The ‘wow’ factor

He found that sweet spot in God’s will where excellence met devotion, where accomplishment was matched with humility, where his flaws were eclipsed by God’s grace. Only eternity will reveal what that farm boy from North Carolina did for the Kingdom of Heaven.  It was my privilege to be in small groups of pastors on two occasions where he came and shared his time with us. 

Unlike some important people I have met, Graham was not impressed with himself. He knew himself to be a representative of Another!

Who do you admire? Is there someone whose life inspires you with hope, that causes you to desire God more? The late Billy Graham is one of my heroes, a man who was completely given to the work of the Lord, who lived to make Christ known.

Do you aspire to excellence and achievement?

Jesus says "No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:15-16, NLT)  Pause and re-read those lines.  Christ in you, in me, will create a quality of life that others simply cannot ignore. The question is, will you allow the Spirit to do that work in you?

Some will rush on to the next chapter in Matthew, using Jesus’ warnings about public displays of giving, praying, and fasting as a reason to settle for mediocrity, to hide out in obscurity.  Yes, He did say “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven." (Matthew 6:1, NLT)  Do not mis-read those words. He is not saying that we should be hidden, unnoticed because our lives lack a distinction that comes from devotion. Our ‘good deeds’ are not to be for the purpose of gaining admiration for ourselves, they are to be a reflection of Christ and the Spirit at work in us!

What makes the difference?  

 It is all about the MOTIVE.  If we are aiming at having others look at us and say, “Wow, what a good guy!” Jesus says, “Go ahead and enjoy the applause. That is your full reward.”  If we want the beauty of Jesus to shine through us, God can take our efforts and use them in ways beyond our imagining to show off His goodness to those who walk alongside of us in life. 

That is why we need to match our pray for Christ’s beauty in us with David’s humble prayer - "Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life." (Psalm 139:23-24, The Message)

There is a beauty in holiness that is often lost to modern Christians who confuse holiness with religious rule-keeping, with petty obsessions over superficial things.  In fact, a life that is truly devoted to God (the definition of holiness) develops a beauty that comes from wholeness, from love, from joy, that captures the attention of others. Let’s pray for His beauty to be seen in us!

Jesus took the words of preacher Isaiah as the description of His mission. As you read what He announced in that synagogue in Capernaum, let the truth of His desire for you captivate your heart. He wants to heal the dysfunction of sin and make us whole. He desires to enter our sorrow and make us joyful. Why?  Well, read for yourself.  

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
(Isaiah 61:1-3, NIV)    

All that so that others will take note of who He is, what He does, and say – “Oh, what a wonderful Lord.”  That, disciple, is the ‘wow’ factor that we should aim for in life – to be one in whom His splendor is fully seen.

___________

Let the beauty of Jesus
be seen in me,

All His wonderful
passion and purity;

O my Savior divine,
All my being refine,

‘Till the beauty of Jesus
be seen in me.

Albert Orsborn
copyright, Public domain

When Jesus says hard things

Who does not enjoy the affirming thoughts of a greeting card?  When we read about being loved, about another’s appreciation, those loving expressions brighten our day and fill up our hearts. Greeting cards are intended to be like a warm emotional hug. But, are they the only kind of expression of love or care?  In my collection of treasured items, there is a letter my Dad hand-wrote to me in 1976, when I was just starting in pastoral ministry. In it, he said some hard things about choices, about the effect that my actions would have on the lives of others, about the sacrifices and joys of the calling that I was embracing as a young adult.  It is a profound expression of his love for me despite the inclusion of words that challenge me to this day!

In John’s Gospel we read "Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it? … many  turned away and deserted him." (John 6:66, NLT)  Yes, it is true. Jesus offended many of those who were following Him by saying some HARD things to them about the place He claimed as their Bread and Life! He spoke in words about eating His flesh and drinking His blood and for some of them it was just more than they wanted to hear. If they wanted to experience the salvation He was offering, they were called to become one with Him and the way in which He spoke of that was hard, offensive, and many walked away.

Christian, Jesus still says hard things to us.  In our modern Church we smooth out the wrinkles, ignore the Mystery, and too often attempt to make the Gospel into something like a greeting card that is all about love and good feelings. But, that is not the whole of the Message. Jesus is good news. In Him we find our true Life, our real reason for existence, and our eternal Hope. We also hear Him say things like ‘take up your Cross and follow Me.’   Who likes to hear that invitation to die to Self? I want Him to affirm me, to give me the things that make my  life easy, to warm my heart with whispers of affection. Of course, that is surely a part of knowing Him.  And yet … we also hear Him say that we must love Him so intensely that all other loves will seem hatred in comparison.  He reminds us that our riches are to be eternal when He says ‘lay up treasure in Heaven.’ 

If we are honestly engaged with the Scripture and the Spirit, we will sometimes find ourselves offended, angered, disturbed by His words. If you are not left wrestling with the implications of discipleship, challenged by the invitation to make Him Lord as well as Savior, I will be bold enough to suggest that you are living a superficial Christian life. There are moments in my discipleship journey when all can do is sink to my knees and borrow His prayers – “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done!”  I sometimes do not understand. I am sometimes angered by His demands of me, but I always know that what He asks flows from nothing but love – for me, for my world.

Christian, are you struggling to understand some part of God’s Word that you find offensive?

Has the Spirit convicted you about some part of your life that He wants to be more closely conformed to the ways of Jesus?

Have you run headlong into a conflict between what you desire and what the Lord demands?

Take this line and live it. “When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart!”

May the choice of the faithful that is reflected in our word from the Word be ours as well.  “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69, NIV)

_____________

Trust His Heart

(Worship along at this link)

All things work for our good

Though sometimes we can't see how they could

Struggles that break our hearts in two

Sometimes blind us to the truth

Our Father knows what's best for us

His ways are not our own

So when your pathway grows dim

And you just can't see Him

Remember you're never alone

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

He sees the master plan

He holds the future in His hands

So don't live as those who have no hope

All our hope is found in Him

We see the present clearly

But He sees the first and the last

And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me

To someday be just like Him

He alone is faithful and true

He alone knows what is best for you

When you don't understand

When You don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His heart

Babbie Mason | Eddie Carswell

© 1989 Dayspring Music, LLC (Admin. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.)

Word Music, LLC (Admin. by WB Music Corp.)

Causing Change Music (Admin. by Word Entertainment, LLC)

May Sun Music (Admin. by Word Entertainment, LLC)

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Pastor Jerry Scott

FAITH DISCOVERY CHURCH

www.FaithDiscovery.com

Are you 'at home?'

 

For the last week I have explored the byways of the Portland, OR area – lofty mountains, beautiful rivers, a huge bookstore downtown, a rural church, a college campus …  and I have been ‘at home’ in the home of my children. It’s been wonderful to spend time with them and get to know where they are and experience their lives but now, I’m ready to go home!  I guess I am, by nature, a homebody because I truly appreciate being in my town, buying coffee at the same shop, and being truly HOME.

Home is much more than a house, isn’t it?  We are ‘at home’ when we are among people who love us, those with whom we ‘do life’ serving in ways that make our lives richer because we are a small part of something larger than ourselves. I believe that God has make it a part of us to desire to contribute, to experience life together.  Service, done well and from the heart, ennobles us! 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. “I don’t need anybody else” is a way of life that is barren. The idea of ‘self-sufficiency’ 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.

Here is a word from the Word. As you meditate on these Spirit-words, my prayer is that they will call you to make your home among God’s people, making strong ties, finding a rich life that extends into Eternity  - our forever home. "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:7-11, NIV)

_____________________

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