No Place Like Home

Each of the last 8 nights, I have laid my head on a different pillow in a different room. Bev and I helped Chris and Pete relocate from California to Maryland, 14 states, 2975 miles in 7 days! It was fun to see the countryside across these United States, but I’m ready to go home! Taking a break from life’s routines is a welcomed experience, but there is a genuine comfort in seeing faces of those who I love, buying coffee at the same shop, and sitting on my own couch.


We cannot over-estimate the importance of making a place called home. We do it less by building a house than by becoming part of a network of friends who love us, by regularly serving in a way that dethrones self-interest,  by being a small part of something larger than ourselves. The late Kingman Brewster (1918-1988), a president of Yale University and a public servant, said "There is no greater challenge than to have someone relying upon you; no greater satisfaction than to vindicate his expectation." In other words, it challenges Self to serve, but it is immensely rewarding to do it well and in a way that makes us part of a supportive web. That is the true ‘home.’

Our culture lauds independence, making our own way in life, with swaggering distain for a need of assistance. Such a life is largely mythical. Those who pursue life apart from 'home-making' will find themselves emotionally crippled, alone, and spiritually useless! The richness of love, not the sappy stuff of romance novels, but the robust, bold love that "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:7, NIV) is the soul of the best life. So, I’m looking forward to going home, plugging back into my network, and doing what God calls me to do each day.

What about you, disciple?
Are you creating a ‘home’ where you are doing the sometimes seemingly impossible, always costly, work of weaving a strong web that ties you to others? Some will nourish you. Some will require you to feed and serve. Both are part of love.

One of these days, we will all be called to our final home. If our hearts are already in love with the Father and His family, it will be a wonderful reunion. But, what of those who have been too pre-occupied with themselves, too committed to self-indulgence to step outside of themselves to create authentic, loving relationships? What will they experience? For me, there’s no place like home.

Here’s a word from the Word. Soak it in today.

"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (Hebrews 11:8-10, NLT)
"Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own." (Hebrews 11:14, NLT)
_____________________

Wherever there is laughter ringing,
Someone smiling someone dreaming,
We can live together there,
Love will be our home.
Where there are words of kindness spoken,
Where a vow is never broken,
We can live together there,
'Cause love will be our home.

If home is really where the heart is,
Then home must be a place we all can share.
For even with our diff'rences
Our hearts are much the same.
For where love is we come together there.

With love our hearts can be a family,
And hope can bring this family face to face,
And though we may be far apart
Our hearts can be as one,
When love brings us together in one place.
Love will love will be our home,

Love Will Be Our Home
Chapman, Steven Curtis
© 1988 Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. / Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Greg Nelson Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License No. 810055

Living By Faith?

Christians are held in a tension. We know that we cannot earn a place of acceptance with our Heavenly Father with any amount of good works. We are made right with Him through faith. Yet, our faith is not abstract. It is shown in how we live.
Abraham is the example used in Romans. "What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” (Romans 4:1-3, NLT) From his life of faith, however, we discover that a 'faith-full' life is consistent in word and actions!

Many disciples talk about faith, but live like atheists. They pray, but act as though God does not hear, or is not willing to act, or is incapable of doing what they ask. Abraham’s faith was a core value from which his life was formed. In Genesis 12:1 we read of a radical choice based on faith: The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.”

Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, teaches three ‘life of faith’ principles.

1. Faith is informed by God's voice.

It does not spring from self. Abraham heard from God before he did anything! Do you think that faith is hatching up an idea and then insisting that God bless it? Do you mistake faith for presumption because you think that you have the right to 'tell' God what to do for you? God does the telling, we do the living. God sets the agenda, we implement His plans. A heart of worship that is learning to listen to the Spirit and the Word is the fertile soil from which faith grows.

2. Faith leaves the familiar.
Abraham was compelled, by faith, to pack up and move out. He left comfort, safety, family, and friends behind to faithfully pursue God's plan. Sounds so easy when we say it like that, doesn't it? Sounds Almost adventurous, like getting on the cast of 'Survivor.' EXCEPT, that the Adventure doesn't end in 6 weeks. It's a life-long pilgrimage that only rests in Heaven. Faith will pull you out of religious traditions that no longer are useful in connecting you with God. Faith will lead you out of cultural norms that 'deaden' you to God's work. Faith may cause you to do the ridiculous, not because you're crazed and hearing voices, but because you're 'hearing His voice.'

3. Faith goes forward without knowing tomorrow.
Imagine stopping Abraham's caravan 50 miles out of Ur, his hometown.
"Abraham, where are you going?"
"Don't know, He didn't tell me. He just said, go."
"How will you know when you're there?"
"Don't know. He didn't tell me. He just said, go this way today."

Faith is risky. Living in faith we will certainly make mistakes. But, faith is the only way to find our true home. “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” - Hebrews 11:8-10

________________________

"Father of the faithful, add my name to the roster of those who lived by Your Words.
Help my ears to be turned to you, to be eagerly anticipating Your directives.
Give me courage to move out from what I know, from what is comfortable, to pursue Your plan.
You know how much I love to know the whole route in advance.

Holy Spirit, reassure me with Your powerful Presence as I just GO, even when I don't KNOW the end.
May your Son, Jesus Christ, be honored by a life of faith I live today. Amen."

A privileged son

Monday I visited my Mom’s home. When I arrived, I walked right in with a yell announcing my arrival! Going to the refrigerator, I looked for something to eat. I sat down at her computer and checked my email. I would not take such liberties if I visited most homes because I do not enjoy the familial ties that provide me with the privileges I enjoy at Mom’s house. Though it is not my home, I am her son and need not act as a guest while I am there.

The Scripture says, "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence." (Ephesians 3:12, NLT) In another passage, we are reminded that we are children with privileges. "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." (Romans 8:15-16, The Message)

\Do you enjoy that kind of relationship with your God?
Or, are you still cowering before a Deity that terrifies you, guilty and ashamed? Through Christ, we are forgiven the sins that previously caused us to feel only fear in the Father’s Presence! Now, we can and should live with a humble confidence, a daily conversation with the One who loves us most. What a privilege!

Is there something in your life that is stressing you, keeping you awake at night, making your head ache? Share it with the Father. With child-like faith go to Papa and ask His wisdom, His comfort, His resources for your need. Don’t be shy; be boldly confident. For example, on Monday, my left knee was causing me real pain. Every step I took, was a reminder of my aging body. In prayer that evening, I asked Papa to make it better! I asked Him to show me if there was something I was doing to contribute to my pain and to heal me. Tuesday, I awakened to find the pain gone. In simple faith, I thanked Him for that blessing. Like any good father, He may not do what you want Him to do, but He will do what is best for you. If He corrects you, it is because He loves you.

Rejoice with Him, too. Go often and give thanks for the joys of life.

Here’s a word from the Word. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:9-11, NLT)

Don’t live like an orphaned child today. Exercise the privileges given you through your adoption into the family of God, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

__________________

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my life in vain.
I'm tempted then to murmur,
And of my lot complain.
But when I think of Jesus,
And all He's done for me,
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.

O Rock of Ages, hide Thou me.
No other refuge have I but Thee.
When life's dark vale I wander,
Far, far from Thee.
Then I cry, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me.

Hide Thou Me
Harris, Thoro / Tolbert, L.R.
© 1926. Renewed 1953 Singspiration Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)

CCLI License No. 810055

Saved from myself

In a recent meeting with the leadership team of the church, my temper overcame good judgment and a good friend stepped in to save me from myself. “I don’t think we need to go there,” he said firmly! I can think of so many other occasions when good advice or even confrontation were important to cause reflection so that I would change course. I am thankful for those who bless me with their wisdom along the way. The One who is the best Savior is Jesus Christ.

My life was set for destruction, bound for Hell! Timothy Keller’s observation about how people ultimately arrive far from God is telling. “Hell is simply one’s freely chosen identity apart from God on a trajectory into infinity.” (Reason For God, 2009) We are born with a nature bent to serve ourselves. The more we pursue Self, the further we travel away from God. The end point of that road is Hell, the complete absence of God, who is Light and Love. As much as we might try to believe in our own powers of reformation and/or salvation, we cannot save ourselves from ourselves.

We all need Someone to step in and save us from ourselves. The hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing,” contains these lines:
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

There is the Gospel! C. S. Lewis speaks to the importance of responding in faith to the Lord today. “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others … but you are still distinct from it. You my even criticize yourself and wish you could stop it. But there may come a day when you can no longer. Then, there will be no ‘you’ left to criticize the mood or even to enjoy it, but just the grumble itself, going on forever like a machine. It is not a question of God “sending us” to Hell. In each of us there is something growing, which will BE Hell unless it is nipped in the bud.” (as quoted in Reason for God)

When we were Hell-bound, fixed on our own destruction, our Divine Lover stepped in with an offer, held out the promise of changing the course of our lives. The Scripture says, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, … but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, NIV) Ours is but to accept His offer – by faith. When we do, the trajectory spoken of by Keller is turned upward. Heaven is set in our hearts and we begin to live ‘in God,’ right here, walking with the Spirit in a way that ends in His glorious Presence.

Are you allowing Someone to save you from yourself?
Give up pride. Reject self-improvement which is at best a temporary thing and is really just self-delusion, learning not to see the Truth. By faith, respond and accept the offer of the Lord of Glory to ‘interpose His precious blood’ and set you on a new course – one that is filled with holiness and ends at the Throne of God.

________________

Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity.
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity.
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus - Mystery

Christ has died and Christ is risen,
And Christ will come again

Celebrate his death and rising.
Lift your eyes, proclaim his coming!
Celebrate his death and rising,
Lift your eyes, lift your eyes!

-Charlie Hall

Off to Afghanistan?

Americans are impressed by more, big, and famous I regret that I spent too much of my life measuring my own ‘success’ as a pastor by the number of people I preached to on Sunday morning. But, I am not an oddity in that pursuit. Many measure their success by their level of compensation, their title, or by how many friends they have on Facebook. Success is often a numbers game, but on Sunday evening I met a man who completely re-defined the assumptions about what it means to live successfully. I’ll call him Dan.

God placed a love for the Afghan people in Dan’s heart 9 years ago. In an encounter with the Holy Spirit, he was deeply impressed, as a 26 year man, to take up the mission of bringing the Gospel to a land held in the grip of the most radical form of Islam. For the last 4 years, he and his wife, along with their three little girls, have lived in war zones of Afghanistan, quietly building friendships and praying for the spiritual darkness around them to be dispelled by the Light. It’s an exhausting assignment, full of sacrifice, and emotionally wearing. He’s been warned to flee numerous times, told that armed Taliban are standing outside of his home at night, and a close associate was gunned down in his car. None of the typical measures of success apply! Converts are few. Money is not a factor. His name cannot be published! Yet, he serves, and with great joy!

Don’t make a leap to a false conclusion. We need not all move to Afghanistan and live in mud homes to be good disciples who are ‘successful!’ We are all called, as disciples of Christ, to total obedience right here, right now. Our individual success is measured by how we respond to the Lord’s call, by our faithful embrace of the mission He gives to each one of us. My call is to lead and care for a congregation at a church in Washington, NJ. God will judge me a success if I am diligent, if I do that work for His glory. Circumstances beyond my control may lead to greater numbers of people in that church, but 200 or 2000 in the building are not His measure of success.

To be a success, disciple, there is a foundational question that demands your answer: what does the Lord ask of me? If you cannot answer that with any kind of certainty, you will be vulnerable to discontent and deception. You will chase meaning and purpose in ways that cannot ultimately provide them. Why? Because you will confuse ‘self-fulfillment’ with God’s approval! Much of what we label ‘success’ is just a way of making ourselves feel better about who we are and what we do. However, for the disciple of Christ, nothing can replace knowing that we are squarely in the center of the will of God. Dan is a man at peace with God and able to serve in a difficult assignment without much in the way of traditional rewards because he knows that he is doing what the Lord wants him to do at this time in his life!

Here’s a word from the Word. May the Spirit cause it to own you.
"Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” (Isaiah 49:1-3, NLT)

Are you His servant?
Will your thoughts, words, and actions today be framed by the desire to “bring Him glory?”

_______________

The Marinade of your soul

Summertime means steaks, grilled to perfection, seasoned just right. T-bone's are not always affordable so a cheaper cut of meat sometimes finds its way onto the grill, but I have found a way to compensate. It's called marinade. A blend of wine or vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, perhaps onion, sometimes some lemon juice - is prepared and the meat is left to soak in it. A common cut of meat is tenderized and flavored by the marinade.


So, let me cut right to my point today. What the marinade that soaks your soul, that flavors your life? Anxiety and despair will always result from constant exposure to cable TV news. Greed and need will surely start to be part of your thoughts if you absorb each and every advertising circular that finds its way onto your dining room table. Many disciples are wondering why their souls are dry, why they are full of doubt, why they don't love worship or prayer, why their souls are cluttered with temptations like so much junk thrown around in a garage. They blame God for allowing them to wander alone, but the truth is, they pick up the flavors of the culture in which they choose to soak, day after day.

The Word says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV) That is one superb promise! Fill your mind and heart with praise, with worship, with appreciation for beauty, with gratitude - and reap the benefit of a life marked by peace! Practice love for others, real forgiveness, genuine concern for the poor and the weak and discover the richness of freedom from Self!

Disciple, if you want to live with the promise of the Spirit, check the marinade in which your soul soaks. Ask the practical questions:

What's playing into your head on your Ipod?
Who is influencing you with counsel?
What is creating the ambience in your home?

Take this wise and ancient counsel of the Word and make it your guide.
"How well God must like you-
you don't hang out at Sin Saloon,
you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.


Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom."
(Psalm 1:1-3, The Message)

______________________

On God's holy Word I challenge you
To give to the Lord your life anew.
My friend, make your choice;
He waits for you
For this is the moment of truth.

Now walk with God
And He will be your dearest Friend
Where'er you go
In everything you do.
And may your life
Reflect His love to ev'ryone.
Now walk with God
And He will walk with you.

Now Walk With God

Skillings, Otis

© 1969 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)

CCLI License No. 810055

Yeah, I know, but…

Some of you will remember the country song by Tom T. Hall that said, "Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. Me and Jesus, got it all worked out. Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'. We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about." The song talks about a man who worked out the sins in his life without a preacher or a church involved. It plays right into our cultural sense of 'me-ism,' in which we learn to think that everything is about ourselves, even knowing and serving God.

We know we should live differently, but often don't because we somehow convince ourselves that our situation is unique, because we think our status gives us special privileges, or because we think that the consequences that others suffer just will not happen to us. People that seek my counsel are often 'amazed' at what is happening to them as their health deteriorates, their marriage falls apart, or their kids go wild. Even as they acknowledge the decisions that got them where they are today, they excuse themselves with the old line, "Yeah, I know, but...."

Thinking that the rules apply to everyone except ourselves is a human trait that has a long heritage!
"Yeah, I know I was speeding, but...."
"Yeah, I know I oughta quit smoking, but...."
"Yeah, I know I'm flirting with disaster, but..."
"Yeah, I know I should get my spiritual life together, but..."

In that upside-down view of life, our personal comfort, our happiness, our sense of well-being trumps everything else. Nothing is as important as doing what we want to do. After all, what a Friend we have in Jesus with Whom we have it all worked out. (So, we think!)

Here's what the Lord says. "You must not have any other god but me." (Exodus 20:3, NLT) That includes self! I look into the mirror often and tell myself, "There is one God, and you are not Him!" I do not get to write the guidelines for myself, God already did that.

James writes about people who brag and boast about their plans, who mistakenly believe that they are a god. He says, "Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:13-17, NLT)

Jesus says, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." (Matthew 10:39, NLT) Without faith, without eyes that are open to the things of the Spirit, that statement makes no sense at all. "Give up your life?" You mean, don't make choices based on what's best in this moment, what feels good, what leads to making the most money, what feeds myself? That's exactly what He means! Our obedience allows us to find life to the full, to enjoy God's affirmation, and day to day intimacy with Him. It takes real faith to accept that and do what He says rather than what Self demands.

So you can say, "Yeah, I know, but...." and give yourself an exemption. People do it all the time - and, they pay the price for their choices.

Here's a passage that merits meditation. It talks about the Believer on the Day when he stands before Christ to give an account. I don't think that "Yeah, I know, but..." will mean all that much before His piercing, insightful, loving gaze, do you?

"Anyone who builds on that foundation (the salvation provided by Christ Jesus) may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. . . . Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. . . . Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God." (1 Corinthians 3:12-23, NLT)

_______________________________________________

Oh that with yonder sacred throng,
we at His feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown Him, Lord of all!

-public domain

The favorite little word

Monuments are everywhere. Names of the great are attached to buildings, bridges, airports, and roadways. Companies bear the name of their founders. Let’s face it. Everybody wants to be somebody. I don’t know that I want anything named for me, but I do have a persistent desire to leave a mark on my world, to have lived in a way that means something to at least a few people. That’s not all bad. Self-esteem can be healthy when kept in the right place.

Healthy self-esteem subtly morphs into pride and from that root grows some bad stuff!
Hypocrisy grows out of the prideful desire to look better than we actually are.
Vanity springs from that root, too. Somehow we think we can impress others with the right clothes, titles, or car.
Exclusivity, the desire to be part of the ‘in’ group is another fruit of pride. Howard Schultz, who grew Starbucks® into a huge company, did so in part by turning the act of buying an expensive cup of coffee with an exotic name into a way of being on the inside! He acknowledged that it took some effort to learn the special language that is required to order coffee in his shops, but once mastered by the individual, there was a sense of belonging to an exclusive group.

The more a person is in the grip of pride the more ways he will find to express a simple one letter word that has become his favorite little word– “I.” His world will increasing shrink down to revolve around his comfort, his concerns, his reputation, his preferences, his emotions, and his agenda. An exaggerated sense of self-importance takes hold that can slide into grandiose behaviors, of which he is completely unaware. His life becomes a monologue. It’s an ugly way to live; tragic, lonely, and paradoxically – what the proud man desires most is denied him by his own pride. Self-absorption is the surest way to become a forgotten person!

So, how do we defeat pride? The Word shows us the prime example.
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names." (Philippians 2:5-9, NLT) Jesus became involved with our need, fully human, and served! He was no demi-god, dabbling in our world. He humbled himself to become one of us, setting aside His glory for our sake.

John Ortberg writes that “the oldest Christological heresy—docetism—arose because people could not absorb the notion that God might enter into vulnerability and suffering. John says it is the spirit of antichrist that denies that Jesus came kata sarx—"in the flesh." Jesus was no Superman. He did not defy his enemies, hands on his hips, bullets bouncing harmlessly off his chest. The whip drew real blood, the thorns pressed real flesh, the nails caused mind-numbing pain, the cross led to actual death. And through it all, he bore with people, forgave them, loved them to the end.” - LeadershipJournal.net 1/2007 Curing Grandiosity

Are you willing to set aside your ‘glory?’
Will you become the person that God desires you to be by serving?

Don’t look around while you’re serving, wondering who’s watching and what they think. Just serve for Christ’s sake. Don’t calculate the potential for reward or recognition, just serve for Heaven’s reward.

Let me leave you pondering a story Jesus told at a wedding where the guests were competing to sit at the best tables.
“When someone invites you to dinner, don’t take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he’ll come and call out in front of everybody, ‘You’re in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man.’ Red-faced, you’ll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left.

“When you’re invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, ‘Friend, come up to the front.’ That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” (Luke 14:8-11, The Message)

__________________

Make me a servant,
Humble and meek.
Lord, let me lift up
Those who are weak;
And may the pray'r
Of my heart always be.
Make me a servant.
Make me a servant.
Make me a servant today.

Make Me A Servant
Willard, Kelly
© 1982 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company) / Willing Heart Music (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by The Copyright Company])

CCLI License No. 810055

Beautiful Life

He was dressed in his military uniform, neatly pressed, carefully presented. But, there was a big problem; I was looking at a corpse! Oh, I could see from his features who he was. Yet, there was no sparkle of laughter, no warmth of relationship. His spirit was gone, leaving a shell. The appearance was intact but the essence of the man himself was missing. The vibrant, fun-loving guy described by the friends was nowhere in sight inside that coffin! The life that made him beautiful was gone!

Disciple, are you ALIVE in Christ?
Is the Holy Spirit active in you, making your life a thing of beauty?

There are those who claim to be “Christian” who are not. They are dressed in religious habits, neatly prepared with Biblical theology, and carefully presented with morality, but dead none-the-less! Their lives are missing the essence of being truly Christian.  One night, a very moral man, a religious leader, came to Jesus. Nicodemus knew that something was missing in his sought after relationship with God. He was among those still dead. Jesus told him, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." (John 3:5-6, NLT) Let me paraphrase Jesus’ words: Your Daddy and Momma gave you one kind of life, but the Spirit of God will give you real and lasting life. You can have a life that is made beautiful, not of your own doing, by God’s Spirit living in you. You need not go through some esoteric ritual, join some mind-bending cult, or go on a vision quest in some far-away land to find this life. Jesus said that “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23, NIV)

He is invited to come through faith in Christ Jesus. He remains as we respond to His prompting, deal with our sinfulness, and breathe His breath in worship and prayer. Where the Spirit lives, there is an attractive, nearly indescribable, but very real, quality of life. Are you alive?

Here’s a word from the Word. It’s one of my favorite passages, rich in promise. Take time to digest it, accept what the Lord says, and let the beautiful life begin.
"Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.


Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.


So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." (Romans 8:10-16, NLT)

_______________



Heavenly Dad, (Abba!) I love You and
thank you for the gift of life.
Breathe Your holy breath in me.

Make my words and actions beautiful for Your own glory.
As Your life pulses through this mortal body
in that mysterious way of which Jesus spoke,
may I catch sight of Heaven and Hope!

Come, Holy Spirit!
Produce the evidence of Your Life in me:
The abundant fruit spoken of by the Word:
"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)

As You live in me, cause me to
love, laugh, and make Your Presence
known in the world,
one truly ‘born of the Spirit.’
Amen.

Beautiful Liar

Magicians fascinate me, not because I think they can really make people float on air or cause the Statue of Liberty to disappear with a wave of their hands, but because they convince me to suspend my reasonable mind for a few moments. With ‘hands that are faster than the eye,’ tactics designed to divert attention, wires, and boxes that have secret compartments; the modern magician makes us believe a lie, if only for a moment. We want to think, somehow, that they have defied the limits of time, space, and gravity! That’s entertainment.

The Devil is a magician, too, who draws the willing into a lie! While we like to think that evil’s approach will always be obvious, that alarm bells will sound in our mind when we wander into spiritually dangerous territory, that is simply not true. The devil is a beautiful liar. In the Genesis story, he approaches Eve urging her to disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit with a promise: “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5, NIV) He did not tell her that she would also begin to die, that she would lose intimacy with her Creator, and that she would become subject to pain and suffering. Why, after all these millennia, are we not wise to his schemes?

He is still a beautiful liar. The Bible says that he "masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, NIV) He works to make selfishness appear sophisticated, to recast marital infidelity into a sweet affair, to make addiction to work into admirable diligence, to make truthfulness the characteristic of the naïve in a world. He even works his magic on sincere Christians, when allowed. He turns their desire for the Living God into a ugly parody of faith called religion, based not on life in the Spirit, but on rigid rules that attempt to control behavior by fear. Only after we have entered into his conspiracy and compromised ourselves does he drop the act and reveal his diabolical intent to destroy us.

Temptation to do evil is more easily defeated than we might think. Part of the lie is convincing us that we are powerless, that the attraction is irresistible, that the ‘devil made me do it!’ No, we choose to cooperate with the liar, to believe his whispered seductions that appeal to our base nature. If we live in Truth, if we are relentlessly authentic, temptation loses much of its luster. We see the sequins for what they are, the smoke and mirrors become obvious under the bright Light of the Gospel of Christ.

The human tragedy is summed up in these words: "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. …Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." (Romans 1:25, 28, NIV) But, God did not abandon humanity in that hopeless condition! He intervened with the gift of His Son, showing us the Way back home, calling us to reject the beautiful liar.

Disciple, will you live in the Truth today?
Will you pray for a discerning heart and mind that God, the Holy Spirit, offers to you?
Will you love the light of Christ?

Here’s a word from the Word. Own it as you read it.
"The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.
Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." (Romans 13:12-15, NLT)

___________

Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life.
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the truth.
This world is empty, pale, and poor,
Compared to knowing You my Lord.
Lead me on and I will run after You.

One Pure And Holy Passion
Altrogge, Mark
Word Music Group, Inc.

© 1988 PDI Praise (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

CCLI License No. 810055

The All-seeing Eyes of the Lord

It seemed to me that my motives were in question. Anger welled up in me, surging almost uncontrollably, and as it did, reality receded! What I saw, what I heard, even my thought processes, became skewed by my need to assert myself in an effort to overcome the situation. For a moment, I forgot Who I serve and Who is my security! The issue became ‘me’ for a few moments instead of Him. Does that ever happen to you? Do you lose sight of what’s really going on because you’re feeling besieged, or alone, or unloved, or without support?

Later, as I prayed about my actions in that angry moment, I felt both regret and comfort. I regretted acting the part of a fool and hurting others in a moment of insecurity. I was comforted by the knowledge that in God’s strength, I can stand, and that I need not allow my feelings to rule over me. I searched the Scripture and read this passage in the book of Romans. "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. … For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. … So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:8-10, 12, NIV)

Do you see the core truth of those words? The ultimate commendation or criticism comes, not from a spouse, boss, or peer but from Christ Jesus. If our lives are lived to please Him, our need for the plaudits or approval of others is relegated to a secondary place. We must frequently remind ourselves that when we appear before the Lord to give account for our choices, that He will see each and every decision in the full context of our lives. What an amazingly comforting fact.

As human beings we judge the words and actions of others within a very limited time frame. We do not always know or understand the subconscious issues, the fatigue or frustration, the past experiences that are in play in the mind of another. We rise in indignation and wonder “How could he act like that?” “What’s the matter with him?” God knows! His insight is deep. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13, NIV)

So today, I am coming ‘round to ask myself the most important question: “Jerry, is your life focused on pleasing Christ?”

Disciple, would you ask it of yourself today? Others may criticize when we have done our best. Our work may be overlooked, even ignored. Our offer of love may be spurned. Our failures may be held up for all to see by those who hold us in contempt. Our successes may be corrupted by selfishness that we hope we have concealed. Yet, in each and every situation, it is the commendation or judgment of Christ that matters most; and His evaluation is always perfect because He sees the full context of it all!

Take this word from the Word with you today.

"So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, NIV)

"Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, The Message)

As the World Turns

Values and ideas are ever changing. How humanity understands the world we live in is much different today than it was even 50 years ago, and radically different than it was 500 years ago. New issues arise that challenge us to adapt, that demand evaluation and then, acceptance or rejection. I am now of an age where change comes with much more effort, when the easiest choice for me is to defend the status quo. There was a time when I relished a good debate. Now, I find most of those kinds of arguments tiresome and I am prone to dismiss every new idea as just another fad that will soon pass. In fact, many radical notions have a short shelf life, but some will take root and unless I want the world to pass me by, I must keep thinking, choosing, growing.

Disciple, are you finding yourself troubled by change?
Is it hard to make sense of a world where technology is turning life upside down?
Are you feeling like a homeless person who drifts invisibly through a city unloved?

I do not want to encourage you to look back with rose tinted glasses to the ‘good old days.’ Yesterday’s gone. But, we must not be so enamored with relevance and being ‘cool,’ that we forget the unchanging truths which give us a home and a solid foundation for our lives. What keeps us steady in an ever changing world are the anchor points that do not change, that remain true across cultural lines and from generation to generation. Jeremiah, the prophet to a people who had thrown away their heritage, says "This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV)

The Scripture is clear that God is immutable, not changing, not shifting His ways to meet our expectations. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17, NIV)

Jesus Christ is the Savior, "the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)

Three standards for our behavior never go out of style. "These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV)

Here’s a word from the Word. It speaks majestically to the nature of our God. May it be an anchor point for your soul.

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!


How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!


“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”


“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”


For from him and through him and to him are all things.


To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)

Heart and Mouth Aligned

Ever hear of a guy named Ferdinand Waldo Demara? His life was a fraud. He 'borrowed' credentials, stealing many identities. In his life, he pretended to be, among other things, a deputy sheriff, a counselor, an engineer, and a ship's surgeon! He was a smart man, able to learn quickly, and wily enough to avoid detection in many of his jobs until his pride would get the best of him. Then, he would seek publicity, which inevitably led to his exposure as a fake.

Some people who would be Christian are like Demara! They want to be a loving, whole person; full of joy, generous, pure, and holy. However, they are unwilling to embrace Christ as Lord, so they just copy the actions of some Christian. They learn to act and talk like someone who impresses them. But, their hearts are not really transformed by the Spirit of God. Pious words are just a veneer that covers a heart still in the grip of the sinful nature.

When how we act and what we say don’t line up, it creates pain – in us and for those around us. Eventually, James tells us, a ‘double-minded man becomes unstable in all his ways!’ He no longer knows where pretense ends and reality begins for his whole life becomes a lie. There is another way, the way of wholeness. The Bible says, "It is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:10, NIV) In other words, a person right with God has heart and mouth aligned, belief and action unified. They will not be imposters, simply acting like a Christian, nor will they delude themselves with the lie that being a Christ-follower is just a matter of knowing a few right things about theology.

The Word teaches us that integrity is the key to becoming a whole person spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. When we believe God’s promises and act on them, we are ‘saved!’ We become Christians with a transformational experience that starts in the heart, that changes our most basic ways of thinking; and continues with our mouth, our external life, both words and actions brought under the Lord’s mastery. Jesus calls it being 'born again of the Spirit.' Paul calls it 'renewal.' "Jesus Christ," he writes, "saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5, NLT)

Are you attempting, by morality or discipline or even fakery, to be what and who only God, the Holy Spirit, can make you?
Are you putting on layer upon layer of morality and religion, in an attempt to be a Christian, a person who enjoys a relationship with God and who holds the promise of eternal life?
Are you filled with right beliefs that are not applied to your actions?
Are you able to do theology, but keep it disconnected from how you live?
Then, you're an imposter- perhaps a well-intentioned one, but a fake all the same. You are creating pain and problems for yourself and discrediting the Gospel of Christ.

If that describes you, do not stay there for another moment. Invite the Spirit to begin a truly transformational work and become authentic – no more than you are, no less than God purposes you to be. Your life will become a thing of true beauty. Your mind will be at peace. The world around you will be influenced by your real faith! “Believe and speak!”

Here is a word from the Word that points the way to wholeness. "Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!” (Romans 10:9-10, The Message)

Praise God! Amen.

________________

Give me one pure and holy passion,
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Jesus give me one glorious ambition for my life.
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the truth.
This world is empty, pale, and poor,
Compared to knowing You my Lord.
Lead me on and I will run after You.

One Pure And Holy Passion

Altrogge, Mark

© 1988 PDI Praise (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

CCLI License No. 810055

Falling over yourself?

At the church’s Bible school last week, one of the regular parts of the general session was a time when we invited kids to share their ‘God-sightings.’ The goal was get them to be more aware of the Lord’s working and Presence in ordinary situations. We wanted them to understand that God does not live in the church building, but that He is with us everywhere and all of the time. You’re an adult and you ‘know’ that the church building is not actually “God’s house,” but are you looking for His Presence, attuned to the Spirit where you live and work?

In Romans 9, we read about the mystery of God’s will for His people. Paul wonders at the inclusion of Gentiles (non-Jews) in the family of God. Where once the children of Abraham (Jews) had enjoyed a unique and privileged status as ‘the people of the Lord,’ the new covenant of Jesus Christ brought the grace of God to all who respond to the Spirit’s invitation with faith. What becomes crystal clear in those words is that we cannot expect to earn a place of right standing with God because of our heritage, our goodness, or even our religiosity. "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.”" (Romans 9:30-32, NIV)

It is possible that we can become so focused on ‘being good’ and living out some religious program that we miss out on God altogether! We can fall over ourselves, tripped up by good intentions. Last week I read of a once proud Christian college that was founded with the aim of producing men and women of holy character and faith who would do God’s work in the world with excellence. It has become a rigid, rules obsessed institution that is more intent on preserving a slice of culture than turning students to knowledge of the living God. Strict dress codes, obsessions with styles of clothing and skirt lengths, and elimination of all ‘worldly’ influence has taken the place of “God-sightings!” It is as if the Pharisees of old have returned to 21st century America! But, these people of such high aims are unable to see their folly, stumbling over their own religion, now blind to the Presence of the Living Christ.

It’s a sin as old as humanity. At the very beginning, after the Fall, the Scripture says that "instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols.” (Romans 1:23, NLT) Not all idols are made of stone or carved to look like demi-gods! We may turn from a life of faith to worship our own reputation, our strict self-discipline, the ‘ministry’ we do for our church, or even our study of the Bible.

Let’s re-read that passage I quoted a moment ago, this time from The Message. "How can we sum this up? All those people who didn’t seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as he straightened out their lives. And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing, missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their “God projects” that they didn’t notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock in the middle of the road. And so they stumbled into him and went sprawling." (Romans 9:30-32, The Message)
Disciple, don’t fall over yourself! Stay aware of the Spirit, in step with Him, led by Him, filled with gentle faithful grace.

_____________________

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love
What Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure.
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine.
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe On Me Breath Of God
Hatch, Edwin / Jackson, Robert

© Public Domain

On my side!

Back in February this year, when I was dealing with some major health issues, I looked for people who would be on my side! There were prayer partners who came to stand with me and ask the Lord to heal me. Their earnest prayers still linger in my memory. There were health professionals, men and women who brought their training and skills to my aid. There was my beloved wife who encouraged me and held me close when I was afraid. In that season of weakness I came to know, more than ever before, the importance of the network in place. I am a fairly strong, resilient, and self-reliant man; but I know that only a foolish person would attempt to navigate life alone.

There is Another that is on my side all the time! Perhaps that sounds somewhat selfish to you, but if you’re walking with Christ, He’s on your side, too! In one of the most amazing, challenging, comforting passages in the Bible, we learn about God’s intervention for us, how He has set us right with Himself, how He is working in all the circumstances of our lives to accomplish what He has purposed. Then we read, "the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans." (Romans 8:26, The Message) "After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun. So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?" (Romans 8:30-31, The Message)

God is on my side! He’s taken up my case! He’s an active Advocate for me! I know this and it steadies, encourages, and strengthens me. Only when I forget this rich resource, do I slide into the fear. When I look only at my own puny abilities stacked up against life, I can feel real panic. Sure, I have financial resources, a bright and active mind, and some training that help me deal with what is coming my life, but still; I am no match for temptation, aging, or even the pastoral work that is my life’s work. But, with God on my side, I am renewed in courage, infused with hope, and granted the Spirit’s wisdom. I cannot earn a place at His side; I am invited, by His grace to stand there! But, to stay there, I must give the Spirit to all that I am, be willing to submit to His correction, and live authentically, never taking credit for what is His work.

Disciple, God wants you to know that He’s on your side. You do not have to wrestle with the world’s systems, the sinful nature, or even the demons of darkness alone. You need not go through the stresses of this life – and there will be stress! – fearful and alone. In Christ, you are His beloved child. He’s your able Advocate, on your side. Thank Him for that. If He shows you attitudes or actions that are separating you from His holy love, leave them and turn to Him. Don’t walk alone!

From David’s songs, we find a passage that I want to leave with you. Read it with hope and faith.

"To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.


You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall." (Psalm 18:25-29, NIV)

It’s time to advance, not arrogantly nor in self-confidence; but in the sure word that “with God on our side like this, how can we lose?”
If you would like to read the whole song of David, here’s a link to Psalm 18.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2018&version=NIV

_______________________

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked come to Thee for dress,
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul I to the fountain fly,
Wash me Savior or I die.

Could my tears forever flow?
Could my zeal no languor know?
These for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
In my hand no price I bring;
Simply to thy cross I cling.

Rock Of Ages
Toplady, Augustus M. / Hastings, Thomas

© Public Domain

Truly important, or merely urgent?

On December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, NC, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew a powered aircraft. It went a 120 feet in 12 seconds, But it was a first for flight. Within 2 years of those first short flights, the Wright brothers had refined their 'flying machine' into a practical airplane. They had some idea of the tremendous value of their invention and became obsessed with reaping the financial rewards. In following years, others began to use innovations of the Wright brothers without paying them. They filed suit after suit in court against those who were infringing on their patents. They became so focused on the legal struggle, they lost sight of continuing development of their flying machines. Ten years after their first flight, others had stepped in and developed the technologies, eclipsing the valuable work of the Wright brothers.


I wonder what might have been if the Wright brothers had kept their brilliant minds focused on developing aerodynamic principles and refining the technologies they created. They had solved the problems with created a viable powered flying machine, what might they have developed in the next ten years? We will never know.

Disciple, we must remember that losing sight of the important to focus on the urgent will always rob us of the best in life! It is oh-so-easy to get sidetracked by secondary issues, isn't it?

When we take our eyes off of the goal and start to question:
"Am I getting respect from others?”
“Am I having all the fun I think I deserve?”
“Am I being compensated fairly?”
“Are others getting a better deal in life than I am?"
- we cannot effectively do God's work and we will not remain faithful servants of the Kingdom.

The wisest people are those who know how to choose the most important things and stick with them, come what may.  In this age and culture, we are blessed to have multiple opportunities in life, but the grand buffet spread in front of us demands great wisdom. None of us is rich enough in time to have it all! We must choose.

What will you spend your time on today, friend? Will it be wasted, just ‘killing time?’ Or, will it be invested? Will it be invested in things that please the Lord or in things that have little lasting value? Will you obsess over money, success, pleasure, or reputation? Or, will you live courageously, selflessly, and with Heaven’s rewards in view?

Here is a word from the Word!
"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.


Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.


When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed!"  (Hebrews 12:1-4, The Message)

Like Christ, keep your eyes focused on the IMPORTANT. See how He lived. Trust that your Father in Heaven sees, knows, and will ultimately reward you.

STAY THE COURSE!
_________________

Keep me true, Lord Jesus,
keep me true!
Keep me true, Lord Jesus,
keep me true.
There's a race that I must run,
There's a victory to be won.
Every hour, by Thy power,
I'll be true.
- Unknown

Kids and the Kingdom

It’s kid week, or so it seems! My grandsons, ages 8 and 5, are in the house. They good boys, full of questions and curiosity about life. Their optimism about each morning, the sense of ‘newness’ that they bring to the day, inspires! They are attending our outreach week at church with about 150 other children each morning. All these kids, with their boundless energy, their enthusiasm, and their readiness to be taught - turned my thoughts to Jesus’ words.

"Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting." (Matthew 18:2-7, NLT)

The Master urges us to become like little children before our Heavenly Father. Did you meet Him this morning with an expectation of discovery, with joy just because He is? Is your attitude like that a child who accepts each day as it is? Or, have you become so cool and sophisticated that you will not trust God for what this day holds? We are all tempted to turn from simply delight in Him, to seek the approval of people around us. Apart from delighting the Lord, that need can grow so strong that we are ready to do things we don’t enjoy and buy things we don’t like just to have the approval of those we give the power of influence over us.

The Lord also warns us about turning a person who is like a child before Him away from their faith by pressuring them with temptation! We can’t avoid living around temptation, but we surely can avoid pulling people away from their Father. If we are struggling with sin, we only deepen our despair if we choose to drag others down to our level. Instead, Jesus says that we should welcome those who trust Him with a simple faith, letting them lift us up.

One of the wonderful things about a little child is his readiness to live in this moment. The kids who are part of our Vacation Bible School are not staring at the clock, moving to push to the next thing. They are ‘in the moment!’ What delight they find as they explore the opportunities and possibilities that present themselves. Take Jesus’ words to heart today, disciple. When you find yourself fretting, complaining, or wishing you were someone else, or that life was something other than it is, or that you were somewhere far away; stop and give the Spirit the opportunity to renew your joy in the moment. Humbly accept the day and let joy find you!

____________________

Let me be a man
With a perfect heart,
Let me be a son
Who will please You, Father;
Let me be a child
Who reveals Your will
In all I do and say.

Fill me with Your Spirit,
Lord, I pray, that Jesus
Will be seen in all of my life;
Let me be a son
Who will please You, Father,
Let me be a man
With a perfect heart.

A Man With A Perfect Heart
Hayford, Jack

© 1995 Annamarie Music (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by The Copyright Company])

CCLI License No. 810055

A moment of reflection

This CWTW is from the archives today …

Why do we celebrate birthdays anyway? After a time, it's just depressing, isn't it? I found this information which I thought interesting enough to pass along. Celebrating birthdays dates back to pre-Christian eras. It was a common belief that evil spirits were more dangerous to a person when he or she experienced a change in their daily life, such as turning a year older. As a result, birthdays were merry occasions celebrated with family and friends, who surrounded the person of honor with laughter and joy in order to protect them from evil. Instead of gifts, most guests brought positive thoughts and happy wishes for the upcoming year. However, if well-wishers did bring gifts, it was considered an especially good influence for the birthday person. In most ancient cultures, however, only birthdays of nobility were marked. The common people were too poor and/or unimportant to have a celebration!

I also learned that in many cultures birthdays are only celebrated until adulthood! Now there is a tradition I could learn to like!

A birthday is a good time for reflection, serious evaluation of how we are spending the precious time God gives to us. This prayer is one I often remember - "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, KJV) We can think about our mortality without being morbid. There is no need to obsess on death, but we are foolish not to allow ourselves to sense the irresistible ebb of time. No one lives forever on this earth.

I realize that someday, perhaps sooner, perhaps later; I will step through the doorway of eternity. I want to use this day to prepare for that appointment. Jesus spoke frequently of the importance of preparing for eternity. He said, "Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven..." (Matthew 6:19-20, CEV) Yet, most of the people I know are frantically acquiring temporal treasure. They work endlessly to buy those things that will not last so they can impress people they do not like! Lord, help us to be wiser than that! If we are not, we may end up hearing words similar to these found in a story Jesus told about a rich old fool- "God showed up and said, `Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?' That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God." (Luke 12:20-21, The Message)

The Word teaches us a better way to use our lives: "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:18-19, NIV)

So, today, I am 'taking hold of life that is truly life!' I am not afraid of being a year older because it means I'm just a little closer to my eternal home and the Presence of my loving Father.

I may not be all that I once was,
but I am surely not all that I will be!
Thank the Lord.

_________________

Turkeys or Eagles?

If you choose to hang out with turkeys, don’t be surprised when you end up in the roaster pan of life! If you choose to hang out with eagles, in time you’ll learn to soar to the heights. In the short-term, turkeys are the easier choice because they don’t make any demands of us. They don’t challenge us to do anything with excellence. They don’t lead us to push ourselves to learn new things, to exercise self-discipline to gain a long-term goal, or to deny our own selfish whims because we love God, family, and other people. Turkeys just like to sit around and swap stories of how it might be ‘if only they had better luck.’ They are content to scratch around on the ground until they become somebody’s supper. Eagles spread their wings and ride the winds, even the stormy ones, to higher heights.

The Bible teaches the same principle a lot more eloquently: "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." (Proverbs 13:20, NIV) I knew a boy of lesser innate ability who chose to associate himself with students with brains and discipline. He was challenged to rise above what most people thought he was capable of achieving. I have also known teens with all the ‘right stuff,’ who chose to hang with the crowd that is going nowhere but to parties. When they chased the good times, the laughter, and the acceptance of turkeys who were happy to welcome them to their unchallenged group, their bright promise faded to mediocrity, a fact they only realized when they were still telling the same stories with the same people two decades later!

Here’s the saddest story: it’s when a Christian disciple decides that pursuing the best things of God, a holy life, a disciplined life of devotion and service, is ‘too hard.’ He seldom actually says that to himself or anyone else. Instead, he says, “God is leading me in a different direction.” That is almost always out the door and away from friends who would challenge him to do his ‘utmost for God’s highest.' Instead, he finds a group where all that’s expected is that you ‘hang on’ at the fringe, where hard teaching is never heard. Instead, the emphasis is on glory stories, easy to believe miracle tales, and promises that you can ‘get all of God’ in a few minutes of emotional response to the Spirit. Turkeys misuse the grace of Christ, twisting it inside out, and making it and excuse to indulge whims. It’s a life without commitment, without sacrifice, and lived in sin, which he no longer calls by its real name!

The eagle determines to leave that behind. He finds those who will coach and encourage, whose lives of excellence show the way. "Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." (Romans 13:13-14, NLT) Truthfully, if you want to soar on wings like eagles, enjoying the vistas from the heights of life, there are no miracle solutions or short-cuts. It’s a path of discipleship, led by the Holy Spirit, through times of trial and victory, weeping and celebrations.

In the book of Acts we read the story of the developing Church. One of the eagles is Paul. In Lystra, he preached the Gospel and a man was healed. The citizens were impressed and thought he was the god, Zeus, so they tried to worship him. Being fickle then, as people are now, in a couple of days later they turned against the preacher. They dragged him out the city where they stoned him and left him for dead! With classic understatment, Dr. Luke says when Paul recovered he went back to Lystra to teach the Believers he had left there. "Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14:21-22, NLT)

Don’t forget those last five words: enter the Kingdom of God! That’s the true home of those who live in Christ, who refuse the low standards of those going nowhere. Is it because they earn more favor with God? Heaven forbid that we think that. It is because their lives are lived in a way that maximizes God’s ability to work in them, through them, and to lead them to peace and perseverance.

Find a band of eagles. Let them teach you to soar higher than you thought you could. Let their commitment to authentic Christian living be a model for you. And, enter the Kingdom of God, which is the destiny God purposed for you before time began.

__________

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith on Heaven’s table land.
A higher plane than I have found.
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground!”

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Johnson Oatman – public domain

It makes a difference

One of the important things for a free and strong society is fair, swift, and sure justice! The rule of law secures the people to carry on commerce and live in safety. It also restrains the rise of wrong-doing by keeping the promise of punishment in the mind of the person who thinks about harming another. In something as simple as the speed limit, enforcement works. None of us likes getting a speeding ticket, but writing a check for $100 gets our attention. The next time we drive down that road; it is amazing how attentive we are to that speedometer in our car! What burns us is when we find that there are two kinds of enforcement – one for us and one for a select group who are given a pass.

God is just! We can be comforted by that fact, or we may find ourselves resenting it. Some may conveniently forget it, because God’s judgment does not always arrive the day following sinful acts. Some choose to gamble with their life, thinking that the Lord’s judgment will come, only at the End of days or at least when their life here on earth comes to a close. So they decide to ‘eat, drink, and be merry,’ living without a reference to the will of the Lord.

This must never be forgotten: God’s justice is written into Creation! We see it in physical laws. If we slip off a ladder, we don’t fly up; we fall down. If we collide with a large object, destructive energy is released that brings harm and destruction. In the same way His law is written into other parts of life. If we refuse to forgive, we find ourselves unforgiven. If we live with love, love comes to us. If we are selfish, we never have enough; if we are generous, contentment is our inheritance. The Scripture says that God’s justice is like a seed planted. It takes time to grow and mature to harvest. In this passage, both a warning and promise, we learn that it is easy to forget about justice, but it is also a fools way.
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, NIV)

Are you finding it difficult to keep serving the Lord?
Have temptations gathered ‘round you, telling you that it’s time to live for yourself, to forget about the Father’s will?
Are circumstances and/or people making you feel like walking with the Lord is a ‘waste of time,’ because the wicked seem to prosper?

Here’s a word from the Word for your thoughts. May it convince you that what you do today really makes a difference in how you will live tomorrow!
"Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”" (Isaiah 35:3-4, NIV) "And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. … only the redeemed will walk there." (Isaiah 35:8-9, NIV)

_______________

God of justice, Savior to all.
Came to rescue the weak and the poor,
Chose to serve and not be served;
Jesus You have called us,
Freely we've received,
Now freely we will give!

We must go-
Live to feed the hungry,
Stand beside the broken,
We must go.
Stepping forward,
Keep us from just singing,
Move us into action
We must go!

To act justly every day,
Loving mercy in every way.
Walking humbly before You, God.
You have shown us what You require,
Freely we've received;
Now freely we will give.

Fill us up and send us out!
Fill us up and send us out!
Fill us up and send us out, Lord!

God of Justice
© 2004 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Tim Hughes
CCLI License No. 810055

A Christian Nation?

Warning -- the following may cause controversy. Read on with caution! (smile!)


Is the United States a secular state? The answer is an unequivocal 'yes!' And... I am glad for that fact! The founders of this nation were very familiar with the problems created when the Church was sponsored by the State and took pains to clearly separate the two. The King of England is head of the Anglican church. This keeps that church from speaking as freely as it might to the sins of the Crown. Many Europeans are taxed by the government to support the Church. Imagine the distress that would result from the IRS collecting a tax from you on behalf of say-- the Roman Catholic Church-- if she were the state-sponsored church!

Just because our government is without ties to a state-sponsored Church (thus, secular) does not mean that our government should make and/or enforce laws created without reference to morality or the values of our religious heritage. It is perfectly acceptable that our leaders allow their spiritual beliefs and values to inform their governing processes. A devout Catholic law-maker should be clear that the teaching of his church about the sacredness of human life is helping to shape his votes on issues relating to abortion, the death penalty, and euthanasia. A devout Baptist legislator should allow his ideals about human dignity and the natural rights conferred on him by his Creator inform the way in which he writes law. The religious convictions (or lack thereof) of those who govern should be transparent as they are part of his thought processes.

On this Independence Day, I appeal to you to think carefully about the rhetoric used by some Believers about making America a "Christian" nation. Look for the meaning behind those words.

IF they mean that we desire that others will become Christian as they come to know and love Jesus Christ, that is wonderful! We should choose godly people to govern and those godly people should create public policy and/or law that reflects the high values of Jesus Christ, who govern as true ‘public servants.’ Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."

IF, by desiring a “Christian nation” they mean that our government endorses and supports churches based on a Christian creed, they are inviting trouble and division. What church, then, would we have the government endorse and/or support with public funds? The Catholic church? After all, it is the largest church in America. No? Well, then how about the Southern Baptists? They are the largest Protestant church in America. No? What about just making the government generically 'Christian?' OK, but what test does the government then apply to a church to see if it is truly 'Christian' before providing government funds to that body? Should your tax dollars be used to support the Church of the Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ (the Mormon church) since it claims to be 'Christian?'

Can you see the problems inherent with Church/State entanglement? Too frequently, Christians do not understand that many of the references they quote about being a godly nation are drawn from the Old Testament and reflect the fact that Israel was a theocracy, a people with a common faith in the LORD God, organized and governed by that shared faith. These United States are not like pre-Christian Israel. We are not a theocracy, nor do I believe that many thinking Christians would truly want this country to become one!

As we celebrate America’s birthday, I want to encourage you to several steps.
First, pray for those who are voted into office! Let us ask God to make them wise and just. Let us ask Him to bless them as they govern without partiality or self interest.
Second, OBEY the law for the sake of Christ! Romans 12 reminds us to 'obey the government for God is the one who put it there.'
Third, we pay our taxes! That same chapter says 'pay your taxes... for government workers need to be paid so they can do the work God intended them to do.'
Fourth, we give proper respect to those who hold office! A Believer may well express dissent from government policy. Indeed, when the policies of our government do not conform to God's standard of justice, mercy, and protection for the weak/poor persons in society-- we are obligated to raise our voice; but we do so while respecting the office and the people who hold that office.

Happy Independence Day!

My sincere prayer today is: God bless America that she may remain a great nation and may her greatness be used to create liberty and justice for ALL!

The Organizing Principle

I am a Christian. My life is organized around that commitment to Jesus Christ. My desire to know Him and to live as He taught is the core from which the rest of my life is conducted. From Him comes my hope. I use my time and resources in ways that I believe honor Jesus. I live in love, with forgiveness, seeking purity in my relationships as He taught. Is my every thought, word, and deed perfectly aligned with His will? Oh that they were, but they are not- not just yet. Sometimes I fail because of ignorance; sometimes because of indolence, and sometimes because of self-will!

What is the organizing principle of your life?
We all have one, even if we are not aware of what it is or are unable to put it into words. Is it to be happy, to have fun? Is it to be admired by others? Is it to find pleasure? Is it to gain wealth? Is it to control your world, to be ‘in charge?’

Jesus visited the home of his friends in Bethany. Martha set the household in motion to prepare dinner. In the middle of her efforts, she noticed her sister, Mary, sitting near Jesus, listening intently to Him. She exploded in frustration. “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” (Luke 10:40, NLT) Jesus did not share her frustration or sense of urgency. In fact, He challenged Martha’s basic organizing principle by commending Mary! "There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42, NLT) Martha’s life was built around things that were appreciated by others, but not eternal or Godly!

Take some time to think about what you’re living for, friend. Go beyond awareness of what you do to think about why you do it! It is quite possible for us to do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. Jesus pointed to the prayers, service, and giving of the Pharisees, commending their diligence while telling His disciples that it was all worthless – because they were not focused on pleasing God, but gaining admiration. Their organizing principle was creating a reputation for holiness rather than living holy lives that allowed them to be intimate with a holy God. The core was flawed and therefore their entire structure was wrong!

Ponder these words from the Word today. They are both full of hope and deeply challenging. Ask yourself if pursuing Christ and His rule is ‘the one thing’ that organizes all the rest of your life.
"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ, … I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. …

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:8, 10, 12-14, NLT)
________________________

I belong to a mighty God,
I belong to Jesus;
I'm guided by His staff and rod,
I belong to a mighty God.

I belong to the Holy One,
I belong to Jesus;
His work in me has just begun,
I belong to the Holy One.

I belong to the Lord of All,
I belong to Jesus;
I'll stand in Him and will not fall,
I belong to the Lord of All.

I am justified
By the good gift of the Lord;
And I will testify
That I belong to a mighty God,
I belong to a mighty God.

I Belong To A Mighty God
DeShazo, Lynn
© 1993 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

Death Be Not Proud

John Donne, the English poet, wrote of the core hope of our Christian faith. In language typical of the time (1600) he reminds us that death is a defeated foe. I borrow his words to comfort my heart and renew my mind in hope today.


Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

The prose of the Word is clear that death will not triumph, though it roars in our faces.

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:20-26, NIV)

_______________


Come, Lord Jesus and make me strong today.
Give me eyes that can see over the edge of time into eternity.
Help me, with that full assurance, to defeat despair, to stand steady in faith,
to invest my life in those things that will be true treasures in your House.

Amen.

Who is leading your leader?

Recent history is full of ‘spiritual’ leaders who were truly ‘the blind leading the blind!’ Some made tragic headlines. Remember the Rev. Jim Jones, the fiery orator and community activist from San Francisco who took his congregation to Guyana and led them to mass suicide? Vernon Howell, whom you probably remember as David Koresh, thought himself a prophet. He eventually found a home among a schismatic group called the Branch Davidians. His grandiosity (he came to believe he was Christ and above all human law) eventually caused the FBI to raid the Waco, Texas ranch he called home and we all remember the horror of the fiery raid that brought the death of 76 members including 17 children.

Most lost leaders don’t cause such sensational tragedies, but all leaderless leaders leave wrecked lives in their wake. Spiritual leaders who fail to stay submitted to Christ Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, and in a place of humble service to Body of Christ, will cause others to become disillusioned with the things of the Lord. They will ruin local churches by causing strife and will use natural strategies of power and intimidation to hold onto their position.

Jude wrote to the Church with this reminder. "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 3-4, NIV) "These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage." (Jude 16, NIV)

Thousands of churches are led by good people, natural leaders with great skills, who are religious careerists, not called servants of Christ Jesus. They have great abilities that allow them to build remarkable organizations, but does their work produce disciples of Christ? It’s very difficult for the person in the pew, who wants to believe the best about the man who leads his church, to ask the hard questions about that man’s character and walk with God. But, you must. If you don’t, you risk being led by a leaderless leader! The pastor who is called by God and walking with Christ may find your scrutiny uncomfortable, but he will allow it, for he has nothing to hide.

Who is leading your pastor, disciple?
Does his life show evidence of a heart for God, that he is actively following Jesus Christ, allowing the Spirit to guide him from day to day?

Jude goes on to write, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (Jude 17-19, NIV)

Here’s a word from the Word. May it inspire you to build a strong church, led by those who are led by Christ!

"But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love." (Jude 20-21, NLT)
"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen." (Jude 24-25, NLT)

__________________

The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Elect from ev'ry nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses;
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With ev'ry grace endued.

The Church's One Foundation
Stone, Samuel J. / Wesley, Samuel S.
© Public Domain

For the Love of God!

Some people just ‘go to work.’ Others anticipate doing what they do. Speaking with a young business owner this week, he talked about the long hours he puts into his enterprise, but not with complaint, not bemoaning the time. He said, “It’s my life.” He enjoys what he does and the people for whom he does it see his passion. If he didn’t love it, he would burn out, produce at an inferior level, and eventually lose his investment. A kind of love makes the difference.

Working with people who claim to love God every day of my life, I see some who are ‘doing their duty’ and some who just love God. Those who are just trying to stay respectable look for the minimal level of commitment. They are not eager for corporate worship, only showing up as often as they feel they must to keep the Lord happy and the pastor from calling them to inquire about their whereabouts. They do not invest in close relationships with other Christians or get involved in ministry, preferring to ‘do their own thing.’ Their Bible is dusty, their prayers stiffly formal, their concern for the spiritual health of friends and family non-existent.

There are those who have come to passionately love the Lord, for whom knowing Christ Jesus as Lord is ‘surpassing greatness’ so that all other things in life are ‘rubbish,’ in comparison! Jesus Christ is their first love, the One who gives their life purpose and meaning. Paul, who met the Lord and replaced his dutiful religious practices with a passionate love of God, said, "All the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself." (Philippians 3:6-10, The Message)

That kind of love is costly when observed from the outside by those who do not share it. If the devoted disciple is asked, “How can you do that? Isn’t it hard?” If he really loves the Lord his answer will be, “I don’t think of it in that way. It’s my life!”

So, Christian friend, from which motive do your Christian practices emerge– duty or delight?

Here’s a word from the Word. It is an appeal from the Lover of our souls.
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.
I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.


“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first." (Revelation 2:2-5, NLT)

________________


All I once held dear,
Built my life upon,
All this world reveres,
And wars to own,
All I once thought gain
I have counted loss;
Spent and worthless now,
Compared to this.

Now my heart's desire
Is to know You more,
To be found in You,
And known as Yours,
To possess by faith
What I could not earn;
All surpassing gift of righteousness.

Oh to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings,
To become like You
In Your death, my Lord;
So with You to live, and never die.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.

Knowing You
Kendrick, Graham

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

CCLI License No. 810055