
"I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21, NKJV)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
An exclusive relationship
A very small percentage of Americans claim to live in an arrangement that baffles me called 'open marriage.' Supposedly these couples feel a need to have intimate partners other than their spouse so that they are able to move through stages of emotional development. It is sometimes called 'love without jealousy.' God calls it immorality. Marriage is an exclusive relationship and those who do not remain with the one to whom they are pledged, with or without their spouse's consent to their infidelity, are committing adultery. In most situations, jealousy is a destructive reaction, but in defense of our vows, we do well to jealously defend our claim to the affections of our spouse. We are right to insist that as we faithful in love, that we are loved in the same way.
Bev and I pledged an exclusive love relationship 33 years ago! I love many people, but no one in the same way that I love my wife. I know that she loves me exclusively, too. That bond is a treasure which we guard with diligence. Neither of us would overlook any relationship that we felt potentially threatened our marriage. We jealously protect our marriage because we own each other, not in a sense of slavery, but with voluntary commitment to one another as we are mutually submitted to Christ, our Lord. Our fidelity creates trust, stability, and security - not just for each other, but also for our adult children who can draw on our shared strength. I pray that our love for each other glorifies God, too, by demonstrating in some small way what it means to be 'married to Christ.'
Do you realize that God asks for an exclusive relationship with you? He says, "No other gods, only me. " (Exodus 20:3, The Message) "Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God, your God, and I’m a most jealous God." (Exodus 20:5, The Message) Do you flirt with other gods? No, I am not talking about going after one of the Hindu deities or taking up devotion to some tribal religion. That's too obvious and not likely much of a temptation for any of us. What about the god of reputation, or pleasure, or money? Worship is not expressed only in formal setting like church. We 'worship' when we assign value and worth. God, our Father, requires that He be given exclusive position as the Lord of our life. Jesus repeated this commandment from a positive side quoting Deuteronomy: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37, NIV)
Believer, protect your love for the Lord. Serve Him faithfully. When temptation attempt to seduce you, bidding for your affections, name it what He calls it, "spiritual adultery!" That sounds so ugly because it is! He wants to own us, to give us His love, to share life with us without inference from any other lovers. Who can forget the heartbreak of the story of Hosea, the prophet to Judah, whose wife repeatedly left him for other lovers? He went to find her and found her broken and desolate. He brought her home and restored her. This tragedy became an illustration for the people of God who left their Husband to chase other gods. But, He did not abandon them. Instead, He pursued them and won their hearts again.
He loves you and me, Believer. If our hearts should wander, we can return to His love for He says, "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD." (Hosea 2:19-20, NIV)
Bev and I pledged an exclusive love relationship 33 years ago! I love many people, but no one in the same way that I love my wife. I know that she loves me exclusively, too. That bond is a treasure which we guard with diligence. Neither of us would overlook any relationship that we felt potentially threatened our marriage. We jealously protect our marriage because we own each other, not in a sense of slavery, but with voluntary commitment to one another as we are mutually submitted to Christ, our Lord. Our fidelity creates trust, stability, and security - not just for each other, but also for our adult children who can draw on our shared strength. I pray that our love for each other glorifies God, too, by demonstrating in some small way what it means to be 'married to Christ.'
Do you realize that God asks for an exclusive relationship with you? He says, "No other gods, only me. " (Exodus 20:3, The Message) "Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God, your God, and I’m a most jealous God." (Exodus 20:5, The Message) Do you flirt with other gods? No, I am not talking about going after one of the Hindu deities or taking up devotion to some tribal religion. That's too obvious and not likely much of a temptation for any of us. What about the god of reputation, or pleasure, or money? Worship is not expressed only in formal setting like church. We 'worship' when we assign value and worth. God, our Father, requires that He be given exclusive position as the Lord of our life. Jesus repeated this commandment from a positive side quoting Deuteronomy: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37, NIV)
Believer, protect your love for the Lord. Serve Him faithfully. When temptation attempt to seduce you, bidding for your affections, name it what He calls it, "spiritual adultery!" That sounds so ugly because it is! He wants to own us, to give us His love, to share life with us without inference from any other lovers. Who can forget the heartbreak of the story of Hosea, the prophet to Judah, whose wife repeatedly left him for other lovers? He went to find her and found her broken and desolate. He brought her home and restored her. This tragedy became an illustration for the people of God who left their Husband to chase other gods. But, He did not abandon them. Instead, He pursued them and won their hearts again.
He loves you and me, Believer. If our hearts should wander, we can return to His love for He says, "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD." (Hosea 2:19-20, NIV)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Lord, How Long?
Even though the saga comes 'round to a great conclusion, I do not like the story of Joseph all that much. It makes me understand that God may choose to use people and situations that are not necessarily pleasant or of my choosing to implement His sovereign plan for this world. Joseph's long journey through slavery and suffering runs headlong into my sense of self-importance! It teaches me that my personal happiness is not God's paramount purpose.
In my American mind, which values personal fulfillment, the thought that God might allow us to suffer as He works out His plan is very, very hard to accept!
Here's a thumbnail sketch of Joseph's story, which is recorded in the book of Genesis. His father loved him, perhaps too much, and set him apart from his brothers with expensive gifts. God, in His own purposes, chose him and gave him dreams about a time when he would rule over his family, enjoying unheard of prominence despite being far down the line in the family order. His brothers hated him because he was favored by their father and God. When they had the chance, those jealous siblings got rid of him by selling him to slave-traders. They took him hundreds of miles from his home to Egypt. So much for dreams of destiny, or so it seemed; but, he didn't surrender to despair. Sold to Potiphar, a nobleman, he worked hard and was soon appointed to manage the household. Then, Potiphar's wife took an unhealthy interest in him. When he wouldn't cooperate with her, she made up a charge of rape and he was jailed. Faithful again, Joseph soon was made a trustee and was running the jail! Years passed and two men from the king's court were jailed with him. They had dreams and he interpreted them for them. He asked the man who was going back to serve Pharaoh to please remember him. He didn't -at least for a few years - until Pharaoh had a nightmare that defied understanding. Then, the man remembered Joseph and Pharaoh sent for him. After decades of disappointment, Joseph finally came to the place that God promised to him when he was a teenage boy. He became the Prime Minister of Egypt.
Whew! That's a long route from promise to blessing, isn't it? Joseph must have been tempted to wonder, "What's going on?" Has God forgotten me? Why is all this happening to me?" But, he had faith and his God-given dream of destiny to which he held tightly... waiting, trusting,hopeful!
How do I know that? Because of his own words. When Joseph was at the pinnacle of power and his poor brothers came into his court seeking food and favors, not knowing they were standing in the presence of the person they sold to slave-traders years before, he told them this: "But don't be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. These two years of famine will grow to seven, during which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation. Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you! And he has made me a counselor to Pharaoh-manager of his entire household and ruler over all Egypt." (Genesis 45:5-8, NLT) God used the circuitous route that led through slavery and prison to produce a man that would save a nation and his own family.If God loves me (and He does, very much!) how could he ask me to suffer?
Because He is perfecting us for His purposes, purposes which reach much more widely than we can see, given our finiteness. God is amazingly at work to bring all circumstances- good and bad- to a place where His will is done. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31, NIV)
Living in that truth requires a great faith-
which God will provide to us, if we ask!
If you're in a place where you're asking, "What's going on?" read the Psalm of Patience (Psalm 37). The lead verbs in that Psalm pointthe way to endurance, the way to let God's will emerge from the pyre on which self is offered up to His purposes.
"Trust in the LORD.
Delight inthe LORD.
Commit your way to the LORD.
Be still before the LORD.
Wait onthe LORD!"
Take this word from the Word to heart and let God love you today:
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." (Psalm 40:1-4, NIV)
__________________
The Lord's our Rock,
In Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm,
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Oh, Jesus, is the Rock
in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land,
Oh, Jesus is the Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.
- public domain
In my American mind, which values personal fulfillment, the thought that God might allow us to suffer as He works out His plan is very, very hard to accept!
Here's a thumbnail sketch of Joseph's story, which is recorded in the book of Genesis. His father loved him, perhaps too much, and set him apart from his brothers with expensive gifts. God, in His own purposes, chose him and gave him dreams about a time when he would rule over his family, enjoying unheard of prominence despite being far down the line in the family order. His brothers hated him because he was favored by their father and God. When they had the chance, those jealous siblings got rid of him by selling him to slave-traders. They took him hundreds of miles from his home to Egypt. So much for dreams of destiny, or so it seemed; but, he didn't surrender to despair. Sold to Potiphar, a nobleman, he worked hard and was soon appointed to manage the household. Then, Potiphar's wife took an unhealthy interest in him. When he wouldn't cooperate with her, she made up a charge of rape and he was jailed. Faithful again, Joseph soon was made a trustee and was running the jail! Years passed and two men from the king's court were jailed with him. They had dreams and he interpreted them for them. He asked the man who was going back to serve Pharaoh to please remember him. He didn't -at least for a few years - until Pharaoh had a nightmare that defied understanding. Then, the man remembered Joseph and Pharaoh sent for him. After decades of disappointment, Joseph finally came to the place that God promised to him when he was a teenage boy. He became the Prime Minister of Egypt.
Whew! That's a long route from promise to blessing, isn't it? Joseph must have been tempted to wonder, "What's going on?" Has God forgotten me? Why is all this happening to me?" But, he had faith and his God-given dream of destiny to which he held tightly... waiting, trusting,hopeful!
How do I know that? Because of his own words. When Joseph was at the pinnacle of power and his poor brothers came into his court seeking food and favors, not knowing they were standing in the presence of the person they sold to slave-traders years before, he told them this: "But don't be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. These two years of famine will grow to seven, during which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation. Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you! And he has made me a counselor to Pharaoh-manager of his entire household and ruler over all Egypt." (Genesis 45:5-8, NLT) God used the circuitous route that led through slavery and prison to produce a man that would save a nation and his own family.If God loves me (and He does, very much!) how could he ask me to suffer?
Because He is perfecting us for His purposes, purposes which reach much more widely than we can see, given our finiteness. God is amazingly at work to bring all circumstances- good and bad- to a place where His will is done. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31, NIV)
Living in that truth requires a great faith-
which God will provide to us, if we ask!
If you're in a place where you're asking, "What's going on?" read the Psalm of Patience (Psalm 37). The lead verbs in that Psalm pointthe way to endurance, the way to let God's will emerge from the pyre on which self is offered up to His purposes.
"Trust in the LORD.
Delight inthe LORD.
Commit your way to the LORD.
Be still before the LORD.
Wait onthe LORD!"
Take this word from the Word to heart and let God love you today:
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." (Psalm 40:1-4, NIV)
__________________
The Lord's our Rock,
In Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm,
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Oh, Jesus, is the Rock
in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land,
Oh, Jesus is the Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.
- public domain
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Ambition- Keep it and Curb it!
In a mistaken idea about contentment, some Christians aspire to wanting nothing; to living mediocre, undistinguished lives. They do nothing well, never break a sweat, and resent anyone who presses them to own a bigger vision! In truth, those who are filled with God's Spirit are equipped with gifts to change the world and since we will all stand before the King of Glory to give an accounting of how we lived, we should be full of earnest desire to achieve great things with the gifts He's given us. My dictionary defines ambition as 'the earnest desire for achievement or distinction.' Is that compatible with humility in the service of Christ? I believe it is. We need ambition and we must keep it on a short leash.
Jesus had a calling to save the world! Nothing, not even a cross could stop Him. He was amazingly ambitious, yet always submitted to God and loving. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28, NLT
Paul was called by Jesus to take the Good News of the Kingdom to the world. He was a man of great ambition, whose vision pulled him through all kinds of deprivations and difficulties.
Paul repeatedly commends those who are willing to stick with hard work. In the book of the Revelation, Jesus praises those who keep the faith saying, "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.. . . You have patiently suffered for me without quitting." (Revelation 2:2-3, NLT) The Word adds a qualifying word to ambition that makes all the difference. That word? 'Selfish.' "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV)
A person who lacks ambition will drift through life taking what falls his way, looking for minimal ways to keep his job, settling for the easiest rather than seeking the best! Solomon's proverbs say that those who are lazy want everything but get nothing. (13:4) He also says that a lazy man is like vinegar on our teeth and smoke in our eyes. What a turn of phrase. The lazy man talks a great game but proves to be a great irritant to those who work with him because he never gets the job done. An overly ambitious person is equally difficult to work around because he will not cooperate, has little sense of team-work, and is always seeking center stage. Consequently, what he does, no matter how well it is done, is tainted with self-interest.
Ambition can be dangerous because it can lead to a misplaced love of work over love for people! An ambitious person warms to the process that 'gets things done,' and may become blinded to what his drive for the goal is costing those around him.
Who are you living for - self or Christ? Does an ambition for the work of the Kingdom own you, calling you to excel in the service of the King?
Check your vision! If you lack a reason for living, pray 'til you hear His calling! If your vision is clear, but you are motivated by approval of others, or are building something bigger on which to hang your name, take it back to the feet of Jesus. Lay it there and ask Him to refocus you, not away from the desire to make a difference or distinction, but around a genuine desire to make His name glorious.
_____________________
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 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 5:14-16, NIV)
Jesus had a calling to save the world! Nothing, not even a cross could stop Him. He was amazingly ambitious, yet always submitted to God and loving. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28, NLT
Paul was called by Jesus to take the Good News of the Kingdom to the world. He was a man of great ambition, whose vision pulled him through all kinds of deprivations and difficulties.
Paul repeatedly commends those who are willing to stick with hard work. In the book of the Revelation, Jesus praises those who keep the faith saying, "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.. . . You have patiently suffered for me without quitting." (Revelation 2:2-3, NLT) The Word adds a qualifying word to ambition that makes all the difference. That word? 'Selfish.' "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV)
A person who lacks ambition will drift through life taking what falls his way, looking for minimal ways to keep his job, settling for the easiest rather than seeking the best! Solomon's proverbs say that those who are lazy want everything but get nothing. (13:4) He also says that a lazy man is like vinegar on our teeth and smoke in our eyes. What a turn of phrase. The lazy man talks a great game but proves to be a great irritant to those who work with him because he never gets the job done. An overly ambitious person is equally difficult to work around because he will not cooperate, has little sense of team-work, and is always seeking center stage. Consequently, what he does, no matter how well it is done, is tainted with self-interest.
Ambition can be dangerous because it can lead to a misplaced love of work over love for people! An ambitious person warms to the process that 'gets things done,' and may become blinded to what his drive for the goal is costing those around him.
Who are you living for - self or Christ? Does an ambition for the work of the Kingdom own you, calling you to excel in the service of the King?
Check your vision! If you lack a reason for living, pray 'til you hear His calling! If your vision is clear, but you are motivated by approval of others, or are building something bigger on which to hang your name, take it back to the feet of Jesus. Lay it there and ask Him to refocus you, not away from the desire to make a difference or distinction, but around a genuine desire to make His name glorious.
_____________________
"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 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 5:14-16, NIV)
Monday, May 12, 2008
Remembering the Good Stuff!
In my memory, it often the bad days that claim greater prominence! Like it was yesterday, I can recall the puzzlement that turned to fear on September 11, 2001. I can remember the phone calls from my kids, the meeting that I was attending that was cut short as we Pastors scattered to return to our churches and families. I remember, with crystal clarity, the awful morning, March 23, 1985, when I found the lifeless body of our foster son, then a toddler, who had wandered into the farm's pond and drowned, or so we thought. In between frantic efforts at resuscitation and desperate prayers to Heaven, God restored that child to us, but I'll never forget the horrible 24 hours between finding him in the water and when he regained consciousness in a pediatric intensive care unit. Though we so easily recall the hard days, the fearful moments, the tragedies, we need to make the choice to recall the good stuff!
Recently I sat with my Dad for an afternoon. Despite his critical illness, together we remembered... good things, fun things, happy days, and the blessings of God. We dug back through our memories, one story leading to another. We recalled changed lives, celebrations, milestone achievements, God's wonderful works. In remembering my faith was strengthened. It is important to mark the moments; both ordinary and stupendous, that God answers prayers, gives assurance, touches us with His joy. Many times in the Scripture, we read of memorials being built, records being written - just for the purpose of reminding future generations of the goodness of God. Take a look at what the Bible says about one of those times. "Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’ ... We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:2-7, NLT)
As you face a new week perhaps you're also feeling overwhelmed by a challenge. Maybe it seems today that God is far away, that some difficulty is too big to overcome. Perhaps you've been in the fight so long you're weary even today on a Monday morning. Take a few moments for a memory review. Bring to mind a victory or two from your past and thank God! If you can't remember one from your own 'faith story,' then borrow one from some Christian's biography and thank God for His faithfulness to them. Or review a story from the Bible - Daniel in the lion's den when God showed up and closed the lion's mouth; young David on the field of battle confronting Goliath in the name of the LORD of Israel; or Paul and Silas in the jail in Philippi singing worship songs at midnight until God rocked the house!
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." (Hebrews 13:15, NIV) Let's not misunderstand this directive of the Word. It is not just an encouragement to optimism as powerful as positive thinking is! We are reminded to praise God for His greatness, to remember our inheritance as children of God, an inheritance given to through Jesus Christ, irrevocably and freely. We bring our worshipful praise to Him as a sacrifice, which He finds deeply pleasing.
Go ahead, offer a sacrifice of praise right now. Make it sincere, even if it's simple. Then, add another and another. Soon, you will have discovered the amazing power of praise, for praise ushers us into the Presence of God, where "we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." (Hebrews 4:16, NLT)
___________________________
Recently I sat with my Dad for an afternoon. Despite his critical illness, together we remembered... good things, fun things, happy days, and the blessings of God. We dug back through our memories, one story leading to another. We recalled changed lives, celebrations, milestone achievements, God's wonderful works. In remembering my faith was strengthened. It is important to mark the moments; both ordinary and stupendous, that God answers prayers, gives assurance, touches us with His joy. Many times in the Scripture, we read of memorials being built, records being written - just for the purpose of reminding future generations of the goodness of God. Take a look at what the Bible says about one of those times. "Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’ ... We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:2-7, NLT)
As you face a new week perhaps you're also feeling overwhelmed by a challenge. Maybe it seems today that God is far away, that some difficulty is too big to overcome. Perhaps you've been in the fight so long you're weary even today on a Monday morning. Take a few moments for a memory review. Bring to mind a victory or two from your past and thank God! If you can't remember one from your own 'faith story,' then borrow one from some Christian's biography and thank God for His faithfulness to them. Or review a story from the Bible - Daniel in the lion's den when God showed up and closed the lion's mouth; young David on the field of battle confronting Goliath in the name of the LORD of Israel; or Paul and Silas in the jail in Philippi singing worship songs at midnight until God rocked the house!
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." (Hebrews 13:15, NIV) Let's not misunderstand this directive of the Word. It is not just an encouragement to optimism as powerful as positive thinking is! We are reminded to praise God for His greatness, to remember our inheritance as children of God, an inheritance given to through Jesus Christ, irrevocably and freely. We bring our worshipful praise to Him as a sacrifice, which He finds deeply pleasing.
Go ahead, offer a sacrifice of praise right now. Make it sincere, even if it's simple. Then, add another and another. Soon, you will have discovered the amazing power of praise, for praise ushers us into the Presence of God, where "we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." (Hebrews 4:16, NLT)
___________________________
Friday, May 09, 2008
Deceived!
Wayne Bent, a.k.a. Michael Travesser, leader of the Strong City Lord, our Righteousness Church in New Mexico, is a winsome man, gentle in demeanor. He speaks thoughtfully, is outwardly loving towards the small group he leads, and claims to be the Messiah returned to earth, Divinity embodied! Over the last fifteen years, this former pastor in the 7th Day Adventist church, became increasingly bizarre to observers outside the cult sect he leads. He is obsessed with prophecy, setting dates for Christ's return, and using the symbolism of apocalyptic texts to support his own ends. He insists that his followers live in close communal relationships, giving up privacy, possessions, and even personal relationships to him. In 2000, he declared himself Messiah and asked those in the church to marry him. He took seven wives, including his own son's wife! He is now jailed on charges that allege inappropriate sexual contact with minors.
Is he insane, deluded, or just a self-serving manipulator of people? According to a secular journalist who produced a National Geographic documentary, Inside a Cult, Bent is all of the above! Bent's son, age 44, a former police officer, continues to defend the validity his father's visions, despite any and all evidence or argument to the contrary.
Believer, accounts like this must sober us. It is no laughing matter that deeply devout people, who are earnestly seeking to know and serve God can be led into such error. The root of this kind of deception is a misplaced focus from Christ Jesus to man. It flourishes when a person separates himself or herself from the larger Body of the Church, claims 'inside' information or private revelation, and asserts that his 'truth' supersedes that of the Scripture and the Church! The moment you hear any church leader say, "God revealed to me..." great caution is in order. Yes, I do believe that the Spirit speaks to us. He leads us, shows us His ways, and guides us; but not outside of the boundaries of the Scripture, nor as a singular voice, without accountability to His greater church.
Devotion and longing for spiritual assurance in the turbulent times in which we live must never relieve us of the need to discern, to critically consider the truthfulness and the source of revelation offered by anyone claiming to speak in God's Name.
Jesus left this warning for all of us. "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them." (Luke 21:8, NIV) Any prophet (someone who speaks for God or claiming God's authority) that uses that role to attract privilege, wealth, or attention to himself must be spurned. Even if the error is not so obvious as the one referenced above where the prophet now asserts that he is the messiah, Believers must be discerning to avoid being drawn into an ultimately destructive 'spiritual' experience.
The Word of God is not gentle nor kind to those who falsely claim to speak in God's name. Consider these words today and become a wise, Spirit-filled, discerning Believer, secured by Truth and Spirit against error.
"They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud." (2 Peter 2:18-22, NLT)
Amen!
Is he insane, deluded, or just a self-serving manipulator of people? According to a secular journalist who produced a National Geographic documentary, Inside a Cult, Bent is all of the above! Bent's son, age 44, a former police officer, continues to defend the validity his father's visions, despite any and all evidence or argument to the contrary.
Believer, accounts like this must sober us. It is no laughing matter that deeply devout people, who are earnestly seeking to know and serve God can be led into such error. The root of this kind of deception is a misplaced focus from Christ Jesus to man. It flourishes when a person separates himself or herself from the larger Body of the Church, claims 'inside' information or private revelation, and asserts that his 'truth' supersedes that of the Scripture and the Church! The moment you hear any church leader say, "God revealed to me..." great caution is in order. Yes, I do believe that the Spirit speaks to us. He leads us, shows us His ways, and guides us; but not outside of the boundaries of the Scripture, nor as a singular voice, without accountability to His greater church.
Devotion and longing for spiritual assurance in the turbulent times in which we live must never relieve us of the need to discern, to critically consider the truthfulness and the source of revelation offered by anyone claiming to speak in God's Name.
Jesus left this warning for all of us. "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them." (Luke 21:8, NIV) Any prophet (someone who speaks for God or claiming God's authority) that uses that role to attract privilege, wealth, or attention to himself must be spurned. Even if the error is not so obvious as the one referenced above where the prophet now asserts that he is the messiah, Believers must be discerning to avoid being drawn into an ultimately destructive 'spiritual' experience.
The Word of God is not gentle nor kind to those who falsely claim to speak in God's name. Consider these words today and become a wise, Spirit-filled, discerning Believer, secured by Truth and Spirit against error.
"They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud." (2 Peter 2:18-22, NLT)
Amen!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Tremble Before Him!
While watching a recent docu-drama created around the life of John Adams, 2nd President of the US, I saw a scene that helped my prayer life! Really! At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the American government appointed Adams as ambassador to Great Britain. He had to go through elaborate coaching about the protocols involved in meeting the king of England, including a deep bow in greeting that deeply offended Adams at first. When he finally was ushered into the throne room, the king stood regally at the end of a very large room. Adams was shaken by the majesty of the encounter and came to understand the power of symbols of power in a new way. For one of the few times in his life, the man who always had a ready answer found himself nearly speechless with awe!
Which scene better describes your attitude in prayer -
having a chat over a cup of coffee with a friend, or
an audience with a king?
The answer has a lot to do with your theology and spiritual experience; and is somewhat related to your personality. For those of us who grew up in the informality of evangelical churches with no liturgy, spontaneous prayers, and a theology largely shaped around the 2nd Person of the Trinity, prayer is mostly conceived of as a conversation with a Friend. The result is that our spirituality can be limited by a deficiency in the 'majesty' department!
It is wonderful that we as Believers know that God is accessible, that through Jesus Christ, we are invited near to find help in time of trouble. However, the Holy Trinity is not just Jesus, the son of Mary. God, the Father, the Awesome King of Glory is the head of that mysterious Being. There is a time when our mouth must be silenced by an encounter with the Lord of the Universe; when we grasp that He is Wholly, Holy Other- that He is not a man. When that image accompanies our love of Jesus, our Friend and Brother, we will find a better balance between awe and familiarity. This is important for the cliché is true - 'familiarity breeds contempt.' If we make God too small in our eyes, we will too easily argue with His will, disregard His call, and disobey His commands. Isaiah's encounter with His Majesty scared him nearly to death and made him realize, anew, the depth of his sinfulness. He cried, "It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." (Isaiah 6:5, NLT) And God made him clean!
When God was shaping Israel into His people, when He was about to give them the Law; He brought them to Mt. Sinai. Strict regulations were put into place to prepare the people to hear the Words of God. To help them prepare their hearts, they went through symbolic cleansing, ritual consecrations, and were forbidden even to be intimate with their spouses for three days! (Exodus 19) God was coming with His Word. They needed to be ready. "Oh," you say, "but that so Old Testament." As you go your way today, ponder these words from Hebrews that apply that story to our Christian experience. And, may we learn to tremble before Him!
"You have not come to a place like Mount Sinai that can be seen and touched. There is no flaming fire or dark cloud or storm or trumpet sound. . . . You have now come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the city of the living God, where thousands and thousands of angels have come to celebrate. Here you will find all of God’s dearest children, whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself, who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who have been made perfect. And Jesus is here! He is the one who makes God’s new agreement with us, and his sprinkled blood says much better things than the blood of Abel. Make sure that you obey the one who speaks to you. The people did not escape, when they refused to obey the one who spoke to them at Mount Sinai. Do you think you can possibly escape, if you refuse to obey the one who speaks to you from heaven?" (Hebrews 12:18-25, CEV)
__________________
Welcomed in to the courts of the King!
I've been ushered into Your presence.
Lord, I stand on Your merciful ground;
Yet with every step tread with reverence.
Who is there in the heavens like You?
And upon the earth who's Your equal?
You are far above,
You're the highest of highs.
We are bowing down to exalt You!
And I'll fall face down!
As Your glory shines around;
Yes, I'll fall face down!
As Your glory shines around.
So, let Your glory shine around.
Let Your glory shine around.
King of glory here be found,
King of glory!
Facedown
Matt RedmanCCLI License No. 810055
Which scene better describes your attitude in prayer -
having a chat over a cup of coffee with a friend, or
an audience with a king?
The answer has a lot to do with your theology and spiritual experience; and is somewhat related to your personality. For those of us who grew up in the informality of evangelical churches with no liturgy, spontaneous prayers, and a theology largely shaped around the 2nd Person of the Trinity, prayer is mostly conceived of as a conversation with a Friend. The result is that our spirituality can be limited by a deficiency in the 'majesty' department!
It is wonderful that we as Believers know that God is accessible, that through Jesus Christ, we are invited near to find help in time of trouble. However, the Holy Trinity is not just Jesus, the son of Mary. God, the Father, the Awesome King of Glory is the head of that mysterious Being. There is a time when our mouth must be silenced by an encounter with the Lord of the Universe; when we grasp that He is Wholly, Holy Other- that He is not a man. When that image accompanies our love of Jesus, our Friend and Brother, we will find a better balance between awe and familiarity. This is important for the cliché is true - 'familiarity breeds contempt.' If we make God too small in our eyes, we will too easily argue with His will, disregard His call, and disobey His commands. Isaiah's encounter with His Majesty scared him nearly to death and made him realize, anew, the depth of his sinfulness. He cried, "It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." (Isaiah 6:5, NLT) And God made him clean!
When God was shaping Israel into His people, when He was about to give them the Law; He brought them to Mt. Sinai. Strict regulations were put into place to prepare the people to hear the Words of God. To help them prepare their hearts, they went through symbolic cleansing, ritual consecrations, and were forbidden even to be intimate with their spouses for three days! (Exodus 19) God was coming with His Word. They needed to be ready. "Oh," you say, "but that so Old Testament." As you go your way today, ponder these words from Hebrews that apply that story to our Christian experience. And, may we learn to tremble before Him!
"You have not come to a place like Mount Sinai that can be seen and touched. There is no flaming fire or dark cloud or storm or trumpet sound. . . . You have now come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the city of the living God, where thousands and thousands of angels have come to celebrate. Here you will find all of God’s dearest children, whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself, who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who have been made perfect. And Jesus is here! He is the one who makes God’s new agreement with us, and his sprinkled blood says much better things than the blood of Abel. Make sure that you obey the one who speaks to you. The people did not escape, when they refused to obey the one who spoke to them at Mount Sinai. Do you think you can possibly escape, if you refuse to obey the one who speaks to you from heaven?" (Hebrews 12:18-25, CEV)
__________________
Welcomed in to the courts of the King!
I've been ushered into Your presence.
Lord, I stand on Your merciful ground;
Yet with every step tread with reverence.
Who is there in the heavens like You?
And upon the earth who's Your equal?
You are far above,
You're the highest of highs.
We are bowing down to exalt You!
And I'll fall face down!
As Your glory shines around;
Yes, I'll fall face down!
As Your glory shines around.
So, let Your glory shine around.
Let Your glory shine around.
King of glory here be found,
King of glory!
Facedown
Matt RedmanCCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
It really is Good News!
Good parents create appropriate boundaries for their children. Those guidelines are not for the benefit of the parent. They exist to protect the child. If a parent makes rules just to make life easier for himself, he makes his child a rebel! However, if he guides the growth and development of his child with a firm, loving hand putting behavioral fences in place that are required, his child will eventually thank him for them. Of course, those fences are moved as maturity sets in. Imagine an overprotective parent telling a 16 year old son, "You have to play in our backyard!" That would be foolish, a rule that would give a sense of control and peace to the parent perhaps, but one that is not in the best interest of a teenager. Some parents mistakenly do enforce rules just to be the boss or because they allow their own fears to take over. But, the best parents use their godly authority to bless and guide the development of their children.
God, our Heavenly Father, has given us boundaries in life - and they exist for our protection. He is not arbitrary, making rules just to show us that He is boss! He wants you and me to live in a way that maximizes our joy, that keeps us from hurting ourselves and others, so He tells us how to live. "Don't lie. Don't sleep with another's wife. Don't steal. Love Me. Love others." Jesus makes it clear that the boundaries are a blessing when we regard them as a gift to us. One illustration is this statement, "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27, NLT) God teaches us to set aside a day each week for worship and rest. "Take a break and look up," He says. Why? Does He need our attention? Is He just trying to complicate our lives? Not at all. God gave the gift of Sabbath because He knows our tendency to get wrapped up in the business of making a living. He knows that we are not at our best when the spiritual is neglected, so He gave us the gift of the Sabbath principle.
Thoughtfully read this passage.
"We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!" (Hebrews 12:9-12, The Message)
In another translation, part of that passage says, "We submit to the Father of our spirits and live!" (Hebrews 12:9, NIV) It was so wonderful when my kids became more mature and started doing what I asked without whining and crying. When children are two and Mommy tells them to pick up their toys, they might cry and have a fit. No amount of reason can convince them that what Mommy wants them to do is training a good pattern of responsibility into them. So Mommy just puts up with their tantrums and firmly insists that they get it done. She doesn't take their mini-rebellions personally (unless she is really tired). With maturity, comes the expectation that the child will comply more readily, understanding that their parent guides them with love for their own good.
Do you truly love and trust your Heavenly Father?
Are you choosing to 'submit and live?' Grow up and stop resisting, rebelling, whining, and complaining. Believe the Word's promise that God is loving, good, and working for your good. Then, you will agree that His Word and His ways are really Good News! ________________________________
I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes,"
To Your will and to Your way.
I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes."
I will trust You and obey.
When the Spirit speaks to me,
With my whole heart I'll agree.
And my answer will be,"Yes, Lord, yes."
If I never knew the fullness
Of living in Your will,
I would never know how rich
My life could be.
Lord, my willingness to serve
Is the least that You deserve,
For the blessings
You have showered over me.
Yes, Lord, Yes
Lynn Keesecker© 1983 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)
CCLI License No. 810055
God, our Heavenly Father, has given us boundaries in life - and they exist for our protection. He is not arbitrary, making rules just to show us that He is boss! He wants you and me to live in a way that maximizes our joy, that keeps us from hurting ourselves and others, so He tells us how to live. "Don't lie. Don't sleep with another's wife. Don't steal. Love Me. Love others." Jesus makes it clear that the boundaries are a blessing when we regard them as a gift to us. One illustration is this statement, "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27, NLT) God teaches us to set aside a day each week for worship and rest. "Take a break and look up," He says. Why? Does He need our attention? Is He just trying to complicate our lives? Not at all. God gave the gift of Sabbath because He knows our tendency to get wrapped up in the business of making a living. He knows that we are not at our best when the spiritual is neglected, so He gave us the gift of the Sabbath principle.
Thoughtfully read this passage.
"We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!" (Hebrews 12:9-12, The Message)
In another translation, part of that passage says, "We submit to the Father of our spirits and live!" (Hebrews 12:9, NIV) It was so wonderful when my kids became more mature and started doing what I asked without whining and crying. When children are two and Mommy tells them to pick up their toys, they might cry and have a fit. No amount of reason can convince them that what Mommy wants them to do is training a good pattern of responsibility into them. So Mommy just puts up with their tantrums and firmly insists that they get it done. She doesn't take their mini-rebellions personally (unless she is really tired). With maturity, comes the expectation that the child will comply more readily, understanding that their parent guides them with love for their own good.
Do you truly love and trust your Heavenly Father?
Are you choosing to 'submit and live?' Grow up and stop resisting, rebelling, whining, and complaining. Believe the Word's promise that God is loving, good, and working for your good. Then, you will agree that His Word and His ways are really Good News! ________________________________
I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes,"
To Your will and to Your way.
I'll say,"Yes, Lord, yes."
I will trust You and obey.
When the Spirit speaks to me,
With my whole heart I'll agree.
And my answer will be,"Yes, Lord, yes."
If I never knew the fullness
Of living in Your will,
I would never know how rich
My life could be.
Lord, my willingness to serve
Is the least that You deserve,
For the blessings
You have showered over me.
Yes, Lord, Yes
Lynn Keesecker© 1983 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Bring on Spring!
Not in recent memory can I remember anticipating the Springtime more than this year. I was ready for the greening of the earth, even though the budding of the trees brings on the sniffles of allergies. The limbs of the trees in my yard that poked skeletally into the sky are now in full leaf. The lawn that was patchy and brown is now lush and in need of mowing twice a week. Praise God for Spring and the new life that accompanies the change of the seasons. Having never lived in a tropical climate, I cannot imagine life without the cycle of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. In the Winter, I hope for the Spring's greening. In the heat of August, I look forward to the crisp evenings of the Fall and the spectacular beauty of the changing leaves. As those same leaves pile up on the ground and I tire of keeping up the yard, I look forward to a blanket of snow covering the earth yet again. Each season has its own blessings.
In my spiritual life there are seasons, too. There are times of high productivity and times of quiet preparation. There are times when I lay foundations and times when I raise the roof! There moments of celebration and days of sorrow. This I know certainly; each season has its own blessings, if only we will remain open to the whisper of the Spirit while we live in them! To be sure, in the time of harvest rejoicing comes more naturally than in the time of planting. Yet, the season of harvest has its own sadness for it is reminder of the end of another cycle of life.
The Word urges us to steadiness: "let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9, NKJV) I am living in a season of testing, a kind of winter of the soul, but I am convinced that God holds the seasons and cycles of life in His hands! As surely as Springtime follows Winter, the cold of trials will yield to the Lord's brightness and the Spirit will renew fruitfulness and life. Oh, for the faith to wait for the coming of Spring! Yes, in my spirit, I sense the winds of the Spirit bringing a new season of Life. I am ready, knowing that with the change there will be new challenges and new blessings.
So, Believer, what is the season in your life?
Are you, like me, feeling the cold grip of winter in your soul giving way to the Spirit's warm? Are you basking in the restful time of Summer, between the sowing and the reaping?
Are you reaping the benefit of a long season of planting and cultivating in a season of harvest? Enjoy the present season!
Give God the opportunity to do the appropriate work of that season in you, and to prepare you for the change that will come.
Ponder this wisdom of the Word. "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, NLT)
Then, pray that you will be faithful.
"I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. (in season and out of season!)Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage . . . " (2 Timothy 4:1-2, NLT)
______________________
When in the spring the flowers
Are blooming bright and fair.
After the gray of winter's gone,
Once again the lark begins its tuning
Back in the meadows of my home.
Lord, to my heart
bring back the springtime
Take away the cold
and dark of sin,
O, refill me now,
sweet Holy Spirit,
May I warm and tender be again.
Bring Back the Springtime
Kurt Kaiser © 1970 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
In my spiritual life there are seasons, too. There are times of high productivity and times of quiet preparation. There are times when I lay foundations and times when I raise the roof! There moments of celebration and days of sorrow. This I know certainly; each season has its own blessings, if only we will remain open to the whisper of the Spirit while we live in them! To be sure, in the time of harvest rejoicing comes more naturally than in the time of planting. Yet, the season of harvest has its own sadness for it is reminder of the end of another cycle of life.
The Word urges us to steadiness: "let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9, NKJV) I am living in a season of testing, a kind of winter of the soul, but I am convinced that God holds the seasons and cycles of life in His hands! As surely as Springtime follows Winter, the cold of trials will yield to the Lord's brightness and the Spirit will renew fruitfulness and life. Oh, for the faith to wait for the coming of Spring! Yes, in my spirit, I sense the winds of the Spirit bringing a new season of Life. I am ready, knowing that with the change there will be new challenges and new blessings.
So, Believer, what is the season in your life?
Are you, like me, feeling the cold grip of winter in your soul giving way to the Spirit's warm? Are you basking in the restful time of Summer, between the sowing and the reaping?
Are you reaping the benefit of a long season of planting and cultivating in a season of harvest? Enjoy the present season!
Give God the opportunity to do the appropriate work of that season in you, and to prepare you for the change that will come.
Ponder this wisdom of the Word. "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, NLT)
Then, pray that you will be faithful.
"I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. (in season and out of season!)Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage . . . " (2 Timothy 4:1-2, NLT)
______________________
When in the spring the flowers
Are blooming bright and fair.
After the gray of winter's gone,
Once again the lark begins its tuning
Back in the meadows of my home.
Lord, to my heart
bring back the springtime
Take away the cold
and dark of sin,
O, refill me now,
sweet Holy Spirit,
May I warm and tender be again.
Bring Back the Springtime
Kurt Kaiser © 1970 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
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